DOCSLIB.ORG

“This Is a Stunning, Stunning Night”: News Media Constructions of Emotional Reality

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
“This Is a Stunning, Stunning Night”: News Media Constructions of Emotional Reality California State University, San Bernardino CSUSB ScholarWorks Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations Office of aduateGr Studies 3-2020 “THIS IS A STUNNING, STUNNING NIGHT”: NEWS MEDIA CONSTRUCTIONS OF EMOTIONAL REALITY Karrina Janelle Oravetz California State University - San Bernardino Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd Part of the Applied Linguistics Commons, Discourse and Text Linguistics Commons, and the Phonetics and Phonology Commons Recommended Citation Oravetz, Karrina Janelle, "“THIS IS A STUNNING, STUNNING NIGHT”: NEWS MEDIA CONSTRUCTIONS OF EMOTIONAL REALITY" (2020). Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations. 971. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/971 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Office of aduateGr Studies at CSUSB ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of CSUSB ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. “THIS IS A STUNNING, STUNNING NIGHT”: NEWS MEDIA CONSTRUCTIONS OF EMOTIONAL REALITY A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of California State University, San Bernardino In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in English Composition: Applied Linguistics and Teaching English as a Second Language by Karrina Janelle Oravetz March 2020 “THIS IS A STUNNING, STUNNING NIGHT”: NEWS MEDIA CONSTRUCTIONS OF EMOTIONAL REALITY A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of California State University, San Bernardino by Karrina Janelle Oravetz March 2020 Approved by: Caroline Vickers, Committee Chair, English Parastou Feiz, Committee Member © 2020 Karrina Janelle Oravetz ABSTRACT The news media is one of the main influences of people’s perception, especially during elections. It can have an influence on a voter’s perception during and after the results of an election. One of the issues that arises is that news reports are biased, which affects viewers’ perceptions and interpretations of the information reported. This paper presents an analysis of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) in the genre of news media and further shows that prosodic features is another layer of analysis in CDA. I am looking specifically at how news broadcasts construct information after the 2016 election results. News media that represent either conservative liberal or Right-wing both use strategies to manipulate information even when the viewer wants to think of news media as neutral. In this paper, nine news reports that represent either conservative liberal or Right-wing from four leading news broadcasts were analyzed: Fox News, ABC News, NBC News, and CNN Breaking News. A transcription key organized the notes made of the micro element patterns seen in each report, which the patterns are color-coded. Observations were made through differences in the visual content shown, word choices, face- threatening acts, phonetic features, and prosodic features. Vowels and intonation was analyzed through the program Praat, a free computer software package for the scientific analysis of speech in phonetics, which spectrograms are included to show the patterns that are evident. The patterns revealed that news media presents information based on the side they represent and leave out iii information that contradicts their representation of reality. The phonetic features also show that there is a construction of emotional speech, which in turn affects how the audience perceives the information. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge my committee members, Dr. Caroline Vickers and Dr. Parastou Feiz for guiding me through the process of this thesis. I appreciate their support for the reading of and contribution to this thesis. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ………………………………………………………………….... xi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW Introduction .............................................................................................. 1 Literature Review ...................................................................................... 2 CHAPTER TWO: DATA COLLECTION AND METHODOLOGY Data Collection and Methodology …………............................................. 17 CHAPTER THREE: ANALYSIS OF MACRO PATTERNS, MICRO PATTERNS, AND PHONETIC FEATURES Introduction ............................................................................................ 22 Stance (word choices, images) …………………………………………….. 22 Face-threatening Acts ………………………………………………………. 35 Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) …………………………………………. 40 Phonetic Features (Intonation, Vowel Analysis, and Filled Pauses) …… 45 CHAPTER FOUR: DISCUSSIONS OF IMPLICATIONS AND POSSIBLE FURTHER RESEARCH Discussion and Possible Further Research ............................................ 59 APPENDIX A: FOX NEWS TRANSCRIPTIONS ............................................... 62 APPENDIX B: ABC NEWS TRANSCRIPTIONS …………………………………. 80 APPENDIX C: NBC NEWS TRANSCRIPTION………………………………….. 102 APPENDIX D: CNN NEWS TRANSCRIPTION..……………………………...… 108 vi REFERENCES ................................................................................................. 113 vii LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Comparison of Intonation Tones and Breaks Indices Analysis in Fox News Report “Donald Trump Elected President: Fox News Alert” and “On Phone: Sean Hannity” .................................................................... 