The Future of the Media.

How does one get informed about the news?

How many people have enough time to read a newspaper front to back every morning?

How many people have enough time to sit down and watch the 6 o’clock news every day?

By the time you’ve found out about a headline how long has it been since this was the main topic of discussion?

 Does it take you days to find out about something?

 Let’s use one example of headline news, are you just finding out about this topic now? If not, how long ago did you know about this?



Hazing.

In early September, a MJHL hockey team took part in a few "rookie initiation" events that were taken too far.

These said events eventually became a form of hazing because they were no longer done in "good fun" but in a more spiteful and humiliating way.

One victim of these events is only 15 years old. When his parents found out about the happenings they immediately took action.

Now back probably ten years ago, the most attention from the media this would have gotten would be front page of the town's newspaper, as well as MAYBE the news in nearby cities, and probably only a one-time appearance.

 Let’s fast forward to the present.

 This serious situation has gotten LOADS of media attention.

 I was out for wings the other night at Pony Corral and there was a 3 minute segment about it on TSN!

Seriously, TSN - that is HUGE. Everyone in the sports community watches TSN.

 It has made our Winnipeg Free Press front page for the last two days.

 It's on the MJHL website.

 It's on the CBC news website.

 Other blogs. - http://mikestackhouse.blogspot.com/2011/10/neepawa-natives-investigated-for-hazing.html

THE GLOBE AND MAIL!


 It's all over Facebook. Whether it’s statuses or even pictures of the newspaper articles.

 I've seen it on Twitter among some of my friends that used to play in the MJHL.

 This situation is being put on blast because the MJHL wants everyone to know what happened and that they are not taking it very lightly.

Everyone remembers the late hit Jesse Enns made at the end of last season. He got a 40 game suspension. Basically ended his MJ career.


The league has handed out an even HARSHER penalty to the Neepawa Natives because of this hazing incident. No, the players didn't get 40 games each, but a $5000 fine isn't easy money to come up with.

 With the victim's family speaking out against hazing, they hope other victims will feel that they can speak out too.

The media outlets these days are absolutely beneficial in terms of getting important messages out. The fact that news is so accessible with just the click of a button on your computer or smart phone is the real deal. I can't predict what the future holds, but it can only get better for media outlets. That's a guarantee.

Just Slow Down

With this fresh blanket of ICE on all of our cars and front yards I couldn't help but get a sense of panic from everyone.

We live in Winterpeg, Manitoba people - we should be used to this. Always be ready to pull your winter coat out in the middle of July. That's just the way it is.

On a more serious note, I know how careless some people can be on the road. When it comes to slippery winter conditions drivers need to be more cautious and sometimes that is not the case.

When I was in grade 12 two friends from my home town were killed in a car crash on Bishop Grandin.  Not something I would ever wish to happen to ANYONE. And especially never would I ever want anyone to feel the pain I felt.

Here is the video the two survivors of the accident made.
I will warn you it is very touching, I cry everytime I watch it. There is nothing gruesome about it, just a very sad story.

Like Tyler said in the video, "You shouldn't ever feel like you can't tell someone to slow down."


Safety first guys, stay aware of your surroundings and be careful on the road. Just because you're driving safely doesn't mean everyone else on the road is.

Power Nap? Nah, I'll do homework instead.

Bombers game is tomorrow. I'm tired.


Montreal is coming to CanadInns Stadium to face our BLUE AND GOLD. Still tired.


All 75 CreComm students get to go watch the game for a journalism assignment - oh the joy of school.*yawn*


I seriously hope the weather will be nice because I get cold VERY easily. *Maybe I'll be able to nap on the shoulder of the stranger sitting beside*

I will also be missing the Jets game tomorrow and believe me, Allison is not very happy about this. *Is she ever happy about anything?* *HEYALLDONTSAYTHAT*


But sometimes you just gotta take one for the team and suck it up, which is what I will do as I sit and watch the game. All alone. In the cold. With no idea about what is going on. Story of my life.


THANKFULLY Joanne was a complete BOSS this week and never gave us a news quiz because we spent our monday class talking about our city hall assignment,*imaginary crowd cheers in my head* and todays class going over our Bombers assignment. *still cheering.*


But hey, the City Council came to a decision, a new garbage and recycling program starts up next fall. Thats exciting right? *Sorry, dozed off for a second there, what'd you say?* 

Naturally everyone left their assignment until last minute so nobody got any sleep on Wednesday when our City Hall assignment was due the following morning. I had to work on Wednesday night after school. This is when the tiredness started to set in.


Spent todays spare completing my assignment for Tracey's class. Don't worry it's not nice at all - complete failure right here when it comes to InDesign. That program hates me. *Everything about CreComm hates me.*


I would love nothing more than to be able to devote my whole weekend to sleeping, but I've come to realize that CreComm students (and some instructors) just don't sleep.

This is me sleeping once. Back in the day of no CreComm and no auto-fails and no strict deadlines and no nightmares about Chris's class... Don't I look peaceful? *I'll never look like that again.*






Sleep is overrated and sleep is for the weak. You can sleep when you're dead.

