Hello AC Student Voices community,
I have recently entered a contest to win a blogging contract with Sunglass Hut. Judges will choose nine finalists to go to the next round and participate in in-person interviews in New York City. The tenth finalist will be chosen by public vote. This would be the opportunity of a lifetime and I am using all forms of social media to rally votes for my entry. Check out the link and if you like my entry please vote, you must validate your vote via your email address once you place it.
Thank you in advance!
Maria Cris
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Health Care for Young Adults: Albright Style
For my project, I will localize President Obama's Health Care Reform. The Plan has a special section that applies specifically to young adults, and how it will change their health care situations. In the new plan, one of the new stipulations will be that young adults can stay on their parent's plans until the age of 26, if their jobs don't offer them a good benefit package. However, the law won't officially come into play until around fall/January, so many graduates might be uninsured. I'll interview seniors since it is affecting them the most at this time, and get some of their feedback. For my multimedia element, I will include a video segment of Obama signing the law.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Final Reflections
1. What did you know about journalism, citizen journalism, and blogging before you took the course? I knew Journalism was an important industry, and that newspapers were steadily declining. I knew of blogging as being more personal perspective of certain issues.
2. What did you learn about journalism, citizen journalism, and blogging through readings and discussions? What do you remember most from the readings? What do you agree with/disagree with? I learned how little certain content is filtered, and I think that is a great thing. I disagree with the need to find sources when reporting certain issues. Blogging is intended for people to put their message out there. If there was a deadline that any facts we used needed to be cited, that is fine, but finding sources made this site a journalist site for Albright, and not blogging.
3. Describe your experience with the hands-on element with a focus on what you learned, the educational value, and the application to the real world. Be sure to discuss:
a. Use of technology
There needs to be more time spent on learning the technology. There were many struggles within the class trying to use the equipment, and it was a disaster.
b. Covering stories/event/issues relevant to Albright/Reading community
We should have been allowed to cover our written blogs on any issue, local, state, national, international, so be it. The Albright Campus is very limited in stories, and makes it very hard for everyone to cover something. Second, as I stated earlier, this was reporting, not blogging. We were not allowed to cover the issues with the spins we wanted to, or to be as critical as we wanted to.
c. Class critiques of blogs/podcasts
The Critiques were very helpful, it is a fresher set of eyes, and allowed those being critiqued to gain input and ideas. I think the technical issues we experienced did take away from the quality of the stories, but having classmates give different ideas was very helpful.
d. Responsibility/freedom of blogging
The responsibility of blogging was too high for this class. If I wanted to do a video blog on our country's economy, I doubt I'm going to be able to have President Obama appear on it. Let's put that on scale, if I wanted to cover Albright's tuition, I doubt President McMillan has the time to help for a video blog. Blogging is not about reporting, it is about reaction. I fully agree we should check our information, and points should be deducted for false information, but the source requirements made this class non-blogging. Also, we are not reporters, we are students. We do our written blog, and if it gets noticed, great. Yes, it is good reporting to interview those who comment, and then post a follow-up story, but we are full-time students, who have other work to do for other classes, as well as moving on to the next story for this class. If there was extra credit offered to follow up that is a different story, but this class has 8 assigned blogs, and expecting more out of anyone because they got noticed is not completely fair.
4. Discuss what you now think/feel/believe about the role citizen journalism and blogging play in communication. Is blogging a form of journalism? Citizen Journalism is a great way of revealing issues that others would not otherwise be aware of. However, the fact remains blogging is not a form of journalism. Blogging is not about reporting the news. It is about stating how you feel about the news, and why you feel that way.
2. What did you learn about journalism, citizen journalism, and blogging through readings and discussions? What do you remember most from the readings? What do you agree with/disagree with? I learned how little certain content is filtered, and I think that is a great thing. I disagree with the need to find sources when reporting certain issues. Blogging is intended for people to put their message out there. If there was a deadline that any facts we used needed to be cited, that is fine, but finding sources made this site a journalist site for Albright, and not blogging.
3. Describe your experience with the hands-on element with a focus on what you learned, the educational value, and the application to the real world. Be sure to discuss:
a. Use of technology
There needs to be more time spent on learning the technology. There were many struggles within the class trying to use the equipment, and it was a disaster.
b. Covering stories/event/issues relevant to Albright/Reading community
We should have been allowed to cover our written blogs on any issue, local, state, national, international, so be it. The Albright Campus is very limited in stories, and makes it very hard for everyone to cover something. Second, as I stated earlier, this was reporting, not blogging. We were not allowed to cover the issues with the spins we wanted to, or to be as critical as we wanted to.
