Delicious Bookmarks

My bookmarked foreign policy Web sites can be seen here.

Second Life unveils Showcase

A new 3-D guide is being added to Second Life to further enhance the virtual world, Linden Lab announced at a press conference Nov. 19.

Second Life Showcase will be a place to highlight the best of the virtual world's user-created regions and "(make) it easier for people in Second Life to find cool and exciting content," Second Life Editor Brett Atwood said.

Second Life is a 3-D online world developed by Linden Lab where users from more than 100 countries across the globe can create, build and personalize a virtual life and space.

In addition to highlighting user-created builds, the new Showcase program will feature daily "hot spots" for Second Life users to visit. The new guide is accessible from the Second Life Web site and also within the Second Life program.

"Showcase is the go-to destination for enhancing virtual world exploration," Atwood said. "We think that it will be something that will benefit people who have an interest in virtual environments."

Before the launch of Showcase, some areas in Second Life have been hidden, Atwood said. Since the launch, the program has had a "huge impact" in driving traffic to the showcased builds.

The featured areas will be refreshed about two times a week, he said. The fashion and music categories of Showcase are two of the big current hot spots. However, Showcase also features hot spots from other categories including education and nonprofit.

The best of user-created videos in the emerging Machinima format will also be highlighted. Machinima enables users to create and record their own movies within programs such as Second Life. Avator-based performances can be recorded and then edited into a digital production that can be shared on the Internet.

The 3-D environment is continuing to grow. Atwood said one study found that the amount of physical virtual space within the Second Life Grid platform has actually become larger than some countries. This means there are a lot of areas to explore and Showcase allows users to “surf round” the virtual world, the same way one uses a T.V. channel guide, Atwood said.

"Showcase is meant to be a place that only sponsors the best," Atwood said.

The program has been in development for almost a year in various levels, he said. Throughout that time, categories were revised and functionality was improved.

Showcase was created as part of Linden Lab's "ongoing drive toward creating a richer, more immersive virtual environment," according to a press release.

Second Life had a high of 78,000 concurrent users in the week before the launch of Showcase, Atwood said. The program is also closing in on approximately 20 million downloads.

Ferdinand's Ice Cream Shoppe a WSU tradition

Once upon a time in Spain, there was a little bull and his name was Ferdinand.

This little bull, who liked to sit beneath a cork tree and smell flowers, is the namesake of the Washington State University ice cream shop.

With eight flavors of cheese and more than 20 flavors of ice cream, Ferdinand's has been a staple on the WSU campus since the 1940s. Part of the larger WSU creamery organization, the shop’s name comes from the 1938 Disney short cartoon, “Ferdinand the Bull,” according to the creamery’s Web site. The full story is displayed through illustrated frames on the shop's walls.

"I think the products make the creamery special," Ferdinand’s supervisor Eric L. Needham said. "Canned cheese is rare. The flavor of the cheese is excellent and the ice cream is excellent. All the products are very good."

The creamery's most famous product is Cougar Gold, a sharp white cheddar cheese aged for a year and sold in 30 ounce cans. The cheese was a product of research sponsored during the forties by the United States government and the American Can Company. The goal was to develop a canned cheese that could be shipped overseas to troops without producing gas. Dr. N.S. Golding eventually helped create the now famous cheese, hence the name.

Since its invention, the recipe and bacteria used to make the cheese has been cultured for 60 years, Needham said.

"Cougar Gold is a tradition," he said. "A lot of alumni come back and visit the creamery for the cheese and the ice cream."

In addition to Cougar Gold and other cheeses, Ferdinand’s also sells ice cream products, such as milkshakes and ice cream sodas, and Cougar brand sausages.

"Ferdinand's is a great place to have on campus," Ferdinand's employee Chris W. Westerman said. "It's a fun place for students to come and grab an ice cream cone between classes. Customers can also watch the cheese and ice cream being made in the observation room."

Though his favorite cheese is Hot Pepper and his favorite ice cream is Tin Lizzy, Westerman said, there are so many options, customers come in and need a few minutes just to take everything in. One wall is covered with possible milkshake flavors, there's a cheese case full of different flavors, and of course, the ice cream cabinet.

On home football game weekends, Ferdinand's is open for four hours before kickoff and the line always stretches out the door, Westerman said.

Originally housed in Troy Hall, the creamery moved to its current location near the Food Science & Human Nutrition building in May 1992. Beginning in the late seventies, cheese was made at the creamery year-round and the revenue from the cheese and ice cream sales was enough to support the creamery and its research.

