The Rapidian has been working with classrooms to submit content for the last several semesters. We talk with Kevin Den Dulk, the first professor to approach us about class submissions. The collaboration has matured over the last year; hear how students at GVSU develop a stronger connection to the Grand Rapids community via their contributions to The Rapidian.
Fall 2010
Fall 2009
The featured song today is "Own Stunts" off of Breathe Owl Breathe's newest album, Magic Central. Breathe Owl Breathe is a band based out of northern Michigan and with ties to Grand Rapids.
MEDIA ANALYSIS
2011 a year for mobile reporting
In December, the City of Grand Rapids announced MyGRcity311, a mobile phone app for smartphone owners to log issues with the city to an interactive map. The city would see concerns, such as potholes, vandalism and know where to dispatch crews to take care of issues through the crowdsourced reporting. Also in December, the Michigan Department of Human Services launched a free smartphone app for both the iPhone and Android-based phones that provides information on how to report child abuse, how to become foster parents and how to deal with suspected fraud. Meanwhile, the municipality of Copenhagen in Denmark has taken it one step further by inviting residents to contribute their visions for the city's future on what they call an "idea map." The idea map is an online map with pinpoints that detail residents' ideas and images for specific locations.
[More: GRcity311 - MLive, Michigan DHS - MLive, Copenhagen - Guerrilla Innovation]
Pew Internet and American Life Project publishes its Generations 2010 report
The Pew Research Center has been publishing a Generations report for the last several years to track how different generations spend time and utilize tools online. One of the things they uncovered is that teens are less likely than five years ago to create and maintain blogs on a regular basis.
[More: Time Magazine, Pew]
Reuters announces first wire service, and Chicago Tribune is the first to sign up
Thomson Reuters, owner of the Reuters news service, recently announced that his company is starting its own subscription news service in the U.S. that resembles the Associated Press' model. News organizations will be able to buy a subscription to the Reuters service and pull content from their many content partners to publish on their own sites and print publications.
[More: Paid Content, Wall Street Journal, Reuters]
Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society publishes findings that distributed denial of service attacks on independent media and human rights sites are increasing
Distributed denial of service is a phenomenon that means the service a site provides is being blocked from its intended users. A recent example of this is when supporters of WikiLeaks attacked the MasterCard site when they were pressured by the federal government to shut down services to WikiLeaks. In a two-year survey, researchers have found that these sort of attacks are increasing against independent media outlets, even when there isn't political turmoil or major events happening.
[More: Berkman Center]
CALENDAR
Big Top Juice Ball
7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 8 at the J. W. Marriott (235 Louis NW)
Tomorrow night at 7 p.m., a benefit is being held for the Kids' Food Basket at the J. W. Marriott. The Big Top Juice Ball is a birthday party intended to raise enough money to buy two semi-truckloads of juice boxes for school lunches.
[More]
Not Your Average Speaker Series
On Wednesday, Jan. 12, Rapid Growth will kick off the year with its first speaker series, themed as Uptown's urban revitalization. Panelists will include the owners of Art of the Table, Sandmann's BBQ, Spirit Dreams and Wealthy at Charles. The event is at Wealthy Theatre. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event begins at 6 p.m.
[More]
Literacy Center tutor orientation
Also on Wednesday, Jan. 12, The Literacy Center of West Michigan will be holding a volunteer tutor orientation at its location on 1120 Monroe NW. The Literacy Center's goal is to help strengthen reading and language skills and works mostly with youth and immigrants. If you're interested in learning more, call 459-5151.
[More]
Opening reception for new works at the UICA
At 6 p.m. next Friday, Jan. 14, the UICA will be opening its first exhibit of the year. There are 30 installation artists who have contributed pieces around the theme of "Beacon."
[More]
Heartside's seventh annual talent show
At 8 p.m. next Friday, Jan. 14, the Heartside Downtown Neighborhood Association is putting on its annual talent show featuring 20 local artists and performers. The event will be at the Ladies' Literary Club and also acts as a fundraiser for the neighborhood association. HDNA has published a piece detailing the event on The Rapidian.
[More]
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