notes are poetry

Sometimes, I look down at my notes and think that they look more like poetry than notes from an academic class. I think this has to do with my affinity for writing poetry, but could be because I'm just not that great at taking notes. Below are some notes I took a few weeks ago about reporting:

look for the center of the story first
show, don't tell
be observant
understand the intricate details
tell the reader something new
find something revelatory
think about: what's the pay-off in this story?
is the dream unrealistic?
reveal character
people really want to know what makes other people tick
they want to know
- what makes a person fail?
- what makes a person succeed?
- what does this person do on a normal day?
get to the center of a person
become an immersion reporter

Friday and a new beat

I switched beats this week. I want to focus more on health. I also want to focus on news reporting and hopefully, tackle features later. The community beat seems like a better opportunity for an intermediate or advanced writing class. So far, I like my decision.

I wrote an article yesterday about BJC HealthCare, one of the largest healthcare providers in the state. Employees working less than 24 hours a week may be losing their health benefits. Although BJC has not officially confirmed the claim, a few current BJC employees shared the story with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Even though the information is unconfirmed and the reason for the changes is unclear, I started thinking about the wider healthcare ecosystem. As the roll-out date for the new healthcare system approaches, will more employers start making changes like this one? Is it an isolated incident or part of a larger movement toward the exchange program? I need to read Zach Mattson's navigator article again and pay closer attention to the details. I also need to immerse myself in the Affordable Care Act politics brewing in Washington so that I can understand the healthcare situation better.

I spoke with my mom last night and she made an excellent point. Any large change, especially on a national scale, takes time. This transition will be long. There won't be some magical overnight shift to automatic coverage for all (as much as I'd like for that to be the case.) She's right. At it's best, this will be a long, arduous process toward more accessible and affordable care.

Health benefits for part-time BJC HealthCare employees could be cut

An important article

When I was in high school, my cousin decided he didn't want to live anymore. He left a suicide note for his parents and his girlfriend and disappeared. The police found his car, but not his body. For nearly a year, we lived in a state of shock. Then, in the fall, his parents got a call. A hunter had found his body in the forest and a gun lying nearby. I remember my parents coming into my room to tell me. I had just come home from a social and remember feeling so much confusion. I couldn't understand why my oldest cousin had chosen to walk into the woods and end his life. Suicide is a decision that does not provide answers, only more questions. It leaves more hurt than almost any other option and it takes years, even decades, for family members to find joy again.

When I hear stories about suicide, my first question is always "Why?" I wonder, would the person have continued living with more friends, more support, less depression? How could the story have a different ending? Everyone in my family misses Justin at different moments and every year around the time he disappeared, we collectively wonder what we might have done differently to change the outcome. But, mostly we are filled with sadness for a life mostly un-lived and a family member we no longer have.

Usually, the Missourian doesn't report on suicide. But, because of the unique circumstances, they decided to report this story and I'm glad they did. When I read about Jacob Meadows' life this week, I thought a lot about Justin. There are many similarities in their stories: youth, awkwardness, fragility, depression. And, again, that question lingers. Why?

After tragedy, Southern Boone marching band plays on

Wednesday GA

I left the Missourian on Wednesday night around 7:30 p.m. It was dusk and the moon was bright. As I biked past the MU power plant toward my house, I felt proud and tired. I had just written two articles. They weren't earth-shattering. They were both just informative news pieces. But, I started and finished them within a 10-hour work day.

I become an expert on an event called Food Dialogues that would discuss farming and animal welfare. Then I became an expert on the 911 tax. I started to realize that becoming an expert on a topic that fast makes it difficult to remember other things.

I also started to wonder how I would be able to keep so much information in my brain. But, I think the process will become natural as I practice doing background research, interviewing, writing and accuracy checks. In the meantime, I expect to be frazzled after GA and probably unable to focus on anything besides eating and laughing with my housemates.

My articles from Wednesday are below:

Event seeks to further understanding between farmers, consumers

City, county announce transition dates for Public Safety Joint Communications

Thinking like a journalist

The lessons are finally starting to sink in. I find myself dreaming about frames. Well, not every night. It was just one time last week right before the full moon. I tossed and turned all night and started to realize that all these articles I've been reading and all these lectures I've been attending are starting to reverberate within my mind.

