It's 8:42 in the morning-I am still not packed for departure on this last morning with the PSNE Online Reporter Project. Breakfast is at 9 and although I am excited for eggs and bacon, the breakfast means the project is coming to an end.
I don't want to leave. This experience has been one of the most rewarding and beneficial ones to date. At WTAE Channel 4 in Pittsburgh I learned the odds and ends of the broadcast world. Now, I am able to say I know how to report online, shoot and edit video for online, and take photo's and still frames from our captured video.
Each day there was a new challenge for us and a new lesson. Friday's lesson to me- came from Ron Fourniers presentation. As the AP Bureau Cheif for Washington- he knows a little bit about journalism- oh, and politics too. His lesson was that people drive politics, and politics drive people crazy! It's true, I know I have had a distaste for politics because it is full of opinion and everyone believes they are right. I think it was nice to hear Fournier speak, especially after writing a story on him for my first assignment.
Saturday's lesson I learned from Butch Ward, Managing Director for Poynter Institute. He instilled in the audience to stick with journalism even if it is such a changing industry. If you love it-why do something else? Again, I completely agree!
Journalism is an amazing field that has endless possiblities. I will use this experience to further my journalism career and hopefully someday be apart of this conference as an attendee or even a mentor!
Thanks to all the mentors and Sandra and Janet for making this possible.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Passionate Interns
After working almost every day for about 15 hours, it can get exhausting. My fellow interns, Aimee, Samantha, Chelsey and Elissa, have conquered this with ease.
Despite all the technical difficulties, tough story angles and long nights, the ladies truly showed how dedicated they are to the field of journalism.
This should be a warning sign to all of the professionals out there that think 'young people' are not serious. We are serious.
We are passionate about reporting, about getting the facts right and about being up-to-date on the latest technology. I have no fear that my fellow interns will want a job when they graduate from each of their colleges.
My fear lies in the numbers: the unemployment rate. Smart, motivated graduates are not getting jobs, but employers need to take chances on students. They can fast-forward your company into the 22nd century.
We can help come up with social networking strategies. And brainstorming is a breeze.
I am so confident in these four ladies and myself because of the things that we’ve learned during this conference. We’ve worked with some amazing professionals who have helped us learn the skills we need to help YOU, the employer.
We’re ready.
And don't worry, whatever you pay us, we'll probably take it, which is yet another plus side to hiring a ‘young person.’
Despite all the technical difficulties, tough story angles and long nights, the ladies truly showed how dedicated they are to the field of journalism.
This should be a warning sign to all of the professionals out there that think 'young people' are not serious. We are serious.
We are passionate about reporting, about getting the facts right and about being up-to-date on the latest technology. I have no fear that my fellow interns will want a job when they graduate from each of their colleges.
My fear lies in the numbers: the unemployment rate. Smart, motivated graduates are not getting jobs, but employers need to take chances on students. They can fast-forward your company into the 22nd century.
We can help come up with social networking strategies. And brainstorming is a breeze.
I am so confident in these four ladies and myself because of the things that we’ve learned during this conference. We’ve worked with some amazing professionals who have helped us learn the skills we need to help YOU, the employer.
We’re ready.
And don't worry, whatever you pay us, we'll probably take it, which is yet another plus side to hiring a ‘young person.’
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Wrapping Up
It's official. As of 9:53 p.m., my last video has been converted and passed of to be published and the last section of my hyper-local piece is in Google Docs awaiting a final edit.
While we're not quite done yet, we're certainly very close.
We arrived here in Harrisburg Thursday afternoon, and in one sense that seems like days ago, but at the same time it feels like there is NO way I've been here for so long; it certainly has gone quickly.
And I'm still in awe.
Looking over the website, the amount of content that we have worked with from brainstorming to editing is overwhelming.
I was...less than impressed when I was assigned four videos Thursday night. Two days ago, I could honestly say I knew nothing about Movie Maker or video editing. Now, the last video I edited took about 10 minutes -- I couldn't believe it.
I also cannot believe the amount of dedication and organization I have witnessed here.
The first to come to mind are the incredibly patient, knowledgeable staff members who have been working with us.
Janet Bevan has been contacting us tirelessly for months to organize everything from our meal preferences to contact sheets.
Sandra Long was able to, at any moment, assist with any assignment by offering valuable direction and contacts.
Harry Funk displayed astounding talent by building our website form scratch and tackling any coding issues as they arose.
Hai Do's vast knowledge of all things video has saved not only our stress levels but also our laptops (without him, mine would most certainly have gone flying out the window of the newsroom. No joke).
Dan Victor's keen editing eye added depth to our stories while keeping them AP Style-friendly.
All of the staff members and editors from the alphabet-soup organizations that were present (PSNE, PNA, etc...) were always willing to stop for an interview or offer advice to us aspiring journalists.
