#dougspoon

[kimberlymlee]

Guest speaker: Doug Spoon

My Reporting II class tonight had the pleasure of having Doug Spoon, editor of Menifee 24/7 and lecturer at Cal Poly Pomona, as a guest speaker tonight.  Spoon is also the advisor of the Cal Poly Pomona student paper, The Poly Post.

  He discussed about his 35 years experience as a daily newspaper writer for the San Gabriel Tribune and Pasadena Star News as a sports columnist and sports editor.

  At the time, he primarily reported on baseball, basketball, hockey and football games because he was interested in those sports.  More specifically, he reported on the Dodgers, Lakers, Kings and USC Trojans.  Although he enjoyed writing about sports, he sometimes was asked to report on racecar events.  He found that it was more challenging to write about racecar events because he was not as interested in the sport.  However, that just means that it required him to do more research before writing his stories.

  Spoon warned students that journalism is not as glamorous as many people believe it is.  Although he was at the Dodgers game when they went to the playoffs, he missed the epic home run that won the game.

  Spoon emphasized the importance of learning how to multitask.  He forces his students to learn how to use social media, shoot photos and videos while reporting on a story.  The reason is that all journalists in the field today have to adapt to the ever-evolving world of technology.

  Spoon suggests that students take all the opportunities they can get to write.  Students should begin by starting their own blog.  Students can also volunteer to write articles for a school newspaper or publication.  This way, they can gain more experience writing.  As it is often said, practice makes perfect.

  I’m glad Spoon was able to join our class today.  He was able to share tips with students regarding what students should do in order to stand out from other students when competing for jobs.

[melissaarooney-blog]

The Merriest Place on Earth

I work at the Disneyland Resort and as much as I love Halloween, and Valentine’s Day, and just about every other holiday around here, my absolute favorite is Christmas.

I’m a performer so with the season comes the Christmas parade. We’ve been rehearsing it nightly as we prepare to open to the public this Monday. How it works is we show up at 8:30, get ready, do a parade when the park clears, we take a break, and then we do it again. During the break, the firework music and lighting is run and at the end the ‘snow’ (it’s really soap. Shhhhh) falls from the sky. I love being one of the few people allowed to see it all before the rest of the guests do.

Performing is great because you’re adding to the atmosphere and while doing so you’re interacting with cute kids and happy families. The one and only thing I dislike about the holiday is that Disney sucks the life out of it till its left gasping for air. We pass the day... And go on and on till we approach and enter into January and don't stop till some time around the seventh. I guess that's what every other brand does but leave it to Disney to harness the spirit of the season and channel it into its checking account. Anyways... to end on a more positive note... Yay Christmas!

[melissaarooney-blog]

This past week has been beyond stressful. I feel like my school year has its fair share of lulls and I get too comfortable with the spaced out due dates and loose deadlines and then midterms hit me like a pile of bricks. Because of the high level of stress I was completely over dealing with, I went out to dinner with a large group of friends on Thursday night and pigged out at The Boiling Crab (for those of you that have never been, I highly recommend it). It was so nice to be able to talk and laugh and enjoy myself. It's like the days prior left me feeling wiped out and lifeless. Then to continue on with my food rampage, tonight I went out to dinner with my best friend, Stephanie. I feel like every time I see her, we alternate who has the biggest issues. Parents, boys, school, etc. Tonight was her night to vent since she's really been dragged through the ringer lately and she needed a ear to listen so of course I obliged. As odd as this sounds, I think that the timing and the ways that things tend to effect us has helped because we never seem to have two major crises at the same time, which allows us to be able to focus on the other and to give better advice. It's comforting to know that it's not just my life that has its ups and downs. I enjoy her company for many reasons but her listening capabilities and her advice giving are up there on that list. So hopefully the rest of the quarter will be smooth sailing. Keeping my fingers crossed. And i hope you all did a fabulous job on all your exams and assignments that were due!

[melissaarooney-blog]

Witches, Ghosts and... Event Planning!

Halloween is always such a toss up. I can act like an old lady and stay home to pass out candy, I can go to a party and spend hours obsessing over what to wear only to find that when I get there 30 other girls had the same exact idea... or.... I can work an event.

Random little side story. I promise it's important to know before I go any further. So my mom purchased a Fiat a few months ago, and she took it in to have its oil changed at the dealership. There was a woman waiting for her car to be serviced as well and she happened to have a dog with her... my mom is obsessed with them, doesn't matter the size, age or breed. So of course my mom felt inclined to start a conversation and somehow through this exchange of words, she found out this dog holding woman owns an event planning business in Beverly Hills. Convenient... because that's just the field I want to go into. So my mom mentioned me, and in turn she gave my mom a postcard of hers to pass along. 

Now when my mom got home and told me this story, she neglected to mention what was on this postcard. The Chanel logo... the Fendi logo... the Guess logo. All clients of this woman. "Oh I didn't even see those?", she replied when I pointed them out. good grief.

So after going back and forth with this person via email, and having one brief phone conversation with her yesterday, its been decided that I'll be helping out at a halloween party she's putting on. But not just any halloween party. One in a mansion in the LA area that she can't even tell me who the host is till I sign a nondisclosure agreement.

So I'd have to say that is shaping up to be quite the week. So excited to see how it turns out, how I'm utilized and if this one time thing can possibly extend into some sort of internship or possibly a job opportunity somewhere down the road. :) 

[anthonyahumada7]

Runway Event at Ontario Mills

This week has not been as bad as I expected it to be. I am guessing it is going to be the weekend that stresses me out because I have two huge midterms next week. My communication classes are not that difficult. But there is still a lot of information I have to consume in order to do well. After this upcoming week, I will feel relieved until finals come into play.

