Journalism and Social Media - 1319 Words

Because I am a journalism student, I have talked, researched and discussed with many of my fellow students and faculty members about the topics above. I am choosing to talk about this because I think it is important and they are pertinent issues in the journalism field. I am also very interested in this topic, so I thought it would be fun to take the opportunity you gave us to design our own multi-part question and write about something in journalism that is appealing to me. I recently read an article somewhere, in which BBC journalist Sigrun Rottman said that objectivity in journalism is an illusion and the media should think more of being balanced than being objective. According to her, objectivity in the media does not really exist.†¦show more content†¦As the rest of this chapter demonstrates, a journalist’s choice of news sources, news â€Å"frame,† and continued attention to an issue all represent subjective choices. Even if a journalist is careful to avoid injecting overt opinion, the choice and construction of a news story can still introduce bias† (226). So here’s what I think; if the reporter is not aware that his or her reaction and thus way of presenting the news is affected by their world view of the news, then the reporters subjective view of the news is the view given, not the objective view that is the goal. However, if reporters ARE aware that their view is a component of the news, then if they are ethical reporters, they will consciously minimize the impact of subjectivity. They will not only accept, but allow for and consider that no one person’s world view is the only reality. And as Julie Corbett helps me out with this, she says too that â€Å"one way to provide objectivity and balance is the long-standing journalistic tradition of bringing in the opposing sides† (226). Stepping totally away from that discussion, I’m going to move into to talking about journalism and social media; how social media is beneficial to them what they need to do in order to use it effectively. I came across this video about journalists and social media, where a woman by the name of Mary-Louise Schumacher,Show MoreRelatedSocial Media And Its Impact On Journalism1742 Words   |  7 PagesSocial media has had a huge impact on the way that journalism is practiced and the way that the general public perceive news in the present day. This dissertation aims to identify and explore the use of the different social media platforms, focusing on the impact that the rise of social media has had on journalism practices. In addition, this paper will examine the public’s responses to the news that they receive through social media platforms. Examples of social media platforms that this dissertationRead MoreThe Rise of Social Media and Its Impact on Mainstream Journalism21031 Words   |  85 PagesWORKING PAPER e rise of social media and its impact on mainstream journalism: A study of how newspapers and broadcasters in the UK and US are responding to a wave of participatory social media, and a historic shi in control towards individual consumers. Nic Newman September 2009 Contents Executive summary and key conclusions 1. Framing the debate 2. Mainstream media motivations, doubts and dilemmas 2.1 Definitions and motivations 2.2 BBC 2.3 Guardian and Telegraph 2.4 New York TimesRead MoreThe Impact Of Social Media Technology On The Context Of Curation Journalism Essay1469 Words   |  6 Pagesresearch, this research needs to be looked from certain frameworks, such as the journalism principles and cultural issues. The research would examine how these frameworks cover the use of social media technology in the practice of curation journalism. It would involve an excavation of qualitative data from informants within the research’s subjects, those are journalists of Kompas.com, Tempo.co and Viva.co.id, three online media in Indonesia. In relation to that, I include this study into a paradigm inRead MoreOnline Journalism and the New Media; Implications for Man ¡Ã‚ ¦S Social Development2777 Words   |  12 PagesINTRODUCTION The new media announces a new period of media development in the world over, it is the one that preaches the significance of new communications technologies. The new media is not just a kind of information technology but also part and parcel of the social being of man in this modern society. At the threshold of this fairly new millennium (2000 A.D.), there was a sporadic turn-around in the existing branches of the global media. This catapulted the world into a new information orderRead MoreThe And Skeptics : Evaluating The Credibility Of Mainstream And Citizen Journalism1151 Words   |  5 PagesThe concept of journalism has always been regarded with skepticism. People are not sure which newspapers or news stations to trust. Naturally, the audience gravitates towards mainstream news providers like CNN or The New York Times. These sources, along with many others, have been accepted for their credibility. Recently, however, another source has been capturing the audience’s attention. This source is known as citizen journalism, and its contributions to society have had a huge impact. WhetherRead MoreOnline Journalism : A New Form Of Journalism929 Words   |  4 PagesThe arrival of new media has significantly and drastically transformed the concept of journalism. T raditional journalism promotes authenticity, reliable sourcing and valid evidence through major media companies and the use of gate-keeping. This classic process is what provides factual information to their following about current world issues which also creates a trust with their audience. Citizen journalism is a new form of journalism that allows the general public to publish online. Citizen journalistsRead MoreCitizen Journalism Essay1411 Words   |  6 PagesCitizen journalism is the concept of average citizens playing an active role in the media. Blogging, social networks and participatory news sites have helped to contribute to the growth of citizen journalism. The idea of reporting instantly from any place at any time has grown to become a key tool in journalism today. A blog is a regular informal entry by an individual commenting on news stories or describing an event. They can range in any topic from fashion to politics. A blogger can remove orRead MoreBroadcast Journalism is Transforming but not Dying Essay1074 Words   |  5 PagesOver the last 20 years the Internet has become a prime source for media people turn to for convenience. We have entered a culture that demands information and news instantly and constantly all day, all week and all year round. The invention and rise of handsets, social media, News apps and online newspapers have pushed broadcast journalism to the brink, forcing the industry into a state of struggle whereby it must deliver successful ideas to stay in the loop. By discussing how future broadcast journalistsRead MoreThe Basic Tasks Of Journalism898 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"the basic tasks of journalism in a democracy under three main headings: 1. The task of observing and informing, primarily as a service to the public 2. The task of participating in public life as an independent actor by way of critical comment, advice, advocacy and expression of opinion 3. The task of providing a channel, forum, or platform for extramedia voices or sources to reach a self-chosen public† (pp. 116). This â€Å"tasks† could be developed and performed by journalism in four types of outletsRead MoreThe Decline of Journalism as a Profession914 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction The belief that journalism is in decline has triggered major alarms, because society needs an informational environment that is easily available to all citizens such as newspapers. There is a large body of journalist that suggests that if television has taken over from the press as our main source of news this may limit our capacity to learn about public affairs; newspapers are believed to be far more effective than television at conveying detailed information necessary to understand

The Truman Show Essay Free Essays

The Truman Show Utopia – A perfect world. Truman’s world was an utopia. Everything, including the weather, was controlled in a huge Hollywood dome. We will write a custom essay sample on The Truman Show Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now Truman grew up having no idea he was being watched every hour of the day, and that every step he took was being viewed by millions all over the globe. As the show progressed, it became clear how much media influenced Truman’s life, and also how Christof played a huge role in Truman’s well-being. First, the influence of media affects our lives in many ways. As The Truman Show ran 24/7, there were no commercials. Therefore, the show had to generate an income by advertising products to the viewers. For example, when Truman’s wife showed off her recent purchase, a Chef Pal, she listed many unique characteristics about the product, hoping some of the millions of viewers would purchase it. This shows how much commercials and advertising can persuade us to purchase a product. Without even realizing it, TV viewing can influence people’s purchases. Second, a form of media displayed in the show can be described as broadcast media. The Truman Show was broadcasted all over the world and millions of people were watching it. You could see this because during the movie people were shown watching the show in various places. For example, there was a man watching TV while in his bathtub and two security guards enjoyed the show while on patrol. This shows how TV can be addictive, and possibly interfere with our ability to complete everyday tasks. Finally, Truman was basically living in an artificial world. Everything was planned, and the actors were well educated to make Truman believe everything about his life existed in Seahaven. This shows how people can be influenced to believe that something is real or true but in reality it is not. He had a wife who did not love him, a teacher who did not support what he was trying to go after, and a friend who did not actually mean what he said. Truman was influenced by the world and people around him, making him believe everything was normal and not planned out. The world Truman was born into would not have been the way it was without the help of Christof, the show’s producer. Everything in Seahaven was operated by machines and computers. These computers were basically controlled my Christof’s orders. Early in his life, Truman was traumatized by his father’s death at sea. He grew up thinking it was his fault. Because of Christof’s planning of the death, Truman was always scared of water. The only way off of Seahaven was by boat, therefore Christof knew he would be able to keep Truman under his control. Christof also did a good job of increasing his audience numbers. When viewers saw the heart-felt moment of Truman reuniting with his father years later, the number of viewers increased. Christof made the scene stand out by changing camera angles and playing background music. In addition, since Truman wanted to make his way to Fiji, Christof strategically planned different events in order to slow Truman down so he wouldn’t leave the island. An example of this is when Truman went to purchase a plane ticket, but the flights were all sold out for over a month. Also, when the bus he was going to ride broke down. This proves that Christof manipulated Truman for his own purpose. Christof controlled everything in Truman’s life from the weather to who Truman was going to spend his life with. All these points prove how Truman was being used for Christof’s benefit; to increase the show’s ratings and to gain an income. The storyline of The Truman Show shows us how media affects our lives in many different ways. From something as simple as watching a reality TV show like Survivor to using 5000 cameras to produce a movie. Truman grows up with his world, friends, and even family all being a lie. Christof is the one who did this to Truman. When publicity and fortune become more important than what is right, some people may not realize that what they are doing to others may be harming them. When an opportunity arises, it is sometimes all about what will benefit them. With Truman going through this experience, his eyes most likely opened up to what the real world could be like, and how the world is not always as it seems. How to cite The Truman Show Essay, Essays