c. Class critiques of blogs/podcasts
The Critiques were very helpful, it is a fresher set of eyes, and allowed those being critiqued to gain input and ideas. I think the technical issues we experienced did take away from the quality of the stories, but having classmates give different ideas was very helpful.
d. Responsibility/freedom of blogging
The responsibility of blogging was too high for this class. If I wanted to do a video blog on our country's economy, I doubt I'm going to be able to have President Obama appear on it. Let's put that on scale, if I wanted to cover Albright's tuition, I doubt President McMillan has the time to help for a video blog. Blogging is not about reporting, it is about reaction. I fully agree we should check our information, and points should be deducted for false information, but the source requirements made this class non-blogging. Also, we are not reporters, we are students. We do our written blog, and if it gets noticed, great. Yes, it is good reporting to interview those who comment, and then post a follow-up story, but we are full-time students, who have other work to do for other classes, as well as moving on to the next story for this class. If there was extra credit offered to follow up that is a different story, but this class has 8 assigned blogs, and expecting more out of anyone because they got noticed is not completely fair.
4. Discuss what you now think/feel/believe about the role citizen journalism and blogging play in communication. Is blogging a form of journalism? Citizen Journalism is a great way of revealing issues that others would not otherwise be aware of. However, the fact remains blogging is not a form of journalism. Blogging is not about reporting the news. It is about stating how you feel about the news, and why you feel that way.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Update: The Trouble with Digital Media
I realize that in my very first blog about Digital Media, I may have written rather harshly and in a rather heated manner. This is all due to my growing frustration with the department and the college. I decided to write this optional update because a surprising amount of things has happened since my blog was posted. That Friday, when I entered Alumni Hall for my Digital Literacy class, I found the class delayed due to a meeting that the DM department was having. When I actually did enter class, I was approached by Dan Falabella, the head of the Digital Media department, who told me that he had read my blog. He told me that he had been made head of the department to "help resolve some of the issues addressed in the blog." The meeting they were having was, in fact, to discuss installing lab monitors, so the lab could stay open later and be easily accessible to its students.
Once in class, my professor, Jocelyn Kolb, explained that lab monitors would have 24-hour access to the lab. The lab is open until 1 a.m. on weekdays for students, but if the monitors are there later, it is at their discretion whether to let students in. She also explained the extended weekday hours, a great improvement over its current hours. Lab monitors, however, will also have a great responsibility, and will be held accountable if anything goes wrong or if the lab is left unattended, which is understandable. However, in the past students, were allowed in the lab unattended and simply had to wait for public safety to let them in. This was often an annoyance for both students and public safety, and students often waited for up to an hour. However, once in the lab, students remained unhindered to do their work until about 3 a.m. There have been many improvements, but there are also still many hindrances. I have actually found that getting into the lab is still far too much of a hassle; half the time, I find myself going to the computer center instead, and I often see many other DM students there as well. One student, who wishes to remain anonymous, told me, “It is just easier this way.” I may have made a big fuss about getting into the labs, but is still a hassle, and so I agree that sometimes it is just easier not to go there. However, this is only if the computers in the Computer Center have the programs you need. There was one occasion when my group for class needed a specific lab to do a project (because it is the only one on campus with the program) and public safety refused to open it until 10 p.m. They said this was because that is when the lab monitor started, but the person with whom I was working, John Smucker,’10, was the lab monitor that night, and despite telling them this, they still refused to open it. I know they are trying to make improvements, but it is all very frustrating. I found out it is really not up to public safety when the labs are open; that authority lies with Dr. Falabella.
I spoke with Dr. Falabella, who told me that the lab is now open Monday-Thursday until 1 a.m., under supervision of a monitor. They are not open during the weekends at this time, which I found out about the hard way when I attempted to go the lab and do work on a Sunday, only to call public safety and be refused entry to the labs. I found this rather annoying, and I know many other students have as well. Dr. Falabella explained that it is all about funding; there is not enough money to keep the lab open on weekends or later at night. He explained that he would like to follow the hours of the Computer Center, which is open for students on the weekends. I was informed that the reason for locking the doors and having so many precautions is all about safety. There have apparently been reports of people coming in off the streets or of non-DM students fooling around in the lab. I have never heard of such incidents or heard of problems, but I understand the need for safety. Instead of calling public safety and having to wait long amounts of time for entry, the lab monitor is now given a radio and public safety will radio them to let students in. It can also be used to radio public safety in case of an emergency. The labs had apparently become more of a hang-out than a professional workspace. I never saw much of a problem with this, but either way, it all seems to come down to funding, and I am disappointed that DM cannot obtain more of that.