Needham's favorite part about working at Ferdinand's is serving the customers.

"The ice cream and cheese really make them happy," he said. "It's fun selling quality products."

The creamery produces approximately 250,000 cans of cheese each year, 82 percent of which is Cougar Gold, Needham said. The creamery used to employ about 30 part-time students, but the number has grown to about 50.

"I love working at Ferdinand's," Westerman said. "Years from now, I’ll be able to say I was part of a great WSU tradition."

The story of Ferdinand the Bull ends with him being taken back to his home pasture after he refused to fight at the bull fights in Spain.

Now he just sits and smells the flowers. He is very happy.

What's Happening to the News?

Within the first few minutes of the opening segment, it is said that the practice of applying the same standards to entertainment as news, is one of the greatest tragedies in journalism. This is one of the things that struck me most from the Frontline documentary. Standards for news have shifted, especially online when it's all about trying to get click-throughs and catch attention. The internet has certainly been good for journalism is some ways as well. There can now be instant updates and stories constantly develop through the day. But being a fan of traditional print journalism, the online trend leaves me concerned.

The President of ABC said he thinks news is what matters to people, and that's why so many broadcast stations have entertainment type stories. However, I would argue that in addition to what matters to people, journalists should take into account what should matter to people and also report on those issues.

I also find it interesting that most of the news content from online and broadcast stories still depends on the reporting done by print journalists. It's a weird relationship because while online coverage depends on newspapers, it is also threatening them. What will happen when newspapers become irrelevant and fold when they can't make a profit. Where will the reporting come from then?

One of the positive things about the internet is that the unlimited space allows for the expanded range of coverage. However, one of the biggest negatives I see is the fact that there are also no limits to the internet. Anyone can put forth something they call news and it can spread rapidly, but the accuracy and relevance of such stories is questionable. The creator of Rocketboom said he has never even thought about journalism and what that means. Without standards, there is nothing to prevent news from being corrupted. News should be trustworthy, but the internet with its openness to anyone and everyone can't offer this. Print journalism can, but it's a dying field.

International News Assignment

Observations:
In general, I think a lot of the news organizations outside the U.S. have a greater focus on international news. BBC News is one of my favorite sources of news because they have comprehensive international coverage. I think that of the sites, they are also the most objective. The others sites, I would not say are biased, but they definitely present the news from a different viewpoint. In some cases the government also seems a bit glorified. On the other had, I also think these organizations sometimes present news in a more straightforward fashion than you find in the United States. There is less sensationalism for some stories.

1. How effective do you think the Internet will be for Al Jazeera as it attempts to reach a U.S. audience?

I don't think it will be very effective in its attempts to reach a U.S. audience. Even though it is available on the web, I think few Americans are going to be drawn to the site because of its negative connotations, even though many views of the station may be unfounded. Because they are using the internet, if users do stumble upon it, it will also be very easy for them to leave. On the internet, Al Jazeera must be found in order to be viewed and I don't see many Americans seeking it out.

2. Based on your own observations, do you think that Al Jazeera English should be allowed to broadcast in the U.S.?

I think they should be allowed to broadcast in the United States because I am a strong proponent of free speech. No one would be forced to watch it, it would be possible to change the station or turn it off. As long as they are not inciting violence or doing a different activity in violation of free speech, they should be able to broadcast just like any other international organization. From my observations, though coming from a different viewpoint there is nothing really objectionable about the station.

3. What, if anything, do you notice about Al Jazeera's approach to telling the news? How is it different than the U.S.-based TV news outlets that you have experienced?

Al Jazeera's approach is different in the sense that it comes from a different viewpoint than American news. Al Jazeera's approach definitely comes with more of an emphasis on the Middle East perspective. I don't think this is a good or bad thing, it just means the news is funneled through a different lens. Also, I find it interesting that while American news doesn't focus on international stories as much, Al Jazeera does to an extent, though there is definitely also a specific focus on the Middle East.

4. While on the Al Jazeera site, be sure to check out the network's published Code of Ethics. Based on your own observations, do you think they are adhering to them?

I thinking they are doing what they can to adhere to them. Overall their coverage seems fair and balanced, and is at least as objective as American news is. Again, it just comes from a different perspective. While watching the site, you wouldn't necessarily think this is a broadcast with a particular agenda, it seems like many other international news agencies. Their Code of Ethics holds them to quite a high standard and I think yes, they are adhering to it as much as is possible based upon the limitations of being human.

