Intern veterans pass on advice

Kayla Hanley, Reporter

Ohio University’s Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) is back at it again with their many meetings to better prepare Scripps students in their journey through journalism.

Last Tuesday, SPJ held an internship panel consisting of five current Ohio University Scripps School students. The panelists were Catherine Caldwell, Wesley Lowery, Sarah Grothjan, Nadine Ajaka, and Graylyn Roose.

The panel provided an opportunity for the students to hear the trials and tribulations of interning within the journalism field.

Panelists Catherine Caldwell, Wesley Lowery and Sarah Grothjan share their experiences.

Catherine Caldwell recently interned at Marie Claire Magazine in New York City this past summer and the way she said she heard about the job was by googling “internships in New York City.”

“I never thought I’d be interested in beauty,” Caldwell said,” “but what I found interesting was how a magazine process works.”

Caldwell said she preformed a variety of tasks, whether it was walking around Manhattan in her heels to different stores, or writing pieces for the magazine. She was focused on the Public Relations aspect of the magazine, but broadened her views by helping out in every department.

“I didn’t get to do as much writing as I had hoped, but I did gain a lot more contacts through each department I took part in,”said Caldwell.

Wesley Lowery had a similar experience in his internship this past summer in New York City while working at The Wall Street Journal.

“I started writing for real estate and then ended up in politics,” Lowery said. “You honestly have to take what you can get.”

Lowery  said he was lucky that he got to do more hands on experience in NYC, along with his previous internships, which have included the Columbus Dispatch and Detroit News.

Lowery said, “I really had to be open-minded about the different topics I was writing for that I had not one clue how or what to write about. If you don’t know how to do something, ask for help and an explanation.”

Sarah Grothjan recently finished an internship this past summer in Las Angeles for an online entertainment news source called Celebuzz.

Grothjan spoke of very strong organizational skills she had to obtain for her internship by keeping her resume and cover letters up to date.

“With my previous internships I made sure my resume and cover letter complied with the other. I even had similar letterheads for each one,” Grotjhan said.

All three panelists agreed that a strong cover letter is what you need for any internship.

Journalism   students want to have the experience of an internship to better shape their future after college, but once students are in the process of the job there are a few ups and downs along the way.

“If you’re finding yourself sitting around, go to other departments and ask if there is anything you can do to help,” Caldwell said. This is a high profile way to gain contacts with other employers so you can make them aware of what you can do.

They key thing the panelists said interns shouldn’t do is to sit down and log onto Facebook.

“It really is the worst option you could do,” Grothjan said “Employers will see you do it, but not say anything because in their mind then they are thinking ‘oh they’re only here for a month’.”

The panelists’ helpful advice allowed attendees to leave with some sense of direction and key insight concerning their employment futures.

Social media finds homage offline and in classrooms

Story // Raquel Harrah, Reporter

As social media begins to grow in popularity by the second and with the scope of journalism broadening to include these features, the top journalism schools across the country are beginning to offer classes specific to social media to accommodate future job requisites.

“This is an exciting time in journalism with new developments daily in the tools we can use to tell stories,” said Ann Schierhorn, professor at the Kent State School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Although Kent State University does not offer courses exclusive to social media at the current time, Professor Schierhorn said that social media is integrated into several news classes in addition to extracurricular media outlets on campus that further aid in teaching students the basics and tools of social media.  A new course will soon be offered in multimedia reporting that further expounds upon social media as a tool for reporting news.

For now, students are focusing on three essential cores of social media in relation to the journalism industry.

“At the Kent State School of Journalism and Mass Communication, students use social media as a method of reporting, publishing and promoting their work,” Schierhorn said.

Traditional courses are transitioning social media into the curriculum through means, such as using Twitter as a reporting tool in Newswriting, Schierhorn said.

“They blog in a host of courses ranging from Magazine Publishing to Ethics,” Schierhorn said.  “In reporting courses, they use Facebook to send out questions and find sources. On election night in Reporting Public Affairs, they tweet.”

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is another top journalism school that now includes social media into their curriculum, said Assistant Professor David Cupp.

Ohio University is following the lead. While no courses titled “Social Media” are offered, this topic is an integral element in many journalism classrooms.

Professor Cindy Royal from Texas State University said students should also take initiative to learn these tools on their own.

