I wanted to say something about a recent interview I did for a story. It was for a profile on a member of the student activity fee board that also had information about the board too. First of all, it was very frustrating trying to track these people down, and secondly it was hard to get them to tell me the things I wanted to know.
My source for the club is a girl named Nichole, and she is an interesting person in many ways. I poked and prodded her brain, trying to get information about her as a person and how she fits in with her fellow members on the board. She was very down to earth when I spoke to her and seemed to have an artistic view of everything, which is not surprising since she is an art major.
When it was all said and done, I was putting away my recorder and capping my pen when she asked me, “well, tell ME something now…” I cocked my head to the side and asked her what she wanted to know. She told me she had just poured her thoughts out for me to hear and now wanted me to tell her some of my thoughts. I was very confused at this point because I wasn’t sure what she wanted me to talk about: Myself, the weather, what I thought about her job (or mine for that matter). I finally ended up giving her feedback on who I thought she was and how I thought she had a unique approach to her job on the board. She was pleased, I think, and went on her way.
The point of my little story is this: as journalists are we subject to questioning from our sources? I think we are. It is important to have answers for questions and not just questions that need answers when we’re out on those front lines seeking the truth. We need to know why were asking a question and be able to answer questions from our sources when they need clarification. I am not saying we need to prostrate ourselves to our sources and simply believe and agree with everything they say; but there needs to be a kind of respect between the two people. We need to be accountable for what we ask and be courteous to our sources when they ask for feedback.
Do you agree with me or am I crazy?
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Friday, February 23, 2007
Surf and Journalism
Since Iz wrote about his dream of one day writing for a video game magazine, I thought I'd write about something similar...writing for a surf magazine. While he enjoys playing video games (I think? No worries, I do, too...bowling on the Wii with my grandma), I enjoy surfing. I like to surf and often go every weekend and in the morning before class.
So what would be better than to write about the ocean, waves, sand, etc.? I ended up doing that a few years ago, writing for Makai Ocean Lifestyle Magazine. It was pretty cool, actually really cool - to write about all of the above and get paid! I was a poor high school student, and a little cash didn't hurt. I wrote a monthly profile on a water person in Hawaii.
The upside of writing about something you love would be (in my case, surfing): 1) meeting famous people (I met world champion longboarder BONGA PERKINS) 2) not having to dress up for an interview 3) taking a tan while interviewing someone 4) using surf jargon in writing.
But the downside would be that you don't get to expand beyond your comfort zone. The surfing community is pretty small in Hawaii, and everyone knows each other. So what happens when we run out of people to interview? Stories become repetitive, and the writer doesn't develop his or her skills. I think it's important to have a balance between comfortable stories and challenging, more investigative pieces. Makai is all about ads and pictures because it's given out for free at surf shops around the island. Therefore, I can't really write about a deadly jellyfish outbreak or land sales in Kakaako...it's strictly profiles..the flowery kine. That's why I believe Ka Leo complements Makai very well, where I can report on big issues to a broader audience in the university community.
My point is, it's definitely important to find your niche in writing and reporting - topics you are passionate about. But challenge yourself. Do a little bit of everything: hard news reporting, feature writing and even commentary.
K-den, shoots! :P
So what would be better than to write about the ocean, waves, sand, etc.? I ended up doing that a few years ago, writing for Makai Ocean Lifestyle Magazine. It was pretty cool, actually really cool - to write about all of the above and get paid! I was a poor high school student, and a little cash didn't hurt. I wrote a monthly profile on a water person in Hawaii.
The upside of writing about something you love would be (in my case, surfing): 1) meeting famous people (I met world champion longboarder BONGA PERKINS) 2) not having to dress up for an interview 3) taking a tan while interviewing someone 4) using surf jargon in writing.
But the downside would be that you don't get to expand beyond your comfort zone. The surfing community is pretty small in Hawaii, and everyone knows each other. So what happens when we run out of people to interview? Stories become repetitive, and the writer doesn't develop his or her skills. I think it's important to have a balance between comfortable stories and challenging, more investigative pieces. Makai is all about ads and pictures because it's given out for free at surf shops around the island. Therefore, I can't really write about a deadly jellyfish outbreak or land sales in Kakaako...it's strictly profiles..the flowery kine. That's why I believe Ka Leo complements Makai very well, where I can report on big issues to a broader audience in the university community.