In-class research exercise

1) Pullman is listed as having 4 hate crimes for the year 2006. This seems fairly typical when compared to other cities in the states. Most have less than four reported hate crime and only a few cities have more. In 2007, the number of hate crimes rose by one. Most of the other moderate size cities still have four or less. The number is higher, generally, as the population of the cities increase.

The most common kind of hate crime was racially motivated and classified as single-bias incidents. This was the case for both 2006 and 2007. More than half of the reported hate crimes were racially motivated.

2) Dino Rossi received the highest political contributions in 2008. He received $7,587,579.

His highest industry contribution came from Health Professionals which gave $15, 330.

The highest industry contributions for Gregoire came from lawyers and lobbyists. This industry gave $55,110.

The Republican part received the most money from the forestry and forest products industry. Republicans also received the most money from the lobbyist and public relations industry.

3) Digital video recorder: http://www.google.com/patents?id=N7h1AAAAEBAJ&dq=%22digital+video+recorder%22

Social networking: http://www.google.com/patents?id=fVsGAAAAEBAJ&dq=%22social+networking%22

Automobile: http://www.google.com/patents?id=Kh9TAAAAEBAJ&dq=%22automobile%22

Jury selection extends to day two

Fifty-six questionnaires. Forty-six individual interviews. Sixteen excused jurors.
After an exhaustive eight hours, the first day of the Christopher Jack Reid trial ended without a jury being selected.

Reid, an adult film actor, is charged with second-degree rape, first-degree burglary, two counts of residential burglary and attempted residential burglary.

The charges stem from events that occurred on the night of Sept. 12, 2007, when Reid and former WSU student Kyle M. Schott, allegedly broke into several Greek houses on College Hill in Pullman and sexually assaulted a sleeping woman at the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

"This is taking a little bit longer than your average rape case," Whitman County Prosecutor Denis P. Tracy said. "But that's because there was a little more pre-trial media coverage and the added unusual feature of having (a defendant) who creates porn."

Before a jury could be chosen, each of the potential 56 jurors filled out a three-page questionnaire, which asked them about their exposure to media coverage of the trial, their personal experiences of unwanted sexual contact, and whether they would "have difficulty being fair and impartial if there was evidence in this case that a party or witness was associated with the adult film or pornography industry."

Based upon the questionnaires and preliminary questioning, seven jurors were immediately excused for reasons ranging from doctor appointments to familiarity with many of the 40 potential witnesses.

Of the remaining 49 jurors, all but three answered their questionnaires in such a way that required individual interviews. Many of them answered that they were unsure of their ability to be impartial if the defendant was involved in pornography.

Juror No. 5 said she didn't know if she could be fair and unbiased. She said she worried she might favor the state in the case.

Defense attorney Chris A. Bugbee asked that she be removed, but Tracy argued she could be impartial and only struggled with her words.

"I don't think every juror should be expected to express themselves with crystal clarity," Tracy said.

Whitman County Superior Court Judge David Frazier overruled Bugbee’s objection.

By the end of the day, nine more jurors were excused. Juror No. 40, one of the dismissed, said pornography "is a vile industry."

"I don't believe I could be impartial," he said.

In addition to exploring the jurors' views on pornography, Frazier asked them about any personal experiences they might have had which would affect them in this case.

"What we want is an important decision to not be based on an emotional reaction," Bugbee said. "We want cases to be decided based upon the evidence and the rational analysis of how those factors apply to the facts."

One juror shared that she had experienced unwanted sexual touching from a family member, but has also had a close friend who was wrongfully accused of sexual assault.

“I know there are two sides to every story,” she said.

After eight hours of questioning, 40 potential jurors remained. Frazier instructed them to stay away from media coverage of the case, not to discuss the case with anyone, and to return for the second day of the trial.

Jury selection should be completed by noon Tuesday, Frazier said. Before it began, Frazier estimated the trial would take five days. Tracy said based upon how long jury selection is taking, it might now stretch past Friday.

Video Responses

1) I think editor Steve Smith did make a differentiation between a legitimate news story and one that is not. It's an extremely important distinction, which I think is all too often overlooked by the media. It's not an easy thing to distinguish the difference. It's just the small nuances that matter.

The fact that the mayor was on gay.com was not news, it was his personal business. However, if the mayor was doing anything illegal on gay.com, then it becomes newsworthy because he is an elected official.

