Inc . Year 2 Issue 1

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A publication of the Ohio University Society of Professional Journalists

Meeting Tuesday, 5:00 SCRIPPS 111

Meet the Professors

Successful Year Brings Award to SPJ Chapter wins region of the year

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For members of Ohio University’s chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, a long year of hard work has paid off with a lot of recognition. The chapter was recognized at the 2009 SPJ National Convention as the Outstanding Campus Chapter of Region 4. Each year, the 12 “regions” in the nation pick a campus chapter that has been exemplary in the service that they have provided to their students and to their community. Those winners then compete for the national award. Former SPJ President Evan Millward says that he was “honored” to hear that the chapter had received the high distinction. “We put in a lot of work last year. Everyone really gave it 110 percent,” Millward said, stating that several factors contributed to the chapter’s success at the national level, including the start of Inc., the book drive and the public records service project. “We really started a dialogue about public records here in the university community,” Millward said. “Not only did we do the education thing and the activism thing, we also did outreach.” Millward says that the award makes a difference not just to the current students but also to prospective students and alumni. “It lends a lot of credibility to everything that we do from here on out. For prospective students, that’s just one more reason to come here,” Millward said. “For the students who are here, it’s an incentive to get involved and be a part of something big.” He also states that it is important to set a positive example for chapters of SPJ at other universities. “People are going to emulate what we do because now we have a proven formula for success.” Frank Deaner is the executive director of the Ohio Newspaper Association, as well as an OU alumnus. He says he is happy to hear that OU SPJ has kept its notoriety as a nationally strong chapter. “From the very Society News first time that I became aware of Internship Info [SPJ], I was instantly told of the reputation that the chapter had,” Picking a Sequence Deaner said. “That has remained pretty From the President consistent.” In the days before

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the Scripps endowments, when the journalism school was housed in the basement of Copeland Hall, Deaner says that things were very different for OU journalism students. Serving as vice-president, then president of the OU SPJ chapter in the mid-1960’s, Deaner fondly recalls the activities and workshops that he and his contemporaries planned, as well as the national workshops that allowed him to socialize with the high-profile journalism personalities of the time. He says that the cornerstones of SPJ (truth, talent and energy) are important to journalistic philosophy as a whole. “I think it’s the principles that SPJ stands for. The concept is that those are the principles that stay with you as a journalist,” Deaner said. “You’re using talent and energy to seek out the truth.”

Deaner says that while many things have changed about the J-school at OU, the core feel of the program has stayed the same. “In going back [to OU] year after year, the general atmosphere is still the same,” said Deaner, citing the “spirit of the students” as the main strength. “I think it’s just a general fellowship among your peers.” Current OU SPJ chapter president Ian Bowman-Henderson says that he thinks that the chapter excelled in the area of activism. “One thing I’m really proud of is that we went out and tried to be a voice of equity for the university,” Bowman-Henderson said, speaking of the chapter’s public records probe. “I think we did a really good job of bringing in new ideas for programming,” he said, adding that he has plans to expand the programming even more in this year. Bowman-Henderson says that he intends to keep up the tradition of excellence in the coming year by expanding programming and continuing to reach out to students in the J-school and in other courses of study. “I’m really trying hard to make sure we have a good shot at nationals,” said Bowman-Henderson, who served as one of the chapter’s freshman liaisons last year. “We’re going to show why, historically, this has been an incredible chapter.” n

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A publication of the Ohio University Society of Professional Journalists

SOCIETY NEWS

SPJ Member Takes on NYC After sophomore Taylor Mirfendereski spent a successful summer in Columbus while interning with the local news station, she is spending this quarter in New York City working with the TODAY Show.

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Summer internship: NBC4 (WCMH-TV) Job title: General Assignment Intern Dates of internship: June 15 – August 31 City of internship: Columbus, Ohio

Current internship: NBC’s TODAY Show Job title: Intern Dates: September 8 – November 31 City: New York, NY

Inc.: What were your everyday duties? Mirfendereski: I would come into the station at 3 pm, sit at the assignment desk and check the wires and the day’s rundown. My supervisor would usually send me with a photographer or reporter to go cover a story. If I was only with the photographer, I had more opportunities to conduct interviews myself and sometimes bring my own camera along to practice shooting. When it was time to edit the story, I was able to observe and help the photographer put it together. My other responsibilities during the internship included answering phones, writing Voice Overs for the newscasts and assisting the web staff with projects.