Persuasive on Smoking free essay sample

The Adversities of Smoking. Smoking and even second hand smoking can lead to fatal diseases such as, lung cancer, cancer of the larynx, esophagus, and bladder diseases. http:// wmn. l . umn. edu/perio Itobacco/secondhandsmoke. html / smoking is hazardous enough to an individuals health and its even more disturbing when people are exposed to dangers caused by smoking. The tobacco company however, had thought false labeling would help the situation when all it has done is worsen the case. The tobacco company had come with the idea of light cigarettes, which is Just a way to hink the cigarettes they are smoking are healthier. Second hand smokers are Just as endangered as the actual smokers they are equally exposed to fatal diseases. Smoking is a habit that is deceptively dangerous and people have the right to go about without being exposed to smoking. Moreover there have been unremunerated rights on issues such as this one. We will write a custom essay sample on Persuasive on Smoking or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The government of the U. S has made laws concerning smoking in public; the Washington Clean Indoor Air Act of 1985 http:// apps. leg. wa. gov/RCW/default. aspx? cite=70. 160full=true which is one of numerous ttempts to stop smoking. Recently, smoking in restaurants has been ban in the state of Washington and although this is good, we are yet to ban smoking in even more public places such as parks and bus stations. The tobacco company shouldnt make products they think are less harmful, because there is no such thing when it comes to their product; the best thing is for them to stop producing the products. The Washington department of health, individuals who have been affected by the tobacco company have appealed to the public to put an end to smoking. Tobacco companies, in an attempt to lower the dangers of smoking have come up with what they call light cigarettes these are supposedly cigarettes with low tar and nicotine content. Recent study and research show that these light products are no different from the harmful ones smokers are used to. In the case of US supreme court say smokers can sue over light cigarettes; relatives of people who have lost their lives from smoking these so-called light cigarettes are suing tobacco companies for selling products with false labeling. Justin Baer http://proquest. umi. com/pqdweb? We all know tobacco is bad for ones health, but it gets serious when these companies go as far as overlooking the labeling act of 1965 http://www. fda. gov/opacom/laws/fplact. html which asks that a warning sign is placed at the back of all tobacco products. Peoples lives have been lost over these false labeling and the consumption and exposure of these drugs. They are everywhere, for instance, people at public places such as the park and the bus stops are exposed to second hand smoking, which is very deadly. This is unfair because people have every right not to be exposed something that should be illegal. Although the government has tried to resolve these issues by passing laws such as the Clean Indoor Air act, and the labeling act, the intensity of these laws are not good enough, the state of Washington for instance has a law against smoking in restaurants, which is a good thing, but majority of the smoking is but its a reality, the government has tried to put a stop to it inadequately as usual and not in all areas of this country. The state of Texas has a rule regarding smoking around foster kids, this probably would help, but how can you be sure. The best way is to get rid of the tobacco company completely because kids are also endangered when their parents smoke in the house. Such kids run the risks of being addicted to smoking at an early stage of life, which can eventually lead to death. We never know if the future president of this country is sitting home with parents who smoke. The government as well as people of this country needs to fight harder against the use of obacco in this nation because a whole lot is at stake here. The government of this nation has to realize smoking is not territorial; it spreads to various aspects of our lives everyday. Its like you get rid of it in one place, and it reappears in another place. The clean indoor air act for instance was meant to put smoking to a halt, but people still smoke in much more public places other that restaurants and I think there is a need for the government to go straight to the point and deal with the source of this roblem; In this nation they are like welcomed terrorists who are slowly putting the health of this country in turmoil. In conclusion, I think there are some constructive uses of tobacco for things such as antibiotics and curing some types of cancer. However, as always the tobacco company has found a way to turn the positives of the tobacco leaf into adversities. The government of this country has to stand up to the company once and for all because as it is right now they carry the power to make mankind extinct.

Whole Foods description and generic strategy

Whole Foods was established in 1980 after the merger between Safeway store and Clarksville Natural Grocery. The company’s expansion strategy began in 1984 when it started acquiring other existing food chains.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Whole Foods description and generic strategy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In 2004, the company managed to enter the United Kingdom market and consequently acquired quite a good number of food chains. Before the close of 2008, Whole Foods established more food chains although some of them were closed down after a short duration. It is worth to mention that Whole Foods is one the leading organic and natural foods supermarkets across the globe. The high performance level of the company is linked to the company’s mission statement which entails the provision of products that enhance the overall wellbeing and vitality of its customers. The latter has been att ained by ensuring that customers are supplied with the highest quality products. The aspiration of the company is to achieve international recognition by producing unique organic and natural foods and also increasing its retail outlets. The company’s expansion strategy The expansion strategy of the company focuses on increasing supply in order to help the company meet the growing demand for both the natural and organic foods. The increasing demand is attributed to the entry of new buyers in the marketplace. In order to achieve the desired level of expansion, the company has continued to invest substantial level of resources in different areas especially in political reforms. This is due to the current regulations from the government that restricts the quantity of organic farming. Moreover, the level of research and development that focuses on the production of staple organic products has also been intensified. The company also puts a lot of emphasis on the placement as an exp ansion technique. Whole Foods targets customers with income levels that are above average and also ensures that its stores are placed in areas where almost half the residents have at least some college education. The company believes that such a population is in a vantage position to support healthy, environmental, and nutritional values. The current number of distribution stores and retails outlets is an indication that the company is performing considerably well in its operations. In order for the company to achieve the desired growth levels, there is great need to continue investing in both sales and financial research. This is based on the fact that any given company should not merely focus on education level and income when expanding its operations. Whole Food’s key strength or weakness, opportunity or threat, that justifies why the expansion strategy should be continued A major strength lies in the company’s ability to provide quality and high standard products. Customers who purchase natural and organic foods from the company are guaranteed high levels of satisfaction. In addition, the company enjoys a strong company management equipped with economic value and improved systems for providing employees with incentives. These strengths are very helpful to the company as it undertakes its expansion strategy.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Giving incentives to employees serves as one way of motivating them since it increases their participation in expanding the company’s operations. However, it is vital to note that the company’s effort to expand is likely to be hindered due to the high prices charged on some of the products. In order to overcome this weakness, the management should explain why some of the products are more expensive than others. This will make customers to remain loyal to the company. The expansion of Whole Foods is also justified based due to the fact that the company has a very attractive market share and also holds a strong position within the targeted market. This implies that it is capable of realizing a more profitable and stronger position by expanding to new markets. The company’s key opportunities include increased recognition within the organic or health food industry, and brand image enhancement within the surrounding community. By continuing the expansion strategy, Whole Foods can increase the level of its sales and increase demand for its products by attracting new customers. In addition, the company finds it easy to promote the organic foods while enhancing the brand loyalty and image. It is highly likely that Whole Foods will continue to expand in other areas and consequently increase its profitability and market share. On the other hand, Whole Foods faces key threats such as increased supply of organic food substitutes from the local grocers and high pri ces on some of the company’s products. This means that it is necessary for the company to come up with appropriate strategies that may help it to retain its current customers and attract new ones. By so doing, it will be possible for the company to continue with its expansion programs. In my view, I believe that Whole Foods is justified to continue with its current expansion strategy since it enjoys significant strengths and opportunities that give it a competitive power over other players in the same industry. However, the company should address the key weaknesses and threats that are likely to affect its expansion strategy. For instance, Whole Foods can gain significantly by reducing the price of some of its products alongside improving quality. This prevents customers from shifting their interests to other competitors. This case study on Whole Foods description and generic strategy was written and submitted by user Tate D. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on China

