Mass media in society

McChesney- ‘Rich Media, Poor Democracy’ McChesney wrote ‘Rich Media, Poor Democracy’ to show the democratic problems in United States and other countries in the world and how corporate media downplays the requirements of attaining an effective democratic system. The author also addressed the concentration of ownership in the media industry and how this has transformed the sector.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Mass media in society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He further analyzes how public broadcast stations have gradually fallen due to policies that are deliberately formulated to protect corporate media. His study also evaluates the media industry and corporate ownership between 1970s and 1990s (McCheseney, 2000, p. 15-18). According to author, increase in the number of channels in U.S., is a major cause of corporate concentration in media industry. He argues that technologic al advancements in cable, television, digital media and satellite have resulted to changes in media ownership. He also argues that corporate concentration comes in as a response to the rapid changes in the industry. He asserts that for a media firm to make profits in such an industry, it has to invest in international distributors, stations, frequencies, operations of the channels and also in cable channels. The author of ‘Rich Media, Poor Democracy’ says that most of corporate concentration in the 1970s up to 1990s seemed to have conglomeration kind of media ownership. In such an ownership, a certain major media becomes a key shareholder in two or more sectors in the media industry. These sectors may be in recorded music, publishing sector and a broadcast sector. With such ownership, the operations of these media outlets’ can be interfered with by the advertisers who in most cases form the major corporate owners. With such influences, citizens are limited in mak ing informed decisions. This is because ownership threatens their democratic rights. Stories are also written in favor of the owners or else media practitioners risk losing their jobs. McChesney also argues that â€Å"the United States media system is an integral part of the capitalist political economy and that the relation it has important and troubling implications for democracy† (McCheseney, 2000, p. 15).Advertising Looking for term paper on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Changes and consequences of the rapid increase in concentration of ownership in mass media, and the implications of this to consumers Concentration of media ownership is normally surrounded by large media systems owning few corporations or media firms .Concentration of ownership can be in the form of monopoly, whereby, one corporation owns the whole market. At other times, the ownership may be having two or more businesses o r media firms dominating the industry and compete with one another (Voelker Voelker,2002, p.65). Concentration of the media operates under the concept of ‘benefits go to the big fish’. Competition is the determinant factor of any kind of market economy and diversity. Concentration of a market results into homogeneity .The number of consumers are often limited and so is the market size. Unregulated concentration of the media cuts on the number of competitors hence creating a monopoly-dominance situation. Since 1990s, regulation of the content that features on newspapers, TV or radio has continued to dominate the media industry across the world at the expense of the society. Society depends on the media outlets for education, information, news and also for entertainment (Croteau Hoyn, 2003, p. 37-47). Concentration of media ownership can influence the profits that a media firm attains. Since the liberalization of the European media markets in 1980s, the number of privat ely owned media has continually increased. The growth is mainly associated with internet innovation. With privately owned media and emergence of internet, there are major shifts in the advertisement industry. This is because the owners decide on which media channel to advertise in. But because most media outlets rely on advertisement fee, then, withdrawal of the fee means a loss on the media outlet. This can cause adverse financial effects and can even lead to journalists losing their jobs and closure of the channels. Politicians in the society can also withhold advertisements from a given system in the media industry causing the medium to suffer financially (Croteau, Hoyn, 2003, p. 37). Concentration of media ownership can also result into censorship of the amount of information that the society gets. In such instances, all the printing facilities and circulation channels may be centralized into some few companies. This is a situation that can cause a barrier on people in the soci ety from accessing newspapers (Croteau, Hoyn, 2003, p. 37-47). An independent media set the agenda for the society. To be open and independent, newspapers must not be owned by the local entities in the society or the state. With concentration of media owners in the newspaper industry, newspapers lose their independence to the competitors. This interrupts what has for long been known as news worthy incidents. Relevant themes fail to feature, hence a shift in the society’s agenda.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Mass media in society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Individual citizens rely heavily on the media while determining what is important. The media sets the agenda by repeatedly focusing on a particular topic. In this way, the media shapes opinions and behaviors of people in the society. However, when there is a concentration of media ownership in a particular state, then the content is determ ined by the existing powers of the owner. In most cases, the influences come from political power holders in the society (Croteau, Hoyn, 2003, p. 37-47). According to European Human Rights Court, the media has to have a major voice and openly give opinions if democracy is to be observed. Plurality is a major policy in Europe that governs the media. In order to promote democracy in any society, plurality must be exercised as well as a competitive market. This also means that the society must be given an opportunity to choose from what media channel they may listen to. The effectiveness of any communication system in a democratic society is measured by the quality of the information transmitted. This calls for media systems that freely expresses ideas and also give opinions without any interference. This is a requirement for the people in decision making process within a society. Individuals in a community heavily rely on the media in order to exercise their democracy to information and freedom for speech and expression. However, this can only be achieved in a society that practices democracy and is open. The media must also be an independent one if the rights of these individuals are to be observed (Wells Hakanen, 1997, p. 3). With concentration of ownership, professional journalism is always under attack. The society is surrounded with lots of print, film, television, internet, and of course music as main media outlets for different individuals. However, political ownership of these media outlet can adversely interfere with journalistic professionalism. Journalists are the society’s watchdog. They observe what is happening in the political world and also sensor social problems on behalf of individuals. They also play a major role in fostering developments within the society. Lack of an open and free media in a society leads to lack of democracy. Extreme consequences on journalists who disregard the regulations of the media by the monopoly companies ca n be death sentences, long term imprisonments and other forms of physical violence. This the highest order of democracy suppression (Croteau, Hoyn, 2003, p. 37-47).Advertising Looking for term paper on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More With self and profit oriented media companies, media is becoming almost limited in its meaning. In addition, professional practices are often overlooked when looking for news events and incidents. This is because corporate ownership of the industry demands for ‘big’ stories in order to make huge profits. The media system has been rapidly changed by the fact that most of the corporations are run with the motives of making profits through advertisements hence limiting the democracy that media brings in any society. In today’s world, media ownership is becoming more and more concentrated to businesses thus making the media industry hard to professionally tame (OSCE, 2003, p. 40) Concentration of ownership of media has caused investigative and critical coverage of stories is a thing of the past. This means that consumers of such news receive shallow information on issues that could be critically represented by an independent and open medium. In concentrated corporati ons of media, the aim is to make as much money as possible, and so no need to conduct underground investigations and deeply analyze content that would benefit the consumers (OSCE, 2003, p. 40). Furthermore, media policies that the monopoly companies make restrict coverage of some incidents. Critical issues that affect the society are hindered, a position that leaves the society ignorant of the important matters that concern them. The scenario in corporate media is that of local powers and directors holding the most shares in the company and being in the executive positions. They therefore control the running of a media system socially and politically. A situation that gives a loop hole for professionalism rules to be undermined. This will directly affect the content that consumers receive when they buy the newspapers, listen to a radio channel or watch a television program. The content will be of lesser value than they pay for. In such a scenario the media practitioners are compelle d to cover the politicians favorably. They also at some point receive incentives form the local powers. This is a violation of journalistic code of conduct (Wells Hakanen, 1997, p. 3). The competition for market share in the media industry can make politicians use the media as a platform to reinforce their political profiles in light for the next elections (Wells Hakanen, 1997, p. 45). At some time, politicians may chose which journalist will interview them. At the end the content of the media channel is influenced to feature political matters instead of the critical issues that directly affect the society. The effect of this is that educative and informational programs on broadcast media and articles on newspaper are replaced with political content (OSCE, 2003, p. 24). Consumers buy subjective content in such model of ownership. The role of editors, journalists and publishers shift from being watch dogs for the society to political advisors. In the contemporary world, journalists can only remain credible when they independently observe the event and then report. This is in contrast to most concentrated or privately run media. This results into failure of objective reporting among the media practitioners (Croteau Hoyn, 2003, p. 56). Audiences have different tastes and compositions. However production facilities and distribution channels may be influenced to benefit the major firms who mainly aim at making profits. With concentration of ownership in the music industry, individual citizens only get what interests the management and ownership of the major companies. The audience is left with no choice but to listen what is exposed to them through the media channels or through a limited access to some music albums (Wells Hakanen, 1997, p. 73). The music industry, like the newspaper constituents of the media was also dominated by concentration of ownership during the period ranging from 1969 to1990. Since then, production system in the industry music has change d from a ‘closed’ to an ‘open’ model (McCheseney, 2000, p. 15-20). In this industry, the same concept of concentration applies with the large-based producers, publicity and distribution segment having an overall control of other recording companies. With such a system within the music industry, innovation and diversity promotes the large companies in gaining both control and in getting large profits (Croteau, Hoyn, 2003, p. 56). Conclusion Concentration of media ownership creates barriers of entry for new companies. This situation causes competition to be stiff. There is no effective media policy which can exist in the media industry that is interpedently with politics. Newspapers are slowly losing their relevance to the society due to political influence. Consumers are therefore opting for other communication channels in place of print media. Recent studies indicate that the use of television as the primary source of news and political influence on conten t has made many lose their trust in the media. To ensure that consumers get the right information content and access of the medium, the media should be allowed to operate independently. Media regulators also need to follow transparent procedures and policies when allocating broadcast permits and frequencies. Reference List Croteau, D. Hoyn, W. (2003). Media society: industries, images and audiences. U.S.: Pine Forge Press. Web. McCheseney, R. (2000). Rich media, poor democracy: communication politics in dubious times. New York: The new press. Web. OSCE. (2003).  The Impact of media concentration on professional journalism. Web. Voelker, F. H. Voelker,L. A. (2002). Mass media: forces in our society. Michigan: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Wells, A. Hakanen, E. (1997). Mass media society. U.S.: Greenwood publishing group. Web. This term paper on Mass media in society was written and submitted by user Damaris Stout to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Strategies in a Global Environment MBA C695 Essays