Inc.: How did you find the position? Mirfendereski: The TODAY Show is one of Ohio University’s exclusive internships. Matt Lauer went to OU and has a partnership with the school to allow OU students to intern at the TODAY Show. There is an exclusive internship meeting in winter quarter, where you will find out more information about the internship and the application process it involves.

Inc.: Any memorable moments? Mirfendereski: The thing I will remember most about this internship 30 years from now is the phone calls that I received. The people who call the station range from extremely polite to borderline crazy to actually crazy. People called me crying, people called me when they were angry and people called just to talk. Many people use the news station as an encyclopedia for information. I’ve received calls about where to register their kid for school and where the nearest gas station is. I also received calls from a lot of people who would ask questions about the weather – “Is it 89 or 90 degrees today?” or “Is there going to be a thunderstorm? My dog hates thunder.” Inc.: Describe your first day on the job. Mirfendereski: My supervisor sent me on a story with a photographer. The story was in Chillicothe and we made it back to the station with less than hour to spare before the 11pm newscast. I had to log all of the footage in the car and help him write the script. We finished editing the story and the photographer was kind enough to include my name in the anchor introduction.

Inc.: What will you be working on this quarter? Mirfendereski: The TODAY Show does an excellent job of mixing clerical assignments with exciting assignments. I’ll have to answer phones, log tapes and make dubs, but then I’ll also have the opportunity to go on shoots, assist with the control room and conduct research for stories. I’ve already had the opportunity to meet with some TODAY Show anchors and producers, and in just my first week, I have worked on some very meaningful assignments. I’m quickly learning that this internship can be as exciting as I want it to be. The opportunities are there; I just have to pursue them. Inc.: What kind of advice would you give to students trying to find high quality internships? Mirfendereski: Know what you want and don’t let anything stop you until you get it. It’s very cliché advice, but it couldn’t be more true. No one cares about your career more than you. The opportunities usually do not get thrown at you – you have to seek them out and make them happen. On a more practical note, make sure you have a good, detailed résumé and build a great portfolio that can be easily shared with potential internship supervisors. I suggest having a version of your resume and portfolio online, so you can quickly share your work with companies that you would like to intern with. n

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INTERNSHIP

A publication of the Ohio University Society of Professional Journalists

NEWS

Don’t Judge a Job By its Size Smaller internships can be just as rewarding, successful for students. story Cameron Glover art Rohan Kusre

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Going into her first day of her summer internship with C Magazine in Columbus, Senior Annie Beecham couldn’t have been more surprised. Her editor came in her small office and said he needed her to go with him to an Argentinean restaurant and write a review needed for the next day’s issue. Later that evening, she found herself sampling 12 entrees; each with its own paired glass of wine, while interviewing the restaurant’s owner. “I learned a lot about food,” she said. “I was just in awe that this was my internship.” Beecham took the position as an unpaid intern after flipping through the small lifestyles and entertainment magazine for Columbus business professionals while at a doctor’s appointment in May, and her expectations of her daily duties and involvement were not sky high. She ended up completing several more restaurant review features, copy editing freelance work, researching and writing sidebars and working with the magazine’s advertisement team. “It was always pretty hectic. I would sit down to do something and my editor would come in 10 minutes later with a laundry list of tasks,”

Beecham said. She was also responsible for running errands for the office, including getting everyone’s coffee every morning. One of her more exciting errands was venturing out to local designer shops to purchase various expensive gifts for certain clients. Beecham said she was leaving the downtown office almost every day and knew “the quickest way to get anywhere” by the end of the summer. Halfway through the internship she started to get paid for her work, and was even offered a full time position after she graduates from Ohio University. Beecham said that, right now, she is keeping her options open. She also runs cross-country for OU and is eligible for another full year. She is considering picking up a minor or second major, if she stays on campus. Although Beecham’s internship was not the big-ticketed, New York City magazine job of her dreams, she said she is satisfied with her time she spent with C Magazine, and she suggests that students take advantage of the smaller, local opportunities. “Don’t be afraid to start small, and then just go for it,” she said. n

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

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-Involvement Fair 3:30 pm, Baker Center

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-The Post, Speakeasy, and Backdrop Mtgs.

