Storytelling Vs Journalism

In discovering new experiences of New Media and Journalism techniques, I have come to analyse and decipher, what the difference is between a piece of Storytelling, and a piece of Journalism. There are many new forms of media available to the modern Journalist; Twitter, a form of micro blogging, Storify, a use of interactive and social media to tell a story, and websites such as Video Fu, Unsungnewyorkers, and Cowbird.

I have a quote from the website Cowbird.com, as they aim to tell the user, what their website is intending to achieve.

‘Cowbird allows you to keep a beautiful audio-visual diary of your life, and to collaborate with others in documenting the overarching “sagas” that shape our world today. Sagas are themes and events that touch millions of lives and shape the human story.

Our short-term goal is to pioneer a new form of participatory journalism, grounded in the simple human stories behind major news events. Our long-term goal is to build a public library of human experience, so the knowledge and wisdom we accumulate as individuals may live on as part of the the commons, available for this and future generations to look to for guidance.’

I specifically looked at the story of Baz and Corina, after being shown this in a seminar. This is available at http://cowbird.com/story/7831. This is a piece of storytelling, that overviews life, in a documentary format.

Video Fu, or Vimeo, is another type of user generated content (UGC), which provides the public an outlet to tell a story. I have specifically looked at a story by Jessica Yu, otherwise known as Mr Toilet. (Available at: http://vimeo.com/34792993). The video is an informative piece of storytelling on a specific topic, providing its viewers with information for a specific purpose.

Examples such as these have begun to probe me to question what my role as a Journalist will be, if the forms such as these, are available for the public to use, and essentially, provide their own stories, and pieces of news.

The intended messages that a piece of news or a story provides, shapes the reaction from its intended audiences, and influences them to further question how that piece of news or story can or does relate to them. This I feel is where the merging line between users providing a story, and a professional providing a piece of Journalism becomes opaque.

So what is the difference between Storytelling and Journalism?

Storytelling techniques have altered and adapted under the licence and formats of new media platforms and outlets. Advanced methods in communicating an intended message, have inclined users of the internet to produce content of their own that is of a journalistic nature.

So what separates these new media contents of Storytelling from pieces of Journalism?

A journalistic piece of content must have an intended audience; with an intended purpose, and specific need of production value, to produce something that is in the interest to the intended audience through the nature of the communication. A documentary produced for a specific purpose could be interpreted as a piece of journalism, but the intended purpose of the production dictates whether or not that the piece is a journalistic piece, or a new media form of storytelling.

All good journalists communicate a story through the intended medium provided to the specific audience. The online audience sees a difference of what is considered to be journalism, and what is considered storytelling.  Take the example from Cowbird.com, the story of Baz and Corina; a message of communication, a piece of storytelling, a new media form of communicating a story using a specific hosted website. This, however, is not what could be considered a piece of journalism, as the intended message has no specific target audience. Similarly to a video of content uploaded to websites such as YouTube; a mass medium provider of content, providing people with means to communicate a message, or a story, or indeed journalism. But the intended audiences are not a specifically desired or intended audience, which provokes a public interest in the provided subject or content. This same rule applies to the video of Baz and Corina, although communicated through a new online medium of storytelling; it is a life documentary, but not a piece of journalism.

A piece of journalism is provided to send or deliver a fact or a message singularly or in groups, that has a specifically desired target audience, with a specific public interest. Even if the provided story is local to one location, of interest to a specific audience, if it provides the message to the desired specific audience, it can be considered journalism. Take the example of the unsungnewyorkers.com video of sanitation. (Available at: http://unsungnewyorkers.com/san-men.html) It is a short documentary based story that has a specific target audience. A viewer watching this from another part of the world may not have the intended message sent to them, but the hosted website provides a medium to communicate the message that is intended to be delivered to the intended audience.

How does this affect the common role of a Journalist?

The dominating news organisations of power, such as the BBC, Sky, CNN, amongst others, will not provide the journalistic content that can be provided through some of these online mediums. They are short, specific, and tell a story. It would be unviable to provide stories such as these on mainstream news, although interesting, fulfilling, and ultimately entertaining; they have vague and unidentified target audiences.

But, as a journalist, I find that empowering, to know that I don’t have to be a corporate moneymaking machine of journalistic empowerment. If I can merely communicate a message through new media technologies, using mediums provided to give an outlet to communicate my message in a journalism based story; I am thus equally empowered in providing a required piece of journalism, to my specifically intended target audience, delivering my message of communication, and the facts, all through new media forms of online storytelling.

