RSS Blog Assignment 3

RSS news feeds have provided an opportunity for me to monitor the evolving financial crisis on Wall Street. Figures provided by Dow Jones, Standard and Poors (S & P), and Nasdaq were compared in an attempt to predict how the information would be reported in the mainstream media. Using this data I wanted to see how several news agencies would put their spin on unfolding events. It was an interesting experience and I was somewhat surprised by the results.

News reports filed by The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post indicated that global market conditions were extremely volitile. Each of these newspapers forcast that this dire situation would persist until at least mid- 2009. The newspapers were pretty straightfoward in reporting how the government was considering a second round of rebates for qualified taxpayers. Also, the newspapers were fairly objective in reporting how the proposed rebate initiative would increase the national debt. As a dyed in the wool pessimist, I was expecting these newspapers to be extremely critical of governmental efforts to stabilize the financial crisis, especially when it came to increasing the national debt. Unfortunately this did not happen.

Several reports filed with National Public Radio (NPR) were similar to information posted in the newspapers. NPR reporters seemed to suggest that the Presidential election, and Democratic control of both Houses of Congress, would be catalysts in formulating a concerted response to the financial crisis.



RSS feeds from each of these news services has helped me to understand the complex nature of problems that are confronting us. With RSS I've discovered how to locate and download reliable sources of information. It is my responsibility to analyze and evaluate the information being posted by newsmakers. Being able to compare and contrast conflicting news reports has enabled me to become an independent thinker.