Population Disaster? The People’s Republic of China is a vastly populated country. The inhabitants of the country make up approximately twenty percent of the world’s population. For nearly 2,000 years, the population of China fluctuated between 60,000,000 and 110,000,000. When the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, the population was approximately 540,000,000. Within three decades, the population had increased to over 800,000,000. During the next three decades the population is expected to increase by over 260,000,000. Although this is not as tremendous an increase as in the first thirty years of the country, this number is equivalent to the total population of the United States. This increase is driven by the high fertility rates of the 1950’s and 1960’s, which averaged between 5.6 and 6.3 children per woman. During the 1970’s and 1980’s the fertility rate dropped to around 1.8 children per woman. Even though the fertility rate has dropped, the population will continue to experience tremendous growth because of the large number of young adults of reproductive age. The United Nations Population Division estimates that China’s population will grow to 1,490,000,000 by 2025, but will decrease slightly to 1,480,000,000 by 2050. This decline is a result of China’s government enforced one-child policy. Some 58,000 children are born every day in China, which averages out to 20,000,000 births each year. This number would be much higher if not for the one-child policy. Pregnancies must be authorized and women must obtain a birth coupon before conception. Couples who do not follow these procedures have fines imposed upon them, sometimes amounting to more than what they would earn in an entire year. This one-child policy has also resulted in the mass murder of infant girls. Many female fetuses are aborted because of the strong preference for boys in the country. Upon birth, girls are routinely... Free Essays on China Free Essays on China During the 18th century China went through a long period of peace and prosperity, which had adverse affects. The population increased from 100 million to 300 million, from 1644 till the end of the century. Corruption spread through the imperial court as well as a decline in military spirit. Upon entering the 19th century, China was shocked with revolt. The invasion of powers from the Western societies devastated the empire. The Ch’ing Dynasty had a strong opposition to foreign trade. During the 19th century China faced many conflicts with Western powers. Great Britain was not content with China’s trade agreements and instigated Opium War (1832-42). The United States and Great Britain put forth the Open Door Policy, stating that â€Å"all nations enjoy equal access to China’s trade.† China did not agree with this document and their dislike for foreign relations grew. The Boxer uprising (1900) was China’s last effort to stop foreign influence. The Ch’ing Dynasty ended with Tz’u-hsi in power, who dominated for 50 years, ending her rein in 1908. Tz’u-his ran a dishonest government and did not benefit the people of China. In 1911 the dynasty was overthrown and a republic was established with Sun Yat-sen as President. Since China was not receiving any aid from Western powers Sun made and alliance with the Chinese Communist Party (formed in 1922).... Free Essays on China Early China & Xia Dynasty: 10,000 BC to 1500 BC Daily Life in Very Early China Chinese civilization started around 10,000 BC, when a group called the Yangshao (yahng show) settled near the Huang He River. Archaeologists have uncovered many Yangshao villages in northern China. In one village, they found the remains of farmhouses, built partly underground, with plaster floors, and roofs held up with wooden posts. About 3,000 BC, another farming group appeared, the Lungshan people. The Lungshan were very advanced for their time. They harvested silk, and used it to weave fine fabrics. They used the potters wheel. They baked strong bricks in ovens, and used them to build their homes. They worked together on flood control and irrigation projects. They had great engineering skills. Legend has it that their "Great Engineer", Yu, founded the Xia (sometimes called the Hsia) Dynasty in about 2,000 BC. There are no written records. Our knowledge of their life comes from ruins of their town, ancient stories and legends. This story tells us quite a bit about ancient life in Xia times. Daily Life during the Shang & Chou Dynasties About 1700 B.C. to 250 B.C. These two ruling families controlled much of ancient China for about 1,500 years! Daily life was much the same during both dynasties. Shang & Chou Introduction: Shang and Chou times are known for their use of jade, bronze, horse-drawn chariots, ancestor worship, highly organized armies, and human sacrifice. Cities were surrounded by protective walls. One city was surrounded by a wall 30 feet high, 65 feet thick, and 4 1/2 miles long! Inside these walled cities lived the rulers, priests, and warriors. Merchants and craftsmen lived in mud houses built up against the outside walls of the cities. Farmers lived in nearby villages. Chopsticks were invented, which changed the way people ate their food. Family: For both the rich and the poor, the family was all important. The oldest male w... Free Essays on China MY CHINA REPORT China has the longest recorded history of it’s past. Chinese scholars wrote about lessons that people learn in their life. Confucius was a famous Chinese scholar that stressed the importance of keeping history records. In 1600 BC the Shang Dynasty ruled the Kingdom. In 500 BC Confusicious’s system of idea’s and values became popular and although it’s over 2000 years old it continues to guide China today. China is a massive country, it is 3,695,000 square miles. The highest point is Mount Everest, it is 29,028 feet above sea level. The lowest point is Turpan Pendi, it is 505 feet below sea level. China’s climate is similar to the United States, however they have monsoons in the summer and typhoons in the winter. The Yangtze River is the largest river in China , it is 3434 miles long. The Yangtze is a very important river and is used for transportation and irrigation of one of China’s main rice growing areas. China has a large variety of natural resources. One is mineral resources, such as mercury and maganese. Coal is one of their largest natural resources, they have over 115 billion metric tons of it, the world’s largest. Oil is also in abundance. China has major amounts of land and water resources because of it’s vast area’s, which it uses to it’s advantage. China has many culture’s and custom’s. Ancient folkways consist of worship, astrology, fortune telling and medicine. China practices ancestor worship. Ancestor worship says that the ancestor’s of people have great power and authority to influence events or control the well being of living family members. These ancestors have the ability to communicate with the supreme god, and the people through dreams and by possession. The government of China is run by the National Peoples Congress. The National People’s Congress is the highest government authority. According to ... Free Essays on China Modern China is an enigmatic country by today’s standards concerning economic values and political ideals. The â€Å"communist† government that Mao Zedong brutally sculpted and administered has gone through an intensive transformation. The days when Marxism and Socialism supposedly provided guidelines for Chinese economic policies have passed. Now the government exists as a quasi-communist authoritarian regime supported by a market economy. Economic progress is commonly associated with democratization, and in many cases this theory holds true. Taiwan is the exemplary East Asian model of a formerly authoritarian regime turned democratic due in part to economic development. Yet some nations, Singapore for example, maintain healthy economies and high standards of living despite the presence of authoritarianism within the government. Although China has experienced noteworthy economic development over the past twenty years, its government has not made any significant progress towards democracy. The Chinese economy stagnated during the social-oriented rule of Mao in the 1950’s. Instead of focusing on the modernization of the country’s agricultural-based economy, China’s leader intended to install the many values and doctrines of communism into Chinese society. It was evident that economics took a back seat to Mao’s greater vision of a communal society, â€Å"†¦Stalin emphasized only technology, technical cadres. He wanted nothing but technology, nothing but cadre; no politics, no masses†¦Stalin speaks only of the production relations, not of the superstructure, nor of the relationship between superstructure and economic base†¦Stalin mentions economics only, not politics.†1 The chairman of the People’s Republic believed that once communism had grown deep roots in his country’s society, economic development would inevitably follow. The failure and disastrous aftermath of â€Å"The Great Leap Forward† brings to light many asp... Free Essays on China Population Disaster? The People’s Republic of China is a vastly populated country. The inhabitants of the country make up approximately twenty percent of the world’s population. For nearly 2,000 years, the population of China fluctuated between 60,000,000 and 110,000,000. When the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, the population was approximately 540,000,000. Within three decades, the population had increased to over 800,000,000. During the next three decades the population is expected to increase by over 260,000,000. Although this is not as tremendous an increase as in the first thirty years of the country, this number is equivalent to the total population of the United States. This increase is driven by the high fertility rates of the 1950’s and 1960’s, which averaged between 5.6 and 6.3 children per woman. During the 1970’s and 1980’s the fertility rate dropped to around 1.8 children per woman. Even though the fertility rate has dropped, the population will continue to experience tremendous growth because of the large number of young adults of reproductive age. The United Nations Population Division estimates that China’s population will grow to 1,490,000,000 by 2025, but will decrease slightly to 1,480,000,000 by 2050. This decline is a result of China’s government enforced one-child policy. Some 58,000 children are born every day in China, which averages out to 20,000,000 births each year. This number would be much higher if not for the one-child policy. Pregnancies must be authorized and women must obtain a birth coupon before conception. Couples who do not follow these procedures have fines imposed upon them, sometimes amounting to more than what they would earn in an entire year. This one-child policy has also resulted in the mass murder of infant girls. Many female fetuses are aborted because of the strong preference for boys in the country. Upon birth, girls are routinely...

Analysis On Nike And Feasibility Of Imc Plan Marketing Essay

Analysis On Nike And Feasibility Of Imc Plan Marketing Essay Executive Summary Marketing processes as we are conversant with are an integral part of any organization and it undertaking. The sole purpose for any given business organization is to produce products and service so that it can be sold in the market and reaches consumer. Marketing is one of the process undertakings within the organization at the operational level with a purpose. Strategically speaking, any forms of marketing have their own benefits and limitations. However, in the current scheme of things, we can reasoned herein that marketing endeavor of corporation have undergone tremendous change at all level. There are also various tools and marketing tactics that organization exploit for the sole consideration of befitting organizational processes and its marketing endeavor. The purpose of this report is to discuss the central theme of ‘IMC Plan in a major organization† and to link it with the concepts and theoretical meaning of the subject. We are of the opinion th at the concept of integrated marketing communication is hugely in practiced amongst marketers for the sheer element attached to it. But what are the IMC processes at play concerning Nike? For that reason, this report also attempts to analyze the many feature and meaning fo IMC and its various tools that si at play. Besides, Nike is also considered as the organization to comprehend upon the realms of IMC and its meaning and how far the company IMC has been effective on a global scale. Besides, the report in parts also accumulates the very essence to reflect upon the entry of Nike in UAE and to identify the features of IMC at play in UAE undertaken by Nike. Introduction The concept of integrated marketing communication can be understood as a discipline of marketing communication and its planning that integrates the comprehensive values of marketing tools to the advantage of the organization and its marketing endeavor. To top it all, the practice of integrated marketing communication a lso helps companies and marketers to come out with a comprehensive and strategic outline of marketing and communication strategy that is often believed to provide clarity to messages, as well as clarity and total impact of communicated messegges that is seamless. (Yeshin, 1998, p. 68) Thus, we believe that the basis for any marketing endeavor that corporations undertake is to create a value chain internally and externally for its products and services. The creation of value chains thus requires a comprehensive integration and practices of marketing channels that is seamless across boundaries and to some extent the use of comprehensive marketing tools and communication forms. Objective of the Study & Issue in Consideration There are innumerable issues when it comes to the factor encompassing integrated marketing communication.soe of the probable issue to be identified can be looked in respect of the following: How has mass media contributed to the factor encompassing Integrated marke ting Communication? Does the factor attached to the changing aspects of communication in the current scenario have its influence on the factor encompassing how integrated marketing communication is carried out?

Finance Policy and Practise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Finance Policy and Practise - Essay Example The LTV ratio is used to determine whether the borrower is likely to default. A borrower who is considered rational is likely to default when the value of the collateral falls below the value of the loan by an amount which equates to the net cost of the transactions such as relocation expenses, future payments for being deficient and the stigma attached to the situation (Crawford and Rosenblatt 1995, cited in Qi and Yang 2009). There are various ways in which a bank such as VB may become exposed to default and these are matters to be discussed. 1.1 Assessment of Estimated Property Values In assessing the value of a property and the annual rental price a number of formulas are used. The gross rent yield and the price/rent ratio are very useful formulas. Global Property Guide (2012) indicates that the gross rental yield on UK properties is 3.43% and the price rent ratio is 29 yrs. The price/rent ratio was used to calculate the property values and the gross rental yield was used to calc ulate the rental. ... -to-value (LTV) ratios and interest cover (the number of times interest is covered by rental income) will be used to assess Virtual Bank’s existing property loan portfolio. 2.1 Loan-to-Value Ratio The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is the standard risk measure that is used by lending institutions to analyse the risk attached to their loan portfolio. The formula for calculating LTV is: current value of property/loan. LTVs are rated as high, moderate or low. LTV’s in excess of 80% are considered high, 60 to 80% moderate and below 60% low. The information on sheet 1 shows that the LTV ratios after the revaluation are between 15.8% and 52.9%. This means that loans are properly secured and so VB faces no major risks as borrowers are not likely to default under the current valuation. 2.2 Assessment of Interest Cover The interest cover represents the number of times interest is covered by the operating profit from the property. The formula is operating profit before interest and ta x (PBIT)/interest expenses. Interest cover of 3 times or more are generally considered acceptable while 2 times and under are considered low (BPP 2009). The information on the spreadsheet labelled Sheet 3 indicates that the interest cover for all but three (3) loans is in the acceptable range of between 3 and 16 times. However, the loans to Plane (5,100), Russet (4,000), and Pearmain (8,000) show interest cover of 2.4, 2.1 and 2.5 respectively. These loans represent 4% ((17,100/428,448)*100) of the total loans drawn. This is a small percentage and there is no cause for a major concern because the interest cover although not in the acceptable region is still above 2. 3.0 Strategy for risk reduction The overall risk on the loan portfolio is considered low. However, there are some strategies that can be

