SPJ to host 60 Minutes producer on in-depth reporting
May 24th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Story // Nicole Spears, Reporter
The SPJ event this week presents Ohio University students with a rare opportunity. The event, covering in-depth news reporting, will center on a Skype interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes producer, Robert Anderson.
This distinguished guest speaker has worked with 60 Minutes for 20 years, serving as a producer for both Mike Wallace and Scott Pelly. Throughout his time at CBS, he has produced more stories than any other producer in the broadcast field, worldwide. In addition to these accomplishments, he is also a Yale graduate and a multiple-time Emmy winner.
SPJ hoped to switch things up with this event. For journalism students who find they are more prepared to deliver breaking news, this event will offer an opportunity to learn about a different side of the industry. While the challenges of breaking news may include fast deadlines, the form of in-depth coverage produced by 60 minutes requires a type of detailed reporting that may be unfamiliar to students.
“We’ve always talked about breaking or fast paced news coverage,” said SPJ’s vice president, Taylor Mirfendereski. “But not in-depth (reporting).”
The Skype interview will be moderated as a discussion, providing SPJ members and attendees the chance to join in with questions or commets. The event will serve as an opportunity to speak with a high-caliber professional in the in-depth news industry.
The discussion will cover Anderson’s time at CBS, as well as questions about in-depth news in general. SPJ is interested in finding out more about Anderson’s path to the notable position he currently holds.
Anderson will also be asked to share his views on the future of the news industry. Another interesting topic of discussion will be the inside operations of 60 minutes.
Although in-depth news may be a smaller portion of the news industry, students can gain valuable experience by being well-versed in it. While breaking news entails working with a shorter deadline, in-depth coverage can teach journalists to be more thorough and detail-oriented.
“We want to open some eyes about what else is out there,” Mirfenderski said about the SPJ event.
The event takes place tonight at 5 p.m. in Scripps 111.
Alabama students get local test in breaking news
May 17th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Story // Nicole Spears, Reporter
On April 27th a mile-wide tornado ripped through the Southern region of the United States, killing hundreds across the states of Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
Students at the University of Alabama were dismayed as the tornado destroyed their college town of Tuscaloosa just days before the beginning of their summer break. Though the campus was left unscathed, many students’ houses were ripped away.
The Crimson White, University of Alabama’s student-run newspaper, has since published over 100 stories covering this crisis. Just after the storm hit, while power was down and communication within Tuscaloosa was next to impossible, Crimson White staffers were already at work producing online content.
Katherine Martin, a junior journalism student at UA and news editor for The Crimson White, said they had no idea how bad it truly was.
“Ten or fifteen of us were in the student media building when it hit. We were worried about getting the current paper out until someone on the staff realized their house was gone,” Martin said.
Though the tornado did not physically affect the campus, it did hit areas like 15th Street and Midtown Village, where many UA upperclassmen live. At one point, there were nearly 500 people unaccounted for. Needless to say, this storm quickly evolved into a disaster, giving UA journalism students a crisis-reporting lesson that struck very close to home.
Dr. Jennifer Greer, Chair of the Department of Journalism at UA, was very impressed by her students’ coverage of the crisis. Though you can never truly be prepared for such a tragedy, she believes that a combination of strong leadership and professional guidance really pulled the Crimson White team together.
“The thing what was amazing to me was that it was the last week of publication [for the semester], and they were on the ground working as soon as the storm hit,” Greer said.
Their commitment paid off. The next day, Crimson White staffers were being contacted by USA Today, The New York Times, and CBS, among other major news organizations. Although they are a student-run newspaper, they were producing content before Tuscaloosa’s professional news sources.
Martin reports that one of the biggest problems was clearing facts with media relations, while still maintaining a fast production cycle. Despite these difficulties, Dr. Greer credits the Crimson White for accurate reporting, while avoiding the many rumors that were circulating post-storm.
The Crimson White, which customarily prints four days a week, started producing much more content online, and using social media to supplement their stories. This shift helped to publish more stories at a faster rate and also allowed for more multimedia attributes.
“This experience taught me how to go cover a story, get it done, without having much time to go back and work on it,” Martin said.
At one point, the Crimson White was even running a service to help find those unaccounted for on campus. While communications were down, the staff was doing their best to help friends and family contact loved ones through phone calls and email.
