StrengthsQuest

Talent One: Relator. This is definitely me. I prefer having a close relationship with people I know and try to get to know and understand them as much as possible. This quality would probably make me better suitable in a small company where everyone knows everyone and works like a small family. I would fit into this setting much better than at some corporate office where I'd just be one of 239490258 people.

Talent Two: Restorative. This is also quite fitting. I love to solve problems and "fix" situations. This would be useful in any professional situation. If someone gives me something to do or needs help figuring something out, I would mos def be able to help them.

Talent Three: Developer. Another match. It's sometimes not the best, but I try to see the best in everyone and easily trust them. Again, this would be good for a small company where people are people with stories behind them that I know and can work with.

All these traits add up to one main aspect of me: I'm a small-town girl. I need a small community to support me and working for a small company would be a perfect fit.

Strengths Quest

My top three strengths were restorative, context and individualization. I feel that restorative could help me in a professional setting because if I was given a project that other thought seemed impossible, I would be able to attack it and try to fix it. Also If i am in a professional setting, and was given an unexpected problem, I would easily be able to find a solution due to my restorative quality. My other strength was context, which could help me at work in many ways. For example I am able to make better decisions due to my ability to detect the underling structure of problems and make more informed decisions. My third strgenth is individualization which could help at work becuase of my ability to find the unique qualities of each person. This could help me because I would work better with groups of people and would have better group cohesion.

3 Strengths That Will Help in the Future.

Adaptability, Arranger, Positivity, Responsibility, and Maximizer were the 5 strengths I received from the quiz.  The three that I feel that I will benefit the most from in the future are adaptability, arranger, and responsibility.  At this point in time I really do not have a solid idea of what my career will entail after I graduate, I'm not even sure of my major at this point either.  But the three strengths I choose can help me in any job situation.  Once I get a job, adaptability will be helpful right off the bat.  It will be useful to be able to be handle, and adapt, to any situation thrown my way.  Arranger was not a strength I would usually describe myself with, because I am not a very organized person.  But seeing that this was one of my strengths made me really realize that I have to ability to be organized, which will only improve my work.  I think responsibility is the most important out of my strengths.  It shows that I can really be depended on, which is extremely important in any industry.  All three of the strengths will play a part in how successful I am after college.

The Valiant and Heroic Escape from the Relentless Jaws of Gruesome Death

Not coincidentally, competition beat out my other four strengths to take what I feel is the top spot among them. Having this quality as a main strength provides me with motivation to set expectations based both on my own potential and the potential of others. The field of journalism is highly competitive, especially at the University of Missouri and especially during rough economic conditions. As a result, those who pursue such careers must have the hunger to be a step ahead and must be "instinctively aware of other people's performance," as Strengthsquest puts it. This is an important quality because a capitalistic society is inherently competitive, and if the thrill of victory in any sense doesn't motivate you, few things will.

"Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing" -Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi

One of my other top strengths is adaptability, which is arguably the most important skill for a journalist to possess. In a profession that changes rapidly on a daily basis, a career in journalism demands extraordinary flexibility, requiring its constituents to accept new assignments and developments in short periods of time. Additionally, the field is constantly evolving in the long run, and journalists have often had to make the transition from traditional media to more digital and socially interactive outlets. The next decade may bring about something else entirely. A good journalist with the quality of adaptability cannot be intimated by change; rather, they should embrace it.

Rounding out my top three is the strength of intellect. Part of being competitive and adaptable is the ability to think of alternatives and make coherent plans. In order to keep cool under pressure, journalists must be able to think, and must enjoy thinking, as Strengthsquest indicated. It is vital to be comfortable with logical and rational reasoning, which strengthens both immediate and long-term focus for maximum quality and productivity.

Strengths Quest.!

My top three strengths were Includer, Adaptability, and Consistency.

I think that being an includer could be really important for me in my career. I feel that including people and getting fresh ideas from people will enhance my work. Bringing in new people leaves open the possibility of a better product. As an includer, I feel that it is also important in making people feel comfortable working around others, therefore, getting work done much quicker.

Another strength of mine is adaptability. Adaptability is extremely important in journalism. It is important to be able to do your job under any circumstance or situation. It means that I am willing to be extremely flexible and change my plans if I have to. I feel that adaptability is an important quality to have in general, but in the workplace it is required.

My third strength is consistency. According to the information about it, this means that I am able to keep a stable environment and work best in one. This is true, I feel that it is so important for people to succeed when they know what they have to do and where they have to go to get the things they need to complete a project. I think it is important to not mess up the balance and fast pace of a workplace by changing the consistency. I feel that people get more done when they know the environment they work in; therefore, I think that consistency will help me to quickly finish tasks and help my coworkers do the same.

My top three talent themes where ideation, futuristic, strategic. I feel these will be very useful for my career in journalism. Firstly futuristic, the journalistic community is at time a great change have the ability to visualize and describe what the future has in store will be paramount. Ideation, having the ability to create new ideas my lead me to come with the next great thing that gives people there news. Finally strategic, having the ability to flitter through clutter of the world and figure whats is important all the time .

Basically, I'm awesome.

I’ve never been a big believer in having strengths that persistently emerge during any crisis. I have always thought that we all react to situations differently, but I never thought that my reactions and the choices I made based on circumstances were actually consistent. Now, I know. According to the Strengths Quest survey, my top three strengths were discipline, harmony and consistency. I can most definitely agree that I am quite disciplined in almost everything that I do, that I am always trying to find middle ground during a conflict and that I always try to treat people the same.

I asked the Strengths Quest worker what she thought of my strengths in the journalism field after taking the survey. She agreed with me and felt that these strengths would make me a great contender as a journalist.

Looking at my strengths, I believe discipline is my number one strength in hopes of becoming an excellent journalist. As a disciplined person, I am always orderly, on time and I continually set strict routines. This can help me to become a very reliable source in the newsroom and it has always helped others to count on my dependability. Unfortunately, with my need for predictability, I am very wary of relying on others to get things done. This can make group situations a hassle. Overall though, my discipline can work wonders in the newsroom.

As a harmonizer, I will take the neutral stance during newsroom debates. This comes will both positive and negative aspects, however. Being neutral, I will be able to avoid any unhealthy, debating relationships with any of my editors and this will help me emerge as a practical, down-to-earth balancer. On the other hand, although I may have strong beliefs, desires and opinions, my strong sense of harmony will take over and will make me look like a non-opinionated and quiet journalist.

Consistency is the last of my top three strengths. My consistency will give people in the newsroom more reason to rely on me. This consistency also helps me to be practical and helps me to treat all people equally. Regrettably however, I am easily turned off and feel as if something is truly offensive if it aims to hurt others and as a journalist, I am always striving to bring all truths to light.

Generally, I think each strength works well towards helping me find a journalism career and each work well to reinforce the other. With these strengths, I hope to become a well-known and accomplished journalist in the infamous world of journalism.

strengthsquest

My top 3 strengths were restorative, context and strategic.