Module 11 #495 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Module 11 #495 - Assignment Example They base their work performance on procedures and activities rather than the end product. That is they don’t focus on what is being delivered but rather on the efficiency. Additionally, HR does carry out as a form of defensive measure rather than encourage and measure productivity (FAST COMPANY). I believe that one of the underlying causes of the shortcomings of annual appraisals is focusing on a person when doing assessment. Most of the HR assessment focuses on individual characterization such personal traits like commitment and knowledge (James, 2014). Inasmuch as these factors may contribute to performance, they are not a measure of the actual performance. Thus replacement of performance appraisal with ‘personal’ appraisal results into uncalculated deductions from the assessment. Additionally, non-data-based assessment has denied annual performance appraisal its core purpose. Most performance appraisals rely on the memory of the HR staff completing the assessment. They tend to run away from pre-populating the forms with data to inform their decisions on performance. Thus the result of the assessment remains fuzzy and subjective (James, 2014). Besides, I believe lack of accountability on the side of the appraising officers contributes (James, 2014). The HR man agers are not measured or put to task for providing accurate feedback. They are normally chastised for completing the job late but the mistakes committed or half-assessed job done ignored. This results into shoddy work done on their side. In my attempt to be more effective in carrying out performance appraisals, I will focus on the performance of an individual rather than his/her personal character. This will prevent the risk of replacing performance appraisal with personal appraisal. Assessing the very performance also facilitates management of not only the activities and procedures but also what the activities and procedures deliver (FAST COMPANY). Besides, I will take the assessors to task

People and IT Essay Example for Free

People and IT Essay Both employees of organizations and managers are today increasingly concerned about the capacity of organizations to adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions. The rate of change in the technological, economic, political, and sociocultural environments is picking up speed, and organizations are, therefore, finding it more and more important to figure out how to adapt. What is happening in a number of organizations is more fundamental still, however, in that either what the organization does is fundamentally dependent on information technology and/or its capacity to compete with other organizations in the field is fundamentally affected by the use made of information technology (IT). Ever since at least 1958, when Leavitt and Whisler (1958) predicted that the use of IT would lead to the demise of middle management, researchers have speculated about the effects of IT on organizations. Even though many of the early predictions have not come true, new kinds of information technology are now increasingly affecting how people work, often in ways that we are just beginning to understand. As the cost of the underlying technology continues to drop, IT is almost certain to become more and more pervasive and may even make possible new kinds of work organization that we can as yet only barely imagine. This work discusses the relationship between the use of IT and people. The paper reviews theories that can help analyze organizations, technology, and the link between the two. It also reviews the results of empirical studies of the use of IT to determine what changes have been made in the past and can be expected in the future. Our goal here is both to predict inevitable impacts and to discover possible outcomes, both good and bad. Our ability to develop technology itself is probably more advanced than our theories of organizations, but our understanding of the uses of technology is probably behind our understanding of organizations. It is still difficult to identify the relevant dimensions of technology or to measure it, although it is clear that there are large differences between, for example, personal computers and mainframes. The task to which the IT is applied also makes a difference. For example, a payroll system has greatly different functions and is likely to have different effects than an electronic mail system does. An early common prediction was that the widespread use of IT would replace most routine workers, thus causing massive unemployment, and in fact, systems have often been cost justified on the basis of reducing the number of employees. For instance, Lee (2000) cited a study of 33 companies in which 90 percent cut the number of employees (one company laying off thousands of workers) or increased their output with the same number of staff. The prediction of an overall reduction in employment due to the use of IT is difficult to support empirically, however, as most studies have, examined only a few firms or a few industries, and more comprehensive census data are difficult to interpret unequivocally. Furthermore, other factors may more strongly affect employment, thereby masking the effect of using IT. In fact, it is interesting to note that IT may, in some cases, increase rather than decrease employment. For instance, Barney, Fuerst, and Mata (1995) listed several means by which the use of IT may affect clerical employment. First, computers might be used simply to replace clerks. Second, the use of IT may itself create some new jobs, such as that of data entry clerks or positions in the data-processing department. Third, the use of computers may make the firm more efficient, increasing the demand for its products and thus indirectly its total level of employment. Finally, coordination may be viewed as a complementary input in the production process. For instance, if IT makes coordination more effective and less expensive, the demand for coordination and therefore for both IT and the clerks who provide it may increase. This analysis holds only for coordination functions, however, suggesting that clerks employed in production functions are more likely to be displaced by the use of IT. The total effect of using IT on the employment of managers may be less, as fewer managers are involved in production than in coordination. The jobs of most managers are so far less affected by the automation of production functions than are those of clerks. In this case, the smaller number of production workers and the unchanged number of managers and other coordination workers indicate that the administrative intensity (the ratio of administrative to production workers) may actually rise if IT is used to automate production functions. The use of IT would affect the jobs of workers in production more than those in coordination, again increasing administrative intensity. A number of studies agree with this general prediction. For instance, Kudyba and Hoptroff (2001) found that an increased use of computers is associated with higher levels of administrative intensity. One of Kudyba and Hoptroff (2001) original predictions is that the number of levels of hierarchy in organizations will decrease as computers are used to perform the functions of those middle managers. So far, however, there is no conclusive evidence that this prediction has been realized. Changes in levels of hierarchy seem to depend on the way the IT is used, and different studies have reported opposite findings. U. S.  Department of Commerce (1998), for example, discussed firms that are reducing bureaucratic functions with computers and thus trimming the number of levels of hierarchy. Another commonly discussed possibility is that centralizing decision making is inherently desirable to managers and that decentralization takes place only because no single person can control the necessary resources (e. g. , information, employees) because of limitations in humans information-processing capacity. These constraints force managers to delegate control over some decisions in order to focus on more important issues. The use of IT may lessen these constraints in two ways: first, by providing easier access to and facilitating more complete analyses of data regarding the firms operations and, second, by providing a mechanism to program jobs and to control workers. The use of IT may thus permit decisions to be made at a higher level and ensure their implementation by subordinates. Alternatively, a manager may want to encourage the decentralization of decisions in order to increase workers autonomy. Some authors have predicted that IT will encourage greater participation in decisions by lower-level workers. IT provides ways to control the premise of the decision, by allowing more equal access to data or by controlling the way in which a decision is made, and to monitor the results, by providing quicker feedback. Given the ability to ensure that decisions are made consistent with their wishes, managers may be willing to delegate the actual decision. Systems used to provide individual support may also encourage decentralization, as they enlarge an individuals capacity to analyze data or enforce the use of common decision analysis tools. IT can also support lateral ties between low-level workers, allowing them more easily to exchange information and thus coordinate their own activities. Another possible impact of using IT is the development of more differentiated or segmented jobs. Differentiation is difficult to define or measure precisely. Researchers in this area have measured, for example, the number of job titles used in a given organization or the number of different departments. It seems certain that using IT will require some new jobs and departments, such as a data-processing or telecommunications group, if only to manage the complex technology. Using IT in newspapers did lead to the creation of new specialties, such as data-processing manager. It is less clear how using IT will affect other functions in an organization. IT could lead to a reintegration of some tasks (e. g. , handling all aspects of issuing a letter of credit, instead of a single step in a multistep process). Such a reintegration would minimize the differentiation between jobs or departments. Or a higher level of functional specialization could raise the degree of differentiation. The use of IT can affect the level of formality in an organization in many ways. Most older centralized transaction-processing systems are inflexible. Because such systems can do things in only one way, rules are needed to limit actions to this process. The system itself embodies many rules about how the job should be done, again substituting the use of rules and regulations for individual decision making. A system may also make it easier to spot errors and identify their sources, thus further controlling work. Using IT may encourage the evaluation of outcomes instead of process and make the enforcement of rules both easier and less necessary by more quickly providing feedback about the outcomes of actions, thus decreasing formality. Finally, because smaller organizations are typically less formal, IT may lessen formality by reducing organizational size. The use of IT for individual support or for communications may well have different effects. On the one hand, using telecommunications to allow workers to work at home resulted in less personal interaction and therefore more formal evaluations. On the other hand, using IT could lead to less formalized interactions. IT can affect the pattern and content of organizational communications in many ways. First, the use of IT may lead to changes in the structure of an organization, leading to new patterns of communication or changes in the content or quantity of existing kinds of communication (U. S. Department of Commerce 1998). Integrating jobs, a possible outcome of using IT, can lead to fewer needs for communication, as a single person can do the job with no need to communicate with co-workers. For example, storing transaction data in a commonly accessible data base may make requests for information unnecessary. Such changes may also affect the level of social interactions. Some researchers claim that by integrating tasks, the use of IT eliminates the need and opportunity for workers to interact. For example, Ahituv and Giladi (1993) in a study of using electronic mail, discovered a decrease in the amount of face-to-face communication. Social isolation will be further increased if workers can work at home instead of in an office. On the other hand, the use of IT can lead to more frequent personal contacts, suggesting that different uses of IT will have very different effects. Second, IT may be used to provide new media for communication, such as electronic mail or computer conferencing, again leading to new patterns of communication. These kinds of systems have been somewhat more heavily studied, and some important characteristics of these systems have been identified. For example, computerized media may be preferable to other kinds of communication because they can be faster and cheaper. Furthermore, computerized communication has a low incremental cost per message; that is, it costs the sender about the same to send a message to one person as it does to two; if the system supports mailing lists, it may be as easy to send mail to hundreds of people, specifying only the name of the list. This form of bulk mailing eliminates the need for secretaries to duplicate and mail multiple copies of memos. Finally, electronic mail or conferencing are asynchronous: Only one of the recipients needs to be present at a time, making communications easier to arrange (e. g. , across time zones). By thus reducing the cost of communications, IT may make coordination less expensive, with the possible results just enumerated. Such uses of IT will be necessary to allow organizations to deal with the more complex and more turbulent post-industrial environment, with more available information. The ability to address communications by other than the name of the recipient (e. g. , to a mailing list for electronic mail or to a specific conference for computer conferencing) means that a sender may not know the person with whom he or she is communicating, but only the area of interest. Computers can be used to support this sort of communication. By providing new communications channels, computerized media may facilitate the formation of â€Å"weak† (acquaintance) ties. People become aware of one another and one anothers work, even though they have not met in person, thereby suggesting that the computer system allows these contacts to develop more easily. Easier formation of weak ties may also lead to a shift from hierarchical to â€Å"all-channel† communications in companies. Some studies have shown an initial increase in vertical communication, followed by a shift to more evenly distributed communications as new horizontal links are formed and the formal reporting system begins to decline in (relative) importance. One way that IT can affect the vertical distribution of power in a firm is by changing who has access to information. For example, a computer system may provide an easier way to monitor the results of subordinates actions and to speed the flow of information upward in the company, thus centralizing power. IT can also be used to decentralize, thus moving power down in the organization. For example, a universally accessible data base can reduce top managements monopoly on companywide information. The use of IT may thus change the basis of power by making information a less scarce resource. To the extent that vertical power is thereby equalized, other sources of power will become more important. The use of IT can also change the balance of power between groups at the same organizational level of a firm. For example, a common computer system may lead to greater data sharing and thus power equalization between groups at the same level. This cooperation may then lead to greater coordination, allowing better performance, as the two groups can jointly optimize, rather than each trying to do the best it can alone. As we mentioned, using IT can greatly increase the power of the group that controls the technology. IT may become critical to the firms operation: most banks, for example, would be completely unable to function if their computer systems failed. The group controlling the computer systems may also control access to data, a potentially scarce resource. The IT group thus may be in a position to mediate between other groups, for example, by setting corporate standards for computer equipment or software, thus defining the functions available even to users of personal computers. In the information-processing view, IT has a major effect, by providing cheaper coordination and thus making coordination-intensive forms more practical. A company might take advantage of economies of scale by creating larger functional departments, using IT to provide the necessary coordination among different groups. For example, different divisions of a company could all use data stored in one centralized data base, rather than each having partial information or passing information among themselves. Alternatively, a company could use marketlike structures, again coordinated by using IT. Airlines, for example, now provide an electronic marketplace for selling tickets. The era into which we are now entering will see qualitative changes wrought by information technology. No longer will information technology be simply overlaid onto existing business; it will now be used to restructure the enterprise. This restructuring is taking place between as well as within organizations. The boundary between customer and supplier is becoming difficult to define as electronic integration blurs the distinction. Within organizations, distinctions between information technology and production technology and between information workers and production workers are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. The electronic communications system occupies the critical path. Communication by electronic means is essential to interorganizational integration and can proceed only at the pace permitted by communication technology. As we have seen, there appear to be few inevitable results of the use of IT and many possible outcomes, depending on factors such as the organizational context, the type of IT used, and managements motivations. Furthermore, the effects of IT are not deterministic: similar systems can and do have widely different effects, depending on the particulars of the organization and the intentions of the managers who deploy them. IT has come to play an important role in virtually all large successful organizations in relation to computerized accounting systems, word processing, filing information in databases, modelling the future of the business through spreadsheets, maintaining stock control, and so on. But most of this would only indicate that IT was an important service function like personnel or accounts. Even so, it is worth pointing out that in order to compete on equal terms with other firms performing with equal efficiency and economy IT has become an essential tool of modern management.