Recording of footage for client

Video recording with client

Today I filmed more footage for my client’s video. He would like to include examples in his video of him training other people as a personal trainer to help promote this part of his job. I filmed various aspects of this role today, along with taking some photographs. Also, one of the clients may produce a written piece for a testimonial section on the website, as my client would like to place some success stories on to his website as proof of his success.

I will look through the footage of today to pick the best sections, and then inform my client of how these could be incorporated into the video. I will also be meeting my client later this week to discuss the website.

Meeting rescheduled

I was due to meet my client today to discuss possible sequences for the video, and do storyboards to outline the plans for how the video will flow and look. We were also due to look at some websites and decide on one, and also to look at colour wheels to decide on the colours for the website.

This has now been rescheduled due to my client’s commitments.

I will however do some initial plans for some of the video, as I have gained a sufficient amount of photographs and footage, both new and old form my client.

I have also recently done a filming of him, of which his fitness class was recorded, and this will be selected along with others to include for the video.

CATS Proposal

Essay Proposal

The effects of war have often acted as a catalyst for photographers and journalists.

The way wars are communicated to a reader or viewer can often be the only source of intelligence that the public receive into war relations. I would like to use examples of what is considered true journalism and photography, such as the Life magazine’s reporting on WW2, and compare these to ‘unknown’ or or propaganda tools used, and how these have been exploited, such as in the Drama, ‘The Promise,’ which covered the war in Palestine and Israel. This would explore the reasoning of journalists and reporters actions, such as claims of how ‘we’ the British public are/will be affected by the situations, and how the wars are available and accessible, to enable journalists to report ‘the truth.’ Photography, such as Life Magazine, would be a good example of old fashioned and traditional work in the area surrounding war, and I intend to refer to examples such as this and visual examples from news channels such as the BBC, to highlight the differences. Ultimately, I would argue wars being a reason to report, or a reason to exploit for journalists.

Sources:

Books

Alan.S; (2004), Reporting War: Journalism in Wartime. 1st Ed: Routledge.

This source covers subjects such as; when war is reduced to a photograph, TV war, journalists, professionalism, and identification in war, and examples of specific wars such as The Balkans, Persian Gulf, and African Savagery.

Crook, T; (2010), Comparative Media Law and Ethics. 1st ed. Oxon, United States: Routledge.

This title looks at the way journalists provoke actions from the public regarding war. It also has ethical issues and law regulations for journalists.

Foerstel, H; (2006), Killing the messenger, Journalists at risk in modern warfare. 1st Ed. United States: Praeger.

This explores key features in reporting in war for photographers and correspondents, and how it is accessible for them, including examples from Iraq.

John, A.V; (2006), The life and times of Henry W. Nevinson. 1st Ed. New York: Tauris and Co Ltd.

A book that explores a war correspondent’s life, as it has topics such as; a corresponding cause, the South African war, and how this journalist corresponded in the First World War This source may give some specific examples of war reporting, and identify the catalyst for reporting wars at them times.  

Jorgensen, K; (2009), The Handbook of Journalism Studies. 1st Ed. New York: Routledge

This source contains features on the truth in war and journalism, war shaping practises of journalism, and key journalism and war dates.

Magazines and Journals

Unknown author; (1951), Americas Long Range Striking Force. Life Magazine, 27.09.51. 17, 22.

This is a specific magazine that I will investigate, and use examples from to support my argument.

Websites

Austin Cline, about.com. 2006. Journalism During War. [ONLINE] Available at: http://atheism.about.com/b/2006/07/18/journalism-during-war-patriotism-vs-journalistic-responsibility.htm. [Accessed 22 February 12].

This website uses examples of journalist work in war, and also, how a journalist reports in war, and the issues surrounding this.

Alternative Questions

If my essay does not unfold and materialise how I had first intended, I have alternative questions with a short summary of what I would cover and investigate for each.

1. The rise in social media is changing the nature of contemporary society.

Reason: How social media is impacting on real life decisions, and how it is changing the methods of communicating a story to readers through interactive mediums, such as Twitter, and Storify. I would look at the difference between storytelling by public through interactive communications and visual media, and the way journalists are using social media as a new form of communicating their stories. How can the difference be identified, and what separates a story being a piece of journalism and news, from just being a story.