What I am sure everyone would love is to have key-card entry to the lab. This way, only Digital Media students could get in, there would be no need to call or to radio anyone to gain access, and work would be accomplished more enthusiastically. Many colleges have this for their buildings and departments, but unfortunately somehow Albright College just does not seem to have the money. This semester will be my last at Albright, as I am transferring in the fall to Drexel University in Philadelphia. I told Dr. Falabella, and despite his efforts to improve the department, I simply have not been impressed or convinced enough to stay. Were it not for Dr. Falabella, the Digital Media department might not even have been kept in existence, as there was talk of shutting it down last year. I do have hope for the Digital Media department, and I know it can improve, but its progress is slow, and the lack of money just does allow for all the opportunities that are available.
Once in class, my professor, Jocelyn Kolb, explained that lab monitors would have 24-hour access to the lab. The lab is open until 1 a.m. on weekdays for students, but if the monitors are there later, it is at their discretion whether to let students in. She also explained the extended weekday hours, a great improvement over its current hours. Lab monitors, however, will also have a great responsibility, and will be held accountable if anything goes wrong or if the lab is left unattended, which is understandable. However, in the past students, were allowed in the lab unattended and simply had to wait for public safety to let them in. This was often an annoyance for both students and public safety, and students often waited for up to an hour. However, once in the lab, students remained unhindered to do their work until about 3 a.m. There have been many improvements, but there are also still many hindrances. I have actually found that getting into the lab is still far too much of a hassle; half the time, I find myself going to the computer center instead, and I often see many other DM students there as well. One student, who wishes to remain anonymous, told me, “It is just easier this way.” I may have made a big fuss about getting into the labs, but is still a hassle, and so I agree that sometimes it is just easier not to go there. However, this is only if the computers in the Computer Center have the programs you need. There was one occasion when my group for class needed a specific lab to do a project (because it is the only one on campus with the program) and public safety refused to open it until 10 p.m. They said this was because that is when the lab monitor started, but the person with whom I was working, John Smucker,’10, was the lab monitor that night, and despite telling them this, they still refused to open it. I know they are trying to make improvements, but it is all very frustrating. I found out it is really not up to public safety when the labs are open; that authority lies with Dr. Falabella.
I spoke with Dr. Falabella, who told me that the lab is now open Monday-Thursday until 1 a.m., under supervision of a monitor. They are not open during the weekends at this time, which I found out about the hard way when I attempted to go the lab and do work on a Sunday, only to call public safety and be refused entry to the labs. I found this rather annoying, and I know many other students have as well. Dr. Falabella explained that it is all about funding; there is not enough money to keep the lab open on weekends or later at night. He explained that he would like to follow the hours of the Computer Center, which is open for students on the weekends. I was informed that the reason for locking the doors and having so many precautions is all about safety. There have apparently been reports of people coming in off the streets or of non-DM students fooling around in the lab. I have never heard of such incidents or heard of problems, but I understand the need for safety. Instead of calling public safety and having to wait long amounts of time for entry, the lab monitor is now given a radio and public safety will radio them to let students in. It can also be used to radio public safety in case of an emergency. The labs had apparently become more of a hang-out than a professional workspace. I never saw much of a problem with this, but either way, it all seems to come down to funding, and I am disappointed that DM cannot obtain more of that.
What I am sure everyone would love is to have key-card entry to the lab. This way, only Digital Media students could get in, there would be no need to call or to radio anyone to gain access, and work would be accomplished more enthusiastically. Many colleges have this for their buildings and departments, but unfortunately somehow Albright College just does not seem to have the money. This semester will be my last at Albright, as I am transferring in the fall to Drexel University in Philadelphia. I told Dr. Falabella, and despite his efforts to improve the department, I simply have not been impressed or convinced enough to stay. Were it not for Dr. Falabella, the Digital Media department might not even have been kept in existence, as there was talk of shutting it down last year. I do have hope for the Digital Media department, and I know it can improve, but its progress is slow, and the lack of money just does allow for all the opportunities that are available.
