Top 10 Places to Publish Your Personal Essays

Top 10 Places to Publish Your Personal Essays The major part of what the newspaper, magazines and online publishing platforms present for readers by a large account are academic pieces with data, facts and statistics. An entertaining way and catchy manner of writing for these essays make them really appealing, informative and outlook-developing. However, essays that indeed deeply touch the reader are the personal essays. The truth of life astonishes with its simplicity and tragedy, blessing and struggle, love and obduracy in each word. Life as it is. As they say, writing non-fiction is not presenting just your story – it’s writing about the conditions we all may experience. If there is a story worth of sharing to the rest of the world, here is a list of the best websites and magazines to publish it. These are top 10 sources that will not only present the story to the world but provide writers with help and advice for a better result. Boston Globe This magazine’s Connection Section is looking for 650-words essay on any personal relationships. The payment is not clearly set, though. Submitting is very easy via [emailprotected] . Extra Crispy Extra Crispy is probably looking for the most unusual topics: morning, breakfast or brunch stories to be covered. The magazine will publish your work for 40 cent per word. Submission is as well via email [emailprotected] . Dame Magazine As respectfully sounds the name of the magazine, as interesting is the context of the personal essay submitted from the dame the women over 30. Here’s the link for submission: [emailprotected] The payment is not fixed. Kveller Parenting is always full of great stories and experiences to share. If you feel like writing for a Jewish parenting website, this one is right for you. The preferable word amount is 500-700. For each post you get 25$. The editors ask to briefly cover your biography, contact info and include the essay, of cause. The New York Times What can be more inspiring then love? The Modern Love section accepts essay up to 1,700 words long via [emailprotected] To get some extra info go through Time’s page for pitching tips and Modern Life page on Facebook. Successful essay gets 300$ for a post. Slice s a specific cultural topic for each issue, including both fiction and non-fiction. Here is where you can make a fuss: you can submit an essay 5,000 words and earn pretty good money – up to 250$. As the themes change from an issue to issue, follow the guidelines for submission so the editor has time to review and approve your work. Submission is online. The Bold Italic Any one from sunny California? This magazine focuses on California’s Bay Are issues. Do you have a special style of writing and a firm personal point of view? If yes, you are the one they are looking for to publish. The Rumpus The Rumpus concentrates on the works of â€Å"intersect culture†. Find the best matching category online and submit the essay. However, you will get the answer no fast than in three month. Tin House It accepts essays maximum of 10,000 words long in September or March. Check on your submission status first before emailing. You are asked to include a word count and the genre in the cover letter. The pay is variable. Bustle It is a lifestyle site that will accept personal essays from women of 800-2000 words long. The average payment is 5 cents per word. Summing up, it is better to research the magazines first and read some of the article to understand to what audience it is directed to. Take your chance!