2. Compare the terms interpret and negotiate in relation to the process by which viewers and readers make meaning in relation to a journalist’s intentions.

Reason: I would consider the broadsheets and tabloids headlines on similar storylines, such as the Princess Dianna death, The war in Iraq, and Prime Minister elections, to draw the interpretations made in each, and compare these to identify the way the newspaper is intending to negotiate the terms they are trying to employ to their readers, and influence them to have a particular view or understanding through the way their message is communicated.

3.       Discuss changing representations of femininity and masculinity in visual culture, and the factors that have influenced them.

Reason: I may look at the different ways in which the world of journalism has evolved and women have integrated into what was once a male dominated occupation. Has the equality of visuals such as women appearing on specific news Television as presenters, rather than being the ‘sidekick’ or just the weather girl, made the occupation more open, or led the leading organisations to use women as a balancing tool on air. (The fact that BBC news, either have one woman, or one man solely presenting, or one man and one woman, or sometimes two women, but never two men)

 

Bibliography

Books

Alan.S; (2004), Reporting War: Journalism in Wartime. 1st Ed: Routledge.

Crook, T; (2010), Comparative Media Law and Ethics. 1st ed. Oxon, United States: Routledge.

Foerstel, H; (2006), Killing the messenger, Journalists at risk in modern warfare. 1st Ed. United States: Praeger.

John, A.V; (2006), The life and times of Henry W. Nevinson. 1st Ed. New York: Tauris and Co Ltd.

Jorgensen, K; (2009), The Handbook of Journalism Studies. 1st Ed. New York: Routledge

Magazines and Journals

Unknown author; (1951), Americas Long Range Striking Force. Life Magazine, 27.09.51. Pg. 17, 22.

Websites

Austin Cline, about.com. 2006. Journalism During War. [ONLINE] Available at: http://atheism.about.com/b/2006/07/18/journalism-during-war-patriotism-vs-journalistic-responsibility.htm. [Accessed 22 February 12].

CATS Questions for Essay

After been given the choice of questions to decide from, I have identified four of which I believe I can relate most efficiently to my vocation.

CATS essay ideas

Questions I may consider:

1.       Discuss changing representations of femininity and masculinity in visual culture, and the factors that have influenced them.

Reason: I may look at the different ways in which the world of journalism has evolved and women have integrated into what was once a male dominated occupation. Has the equality of visuals such as women appearing on specific news Television as presenters, rather than being the ‘sidekick’ or just the weather girl, made the occupation more open, or led the leading organisations to use women as a balancing tool on air. (The fact that BBC news, either have one woman, or one man solely presenting, or one man and one woman, or sometimes two women, but never two men)

2. Compare the terms interpret and negotiate in relation to the process by which viewers and readers make meaning in relation to a journalist’s intentions.

Reason: I would consider the broadsheets and tabloids headlines on similar storylines, such as the Princess Dianna death, The war in Iraq, and Prime Minister elections, to draw the interpretations made in each, and compare these to identify the way the newspaper is intending to negotiate the terms they are trying to employ to their readers, and influence them to have a particular view or understanding through the way their message is communicated.

3. The effects of war have often acted as a catalyst for photographers and journalists.

Reason: The way wars are communicated to a reader or viewer can often be the only source of intelligence that the public receive into war relations. I would like to use examples of true journalism and photography, such as the Life magazine’s reporting on WW2, and compare these to ‘unknown’ or or propaganda tools used, and how these have been exploited, such as in the Drama, ‘The Promise,’ which covers the war in Palestine and Israel.  I would argue wars being a reason to report or a reason to exploit for journalists.

4. The rise in social media is changing the nature of contemporary society.

Reason: How social media is impacting on real life decisions, and how it is changing the methods of communicating a story to readers through interactive mediums, such as Twitter, and Storify. I would look at the difference between storytelling by public through interactive communications and visual media, and the way journalists are using social media as a new form of communicating their stories. How can the difference be identified, and what separates a story being a piece of journalism and news, from just being a story.

Writing Exercises, Newsroom Exercises (Final)

THE SPEEDY CHEATER HUHNE RACES OUT THE DOOR

CHRIS Huhne dramatically resigned as an MP, as claims about his private life have tarnished his reputation. 
The former Energy Secretary had allegedly flanked a driving ban that he would have received over nine years ago, after asking his Wife, Vicky Pryce to pick up the points.

Huhne was driving through Essex when his car was picked up on camera, and has dodged these claims since March 2003.

