Networking Lecture

Tonight I attended a lecture from Marlene Chism in the J School, entitled "How to Use Presentation Skills in Networking."

She began the lecture by having us discuss with another person our "30 second commercial" we would say if we meet an important person of our field. Not only was this activity beneficial, it was eye-opening in terms of what I still need to prepare. This "commercial" could very well be my golden opportunity for a job or internship.

Listed are some of Marlene's helpful tips:

• Know the company (research beforehand!)
• Know what it is that you want, have a vision for your career
• Find people in your field—email them for ideas
• Ask detailed, specific questions in interviews to make connections (such as asking them about their daily life)
• Have resume on-hand (that is clean and ready, simple errors turn people off)
• Leave a good impression about your work ethic, for you want people to speak highly of you (double-check your references)
• Take advantage of every convention or workshop in the field that you are interested in
• Attend student events with mentorship components
• Have professional email address
• Be cautious with social networking
• Don't be bore, be entertaining
• Know your audience
• Have an outline or an agenda (be sure to cover the most important things first)
• If you need something, ask.
• Keep track of your boss' Twitter feed.

Particularly in news communication, I thought her advice about being strategic was especially important. Every opportunity is a time for me to shine, and "brand" myself. I learned that preparation is key, as well as keeping my eye on the target audience. I want to take advantage of internship or networking opportunities this summer, and I plan on enacting her tips about getting into the business.

Absence of Malice

Part 1. Film synopsis:

In this film, Sally Field, a reporter for a murder investigation, writes a story that implies that liquor distributor Gallegher is the culprit of the crime. However, the story isn't necessarily true, although the lawyers state that it is accurate. Gallegher ends up finding Megan and setting the record straight, for the story was leaked to her in a ploy from a chief investigator. Eventually the two fall into romance, and the truth is finally uncovered about Gallegher's innocence.

Part 2.

1. Remember the importance of media ethics.

2. Know the source of your information. Is it reliable?

3. Make sure all your details are correct with factual evidence.

4. Give an even position on both sides of the story.

5. Consider how your writing will affect those you write about.

6. Don't have ulterior motives in printing your story, such as malice.

7. Do not merely report what you have just heard, have multiple sources.

8. Consider the moral and legal side of your story.

9. Do not write an article out of emotional feeling toward your subject.

10. Do not give out information that will leak something important to solving the case--be cautious with your words. Some things need to stay confidential.

J School

Blog #6

After taking Journalism 101, I feel more drawn to the field of public relations and advertising. The social communicative portion as well as the design aspect makes me want to pursue this major at Carolina. Public relations covers a multitude of areas, for every company needs someone to help communicate with the public and reflect a professional image. Advertising, on the other hand, holds the power to persuade by marketing products. I'm not sure which one I will eventually choose, but I know I'm headed in the right direction.

I felt that the class really helped in terms of seeing each section of Journalism in a different light. By researching our own controversies and learning about the background of how each section was first started, I was able to understand more of what each actually consist of.

10 Lessons from Facebook

Yesterday evening, I went to a lecture from the best-selling author of "The Facebook Effect," David Kirkpatrick.

He offered 10 lessons that we can learn from Facebook:

1. It doesn't matter how young you are

2. The entire world can change at once

3. Empowered people are the engine of change

4. People want to communicate more

5. It's hard to hide

6. Don't focus on the money

7. The long term matters

8. The news is not what you thought

9. Platforms are the most important technologies

10. Innovation is how companies win.

I found the lecture both insightful and surprising. I was shocked at the growth of the company just in the past year, 47%, and that the number 2 country that uses Facebook the most is Indonesia. Today, there are about 750 million active Facebook users, and the company is gaining more and more power worldwide as the number continues to increase. In terms of its political impact, Facebook gives users a broadcast platform. Whenever these users have an issue they want to speak about, they go to Facebook to broadcast their ideas/beliefs. It’s the most efficient communication tool, and causes a viral broadcast as a result. Kirkpatrick also noted that political leaders use Twitter feeds to broadcast their ideas directly to their followers.

Additionally, Kirkpatrick emphasized Mark Zuckerburg's vision--the vision that he could change the world through technology. It was his persistence and innovative thinking that took the company to new heights. His zeal, in essence, is something that we all should mirror.

