The Elements of A Minute Before Friday

Jonna Lightfoot MacLaughlin might be a fictional character in Jo Kadlecek's book, A Minute Before Friday, but one thing is for sure. MacLaughlin is a journalistic hero who faces the same conflicts as real life reporters such as Carl Bernstein, Bob Woodward, and Edward Murrow.

MacLaughlin knows who she works for; citizens. She is not interested in the "new strategy" implemented by Walter Wood, a man hired to help the Clarion newspaper stay alive. Wood's strategy is a business technique that involves printing stories that make other stories look boring. The problem is that this work ethic goes against an important element of journalism posed by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel in their book, The Elements Of Journalism. The second element says that journalism's first loyalty is to citizens. Wood and editor Skip Gravely are not loyal to citizens; they are loyal to money. They transform MacLaughlin's article about Wiccans into a slanted piece that's only interest is marketing. Their only goal is to sell more newspapers.

This goal also goes against the first element of journalism which states that journalism’s first obligation is to the truth. MacLaughlin pursues a story that her editors forbid her from following because she understands her obligation to expose the truth. Wood and Gravely don’t care about printing the truth; they are more obligated to their own reputations and financial situations.

So what should MacLaughlin do? The ninth element of journalism answers this question. It states that journalists have an obligation to exercise their personal conscience. This involves challenging editors, publishers, owners, and even citizens for the truths sake. Even though MacLaughlin pursued the truth and challenged authorities, her article was never printed. But it didn’t matter because as the last element of journalism explains, citizen’s have obligations to. Because of all her hard work outside of the newsroom and aside from the articles she wrote for her job, the corruption at Regal was exposed.

Watergate: Uncovering The Truth

Journalism is more than presenting facts to the public. Reporters are supposed to pursue the truth in order to provide citizens with the information they need to be free and self governing. In their book, The Elements of Journalism, Bill Novach and Tom Rosenstiel lay out 10 principles of journalism that ought to be followed by all journalists. Several of these principles are seen in the film All The President’s Men (1976).

The film tells the story of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, two reporters for The Washington Post. Woodward and Bernstein start following a story about five men arrested for breaking into the Watergate building however as they continue reporting they crack the famous Watergate scandal. The most evident principle seen in this film is the importance of original investigative reporting. Woodward and Bernstein did not just wait to see what other newspapers wrote about. Instead they did the dirty work themselves and acted as detectives. They crossed red tape, knocked on every door, took every lead, made every call, spend hours sorting through evidence, demanded answers to the what, where, when, why, and how, and followed up on everything.

Because of their investigating, Woodward and Bernstein gathered evidence and eventually were able to expose the truth and uncover Nixon’s corrupt scheme. Even when told over and over again that didn’t have anything and that the story wasn’t worth it, they were unwaveringly dedicated to the truth. Woodward and Bernstein were told that running the story was a huge danger, called shabby journalists, and called liars by the White House but they didn’t give up. They followed the story until they eventually uncovered the scandal.

Woodward and Bernstein were also dedicated to another principle of journalism; the discipline of verification. At one point in the film the two reporters realize that they didn’t get enough fact in an interview so they go back and re-interview a woman because they understand that they can’t rely on their gut feelings alone. Their publishers also make sure that they don’t print anything unless they have verified every detail with at least 2 or 3 sources.

Woodward and Bernstein worked relentlessly for many sleepless nights to uncover the truth and report on it. Because of evidence gathered by these two men, Nixon was found out and forced to resign.

Good Night, and Good Luck

Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) tells the story of Edward R Murrow, a pioneer of American broadcast journalism. In 1954 Murrow showed the American public his dedication to reporting truthful news. Despite being strongly urged to reconsider his stand, Murrow put his career on the line when he chose to air a television series exposing Senator McCarthy during the Red Scare of the 1950s.

Murrow’s story exemplifies many of the journalistic principles that authors Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel explore in their book, The Elements of Journalism. During the Red Scare Murrow could have been obligated to his own reputation as other journalists were. Many reporters were not willing to expose McCarthy because they were afraid of being pegged as communists. Murrow however, was not afraid. In the words of Kovach and Rosentiel his first obligation was to the truth. Murrow worked diligently to collect and bring to light hidden facts about McCarthy so that citizens could know the truth and act on it.