Essex police investigated the father of five and love cheat, for eight months, after the Crown Prosecution Service demanded that they investigate Huhne and his Wife.

It surfaced in May 2011, that Ms Pryce had taken the points on her ex-husband’s behalf, meaning both her and the love rat could face charges of perverting the court of justice if found guilty.

His love affair with his PR advisor, Carina Triminham, first caused Huhne’s rep to be slated, as it was exposed in June 2010. The Lib Dem MP also caused havoc, when he nicknamed the Deputy PM Nick Clegg, ‘Calamity Clegg,’ whilst running for leader of the party.

The millionaire’s political position was finally placed into jeopardy, as QC Keir Starmer, of the Crown Prosecution Service, made a public statement on the 2^nd of February confirming that there will be possible charges against Huhne. This, only the next day, Huhne spoke to David Cameron, and resigned, only to later plead his innocence to the PM.

The court case is due to take place on 16^th February, and if found guilty, Huhne and his ex could receive a sentence of up to a year.

He had branded the decision to bring him into court ‘regrettable’, and Huhne has insisted that he will return to office, once he has banished the claims. The Deputy PM, Nick Clegg has offered support from the Lib Dem party, and has also urged Huhne to clear his name.

Writing Exercises Draft 3 Obama Article

YANK-ING THE CHAIN ON OBAMA

HIS reign as the face of the U.S is in doubt, as the American public will decide the fate of their current leader in this year’s upcoming election.

The punchy Presidents points plummet, as Obama looks increasingly unlikely to regain his position as leader of America later this year. A recent survey by The Harris Poll found that only 36 percent of Americans believe that Obama will be re-elected. There are currently four Republican candidates in the running to challenge the President, and in January, the poll found that under half would vote him in to power again.

Why the change?

In the same survey, the direction of the United States is going down the pan according to 75 percent of Americans. They feel that the government should challenge important issues… such as unemployment.
That is according to 42 percent of Americans; the other 58 percent must be the employed people. That percentage is split up into people that think the government should challenge healthcare, taxes, and the economy.

The great country of America seems to be in a state of emergency, as that equates to 100 percent of the American public believing that the country has major issues. Surely a man who has lead a country into a state of crisis such as this should be reprimanded and put in front of court for crimes against his country?

Not guilty your honor, I hear.

Why is that?

Let’s take a look at the past year, and what Obama has done for his country. He visited the home nation of Ireland, and delayed all flights in and out of Dublin for 30 minutes, whilst receiving gifts from the people of Offaly, including an ancient scroll, and a diamond pendent in the shape of an Offaly flower for Miss Obama.

Not Helping?

He had promised to pull all American troops out of Iraq, and in December 2011, the plug was pulled as the last convoy of U.S troops left after a nine year stay in the Middle East. A big step forward in his pledge for American votes, but when it comes to the British public, what do they think of Obama, and what would they like to see happen?

A spokesperson from Hull College described President Obama as ''a big lame duck, someone who stays in his office all day, and doesn’t do his job.''

Well, if that’s the thoughts of the rest of the British public, Obama must be quacking in his boots.

 

Research with Client

Research – 10/02/2012

After meeting with my client today, we discussed several aspects of the video and website that he would like produced. There are many website management providers, as already discussed, and I showed him some of the more suitable ones I had found to ask his thoughts. We also looked at some fitness industry websites and videos, to gain an idea of what it is he may want producing, and also, the type of video he would like to be produced. We discussed several other aspects such as the sequences for the video, what photographs may be included, and I gained some photographs for later viewing, of which I will use for the archives for the video.

The websites we looked at were the official bodybuilding website, www.bodybuilding.com , and also the NPA website, http://www.npabodybuilding.com/ , of which my client features on form a previous competition he had entered. These websites gave a clear insight into the fitness and bodybuilding landscape, and have influenced me to create a more pictured storyboard for the video, of which will be completed at a later date.

We also looked at some videos on YouTube, of fitness videos that have been compiled. These are; Zyzz, a recently deceased bodybuilder, who had gained tremendous coverage from his self-produced videos, and had also featured in competitions. The videos can be found at simplyshred.com under the name Zyzz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCcspuf0fxo&feature=related.   