Clear Channels Grip on College Radio Essay -- Media

Clear Channel Communications, owner of 1,200 stations across the United States, has been undermining the values of diversity, localism, and market completion within the music industry since the media policy wars in the early 2000s. Since then, the radio industry arguably has lost a significant amount of the authenticity it once had. The only exception is college radio: the last safe haven for musical integrity. The only facet of radio not owned and controlled by a major monopoly. Recently, however, Clear Channel has gone to bed with college radio stations across the country. Although the corporate monopoly has shut out authenticity and artistic integrity from the mainstream, they still want more in order to completely wipe out independent music. The 1996 Telecommunications Act was the first major overhaul of telecom policy since the Communications Act of 1934; it covered everything from radio, television to cable TV (Garofalo, 440). The act removed the restrictions on the number of radio stations any one company could own, which accelerated the trend of a small number of companies owning the vast majority of stations. Clear Channel was a primary beneficiary. In 1995, Clear Channel owned 43 stations. By the early 2000s, it owned over 1,200 stations, which took in 20 percent of the industry revenues in 2001. In addition, Clear Channel owned over 700,000 billboards; it controlled 65 percent of the U.S. concert business; and it posted total revenues exceeding $8 billion (Garafalo, 440). Four companies controlled 90 percent of radio and revenue in the early 2000s. Serious implications for programming occurred due to the level of ownership concentration. According to Garafolo, â€Å"In one week, the forty top modern-rock stations ad... ...trick to profit. Clear Channel has taken major college stations to bed, and it’s not a gentle lover. Thus, local stations must not be lured by Clear Chanel’s diabolical plan. Instead, the stations must look the corporate villain into their deceiving eyes, and inform them that their conglomerating ways will not be tolerated; we must preserve the last refuge of music programming and expression on the radio airwaves. Works Cited (MLA) Garofalo, Reebee. Rockin Out: Popular Music in America. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, 2010. 439-40. Print. Kirkpatrick, Bill. "On Radio: Strange Bedfellows." Antenna. 25 Mar. 2012. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. Waits, Jennifer C. "Does ‘indie’ Mean Independence? Freedom and Restraint in a Late 1990s US College Radio Community." The Radio Journal: International Studies in Broadcast and Audio Media 5.2&3 (2008): 83-96. Print.

