A bit of intrigue

He sits in the back of the lecture hall, eyes glued to the speakers. He rarely interrupts, but when he needs to, it's to speak words of fatherly advice to Chipsters. Sometimes his advice is peppered with curse words. Sometimes his advice is peppered with humor. But every time, his advice is saturated with inspiration.

John Quinn is the most intriguing man I've met in a while.

I don't know if it's his dark-rimmed, oversized glasses, his five-foot walking cane (or weapon, for late Chipsters) or his distinct accent, but there's something about this man that makes me want to know more. His words of encouragement, however few or short they may seem, have mentally pushed me to want to be the best intern I can this summer.

(And I know if I'm not, I have a whole family of mama and daddy Chipsters who will hunt me down -- and not to mention, tell father John.)

-- Kim Wallace, University of Kansas, Times Daily, Florence, Ala.

Beyond the bio

JCQ replies to James Wagner's flattering blog comment:

Rochester was a great city in which to work, to live and especially to raise a family. It also was a fun place to have a picnic, if summer lasted a whole weekend. Congrats on your research -- and thank you.

-- John Quinn

Personifying a good journalistic ethic

Photo by Bob Siddens
John Quinn and James Wagner

In the lobby of the Freedom Forum’s Seigenthaler Center, I met an older man who within seconds left me amazed. As the groups of scholars met for the first time, John C. Quinn moved from one group to another and greeted each person individually. And with each introduction, Mr. Quinn had a specific comment about that person’s Chips Quinn biography. It was so specific that it was scary. “Did you bring that music you like with you?” he asked me. Or “sorry the major leagues didn’t work out for you,” he told my fellow Chipster and failed professional baseball player, Danny Davis. How did he know that about me? Or Danny? Easy, he is a journalist and he did his homework. Mr. Quinn had spent time reading all the scholars’ Web profiles and taken notes. With this seemingly meaningless encounter within the first few hours of the start of the weekend, Mr. Quinn personified a good journalistic ethic. He did his homework. He researched his sources, or in this case, his protégés. In my mind, he established his credibility by spending time to learn about me. I stood in awe as a true journalist did his work. Hopefully, I can remember his example and turn the tables on him. Mr. Quinn, if you are reading this, here is my researched question: “What was Rochester, N.Y., like?”

-- James Wagner, University of Virginia, The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.

45 words to live by

As I walked into the Seigenthaler Center yesterday, I noticed that printed across the front of the building were the 45 words that all journalists should live by: the First Amendment.

The Freedom Forum fights for these rights so that we in the United States can have a free press.

Throughout the night, new Chipsters recited these famous words and speakers talked about them.

Diversity in the newsroom is so important, and I am glad that there are organizations like the Freedom Forum to help create a diverse atmosphere in the workplace that shows the demographics of our country.

I bet our forefathers who wrote the Constitution and its amendments would not believe how much has changed in the newsroom, but I’m sure they would be proud.

-- Megan Gordon, University of South Dakota, The Des Moines (Iowa) Register

Diversity leads to valuable learning experience

As I walked around introducing myself last night, I felt as if I were experiencing orientation week for college all over again. We all followed the usual protocol: we shook hands, said our own names, tried to remember other people’s names, and then asked that all-important question: "Where are you from?"

Except this time around, I found myself hearing unfamiliar answers. Instead of California, New York, and Massachusetts – states that so many people from my school seemed to hail from – I met people from states such as South Dakota, Delaware and Montana. These were states that seemed foreign to me even though they’re in the same country.

It was then that I realized the incredible diversity that the Chips Quinn program embraces. Not only does the program look for people from many different races, it also looks for people from different geographic areas. The geographic diversity I encountered made me realize that the members of this program come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. By participating in this orientation, I will get to know people with entirely different perspectives. The diversity that this orientation offers will be a valuable learning experience that I will cherish.

-- Nicole Dungca, Brown University, The Providence (R.I). Journal

'Journalism needs you'

John Quinn and Martin Reynolds

I am excited. It is refreshing to hear from other students and share their anxiety about their internships and love for journalism. I especially enjoyed the different presentations opening night. John Quinn advised that as we go through this orientation, we should “treat this like family.” The family aspect of this prestigious program is what is so special. (Alum and speaker) Martin Reynolds (of the Oakland Tribune) served as a reflection of this family feeling as a previous Chipster. It was inspiring to hear that this program is more than just placement into an internship; it is about getting students ready for their careers. Even though Martin was in the program years ago, look at him now. The possibilities are endless if we remember what he said at the conclusion of his speech: “Journalism needs you.” The media environment is changing rapidly, and it is important that we find our place in it. Diversity is power. It isn't until media organizations embrace and actively seek diversity, that we truly can reflect the communities we serve.

