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Just as retail stores are often judged by the brand names they stock, online news portals tend to be judged by the sources of the articles they post. According to a new study by researchers at Penn State and published in Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly , people who access news articles from credible sources through online portals such as Yahoo News or Google News tend to view the portals themselves as more credible. According to researcher S. Shyam Sundar, online news portals, which are often little more than fancy delivery systems for stories that originated elsewhere, reap most of the benefits of news sites, including enhanced credibility and revenue generation, while assuming little of the risk. He points out that even when the news item turns out to lack credibility, the portal is rarely held liable. The investigators exposed study participants to various online news articles and asked them to rate the credibility of both the online portals the articles were accessed through and the original sources of the articles. To prevent participants from rating the articles based upon the quality of the writing, the researchers presented the articles through what appeared to be two different online portals and attributed them to two different original sources. For the purposes of the study, Google News was chosen as an example of a highly credible portal and the Drudge Report represented a low-credibility online portal. The New York Times served as a highly credible original source, while the National Enquirer acted as its low-credibility counterpart. When participants read an article they believed was from a trusted source, they were more likely to rate the online portal they accessed it through as credible. When they read an article they thought came from a source that lacked credibility, they tended to view the portal as less credible. Unfortunately for sources that were perceived as having low credibility, reading an article on a trusted portal was unlikely to make the reader view the source more favorably. In spite of these results, Sundar noted that readers rarely took note of original sources unless they became involved in the story. When articles failed to engage an individual participant, he or she was unlikely to make more than a cursory investigation into the source of the article and was more likely to make a quick judgment based solely on the perceived credibility of the online portal. It has become more and more difficult for consumers of news to trace the sources of information. When a reader views an article in a print copy of the New York Times, it is very clear where the story came from and who is taking responsibility for its accuracy. When the same article is viewed online, however, the story may have been taken from the original source and channeled through an online portal, forwarded via email and then posted on Facebook. Sources may become murky and may disappear altogether along the way, according to Sundar. “With traditional media it’s fairly clear who the source is,” he said. “But in online media, it gets very murky because there are so many sources.” Related posts: Accents Are Not Perceived as Trustworthy [Study] Newspaper Endorsements Influence Voters [Study] Cancer news articles may contribute to confusion about cancer

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Trusted Sources Lend Credibility to Online Portals [Study]

In spite of the four centuries that loom between the writing of his plays and the modern scholars who analyze and enjoy them, William Shakespeare’s works remain the subject of much study and even more speculation. Writers throughout the centuries have longed for his way with words, and scholars have taken his lines apart and remarked upon the many words he invented that are still in use today. Shakespeare used many ingenious techniques and devices in his work, and scarcely one of them has escaped being declared the root of his genius at one time or another. Now, new research points to Shakespeare’s unique and masterful use of grammar as the key to both his contemporary success and his lasting place in literature. According to researcher Jonathan Hope of the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, what sets Shakespeare apart from the rest is his use of grammar. Grammar and the way he used words illustrate his genius as a writer, rather than the words themselves. Hope analyzed the great playwright’s works within the context of other work of the period, as well as within the context of the history of the English language. One of Hope’s findings is that although Shakespeare has long been admired for having used more words, and introduced more words into the language, than other writers of his time, he may not actually have stood apart from his peers in that respect. Hope suggests that because so much of Shakespeare’s work remains in print while that of other writers of the period have been lost, what was likely only a an above-average vocabulary appears to be an exceptional one. Instead, Hope believes that it is Shakespeare’s grammar and the particular way he ordered his words that made him stand out from other playwrights of his own day and account for his continued position of honor in literature. In a chapter in a new book on the English language, “English in the World: History, Diversity, Change,” Hope takes an in-depth look at the Shakespeare’s use of words, grammar and syntax. He determines that it is these elements that make Shakespeare’s work stand out from that of his contemporaries. Hope points out that in spite of his great influence on the subsequent literature, no one else has written like Shakespeare. According to Hope, contrary to what many imagine, a large vocabulary was not necessarily an asset to Elizabethan playwrights. Contemporary audiences may not have found the use of unfamiliar language charming; in fact, when Shakespeare did toss in one of the new Latin-inspired words that were popular with scholars of the day, he frequently incorporated a simple explanation of their meaning into his lines. Hope believes that Shakespeare’s vocabulary cannot fully explain his ability to turn words into memorable lines. “However, his grammatical skill shows even more dexterity with language. He wrote during a transitional period for English grammar when there was a range of grammatical options open to writers- much of the grammar he chose now seems old-fashioned but it lends poetry to commonplace words and, significantly, while his spelling is often updated, his grammar is not,” writes Hope. Related posts: English Language Has Doubled In Size Over Last Century, Says New Study Researcher finds top reasons for Facebook unfriending Even in Tough Times, Language Remains Positive [Study]

