#cronkite school

[catastrophecks]

What’s Been Going On

This semester has been the toughest yet; primarily due to my schedule and the kinds of stories I want to tell for my journalism projects. I also haven’t been able to blog once a week.

Scheduling the Semester

I work on campus checking out equipment to students, and scheduling advising appointments. During the first half of the semester, I was on campus from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This wasn’t working well for my projects because I want to do stories on civics and politics. The only times any official is available to speak are during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. I had two choices to make if I wanted to do the stories I want: selectively miss classes which would affect my grade or cut some hours at work which would affect my income. I chose the latter. I can deal with budgeting my money, but I won’t let my grades suffer.

So far, the pressure hasn’t yet eased, but it should soon. I only cut back my hours two weeks ago.

There’s also one more thing that’s taking up my time: the foreign language requirement. I know, I sound like a typical American who doesn’t want to learn another language, but that’s not it, I swear. I want to learn Spanish and other languages, but not right now. Especially since I have other subjects to study. If I didn’t have anything else to divert my focus, I would fully commit to learning the language and become proficient. But right now, I want to work on the skills that will get me a journalism job after graduation.

YouTube

I’ve been looking for other ways to earn money, incorporating my intended career goal. I have a domain registered but there’s no content. I have a YouTube account and access to video equipment but the way news is presented on YouTube is different than in traditional media. Traditional media looks down on YouTubers, relying on tired stereotypes from YouTube’s early days filled with cat videos, sneezing baby pandas, teens doing challenges and so on. What traditional media doesn’t understand or bother to look at are the content creators and how they are attracting large audiences. For example, The Young Turks is a liberal News/Talk Show with over 2.3 million subscribers which is double the average number of CNN viewers.

But in order to make a living wage with YouTube’s partner program, one has to generate thousands and thousands of views a month. Building that large of an audience takes time. But it is certainly something I am looking into.

The only problem is how I would present myself and how potential employers will perceive me. The main factor in gaining an audience on YouTube is authenticity. No one will watch a news video of something that looks too polished where the presenters are taking themselves too seriously, using that phony television news voice. And I would never make content like that unless I have to, like for class.

So that’s what I’ve been thinking about lately. If you any similar stories, I’d love to hear about them.

[catastrophecks]

Deciding what path to take in life takes time, especially for college students.

I changed my undergraduate major three times in my college life; music, mathematics, physics, and finally journalism. My original path in journalism was print, then I changed to television broadcast, and now, after the first half of television reporting class, I am sure that I want to do digital journalism. It combines print, multimedia and broadcast (but without the old guard mentality).

Some, particularly in Phoenix are developing their online presence but still heavily rely on television, and that is understandable because the primary revenue source comes from advertisements, specifically television advertisements. A station’s news content is free to the public, because ads allow the station to operate. As a consequent, ads are what makes content free to the public.

But, most Millennials get news online from Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or a trusted online publication. There are also ads on those publication’s webpages, but those ads don’t take up five minutes of a readers time between articles. The future of news is online and catering that medium is necessary for a publication’s survival. And because the future of news is online, it is necessary to be a digital journalist – incorporating video, words, photography, illustrations, infographics, while encouraging citizen engagement to tell a story.

The news media universe continues to expand quickly; there is still uncertainty for online publications because ads don’t generate enough money to sustain most of them. The Huffington Post, one of the earliest online-only news companies, was only able to break even last year, according to New York Times Magazine.

It’s true that starting an online publication is inexpensive if starting small. There are shared server options available from domain providers as low as $3 a month, and registering a domain is as low as free with certain companies, but other factors go into producing news stories: camera, audio recorder, laptop, cellphone service, transportation, editing software for audio, video and photos, etc. These items go on top of personal expenses: rent, food, utilities, and other living expenses. This scenario isn’t representative of all but certainly of some, and if the goal is becoming a respected and competitive outlet among larger companies, then the endeavor will need significant funding. But, if the goal is to stay small, respected and be sustainable for one person, then being innovative, focused, and charming should suffice.

Some day I hope to start my own online news company and because of the reasons listed earlier, I know it is possible. But I don’t want to be a company of one. First I must develop connections, lasting relationships and respectability.

[lahelamaxwell]

My First Must See Monday

To kick off Cronkite schools’ weekly Must See Mondays events, administrators brought in bright local talent, with three of the four panelists being proud ASU alumni. The night’s guests were Clara Colmenero of Univision (class of 2009), Kris Pickel of CBS 5, Linda Williams of FOX 10 (class of 1981), and Kim Tobin of ABC 15 (class of 2010). The panel was moderated by Lin Sue Cooney, formerly of FOX 12 News.