2) Morlin justified the use of a concealed identity on gay.com because it was the only way to find out if Mayor West was actually the man on the site. Morlin couldn't create the assumed identity because he said it went against the newspaper's ethics standards.

3) The Spokesman probably published as many stories as they did about Mayor West in part because they broke the story. Since so many other media outlet picked it up, however, it then became a battle for them to continue to own the story and be the main source of information.

It was also in part due to the fact that the paper and the setting for the improprieties both were in Spokane. This is something the paper probably felt was directly relevant to the interest of its readers.

4) Ideally, you would hope the residents of Spokane benefited from the decision to expose Mayor West. Mayor West was hurt by the decision, but overall I would say it was worth it.

I think the Spokesman should have gathered more reliable sources before implicating West in pedophilia, that story seemed like a bit of a stretch and a little sketchy to me, but the investigations into misuse of office were justified.

If West was using positions with city hall as payments for sexual favors, that is something the residents of Spokane have a right to know and should be made aware of.

The use of an undercover sting operation is also questionable, especially because much of the reasoning for it seemed to be for uncovering pedophilia. My biggest criticism of the entire investigation is that the Spokesman seemed too readily to believe that West molested young boys. They didn't want to see if it was proven with their investigation, it seemed, but rather use the investigation to prove that their hunch was true.

Even after West didn't go after the 17-year-old boy, they continued with the undercover operation.

5) I would say this story is a bit of a stretch, almost like the paper is patting itself on the back. They write the article with the assumption that Lynch's leave verifies the paper's original report. The story talks about all the different questions that haven't been answered, but despite the lack of answers, the paper ran with the story anyway.

It doesn't take much to imagine what readers are going to assume when they read the story, but the paper gives no hard evidence to support the assumptions. It should have waited to have stronger evidence before moving forward with story with so much potential to do damage if incorrect.

There is definitely a story, and something worth reporting on, but the paper also has a responsibility to proceed with caution. I think they should have exercised a little more in this story.

Special Lead examples

Narrative lead

Washington's Initiative 1000 is modeled on Oregon's Death with Dignity Act
from the Seattle Times

In Sierra Leone, Every Pregnancy Is a 'Chance of Dying'
from the Washington Post

Contrast lead

Homey, but No Haven From Hard Times
from The New York Times

Second-day lead

Twenty-four hours after parents discoverd their 4-year-old daughter was missing from her crib, police are still without leads in the case.

Maria L. Norton, the young girl's mother issued a statment asking anyone with any information to please come forward.

Video response

After watching the video, I was impressed by the similarity in the news gathering process of print and broadcast journalism. The daily meetings and discussions about what should be the top stories remain similar regardless of the medium. The values in the news organizations also stay the same. Credibility and accuracy are of extreme importance. I also thought it was interesting that while the reporter is primarily interested in getting the story, editors are more concerned about the presentation of the story, where it is placed and making sure it is digestible for the reader or viewer.

It was also interesting to see the behind the scenes involvement of all the people it takes to put out the news each day. I agree with the notion that the general public doesn't realize everything that goes "into feeding the best," and how deep an organization newsrooms actually are. It's a daily grind and generally a somewhat stressful environment. I think the video did a good job explaining how producing daily news is dependent upon a group effort and isn't something one can accomplish alone.

Work continues on future CUB vendors

Despite the Compton Union Building’s outward appearance of completion, it might be a while before everything inside the building is running smoothly, CUB Director Sean M. Greene said.

"There are a lot of little things that have frustrated individuals that we're still trying to address," Greene said.

While CUB staff members try to deal with repeated false fire alarms, not enough furniture, and even poor garbage can designs, construction is also continuing on the last of the vendors.

Pita Pit was set to be one of the original CUB vendors, but requested a termination of its lease in June. ASWSU President Brandon M. Scheller and GPSA representatives worked with a group of students to find a replacement and chose Subway to fill the empty slot.

"I think this really ended up working out better for the students," Scheller said. "It was unfortunate that Subway couldn't open when the CUB did, but in the long run I think students will be happier with Subway.”

Subway is still in the process of completing its design plans and getting them reviewed, Greene said. The business has incorporated several green features, such as special lighting, which has made the build-out "more unique" and more time-consuming to plan. Greene said he expects the opening date to be announced within two weeks and the build-out to be completed within six. 

"The build-out will be shorter than the design (phase)," he said.

Work also continues on the vendor projects overseen by the Markel family – Dupus Boomer's, Markel Coffeehouse, NRgize Lifestyle Cafe and Sea Swiper. Construction is still being finalized, but the Markels have begun hiring.