Interpretation and judgement in news reporting. The WritePass Journal

Interpretation and judgement in news reporting. INTRODUCTION Interpretation and judgement in news reporting. INTRODUCTION  MEDIA REPRESENTATIONINTERPRETATION AND JUDGEMENT IN NEWS REPORTINGTHE MEDIA AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITYPATTERNS OF CRISIS REPORTINGCRISIS COVERAGE AS CRISIS MANAGEMENTThe Origin and Nature of the Nigerian PressTHE NIGERIAN MEDIA AND NATIONAL SECURITYConclusionRelated INTRODUCTION In this chapter I will undertake a review of theories relevant to the theme of this work. Various scholarly positions on the theory of media representation, media and social responsibility and pattern of crisis reporting will be thoroughly examined. I will equally review scholarly works on the origin and nature of the Nigerian press.   MEDIA REPRESENTATION The media in any society serve as the window through which the wider world is viewed. They give and account of reality but not the reality in the real sense. Positions of various scholars in the field of media studies reveal that what we read, hear or watch on the media is representation of reality and as such, the media have the ability to and actually do construct the reality through their coverage and reportage of events. The knowledge and perception of people about events, issues and objects within and beyond their geographical settings are usually formed and shaped by media representation of such events, issues and objects. The idea that the media utilize language, semiotic and visual images to construct realities has been extensively written and researched in various works and among various scholars in the field of media and communication studies. While some scholars have espoused cultural views of media representation (Hall, 1997) others have adopted the notion of race (O†™Shaughnessy 1997, Ferguson 2002, Acosta-Alzure 2003) language, and identity (Rayner 2001). To Hall (1997, p. 17) â€Å"Representation is the production of the meaning of the concepts in our mind through language and it is the link between concepts that enables us to refer to either the real world of objects, people or events†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . The concept of representation according to Hall (ibid) entails â€Å"using language to say something meaningful about or to represent the world meaningfully to other people†¦it is an essential part of the process by which meaning is produced and exchanged between members of a culture†. Hall describes representation as a phenomenon that involves the use of language, signs and images to symbolise and represent objects. The use of language in cultural studies can be reflective when it reflects the existing meaning of an object, intentional when it reflects the personally intended meaning and constructionist when meaning is constructed through the use of language (Hall, 1997). Hall (1997, p.15) examines the concepts of representation in terms of the â€Å"circuit of culture† which implies that representation, as a concept in cultural studies â€Å"connects meaning and language to culture† The media utilize a great deal of images, signs and language to describe and report events or objects to their audiences and their use of such elements serve as the basis upon which the knowledge and perception of audiences about the objects and events being reported rest. Representation therefore dwells on how the media create meaning and form knowledge through the use of language and visual images. In their view, Acosta Alzuru and Roushanzamir (2003, p.47) assert that â€Å"Representation constructs meaning by connecting the world language and live experiences. By performing these connections representation does not reflect the frame of the world but that it constitutes the world†. In their view, Rayner et al (2001, p.63) describe representation as â€Å"the process by which the media present to us the real world†. They further assert that â€Å"there is a wide philosophical debate about what constitutes ‘reality’ and whether, in fact, reality ultimately exists. If however, we assume, for the convenience of looking at representation, that there is an external reality, then, one key function of the media is to represent that reality to us, the audience†. One issue central to various postulations of scholars on media representation is the inability of the media to reproduce the exact real word. News generally is an account of reality, not reality itself, thus most media organizations and journalists often fall prey of adding their interpretations and judgment to certain news stories with a view to creating meaning. INTERPRETATION AND JUDGEMENT IN NEWS REPORTING In reporting and presenting issues, media often add their own judgment and interpretations thereby defining the public knowledge of certain events. On the other hand, audiences also subject media messages to some interpretations which explain why they are of the view that media bias is possible in their reporting of events. According to Hawk (1992, p.1) â€Å"there are no such things as facts without interpretation†. This assertion is supported by Said (1981, p.154) as he succinctly observes that: â€Å"All knowledge that is about human society and not about natural world is historical knowledge and therefore rests upon judgment and interpretation. This is not to say that facts and data are non-existent but that facts get their importance from what is made upon interpretation†. In their coverage and reportage of events media therefore give their meaning and identify for readers those events that are considered important. Relating these assertions to the Nigerian press representation of Niger-Delta Crisis, it is evident that media tend to give meaning and interpretation to the activities of the Niger-Delta militants visvis government reactions and perception of the general public. Based on the argument and counter argument between African and non-African analysts on the western media coverage of Africa, especially in the area of media subjecting their reports to judgement and interpretations, scholars have emphasized the need for news analysis. In his work â€Å"Islam and the West in the Mass Media, Hafez (2000) points out that international news coverage can be analysed by focusing on the textual patterns, linguistic feature, as well as the arrangement of facts, arguments and frames in foreign reporting to understand whether or not such report is based on objectivity or sensationalism (p.27).   Empirical evidences based on existing views of various scholars reveal that in understanding the causes and effects of media coverage, it is important to examine the individual perception of the journalists and the orientation of the mass media in relation to the object being reported. As argued by Falola (2000, p.30), â€Å"most foreign media use certain stereotyp es and images to represent African states as epitome of   vampirical authoritarian governance, parasitical political elites, fierce religious and tribal animosities and endemic sickness and misery†. Having examined the theory of media representation visvis the discourse of media interpretation and judgements in news reporting, I proceed to discuss the media representation of Africa within the context of the theory media representation. THE MEDIA AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY The social responsibility theory is based on the notion that the media must perform its role bearing in mind â€Å"public interest†. McQuails (2005:164) rightly observes that the concept of public interest is simple yet fraught with many disconnected views about what it entails or should entail. In Nigeria, for instance, the issue of resources control has been a subject for many debates and cause for protracted conflict. What would constitute â€Å"public interest?† Should the press promote the position of the proponents of resource control, or should it support those who say every State should share in equal measure from the nation’s oil wealth? McQuail, however quickly clears the fog by stating that the mass media must operate by the same principles that govern other units of society; principles which are justice, fairness, democracy, and prevailing notions of desirable social and cultural values. Any practice in society that undermines these principles singly or collectively constitutes sabotage of â€Å"public interest† and may correctly suffer report from the media. Further, McQuail identifies the factor that may affect the promotion of public interest which he defines in terms of cultural, political, professional and commercial interests. On culture-induced effects, there is the institutional entrenchment of a culture of apathy and distrust for the people of other tribes or ethnic groups. The Nigerian society’s penchant for religious and ethnic conflicts is an unfortunate testimony to this fact. And since the News must carry the stories, including that of casualties, there is the tendency for reporting to cause an escalation of the crisis. Liebes and Kampf   (2004:79)   captured it this way: â€Å"†¦.whereas politicians and representatives of the elite are free to address the media of any time (crossing the threshold through the â€Å"front door†), the only chance of radical groups to invade the screen is via the â€Å"back door†, that is, by the use of violence†¦the more violence they created, the greater the chance of crossing into the screen and being viewed by the public. The chance, however, is also greater for the coverage to be more negative, and therefore acts as a boomerang†. The political inhibition to â€Å"public interest† reporting may play out in the bias of the practicing journalist who might have a stake in the issues for which the group is agitating. How does a journalist from Niger Delta maintain neutrality on the issue of resource distribution and control when it has such profound effects on his life and that of his family? Or how does a journalist from Katsina State maintain neutrality when the ceding of resource control to the generating states means that his state’s allocation may be highly reduced. Beard (2000, p18) is of the position that â€Å"to expect that a political journalist or politician can tell the truth is problematic, because such an expectation fails to take account of the fact that both the creator and the receiver of the text bring ideological values to it†. He explains further that reporting capitalizes on certain language forms such as metaphors, metonymies, analogies and transitive, to show subtle or blatant sympathy for or apathy to various ideological positions extant in society (Beard, 2000:25) However, Keeble (2005:269) advocates for journalism practice that is found on universal principles of honesty, fairness, respect for the privacy, the avoidance of discrimination and conflict of interest. But he also correctly observes that â€Å"cultures and political systems around the globe throw up very different ethical challenges for journalists.