Restorative can definitely help me out in my future career as a journalist. Being able to rise to the challenge and solve problems is a trait that can help in many different areas of my professional career from how I personally advance in my career to how I can use my strength to help others come up with a solution to a problem they're having on their story.

Context is also an overall useful trait. I can examine the past and draw conclusions pretty easily. That can help me out in my journalism career by knowing which opportunities are good ones and which ones aren't, helping me spend my time on the most valuable stories. Also, my ability to draw conclusions well might be useful with

Strategic will help me by helping me come up with creative ways to find new sources, get more information out of those sources, and provide help me write a story from a perspective that most people wouldn't have thought about.

Of course, these are just a few ways to use my strengths in my future. I'm sure I will find more and more ways to use them as I get older.

StrengthsQuest

My top three strengths will definitely be beneficial to me in whatever career I choose in my future. My first strength is Empathy, which I believe very accurately describes me. I am able to easily view other's perspectives and opposing ideas. In the description given by StrengthsQuest, it says I am able to "anticipate the need". This trait would be very useful in the area that I want to go into - strategic communications. It is very important as an advertiser, or PR agent to be able to understand the market's emotions, wants, and needs. My second strength is Maximizer, which means I like to polish and perfect things until they reach excellence, which is definitely important in a career involving creativity, ideas, and projects. Positivity is my last strength, which has always been important to me. Remaining positive throughout any job or task, can really alter the quality of work that is done.

Strengths Quest

My top three strengths were context, harmony, and empathy. The strength context did not surprise me, because I find that I already use it often. It will be an especially useful quality someday in the journalism field. Being able to look back at the past to help understand the future will help be better understand different people and their situations. As a journalist I will be meeting tons of new people from all over. It also said online that I will become a better partner because I'll understand how my colleagues came to be who they are.

I think harmony is a great strength to have in any job field. Journalism is a very opinionated field. By respecting others opinions and views I will be able to keep harmony between myself and fellow co-workers. When others are fighting and getting heated it will come in handy to help try and calm people down and stay focused.

Empathy is my third strength and I personally think it is the most important of the three. I will be able to connect with my co-workers on a deeper level, and hopefully help me advance in the company. Being empathetic will also be great when writing about a broad variety of topics and people that might be very different from my self.

My Top 3 Stregnths

My top three talent themes from Strengthquest are Empathy, Responsibility, and Harmony.

I can use empathy in my professional career as a journalist because with my ability to empathize, in interviewing people for stories, I will be able to make them feel more comfortable with talking to me because they will feel like I understand. In the description it says that I give voice to people’s emotional life and that people are drawn to me. Because of these reasons, I can understand interviewees’ feelings enough to get a good interview about subjects that might be difficult to talk about.

For my second strength, responsibility, I can use that in my professional career because it makes me dependable. I’ll follow through on what I say I will do and “this conscientiousness, this near obsession for doing things right, and your impeccable ethics, combine to create your reputation: utterly dependable.” This is ideal for a career that depends on meeting deadlines.

Finally, I will be able to use harmony to be able to write unbiased articles. I look to maintain harmony, and instead of pushing my own opinion, I try to find common ground. I will be able to use harmony to objectively research and write pieces that can be presented to the public.

StrengthsQuest

My top three themes were intellection, adaptability, and connectedness. 

According to my description of intellection, I like to think and stretch my mind in multiple directions. Intellection involves solving problems, developing ideas, and even trying to understand other people's feelings. I think the theme of intellection fits me because I do like to think everything out. I look at any and every option when making a decision. For my career, I have actually decided to become an elementary school teacher. Having intellection as a strength would help me think of new ways to teach and explain matters to students. 

According to my description for adaptability, I am a flexible person who can stay productive when the demands of work are going in all different directions. It also says that I don't see the future as a fixed destination. This is my favorite strength and I think it describes me well. I have always believed that you have to do your best with what you are given, even if life isn't going the way you would like it to at the moment. In my opinion, elementary school teachers have to be very adaptable because each day in the classroom is different. All children are different and require different kinds of attention. Some students may also require different methods of teaching than the rest of the class.

According to my description for connectedness, I think that all things happen for a reason and that we are all a part of something larger. I liked this theme because I do believe that everything happens for a reason and that we all have a purpose in life. I actually had to laugh when I read this description because my mom and dad have always said "Everything happens for a reason" or "Que sera sera." If you would have told me last August that I would be at Mizzou, I would have asked you what Mizzou was. My whole life I was raised to be a Florida Gator, but a few incidences in my life led me to Mizzou. I don't know why, but I know there is a purpose in my attending school here. In my opinion, everything always works out for the best.

Colleen's Strengths

IDEATION: I am fascinated by ideas and my head is constantly full of new ones. I am always looking for new or different ways of doing everyday things. This probably contributes to my creativity and love of the humanities. It can be a weakness because I am constantly daydreaming and seemingly off in my own little world in my head. Usually when I get a new idea, it consumes me and I can't focus on anything else. When this happens at night I have trouble falling asleep becuase I am overexcited about putting my ideas into action.

FUTURISTIC: I love to peer over the horizon and think about "what's next" rather that what is in the present. I love to visualize what my life will be like in the future and that helps me establish my goals and plans for my career, family and etc. The present can often be frustrating to me and so I conjure up an image of a better future which keeps me motivated and energized to keep moving forward.

INDIVIDUALIZATION: When looking for friends and people who interest me overall, I particularly pick out the things about them that make them unique and different. I pride myself on being an individual and have a certain style that applies to everything I do. I often can read people very easily becuase I almost study the things that make people different from one another. I like to think that I can find people's strengths and bring out thre best in people.

Strengths Quest

My top three talent themes were: Woo, Arranger, and Communication. 

I think that all of these accurately describe me and will help me in the professional world. Woo is right on for my number one. I like people to like me and I will do anything in my power to get them to do it. I think this will help me in my future career as a journalist by helping me to win over sources. People are more likely to talk if they like the person they are talking to.

My second is arranger. I like to keep several things going at once, just so I can straighten them all out. A lot of times I will plan all of the things I have to get done in one day just so I can be busy. I think this will help my juggle any long, stressful days I could have during and after college. 

My third theme is communication. I always try to communicate myself effectively. I am frustrated when something fails due to any lack of communication. Being a journalist, communication is key. Without it, effective communication in journalism, there would be no journalism.  

StrengthsQuest

My top three strengths were achiever, relator, and harmony. I found that all of these strengths do apply to me, and I believe StrengthsQuest came up with a good description of my strengths. Each of these things can be used to help me through the rest of my academic career, and also in journalism. Achiever was my first strength, and through journalism I know that each day I will have a task I need to accomplish. Being an achiever means that I must do something significant every day, and I am always pushing to do more with an internal force. I enjoy working hard and being highly productive. Both of these things will help me for the rest of my time in school, and in photojournalism. Being a relator shows that I work well with others, and in the position of photojournalist I will have to work closely with editors and with writers who I am working on stories with. I want a relationship with those around me, and I want to work toward group goals. My third strength is harmony, which I think goes well with relator. I want the people I am working with to get along. I am good at finding areas to agree on, and I think bringing that into the work place will be beneficial. When working in a team, I can help everyone come to a consensus – and that is often what journalists must do. All of the strengths this assessment gave me will be applicable for the rest of my life.