47 Table 2. Comparison of Competitive and Cooperate Interruption (Intonation) in CNN News Report “Protests Spread After Trump’s Stunning Victory” ................................................................................................ 49 Table 3. Words Pronounces by Emotional Speaker and Neutral Speaker to Evaluate Differences in Emotional States in CNN News Report “Protests Spread After Trump’s Stunning Victory” .............................................. 51 Table 4. Spectrogram Examples Comparing Words "you" in CNN News Report " Protests Spread After Trump's Stunning Victory" ……………………… 51 Table 5. Typical Vowels Formants Chart for Speakers in CNN News Report "Protests Spread After Trump's Stunning Victory" …………………….. 52 Table 6. Normalization Chart of Emotional and Neutral Speaker in CNN News Report "Protests Spread After Trump's Stunning Victory" ……………. 52 Table 7. Filler Pauses Based on 11 Categories by Clark & Trees (2002) in CNN Report "Protests Spread After Trump's Stunning Victory" ……………. 54 viii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Rhetorical Impact of Heart Monitor on NBC News ……………………. 32 Figure 2. Rhetorical Impact of Miley Cyrus Crying on NBC News ………...…… 33 Figure 3. Rhetorical Impact of Angry Protestors on ABC News ……………..…. 33 Figure 4. Rhetorical Impact of Explosions on ABC News ……………………..… 34 xi CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW Introduction Reporting of events and information is a universal phenomenon. Particularly, news media is a mainstream source that reports events and information to millions of viewers. “Most of our social and political knowledge and beliefs about the world derive from the dozens of news reports we read or see every day” (Van Dijk, 1998, p.110). However, information presented is distorted, which means people are basing their knowledge on limited views and perceptions. According to Zhang (2014), language in news reports is never bias- free and it is branded by social values and different ideologies. (p. 2273) The purpose of my thesis is to bring attention to how various micro-level elements (such as register, stance, face-threatening acts, and phonetics) shape the macro- level (hidden ideologies/bias, manipulation, and distortion of reality) in the genre of news media. In particular, I am looking through the lens of CDA to understand how a variety of news broadcasts constructed information differently after the 2016 election results based on the political views of their target audiences. Furthermore, I intend to build on what scholars have said about bias and manipulation in the news genre by demonstrating how phonetic analysis of intonation, vowel analysis, and filler pauses construct the emotion of the event. Applying CDA in combination with phonetic analysis will demonstrate how news programs reveal stance and manipulate audiences. Ultimately, this thesis 1 will reveal how broadcast media news fulfills expectations of their primary audience and construct their own interpretations of reality. Literature Review An Overview of CDA in News Media Van Dijk (1992) examines some properties of the social power of the news media that influence public opinion. The power is “not restricted to the influence of the media on their audiences, but also involves the role of the media within the broader framework of the social, cultural, political, or economic power structures of society” (Van Dijk, 1992, p. 10). Van Dijk argues that “one needs to pay detailed attention to the structures and strategies of such discourses and to the ways these relate to institutional arrangements, on the one hand, and to the audience, on the other hand” (Van Dijk, 1992, p. 10). Media has the power to control the minds of readers or viewers in terms of how they view events or information. Events and information can be manipulated
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Analysis of Talk Shows Between Obama and Trump Administrations by Jack Norcross — 69
    Analysis of Talk Shows Between Obama and Trump Administrations by Jack Norcross — 69 An Analysis of the Political Affiliations and Professions of Sunday Talk Show Guests Between the Obama and Trump Administrations Jack Norcross Journalism Elon University Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements in an undergraduate senior capstone course in communications Abstract The Sunday morning talk shows have long been a platform for high-quality journalism and analysis of the week’s top political headlines. This research will compare guests between the first two years of Barack Obama’s presidency and the first two years of Donald Trump’s presidency. A quantitative content analysis of television transcripts was used to identify changes in both the political affiliations and profession of the guests who appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” CBS’s “Face the Nation,” ABC’s “This Week” and “Fox News Sunday” between the two administrations. Findings indicated that the dominant political viewpoint of guests differed by show during the Obama administration, while all shows hosted more Republicans than Democrats during the Trump administration. Furthermore, U.S. Senators and TV/Radio journalists were cumulatively the most frequent guests on the programs. I. Introduction Sunday morning political talk shows have been around since 1947, when NBC’s “Meet the Press” brought on politicians and newsmakers to be questioned by members of the press. The show’s format would evolve over the next 70 years, and give rise to fellow Sunday morning competitors including ABC’s “This Week,” CBS’s “Face the Nation” and “Fox News Sunday.” Since the mid-twentieth century, the overall media landscape significantly changed with the rise of cable news, social media and the consumption of online content.
