"I'm a Mormon" Media Campaign

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  (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints—otherwise known as the Mormon Church—is expanding a national media campaign to dispel misconceptions the public might have about its members. Brooke spoke with Ron Wilson, the church's manager for internet and advertising, about the campaign and the misconceptions it hopes to correct.

The Heath Brothers - "Smilin' Billy"

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Internships

Hi Prof. Lynch,

Thanks for forwarding our internship information to students and people in your department. To give you the quick update, so far this fall 70 students have gone through our training program. Interns across the country have organized events on their campuses from canned food drives to support local food banks to collecting hundreds of petitions to get National Geographic to clean up its paper mill to participating in a health care panel with the U.S. Secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services.

We're doing one more session of our fall civic engagement internships where students go through a 5-week training program to learn how to organize a campaign on campus and engage their peers on issues that matter to them. The deadline to apply is Friday, Oct. 28.

We're also doing interviews for spring internships to begin in January. The deadline for early spring applications is Nov. 18.

Could you make a quick announcement to your students again about our program? Feel free to forward the info below.

Thanks again,

Marites Velasquez
Field Organizer
The Student PIRGs


Student PIRGs Activism Internships

If you want to make a difference and learn valuable skills, join our team of interns and volunteers. We've got plans to take on the problems our country faces - and with your help, we can win.

2011-2012 Campaigns:

• Energy Service Corps
  
• Defend the Environment
  
• Save Student Aid
• New Voters Project
  
• No Hunger, No Homelessness

Find out more and apply for a Student PIRG internship at http://www.studentpirgs.org/internships

Deadline for fall internship applications: Oct. 28; Deadline for early spring applications: Nov. 18

MacDonald's TV Network, Footloose Slips, Hulu Who, IMAX gets brighter

From the LA Times Company Town blog...click here to read more...

Brawn over Dance, but by a nose, in weekend movie box office horse race. 
It was almost paradise for a remake of the classic '80s flick "Footloose" at the box office this weekend.
After Friday ticket sales were tallied, it seemed that the dance reboot was off to a good enough start that the movie would be able to sustain the momentum needed to claim the weekend's No. 1 spot. But as the weekend progressed, the sci-fi action film "Real Steel" picked up steam. In its second week of release, the movie starring Hugh Jackman ultimately saw its ticket sales drop 40% to $16.3 million, bringing its domestic total to $51.7 million, according to an estimate from distributor Walt Disney Pictures. "Footloose," meanwhile, ended up with a slightly lower weekend tally of $16.1 million.

The other two debuts in wide release had far more disappointing opening weekends. "The Thing," a prequel to the 1982 horror thriller, collected a lackluster $8.7 million. And "The Big Year" will go down as one of the biggest flops of the year. The comedy, which had a moderate budget and stars Steve Martin, Owen Wilson and Jack Black, grossed an absolutely dismal $3.3 million.

Overall, it was a weak weekend at the box office. Ticket sales were down 32% compared with the same weekend in 2010. And revenue for 2011 is still off about 4%, while attendance has fallen roughly 6% since last year.

The original “Footloose," starring Kevin Bacon as a rebellious teenager seeking to overturn a dance ban in his small town, grossed more than $80 million worldwide when it was released in 1984. After a so-so start, it's unclear if the new incarnation will reach similar box office heights.

Showdown. News Corp.'s annual meeting is Friday in Los Angeles, the first opportunity for shareholders to confront the company about scandals rocking through the company's European newspaper operations. It should be a festive affair as some key pension funds have advocated voting against CEO Rupert Murdoch and other Murdoch family members who are seeking reelection to the company's board of directors. The odds of their not being reelected are long but it will be a humbling moment. Don't try to sneak a pie into the meeting; my hunch is News Corp. has stronger security than Parliament. More from AdWeek and AFB.

What now? With the popular online video site Hulu no longer on the block, new questions about its future are emerging. Owned by Disney, News Corp., Providence Equity and silent partner Comcast, there is debate among some of the owners about the best strategy to keep the site viable without hurting other content businesses. Analysis from the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.


 

Imax Corp. is bringing the bright new digital revolution to its largest screens, thanks to a new deal with Eastman Kodak. The big-screen entertainment and technology company, based in Mississauga, Canada, announced Sunday that has licensed from Kodak exclusive rights to more than 50 technology patents for a laser technology projection system.

The system will make high quality digital content available, for the first time, to Imax screens larger than 80 feet like the one at Universal CityWalk, and to dome theaters located at museums. Until now, about 170 giant Imax theaters have been limited to screening movies in the traditional analog-film format.

Imax said the technology, which it expects to install by late 2013, will increase the brightness and clarity of screens 80 to 100 feet wide and will allow the company to distribute content in its network with greater efficiency because digital prints are much cheaper to deliver than film reels are. About two-thirds of Imax's 575 theaters, which mostly range from 50 to 70 feet wide, have already been converted to a digital format.