Strengths Assessment

My top three strengths were input, strategic and futuristic. I found these strengths to be accurate in describing me and I can use them in many ways in my life. In my professional career I can use my strength of futuristic to look at the "what if?" part of any projects or parts of the business. This will allow me to be prepared for anything that lies ahead of me and I will have an idea of what things may come at me. I can also use my strength of strategic to map out plans for stories or any other ideas as a whole. I can plan out what needs to be done and get it done. Also my strength of input will come in handy when in a professional career when I research different stories I will want to learn all there is to know on the subject and will store that information for future use.

Ethics: Teens and Ecstasy

I would not hesitate to publish the story containing the whereabouts of the locations where ecstasy and drugs were sold to students in the school. Although the article would not reflect well upon the school itself, it is too important for the public to know the details. The more the public is aware of, the easier it will be to terminate the problem. For instance, now the people who live near the drug hot-spot will be more careful because of this new awareness, and will probably call the police more often when suspicious activity occurs. Also, parents will know to keep their children away from these areas and perhaps have a conversation with their teens about drugs that they may not have prior to this article.

As far as teens being encouraged to buy drugs because the locations are printed, i do not believe that is the outcome. I went to a very small high school but i can only image that regardless of the size, even student who do not do drugs know about where they could get them if they wanted to. Also, any drug dealer in their right mind would change their location after the publishing of this article, so i really don't understand how it would become a large problem.

A Republican as a Hypocrite.

I would never hesitate to publish a story about this candidate's past abortion. Her inconsistent views in an area as controversial as abortion can only be an indicator of what her term could be like if she were elected. Being such, the voters and the community have a right to know her actual position on abortion. 

Being that the main source in this story is from an ex-husband and not altogether unbiased, I would seek a comment from the candidate. Also, there could possibly be more to the story than just the fact that she is a hypocrite. It is possible that she only changed her position on abortion only after she experienced one for herself. In the end, I would write the story using the documented medical evidence, the testimony from the husband, and the comment (or lack of one) from the candidate, to write the story. 

Ethics Blog

I believe that the article should run. The public deserves to know the truth about the candidate and what her actual views on the subject of abortion. However, I do think that it is wrong to get the information from the ex-husband. While this information is most likely accurate, it does not seem right to publish it without something from the candidate herself. She should explain her previous actions and explain why she has different views now. I believe that more information on her personal experience and what caused her to have an abortion may help her situation. She should express her feelings to the public and help them to understand. The information is extremely relevant to the campaign itself, which is why I would publish it; however, I do not believe it would be well-published without her own quotes included in the article because there may be more to the story.

Teen Scene

I would look into running another in addition to the first one written after I went back and tried to figure out how biased my story actually was. I'd interview more students, teachers, parents, etc and try and figure out if there are any good things worth reporting to supplement the earlier article. But if I didn't find anything new, I wouldn't write the second story and I wouldn't try to put a positive spin on the situation if there were no positives there in the first place.

Ethics, Abortions and Republicans (Great combination)

I believe that the information on the Republican candidate who had once had an abortion should be printed because of the inconsistency of her vocal views and beliefs versus what she has done in the past. It would be unfair if she were to implement a law against abortions in the future, while she has a past record showing that she has committed the act. I would allow her to make a comment on the matter because of the delicate subject and I would want her to be able to give her reasoning as to why she had the abortion and is now against it. I would use all information attained from the husband. Rather than focusing the story on the fact that she would be considered a hypocrite for her newfound beliefs, I would shine the light on her story and her reasoning as to why she is now in opposition to abortions.

Ethics Debate: Front Page Politics

I would not hesitate to publish a story about the candidate's abortion. It has been proven as a fact with medical records, so this is not a case of libel. Instead, the publication would be an example of uncovering shady politics and exposing a "Do as I Say, Not as I Do" candidate. If I were originally supporting this candidate for her anti-abortion policies, I would be outraged at the hypocrisy and I would have the right to know about the candidate's abortion. This isn't a case of wether or not the subject is in the media spotlight or not. She could be a small-town nobody or a presidential candidate and I would feel the same way. No one should be able to get away with blatantly lying to those who respect them.

I would not agree to print a second story. The reporter followed and the paper printed a story that is very relevant, and nothing the reporter did was unethical. Instead of demanding a follow up story that has no point, the school officials and parents should use this story to address the problem. There is a lot of relevance to the story, and that should be embraced. The story reports the fact that the program is not working as well as it probably should be. By printing the first story, the school and program can take steps to ensure it is more effective instead of ignoring the problem. By printing a second story, it would discredit the first story and its facts in a way. Also, the story does not encourage kids to buy drugs; it prints the facts, which is a newspaper’s job. If the reporter was able to find enough information to produce an accurate, factual, unbiased story about how the program is ineffectual, then there is no reason to run a second story.

The Enterprise Press: Front Page Politics

Given the circumstances surrounding the issue at hand, I would not hesitate to publish the story. The relevance of the candidate's abortion cannot be ignored, as it reveals a major contradiction in her politics that readers deserve to know about. Politicians must be prepared to face the fact that their pasts will be heavily researched by opponents and journalists alike, and that it is a common occurrence for controversial issues to surface during heated campaigns.

The ethical dilemma lies not in whether the information is reported, but how it was obtained. According to the excerpt, the evidence confirming the abortion was provided by the candidate's ex-husband via private medical documentation. However, it is my understanding that journalists have the right to report such information, as long as it is obtained independently from a private agent; a process not governed by health privacy laws such as HIPAA. Although the medical records were offered without the candidate's consent, that is a separate matter between private parties and should not be viewed as any sort of intrusion on the journalist's part.

I would therefore publish the story and anticipate a statement by the candidate either denying the allegations or defending her choice. She simply can't ignore the possibility that this significant event in her past will resurface in relation to her politics.

Ethics

I really do not think the newspaper needs to run another article.  These classes are designed for the students , therefore the students input is what is most important.  The students are the best way to measure whether or not the program works, and it is obvious that the program is not effective.  There is an evident drug problem with these students and it is important to expose it.  All the school officials want to sugarcoat the issue and keep the school's integrity in place.   The reality of the story is that the school's drug problem needs to be dealt with more intensely.  The running of this article is a opportunity for the school to fix a flawed program.   Take for instance the section of the article about where the drugs are sold.  Instead of telling students where to find and buy the drug, they can use this as an opportunity to clean that area up.  Running this article and not running a cover up can prove beneficial to the students and the school.

Ethical Debate

I would, without a question, run the story about the abortion, relating to the candidate and her extremely exposed opposition to the issue. Although running the information may hurt the candidate's campaign, the information is completely relevant and the public absolutely has the right to be informed. If the candidate indeed has a valid explanation for her hypocrisy, then she should discuss it openly so that her views and actions are not misunderstood. Abortion is a very serious and personal issue, however, in this case it is so closely related to the candidate and her campaign values that it needs to be exposed.