The night started with an intro by assistant director and executive producer of Cronkite News, Melanie Alvarez, introducing the women and the moderators, and setting a tone for the evening.

Ms. Cooney started the panel with discussions of the pros and cons of working in the journalism industry, what it’s like to work in the era of social media, and what it’s like to work with the old-fashioned perceptions of the diva anchorwoman of the 60s still pervasive today. Every panelist had a different response as to why they loved their jobs; for Ms. Williams, she has a passion for writing and this is her chosen method of sharing her writing. For Ms. Pickel, she enjoyed the connection she has with the community by sharing stories that impact people’s lives For both Kim and Clara, they find that the impact they have on their community to be the most rewarding. As veteran reporters, Pickel and Williams discussed the unstable nature of their careers, and how it is the greatest cons in their line of work. “The lack of control over your own career” Pickel declared, was the worst part about her job. She explained that in her experience, she had bosses who didn’t like her, and made it difficult for her to continue her job or personal life. Williams discussed how the “pressure and stress” made her work challenging, as deadlines on TV are set in stone: “if it’s late, it’s not even there”.

Moving beyond just the struggles and triumphs of journalists, moderator Cooney moved the conversation to social media. A consensus appeared among the panelists: social media wasn’t going to destroy local news. According to Pickel, stories can go viral, but people still return to local media for them to be “vetted”, as the local news remains as the “reliable source” in the era of free information. She also saw social media as a “tool to interact”, in order to know what does the audience “want to know about?”. She also noted that with the booming industry of streaming (Netflix, Hulu, etc), that many people may transition back to “rabbit ears” types of broadcasting, boosting local news. For Ms. Tobin, she said she spent as much as 30% of her workday on social media, dropping hints on to stories that she is working on, prior to broadcast.

It isn’t possible to have a panel of exclusively female anchors without touching on the problems of sexism in the world and how it affects them in their day to day lives. Cooney asked whether the stereotype of the “diva anchorwoman” is still relevant today, to which every panelist scoffed or at least chuckled. Tobin declared, “No divas allowed” in the newsroom. Williams speculated, that maybe in the 50s and 60s that caricature was real, but it “went out the door in the 70s”. For Pickel, in her experience working in the Midwest, that sort of anchor still existed. She said she sense a sort of derogatory attitude towards the term “anchor”. For this reason, “I don’t introduce myself as an anchor. I’m a reporter”.

For me, anecdote that resonated with me the most was Pickel’s about her trying to get onto the US Navy’s icebreaker ship for a story. She said she fought for a month to try and get on the ship for the story, and once the station was approved to be on board, she got a phone call. There were no women on the crew, and the Navy said that they required a male reporter to do the story. “I hung up the phone, waited a moment, and then called them back. ‘I’m sorry, are you telling me I can’t do this story because I’m a woman?’”, she laughed “We had a er, cordial, discussion after that. ‘If that’s the case, then let’s have a conversation about gender bias in the US Military then. I’m sorry do you think I am going to have sex with the crew, is that the what it is?’”. Apparently the reasoning for her not being appropriate for the story was because she “couldn’t sleep on the bunk”. To which she replied, “give me a blanket, I’ll sleep on the floor.”

The overarching message from the diverse set of talented, smart women, was if you love what you do, and are determined to do it, nothing can stop you. Be dynamic, be driven, be a “fiver” according to Williams. Be willing to do anything, and success will be yours.

[catastrophecks]

My third videography project about two salon owners.

[catastrophecks]

My Honors Thesis

During the Spring 2015 semester, thinking about what I wanted to do for my thesis, I decided to focus on Lao refugees in America: Their time in Laos during the war, making their way to refugee camps, emigrating, initial experiences integrating into American society and culture, where they settled, their lives up to this point and reflections about their experience.

The decision came when I was looking to write a story for my news writing class. I wrote about the Lao New Year’s festival in May, and a Buddhist temple an organization in the Phoenix Lao community were planning to build.

I regret that it has taken this long to become interested, but it’s not too late in life. My parents are alive; they were always working but, now, I and they have time to talk.

I am ethnically Lao, but I am culturally American. I don’t speak any Laos, I don’t know the significance to many of the customs, and I don’t know the story of my parents’ difficult path to this country. This thesis will be a way for me, primarily, to learn about my heritage, the culture and a generation of Lao refugees.