Students must take it upon themselves to keep up with the evolving industry and, in turn, faculty members will follow their lead if students express the importance of a certain skill and an eagerness to learn more.

“If faculty sees that you’re bringing in guest speakers, they’ll see that they have to catch up and the effect will permeate. It’s almost at the point where it is becoming critical,” Royal said.

With the first student chapter of a social media club in Texas, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication
at Texas State University is making great strides in social media education.

Texas State University now offers a class that focuses on social media in the professional sense called Intro to Multimedia: Social Media at Work.  The course teaches students how to use social media as an asset at work, teaches tools for success, and teaches students history and background to increase their knowledge base of the newcomer transit for communication.

These courses can be extremely beneficial to journalism students unfamiliar with social media at work or unfamiliar with the networking benefits.

“I’ve really found that with students in my class, there have been a lot of successes,” said Professor Royal at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University. “I always hear, ‘I met someone on Twitter and got an interview.’ It’s great to hear those successes, it works,” said Royal.

In addition, classes at Texas State University integrate blogs as commenting forms.  Twitter is used in the classroom, hashtags are integrated as a discussion forum in class, and Facebook groups are designated for some classes.

Like all skills taught in the classroom, these are taught in a manner to prepare students for the job market.

The New York Times recently received slack for releasing undisclosed details of the new Facebook Deals launching in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, San Diego, and San Francisco.

This service will focus on interests singled out by Facebook users in hopes of bringing deals that are relevant to that specific user as a form of advertisement and business promotion.

“It holds a lot of potential,” said Royal about the Facebook Deals service. “Like anything, it depends on how well it’s executed. [There are] a lot of opportunities for people to be inundated with that type of advertising.”

If it proves to be successful, social networking sites may be the main form of advertisement of the future. Without a concrete knowledge base of the professional workings of social media, students’ attempts to find a job may be futile in comparison with students better prepared and suited for the market.

While social media may be integrated into curriculum, the foundation of writing a story and producing it should be considered no matter what vehicle of communication is chosen. The essentials that are still being taught remain because the form of media is pointless without a captivating and accurate story.

“My opinion is it’s really more about having a engaging story. Get it up on the web and share it, then integrate a YouTube video in the blog and figure out how they work together,” Royal said.

SPJ sheds light on conquering the PR blockade

Story // Nicole Spears, Reporter

No one enjoys a relationship they can’t trust. The complex communication that ties journalists with PR professionals will be the topic of this week’s SPJ event that is aptly titled, Being Blocked as a Journalist.

Mary Rogus, an Ohio University professor with 20 years experience in local television journalism, will be speaking at the event, along with other guests.

The meeting is intended to help future journalists become prepared to work closely with public relations practitioners. While many students get a good start through student-run publications at Ohio University, the meeting is geared toward delving deeper into alternate communication techniques.

Apart from practicing the certain skills, certain approaches can be learned to improve the exchanges between journalists and PR professionals.

“As a journalist, you deal with PR people and press releases every day,” said Graylyn Roose, SPJ co-programming chair. Roose said that this event was inspired to work around publicity campaigns and high profile sources by using careful and skillful interviewing tactics.

The apprehension, possibly even fear, of the barrier between the two communicators likely stems from their varying goals. Breaking down this adversary relationship benefits both the journalist, and the PR practitioner by ensuring the ethical flow of information.

“Not all PR professionals are our enemies, and we don’t have to be adversaries,” Rogus said.

SPJ has asked Professor Rogus to speak about situations where she has run into roadblocks in her journalism career, specifically with regards to PR practitioners. She believes she has plenty to offer on the topic, sharing a wealth of experience with exchanges between communicators.

“As a news and information journalist, we assume that someone standing in the PR role, between you and someone you want to speak to, is someone you naturally dislike,” Rogus said.

Rogus believes that many journalists take a guilty-until-proven-innocent stance towards PR pros.  She admits that these are people who are skilled at their job and adds that she has worked with many good and honest PR professionals.

This event is intended to surpass the preconceived notions and teach future journalists the best means of communication when dealing with their public relations counterparts. Rogus plans to go beyond the typical methods of gaining information by knowing journalists’ rights. Rogus will be advising students on how persistence, attention to detail, and devoted investigation can truly pay off—even when it comes to gaining information that you are not entitled to.

“You can’t just be content with what you’re getting, you have to investigate further to get the information that they’re hiding,” Rogus said.