Front Page Politics

If the medical evidence was substantial then I would most likely publish that the candidate has had an abortion in the past. Because she is running for office, the public has a right to know about the abortion since she is so outspoken about her opposition towards abortion. It would not be fair for her to implement policies prohibiting women from obtaining an abortion if she herself has had one. Also, it would not be fair for her to speak against abortion just to gain votes and please constituents if that is not what she truly believes. If the candidate's current position on abortion is based on her past abortion, then it should be discussed with the public so that they may better understand her view. 

Front Page Politics

In this situation, I would not hesitate to publish this information. The fact that she has had an abortion when so outspoken against them is extremely important to the issues at hand. If the case is that she changed her mind about abortions because of what she went through with her own experience then she shouldn't hold back to comment about it and should be open to telling the public about it so they can see how she is personally connected to the issue. However, since she is not willing to comment it suggests that she is supporting the issue for the wrong reasons which the public has a right to know about. Even though this issue is very personal to the candidate, it has relevance to the election and what is going on in her political life and I would not have a problem with publishing this story.

Ethics Scenario

In this case, I would not agree to have another article printed. It would just be a biased article that doesn’t really tell the truth about the situation. I don’t see anything the reporter did or wrote as unethical, he is giving the story that he found through interviewing the teens. He can’t just ignore the information that he found to please school and local officials. The article shows the problems with drug use, it is in no way encouraging it. The officials should not be ignoring the fact that their program is ineffective in discouraging the drug use. There is no reason to interview kids who do not need the program; the reporter was right to talk to the ones who need the program to actually be effective. These kids are the ones that you will want to gear the program towards – the officials should be interested in finding out what it is that causes the teens to get into the drugs, and how they get them. You can use this information to help them. This seems much more useful then complaining about how the media is making the school's program look unproductive. If the reporter shows the program as having no impact, there was obviously reason for this to be the case.

Teen Scene

If I were the reporter I would not run an additional article about teens that don't drink. I do not believe what the reporter did was unethical. He did not lie or exaggerate. He had permission to interview the teens and that is what he did. He just reported the truth. I do not believe it is the newspapers job to portray a good image or example for teens. The newspapers job is to report the truth. I think mentioning where the drugs were bought gives the story credibility. I do not think it encourages teens to do drugs.

Bill Eppridge

When covering a story, journalists have to choose between good and evil, challenge or easy road, fact or speculation. Bill Eppridge is one of the too few journalists who has been willing to cover the darker side of life most people would rather ignore. Through the lens of his cameras, Eppridge captured the raw, unsightly truth that is the past. He so personally captured the moments of a gruesome Kennedy assassination, marines shooting a terrified man in the back, a middle-class heroin addicted couple, and so many other important perspectives of history few have witnessed. Bill Eppridge was never afraid of his surroundings, shooting his camera as others shot bullets around him. And with that same passion, he captured the early life of a budding singer and obsessive perfectionist, the peaceful and often smoky scenes of Woodstock, the vintage and All-American essence of fading red barns, and the smug personality of his first cat. With every click of the shutter, Eppridge has written a new epic poem, telling a story complete with its own characters, personalities, and emotions. He's an amazing journalist who has helped write the past and inspire those who have started writing the future.

The idiom goes a picture is worth a thousand words. In the case of Bill Eppridges a thousand words are not nearly enough to capture what each of his picture is conveying. Weather it be the Bobby Kennedy's lifeless body or Mr. Eppridges cat sprawled out a bed, each picture has a story. I find this aspect of photography to be the most integral in the success of a given piece. The most amazing part about Bill Eppridges amazing carrier is the vast array of topics and stories he captured with the lens of his Nikon camera. During the presentation i was transported to the Kenyan savanna, life of heroin addict, core racism in the 60’s, muddy hills of wood stock, dressing of Barbra Streisand. His ability to capture so many of the defining moments of the past 50 years is just remarkable.

Bill Eppridge

There is no room for discrimination in journalism. Journalists everywhere cover the good, the bad, and the ugly. Bill Eppridge, a renowned photojournalist and Mizzou alumni, is no exception. Speaking for an Honor of Medal class at the University of Missouri, Eppridge was introduced as a man “ whose career was as diverse as the camera lenses in his bag.” This couldn’t be more true of Bill Eppridge who has photographed the young Barbara Streisand, the assassination of Bobby Kennedy, the Vietnam war, Woodstock, the Beatles in the U.S., and much more.  Those in attendance at the Honor of Medal class were lucky to catch a glimpse of the great works of Eppridge’s career, as well as a few of his current endeavors.  Eppridge also shared his opinion on the current state of photojournalism. He asserted that technology has impeded photojournalism by cutting the profits one can make on a photograph and by reducing the quality of photographs the public can get a hold of.  Eppridge mentioned that many think this problem to be unsolvable, however, he optimistically responded with the remark “ but they said painting was dead when the camera was invented.” The seemingly exponential growth of technology seems to be the dark cloud looming over every journalist and every major media outlet today. It seems that all we can do is embrace this change, but at what price? The media is so interested in controlling the technological world that we seem to have forgotten what journalism is all about.  It seems that the media should slow down a little and remember all the timeless contributions in media made by journalists like Bill Eppridge. It seems like a long time ago where a single black and white photograph could evoke emotion in thousands.

Bill Eppridge's Epic Poem

I throughly enjoyed Bill Eppridge's presentation on his work during his career.  Not only was his photos interesting, but his narration of all of the events made the lecture extremely enjoyable.  Listening to all of the different events he had witnessed and experienced was astonishing.  There were several parts of the lecture that I found to be the most interesting.  The first part was Eppridge's picture of New York Harbor.  The picture contains a boat on the left side of the frame, a waving American flag on the top right, and the twin towers below the flag on the bottom right.  The elements of the picture are fascinating.  Obviously the towers were still intact at this point, so to think about the symbolism this photo would have in years later is incredible.  The other part of the lecture that I found interesting was his experiences with Robert Kennedy, specifically the night of his assassination.  I find it mind-blowing to hear that Eppridge was not just a bystander in the whole event, but actually apart of Kennedy's entourage; to the extinct that he was a member of the formation that was supposed to escort Kennedy out of the event.  The intensity of this story was by far the most enthralling part of the presentation.

Bill Eppridge

Bill Eppridge has lived his entire professional career looking through a lens; trying to capture an entire campaign or war in a single split-second shot. He photographed what was not supposed to be seen. He captured war as it was, not glorified and dressed up as was expected. Eppridge's ability to find the perfect shot to tell a story was what separated him from others. As I listened to him speak, I realized how much he had seen and the honor I had of listening to him speak. The big stories of the last fifty years have been seen by Eppridge. I was looking at a man that witnessed Woodstock, the Vietnam War, and the assassination of Bobby Kennedy. I feel that I could learn more from listening to him than I had from going to 100 J-1010 lectures. His real world experience engaged the listeners in a way that we seldom see. It showed me that stories do not need embelishments to be great, they simply need to be covered thoroughly and with great detail. Seeing Bill Eppridge speak and the wisdom I learned from it has taught me how close and how easy it can be talk to the people who know the most about journalsim.

