Letter to Karin Wahl-Jorgansen

Dear Karin Wahl-Jorgansen,

I just finished reading your book "Journalists and the Public: Newsroom Culture, Letters to the Editor and Democracy." The book was assigned for my journalism class at U-mass, which is a class based primarily on the subject of feedback journalism. My professor said this was the first time he has used your book in one of his classes. In my opinion your book definitely illustrated your academic knowledge of the journalism field but I felt it had more of a textbook feel than it should have. Many students in the class were unhappy about the boring prose of most of your chapters as well its repetitiveness. I feel if you had used more personal examples and written in a more engaging style your book would have been more of a success in our classroom and overall as well. I'm sure, however, that with your strong knowledge of journalism your style can improve, especially as you hear reader feedback from students such as myself.

sincerely,


Jamaal Bollinger

At Least One Letter to the Editor is a Success

I learned today that my letter to the Daily Hampshire Gazette was a success and was published in the February 20 edition on Wednesday. I did not submit my letter until Tuesday night and was quite surprised that it ran in the next day's edition. Today is Sunday and I actually found out about my letter from my father when his wife happened to be reading Wednesday's paper and saw my letter to the editor. I was expecting an e-mail from the Gazette informing me they were going to run my letter, but I guess that is not their protocol. Either way I was surprised to hear my letter had been published because I had been checking letters to the Gazette every day, ironically except for Wednesday due to how late on Tuesday night I submitted my letter. In fact it was probably early Wednesday morning. Either way I'm glad my letter was run and it speaks volumes about how seriously the community is taking this issue of violence involving U-mass students and local residents.

Letters to the Editor

Recently I wrote two letters to the editors of two different newspapers; the New York Times and the Daily Hampshire Gazette. I chose to write my letter to the New York Times based on a very disturbing, but not surprising, editorial about our health care system and possible allegations of corruption within it. The editiorial talked about how the United Health Group allegedly uses faulty numbers to estimate the average co-payments patients make at their doctors office. The company that compiles the data for United Health Group is owned by them, and thus their loyaltie are, of course, to their parent company. Basically by using faulty numbers, health care prices become higher than they actually should be for all patients.
I feel the issue of health care, and badly needed health care reform, is one of the most important in our country. This recent information in the editorial about how the large scale health care corporations scam their patients is directly related to this issue. It is tough for patients to pay their health care bills even without their health care company paying less than they should during every doctors visit. The editorial also talked about how the New York Attorney General is trying to press legal actions against the United Health Group, which I believe is a good first step towards eliminating corruption in the health care system. However, it is still not enough. I thought that I would have a good chance to get my letter published by writing my letter to the editor and showing how outraged citizens are about this problem. It is a good medium to express that we will not tolerate being overcharged by wealthy corporations that do not need the money more than its average client. I also believed this was a good topic to write about because of its importance in the upcoming elections and its effect on almost everyone's life.
My second letter to the Daily Hampshire Gazette was in response to the recent violence across Amherst and especially involving Umass students. I decided to choose this topic because it affects me directly; I am a Umass student and I occasionaly attend parties where these violent episodes often take place. Because of the nature of this problem and its continued coverage in recent years, I thought this was a good way to get my letter published. I have lived in Amherst since Elementary school and now since I attend Umass, this issue was too important and too relevant for me to pass up on. Also I know many students are also frustrated by the recent violence and by writing about it, I could be a voice representing how many others also feel about the issue.

Obama slowly pulling head after impressive victory in Wisconsin

Senator Obama's impressive win in Wisconsin was just what his campaign could have hoped for leading up to the primaries next week in Texas and Ohio, which could end up deciding the Democratic nominee if Obama can keep his string of victories going. The Senator has now won 9 in a row including his victory on Tuesday, which included a nearly 60% winning margin in Wisconsin. Mrs. Clinton is by no means finished, but she must secure at least one victory next week if she is to still maintain a fighting chance. Caucasus were held in Hawaii, as well, where Obama is predicted as the winner. Results have not yet been announced in Mr. Obama's birth state, which most likely will result in win number 10 for the charismatic Senator who has really captivated the nation with his progressive politics and brilliant speeches.