Strategies in a Global Environment MBA C695 Essays Strategies in a Global Environment MBA C695 Essay Strategies in a Global Environment MBA C695 Essay Shoe industry represents a separate market segment in apparel industry. This segment relies on innovations and fashion which determines main trends in this industry. Today, many companies have been dramatically influenced by the rise of globalization and internalization of trade seeking to maximize their global reach, in the belief that those that offer a global service will be in the strongest competitive position. Athletic shoe industry is a fast growing segment which is influenced by changing demographics, new lifestyle trends and a shift in consumers attitudes towards accessories. The major competitors in athletic shoe industry are Adidas, Nike, Reebok, New Balance and smaller firms such as Fila. On the functional level, high rates of its development, great volumes of currency receipts have an active influence on its various sectors. The main objective of the companies is to maintain the level of product quality and develop strategies to improve their performance. In the infrastructure of athletic shoe industry quality is the major question. With the success of new technologies, stating in the end of 1990s, athletic shoe industry began to rationalize its product lines reducing prices and production costs 1. The development and management of new technology has, in recent years, become a central focus of marketing policy and conceptualization of a firm. In order to compete on the market, many companies implement new product lines based on natural materials only for those who are health conscious and are willing to pay for natural fabric. This strategy helps to create a core of loyal supporters and repeat buyers. For instance, â€Å"New Balances successful 950, a $90, technical -looking, hybrid cross-training/running shoe exclusive to Foot Locker that is popular with young consumers† 2 1.Cassidy, H. (2001). Lifestyle, Teens Fuel Recovery athletic shoe industry experiences economic growth Brief Article Statistical Data Included. Brandweek. Jam 8, p. 34. 2. ibid, p. 34. To compete on the market and remain profitable, many companies introduce strategic business unit strategy within organizations. The strategy allows the companies to reduce product costs and operational expenses through effective budgeting and price setting, product innovations and, hiring decisions. Adidas, Nike, Reebok are engaged in a network including expert distributors, agents, foreign customers, competitors, and consultants as well as regulatory and other agencies. Approaches, aimed to meet high service standards, are based on customers environment interaction and changes affected both of them. Developments in IT have led to interactive communication tools such as the telephone and the Internet being used to complement less interactive mechan ­isms such as mail or media advertisements. Nike and New Balance increases their advertising budget to be â€Å"well-positioned for a consumer push† 3. Business strategy level can be regarded as the company’s philosophy governing how customers should be treated and how staff could meet their standards and needs. Taking into account the major competitors in the industry, Adidas, Nike and Reebok, it is possible to say that they employ similar business strategies aimed to improve product quality and deliver customer satisfaction. The main business strategies in athletic shoe industry include differentiation and focus-differentiation strategies. Adidas and Nike follow a differentiation advantage because their products have a perceived uniqueness in a broad mar ­ket For instance, â€Å"Many of Nike’s customers are athletes on school, college, or professional teams and use shoes specially developed for their sports† 4. This is an extremely effec ­tive strategy for defending market position and obtaining above-average finan ­cial returns; unique products often command premium price. This marketing strategy helps to deliver customer value in a 3. Cassidy, H. (2001). Lifestyle, Teens Fuel Recovery athletic shoe industry experiences economic growth Brief Article Statistical Data Included. Brandweek. Jam 8, p. 35. 4.Part VI in a Series About Investing your Money. (2006). http://googolplex.cuna.org/18672/cnote/story.html?doc_id=682 way that clearly distinguishes the product from its competitors.   Differentiation focus allows both major and minor competitors to concentrate on a particular target audience and product line segment for instance, shoes for a specific purpose (a soccer shoe, a marathon runner’s shoe) 5. Some of the companies, like Fila, concentrate on a small geographic market which ensures profitability and market share.   Competitive advantage in athletic shoe industry is driven by manufacturing and product innovation, customer relationships and sales. The direct sales model (or other near-direct models) has been successful in the U.S., and the industry is moving more in that direction. â€Å"Competition in the shoe industry is fairly intense† 6 On the corporate level, many companies are driven by technological innovations and knowledge management systems. In addition, this industry began to follow a strategy of withdrawing from small markets with limited potential for its core products and to look for markets in countries with a major growth potential for athletic shoe industry products. Such giants as Adidas, Nike, Reebok, New Balance are globally oriented companies. Relationship marketing approach is applied by many competitors within athletic shoe industry in order to ensure long-term partnerships with customers and suppliers. Mergers and acquisition strategy opens new opportunities for the main competitors who have access to information and channels of influence which are not available to many other stakeholders. To maintain public relations athletic shoe companies use Internet as the main tool of advertising and communication7. Some companies, like New Balance, use computerized stitching department to reduce operationa l costs and other expenses.