-- TaLeiza Calloway, Kent State University, St. Cloud (Minn.) Times

Lively, lovely and life changing

I learned so much on the first day! It is not a surprise to me because I am a very talkative person, but I am impressed. I anticipate this experience to be lively, lovely and life changing. My fellow Salukis and former Chipster friends have pep-talked me through this whole process, so I think I’m pretty knowledgeable in the Chips Quinn process. I hope to come away with many experiences and friendships with the other students and the staff of Chips Quinn and the Freedom Forum.

Thursday was my first day riding on a plane. It was terrible, but I am glad that I had the chance to say that I have done it. This also is my first time in Nashville, so I am glad to be visiting a new city. Thursday also was my first time in a long time learning something valuable from my peers. It is not everyday that you meet someone who looks like you and talks like you but is nothing like you. I am used to being around people either exactly like me or drastically different, so thank you Chips Quinn for giving me the opportunity to mature.

When (alum) Martin Reynolds said that we are the best of the best, I really felt proud. I don’t believe that I am the best, but I do believe that I am exceptional. I seem to be the only person with vast multimedia skills, but I’m almost positive that I am the worst writer. Honestly, I just hope to survive this orientation and internship and, most of all, make you wonderful people proud.

-- Aerial McCall, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Green Bay (Wis.) Press-Gazette

Where I belong

For the first time since my first day as a classroom teacher, I was freaked. When I came to orientation, I wondered: Was I really in the right place? Was I good enough to be here? Could there be a mistake? Would someone tell me before dinner? Feelings of inadequacy continued to follow me as I met scholar after scholar who was at least 10 years younger than me. I couldn’t help thinking that my opportunity to be a journalist might have passed.

Luckily, I met Audrey Burgs from The Des Moines Register and she told me about her entry into journalism in her 40s. She explained that many editors would like a journalist with more life experiences, and she relayed her own stories of surprising her fellow journalists with the story of needing a weekend off to attend her son’s wedding. As we giggled a little about this, I instantly felt myself relax. If Audrey was able to break into the journalism world in her 40s, I, too, could be a happy Chipster and make this career switch years after my college graduation. As I began to open up to fellow Chipsters, I discovered that our experiences are so varied, but that we each deserved to be here. Karen Catone reminded us that there were no mistakes; we all were in the right place. Including me. Even though I still have an anxiety about switching from a successful career, I left orientation's first night inspired. I belong here.

My dream has been to write for a newspaper, and I am one step closer to that becoming a reality. I’m not sure if this means that I will achieve all of my career goals by Sunday afternoon, but at least I know I am where I belong. I am ready to learn and to accept the fact that the road will not be easy, but it is where I want to be.

-- Ivy Farguheson, University of New Mexico, The Post-Crescent, Appleton, Wis.

An inspiration

I found out last night that Martin Reynolds is the first Chips Quinn Scholar to become a managing editor. This news is beautiful. Not only does it show the extent of the Chips Quinn program, it shows the drive and determination Martin has as a journalist. This is very inspiring. And I do not say that because I might have to beg him for a job one day!

In addition to co-instructing a news bureau class at San Francisco State University, Martin is a down-to-earth guy who is easily approachable about stories and ideas. He can hang with the rest of us. Sort of. Before, I didnʼt realize the significance of his promotion. I saw it more as a great and exciting accomplishment of someone I know. But I see now that Martin is not just someone I know. He is one of us. He is a public university grad, a Bay Area resident, a minority. And he is pushing for change. He has been pushing for more multimedia at the Oakland Tribune and more diversity. He is trying to move forward, a process that can be hard and slow.

As graduation draws near for me, I must scrutinize the journalism industry more and more. Is it right for me? Can I do it? John Quinn says that, as a minority, I must or my voice and the voices of other minorities will be lost. He also talked about how Martin had to make a choice to be dedicated to journalism. Martin emphasized that as Chipsters, we have been given a chance that we cannot waste.

Lately, Iʼve been feeling depressed about the journalism industry. Some days I think that there is no room for change in the traditional newspaper industry. But last night's presentations started to pick away at that idea. I hope this weekend will change my mind for good.

-- Donna Tam, San Francisco States University, The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.

Full speed ahead in a multimedia world

Photographers, reporters. It didn’t matter what journalistic tool we called home. At least half of the Chipsters who stood up last night to introduce themselves wanted to learn more about how to incorporate and/or improve their multimedia storytelling.

Everyone agrees that newspapers are shifting to the Web and they’re looking for Web-savvy graduates. The problem is that college curriculum haven’t adjusted yet to meet the needs. My internship newspaper, the Detroit Free Press. is running full-speed ahead with software that my university has (so far) placed on only one computer. A handful of students have become efficient with it only because they have had the time and initiative to figure it out on their own. Universities are in the processes of piecing together programs, finding people to teach them and having the fun task of getting the software to make it happen.

So as soon as we students get an opportunity like this program, we are foaming at the mouth to get real experience to use in the newsroom. It can be frustrating.

My advice: Learn what you can. When our universities do catch up, it’ll be a wicked experience.

Until then, the sites Multimediashooter and Mediastorm may give you ideas and inspiration.

-- Sarah Welliver, University of Montana, Detroit Free Press