First meeting was a success

My team drove out at 6:30 am on Wednesday to Independence, Missouri, to meet the Examiner staff.

The meeting went very well. The staff had many questions about Facebook and implementation, which we were able to answer.

I said to them that the Examiner is the paper of record for the community, how the community communicates with itself. At this point, all of their heads were nodding. I said Facebook was a way for the Examiner to strengthen it's connection to the community by engaging them, a way to get more readers and more eyeballs and therefore more ad revenue. Heads continued nodding. The executive editor said "Do it."

After that, everyone became very excited about the prospect. One thing we that gave pause was the potential competition between the Facebook page and the Examiner site. We resolved that by seeing that no one comments on the Examiner site and Facebook would push people to the site proper. This is something we'll keep in mind moving forward.

Everyone involved is excited about the project, and I feel good about the future.

do I need another blog post?

This is going to be short because even though 4804 is over, I'm still always in a rush.. This time to board a plane to Key West. Hmm...

Turns out... I actually like reporting.  Who knew?  

While I can't express how happy I am to return to a semi-normal sleep/eating pattern, I do kind of miss the rush of finding sources and stories.  But, I think my classmates will forgive me for that :).

The best parts of this class: the people I met and friends I made, learning to tell stories, learning that reporting and turning a story isn't some gray, mushy unattainable goal... and it's over.  I've been dreading this class since before I even started J-School.  Being from Columbia, I've heard many stories about the j-school and the pains of reporting.  But hey, I did it and I did well.  I'm almost in disbelief.  The confidence this course instilled in me is something I haven't quite grasped yet.  From learning to communicate with my classmates and making friend there, to not giving up on allusive sources, to listening to my work be critiqued, to producing something in a day and have it published.  These are all things that were concepts I never knew I could be confident in.  

With that being said, I know I'm just at the foothills of a huge learning curve.  I know it's only just beginning (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__VQX2Xn7tI).  But I know I have a foundation solid enough to take off in any direction.   I know that I'm no where near where I could be and my skills and story telling abilities have a long way to go, but gosh darnit... we're going there.

Ending

I guess I haven't really taken the time to process what you've all just gone through. I also can't believe its over. I woke up at 7 today feeling like I have to get up, and soon. That was false. I didn't need to do anything. There was a moment of confusion as I looked around the room from my now vertical position in bed. I let it go and quickly snuggled back into pillows. I have been dreaming of that very instance since Spring Break. I guess dreams do come true!

However, despite how gleeful I am now that class is over, I'll miss it in small ways. Like everyone else, I'll miss sitting in the lab all day, having dance parties and bonding over the small things that we all have in common. I'm really proud of the way that we all came together and supported everyone because it would have been just as easy for us all to have let the pressure get to us .

And I suppose most importantly, I really do feel that this class has been extremely helpful to me. Whether or not real newsrooms are like this or not, I know that I can handle them if they are.

So thanks to the teachers and to my classmates! I say we've made something of our summer.

We Made It!

I'm going to make this quick because my group needs to repitch...wait, nevermind, force of habit. We made it! This class was giving me sick feelings in the pit of my stomach before it even started, and after seven grueling weeks, this last blog will mark the official end of my 4804 experience. This last we was a doosie, given the circumstances of my group. Thanks a lot to LaNita for working so hard right up to the very end.

Before this class, I had no desire to report. Now that the class is over, I still have no desire to report. However, I feel I gained an incredible amount of knowledge in this class that I will be able to apply in the real world. I learned stress and time managements skills, as well as practical interviewing and storytelling skills. The skills I had before have gotten better as well as faster. Some folks get it in their head that a reporting class is a waste of time if they are going to do production work. I strongly disagree.

I feel that this class held us to a higher caliber of journalism than any of us were expecting, and we will benefit from that in the future. If you ask me, this class really embodies the "Missouri method," and although it's tough, it's very effective. The sheer amount of work pushed me harder than any other class I've taken, and now I feel extremely confident in my ability to move across media platforms, and I'm more proud than ever to say I'm entering my final year in the Missouri School of Journalism.

Last and certainly not least, thanks to everybody in the class that made the Futures lab bearable every day. I think we all made a lot of friends, especially after a few Saturday nights. I look forward to working with some of you in the near future, as well as hanging out.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go NOT look for story ideas.

one step at a time

My goal for this course was to get through it while never allowing myself to slack off.  My worst fear was to go through such a tremendous amount of work and sacrifice so much of my life for seven weeks, and not have anything to show for it. Turns out, I have plenty to show for it and I may have even learned a thing or two.. 

