BD COMM232 Blog

 New Podcast Alert!!! This week’s episode will be discussing libel and defamation .  As the News Editor of the Christopher Newport University Newspaper, The Captain’s Log , I’ve had my fair share of run-ins dealing with libel and defamation. I’ve had to handle accusations myself, navigate articles and the ethical guidelines of my own practice, as well as teach other staff writers how to navigate these topics.  Joining me is my boyfriend, Gage Miller, who works at the Newport News Shipyard and attends the Apprentice School. Despite not knowing much about the topics at hand, he shares his perspective from personal job experiences. Join us on Spotify to hear more about our perspectives! 

 The Signal Group Chat Ethical considerations Image of article headline from The Atlantic Let’s talk about national security. The Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic , Jeffery Goldberg, was added to a Signal, a commercial communication site, group chat with several United States government officials discussing highly classified information and war plans. I’m sure I don’t need to lay out every ethical concern in this situation or every question the American people have. If you are curious about the play-by-play, Goldberg himself wrote the story and published it to The Atlantic’s website . What I will talk about is the New York Times Opinions podcast talking about United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, another individual at the center of it all. Who, by the way, is being investigated by the top investigative office at the Pentagon to evaluate Hegseth and the allegations against him for using a NON-SECURE COMMERCIAL GROUP CHAT TO DISCUSS CLASSIFIED INFORMATION!!!! Despite thi...

  The 2025 Port Warwick Summer Concert Series is back Enjoy live outdoor music for free right here in Newport News William Styron Square in Newport News, Virginia. Photo taken by Bre Dorrian NEWPORT NEWS, VA - The Port Warwick Summer Series is back! Starting May 21 and running through August 27 in William Styron Square, free outdoor concerts will take place every Wednesday from 6PM – 9PM. Port Warwick is home to many incredible restaurants to visit for dinner before the shows.  From Rock n’ Roll, to pop, country and so many more genres, there is something for everyone. These concerts range in variety of artists from all types and backgrounds, primarily highlighting local artists. A list of bands and dates are available online with descriptions so guests can plan their viewing accordingly.  Although tents and umbrellas are not permitted, guests are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets and small coolers. Guests are also encouraged to check our parking early on, looking ou...

Newport News Mayor looks to expand tourism through music Mayor Phillip Jones announces plans for music festival By: Bre Dorrian Image of local concert from Visit Newport News . On Jan. 11, The Virginian Pilot reported that Newport News City Mayor Phillip Jones stated in a City Council retreat that he is working on plans for a new music festival in the coming months to two years.  The Virginian Pilot also reported that the intent behind the new event is to “bring in more tourism dollars and help local businesses.”  3WTKR reported on Jan. 13 that this would be the “first-ever major music festival” for the city, stating that city leaders are “excited about bringing national musical talent to the area.”  3WTKR also stated that city officials feel the event “will not only enhance local entertainment options but also boost tourism and support local businesses.” Although plans are not finalized, city officials are not the only ones excited about these plans, local residents and...

Journalism Ethics  What is it? How do we define it? And how do we practice it? Journalistic integrity behind ethical journalism has a long and complicated history. All the way back to the Romans and their news publications on stone tabs to Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press. Fast forward to yellow journalism plaguing the media, perpetuating a culture for war-torn countries spreading propaganda. Now with modern day journalism battling the pendulum swing of politics and now its battle with artificial intelligence.  Photo from  WWD Historically, journalism has been used as a means of connecting people far and wide before technology allowed information to be at our fingertips at all hours of the day. Similarly from a culture perspective, journalists have worked to connect groups of people, but struggled early on to reach demographics of low-income societies as literacy rates were not sustainable. Economics and socio-political factors go hand in hand when it comes to journali...

Discussion Topics for Podcasts Brainstorming topics for podcasts For our upcoming podcast project, we were asked to generate ideas of things we'd like to talk about on the shows we are going to create. Here is a list of topics I would be interested in covering:  Mental health in sports  Ethical concerns in journalism / the media as a whole Book reviews Bonus / extra topics Music reviews Hot-take vs cold takes  Life advice Journalism