Thank You for Smoking: Movie Reflection

    The movie Thank You for Smoking shows how powerful advertising and public relations can be, even if you are promoting harmful products like cigarettes. In this movie the main character Nick Naylor, works as a spokesperson for the tobacco industry and uses persuasive language to defend smoking, even though it is known to be dangerous. The film raises important questions like just because something is legal, does that mean it is ethical?

One of the biggest ideas in the movie is how easy it is to manipulate public opinion. Nick Naylor doesn’t try to prove cigarettes are safe he just changes the conversation and the way people look at it. This reflects real world advertising strategies, where companies focus on persuasion rather than truth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths per year in the United States. Even with this clear evidence, tobacco companies have historically used marketing to downplay these risks. This shows how advertising can cross ethical lines when it hides or distracts from harm.

    This issue goes beyond tobacco. Other industries, like alcohol and vaping, also use advertising that can be seen as questionable. For example, vaping products are often marketed in ways that appeal to younger audiences. According to PubMed Central, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reported a rise in teen vaping, which suggests that marketing strategies may be influencing underage users. Even if these advertisements follow legal guidelines, they still raise concerns about targeting vulnerable groups.

    Personally, I do not think I would be able to do Nick Naylor’s job, even if the salary was very high. While money is important, promoting something that harms people would feel wrong. The movie shows that Nick is very skilled at his job, but it also hints at the moral conflict behind his actions. This connects to the idea that ethics should matter just as much as legality in advertising careers.

    Another important part of the film is the role of the media. The reporter in the movie tries to expose the truth about the tobacco industry. Even though her methods are questionable, her goal is to inform the public. I believe this is important because people deserve to know the risks of the products being advertised to them. Transparency helps consumers make better decisions.

    In conclusion, Thank You for Smoking highlights the complicated relationship between law, ethics, and advertising. While companies may have the legal right to promote their products, that doesn’t always make it the right thing to do. Advertising has a powerful influence on society, and with that power comes responsibility. As future professionals, it is important to think not just about what we can do, but what we should do.

My Top Five News Sources

In today’s world, news does not just come from newspapers or the TV. News is everywhere and it shows up on our phones through apps, videos, and social media feeds. I get my news and information from a variety of platforms, including social media, search engines, sports media, and television. Using multiple sources helps me stay informed while also seeing news presented in different formats and from different perspectives. Using multiple sources also helps me see if news is fake or not. 

  TikTok is one of my main sources of news because it delivers information quickly and in a way that is easy to understand. TikTok is visually engaging and sometimes even keeps me on my toes when there are different parts to a story when scrolling through someone's feed. Many creators break down complex 

into short videos using visuals, trends, and relatable language, which makes the news feel less overwhelming and easy to follow. I also like that I can see multiple perspectives on the same topic, especially from people my age, whether it be different videos on the topic or comments under the post. I would recommend TikTok as a starting point for staying current with trending news and topics.

    

Another platform I use to get news from is Google. This is an important source of news for me because it allows me to search for information instantly and access multiple news outlets at once. I often use Google to fact check stories I see on social media or to get more background on a topic. I like that it provides both national and local news, depending on what I search. I would recommend Google because it encourages deeper research and helps users go beyond headlines.

    Instagram is another one of my main ways to consume news. It provides news through posts, stories, and infographics shared by news organizations and content creators. I like that information is often summarized and presented visually, which makes it easier to digest quickly.

Many accounts focus on explaining current events in simple terms, which is helpful when I do not have time to read full articles. If I do want to do a deeper dive, some posts also have the link to articles so it makes it easy to read more about the topic. I would recommend Instagram because it blends news into everyday social media use.

    The ESPN app is my main source for sports news because it offers up to date scores, highlights, and analysis. I do not use this often but I do look at it once in a while. I like that it covers a wide range of sports and provides detailed updates on teams, players, and major events. It is especially useful during live games and tournaments because information is updated in real time. I would recommend ESPN to anyone who wants reliable and well organized sports coverage.

    

    My last major main source of news is Good Morning America. This is nostalgic for me because it is a news source that I grew up having on the TV in the morning. I appreciate that they cover a mix of national news, weather, pop culture, and human interest stories. This makes it easy to stay informed and engaged at the start of the day. The conversational tone makes the news feel more approachable and less stressful. I would recommend Good Morning America because it provides a clear and balanced overview of daily headlines and has “feel good” news.

The Future of Work

    After watching The Future of Work from PBS’s Age of AI, I started thinking about how AI will shape my future career in beauty and fashion marketing. AI is already influencing how trends are predicted, how products are marketed, and how brands connect with consumers, especially through social media.