The original plan was to open Sea Swiper and the coffeehouse before Dupus Boomer's, but the family didn't want to try and serve food in the middle of a construction site, Greene said.

The opening dates for the business have not been finalized, but Mark A. Leonetti, general manager of the Markel concepts, said they are hoping for a day near Oct. 15. There will a "chain reaction" opening, he said, with Sea Swiper and the coffehouse opening about a day apart, and Dupus Boomer's following a few days later.

“Dupus Boomer’s is going to be a gorgeous restaurant,” Greene said.

As the last of the CUB vendors take shape, those already open have seen success during their weeks of operation. Panda Express is the clear favorite and gets twice the customers as Carlita's, which is overseen by WSU Dining Services, and Villa's Fresh Italian Kitchen, Greene said. Panda Express is bringing in $5,800 to $6,000 a day, he said.

The biggest complaint Greene and Scheller have heard from students is the long lines, but Greene said having the additional vendors open in coming weeks will help alleviate the problem.

The other problems are also already in the process of being addressed. A second furniture order has been placed, a new garbage can design is almost complete, and the complications in the alarm system should be worked out within three months, Greene said.

"I think the CUB has been operating better than anyone could have expected," Scheller said. "There have been a few bugs here and there, but I don’t think most students notice them.”

Greene said he is also anxious to get comments about the project from students. They are already responding to come concerns, such as adding more seating and TVs.

"We want to make our facility as welcoming as possible," he said.

J 305 story lead

A 20-year-old man died Monday evening after his car crashed into a utility pole along Broad Street in Moscow.

J 305 Story Pitches

1) A story about new businesses that have opened in Pullman. 

A WSU professor recently opened a European deli downtown which seems to be popular in the community. Additionally, a new antique shop opened at the end of spring semester. With such a small community, the story could focus on how difficult it is to open a business in Pullman, and in the current economic climate, how successful have they been. I could interview the owners as well as customers. The article would be intended for readers in the Palouse.

2) A story about how satisfied people are with the CUB. 

I would talk not only to students, but also to student groups housed in the CUB, such as ASWSU, to see how they feel about their new offices and the building. I would get an update on how long before the rest of the vendors open in the CUB and if there have been any problems. My main contact would be CUB Director Sean Greene.The article would be intended to for students and others on campus.

3) A story about reactions to the Martin Stadium renovations. 

With the second home game approaching, most on campus have had a chance to see the renovations in Martin Stadium. What is the reaction to the renovations? How long has it taken to get to this point and how much did it cost? What is left to accomplish in the Martin Stadium renovation? My contacts for the story would be Capital Planning & Development, Athletics, and also students. The intended audience would again be campus.

Climate Change story proposals

Story proposal 1: A story about how climate change is impacting the research of new crop strains, specifically wheat. 

I wrote a story on the topic for the Evergreen a couple years ago when I was freshman, but would like to revisit the issue and go more in depth. At the time I learned that a number of professors at WSU are working to develop new strains of wheat. But it can take up to 15 years to design a new strain and with the possibility of climate change occurring in that time, there's no guarantee that wheat developed today will best serve the farmers of tomorrow. 

The story would look at how researchers are coping with these uncertainties. How has their research been affected and to what extent? How big of a concern is climate change for their work? I'd interview WSU professors working on new wheat breeds. Many of them are also involved in federal agricultural programs so I would try to also expand the focus to areas outside the Palouse.

A lot of the documents for this story would hopefully come from the researchers, but I was able to find some journal articles that are already addressing the possible need for new strains of wheat. I was particularly taken by the article, "Climate Change: Can wheat beat the head." Another article from the Journal of experimental botany also looked promising, "The effects of climate change on development in wheat: analysis and modelling," but it ran in 1992 and the full text is not currently available from WSU libraries. I'm continuing to work on tracking it down.

Story proposal 2: A story looking into the trend of going green and examining the motivation behind the movement. The story would also attempt to do a cost-benefit analysis of sorts to see if these attempts to go green, actually make a difference.

Part of the story would focus on WSU. The university initiated a "Be Crimson, Go Green," campaign and is pushing recycling and using environmentally-friendly dinnerware in the dining centers. The new CUB building is also LEED certified. For the story to move forward, it would first have to be determined if climate change played any in role is pushing these changes forward.

If so, then what is the reaction to these changes? Have their been improvements? Are the programs making a difference? The story would then be expanded to looking at efforts made by WA state or other states in the Pacific Northwest to become more sustainable. How much does sustainability cost tax-payers and what is the public's role in this sustainability movement? 

