Yet another company is affected by the oncoming recession: Best Buy. But the store hasn't tumbled all the way down the hill; they are just experiencing the worst sales they have ever had in the company's 42-year existence, according to the New York Times.
The company adjusted its fiscal 2009 earnings outlook, which also set an 8 percent decline in their shares.
But it's not all bad. Holiday shoppers can expect to see some amazing deals, as Best buy is planning to harbor deep sales to attract customers.
Best Buy's rival, Circuit City, recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as well.
It's nice to see that the media isn't taking such a doom-and-gloom approach to Wall Street or its constituents anymore. The general tone to articles like this is, yes, companies are cutting back or getting prepared, but Circuit City and Best Buy are still doing just fine.
With this said, go buy a bunch of televisions and computers before this recession ends!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Alternative Story Format: Good or bad?
I've been involved in many heated conversations of the use of Alternative Story Formats in the past few days, so I figured I'd bring the argument to my blog's virtual table. If you wanted to get really specific, you could even argue that this blog is a form of ASF.
1. What is an ASF?
2. ASFs seem pretty awesome; why all the controversy?
3. Where can I find more examples of ASF stories?
1. What is an ASF?
A story in alternative story format does not follow the inverted pyramid rule. Instead, it takes nuggets of information and organizes them in a fashion far far away from the typical story. ASFs can be infographics that are explanatory enough to stand alone. There are also question-and-answer formats (such as the structure of this very blog). Online news sites also utilize photo-story slideshows and interactive Flash documents to tell a story.
2. ASFs seem pretty awesome; why all the controversy?
Well, this is the clencher for me. In my Editing II class, we spent over an hour bickering about this. Half of the class argued that the new Orlando Sentinel format utilizes too many ASFs, and they argue that they are dumbing down content for readers. ASFs are often described as fast-food journalism, and everyone knows that too much fast food is really unhealthy.
Instead of forcing readers to sift through 20 column-inches of text, though, readers can spend 5 minutes looking at a chart or diagram or graphic that tells the story without paragraphs. It's great for today's fast-paced American. ASFs also add visual appeal to the paper, which is important for falling circulation. Similarly, ASFs may be a better choice for many online venues. Much of today's news is gathered through the cell phone, and some cell phones only offer 14 lines of text. In this case, an ASF may be easier to read.
3. Where can I find more examples of ASF stories?
These days, they are everywhere. There's a huge one on the Orlando Sentinel's front page today (this page requires Adobe PDF Reader). There is an accompanying article, but readers can decipher the meat of the story just by looking at that huge map of Florida. The information given by the ASF shows readers that the black early vote is really high (22 percent). Readers gather enough just from the picture. It does help to read the article, though. This is the best form of ASF for this transitory period: offer an ASF and an accompanying traditional article. That way, everyone gets the best of both worlds.
The Sentinel isn't the only paper boasting alternative story formats. One of my favorite ASF stories can be found on the New York Times site. The reporter wrote a story on creating a life list, a list some people are publishing online depicting specific things they must do before they die. The article has appeal because the author headlined the article "Ten things to do before this article is finished." He numbered the constituents to the structure of a news article and applied them to the list.
The Sun Sentinel did an overly simplistic ASF to depict the presidential candidates' views on the most popular topics including jobs, the bailout, gas and veterans benefits. Instead of simply reading an article that would presumably cover a little bit of everything, readers have the freedom to click on the issues that are most important to them.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Orlando death rate climbs to over 100
Orlando came one step closer to an all-time murder rate high on Sunday when a man at a private night club party was shot. Another man was shot in his home, bringing the rate to 101 murders this year -- just 12 murders short of the 2006 record-breaker.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that the dance club shooting occured at a club where there were plenty of armed security officers, but no one wanted to talk.
"'There were plenty of witnesses, but nobody stuck around,' police Lt. Darryl Braunskill said."
The home invasion, which is unrelated to the other shooting, occured when three men broke into a family home and killed a 32-year-old man, whose name was not released. Fortunately, the man's wife was home but was left uninjured.
Now, I would like to blame this all on the economy. I would like to claim that since the economy is struggling, so are people. But the crime rate has been climbing since well before the economy turned for the worst. The news has been headlining sporadically on Channel 13 for months now.
I think the worst thing about it all is that journalists are doing their part. They are being the watchdogs, looking after our police system and reporting that things aren't going the way they should. But what are the forces doing? Are they increasing street time? Are they hiring more policemen? The growing crime rate is hardly news anymore, and I'd like to see how reporting is influencing the police precincts.
