Andrea Glick's JOU 3306

Best of Blogs 3

2009-04-14T07:06:00.000-07:00

Here's my liberalish installment of some worthwhile blogs.

Project Censored: The News That Didn’t Make the News
The name of this blog instantly caught my attention. Project Censored is a “student-faculty in its 31st year of operation at Sonoma State University” with links all over the place (but in an organized way.)

I’m especially impressed that the Website can also be read in Spanish. The articles were well-written but at times read as more of an essay project than a news story. In all, it’s reported thoroughly. One thing I didn’t like about the articles is that the sources used were put at the top of the story. I think it would look more professional if they were listed at the bottom.

Pandagon
I really enjoyed reading this blog for a few reasons. The first one is that it’s very raw and straight-forward. They say what they want to say but in a witty, intelligent way. I like that. Also, the topics are quite interesting and not something you could hear about everywhere else. It helps, too, that there’s lots of links.

I don’t think I necessarily agree with all the opinions expressed there but they certainly are expressed. Good for them. Oh, there’s also a bit of cursing.

Liberal Values
For such a lame blog name, it’s a good blog. I enjoy the layout and color scheme. It’s bland but colorful enough. I also really like how they show recent comments on the left. That’s a great idea for getting people to read the many blogs that the comments are on.

For the most part, the posts are well-written. I could have done without the mini sci-fi specials but to each his own. Ugh, something I should say is that in the About section they quote Wikipedia. How’s that for credibility?

Best of Blogs Pt. 2

2009-03-31T17:52:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah, I’ll probably get a bit of flack but here’s three conservative blogs that I thought were well-done. My disclaimer is that I don’t necessarily agree with what’s discussed, but the writing and/or layout of these blogs are pretty darn good.

Classical Values
Their tagline, “End the culture war by restoring classical values,” might actually make you punch yourself in the face but this is a well-reported blog.

This blog is deemed a network blogger by PajamasMedia so take that as you will. There are 58 others that are held in that esteem according to PajamasMedia’s Web site.

Sure, the layout in nothing spectacular but the content is presented in a way that is intelligent, conversational and very interactive.

Clear Commentary
This layout is also nothing worth talking about. I will say that my favorite color is red and I think this blogger also enjoys the color red.

This blog is very… simple. I wouldn’t necessarily say that’s a bad thing but credibility would increase if it was more active. There’s some interesting information that really adds to the argument but at times can just seem very amateur.

I can’t decide whether I like the language used throughout or not.

Here’s an excerpt: “Liberals in congress and across the blogosphere are irate and attacking their own in ways that again recall Carter's curious attempts to deal with a rapidly deteriorating economy and problems abroad.

Yeah, that’s a lot to handle but the points are always made. The commentary is worth reading but I’m not sure if it’s necessarily clear.

Sistah Toldjah
Herein lies the great layout. It’s quite feminine which usually isn’t what I enjoy but there’s an obvious color scheme throughout. And… don’t we all love continuity.

This, by far, is the most professional blog out of the three and possibly out of many that I’ve looked at. She has endorsements, fanmail (which I think is unnecessary to flaunt but whatever) and a handy PayPal donation button. Those things don’t constitute professional but they make her look serious.

I’m not very impressed by her writing abilities but I can’t get over how beautiful the website is.

Bob Ross' Visit

2009-03-30T19:56:00.000-07:00

“We’re in a world of short attention spans,” Bob Ross said.

The good thing is that mine didn’t flair up during his entire visit.

Ross was a change from the usual class guests considering he worked as a movie critic for the St. Pete Times for 22 years.

Finally, we get some entertainment.

Ross began as a rock concert reviewer and worked as a reporter before becoming a movie critic. Even after being laid off in 2007, “before it became part of the rage,” he still has an awesome website.

Seriously, it’s a really well done website. I was blown away.

Let’s fast-forward to now. As Ross sat with his pink button-down shirt, khakis, sneakers and glasses, he giggled “like a child” and talked about how much he loved the movie Monsters vs. Aliens.

Reminiscing on the job that he loves, he talked about the ever-changing world of media and the movie theater business.

“The world changes. You just got to deal with that,” Ross told our class of aspiring journalists.

Oh gosh, that’s something that we’re all sick of hearing. We’re also pretty sick of hearing we have to sell ourselves and be prepared for a freelance nation… at least I am.

Regardless, I enjoyed hearing Ross’ take on the movie industry. Movie studios rely on advertisements, and because money isn’t plentiful, the qualities of films are diminishing.