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-SPJ Meeting -RTNDA Meeting 5:00 pm, Scripps 111 7:30 pm, RTV 371

-KSU Media Ethics Workshop, 8:00 am

-SPJ Meeting 5:00 pm, Scripps 111

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-SPJ Meeting 5:00 pm, Scripps 111

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A publication of the Ohio University Society of Professional Journalists

COMMENTARY

NEWS

How to: Pick a Sequence The ins and outs of the process of planning your journalism degree. story Graylyn Roose art Rohan Kusre l

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As a freshman student entering the J-school, the process of picking a permanent sequence is not one that must be finished right away. There are six sequences in the program, as well as Carr Van Anda, which is a combination track that must be adviser-approved. For many students, the sequence that they declare at the beginning of their time in the Scripps school is very different from the one that they have at graduation. With talk of convergence and the need for greater flexibility within journalism coming at students from every direction, narrowing down your interests into one path can seem daunting. Hopefully these tips will guide you in the right direction. Take lots of different types of classes. Before officially making decisions or switching any sequence, try out classes in different areas. For instance, a magazine or news-editorial student may gain valuable experience from taking a broadcast or advertising course. Everyone needs more than just the required classes to meet the 192-hour graduation requirement, so a few extra credit hours in another sequence may be well worth it. Join several different types of extracurricular activities within the realm of journalism. While classes will give you a foundation regarding your general interests career-wise, there’s nothing like hands-on experience to teach

you about the realities of different kinds of fields. OU is home to a great number of clubs and publications, including The Post, Speakeasy, Backdrop, Advertising Club, PRSSA, Impressions, SPJ, and others. Experience within your field will teach you what you like and don’t like about it, so that you can make informed decisions about the kind of classes that you’d like to take to complete your journalism degree. Don’t be afraid to try different types of internships. Every Scripps student is required to complete an adviser-sponsored internship before graduation. Some students know exactly where they would like to gain experience. However, starting early with internships can also be a way of narrowing down your sequence options. A summer (or winter intercession) spent as a journalism professional often goes a long way in showing you what kind of workplace atmosphere, and therefore type of journalism is best for you. Always talk to your adviser. Every student is assigned to a Scripps professor in their sequence for class scheduling purposes and educational advice. Chances are, if you have a sequence-related dilemma, many other students have had it too. Advisers are available to coach you through this daunting process and ultimately steer you on the track that is best for you. n

Just the Facts: Getting Involved

Succeeding in college is more than maintaining good grades. Employers are searching for individuals having a multifaceted set of skills including writing, photography and video production capabilities. Here are a few featured student-run and independent productions to look into joining: Speakeasy Magazine Backdrop Magazine “Entertainment, hype, culture, sex, art, humor, health, music, life” Purpose: Entertainment, Student Interests Editor in Chief: Tara Melvin www.backdropmag.com [email protected] College Green “Exploring environmental news in Southeast Ohio” Purpose: Environmental Issues Editor in Chief: Katherine Bercik www.collegegreenmag.orgpress [email protected]

The Post “The Independent Voice On Campus And In Athens” Purpose: Campus, Athens News Editor in Chief: Ashley Lutz www.thepost.ohiou.edu [email protected]

“Athens On Tap” Purpose: Online Only, Alternative Managing Editor: Jillian Mapes www.speakeasymag.com [email protected]

Interactivist Magazine “Athens, Ohio’s Only Progressive Magazine” Purpose: Political, Commentary Editor for Content: Christina Green www.athensinteractivist.org [email protected]

WOUB “Radio & Television” Purpose: Campus, Community News Director, General Manager: Dr. Carolyn Bailey Lewis www.woub.org [email protected]