The Elements of Journalism also highlights the importance of loyalty to citizens. Murrow was fearlessly dedicated to telling citizen’s stories. During the Red Scare, Senator McCarthy accused over 200 people of being communist infiltrators. When Murrow’s editor said there wasn’t much to write about in response to McCarthy’s behavior, Murrow did not back down. He told citizens stories when other reporters did not.

In telling the public’s stories Murrow demonstrated another element of journalism, providing a voice to the voiceless. He told the story of an Irish man from Michigan who was kicked out of the air force because his father read a Serbian newspaper. The man was not provided a fair trial and was told that if he wanted to keep his job he had to denounce his family. Murrow was so set on covering this story that he was willing to pay for the ads for permission to write it.

By providing a voice to the voiceless Murrow also served as a monitor of power. When he chose to cover the story of the man from Michigan, Murrow showed McCarthy that he didn’t have the authority to accuse whoever he wanted to of being communist and that there would be consequences for his actions. Murrow used his news show to make the corrupt actions of the government more transparent to the American public.

Edward Murrow and his colleagues were dedicated to providing citizens with more than just facts. His truthful reporting, loyalty to citizens, and perseverance helped him succeed in bringing down McCarthy and made him a highly esteemed reporter with his own exhibit at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

Civil Rights and the Media

During the civil rights movement the media allowed all of America to see the gross atrocities being committed against African American protesters. Reporters filmed violent acts such as brutal beatings, attacks with fire hoses, and police setting dogs on civilians. Upon seeing this coverage in their homes, Americans, including President Kennedy, made a decision to act and within a relatively short time African Americans began to gain civil liberties. As an aspiring journalist this motivates me to think about my duty as a writer and what truths I can uncover with my stories.

Twenty Years of Silly Putty, Microscopes, and Community

By Allison Lynch and Natalie Giordano

As freshman biology major Ashton Colby poured a vial of hydrogen peroxide into a liquid green mixture he asked, “Are you guys ready for this?”The mixture was for the “Elephant Toothpaste” experiment during Gordon College’s Science Carnival on Saturday, October 10th in the Ken Olsen Science Center. For the past twenty years during homecoming weekend, the science department has organized activities and experiments geared towards children and their accompanying alumni parents. “I like to bring science to a broader community – out of the lab and into the public arena” said Dwight Tshudy, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Gordon.

“We like to show that we’re geeks,” said Rachel Shirron, ’10, double major in chemistry and math who co-coordinated the carnival this year. This year, the carnival committee was excited to incorporate the “It’s Elemental!” theme of National Chemistry Week, which begins October 18th. “It goes along great with the electrolysis experiment,” said Shirron.

For children, Shirron’s electrolysis demonstration was a novelty, but for alumni Jen Forster, ’94, who had not seen the updated science center until this homecoming, the carnival revealed Gordon’s progress. “It’s really cool to know [the KOSC] has all the new technology,” she said.

But the three floors of biology, chemistry, and physics activities do not happen overnight; planning starts in September. “It’s a lot of work,” said Shirron. All the work culminates into a fun and engaging display of chemical eruptions, silly putty globules, microscope slides, and M&M math puzzles. “It’s always rewarding,” said Tshudy.

Tshudy’s goal is to connect alumni parents with professors, and to involve Gordon students in the volunteer work. “Students can get out and bring science to a bigger audience,” said Tshudy. “This is the only day we get to play with physics toys; the rest of the time we have to do lab work,” said Jordan Montgomery, ’10, who taught kids like Alexander MacTaylor, 4, about magnetic damping.

Fortunately, the advanced concepts are condensed for the younger audience. “We keep it simple and fun,” said Tshudy, because “Science is for all ages.” As for associate physics professor David Lee, whose daughter Paloma enjoyed sitting in an expandable plastic orb, “It’s a lot like magic.”