† It is difficult to maintain neutrality in the face of threats, especially when such threats reach the point of fatality (Hartley 1982, p84; Tumber, 2004, p199), but the universal ideas require a reach toward neutrality and objectivity. Another factor that affects the responsibility of the media to the society is low level of professionalism.Professionalism may be seen as a commitment to the highest standard of excellence in the practice of journalism. It is a combination of the finest skills with the highest ethical conduct. This ideal contrasts sharply with the prevailing shallow approach to coverage and analysis of issues of public interest as seen in sections of the Nigerian media. The rate of unemployment and the abysmal state of corruption and nepotism have created an opportunity for unqualified individuals to practice journalism. The result, as Gujbawu (2002, p71) rightly observes, is the press’ increasing penchant for being a mouth piece for the ruling elite, and at the expense of society; a tendency for writing media content that misinforms, misleads, confuses and destroys society. In view of this, a classic work on theories of mass media has shown what many media problems are attributable to the edu cation of reporters and editors and poor preparation before undertaking assignments. Observable errors of fact may lead to questioning the authenticity of an entire report, which further brings to question the credibility of the media as dependable custodians of public conscience (Severin Tankard, 2001, p314-5). Another factor identified by McQuail (2005, p164) as the bane of â€Å"public interest† journalism is commercialism. Scholars agree that there is an increasing tendency toward monopolizing the media into the hands of a few rich business and media moguls (Dominick 1994, p109; Aufdeheide, 2004, p333 Stevenson, 2005 p40; Harrison, 2006, p164). These investors are engaged in stiff competition for market share with attendant repercussion. As noted by Folarin (1999, p27), the commercialists press â€Å"worships at the altar of profit and consumerism which often vitiate the ideals of social responsibility.† The profit motif makes the media vulnerable to the ideologies of big advertisers while consumerism lowers values since the media must give the public what it wants. Under this circumstance, commercial interests precedence over public good. Albeit, the social responsibility theory holds that the while the press must be free, it must also be adequate or responsible. The basic tenets of the socially responsible press, following the recommendations of the Robert Hutchins Commission of 1947, are thus outlined in (Severin and Tankard, 2001 p314; McQuails, 2005:171): A socially responsible press should provide a full, truthful, comprehensive and intelligent account of the day’s events in a context which gives them meaning. It should serve as a forum for the exchange of comments and criticism as a common carrier of the public expression, raising conflict to the plane of public discourse. A socially responsible press should give a representative picture of constituent groups in the society while presenting the goals and values of society, issues that have relevance to the well-being of the local community. A press with this kind of orientation is what is needed in a crisis –prone, or crisis –ridden society. Coverage of crisis in Nigeria requires that the media be truthful, comprehensive and balanced, representing the views and interests of the constituent groups in the federal state that it is. PATTERNS OF CRISIS REPORTING Pattern of reporting is a description of the differences in the reportage of news stories resulting from the different perspectives from which people view events. The patterns could be intrinsic or extrinsic, rather than being opposites, they are simply two sides of the same coin. Intrinsic patterns are the latent patterns that reflect the peculiarity of a paper, those features that differentiate one paper from others. These features are manifested in the language and the point of view that a paper expresses. It is seen in the way a paper challenges or reinforces certain stereotypes; the overt political position a paper adopts or discards (McNair, 2005:35). As Curran (2002:34) would suggest, the location of a news story within the frame of reference of a political position, by attribution, is a subtle way by which journalism advances one political opinion against another. On the other hand is the extrinsic pattern which is the obvious physical characteristics of a news report as it appears in the paper. This is marked by such features as the choice of a front-page story. The choice of a front-page story reveals the level of importance a newspaper ascribes to a story as against other stories. It is also manifest in the amount of space given to a story. A story that is considered as important will have depth of discussion, attributions, background information; a detailed description of the events and persons in the story. Also, an important story in the news is marked by extensive non-news editorial commentaries in the form of features, letters to the editor, opinion articles, and brazen editorials by the paper. This is where societal views are extracted and harnessed to set further agenda for public discourse to provide ideas for policy makers. Meanwhile, there are certain features that characterize crisis stories. One is that a crisis naturally commands prominence. In any crisis the suffering of the victim usually engages sympathy. This human interest factor makes the story popular, thus giving it prominence.   The other factor is drama. Simply put, drama is action, deed or performance that interest people presented on a stage or theater. In this case, the stage for the drama in a social crisis is the public sphere (Abcaran Klotz, 2002:19). Drama in the news describes the day to day actions that occur in human societies, actions that are considered worthy of mediation. The crisis story is typically drama-laden. Crisis reporting captures the intrigues, blackmails, betrayal, protests, etc., that happen in man’s experience. Furthermore, the crisis story has conflict – the inability of players in the social sphere to reach consensus on issues of ideology, personal or group interest, and opinion. This may degene rate into violence, often of fatal dimension (Veer, 2004:9). The interest is heightened by the impact of the conflict on human life and property. CRISIS COVERAGE AS CRISIS MANAGEMENT So far I have used the terms ‘crisis and ‘conflict’ interchangeably. The Chambers English Dictionary has defined crisis as â€Å"a crucial or decisive moment †¦.a time of difficulty and distress†, while conflict is described as â€Å"an unfortunate coincidence or opposition; violent collision†, some synonyms provided are â€Å"to fight; to contend; to be in opposition†. Conflict may be an overflow of crises. As it occurs in the Niger Delta, we may see a crisis from ethnic, political or economic dimensions, occurring hardly mutually exclusively, and manifesting in the form of protests, walkouts, strikes and often such violent expressions as killing, maiming, shooting, and kidnapping on which the study is focused. Simply put, conflict, as manifested at the community level in the Niger Delta, is the expression of disaffection and outburst of tension built up over time, due to denied or subverted expectations. Conflicts may be violent or non-violent. Reporting crisis takes different forms depending on the nature of the society in terms of its social structures and ethnic composition i.e. homogenous, plural, or multi-cultural societies. Owens-Ibie (2002, p33) citing Corbett, (1992) shows that â€Å"media in homogenous societies, characterized by an inclination toward consensus, tend to air conflict less than those in plural societies. Owen –Ibie goes on to state that Nigeria as a heterogeneous society tends to play out this trend. The media in the country is a terrain for airing conflict, and such coverage is a reflection of the socio-cultural and other diversities that the country typifies†. This statement cannot be untrue if weighed against the historical background of the Nigerian state, which comprise different ethnic nationalities fused against their wishes by the colonial explorers, a contrivance in mischief (Isoumonach and Gaskia, 2001, p55). This history has therefore been characterized by the constant strive for relevance and self-determination by each component of the amalgamation, especially the so – called minority groups. Expectedly, the media assumes a center state in these agitations, a hegemonic stance at that. Hartley (2002:99) explains that: â€Å"The crucial aspect of the notion of hegemony is not that it operates by forcing people against their will or better judgment to concede power to the already powerful, but that it works by winning consent to ways of making sense of the world that do in fact make sense†¦..the concept is used to show how everyday meanings, representations and activities are organized and made sense of in such a way as to render the interests of a dominant ‘bloc’ into an apparently natural and unarguable general interest, with a claim of everyone†. Two basic approaches for assuming hegemonic control quickly come to the fore. One is the media approach; the other is the people approach. With particular reference to the Niger Delta, what Curran (2002:150) refers to as ‘dominant discourse’ finds a fitting application in the agitations of the Niger Delta people. There has been a determined resolve to keep the media (and every occasion that promises media attention) awash with messages on resource control, fiscal federalism and equal rights to national political leadership. The expected outcome is to allow national and global attention, to the plight of Niger Delta people in the Nigerian state. The people approach is exploited when non-elite groups constitute themselves into â€Å"organizations† which are used as sources of news and comment by the media. While non-elite group, have in general restricted access to the media, this can be modified through improvements in organization (Curran, 2002 p152-153). Although this modification has come to be in the negative sense, the organization of various pressure groups and even militia forces has brought much media attention to the course of the Niger Delta in an unprecedented state. It is true that media coverage tends to favor the elite, official position. As this work shows, the news is most times written from the official stand point. By its very nature, the official is furnished with paraphernalia of office that guarantees that he makes a statement on a particular issue either in person or by proxy. The Nigerian President, for instance, has a Special Assistance for Media and Publicity, Special Adviser for Media and Pub licity and host of other officials; not counting that the services of the entire Ministry of Information and National Orientation and its quasi-organizations which include the Radio and TV networks, are at his disposal. It is therefore an onerous task for the other parties in the Niger Delta to beat this communicative advantage. Should the media then give a voice only to the elite party to the exclusion of the other? This model shows that crisis management should be in three phases. The first phase or pre-crisis phase is the time when a crisis is anticipated. Having established that in a plural, multi-cultural state like Nigeria is conflict prone, the press should always anticipate crisis by observing the signals that portend disturbance in social equation. Then the media must provide such coverage as will help to nip the crisis in the bud. The media should identify, expose, educate and enlighten citizen on those things, persons, or policies that constitute a threat to national secu rity (Odunlanmi, 1999, p132; Galadima 2002:P62). The next phase will be the in-crisis stage, when a nation is facing a