The hardest part about working on things from start to finish is as soon as you finish it, you see how you could do better.   This had always been  a reason for me to get upset and frustrated. I could never be satisfied while the end result.  Sure, at the time I thought I was doing the best I could, but things I could have done better become perfectly clear the moment I turned something in.  This gets to be a pretty viscous cycle if you're not careful.  One especially frustrating week, I sat down with Lynda to do some problem solving.  I was tired, stressed out and unable to focus on what needed to be done.  I was worn out and almost ready to settle for less than mediocre product.  We figured some details out, what she said is probably the biggest thing I took away from the course.  She told me what gets you far and what got her to where she is, is to do the best you can in every moment with what you have.  It's not going to be a perfect product, but what counts is doing everything you can in each moment. 

  Not only does this apply to work ethic and goals, but it speaks to flexibility as well.  As learned by all of us in different ways, you will never have exactly what you need to produce the project you had envisioned.  That's why it's doing the best you can in each moment with what you have that really lets you succeed.  Remembering this came in handy when we had absolutely no one going frog hunting for our story.  We found what we could and had a plan put together a story with what we had.  Thankfully, Harum found us an excellent source and we were able to produce an exceptionally better product.  Had that not happened, we would most definitely receive a lower grade.  In the long run, however, our ability to have a back up plan and see a way to finish something regardless of what happens, will be what gets us father.

Allison Clarke

And I have NO idea why it's making all this space at the bottom.. My apologies.  No there isn't just a bunch of "enters" or paragraphs.  Dunno.

Thanks

I know nobody reads these, but in case anyone actually got that bored...

Thanks to the faculty, especially Karen. I would have dropped the class in the first couple weeks if it weren't for yall. You make the class bearable, even if you're strict as hell.

More so, thanks to the class. I'll miss you all, and I didn't realize that one of my biggest regrets about studying abroad would be that I won't get to take 4806 with any of you. I'll miss you all immensely. If there is ever anything I can do for you, please let me know. Enjoy your summers, and good luck next fall!

Week 2 - also late

Week two was nuts. We hadn't been able to get any car parts manufacturers to talk to us over the weekend because of the holiday, and none of them were there on Monday either. Every part of reporting basically happened Tuesday. Except for the facebook messages I sent to every worker I could find from those plants. I'm still getting responses every now and then. 

This week we also started on probably my personal favorite story. Ammunition. Amanda was fun to work with, and I just liked the content of the story. Even still, I had a hard time writing the first draft for the story, but Amanda is an incredible editor and really turned it into something useful.

I also had my second shift at KBIA, which turned into a weekend story that I had to come in at 6 am on Monday morning to edit for the morning broadcast. So not fun. Week two was the week we started bonding as a class, too. I've never been a part of a class as close as ours. I'm pretty sure I could count on them for almost anything. 

week 1 - better late than never

well, here we are at the end of the semester, and I realized I had forgotten to write my blog post for week one. looking back, I find it interesting how optimistic I was. I really honestly didn't think this class would be horribly difficult. This was before I knew the true parameters for story ideas, or understood how much time I would be putting in. 

My first KBIA shift with Sam was a little crazy. It was before they had given their tour and taught us the newsroom practices and stuff, so Sam and I were basically thrown into the water and told to swim. Literally. We covered a story on water. Kind of by accident, since I mentioned the story idea in relation to something else, and they liked it so much the told us to go with it. We had such a hard time finding sources that I wasn't really happy with the story, but I am proud to say that my first shift at KBIA yielded a voiced piece over a minute long about how chloramines in the water can kill people on dialysis. On an interesting note, Monday they 30th, KOMU covered the chloramines in the water. I wanted to shout that I had done that same story a month earlier...

Week one was also car parts week. Going into that weekend, we were all really hopeful. It turned out to be one of the hardest stories I've ever covered.

Finish Him!

The last team story is in and has been graded. On the one hand, it's a huge load off my chest. On the other, I'm not really sure now how I'm supposed to feel. I've ben so stressed all summer, it'll take a while for me to acclimate to my new freedom. 

As far as the last team story, well, I'm satisfied with my grade. We had such a difficult time over the weekend trying to find a story that I would have taken a C if it meant having anything at all. I have to say, I'm incredibly grateful to all the convergence students. Almost everyone pitched in over the weekend to help us look for ideas, and although none of them really panned out, the fact that you guys cared enough means a lot to our entire group.