Last, but not least, the other interns -- Elyssa, Jacki, Sam and Aimee -- made this potentially stressful weekend absolutely fabulous. We were able to hit the ground running, and any one of them was more than willing to help out in any way possible, from lending a voice recorder, accompanying for an interview or grabbing a sweater from the hotel room. I am so glad to have met each of them. They have truly made this weekend incredible.
Banaszynski's experiences teach journalistic values
Listening to Jacqui Banaszynski’s passionate stories about her career over the past few years, will tell any journalist that they can make a difference.
Banaszynski, a Pulitizer Prize winner and the knight chair in editing at the Missouri School of Journalism, told stories about some of her most intense and demanding times in the industry.
When she was writing one of her most recognized pieces “AIDS in the Heartland,” she was forced to answer a question of life or death for one of her sources. Yet, she remained fair, balanced and objective, just like a good journalist.
During her speech, Banaszynski told of those trying times and yet remained fair and balanced, which has made her story recognized in many classrooms of high schools and universities as a tool of trade.
She repeated to everyone that attended the Keystone Press Awards on Saturday, that journalism is about the community and relating back to the community is a key. Although many journalists believe that they practice this, Banaszynski reminds that there are can be deep community ties for any national story.
As an aspiring journalist, knowing that someone can truly make a difference in other people’s lives through the stories they write is so powerful. If once, just once in my career, if I can make someone emotional or thrilled or upset, I think I’ll have done my job.
One of the most exciting things to me is to listen to people who have had an experience; whether it be favorable or unfavorable, it is still an experience that young people can learn from.
Young journalists still need to look at these historic journalistic works because knowing how to write is still one of the most important tools in the journalism industry.
The internet isn’t so bad either…
Banaszynski, a Pulitizer Prize winner and the knight chair in editing at the Missouri School of Journalism, told stories about some of her most intense and demanding times in the industry.
When she was writing one of her most recognized pieces “AIDS in the Heartland,” she was forced to answer a question of life or death for one of her sources. Yet, she remained fair, balanced and objective, just like a good journalist.
During her speech, Banaszynski told of those trying times and yet remained fair and balanced, which has made her story recognized in many classrooms of high schools and universities as a tool of trade.
She repeated to everyone that attended the Keystone Press Awards on Saturday, that journalism is about the community and relating back to the community is a key. Although many journalists believe that they practice this, Banaszynski reminds that there are can be deep community ties for any national story.
As an aspiring journalist, knowing that someone can truly make a difference in other people’s lives through the stories they write is so powerful. If once, just once in my career, if I can make someone emotional or thrilled or upset, I think I’ll have done my job.
One of the most exciting things to me is to listen to people who have had an experience; whether it be favorable or unfavorable, it is still an experience that young people can learn from.
Young journalists still need to look at these historic journalistic works because knowing how to write is still one of the most important tools in the journalism industry.
The internet isn’t so bad either…
Reporters and sources: where to draw the line
Reporters can walk a fine line when working closely with a source. After establishing a connection over time with a person who may be an alleged criminal, a cancer survivor or a small business owner, reporters can become placed in a situation where they might be crossing a line.
The friend zone: A reporter might enter the friend zone with someone who was a source. Once entering the friend zone, it is quite difficult to leave it. Doing favors for, making plans with and running errands for the source ruins journalistic integrity, only if the reporter plans to use that source again, which is very likely.
Difficult situations: Sometimes, reporter can be placed in a situation that may be compromising for the journalist. The source may ask a favor of the journalist. Is it appropriate for the journalist to do favors? It is always important to keep in mind that journalists should strive to be objective, fair and balanced.
Objectivity: Once a journalist becomes friendly with a source, it is difficult to obtain objectivity with that source. This is why journalists do not report on things they are involved in or people they know.
Obligation: A journalist may feel obligated to do a favor for a source because of the source’s helpfulness. For example, if a journalist broke a story because of this source, how should the journalist go about telling the source that they can’t take them to the hospital because he or she is a journalist. Is that fair? Is that even morally right?
These are real issues that journalists face, and there can be many more when working with sources and anonymous sources. It is important and vital that journalists know how to face these challenges head-on and deal with their sources up front.
The most important thing is to be honest. People, both sources and readers, alike, will respect the journalist for their honesty and integrity.
The friend zone: A reporter might enter the friend zone with someone who was a source. Once entering the friend zone, it is quite difficult to leave it. Doing favors for, making plans with and running errands for the source ruins journalistic integrity, only if the reporter plans to use that source again, which is very likely.
Difficult situations: Sometimes, reporter can be placed in a situation that may be compromising for the journalist. The source may ask a favor of the journalist. Is it appropriate for the journalist to do favors? It is always important to keep in mind that journalists should strive to be objective, fair and balanced.