condition of distress. Galadima (2002, p60-62) presents the atmosphere that may characterize conflict reporting. First is that reporting advertently or inadvertently gives publicity to the crisis. Reporting tends to win appreciation or engender resentment by the different parties involved. This is because certain interests are either being protected or subverted if reporting is seen as biased, it could precipitate very unwelcomed reactions. The Nigerian experience shows that the parties that are not favored by a report may descend into unleashing terror on the reporter or the organization he/she represents, and even unworthy members of the society. Thirdly, reported violence in a conflict, especially casualty figures could lead to more violence. Nigeria is also a typical illustration of this. Whenever killing is reported, it usually precipitates reprisal attacks elsewhere. Fourthly, it should be noted that each party in the dispute wants to have a voice through the media from where they can air their subjective opinions on the issue. The media must not become or be seen as a horn speaker for either of the parties, as that would not be without grave consequences. Then we have the Post-Crisis stage. The media must determine, suggest and promote through editorial and commentaries, what â€Å"strategies and policies can be developed [and deployed] to prevent similar or related crisis† (Ajala 2001:180). There should be a continual emphasis on those issue that guarantee peace, justice, equity and mutual coexistence, while denouncing those that cause disaffection, frustration and distress in the system. If these steps are observed, the media would be a veritable tool for, not just crisis reporting; but crisis management through reporting. The Origin and Nature of the Nigerian Press Nigerian Media historians generally agree that the Nigerian Press has a Christian missionary origin. Goaded by the motive â€Å"to excite the intelligence of the people†¦and get them to read†, Henry Townsend established the Iwe Iroyin in 1859 (Duyile 1987 cited by Mohamed 2003:19). Shortly, after the establishment of this mission –oriented press, the nationality press came on stream. The primary objective of this era was to attack, decimate and summarily expel the British imperialists. It was hostile to the British colonial administration. The press in this era championed the liberation struggle, agitating for sovereignty and self-governance. It had a nationalist (not a nationality) focus. This era technically ended on September 30, 1960 (Ajuluchukwu 2000:14). Subsequently, the press had the task of engineering a new state and guiding its evolution into a viable venture. Ajuluchukwu (2000:42) speaks of the journalism of this post-independence era in this wise: â€Å"For our professional journalists, the transition experience (from colonial to civil rule) proved sickeningly tortuous, mainly because they apparently failed to be reconciled with the fact that the emergent democratic government of independent Nigeria was not an extension of the preceding imperialist despotism. In that lingering frame of mind, the press remained hostile to the government of indigenous Nigerians as they were to the expelled British Regime. It was as though the media in the First Republic regarded our independent federal administration as a government neither of the people nor by the people and not for the people. The independent print media of the period demonstrated a clear unwillingness to give a blanket support to the government† It is important to note the emphasis on independent media. Contrary to the independent editorial stance of private-owned media, the earlier established organsiations of the leading politicians of the three major regions – Eastern, Western, and Northern – were heavily partisan promoting the interest of the regions that had founded them. Mohammed (2003 p33-34) provides insight into the implications of this on the place and role of the press in this era: â€Å"In the Northern Region, such media establishments as the Hausa language publication Gaskiya Tafi Kwabo established in 1948, and remained New Nigeria in 1966; and Radio Television Kaduna, established in 1962†¦the Western Nigerian Television founded in 1959; the tribune group of newspapers, founded in 1951 by Chief Obafemi Awolowo; Sketch Newspapers established in 1964; Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s West African Pilot founded in 1937 and its chain of publications, in addition to the Eastern Nigerian Television established in 1960†¦The attainment of independence in 1960 and the devolution of power of the petty bourgeois politicians through the three major political parties (National People’s Congress, based in and serving the North, National Council for Nigerian and Cameroon in the east and Action Group in the west)†¦were to impact on the of the mass media in post – colonial Nigeria. Although they were once united in ‘fighting’ the colonial impostors, they became divided, serving partisan, ethnic and sectional interests. This may be regarded as the beginning of the nationality press in Nigeria. Currently, there exist in the Niger Delta streams of community-based newspapers that seek to foster the Niger Delta agenda. Most of them, based in Port Harcourt, a city which, for some strategic political and socio –economic reasons may be regarded as the defacto headquarters of the Niger Delta. Some of these papers include Argus, Hard Truth, and The Beacon, among others. Appearing in the tabloid form, most of them circulate on weekly basis. Most also have their circulation scope limited to Port Harcourt, but are no less effective in shaping the opinion of the people and presenting their position on issues plaguing the oil-rich area. It is important to state that the press in the Niger Delta will make an elaborate subject for another research. THE NIGERIAN MEDIA AND NATIONAL SECURITY There are two positions on what constitutes national security-the militarist perspective and the developmental perspective. The militarist perspective locates national security on the ability of a nation to deter attack or defeat it (Lippman cited in Odunlanmi, 1999 p.128). Here national security is seen as the protection of the territorial integrity of a nation by military might. Therefore, a nation should develop the necessary weaponry to curtail and prevent the invasion of her territory by enemy forces and ensure that her citizens enjoy physical freedom, political independence and that their minimum core values are protected (Odunlanmi, 1999:128). On the other hand, the developmental perspective sees national security beyond territorial security of a nation or physical safety of her citizens. As observed by Nweke (1988) : â€Å"There is no doubt that national security embodies the sovereignty of the state, the inviolability of its national boundaries, and the right to individual and collective self-defense against internal threat. But the state is secure only when the aggregate of people organized under it has the consciousness of belongings to a common sovereign political community; enjoy equal political freedom, human rights, economic opportunities, and when the state itself is able to ensure independence in its development and foreign policy† cited in Odunlanmi (1999 p129). Alli (2001 p201) agrees with this thought by advancing that security should be all-embracing and may include: ‘personal security and freedom from danger and crime’; ‘freedom from fear and anxiety’; ‘freedom from disease’ and ‘a general feeling of well-being’. Thus the people in a state must not just be said to have access or means of economic self-reliance, political participation, respect for basic human rights and dignity; they must be seen to enjoy these benefits. They must be seen to be sufficiently empowered to access and enjoy good food, good shelter, equal rights to political participations, right to freedom of expression and civil decent and other basic rights. Conclusion One of the basic causes of conflict in any society is the lack of free flow of communication. Each segment of society needs an outlet to vent the feelings and opinion on issues of the day. Sewant (2000 p20) speaks of civil institutions in society which are â€Å"uncommitted to any political party or ideology†. These institutions may be educational, religious, literary and cultural, sport, financial and economic, or social welfare. â€Å"These institutions†, he says, â€Å"occupy spaces in the social life not covered by the political institutions. There is a competition and even rivalry between the political and the civil institutions need a voice through the media.† Clearly, the media must provide a platform for civil discourse and dialogue in which people must air their views on matters that concern them. When opinions are suppressed, emotions repressed, and views ignored, the result may be a state of anarchy, whose perpetrators may want to excuse on the unavailability of â€Å"option[s] other than when opinions anxious to voice their own idealistic, even altruistic, goals† (Whittaker, 2004:3). Alli (2001:201) explains that â€Å"in a heterogeneous society like Nigeria, suppressed opinion is unhealthy to the foundation of state, it [breads] discontent and violent expression†. In his work on ‘the capacity of the media for social mobilizations’, Folarin (2000, p104) observes that â€Å"media’s potential to counter threats to stability, minimize panic and anxiety and maintain cultural and political consensus†. By simply giving people the opportunity to talk, a lot of problems may be avoided, curtailed or solved. The media must provide this opportunity. â€Å"When the media represents and speaks on behalf of all sections of the society, particularly the voiceless, it gives meaning to democracy as a truly representative regime† (Sewant, 2000:25). Secondly, the media have capacity to champion polices that encourage better living condition by promoting accountability, responsible leadership and good governance on the part of leaders. At the same time, should be on the vanguard of campaigns against any policies or actions that undermine national security. The media provides a platform for debates on public policies, so that both the rulers and the ruled have the opportunity to make inputs, the effect of which are far-reaching in strengthening democratic structures and guaranteeing national security. This is the correction role of the media. Further, programming in the media should also address the need for citizenship and cultural education, so that in a plural society, like Nigeria, one segment of the polity is able to understand, appreciate and respect the other cultures extant in the society. This will cause less tension. For this to happen, it is crucial to have a media that is plural, to the extent of being representative of the different interest in the state. Oyovbaire (2000, p103) advocates for pluralism of the press in terms of an operational base that is diffused and a programming philosophy that is liberal and accommodating of interest other than that of the proprietors. Unfortunately, as Oyovbaire argues, the media has not only been concentrated in the south-west of Nigeria, particularly Lagos State, it is often seen to hold and highlight sectional opinions. In promoting national security, the media must educate and enlighten the citizens on the factors that unite them, while avoiding and dislodging divisive tendencies and sentiments (Odunlanmi, 1999:132).