    [Show full text]
  • Glaadawards March 16, 2013 New York New York Marriott Marquis
    #glaadawards MARCH 16, 2013 NEW YORK NEW YORK MARRIOTT MARQUIS APRIL 20, 2013 LOS AnGELES JW MARRIOTT LOS AnGELES MAY 11, 2013 SAN FRANCISCO HILTON SAN FRANCISCO - UnION SQUARE CONNECT WITH US CORPORATE PARTNERS PRESIDENT’S LETTer NOMINEE SELECTION PROCESS speCIAL HONOrees NOMINees SUPPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT Welcome to the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. Thank you for joining us to celebrate fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in the media. Tonight, as we recognize outstanding achievements and bold visions, we also take pause to remember the impact of our most powerful tool: our voice. The past year in news, entertainment and online media reminds us that our stories are what continue to drive equality forward. When four states brought marriage equality to the election FROM THE PRESIDENT ballot last year, GLAAD stepped forward to help couples across the nation to share messages of love and commitment that lit the way for landmark victories in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington. Now, the U.S. Supreme Court will weigh in on whether same- sex couples should receive the same federal protections as straight married couples, and GLAAD is leading the media narrative and reshaping the way Americans view marriage equality. Because of GLAAD’s work, the Boy Scouts of America is closer than ever before to ending its discriminatory ban on gay scouts and leaders. GLAAD is empowering people like Jennifer Tyrrell – an Ohio mom who was ousted as leader of her son’s Cub Scouts pack – to share their stories with top-tier national news outlets, helping Americans understand the harm this ban inflicts on gay youth and families.
    [Show full text]
  • 83Rd National Headliner Awards Winners
    83rd National Headliner Awards winners The 83rd National Headliner Award winners were announced today honoring the best journalism in newspapers, photography, radio, television and online. The awards were founded in 1934 by the Press Club of Atlantic City. The annual contest is one of the oldest and largest in the country that recognizes journalistic merit in the communications industry. Here is a list of this year's winners beginning with the Best of Show in each category: Best of show: Newspapers “Painkiller Profiteers” Eric Eyre Charleston Gazette-Mail, Charleston, W. Va. Best of show: Photography “An Assassination” Burhan Ozbilici Associated Press, New York, N.Y. Best of show: Online The Panama Papers, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, a project of the Center for Public Integrity Best of show: Radio “Texas Standard: Out of the Blue: 50 Years After the UT Tower Shooting” Texas Standard staff Texas Standard, Austin, Texas Best of show: TV First place “Cosecha de Miseria (Harvest of Misery) & The Source” Staff of weather.com and Telemundo Network weather.com and Telemundo Network, New York, N.Y. DAILY NEWSPAPERS AND NEWS SYNDICATES Spot News in daily newspapers, all sizes First Place “Dallas Police Shootings” The Dallas Morning News Staff Dallas, Texas Second Place “Oakland's Ghost Ship warehouse fire” East Bay Times staff East Bay Times, San Jose, California Third Place “The Shooting Death of Philando Castile” Star Tribune staff Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Minnesota Local news beat coverage or continuing story by an individual or team First Place “The Pulse Shooting” Orlando Sentinel staff Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, Fla.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 4 the Right-Wing Media Enablers of Anti-Islam Propaganda
    Chapter 4 The right-wing media enablers of anti-Islam propaganda Spreading anti-Muslim hate in America depends on a well-developed right-wing media echo chamber to amplify a few marginal voices. The think tank misinforma- tion experts and grassroots and religious-right organizations profiled in this report boast a symbiotic relationship with a loosely aligned, ideologically-akin group of right-wing blogs, magazines, radio stations, newspapers, and television news shows to spread their anti-Islam messages and myths. The media outlets, in turn, give members of this network the exposure needed to amplify their message, reach larger audiences, drive fundraising numbers, and grow their membership base. Some well-established conservative media outlets are a key part of this echo cham- ber, mixing coverage of alarmist threats posed by the mere existence of Muslims in America with other news stories. Chief among the media partners are the Fox News empire,1 the influential conservative magazine National Review and its website,2 a host of right-wing radio hosts, The Washington Times newspaper and website,3 and the Christian Broadcasting Network and website.4 They tout Frank Gaffney, David Yerushalmi, Daniel Pipes, Robert Spencer, Steven Emerson, and others as experts, and invite supposedly moderate Muslim and Arabs to endorse bigoted views. In so doing, these media organizations amplify harm- ful, anti-Muslim views to wide audiences. (See box on page 86) In this chapter we profile some of the right-wing media enablers, beginning with the websites, then hate radio, then the television outlets. The websites A network of right-wing websites and blogs are frequently the primary movers of anti-Muslim messages and myths.
