farm tech days! sexism! wasted paper!

Today I traveled to Farm Technology Days in River Falls, WI, which is apparently a big deal. Farm Tech Days, that is, not the town.

I found and wrote up four stories for a special daily newspaper being produced and distributed at the event in conjunction with the River Falls Journal, which is owned by the same company that owns the paper I work for.

I must have sweated a gallon. It was so hot. But I cranked out four stories even though I was only required to write two, so that felt good.

I admitted to myself today that I’ve fallen in love with journalism. I’ve been struggling with that for a while. Admitting love for it makes it a viable career option, which means that I’d following in my parents’ footsteps, as it were. Which I once swore I’d never do. But I’ve said I’d never do a lot of things and done them, so what else is new? I think this summer really cemented the fact that I actually like this stuff. I could see myself doing it for years and years – a slightly horrifying possibility. But I’ll get over it.

I’d want to work for a daily, though. I like the fast-paced, on-the-scene, gritty journalism. The blood and guts! The excitement! The race to the finish!

Ok, I’ll stop.

In other news, at the school board meeting last night, one board member said to a woman who was having problems with a PowerPoint clicker, “You actually have to be a male to know how to use those.”

Haha, funny sexist joke! I felt bad for the woman. She is a professional, trying to present in a professional manner (also shes new at her job, which makes it more nerve-wracking.) I’m sure the joke made her feel even smaller than she already did.

In fact, I found myself disagreeing with the school board a lot last night. For example, they have been sending out a newsletter in the mail to community members. They received a small amount of complaints for some reason or another, so they briefly mentioned other options. An electronic newsletter was brought up, which I agree with. Easy to do, no wasted paper!

But the board vetoed that plan, saying that “not everyone has a computer” and that the newsletter is more likely to be read since it comes in the mail, so it will be right there in front of you.

A. Libraries have computers which people can use for free. So do schools. And, let’s face it, most parents with kids in school have internet access.

B. Email works just about the same as regular mail. If the letter is emailed, it will be right there in the inbox.

headlines and dead facebooks

Is headline writing a lost art due to the internet?

Headlines for newspaper, back in the day, had to be a mini-story themselves, full of wit or puns or creativity to draw the reader in. But now, headlines for online newspapers are more concerned with SEO (search engine optimization) than creativity.

While the internet provides many new creative outlets, I think it also kills creativity. I know I spend way too much time on time-wasting sites like comixed or Facebook when I could be writing, singing, knitting, etc.

Speaking of Facebook: what happens to your page when you die?

Well, that depends. It can remain as a memorial or it can be deleted. But I know (from a bit of personal experience) how odd it is to see the Facebook page for someone who has passed away. Is there a right thing?

Leaving it up as a memorial with the option to write on the wall can, I think, become a disaster. There are always those people who want to show the world how MUCH THEY CARED about the deceased and HOW MUCH THEY MISS THEM. And instead of genuine feelings, they write out of the need for attention from others.

I think that behavior really detracts from the person’s death and can cause pain to those who really loved him or her.

At the same time, it would be nice to see photos of the person. But constantly visiting their Facebook would be like reopening a wound. And Facebook is so easy to visit. It isn’t a photo album tucked away in a drawer. You could see the page every time you were online.

storm chasing

Today a damaging storm hit the area that I cover, so I went storm chasing.

When one of the production employees heard there was a funnel cloud that touched down, she said, “Well, I guess you won’t be going to Hammond!”

Wrong. Reporters go where the news is, right? Even if it’s dangerous news.

I saw garages with their contents spilled out, the walls ripped off.  I saw fallen trees and shingles everywhere like leaves on the ground.

It was exciting. That’s the kind of journalism I love the most; the kind that keeps you running around and soaks your shoes and pumps you full of adrenaline.

I felt that when I rode in a small plane to take pictures of skydivers. I felt it today when we were chasing the storm in a minivan, peering out the window to see a funnel cloud or damage.

Get the story here. Even if you don’t know or care where this is, the photos (there should be a gallery soon) are compelling (no, I’m not being completely self-serving. I didn’t take all of them).

If it bleeds, it leads! Who doesn’t like reading about a solid disaster?

Yes, we’re related: or, the trials of working for my father

It just so happens that my father is the managing editor of the newspaper for which I work. Now, I know what you are thinking. That’s why I wrote this column. I didn’t want to have it published in the newspaper, but I thought I could publish it here.

“Are you related to the editor?” I hear, for the millionth time.
“Yes.  I’m his daughter.”
Instantly their tone changes. I am now the interviewee instead of the interviewer.
“Are you the summer intern? Where do you go to college? Well, say hi to your dad for me!”
I hang up the phone. Though I’ve only worked here for two weeks, I’m certain I’ve had this conversation at least once a day. Even people who don’t know my dad recognize that our last names are the same, and can’t help but ask the obvious relation question.
After I answer, it seems they always get a certain knowing smile or tone of voice.
“Oh, that’s how she got the job,” I can hear them thinking. “She’s not a real reporter.”
Or maybe those are just my own thoughts. Either way, it’s unsettling.
The definition of nepotism, according to Merriam-Webster, is “favoritism (as in appointment to a job) based on kinship.”
The company that owns the newspaper has a rule that prevents nepotism. My mom, who is also a journalist, wanted to apply for a position with the News in the past, but couldn’t because my dad works there. I am fortunate that they allowed me to take the internship this summer.
The Wikipedia definition puts a different spin on the word: “Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives or friends, without regard to their merit.”
I agree. Individuals should not have jobs for which they are unqualified. But I balk at the thought that my last name suggests that I am meritless.
For a wild moment I considered changing my name. This seemed a bit drastic, considering I only have a summer internship at the News, but the thought of my poor defaced honor sent all sorts of crazy thoughts rushing through my mind.
I also considered sneaking my resume and references in the newspaper.
“Look!” it would say. “She has qualifications! Go ahead, call her former bosses. They’ll set you straight.”
Then I realized it didn’t really matter. People will think what they think, regardless of what I say or do. It’s always been that way and it always will be. The trick is not to let them get to me.
It’s unfair of me to assume that everyone thinks the same way just as it’s unfair of anyone to assume I’m underqualified, so I’m prepared to approach the next phone call with an open mind.
“Oh, are you related to Jeff?” they’ll ask.
And I’ll answer:
“Yes, I’m his daughter. Guess it runs in the family!”

new to news

My friend recently took a US Government and Politics class and was given an assignment where she had to follow certain newspapers for three weeks.

Her assignment came back with a note from the professor that told her she did a good job for someone who was “new to news.”

The phrase made me think. What, in this age of information and technology and Iphones and blah dee blah, would cause someone to not know what was going on in the world?

Apathy?

I believe one should be aware of one’s surroundings, and today the whole world surrounds us. News can be accessed instantly online, whether it is local or global or even universal.

If you’re new to news and reading this, great. If not, great. Regardless, I’ll deliver some news to you along with my own opinions here.

I’m working for a weekly Wisconsin small-town newspaper as an intern this summer.

Today we received a story about a 40-year-old man who shot up his own house (and even shot at his parents) because he thought clowns were trying to attack him. Apparently he damaged the house quite a bit with his hallucination-induced gunfire.

(See? News can be fun, too).