Defining my anxiety

"God help me accept the things I cannot change, have courage to change the things I can and have the wisdom to know the difference."

That quote was said during our breakout sessions with our career coach, Mary Ann Hogan, and it really helped me put a definition to the anxiety that I’ve been feeling about my internship.

Before, I was afraid that I would not meet the expectations of the newsroom, make mistakes often and overall be a bad intern.

But I realized that I am an intern. I was chosen by the newsroom because they saw something in me, something worth investing time in, and they already know that I won’t be perfect. I know I’ll make mistakes and I’m OK with that idea. I also know that I will strive hard to correct those mistakes and try not to repeat them.

-- Leah Caudle, Western Kentucky University, Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader

Signature words of inspiration

John Quinn quoted his late wife, Loie, saying: "If you don’t have confidence in yourself, then who will?"

And that’s got to be the most valuable thing I’ve heard this weekend at the Chips Quinn Scholars’ orientation.

I often find myself struggling with what others may perceive to be the simplest thing: Believing in myself.

My inner voice usually follows the thought with a question: Why?

I guess it’s because I am a self-proclaimed perfectionist and always looking for ways to make things better, including myself.

But I’m slowly learning that I’ve got to stop worrying about being good enough and learn to just accept me for me. Loie’s signature words of inspiration really hit home today.

Now, how am I going to apply this new rule at my internship?

I’m going to try not to be so critical of myself and to truly listen to and open-heartedly accept compliments. They’re free, right?

--Betsy Martinez, Florida International University, The News-Press, Fort Myers, Fla.

A promise to do my best

It is hard to believe that the weekend is almost over. I must admit that I have learned so much and met so many wonderful people in such a short time. It feels as if I know everyone well, when I actually have known them for only a couple days. I know I will miss everyone, and going home is going to be difficult. Fortunately, I feel as though I will be well prepared for my internship when I start May 29. Attending the Chips Quinn program has refreshed my memory on many topics; plus I have learned many new things.

Picking just one valuable lesson is almost impossible. Everything I have learned this weekend will contribute to my success at my summer internship. If anything, this program has inspired me to do the best I can. I want to do the best I can for myself and also for the newspaper, the Chips Quinn Scholars Program and everyone who has helped me get to this point.

Without the Chips Quinn program, I would not have this wonderful opportunity to go to California for a summer internship. I am truly grateful that John Quinn and the Freedom Forum gave me this opportunity. By doing my best in the newsroom, I will show how thankful I am that they believe in me and my journalism skills.

-- Jennifer Muhmel, University of South Dakota, Ventura County (Calif.) Star

Having fun along the way

Photo by Daniel Sato
Theresa Kasallis, Betsy Martinez and Daniel Davis have fun at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville.

There have been so many wonderful tidbits of information during this magnificent weekend. But one has stuck out: Chips rule No. 2 --always have fun.

I’m an outgoing, always-laughing and cracking-jokes type of guy. Sometimes it can be a little overwhelming to others, but that is just me. It makes me proud to hear someone within the Chips Quinn program say to have fun. When the time comes to get down to business, I know how to turn off the switch. Though I might make a comment here or there during work, I never allow myself to get stressed out because I don’t consider any of this work. This is my livelihood, this is what I have chosen to do. I always will be a firm believer in never doing a job or embarking on a career that I don’t love doing. If you can’t have fun or if work doesn't make you happy, then there is no point doing it. Then it becomes a job and not a career. I plan on having a career and I plan on adhering to the profound words of Chips in my journey through this profession. Hopefully, I can help someone else have fun along the way.

