http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/ en-us Copyright 2009 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:03:43 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Struggles and Accomplishments! "Sadly" this is my third and final portfolio for news writing. Throughout this semester I have learned many important things that will help me regardless to my career choice. I also am proud to say that this semester I have done my best in keeping up with all my work. Although I do find myself procrastinating to a point, I believe exercises and assignments such as blogs have prevented me from falling far behind! When I do fall behind it is evident in my work, and I am not proud of this. But I do feel that in my eyes I have shown improvement and to me that is the important thing. Sure A's are always nice, but as long as I know I tried my hardest I am happy with the product. 1. Coverage: contains all the agenda items I have completed since the previous portfolio Creative Crime Report No One Said Life Was Fair the Journalist monsters PREY on the weak!!! Newspapers...yada yada yada Classical or Creative yes! yes! pretzels what? Alas! The Antidote of Dull Writing! Morrie's Man 2. Depth: the blogs I felt were my best and most interesting Best Practices 1-28 No One Said Life Was Fair: mistakes happen, but if you can eliminate them you have formed ART! Best Practices Overview Newspapers...yada yada yada: I will admit, at this point, I am getting sick of the repetition and can't wait to learn NEW stuff! ABNW Chapter 10 Alas! The Antidote of Dull Writing!: I worked my butt off thinking about this concept-but don't be intimidated! 3. Interaction: blogs that helped other students and discussion Mitchell Steele ABNW 87-97 Jackie Johns Best Practices (the rest) Vanessa Kolberg ABNW Chapter 11 4. Discussion: interaction with my peers that helped support and challenge my blogs Best Practices 1-28 No One Said Life Was Fair: everyone had something to say about life not being fair. Best Practices rest the Journalist monsters PREY on the weak!!!: Do journalists prey of the weak? Responses of my peers made me question my own ideas. ABNW Chapter 10 Alas! The Antidote of Dull Writing!: Again, this is my baby-you can't go wrong with anecdotes! 5. Timeliness: blogs that were posted early and led to discussions Best Practices 1-28 No One Said Life Was Fair Best Practices rest the Journalist monsters PREY on the weak!!! Best Practices Overview Newspapers...yada yada yada ABNW Chapter 10 Alas! The Antidote of Dull Writing! 6. Xenoblogging: things I do to help others with blogging Comment Primo- Daniela Choynowski- Best Practices 1-28 Jackie Johns- Best Practices (the rest) Maria Pezzuti- Classics Corey Struss- Hull, "Metal to Bone" 7. Wildcard: the one I want YOU to see! ABNW Chapter 10 Alas! The Antidote of Dull Writing!: Not only do I think this was my best blog, but I feel that the topic got me thinking the most. I also had a lot of good discussion and interaction on this blog. If I could go as far as saying I was most proud of this blog I would, but it sounds rather silly. I feel that this blog, one of my final for the semester, shows my growth and improvement in this class. I hope you enjoyed it as well!]]> http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/12/portfolio_3_struggles_and_acco.html http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/12/portfolio_3_struggles_and_acco.html Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:03:43 -0500 Chapter 11 in ABNW has many important points. I think the one that is overlooked is eliminating important facts. Like Jackie said in her blog, we have been spending a lot of time in class taking MANY facts and picking which ones are important to the story. I thought I was finally getting a handle on using the important information, but really the big picture is you have to look outside of your article and make sure you are not eliminating a factor that could alter what you are reporting. Gosh, news writing is so complicated!! ]]> http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/12/morries_man.html http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/12/morries_man.html Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:48:07 -0500 Chapter 10 of ABNW, an anecdote is a tiny story within a story, "a short account of some interesting or humorous incident." What I understood from this section was that it was reiterating the fact that there are two different types of journalists. The ones who follow the assignments and those who make the story their own. If you include an anecdote within the assignment you are making the story your own. So for anyone out there that says Journalism is not creative-check it out! Anecdote's within a story luminates style and puts the dull articles to sleep! Anecdotes are the gold coins you are in search of while interviewing...that extra something special that will make your story shine. An example would probably be any background or history reporters/we found while interviewing the students at the Safe Streets, Safer Students meeting. But I guess there is a catch-you have to be careful what information you are writing and how you publish it, because you may be giving information that will alter the hearings. ]]> http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/11/alas_the_antidote_of_dull_writ.html http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/11/alas_the_antidote_of_dull_writ.html Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:51:30 -0500 Metal to Bone after reading this line, you must be CRAZY. Although the pretzels were not the topic of the article, I was sold as soon as I read that line. Hull did a wonderful job with showing, and not tellings. I was interested throughout the article! My Uncle actually lived in St. Petersburg and worked in Tampa, so it hit a certain part of my mind. I felt as though I was experiencing the events as the story progressed and I feel the writing style was wonderful. I loved it and thought it was a great article.]]