Final Reflective Blog
Frankly, before I took this class, I was not all that interested in journalism, citizen journalism, or blogging. I found this class to be a lot of work, but it really opened my eyes and made me more aware and knowledgeable about these things. I was never all that interested in journalism because I always thought of newspapers, or nosy reporters, or invading people’s privacy, but I learned that it was so much more than this. I never really thought of bloggers as citizen journalists, and I never knew that websites existed solely for this purpose. I had read blogs on previous occasions, but I had never really considered them newsworthy; they were more just for fun, but when I go back and look at them now, they actually are very informative. After this class, I am actually much more interested in journalism and blogging. I have seen all the possibilities it can create, and even just from this one class’s blog, it still managed to spark controversy on campus. I really learned how to seek out sources, obtain permission to film or record things, and especially how to edit. I am really glad I was able to learn how to edit, because it is a skill that I know I will need, but with which I have not yet had a lot of experience. When Deborah Horan came to speak to us and told us about her experience reporting in the Middle East, she told us that it was very important to be well-rounded and to know how to do a little bit of everything. The more you can do, the more employable you are, and the more you can further yourself in your field and for your own personal gain. As for the readings, many of them I did not find all that useful or relatable to what we were doing in class. They often did spark discussions in class that were interesting, but sometimes I failed to see how they related back to the focus of everything. They often did create discussion about ethics, which I do think is useful, because being in Communications, this question of what is moral or what is allowed is constantly arising. I did learn about some citizen journalist websites of which I was previously unaware and I actually found them quite interesting. It showed that you don’t necessarily have to have a career in journalism to report on the news or on something that you feel is important. I especially liked them because they often focused on more local or smaller things that would not normally make headline news. I also found one particular article we read early on about blogging, and about how it is different from other types of writing; I the aspect of blogging that it is more conversational and personal than other types of writing. I also found discussions about freedom of speech and things like comments very interesting, and how some bloggers allow for comments while others do not.
Sometimes going to campus events or setting up interviews could be a little nerve-racking, and I found I had to leave my comfort zone quite a bit, but this is all part of the real-experience. I did not realize at first that other faculty or administrators would be reading the blog, and so I was very surprised with my first blog that Dan Falabella, the head of the Digital Media department, approached me after reading my blog. I think that making videos and podcasts was a really great experience, and although it was a lot of work, I am really glad I was able to learn different techniques. I wish the equipment from the library was a little better quality and that it was more available, but it is good that we got to use the technology at all. I found good opportunities being presented to me because of this class and the events I covered. As I said, I was approached after writing my first blog, and I believe that it helped lead to a change in the way Alumni Hall was handled, where the DM department is. Also, when I filmed the student peace demonstration, I interviewed a member of Silent Witness, the protest group from the community, and the Executive Director, Alanna Berger, asked me if I could give them a copy of my footage, which they would use and for which they would give me credit. This class presented a lot of opportunities to me that I had not originally anticipated. Although I liked posting these things on a blog, I felt that our freedom with it was slightly limited. Blogs are all about saying what you want to say, and being open and conversational. I know this was a class, but there were requirements to be met, and sometimes it felt difficult to keep it true to blogging style, while still trying to remain professional for class.
Class critiques were also sometimes embarrassing or nerve-racking. I think they were a good idea, though; it was good to hear what my peers had to say, as opposed to just hearing from the professor. Sometimes they could relate better to the event or the trouble and could offer a different kind of perspective or critique. Just as we need well-rounded sources for our blogs and podcasts, it was good to have well-rounded opinions, advice, and critiques. I also liked watching other people’s blogs in a classroom setting rather than in my own room, because sometimes I noticed things that I had not noticed before, and we could have more of a discussion and listen to what other people had to say. This was helpful because it was often done before we had actually received a grade, and we could hear things that we could remember for the next time before actually learning what we had earned. However, sometimes it was more difficult to hear podcasts in class and sometimes this made it difficult to critique it properly. Overall, however, although class critiques could sometimes be stressful for those being critiqued, I think they are a good idea and worked out well so that people could get varying views and opinions.
My opinions of citizen journalism and blogging have certainly changed after this class. I pay a lot more attention to it and actually respect it more. There are lots of things that can be done with either of them, and they can definitely have some kind of impact. I think that they are often overlooked, and now that I see the impact that they can have, I believe people should start paying attention. Blogs and citizen journalist websites as well as the comments that people have left, have the ability to share news and so they do appear as a form of journalism. They can inform people, cause controversy, have a significant influence, and create bigger stories. We even read several accounts where businesses have considered using blogs to transmit information, and certainly, with TV shows and spoiler blogs playing a big role, some have even become famous. There are lots of well-known blogs, and while some are news, others have made the news. They are a new form of communication, and as the culture converges and moves even more towards the Internet, I think they will only become more popular and more common. A lot of people prefer to get their information this way, rather than read a newspaper or watch the news; the power is at their fingertips, and they have the freedom to do and say almost anything they want. If you have something to say, a blog is a great way to do it. Not everyone may see it, but the Internet is so vast that there are ways to get yourself out there and have your voice heard or read.
This class forced me and allowed me to do things and to speak to people that normally I would not have. I think this was a good experience that could be helpful in a real-world situation, not just dealing with journalism. There was a lot of work involved, a lot of organization, and a lot of planning, all skills that someone should have. I found out a lot of things about the campus and the community that I never knew before, and was able to see a different side of things. I know it was an experimental class, and I think it does need some tweaking and I often found the workload stressful, but I really enjoyed doing most of it, and am so happy with the things I can take away from it. I know I have progressed from the very first blog I wrote until now, and hopefully I will continue to do so.