I really do not know what to write about for this blog because today has been pretty busy. I have to edit a video that covered a runway event. I guess I can talk about that because it ended up being very interesting. GiulianaRancic was hosting a runway event for young models that were showing off outfits that were going to be in this winter. Rancic was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She has been an inspiration for many women because she is very down to earth and has shown her dedication towards finding a cure for breast cancer by creating many fundraisers to help out for research.

During the event, I was able to set up the camera very close to the runway. The film team actually let me get some footage from the center of after the show ended. I was able to capture around 30 minutes of footage, including interviews, models and scenery. I did not know what to expect from the event because I have never been to a fashion show. But it ended up being a lot of fun. I was able to get footage of Rancic. But my partner and I were not able to get an interview with her because she ended up leaving right after the show ended. Luckily, we only waited less than ten minutes to hear the news of her not coming out for pictures or interviews.

[melissaarooney-blog]

240 Days, 11 Hours, and 12 Minutes Left to Go

Today I met with Dr. Ballinger to discuss one of the highlights in my career as a college student: GRADUATION. I highlighted, starred, and underlined my course road map, printed out my degree in progress, brought a petition form with me, and a long list of questions. I wanted to have someone else besides me say that I was doing everything correctly and that on Sunday, June 16, 2013, I know what to pencil in that day.

She reviewed everything, signed my petition form (crossing my fingers that they over look that cultural perspectives requirement), said I'm right on track and sent me on my merry way. Sometimes that's really all I need. For someone to just look over something I've been dwelling on for far too long and then give me a stamp of approval. So I have 3 core classes to look forward to in the winter, 2 core classes to take in the spring, and 2 (or 3) GEs to disperse between quarters and then I am out of here!

So now what comes next? I graduate and then the magical job fairy sprinkles glitter overhead and BAM I'm sitting in my own office with a six digit salary and that mini cooper I've been dreaming about parked out front? Not likely. So I'm currently on the internship job hunt with hopes that someone will take me under their wing, and maybe, just maybe if we click, all will fall into place and an entry level position of some sort will be secured. 

I feel like I have so many goals that can't be attained until I'm able to get out of here. School has been fun and all, but I think it's far past time that I move on to bigger and better things. It's amazing to look back at years and years of time you spend in different  buildings with different people from the time you're learning your ABCs till... now. Then realize that you're inching closer and closer to ending the what felt like never ending repetition that has become your school days.

I'm looking forward to the future though. Change is something that I don't always embrace but sometimes it can be the absolute best thing for me.

[melissaarooney-blog]

'MURICA

Yesterday night I stopped by one of the campus's convenience stores and picked up some tea and gummy apple O's before heading to my persuasion class. We were going to be watching the Vice President's go head to head debating some of the country's top issues and I wanted to be prepared with a few things to keep me awake just in case it all started to go downhill and lose my attention. However it was anything but that. I can only compare it to two little boys fighting on the playground. It was the polar opposite of the Presidential debate in the sense that Obama and Romney were at least able to maintain some composure where as Biden and Ryan were at each other's throats. 

We watched it as a class in Persuasion with professor Kasim and he made us do a little in class assignment where as we watched, we had to point out where one of the candidates goofed up and if we were on their PR team, how we would flip it in their favor and pitch it to the media. This would be the ultimate task in the field I'm about to venture on out into so it seemed like a reasonable enough request.

There were a gazillion things said that were totally off-hand and uncalled for so I went in and focused on Biden and his overall demeanor and body language since thats what bothered me the most. 

Now I'm in full support of the guy so don't get me wrong but the way he carried himself made him appear arrogant, and as if he wasn't taking the issues at hand seriously. For my spin on things I tried to get it where he was coming from a place of being baffled at the untrue things that were being said by Ryan and laughing was the only way he felt was a clear way to get that across to his constituents.

Overall it was something interesting to think about. If anything it made me realize that when I go into the PR realm, I'd love to start of representing either or corporation or person who won't be too difficult to put out there in a positive light. Helping either of these guys maintain a positive image in order to ensure that the trust of the American people is totally invested in them to help run our country would be such a nightmare.

[anthonyahumada7]

School, Work, Party and DVR

I am pretty sure many can relate to this type of schedule. For the past week and a half, I have been trying to adjust to my new job and school. I started working at Costco recently and it is awesome. The environment is fast-paced and the employees are hilarious. I work around 25-30 hours a week. But luckily it is not a stressful job. The only thing that can make my schedule tiresome is going to school and heading to work an hour after. But I am getting use to it.         

            This quarter has not been that bad so far. But midterms are coming up and I am doing my best to mentally prepare for the last two weeks of this month. I guess the best part about being done with the midterms is that I have Halloween parties to look forward to. Last year, we had one at my house and the turnout was great. It was one of those nights where a party happening down the street literally came to our house.  I did body-paint last year and I was able to keep warm due to warm beverages.

            At the end of each week, I always try to make time to catch up on great shows like Sons of Anarchy and Breaking Bad. On a side note, I do not know how shows like Honey Boo Boo and basically MTV shows are actually being put on television. Sadly their ratings are high and sadly it is that easy to entertain some people these days.

            I actually did not mind working on the field report because I was able to witness what was happening when Costco shut off their gas. They had to temporarily shut down certain stations due to a pipeline contamination. Anyways I wish everyone the best of luck on their upcoming midterms.