-- Ronald Clark, Hampton University, Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat

Good writer vs. good reporter

As Chipsters laugh heartily in the room next door -- I believe they’re playing a riotous game of charades (at least, the sign posted outside Ronald Clark’s door advertised Chipsters charades) -- I have returned to the question of whether it is better to be a good writer or a good reporter. It was only after I began my graduate studies that I came to appreciate the distinction. I wondered why the professional journalists whose counsel I sought during the application process neglected to mention it. Now, I worry. Writing, which was once so effortless, now feels forced. As I explained to (Diversity Institute Executive Director) Robbie Morganfield over dinner, I, the consummate perfectionist, consider (i.e., edit) each word – often at length – before it appears on the page, intent on composing the most intelligent, thoughtful “product” possible. Heaven forbid if what I do isn’t perfect, and I worry that I will carry that anxiety with me on my first day at the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, prompting my editor, Antoinette Taylor-Thomas, to regret taking a gamble on me.

-- Tierra L. Palmer, Ohio University, Lancaster (Ohio) Eagle-Gazette

Advice from an alum

Alum Adam Causey of The Times in Shreveport, La., picks himself out of the photo of the CQ class of 2006

Just three minutes of speaking one-on-one with Chips Quinn alums and guest speakers can yield great advice.

I approached Adam Causey, an alum reporting for The Times of Shreveport, La., because his introduction included a mention of "crime reporter." Causey works in a high-crime city. He described the relationship he inherited with local police and the strides he has made in communicating with his sources.

Causey also was honest about his career search, post-college job offers and Shreveport salary. He spoke frankly about the rough situations and sourcing challenges in crime reporting.

Causey reassured me that even if I do not encounter substantial crime reporting at my small-town college newspaper, I still can pursue that focus in journalism. I'll likely get a crack at crime reporting this summer with The Detroit News.

-- Tony Gonzalez, Hillsdale College, The Detroit News

Citizen journalism builds democracy

One of the things that I am most excited about -- briefly mentioned by speaker Rick Green (of The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, Calif., at left) --is the emergence of citizen journalism and its democratizing effects. Blogs, push-button publishing and community-journalism sites give anyone with access to a computer and the Internet, or the public library, a forum in which to tell stories.

I find this area of journalism exciting because it frees the media from corporate ties, allows for coverage of hyperlocal events that are important to the communities that they occur in and builds a stronger overall sense of community.

Many sites allow users to upload photos, form groups, write blogs, etc. They include gothamist.com, which also operates citizen-media sites for cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Shanghai; fotolog.com; flickr.com; and newsvine.com. Even traditional media sites such as savannahnow.com/share and Rick Green's Desert Sun have co-opted citizen journalism.

Often, these sites will scoop traditional media, as was the case with Cory Lidle's airplane crash in New York. Or traditional media will take news and information from these sites, as with the cell-phone picture taken during the London subway bombing or the flickr photo that simply stated "Im Okay" so that the user's friends and family would know that all was well.

Citizen journalism does leave a lot of questions to be asked. When does a citizen become a "journalist?" As in the case of videoblogger Josh Wolf, this is not always clear. Should a citizen journalist be awarded the same state shield law protections as a professional when practicing journalism? Where is the line between freelancer/activist/journalist? Is one required to be trained in ethics before being considered a journalist?

While these questions may take some time to answer, one thing is certain: The trend of citizen journalism will only continue to grow. More people will buy digital point-and-shoot cameras. More cell phones will come equipped with still-photo and video capabilities. And more people will be recording their day-to-day activities and be in the right place at the right time to record history.

-- Daniel Sato, San Jose State University, St. Cloud (Minn.) Times

Feeling secure in my choice

Alum LaSharah Bunting of The New York Times talks with scholars in a small group.

I finally feel secure in pursuing a career in journalism.

Feeling like this is not easy – as budding journalists, we’re living in a world of naysayers: Print journalism is dying, a columnist from a prominent newspaper once told me. I only get my news from Web sites now, said one of my friends. Newspaper circulation is getting smaller and smaller, statistics show.

Yet, in an industry full of uncertainties, I have never felt more certain that being a reporter is what I want to do with my life.