Sometimes going to campus events or setting up interviews could be a little nerve-racking, and I found I had to leave my comfort zone quite a bit, but this is all part of the real-experience. I did not realize at first that other faculty or administrators would be reading the blog, and so I was very surprised with my first blog that Dan Falabella, the head of the Digital Media department, approached me after reading my blog. I think that making videos and podcasts was a really great experience, and although it was a lot of work, I am really glad I was able to learn different techniques. I wish the equipment from the library was a little better quality and that it was more available, but it is good that we got to use the technology at all. I found good opportunities being presented to me because of this class and the events I covered. As I said, I was approached after writing my first blog, and I believe that it helped lead to a change in the way Alumni Hall was handled, where the DM department is. Also, when I filmed the student peace demonstration, I interviewed a member of Silent Witness, the protest group from the community, and the Executive Director, Alanna Berger, asked me if I could give them a copy of my footage, which they would use and for which they would give me credit. This class presented a lot of opportunities to me that I had not originally anticipated. Although I liked posting these things on a blog, I felt that our freedom with it was slightly limited. Blogs are all about saying what you want to say, and being open and conversational. I know this was a class, but there were requirements to be met, and sometimes it felt difficult to keep it true to blogging style, while still trying to remain professional for class.
Class critiques were also sometimes embarrassing or nerve-racking. I think they were a good idea, though; it was good to hear what my peers had to say, as opposed to just hearing from the professor. Sometimes they could relate better to the event or the trouble and could offer a different kind of perspective or critique. Just as we need well-rounded sources for our blogs and podcasts, it was good to have well-rounded opinions, advice, and critiques. I also liked watching other people’s blogs in a classroom setting rather than in my own room, because sometimes I noticed things that I had not noticed before, and we could have more of a discussion and listen to what other people had to say. This was helpful because it was often done before we had actually received a grade, and we could hear things that we could remember for the next time before actually learning what we had earned. However, sometimes it was more difficult to hear podcasts in class and sometimes this made it difficult to critique it properly. Overall, however, although class critiques could sometimes be stressful for those being critiqued, I think they are a good idea and worked out well so that people could get varying views and opinions.
My opinions of citizen journalism and blogging have certainly changed after this class. I pay a lot more attention to it and actually respect it more. There are lots of things that can be done with either of them, and they can definitely have some kind of impact. I think that they are often overlooked, and now that I see the impact that they can have, I believe people should start paying attention. Blogs and citizen journalist websites as well as the comments that people have left, have the ability to share news and so they do appear as a form of journalism. They can inform people, cause controversy, have a significant influence, and create bigger stories. We even read several accounts where businesses have considered using blogs to transmit information, and certainly, with TV shows and spoiler blogs playing a big role, some have even become famous. There are lots of well-known blogs, and while some are news, others have made the news. They are a new form of communication, and as the culture converges and moves even more towards the Internet, I think they will only become more popular and more common. A lot of people prefer to get their information this way, rather than read a newspaper or watch the news; the power is at their fingertips, and they have the freedom to do and say almost anything they want. If you have something to say, a blog is a great way to do it. Not everyone may see it, but the Internet is so vast that there are ways to get yourself out there and have your voice heard or read.
This class forced me and allowed me to do things and to speak to people that normally I would not have. I think this was a good experience that could be helpful in a real-world situation, not just dealing with journalism. There was a lot of work involved, a lot of organization, and a lot of planning, all skills that someone should have. I found out a lot of things about the campus and the community that I never knew before, and was able to see a different side of things. I know it was an experimental class, and I think it does need some tweaking and I often found the workload stressful, but I really enjoyed doing most of it, and am so happy with the things I can take away from it. I know I have progressed from the very first blog I wrote until now, and hopefully I will continue to do so.
Final Blog
When coming to this class I thought I knew something about journalism and citizen journalism and everything else we were going to talk about but I really had no clue. I knew what journalism was but was unclear about citizen journalism, I never heard it. As for blogging I heard of it and knew what it was but had never done it.
Through reading the book and the articles that we were given I have learned that citizen journalism is a lot of hard work and time it took to get the stories. I have learned that you need to back your sources and the more proof you have the better off you are. The examples that Professor Bekken has talked about helped me understand what citizen journalism really is. The thing I remember most from the readings is the “potter wars.” All of the confrontation over something that seemed so simple but to some it was a very big deal. I did enjoy the book because he talked as if he was blogging and not writing a book. It made it more interesting to read.
The technology as the hardest part of the whole class, the use of the camcorders and voice recorders will be a huge help in the real world. Since the real world is depending on technology this class helped prepare me for the use of technology and able to edit it. Being in college I thought it was a good idea that we covered issues about Albright. Having people, like any professor that read the blog, respond to the blog I think will help Albright in the future. The topics presented are situation that students feel very strong about and hopefully it will benefit Albright.