!0 Tips for Excelling at a Job Interview

1. Be prepared. Try to find out enough information about the employer, the company and the position you are applying for. Going into an interview not knowing anything will be an unpleasant surprise for you 2. Be on time for the interview. This shows the employer that you are serious, dedicated and you’re punctuality is on point. This will make the employer have more interest in you 3. Make sure that you’re resume is believable an up to date. Include previous experiences in any type of work field.Extreme lies on you’re resume will be obvious and will ruin you’re chances of even getting the job. 4. Show confidence and try not to show signs of nervousness. Proving that you can compose yourself I a well manner under pressure is a great characteristic which will give the employer positive thoughts about you. 5. Don’t act like a know-it-all because no one knows it all. If you act like you know everything, this will make the employer feel like you can cause many conflicts in the workplace.If you don’t know how to answer a question, don’t make things up to sound good; most likely you will sound dumb. Just ask for a clearer explanation on the question and try your best to answer it. 6. When the employer is trying to speak, don’t cut them off. Try using your listening skills more than speaking to make yourself seen attentive and focused. This may be your interview but whatever the interviewer has to say to you is way more important than you blabbering away. 7. Have respect and show manners.Don’t chew gum or any type of food like substance during the interview. That can be very distracting and rude to the interviewer. 8. Refrain from trying to suck up to your interviewer. You don’t know them that well yet, nor do they know you well. Being too extravagant in an interview is never flattering and rather more annoying, pushy and desperate. They will most definitely not think you are the best fit for the job. 9. Keep eye contact with your interviewer to show the connection and interest in what you want to accomplish in the interview.This will also show that you actually care and make the interviewer believe that you are an alert and observant employee. 10. Please be sure to be yourself! Acting like somebody you’re not will get you little to nowhere if you get the job. When you are working, you won’t want to constantly act like something you’re not. To prevent that from happening, from the jump-start, show your true colors and personality. You’ll be surprised, many people will like you more if you be true to yourself.

Principles of marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Principles of marketing - Essay Example Goal setting phase sets the overall goals of the business. It requires outlining a mission and corporate objectives for the business (Egan & Thomas 2012). Newham College has a mission ?to expand and improve lifelong learning? (Newham 2007). To achieve this mission, Newham believes in ‘open access provision, relevant to the diverse range of needs in its local communities’ (Newham 2007). Its corporate goals include continuous capital investment to increase facilities for learning and enhance access to education. Over the last ten years it has invested ?15 million capital (Newham 2007)  to meet its goals directing its way towards mission attainment.   Situation review follows the goal setting phase. McDonald (2008) explained that the situation review is a sort of market analysis in which marketing audit needs to be performed, SWOT analysis is to be conducted and key assumptions are to be outlined. Jobber (2004) described five steps in completing a marketing audit as def ining the market, determining performance differentials, knowing the competitors, competitor analysis, and designing a strategic planning structure. Defining the market requires target market identification and segmentation to ease positioning. Pride and Ferrell (2008) regarded target market selection as one of the major areas in developing a marketing strategy. Initially, Newham College will target those secondary schools within 2 miles of Stratford, Inner London that have high or medium suitability. Appendix – II shares the list of schools in and around Stratford that form suitable target market for Newham College; the list is prepared based on the data made available by Guardian (2013) showing the data supplied by Department for Education 2010-13. The list shares number of pupils in the school, their gender, their age group, location of the school and its suitability as the target. Criterion for suitability is set to be the number of students regardless of the gender; the more the number of students in the school the more suitable it will be regarded as a target market as more number of students can be approached in a single go. Looking at the specifications of this target market positioning of Newham College can be decided and it should be more lively and career-oriented in which students do find a reason to study; SWOT analysis will further elaborate on which strengths Newham can focus on to get maximum enrolments from local schools. Next step in marketing audit is to determine the performance differentials; Botten (2009) explained that this step requires identifying submarkets offering entry point for the firm. For Newham those schools identified in Appendix-II list that have low suitability may offer subsector where Newham can position its products. Nonetheless the positioning will be based on the same points that are discussed later in the SWOT. Third and fourth step in marketing audit is ‘knowing the competitors’ and ‘competi tor’s analysis’. Competition in Stratford area is high when we see the number of colleges available for the students for further education because all the colleges are striving for the same students. There are colleges such as Whitechapel College, The Building Crafts College, University of East London, Interlink College of Technology, NewVic – Newham Sixth Form College, Tower Hamlets College, and Stratford-upon-Avon College. Now based on the courses offered by these colleges some