The Crimson White staff faced this challenge only weeks after their executive board elections. Victor Luckerson was chosen as editor-in-chief for his second year in a row. Dr. Greer believes his prior experience gave this team a great advantage. The new team of editors, a group of her former students, has had the benefit of working together for years.
Around the country many condolences are going out to the region affected by this storm. Yet, under the burden of this calamity, the Crimson White staff proved their talent, as well as they’re commitment, to their craft.
“These events have been terrible,” Greer said, “but as journalists, it’s the time that we matter the most.”
SPJ sheds light on conquering the PR blockade
May 3rd, 2011 § Leave a Comment
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.
ImPRessions team hosts first Social Media Summit
April 12th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Story // Nicole Spears, Reporter
A lot of hard work goes into each and every Scripps publication. Between delving into fresh and entertaining stories, chasing down that perfect photo, and working on a deadline, not much time or energy is reserved for extra work.
But why put in all this time and effort, only to supply your craft to a limited readership? Along with the evolving technologies of the day has come social media—the solution to this problem. Social media, when in the right hands, allows us to connect and interact in ways previously unimaginable. As a publication’s social media increases, so does its readership and success.
The Social Media Summit, hosted by the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism ImPRessions team aided OU publications with their social media expertise. Their mission was to improve interactivity among Scripps publications in order to attract a larger readership from OU students, as well as prospective students.
“Working primarily with Facebook and Twitter, we wanted to try to get all publications working together, on a cohesive page,” Sam Bartlett, ImPRessions account executive, said.
The ImPRessions J-School account, prior to hosting the Social Media Summit, was already utilizing their newly released Scripps Facebook page to spark up conversation between publications. Bartlett and her team wanted to further engage social media activity among Scripps students. They set out to do this by inviting several campus publications to the event, where they offered an in-depth educational session on the uses of social media.
The Social Media Summit attracted members and writers from The Post, PRSSA, The New Political, the Alumni Association, and Students for Global Media and Diversity, among others. Bartlett, along with other ImPRessions account associates involved in the event, viewed it as a success.
“We got really good feedback, they had a lot of questions that we had good answers for,” Bartlett said. Publications came seeking advice on how to get more interaction from students, along with getting them more members. The team taught attendees to start a conversation with retweets, or by posing a question.
Better use of social media platforms can help promote each organization, while also bringing them together.
“Although we may be competitors, we’re working towards the same goals,” Sarah Maloy, ImPRessions account associate, said. “The heart of Scripps is the organizations, and we wanted to promote that.”
The ImPRessions PR students wanted to spread the word that the benefits of these social media sites reach beyond improving communication within the Scripps community. A bigger Facebook and Twitter presence will help to draw in prospective students, which is a primary focus for the ImPRessions J-School team. In addition, more interactivity will display the diversity of opportunities incoming students will find amongst Scripp’s growing range of publications.
While updating social media outlets may appear as just another thing to get around to, trends around the industry show that being versed in their intricacies can give you a surprising advantage. As titles like “Social Media Specialist” pop-up in well-known corporations, these tools are becoming increasingly important to job seekers.
As for using social media to your current publication’s advantage, look out for the next Social Media Summit, which could be happening as soon as the end of Spring Quarter.
SPJ to host event on professor’s exposure to war in Afghanistan
April 5th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Story // Nicole Spears, Reporter
Next week’s SPJ meeting will feature speaker Becky Sell and will center upon issues surrounding embedded journalism and covering of issues involved with the war in Iraq.
Sell is an assistant professor in Ohio University’s School of Visual Communication. She will bring her experience from working on the Female Engagement Teams project in Afghanistan to the table. Her exposure to the war was up close and personal, as she was embedded with the troops and can lend wisdom that every journalism student can gain.
These missions are principally designed to ease tensions between citizens and troops in cities affected by war or crisis. In Afghanistan, the nurturing characteristics of females are played upon as these soldiers attempt to gain the trust and knowledge of families in the war zone.
The concept and fulfillment of Female Engagement Teams is largely under circulated, and possibly misunderstood.
“It’s female marines, working in teams, for counterinsurgency war efforts,” Sell said.
Needless to say, such a project can become dangerous.