Eh, I’m not a big movie girl in general so I can’t say that I’ve seen a decline in the quality of movies. But I’ll take Ross’ word on it.

Since our class has welcomed many guest speakers, many pieces of advice have been heard before. We’ve heard before that critical writers need to make their point of view known but also leave room for the reader to makeup their own mind.

Ross also reminded us of that.

In all, what sticks with me most is “Anyone can write but a writer can’t do anything else.”

I’m not sure if that should make me feel better about my future or make me more afraid. I’ll just “deal with it.”

Walter Mears' Visit

2009-03-23T17:14:00.000-07:00

After hearing many guest speakers tell of the horrors of going into journalism. I was relieved to hear from Walter Mears. Mears has worked as journalist for over 50 years and has won man awards including the 1977 Pulitzer Prize.
Having joined the AP in 1955, he still writes, basically what he chooses, today. I would say that I'm jealous but he's paid his dues.

It was really interesting to hear about the Associated Press from insiders. I hadn't really given much of a second-thought to what the AP did other than being THE news provider. Yes, that's what they are but they've also been incredibly flexible as new media outlets have emerged over the years.

"Adapt or die," Mears said.

Well, that's something we've heard time and time again, as journalism students. Perhaps we haven't heard it as intensely put as Mears did, but we know it's true. Multimedia journalism is becoming increasingly important as the digital age matures.

The AP has found a way to stay alive for over 150 years. Not only is it impressive, it's inspiring. Over 50 percent of stories in newspapers are from the AP, so we all know that they're making a lot of money. They ask for some much money for their service, in fact, that many newspapers can't even afford it.

But what I liked most about Mears was the sense of positivity that I got from him.

He said, "structure will remain" because we can't function without it. People will always be looking for structure. Hopefully that's where newspapers come in. I don't plan on writing for a newspaper but it is frightening that the next generation may find them completely obsolete.

The most stunning quote from the visit to me is, "If we don't know what's going on in the world then we're worse off than we have ever been."

Seasoned veteran, Walter Mears, was a breath of fresh air.

Best of Blogs 1

2009-03-11T11:29:00.001-07:00

It’s nearly impossible to navigate around the Web without finding a blog of some kind. They’re on everything imaginable so for me they’re usually just easy to tune out.

But, many can be helpful or entertaining. Here are some that I enjoy.

Vinography.com
I’ll admit that I’m a bit of a wino but I’m a bit of an ignorant one. The blog is really great for people like me as well as those well-verse in the vine.

Vinography was created by Alder Yarrow on January 14, 2005. Since then, he and other contributors post wine reviews, sake reviews, restaurant reviews, book reviews, editorials and wine events. They also have won six awards from opening to date.

I really like this blog because it’s very straightforward. The site has a readily-available code of ethics and wine rating scale. Basically Yarrow lives up to his last code of ethics which is “No bullshit.” Yet his writing shows his love of wine and that love transfers into his writing.

My favorite part of Vinography is the Messages In a Bottle section where Adler takes a more personal approach to wine loving.

Gridskipper.com

Gridskipper is a travel blog that writes on places around the world. While I have certainly not been around the world, I want to. So, this blog is great for my fantasies of traveling to Europe and Asia.

The site was bought by the Curbed Network a few years ago and has combined Gridskipper with their own blog called The Beach. They’re a self-procraliamed “travel and leisure” blog which covers everything between the best hotels in Paris to the best sex shops in Los Angeles.

What really stuck out to be about this blog is the beautiful pictures that accompany each blog. It’s a simple yet well-packaged site. They do a good job covering as many places as possible and try not to keep focus on one place for too long.

What sets this blogging style apart is that there’s very little actual blog and more supplemental reading on multiple topics. There’s the headline saying what that post is all about then you can choose which ones you’re actually interested in. If they’re not taking that approach they will have a short paragraph telling the subject and then a map to accompany.

I really like this because it gives the reader control. I enjoyed reading everything on this blog. It really made me feel lame though… oh and poor.

Sogoodblog.com

Yes! Two of my favorite things: food and ridiculousness.
So Good is a blog that focuses on the way food companies market and advertise. The author, Jon Eick, is a self-proclaimed “humorist and writer with a background in stand-up, improv and sketch comedy. Eick works at a Communications firm and has been working on So Good since August 2007.

This site can be so hilarious at times with good commentary and accompanying pictures. I particularly enjoy the “Would You Rather?” posts which all correspond to food. This, also, is a very simple blog but it incorporates pictures, videos and links.