    

    As I hope to work in the beauty and fashion industry, AI is used to analyze trends, track consumer behavior, and personalize marketing content. Algorithms can predict what styles or products will be popular, recommend products to customers, and even help brands decide which influencers to work with. AI tools also help marketers understand what types of content perform best on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, making campaigns more targeted and data driven.

    

    However, the video made me realize that creativity and authenticity still matter most in this field. Beauty and fashion are emotional, visual, and personal industries. While AI can analyze data and generate ideas it can not fully understand cultural moments, individuality, or what makes a brand feel inspiring. There is also the risk of content feeling repetitive or inauthentic if brands rely too heavily on AI.

    When I came to HPU, I imagined working in a creative industry where branding, storytelling, and aesthetics play a major role. After watching this video, I see that AI will be part of that future. Learning how to use AI as a creative tool without losing originality and human perspective will be essential in shaping the future of my work.

Privacy, Online & Off

Privacy is one of the most unsettling issues of today. This is because in today’s Digital Age privacy often disappears without us even noticing. After watching TED Talks I honestly felt a little freaked out. These technologies are presented as helpful or innovative, but they also show how easily our personal lives can be watched from an outside point of view without us even knowing. 

    One of the TED talk videos explained how the government scans license plates across the United States. Doing this allows the government to collect images of cars and track where people travel throughout the day. This means that if you drive regularly, there is most likely a record of where you have been even if you never have done anything wrong. As a college student who drives to school, work, and home, this made me slightly uncomfortable. It feels invasive knowing that movement, something that is done every second of the day can be stored and looked at without our direct consent or awareness!

   

 Another TED talk clip focused on electronic tattoos which can track data from the human body. While this technology could be useful in healthcare, it also raises serious privacy concerns. If companies or governments can access biological data, it opens the door to surveillance that goes far beyond social media tracking. The wiretapping clips added to this fear by showing how easily private conversations can be monitored. 

    These issues affect not only me, but also my friends and family. We all rely on technology for daily life especially with being far from home and using social media as a way of communication. Yet most of us do not fully understand how much information we give away. The government should create stronger laws that limit data collection, require transparency, and protect citizens from constant surveillance. As individuals, we can protect ourselves by being more cautious online, limiting app permissions, and staying informed. Privacy may be harder to protect today, but being aware is the first step.

Eight Values of Free Expression

    Today we talked a lot about how the First Amendment developed and why freedom of speech and the press matter so much in American society and history. While all eight values of free expression are important, the one that resonates with me the most is Individual Self-Fulfillment. This value stands out to me because it connects directly to how people express themselves today, especially through social media and online platforms. Free expression allows people to share who they are and feel heard. This makes this value feel especially personal and relevant in my everyday life.

    The idea of Individual Self-Fulfillment means that free speech allows people to express their thoughts, beliefs, and creativity, which helps them figure out who they are. I see this value in action every day on social media, especially on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. People use these spaces to share opinions, tell personal stories, show their talents, and connect with others who relate to them. For many users, posting online isn’t just about attention it is about feeling understood and being able to express themselves freely. Without freedom of expression, many people would not feel comfortable sharing their identities or experiences, and those voices could easily be silenced.

    I also think the Marketplace of Ideas ties in with self-fulfillment. When everyone is free to share their thoughts, it creates a space where different ideas can meet and mix, which helps people learn, grow, and even challenge themselves. On social media, it is obvious people post opinions, and others respond with agreement, questions, or debate. Being able to see different perspectives can help someone clarify their own beliefs or discover new ways of thinking. It’s not always pretty or easy, but this “grappling” of ideas makes the truth stronger and gives people the chance to fully develop who they are.

    Another way I see Individual Self-Fulfillment in action is through how free expression helps people hold the government accountable. The First Amendment protects the press and citizens when they speak out about problems or abuses of power, which is a form of self-expression that can actually make a difference. For example, investigative journalism from outlets like The New York Times exposes corruption and injustice, and social media allows ordinary people to share that information, comment on it, and organize around it. Being able to speak up about what’s wrong in the world doesn’t just help society but it also gives individuals a sense of agency and purpose. Expressing your opinions, questioning authority, and standing up for what you believe is one of the clearest ways self-fulfillment shows up in real life.

    Overall, the value of Individual Self-Fulfillment shows why free expression is so important, not just in theory but in everyday life. It lets people share who they are, connect with others, explore new ideas, and even challenge the government when needed. Social media, journalism, and public debate are all modern ways this value comes to life, showing that freedom of speech isn’t just a historical idea, it is something we practice every day. Protecting the right to express ourselves helps us grow as individuals and as a society, which is why I think this value matters more than any other. When we can speak freely, create, and participate in the conversation, we’re not just exercising a right, we are shaping who we are and the world we live in.