For further tips on getting information that will push your story to the next level, be sure to check into this week’s SPJ event.

A Lot of Work Earns a Little Play

Nicole Spears, Reporter

Everyone’s favorite things about kindergarten were learning their ABC’s, counting to 100, and drilling addition fact cards—right? I think not. For those of us who enjoyed the elementary school days, it was most likely the friends we met in class. We lived for recess, craft time, and the occasional field trip to the local petting zoo, because that was when we could socialize and be ourselves. Now, a decade and a half later, many of us feel the pressure to grow out of our child-like states and into more professional versions of ourselves.

One way that Scripps students gain this reputability in their field is by partaking in one of the many organizations offered on campus. Though students get down to a lot of hard work through these groups, there’s some fun to be had when the job is done. These social events let us revert to that kindergarten state of mind, showing our true colors and making new friends. The fun and friends made by becoming involved on campus is just another part of what makes college some of the best years of our lives.

What does your organization do for fun?

ACRN | All Campus Radio Network
“One of the first events we have this spring is our exec retreat, a chance to get together with the other executives in the department and the assistants and just celebrate the year so far. In mid-May, we usually have our $2 Prom dance party, which is a party at The Union where people dress up and we have a theme and Prom pictures. LobsterFest, our end of the year music fest, is also a social. It’s an incredibly involved event we put on for the community and the student body. It’s really another celebration for us to get to relax before the end of the school year, and we have our end of the year barbecue the next day.”
    Jacob Derr, ACRN General Manager

NCASC | National Communication Association Student Club
“NCASC has scheduled an array of events for Spring Quarter fun. At our meeting tonight, we prepared Easter baskets for professors. We will be having a litter pick up with our organization on campus, and we are planning to have a cookout on South Green.”
Hanna Menius, NCASC President

ImPRessions
“With ImPRessions, people can come into meetings and get really focused on the work itself, so it’s important for us to remind them to get to know people and socialize. Once a quarter, we have a big all-firm meeting, so that all our account members can come together and share the work they are doing with other members. We keep the tone fun and informal, and include silly awards or games to get the group chatting. Aside from professional benefits, many of my best friends in college are students who I met via ImPRessions.”
Devin Hughes, ImPRessions President

RTDNA | Radio Television Digital News Association
“RTDNA heavily emphasizes professional development, but we also like to have fun! In the past, we’ve played with dogs at the Athens County Dog Shelter,  held movie and ice-cream socials, and bonded over pizza at Courtside’s slice night. Because the weather is starting to get nice, we’re going to have a cookout at Strouds Run in a few weeks! We realize the importance of bonding with fellow student journalists on a personal level because we’ll likely be working in the same newsroom someday.”
Taylor Mirfendereski, RTDNA President

SPD | Society of Page Designers
“As a group of designers, SPD tries to think outside the box when it comes to springtime socials. We try to promote a positive image for our group with alcohol-free get togethers. This spring, we are planning to have a cookout at Stroud’s Run. Besides socials, SPD takes an annual trip to Columbus to visit The Columbus Dispatch and SBC Advertising.”
Marianne Simmons, SPD Secretary

SPJ | Society of Professional Journalists
“This quarter SPJ is planning a few socials to contribute to the spring quarter atmosphere and to thank our members for another great year in SPJ! We are showing ‘Morning Glory’ in the Scripps Amphitheater to members, journalism students or anyone who wants to join. We are also looking into having a social to finish out the quarter on a fun and positive note. We appreciate our members and want to provide a fun atmosphere to get together, talk, eat and say goodbye for the summer!”
Gina Mussio, SPJ Secretary

OUMS | Ohio University Multimedia Society
“We try to do at least one social event per quarter to get to know one another in a more casual setting. Last quarter we were able to have our website launch party at The Pigskin, and this quarter we are planning to have a cookout or potluck dinner. Major social events also include our trips to Chicago and New York City. Sometimes the best kind of bonding for an organization is experienced outside of Athens, Ohio.”
Annette Drapac, OUMS President

OU Advertising Association
“Advertising majors definitely have the most fun, so it’s not hard for us to get together and have a good time. In the spring we celebrate our Transitions social, a social celebrating the elections of new executive board members. We also have an annual Cinco de Mayo social, which also serves as a senior-send-off. Another tradition is the annual kickball game against PRSSA. We also go out after weekly meetings to Courtside’s Slice Night sometimes to get to know each other outside of the meetings. Having socials outside of meetings is a way to get to know the other members in a fun atmosphere. You definitely get to know them better than you would at the meetings.”
Stephanie Cesear, Ad Club Vice President

LinkedIn fails to add personal touch to networking paradigm

Nick Robbe, Reporter

When I first came to college I repeatedly heard one word: networking. It was drilled into my mind as well as the minds of my fellow first-year classmates. We were told about it but were never really told the correct way to do it.  Graduate student Molly Yanity explains the phenomenon of networking and why, though beneficial, it will never replace a genuine attitude.