Business planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business planning - Essay Example This paper presents a brief feasibility study about the ‘logistics’ business based in London to channelize the distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables to retail outlets around UK. The business idea The ‘Fresher Pvt Ltd’ will be a unique logistic and supply chain company and an exciting experience of ‘freshness’ designed to fulfill the responsibility of providing the target market with ‘fresh’ and premium quality natural products. The business idea is about logistics based in London to collect freshest and supreme quality natural fruits and vegetables directly from farms in different countries and supply them to retail outlets such as supercentres and hypermarkets. The very basic functional principle of the company will be based on the ‘six rights’ that a normal logistic company is required to fulfill. Therefore, the ‘Fresher’ is highly concerned about distributing the right and fresh fruits and vegetabl es to right customers at the right time in the right condition at the right place and at the right price (Voortman, 2004, p. 3). The ‘Fresher’ is not just a new opening of a logistic business, but, it is the output of a new idea to uncover a hidden market opportunity for meeting the demand for ‘fresh’ fruits and vegetables available in large-scale retail outlets in lowest price possible. Fruits and vegetable goods presently available in supermarkets, hypermarkets and other retail outlets often lack the quality and values of freshness that customers expect them to be. The Fresher Pvt. Ltd proposes to replace these goods with ‘freshest and most genuine natural fruits and vegetables’ supplied directly from farms around UK and from abroad. For this purpose, the company plans to enter in to strategic alliance with large-scale farmers in both UK and foreign countries including India and Sri Lanka to collect the most freshest goods directly from the f arms and to transport them as quickly as possible with latest cold-storage facilities to make them available in large retail outlets. Going directly to farms in other countries and collect fresh fruits and vegetables from the farmers seems an idealistic social movement. Thousands of farmers in countries like India are deprived of better facilities and opportunities to market their products. They neither get advanced facilities to transport or quickly supply them to markets nor get right prices for the goods they supply to markets. The ‘Fresher’ is going to influence the media to gain wider reputation for a social movement to extend the helps to poor farmers in other countries. The company proposes to utilize the resources, mainly the excess agricultural products that have been of no proper marketing use for that the farmers in India and other developing as well as under developed countries did not effectively market their products due to fewer facilities or decreased de mand or reduced prices for their goods. The ‘Fresher’ would satisfy these farmers by providing financial assistance for post-harvesting preservation and for advanced transportation facilities. The Fresher will increase the demand for their goods and value their products to return fair prices for their vegetables and fruits. The company helps them by creating a market for these premium and fresh