Chapter 20 The First Task

Harry got up on Sunday morning and dressed so inattentively that it was a while before he realized he was trying to pull his hat onto his foot instead of his sock. When he'd finally got all his clothes on the right parts of his body, he hurried off to find Hermione, locating her at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, where she was eating breakfast with Ginny. Feeling too queasy to eat, Harry waited until Hermione had swallowed her last spoonful of porridge, then dragged her out onto the grounds. There, he told her all about the dragons, and about everything Sirius had said, while they took another long walk around the lake. Alarmed as she was by Sirius's warnings about Karkaroff, Hermione still thought that the dragons were the more pressing problem. â€Å"Let's just try and keep you alive until Tuesday evening,† she said desperately, â€Å"and then we can worry about Karkaroff.† They walked three times around the lake, trying all the way to think of a simple spell that would subdue a dragon. Nothing whatsoever occurred to them, so they retired to the library instead. Here, Harry pulled down every book he could find on dragons, and both of them set to work searching through the large pile. â€Å"Talon-clipping by charms†¦treating scale-rot†¦' This is no good, this is for nutters like Hagrid who want to keep them healthy†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Dragons are extremely difficult to slay, owing to the ancient magic that imbues their thick hides, which none but the most powerful spells can penetrate†¦' But Sirius said a simple one would do it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Let's try some simple spellbooks, then,† said Harry, throwing aside Men Who Love Dragons Too Much. He returned to the table with a pile of spellbooks, set them down, and began to flick through each in turn, Hermione whispering nonstop at his elbow. â€Å"Well, there are Switching Spells†¦but what's the point of Switching it? Unless you swapped its fangs for wine-gums or something that would make it less dangerous†¦.The trouble is, like that book said, not much is going to get through a dragon's hide†¦.I'd say Transfigure it, but something that big, you really haven't got a hope, I doubt even Professor McGonagall†¦unless you're supposed to put the spell on yourself? Maybe to give yourself extra powers? But they're not simple spells, I mean, we haven't done any of those in class, I only know about them because I've been doing O.W.L. practice papers†¦.† â€Å"Hermione,† Harry said, through gritted teeth, â€Å"will you shut up for a bit, please? I m trying to concentrate.† But all that happened, when Hermione fell silent, was that Harry's brain filled with a sort of blank buzzing, which didn't seem to allow room for concentration. He stared hopelessly down the index of Basic Hexes for the Busy and Vexed. Instant scalping†¦but dragons had no hair†¦pepper breath†¦that would probably increase a dragon's firepower†¦horn tongue†¦just what he needed, to give it an extra weapon†¦ â€Å"Oh no, he's back again, why can't he read on his stupid ship?† said Hermione irritably as Viktor Krum slouched in, cast a surly look over at the pair of them, and settled himself in a distant corner with a pile of books. â€Å"Come on, Harry, we'll go back to the common room†¦his fan club'll be here in a moment, twittering away†¦.† And sure enough, as they left the library, a gang of girls tiptoed past them, one of them wearing a Bulgaria scarf tied around her waist. Harry barely slept that night. When he awoke on Monday morning, he seriously considered for the first time ever just running away from Hogwarts. But as he looked around the Great Hall at breakfast time, and thought about what leaving the castle would mean, he knew he couldn't do it. It was the only place he had ever been happy†¦well, he supposed he must have been happy with his parents too, but he couldn't remember that. Somehow, the knowledge that he would rather be here and facing a dragon than back on Privet Drive with Dudley was good to know; it made him feel slightly calmer. He finished his bacon with difficulty (his throat wasn't working too well), and as he and Hermione got up, he saw Cedric Diggory leaving the Hufflepuff table. Cedric still didn't know about the dragons†¦the only champion who didn't, if Harry was right in thinking that Maxime and Karkaroff would have told Fleur and Krum†¦. â€Å"Hermione, I'll see you in the greenhouses,† Harry said, coming to his decision as he watched Cedric leaving the Hall. â€Å"Go on, I'll catch you up.† â€Å"Harry, you'll be late, the bell's about to ring -â€Å" â€Å"I'll catch you up, okay?† By the time Harry reached the bottom of the marble staircase, Cedric was at the top. He was with a load of sixth-year friends. Harry didn't want to talk to Cedric in front of them; they were among those who had been quoting Rita Skeeter's article at him every time he went near them. He followed Cedric at a distance and saw that he was heading toward the Charms corridor. This gave Harry an idea. Pausing at a distance from them, he pulled out his wand, and took careful aim. â€Å"Diffindo!† Cedric's bag split. Parchment, quills, and books spilled out of it onto the floor. Several bottles of ink smashed. â€Å"Don't bother,† said Cedric in an exasperated voice as his friends bent down to help him. â€Å"Tell Flitwick I'm coming, go on†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This was exactly what Harry had been hoping for. He slipped his wand back into his robes, waited until Cedric's friends had disappeared into their classroom, and hurried up the corridor, which was now empty of everyone but himself and Cedric. â€Å"Hi,† said Cedric, picking up a copy of A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration that was now splattered with ink. â€Å"My bag just split†¦brand-new and all†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Cedric,† said Harry, â€Å"the first task is dragons.† â€Å"What?† said Cedric, looking up. â€Å"Dragons,† said Harry, speaking quickly, in case Professor Flitwick came out to see where Cedric had got to. â€Å"They've got four, one for each of us, and we've got to get past them.† Cedric stared at him. Harry saw some of the panic he'd been feeling since Saturday night flickering in Cedric's gray eyes. â€Å"Are you sure?† Cedric said in a hushed voice. â€Å"Dead sure,† said Harry. â€Å"I've seen them.† â€Å"But how did you find out? We're not supposed to know†¦.† â€Å"Never mind,† said Harry quickly – he knew Hagrid would be in trouble if he told the truth. â€Å"But I'm not the only one who knows. Fleur and Krum will know by now – Maxime and Karkaroff both saw the dragons too.† Cedric straightened up, his arms full of inky quills, parchment, and books, his ripped bag dangling off one shoulder. He stared at Harry, and there was a puzzled, almost suspicious look in his eyes. â€Å"Why are you telling me?† he asked. Harry looked at him in disbelief. He was sure Cedric wouldn't have asked that if he had seen the dragons himself. Harry wouldn't have let his worst enemy face those monsters unprepared – well, perhaps Malfoy or Snape†¦. â€Å"It's just†¦fair, isn't it?† he said to Cedric. â€Å"We all know now†¦we're on an even footing, aren't we?† Cedric was still hooking at him in a slightly suspicious way when Harry heard a familiar clunking noise behind him. He turned around and saw Mad-Eye Moody emerging from a nearby classroom. â€Å"Come with me, Potter,† he growled. â€Å"Diggory, off you go.† Harry stared apprehensively at Moody. Had he overheard them? â€Å"Er – Professor, I'm supposed to be in Herbology -â€Å" â€Å"Never mind that, Potter. In my office, please†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Harry followed him, wondering what was going to happen to him now. What if Moody wanted to know how he'd found out about the dragons? Would Moody go to Dumbledore and tell on Hagrid, or just turn Harry into a ferret? Well, it might be easier to get past a dragon if he were a ferret, Harry thought dully, he'd be smaller, much less easy to see from a height of fifty feet†¦. He followed Moody into his office. Moody closed the door behind them and turned to look at Harry, his magical eye fixed upon him as well as the normal one. â€Å"That was a very decent thing you just did, Potter,† Moody said quietly. Harry didn't know what to say; this wasn't the reaction he had expected at all. â€Å"Sit down,† said Moody, and Harry sat, looking around. He had visited this office under two of its previous occupants. In Professor Lockhart's day, the walls had been plastered with beaming, winking pictures of Professor Lockhart himself. When Lupin had lived here, you were more likely to come across a specimen of some fascinating new Dark creature he had procured for them to study in class. Now, however, the office was full of a number of exceptionally odd objects that Harry supposed Moody had used in the days when he had been an Auror. On his desk stood what looked hike a large, cracked, glass spinning top; Harry recognized it at once as a Sneakoscope, because he owned one himself, though it was much smaller than Moody's. In the corner on a small table stood an object that looked something like an extra-squiggly, golden television aerial. It was humming slightly. What appeared to be a mirror hung opposite Harry on the wall, but it was not reflecting the room. Shadowy figures were moving around inside it, none of them clearly in focus. â€Å"Like my Dark Detectors, do you?† said Moody, who was watching Harry closely. â€Å"What's that?† Harry asked, pointing at the squiggly golden aerial. â€Å"Secrecy Sensor. Vibrates when it detects concealment and lies†¦no use here, of course, too much interference – students in every direction lying about why they haven't done their homework. Been humming ever since I got here. I had to disable my Sneakoscope because it wouldn't stop whistling. It's extra-sensitive, picks up stuff about a mile around. Of course, it could be picking up more than kid stuff,† he added in a growl. â€Å"And what's the mirror for?† â€Å"Oh that's my Foe-Glass. See them out there, skulking around? I'm not really in trouble until I see the whites of their eyes. That's when I open my trunk.† He let out a short, harsh laugh, and pointed to the large trunk under the window. It had seven keyholes in a row. Harry wondered what was in there, until Moody's next question brought him sharply back to earth. â€Å"So†¦found out about the dragons, have you?† Harry hesitated. He'd been afraid of this – but he hadn't told Cedric, and he certainly wasn't going to tell Moody, that Hagrid had broken the rules. â€Å"It's all right,† said Moody, sitting down and stretching out his wooden leg with a groan. â€Å"Cheating's a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and always has been.† â€Å"I didn't cheat,† said Harry sharply. â€Å"It was – a sort of accident that I found out.† Moody grinned. â€Å"I wasn't accusing you, laddie. I've been telling Dumbledore from the start, he can be as high-minded as he likes, but you can bet old Karkaroff and Maxime won't be. They'll have told their champions everything they can. They want to win. They want to beat Dumbledore. They'd like to prove he's only human.† Moody gave another harsh laugh, and his magical eye swiveled around so fast it made Harry feel queasy to watch it. â€Å"So†¦got any ideas how you're going to get past your dragon yet?† said Moody. â€Å"No,† said Harry. â€Å"Well, I'm not going to tell you,† said Moody gruffly. â€Å"I don't show favoritism, me. I'm just going to give you some good, general advice. And the first bit is – play to your strengths.† â€Å"I haven't got any,† said Harry, before he could stop himself. â€Å"Excuse me,† growled Moody, â€Å"you've got strengths if I say you've got them. Think now. What are you best at?† Harry tried to concentrate. What was he best at? Well, that was easy, really – â€Å"Quidditch,† he said dully, â€Å"and a fat lot of help -â€Å" â€Å"That's right,† said Moody, staring at him very hard, his magical eye barely moving at all. â€Å"You're a damn good flier from what I've heard.† â€Å"Yeah, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Harry stared at him. â€Å"I'm not allowed a broom, I've only got my wand†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"My second piece of general advice,† said Moody loudly, interrupting him, â€Å"is to use a nice, simple spell that will enable you to get what you need.† Harry looked at him blankly. What did he need? â€Å"Come on, boy†¦Ã¢â‚¬  whispered Moody. â€Å"Put them together†¦it's not that difficult†¦Ã¢â‚¬  And it clicked. He was best at flying. He needed to pass the dragon in the air. For that, he needed his Firebolt. And for his Fire-bolt, he needed – â€Å"Hermione,† Harry whispered, when he had sped into greenhouse three minutes later, uttering a hurried apology to Professor Sprout as he passed her. â€Å"Hermione – I need you to help me.† â€Å"What d'you think I've been trying to do, Harry?† she whispered back, her eyes round with anxiety over the top of the quivering Flutterby Bush she was pruning. â€Å"Hermione, I need to learn how to do a Summoning Charm properly by tomorrow afternoon.† And so they practiced. They didn't have lunch, but headed for a free classroom, where Harry tried with all his might to make various objects fly across the room toward him. He was still having problems. The books and quills kept losing heart halfway across the room and dropping hike stones to the floor. â€Å"Concentrate, Harry, concentrate†¦.† â€Å"What d'you think I'm trying to do?