Jill Hunting

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend any of the honor of medal classes assigned to our FIG and was then assigned to visit one of the J-school’s events. I decided to visit the national book tour reading of Finding Pete by author, Jill Hunting. The memoir was a spin-off from one of the articles she wrote for the Washington Post’s Magazine about the Vietnam War and her brother. Hunting’s brother was killed towards the beginning of the Vietnam War by a roadside bomb; the news of this tragic event left Hunting’s family devastated and broken. I sat in one of the Missourian’s budgeting meeting rooms along with a former friend of Hunting’s brother and other journalism students for the book reading. I really enjoyed hearing the process she went through writing the book, not only because it was a very interesting account, but also because I am interested in book writing. She then proceeded to discuss her past work experience in newspaper editing, writing for “Food and Wine,” publishing and becoming a full-fledged author. I enjoyed hearing her story and it has in-turn inspired me to follow my dreams and work both in newspapers and book publishing. The story told was extremely powerful and everyone that attended the book reading was fully invested in the time spent with Hunting. I am truly grateful for the chance to hear about her novel and the chance to hear about her life.

Bill Eppridge

Bill Eppridge has seen many things in his life. As a photographer for LIFE and Sports Illustrated, he was able to experience and see many things that seem so long ago to most of the people he presented his “Epic Poem” to. Eppridge had many stories to tell. He seemed to relive his memories through his photographs, whether they were of Woodstock, his cat, or Vietnam. He captured the attention of everyone in the room. As Bill Eppridge told the stories of each of his photographs, he had his audience laughing at the pictures of current day Woodstock, his cat, and of other such things, then had them clinging to every word as he told his story about Robert Kennedy. Bill Eppridge was there to see the Beatles arrive for the first time in the United States and he photographed horses. It did not seem to matter to him what he was shooting, as long as it resulted in a photo with a story to tell. He said that he never wanted to do the same thing twice. I am pretty sure that he didn’t. Bill Eppridge captured exactly what he wanted in his photographs, and he instilled many of those memories in the heads of those listening to him tell the stories of his life by way of a roll of film

Bill Eppridge

I attended the Bill Eppridge presentation on his career in photojournalism. Mr. Eppridge discussed his extensive career, from photographing drug addicts to Barbra Streisand, Vietnam, to the Robert Kennedy campaign and assassination. I found the presentation surprisingly interesting. I went into it expecting it to just be a basic presentation of photojournalism, maybe give a few tips. But hearing about the stories behind the photographs made me realize how much more there is to photojournalism than just snapping a few good pictures and leaving. He described how difficult it is to get the perfect shot, how you just have to anticipate and be in the right position at the right time. I learned that to make an “epic poem,” as he described it, you have to get your subjects to not only trust you, but also ignore you. In photographing something as personal as an addiction and a fight to overcome it, he really had to reach a certain type of relationship with his subjects. Finally, I was impressed with his ability to recognize that sometimes you can’t help you just have to document. That would be a difficult thing to do, but his photographs of the Kennedy Assassination were filled with emotion and he was able to capture it because he chose to keep taking pictures. Mr. Eppridge’s presentation really gave me a better look at photojournalism in general and made me realize that it’s a lot more than just taking pictures.

Mazhar Abbas - Pakistan: A Case Study about Working in a Hostile Environment

American media often comes under petty criticism, especially from consumers. We often hear the typical, ignorant complaints that our news is too biased, our TV shows too violent, our ads too misleading, and so forth. Needless to say, Americans often take for granted the benefits of a free press and forget just how fortunate we are to have journalism that functions freely and independently of the government.

It's difficult, however, to take such 1st Amendment rights for granted after hearing Pakistani journalist Mazhar Abbas' presentation on his experience in a dangerous profession that is a far cry from the western equivalent. Before a crowd of young, aspiring journalists, Abbas recalled instances in which his family was attacked as a result of his involvement as a journalist. "I have seen death from very close," Abbas said, emphasizing that being a reporter was neither safe nor easy.

It was indeed a humbling experience to have this brief glimpse into the world of journalism outside of American borders. Mr. Abbas was very sincere and honest in delivering his message, expressing how important journalism is to him and how he risked his life to report the truth. It allowed me to further appreciate the opportunities we have in America.

Bill Eppridge

From Woodstock to Robert Kennedy's assassination to his own back yard, Bill Eppridge has seen and shot it all. This man knows how to look at what is around him through the eye of a camera. His pictures were some of the most inspiring that I'd ever seen personally.

A good part of his time was spent talking about his time following Robert Kennedy in the time leading up to his assassination. Hearing him talk about how different things were then, being able to be right there with the action and not being pushed aside on things they didn't want him to see made me a little sad that I'll never get a chance similar to that as a photographer. Hearing his play-by-play account of the day of the assassination brought a tear to my eye even though I wasn't alive to witness that day for myself. Hearing how he was inspired to record history rather then help was also a very interesting comment to consider. His statement embodied what being a journalist is all about. It's not taking part in the action but sitting back and recording it and keeping an account of it as it goes on.

Bill Eppridge

Bill Eppridge has had a long and storied career in photojournalism. He has spent the better part of his life not only to seeing some of the world's most shocking events but also having a hand in how they were shown to the world. Working with Life Magazine from its heyday to its demise, allowed Eppridge to photograph some of the world's most challenging moments. From Woodstock to Vietnam to the explosion of Mount. St. Helen's, he saw it all. But, as he recounted in detail, the project that most affected him was the assassination of Robert Kennedy. Although most of the people in the room were too young to remember Kennedy, his pictures and his stories of the event captured the attention of everyone present. His life's work (which he calls an Epic Poem) is simply, something to be envied. It makes me wonder what major events I will be around to see and if I could only be so lucky to be a part of their story. 

Doug Crews

Doug Crews is a journalist and newspaper enthusiast. He began his speech by telling us about one of the major influences in his life, his high school journalism teacher. His name was Robert Cobb. Doug said that Robert was a great journalist and mentor. He also explained how Robert enjoyed playing golf and baseball even though he had a physical disability. Robert never let his disability get in the way of his teaching or hobbies. This part of Doug's speech was really interesting to me because I was also fortunate enough to have an exceptional high school journalism teacher. His name was Mr. Doyle, I will never forget all he taught us and his goofy, eccentric teaching methods.

Doug wrote for a local newspaper in Fairfax Missouri. Doug believes that at the heart of every lively city is a lively newspaper. A few of the locals would occasionally request that Doug take pictures and write about very strange things for the paper. For example one farmer asked Doug to take a picture of a potato he had grown because he believed it resembled Abe Lincoln. Also, he explained the importance of small newspapers and why he believes they will survive the recession. The part of his speech that had the largest impact on me was when he showed how important it is that newspapers can be used as a tool for studying our past. People use newspapers from twenty years ago to look back and see what was going on locally and to get the facts. Doug said he wonders what will happen in a hundred years from now when people try to surf for old websites to find out what had happened in past years. This scenario left me puzzled but intrigued. I hope people do not take for granted the power of the local newspaper.