Project Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Project Leadership - Essay Example And now, even the processes involved in upgrading the knowledge and skills of people are changing. Business organizations realize that the only way to survive in this kind of environment is to undertake continuous improvement through education and training. Towards this end, LRH Manufacturing has made a very strategic decision to adapt and grow with all these changes and consequently become more dynamic. The instructor-led training will now be replaced with the Web-based training system. Aside from the fact that the company needs to comply with government regulations on its product, there is the manifest need to establish the accuracy of its training records and ensure the participation of concerned employees in the mandated company trainings. The manual process of the current a Web- based Training Project Manager to oversee the program, new tools to be utilized, and everyone will be required to learn the new tools and utilize them in undertaking the training. It assures, however, that no employee or manager will be replaced, no new responsibilities will be added, but additional skills will be learned. The Training Department will continue to play an important role in the continuous improvement of the new program’s design and implementation. The Web-based Training Manager will just facilitate and help all key players in the new undertaking, especially ensuring that all the new knowledge will be acquired in an easy learning environment. He will be accessible to everyone and will also be openly reaching out to all. Adapting to the changes in the business environment is believed to be one way of maintaining organizational effectiveness. Edgar Schein, in his book Organizational Psychology, theorizes that organizations which fail to sense changes in the environment often become ineffective. This new training program will pave the way for LRH

Improwing Service Delivery in University of Derby Research Proposal

Improwing Service Delivery in University of Derby - Research Proposal Example University collaborations at all levels are important to delivering world-class research and strengthening the overall contribution of the laboratories to the nation's research enterprise. In addition, the interaction with university researchers increases the quality and impact of the user facilities and helps to improve them. b.) Project the necessary security facilities and assistance that the university can provide to foreign and local students. Other helpful facilities can include a university cafeteria, cultural book shop, mini grocery, wi-fi zones, sport facilities, and parking spaces. Since the investment is financially feasible, the dormitory could be built in the future. (i)To evaluate the benefits or otherwise of these facilities provisions to both the university and students' communities. (ii)To critically analyse the effectiveness of these facilities in the university communities. (iii)To suggest guidelines for improving and enhancing these services. Forte (2003) stated that some US colleges have adopted SEVIS in order to monitor and access current information on nonimmigrant students which is a way of protecting the safety of the student body. Charles Fletcher Jr (2005) stated that the University of Delaware has built a comprehensive identity management infrastructure using Siemens' HiPath Security solutions. The users adopt a credit card-sized SIcurity smartcards which manages the students' access to both physical facilities and information systems. Another system, the MetaDirectory coordinates with on-campus database applications to ensure that identity information such as electronic access credentials, is always current. The system provides a single point of access that processes requests when enabling and revoking users' security privileges. The smartcards provide tamper-proof storage for passwords and account numbers. With a single sign-on process, any student with an authorized ID and password can use the card to access t he internet and applications on school computers.Coppola et.al., (2001) discussed the establishment of the department of corporate security services for John Hopkins Medical Center in 1994. This in-house security team did a thorough

