The issue of privacy is a contentious one when it comes to the electronic transmission of messages. Some believe that the Internet should be policed to ensure content is appropriate, while others believe the democratic nature of the Web will keep it in check.

Journalists may use the Internet in many ways, especially when reporting and researching.

After being arrested on two counts of trafficking in child pornography, reporter Larry Matthews of National Public Radio argued that he sent and received the pornographic images as research for an article he was doing.

He claimed he was updating a previous story and was planning to sell the freelanced article. Matthews attempted to use the First Amendment as a defense, but a district court sentenced him to 18 months in federal prison and fined him $4,000.

Although in this case, the punishment seems a bit harsh, Matthews cannot be exempted from the established rules simply because he claims he was working on an article. Much of the evidence does not imply that he had an intention of using the pornography for a work-related project, and he cannot be allowed to transmit illegal images on the Web.

U.S. v Matthews* provides a good example for journalists to follow in the future. In the past, journalists had to be reminded that they do not have special rights over regular citizens. Although at times, journalists may be given special access to some places or information, they must follow the laws.

Despite the specific facts of this case involving child pornography, journalists must be aware of statutes established for all Web users. As the Internet becomes a part of a journalist’s job, the laws that govern cyberspace will dictate what a reporter can and cannot do online.

*Find more on the case here.

In an election study titled “What if We Held an Election and Everyone Came?” the Pew Center on the States’ electionline.org released information on an array of topics, including technology, registration figures and issues for the Nov. 4 election.

Doug Chaplin, director of the Web site, said the high interest in this year’s election might mean a long wait to cast a vote on Tuesday.

“Many polling places will hit capacity and poll workers will be tested,” he said.

The reports also shows that significant improvements have been made in election administration since the 2000 vote in the ways that Americans physically cast their ballot.

After security and reliability issues surfaced when Bush faced Gore eight years ago, many voting machines have been replaced in states like Florida and California.

Some south Florida counties are set to use optical scanners, a third voting system in the same number of presidential elections.

Many states will offer voter-verified paper audit trails that directly record electronic votes. Only six states use voting systems with out the individual paper ballot trails.

Voters will also be faced with the recently adopted rules that require them to show photo identification before casting a ballot. In a case upheld by the Supreme Court, Indiana residents will have to show a government-issued ID to vote that aims to prevent fraudulent voting. 

Because of the record numbers of registered voters, the report forecast clerical errors, lost applications and mishandled forms.

With the predicted problems, many Americans opt to void the lines on Election Day. The report said almost a third of voters have cast their ballots early, and can stay home Nov. 4.

What does voting look like? Click here. 

While many people in the country are tracking every move of Obama and McCain on the campaign trail in order to decide who to cast a vote for, some Texas residents have lost the opportunity to vote for the next president.

The deadline for Texans to register to vote expired on Monday, Oct. 6, for the November election.

Among the 50 states, Oct. 6 is the most popular expiration date for voter registration, but residents of 14 states are still eligible to register to vote in the Nov. 4 election.

Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming all allow residents to register the same day they vote, and many others have deadlines through the end of October.

Paul Miles, a staff attorney at the Texas Secretary of State office, said the reason for the state’s 30-day requirement is an “administrative” one.

He said the time allows election officials to finalize paper work and prepare voter lists, and some states are able to have shorter periods of time between the deadline and Election Day.

“The shorter deadline reflects the efficiency of their offices,” Miles said.

Each state establishes its own law on voter registration deadline with legislation.

Adrienne Sonder at the Texas Legislative Reference Library said the 30-day requirement is a statute contained in the current election code and has been in effect since 1985.

Miles said the only exception to the rule is used when the 30^th day falls on a weekend or national holiday.

“If the 30^th day was a weekend, the deadline would be moved to the 29^th day before the election,” he said.

Jason Butler, a 26-year-old student, said he “straight-up forgot” to register to vote.

He said he had been watching the debates and keeping up with the candidates, but he was so busy with school and working full-time, he didn’t remember to register.

“When you have deadlines, a lot of people miss them,” he said.

Butler said he would prefer the deadline be set about a week before the election, but admits he had plenty of chances to register.