We also looked at bodybuilding by Zhasni, on YouTube. This is a specific bodybuilding video producer, who has covered events such as the Mr Olympia, the world’s most prestigious bodybuilding competition, and he has interviewed professional bodybuilders in his videos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pChUjQwobmQ

I also discussed possible layouts with my client for the website. After showing him some examples, I had sketched a rough idea of the layouts that I had in mind, of which he commented that he liked and would be pleased with that layout.

We do however, still need to select a specific website to host his video and produce the content with, but my client has said that he will draw up a shortlist of these, and also give me more insight into what it is he would actually like to have on his website.

We also discussed the use of Twitter, and I will at a later date, set up his account, and find some useful contacts, and then provide a live link to his produced website.

Next Week:

After discussing all of these aspects, we have set a target for next week to discuss the sequence, and also to record some video footage of him at work training a class in a fitness workout. We will also work on a storyboard, and possible still pictures that may be included, as I gained a sufficient amount to select from and some of these may want to be included as stills in the final video, as well as on the website.

Writing Exercises draft 2

YANK-ING THE CHAIN ON OBAMA

HIS reign as the face of the U.S is in doubt, as the American public will decide the fate of their current leader in this year’s upcoming election.

President Obama looks increasingly unlikely to regain his position as leader of America later this year, as a recent survey by The Harris Poll found that only 36 percent of Americans believe that Obama will be re-elected. There are currently four Republican candidates in the running to challenge the President, and in January, the poll found that only 41 percent would vote him in to power again.

Why the change?

In the same survey, the direction of the United States is going down the pan according to 75 percent of Americans. They feel that the government should challenge important issues… such as unemployment and jobs. That’s according to 42 percent of Americans; the other 58 percent must be the employed people. That percentage is split up into people that think the government should challenge healthcare, taxes, and the economy. The great country of America seems to be in a state of emergency, as that equates to 100 percent of the American public believing that the country has major issues. Surely a man who has lead a country into a state of crisis such as this should be reprimanded and put in front of court for crimes against his country?

Not guilty your honor I hear.

Why is that?

Lets take a look at the past year, and what Obama has done for his country. He visited the home nation of Ireland, and delayed all flights in and out of Dublin for 30 minutes, whilst receiving gifts from the people of Offaly, including an ancient scroll, and a diamond pendent in the shape of an Offaly flower for Miss Obama.

Not Helping?

He had promised to pull all American troops out of Iraq, and in December 2011, the plug was pulled as the last convoy of U.S troops.

A Hull College spokesman, Obama is one big lame duck, one of them people who stays in a room and doesn’t do his job.

Fitness Websites Research

  I have researched some fitness websites, some are for fitness professionals specifically, to create, and some are actual websites of fitness professionals. In doing this, I have found that the mood of the websites tend to be centred on bright, punchy, and advertising style approach. The websites are generally clean, and look vibrant, to stimulate the eyes when viewing. They also have a lot of graphical images suggesting what fitness may look like, in a Man or Woman representing and demonstrating some training.

The set up websites that are aimed at fitness professionals are centred on gaining advertising, and suggest that the website will be more clinical and successful, if created through those. http://www.fitnesswebsiteformula.com/ was a website I found:

It advertises that the traffic to websites will be guaranteed and that it is designed specifically for fitness professionals.

This is the type of approach I have found from these websites, but I will ask my client if he would prefer to create a site through using one of these, or a generic style website.

I will create Moodboards with the client to investigate the style and approach he would like to envisage when I am in the process of creating his website.

Research for websites

Research on Websites

I have looked at some content management systems for the website that I would like to create for my client. In doing this, I have found that there are a few that can be used for free, and would give a sufficient amount of availablity that my client would need to make a practical website. I would reccomend that he would use a type of website and managment system such as any of the ones I have researched, as they may look more professional than a blog style website.

I will look at some other websites such as Wordpress, and discuss with my client the potential management of the website.

I would like to create something that could be handed over once completed and easy and free to update, and accessible to use regularly without professional help or guidance.

These are some of the websites I have discovered. I will discuss these with my client to see which he may prefer to use.

Assignment Brief for DMCC 4

Assignment Brief

Start date – 23^rd January 2012

Finish date – 11^th May 2012          Module Title: DMCC 4

Produce a 2 ½ minute (minimum) Video for a client.

Learning Outcomes:

Propose and appraise a solution to a work related problem

Predict and evaluate the potential or actual outcomes of the proposal and impact on future working practices

Assess and draw conclusions from the value of work related learning experiences in relation to future career path.