> http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/11/pretzels_what.html http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/11/pretzels_what.html Sun, 25 Nov 2007 23:01:04 -0500 Ah, What a Day, I loved the semicolon use. When I was in 10th grade, my high school English teacher, Mrs. Brosig would have MURDERED anyone who used this technique, but I find it fun and refreshing! One thing that really stood out for me in this article was the fact that is was so personal to the town. In every town there are special things noone else would know about! In Erie, we have Smith hot dogs and they are the best ever! I have friends who buy them by the boxes and take them back to Boston with them. Little things like that sit with an audience and I feel that this personality is very appealing. Almost essay like, but reporting on something. ]]> http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/11/yes_yes.html http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/11/yes_yes.html Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:45:34 -0500 The Classics, I chose to write about the The Death of Captain Henry Waskow. I felt that this was a very creative obituary. Ernie Pyle used "I" and "we" in the article and it made it so much more personal. I have never read an article similar to the story told about how Captain Henry Waskow was lost but loved. I really felt it was amazing writing and for someone to be creative with a topic such as death, it's real talent! ]]> http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/11/classical_or_creative.html http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/11/classical_or_creative.html Sun, 25 Nov 2007 21:58:53 -0500 Best Practices is the only readings that have helped me come to this conclusion, but I am realizing more and more, with every assignment, that I do NOT was to write for a newspaper. Phhewww feels good to get that off my chest. In all seriousiness, I don't have what it take to be a news writer. I could never get into a victims face after their child was murdered and interview them. I don't have the nerve or I guess the balls to do something like that. I am not saying that news writing is not interesting, I think it is a challenging art and well I give a huge amount of credit to journalists who do justice!! I do hope to take what I have learned in this class and through the readings out in life. Yah know, take the news with a grain of salt, no one is perfect and journalist are not an exception, verify or duck, yada-yada-yada! I know this course will also help me in my real dream *magazine writing* aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! ]]> http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/11/newspapersyada_yada_yada.html http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/11/newspapersyada_yada_yada.html Sat, 17 Nov 2007 14:48:49 -0500 Best Practices, this section captured my attention because of the title at first, but I shortly became enthralled with the reality of the matter. I am sure that reporters don't even realize what they are doing, justice as far as they are concerned, but I agree that there is a line between finding the justice in the matter and preying on the weak victims of the situation. Sure we can blame the adrenaline the reporters are running on, but honestly how invasive do the questions have to be? Especially on the victims end. In cases of families with lost loved one or children, just how far will reporters go to get information, when really in the eyes of the public they should just report on the actual event. I get that they think they are getting a more news worthy article if they do a more personal story, but seriously don't go there. Like the book says, I too think the journalists should be trained to know what questions to ask people in vulnerable situations. How far to push the story and how to treat children. There are so many reasons that people hate journalism. Have a heart! ]]> http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/11/the_journalist_monsters_prey_o.html http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/11/the_journalist_monsters_prey_o.html Sat, 17 Nov 2007 14:06:07 -0500 Best Practices, I found it most similar to my experiences in News Writing. As we have all had drilled into our little brains, verify or duck! But it is not that easy. It is very easy to make mistakes, we are only human, but it can effect what news is reported. Even editors may not catch mistakes, and shown in this chapter it is important to have a routine that questions, Who made this error? How did it occur? and so on. Along with making mistakes, I feel it is very important for errors to be admitted. If we make a mistake that effects a story, it is easy to put a follow-up on there to fix the problem! If little steps like these are taken, I feel the public will believe the news and respect the art. ]]> http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/11/no_one_said_life_was_fair.html http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/11/no_one_said_life_was_fair.html Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:41:48 -0500 Myers used. By putting dialogue such as this, I really felt as though I was there. I was involved with the topic and had a better feel for the story. Rather than just reading facts, you are shown not told. It is not a style that I am used to, but then again I have no prior experience with News Writing. I was interested in the topic throughout the reading and I think this is an important aspect. The goal is to reach the audience and Myers has accomplished this in my case. I rather prefer this type of style to other news writing, but then again I am more interested in Magazine writing. And I feel that this is similar to that style! ]]> http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/11/creative_crime_report.html http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/11/creative_crime_report.html Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:39:04 -0500 Parte Dos This is my second blogging portfolio this semester and I think I am finally getting a hang of it! I did a very good job this time around keeping up with the blogs, and I even figured out my trackback (although it doesn't work all the time). I feel I have been having better interaction this semester and I admit it is probably because I have been so timely. I hope my improvement is evident beyond my own mind! 1.Coverage: contains all the agenda items I have completed since the previous portfolio This Can't Be Right First Hand Experience Is It Not Clear That We Don't Want Ambiguity? Powerful Presence The Good and the Bad Open the Box and Take a Look Outside of It! 2.Depth: the blogs I felt were my best and most interesting Intro. and Chapter 1 IANS This Can't Be Right Chapters 5-6 IANS Is It Not Clear That We Don't Want Ambiguity? Chapters 7-8 IANS The Good and the Bad 3.Interaction: blogs that helpd other students and discussion Tiffany Gilbert Intro and Chapter 1 IANS Vanessa