The Fans still love ya, Jets.

Sunday went down as a great day in history for Winnipeg.

No the Jets didn't win their home opener but the atmosphere was unreal to say the least.

The MTS Centre was packed to the roof. Literally. I would say about 80% of the fans in there were in white, which was a good thing because that means when the Jets request a white-out, fans will know what to do.

The game started off with a ceremonial puck drop; Rick Rypien's mom had the honour.

Along with Rypien's mom in attendance were a few other known names.
Our Prime Minister Stephen Harper was there. He sat behind the Jets bench at ice-level. Pretty good seats if you ask me.

Gary Bettman, NHL's Commissioner was also there, as well as Premier Greg Selinger and Canada's Ambassador to the United States Gary Doer.

Selinger had a personalized Jets jersey with his last name on the back for a custom namebar and sported it with pride throughout the game.

As important as those names are to many people, the most important names in attendance were the last ones that belonged to each and every fan.

The loyal Jets fans that will come to every home game are who will make this team and franchise so successful this year and in the years to come.

You gotta give these people credit. They stay happy when our home team is losing, and they stay strong and loud when our home team is winning.

Tons of excitement filled the air and even though the Jets lost, the majority of the fans still had a happy attitude as they left the building.

HOWEVER;
I saw this poor little boy absolutely heartbroken and crying because the Jets lost. He was literally like 8 years old maybe. Die-Hard fans, gotta start em off young I guess.

It would take pages and pages to explain everything that happened during the day of the home opener, and the night for that matter, so maybe instead of me having to explain it; you should just try and get your hands on some tickets of your own so you can have the experience!

The Stress of CreComm is getting to me.

Im seriously gonna break this computer. Everytime I try to do something it just WONT let me do it. I've had the default background on this babygirl since I got it.

It drives me nuts.
I seriously have OCD when it comes to certain things and right now this computer is bringing out the worst in me.

As for another thing that is grinding my gears - I CANT COMMENT ON PEOPLE'S BLOGS BECAUSE INTERNET EXPLORER IS BEING STUBBORN. I totally just refrained from calling internet explorer what I really wanted to call it... stupid.

Another thing that is quite irksome- Predators home opener was tonight and I didnt get to watch it because

POINT A: We apparently dont have the channel that was covering the game at Bridgestone Arena tonight. (Dad needs to be fixin that reeeeeeeeal quick)

POINT B: I fell asleep for the starting of it because CreComm drains the life out of every human being. and last but not least

POINT C: The power kept going out so every time it would turn back on my guide would display, "To Be Announced" on every channel while it was trying to receive information back. Took me like half hour to surf through the channels until I gave up.

On the brighter side of life, I get to go skate at the MTS Centre tomorrow for a little recap before the big day on Sunday! Look for me on the Jumbo-Tron homies! But i'm being rude right now tucked away in my room on this Friday night, G-ma and G-pa are in to visit.

I'll leave you with the video to one of the songs on the constant playlist in my head. Toodleloooo.

I'm no David Carr, but I hope to be one day.

On Tuesday, October 4 I was a journalist.
Or at least I was pretending to be. For school we were sent out to a candidates office or headquarters to report on the provincial election.
I went to Judy Eastman's headquarters in Southdale and at first I didn't know what to do.
I walked in, clipboard in hand, and everyone in there just stared at me.
One guy, (turned out to be a CreComm grad), took one look at me and said, "CreComm?"
How did he know!? Was I that obvious? Apparently the worried look on my face and Red River College clipboard gave me away.
He pointed me in the direction of Judy's office and told me, "go quick before it gets too hectic in here."
I was so glad he was there because he really helped me out and kinda told me what to do and where to sit.
I got a few minutes in with each family member that was there which was kinda cool because it gave me a little more background information on the situation.
In the end, Judy didn't win enough votes to become the incumbent but she wasn't gonna let the loss ruin the party. I wish I coulda stayed because she was such a nice lady!
She made a beautiful, tear-jerking, brave speech and encouraged everyone present to take part in the festivities. Champagne and beers were offered to me by like eight different people and I had to kindly decline. (UNWILLINGLY MIGHT I ADD, CRECOMM IS PURE STRESS!)
After I'd interviewed Judy and got what I needed I drove home and typed on Microsoft Word until my fingers bled. 
I felt pretty accomplished after my paper was done, as a result bloodshot eyeballs and an empty stomach told me to call it a night.
Naturally I figured I'd just auto-failed, but guess what guys!
We got our marks back today and Ally-Pat got her first 7.5 !
Life is looking up, I guess I shouldn't give up on this whole CreComm thing entirely.


Next blog post will be about our beloved Jets home opener this Sunday. If you're coming to the game, BRING THE NOISE! And for the love of hockey and Winnipeg, do not boo Bettman, I know there are tons of mixed emotions about this guy but we don't wanna look like them Canuck fans. Winnipeggers are not a "classless bunch" so lets prove it to the people in the arena and the people watching our team on tv.