Write about something you heard, saw or learned today that relates to you. Was there a “light bulb” moment?
Please write your post (2 to 3 paragraphs) in the comment section of this post.
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Shondiin Silversmith
06.16.10
Today i don’t recall having a light bulb moment but, i did see something that relates to me as a student. A parking lot being demolished and affecting the parking of students, staff and faculty within the University of South Dakota.
The same situation was affecting the University of New Mexico branch in Gallup, NM.
Part of the main parking lot at the University of New Mexico was recently fenced off due to the beginning of construction on the new student services building. It seems the parking issue has affected USD as well, because construction has taken place on demolishing a parking lot next to the library. I’ve only heard that the parking lot was being demolished due to how that area was going to be changed into a grassy area to fill the University with more green areas for the students.
This made me wonder how many of the students would react to the loss of a possibly much needed parking area, especially with the fall semester coming up as well as winter being around the corner.
Sherri Keaton
06.16.10
Today I briefly interviewed several Upward Bound Native American students walking through USD. I know that some aspects of the program require the high schoolers to be from either low-income families or/and families where both parent’s have a bachelor’s degree.
The light bulb moment happened in my head when I related to these Native American students because I know the struggles and successes that may come with being a first-generation college student or graduate.
Even though I have never participated in the UB program, I will be the first in my immediate family to receive a bachelor’s degree.
While interviewing these students I could tell they were very private when minimally discussing their home lives; I also saw the glimmer in their eyes when speaking on their bright futures in college.
Andi Murphy
06.16.10
Today was the first of 10 days of the 2010 American Indian Journalism Institute. It was very edifying. I did hear a lot of stuff that I have heard before –as I’ve been here twice. But I’ve been out of journalism for about six months and it was refreshing to hear all about accuracy, finding story ideas and AP Style all over again.
I did learn some new things today. Twitter is much more than I think it is and use it for. I didn’t know it had the potential to be a useful source to reporters. And I learned what an appendectomy is.
Today, with its lessons in basic journalism, got me excited about good ole’ fashion reporting writing. What’s next with multimedia?
Jomay Steen
06.16.10
This will be short, but by no means will it be a quick thought. Each time ethics, errors and mistakes are reviewed, it gives me a kick in the pants to do better. This is the part that I can do to be accurate as I can in spelling, grammar and facts.
Yet, I’m so human and to error is human.
Long day, but it has been a lot of fun.
Nancy Kelsey
06.16.10
To call me a Facebook fan would be a polite understatement - I’m practically an addict.
Today, though briefly, we touched on what is likely to be a growing area of concern in the realm of journalism ethics: social media ethics.
What does that mean?
Most people of my generation are active on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter or some similar site. What up-and-coming journalists may not consider is that these sites lend themselves to ethical questions.
When we click on Facebook “Like” buttons to keep up with a particular political issue or political party, it is visible to all of its members. When we tweet about a politician, that comment does not always just stay with our friends. We open ourselves up to public scrutiny about our objectivity based on our personal views.
I’m still deciding for myself how to weigh my First Amendment right to free speech, and my own belief in my right to privacy, against my choice to exercise my First Amendment right to a free press.
Andrea Cornelius
06.16.10
Today was packed with information about the basics and fundamentals of journalism. I have already learned a lot as well as refreshed myself on other basics such as reporting, writing and ethics. But there was one lesson that stood out from today.
One of the most challenging parts of today was having to find my own story in a place that I am completely new in. That was a real learning experience for me. There was a time crunch and it felt like a real newsroom experience.
As a journalist, I will be expected to develop, report, and write stories in a short amount of time. Finding my own story is my least favorite aspect of journalism and my greatest weakness. At least I was able to work on turning that weakness around. One way to find a story is to be observant and noisy. A basic quality of a reporter. It’s not as hard as I thought. This was my “light bulb” moment and I expect many more.
Ramona Marozas
06.16.10
This is a video that I watched today. It is a video that took years to create. I had a “light bulb” moment from this memorable and moving piece. Detroit Christ Child House is one of many other Michigan foster homes which struggle to find 6,000 legal orphans homes. Kathleen Galligan lends a helping hand with telling these children’s stories. Covering tough issues with a sense of hope; Galligan inspires me to think about the ways I can reach out. I would like to be the voice of the voiceless as well.