But by far my favorite post on this blog is the Krispy Kreme Graphic FAIL. I think it’s a great reminder for the media to check, check, double-check and then triple check.

Martin Fennelly visit

2009-03-06T19:09:00.000-08:00

I was not pleased to hear that we were having a sports columnist come to our class. I’m not interested in sports nor am I typically interested in sports/sporty people.

So I thought Martin Fennelly would be a dud. I was so wrong.

Fennelly brought a mixture of sincerity, humor and experience that set him apart from past guests. He even did so without any gross sports references.

As he gave advice there was an occasional crack in his voice or a hearty laugh that instantly put the whole room at ease.

He shared some advice with the class that we had heard before like: draw people in and keep them in, details are everything and always try to bring it home.

Yet, the most memorable aspect of his visit, for me, was the focus on death.

I’ve dealt with the deaths of many loved ones. I’ve also read plenty of stories in the newspaper about people who have died. I feel like I can relate somewhat to the family but I can’t imagine how difficult it would be as a journalist to write about a recent death.

As Fennelly spoke on writing about death it was so interesting to hear a journalist's approach. I always have dreaded the thought of writing about a tragic death. I think he put it so simply.

“You wind up doing what you’re trained to do, you do your job.”

Martin Fennelly's kind heart stands out most. He mentioned “being touched” many times which wasn’t something I was expecting from a sports guy. He far exceeded my expectations.

My favorite quote: “People matter. Maybe that’s why I’m always writing stories about people.”

That was a good reminder of why I wanted to be a journalist in the first place. I just, again, didn’t expect it from a sports columnist.

Howard Troxler's visit

2009-02-16T18:49:00.000-08:00

I know they say not judge a book by its cover. Well, with Howard Troxler, I did a little bit. Any guy who can successfully wear thick-rimmed black glasses (and is not Buddy Holly, Elvis Costello or Rivers Cuomo) gets 10 points. With that, I should also add 20 points for the khaki jeans.

Seriously.

I love reading Troxler’s columns. Not only are they well written and reported but they also have that special something. It’s corny but true, and after meeting the guy I know exactly what it is.

With each step he took and word he said, Troxler’s enthusiasm infected each person. It left us all wanting to know more from this self-proclaimed contrarian while sparking an interest, for all of us I think, to start writing and reading columns.

With advice like “It’s more fun to make fun of political people than to criticize them” and “You can’t just spew!”, he’s definitely in the running for best guest speaker.

There’s a contest you know.

As Troxler walked around the room, making eye contact with everyone, his words came to life through his frantic arm movements, interspersed humor and caring demeanor. He reminded us that editorial writers and columnists should address some reported information and possibly do some reporting themselves. He tries to have done reporting for 50 percent of his pieces, and yes he keeps track.

“Most stuff is too boring,” he said. “Have them in and hooked with the first few paragraphs.”

What will stick with me most is what he said about finding his chance to be different and going with it.

When every other medium is attacking a person for their actions, Troxler aims to draw the subject in by acknowledging his or her own argument and then showing them how they are wrong.

He wants them to "feel bad" without feeling attacked. That's an art and somehow he manages to do it in an incredibly witty and imaginative way.

Tim Nickens' Visit

2009-01-29T11:18:00.000-08:00

Some of us have the pleasure of staying in that snowy tundra of a classroom after Critical Writing ends. I am one of them.

Monday, when my next class rolled around, we were greeted by a wide-eyed Professor Temple asking if anyone was in the class before. I raised my hand.

“Was that TIM NICKENS that I saw in the hallway?”

My “yes” reply made her eyes get even bigger.

“I thought it was him,” she said. “He’s my hero.”

Hero? Dang.

Now, during Nickens’ visit I was very impressed by his calm persona and overabundance of knowledge but I had no idea he was someone’s “hero”. I guess it’s a good thing I was paying attention.

Tim Nickens has an incredible resume and even more incredible clips. Thanks to Google, I found some oral history done by the University of Florida in 2002 on him. While a lot of it was about political issues that I’m not really well versed in, I was blown away.

This is not surprising; Thelen wouldn’t bring in just anybody.

We’ve been told before that editorials are supposed to stimulate and provoke thought about a topic and to encourage the reader to form their own opinion. Basically, we’re trying to get somebody to do something even if it’s just one person.

This was an interesting point that I hadn’t given much thought to, at least in terms of influencing people in office. I mean, I knew it was a part of it but for some reason it didn’t strike me until Nickens said it.

I’m not as into the politics of everything like many of my counterparts may be. For lack of better terms, I find it boring. That’s why I chose to do magazine writing instead of newspapers. Ugh, the thought of covering boring government situations seemed almost painful to me.