Charles de Gaulle Airport Roof Collapse

Charles de Gaulle Airport Roof Collapse Table of Contents Title Page 1 Abstract 2 TOC 3 Introduction 4 Relevant sections 5 Conclusion 8 References ( Work Cited) 9 The Charles de Gaulle Airport collapse was one of the most expensive in repairs, the initial project was already a stunning 900 million dollars. The airport was located in Paris, France and was a hotspot for tourists and other visitors as many amusement parks, food places, etc were just minutes away. On May 23, 2004, disaster would strike on terminal 2E as the roof collapsed, killing 4 people and injuring 3 others. When investigated by law enforcement and other fellow engineers, faults in the design were found, because the project was rushed and safety measures were a bit ignored. Another reason for the collapse was found to be due to thermal expansion, the warm metal structure expanded and contracted as the temperature went from high 70s to the low 30s that same morning, loosening the grip and support as it suddenly cooled down and shrank, causing the collapse. Introduction In the early 2000s , a nine-hundred million dollar project was going to be introduced to the city of   Paris, France. The project designer was Paul Andreu, the one in charge of how smooth and crisp this project was going to turn out. This is known as the Charles de Gaulle Airport, an airport that at the time and still today is considered being one of the largest in the world, holding seventeen planes and had the capacity to hold 10,000,000 passengers a year, and on a daily basis transported roughly two-hundred thousand   passengers. This airport was a huge success, there were so many tourist attractions minutes away, which made the airport a hot spot for visitors, a very excellent place to locate this airport. The Charles de Gaulle Airport consisted of three layers of material, the outer layer consisted of plate glass, giving the structure a very modern look at the time. The middle layer was made up of metal supports, a very good choice for materials to hold and make this buildin g sturdy. And lastly the inner layer, or the inside was composed of concrete blocks that would help support the metal supports. Many who entered the airport were stunned at the scenery, a very modern yet futuristic look, that when waiting for a next flight, which would often be a couple of hours, would be an enjoyable place to wait, relax, and enjoy the scenery. A couple of months had passed since the construction of the airport, and people were calling it a jewel from France, as it showed off French engineering skill and in a way, a sense of style. Relevant Sections On the oddly cold morning of May 23, 2004, catastrophe would have a toll on the Charles de Gaulle Airport located near Paris, France. It was early in the morning, around 7 am, when a few tourists heard cracking like sounds and noticed small clouds of dust coming down from the ceiling, and then, it collapsed. Down came the roof, tons of concrete fell leaving a huge gap in the terminal. Each square foot weighed about 60 pounds, the width of the terminal was 100 and counting feet, so trying to imagine how much weight could have fallen on a person is something you do not want to think about. As the concrete roof gave out, it fell flat to the ground killing 4 people and injuring 3. Terminal 2E had crumbled to the ground! This took many people by surprise because it had not even been its anniversary yet, it had only been active for 11 months when the tragedy happened. For now, that is all people knew about the accident, nobody knew how this could have happened and what the cause was. Furth er investigation was still to take place, and people anxiously waited to see what the police and other investigators could dig out from this. Investigation During investigation and various interviews, local engineers and also the police came to the conclusion that the problems did not come from a freak accident, but they did lead back to the faulty designs in the terminal. It was found that cautionary measures were not taken in mind during the design. A stunning find was that the opening of the terminal was delayed a day after a  chandelier fell because of the moving in the ceiling. This made people want to learn more and the investigations were taken deeper into the case. Findings and Recommendations On May 23, 2004, a catastrophe that would leave many French stunned and those in neighboring countries occurred as terminal 2E of the Charles De Gaulle Airport fell to the ground, killing 4 and injuring 3. Faulty and rushed designs were to blame, and more research and causes were yet to be found. Deep into the investigation already, it was pointed out that the metal structures were inserted too deep into the concrete blocks, causing the cracking in the roof. At the same time , this cracking weakened the roof, causing it to collapse. However, something else was found to be a cause of the collapse. The metal structure was constantly hot, which made it expand, and as mentioned before, the temperature had drastically dropped from around 73 degrees fahrenheit all the way down to around 38 degrees. This meant that at one point the metal was flexible as it was warm , but as soon as the temperature dropped quickly, it made the metal shrink back as it tried to straighten out, loosening the gr ip on the already cracked concrete blocks and causing it   all to plunge to the ground. Impact on Engineering Practices Ever since engineers heard about the incident, many have really taken their time handling workers to do the jobs done and right. They have also insured that their plans and sketches are accurate and are always safe after the construction is done. Peoples safety and well being is now  a must while developing and constructing buildings that are enormous and cost so much money. People should feel safe when boarding a new state of the art plane or entering a brand new future like building. Someones life should never be at risk because an engineer or architect etc failed to see a safety hazard. In conclusion, the Charles de Gaulle Airport disaster was not so bad in the amount of victims suffered. However it was useful for many architects and engineers as they learned to analyze more carefully and ensure the safety of those who would be involved in their building or structure. To ensure that this wouldnt happen again, it was decided to rebuild the entire structure and this time , without using the heavy tons of concrete. They opted to use glass and metal sheeting and for the structures the metal was still the 1st option. Now the terminal and the rest of the airport has been rebuilt and is as successful as it had been before. Https://www.facebook.com/JackieCravenWrites. Why Did the Charles-de-Gaulle Airport Terminal Collapse? About.com Home. N.p., 24 Apr. 2016. Web. 21 Dec. 2016. Rubric rating submitted on: 12/21/2016, 12:47:19 PM by [emailprotected] 10 5 0 Title Page    Your score: 5 x Present not done Table of Contents    Your score: 5 x Present not done Abstract    Your score: 10 Present not done Introduction    Your score: 5 x Background    Your score: 10 Present not done Investigation    Your score: 7 Present not done Findings    Your score: 10 Present not done Impact    Your score: 10 Present not done Conclusion    Your score: 5 x not done References    Your score: 5 References included no references Notes    Your score: 0 Notes recorded no notes 6 Content Pages    Your score: 7 filled 6 pages 3 content pages no contents pages Comments: [1]should be after the table of contents and shorter see if you can get it down to 4-5 sentences

Gun Control :: Second Amendment The Right To Bear Arms

Gun Control A Well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms , shall not be infringed. Amendment II, Bill of Rights Constitution of the U.S.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Second Amendment has been a major issue in American politics since 1876. In question is the intent of this Amendment. Was it meant to insure that people in general have arms for personal service, or was it intended to insure arms for military service? The nation's powerful gun lobby, the National Rifle Association, holds that it means the right to keep and bear arms -any arms. This privileged right is given to those 60-65 million people who choose to own guns. The NRA also believes that human character defects cannot be changed by a simple regulation of guns. They argue that problems with firearm ownership cannot be, in any way, associated with criminal violence. The lobbyist give credibility to this statement by adding that criminal violence continues to increase in cities like New York and Washington DC, even though gun control statutes were put into affect. They point out that gun laws would not have stopped most addicted killers. According to the NRA, anti-crime measures are the way to conquer urban violence, not anti-gun measures. The hope of most members in the association is to educate people about guns. The association is willing to reveal proper usage of guns to non-gun owners. They feel that this training could help reduce some of the tragedies involving guns.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The issue of gun control has become a dividing line in America. To gun control activists, the issue is about crime and the regulation of the weapons used to commit these crimes. In their opinion, law abiding citizens should have no need for guns. In this respect, the big controversy seems shallow . However, to the NRA population, a much deeper issue is in question, the issue is freedom. The members believe that the Second Amendment is crucial to the maintenance's of the democratic process. From their point of view, people who advocate gun control are ready to disregard a constitutional right. They believe that, if the Second Amendment is abridged, the First Amendment will be the next to go.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Executive Branch of the Federal Government is in a high-profile position on the issue of gun control. During this current Presidential election season, much rhetoric is being exchanged on the issue. It would almost appear that one must play to either camp in order to receive the desired endorsement of the strong political lobby groups. In the case of Bob Dole, the Republican