“I would have liked to at least make my voice heard,” he said.

Ben Jameson, an 18-year-old student, said it is the person’s own fault if he or she forgets to register.

“There are signs everywhere,” he said. “Anyone who was paying attention at all knew when the deadline was.”

Based on figures released by the Secretary of State office, more than 13.5 million people in Texas are registered. With over 17 million eligible voters in the state’s population, almost 4 million residents did not register to vote for the November election.

Dr. Matthew Eshbaugh-Soha, a political science professor, said the American media does a terrible job of informing the public on the ways to vote.

“The national news organizations talk broadly about voting, but that doesn’t really explain to people who have to register in a local county on how to do it or where,” he said.

Eshbaugh-Soha said he thinks it is very unlikely that students would be prompted to register based on what they see in election coverage, but polical organizations on college campuses do a good job notifying potential voters.

Liz Pals, a 20-year-old student, said the state and election officials should reach out more to young voters to ensure they are registered.

“It would be great if people could be responsible, but that’s not going to happen,” she said. “A lot of people aren’t informed about how to register.”

Pals said she plans to vote and thinks that everyone who can vote, should.

“It’s important to vote in every election,” she said. “The more people who vote, the better, so we should make it easier.”

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For those who wanting to verify their registration, the Texas Secretary of State Web site allows people to confirm their registration status with a full name, driver’s license number or VUID, a Voter Unique Identifier found on the voter registration certificate.

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from topnews.in

With the election less than a month away, students will be using the site to get lots of information on the candidates and the issues. It will be important to look at the major print media outlets, comparing their coverage of the race. Some ideas for the NT election site, NTNewsnet.com:

1. Help the audience find interactive coverage. What kinds of interactive features do the traditional print outlets offer? The printed versions will have standard coverage of events, but who is going above that to help their audience find the best candidate? Does one outlet have a “president finder” that can help readers know who to vote for?

2. Discover biases from outlets. Does one outlet seem to be more sympathetic to the liberal candidate? To the conservative? Are political factors interfering with the types of stories that are covered? Will it make a difference to voters?

Brought Hurricane by Ike, torrential rains flooded across Haiti during the middle of night Sunday. At least 58 people were killed by this week’s storm, bringing the death toll to 319 people killed by storms this month in the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country.

Some updates/thoughts:

-My parents are coming to visit on Wednesday. Apparently, they are just bored. My dad was concerned that Ike would prevent their vacation.. good thing it turned away from the Texas panhandle? I’ll be spending a few days with them, so I can refuel my insane family story arsenal.

-I think I’ve decided against adopting a cat. After making friends with an adorable gray and white kitten at a party, I assumed me and Nancy Drew (because of cats’ inherent nosiness) could live happily ever after. My sister told me giddily that getting a cat would “change my life!” But after calculating the cost, I shouldn’t spend my money on that now. Perhaps next year around this time, when I will have an apartment by myself.. then I will need a cat to complete the whole crazy cat lady persona I inevitably will develop.

-Speaking of an apartment by myself, I will soon be registering for my last semester of classes. Every day, I obsess over what I will do when I graduate, how much will I earn, should I move. I’m hoping that some amazing opportunity will drop itself in my lap. Somehow I don’t think it will be that easy.

-I just finished my reading on writs of certorari and amicus curiae briefs. With my two legally oriented classes this semester, the thought of law school keeps creeping into my mind. My dad went to law school, and so did my sister. As of now, I think I will work for a few years with my journalism degree. If I’m not happy with the type of work I’m doing, or the amount of money I’m bringing home, law school might prove to be an exciting solution.

What you can expect to find (besides my school work):

- stories involving my aforementioned father, and family in general. I have enough ‘crazy mother’ stories to write a novel, and coupled with tales about my two older sisters, I can follow in the footsteps of David Sedaris.

- musings/complaints/excitements about my friends, particularly the adventures I have with my two roommates, Jaclyn and Katy.

- thoughts on school, my jobs, my career and my future in general. (This will probably include philosophic explorations about my life and abstract future).

- current events, celebrity obsessions

- trials of dating, boys and other random stories that I hope make you smile.