Gordon College Science Carnival 2009

Freshman biology majors, Ashton Colby'13 and John Stephan'13, prepare to demonstrate an "elephant toothpaste" experiment at Gordon College’s recent science carnival.



Colby and Stephan pose with the results of their experiment.



Students, alumni, and children watch as a biology experiment is preformed at the science carnival.




Rachel Shirron '10, a chemistry and math major at Gordon College, demonstrates a chromatography experiment to a group of young girls at science fair.



A Gordon College student helps Brenna make a copy of her finger print in the Chemistry lab.




Craig Story, associate biology professor at Gordon College, and David Lee, associate physics professor at Gordon College, show off their pet cockroach during the science carnival.



Craig Story, associate professor of biology, makes his cockroach hiss.




Paloma Lee watches are her dad, Professor Lee, plays with a cockroach.




Alexander Mactaylor ,age 4, and Jordan Montgomery'10 experiment with magnetism .




Paloma Lee plays with the tools in the physics room during the Gordon College science fair.



Gordon students and children participating in the science carnival watch a chemistry experiment.




A child at the Gordon College science fair experiments with silly putty.




A Gordon student assists with a physics experiment.

By Natalie Giordano and Allison Lynch

255 Grapevine: cans for a cause

This October the Gordon College community will have the chance to fight hunger without setting foot off campus. The show, 255 Grapevine, an “event with an address and a certain zip”, will take place on Saturday, October 10 at 7:30 pm in the A.J. Gordon Memorial Chapel. The admission fee? Pay what you can or give a can—of food.

The theme of 255 Grapevine is home. Since August students, professors, alumni, and CET have been planning the show.

“In some way Gordon has been, is, or will be home to everyone in the audience,” says Norman Jones, associate professor of theater arts and director of the show.

Natalie Ferjulian, a senior communication arts major from Hudson, MA who is working to organize the can drive, says, “It’s a great opportunity for students, faculty, alumni, and perspective students to come together for an evening of fun and do good for the community. If the place packs out we could have upwards of 1,500 cans.”

Each can of food that is collected will be donated locally—either to the Gloucester Open Door Food Pantry or to the Accord Food Pantry in Hamilton.

Acts at 255 Grapevine include Gordon’s faculty, staff, students, and alumni who will be singing country songs, playing two grand pianos, dancing stomp, and much more. One act will feature Steve Hunt, Professor of Biblical Studies, singing with his group, “Hunt and the Homeboys.”

“The show will feature faculty members on different instruments,” says Mark Stevick, professor of English. “If you have had Hunt you have got to see him take a risk like this. I’m glad it’s not me. And that’s only the middle of the show—it only goes up from there!”

While Jones is pleased about how the individual acts are coming together he is excited about something more.

“I am particularly excited about making the purposes of the evening come alive; a greater sense of I belong to this place,” says Jones. “This is an event that will showcase talents but deliberately create an environment where everyone feels welcome. [The audience] will want to say happily and with conviction ‘Hurray for Gordon!’”

It is important to remember that the evening also goes beyond entertainment. Jones says that food pantries are hurting and this is a tangible way for the Gordon community to reach out and support a good cause.

Stevick says, “Everything that comprises the evening is going to be enjoyable. Some acts will be surprising. You don’t want to miss this—it’s going to blow the roof off.”

Gordon College Students Hear Rabbinic Perspectives on the Psalms

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It wasn’t the presence of a usual student, professor, or otherwise Christian speaker during convocation at Gordon College on Friday, September 11 and Friday, September 18. Instead, Jewish scholars and Rabbi’s, Dr. Jon D. Levenson and Baruch HaLevi spoke in a series that explored the psalms from Jewish perspectives.

HaLevi, who received his doctoral degree in Ministry at Oxford University, explored Psalm 145 in convocation on Friday, September 11^th. “As you read through the psalms, open yourselves up. All meaningful encounters occur in the dark where he [David] struggles,” said HaLevi. “‘God open my mouth so I can speak to you from the dark, constricting places in my life’. God is the rope to guide us through dark and narrow places.”