Yet, I find myself really liking this editorial writing thing and Tim Nickens is definitely someone to look up to. He is, I guess, a “hero” of sorts.

Rosemary Goudreau's visit

2009-01-19T20:17:00.000-08:00

It's pretty safe to say that I didn't know what I was doing when it came to writing editorials. (This is not to say that I know exactly what I’m doing at this point. I do not.) In a slight panic to get my editorial skills up to par, Rosemary Goudreau's visit couldn't have come at a better time.

I had started writing my first editorial and it was not going well, not going well at all. So, I sat intently as Goudreau answered all of my questions without me even having to ask her.

She proved her legitimacy when she told her prior job descriptions: editor of the editorial page in the Tampa Tribune and managing editor of The Cincinnati Inquirer. As she continued through the class discussion her legitimacy was further confirmed and I continued to note her comments concerning what makes a good editorial and why write editorials.

I’m sure the question that a lot of us in this class are thinking is, “Why write editorials?” Let’s be honest, I thought it too. According to Goudreau few writers can effectively make a point. Learning how to write op/ed pieces teaches a person how to effectively communicate their opinions. Really, I think we all could learn how to more effectively communicate our opinions.

Goudreau told us why we should learn to write these pieces and, thankfully, she also helped the class know to write them well. She encouraged me in knowing that even if editorials are completely removed from the newspaper world, people who know how to write them will never be out of demand.

“There’ll always be a need for people who are smart and have a point of view,” she said. Since that puts us out of the picture, there’s something to aspire to.

All joking aside, Goudreau laid out some great advice for how to approach an editorial. Her guidance helped me feel much more confident as I started writing my first editorial.

This advice includes:
• The best way to start is to have something to say. Begin with, “What do you want to say?”
• An editorial is an “informed opinion.” This means it’s clear, to the point and it says what we think and why we think it.
• A good editorial has something to say that moves people as it helps illuminate an issue in a way that isn’t just confined to facts.

What sticks with me most is, “Give me some substance to respond to.”

Indeed, now let’s see if I can get that substance on paper.

Chachere Visit

2009-01-13T10:12:00.000-08:00

As a writer, I like to write features. As a reader, features are what I like to read. So, I approached this Critical Writing class with a few questions and quite a few nerves. I didn’t really know what to expect and I certainly didn’t feel comfortable with the idea of me writing an editorial piece.

After Wednesday’s editorial board meeting featuring Vicki Chachere I began feeling much more competent in my ability to write a good editorial piece. She gave some good advice and brought up points that I hadn’t even considered.

Chachere is currently USF’s news manager and used to be an editorial writer for the Tampa Tribune. She also has experience with writing as a reporter.

What I found amusing was that she went into Journalism to be a reporter because she loved the act of reporting- digging around for information. She said she didn’t even realize her love for writing until later.

As we went around the classroom sharing ideas, Chachere and Professor Thelen gave feedback to each student. This feedback not only applied to our first editorial pieces but also to editorializing in general.

The first main issue discussed was relying on other sources. As journalists we’re supposed to question everything but it’s very easy to believe in something especially when it evokes emotion (and especially when it’s featured in a revered media source.) Chachere shared a few stories about how important it is to find the actual study or government document in which the “facts” came from.

This is the same with reporting in general but it definitely was a good reminder of a timeless issue.

Another great word of advice was to write a short headline before writing the editorial. For me, when I write a story, the headline is usually one of the last thing that I write. As I embark on my first editorial piece it should help me in guiding me where to go with it.

The next issue was writing the article itself. Chachere said sometimes you’ll start with one hypothesis and end with another after the reporting is finished. In essence, she told us that our assumptions may be wrong.

It’s good to remain open when writing since things aren’t always the way we think they are.

Another important reminder when writing the piece is that an editorial piece represents the company that you’re working for and these views may not line up with what you believe. When what you think lines up with what your company thinks, feel free to put your opinion in. Otherwise, keep your opinion out of your writing.

On the other hand, we were introduced to the concept of layering. I think this was found in the editorial about the dad killing the baby done by Mahoney. Chachere’s example of layering is, “Here’s my opinion and here’s the facts to back it up.”
One of my favorite words of wisdom from Chachere was to find issues that create a visceral reaction to write about. I really love that word visceral. I was especially impressed and encouraged when she told us she told us a success story of hers. She had written about an issue and the county noticed it and put more funding toward it.

“If you’re reacting, others will too,” she said.