It's obvious the Sentinel has kept up with the numbers:
Friday Slayings Boost 2008 to 2nd-deadliest year in history
Orlando area's deadly year: 99 and no end in sight
Frustrated residents: Crime out of control
The last article does describe some police action, but it was resident-fueled action. It appears that the police only stepped up when there was a community meeting, and residents are still dissatisfied.
"'It's just out of control,' said Uribe, the mother of a 5-year-old girl. 'It's an embarrassment to have people over at night.'"
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Tupperware keeps its lid tight despite recession
Even though $700 billion didn't appear to immediately save banks across the nation, Tupperware Brands is still going strong, according to an Orlando Sentinel article released Wednesday. The company is even stronger now than it was a year ago at this time. Perhaps the company just kept the crisis out with its air-tight lid.
Tupperware Brands is experiencing more purchases from outside the US, mainly in Europe and Asia, boosting it's third-quarter earnings to $27.5 million (47 cents per share). Last years' third-quarter earnings were $6.9 million (37 cents per share).
"'We are pleased to report another strong quarter of local currency sales growth,' Rick Goings, chairman and chief executive officer of Tupperware, said in a news release.
"Tupperware has been pushing into developing nations, where its direct-selling business model faces less competition from established retail outlets. The company said sales in emerging markets accounted for 56 percent of its third-quarter total."
Today, Tupperware Brands dropped 36 cents per share, but the shares are still running strong at $21.26 a share.
Tupperware Brands is experiencing more purchases from outside the US, mainly in Europe and Asia, boosting it's third-quarter earnings to $27.5 million (47 cents per share). Last years' third-quarter earnings were $6.9 million (37 cents per share).
"'We are pleased to report another strong quarter of local currency sales growth,' Rick Goings, chairman and chief executive officer of Tupperware, said in a news release.
"Tupperware has been pushing into developing nations, where its direct-selling business model faces less competition from established retail outlets. The company said sales in emerging markets accounted for 56 percent of its third-quarter total."
Today, Tupperware Brands dropped 36 cents per share, but the shares are still running strong at $21.26 a share.
Guitar Hero launch risks playing a sour note
Today is the release of Guitar Hero: World Tour. The newest additon to the series struts not only the traditional guitar, but a drum set and microphone as well. But the game has one huge hurdle to overcome: the economy.
As is customary for most popular games, Gamestop held a midnight release for those who preordered the Activision Blizzard Inc. game; however, the sidewalk near the store was mostly empty. Four people could be seen pacing outside the store's locked doors at 11 p.m. By 11:30, less than 50 people calmly waited to receive their game.
It's completely understandable that people don't want to spend money on video games in the wakes of what looks like the second Great Depression, especially at the price of Guitar Hero.
Similar to the competing game, Rock band, Guitar Hero allows players to play any instrument of the standard band and doing that doesn't come cheap. If you want the whole Band Kit, you'll have to cough up $189.99.
"Does it look like I have $200 to spend on some video game?" Shameak Williams said at the midnight launch of the Game at the UCF Gamestop. He went to the launch to wait with his purchasing friend.
The makers of Guitar Hero aren't completely oblivious to the financial turmoil in America. The game is offered by itself for as low as $49.99. It is compatible with the older guitar from older versions of Guitar Hero. There is also a middle-level set that comes with just a guitar, which has many upgrades compared to the old controller.
The price is steep, but that could just make it the new 'it' toy of the holiday season. Guitar Hero can be surprising with its loyal group of followers.
As is customary for most popular games, Gamestop held a midnight release for those who preordered the Activision Blizzard Inc. game; however, the sidewalk near the store was mostly empty. Four people could be seen pacing outside the store's locked doors at 11 p.m. By 11:30, less than 50 people calmly waited to receive their game.
It's completely understandable that people don't want to spend money on video games in the wakes of what looks like the second Great Depression, especially at the price of Guitar Hero.
Similar to the competing game, Rock band, Guitar Hero allows players to play any instrument of the standard band and doing that doesn't come cheap. If you want the whole Band Kit, you'll have to cough up $189.99.
"Does it look like I have $200 to spend on some video game?" Shameak Williams said at the midnight launch of the Game at the UCF Gamestop. He went to the launch to wait with his purchasing friend.
The makers of Guitar Hero aren't completely oblivious to the financial turmoil in America. The game is offered by itself for as low as $49.99. It is compatible with the older guitar from older versions of Guitar Hero. There is also a middle-level set that comes with just a guitar, which has many upgrades compared to the old controller.