My point is, it's definitely important to find your niche in writing and reporting - topics you are passionate about. But challenge yourself. Do a little bit of everything: hard news reporting, feature writing and even commentary.
K-den, shoots! :P
Friday, February 16, 2007
SJP Podcast URL
Sorry, I gave Is the wrong URL for the podcast.
Here is the right one. Sounds good. Enjoy.
Here is the right one. Sounds good. Enjoy.
SPJ podcast episode 1.0
Here it is, our first podcast episode. Please listen and comment through blogger, and be ready to discuss at next meeting.
http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/podcasts/spj1.0.mp3
It may not work properlly tough, professor lillie and i are still working out some bugs
http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/podcasts/spj1.0.mp3
It may not work properlly tough, professor lillie and i are still working out some bugs
Monday, February 12, 2007
Video game journalism
In high school I used to dream of what it would be like to work for a video game magazine. It was the spark that led me to pursue journalism at UH manoa. But once I got into school and people started asking me what I wanted to do, I kind of forgot about it
I don't really tell people I want to write for a video game magazine. There are many reasons why, but the biggest is because I don't think enough people take it seriously. Unfortunately, there is a public perception that all they do is get paid to play video games all day. Kids write in asking how they can get jobs at gaming magazines.
People don't take into consideration that these publications are reporting on an industry the same way Rolling Stone reports on music. They follow court cases that have to deal with games and freedom of speech and expression (www.gamepolitics.com). They keep us up to date on company mergers and press releases, and keep a demographic informed on what they care about. Video game magazines and their websites have news, features, and editorials like any other journalistic publication.
Then there are game reviews and previews. While they spend several hours playing games, they play the good ones and the bad ones (and believe me, there are more bad than good). They do it because video games are expensive, and consumers need to how to spend their money. Those journalists are the eyes, ears, and hands of people that can't play those games. No one has the time or money to go through all of them. In a way, video game journalists protect gamers' wallets.
So years later, at the end of my journalism studies, I'm even more excited about it. Even though I only want to try it for a few years, I like how it's fitting into the whole "convergence" thing.
In the past few years video game journalism online has grown substantially. Sites have podcasts, video-podcasts, their own TV shows, and other things that will not only use the reporting and writing skills I've developed at UH, but also my web, photography, and editing talents.
It's something I look forward to doing.
I don't really tell people I want to write for a video game magazine. There are many reasons why, but the biggest is because I don't think enough people take it seriously. Unfortunately, there is a public perception that all they do is get paid to play video games all day. Kids write in asking how they can get jobs at gaming magazines.
People don't take into consideration that these publications are reporting on an industry the same way Rolling Stone reports on music. They follow court cases that have to deal with games and freedom of speech and expression (www.gamepolitics.com). They keep us up to date on company mergers and press releases, and keep a demographic informed on what they care about. Video game magazines and their websites have news, features, and editorials like any other journalistic publication.
Then there are game reviews and previews. While they spend several hours playing games, they play the good ones and the bad ones (and believe me, there are more bad than good). They do it because video games are expensive, and consumers need to how to spend their money. Those journalists are the eyes, ears, and hands of people that can't play those games. No one has the time or money to go through all of them. In a way, video game journalists protect gamers' wallets.
So years later, at the end of my journalism studies, I'm even more excited about it. Even though I only want to try it for a few years, I like how it's fitting into the whole "convergence" thing.
In the past few years video game journalism online has grown substantially. Sites have podcasts, video-podcasts, their own TV shows, and other things that will not only use the reporting and writing skills I've developed at UH, but also my web, photography, and editing talents.
It's something I look forward to doing.