Developing Working Relationship with Colleagues Essay

Developing Working Relationship with Colleagues - Essay Example This relationship enhances the morale and self-assurance within colleagues fraternity in the workplace since the workmates have guarantee for continuous support from the employers. It also sets a free environment where both the employer and the employee can easily present their views with ease. By setting a free environment with the employees, an individual also improves the doors for future opportunities. The accountability may be through one of the employees that may guarantee the support needed in any of the available opportunities somewhere. Productive working relationships are quite significant for every professional. At the workplace, are the immediate people that offer training, general support, and advice to new employees who are expected to grow both physically and psychologically. Moreover, a personal analysis must be conducted using the SWOT terminology adopted from marketing. For instance, through interaction with colleagues, a sales manager must ascertain their strengths in the job, weaknesses, and opportunities open to them and potential threats or coercions to their success. Additionally, such relationships enable employees to draft a ‘force diagram’ that will pinpoint the forces that drive employees towards accomplishment and those that restrain them from success. Developing productive working relationship may also enable one to establish the best networks that one may not have had before or may not even have in the future. It allows the officer in charge to understand each employee or employer in terms of race, political, social and economic contextual.

Differences in Laminated Dough Essay Example for Free

Differences in Laminated Dough Essay Laminated dough is made by incasing fat in dough and taking it through a series of folds, rolling and turns. These things produce the layers of fat in between sheets of dough. The leavening in laminated dough comes most from the steam generated by the moisture from the fat. Three main types of laminated dough are danish, croissant, and puff pastry. So if all these doughs are laminated dough, what makes them different from one another? Croissant dough and danish dough are very similar, both containing yeast. Croissant dough is considered lean dough because the detrempe contains only flour, salt, water and yeast. Danish dough, however, is considered rich because it contains eggs, dairy, and sometimes sugar. Detrempe refers to strictly the dough part of the pastry before the RIF (roll in fat) is added. Puff pastry differs from croissant and danish dough because it contains no yeast and is risen only by the steam created from the moisture of the fat. Puff pastry containing more butter and no yeast results in a product that has a flaky and buttery texture that almost melts in your mouth. Danish and croissant dough containing yeast, results in a chewier texture that has slightly less flakiness to it. Some people go as far as substituting danish dough for puff pastry dough but when making classic pastry its best to stick to the dough that is originally used. After all, these doughs are made of different components resulting in slightly different flavors and textures. Works Cited: CakeSpy. Seeking Sweetness in Everyday Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. http://www.cakespy.com/blog-old/2008/6/29/dough-you-love-me-a-laminated-pastry-dough-faq-and-a-daring.html. Lamination. Baking Recipes. Learn to Bake. Baking Help. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. http://baking911.com/quick-guide/baking-terms/lamination.

Black Holes Essay -- essays research papers fc

If theories of their existence are true, black holes are the most powerful force in the known physical universe. Many people are familiar with the term black hole, but few people actually know anything about them. A black hole forms as a result of a massive star running out of fuel to burn (Chaisson, 193). Once the star is no longer exerting outward force by burning off gases, it begins to collapse under it’s own intense, inward gravity (Chaisson, 193). It is like slowly letting the air out of a balloon. Once the star is compacted to a certain size, while it’s mass, or weight, remains the same, it’s gravity becomes so powerful that nothing can escape it (Hawking, 87). This critical size to weight ratio is known as the Schwarzchild Radius (Hawking, 87). Once a black hole is created in this way, an invisible area, or line around it exists. If any object crosses this line, it can no longer escape the gravitational force of the black hole (Hawking, 87). This line is called the event horizon (Hawking, 87). If black holes are proven to exist, beyond theoretical physics, then they would probably be a very common anomaly in this universe. In 1915, Albert Einstein put forth the first real proposition of such an anomaly in his â€Å"Theory of Relativity† (Bunn, Black Holes FAQ). In the 1930s, three physicists, doctors Volkoff, Snyder and Oppenheimer, were able to prove the validity of black holes mathematically. Since then, black holes have become a very important and integral part of science and the over all understanding of the universe. It has been proven, mathematically, that black holes have infinite, gravity based, escape velocities and an immense effect on light, time and even the very fabric of space. All bodies in space have gravity. According to Einstein’s â€Å"Theory of Relativity†, this is because bodies with a large mass, or weight, actually warp space (Chaisson, 77). For example, if a two dimensional sheet of cloth, stretched and suspended at four corners, represents space, and a bowling ball is placed in the center, the sheet will warp downward. If a golf ball is then set at the edge of the sheet and allowed to move freely it will be attracted toward the bowling ball, unless the golf ball is traveling at a speed great enough to not be effected by the curve. This critical speed is known as an escape velocity. This is the speed at which an object must travel to e... ... the equations are valid, wormholes most assuredly do not exist. If they did it would probably send shivers up the science fiction community’s spine. In the book, Relatively Speaking, the Author, Eric Chaisson says, â€Å"The world of science is littered with mathematically elegant theories that apparently have no basis in reality† (182). Although black holes have not been conclusively proven to exist, there is strong evidence, in the observable universe, that they do. Black holes are very important to the world of cosmology. They allow for the study of common particles under very uncommon environmental variables. Scientists have vastly increased their knowledge of the universe and the properties of matter through the study of a black holes effects on light, time and the fabric of the space. Works Cited Bunn, Ted â€Å"Black Holes FAQ.† NSF Science and Technology Center (September 1995): Online. Internet. http://physics7.berkeley.edu/Bhfaq.HTML Chaisson, Eric. Relatively Speaking: Relativity, Black Holes, and the Fate of the Universe. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1988. Hawking, Stephen. A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes. New York: Bantam Books, 1988. Manthe 5