Objectivity: Once a journalist becomes friendly with a source, it is difficult to obtain objectivity with that source. This is why journalists do not report on things they are involved in or people they know.
Obligation: A journalist may feel obligated to do a favor for a source because of the source’s helpfulness. For example, if a journalist broke a story because of this source, how should the journalist go about telling the source that they can’t take them to the hospital because he or she is a journalist. Is that fair? Is that even morally right?
These are real issues that journalists face, and there can be many more when working with sources and anonymous sources. It is important and vital that journalists know how to face these challenges head-on and deal with their sources up front.
The most important thing is to be honest. People, both sources and readers, alike, will respect the journalist for their honesty and integrity.
Outside the Hilton Compounds
After being cooped up for the last 48hours in the interns workroom that could easily be mistaken as a news media sweat shop, I needed to break free.
Steeping out onto 2nd Street the warm May breeze instantly revitalized my senses. I felt like I had been imprisoned for decades and had forgotten what it was like to be on the outside. Maybe it was the over exposure to florescent lighting or the hours spent staring at a computer screen, but the sun never looked so good.
As I strolled around the streets I quickly noticed Harrisburg’s love of fire hydrants. Signs encourage visitors to take pictures as if it were a rare celebrity sighting. Here the hydrants aren’t just where dogs mark their territory, but an art exhibit. Last year local artists decorated 59 hydrants as part of a beautification project in Downtown Harrisburg.
Steeping out onto 2nd Street the warm May breeze instantly revitalized my senses. I felt like I had been imprisoned for decades and had forgotten what it was like to be on the outside. Maybe it was the over exposure to florescent lighting or the hours spent staring at a computer screen, but the sun never looked so good.
As I strolled around the streets I quickly noticed Harrisburg’s love of fire hydrants. Signs encourage visitors to take pictures as if it were a rare celebrity sighting. Here the hydrants aren’t just where dogs mark their territory, but an art exhibit. Last year local artists decorated 59 hydrants as part of a beautification project in Downtown Harrisburg.
Even Dad has a Facebook
I never realized how much I still have to learn about journalism.
I came into the PSNE internship with a few years of experience at The Daily Collegian under my belt -- reporting for a couple semesters, and a semester in editing and designing at copy desk. Then my first night in Harrisburg, I was given the very first assignment: a video.
"Okay," I thought. "How hard can this be?"
The answer is, "very." Shooting the video wasn't too bad, but then it was time to edit. This is where I learned all about audio tracks and B roll, and about how pretty much every single video editing software is better than the iMovie that I have.
Then I attended some seminars. At first, I was a little apprehensive about sitting in a conference with a bunch of professional journalists. I felt young and old at the same time -- younger and less experienced than all the reporters in the room, but old in that just a few years I might be one of these people. But then I realized these reporters are here for the same reason I am: to learn about the constantly changing world of journalism.
And learn I did. The first presentation I attended was called "Social Networking." The speaker, Lauren McCullough, was the AP Manager of Social Networks and News Engagement. . . and only 27 years old. But she knew so much. She explained to us that social networks like Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare are no longer "fads," but they are shifts on how the world communicates.
The more I think about it, the more I realized this is completely true. With all the bad reputation Facebook gets with its "stalkers" and indecent photos, it's still becoming increasingly popular with news organizations, companies and markets. Even my Dad has a Facebook. So you can make fun of active Facebook and Twitter users all you want, but let's be honest: What do you check every time you log on to your computer?
"Sites will come and go, but the concepts behind social networks are here to stay," McCullough said.
I also learned that even e-mail is starting to become obsolete. There's just faster ways of communicating now. Why send an e-mail when you can Tweet it? After talking to various reporters, I learned most of them had both Facebook and Twitter accounts. I've signed up for Twitter, but I must confess: I've never Tweeted once, and I honestly don't really know how. These moms and dads are more techy than I am.
All of these things were right in front of me, but I hadn't realized how big of an impact they are making on society until today.
Then this morning, Wendy Warren, the vice president of online newspaper Philly.com, spoke to us about journalism on the web. "Another sore subject," I thought. . .until I realized that this was something journalists are actually getting excited about. At school, my friends keep warning me that print journalism is dying. "Change your major!" they'd warn.
But now I've been opened up to so many opportunities. Think about it -- an article on a website can go up immediately. You can add pictures, videos and links in minutes. And if you make a mistake, you can edit it right away.
As Wendy Warren puts it, "What you can build and what you can create for journalism online dwarfs what you can do in print."
So there it is. I still have oodles to learn, but at least now my eyes are open and I have a head start. Looks like if I want to keep up with the world, I'll have to become a Tweetie.
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