Assignment 4: Hometown Hard News

Should the states be able to collect taxes from online purchases? 

September 24, 2017, El Dorado News Times reported a movement that should ultimately support local community services which was renounced by the president of the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce Mike Dumas. The idea has been tossed around since 1992 when controversy arose over whether or not a company had to pay taxes in areas that it has no physical appearance.

The existing rule states that there is no local taxes to be paid if the company is only exporting to proceeding areas. Carries like Amazon that hold third-party vendors are to only fork over money for the bases, but the third-party vendors are allowed to sell with no tariff reparations. It was March 1, 2017 that Amazon began to collect local state taxes willingly according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. 

Arkansas Municipal League Executive Director Don Zimmerman encourages the taxation by stating that "online storefronts that aren't based in the Natural State still use services funded by state and local taxes." The entire situation introduces a lack of "fairness" as the "Natural State" moves further into future economic obstacles.

Arkansas is not the only state that wants to change this, and has high hopes that the cash flow will become more steady if the bill is not shut down once again.

Assignment 3: Twitter News Leads With Story Links

*Disclaimer: Tweets displayed below are only pictures. The pictures are interactive with links that send you directly to the actual tweet on my personal Twitter account.

Assignment 2: What's Trending?

Over the past 24 hours a highly tense video baffles the masses.

The story began picking up traffic over the weekend, specifically Sunday, September 10th, 2017. A young woman by the name of Kenneka Jenkins, 19 years old, was found dead in the freezer of the Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare Hotel & Conference Center after being supposedly raped which resulted in murder. A video was released with minor evidence, but it was just enough information for the followers to pick it up on investigate themselves. Since the police have not released a verdict from their evidence, it has become a widely trending "Who Dunnit?" situation.

Twitter is usually known for providing fast pace communication, and explicit stories are not too shy. It makes the perfect medium for non-conclusive game. #KennekaJenkins peaked up to #1 on Sunday because of the constant congestion of peoples findings, opinions , and condolences. It now jumps up and down the list, and will probably continue to rise and fall until a story is set in place.

#SayHerName was coined by the AAPF to bring attention to brutality against women (more specific to police brutality, but brutality none the less).

Rest In Peace Kenneka Jenkins. May there be justice for yet another young life.

Assignment 1: What Is News?

Between today's influences of technology and constant changes of interest, is there really a standard definition of news? We have to admit that there is a distinct difference between Hurricane Harvey sweeping away countless homes and families as opposed to being streamed live footage of adorable little Prince George eating a candy cane after attending church with Queen Elizabeth II. But, is there really a say as of what news can and cannot be?

To me, news is all information that has the potential to manipulate my life and my opinions or values. My interests are tailored to anything that catches my eye. Music, technology updates, vintage media and programs, hard and soft news as well as international and local. And most of this information is received through the convenience of the internet and social media. Usually you will catch me laid back, either index or thumb finger scrolling through Snapchat,  Facebook , Twitter, and various Google searches. My elders would rather browse a newspaper or entertain themselves after waiting for provided timely news on television. My generations rapid pace and decreasing attention span would find it more pleasing to have interchanging stories at our fingertips in order to decrease the wait.

The luxury of attention grabbing titles speeding across a screen and watching "What's Trending"  also influences my life decisions and next steps. Trends not only influence the reader/viewer, but it also influences producers and authors of said stories. In fact, factors such  as ratings and demand may be the very reason the Kardashian's life is considered just as important as any political stance or major natural phenomenon.

According the Google search, the definition of news is "newly received or noteworthy information, especially about recent or important events." The correct term is when you take this definition

       

and apply it to yourself. News is not just people spitting out words to get a paycheck. What do you demand to see? What entertains you? What do you need to know in order to sustain life and happiness? How often does this need to be updated or followed? News is about supply and demand. News would not be news without you.