How easy is it to maintain the network of professional relationships once created?
It’s not easy.  I think it’s a whole lot easier now that you have LinkedIn and Facebook, but there is also a fine line between keeping a network strong and being a nuisance.

Every now and then, drop an email. You see something that’s happened or something that’s happened where they work and you send them email (to let them know you are thinking of them). That makes a big difference.

I was at a speaking engagement in San Diego and some of the people that were on this panel, Howard Bryant of ESPN: The Magazine, Jackie MacMullan (who was a columnist and associate editor for The Boston Globe), and Rick Reilly, who is now a columnist for ESPN was the keynote speaker.  I got to meet them and it was the only time ever I saw those people.

Bryant still speaks in my classes on Skype and conference calls.  He has published some really amazing books, and whenever he publishes those books, I drop him a line.

I saw the guy one time in my life, but he is someone who I know I can count on and he has asked for favors and I’d do it in a minute.  You just have to make an effort.

What does a student hope to gain from being included in a network?
It depends on how much you put into it.  I think that aside from bylines the most important thing you get out of internships is building personal relationships.  A lot of times the personal relationships don’t lead directly to jobs, but it’s ‘Hey, I know someone who I can put you in touch with.’ That’s when the networking becomes invaluable.

The greatest thing any fledging professional has going, you’re young, you’re full of energy, you’re full of ideas, and people like to be around that.  If you have an engaging personality, it’s going to do great things for you.”

What are technicques for forming networks?
Be genuine and gracious. In a couple years I am going to have to go out and try to get a job as a professor somewhere.

I go to conferences and try to meet as many people as I can, and when I get back, I write them an email saying, ‘It was great to meet you. I hope to keep in touch in the future.’

I think those are the kinds of things that you need to be doing while you are looking for any job.  I still keep in touch with people that I had internships with.  Not just your superiors, but your colleagues too.  Be genuine and gracious.”

LinkedIn is utilized by a variety of professionals, but how much help does it really provide?
It makes it easier, but LinkedIn isn’t anything personal.  It’s a way to keep track of someone’s contact information sometimes.  It helps, but I still think you need the personal touches.

You can’t just say, ‘Oh that’s my LinkedIn friend.’  It’s really, truly a personal thing, and it has to be about your relationships.

If you can have a relationship, and you put forth some effort, you’re an engaging human being.  You’re not just taking advantage, and you’re giving something back.  You are going to be good at networking.

How To: Focus your stories more proficiently

Story // April Jaynes, Reporter

It’s one of those nights again. The nights where you’re forced to immerse every  fiber of your being and every minute of your consciousness into the demanding academic tasks that you’ve so effortlessly avoided throughout the week.

However, this time sitting patiently upon your daunting mountain of work lies a notebook and recorder, just waiting to release the words and thoughts of the sources meant to assemble a story worthy of both publication and your affectionate attention.

Considering these grim circumstances, how does a good journalist provide the quality work and thought required to write a compelling story that simply deserves to be? Answer: with determination, coffee and, most importantly, focus.

Often, we must fight for our focus.  The  existence of this unfortunate fact has led me to compile a few tips that aid me in conquering my apathy and encroaching deadlines.

1) Macro Examination.  Consider the big picture of your story. Who or what does the issue, event or subject affect and why? Look over all of your notes, review your recorded interviews and get a feel of what’s really happening. A big picture perspective is often the essence of an article. It’s a starting point for you as a writer, and an end point for readers to ponder over after their eyes have left your words.

2) Look for Trends.  Go a little deeper and delve into the specifics of what your sources are saying.  Has anything been repeatedly brought up in your interviews? Why? Do you have all the angles on the re-occurring topic? Trends can provide the core of your article, and overlooking them could cost you true substance.