Today’s speakers made me feel this way through their encouragement to embrace the changes surrounding journalism. Instead of leaving print journalism to die, we need to evolve into new kinds of journalists. Rather than clinging to the idea of the "traditional" print journalist, we need to be willing to try new things. We need to explore incorporating technology and multimedia to appease the news-hungry readers who are used to having news available at their fingertips. Newspapers don’t have to disappear – they just have to evolve. We need to do this without compromising accuracy and quality writing. This is a challenge that I am more than willing to accept.

The changes will certainly not be easy and nobody can really tell what will be effective and what won’t be, but the idea of being a part of a revolution in this industry is exhilarating. I can be a part of a new wave of journalists. I am eager to have my say in how we change things and try new things in order to keep this industry thriving.

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

Joining the fast-paced world of news

We watched Rick Green's video of his converged newsroom in Palm Springs, Calif. The background music, "The times, they are a changing" by Bob Dylan, perfectly highlighted one of information center's victories toward a converged newsroom. We watched as one reporter read the news of a major traffic jam to another reporter, who posted the information to the paper's Web site. Meanwhile, a smiling multimedia guy, cleverly named "3m," text-messaged subscribers as he moderated the unfolding situation for the camera. The reporters at The Desert Sun were excited that they scooped the television station by five minutes. Mr. Green, managing editor, later told us that we should all have their sense of urgency. It is scenes like this that make me eager to join the fast-paced world of journalism.

-- Allison Smith, Vanderbilt University, The Tennessean, Nashville

First freedoms -- the quiz

Yesterday, Chips Quinn orientation attendees were in for the First Amendment challenge of their lives. While students were told in advance to memorize the First Amendment, many determined the real instruction given was to memorize the five freedoms, and not the sentence verbatim. That was the first surprise.

Chipsters then had the honor of meeting Ken Paulson, USA TODAY's editor and a Mizzou grad, and John Seigenthaler, founder of the First Amendment Center who has lectured at Mizzou several times. I have yet to determine which was better -- the information or the presenters. The presentation consisted of a game in which we students were divided into groups and asked questions. After we were given the chance to think, we were given the correct answer. Groans or cheers were followed by a short history on that answer. I must say, I had fun!

For many of us, this was a wake-up call.

I wanted to call my Communications Law teacher, Sandy Davidson, and thank her for all the information that was packed in her class. I was personally charged to re-examine every fact I learned about the Zinger case of 1735, Times v Sullivan, and one of her personal favorites, the 2 Live Crew case concerning copyright infringement ("Nasty as They Wanna Be"). In case it wasn’t implied well, the University of Missouri-Columbia has the greatest journalism school ever. M-I-Z…Z-O-U! Although I really let down a few professors with my game results today, I learned a valuable lesson: We do need to know this stuff (I mean very important material)!

-- Vannah Shaw, University of Missouri, Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser

New look at the First Amendment

The high point of the second day for me was the presentation by John Seigenthaler and Ken Paulson. It was a refreshing look at the First Amendment.

It was interesting to see how personal freedoms have been restricted throughout history. I think there are many people in this country who don't know "One nation, under God," wasn't always in the Pledge of Allegiance. It appeared during the Red Scare when the United States was trying to prove supremacy over "godless commies." I did not know that the pledge's origins involved a socialist scheme to profit from selling American flags. It also was interesting to hear who was once considered subversive.

The fact that comics have been attacked in the mid-20th century was shocking, yet entertaining. I am a big fan of history, and I am glad that the orientation included this segment. It also is frightening how many Americans do not appreciate the freedoms protected by the First Amendment.

-- Shawn Smith, University of Arizona, Observer-Dispatch, Utica, N.Y.

Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy

"Never assume. Never, ever assume," Robbie Morganfield told us yesterday. That’s the message I took away from the day's activities.

The reason for his words is simple: Accuracy. If reporters assume that a common name such as Smith is spelled "Smith," it could turn out to be "Smithe," which would be inaccurate. And journalists have got to get "the facts straight," he said.

