My Mastery Journey

Weekly post that will give you a taste of my journey. Let the adventure begin...

[maple0820-blog]

NMJ Final Mastery Journal

I cannot even explain how thrilling it is to be so close to the end. I have learned an insurmountable amount of knowledge to take with me on my journey as a journalist. I look forward to my upcoming endeavors. 

This past month, through extensive research I learned how to create a complete thesis package. Each week was spent learning two or three different parts of your thesis.

Week one covered the introduction and literature review. As well as the title page, acknowledgements, and bibliography. I thought that this was the most difficult because it was the start of a huge project. However, once I commenced to writing it became very clear which direction I was headed.   

Week two consisted of methods and results, and taking the opportunity to revise are literature reviews. I thought this week was a bit smoother, but there were more intricate parts with methods and results. I really had to think about how the production, distribution and promotion processes helped or hindered my project. I also enjoyed the fact that we had the ability to make any corrections to our literature reviews.

During week three, I established the final part of my paper which was the discussion and conclusion. The class also had to create a final follow-up article on any new information or data that could be provided. I could see the finish line at this point. So it was nice adding the final touches to my project.

This last week has consisted of putting the final thesis together. Tying up any loose ends and gathering any last bit of information needed. This week has definitely been the easiest. I feel proud of myself making it this far and seeing my finished product.

Overall, this process was extremely smooth. Each week we focused on one aspect of our thesis with ample time to make any necessary corrections. Taking accelerated courses is a grueling task, but well worth it. The goal for this course was to take everything that I’ve learned to become the best news anchor I can be. I have the essential tools needed to be successful in whichever path I choose to take.

[maple0820-blog]

Mastery Journal New Media Publishing and Distribution

I knew that this course would be difficult because we are in month 11. Even though it was challenging, I must say that I really enjoyed it. This course really showed me how to manage my time, and how important the work is that journalists provide for their viewers.

The first two weeks of this course, there was the soft launch and final launch of my capstone project. Not only was this project time consuming, but the information also needed to be backed-up by in-depth research. This type of work was imperative, because it shows my viewers that I am reliable and credible.

Another assignment that we had to work on was the distribution plan. I thought this was extremely significant for planning the release of my capstone project, as well as afterwards too. This plan was very detailed in regards to posts for my social media accounts, the media organizations I would reach out to, and individuals to contact. This became my step-by-step guide to achieve a positive outlook for my capstone project.  

Finally, I also had to work on a media kit. I really loved this assignment because it shows your viewers your creative style in a sense, and your credibility through your social media outlets and Klout score. There is also a brief synopsis of what viewers can expect on my site, the services I provide, as well as my social media likes and number of friends.

I’m so glad that I took this course. I learned how to become an avid social media user. Although it will take time, and done the proper way, using social media platforms will help me to be seen by the world, just like many other popular journalists. This class was challenging and really pushed me to my limit. As cliche as this sounds, I feel confident and well informed. These assignments have been truly beneficial for my continued success on my journalism journey. 

[maple0820-blog]

Mastery Journal Public Relations & Reputation Management

 My goal for this course was to be knowledgeable in the Public Relations side of media. I definitely think that I have a clearer understanding of Public Relations and what it means. Throughout this degree program, I think this was by far my favorite class.

During this course, we learned about Public Relations, branding, the difference between PR and Journalism, and PSA’s. We even had the opportunity to clean up our ‘About pages’ on our sites. I think these were all great assignments to really set the students up for success.  

The assignment that I liked the most was working on the Public Service Announcements. As a student, it allowed you to really dig deep for something you are passionate about. This would then cause some form of call to action by our viewers. In this day and age, there is much focus on texting and driving. I think it is just as important to focus on texting and walking. Chicago is a commuter city, so many people bike and walk to work. Just as a person behind a vehicle should be aware at all times while driving, so should a person who is walking. So I hope I can bring awareness through this PSA.

As a journalist, I think it’s so important for your audience to really get to know who you are. I want people to feel comfortable, and have trust in me and my work. Concentrating on our ‘About pages’ was the most helpful to me. I would have never thought that creating a video of myself, past and present would be a good avenue to take. However, it’s such a great way for your viewers to get to know you, instead of simply looking at a picture on your page.