Nature Versus Nurture and Psychological Changes Essay

Students who have achieved mostly distinctions- Your work is detailed and well written, showing an excellent understanding of the developments through the life stages. You have shown an excellent knowledge of growth and development throughout the human lifespan and the physical and psychological changes of ageing. You show an excellent understanding of the potential effects of life factors and events on the development of the individual. Students who have achieved mostly merits- Your work is detailed, showing a good understanding of the developments through the life stages. You display a good understanding of growth and development throughout the human lifespan and the physical and psychological changes of ageing. You show a good understanding of the potential effects of life factors and events on the development of the individual. Students who have achieved mostly passes- You have understood the key aspects of the developments through the life stages. You have shown a basic understanding of growth and development throughout the human lifespan and the physical and psychological changes of ageing. You show a basic understanding of the potential effects of life factors and events on the development of the individual. Comments if they have achieved P1-P5 (pick and choose depending what they have achieved) You have achieved P1 because you are able to describe physical, intellectual, emotional and social development for each of the life stages of an individual. Well done! You have achieved P2 because you are able to explain the potential effects of five different life factors on the development of an individual. Well done! You have achieved P3 because you are able to explain the influences of two predictable and two unpredictable major life events on the development of an individual. Well done! You have achieved P4 because you are able to explain two theories of ageing. Well done! You have achieved P5 because you are able to explain the physical and psychological changes which may be associated with ageing. Well done! Comments if the students have achieved M1-M3 (pick and choose depending what they have achieved) You have achieved M1 because you are able to discuss the nature-nurture debate in relation to the development of an individual. Well done! You have achieved M2 because you are able to discuss two major theories of ageing in relation to the development of the individual. Well done! You have achieved M3 because you are able to discuss the effects on self- esteem and self- confidence of the physical changes associated with ageing. Well done! Comments if the students have achieved D1-D2 (pick and choose depending what they have achieved) You have achieved D1 because you are able to evaluate how nature and nurture may affect the physical, intellectual, emotional and social development of two stages of the development of an individual. Well done! You have achieved D2 because you are able to evaluate the influence of two major theories of ageing on health and social care provision. Well done! Comments for the ‘The ways in which it can be improved further’ section- Comments if the students still need to achieve P1-P5 due to failure or non-submission (pick and choose depending on what they have not achieved) In order to achieve P1 you need to clearly describe physical, intellectual, emotional and social development for each of the life stages of an individual. In order to achieve P2 you need to explain the potential effects of five different life factors on the development of an individual. In order to achieve P3 you need to explain the influences of two predictable and two unpredictable major life events on the development of an individual. In order to achieve P4 you need to be able to explain two theories of ageing.In order to achieve P5 because you need to be able to explain the physical and psychological changes which may be associated with ageing. Comments if the students still need to achieve M1-M3 due to failure or non-submission (pick and choose depending on what they have not achieved) In order to achieve M1 you need to be able to discuss the nature-nurture debate in relation to the development of an individual. In order to achieve M2 you need to be able to discuss two major theories of ageing in relation to the development of the individual. In order to achieve M3 you need to be able to discuss the effects on self- esteem and self- confidence of the physical changes associated with ageing. Comments if the students still need to achieve D1-D2 (pick and choose depending on what they have not achieved) In order to achieve D1 you need to be able to evaluate how nature and nurture may affect the physical, intellectual, emotional and social development of two stages of the development of an individual. In order to achieve D2 you need to be able to evaluate the influence of two major theories of ageing on health and social care provision. Comments for the ‘How to make this improvement section’- (I have used Alicia’s comments for this section because they relate well) Try to ensure that you have covered each criterion fully before handing it in for marking. You could have written in more detail and given fuller explanations of the points you made. Show that you have carried out independent research into the key concepts. Ensure that all sections of work are included in your folder when it is handed in for marking. You could have aimed for a higher grade / attempted the higher criteria. Check your work carefully before handing it in for marking. You could have attempted all of the Merit / Distinction criteria. Use the resources on Moodle and carry out your own research on the higher criteria. Hand work in more often so that you receive more frequent feedback on how to  improve your work. Improve attendance in lessons. Ask for guidance if you do not understand the higher criteria. Improve punctuality and attendance in lessons to ensure that you do not miss important sessions when new work is being covered. Research information independently, in order to gain a greater understanding of key concepts. Add full references within your work and a bibliography at the end of each section.

East of Eden Essay

East of Eden deplores many religious matters, specifically, the concepts of sibling rivalry and the age old battle between good and evil. In the biblical Book of â€Å"Genesis,† the brothers Cain and Abel offer God â€Å"the father† a sacrifice. God favors the shepherd Abel’s sacrifice of his best lamb over the farmer Cain’s grain. Subsequently, in a Jealous rage, Cain kills his brother Abel, only to be marked by God and banished to wander the earth. Stanford dropout, John Steinbeck applies the story of Genesis heavily in East of Eden; the concepts of this iblical allusion are evident in both generations of brothers. In each generation, one of the Trask brothers is moral and good while the other brother behaves badly and immorally, already we see how the Trask family parallels â€Å"Genesis. † Because the good Trask brothers are favored, the bad Trask brothers develop envious tendencies and a recurrent theme of sibling rivalry appears throughout the book. The first generation of Trask brothers, Charles and Adam, follow the Cain and Abel biblical model from the very beginning. â€Å".. it’s awful not to be loved. It’s the worst thing in the world†¦ t makes you mean, and violent, and cruel. † (Steinbeck 347). This quote epitomizes the root of all evil in the Trask generations- lack of recognition to one of the sons. When their deadbeat father Cyrus favors Adam’s birthday gift of a puppy over Charles’ expensive knife, Charles nearly beats Adam to death. Although Charles does not kill Adam, he is a clear allusion to Cain. While Adam wanders the Earth in the army, it is Charles who remains on the farm, where like Cain, he becomes marked with a dark brown scar. Adam therefor, is reflected as Abel. â€Å"Humans are caught†in their lives, in their thoughts, in their hungers and ambitions, in their avarice and cruelty, and in their kindness and generosity too†in a net of good and evil. † (127). This quote is a clear representation of the Adam and Charles relationship throughout the novel. The incident that occurred over a simple birthday gift sparked a Jealous rage that caused Charles and Adam to remain at odds with each other throughout their entire lives despite their love for each other. The next generation of Trask brothers, the dark haired Cal and fair-haired Aaron, also carry out the dynamics of the Cain and Abel tale. Cal’s Jealousy towards Aron is due to the favoritism that Aron receives from their father Adam; this is especially seen through an episode that resulted in Aarons death. For some reason, Adam favors Aron over Cal and when Cal offers his father a birthday present of $1 5,000 to help him recover his financial losses, Adam scorns him for making the money during a war-time economy. In a rage, Cal takes his brother to isit the notorious prostitute that birthed the two boys. Emotionally traumatized, Aaron runs away to the army during World War l, and dies soon after. Cal lies to Adam when asked about ‘Aaron’s whereabouts. â€Å"Where is he? † â€Å"How do I know? † said Cal. â€Å"Am I supposed to look after him? (p. 562). This sequence between Cal and Adam portrays the emotional barrier between the two that seems to bring out the untruthfulness in Cal that reflects his ancient parallel, Cain. Thus, the biblical tale plays out with Cal, although inadvertently, killing his brother. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a the concept of timshel. While psychologically shattered Adam reminisces over Cathy, Lee and Samuel share philosophical discussions over the ancient Hebrew word â€Å"timshel. † Timshel defies the pattern in the Cain and Abel tale, rather than condemning the less favored brother to a life of sin it pursues the issue of free will and grants Cal the strength to depart from the inherently bound evil motives that ossessed him at an early age.