At the SPJ meeting next Tuesday, April12th, Sell will expand on her encounters through this project. She plans to offer insight on war coverage, along with journalism involving research. As she shares her knowledge on these topics, she hopes to give students the opportunity to ask questions as well.
Be sure to check in to this week’s SPJ meeting for an intriguing presentation of a rare, inside look at a less than commercialized side of journalism.
Bridging the fields of professional outlets
March 29th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
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.
INC columnist reflects on time as a busy Scripps student
March 8th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Column // Nicole Spears, Reporter
English paper, history reading, French grammar, journalism articles and the occasional job or scholarship application — that’s quite a mountain to climb on a drowsy Monday night. Yet, this is only the beginning of the weekly to-do list many journalism students face.
After hours of rushing from class to class, it’s hard to find a second of stability before the stress of the week to come washes over you, no matter how you may resist. Everyone can concur that this cycle gets old. So, before you let the current take you, enter this storm well-equipped. Amidst the sea of over-stressed, under- rested college students, remember: it’s all about perspective.
If college has taught me anything, it’s been the true value of self-determination. With the temptation of an episode of my favorite show always lingering in the back of my mind, I once had a rough time finding the determination to focus on my priorities. But now, when it’s time to get things done, I’ve learned a few tricks to fall back on that are sure to change wandering mind-set.
Putting your mind in the right place is the first step to a more productive and organized lifestyle, but that’s exactly all it is—the first step. If you know what you want, one way or another, you’re going to have to put yourself out there to get it. The right perspective is the foundation for success, but only after personal commitment and, most likely, some hard work. The first approach I’ve found to be effective is taking homework personally. Not to say that you should be offended when your professor hits you with an unexpected assignment (although I’ve done that, too). Rather, take each task as a trial. Take the challenge upon yourself to do something, and to do it well. After all, who are you here for? Most of us are working toward a higher education to better ourselves and to provide for our futures. Seeing tasks as challenges brings this to the forefront of your mind. And let’s be honest, you are usually your top priority.
Another method that I’ve turned to is something I’ve adopted from the speech “Everybody’s Free (to wear sunscreen)” written by Mary Schmich, a columnist for The Chicago Tribune. “Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.”
Delineate the challenges that you face throughout your continuing education as a competition with yourself. “The race” is the reason you’re here; it’s the reason you sacrifice hours of sleep and nights out with friends. But in a competition, you keep your eyes on the prize. Bringing this philosophy to academics will not only keep you motivated to do your work, but to do your best work.
Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of your long-term goals. And while slacking should really be avoided, there’s a lesson to be learned in rolling with the punches. In the end, you want a solid GPA, and you want a great and unforgettable college experience. Getting discouraged by a rough day only puts these goals off track. So, while the “being behind” part is hard to face, keep in mind how exhilarating it is to get ahead.
Everyone can be tough on him or herself and get behind in the work to be accomplished. But, next time you’re feeling the urge to slack, remember that it’s all about attitude. As the pressures of finals week pile up, try out these tactics that offer a change of pace.
SPJ explores depths of reporting from professional outlook
March 1st, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Story // Nicole Spears, Reporter
Ohio University’s Society of Professional Journalists will collaborate this week with the Institute for International Journalism (IIJ) and other OU organizations to deliver a compelling double-feature on investigative reporting.
Today Rebecca Hamilton, special correspondent on Sudan with The Washington Post and Pulitzer Prize recipient for investigative reporting, will visit OU to speak on issues she is covering in Sudan. All students are encouraged to attend this event held in Scripps 111 at 5:10 p.m.
The event, also sponsored by the African Studies Program and by the War and Peace Studies Program, will be nothing if not timely, considering the influence that the unfolding Sudanese government will have on U.S. relations in the upcoming weeks.
As a graduate of Harvard Law School, Hamilton did not initially have journalistic aims. But her concerns and aspirations to help this region of Africa have led her to become a published author and sound reporter on the topic.
Hamilton’s speech will focus on the issues concerning Sudan, such as its current state and the challenges it will face as the country separates.
“This will help our students understand why we should care about international issues,” said Yusuf Kalyango, director of the IIJ and a Scripps professor. “Sudan has been a very critical country to the United States.”
Kalyango has worked with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting for the past two years. As a result of this relationship, OU students are given the privilege to meet a new international journalist each quarter.