    [Show full text]
  • NCLR Celebrates 35 Years
    The National Center for Lesbian Rights Newsletter | SUMMER 2012 FOR JUSTICE NCLR NCLRights.org Facebook.com/NCLRights Twitter.com/NCLRights YouTube.com/NCLRights BLOG NCLRights.WordPress.com NCLR Celebrates 35 Years Snapshots from NCLR’s 35th Anniversary Celebration. More than 1,500 people celebrated NCLR’s 35th Anniversary SAVE THE DATE: Celebration in San Francisco on May 5th, 2012, recognizing the NEXT YEAR’S ANNIVERSARY accomplishments of six student plaintiffs from Minnesota’s CELEBRATION IS Anoka-Hennepin School District and the fabulous Jane Lynch. MAY 18, 2013 When Dylon Frei stepped up to the podium at the The six students—Dylon, Brittany Geldert, Damian is proud to be out, and someone who is unafraid Anniversary Celebration to accept an award for McGee-Backes, Ebonie Richardson, Kyle Rooker, to speak up,” Dylon told the crowd. “I learned his courage, he did so with a confidence he didn’t and Kyrstin Schuette—were honored with NCLR’s that one voice is enough to create change, and have a few years ago. Courage Award for standing up to the district, six voices can make a lasting impact that will which resolved the lawsuit in March 2012 by “I’m gay—and I’m happy,” the 15-year-old said to benefit thousands of other students now and in agreeing to sweeping changes to protect those a roar of applause from the sell-out crowd before the future.” who either are or are perceived to be LGBT. accepting his award and waving it over his head. Brittany couldn’t contain her emotions as she One-by-one, the students told the audience about Just
    [Show full text]
  • Contemporary Conservative Constructions of American Exceptionalism
    Journal of Contemporary Rhetoric, Vol. 1, No.2, 2011, pp. 40-54. Contemporary Conservative Constructions of American Exceptionalism Jason A. Edwards Ever since President Obama took office in 2009, there has been an underlying debate amongst politicians, pundits, and policymakers over America’s exceptionalist nature. American exceptionalism is one of the foundational myths of U.S. identity. While analyses of Barack Obama’s views on American exceptionalism are quite prominent, there has been little discussion of conservative rhetorical constructions of this impor- tant myth. In this essay, I seek to fill this gap by mapping prominent American conservatives’ rhetorical voice on American exceptionalism. Keywords: American exceptionalism, conservative rhetoric, jeremiad In April 2009, President Obama travelled to Europe to meet with European leaders in coordinating a strategy to deal with the global financial crisis and to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the NATO alliance. At a news conference in Strasbourg, France, Ed Luce of the Financial Times asked the president whether or not he believed in American ex- ceptionalism. Obama answered by stating, I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British ex- ceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism. I am enormously proud of my country and its role and history in the world . we have a core set of values that are en- shrined in our Constitution, in our body of law, in our democratic practices, in our belief in free speech and equality that, though imperfect, are exceptional. Now, the fact that I am very proud of my country and I think that we‟ve got a whole lot to offer the world does not lessen my interest in recognizing the value and wonderful qualities of other countries or recogniz- ing that we‟re not always going to be right, or that people may have good ideas, or that in order for us to work collectively, all parties, have to compromise, and that includes us.