After explaining each of these 10 lessons, Kirkpatrick highlighted important points about Facebook's future. Not only are they are going to be more closely regulated by governments, they have to be more concerned about not being transparent enough to users. However, Facebook's dictatorship has helped the company be more efficient and reach to the top of any other Internet social media service.

Radio Stations

Blog Assignment #4

Target audience for both stations: contemporary country music targeted for anyone who likes "today's country" (range of ages but mainly between 20-40)

103.5 FM WEZL Charleston

Started listening at 8:35 pm

8:35-8:38 Drive by Alan Jackson

8:39-8:42 Good To Be Me by Uncle Kracker/Kid Rock

*Contest announcement for Keith Urban tickets

8:43-8:45 Commercials: Geralds Tires commercial, Nautical Mile Spring Event, Southern Wesleyan University

8:45-8:48 Wrapped Around by Brad Paisley

8:48-8:51 As Good As I Once Was by Toby Keith

"Charleston's country WEZL"

8:52-8:54 Heart Like Mine by Miranda Lambert

8:54-8:58 Why Wait by Rascal Flatts

"Listen Live on the web wezl.com"

8:58-9:02 There Goes My Life by Kenny Chesney

"Charleston USA"

9:02-9:06 This Is Country Music by Brad Paisley

9:06-9:09 Free by Zac Brown Band

"Who smells the best?" announcement

9:10-9:13 Last Night Again by Steel Magnolia

9:14-9:15 DJ talking about fragrances by country singers

9:15-9:17 Commercials: Famous Hair, Wizzy Wig, Challenge Cup, McAllister-Smith Funeral Home, Paradise Pools & Spas

9:17-9:21 Our Kind Of Love by Lady Antebellum

9:21-9:25 Felt Good On My Lips by Tim McGraw

9:25-9:28 Real by James Wesley

iheartradio.com announcement

9:29-9:32 Our Song by Taylor Swift

9:32-9:35 Don't You Wanna Stay by Jason Aldean/Kelly Clarkson

94.7 QDR Raleigh/Triangle "Today's Best Country"

Started listening at 8:47 pm

8:47-50 Yes by Chad Rock

8:50-51 Win your Country Mega Ticket adv. at 7:10 next Monday

WQDR-94.7 jingle

8:51-54 Have You Forgotten by Darryl Worley

8:54-57 Down the Road by Kenny Chesney w/ Mac Mcanaly

"Today's Best Country-from Alan Jackson to the Zac brown Band

8:57-9:01 If You're Going Through Hell by Rodney Atkins

9:01 "94.7 QDR playing your 5 most requested songs, win by naming 5 songs in a row, be the 9th caller"

9:02-05 Let Me Down Easy by Billy Currington

9:05 Hot 5 at 9-every night at 9

9:05-09 Little Miss by Sugarland

9:09-13 Love Don't Run by Steve Holy

QDR country commercial

9:13-17 A Little Bit Stronger by Sara Evans

9:17-21 No. 1 Don't You Wanna Stay by Jason Aldean/Kelly Clarkson

"Party Radio with the one-man party, interviewed winner, won 25$ to Mrs. Field's"

9:22 "Download our free application"

9:22-25 Clip of morning show/American Idol (interview with Josh Turner and mayor of Garner)

9:25-28 Chillin' by Blaine Larsen

"One Man Party, broadcasting live from City Limits Saloon"

9:29-32 Family Tradition by Hank Williams Jr.

9:32-36 Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts

"Big Come Back win-Tarheels, Duke over MD"

9:36-39 Red Dirt Road by Brooks and Dunn

9:39 Gave list of performers at City Limits for next few weeks

9:40-44 Good to Be Me by Uncle Kracker and Kid Rock

9:44-47 Long Trip Alone by Dierks Bentley

"Soldier Soundtracks to War"

Blog post #3

I chose Dick Gordon's piece entitled "Soldier Soundtracks to War." This show contained three separate stories.

Soldier Soundtracks to War

This story incorporated helicopter sounds and gun sounds into the podcast before any soldiers were interviewed, setting up the scene and mood of the piece.