When we had to critique someone else blogs and podcasts, I was a little nervous because I did not want to be mean in my opinion and have someone get mad at me. The way that Professor Rakus made us write the critique and not write our names I thought it was very smart and enjoyed doing it. I believe it really helped out to get a students opinion on what they thought. We had many responsibilities and that is what it is like in the real world, so in that sense it was good. I found every topic that we all picked were good topics because we were not assigned it, we had the freedom to make our own choice in what we found interesting.
Blogging, I do not care what anyone says, is a form of journalism. People that do it may not have a masters is journalism or communication but it is a form of journalism in the sense there is research behind it and write it. If they are blogging about something the bloggers must research what they are talking about. If it was not for bloggers society would not be able it state their opinions in a fast, non-formal way.
Through reading the book and the articles that we were given I have learned that citizen journalism is a lot of hard work and time it took to get the stories. I have learned that you need to back your sources and the more proof you have the better off you are. The examples that Professor Bekken has talked about helped me understand what citizen journalism really is. The thing I remember most from the readings is the “potter wars.” All of the confrontation over something that seemed so simple but to some it was a very big deal. I did enjoy the book because he talked as if he was blogging and not writing a book. It made it more interesting to read.
The technology as the hardest part of the whole class, the use of the camcorders and voice recorders will be a huge help in the real world. Since the real world is depending on technology this class helped prepare me for the use of technology and able to edit it. Being in college I thought it was a good idea that we covered issues about Albright. Having people, like any professor that read the blog, respond to the blog I think will help Albright in the future. The topics presented are situation that students feel very strong about and hopefully it will benefit Albright.
When we had to critique someone else blogs and podcasts, I was a little nervous because I did not want to be mean in my opinion and have someone get mad at me. The way that Professor Rakus made us write the critique and not write our names I thought it was very smart and enjoyed doing it. I believe it really helped out to get a students opinion on what they thought. We had many responsibilities and that is what it is like in the real world, so in that sense it was good. I found every topic that we all picked were good topics because we were not assigned it, we had the freedom to make our own choice in what we found interesting.
Blogging, I do not care what anyone says, is a form of journalism. People that do it may not have a masters is journalism or communication but it is a form of journalism in the sense there is research behind it and write it. If they are blogging about something the bloggers must research what they are talking about. If it was not for bloggers society would not be able it state their opinions in a fast, non-formal way.
Final Reflective Blog
Before taking this class, I knew a little bit about the journalism process and the different types of writings and styles associated with it, things that I learned from a journalism class I took last semester. In that class, we learned about the different types of articles (feature, interview, etc.) and wrote several articles in different styles. So, from that, I knew how to write certain types of articles and knew the general principles involved with journalism.
Before taking the class, I knew little to nothing about citizen journalism. We talked about it, briefly, last semester in the journalism class but the coverage was not as in-depth that it was in this class. I knew that citizen journalism was a newer type of journalism that allowed people that were not professional journalist to publish stories that they felt were newsworthy and caught their interest. I also knew that this was a type of journalism that was taking over traditional journalism because online journalism is now more popular than print.
I had visited numerous blogs before taking class. While, they were not focused around world news or politics, I knew that blogs gave people the power to speak and get their voice out there on their own. I visit almost 10 celebrity gossip and news blogs daily so I was familiar with how they work and what they were.
From this class, I learned a lot about citizen and online journalism. With citizen journalism and blogging, I learned about the origins and how they became popular. I also gained a greater perspective on why it is important and the power it gives people. For decades, people have relied on TV and news publications to deliver news and were basically told what is important; now, people decide what they want to discuss and now have a bigger voice. It truly shows the evolution news has had over the years and tells us where we’re going.
With all that said, I wonder if one day, news in print will no longer exist and online publications will dominate completely. As an aspiring journalist, I worry about how secure my future is, given the transition from print to online publications and the fact that so many major newspapers are ending their publications and are experiencing debt and other financial problems. I know that a lot has to do with the recession, but a lot of it is the fact that most news has gone online. I guess the brighter side of things is that the people that these newspapers are hiring have to be very capable of handling online tasks and have to know how to work with technology—I have been exposed to all of the technology used today as well as the fact that I grew up in the age of computers and internet. It’s comforting to know that some of the things that I learned in this class will come in handy one day.
I don’t feel like I necessarily learned anything about journalism—I did, however, see print journalism in a different light because this class takes more of the online perspective and I had the print perspective last semester. So, comparing these two and looking at journalism from each standpoint, I gained new opinions. I basically feel that print journalism is not as effective as online journalism because online journalism is very convenient and so much that people do everyday (email, Facebook, shopping) is online, it is no wonder why this type of journalism has become so popular.