It’s vital to understand how journalists and PR practitioners can work together. In week two, we were advised on how PR practitioners can be an asset to us. So with this material and the material from other assignments, this will prepare me to be the best journalist I can be. This course will help me to achieve a lasting relationship with the PR industry.  

[maple0820-blog]

SME Mastery Journal

My original goal for this course was to be able to tell a story through the use of social media. Throughout this course that goal was definitely possible. I wasn’t sure what to expect during this course. However, I have learned how to include a vast number of social media platforms within my articles.

In week one of this course, we learned the importance of social media platforms and why they should be included in the information we provide to the public. Millions of people use social media every day. So it’s not only a great way to promote yourself, but it’s also helpful for finding newsworthy information.

In week two, we learned about text-based social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Google + and LinkedIn.  These are some of the most commonly used social media platforms. So it’s beneficial for journalists to use these possibilities for their work.

We also learned video and news-based social media platforms such as YouTube, Reddit, and Storify. So many people watch videos as a source of delivery for everyday news. As a journalist, being able to share raw footage and gaining insightful citizen based content can be prove to be valuable for telling a complete and accurate story.

We finally learned about visual and subject-specific social media platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest, and Flickr. A lot of people tend to be visual learners and being able to tell a story through photos is yet another way to improve your technique as a journalist. I think I like this avenue the best, because it really forces you to critically analyze images to really tell a story instead of simply writing a story.

Overall, I think this was an effective course that has informed me how to promote my research and website. I never thought using social media in this avenue could really be that helpful. Unbeknownst to me, this is one of the best options that Journalists have. There is an abundant of knowledge within these social media platforms that I hope to continue to use in becoming a successful journalist.

[maple0820-blog]

Multimedia Reporting Mastery Journal

This course provided several different media methods to produce a story. I thought this course was very beneficial to my success in this industry.

During the first week, I really enjoyed being able to cover a previous story that I had published. For viewers who follow your site, this can be nice for them to see updates on stories that may have interested them. I remember watching talk shows when I was younger, and I always appreciated seeing how guests were doing after the show.

 Taking a look at interviews and finding a good execution style was extremely helpful. The week three discussion board assignment had students selecting a story, and examining how the journalist had done. I reviewed a story that was completely terrible. There were several things that the journalist should have done differently. So I thought this assignment was appropriate, because it really highlights what we should and should not do as journalist.

I think it was also beneficial to examine websites and how they are setup. Although these sites have a huge amount of viewings and have been around forever, it showed me what’s good to incorporate on my site. I was then able to observe my own website and see how user friendly it is which was of great value. From five websites, this provided me with an accurate amount of knowledge in creating the best possible website.

Learning how to get paid is of significant value when having a website. It’s almost like an extra incentive for investing so much time into the work that you like to do.

Overall, I thought this course was great. Really learning how to get viewers to come to my website and keep coming back is what I want. The information provided throughout this course is what I needed to produce great stories on a great website. It was good practice and more insight into journalism.

[maple0820-blog]

Digital News Production Mastery Journal

I knew coming into this course there would be an extreme amount of editing. I have never been great at editing, but every assignment throughout this course required us to edit. Even though I have a long way to go, I can confidently say now, that I feel comfortable with editing.

I don’t think I liked one particular assignment over the other. I thought during this course all of our assignments were extremely valuable. I learned how to create a video without narration or interviews. So capturing natural sound to tell a story. Next, I learned how to narrate my footage. Using the presence of your voice to tell a story. Then including narration and interviews. This was probably the most difficult assignment, going back and forth between the two. However, this assignment really highlighted the hard work that journalist have to do. Finally, our last assignment showed the interviewee narrating their story.  

 Learning how to right a script was insightful too. The first time I created a script, it was hard to do and very time consuming. By the fourth week, I really got the hang of it. It’s really effective for editing purposes, which for me, made editing more enjoyable.

I also like the discussion board assignments for this course. We were allowed to critique our classmate’s weekly assignments. I really appreciated this, because we could incorporate that constructive criticism in future assignments. There is nothing like having good, solid feedback from your peers.