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Shakespeare’s Grammar Is What Sets Him Apart, Researcher Concludes

Written by Elaine Hirsch You finally have your MBA and your first “real” job. Writing the resume was easy since your department counselor helped you with it. The interview also went well because you were given problems taken straight out of textbooks. Now you are faced with a difficulty at work that none of your professors ever covered, leaving you helpless. What Is Communication and How Important Is It? Dictionary.com defines communication as “The imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs”. Did you know that listening is also an important communication skill and requires practice? The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business published a paper entitled “ In Defense of the MBA ,” which stated, “And they realize that faculty who are stars with students because of their outstanding communication, teaching,and advising are also a valuable part of the b-school equation.” Understanding financial formulas, memorizing case studies, and recalling successful companies is no longer enough to succeed in business; according to MBA Online , adequately communicating your ideas has become a crucial skill to have. What an MBA Doesn’t Cover Just as the example in paragraph one explains, most classes in an MBA are geared to learning the mechanics of a business enterprise. Unfortunately, many MBA programs won’t teach its students how to close sales, pitch a business idea,or even conduct day-to-day customer service. As more companies are competing for the consumer’s dollar, having these skills will make a huge difference in getting visibility for your product. There is a concern also with online education. Does it give an MBA graduate the interpersonal skills required to effectively do their job once they land it? According to authors from Drexel University the number of students taking at least one online course in the fall of 2007 was 3.9 million and is increasing every year. While online programs could improve communication skills in terms of using social media and email to get in touch with professors and students, it still detracts students from learning how to interact with customers. How to Learn on Your Own Consider joining a group that reads and discusses a book to share opinions and analyze what you read. Speaking of books, Jeff Bezos’ biography is one of great achievement. You can read about it on his website . He made book reading easy through Kindle communication technology. Getting your hands dirty by starting your personal social media campaign isa great way to learn communication skills. Starting a blog and writing weekly articles about a topic that interests you, linking it to your Twitter account and networking with like-minded people, and leveraging these tools to improve visibility on your LinkedIn account are great (and free) ways to being increasing your network size. All that you do to improve your communication skills will help you personally andin the business world. A degree, while helpful, can only go so far. All you say and do will have a lasting impact. Carefully consider adding all you can to your communication skills. Related posts: Police officers to receive communication skills training Being An Only Child Does Not Hurt Social Skills Botox Impairs Communication Skills

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Important Communication Skills You Can’t Learn From an MBA

Many of the products aimed at holiday shoppers this year are inspired by popular comic books. Most of these items, including toys, games, accessories and clothing, feature superheroes with names that parents will recognize from their own childhoods. According to new research from the University of Cambridge, however, these familiar characters may bear little resemblance to the wholesome heroes whose adventures filled the comic books of a generation ago. Earlier this year, DC Comics revamped its characters to appeal to a shrinking market, turning up the blush factor by adding heavy sexual overtones to its cape-wearing cast. Comic book sales have fallen in recent years, and DC, which had attempted to reach a broader audience over the last decade or so, made the decision to use a tried-and-true tactic to woo a new generation to their product. Historically, superhero comic books were unapologetically geared towards male readers, and featured a potent combination of violence and covert sexuality. Emboldened by their desperation, DC relaunched all of its titles this year. With drawings that are reminiscent of longtime rival Marvel’s offerings from the late ’70s and frankly sexual subplots, the “New 52″ isn’t the Wonderwoman or Batman you think it is. That is, unless the Batman of your imagination has sex on a rooftop with Catwoman. The study’s author, Casey Brienza, is considered an expert in manga. She is currently working on a project that views the introduction of manga in the United States from a sociological perspective, focusing on what the manga phenomenon in the United States means in terms of cultural globalization. According to Brienza, superhero comics treat women as a subject, not an audience. One of the things she wants to understand is why American comic books are so male-oriented. “…Other comic book-loving countries such as Japan and France do not manifest the same trends, and the self-same superhero characters, when presented in another medium—such as Hollywood film— have truly mass appeal.” Brienza concludes that “American superhero comics, and the sexual objectification of their heroines, reflect the conditions of their production and consumption: they are made almost exclusively by and for men.” Related posts: Children’s Books May Favor Males As Lead Characters, But That Is Improving Considerably [Study] Today’s superheroes send wrong image to boys, say researchers Writing exercise helps women overcome sexist stereotypes

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Sexist, Sexy Heroes Invade Comic Book Pages [Study]

University Writing Program University of Notre Dame 205 Coleman-Morse Center ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT For more information, visit the University Writing Program’s

English Department University of