The Top Ten Things I Learned from Mister RogersWritten by Susan Dunn, M.A.
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6. What a good feeling to feel like this and know that feeling is really mine. Knowing what you feel and living in moment will add much enjoyment to your life. We ARE our feelings, and more we're able to let them into awareness and accept them fully, richer our lives will be, and more US we'll be. If you can't experience your sadness, you can't experience your joy. And don't let someone else's feelings get mixed up with yours. Just because your spouse is having a down day doesn't mean you have to. Just because your co-worker hates his job doesn't mean you have to. Know your feelings and know that they're really yours. 7. A girl can some day be a woman, and a boy can some day be a man. Yup! 8. You know, playing at computer's different from watching a television program. You can bring your own ideas to whatever happens on computer, and your ideas are special. So are you! I think computer is most wonderful medium for self-expression we've had since crayons and manila paper! I'm watching clients, friends and loved ones blossom and grow through Internet -- learning new things, making new cyber-friends, trying new things, and extending and enriching their lives. It's a great way to share you, who are special, and your ideas too. 9. Some are fancy on outside/Some are fancy on inside/Everybody's fancy/Everybody's fine/Discovering each one's specialty/Is most important learning. Discover and develop ways in which you're special. You'll reach a higher, more consistent level of performance, feel a deeper sense of satisfaction, and be able to share your real gifts with world. (See Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Focus on Your Strengths at http://www.topten.org/public/AB/AB100.html.) 10. If you've got a plan/Now's time to try it/If you've got an airplane/Fly it/This is just day. When will you start that new career? Ask that woman to marry you? Hug your child? Get online? Have baby you've been wanting? Find work that feeds your passion? Quit drinking? Stop smoking? Write a teacher who meant a lot to you in past? This is just day!
Susan Dunn is a personal and professional growth coach, specializing in emotional intelligence. You can visit her on the web at http://www.susandunn.cc.
| | Why is Media Bias an Issue?Written by Bernie Day
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** Sources - selection of "sources," for stories by reporters, should be representative of both sides. However, even if this is accomplished, "quality" of source may be higher on one side than other, or only one source is quoted on one side and several on other. This can lead to a slanted story that can imply meaning that is unbalanced. ** What is newsworthy - is often controlled by newsroom. Topics are accepted and others overlooked given agenda of powers that be and based upon what topics fit into "news of day." This is important to realize because big picture is being missed by public at large by not seeing all angles within their communities, political campaigns, business realms, and/or just about every aspect of people’s lives. Beyond ignoring news, media may even go so far as to ridicule some ideas while promoting others. ** Political agendas - it would be naive of us to believe that an endorsement of a political candidate by any news media wouldn't affect its news coverage. The same can be said when considering individual views of reporters. Therefore, it is prudent for each reader to examine political views of media and reporters he/she is reading/viewing. It is very easy for media and its reporters to fall into trap of becoming an advocate for a political figure or any subject of self-interest, rather than remaining an impartial observer reporting facts. If reader/viewer does not know this, he/she can be swayed into believing that best candidate or self-interests of media are whole truth. ** Power and privilege - often those in power or in positions of privilege are cast in a more positive light than average person. This can mislead reader/viewer. An example of painting someone one way or another would be citing behaviors of one that are positive, like a candidate kissing babies, while in same article, an opposing candidate is shown or described as being exhausted by his/her campaign schedule. This type of coverage is a subtle way to improve standings of one candidate over another in a “seemingly innocent way.” Media bias is pervasive as suggested in points above. When one adds overt practice of sensationalizing news, reader/viewer has a huge task set before him/her, whether or not he/she knows it. This is of great concern because if most people most time, believe everything they read or view, they will ultimately become servants of those who write/publish, by voting (or not voting) for candidates or issues from same biased perspective. Thus an inquiry by all is required if we are to make independent decisions that effect people’s lives.
The Media Research Center of Alaska is led by Bernie Day, Executive Director and Ombudsman, under the direction of the Board of Trustees. Visit the website: http://mediaresearchak.org
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