Levenson, a professor of Jewish Studies at Harvard University, offered the audience an explanation of Psalm 137; the controversial psalm that speaks of dashing infants against rocks. Levenson explained that this curse is not directed at babies but instead at the city of Edom which is portrayed as a woman.

Dr. Marvin R. Wilson, a professor of biblical and theological studies, said the objective of the series is to take a look at favorite psalms as well as some of the unknown psalms.

“I had never been to an event where a rabbi spoke. I have been learning a lot about Jewish history in my Old Testament class so it’s nice to hear their [Jewish] beliefs,” said Krysti Leach, a sophomore at Gordon College.

Zinsser’s 30 Year Old Book on Writing Still Speaks to Modern Reporters

When Natalie Ferjulian and Anthony Papia took their first Journalism class two years ago they used a reporters notebook and Microsoft Word as their main tools. Now, students enrolled in Journalism are blogging, making videos and podcasting. Technological advancements have changed the face of Journalism but Ferjulian and Papia agree that the writing advice in William Zinsser’s 30 year old book, On Writing Well, is still applicable today.

“Whether it’s a blog or a script, some of the fundamental things Zinsser says about being precise, clear, clutter free, using visual writing, remembering the human element, and sounding genuine are still relevant in whatever context,” said Ferjulian a communication arts major from Hudson, MA. Ferjulian has read On Writing Well 3 times and still refers back to it frequently.

Ferjulian and Papia both remember the chapters about clutter free writing the most. “Zinsser said clear thinking becomes clear writing...Now I ask myself, ‘why did I say it this way’ or ‘can I simplify what I am saying without losing its essence,’” said Ferjulian. “My favorite quote is “clutter is political correctness gone amok,” said Papia, a communication arts major Haverhill, MA.

Zinsser’s book has been revised and expanded many times over the past 30 years but people continue to purchase it. “This book is hilarious. I laugh out loud at points,” said Ferjulian. The fact that On Writing Well was written 30 years ago and the changing mediums of journalism haven’t swayed Papia and Ferjulian’s opinion of the book.

“His advice is still very much relevant. Today it seems like anyone can call themselves a writer, but the truth is that the public still knows a good writer from a bad one when they see it. Even though the book is a bit dated, the advice is still germane,” said Papia.

College Student Upset Over Online Tartan

On a typical Friday afternoon at Gordon College Natalie Ferjulian grabbed a sandwich in lane. Her next stop was the mailroom, however on her way something caught her eye. It was The Tartan, her college newspaper. She grabbed a copy, intending to read it while enjoying her lunch.

Last year Ferjulian read The Tartan weekly, keeping up with her favorite writers such as Maggie Roth and Dani Zorn. Upon hearing the news that The Tartan would no longer be printed and instead would be posted online, Natalie was deeply upset. When asked if she would be as likely to read the online Tartan she said, “absolutely not.”

Why this change in heart? Ferjulian said, “It is no longer easily accessible. Everyone goes to the mailroom and sees The Tartan but it isn’t a big enough deal to seek it out online.” She will no longer be able to eat her lunch while flipping through the paper.

This change will not just affect her reading habits; it will also affect her publishing habits. Natalie, a communication major, has had a multitude of articles published in The Tartan. She now feels less enthusiasm towards submitting her work. “It’s more exciting when it’s printed” she said.

Ferjulian isn’t the only student who may be less likely to submit online entries. “New journalism students especially will be impacted. You can’t send the newspaper to your mom anymore. Tangible things are more meaningful and personal,” she said.
On the upside of things, Natalie does believe that the shift away from paper will be more environmentally friendly.

Will other students be opposed to or even affected by the switch from print to online? How many students will read this very article? Natalie Ferjulian most likely will not.

My Reason For Blogging

Hello! My name is Natalie and this is my first blog ever! I'm from Arlington, VA however this is my second year attending Gordon College all the way in Wenham, MA. This year I decided to take a Journalism 1 class as a part of my Communication Major. Our first requirement was to create a blog so that throughout the semester we can post our journalism pieces and assignments. So, here I go!