Some aspects from the readings that stick out to me are when the readings discussed whether citizen journalism and blogging are real types of journalism. This really made me think because I think it is tough to call. Some people write because they are just expressing an opinion while others are actually delivering some type of news—so, for that reason, I feel that citizen journalism is real journalism, is just depends on the content and delivery. Another part is that in the readings talks about why citizen journalism and other aspects of online happenings (like the fan groups and Sims games) is so important and encourages it. Those readings encourage it and say that it gives people a voice and a sense of community. This is an aspect I agree with because I think it is such a powerful thing to be able to write about whatever you feel and say whatever you feel; news is no longer necessarily dictated by the media. I also think it’s a way for people to feel more included and apart of a world they were formerly on the outside of.
My experiences with:
- Use of technology: I’ve always been comfortable with using technology—computers, internet, etc. so I never had an issue with the things that we had to use in this class. I learned a lot—I learned how to make a movie which is one of the biggest things I think I’ve taken away from this class and podcasts which I had heard about before but never really knew what they were prior to the class. Like I stated before, these are all advantages because when I get out there in the real world, looking to build my career, these are the type of capabilities that employers look for and I feel like I’ll be up to date and prepared for the tasks that jobs in the journalism field entail. The only thing is that sometimes the applications (Audacity and Movie Maker) would stop working or not save work which was VERY frustrating. The podcasts, audio and video, are extremely time-consuming. But, on the way, I’ve learned how to make sure certain mistakes wouldn’t occur and how to make it better.
- Covering stories/events/issues relevant to the Albright/Reading community: There were pros and cons about covering issues surrounding the Albright and Reading community. The pros were that I was able to really dig deep into Albright events and meet so many different people—whether they were my fellow students or members of the administration and really get a feel for what the school stands for. I felt more apart of the community and more knowledgeable about some of the things that happen on campus. Most of my posts surrounded issues of diversity and gave voice to minorities on campus (gay people, people of color) which I was proud of because I feel like these voices need to be heard. I was happy that I was given the opportunity to help give the platform for their voices. The cons are that sometimes, it was very difficult to select a topic—there is not that much going on campus that is really interesting and there was always the issue of someone already picking a topic that you had in mind. I felt that we should have been given topics or that we should have been able to step out of Albright and Reading for an assignment or two just to add variety.
- Class critiques of blogs/podcasts: I’ve never enjoyed critiquing other people’s work or having my own work critiqued…but, it is always beneficial to get an idea of how people are receiving your work. This aspect of the class taught me even more how to accept constructive criticism and just being open to improving and growing as a writer.
- Responsibility/freedom as a blogger: Looking back on it, I am very satisfied with my blogging experience and proud that I was apart of a blog and was exposed to so many types of things. I loved having to take on the responsibility of a blogger and writer because I felt like it was preparation for the career I hope to have one day. I also enjoyed being able to talk about the issues I found important and crucial to the campus.
Now that the class is over, I have a true perspective and idea about what blogging and citizen journalism truly is. And, given this perspective, it has impacted the way I view blogging. And, with all that said, I do feel that blogging/citizen journalism is a type of journalism. Like I said above, it is all about content and the way it is delivered—if a person is delivering a piece of news, than yes, it is journalism. You don’t necessarily have to go to school to be considered a journalist. While, school and training helps you become a better writer and helps you survive through the industry, a person reporting on news and writing about it is a journalist, in my opinion. Everyone deserves to be able to express their ideas and thoughts. Citizen journalism and blogging helps with allowing people to speak and to get their voices heard. News doesn’t always have to be provided by TV or a newspaper—now, people can determine their own news and have it all out there. And, that’s the way it should be.
Before taking the class, I knew little to nothing about citizen journalism. We talked about it, briefly, last semester in the journalism class but the coverage was not as in-depth that it was in this class. I knew that citizen journalism was a newer type of journalism that allowed people that were not professional journalist to publish stories that they felt were newsworthy and caught their interest. I also knew that this was a type of journalism that was taking over traditional journalism because online journalism is now more popular than print.
I had visited numerous blogs before taking class. While, they were not focused around world news or politics, I knew that blogs gave people the power to speak and get their voice out there on their own. I visit almost 10 celebrity gossip and news blogs daily so I was familiar with how they work and what they were.
From this class, I learned a lot about citizen and online journalism. With citizen journalism and blogging, I learned about the origins and how they became popular. I also gained a greater perspective on why it is important and the power it gives people. For decades, people have relied on TV and news publications to deliver news and were basically told what is important; now, people decide what they want to discuss and now have a bigger voice. It truly shows the evolution news has had over the years and tells us where we’re going.
