This picture represents the axess program of Journalism and Democracy.
The axess program came about in June, 2009. This program highlights two major questions.‘How should journalism serve the public?’ and ‘What happens as the old media world order changes?’

The Revolutionary War from a journalistic perspective!

Sowing the seeds of Revolution: I chose this chapter because this is where journalism began. Journalist like Adams and Paine inspired people to live independently. The war had a lot of negative affects during that time but if it wasn’t for Paine and Adams, America would be under British Rule. Now understanding Paine and Adam’s purpose during the war, I wish I could personally thank them. I love being independent!!!!

 This Picture illustrates the Revolutionary war soilders. (sonofthesouth.net)

The book “Mightier then the Sword” by Rodger Streitmatter discusses how the news media shaped American History. The American Revolution was one of the major points that have shaped American history and this was a desperate time for all the colonies as Britain was in control.

(partyhireauckland.co.nz)
56 men signed their names to the Declaration of independence. These men demanded freedom from an oppressive government.  It all started in 1763 when Britain’s victory over the French left Britain bankrupt. Colonial legislation didn’t raise enough revenue to satisfy Britain. Britain took matters into their own hands by taxing all their goods making it impossible for people to afford. Ideas were stirring among the people and this is where the press came in to defend the good of human kind. The writing of this era appeared in newspapers, magazines, and pamphlets that expressed arguments of the rebels. Prominent voice of the Boston Gazette argued that Britain parliament imposed taxes along the colonies. The press believed they should establish laws among the colonies instead of having one king rule all. Sam Adams believed in this and took control into his own hands. He started the “Journal of Occurrences” which documented the British wrong doings. Adams then got other Boston agents involved and they started publishing the stories by sending them to John Holt, who published the “ New York Journal” by using all of their stories. Adam’s main purpose was to bring terror against the British troops and by showing people what Britain was doing to their colonists. Adams would document dates and have descriptions on what the troops were doing like a diary. The Boston Massacre occurred when soldiers killed colonists just because of a few snowballs. This upset Adams, which caused him to document that incident as well.

The cover of Thomas Paine's Book "Common Sense"(stratobooks.com)

Another bold journalist’s, Thomas Paine who came into the picture in April 1775 was employed under British consent to collect taxes on liquor and other items. He gave himself the option of higher pay and his workers had gotten the same benefit. Britain was distraught by this idea and fired him on the spot. This didn’t stop Paine at all; it only encouraged him to show Britain’s true colors. Benjamin Franklin admired his perseverance and encouraged him to go to America. He arrived in Philadelphia and Benjamin’s connection led him to edit the “Pennsylvania magazine.”  This gained Paine a reputation and a force to be reckoned with. Thomas Paines “Common Sense” evolved after Benjamin Rush encouraged him to write an essay on the future American colonies. Common Sense argued that,“ Those men and women not only deserved, but were obligated as citizens of the human race, to demand much more”(Streitmatter 17). The Common Sense was a success and Paine’s word’s had a significant impact to the American Revolution. They say it wasn’t the main cause of the war but it defiantly got the colonists fired up. Although the American men weren’t doing to well during the time of the war, Washington encouraged him to write a crisis essay to motivate the troops. The crisis paper was printed in the “Pennsylvania Journal” and copies were passed out to all colonies. Thomas Paine took it as his duty to write out 12 crisis papers, and they were published in December 1783 inspiring colonists to seek independence.  “For these publications News Media shaped American history publications produced in 1760-1770s helped lead colonists toward political and social revolution” (22). These negative reports on Britain had positive reactions which helped persuade British officials to send troops home and end the war.
My information that I have gathered to write this excerpt on chapter one came all from “Mightier then the Sword” by Rodger Streitmatter. 

The American Revolutionary War

This video basically lays out the events that lead to the Revolutionary War.

This video was designed by Kieran who is a subscriber to youtube. His user name
is "triplebaseball's" on youtube.
He has some pretty awsome stuff, you guys should check it out!

My choice!