Monday, February 5, 2007
The image of the journalist
Hey everybody,
I was trying to decide what movie to rent the other day, thinking about motion pictures in general, and I realized that nearly every movie I have seen with journalists depicts them in a negative way. For some reason there is this idea of journalists as being sneaky sleaze-balls who will do anything to get information for self serving purposes. With a few exceptions, such as All the President's Men, motion pictures generally portray journalists as the bad guys, as if we are hindering the American way through our pesky questions.
Normally I could care less about a public image or what other people think about me, which has sometimes proved to be detrimental in my endeavors, but a journalist's image and trustworthiness are some of his/her most vital tools. How people view us will inevitably determine whether they take our words seriously or whether they would trust us with interpreting and dispersing information that they have to offer.
I'll cut this rant short before I get off topic, but I will end by saying that I think the job of reporting information to the public is a noble occupation and a necessary one in sustaining a successful democracy. The public tends to only remember the bad and the obvious, when journalists make mistakes or when they simply regurgitate information that was served to them on a silver platter, but a true reporter digs deep to uncover the truth with the intention of educating the masses, not self-gratification.
I was trying to decide what movie to rent the other day, thinking about motion pictures in general, and I realized that nearly every movie I have seen with journalists depicts them in a negative way. For some reason there is this idea of journalists as being sneaky sleaze-balls who will do anything to get information for self serving purposes. With a few exceptions, such as All the President's Men, motion pictures generally portray journalists as the bad guys, as if we are hindering the American way through our pesky questions.
Normally I could care less about a public image or what other people think about me, which has sometimes proved to be detrimental in my endeavors, but a journalist's image and trustworthiness are some of his/her most vital tools. How people view us will inevitably determine whether they take our words seriously or whether they would trust us with interpreting and dispersing information that they have to offer.
I'll cut this rant short before I get off topic, but I will end by saying that I think the job of reporting information to the public is a noble occupation and a necessary one in sustaining a successful democracy. The public tends to only remember the bad and the obvious, when journalists make mistakes or when they simply regurgitate information that was served to them on a silver platter, but a true reporter digs deep to uncover the truth with the intention of educating the masses, not self-gratification.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
A victory (perhaps temporary) for Freedom of Information
Aloha everyone,
As you might know if you've been following the news, two charges against Lt. Ehren Watada, the Honolulu native who is standing trial for his refusal to obey orders to fight in Iraq, have been dropped. This might take a couple years off whatever sentence the military decides to give him, but the decision revolved around a larger issue, and that is whether or not the military and the federal government have the right to force private journalists to disclose sources or information. Sarah Olson, a freelance journalist from Oakland, and Greg Kakesako from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin were sent subpoenas in December, stating that if they did not make available their interviews with Watada, they could face felony contempt of court charges, which carry a sentence of up to six months in prison.
Fortunately, the journalist community responded to this threat with widespread outrage, and editorials were written, petitions were signed and protests were held to such a degree that the Army was pressured to make the decision to drop the charges, which would drop the journalists' subpoenas as well.
The question is, how long will this victory last? Will the Federal Government eventually decide that the media needs to be an open resource and passes a law that forces journalists to disclose information in criminal trials? Our victory, and the media response this time is heartening, but will journalists continue to function as a coherent community with decisive clout?
As you might know if you've been following the news, two charges against Lt. Ehren Watada, the Honolulu native who is standing trial for his refusal to obey orders to fight in Iraq, have been dropped. This might take a couple years off whatever sentence the military decides to give him, but the decision revolved around a larger issue, and that is whether or not the military and the federal government have the right to force private journalists to disclose sources or information. Sarah Olson, a freelance journalist from Oakland, and Greg Kakesako from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin were sent subpoenas in December, stating that if they did not make available their interviews with Watada, they could face felony contempt of court charges, which carry a sentence of up to six months in prison.
Fortunately, the journalist community responded to this threat with widespread outrage, and editorials were written, petitions were signed and protests were held to such a degree that the Army was pressured to make the decision to drop the charges, which would drop the journalists' subpoenas as well.
The question is, how long will this victory last? Will the Federal Government eventually decide that the media needs to be an open resource and passes a law that forces journalists to disclose information in criminal trials? Our victory, and the media response this time is heartening, but will journalists continue to function as a coherent community with decisive clout?
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