Organizational Culture Essay

Organizational Culture has been described as the shared values, principles, traditions, and ways of doing things that influence the way organizational members act. In most organizations, these shared values and practices have evolved over time and determine, toa a large extent, how things are done in the organization. This definition continues to explain organizational values, described as â€Å"beliefs and ideas about what kinds of goals members of an organization should pursue and ideas about the appropriate kinds or standards of behavior organizational members should use to achieve these goals. From organizational values develop organizational norms, guidelines, or expectations that prescribe appropriate kinds of behavior by employees in particular situations and control the behavior of organizational members towards one another. † The definition of culture implies three things. The culture is ‘perspective’, ‘descriptive’ and finally ‘shared’ within the organization. Research suggests that there are seven dimensions that describe and organization’s culture. Each of the seven dimensions (shown in exhibit 1) ranges from low to high, meaning it is not very typical of the culture (low) or is very typical of the culture (high). The seven dimensions of culture are: Attention to Detail. Outcome Orientation. People Orientation. Team Orientation. Aggressiveness. Stability. Innovation and Risk Taking. The culture of an organization can either be Strong or Weak. It is the culture, that sometimes influence the employees’ behaviors and actions. Strong Culture is said to exist where staff respond to stimulus because of their alignment to organizational values. In such environments, strong cultures help firms operate like well oiled machines, cruising along with outstanding execution and perhaps minor tweaking of existing procedures here and there. Research shows that strong cultures are those in which the key values are deeply held and widely shared and have a greater influence on employees than do weaker cultures. A â€Å"Strong† culture may be especially beneficial to firms operating in the service sector since members of these organizations are responsible for delivering the service and for evaluations important constituents make about firms. Research indicates that organizations may derive the following benefits from developing strong and productive cultures: †¢Better aligning the company towards achieving its vision, mission, and goals †¢High employee motivation and loyalty †¢Increased team cohesiveness among the company’s various departments and divisions. †¢Promoting consistency and encouraging coordination and control within the company †¢Shaping employee behavior at work, enabling the organization to be more efficient. However, in a strong culture, people do things because they believe it is the right thing to do, this often creates a state where people, even if they have different ideas, do not challenge organizational thinking, therefore, resulting in a reduced capacity for innovative thoughts. Most organizations have moderate to strong cultures; that is, there is relatively high agreement on what’s important, what defines â€Å"good† employee behavior, what it takes to get ahead, and so forth. However, it is also important to view what a weaker culture in an organization may yield at: An organization’s culture is often established by its top managers and it starts at the selection process. For instance, during the employee selection process, managers typically judge job candidates not only on the job requirements but also on how well they might fit into the organization. Further to that, the risk-taking appetite and irreverence to its competitors by the top managers paves the growth and action of an organization.

Mary Ann Warren–On Abortion

The question of abortion causes heated debates among politicians and moralists, sociologists and philosophers. The main problem society tries to solve is moral statue of fetus and its resemblance with the human being. In the essay â€Å"Abortion, and the concept of a Person† Mary Ann Warren proposes a unique vision on these problems and moral choice of women discussing a status of fetus and its moral rights. Following Judith Thomson, Warren discuses the status of fetus as a person and impact of this approach on moral side of abortion. Warren distinguishes two dimensions: a biological and moral status of fetus. Warren believes that a proper understanding of human biology can somehow rule out the possibility that a fetus is a separate human being. Similar to pro-life advocates she invokes our understanding of fetus, particularly the resemblance between fetuses and babies. Warren states that if we consider fetus a person, it should have the same human rights as other citizens. She opposes this opinion and in her words: ‘in the relevant respects, a fetus, even a fully developed one, is considerably less person-like than the average fish` (Warren). Warren singles out five main factors which could help to distinguish a person in moral and biological sense. A person has consciousness and can feel pain; it (he/she) has the ability to reason and act in ways that go beyond instinct (based on motives and goals). A person has â€Å"the ability communicate and a sense of self† (Warren). Warren rejects the idea that biological resemblance of fetus with the human beings is essential. She states that: [I]f the right to life of the fetus is to be based upon its resemblance to a person, then it cannot be said to have any more right to life than, let us say, a newborn guppy† (Warren). If researchers and moralists accept this position, the implications for women, and for the law, would be staggering. Of course, the traditional immunity of women from prosecution for abortion would be untenable. Any woman who had or sought an abortion would at least be liable to punishment for attempted murder or for aiding and abetting the physician who performed the deed. Warren gives a special attention to cloning and new technologies which could clone a cell from a human body. She asks: â€Å"Are all my cells now potential persons?† Trying to answer this question, she comes to conclusion that a part of a human body, â€Å"in some dim sense, [can] be a potential person† (Warren). Some might argue that a â€Å"person† comes into existence only at the point when there is a specific and determined chromosome genetic identity. Warren argues that if a new-born baby is â€Å"more-person like† and moralists justify abortion, they should also justify infanticide and murder. This is one of the most controversial parts of her essay, because if we assume that infanticide is wrong we should accept that abortion is also wrong. Also, Warren includes the case of homosexuals into discussion. If the society does not treat a fetus as ‘a person’, it should treat homosexuals the same way. In this case, â€Å"we can make a limited point: because of the differences we have noted between a skin cell and a fertilized ovum, it is at least not clear that Warren`s analogy is a good one† (Warren). In answering that question on the premise that the fetus is a person, it is important not to underestimate the extent of the sacrifice being asked of the woman. Critical remaining issues are whether a child which is never born alive is a person within the meaning of the statute, and whether it is possible to prove that the injury caused the unborn child's death. Warren addresses mothers’ choice and their freedom stating that: â€Å"The minute the infant is born, its preservation no longer violates any of its mother`s rights† (Warren). It sometimes is permissible for a pregnant woman to have an abortion because by means of an abortion she stops herself from helping bring about the state that she finds stressful. If she were not helping to bring about the state of affairs in the particular way that she is, she could not interfere with its coming about. Taking into account Warren’s arguments and logic, I suppose that she improperly uses different philosophical and moral categories, law and biological issues. Likewise, those who support abortion rights invoke principles of biology in support of their claim that whatever else it is, a fetus simply cannot be a separate â€Å"person†.   The same is true of the unfertilized ovum is alive. Warren’s arguments and approaches are not clear and even confusing in many points. Her argumentation lacks objectivity and logic that misleads and perplex readers. Thus I agree with Warren that the status of fetus is central in this debate, but we should also take into account mother’s rights and civil liberties. Pregnancy and childbirth are always physically risky activities. More significantly, they produce between woman and child real and life-altering bonds, both psychological and physiological. Woman denied the right to decide whether or not to end a pregnancy is not merely being asked to refrain from killing another person but being asked to make an affirmative sacrifice, and a profound one at that, in order to save that person. Still, there is some force to the moral argument that the right to choose abortion can be distinguished in cases of voluntary, as opposed to involuntary, pregnancy. To be sure, one powerful strand of feminist theory posits that within our society even most nominally sex, particularly in cases where the woman does not feel free to use or to suggest the use of birth control, involves coercion. But if one assumes a pregnancy that did not result from any sort of coercion, then perhaps the imposition of continued pregnancy on the woman may not be unjust. Warren does not include into discussion such important things as fetal age and weight. There remains considerable disagreement over which of many criteria is most adequate in determining viability, and over the precision of any such measures. In addition, the viability rule is difficult to apply because it is an indeterminate concept that depends on the individual development of a specific fetus and the health of the mother. The five factors she used to identify a person can be applied to many animals and primates but we do not consider them as ‘persons’. Thus, following Warren it is by no means enough to show that the fetus is person and that all persons have a right to life – so killing the fetus violates its right to life, i.e., that abortion is unjust killing. Abortion will not be morally wrong if we apply another criteria and factors to analysis of its legacy: typical requirements of the statutes include: the existence of a † person † who has died; the death of the person from injuries resulting from a wrongful act, neglect, or default that would have conferred a cause of action upon the person who has died, had that person survived; and the act, neglect, or default that caused the fatal injury must have been performed by another. I suppose that the logical fallacies are that Warren takes into account only a fetus and compares it rights, moral and legal status with human beings. It would be more important to compare rights and status of a mother vs fetus. The fetus, being person, has a right to life, but as the mother is a person too, so has she a right to life. I agree with Warren that a fetus in not a human yet, but I am disagree that we have a right to compare a fetus with a fish. Presumably they have an equal right to life. The main problem with Warren’s position is that she denies a moral status of fetus. Still, I agree with the author that: â€Å"a right of that magnitude could never override a woman`s right to obtain an abortion at any stage of her pregnancy` (Warren). The major remaining basis of the inconsistency of establishing the rights of the unborn to a cause of action for wrongful death is the question of whether or not a fetus is a person under the appropriate statutes and, if so, at what point in gestation? A related question is whether or not the fetus must be live born before action is allowed. This issue is crucial, because if the fetus is defined as a person, the action will be recognized; if not, the action will be dismissed.   