Bill Eppridge

The career and the art of photojournalism requires much more than simply the ability to take a high quality photograph. It demands determination, drive, and the ability to view things from alternate angles. Bill Eppridge explained the importance of those characteristics in a photojournalist while showing through his own work. He did a piece while working with Life magazine about a white, middle class, couple struggling with heroine. He had to essentially live with them for three weeks. Nothing about that job could be easy, Eppridge was there through the couple's toughest times, even for and arrest and jail time.

Bill Eppridge has really captured some incredible things in his career and created some very influential pieces. I found it very interesting to hear about his experience with Bobby Kennedy and other important or famous people and how different his experience would be if he were following the same people now. Things were different then, and he was able to just hang around with Bobby Kennedy and photograph him the night he was shot. Although a life in photojournalism would be extremely demanding, it would be incredibly rewarding and would bring so many extraordinary experiences.

Bill Eppridge

A picture is a moment in time. Many moments in time are mundane and not worth remembering, but for the few moments that are life changing and earth shattering, it takes real genius to find those, and very few people have that talent. It is an essential skill to becoming a successful photojournalist, and Bill Eppridge is the perfect example of this. To say he is a successful photojournalist doesn't do him justice. He covered huge events from Woodstock to Vietnam and he was there the moment Bobby Kennedy was assassinated. Any one of those things is something to brag about, but having all three under your belt is simply unbelievable.

When he was talking through his presentation, at first I thought it must have been a team of people doing all of these things and going to all of these places, but when it finally hit me that just one man did all of this, I knew that I was staring at a master of his craft. He positioned himself in key positions and was able to identify that moment in time everybody is hunting for. He is a true example for all future journalists, whether they intend to be photojournalists or not.

A Simple Picture

The opening slide simply read: Bill Eppridge, photojournalist. In a sense, it was a simple picture of the man who stood before us. However, we soon learned that this man has had a far from simple life. He started off at the University of Toronto and then, after being the lead photographer for the school newspaper, transferred to the University of Missouri to study photojournalism. He spent time on the staff of both LIFE and Sports Illustrated. He shot pictures of The Beatles, Woodstock, Vietnam, and many other subjects. He decided that he never wanted to do the same thing twice.

Eppridge has his own opinion of the convergence of journalism today. In some senses he believes that it “impedes” the process; it cuts the amount of money you can make off of one photo, and it can cut the quality. People are shooting for free and people will take anything. But, the competition also makes photojournalists work harder and get better. I agree with his view that photographers are still striving for the same thing: “the moment.” This is the most critical thing to every story. He then showed us exactly how he had captured many critical and significant moments in history. Though technology continues to “threaten” so much of what journalism is today, I agree that it will continue to push photojournalism forward.

Each of the pictures Eppridge showed captured something special. The photograph of the horse held my gaze, and his silly pictures of his cat and fishers kept me entertained. The still life documentary on Heroine made me realize the role photography can play in the social setting. Most of all, his photographs from following Bobby Kennedy made me think. He really showed the differences between modern day society and the way he was treated when trailed Bobby. Because of his ability to closely tail the politician, he caught many moments, including his death. I really enjoyed the documentary style of shooting, and the ability that he has to show true emotion. I find this kind of photography the most interesting, and often the hardest to come across. He was able to get close to historical figures and, therefore, capture historical moments. Though a photojournalist's life may seem simple, and a single picture may seem simple, but Bill Eppridge has shown how both can be far from it.

Honor Metal Blog

I went to Bill Eppridge's presentation on photojournalism. The presentation at which Eppridge discussed his carrer as a photojournalist and the various projects he worked on. The presentation helped me to understand exactly how a photojournalist works and just how much a photojournalist puts into his projects. For example when Eppridge talked about his project for LIFE magazine and how he had to live with and follow around a couple struggling with heroin addiction, I learned just how dedicated a photojournalist has to be in order to get photos. Before his presentation I thought that a photojournalist simply took a few pictures for a story and then left. Eppridge's presentation helped me realize just how wrong my prediction was and that being a photojournalist takes a lot more effort than I initially thought.

How To Save Journalism From Itself

Editor of Slate Magazine and author of The Genius Factory: The Curious History of the Nobel Prize Sperm Bank, David Plotz began his speech reminding us that journalism and the internet still have a very young relationship. He described how, in 1996, Slate was published for the first time online, and updated only once a week. As the need for speedy news progressed, their writers gradually increased the frequency of posts to once a day, and then to three times a day, until the present where it is normal to find 20+ posts per day. He also made it known that no matter how prestigious or popular a writer may be, a story written 24 hours after an event is ancient in internet time, and therefore useless in the news room. However, he stresses that his magazine is more dedicated to the content rather than speed, and appreciates readers that are loyal to that aspect. "Slate technically has 7 million readers, 500,000 of which we consider to be dedicated readers." He says.

I agreed with many of David Plotz's views on today's internet media and thought his speech was very well put together. I liked his sense of humor and the way he incorporated very recent events into the examples he used. A memorable quote was "The insta-story of the day is sometimes a silly balloon hoax and not something more prominent or important. You as a magazine can develop a reader following that is not looking for the Jon and Kate stories, but for quality journalism." One of the things I respected greatly about David Plotz was an opportunity he gives to each of Slate's writers to take 6 weeks off work to write one story - and write it well. It does not have to be about something of-the-moment, but rather something that maybe has been occurring for some time and has yet to be surfaced by the news. I thought that was a very cool way to intrigue readers about things they never put much thought in to. He finished with the following: "Convince your future employers not to drain you of adrenaline or dope you up on methamphetamine to produce of-the-moment stories; to be sucessful in journalism you need to have free time to screw around and stumble upon your own thing."

Assignment #2: Honor Medal Blog

For this assignment, attend one of the Missouri Honor Medal events and write a blog describing who the person presenting the class was and what your reactions to that person's presentation were. The assignment is due Tuesday, October 27th at 12 a.m. -Danny

Handheld Technology

Handheld Technology

The accessibility of information that technology provides through tiny pieces of equipment is incredible, and is all ready changing the world of journalism.  This technology is a great benefit to the common user, they can find and send information instantly out of the palm of their hand.  This technology can also be very useful for a journalist.  A journalist can use this technology in several ways; collecting information, keeping track of items, using e-mail, finishing stories, etc.  But this technology also creates cons for the field of journalism.  This technology is available for anyone to own, which is beginning to cut down on many jobs in journalism.  Applications such as Twitter have begun to cut out the middle man.  Meaning that anybody can post how they feel or what's going on, including celebrities.  It seems the more and more technology evolves, the less need there is for journalists, or at least reporters.  So in conclusion, innovative technology helps journalists, but also hurts the overall field of journalism.

