Column: Scripps Students Face the World Head On

Senior year is a busy time for every Scripps student. After almost four years of newswriting classes, unpaid internships, and lectures from our parents about the real world, it’s time for us to try it out for ourselves. The long holiday break is over and final tuition payments are coming due. It finally feels like the beginning of the end of college. It’s enough to make us want to sign up for another year … or three.

Last quarter I was lucky enough to get a taste of the real world a little bit early. Like many Scripps students, I took a quarter off for an internship. The change to intern with NBC’s Today Show in New York City was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I was gone all fall quarter, getting accustomed to both the brand new task of living in America’s biggest city and working for a national morning news program.

For college students in general, the thought of working in the so-called “real world” is intimidating. It feels like a big change. Even though we work hard in our classes and strive to learn more in our extracurriculars, nobody really knows what to expect. The 6 a.m.’s seem daunting, a stark contrast to the 11 a.m. or noon starting times we’ve been able to schedule as upperclassmen.

But if the experience I had last quarter is any indication, there’s good news for Scripps students: we’re far more ready than we think we are. Working with shining stars in the field (like former OU student) Matt Lauer and Ann Curry, it was hard not to feel a little intimidated at first. I had experience internships beforehand, but never on a national scale.

I was smart to brace myself; they kept our schedules packed. No busy work for us. The other interns and I accompanied reporters and producers on local shoots, answered wacky calls from viewers at the front desk, and logged hours of tape. We came early and stayed late, learning firsthand about the time demands required in the news business. We were all lucky enough to spend at least two early mornings a week in the control room, running errands and watching the senior producers coordinate a four-hour show. I can’t say I got much sleep during my time in Manhattan, but I’m not sorry about it. It was the best way to learn.

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.

SPJ talks repercussions of defunding news outlets

Story // Mat Roberts, Reporter

On Tuesday, April 19th, SPJ hosted another spectacular event on current events and media connections across the entire Appalachia region. The event was organized by Ohio University’s Society of Professional Journalists’ Ian Bowman-Henderson and Graylyn Roose. SPJ welcomed Jeannie Jeffers, director of WOUB development and communications, to speak on effects of media coverage in Athens and in rural areas across the country.

“Most people in the country’s larger rural areas have minimum access to media coverage and can only get Public Radio and TV,” Roose said.  Last month, Republican Doug Lamborn sponsored a proposal that passed in the House to prevent federal funds from going to National Public Radio. The Washington Post reports that the bill will ban any federal money from going to NPR, which receives $5 million in annual funds. NPR supports roughly 600 member stations that this bill will now prevent from using federal funds to purchase programming and to pay station dues.

“Our primary goal of this event was to raise awareness about the defunding of NPR and to recognize it turning public to private,” Roose said. “As a strong supporter of public radio, it’s important for citizens and reporting journalists to see that people living in rural areas will suffer from this defunding because now they have a significantly less amount of information availability.”

The cut has been locally damaging to Athens’ WOUB, which has had several funding cuts over the past few years making it difficult to manage. Roose later stated, “We want to show that NPR has very well educated people and they deserve support as a worldwide distributor of public radio news.”

This Tuesday at 5 P.M, SPJ will open the doors for a chapter segment on using personal computer programs to better enhance reporting skills. The event will show how to gather stats and facts from these unique techniques to better journalism reporting.

“The event should be very useful on learning how to use current databases to improve the depth of your interviews and using many programs to create your own statistics for stories,” said OUSPJ’s President, Jamie Raterman. Led by an all-star Scripps connected cast including Kevin Viever, Aimee Edmonson, and Lawan Williams, SPJ will look to bring Ohio University’s aspiring journalists an edge at harder reporting by finding their own facts on programs that aren’t usually used for the journalist profession.

Graylyn Roose commented, “The meeting will be very useful to student journalists because it can give them more knowledge on reporting and greater technology intelligence.”

Journalism particularly isn’t a profession that uses computer programs to improve reporting, which is why this event is a must see. “This event will bring focus to programs like Excel and how to complete in depth Google searches for a stronger story,” Ratermann said.

If you are interested in learning a few tricks to create better stories, stop by Scripps 111.

SPJ to provide insight on entertainment side of journalism

Story // April Jaynes, Reporter

Where would the journalism world be without its critiques, reviews and opinions? Journalism has the power to reach beyond strictly hard news, and readers sometimes need a whole- some dose of entertainment and criticism.

Today, Society of Professional Journalists meets in Scripps 111 to discuss review writing for journalists with Professor Michael Sweeney, the associate director for graduate studies who will teach a Review Writing and Criticism course this spring.

SPJ Programming Co-Chair Graylyn Roose invites Sweeney to not only highlight review writing and criticism, but to provide guidance specifically on the new paths the entertainment beat is taking.

Roose said the reasoning behind an SPJ meeting on review writing is because journalists continue to enjoy writing critiques, while readers take pleasure in the reading review- style articles.

“I think media reviewing won’t really go away,” Roose added.

Leading the meeting will be Sweeney followed by Roose who will lead an open discussion on the changes being made in review writing.

Sweeney plans to pitch his spring quarter course, JOUR 363: Review Writing and Criticism, to SPJ members and discuss the current employment market for journalists who plan to enter this area of journalism.