There aren’t many high profile documentaries or books about Laos’ involvement in the war. Most popular stories in this country take the American perspective: the anti-war protests, portrayal of military perspectives, veteran perspectives. Each glossing over the human beings who had nothing and wanted nothing to do with the aristocracies’ political ideologies. 

The people who died and dispassionately called “collateral damage.” The people who die, still, today, from undetonated American cluster bombs left over from a secret war. Farm lands infested with dormant death––waiting for fathers, mothers and children. What’s the American perspective for these stories?

Well, I, as an American, want to add to that perspective.

[catastrophecks]

Newsworthy

So two llamas made national news Thursday, and it was due to the a combination of the newsworthy elements: timeliness, novelty and emotions.

Whether you as an individual think loose llamas running around Sun City, Ariz., isn't worthy national news––I personally don't care about loose llamas––what you think doesn't matter because your other fellow human beings do think llama drama is worthy.

You may or may not agree with what is "newsworthy," but what's newsworthy depends on news consumers. This is a simple economic concept to comprehend; if people aren't buying/reading it, then it isn't newsworthy.

What Makes a Story Newsworthy

Impact Does it matter to the reader? Does it affect their lives or pocketbook? How big are the consequences of the story? Timeliness Did the story just happen? How recently did it happen? Is it about to happen? Proximity How close is the story to the reader? Nearby events usually matter more to the reader than events in other cities, states or countries...usually. Prominence Does this story involve a well-known public figure, e.g. world leader, celebrity, politician, etc. Novelty Is something new, odd, or surprising? Readers enjoy news that is intriguing and interesting or out of the norm. Conflict Is there a clash of power? (e.g. political struggle, sports rivals, drama, etc.) Emotions Does this story make us sad, happy, angry? We all respond emotionally to human interest stories that are poignant, comical or inspiring.

The concept grew out of market conditions––news organizations survive through revenue. Revenue pays for everything: paper, ink, printer, computer, internet, transportation, telecommunications, transportation, overhead, etc. If there is no revenue, there is no sustaining business.

Revenue for most large, legacy, or corporate organizations rely on two things: ads and/or subscriptions.

Non-corporate organizations can either be for-profit or non-profit. Each organization has it's own method of generating revenue, but the most common one relies on donations, sustained memberships and ads.

Public media, e.g. Public Broadcasting System, National Public Radio, American Public Media, local public access, etc., rely on primarily through sustained membership, donations and occasionally ads.

Generally what gets published as news comes from market forces, from those who decided to purchase a paper or subscription, those who to read a story on a site littered with ads, or those who watch a program online or on television.

Sometimes news is a circus, but it's a circus because that's what the public wants at that moment.

[catastrophecks]

Midway Through Spring 2015

These past weeks have been amazing but tiresome. After completing most of the general education required for a bachelor's, I'm finally able to enjoy and immerse myself in journalism classes. I'm also anchored to two jobs––of which I enjoy because I spend it with people who make the days fly––but I don't have much time for leisure as I did last semester. Don't get me wrong, having steady income is better than the former, but going to university full-time while working part-time is no easy task especially with my commute to downtown Phoenix from Laveen. My days must be planned with no room for deviation––except for family emergencies, of course––a stark contrast to my life a decade ago in Santa Ana, Calif.

The Classes

I have three classes this spring: Spanish 102, History of Ideas (honors), News Reporting and Writing, and Journalism Ethics and Diversity.

Spanish 102 

Self-explanatory. 

History of Ideas

This class can be viewed as a book club in that the class reads the required material and there's a discussion about what we read. But we don't talk about what the stories or essays are on the surface, rather we discuss what the author meant or could have meant, how certain themes could relate to our lives or with current American society. The class is more philosophical than history. We're also expected to come up with our own essay topic from the readings and write an argument and defend it.

I enjoy the class; the material is fun, interesting, insightful, and thought provoking. My class has a total of five students because it's for transfers. At first I didn't see how only five students and one professor would be able to discuss material for an hour and 15 minutes, but it turns out we need more time.