† said Harry angrily. â€Å"A great big dragon keeps popping up in my head for some reason†¦Okay, try again†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He wanted to skip Divination to keep practicing, but Hermione refused point-blank to skive off Arithmancy, and there was no point in staying without her. He therefore had to endure over an hour of Professor Trelawney, who spent half the lesson telling everyone that the position of Mars with relation to Saturn at that moment meant that people born in July were in great danger of sudden, violent deaths. â€Å"Well, that's good,† said Harry loudly, his temper getting the better of him, â€Å"just as long as it's not drawn-out. I don't want to suffer.† Ron looked for a moment as though he was going to laugh; he certainly caught Harry's eye for the first time in days, but Harry was still feeling too resentful toward Ron to care. He spent the rest of the lesson trying to attract small objects toward him under the table with his wand. He managed to make a fly zoom straight into his hand, though he wasn't entirely sure that was his prowess at Summoning Charms – perhaps the fly was just stupid. He forced down some dinner after Divination, then returned to the empty classroom with Hermione, using the Invisibility Cloak to avoid the teachers. They kept practicing until past midnight. They would have stayed longer, but Peeves turned up and, pretending to think that Harry wanted things thrown at him, started chucking chairs across the room. Harry and Hermione left in a hurry before the noise attracted Filch, and went back to the Gryffindor common room, which was now mercifully empty. At two o'clock in the morning, Harry stood near the fireplace, surrounded by heaps of objects: books, quills, several upturned chairs, an old set of Gobstones, and Neville's toad, Trevor. Only in the last hour had Harry really got the hang of the Summoning Charm. â€Å"That's better, Harry, that's loads better,† Hermione said, looking exhausted but very pleased. â€Å"Well, now we know what to do next time I can't manage a spell,† Harry said, throwing a rune dictionary back to Hermione, so he could try again, â€Å"threaten me with a dragon. Right†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He raised his wand once more. â€Å"Accio Dictionary!† The heavy book soared out of Hermione's hand, flew across the room, and Harry caught it. â€Å"Harry, I really think you've got it!† said Hermione delightedly. â€Å"Just as long as it works tomorrow,† Harry said. â€Å"The Firebolt's going to be much farther away than the stuff in here, it's going to be in the castle, and I'm going to be out there on the grounds†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"That doesn't matter,† said Hermione firmly.† Just as long as you're concentrating really, really hard on it, it'll come. Harry, we'd better get some sleep†¦you're going to need it.† Harry had been focusing so hard on learning the Summoning Charm that evening that some of his blind panic had heft him. It returned in full measure, however, on the following morning. The atmosphere in the school was one of great tension and excitement. Lessons were to stop at midday, giving all the students time to get down to the dragons' enclosure – though of course, they didn't yet know what they would find there. Harry felt oddly separate from everyone around him, whether they were wishing him good luck or hissing â€Å"We'll have a box of tissues ready, Potter† as he passed. It was a state of nervousness so advanced that he wondered whether he mightn't just lose his head when they tried to lead him out to his dragon, and start trying to curse everyone in sight. Time was behaving in a more peculiar fashion than ever, rushing past in great dollops, so that one moment he seemed to be sitting down in his first lesson, History of Magic, and the next, walking into lunch†¦and then (where had the morning gone? the last of the dragon-free hours?), Professor McGonagall was hurrying over to him in the Great Hall. Lots of people were watching. â€Å"Potter, the champions have to come down onto the grounds now†¦.You have to get ready for your first task.† â€Å"Okay,† said Harry, standing up, his fork falling onto his plate with a clatter. â€Å"Good luck, Harry,† Hermione whispered. â€Å"You'll be fine!† â€Å"Yeah,† said Harry in a voice that was most unlike his own. He heft the Great Hall with Professor McGonagall. She didn't seem herself either; in fact, she looked nearly as anxious as Hermione. As she walked him down the stone steps and out into the cold November afternoon, she put her hand on his shoulder. â€Å"Now, don't panic,† she said, â€Å"just keep a cool head†¦.We've got wizards standing by to control the situation if it gets out of hand†¦.The main thing is just to do your best, and nobody will think any the worse of you†¦.Are you all right?† â€Å"Yes,† Harry heard himself say. â€Å"Yes, I'm fine.† She was leading him toward the place where the dragons were, around the edge of the forest, but when they approached the clump of trees behind which the enclosure would be clearly visible, Harry saw that a tent had been erected, its entrance facing them, screening the dragons from view. â€Å"You're to go in here with the other champions,† said Professor McGonagall, in a rather shaky sort of voice, â€Å"and wait for your turn, Potter. Mr. Bagman is in there†¦he'll be telling you the – the procedure†¦. Good luck.† â€Å"Thanks,† said Harry, in a flat, distant voice. She left him at the entrance of the tent. Harry went inside. Fleur Delacour was sitting in a corner on a how wooden stool. She didn't look nearly as composed as usual, but rather pale and clammy. Viktor Krum looked even surlier than usual, which Harry supposed was his way of showing nerves. Cedric was pacing up and down. When Harry entered, Cedric gave him a small smile, which Harry returned, feeling the muscles in his face working rather hard, as though they had forgotten how to do it. â€Å"Harry! Good-o!† said Bagman happily, looking around at him. â€Å"Come in, come in, make yourself at home!† Bagman looked somehow like a slightly overblown cartoon figure, standing amid all the pale-faced champions. He was wearing his old Wasp robes again. â€Å"Well, now we're all here – time to fill you in!† said Bagman brightly. â€Å"When the audience has assembled, I'm going to be offering each of you this bag† – he held up a small sack of purple silk and shook it at them – â€Å"from which you will each select a small model of the thing you are about to face! There are different – er – varieties, you see. And I have to tell you something else too†¦ah, yes†¦your task is to collect the golden egg!† Harry glanced around. Cedric had nodded once, to show that he understood Bagman's words, and then started pacing around the tent again; he looked slightly green. Fleur Delacour and Krum hadn't reacted at all. Perhaps they thought they might be sick if they opened their mouths; that was certainly how Harry felt. But they, at least, had volunteered for this†¦ And in no time at all, hundreds upon hundreds of pairs of feet could be heard passing the tent, their owners talking excitedly, laughing, joking†¦.Harry felt as separate from the crowd as though they were a different species. And then – it seemed like about a second later to Harry – Bagman was opening the neck of the purple silk sack. â€Å"Ladies first,† he said, offering it to Fleur Delacour. She put a shaking hand inside the bag and drew out a tiny, perfect model of a dragon – a Welsh Green. It had the number two around its neck And Harry knew, by the fact that Fleur showed no sign of surprise, but rather a determined resignation, that he had been right: Madame Maxime had told her what was coming. The same held true for Krum. He pulled out the scarlet Chinese Fireball. It had a number three around its neck. He didn't even blink, just sat back down and stared at the ground. Cedric put his hand into the bag, and out came the blueish-gray Swedish Short-Snout, the number one tied around its neck. Knowing what was left, Harry put his hand into the silk bag and pulled out the Hungarian Horntail, and the number four. It stretched its wings as he looked down at it, and bared its minuscule fangs. â€Å"Well, there you are!† said Bagman. â€Å"You have each pulled out the dragon you will face, and the numbers refer to the order in which you are to take on the dragons, do you see? Now, I'm going to have to leave you in a moment, because I'm commentating. Mr. Diggory, you're first, just go out into the enclosure when you hear a whistle, all right? Now†¦Harry†¦could I have a quick word? Outside?† â€Å"Er†¦yes,† said Harry blankly, and he got up and went out of the tent with Bagman, who walked him a short distance away, into the trees, and then turned to him with a fatherly expression on his face. â€Å"Feeling all right, Harry? Anything I can get you?† â€Å"What?† said Harry. â€Å"I – no, nothing.† â€Å"Got a plan?† said Bagman, lowering his voice conspiratorially. â€Å"Because I don't mind sharing a few pointers, if you'd like them, you know. I mean,† Bagman continued, lowering his voice still further, â€Å"you're the underdog here, Harry†¦.Anything I can do to help†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"No,† said Harry so quickly he knew he had sounded rude, â€Å"no – I – I know what I'm going to do, thanks.† â€Å"Nobody would know, Harry,† said Bagman, winking at him. â€Å"No, I'm fine,† said Harry, wondering why he kept telling people this, and wondering whether he had ever been less fine. â€Å"I've got a plan worked out, I -â€Å" A whistle had blown somewhere. â€Å"Good lord, I've got to run!† said Bagman in alarm, and he hurried off. Harry walked back to the tent and saw Cedric emerging from it, greener than ever. Harry tried to wish him luck as he walked past, but all that came out of his mouth was a sort of hoarse grunt. Harry went back inside to Fleur and Krum. Seconds hater, they heard the roar of the crowd, which meant Cedric had entered the enclosure and was now face-to-face with the living counterpart of his model†¦. It was worse than Harry could ever have imagined, sitting there and listening. The crowd screamed†¦yelled†¦gasped like a single many-headed entity, as Cedric did whatever he was doing to get past the Swedish Short-Snout. Krum was still staring at the ground. Fleur had now taken to retracing Cedric's steps, around and around the tent. And Bagman's commentary made everything much, much worse†¦.Horrible pictures formed in Harry's mind as he heard: â€Å"Oooh, narrow miss there, very narrow†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"He's taking risks, this one!†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ Clever move – pity it didn't work!† And then, after about fifteen minutes, Harry heard the deafening roar that could mean only one thing: Cedric had gotten past his dragon and captured the golden egg. â€Å"Very good indeed!† Bagman was shouting. â€Å"And now the marks from the judges!† But he didn't shout out the marks; Harry supposed the judges were holding them up and showing them to the crowd. â€Å"One down, three to go!† Bagman yelled as the whistle blew again. â€Å"Miss Delacour, if you please!† Fleur was trembling from head to foot; Harry felt more warmly toward her than he had done so far as she heft the tent with her head held high and her hand clutching her wand. He and Krum were left alone, at opposite sides of the tent, avoiding each other's gaze. The same process started again†¦.†Oh I'm not sure that was wise!† they could hear Bagman shouting gleefully. â€Å"Oh†¦nearly! Careful now†¦good lord, I thought she'd had it then!† Ten minutes later, Harry heard the crowd erupt into applause once more†¦.Fleur must have been successful too. A pause, while Fleur's marks were being shown†¦more clapping†¦then, for the third time, the whistle. â€Å"And here comes Mr. Krum!† cried Bagman, and Krum slouched out, leaving Harry quite alone. He felt much more aware of his body than usual; very aware of the way his heart was pumping fast, and his fingers tingling with fear†¦yet at the same time, he seemed to be outside himself, seeing the walls of the tent, and hearing the crowd, as though from far away. â€Å"Very daring!† Bagman was yelling, and Harry heard the Chinese Fireball emit a horrible, roaring shriek, while the crowd drew its collective breath. â€Å"That's some nerve he's showing – and – yes, he's got the egg!† Applause shattered the wintery air like breaking glass; Krum had finished – it would be Harry's turn any moment. He stood up, noticing dimly that his legs seemed to be made of marshmallow. He waited. And then he heard the whistle blow. He walked out through the entrance of the tent, the panic rising into a crescendo inside him. And now he was walking past the trees, through a gap in the enclosure fence. He saw everything in front of him as though it was a very highly colored dream. There were hundreds and hundreds of faces staring down at him from stands that had been magicked there since he'd last stood on this spot. And there was the Horntail, at the other end of the enclosure, crouched low over her clutch of eggs, her wings half-furled, her evil, yellow eyes upon him, a monstrous, scaly, black lizard, thrashing her spiked tail, heaving yard-long gouge marks in the hard ground. The crowd was making a great deal of noise, but whether friendly or not, Harry didn't know or care. It was time to do what he had to do†¦to focus his mind, entirely and absolutely, upon the thing that was his only chance. He raised his wand. â€Å"Accio Firebolt!