With all that said, I wonder if one day, news in print will no longer exist and online publications will dominate completely. As an aspiring journalist, I worry about how secure my future is, given the transition from print to online publications and the fact that so many major newspapers are ending their publications and are experiencing debt and other financial problems. I know that a lot has to do with the recession, but a lot of it is the fact that most news has gone online. I guess the brighter side of things is that the people that these newspapers are hiring have to be very capable of handling online tasks and have to know how to work with technology—I have been exposed to all of the technology used today as well as the fact that I grew up in the age of computers and internet. It’s comforting to know that some of the things that I learned in this class will come in handy one day.
I don’t feel like I necessarily learned anything about journalism—I did, however, see print journalism in a different light because this class takes more of the online perspective and I had the print perspective last semester. So, comparing these two and looking at journalism from each standpoint, I gained new opinions. I basically feel that print journalism is not as effective as online journalism because online journalism is very convenient and so much that people do everyday (email, Facebook, shopping) is online, it is no wonder why this type of journalism has become so popular.
Some aspects from the readings that stick out to me are when the readings discussed whether citizen journalism and blogging are real types of journalism. This really made me think because I think it is tough to call. Some people write because they are just expressing an opinion while others are actually delivering some type of news—so, for that reason, I feel that citizen journalism is real journalism, is just depends on the content and delivery. Another part is that in the readings talks about why citizen journalism and other aspects of online happenings (like the fan groups and Sims games) is so important and encourages it. Those readings encourage it and say that it gives people a voice and a sense of community. This is an aspect I agree with because I think it is such a powerful thing to be able to write about whatever you feel and say whatever you feel; news is no longer necessarily dictated by the media. I also think it’s a way for people to feel more included and apart of a world they were formerly on the outside of.
My experiences with:
- Use of technology: I’ve always been comfortable with using technology—computers, internet, etc. so I never had an issue with the things that we had to use in this class. I learned a lot—I learned how to make a movie which is one of the biggest things I think I’ve taken away from this class and podcasts which I had heard about before but never really knew what they were prior to the class. Like I stated before, these are all advantages because when I get out there in the real world, looking to build my career, these are the type of capabilities that employers look for and I feel like I’ll be up to date and prepared for the tasks that jobs in the journalism field entail. The only thing is that sometimes the applications (Audacity and Movie Maker) would stop working or not save work which was VERY frustrating. The podcasts, audio and video, are extremely time-consuming. But, on the way, I’ve learned how to make sure certain mistakes wouldn’t occur and how to make it better.
- Covering stories/events/issues relevant to the Albright/Reading community: There were pros and cons about covering issues surrounding the Albright and Reading community. The pros were that I was able to really dig deep into Albright events and meet so many different people—whether they were my fellow students or members of the administration and really get a feel for what the school stands for. I felt more apart of the community and more knowledgeable about some of the things that happen on campus. Most of my posts surrounded issues of diversity and gave voice to minorities on campus (gay people, people of color) which I was proud of because I feel like these voices need to be heard. I was happy that I was given the opportunity to help give the platform for their voices. The cons are that sometimes, it was very difficult to select a topic—there is not that much going on campus that is really interesting and there was always the issue of someone already picking a topic that you had in mind. I felt that we should have been given topics or that we should have been able to step out of Albright and Reading for an assignment or two just to add variety.
- Class critiques of blogs/podcasts: I’ve never enjoyed critiquing other people’s work or having my own work critiqued…but, it is always beneficial to get an idea of how people are receiving your work. This aspect of the class taught me even more how to accept constructive criticism and just being open to improving and growing as a writer.
- Responsibility/freedom as a blogger: Looking back on it, I am very satisfied with my blogging experience and proud that I was apart of a blog and was exposed to so many types of things. I loved having to take on the responsibility of a blogger and writer because I felt like it was preparation for the career I hope to have one day. I also enjoyed being able to talk about the issues I found important and crucial to the campus.
Now that the class is over, I have a true perspective and idea about what blogging and citizen journalism truly is. And, given this perspective, it has impacted the way I view blogging. And, with all that said, I do feel that blogging/citizen journalism is a type of journalism. Like I said above, it is all about content and the way it is delivered—if a person is delivering a piece of news, than yes, it is journalism. You don’t necessarily have to go to school to be considered a journalist. While, school and training helps you become a better writer and helps you survive through the industry, a person reporting on news and writing about it is a journalist, in my opinion. Everyone deserves to be able to express their ideas and thoughts. Citizen journalism and blogging helps with allowing people to speak and to get their voices heard. News doesn’t always have to be provided by TV or a newspaper—now, people can determine their own news and have it all out there. And, that’s the way it should be.
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