Money.

Oh gosh. Hello. So much has happened, time flies, next thing you know there's less than a week to the end of the year. Well, I have to start where I left off, with Money: where I interned for the summer. Think the best way to maybe go about this is to kind of make a bulleted list (not in any specific order) with the things I remember.

- I had the opportunity to dorm at Columbia University on a floor occupied by other Time Inc. interns. Which was amazing. I'm from Queens, so moving back to NYC after graduation, I knew I had a home to return to, and that I could stay there until I had the means to move out (not anytime soon). Ideally though, I would love to live in the city or somewhere in Queens really close to the city, because I don't know, that's where I work, I'm young and that's just ideal. So having the opportunity to at least do that the summer right after graduation was amazing. The Columbia campus & neighborhood was great, and Time Inc. offices were just a 25 minute ride away on the 1. I had great roommates--one of whom was also a Money intern and who I became pretty close to, and two who interned for People magazine (one for the site, one in the art department). We had a spacious suite, our own rooms. It was just really nice.

- I was so nervous on the first day! Walking into it with Angela (my roommate) helped. We were greeted by the super friendly office manager who led us to the layout room, where the staff was having its weekly meeting. Immediately knew who the editor in chief was by the way he led the meeting. I didn't see him often except occasionally in the hallways and during meetings. The man is so funny in a way that most probably find offensive. I'm not sure how to describe it, but I thought he had a ridiculously great sense of humor.

- Apps. During our first month, in place of the monthly beat memo meeting, the EIC held an apps meeting instead. He was interested in developing the magazine's first smartphone app. I think that project may or may not have been put on hold because Time Inc. is preparing to launch all its publications on the Nook for the new year, but I may be mistaken. Anyway, the staff was split into groups of three or four, interns included, and each was required to either build on app ideas submitted to the EIC a few months earlier, or create a new one from scratch. Each group consisted of reporters, editors, art directors, and an intern! It was so nice to be able to get to know different members of the staff in a small group. They were all so friendly and I felt comfortable contributing. And just the process of conceiving a new app was a lot of fun.

- I somehow became the designated intern to accompany a reporter and photographer to Times Square each month to assist with the back of book "The Big Question" page. The first time, I assisted and the second time I went myself! My question was, "Do you love or hate your bank?" I love man-on-the-street interviews, so that was fun.

- BEST PLACES TO LIVE. This is what the interns are really there for, haha. Each year Money releases its Best Places to Live in America issue, where it ranks the top 100 cities in America based on a number of factors. The lists alternate between small towns (less than 50,000) and large towns (I forget the interval, think it's more than 100,000), but this year it was small towns. Money collaborates with a data service provider which I won't name, but provides a list of towns that have the best of a variety of things including: jobs/employment, health, and education. They send reporters to the top 25 or so, and based on their reporting rank the top 10. The rest, the interns report on. 30 each. We spoke to real estate agents, government officials and residents to determine what the town was like and if it really deserved to be on the list.
Link: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2011/snapshots/CS2560785.html

- CNNMoney.com. My final, final week was spent in the CNN offices at the Time Warner Center, as that is where CNNMoney.com exists. (Web and print are quite separate). It was so awesome being in a real newsroom; our purposes as interns was to help them launch the Best Places to Live on the Web. So mostly, we did a lot of fact-checking and used cool apps to create the slideshows.

- Photoshoot. The LAST thing I expected to do as part of my internship was participate in a photoshoot. Typically, an EIC features his or her photo next to the editor's letter each month, but Craig's not into that, I guess. So he has a member(s) of the staff pose in lieu instead, usually finding a way to incorporate them into the letter. For August, he chose the interns. Like, we actually had a makeup artist and stylist come in and help us prepare. Then we took photos on one of the building's balconies and in front of the building with Radio City Music Hall as a backdrop. Unreal. I look absolutely awful in the photo, but no matter. It was a cool opportunity.

- As interns, we also had the opportunity to contribute to Money's blog, "More Money," (hosted by CNNMoney.com). I wish I contributed more often but it was nice to contribute at least one--a story about how to score a deal on used cars. I was also working on a story about the FAA shutdown (and how it would affect travelers who wanted refunds) but it literally kept changing every hour. Stressful. By the time I edited it, the FAA had ended the shutdown and the story was pointless. Bit frustrating.

- Other perks: we had our own offices, we received free issues of every of Time Inc.'s magazines, bagel fridays!, seminars (on how to search for difficult documents, for example), and being able to attend staff meetings. Everyone was hilarious in their own right and it was so much fun (and helpful!) to see each member collaborate. Each person brought a different talent, style, area of expertise that really manifested itself in the pages of the magazine and it was great to be able to see that work itself right in front of you. They treated us like real members of the staff and at the same time held our hands; an experience that I won't (nor expect to) have ever again, but it was perfect for an internship right after college--being released into the real world while still being able to take baby steps.