Editing and storytelling is a huge part of being a journalist. These are elements that are a must-have in order to succeed in this industry. I feel like this class emphasized and focused on those points. Even though I still feel I am a beginner, I’ve had quite a few people compliment me on my class work. This shows that I am really on the right path to become an even better editor and a great journalist!

[maple0820-blog]

MDV Mastery Journal

My original goal in this course was to excel in editing. I knew that we would learn how to edit, but I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. I have never been a huge fan of editing, but it’s an essential aspect that is necessary within journalism. During this course, I was able to gain accurate knowledge of editing. This allowed me to feel comfortable and confident with my assignments.  

Throughout this course we learned how to create an audio story. Before taking this class, audio stories were unfamiliar territory to me. I always focused on editing and watching journalism videos. To create a good audio story, it was extremely important to capture the audio, which consisted of interviewing, natural sound, and narration. I never knew how critical these elements are for audio stories. Incorporated correctly, an audio story can turn out amazing!

I think it was very helpful to learn how to create better websites. Keeping my site simple and straight to the point is what will attract more viewers. I want people to have a good experience and find the information they need. I really liked using the SEO plugin. This focused on certain keywords, so that your articles can be found quickly by viewers.

What I really enjoyed most about this course was photojournalism. Being able to tell a story with just pictures is another aspect of media I can take with me on my journey. Knowing that you have to get the right angles, and photos that will appeal to your audience is very important.

This class was very insightful with helping me gain a better understanding of multimedia and editing. As a future journalist, I don’t have to limit myself to just one aspect of media, but being knowledgeable in all areas will prove beneficial.  

[maple0820-blog]

Mastery Journal - Research

My original goals for this class were to have a deeper understanding of what it is to research, and to ultimately be a better researcher. I definitely think that I have made a lot of progress since the beginning of this course.

I knew this course would be in depth, I just wasn’t quite sure of everything that it entailed. I learned all about infographics, hyperlinks, searching for public records, and techniques on how to be an effective Journalist.

This class really encourages you to dig deep to really find and understand what you are reading. You couldn’t just put down one or two sentences. That would have shown that you really didn’t learn or even understand the assignment. So it was a priority to make sure that you set out the proper amount of time to do the work that was required.

The method of research really made me an effective student. Every week I wanted to learn and do more. At times, I did feel overwhelmed, but just sitting back to really figure out which route I was going to take really helped. I thought the virtual classes were a significant help too. Being able to ask our instructor any questions we had, really put our minds at ease. For me personally, it made me feel comfortable knowing that I could reach out to my instructor.

What I really liked learning in this class the most were the infographics. I never really understood how simple it was to create them. I really thought this was something that would have been out of my league. With some time and practice, I found infographics were really interesting to make. It really brought out my creative side.

I knew this class was not going to be very easy, but I think the instructor made the class interesting and enjoyable. I didn’t find that the research was boring or dull. I liked being able to interview different individuals every week, especially the experts. I have a deeper appreciation for those that I interviewed and the hard work that they put in day after day. With deadlines and the fast paced environment that takes place in the journalism field, having the interviews that I had, makes it all worth it!

[maple0820-blog]

Mastery Journal

Legal Aspects of Media

As much as I don’t want to say it, my favorite assignment in this course was the Research Case Study Presentation. It was an extreme amount of work, and really tested my patience. It shows that I can do and excel at any type of work. I was also not familiar with keynote presentations. So I definitely found it interesting to learn and record a voiceover for this assignment. 

I think the most important topic that we covered for me would be copyright. I really didn't realize how important and serious it was before taking this class. This course really highlighted the dos, don'ts, and the right steps to take if using someone else's work. Even if you unintentionally take something without knowing, you can still be held accountable. This was definitely important information to know.

I would hope by taking this class that I would never find myself in any type of legal situation. However, in preparation of any legal issues that should arise, I know that I definitely won’t panic. 

In the beginning, I really didn’t know what to expect in this course. When I read through the course materials and saw the assignments that we had to complete each week, I felt a bit overwhelmed. It definitely scared me when I saw a section on if you were repeating this course again.  I was worried about the unknown, but I must say now, that this course has gone beyond my expectations. 

I can walk away from this course feeling confident and comfortable knowing the legal aspects of media!