They're making me a better writer. I can feel myself connecting with my own voice. And, I'm also thinking more critically about the way I introduce, structure and build characters and events in my articles.

I sweat through every word, turning it over and examining it to see if it will express my meaning. I have never considered my words so carefully. I am just at the beginning of this journey, but it feels good knowing that I'm beginning to think like a journalist.

for consideration

Hannah Baldwin and I are going to work together on our Missourian research project. We're looking at metrics and how they affect decision-making at the paper. Today I found an interesting article by Ethan Zuckerman while researching our topic in Google Scholar: Seredipity, Echo Chambers, and the Front Page.

I especially liked his point about community newspapers sacrificing local opinion on national and international news for community-only reporting.

good media from 9/6/13

I want to be able to report stories like this: How I Got Into College

Localizing Syria

When the chemical attacks happened in Syria, my first question was, "Why is the Missourian not covering this?" The very logical response from the ACE at the time was, "We're a community paper and people come to us for events in this community, not news they can get from national media." It made sense.

About a week later, I received an email from Stephanie Ebbs suggesting I try to localize Syria for Columbia residents. She gave me the name of an MU student from Syria, Hany Hawasly, and an MU professor who specializes in human rights.

I contacted them and began the process of interviewing. Over the course of the past week and a half, I interviewed two Syrian people. Only one of whom would go on the record, but that was two more Syrians than I had ever met (in my life), so I was thrilled they gave me their time.

I heard about their families, their studies and how difficult it is to be a graduate student with all of the instability and chaos back home. I tried to imagine what it would be like to see all of the violence on a television screen, but be completely unable to help because of the distance. I also wondered how they ever focus on their studies. I think my mind would wander and create all sorts of what-if scenarios. I never did hear from the professor and I probably should have tried calling. Next time.

I learned a tremendous amount from the reporting experience. Since I only had one voice to quote, my editors decided it would be strongest as a Q & A. I wish I had thought of it. They were right. It was much stronger as a Q & A. So, after two hour-plus interviews with Hany and several emails, texts and phone calls, I submitted the article.

MU student Hany Hawasly describes his experience as a Syrian in Columbia

MU's journalism school picked it up and posted it on their website as well: Missouri Photojournalism Master's Student Describes his Experience as a Syrian in Columbia

observation about media

I noticed this week that for the first time in my life, the media is starting to appear finite. I used to view media as an infinite amount of information that could not possibly be compartmentalized or categorized.

As the weeks pass, and I spend more time reading media and delving into the New York Times website or Reuters or the Wall Street Journal, I am starting to understand the "finite-ness of media."

I'm still not sure my brain will ever be able to categorize or comprehend truly how much exists, but if I can get a grasp on the top players and move from there, media will continue to move beyond the nebulous mass of information that my brain once refused to categorize.

Sunday GA shift

I spent the better part of Sunday on General Assignment (GA) at the Missourian. I checked the MUPD's blotter for the first time. It was interesting to see that more than 10 people experienced varying degrees of crime on 9/5. Most of the incidents were thefts and DUIs.

I came back to the newsroom and reported on a police watchdog who had been arrested on Saturday night. Reporting on crimes, charges, arrests, etc. is nuanced. I need to learn how to report on crime more accurately. For example, how do I know when I should use: "the person was arrested on suspicion of charges," vs. "the person was arrested on charges of." I'm going to ask this question on my next GA shift. The ACE didn't really have time to get into it on Sunday.

The article is below:

Police watchdog activist arrested on suspicion of shooting gun at man

I wrote an obit on Sunday as well. It was sad to read the articles about his death and see the pictures of his family. He was only 9 years older than me. I've noticed that being a reporter really informs me about the community. I've only lived here for about five weeks, but I know so much about the community already. Even if it is sad news, it feels good to remember people for the impact they made.

Curtis Warner Jones Jr. left imprint on athletic department

to publish or not?

I spent the last part of my Wednesday GA shift writing an article about two men who rescued and returned an electric wheelchair to a disabled Columbia man. I used a press release and some interviews to piece together the details of the story. During an accuracy check, one of the men being honored told me the whole story, but asked that I not print it. It was an unexpected turn of events. The men's intentions were still honorable, but definitely complicated the story I had written. We decided not to go to print.