Nazi Party

In 1919 few would have thought that the Nazi Party, starting as a gang of unemployed soldiers would become the legal government of Germany by 1933. A once obscure corporal, Adolf Hitler, would become the chancellor of Germany in fourteen years. With a grisly total of thirty-seven casualties, including nine million dead combatants World War I ended in 1918. Resulting in a sense of injured German national pride, German propaganda had not prepared the nation for defeat. Those military and political leaders who were responsible claimed that Germany had been "stabbed in the back" by its left-wing politicians, Communists, and Jews. The Weimar Republic, a new government, tried to establish a democratic course. Extreme political parties from both the right and left struggled violently for control. The new regime could neither handle the depressed economy nor the rampant lawlessness and disorder. As the victorious allies punished Germany severely, the German population swallowed the bitter pill of defeat. Germany was disarmed and forced to pay reparations to France and Britain for the huge costs of war, in the treaty of Versailles The forerunner of the Nazi Party, The German Workers Party, espoused right-winged ideas, like many similar groups of demobilized soldiers. Adolf Hitler joined this small political party in 1919 and rose to leadership through his emotional and captivating speeches. He encouraged national pride, militarism, and a commitment to the Volk and racially pure Germany. Exploiting anti-Semitic feelings Hitler condemned the Jews, that had prevailed in Europe for centuries. He changed the name of the party to the National Socialist German Workers Party, called for short, the Nazi Party (or NSDAP). The Nazi Party had about three thousand members by the end of 1920. A year later Hitler became its official leader. Adolf Hitler's attempt at an armed overthrow of local authorities in Munich failed miserably

Customer Service- Project- Sandford Health of North Dakota Assignment

Customer Service- Project- Sandford Health of North Dakota - Assignment Example its patient’s sufficient expert medical care as it is currently one of the health care institutions with a leading edge in technologies and up to date facilities of the excellent status. With its headquarter on a 500-bed Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux falls, South Dakota  (Sanford Health, n.d), the institution also operates a number of health care facilities across the United States of America, including two dozen hospitals and other clinics, more than 130 in number with their locations in North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. Sanford Health has over the years excelled in its approach to the provision of health care services to its customers through the enhancement of its clinical care, research approaches, which work towards the establishment of new and  more  innovative approaches  for the  treatment and cure of the common diseases affecting members of the communities and the world at large. The hospital currently offers pediatric intensive care services, level-two trauma center, air transport services, women and children’s orthopedics, cancer and heart centers. Ideally, with services, Sanford Health remains the busiest health care facility in North Dakota, where it also offers individual insurance to the patients from the community (Sanford Health, n.d). For the provision of high quality  service to customers, every organization must have an outstanding management system that would works to bridge the gap between quality service and the patients. Sanford Health has put in place a very organized management that works to spearhead the day today running of the institution. The management has also developed a strong and established customer service department, which ensures that all the clients are served diligently. Such an aspect is of significant importance as it plays an integral role in connecting the organization to the esteemed diverse clientele. To achieve the highest  working  standards in the customer service

Total cost minimization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Total cost minimization - Essay Example The new communication and information technologies today have made it possible to attain sophisticated and continuous process manufacturing. The automotive industry, for instance, has seen dramatic breakthroughs in technology displacement and reengineering. They now make over fifty million new automotives every year and are responsible for the creation of one out of every twelve jobs in the North American manufacturing industry. Experts predict that Japanese owned factories, by the end of this decade, would have the ability to make an automobile in eight hours or less (Dikbas and Scherer 297). This shorter time of production will result in fewer workers being needed for the production line. Japan’s nine automakers make over twelve million vehicles each year using less than six hundred thousand workers. Automakers in Detroit employ over two and a half million workers in the production of the same number of cars. US automakers, following Japan’s lead, have started to reen gineer their operations in the hope that they can increase their productivity, improve product share, reduce labor rolls, and increase their profit margin. GM, in 1993, announced plans for the implementation of changes in practices of production that aimed to eliminate as many as ninety thousand jobs by the late 90s (Dikbas and Scherer 298). These came on top of the quarter million jobs that they had already done away with in 1978. Other global automotive makers have also reengineered operations to eliminate thousands of employees with German automakers eliminating one in every seven jobs by 1995. The new â€Å"smart robot† generation that is armed with increased flexibility and intelligence has become a mainstay in the market, as factory owner are less likely to substitute them for laborers since they are cost-effective. Each robot replaces four jobs in the global economy and pays itself off in one year if used twenty-four hours every day. The world’s robot population was estimated at about 630,000 in 1991, and the number had grown by 3.5 times in 2008 as the machines have become more flexible, versatile, and intelligent (Meiksins et al 202). The steel industry has also had fortunes that closely mirror those of the automotive industry and have led to sweeping changes in production and organization, in the industry. The US was the world leader in production of steel in the 80s. However, this competitive edge has undergone serious erosion because of failure by companies in the US to keep in step with steel manufacturers in Japan that have made the production of steel a highly continuous and automated operation. This has led to Nippon Steel reducing its production hours to one hour from twelve days (Meiksins et al 203). Increased steel production automation has reduced the amount of labor required in North America. US Steel, the largest steel company in the US, in 1980, employed over 120,000 workers, which decreased to 20,000 in 1990 and 14,000, in 2005, even though it was producing the same output (National Academy of Engineering 10). These numbers are predicted to drop even further in the coming ten to twenty years as more advanced operations become available in the process of manufacturing in these factories. The highly automated methods of manufacturing have been used in combination with radical management hierarchy