In addition to the event tonight, SPJ will be meeting Joe Mahr, OU alumnus and Chicago Tribune watchdog reporter, this Friday, March 4. Mahr, an OU Honors Tutorial College graduate, has received a Pulitzer Prize in investigative journalism for his story on the Vietnam War.
“I’ll talk a bit about my journey from OU to the Tribune, some stories I did along the way and my approach, in general, to investigative reporting,” Mahr says. He also says that he will lead a very open-ended presentation, with plenty of room for questions and discussion.
Scripps students are always encouraged to make the most of these opportunities to meet and speak with such distinguished guests.
Professor Robert Stewart, director of the School of Journalism, views both speakers as great role models for his students because they are journalists who are going beyond telling the story.
“When our students are exposed to really interesting journalists, it shows them what can be done,” Stewart says. “Students will be inspired to strive for greatness.”
Which one fits you? Characters in journalism beyond the classroom
May 10th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Nicole Spears, Reporter
Edging our way into the real world, some of the situations we find ourselves in suddenly seem to lose their glamour. We used to idealize the adult world in all its glory, yet, as we learn the typical “bills won’t pay themselves” lessons, these optimistic view can, at times, slip away. The same can happen with our views of the journalistic lifestyle. With classes and internships always on the forefront of your mind, the very things that drew you to this career choice can fall to the backburner. For a friendly reminder of all the glitz and glamour that can make journalism appear so attractive, briefly allow yourself to submit to the stereotype. Here are some of our generations’ favorite characters in journalism who can inspire the bustling, caffeine-dependent, brooding qualities within yourself.
Jenna Rink: The Child at Heart
13 Going on 30
Innocent Jenna finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her naïve perspective puts a twist on her day job as a fashion magazine editor in New York City. This positive, though slightly out of place, attitude, ends up bringing her unexpected success with her boss. Jenna can inspire all of us to go back to the basics, and not to be afraid of adding a creative flair to our work.
Ray Embray: The Guiding Light
Hancock
This defeated public relations specialist takes on the biggest project of his life when offering to repair the image of Will Smith’s character, Hancock. Ray, having just launched a failed campaign for a corporate charity, is now challenged to keep up with the PR disasters that his newest client creates. Kind and gentle, Ray does his best to navigate his life and others’ with his strong moral compass. Ray’s character serves to remind us that our values should be incorporated into our daily lives, and work is no exception.
Miranda Priestly: The Fearful Leader
The Devil Wears Prada
At first glance, it’s hard to see why anyone would idolize Miranda Priestly. She may hold the glamorous title of executive at a New York fashion magazine, but her diamond-hard exterior is far from inviting. Yet, as she faces challenges in her personal life, we see that this mask of mercilessness comes off to reveal a warm heart with good intentions. Miranda teaches us that everyone deserves a second chance, even that intolerable person you’ll work under someday.
Clark Kent: Nothing Short of Superman
Smallville
The character of Clark Kent unites comic book fans, sci-fi fanatics and–journalists? This super natural being exaggerates just about every macho role you can conjure up. His heroic alter ego always gets him the best leads on the crime beat in Metropolis, where he holds a day job as a reporter for the Daily Planet. Clark brings his best to work everyday, something that we could all aspire to do.
John and Jenny Grogan: The Love Story
Marley & Me
This charming, true-life duo shows that competition can be healthy in a romantic relationship. After relocating from Michigan to southern Florida, John and Jenny land jobs writing for competing newspapers. When Jenny finds herself scoring front-page stories, John is left writing obituaries. Yet, as life has it’s way with the two, John finds his family dog Marley as a brilliant inspiration for the weekly column he is eventually granted. This animated pair show us to how to find inspiration in everyday life.
Rory Gilmore: All About the Drama
Gilmore Girls
Rory’s tale is one with its fair share of twists and turns. Although she always has some family or romantic drama interrupting her pursuits in life, she carries straight A’s as a Yale undergrad, as well as the title of editor at the university’s prominent newspaper. Rory’s ideal resume grows as she goes on to apply for internships at the New York Times, and follows a political campaign as a reporter for an online publication. Rory is a role model for every preoccupied student: even when you have a lot to juggle in your life, you have to make your dreams a priority.
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