Daily Hampshire Gazette letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

All the recent reports of fights and altercations, involving mostly college age people, around the Amherst area present a troubling problem. Almost every incident seems to involve a party atmospheres where liquor is more than a little bit involved. Every year the University of Mass. takes steps to try and cut down on the number of violent incidents, including removing what was previously known as "Frat Row" and applying the students code of conduct to both on and off campus behavior. The annual "Hobart Hoedown" has been discontinued after its rather infamous riots several years back, yet despite all this, the violence seems to continue. Cutting down on parties and gatherings to try and reduce the number of conflicts is clearly not a fair option; the rest of the student body should not be punished for the acts of a few. Yet of course from the University's point of view, safety for its students is a paramount objective, especially when it has continually made national news for several different violent incidents over the past few years. There is no clear solution to this quite troubling problem. What is clear, however, is that if the violence continues to be such a major issue the University could be forced to take even more drastic measures, no matter how wildly unpopular they might be with the student body.

-Jamaal Bollinger

NY times letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Your February 18 editorial "A Rip off by Health Insurers" about the shortcomings of our health care system should serve as no surprise to anyone. In fact people should be outraged that such a corrupt system was ever even deemed ethical and allowed to exist in the first place. Allowing gigantic for-profit companies such as United Health Group to police themselves by actually owning the company that compiles the data used to charge patients rates is an unexplainable travesty that should result in more than just legal action against the corporations responsible. More importantly it should lead to a complete and total overhaul of our current and, clearly corrupt, health care system. It is past time for the government to stand up for the people and enact legislation against the greed of giant corporations which take advantage of a system that allows them to manipulate numbers, thus making health care virtually non affordable for the lower income families who need it most.


-Jamaal Bollinger

Amherst, Ma

Obama and Clinton looking ahead to Texas and Ohio

Senators Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton have primaries coming up tomorrow in Wisconsin and Hawaii, yet both candidates seem to be looking down the road to next week. Hawaii, Obama's birth state, is already considered a dead lock for him and most experts predict he will win quite heavily in Wisconsin, a state Hilary Clinton almost decided to bypass so she could instead focus on Texas and Ohio. If tomorrow goes as predicted, everything will come down to Texas and Ohio where there will be a huge number of delegates up for grabs, which could decidedly end the race if Mrs. Clinton cannot pull out at least one win.

Ohio and Texas loom on the Horizon for Senators Obama and Clinton

In two weeks Ohio and Texas could up deciding the outcome of the most diverse Presidential Primary in U.S. history. With Obama expected to win Wisconsin next week, all eyes now fall on the huge number of delegates up for grabs in Ohio and Texas. Losing Texas could mean the end for Senator Clinton in what could be her last big chance to swing momentum back in her favor. Republican front-runner John McCain has already started urging his party to unify around him and unless Senator Clinton can put a stop to her opponent's consecutive string of victories it can't be long until Mr. Obama does the same

Ohio and Texas now become the next Battleground

Ohio and Texas now become the next Battleground

Obama swings momentum in the Potomac Primary

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama took another big step today towards securing the Democratic nomination for president. Mr. Obama was projected by the Associated Press and every major news network as the winner in what is being called the Potomac Primary, which includes Virgina, Maryland and the District of Columbia. More importantly, he is swinging momentum his way in a tight primary race that is looking more and more like it could be headed for a photo finish. Increasing momentum is very important in a primary where both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama are well liked by many Democratic voters who could potentially end up deciding to vote for the candidate who they believe most likely to win. Fortunately, for Obama's camp he is looking more and more like that candidate.

Obama beats out Clinton

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama won a Grammy last night for his audiotape of his book edging out Bill Clinton who was also nominated. The victory could even be described as another Clinton loss to the Illlinois Senator after Obama also picked up another win against Hilary Clinton in the Democratic race for president in Maine. Hopefully the win over ex-president Clinton will be symbolic for what is to come over the other Clinton; Hilary. If his momentum keeps up Obama should be in for several more key victories this Tuesday as another round of elections should really heat up the Democratic primary this week.

Obama needs to win the democratic nomination

Hilary Clinton still maintains about a 100 delegate lead over Barack Obama, however, his camp believes he is still in a good position to take the nomination and I hope they are right.