Back to the drawing board. After rumblings that Time Warner Cable was finally near a deal to carry the NFL Network, talks have fallen apart, according to Sports Business Journal. With the NFL starting its regular season in a few weeks, that would leave Time Warner Cable subscribers out of luck once again.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: McDonald's is starting its own in-store television network and has Mark Burnett on board to help. A look at the third Olsen sister, whose career is on a roll.
-- Joe Flint
Follow me on Twitter. It'll impress your friends. Twitter.com/JBFlint

Twitter: @latcompanytown

Facebook: L.A. Times Entertainment

 From the LA Times Company Town blog...click here to read more...

Webcasting for entertainment and "eventual" profit

Creating Key Web Content

The Business

|

Felicia Day on Creating the Hit Web Comedy 'The Guild'

Web production requires a quality camera, someone who really understands the importance of sound for any production and lots of perserverance.

Felicia Day may not be a household name – yet -- but to many actors and gamers she is an inspiration.  Her acting TV acting credits include Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the Syfy channel show, Eureka, but Day is most known for creating, writing and starring of the hit web comedy The Guild. She also played the love interest of Neil Patrick Harris in Joss Whedon's web series Dr. Horrible's Sing a-Long Blog. The Guild premiered in 2007 and just ran its fifth season. In that time, it's had 120 million views. Now, Day and her producing partner have just launched a new game, Dragon Age: Redemption -- associated with the video game of the same name -- further solidifying her place in the singular world of gamer/actress/Internet entrepreneur.

Today's Banter Topics:
- Universal reverses decision to release upcoming Eddie Murphy/Ben Stiller movie Tower Heist on VOD while still in theaters

- Hilary Swank, Jean Claude Van Damme and Seal are among the international celebrities who were paid large sums of money to attend Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov's Birthday party and, in turn, were called out by human rights groups demanding answers

Banner image courtesy of Emily Ibarra

Guests:

• Felicia Day: actress, producer and writer

Links:

• Felicia Day and Electronic Arts Release Dragon Age: Redemption (Forbes, 10/11/11)
• Actress Felicia Day Reroutes Her Career With Web Series 'The Guild' (Fast Company, 9/1/10)
• Hollywood stars attend party for Chechen leader (BBC, 10/6/11)
• Go to KCRW on-line by clicking here.

2011 Best of the Nevada Press Association Nominees and Award Winners

http://web.mac.com/nevadapress/nevadapress.com/2011_awards.html

Who's version do you believe? Canada celebrates War of 1812 Victory

Canada will spend more than 30 million dollars in celebrating the end of the War of 1912, which from the Canadian standpoint was won by Canada. Coins, stamps, events and movies are planned for the two year long celebration. In their version of history, one well documented but still not taught in many American school books, the still young US invaded Canada unprovoked and burnt their capital, the city now known as modern day Tornoto. In return Great Britian joined Canadians in invading the US, eventually burning our new capital city, Washington DC. US historians say the truths is somewhere in between, with the US launching the war as a premeptive strike against British troops that were feared to be massing to invade and take back the "colonies." One version has it that the troops were in Canada to help in quellling uprisings by "Indians" and protect their colony against attempts by the United States of America to claim portions of Canada as part of the US.

Important help in terms, sources and ideas for Com and other courses

Communication, Plagiarism and other Topics (University of Hawaii)

http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/teachtip.htm#communication

'The Walking Dead' Season 2 Premiere Makes Basic Cable Ratings History

Gene Page/AMC

"The Walking Dead"

SUNDAY'S 90-MINUTE BOW SHATTERS A NEARLY 10-YEAR-OLD RECORD, BECOMING THE BIGGEST TELECAST FOR ANY DRAMA IN BASIC CABLE HISTORY.

From the Hollywood Reporter (click here for this story and other news).

Sunday's Season 2 premiere of AMC's The Walking Dead shattered basic cable ratings records.

The 90-minute episode drew 7.3 million total viewers, becoming the strongest telecast for any drama in basic cable history.

PHOTOS: Behind the Scenes of 'The Walking Dead' Season Two

The zombie drama based on Robert Kirkman's long-running comics drew 4.8 million viewers in the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demographic, and 4.2 million adults 25-54, and a 4.8 household rating, shattering a nearly 10-year-old basic cable record for a single drama telecast.

STORY: 'The Walking Dead' Season 2 Premiere: (Spoiler) Got Shot, What's Next?

The 4.8 household rating and 7.3 million total viewers represent a 36 percent and 38 percent increase, respectively, over the drama's freshman season ratings.

The series' Halloween night 2010 premiere drew 5.3 million viewers and a 2.7 rating in 18-49, the largest demo audience for any series premiere on cable last year.