Also, the next time you see your letter carrier, tell him hello. They're great people. The staff members, not so much, but the actual letter carriers are pretty awesome.

My last KOMU shift was pretty cool. I got to do a lot of the actual work on the production end, and I think it helped me a lot in my never ending quest to understand shot sequences.

Well, now i'll be transitioning into life overseas. I'll send pictures. And Ross, I'll pick you up a shot glass for your collection.

The End!

I can't believe we're done. My friends keep asking me how it feels but I honestly don't feel much different because I keep thinking that I should be reporting this weekend or that on Monday I will need to be in class at 8. 

This week was tough, but probably my favorite story to do. I felt that it was actually an important topic, and made me feel for the first time that as a journalist I could possibly make a difference. Kelsey and Danielle were great to work with for my last story and I couldn't have asked for harder workers. Even when Flash crashed on her, Kelsey didn't stop working and pulled through. She's awesome!

My Missourian story is in the final stages after weeks of reporting and editing. Hopefully it will be up by next week!

This class has taught me a lot about myself and showed me what I know and what I still need a lot of work on. Oddly enough I'm gonna miss sitting in the lab with everyone, one-minute dance parties, lunch out EVERY DAY, and lounging by the pool. Hopefully we'll all still hang out!

See you all tonight!!!

Lauren Pinder

The Sign Off

by Jake Carah

When I started this class, I knew almost nothing about the people sitting around me in those $4000 chairs next to me. I had no idea Allison was a barrel racer, that Ross could dance, or that Laurie Ann did impressions. Just a small example of how we all came together to this semester how we helped and supported each other. With all the time we put into this class, all the hard work and good times will be what I remember. Again thanks, I'll see you around.

Week 7: Clever Blog Post Title TBD

For all other weeks, writing my blog posts has been pretty straight forward. Now, one KBIA shift away from completing 4804, I think I've been rendered speechless. I apologize in advance for what promises to be an extremely cliche blog post.

It legitimately hasn't sunk in yet that my time in 4804 is coming to a close. All of my classmates have been like family. Every moment I got to spend with this group of people is what kept me going on all those mornings and afternoons when it seemed like everything that could go wrong did go wrong. It still feels like we'll be right back at it this weekend - I'm paranoid that I'm already behind on a team story that doesn't exist.

4804 taught me many things about the industry and reinforced a lot of notions I'd already had. A lot of the skills I've picked up in this class should be extremely marketable come time for the job search, but 4804 also colored my perspective on the industry with yet another darker shade.

I'd love to sit here and spout off things I've learned about journalism over the last seven weeks (and trust me, there are many), but in all honesty, I really learned more about myself in the process. Between the emotional toll of constantly fighting for approval and the sheer stress of trying to accomplish so many things, I've really had to evaluate myself not only as a journalist, but as a person. In a seven-week span, I'm sure I've managed to come off as an almost impossible mix of arrogant, self-defeating, broken spirited, incompetent and more. But just as I went about every week trying to identify and improve upon my shortcomings as a journalist, I hope my personality and character developed in much the same way.

A big thank you goes out to everyone I worked with this semester. I can unequivocally say that this summer was the most challenging experience of my academic/professional life, but I truly appreciate everyone's assistance.

Bring on 4806.

na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye

We just turned put our final project into the finished folder, and it wasn't as dramatic as I hoped (like Ross, Jen, and Drew's group playing some epic NFL films music while walking across the Futures Lab), but it still feels awesome to be done with team stories. I have no clue what I'm going to do with my free time, though. But whatever I do, it'll be a welcome change from the daily grind of this class.

Doing the reporting for this last week's assignment was actually pretty enjoyable, except for getting showered in dust and dirt from standing too close to the racetrack on Friday night. While the production dragged on (probably because I was looking forward to being done), my team turned out some great stuff and I definitely don't feel bad as I get ready to leave the Futures Lab for some victory steaks.

I definitely feel like I got better as a journalist this summer, which, you know, is probably a good thing. I also picked up some great friends along the way—and we better not let the convergence parties die out.

So, from skateparks to drive-ins to real estate to art to murals to racecars, my teammates and I did a ton of work. And while it was a drag at times, it was a great time too. I don't think this class would've been bearable if the people in it weren't so awesome.

I'll let Johnny Drama take me out. See ya'll in the fall.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIeWjLC_SB0

See See Seeya

Erik Shute

Yea so, this week probably topped all other weeks. JJ and LaurieAnn, we worked asses off this past weekend and it paid off. Our story about the Callaway Raceway ended up with 6 elements, photos, two graphics, text piece, KOMU story, and a video vingette, all of it out by five too.

