It's seems like just yesterday that I told you that the first day of media law class was your lucky day. Now you can reflect on that and consider if I was right.
Perhaps it was my lucky day, too.
I had a lot of fun this semester -- I usually do, but I really appreciated my three media law classes. They all had different moods and personalities, and believe me, I'm going to miss all of you!
So, let me say thank you for a great semester. Congratulations to those that are graduating. I'm going to miss graduation on Saturday, but I'll be thinking of you on this great occasion.
Let me also thank you for many of the great suggestions you had in the class critique essays that some of you submitted. I've always suspected that students are in the best position possible to let me know what's working, what needs tweaking and what needs fixing. I heard many solid suggestions -- such as adding a fourth exam to make the material for each exam more manageable, and providing more feedback on case brief assignments, among others.
Some of you had suggestions for me about managing class discussions, doing more to encourage others to speak (and maybe discouraging some from speaking too much), and doing more with this media law blog.
Some also pointed out that my response to certain comments came across as sarcastic or dismissive. I am sorry if I made you feel that way -- that was not my intent, but I appreciate the feedback and will strive to do better.
Also, I heard mixed things about not letting students answer my questions with a question. Some, who understood my intend, recognized that I was trying to encourage students to be assertive in their answer and provide support for their opinions. Some thought I was being rude or sarcastic.
Anyway, I appreciate all of the feedback -- the kind words and the constructive criticism. Thanks so much for your input. It will help make me a better professor and it will help make media law a better class.
Finally, I invite you to check out my blog from time to time. You won't get reminders from me about new posts, so you'll have to take affirmative steps to check out this blog and leave a comment or two. I hope you do.
Let me end with this.
Even though it's the end of the semester, there's still a lot going on. I read an interesting AP article about an interview request by Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former Democratic presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate, John Edwards. She agreed to do interviews with news organizations only if they agreed not to mention the name of her husband's mistress. You can find the article here.
There's another interesting article I saw today about the secrecy surrounding President Obama's pick to replace Justice Souter. You can find that article here.
And one more -- President Obama today announced that he is seeking to stop the release of detainee photos because it may endanger U.S. troops. The ACLU sharply criticized the president for this change in policy. Here's the link to this article.
I'm also looking forward to the end of June when the Supreme Court will announce the last decisions of the term.
Again, thanks for the great semester! I hope you drop me a line from time to time and let me know how you're doing. Best wishes.
5 comments:
I was shocked when news broke about John Edwards' affair. Edwards' wife, Elizabeth, undoubtedly went through tough times when she discovered her husband's actions, as well as having to battle cancer. However, the recent press coverage of their situation has been bizarre. Some people are empathetic to Elizabeth, while others report she knew of John's actions yet continued to vigilantly campaign for him during the presidential primaries. Like the article you posted stated, complying with certain requests to exclude certain information should be dependent on whether such information takes away from a story's newsworthiness. Personally, I'm fine not knowing the name of the mistress. However, if Hunter has already been in the news and Elizabeth mentions her in her new book I don't really see her concern. Most PR agents would simply tell Elizabeth to ask to move on should she be asked any questions that make her uncomfortable.
Thanks for a great semester!
I wasn't too suprised with John Edwards having a mistress. When i heard about Mrs. Edwards cancer I knew something like that would surface. Plus, and this may sound superficial, but he's too perfect and too good looking to not have some kind of mistress. When i would watch him speak I swear i saw a young bill clinton, and we all know where that went.
Also, I don't think Mr. Martinez was ever rude, dismissive, or sarcastic in class when addressing students. If you talked while he was talking you deserved to be spoken to curtly. Making a statement in the form of a question is like an oxymoron. I'm glad he taught the way he did. It cut out a lot of bullshit.
April Adams-Johnson
I got a text message today from CNN informing me of the detainee photographs that Obama prefers not to have displayed to the public any longer. I dont really know how I feel about it. I think it could be a good thing, then again a bad one.
And I must say I agree with Tandy about Mr. Martinez's teaching style. He did awesome. Assertiveness when used the right way is a successful technique, and in Media Law, he did just that.
Thanks for a sweet semester!
Denise Mamo
I do agree that it's the decision of the editor and reporter to decide where the interview is going. I'm sure she doesn't want to answer anymore questions about her husbands mistress, but if she wants to be on t.v. to plug her book and talk about her family, then I think those uncomfortable questions come with the territory. It's too big of an issue not to address.
I don't think you were being rude or sarcastic at all during the lectures. I liked the way that you taught and I think it helped the students learn and think for themselves.
I for one loved the class. I don't think you were being rude at all. If you answer questions with questions in the "real world," you get looked at like your crazy. Thanks for a great semester.
Matt McCain
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