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A publication of the Ohio University Society of Professional Journalists

MISCELLANEOUS

NEWS

From the President

Looking ahead to a new school year, Ian Bowman-Henderson comments on where we’ve been, where we’re going, and why SPJ is a road worth traveling. story Ian Bowman-Henderson art Rohan Kusre l

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I think most journalism majors remember their first day of Journalism 101 vividly. It was a truly novel thrill, sitting in a giant classroom – excited to find out the truth behind a whole summer’s worth of conversations in which adults reminded me that “OU is has a really good program for journalism.” For me that was only a year ago, but I hope that I can recall it as well when I send my own children off to college. This year J101 presented a new challenge for me, recruiting a new class of writers and broadcasters for the Society of Professional Journalists. I arrived breathless in Bentley Hall just, I believe, as Prof. Stewart was about to assume I wasn’t coming. I left even more short of breath after fifteen minutes under the scrutiny of my newest peers. I want to speak to those students directly now, because as I left for my own class I had two thoughts on the experience that were serious enough to stay with me until I had another chance to address them. The first is a simple thank you. When I left your classroom I felt like I was walking on a cloud and not the gum stained sidewalk of Richland Ave., not because I thought my pitch was so fantastic but because you made me proud of my chosen profession. I have said many times that it takes a special kind of person to enter the field of journalism. It takes more than a being a good writer or having an eye for detail. What I think separates journalists from other professional writers is willpower. When we write a story we have to be conscious of more than just style and voice, we have to consider our duty to protect society from those who would seek to make men and women slaves to their own ignorance. Most people come to college seeking a degree which will grant them a life of contentment. We seek a degree which says we will never be content. We will never settle because we have waved the great American birthright of blissful ignorance. We will see things we can never unsee and know things we can never unknow, but we will walk tall because we have devoted our lives to directly affecting positive change in the world. Changing the world is not a career choice my friends, it’s a lifestyle. Seeing my fellow students exited by that prospect which, to many weaker and more fickle spirits, might seem too difficult or crazy to attempt was sincerely moving to me. I know that this is not the most encouraging time to enter the field of journalism, and we all share many of the same anxieties about the fu-

ture – but we can also share our collective support and wisdom. It’s true that the J-School is a place to learn, but I hope that we can come together as a community and make it a place to grow as well.

The second item I want to address is in regards to a young man who asked why he should bother joining SPJ. At the time I pegged him as a joker, getting an easy laugh at my expense, but looking back I regret that. It is a valid question. I don’t consider my time to be more valuable than any other student’s, and an hour a week is no small time commitment. So if that gentleman will excuse me for being flippant before, I will answer his question now as best I can.

I believe that there are two ways of looking at the function of the Society of Professional Journalists. On one hand we are a professional development organization which seeks to provide training, in the form of guest lecturers and seminars, and networking opportunities to journalists. This function is both desirable and important, and as a result most of our individual weekly programs serve this end. However, I think most returning members would describe SPJ as much more than the sum of its parts. Working as a journalist can be a real drain on a person’s spirit, the never ending cycle of assignments tests a journalist’s resolve and challenges their creativity. I see SPJ as the weekly time I set aside to rekindle my passion for journalism. The meetings remind me of how high the stakes are in this field. People rely on journalists to protect them, and that is a challenge we must all rise to. Hearing a master of my art speak reminds me of the promise I have made to myself – that I will be the very best of my kind. I would extend that challenge to those of you reading this, but I know so many of you have already made that same promise to yourselves. That is why we are here, and that is why SPJ is here. This chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists exists to make sure that OU continues to graduate the most passionate, skilled, and socially conscious journalists in the world – and we will work tirelessly to achieve this function.

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We will never be rich. We may never even be popular, but we have devoted our lives to directly affecting positive change in the world.

I will close on that sentiment, however one final ‘thank you’ is in order. To the SPJ Executive Board, who spent nearly three hours meeting and planning with me on Tuesday, I am so proud of what we have accomplished already – and my anticipation of the year to come is even greater than the day I first sat down in Journalism 101. n