20 Response Essay Topics Great Ideas Related to the Rite of Passage

20 Response Essay Topics Great Ideas Related to the Rite of Passage If you have gone through our first guide, 10 facts on the rite of passage, you are right on track. In our second guide, we discuss 20 topics on the rite of passage so you don’t have to spend more time than necessary trying to find a relevant topic for your response essay. Furthermore, we have also included a sample response essay which you can utilize for your assignment. Be sure to follow-up this guide with our third and last guide how to outline a response essay on the rite of passage which will help you evaluate the structure to use while writing a response essay. Here are 20 topics on the rite of passage for a response essay: Rites of Passage in Ancient Greece Jewish Customs and Their Rites of Passage Common Rites of Passage in Indian Culture Rites of Passage and Their Significance Roles of Rites of Passage in a Human Society Correlation between Religion and Rites of Passage Personal Views on the Rites of Passage Effects of Rites of Passage on Social Statuses Four Stages of the Rites of Passage Rites of Passage on Birth and Pregnancy Common Rites of Passage to Perform before Marriage Role of Rites of Passage on Manhood and Adults The Rite of Baptism a Highly Desirable Ceremony Initiation Rites of Passage in Different Cultures Rites of Marriage and Betrothal Role of Rites of Passage to Avoid Incest Common Mortuary Rites of Different Religions Correlation between Rites of Passage and Culture The Significance of Rites of Passage on Human Behavior What is â€Å"Coming of Age Day† All about? Now you have 20 topic suggestions to choose from and start writing your response essay. To make the things easier, we have also provided you with a sample essay below. If you haven’t already, check out our first guide, 10 facts on the rite of passage for a response essay, which assists you throughout the writing process. Once you have gone through this (second) guide, be sure to read our third (and last) guide on how to outline a response essay on the subject. This will help you in writing a brilliant response essay for your professor and keeping the former smooth and professional. Here is a sample of a response essay on the rite of passage: Sample Response Essay Four Stages of Rites of Passage Rites of passage are ceremonial events that exist in all kind of cultures and religions throughout the world. A rite of passage actually describes the significance of a person’s status and there are rituals and traditions that are performed to transcend the person’s status in front of the group (or tribe) he/she is part of. This essay will describe the importance and stages of rites of passage that are found throughout history. The significance of rites of passage varies from one society to another, one religion to another; one culture to another and so on. But if we were to talk generally, a rite of passage plays a vital role in human behavior, society and culture. It shapes the life of a person if it’s importance is taken into consideration. Most of the time, a rite of passage is actually considered a ceremony to celebrate the milestones that a person hits in order to pass on to the next stage. Speaking of stages, there are four primary stages found in the rite of passage. First of these are birth rites. When it comes to birth rites, it is often a collection of distinct rituals that include the mother, father, relatives and members of society. The rites start taking place during the pregnancy period and continue till the child has been introduced to supernatural beings or an omnipotence entity commonly known as god(s). Mostly, the rites concern both parents and the child who will be coming into the world. Depending on the religion, culture and society, the mother of an upcoming child will refrain from heavy or â€Å"back breaking† activities while the father will give more time to the mother and meet her needs and wants in any way possible. Once the child has been delivered successfully, he/she is baptized and introduced to the super-beings of religion, i.e. god(s) or other entities that play a significant role in that specific society. Initiation rites are another group often considered as the rites of coming of age. It was considered that initiation rites were applied on people who reached had puberty level but according to an extensive historical research, this may not be true after all. In many religions, cultures and society, the initiation rites take place when a person is considered to have attained maturity. These rites include rituals where supernatural beings are introduced to the person either by fasting, physical exertion or consumption of herbs that results in altering common sensibilities and inducing hallucinations. However, in modern societies such as today, initiation rites are only sufficient when we are talking about breaking milestones such as getting a driving license, graduating, marrying etc. Ever since the era of technology took over, spiritualism is not considered a part of our lives and people have focused more on their social and financial rites instead. Going further with our list marriage rites are seen mostly in every religion, culture and society throughout the world. It’s what bonds two families together. However, the tradition and rituals vary. In some societies, exchange of goods and transfer is required whereas in some societies, a simple vow is what is needed. The insignia of change in social status also varies; in modern societies, wedding rings are sufficient to show that the couple is married. In other cultures, one is required to have to wear tattoos, ornaments or other embellishments to show the significance of marriage. The final group is death rites. This is one exception that does not change when it comes to the differentiation between societies, cultures and religions. All of these communities believe that there is an afterlife, not for our bodies, but for our souls (spirits) or consciousness. Every religion, culture and society holds a variety of rituals for their dead. Religion and culture play a vital role in keeping the rites of passage alive in this modern era because societies have become ignorant for most rites of passage and only a few of them are actually considered of importance. This should give you a fairly good idea on how to write on a rite of passage response essay. However, you should check out our final guide which tells you precisely how to shape up your response essay from start to finish. References: Rites of Passage. International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family. 2003: Encyclopedia. encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3406900364.html Bobby C. Alexander (2009) â€Å"Rite of Passage† Encyclopedia Britannica  https://www.britannica.com/topic/rite-of-passage/ Samuel G.F. Brandon â€Å"Death Rite† Encyclopedia Britannica  https://www.britannica.com/topic/death-rite Tabar, Margaret. Rite of passage. Knowledge Quest 30.4 (2002): 29. Lewis, Amy. Rite of Passage. Amaranthus 1994.1 (2013): 19. Van Gennep, Arnold. The rites of passage. University of Chicago Press, 2011. Stevenson, Kenneth W. Nuptial Blessing: A Study of Christian Marriage Rites. Alcuin Club/SPCK, 1982.