Cell Phones

Like it or not technology has become essential to the journalism field. In order to master the art of journalism you must master the required technology. My favorite piece of technology that has come a long way over the past couple years is the cell phone. What would you do if you had to go without your cell phone for a week? If your like me you would freak. Cell phones are such a huge part of our lives and now they have even had and effect on todays journalism. People can take their own videos and post them on the internet in a matter of moments using their cell phones. These videos might not be top notch videography but they are still news. It allows people who aren't journalists to share news and sometimes spread important news faster. On the flip side it has made it increasingly more difficult for journalists to get viewers and readers. Some people are unwilling to pay for the newspaper or a magazine when they can go on youtube and get it for free.

Tweeting for Touchdowns

For those of us that are sports fans, we won't settle for anything less than scores, stats, and seemingly meaningful tidbits that are readily available mere seconds after they happen in real life. After all, our buddy down the hall is kicking our butts in fantasy football that week. Which means that history paper is going to have to wait - Aaron Rodger's third-down conversion percentage during home night games in the fourth quarter when trailing by less than five points is a much more pressing matter. And we need to know this figure NOW. 

 

Of course, as our parents often remind us, one used to be at the mercy of the local newspaper, which didn't print scores and stats until the next morning (this was also a time when fantasy sports was not yet an ego-driven battle of male superiority). Upon reading the paper's analysis, your understanding of the event would be shaped by a thorough, journalistic account on the finer points of athletic skill. Although these quality stories are still available the next day, social networking sites have all but eliminated the necessity of such printed reports. What was once a night's wait for a professional and analytical approach to sports has been reduced to a "ZOMG!! TD PACKERS!!!1!!!1" Twitter update in half a second (and I've been guilty of Facebook status outbreaks similar to the latter). 

 

In swallowing Twitter updates like candy, we sacrifice quality for immediate gratification. Tomorrow's game coverage can wait - consumers demand tidbits that they can collect while on-the-go and use to trash-talk the Bears fan down the hall, all with the click of a button.

 

Some might say, backed by the evidence of dwindling newspaper revenue on a national scale, that journalistic decency is lost among the madness that is social networking. For now, critics have a valid argument; that we are so spoiled by a functional "refresh" button that a certain human element is lost. 

 

However, there is no doubt that journalists will continue to take advantage of the speed and accessibility of such social outlets and use them for the better. In an age of rapid digital communication, journalists must adapt to an environment in which information is expected at a mile-a-minute.

 

Especially from a community of frantic sports fans.

Social networking sites have completely altered the way that we communicate. In the seemingly short time I have been on facebook, it has totally changed the way that I talk to my friend. At the time I got my facebook, it was simply the thing to do. Now that I have left high school, it has become the primary communication hub for my friends. Social networking sites, while not a primary source, can be a way of fact checking. In addition, facebook and other social networking sites allow reporters to stay in contact with potential sources and gain potential leads with just the click of a mouse. 

Cassie's Blog.

In the past several years, social networking sites like Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter have become increasingly popular websites. Featuring updates on things such as friends and celebrities, local and worldwide news, and new ways of advertising, these sites have created a whole new way to communicate information. We can now send information more quickly, efficiently, and less costly. With this newer technology, people can communicate with people that they normally would not be able to. It has made the world seem like a much smaller place than it seemed years ago.

Additionally, this quick way of sharing information has caused the media to become less personal and more dangerous. The amount of information sent is limitless, as is the restrictions of what you can send online. These social networking sites have made it easier to get information, but harder to get truly reliable material.

Technology is never going to stop advancing in the media. It will possibly put most of the journalism career paths online or via cellular phones. It will push past prerecorded stories, and enter into all live action causing journalists to push themselves to tell stories in more entertaining ways.

Brynden's Blog

New technologies have advanced journalism further than ever. While it has been argued that social networking sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, can lead to a loss of ethics and journalism integrity, the advantages that can be gained from the use of such sites are endless.

Twitter updates can provide updated news immediately. Many news organizations attend events and are able to provide the public with up-to-the-minute news. With these updates, the public will turn more and more to that particular news organization when they want to know what’s going on, and if an initial report is wrong, it will be more easily forgiven than one that has taken awhile to be reported.

Also, with sites such as Facebook, status updates, pictures, and videos can help provide the world immediately with photos of events that have been sent to Facebook.

While journalists should be careful with how they use social networking sites, I think that if used properly, these sites can help provide the world with news faster and easier, which is the direction that journalism needs to move in to stay ahead. I think it would be more detrimental to journalists to not use these sites to their advantage.

Flux Chaor

The progression of technology has always been a battle between new and old; often making our life so much simpler that we fear we will forget how to complete simple problems and basic lessons. We were constantly reminded in math class that we would not always have a calculator. But when we were told this, our teachers didn't know we would have that, plus the internet and thousands of songs easily fit in our pocket. Meet the iPhone. With the world's fastest 3G network, you can take a picture. Which can be sent to Google Earth to figure out where you are. Plus a built in compass. Only on AT&T. . . can you be this ignorant. Our teachers were right, but they were also terribly mistaken. We are now allowed to forget useful and common knowledge because it is so easily accessible. We rely on external sources to provide our knowledge because no one minds looking something up for thirty seconds to be correct. This is also due to the quantity of information people are expected to know. Through social networking, news everywhere you turn, and magazines about TV based on real life, we need to have our quick bits of information we try to piece together easily obtainable. When life was simpler, technology didn't need to be as advanced as it does in today's world.

Robert P's Technology Post

Cell phones are becoming increasingly more common today in the world of journalism. Now it is easier than ever for someone to post to their blog, send out a tweet, and upload a video all with their cell phones from wherever they have service. There are many advantages to using a cell phone one of them being the ability for cell phones to be readily available for instant coverage. An example of this could be seen during the Iranian revolution, in which many people used their cell phones to take videos and tweet about the current status during many protests. This was extremely useful due to their being little media coverage due to the lack of safety and security in the streets and allowed many people outside of Iran to be able to witness what was going on. A negative side effect of cell phones in journalism would be the unprofessional quality that cell phone reporting brings about. Due to the ability that anyone with a phone is technically able to report, many citizen-reports are very unprofessional and can even be false. I believe that cell phones will continue to be used in journalism in the future, however I also feel that people in the future will be more weary of what is published through a cell phone or is seen in a tweet. In my opion this will lead to more effective and professional levels of journalism all with the speed and accessibility of a cell phone.

IPhone

Last december I bought my iPhone and with every passing day I continue to be amazed at every thing that little device can accomplish with just a swish of my finger. Weather it be checking stock quotes, the weather, playing madden, listening music or writing this blog post; the possibilities are endless. The iPhone connects people to a constant stream of ever changing news and information from their pocket. The future of media and news is with the iPhone. Over the next few years people will be getting their exclusively through there iPhone or similar smart phone device. People will want there news and the’ll want it the second it becomes available

Julia's Technology Blog

The world is swiftly growing smaller because of technologies such as the Internet, cell phones, and social networking sites. People are able to remain easily in contact from halfway across the world, or hear breaking news in a matter of minutes.  Cell phones, blogs, and social networking sites, have invented a new supplement to traditional journalism- citizen journalism.  In the past it was difficult and expensive to publish news.  Now, with a media device and an Internet connection anybody can publish news at any time, therefore providing more updated news.  With citizen journalism however, comes the concern in the validity of the source and the information given.  Nonetheless, citizen journalism is absolutely finding its way into the future of journalism and has already made a huge impact on the world during the Iranian crisis when, due to government censorship, the manner in which the international community was informed of events was through texts, tweets, and cell phone pictures and videos sent out.  The challenge now and in the future will be to distinguish fact from fiction and maintain strong traditional journalism through the citizen journalism.   