Kolberg Chapters 2-4 IANS Madelyn Gillespie Chapters 2-4 IANS Ellen Einsporn Chpaters 5-6 IANS 4.Discussion: interaction with my peers that helped support and challenge my blogs Intro and Chapter 1 IANS This Can't Be Right Chapters 2-4 IANS First Hand Experience Chapters 7-8 IANS The Good and the Bad 5.Timeliness: blogs that were posted early and led to discussions Intro and Chapter 1 IANS This Can't Be Right... Chapters 2-4 IANS First Hand Experience Chapters 7-8 IANS The Good and the Bad Chapters 9-10 Open the Box and Take a Look Outside of It! 6.Xenoblogging: things I do to help others with blogging Comment Primo- Madelyn Gillespie: Chapters 2-4 IANS Tiffany Gilbert: Chapters 5-6 IANS Jeremy Barrick: Chapters 9-10 IANS 7. Wildcard: the one I want YOU to see! Chapters 7-8 IANS The Good and the Bad Althought I feel that I have improved in my my blogging, I feel that this is the blog that got most people thinking about the reading. I also had good interaction on this blog and posted it early so more people would be able to react to my ideas. I think out of the blogs this one is the one that would catch a readers attention. I hope you agree!]]> http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/11/blogging_portfolio_parte_dos.html http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/11/blogging_portfolio_parte_dos.html Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:30:46 -0500 chapter ten, tunnel vision is the main discussion. I found it very important because I think a lot of people don't think outside of the box these days. I mean seriously how didn't they catch the difference in the survey about infectious diseases. First they missed the fact that AIDS was not recognized in the first survey, and then they also forgot to recognize the aging population. So in reality the survey was a positive outcome after they realized that the aging population had lived longer because of medical advances. And the thing is, I am sure everyone who read the article just saw the number and was like, "Ohh geez, that can't be good" without even THINKING that people have tunnel vision, because they suffer from it as well! So I think the most important thing is to keep an open mind and not to suffer from this sort of tunnelled vision. In conclusion of the book, I really think it has helped me realize many things about statistics and news writing. Take everything with a grain of salt, verify or duck, look outside the box, and so much more! ]]> http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/10/open_the_box_and_take_a_look_o.html http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/10/open_the_box_and_take_a_look_o.html Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:25:59 -0500 chapter 7 I found the case study on breast cancer to be very interesting. The quote, "The activists have attempted to drum up support by emphasizing-and, we will see, exaggerating-the very grave danger posed by breast cancer," made me think twice about the truth. Morals are bound to get in the way. While I was reading this section, I totally understood the point. The number was used inaccurately to scare women, but at the same time when you are in an activist's place you want people to be aware of the problem. Although I agree that this is a HUGE difference as you read on to find out it is a lifetime figure, but I still can see the benefit of keeping women aware in the matter of breast cancer. So maybe activists aren't a good source for the numbers, but at the same time, what they have to say may be newsworthy in itself! Would people be less aware of breast cancer and not catch their own if the activists didn't alter the numbers? Who knows? But it is something to think about. ]]> http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/10/the_good_and_the_bad.html http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/10/the_good_and_the_bad.html Sun, 28 Oct 2007 14:23:14 -0500 WOW, President JoAnne Boyle has a powerful presence walking into a room. I actually have met and know President Boyle, but was terrified to think she was in our class!! Some underclassmen may never have even seen her before, but when they did they stopped DEAD in there tracks, just as the rest of us did! I think breaking the ice was the hardest part, and well frankly we all need to get over that. Interviewing is difficult, especially when someone superior is at hand, you don't want to offend them or sound stupid-they just hold so much power over you! I am ashamed to say, I was chicken to ask some questions that I wasn't sure would make sense or sound silly. I regret this, and hopefully for my second article I will be able to get an interview with her to get some more imput into my angle. ]]> http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/10/powerful_presence.html http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/10/powerful_presence.html Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:22:58 -0500 "In short, even when tendentiousness is not at issue, lack of clarity may be. Again, you need to know what the question is before you can interpret its answer." In chapter 6 of IANS I had the lightbulb go off in my head. Little things matter when it comes to EVERYTHING! Getting right down to it, the two things I found most interesting where how the actual survey question and the technique of how it was asked made such a large impact on the result. With the example of reporst of child abuse dropping 50% from 1975 to 1985, the type of survey changed from interviewing in person and on the phone, therefore the answers actual have different varibles. If they were the same interviewing process the survey would be more accurate. Also like in the cause of denying the Holocaust, the ambiguous double negative surveyed question confused the people, significantly changing the responses. After the question was corrected the numbers decreased and made a HUGE difference. The quote I chose says it all, you cannot trust the survey statistics until you know what the question was. I feel that in many cases with deadlines and tight schedules journalists may overlook something this "small". We must be interested in the question just as much as we are interested in the publics opinion. Because without one, you can't have the other!!! ]]> http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/10/is_it_not_clear_that_we_dont_w.html http://blogs.setonhill.edu/BethanyMerryman/2007/10/is_it_not_clear_that_we_dont_w.html Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:47:35 -0500