This was probably one of the first stories I've been able interview my interviewees at their own homes after setting up interviews at the racetrack the night before. They did feel more relax, and obviously less "under pressure" while off the track. I think the quotes were just more solid. My apologizes go out to Corey Nelson, who was very enthusiastic about racing and I wanted to put in our video, becuase we didn't have the time to spare in our 1:50 video. BUT I know I got a sweet shot of your shocks in there, and a few seconds of your car cruising by.

At KOMU this week I was busy. 9 am, I'm out the door and reporting at a police press conference. About an hour later I'm up in the state highway patrol helicopter taking photos for the story. Between 3 and 6pm, I'm out along a frontage road on US 63 helping set up a live shot for the 5 and 6 broadcasts. Yea, that week topped the others.

Thanks for everything guys, if I didn't get to work with ya, I'm sorry, but I hope we meet up again!

Enjoy your summers

Sidebar: Maybe it's jsut me but over past few weeks Google Maps has continually screwed me over as well as whoever I'm traveling with. Not sure if it's just me or somebody else.

OMG it's over

This class was the death of me, but now that it is all said and done I feel like I could enter the job market and excel. I would recommend this course to anyone who wants practical, technical training in using the technological communications equipment of professional journalists.

If there was anything else I would have liked to learn more about it would probably long-form story telling techniques such as documentary style.

The one thing that I would prefer to see more of is guidance in writing style. But style quizzes helped I guess and there was a lot of discussion on editorial judgment; all are part of writing a good text piece.

As frustrated as I was with this class, it does feel rewarding to have it behind me. Only one more shift to go tomorrow and I'll be completely finished yay!

Thank you Lynda, Karen, and Victoria for an exhausting time!

Last Post... is this a bad joke

WEEK 7 IS DONE! holy crap. These past two weeks were probably my most successful and lucky. I finished up my last shift at KBIA on Monday. I did a story on Zim Schwartze, interim director of the 911 center, who met with Boone County Commissioners to discuss adding more positions and money. Exciting- it was. not. It was embarrassing to show up at the meeting because I didn't find out about it until a minute before the meeting began. The local media filled up 75% of the room too. And ABC 17's reporter asked about 5 bajillion irrelevant questions. Anyways- my team did their last story on the financial situation concerning drivers at the Callaway Raceway in Fulton, Mo. JJ and I had pitched the story a week earlier, but failed to do it because of a rain delay. Erik, JJ and I traveled to good 'ol Fulton and got lost. Big suprise? I'm not sure. I may have just decreased my intelligence by admitting to that. Luckily, we made it the race track before the sun went down.

Funny story: Erik and I set up the video cameras right near the wired fence. We were hoping to get some tight shots of fast cars, wheels, etc. As soon as the cars came whipping around, a shit ton of smoke and debris consumed us. Needless to say, we looked like morons in front of the whole crowd. I suppose the semester could not have happened without me looking ridiculous in public.

On another note, I'm absolutely thrilled to have completed this course alive. However, I anticipate some separation anxiety from my classmates. Without them, I would have been miserable. It's hard to find a class in college that gets to bond like we did. I've enjoyed the jokes, the laughter and the dance parties. And I can't forget my frog hunting experience with Joel, Harum and Allison. Thanks kids for an unforgettable summer. I hope to see you in editing and if not around the futures labs. rotting. most likely.

TA-DA! (Mission Impossible Completed)

FINALLY DONE!! What am I going to do with my free time?

This last week, my group had a really, really hard time finding a story idea. We looked into about seven stories seriously, but all of them fell through. We did not stumble upon a successful idea until Sunday afternoon. Finally, we came across the story of letter carriers. Some of their routes are being changed, and the Postmaster General has suggested stopping Saturday delivery as a cost-cutting measure.

The story started out really well. We found an excellent source in Mr. Wade, Zach's father. He talked to us a lot and gave us a lot of sources. Then, our luck ran out with the Interim Postmaster put a gag order on all of the employees because she didn't know the policies.

Since our group didn't start until Monday, I couldn't go to KOMU on Tuesday and have to go on Thursday. I also had to finalize different projects for the Missourian, and it turned into a hectic week.

What have I learned and what have I taken away from this class.. this is what I am left pondering?

(A) Awesome new friends

(B) A sense of accomplishment

(C) Come up with story ideas ahead of time,

etc..

This class pushed me to new heights and I am grateful for it, but I am very happy that it is over!