The price is steep, but that could just make it the new 'it' toy of the holiday season. Guitar Hero can be surprising with its loyal group of followers.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Casey Anthony may be charged death penalty
The Casey Anthony case hasn't surfaced on the front page of the Orlando Sentinel for some time, but I was elated to see the case's revival Thursday. It was a good time to follow up on her situation; she may be facing the death penalty. I was a little disappointed, though, that the article before the jump didn't have much to do with Casey.
This excerpt appeared on the front page before the jump:
Prosecutors say Casey Anthony killed her child, but will they push to send her to death row?
First-degree murder is punishable by death, but the history of female killers executed in Florida during the past 150 years is brief.
The state has executed only two women in the modern era. The third, a slave who killed her master, was hanged in the mid-19th century.
Of the nearly 390 people on Florida's death row, only one is a woman.
Leonard Birdsong, an associate professor at Barry University School of Law in Orlando, said women are rarely sentenced to death. And he does not think Anthony, who was indicted Tuesday in the disappearance of her daughter, Caylee Marie, is a good candidate.
The young single mother has no prior criminal history, is not an obvious predator and has made no known confession, he said. He also suspects Anthony could have psychological issues.
If I were a prosecutor, this probably would not be the case I would seek the death penalty," Birdsong said.
The majority of the information included statistics on women and the death penalty when it should have dealt more with Casey herself. It has been a while since she's had some front-page real eastate.
I still appreciate the article overall. It does recap on the case pretty well so readers do get the necessary background information. The article is also well balanced. It offers views from those who believe she will be sentenced and those who do not. And in this highlighted and controversial case it's important to remain neutral.
This excerpt appeared on the front page before the jump:
Prosecutors say Casey Anthony killed her child, but will they push to send her to death row?
First-degree murder is punishable by death, but the history of female killers executed in Florida during the past 150 years is brief.
The state has executed only two women in the modern era. The third, a slave who killed her master, was hanged in the mid-19th century.
Of the nearly 390 people on Florida's death row, only one is a woman.
Leonard Birdsong, an associate professor at Barry University School of Law in Orlando, said women are rarely sentenced to death. And he does not think Anthony, who was indicted Tuesday in the disappearance of her daughter, Caylee Marie, is a good candidate.
The young single mother has no prior criminal history, is not an obvious predator and has made no known confession, he said. He also suspects Anthony could have psychological issues.
If I were a prosecutor, this probably would not be the case I would seek the death penalty," Birdsong said.
The majority of the information included statistics on women and the death penalty when it should have dealt more with Casey herself. It has been a while since she's had some front-page real eastate.
I still appreciate the article overall. It does recap on the case pretty well so readers do get the necessary background information. The article is also well balanced. It offers views from those who believe she will be sentenced and those who do not. And in this highlighted and controversial case it's important to remain neutral.
Monday, October 13, 2008
What to do in this stock market crash
In another smart move, the Orlando Sentinel paraded around with another stock market news story that gives it some reality. Today, the Sentinel exchanged confusing numbers and philanthropic discussion for a general discussion on what stockholders should do in the wakes of the fall.
When the newspaper gives any form of advice it risks making the story editorial. But this article did a wonderful dance around that subject by relying on credible sources with varying opinions.
Greg McBride, a senior financial analyst for BankRate.com recalled the Dot.com crisis eight years ago. He suggested investors keep their stocks in the market and brace themselves because the rebound would pay off. Financial Planner Charlie Fitzgerald, though, opted to pull some of his clients out of the market when stock market symptoms suggested something ill; he, too based his decision on the internet-related crash of 2000.
The article utilizes eight sources, some of which are financial planners, company owners, clients, etc. Every angle was covered without injecting the writer's opinion. And it was in English, not that Wall Street jargon.
When the newspaper gives any form of advice it risks making the story editorial. But this article did a wonderful dance around that subject by relying on credible sources with varying opinions.
Greg McBride, a senior financial analyst for BankRate.com recalled the Dot.com crisis eight years ago. He suggested investors keep their stocks in the market and brace themselves because the rebound would pay off. Financial Planner Charlie Fitzgerald, though, opted to pull some of his clients out of the market when stock market symptoms suggested something ill; he, too based his decision on the internet-related crash of 2000.
The article utilizes eight sources, some of which are financial planners, company owners, clients, etc. Every angle was covered without injecting the writer's opinion. And it was in English, not that Wall Street jargon.
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