    [Show full text]
  • Resume Wizard
    Class details American Public Opinion and Pressure Groups (POL-UA 9342001) Fall 2017, Tuesdays, 2-5p Location to be confirmed. SCHEDULING NOTE: In addition to the regular Tuesday classes, we are also holding time for a make-up lecture, should it be required due to scheduling changes, on Friday, November 3rd from 2-5p. Instructor Steve McMahon Details [email protected] or [email protected] 703-626-9943 c Office hours by appointment. Tuesdays prior to class are generally the best time to meet, although other times may be arranged. Please call my cell to schedule. Prerequisites N/A Class This class will examine the origins of public opinion research, as well as the impact it has on Description news coverage, political campaigns, public discourse, elected officials, and in many cases, public policy outcomes. You will learn how to read, analyze, and critically-evaluate public opinion research; you will learn about “leading” and “trailing” research indicators; and you will understand why “character” attributes often matter more than “performance” attributes and issue positions. You will see how political campaigns, lobbyists, public relations professionals and others leverage public opinion to impact perceptions, as well as political, policy and business outcomes. Because this course is being taught in the nation’s capital, where politics and policy converge, we will be able to hear from political professionals from both political parties, congressional staffers, journalists, and others who will share their insights about how they apply public opinion research to conduct campaigns, shape policy, report the news, or address business challenges. There is an existing and established core reading list for this course, which we will use as the foundational reading for the course.
    [Show full text]
  • Cooper, Anderson (B
    Cooper, Anderson (b. 1967) by Linda Rapp Encyclopedia Copyright © 2015, glbtq, Inc. Anderson Cooper. Entry Copyright © 2012 glbtq, Inc. Photograph by Flickr Reprinted from http://www.glbtq.com user minds-eye. CC-BY- SA 2.0. Award-winning television journalist Anderson Cooper has traveled the globe, reporting from war zones and scenes of natural and man-made disasters, as well as covering stories on political and social issues. Cooper is a ubiquitous presence on American television, for in addition to being a news anchor, he also hosts a talk show. Cooper is the son of heiress and designer Gloria Vanderbilt and her fourth husband, Wyatt Cooper. In his memoir, Dispatches from the Edge (2006), Cooper stated that his parents' "backgrounds could not have been more different." Whereas his mother descends from one of American best-known and wealthiest families, his father was born into a poor farm family in the small town of Quitman, Mississippi. When he was sixteen he moved to the Ninth Ward of New Orleans with his mother and five of his seven siblings. Anderson Cooper wrote that his "father fell in love with New Orleans from the start" and delighted in its culture. After graduating from Francis T. Nicholls High School, however, Wyatt Cooper headed to California to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. Although he found work on both screen and stage, he eventually turned to screenwriting for Twentieth Century Fox. Wyatt Cooper and Vanderbilt married in 1964 and took up residence in a luxurious mansion in New York City. The couple had two sons, Carter, born in 1965, and Anderson, born on June 3, 1967.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 in the United States District Court for the District
    6:10-cv-01884-JMC Date Filed 07/20/10 Entry Number 1 Page 1 of 23 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA GREENVILLE DIVISION TIM CLARK, JOHANNA CLOUGHERTY, CIVIL ACTION MICHAEL CLOUGHERTY, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT GOLDLINE INTERNATIONAL, INC., Defendant. I. NATURE OF THE ACTION 1. Plaintiffs and proposed class representatives Tim Clark, Johanna Clougherty, and Michael Clougherty (“Plaintiffs”) bring this action individually and on behalf of all other persons similarly situated against Defendant Goldline International, Inc. (“Goldline”) to recover damages arising from Goldline’s violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), 18 U.S.C. § 1961, et seq., unfair and deceptive trade practices, and unjust enrichment. 2. This action is brought as a class action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 on behalf of a Class, described more fully below, which includes all persons or entities domiciled or residing in any of the fifty states of the United States of America or in the District of Columbia who purchased at least one product from Goldline since July 20, 2006. 3. Goldline is a precious metal dealer that buys and sells numismatic coins and bullion to investors and collectors all across the nation via telemarketing and telephone sales. Goldline is an established business that has gained national prominence in recent years through its association with conservative talk show hosts it sponsors and paid celebrity spokespeople who 1 6:10-cv-01884-JMC Date Filed 07/20/10 Entry Number 1 Page 2 of 23 have agreed to promote Goldline products by playing off the fear of inflation to encourage people to purchase gold and other precious metals as an investment that will protect them from an out of control government.
