Research and journalism Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Research and journalism - Article Example Research on the other hand is a more long term longitudinal study based on foresight regarding future trends or events over a period of time. This is one of the most basic differences that makes journalism and research take on divergent roles. The collection of data is crucial to both journalism and research. According to Sedlmeier et al (1989), research is not a copy of record, as opposed to journalism. Here, it may be seen that journalism acts as a record of facts on which public opinion is molded and set forth. Yet, research is based on longitudinal studies that depend on the careful selection of subjects as well as focus groups upon whom analysis is conducted for a logical conclusion. To begin with, one has to understand research design in context of philosophy as a style of writing or expressing ideas. This has a nexus with positivism as well as interpretivism in understanding how knowledge is gathered and used. Johnson et al's text (2000) starts with a study of innate notions. This portion of the book is a study of the elements that lead to speculation and a subsequent formation of perspective. This points to positivism. Throughout this part, the authors have managed to hook the reader on to the idea that speculation is an element that must be used in very discreet doses as more of it can damage the practical side of things in one's mind. (Johnson et al, 2000) As a philosophical notion, this is an ideal that is true to writing. In writing, it is imperative to stick to a certain balance between factual information and a small amount of speculation. This holds on to people's imagination and memories. Therefore, in this part of the book, the authors have merely de scribed a style of writing that has to do with organising ideas and information or interpretivism. This sets the stage for understanding and differentiating between epistemology and ontology. Further into the book, one will find ideals that are connected with principles in the mind. The mind is an organ that churns out thoughts and expressions of the same. These expressions are a part of the basic mental setup of the person concerned. This quality, in turn, springs from an ability to form a successful marriage between imagination and the overall truth surrounding a person. Therefore, these principles work towards defining a certain kind of writing and research design that can be applied by any person for means of appropriate self expression. (Johnson et al, 2000) The second part of the book is about Ideas, which relates to journalism rather than research. Journalism is a field where ideation is an important phase before one begins to actually put the ideas down on pen and paper. Where does this ideation happen' It happens during one's life experiences. These life experiences revolve around the garnering of values and ideals in life. One's writing often depicts the state of one's belief system. Thus, in describing ideas, Locke has managed to show what a person's preliminary research in writing is based on. This preliminary research comes from what is within oneself. (Locke, 2007) Therefore, as far as data collection is concerned, positivism is the approach used by research, while interpretivism is the appr

International Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

International Law - Essay Example The threat does not come from a charging cavalry but from a small group of individuals, specifically armed civilians, clandestinely operating to undermine an entire country or its economy. There is no declaration of war. The enemy simply launches an attack from within where majority of the casualties are innocent civilians. This is the era of unconventional warfare. Unlike war and belligerency which are governed by specific set of rules under the United Nations conventions and treaties, there exist no specific rules in international law that apply to unconventional conflicts.1 Unlike terrorists, the community of nations adheres to laws that govern the conduct of war, including but not limited to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the Hague Conventions, and the 1977 Protocols to the Geneva Conventions. These basic laws are then complemented and supplemented by the human rights conventions and treaties. The absence of specific rules that apply to unconventional conflicts like terrorism gi ve rise to the debate as to whether or not unconventional conflicts can be legally regulated without conferring legal rights to terrorists. I submit to resolve the issue at hand in the negative. No, unconventional conflicts cannot be legally regulated without conferring legal rights to terrorists. ... Rumsfeld. The court ruled that Hamdan is entitled to the rights set forth in the common Article 3 of the four Geneva Conventions.2 In particular, these conventions are: first, the Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field; second, the Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea; third, the Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War; and fourth, the Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.3 While the first three conventions govern the conduct of war between armed combatants and all those directly involved in the armed conflict, the last convention provides regulations as to how these combatants should conduct themselves with regard to unarmed civilians.4 The Geneva Conventions specifically declared under Article 2 thereof that â€Å"the present Convention shall apply to all cases of declared war or of any other armed conflict which may arise between two or more of the High Contracting Parties, even if the state of war is not recognized by one of them. The Convention shall also apply to all cases of partial or total occupation of the territory of a High Contracting Party, even if the said occupation meets with no armed resistance.† Moreover it bears stressing that the conventions also provide in Article 3 thereof that, â€Å"Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any