I would interview the head of Dining Services and also the CUB Director to get a better sense of the motivation behind the changes. I would also talk to state officials and possibly environmental groups to learn their motivation and what worth they see in sustainability.

Articles for this topic were more difficult to find. I would place several public record requests to look at budgets before and after efforts at sustainability were implemented. I was also able to find an article which discussed consumer attitudes toward sustainability specifically in Washington - "Envisioning agricultural sustainability from field to plate: Comparing producer and consumer attitudes and practices toward 'environmentally friendly' food and farming in Washington State, USA." The article did have a greater focus on sustainable food production than trends in recycling and environmentally friendly buildings, but should still be of some use.

Field Trip - Cook Agronomy Farm

I am by no means a photographer. I am, however, a veteran cell phone user. Below are some pictures from our J 417 class trip to the Cook Agronomy Farm. The 140 acre parcel of land is owned by WSU and used to practice and study climate-friendly farming.

The crops, which include wheat, peas and alfalfa, are planted using a method called no-till farming or direct planting. It helps reduce the amount of carbon released into the air and prevents erosion. The process also helps carbon to build back up in the soil. More information on the farm can be found here.

There were also a few random facts discussed on the trip that I just thought were interesting:

1) The Palouse is the second most erosive area in the United States. Approximately 14 tons per acre per year are lost in the top soil. It works out to about an inch a decade. The Cook farm has already reduced the loss to 10 tons per acre per year.

2) The explosion of pioneer farming in the 1800s created a huge release of carbon. It was not until 1950 that the amount of carbon released through industrialization matched the amount released through agriculture.

3) Natural prairies lost 30 percent of their carbon in 30 years. This help explains the dust bowl in the 1930s. 

4) No-till farming is being used to help replace some of the carbon and to prevent more from escaping. The Conservation Reserve Program is a voluntary federal program created to reward farmers who seek to establish environmentally friendly farming practices, such as direct planting.

And now for photos:

This is the only thing signaling the farm's existence. This sign and tower, which also has a solar panel. It's the square thing on the tower.

The class listens attentively as we learn more about the process of direct planting. We were at one of 369 sample sites for testing the soil and gathering information.

This sample site was just off a dirt path in the middle of a recently harvested wheat field, which we drove and walked right through.

Jour 475 - Genre-specific blogs

As I was looking for a genre-specific blog, I was pleased to come across The Student Newspaper Survival Blog. The blog touts itself as a companion to The Student Newspaper Survival Guide. I think the site does a good job of illustrating how genre-specific blogs can be used as resources for gathering information about a specific topic.

This blog not only works to provide advice to college newspapers, but it also helps connects different college newspapers together. It gives examples of good things that have been accomplished by papers. It also provides information, almost in news story forms, about the state of student newspapers. Recently there was a post about a college newspaper that moved to be entirely online. The focus of genre-specific blogs is what makes them useful. They focus on gathering information and following one particular topic and can become an expert of sorts. The less successful ones try to do too much.

I think the newspaper survival blog hits the right balance by keeping track of the going-ons at different college newspapers in addition to giving general advice. It has become a tool that college newspapers can turn to. 

J 305 Compare & Contrast

The Olympian

I keep an eye on The Olympian's site because it's the paper from my home town area. It focuses much more on local news than the Washington Post. Since it is meant for a smaller audience, it's going to have smaller news stories than you would find in the Washington Post, things like car crashes and high school sports results. I actually wish that since the paper is in the state capital that it had a greater focus on politics and state government. I've always felt the paper didn't take advantage of its location enough in terms of what it chooses to cover. 

Fox News

This site definitely has an emphasis on national news. The headlines are typically catchier, I find, than some other news sites. Some of this can at times be contributed to sensationalism. This site also contains a greater collection of what I would describe as more obscure or odd stories in addition to the major nation stories. They're interesting, but not what traditionally would come to mind when you think of major or important news stories. The site is meant to reach a national audience, but is often accused of having a conservative bias.

The Washington Post

National and international news tends to lead on this Web site. The top stories are usually hard news. The site caters to a nationwide audience, though there is a bit more emphasis on the East Coast typically. This is my favorite news site. I think it does adhere to the Murrow standard of being fair and balanced. It often does investigative pieces and will do follow-up stories on breaking news with greater depth. It also always almost always has a few interesting multimedia projects and photo galleries in addition to the articles.