As a former entertainment editor for The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Sweeney will focus part of the meeting on the issue of generating income in the Web industry and the transition from print to Web.

“The job openings are collapsing in the print industry, and they’re moving to the Web,” Sweeney said. “That is very exciting and dynamic because it means virtually anybody can become a critic with followers.”

Review-style writing will not only contribute color to the journalism world, but it also benefits both readers and writers in unique ways.

“It’s how we make intelligent choices about our entertainment,” Sweeney said. “We spend a great amount of our time looking for ways to entertain ourselves, so it only makes sense that we would rely on news and criticism to help us figure out why and how best to spend that time.”

Sweeney added that the approach to review writing and criticism is similar to that of news writing, yet it maintains a few striking differences.

“You can look at both news writing and criticism writing as presenting information to an audience that comes to some kind of conclusion,” Sweeney said.

There’s information gathering within both kinds of writing, but review writing and criticism calls for more of your personal analysis. There’s a lot more of you.”

Sweeney also added that entertainment writing acts as a guide to journalists to help determine where they will head in the industry.

“Life’s too short,” Sweeney said, “do something you love.”

SPJ brings Hollywood to weekly meeting

SPJ showcases variety of journalism-related films to convey important changes in industry

Story // Leah Petrovich, Contributing Writer

The Ohio University chapter of Society of Professional Journalists is changing its routine this week with a movie night that lends itself to journalism history. SPJ programming co-chair, Graylyn Roose, said the typical meetings are meant to “educate members with different and useful information that will help to prepare for a career in journalism.”

SPJ has had past success in preparing workshops and programming speakers for meetings, and this movie is meant to be equally as fun and educational. The agenda for the night will include watching various journalism-related movie clips and observing how journalism has changed and how it has stayed the same throughout history.

A few titles members can count on seeing are: “All the President’s Men,” “Goodnight and Good Luck” and the classic, “Citizen Kane.” SPJ will show three to five minute clips, and afterward the group will have a discussion about the Hollywood portrayals of the journalism industry.

With anticipated bits of inaccurately reflected journalism in the film, a goal of the SPJ discussion will be to highlight ways to improve the negative connotation Hollywood has given journalism. Roose explained that another issue of discussion will be online blogging. Roose said online blogging is an aspect of journalism that has changed and will be illustrated in the movie clips.

Because tonight’s SPJ event differs greatly from the usual speaker or workshop, new members are encouraged to attend and enjoy the films.

“SPJ always enjoys seeing new faces,” Roose said.

The meeting will be held in Scripps 111 tonight at 5 p.m.

Scripps captures title of distinction

Story • Graylyn Roose

 

Students in the Scripps College of Communication have one more reason to be proud of their programs this quarter.

The Ohio University college was recently named a Center of Excellence by the University System of Ohio, making it the only communications college in Ohio to receive the honor and the only stand-alone program to have this distinction.

According to the University System of Ohio website, OU currently has two other areas of excellence: Energy and the Environment and Health and Wellness. OU has the distinction of having the only Center of Excellence listed under the Cultural and Societal Transformation section: the Scripps College of Communication.

Dean of the College of Communication Greg Shepherd said the award has been a long time in the making.

“It was great to get the phone call and hear that it was happening,” he said, adding the honor was first made possible by an OU Board of Trustees nomination. “It’s a designation that we will always have.”

Shepherd said the distinction will not only bring more communications students to Scripps, but could affect the opportunities that students will face post-graduation.

“It’s value added to your degree,” Shepherd said, adding that with the current media convergence trends, employers may look for students who are proficient not just in the teachings of their specific school, but in the studies of related communication areas.

“It should be easier for you to … somehow begin to take more advantage of the excellence we have that runs all through the college of communication,” Shepherd said.

Director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Bob Stewart said the honor gives more recognition to the communications college as a whole.

“I think it’s easy sometimes to think about your own progress exclusively and not think about what’s going on college-wide,” Stewart said, adding that the award brings the college together.

Stewart said the designation serves to complement the positive changes that were already scheduled for the college of communications in upcoming years.

“In the long run, we’re better off being in close proximity to colleagues across the college,” Stewart said in reference to the opening of the new Scripps College of Communication building in January 2013. “I think it’s inevitable that our students are going to become more aware of what others in the college are teaching and offering.”

In an Oct. 6 blog post on the Scripps website, Stewart wrote of a concept he calls “journalism plus.” He said this embodies the notion that journalism education is and should be paired with other disciplines within the college.

Stewart said that higher enrollment rates in the communications school are a possible side effect of this type of award.

“It’s hard to imagine that a prospective student wouldn’t factor that into their decision,” Stewart said. “The students who would factor that into their decisions are the students we would want to come here.”

OU senior Kelsey Spellman, a senior studying public relations in Scripps’ School of Journalism, said she thinks the designation adds value to her degree.

“I know the Scripps name holds such a high standard,” said Spellman, who is also the president for the Public Relations Student Society of America. “I just think that this designation is just one more notch.”

Spellman said that the honor will bring positive attention to the other schools in the College of Communication.

“I think it’s going to have a lasting effect, for not just the college, but also the university,” Spellman said.