    [Show full text]
  • Fox News Personalities Past and Present
    Fox News Personalities Past And Present Candy-striped Clancy charts very riotously while Maxwell remains jingling and advisory. Monopteral Quint regurgitate or corral some rulership dishonestly, however unmaimed Bernardo misfields mistakenly or physics. Tabu Robert tappings his snooker quantifies starchily. Fox News veterans face a hurdle all the job market Having. While i did revamp mandatory metallica was valedictorian of his live coverage of these are no guarantees of optimist youth home and present top actors, az where steve hartman. Fox News Anchor Kelly Wright On that He's Suing The. Personalities FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth. Also named individual Fox personalities Maria Bartiromo Lou Dobbs. As a past. All Personalities FOX 5 DC. Lawsuit Accuses Former Fox News Anchor Ed Henry of Rape. Fox News anchor Kelly Wright speaks to the media as he joins other shoe and former Fox employees at any press conference organized by his. How exactly does Sean Hannity make? The First Amendment Cases and Theory. Tv personalities to that had never accused of internships during weekend cameraman at some female anchors, there are our. Are raising two. My life in new york native raised in the plain dealer reporter in cadillac, impact your new york city that journalism from comics kingdom as i sent shockwaves through! Growing up past ocean city and present in english literature. Fox News TV Series 197 cast incredible crew credits including actors actresses. Personalities FOX 26 Houston. The past and present top dollar for comment on this must have made independent of. Trish Regan bio age height education salary net worth husband.
    [Show full text]
  • March 27, 2020 the Honorable Pat Cipollone White House Counsel
    March 27, 2020 The Honorable Pat Cipollone White House Counsel 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. Cipollone: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (“CREW”) respectfully requests that you take all necessary steps to ensure that a “shadow task force” reportedly being used by Senior White House Advisor Jared Kushner to deal with the economic and health consequences of the coronavirus pandemic complies fully with all laws, including the Presidential Records Act (“PRA”) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (“FACA”). Mr. Kushner’s shadow task force appears to be violating key aspects of the PRA, and his use of it implicates the FACA’s public transparency provisions. The extraordinary measures needed to combat the coronavirus pandemic make these transparency and accountability requirements even more important. According to recent press reports, Mr. Kushner has assembled a team of allies within the government and with representatives from private industries to work with the administration’s official coronavirus task force.1 Other officials involved in the administration’s response to the coronavirus have called this team a “shadow task force” that issues requests “they interpret as orders they must balance with regular response efforts.”2 Of particular concern, these outside advisers do not appear to be following proper governmental protocols. For example, they are using private email addresses to email large groups of government employees, creating security concerns and sowing further confusion.3 The PRA imposes on the President and his staff, including Mr. Kushner, the mandatory obligation to document, preserve, and maintain as presidential records “the activities, deliberations, decisions, and policies that reflect the performance of the President’s constitutional, statutory, or other official or ceremonial duties[.]”44 U.S.C.
    [Show full text]
  • Working Relationship
    U.S. hit IS with largest non-nuclear bomb — Page 2 @The_Derrick The Derrick and The News-Herald TheDerrick.com TheDerrickNews OCDerrick © OIL CITY, PA. FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 2017 (800) 352-1002 (814) 676-7444 $1.00 Dan Rooney dies Saving mall a priority Economic development committee to work on issue By SALLY BELL His comments came at a Thursday ident, suggested that local business Others, including Bonnie Summers, Staff writer meeting of the Cranberry supervisors. owners form a conglomerate and buy a member of the township’s compre- Also in attendance were Supervisors the mall from the owner. hensive plan steering committee, and The future of Cranberry Town- Harold Best and Jerry Brosius, along The mall is private property and its Stephanie Felmlee, a local business ship’s mall will likely be one of the with township Manager Chad Findlay. owner lives in California. On the Ve- owner, said that communication must focal points of an economic develop- The mall came up as a point of nango County parcel viewer, the own- be opened between the township and ment committee that is being formed. discussion during the public comment er is listed as SSR LLC. the mall’s owner in California to dis- “We can’t lose that mall,” said Fred portion of the meeting. The township has never owned the cuss the property’s future. Buckholtz, supervisors chair. Marilyn Brandon, a Cranberry res- mall, Best said. See CRANBERRY, Page 8 ‘They have the opportunity to refocus their lives and have another chance’ Dan Rooney, the powerful and popular Oil City Steelers chairman whose name is attached to the NFL’s landmark initiative in minority hiring, dies at 84.
    [Show full text]