News Reporting and Writing

I don't know what to make of this class, it teaches how to write the inverted pyramid––a summary that emphasizes main points of a story in the first paragraph called a lead (lede). If you've ever read a newspaper, you will know what I mean. The funny thing about the class is I'm not learning much but not because of the professor, but because of the material. It all seems obvious to me. The only trouble I see is the enterprise story I have to write. I have to pitch an idea for a story, gather information for the story, interview people, figure out what goes in and where it goes, proofread, and edit. My primary concerns are misspelling proper nouns––it's an automatic fail on the paper––and figuring out what I want to write about with a news angle. With so much work in my other classes, I have to plan out my entire schedule around this paper. 

Journalism Ethics and Diversity

This is my favorite course so far because it's the most engaging. The only homework is to read the textbook and be prepared to discuss the material in class. The class has quizzes and some assignments that are a significant part of the grade, but this is only because the school needs tangible evidence to prove the success of a student. The primary thing about the class is discussion and analyzing ethical quandaries in concerns to journalism: what information to publish, who stands to gain the most if you don't publish, who could be hurt unintentionally if you do publish, is what you are publishing for the greater good or is it an obligation to publish, or is it a "want to know" story like celebrity news and sex scandals.

The professor doesn't care for the "want to know" stories because he takes the stance that those types of stories don't contribute anything to society and therefore not journalism. I'm inclined to agree.

The Jobs

I have two part-time jobs on campus and I'm allowed to work a combined maximum of 25 hours a week. I'm an office assistant and an equipment lab assistant in the same building. The people I work with are like me––students earning money to pay for expenses, supplies and tuition. People with unique quirks, personalities, outlooks and focuses. Some are journalism students, some are health solutions students, and some are nursing students. We're all seeking our path in life, all hoping to find careers that utilize our undergraduate degree after graduation, and we're all doing what we can to make that happen.

Office Assistant

Primarily, I make rounds throughout the building to make sure classrooms are clean and printers are stocked with paper. I'm also in Cronkite advising scheduling appointments for students to meet with their advisors. I have less interaction with people in this position, but I get to know the building and get some much needed walking in my routine.

Equipment Lab Assistant

This is where journalism students on track for broadcasting check out equipment. There is more downtime in the lab than my other position, but there is a steady stream of students checking in and out in between the rushes. It's difficult at times to study certain material. I've lost my train of thought many times when reading a story or an essay that I need to write about, and it can take 5 hours for me to get through 20 pages because I have to constantly go back a paragraph and sometimes a page. One of my co-workers contributes to ASU State Press. I don't know how often she has to write or if there is a minimum number of articles to publish, but I think I'm interested in applying next semester. I'm not pursuing the print track but, for me, writing isn't difficult; it's what to write about that gives me trouble.

So It Continues...

I expect to graduate fall of 2016. I originally planned spring of 2017 but my advisor convinced me to take 5 courses next spring. One of them is the thesis prep course––I make my own schedule––and another is taken online for half a semester.

I also need to complete an internship. Hopefully, I land one that pays so that I can earn money and earn credit at the same time.

For my final semester, I hope to get into the Cronkite News professional program as an on-air reporter. Perhaps one day, friends, you will catch me on TV or YouTube presenting you with a story.

[catastrophecks]

A Sense of Purpose and Belonging

Fall semester is over and grades have finally been posted. Although professors tell you to get your work done early so that you don’t have to rush in the 11th hour, even professors don’t take their own advice. But that seems to be part of human nature. No matter how much experience or years we have in our career, there is a part of us that seems to perceive that we have more time than we really do to complete a task. But nevertheless, grades were posted in time, and I have a 3.79 GPA.

Being back in school has given me a sense of purpose again. I have been at a lost for a long time about what I wanted to do for living, and what I am doing with the life I have. Most of my time is spent at home reading news articles, playing SWTOR, and drinking once at least once a week at the British Open Pub. I don't live a very active life, nor is my time filled with interpersonal interactions with friends or people. Physically, I am never alone but mentally, I am. But being back in the fray of education has filled a void in my life and I feel a bit better; things don't seem as dark as they used to and I am not as cynical as before.

A university setting is drastically different from the community setting. Other than a larger campus and access to greater resources, the students even seem more engaged than the typical community student. Of course there are still students who have the "as long as I get a passable grade doing the bare minimum" attitude, but there seems to be few – at least at the downtown Phoenix campus of ASU, and especially with journalism majors. The university makes an effort to make sure the students feel welcomed and make them feel like they are a part of a great community; the community college I attended never made me feel like I was a part of a community. I'm even considering buying ASU t-shirts and sweaters, even though I know I will be asked about sports while wearing the clothing. That is how much ASU has made me feel like I belong.