[maple0820-blog]

Mastery Journal - WIM

My goal at the beginning of this course was to become a skilled writer. I feel that I have accomplished that goal. I still have a long way to go. However, I feel so much more confident about writing an article then I did before.

 Before I started this class, I didn’t know what type of writing to expect. I really wanted to focus on dance for my website. Dance has been my entire life. So I thought this would be a great concept. I quickly learned that dance is just simply not newsworthy on a consistent basis. I have now changed the theme and concept of my website.

 According to our instructor Meredith, she really highlighted how we should concentrate on a focus unlike other big market websites. So that our websites may standout. I am really trying to hone in on this concept, so that I can capture the attention of my audience.  

 I enjoyed being able to interview different individuals. I love meeting new people and hearing their stories. Knowing what questions to ask and the right way to ask those questions, made interviewing mean so much more to me.

 I also liked covering a live event. To see how people function and interact with each other was very interesting. Usually when you attend an event, you don’t focus on the same things you would as a journalist. It’s a very different perspective. In order to capture the necessary story, observation and interaction is key. I felt confident being able to write an article based upon what I saw and my interactions.

I thought this class met my expectations. I have a better understanding of all the material that was covered in this course. It even made me ask myself “what’s really newsworthy”? I plan on retaining this information long into the future, as guidance in becoming a successful journalist

[maple0820-blog]

Week 4 Mastery Journal Assignment

Throughout this particular course in NMJ 510 New Media and Communications, I really feel like I have accomplished so much. I have a deeper understanding of what it is to be a Journalist. Each week, I felt like there was one assignment that really stuck out to me.

In week one, I appreciated the PowerPoint about “What Journalism Is and Is Not” (Cochie, 2011). There were valid points about journalism being original amongst many other points. Journalism is not our own opinions or untruthful (Cochie, 2011). This is valuable information because you want people to feel confident, and believe the information that you are providing. 

In week two, I really enjoyed “Defining Your Audience” (Cochie, 2011). This PowerPoint provided thought provoking questions about your audience. In turn, this really helps you present your information that leaves individuals interested. Not just guessing, or even wondering what exactly it is that you are talking about.

In week three, I needed to see the PowerPoint “Tweet Like a Pro” (Cochie, 2011). I have never been a fan of Twitter. To be successful in this industry, it’s important to know how to tweet and what to tweet about. So this gave me a perspective of the do’s and don’ts on Twitter. It forced me to learn about something I didn’t care for. However, I knew I needed an accurate understanding of this.  

Finally, for week four, the PowerPoint “Finding Your Focus” (Cochie, 2011). I feel like this can be so difficult sometimes. I know that I get excited when I talk about dance. I then just want to ramble on about everything there is to know, but that is unrealistic. We really have to tune in to are audience, and focus on what they need to know. The details and important facts are what is going to get people to continuously come back to your website.

All of this has led me to launch my first story, about page, and contact page on my website for all to see. Even though I still have a long way to go, and more to learn, there is no looking back! I am full steam ahead!

-Maple-

[equus-swift]

Dream big, and never give up on your dreams!

[maple0820-blog]

No dream is ever too big! Well said... 

[ashley-lestrange]

Omg this is awesome.

[maple0820-blog]

This is so encouraging! It is simple, but has so much meaning to it. My motto is to always Dream Big! Who would have thought...Dream Bigger! This is very true!

[maple0820-blog]

12 month timeline

Enjoy!

[authorjoyroyal]

So What?

So what if my dreams Are odd and a bit eccentric? So what if it seems No one understands the appeal? So what if a career As such to some looks illegitimate? So what if it’s near To feeling an impossibility? So what the hardships, If it’s a passion? So what the wait, If fulfilling in the end? So what, what people think? Never settle. Be fantastic.

[maple0820-blog]

This is from authorjoyroyal and I love it. It really sets the tone. Who cares what people think. Who cares if my dream is odd. If it’s impossible, so what? This quote has a lot of positivity and reassures me that I can accomplish whatever it is that I want! 

[maple0820-blog]

Maple0820 (maple0820)'s Public Profile in the Diigo Community

Check out my Diigo page!

[maple0820-blog]

My Feedly account! Never knew this existed! I love it!