Wednesday, April 29, 2009

The Roller Coster Called JMC 410

I have had my ups and downs with my capstone class for my major. The class is advanced news-writing. If you have read my previous post about how I am spelling impaired then you could only imagine what kind of ride I have had. 

I have gained a perspective for the business that I now appreciate. I can tell you that people who write for newspapers put in a lot of work in a little amount of time. There is so much editing that goes into writing stories and I give it to people who are, or want to be a copywriter. A job that I will never land and I'm not sure I would be cut out for the job!

Although I have had a hard time with the class I have enjoyed it. Ever since I was a child I have always wanted to be a journalist. I have wanted to write about the news and help people become informed. Even though I don't think I will work for a paper right when I graduate a part of my childhood dream has come true through this class.

I have had to write real stories that would inform people, edit to the point where I want to pull my hair out and and meet deadlines. All of these things I would have done if I was really in the field. One thing I would change about my JMC 410 experience is that I wanted to learn more about the Internet and how you go about creating one. Since that is the wave of the future and that is where this field is heading I think it would be beneficial if the class included more Internet info. 

The ride is just about over and I am ready to unstrap my safety belt and get off the ride. I am defiantly not the same person who got on the ride, I am more confident and a little bit more educated about the person I am and what I am capable of.

Thank you JMC 410 for the ride! 

Not In The Classroom

From my four years in college I have heard time and time again that some of the greatest lessons you will learn in life will be taught in the classroom....well I say "they" have no idea what they are talking about. 

I have learned what type of career I want from hearing the local news and reading magazines, I have also learned what I do not want to do in my future by work experience....not the classroom.

I have learned how hard I have to push myself in order to get ahead and make something of myself though my sorority that I am involved in and it has also taught me what kind of leader I can be....not the classroom. 

I have gained a wider perspective of how I can help out the world by doing my own part of renewing resources and using up less energy from a program I was involved in on campus. The program also showed me that just by educating people towards a cause you are helping the world one person at a time...again not in the classroom. 

Last I think some of the most valuable lessons I have learned are that walls are built up in your life to test how bad you want things, you must replace your wish bone with your back bone and last, luck is when preparations meets opportunity. All of these lessons I learned by doing a little light reading in my free time....not in the classroom!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Thank You for Spell Check!

Going through life as a bad speller isn't easy. Of all things to be bad at, spelling is definitely at the top of the list. I feel that we are our own breed. The maker uppers! When all else fails and you don't know how to spell a word, make it up. Even as I write this post now, little red dotted lines scatter under words periodically to remind me that yes you are a bad speller, and you don't know how to spell this.
Going through my journalism 410 class, which is a capstone class for my major I am learning just how bad of a speller I really am. But they say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. Well their is no need for bad spellers anonymous, I know I can't spell and I'm saying it out loud! 
As far back as I can remember I have been a bad speller, I think that is why I chose to be a journalism student. I know, your asking why are you going into a profession that is all about writing when you don't know how to spell, but I figured in journalism their is always an editor. Its like having an English teacher to look over your papers for life. But this does not come with out consequences.  
You take the risk of looking dumb for not spelling their there and they're wrong and having to spend twice as long on a paper as the average writer. 
Just like years before this class I was a bad speller and Im sure I will not become a walking dictionary any time soon but to all those who can not spell worth anything keep your heads up, we have spell check and we can use it to the fullest!! 


Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Extra Extra Read All About It

The advanced news-editorial class now has its own Web site. The class created a site to display their work and give out information about certain beats that the students have covered for the spring semester. 
The site can be found through this blog and also through the University of Northern Colorado Web site. The site will include bios of each of the students as well as display a photo, so readers can put a face to the name. The first story that is soon to be published for the Web site are Day in the Life stories. Keep an eye out for more stories to come and first hand information. 

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Students Helping Students Stay Fit

This past week I wrote a profile story on the president of the Student Dietetic Association at the University of Northern Colorado, Ashley Waither. The profile explains what the association does and how it tries to promote health through out the campus of UNC and the community of Greeley. 

The association has grown to 70 members and meets twice a week on campus. The criteria to join the student association is that you must be a dietetics major or a nutrition minor. 
March is National Nutrition Month, which gives the association many opportunities to host events to raise awareness.

The Student Dietetic Association's main event for the month of March is a cooking demonstration for healthy cooking. The demonstrations is to give tips and show how to cook meals with less fat and that are better for you. 

While writing the profile on Waither this week I found that working with someone who has the opposite schedule as you can be quite difficult. It always seemed that she thing going on when I had down time and visa verse. 

When I did finally get in touch with Waither she was a delight to work with. She was very personable and sincere in wanting to raise awareness for students to live a healthy lifestyle.