Are reason and emotion equally necessary in justifying moral decisions Essay - 2

Are reason and emotion equally necessary in justifying moral decisions - Essay Example It is interesting to study the processes through which a person goes through while arriving at a final decision, specifically, moral ones that test his or her character and loyalty. Often we see that the decisions that we take are decided by many factors. We are often trained to take decisions that are unbiased, but at some point of time in our lives, we come upon a dilemma wherein we start to question established rules and seek answers to why we must not heed to put emotional values while taking decisions. We tend to ask whether logic is all that we need to face the realities of life. We tend to consider why emotions are not given due importance in the decision making processes that can severely affect out lives in the future. The tension that arises out of conflict between heeding our inner voice and heeding to logic can create many problems in life. Essentially emotion is automatic and reflexive while logic is learned and acquired. While emotions are different from person to perso n, logic is more or less standard in its approach. In a way, it may be said that emotions are the real nature of a person, while logic conditions one to conform to the rules of the society. Decision making is dependent on the importance of the situation. While deciding on important things, such as opting between the elevator or the stairs, or making a decision on skipping breakfast, a person does not need to spend much time on the decision-making process. Sometimes, a person is not even aware that a decision has been made as he or she carries on with the chores of the day. However, when it comes to moral decisions that can have important ramifications in life, a person may have to stretch his or her mental faculties beyond the mundane and summon reason and emotion to come up with the right decision. Hence, it may be seen that there are certain situations in life where emotions and logic

Growth through Internationalisation among Entrepreneurial Firms Essay

Growth through Internationalisation among Entrepreneurial Firms - Essay Example . The study of internationalization and its effects on growth of entrepreneurial firms have been studied using secondary data from relevant articles. These articles are chosen based on its topic and content, which is relevant in the study of internationalization and its effect on the growth of entrepreneurial companies. Each of the articles is thoroughly analyzed and the information recovered from them is used to discuss its implications on entrepreneurial activities. The journal article by Buckley and Hashai is chosen for its analysis. Their article â€Å"Formalizing internationalization in the eclectic paradigm† is based on an equilibrium model which describes internationalization in the light of competitive advantage. It explains why firms adopt overseas expansion strategies and how it acts on behalf of their growth. The aim and objective of this article are to establish a formalized theory on internationalization in the light of eclectic paradigm by reconfiguring certain ne o-classical economic theories. A set of inequalities has been formulated to establish the role of eclectic paradigm in overseas expansion. The equilibrium is based on the concept of ownership advantage, location advantage, and internalization advantage which has been incorporated into the general equilibrium model, mostly preferred by economists. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is explained as an operation model which maximized the utility of workers and entrepreneurs simultaneously. A firm adopts an overseas operation only when the total utility received from FDI activities in a host country is more than the total utility received from the exports, domestic consumption and inward FDI. The three elements of the eclectic paradigm are ownership, location and internalization advantages. These are continuous in nature and often tend to support each other. The decrease in one advantage can be compensated by the other two. These competitive advantages are leveraged by the entrepreneurial firms to enhance their growth overseas and gain an edge over its competitors.