One-minute dance party!

the story is... where?

I know for a fact that when I am on the beach next week, I will be thinking about the past several weeks.  How could I not?  I'm hoping I can figure out what I've learned.  It's always hard nailing down what it is you learn in journalism courses.  There's all the technical things, the ethics, the way to publish something, what makes or breaks a story, sourcing blah blah blah... but really, it's the experience.  That's why MU's J-School is top notch.  We are thrown out and told to sink or swim.  Most of us swim.  We have to.  

I'm learning how to communicate on multiple levels.  I mean this very literally and abstractly as well.  I am comfortable behind a still camera, video camera, Marantz or a reporters notebook.  I know how to handle all of these things.  I love balancing all of the equipment and constantly thinking, "Sound here... here..."  and "shoot this.." and trying to get the image of someone doing something and the sound of it all at once.

The more abstract methods of communication is how to communicate with team members.  It's hard sometimes to keep everyone in the loop on all the reporting.  it's hard to get everyone to find and agree on a specific vision or focus for the story.  You also learn to communicate with sources... there's a delicate balance between communicating urgency and what "being on deadline is", and still respecting your source and, well, not pissing them off.  

I'll be interested to see what the themes are that keep ringing through my head after the initial sting of the semester wears off.

I FOUND ONE!

I got to have one of those moments where you're at another newsroom working a day turn and all of the sudden its, "HEY! I found a story idea for 4804!!!!" Unfortunately, it was the last week of my newsroom shifts.  It's a story I'm pretty interested and might pursue later this summer.  It would require oodles of reporting, though.  So it may not have been suitable for a week turn project-- at least not without significant pre-reporting.  The story is how Missouri will be experiencing a spike in HIV in the very near future.  We had a syphilis spike for whatever reason (like I said, requires a lot of reporting...), recently and an HIV spike generally follows syphilis.  I find these kinds of things interesting and I'm not too sure why.  It's obviously an important story that is being missed by major media.  I'd like to report on it.... it's just a matter of having the energy post 4804.

The benefit of working in a day turn environment is it really, really makes you think on your feet and move a long a lot faster.  It helps get your speed + accuracy down.  Doing week long, indepth things does this to a certain extent... but having this dayturn experience really helps with some of the more minor editing techniques that could otherwise take a long time.  For example, putting together an audio story quickly and learning how to just drop things in and edit on the fly.  You learn speed out of necessity.

That's really all I've got for right now.  I have to find another topic and post it pretty quick so I can get full credit for blogging.  

And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong, after the boys of summer have goooone!

SUMMERRRRRRRR, YEAHHHHHHHH.

Had to get that out of my system.

I am really excited to end this class in such a positive note. I had so much fun reporting for our last group project, and I can't tell you enough how glad I was to have such a great time. This is why I'm in journalism. I want to have a great time. Ah, the places journalism takes you. Allison, Joel and I went frog hunting. I chickened out at the last minute and decided not to jump in the ponds with everyone and now I kind of wish I did.

I loved spending time with everyone this summer and am really grateful for the friendship that came out of this class! Through the jokes, hugs, parties, and 1-minute dance parties in the Futures Lab, you guys helped me survive. Let's have a reunion... now-ish?

Adios, 4804. It's been real

Is reporting really almost over? Wow. At certain times, this class could be really frustrating. I have sleepwalked my way through other classes and received A's, but for 4804, I have put so much work in and not always seen the results I would have liked.

In these past seven weeks I have:
1. Seen more of rural Missouri than I ever imagined I would
2. went "hunting" for Native American artifacts
3. Interviewed crew members of the USS Columbia for the Missourian
4. Got a quick and dirty camera lesson at KOMU and was sent out to Fulton to report
5. Done some work I am proud of
6. Done some work that's tolerable, but that I'm not in love with
7. Met some really great fellow convergence students

And that's all, folks. It's Tuesday afternoon and I am not looking for story ideas for next week and it feels good.

Until next semester,
Sarah Rapp!

Week seven: So close, yet so far

I've had a good time covering this artifact hunting team story so far. It was a blast going on an actual hunt with a hobbyist in Booneville and gathering natural sound for our KBIA piece. It was definitely a different experience for me being able to do reporting over the weekend because none of my other stories have allowed me that opportunity.

I think the story itself is certainly worth telling, but now it's a matter of how we present everything we've learned. I want all of the listeners/viewers/readers to understand why the story is important and to learn a lot from it.

I can't wait to see how it all comes together! Only about a day and a half left!