Capturing the Truth

This example was shown in class today.  13 Seconds in August In combination to the Inauguration Day 2009 pictures that were taken second by second and placed together.  Showing you from the very back to behind the scenes.

I feel that these two types of reporting are the closet you can get to capturing the truth.  Both are done in original ways.  One is audio, visual and text.  The other is photographs, taken by anyone and everyone, placed in succession.  Sorted by time stamps, they are submitted by anyone who was there.  Both have balanced views from the inside out.   Those who put these together dedicated their time, staff and used all of their resources to the best of abilities.  Going above and beyond what has been expected from journalism for decades.

Although, the first cannot be done in J2, the later definitely can be.  If the school has a symposium this year, I think it’d be a wonderful thing to try out.  We could combine the efforts of J2 class as well as the Hoof Print editors and J1students.  Submissions could be sent in by any of the students at BHS.  Although I think it would take days to complete, it could be done.  I’m sure there’s some sort of program that organizes by time stamps.

I’ll edit this later or make a new post when I’m able to find the images from Inauguration Day 09.

Tags: truth

29.Jan.09 Assignments Comments (0)

What is Truth? Almost nothing.

By Webster’s definition truth is:

Truth – noun.

Pronunciation: \‘trüth\

Etymology:

Middle English trewthe, from Old English trēowth fidelity; akin to Old English trēowe faithful — more at true

1 aarchaic : fidelity , constancy b: sincerity in action, character, and utterance2 a (1): the state of being the case : fact (2): the body of real things, events, and facts : actuality (3)often capitalized : a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality b: a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true <truths of thermodynamics> c: the body of true statements and propositions3 a: the property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality bchiefly British : true 2 c: fidelity to an original or to a standard4capitalized Christian Science : god

— in truth

: in accordance with fact : actually

Through out class, I noticed that truth was originally thought definite. However after the assignment, views changed. The realization came that ‘truth’ can be broken down and categorized. (If I’m forgetting one you find important, feel free to throw it out there.)

Main categories include:

Personal Truth: Truth deniable only to the individual, based on preconceived thought. Often helped altered by fact. Formed by individual’s idea or authority influence.

Universal Truth: Archetypes that resonate throughout human beings.

Factual Truth: Science based, these truths can be proven or found false. Things relating to numbers and science fall in here. The most reliable type of truth. It is physical, it effects the senses and can be accounted for.

Metaphysic Truth: An event need not happen to generalize the principle or moral. Masquerade as ‘universal’ and is usually found ethnocentric from culture to culture.

As stated by Tim Obrien:

….anything is possible even when you know it can’t be true, because a war story does not depend upon that kind if truth. Absolute occurrence is irrelevant. A thing may happen and be a total lie; another thing may not happen and be truer than the truth.

The Things They Carried, pub. 1990

What truth matters to people vary. For religion or politics and personal, in social movements it’s a combination. When it comes to journalist, it’s use to be factual. It’s slowly being morphed into something else I’m unable to define. To be frank, I don’t think it matters anymore. With so many sources, people can get whatever type of truth they want. Present accurate information and you are loyal. It’s up to the individual. Journalist need to satisfy them-selves with finding a truth that rings true.

Chase after the truth like all hell and you free yourself; even though you never touch its coattails.

- Clarence Darrow

Tags: truth

25.Jan.09 Assignments Comments (0)