Journal 4

The first question in "What makes it an Investigative Report?" is; does the writer define the issue in terms that will make sense to the audience for the report? In the "#1 Party School" broadcast I felt that the issue was clearly defined in the opening scene by showing how drunk college students can be disrupting and damaging to people who live near the campus. This led into the main conflict of how drinking at Penn State can effect its students and the people who live in the area.

The second question is "What reasons are given for why the issue needs to be investigated immediately?" There were several reasons given. The first was that the drunken college kids damaged personal property and disturbed people's sleep. This then led to more serious problems like kids breaking into people's houses to find a comfortable place to sleep, fake I.D.'s, acceptable underage drinking and assaulting police officers due to the effect of alcohol. Finally they finished the reasons with most important reason which was that alcohol can result in death or injury for students.

The third question is "Are facts and details given to explain how the issue affects different groups that might have an interest in or connection to the issue?" Facts are presented in the forms of eye witness accounts through out the documentary. For example talking to people who have seen others pee in their yard along with going into a frat to see the environment and activities that take place in one. Also the documentary uses Dado's death as an example of how alcohol can injure student.

"Whom does the writer quote? Whose perspectives are represented in direct quotations? Whose perspectives are not represented through the use of quotations?" This documentary was heard from a large array of view points. People's whose perspectives were actually heard consisted of, a women who lived in University Park, a police officer from Penn State, various Penn State students going out to party and the friends of Dado. Various quotes from Graham Spanier's speeches on alcohol related problems at Penn State were also used. Student perspectives on the alcohol situation however were generalized. The document made it seem as if all Penn State students found drinking acceptable and did not want it to end on campus.

"What specific conclusion about the issue does the writer want readers to reach?" The main conclusion I felt was the fact that something had to be done about the drinking and partying that happens at Penn State because it is harmful. However the document acknowledged the fact that this was easier said then done because various steps which had been taken in the past to change the drinking habits of Penn State students weren't very effective.

I personally enjoyed the beginning of this broadcast because it was interesting for me to hear other people's perspectives on Penn State college students and their behaviors. Up until listening to this broadcast I had gotten so used to seeing some of the things downtown that I just accepted them as normal behavior until I heard them talked about. The progression of seriousness in this broadcast I felt was effective. It didn't start out immediately by saying drinking was bad and should be ended. It was taken from multiple perspectives, some saying the behaviors alcohol had caused was unacceptable while others talked about how they were glad that the students could have fun during thier free time. Mostly, I enjoyed listening to the cop talk and hearing his story and how he had to deal with Penn State students.