An Apology In The Rough

I apologize to everyone for the sabbatical that I have taken in my posts.  I have been having some personal issues pertaining to family and friends, as well as myself.  My work has also interfered with my life, and is something I shall deal with accordingly.  Because of these reasons, I was unable to complete the first assigned story to report, which is something I shall also have to deal with the consequences of, and find a way to fix. I hope that out of my small audience, that I haven't lost any readers, as connecting with people and having them either agree with or simply look at something from another perspective gives me great joy.  I ask that you keep reading and do not forget me, and if I haven't posted, it is not because I have forgotten you.

What is news?

In today's society, the answer to this question is buried deep in the quicksand of our culture. There are so many stories that are reported on that leave us wondering "Why is this important?" Many are not, and have not only dumbed down society, but have bastardized the definition of "news". We are bombarded with stories of celebrities' misfortunes, often caused by their own actions.

News could be loosely defined as anything reported on that has occurred and has an audience. However, there are many stories and issues that are not reported on that are far more relevant and newsworthy than the crap that rains upon us.

Stories that were actually newsworthy that I found on the Baltimore Sun's website included one about a fatal shooting in East Baltimore, with one fatality and six victims total. The shooters sped away in a gray Nissan Altima, and were not identified. This story is actually newsworthy because it deals with a problem that Baltimore, and many other cities, have been facing for quite some time now. The extremely high amount of random (or not so random) acts of violence in the inner city, especially Baltimore, have plagued several major cities for many years. The proximity of this crime also lends to its' newsworthiness, as someone in Atlanta is much less likely to hear about this crime, or even give it a second thought.

Another story posted on the Baltimore Sun's website was about the damage and direction of Hurricane Ike. It has already killed four people in Cuba and seventy-four in Haiti, and had caused over a million people to be evacuated from their homes. The hurricane is headed toward the Gulf of Mexico, and Texas is planning on taking a big hit. This story is newsworthy because of the conflict value; the pitting of man against nature. It also touches on the timeliness aspect, as people have not forgotten about Hurricane Katrina and the death and destruction that it caused.

A story that I also found newsworthy on the Baltimore Sun's website was a story about rapper Lil' Wayne, who is being charged with illegal gun possession after an officer pulled over his tour bus after she reported "smelling marijuana." She apparently boarded the bus and found Lil' Wayne trying to hide a gun in a bag. This story, though it does not affect the community or society at large, has newsworthiness because it deals with a celebrity. Celebrities, and their lives, have always been extremely interesting to the public since the beginning of celebrities. When celebrities are having personal problems or get into legal trouble, the public's interest increases ten-fold, which you can decide for yourself what that means.

Backpack Journalism

A backpack journalist is someone who is always ready for a photograph, story or any interesting situation that they may encounter. They carry all the essentials needed for reporting, recording and remembering an experience. Jared Silfies, a journalism student, carries a backpack with a laptop and power adapter, digital camera, iPod, several USB drives, an SD card reader, headphones, a notebook and pencils, an Internet-capable phone and copies of The Associated Press Stylebook and The Elements of Style. I have not read this book, but the fact that Silfies carries it with him at all times signifies to me that there is most likely some valuable information in it. It also means that it has many applications and is very useful if you need to reference something in the field.

One of the impressive websites I saw by a student was by Nick Trost. He is a journalism student in Seattle, Washington. His site and the amount of experience he has are impressive for a twenty year old. I'm sure he carries a laptop computer with him, as well as a digital camera and/or video camera, digital voice recorder and notebook, as he has done work with photography, audio and video, as well as uploading them to the site. I hope to have a website that I can be proud of when I gain more experience and publish more work.

The Start of The Beginning

This will be the first time I have published anything online, or anywhere for that matter.  I don't know why, but starting this blog has made me excited, like the feeling you get when you find money in your pocket; not enough to buy anything but just a few dollars that you didn't know you had.  I guess it's just the thought of having my ideas in a place where there is a chance they may be read by others, and if I'm really lucky, relatable, helpful or at least enjoyable.

I'm not really sure how to start this, so here goes...I'm a Taurus, I enjoy long, moonlit walks on the beach, I...wait, that's not right.  I'm a 22 year old student at Towson University and I'd have to get back to you on whether I'm a junior or senior, as I am unsure myself.  

This is my second semester at Towson, having transferred from Harford Community College after getting my associate's degree.  I have realized that here you have to sign up for classes as soon as possible, as I was left to choose from a class selection that looked like a sale bin on the final day.  I did take Writing Poetry; a class I was extremely skeptical of, and not particularly looking forward to.  Even if you have never written, read or even have not found yourself interested in the past, as I had not before the class, I actually would recommend taking the class, solely because of the professor Clarinda Harriss.  She is a great teacher who made the class fun, and was happy as long as you tried, even if your poems had nothing to do with the assigned basic idea.  

I am now a Mass Communications major focusing on Journalism; writing is something I have enjoyed my entire life. I also plan on having a minor in photography, of which I am an avid enthusiast.  I have mostly done pictures of flowers and animals, as well as other nature shots, though I am really interested in portraiture and street photography, which I would like to do more of.  I'll post some of my personal favorites soon.  

I really like to paint when I have time; some of my favorite artists being Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jackson Pollock and Wassily Kandinsky. I'm also a very big fan of underground street artist Banksy, who if you have not heard of, I suggest taking a look.  I also love the styles of comic book artists Rick Griffin, Frank Miller and Robert Crumb.  I'm a big muscle car fan; I have a 1990 5.0 Mustang that wouldn't quite be called a diamond in the rough, but perhaps a rough diamond.  It's quick and loud, and has set off its' fair share of car alarms in the parking garages, which leaves me content for the moment.  

I was born in Philadelphia, and I root for the Ravens, but I'm an Eagles fan all the way.  All I know is that Kyle Boller can't lead a team, and if Donovan McNabb can stay healthy all season; the Eagles are always contenders.  I've also lived in Maryland and Atlanta, seeming to move about every five years, having lived in Maryland twice.  

Although this class seems like it may be a lot of work, I am looking forward to some of the assignments and skills we will be gaining.  Tangents aside, I'm not positive how to end this either, as many works are often felt unfinished by the author or artist.  So I suppose I'll just leave you with request and a promise, that you will keep reading and I will give you at least one of those Arsenio Hall "Things That Make You Go "Hmm"? moments.