3) Determine Appropriate Structure.  Once you have the meaning of your article, it’s time to decide how you can most efficiently and effectively get the message across.  Are you reporting an event, investigating an issue or featuring an interesting subject? Will chronological order or order of importance work best?  A logical, appealing structure in a story goes a long way.  It gives you a pre-determined path to follow and your readers a thorough reading experience.

4) Write, write, and write. Here’s where you begin to pick up speed. You now know where your story is going and your words will follow accordingly. This is the part where your pre-determined focus releases itself through your frantically typing fingers and onto the lit-up screen in front of your weary eyes. If there’s room for error, it’s here. All that matters is that you cover all bases and let your focus blossom, even if you encounter a few rabbit trails along the way.

5) Delete Irrelevancies. Before you send off your story to be reviewed, dissected, and polished by your trusty editor, give it a run-through yourself. Weed out the nomadic sentences that haven’t quite found their place in the story. Ask yourself what you really need and what complements the message of your findings. Remove what doesn’t belong and you will finally have the pivoted, provoking article that you and your readers  desire.

Bridging the fields of professional outlets

Story // Nicole Spears, Reporter

The uncertain future of journalism is causing many changes in the industry. Some resolves are being found in changing technology, or changing business structures, but what is bringing journalists to change their entire careers paths as a whole?

The careers of journalism and public relations call for a common skill set: strong writing, communicative skills and knowledge of social media. Yet many professionals in the fields could agree that these two careers require different specialties as well. To be successful in either area requires a fine-tuned discipline and reputable personality, or a “brand.”

Ohio University alumnus Bruce Cadwallader spent thirty 30 years in the journalism industry before making his recent transition to Peritus PR, a communications firm. After being barred from promotions and watching several colleagues be let go due to the declining revenues in the print industry, Cadwallader decided it was time for a change.

“I chose to investigate public relations as a career because of the skill sets I had developed over the years for event planning and marketing, communication skills and leadership,” Cadwallader said.

Out of hopes for the rebound of his print employer, Cadwallader made the transition to a career in public relations. He found that his journalistic background was more of a help than a hindrance.

“Journalism is a great teacher of focused writing and preparation. It helps me create messaging points that are succinct, meaningful and accurate,” Cadwallader said.

He reported that the marketing aspect has been one of the biggest challenges, along with figuring out how to appeal effectively to the public.

“Trying to motivate total strangers to take action on an issue has been challenging,” Cadwallader sayssaid.

Overall, his experience serves as proof that the transition between careers can be a smooth one.

“I have yet to find a client I couldn’t work for, and that is satisfying,” Cadwallader says. In his case, the strong writing and accurate reporting skills attained by his journalism experience helped in the transit to PR.

If switches like Cadwallader’s becomes a recurring trend in the professional field, it is likely to be reflected in the JSchool as well. Theresa Ianni, a Freshman pursuing the PR route in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, always knew she wanted to delve into the field of communications.

“I was convinced early on in high school that I was going to do journalism,” Ianni said. But her experience writing for her school newspaper, an online magazine and also  being on student council revealed to her a new set of preferences.

“I realized I loved planning and promoting events and activities. You can do so much with PR that I feel like I’ll be able to incorporate a lot of things that I love, like event planning and writing,” Ianni said.

As for the possibility that many students may be gaining interest in public relations, Ianni explains this as others exploring what they truly want to do. She does believe, however, that PR is an appealing major.

While it’s known that journalists and PR professionals work great well together, they surely do not serve the same purpose. The two careers not only require different strengths, but also different personality traits.

“I think a PR person needs to have a lot of negotiating skills along with patience, creativity. You have to really consider all the possible ways to better represent and sell an event, organization or product,” Ianni said.

Cadwallader, however, believes the knowledge of journalism can suffice when carried over into the world of PR.

“I have always believed good journalists make fine public relations professionals, but I’m not sure some of my new PR colleagues could say the reverse,” Cadwallader said.

Regardless of varying opinions, it seems that many journalists will not fear testing the waters. As more common ground is found in terms of social media and also multi-media skills, the two professions are only growing closer.

“I have found the lines between the two industries are constantly merging, and I’m dealing with many of the same people on a daily basis, just from a different perspective,” Cadwallader said.

While the uncertainties may at first seem threatening, these ties may bring new opportunities to the fields of both journalism and public relations.