Spencer's Technology Blog

There is no doubt that cell phones have completely altered life, as we know it. Now, not only can reporters call, text, or send pictures from the site of a major story, but s co can everyday people. Most cell phones are made with built in cameras and these pictures can be stored on the phone, sent to other people, or sent to the Internet, and the public can easily access these photos posted on the Internet, if the sender allows it. This plays an important role in Journalism, because news crews can use these photos and footage as soon as somebody sends it to them. Often times, it's somebody who happens to be in the right place at the right time, rather than a reporter. This gives news teams the ability to use these photos, phone calls, and texts to quickly distribute more accurate information as an event unfolds.

Colleen's Take on Technology

Broadcast news made the use of videography an essential form of reporting for every news station, so it is no surprise that media postings on the internet are also accompanied by video nowadays. Pressing play on your computer screen is a much more stimulating and visually compelling way of attaining news, especially for visual learners who will better comprehend the information being introduced. Online publication, The Huffington Post uses YouTube videos in nearly every post out of the 20+ the website publishes daily. Even the New York Times and Chicago Tribune have entire sections of their websites dedicated to videos. (video.nytimes.com , chicagotribune.com/videobeta/)

However along with the great advances made by journalists streaming video, the fact of the matter is that anyone can hold up a camera and capture a groundbreaking moment of history. This YouTube generation we are living in promotes the use of camerawork and also, publishing. For instance, some of the most aired footage on television after 9/11/2003 came from a digital home video camera in the hands of a civilian, and was then posted on YouTube. The only known footage of a plane coming in contact with the first Twin Tower was captured this way. Because this event, like so many others in history, was so unsuspected,  people who are indeed NOT journalists are the ones making the news. This could become a problem for journalism in the future, because then we have lost the control of what is and what is not in fact, news.

Christina T's Technology Post

Technology has become a very large part of each of our daily lives. From cell phones to social networking sites to the Internet, very few of us can go through a day without interacting with some part of technology. Our generation is becoming more and more attached to our cell phones. I know I feel something missing if I leave the room without mine. Our phones are also growing increasingly more capable of connecting us with the rest of the world. The apple iPhone and Blackberries are basically a mini-computer in your hand. Being able to view full Internet sites gives us access to an unlimited amount of information at the touch of a button. This technology can be a huge advantage to journalists. We can essentially turn cell phones into electronic newspapers and magazines. The possibilities are endless when talking about new technologies.

Bridget's J. Technology Post

Social networking sites have slowly worked their way into the journalistic culture. What I want from them is simple. Merely, use the networking sites to get the information to the people who otherwise wouldn’t see what is going on in the world. The sites are so accessible that most, if not all, average people are linked into them. When the traditional media does not have the footage or the live feed, normal citizens can easily share what they have through their own sites. This is where it gets tricky. Journalism seems to be less reliable when it is controlled totally by the general population. If people start to rely exclusively on things like twitter, credibility can be lost. It is a lot easier for mistakes in the news to be made, and for false information to be displayed. That false information is then often brought back into the more legitimate news, like in newspapers and on television. What I think is best about the networking sites are their speed and access. For example, twitter can reach millions – but because it is so user-based, it is often inaccurate. No matter what happens, social networking sites are going to be huge journalistic environments in the future. They are already growing; their capabilities will grow as well. It is unfair to completely cut them out of the journalistic market, but we still need to be careful to supply news through traditional means.

Brittany's Technology Blog

Twitter, no longer just a social network site for technology savvy, teenage gossipers, has taken hold of the traditional media and has become a story worth talking about within itself.  Proving its potential power during the aftermath of the Iranian elections, Twitter may very well be the next major media platform alongside Facebook, Youtube, and many other Internet sites.  

Twitter is a convenient and efficient way to communicate, especially if you’re on a journalist’s schedule.  With a limit of 140 characters, journalists can tweet headlines and breaking pieces of news that are short, sweet, and to the point. Twitter also gives media companies the opportunity to get their news out faster than their competition and connect with the audience in a completely new way. A journalist does not have to have the whole story to tweet. One simple and confirmed fact will do until the rest of the story can be validated.

Twitter is an ideal media platform for journalists until the human factor is added into the mix. Journalism ethics and Twitter are currently a hot topic in the media world.  One would think that the ethics applied to other sequences of media would apply to this new form of socialized media, however it is not just as simple as that.  Twitter is not as controllable as newspapers, magazines, and news programs that have editing processes that are closely monitored. Journalists that tweet have too much freedom to mix personal opinion with professional opinion. The ideal journalist is one that reports in an unbiased fashion. The journalist represents their employer, so when a journalist tweets information they are tweeting with their company’s reputation in their hands. Journalists should be careful to tweet strictly as a professional and not give into the temptation to tweet personal opinions and grievances.  

Twitter seems to have already started paving its way towards the future of journalism. While many companies are weary of letting their journalist jump into this “unknown” media platform, Twitter has the potential to connect the traditional media to the world in ways it could not before.

Lauren's Awesome First Blog

Cell phones have developed greatly over the past century. They have become smaller in size and are now furnished with incredibly striking new features. Today’s phones are equipped with touch screen capabilities, the ability to search the Internet, check e-mails, messaging, and have immense data storage. Recently, journalists have used cell phones to become more secure with their readers. Journalists repeatedly ask their readers to share information and updates through their mobile devices. I believe cell phones have potential in becoming one of journalism’s greatest assets, in that, they are capable of providing for anyone. They are so diverse and compatible with their many different styles, sizes, and have features for anyone’s enjoyment. Unfortunately, they are uncensored and journalists must be extremely aware of whom they are receiving information from and if the information is correct. Cell phones have wide-range possibilities and can potentially take the place of many of our unaccommodating information-sharing technologies.

Quick resources

Hi, all. If you haven't visited already, check out the Convergence Journalism site at http://convergence.journalism.missouri.edu. You should also visit the main J-School site for upcoming events. If you have (or decide to create) your own blog, let Danny and me know so we can link to it.

Assignment: Blog 1

This assignment serves as an extension to our technology discussion.  Select one type of technology that has had a big role in recent media (for example, blogs, cell phones, social networking sites, etc.) and detail the pros and cons of using that type of technology for journalism.  Also, address how you think that technology will continue to change and interact with journalism in the future.  

This assignment should be between 100-200 words and is due by midnight on Tuesday, Sept. 15.  Post the assignment to the class blog.  

Welcome to Mizzou Convergence Journalism FIG Blog

Hey everybody, welcome to the class blog.  Everyone will post assignments here and I will also update it with announcements and also links to articles that I think are pertinent to convergence journalism.  -Danny