† he shouted. Harry waited, every fiber of him hoping, praying†¦.If it hadn't worked†¦if it wasn't coming†¦He seemed to be looking at everything around him through some sort of shimmering, transparent barrier, like a heat haze, which made the enclosure and the hundreds of faces around him swim strangely†¦. And then he heard it, speeding through the air behind him; he turned and saw his Firebolt hurtling toward him around the edge of the woods, soaring into the enclosure, and stopping dead in midair beside him, waiting for him to mount. The crowd was making even more noise†¦.Bagman was shouting something†¦but Harry's ears were not working properly anymore†¦listening wasn't important†¦. He swung his leg over the broom and kicked off from the ground. And a second later, something miraculous happened†¦. As he soared upward, as the wind rushed through his hair, as the crowd's faces became mere flesh-colored pinpnicks below, and the Horntail shrank to the size of a dog, he realized that he had left not only the ground behind, but also his fear†¦.He was back where he belonged†¦. This was just another Quidditch match, that was all†¦just another Quidditch match, and that Horntail was just another ugly opposing team†¦. He looked down at the clutch of eggs and spotted the gold one, gleaming against its cement-colored fellows, residing safely between the dragon's front legs. â€Å"Okay,† Harry told himself, â€Å"diversionary tactics†¦let's go†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He dived. The Horntail's head followed him; he knew what it was going to do and pulled out of the dive just in time; a jet of fire had been released exactly where he would have been had he not swerved away†¦but Harry didn't care†¦that was no more than dodging a Bludger†¦. â€Å"Great Scott, he can fly!† yelled Bagman as the crowd shrieked and gasped. â€Å"Are you watching this, Mr. Krum?† Harry soared higher in a circle; the Horntail was still following his progress; its head revolving on its long neck – if he kept this up, it would be nicely dizzy – but better not push it too long, or it would be breathing fire again – Harry plummeted just as the Horntail opened its mouth, but this time he was less lucky – he missed the flames, but the tail came whipping up to meet him instead, and as he swerved to the left, one of the long spikes grazed his shoulder, ripping his robes – He could feel it stinging, he could hear screaming and groans from the crowd, but the cut didn't seem to be deep†¦.Now he zoomed around the back of the Horntail, and a possibility occurred to him†¦. The Horntail didn't seem to want to take off, she was too protective of her eggs. Though she writhed and twisted, furling and unfurling her wings and keeping those fearsome yellow eyes on Harry, she was afraid to move too far from them†¦but he had to persuade her to do it, or he'd never get near them†¦.The trick was to do it carefully, gradually†¦. He began to fly, first this way, then the other, not near enough to make her breathe fire to stave him off, but still posing a sufficient threat to ensure she kept her eyes on him. Her head swayed this way and that, watching him out of those vertical pupils, her fangs bared†¦. He flew higher. The Horntail's head rose with him, her neck now stretched to its fullest extent, still swaying, hike a snake before its charmer†¦. Harry rose a few more feet, and she let out a roar of exasperation. He was like a fly to her, a fly she was longing to swat; her tail thrashed again, but he was too high to reach now†¦.She shot fire into the air, which he dodged†¦.Her jaws opened wide†¦. â€Å"Come on,† Harry hissed, swerving tantalizingly above her, â€Å"come on, come and get me†¦up you get now†¦Ã¢â‚¬  And then she reared, spreading her great, black, leathery wings at last, as wide as those of a small airplane – and Harry dived. Before the dragon knew what he had done, or where he had disappeared to, he was speeding toward the ground as fast as he could go, toward the eggs now unprotected by her clawed front legs – he had taken his hands off his Firebolt – he had seized the golden egg – And with a huge spurt of speed, he was off, he was soaring out over the stands, the heavy egg safely under his uninjured arm, and it was as though somebody had just turned the volume back up – for the first time, he became properly aware of the noise of the crowd, which was screaming and applauding as loudly as the Irish supporters at the World Cup – â€Å"Look at that!† Bagman was yelling. â€Å"Will you look at that! Our youngest champion is quickest to get his egg! Well, this is going to shorten the odds on Mr. Potter!† Harry saw the dragon keepers rushing forward to subdue the Horntail, and, over at the entrance to the enclosure, Professor McGonagall, Professor Moody, and Hagrid hurrying to meet him, all of them waving him toward them, their smiles evident even from this distance. He flew back over the stands, the noise of the crowd pounding his eardrums, and came in smoothly to land, his heart lighter than it had been in weeks†¦.He had got through the first task, he had survived†¦. â€Å"That was excellent, Potter!† cried Professor McGonagall as he got off the Firebolt – which from her was extravagant praise. He noticed that her hand shook as she pointed at his shoulder. â€Å"You'll need to see Madam Pomfrey before the judges give out your score†¦.Over there, she's had to mop up Diggory already†¦.† â€Å"Yeh did it, Harry!† said Hagrid hoarsely. â€Å"Yeh did it! An' agains' the Horntail an' all, an' yeh know Charlie said that was the wors' -â€Å" â€Å"Thanks, Hagrid,† said Harry loudly, so that Hagrid wouldn't blunder on and reveal that he had shown Harry the dragons beforehand. Professor Moody looked very pleased too; his magical eye was dancing in its socket. â€Å"Nice and easy does the trick, Potter,† he growled. â€Å"Right then, Potter, the first aid tent, please†¦Ã¢â‚¬  said Professor McGonagall. Harry walked out of the enclosure, still panting, and saw Madam Pomfrey standing at the mouth of a second tent, looking worried. â€Å"Dragons!† she said, in a disgusted tone, pulling Harry inside. The tent was divided into cubicles; he could make out Cedric's shadow through the canvas, but Cedric didn't seem to be badly injured; he was sitting up, at least. Madam Pomfrey examined Harry's shoulder, talking furiously all the while. â€Å"Last year dementors, this year dragons, what are they going to bring into this school next? You're very lucky†¦this is quite shallow†¦it'll need cleaning before I heal it up, though†¦.† She cleaned the cut with a dab of some purple liquid that smoked and stung, but then poked his shoulder with her wand, and he felt it heal instantly. â€Å"Now, just sit quietly for a minute – sit! And then you can go and get your score.† She bustled out of the tent and he heard her go next door and say, â€Å"How does it feel now, Diggory?† Harry didn't want to sit still. He was too full of adrenaline. He got to his feet, wanting to see what was going on outside, but before he'd reached the mouth of the tent, two people had come darting inside – Hermione, followed closely by Ron. â€Å"Harry, you were brilliant!† Hermione said squeakily. There were fingernail marks on her face where she had been clutching it in fear. â€Å"You were amazing! You really were!† But Harry was looking at Ron, who was very white and staring at Harry as though he were a ghost. â€Å"Harry,† he said, very seriously, â€Å"whoever put your name in that goblet – I – I reckon they're trying to do you in!† It was as though the last few weeks had never happened – as though Harry were meeting Ron for the first time, right after he'd been made champion. â€Å"Caught on, have you?† said Harry coldly. â€Å"Took you long enough.† Hermione stood nervously between them, looking from one to the other. Ron opened his mouth uncertainly. Harry knew Ron was about to apologize and suddenly he found he didn't need to hear it. â€Å"It's okay,† he said, before Ron could get the words out. â€Å"Forget it.† â€Å"No,† said Ron, â€Å"I shouldn't've -â€Å" â€Å"Forget it, â€Å"Harry said. Ron grinned nervously at him, and Harry grinned back. Hermione burst into tears. â€Å"There's nothing to cry about!† Harry told her, bewildered. â€Å"You two are so stupid!† she shouted, stamping her foot on the ground, tears splashing down her front. Then, before either of them could stop her, she had given both of them a hug and dashed away, now positively howling. â€Å"Barking mad,† said Ron, shaking his head. â€Å"Harry, c'mon, they'll be putting up your scores†¦.† Picking up the golden egg and his Firebolt, feeling more elated than he would have believed possible an hour ago, Harry ducked out of the tent, Ron by his side, talking fast. â€Å"You were the best, you know, no competition. Cedric did this weird thing where he Transfigured a rock on the ground†¦turned it into a dog†¦he was trying to make the dragon go for the dog instead of him. Well, it was a pretty cool bit of Transfiguration, and it sort of worked, because he did get the egg, but he got burned as well – the dragon changed its mind halfway through and decided it would rather have him than the Labrador; he only just got away. And that Fleur girl tried this sort of charm, I think she was trying to put it into a trance – well, that kind of worked too, it went all sleepy, but then it snored, and this great jet of flame shot out, and her skirt caught fire – she put it out with a bit of water out of her wand. And Krum – you won't believe this, but he didn't even think of flying! He was probably the best after you, though. Hit it with some sort of spell right in the eye. Only thing is, it went trampling around in agony and squashed half the real eggs – they took marks off for that, he wasn't supposed to do any damage to them.† Ron drew breath as he and Harry reached the edge of the enclosure. Now that the Horntail had been taken away, Harry could see where the five judges were sitting – right at the other end, in raised seats draped in gold. â€Å"It's marks out of ten from each one,† Ron said, and Harry squinting up the field, saw the first judge – Madame Maxime – raise her wand in the air. What hooked like a long silver ribbon shot out of it, which twisted itself into a large figure eight. â€Å"Not bad!† said Ron as the crowd applauded. â€Å"I suppose she took marks off for your shoulder†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Mr. Crouch came next. He shot a number nine into the air. â€Å"Looking good!† Ron yelled, thumping Harry on the back. Next, Dumbledore. He too put up a nine. The crowd was cheering harder than ever. Ludo Bagman – ten. â€Å"Ten?† said Harry in disbelief. â€Å"But†¦I got hurt†¦.What's he playing at?† â€Å"Harry, don't complain!† Ron yelled excitedly. And now Karkaroff raised his wand. He paused for a moment, and then a number shot out of his wand too – four. â€Å"What?† Ron bellowed furiously. â€Å"Four? You lousy, biased scum-bag, you gave Krum ten!† But Harry didn't care, he wouldn't have cared if Karkaroff had given him zero; Ron's indignation on his behalf was worth about a hundred points to him. He didn't tell Ron this, of course, but his heart felt lighter than air as he turned to leave the enclosure. And it wasn't just Ron†¦those weren't only Gryffindors cheering in the crowd. When it had come to it, when they had seen what he was facing, most of the school had been on his side as well as Cedric's†¦.He didn't care about the Slytherins, he could stand whatever they threw at him now. â€Å"You're tied in first place, Harry! You and Krum!† said Charlie Weasley, hurrying to meet them as they set off back toward the school. â€Å"Listen, I've got to run, I've got to go and send Mum an owl, I swore I'd tell her what happened – but that was unbelievable! Oh yeah – and they told me to tell you you've got to hang around for a few more minutes†¦.Bagman wants a word, back in the champions' tent.† Ron said he would wait, so Harry reentered the tent, which somehow looked quite different now: friendly and welcoming. He thought back to how he'd felt while dodging the Horntail, and compared it to the long wait before he'd walked out to face it†¦.There was no comparison; the wait had been immeasurably worse. Fleur, Cedric, and Krum all came in together. One side of Cedric's face was covered in a thick orange paste, which was presumably mending his burn. He grinned at Harry when he saw him. â€Å"Good one, Harry.† â€Å"And you,† said Harry, grinning back. â€Å"Well done, all of you!† said Ludo Bagman, bouncing into the tent and looking as pleased as though he personally had just got past a dragon. â€Å"Now, just a quick few words. You've got a nice long break before the second task, which will take place at half past nine on the morning of February the twenty-fourth – but we're giving you something to think about in the meantime! If you look down at those golden eggs you're all holding, you will see that they open†¦see the hinges there? You need to solve the clue inside the egg – because it will tell you what the second task is, and enable you to prepare for it! All clear? Sure? Well, off you go, then!† Harry left the tent, rejoined Ron, and they started to walk back around the edge of the forest, talking hard; Harry wanted to hear what the other champions had done in more detail. Then, as they rounded the clump of trees behind which Harry had first heard the dragons roar, a witch leapt out from behind them. It was Rita Skeeter. She was wearing acid-green robes today; the Quick-Quotes Quill in her hand blended perfectly against them. â€Å"Congratulations, Harry!† she said, beaming at him. â€Å"I wonder if you could give me a quick word? How you felt facing that dragon? How you feel now, about the fairness of the scoring?† â€Å"Yeah, you can have a word,† said Harry savagely. â€Å"Good-bye.† And he set off back to the castle with Ron.