Brief:

I will compile and form an appropriate promotional video for a client in the fitness industry to aid and promote them as a business. In order to do this, I will collect a range of footage and photographs, and collate these to make a suitable video. In addition, this video will be placed on a created website, to help promote and advertise the client to external potential clients and other opportunities. The website will be appropriate for content and suitable to host the completed video.

Scenario

Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer, Alex Foreman, requires a video and website to promote himself and his skills to potential clientele. This would entail a collaboration of himself training, training others, taking and instructing fitness classes, and competing as a bodybuilder. The website will incorporate this video as a promotion, and the website will also include a slideshow reel of photographs to showcase. In order to advertise this site to a wider audience, I will also create a Twitter account for the client, and place a link on this to his website. I will also create a live twitter feed on the website. This would hope to build up relationships and clientele. The website will also contain sections on a varied amount of fitness related topics. These would include training methods, diet tips, as well as a personal profile, and Bodybuilding bio. I will write all of these contents form a journalistic aspect, to help promote the client.

What I will need to do

• Collect and take all footage and photographs of the client
• Set up a Twitter account for the client
• Create moodboards for the potential website
• Produce an appropriate website
• Produce a professional standard promotional video with additional content (music)
• Write the material for the website
• Produce a completed website incorporating the video

Timescales

The pre-production phase including a collection of footage, photographs, website planning and moodboards for the site, would hope to be completed by: 31/03/12

The collaboration of the video itself will be completed by: 01/05/12

All website content and production will be completed by a deadline of: 11/05/12

Mr Toilet Video

Blog post on sanitation Video

Today we watched a short film on sanitation, by Dr Jessica Yu. (Mr Toilet) http://vimeo.com/34792993
This video illustrated points of poor sanitation across the world, particularly in India.

The statistics showcased within the video, highlighted significant masses of unhygienic and dangerous sanitation and self-health care.

From a journalistic perspective, the video was very powerful in making and illustrating its point whilst also providing humour and useful facts and knowledge.

It involved a high content of appropriate footage and animation photography, to draw attention and create a clear and precise image of the videos purpose.

The shortness of the film really made the importance of it more critically precise and trimmed to suit the audience. The audio and the visuals integrated and combined well to project the overall intended image and purpose of the media.

Voice artist Visit

A voice artist visited our group today and discussed her job role and work that a voice artist does.

We listened to a series of captions from TV and radio, and discussed these reflecting on the voices used, the target audiences, the styles they would have used, and how these differ.

I then took part in having an attempt myself. There were scripts to read from, and particular styles and approaches had to be used to project the script in the way it was intended.

After having a few attempts at doing this, we then had a script, and recorded these attempts in a studio.

The experience was something that I had not come across previously, but was interested in.

It was compelling to attempt the different styles and approaches to voice interpretations, and to experience the fun and difficulties surrounding this.

Upon reflection, the experience was something that I enjoyed, but it also opened my horizons to new opportunities, and would be something I would like to try once again, and harness it into a skill that could be used professionally.

Timescale for video

I would aim to have the initial stages of the project such as planned activities, photo opportunities, and scenes, to be completed by the end of February.

The photography and video files would aim to be all shot and compiled by middle of March, and the final product produced before the first week in May

New Ideas for Video

Fitness Video,

Client: Alex Foreman

Purpose: Promotional

Video contents: personal training, fitness instructing.

Including:

·         Alex training,

·         Alex taking a fitness class,

·         Training others,

·         Bodybuilding,

·         Competing,

·         Before and after look

Make a promotion of all of this.

Set up a website, to promote video, and add content such as; Diet tips, bodybuilding, training tips, photo reels, slideshows, Twitter feeds.

Writing Exercises

400 word tabloid on lead story.

YANK-ING THE CHAIN ON OBAMA

HIS reign as the face of the U.S is in doubt, as the American public will decide the fate of their current leader in the upcoming election.

President Obama looks increasingly unlikely to regain his position as leader of America later this year, as a recent survey by The Harris Poll found that only 36 percent of Americans believe that Obama will be re-elected. There are currently four Republican candidates in the running to challenge the President, and in January, the poll found that only 41 percent would vote him in to power again.

Why the change? In the same survey, the direction of the United States is going down the pan according to 75 percent of Americans. They feel that the government should challenge important issues such as unemployment and jobs.

A Hull College spokesman, Obama is one big lame duck, one of them people who stays in a room and doesn’t do his job.