As I biked home that night, I remembered how the media used to prod and dig around the press releases I wrote for Medical Teams International. The reporters would inevitably rewrite my releases and would always question the information I provided. I remember feeling a little insulted that they would question the accuracy of the information I had provided them. I also remember thinking about the dizzying speed at which they fired off questions and turned around the content. As a communications person working for a disaster response NGO, I was used to tight deadlines, but the media world seemed to be on fast forward, even for me.

It's great to be on the other side of the press release and to finally realize that a good reporter always digs and pieces the information together on their own through a string of interviews and later, through an accuracy check.

The irony of this experience not lost on me. It took a reporting class for me to finally understand public relations.

These two fields are so closely linked, but without a background in journalism, it's no wonder I couldn't understand. If I do write press releases again, my expectations of journalists will be much different than they once were.

One of my professors suggested I write the woman who sent the release and provide her feedback. It's so liberating to provide that kind of feedback. Working for an organization like Medical Teams International sometimes demanded that I bite my tongue. But, journalism demands I provide feedback. It's liberating.

agreed

There's a great article from the New York Times about being busy (The 'Busy' Trap). Here's to the third week of school and trying not to be busy!

Mud Run

I spent yesterday morning and the early part of the afternoon watching people slosh through a muddy obstacle course. It was drizzling when I left the house, so I expected thunderstorms by the afternoon. I wondered how I would interview people in the rain. But, by noon, the clouds had cleared and the sun came out. The highlight of the day was avoiding the parking fee because we showed our Missourian press badges. I spent the next few hours interviewing children and adults about this wacky way to spend a Sunday. I watched kids throw paint at each other and their parents and realized I should have worn some different clothes.

The race director was on an adrenaline rush and obviously adored his work. He excitedly told me about how he puts on 80 races like this a year. But, this one, the Epic Mud Run, is his baby since it's so close to home. He spent a week building the start and even hauled in two large dumpsters for people to wade through near the end of the race. He told me I'm welcome to race next year and will be happy to give me a go-pro head camera so I can video the whole experience as I run. It sounded awesome and I wondered what readers would think.

I came away from the event covered in dust, but luckily, not any mud.

I headed to the newsroom and realized that one of the reasons I like journalism is the speedy thinking that's required. I had to make sense of a bundle of notes and pick out the most pertinent details in a matter of minutes. It was fun to build the story, introduce the characters and follow them through the race. Ted, the ACE, called before the event and suggested I follow one character through the event instead of including a bunch of information from many people. It was a different take than the Boone Dawdle, so I decided to try it. Unfortunately, it's tough to get good quotes from kids. I interviewed about 20 kids and only a few of them spoke to me in a way I could use for the article. I think it's partially that kids have short answers and partially that I need to practice my communication with children. I had a hard time with it in Turkmenistan and realized again, that I need to practice being in their shoes and speaking with them so that I'm on their level.

I was lucky to meet 11-year-old Lena Coon. She was reflective about the experience and eloquent.

I'm not sure if following one character or many makes the story stronger, but it was certainly interesting to realize that it's an option. I hadn't ever thought of it.

I enjoyed working with Ted and watching along as he made my article stronger. I look forward to strengthening my editing.

Runners trudge through sludge at Epic Mud Run

Getting to know the community

Last Monday, Caleb and I stood in front of Kaldi's Coffeeshop with a whiteboard. We wrote, "Who is the most interesting person you know in Columbia?" and "What is the most interesting thing happening in Columbia right now?" Only a few people engaged with us on their own. The rest, we asked to participate as they passed. Many were relieved to learn that we weren't selling anything, but once they learned what we were doing, about half didn't have time to stop. The people who did speak with us, gave us thoughtful answers and introduced us to new issues and people in the community. It was an interesting exercise and one that I would definitely try again.

Here are some of the names I received for Columbia's most interesting:

Dr. Nicole Monnier - Russian professor at MU
Matt Chapin - classmate of a local high schooler
TK Klein - street evangelist
Kim McDonald - turning her life around against the odds
Dale Basshan - Alley A owner
Eli Gay - owner of Cafe Berlin