Grover Cleveland Hall

       All my information that I attained came from Mightier than the Sword, by Rodger Streitmatter. I chose this chapter because I was interested in knowing about the Ku Klux Klan. The title of the Chapter just stuck out to me compared to the other ones. It was interesting to find out how they came about and why they don’t exist anymore.  One person that stuck out to me was Grover Cleveland Hall. He printed out editorials to show the KKK's wrong doings. He won a Pulitzer Prize for it, but even better he is recognized in Journalism forever.

Summary of Chapter 7

      
I uploaded this picture from Google. Just thought I would share some humor after all this KKK talk!
         

 This Chapter talks about the Ku Klux Klan and how it would have taken over the world if Journalism didn’t exist to witness it. The KKK was very religious, all American white men, who were against minorities. It hit the fan in 1921 when flyers were printed out saying that the Klan was exposed. Articles were soon printed after that talking about how the KKK should be illegal. The KKK filed for a libel suit trying to cover up their secret society. Rowland Thomas was one step ahead of them, and had already made copies of the “World” to use as evidence. They were finally bare! The media was all over their scam and were already printing out articles to expose them for the evil monsters they were. The “New York World”, “Memphis Commercial Appeal”, and “Montgomery Advertiser” were the reason this all happened.

Ku Klux Klan

Chapter 7 Defying the Ku Klux Klan:

- William Joseph led a dozen men up a rocky trail on the granite crest of Stone Mountain.

                - With the Bible in hand, the preacher led the men to the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan

                - KKK captured the governorship and enough of the legislature to ban parochial schools.

                - The anti-Klan campaign began in 1921 in the New York World

Sweeping the Nation:

                -The original KKK was formed in 1866 to prevent slaves from exercising their rights.

                -KKK promised to provide better schools, improve laws, and hold the traditional values that were being threatened by the roaring twenties

                - Their secret society was growing larger everyday

The New York World Hurls a Hand Grenade:

                -In 1921, NY ads were posted that read “Ku Klux Klan exposed!”

                - The KKK scammed 40 million dollars in initiation fees

                - Articles were being printed talking about how the KKK was illegal and immoral

                - When the word got out, KKK purchased 3000 copies of the world

                -When that didn’t work, they threatened to sue for making false accusations

                - The reporter, Rowland Thomas made copies of these articles so he can expose them to the police.

The Commercial Appeal in Hand-to Hand Combat

                -In 1923, the Klan-newspaper unfolded in Memphis

                -“Commercial Appeal” criticized the Klan as a “money making scam” (115)

                - There were cartoon drawings of the Klan showing them as cowards hiding behind a mask

                - The “Commercial Appeal” and the Klan were finally at a war

                -Elected W. Joe Wood for mayor and other Klan’s-men for the Memphis City commission

                - To piss off the “Commercial Appeal”, they hosted the protest right across the street from the building.

                - “Commercial Appeal” posted more stories about the Klan negatively

                -Klan was defeated, 60 percent of the vote went to Major Paine

                - Congratulated the newspaper “Commercial Appeal” for revealing the Klan

The Montgomery Advertiser Wages War

                -The “Montgomery Advertiser” should also get some praise for the KKK defeat

                -Grover Cleveland Hall editor of “Montgomery Advertiser”

                - His editorials illustrated specific events that happened

                -New York Times stated “The floggings are attributed to the salutary moral forces of the Ku Klux Klan, the ruler of Alabama” (122).

                - Hall listed each negative thing about Alabama and added his own opinions about the Klan

                - The Advertiser could be sued for all the negative things that it said about the KKK. We’re talking about 25,000 dollars.

                - Hall was infuriated and immediately did something about it

                - Won a Pulitzer Prize in 1928

Turning Back the Ku Klux Klan:

                -The “New York World”, “Memphis Commercial Appeal”, and “Montgomery Advertiser” were all a positive effect in Journalism.

                -Huge impact on New York City

                -KKK couldn’t attract our fellow New Yorkers

                -John Hohenberg wrote the “Pulitzer Prize Story” that covered the anti-Klan

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." -Martin Luther King Jr.

I chose this chapter because it touched me in so many ways. It really opened my eyes in what African Americans went through back in that time. Thank god the television was invented because it had a big impact on changing the minds of the white Americans! Martin Luther King is also an amazing leader and really led the African Americans to freedom. Journalism really influenced change throughout the Civil Rights Movement! If Martin Luther King was around right now he would be so proud of America today!