The song Indestructible develops self-confidence in one specific soldier interviewed, allowing him to remained focused while on duty. On the other hand, a staff sergeant was interviewed and explained his love of gospel music. The music on his iPod connected his view of the war to a spiritual warfare. When a woman was interviewed, she explained the culture shock of being a blond-haired, blue-eyed woman fighting in Iraq. On her iPod contained country songs, including lyrics such as "I'm not scared to grab my gun and fight for my homeland." This particular song encourages her to continue fighting for her country, even though she is often looked at as weak in the Iraqi world.

Other selections included on the soldier's iPods are used as their individual survival strategy. Dick Gordon explains music's impact and use while going into war. An interviewee explains how rock songs pump him up before going into battle. In contrast, slower songs like Home by Blake Shelton talks about being surrounded by many people, but feeling like you want to go home. Another soldier explains this choice, as she reflects on her family and desire to return back to them. Just hearing the music in the background while the interviewees shared their thoughts allowed me to envision what they went through as they listened to their iPod while in service.

Dick Gordon uses breaks in between the separate interviews to give a quick wrap-up of the story and let listeners know what's coming up next. Longer clips of the musical selections are also used to give breaks between stories.

No Revolution

This story explains of the unrest in Egypt, before Mubarak stepped down. Without seeing the people interviewed, I could really focus on exactly what they were saying and sense their emotions in their voice. One man explained how he dug a cave in his bedroom just to escape the shelling and gunfire. His description of the stench and the smallness of the cave really gave me a sense of his frustration with the unrest, however, he was thankful for the cave's protection. This story made me think of this world news in Egypt in a more personal way, just by hearing the Egyptians' stories in their own words.

Furthermore, the story describes the level of fear escalating in Egypt. Abdi, the station's correspondent in Somalia, accounts for the violence happening at his university. Overall, I felt that this part of the show displayed a more personal account of the events in Egypt instead of a broad news update you can see on television news.

Dick Gordon gives a preview into the final story, about a model-turned-writer describing the ups and downs of the fashion industry.

The Anonymous Model

The name of this piece is the title of the column of the featured interviewee, Jenna Sauers. Dick Gordon first offers information of how Jenna first got into modeling. Jenna then describes her experiences with the modeling industry; the majority of models only work and make enough to cover their expenses. She never reached "superstar" status and said she was too old at 21.

Her column came about on jezebel.com, so that Jenna could have a chance to speak about the topics and issues facing the fashion world. Her insight made me look at modeling in a different light--that the business faces deep problems otherwise unknown to the general public. Everything that models eat or do with their life has an impact on their job and essentially, their measurements are job qualifications.

After hearing Jenna talk about embracing freelance writing, I thought it was interesting that she now has control of her work, rather than being told what to do when she was a model. The story concluded with a peppy song related to modeling, which I thought was fitting to the piece and kept me interested until the end of the program.

Overall, I felt the show was very well put-together, even though the three stories were diverse and somewhat unrelated. Dick Gordon did a good job in connecting them however, and the musical clips kept the show easy and interesting to listen to.

Book to Film

If you could adapt any book to screen which book would you choose and why?

I would choose Redeeming Love, by Francine Rivers. The story takes place during the California Gold Rush of the 1850s and tells a story of a young woman facing heartbreak and in the end, forgiveness. Inspired by the book of Hosea in the Bible, the book is captivating and has a strong plot and theme. Personally, once I start reading the book I can hardly put it down. I believe the story has enough depth to be adapted into a film version.

Who would you cast?

As the main character, Sarah, I would probably cast either Keira Knightley or Natalie Portman. For Michael Hosea, Jake Gyllenhaal.

What genre of music would you use in your soundtrack?

Music of the Old West, to make the film realistic and historically accurate. This country/folk style is marked by instruments such as the fiddle and harmonica.

What would you eliminate from the book in order to make the film two hours or less in length?

For time, I would eliminate a few scenes of Sarah's, or Angel as she is re-named, early life--perhaps making her past apparent in short flashback clips.

How would you describe the film in a two sentence summary?

The story portrays a women's quest for fulfillment--fulfillment not found in money or comfort, but in love and redemption. She finds a man willing to help her heal from her past prostitution and accept her for who she is, despite her flaws.