Watch the video series!
http://www.freep.com/section/SPECIAL01/
Jacob
06.16.10
Joe’s story-source doodle struck me. I’ve always been spatially inclined when it comes to learning new concepts, and with that decrepit little ladder, it was no different. It was a nice refresher on what primary and secondary sources are, but it also made me realize something important: Distant secondary sources are just important to a dynamic story.
I’ve always been told that primary, in-the-trenches sources were preferred to figureheads and analysts who weren’t present when the “news” happened. But good stories need different points of view—not simply opposing—from varying distances. Though witnesses are invaluable, distant sources can often, in a sense, speak to the bigger picture. They can “see” the situation from a higher vantage point, and that’s where I thought the ladder image works well in thinking about sources for stories.
Vanessa Parker
06.16.10
Wow! What a great first day I had here at AIJI. I have enjoyed interacting with everyone. I am looking forward to tomorrow’s activities. I like that everyone I have spoken to and interacted with has such diverse and varied experiences.
Today we became acquainted with the goals of the program here at AIJI, talked about story pitches, ethics, and accuracy. We also played a fun game that involved reviewing the AP Stylebook. I had a good time, laughing with and cheering on my team. I feel like I can never review the Stylebook too many times, as rules and words are constantly changing.
My “lightbulb moment” was during the accuracy segment of today’s activities. I was reminded of how we, as journalists, must always “check it out,” in relation to our sources and evidence. At my J-school, we refer to that as “opening the freezer,” based upon an inaccurate story written a few years ago about Hurricane Katrina victims.
In the Hurricane Katrina story, someone told the reporter that there were dead bodies inside a freezer, and that the people inside were murdered during the hurricane and stored in there. When the truth became known later, it was incorrect, and the reporter never bothered to open the freezer to see the dead bodies inside. Had he investigated this story further, he’d learn that there were no bodies at all inside.
I can’t believe our first day is already over, and only nine days remain. I am a lucky person to be able to participate.
Elyse
06.16.10
Is it possible to find a good news story in 45 minutes? And in a city that you’ve inhabited for less than 24 hours?
To my surprise, the answer is yes.
At around 2:45 p.m. today professor Baldwin sent the AIJI students out to find a news story and to be back in the computer lab by 3:20 p.m.This assignment had been giving me anxiety since our 8 a.m. breakfast. Besides a lot of construction around town, I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.
At my first journalism job, I hadn’t started coming up with my own stories until I had been there for a few weeks (and I had lived in the area for a few months). I know very little about South Dakota. I went to Mount Rushmore when I was 10.
I got off easy today, the AIJI professors told me about an incident where a person yelled a racial slur at some visiting Upward students. The details are a little fuzzy–but I’ll figure it out tomorrow.
But the other members came up with some really interesting stories. The stories about how they came up with their article ideas confirms my experiences that a lot of journalism has to do with observation, tenacity and a little luck.
Jessica Tso
06.16.10
During this morning’s session, it was said that we should have accuracy, authenticity and diversity which could lead to integrity in the newsroom. I listened to this advice and I knew about accuracy. But this afternoon during the AP style game, I thought I knew the correct spelling of Hillary Clinton. I initially thought that her first name was written with one “l.” So I questioned the spelling but I didn’t check for accuracy. I had just trusted my instincts, initially. My team asked me if I was sure and if I had checked it on my phone. I hadn’t but I still said that I was sure. They were right to question my answer and I don’t blame them. In the end, I was wrong.
To conclude, everything needs to be checked. Accuracy is very important for the press and any type of publishing. It was stressed a lot today and I let that zoom past my head. As a copy editor, it wasn’t a smart choice to just trust my instincts. That was my “light bulb” moment or my “duh”‘ moment and next time and I should always double check.
Josie Kerk
06.17.10
Many of my light bulb moments came after story gathering. Stories were coming from non-USD students, so they had different angles to coverage. It reminded me of coming to USD for the first time as a reporter and coming up with ideas that the editors had never looked into.
When the new staff comes in at the fall, I think I’ll do a similar activity sending new reporters out onto campus in groups to find stories … perhaps with an incentive.