More to come …

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit

RELATED:

'The Walking Dead': Glen Mazzara on Frank Darabont and His Fears as the Drama's New Showrunner

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/walking-dead-season-2-premiere-249340

Mr Magoo Bandit

The FBI is seeking a man it has linked to 12 bank robberies all over California and has earned the nickname "The Mr. Magoo Bandit" because his balding head and thick glasses make him resemble the 1960s cartoon character. The FBI said in a statement Saturday that agents in San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco are seeking the man whose last two robberies were in Ventura County, most recently Oct. 8 in Thousand Oaks. Before that they say he robbed six banks in the San Diego area and four in the San Francisco Bay Area. The FBI says the man, described as white and in his 40s, stays calm and makes no attempt to disguise himself as he hands tellers a note demanding money, and thanks them politely afterward.

Nevada Public Radio's Desert Companion Magazine Wins Big!

Subject: Desert Companion wins big awards at Nevada Press Association bash!
http://www.desertcompanion.org/archives.cfm

Hi all. Allow me to shear off a big hunk of my quivering excitement and share it with you: Desert Companion scored some solid wins at the Nevada Press Association awards, held Oct. 15 in Virginia City, which is apparently in Nevada. The NPA bash is an annual statewide contest that celebrates excellence in newspapers and magazines.

We took home 13 awards total, including four first place awards, with Chris in particular making it rain all up in here. He took first for Best Overall Design, Best Cover Design and Best Portrait (for his photo of political activist Derek Washington). I snagged a first in Best Feature for "The Book Hunter."

Below is the complete list of our wins with judges' comments. For a complete list of everyone who won anything ever in the history of Oct. 15 in Virginia City, check out http://web.mac.com/nevadapress/nevadapress.com/2011_awards.html

Congratulations to the entire Desert Companion/Nevada Public Radio team for all their hard work in making this happen!

----

Best Feature Story
1.Andrew Kiraly, Desert Companion
“The Book Hunter”
“Engaging, briskly written, a read well worth my time.”

Best Explanatory Journalism
3.Heidi Kyser, Desert Companion
“The little 'hood that could”
“This illustrates what the strength of a group can do to better a community. A very nice piece.”

Best Investigative or In-depth Story or  Series
2.Pattie Thomas, Desert Companion
“Let us in”
“The word needs to get out on this wonderful program! This is well written, very extensively researched.”
3.John Hardin, Desert Companion
“Klatch of the Titans”
“I enjoyed this the most of any entry. It was well written, very interesting topic that probably most people in Las Vegas have no clue about.”

Best Entertainment Writing
2.David McKee, Desert Companion
“Difficult subjects handled well bringing to light information one would not seek out if not interested in the subject to begin with.”

Best Overall Design
1.Desert Companion, Christopher Smith
“Fantastic layout, great use of color, eye catching typography”

Best Cover Design
1.Desert Companion, Christopher Smith, Art Director; Sabin Orr, photographer; Madison Alexander, photographer
“Eye-catching, fun, appealing covers with a good mix of teasers.”

Best Page Designer(s)
2.Christopher Smith , Art Director, Desert Companion

Best Feature Photo
2.Christopher Smith, photographer; Christie Moeller, stylist; Natasha Chamberlin, hair & makeup; Harmony, model; Christopher Smith, Art Director; Desert Companion
“Sharp is the Season”
“Love the design elements that went into this shot.”
3.Madison Alexander, photographer; Christie Moeller, stylist; Krystle Randall, hair & makeup; Christopher Smith, Art Director; Elly, model; Desert Companion
“The bold and beautiful”
“Design package made this a winner. Nice layout in addition to a nice photo.”

Best Portrait
1.Christopher Smith, Desert Companion
“Best Political Activist”
2.Aaron Mayes, Desert Companion
“Kelly Thomas-Boyers portrait”

Best Regular Department
2.Andrew Kiraly, John Hardin, Jarret Keene, Desert Companion
“All Things to All People: Profile”
“Clear layout, attention-getting, makes you read it.”


Andrew Kiraly
Editor, Desert Companion
702.259.7856 | andrew@desertcompanion.com | www.desertcompanion.com
 www.facebook.com/desertcompanion | www.twitter.com/desertcompanion

NPR’s Linda Wertheimer to Speak at UNLV on Nov. 6

11/06/2011 - 1:00pm

UNLV Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall

The Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution at the William S. Boyd School of Law presents "Cooling the Partisan Fires."
Linda Wertheimer, senior national correspondent for National Public Radio, will give the Saltman Center’s annual Peace in the Desert™ lecture on Nov. 6, 2011 in UNLV’s Artemus Ham Hall. Her talk will focus on the conflict—and at times, the downright hatred—Americans are feeling between one another and their government. As a veteran observer of politics for many years and a news anchor for 10 presidential elections, Wertheimer will discuss the role of partisanship in politics over the last 40 years, how today’s version compares to other eras, and how the public might possibly affect that role.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
1:00 p.m.
UNLV Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall
Free and open to the public. 
For more information, call (702) 895-2428.
Flyer: PDF
Postcard: PDF
Special thanks to

News Clippings: 
October 2011 - Desert Companion -  Meet in the middle: NPR's Linda Wertheimer on Tea Parties, missing Tip O'Neill and why we can't all just get along