Just think about it. If a journalist reports that "John Smith," 40, of Oroville, Calif., was found guilty of some crime, and it turns out that it was actually John Smithe, 40, of Oroville, Calif., who was found guilty, the wrong person would be associated with the crime. And that impugns the misidentified person and the paper’s credibility. Journalists are supposed to inform the public. And they are supposed to inform the public accurately. Misspelling a name might seem like a small mistake, but mistakes damage newspapers’ reputations. How is the public supposed to trust what a newspaper reports if that paper regularly messes up? So it’s important that reporters never assume anything. Assumptions can lead to fact errors, and reporters are supposed to report the truth.

-- Olga Munoz, California State University-Chico, The Salt Lake (Utah) Tribune

Ride the tide

"You are walking into information centers – not newsrooms,” he said with a slight grin and unyielding voice. “Our world is changing, and it’s changing fast.”

Rick Green, managing editor of The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif., greeted students in the early hours of the morning. His advice dripped with enthusiasm as he spoke about the future and what it holds for upcoming journalists, warning that they must move with the times. His message was motivational and inspiring.

In a news-world full of uncertainty and change, Green told students they are in the driver’s seat and can control what they want out of a career. All they have to have is drive -- pun intended. Students learned that the need for speed is a growing trend and news organizations are rapidly changing with the tide. But with the waves comes a greater need to be accurate. Green uttered eight simple, powerful words as he concluded the session, “Accuracy is the hallmark of an information center.”

-- Theresa Kasallis, Brigham Young University, The Salt Lake (Utah) Tribune

A brave new world

In speaking with industry professionals, I realize what an exciting time it is for the news gathering industry. We are midst of a revolution, as far as news collection and dissemination. It feels a bit like discovering the West, when all is possible and experimental. "Multimedia" is the new buzz word. Everyone has an opinion, but no one has a clear answer. It's uncharted territory and ripe for new young innovative minds to carve out the future. I'm looking forward to putting my new-found storytelling skills to use at the Lincoln Journal Star.

-- Kainaz Amaria, Ohio University, Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star

Getting to know a legend

I’ve learned so much more in two days at orientation than I would have imagined. The speakers offer real-life experience, which makes this working world that we’re entering that much more real and that much more important.

It also was nice to visit The Tennessean, my internship "alma mater." I know there are few interns who have the chance to return to the newsrooms in which they spent the summer or more, and it was a nice reunion.

I particularly enjoyed John Seigenthaler’s presentation. I only knew that Mr. Seigenthaler was involved with the media. I didn’t know the extent of his knowledge and his involvement in the civil rights movement. I had no idea the magnitude of what he experienced, but I’m glad that I know now. I was truly moved to tears to know that he -- someone that I now consider a legend -- fought for the rights from which I benefit and those I take for granted daily.

-- Leah Caudle, Western Kentucky University, Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader

Insider's look at news meeting

Photo by Sarah Welliver
Mark Silverman, editor, and Meg Downey, managing editor, talk about the printed newspaper during a visit to The Tennessean.

I always wondered what a news meeting at a big newspaper was like, and yesterday I got to see when we visited The Tennessean. We saw editors pitch stories to the front page. I expected to see a little more passionate pitches and fights over the front page, but I wasn't "lucky" enough. Nonetheless, it was cool to see how it's done, and I got some ideas for my college newspaper. There are ways that we could have a similar meeting, one that's just as efficient and non-confrontational.

After dinner, we we came back to the Diversity Institute and played Newsmania, and although my team lost, it was a cool experience. We were quizzed on current events, pop culture and sports. It was good to see a competitive spirit from the group. For such a simple game, there were some heated moments, but it was all in the name of fun. I wish they had kept a tally of how each host newspaper's interns have done in Newsmania. That way we would have reputations to keep up. Maybe they can start next year because, even though I tried hard, the Statesman Journal didn't earn too many points.

-- Willie Bans, San Diego State University, Statesman Journal, Salem, Ore.