- Personal finance. Towards the end, I began to think that maybe I allowed the internship to do more for me than I did for it, which caused a few regrets. But I do think I took what I learned from it and was able to apply it to my next internship at New York Magazine (major updates coming about that experience soon). One of the biggest things Money did for me was help me get a hold of my finances. I view them so differently now. More independent. I graduated with about $3,000 in credit card debt that I knew I should be worried about but assumed I'd figure out, eventually. Um, no. Wrong answer. This internship was like a crash course in get-your-financial-shit together. (Another reason it was perfect for post-graduation). Even before the internship started, Margaret (one of the senior editors) mailed us a few back issues of the magazine plus a copy of Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance In Your Twenties And Thirties. So helpful, still! And I'm proud to say that I have paid off my entire credit card! This summer I learned its better to get rid of that first then focus on loans (Already made my first payment. Womp. My goal is to get rid of the $25,000 in two years.) Also learned that writing about personal finance is not all that hard and actually kind of fun. Different than what I'm most passionate about (the long form non-fiction feature type writing) but I could totally do this too. In fact, I already did, once. I freelanced for Parents.com (http://www.parents.com/parenting/money/family-finances/save-money-for-your-newborn/). And I'll be starting an internship with Business Insider's Your Money in January! Which is crazy. Seriously, who would have thought. Anyway. Money. My best internship as of September. And really, I think my time there set the stage for the rest of my career.

3 AM Beer Pong

This is the photo I was talking about in the post about my experience at The Onondagan.

By Natthakan Garunrangseewong

(She posted more on her Flickr, pg 3, though check all of her photos. They're all great!)

Last words about Verbal Blend

I've always loved poetry. I've never been very good at it, but I've always loved it.

In 7th grade, my dad introduced me to a new show, called Def Poetry Jam, which aired on HBO. He even took me to a live taping once. I was drawn by the power with which the featured poets spoke, and amazed by their ability to communicate tough real-life issues and emotions in beautiful, eloquent ways.

Last fall I had difficulty choosing a topic for my final assignment (a 1,500 word story) in Magazine Writing. My professor had heard a few things about Cedric Bolton and suggested I investigate what his program was about. I attended my first two workshops the second Monday and Tuesday of November and knew instantly I had a story. The small group I met consisted of people who were intelligent, friendly, down-to-earth, ambitious, and extremely talented.

My product was this story (I got an A!)--which I've since slightly tweaked. (Note: It was never officially published, so I have used some of the quotes in other published stories. Also, I still can't seem to come up with the perfect final sentence!).

Verbal Blend by Noelia de la Cruz

I knew I wanted to keep in touch with the group, even after I finished the project. I attended the first workshop of the second semester, and continued to record/document their meetings, attend their events, and conduct interviews whenever I could. Simultaneously, I was taking my Web Journalism course, and I mentioned in a previous post that I would try to get them on the NewsHouse. My professor introduced our final project about a month before semester's end; our task was to produce a package taking all we learned throughout the semester using text, video, data visualization and interactive graphics components. It was the perfect opportunity.

The text, I knew I'd figure out somehow (I decided to focus on the nature of the workshops). The video and data viz components were the most difficult to conceive and create. Gathering inspiration from something I had seen in Esquire, I decided I wanted to make an audio visualization--that is, create a way for a person to see, literally, how the poem sounds as they're listening to it. Unfortunately, many of my visions (including something similar to this kinetic typography video) were impossible to create, considering a number of things, including my skill level and limited access to certain programs. Still, using After Effects, I was able to create something pretty sweet. It took a lot of trial and error and the help from some awesome people, but in the end I created an audio waveform of Christiona Hawkin's poem "Change." To make the waveform more interesting, I placed text over it (a la Photoshop), and included a video introduction of Ms. Hawkins herself (I ultimately produced everything with Final Cut Express). And while I originally intended to make a short video of the last workshop, I instead edited a clip of an interview I did with Tyler Rice about snapping (versus applauding) and included footage from the last workshop. I used Dipity to create a timeline of spoken word history, which includes information ranging from the late Gil Scott-Heron's influence to the spoken word event hosted by the White House two years ago. Technically, my project would have been complete with all of the above. But most of my peers were using a program called Vuvox to create multimedia slideshows, and I wanted to, too. Plus, I had so much material that would go to waste; I decided to use Vuvox to highlight Verbal Blend events I attended throughout the year. More text, more audio, more video.

Verbal Blend is such a small part of a large university and sometimes I wondered if my persistence to cover them was more of a personal, selfish investment than a service to others. But on further thought, I found it hard to believe that anyone who attends an open mic or a workshop, or spends even a few minutes with these guys, can leave feeling anything less but inspired.

See my project here: Verbal Blend unites words and performance.

Medley, Spring 2011

Slowly but surely, I will update this blog.

I almost decided not to return to Medley for the spring semester. Working for both Medley and The Onondagan proved to be tougher than I ever expected and by winter break I was a little burnt out. But I decided to stick with it, and am so glad I did. My schedule wasn't as hectic so I was able to devote time to both publications and my classes without feeling overwhelmed. We changed things up a bit by hiring assistant editors to help the senior editors and it really made all the difference. Luis, our fantastic art director, pulled through yet again. I'm so grateful for him! He helped us not only redesign the way the magazine looks but how it reads. He suggested dividing the magazine into sections and was persistent & unrelenting in his decisions; Kirsten and I were originally opposed to the Aid Across the Map vertical layout, but he convinced us it would work and now I absolutely love it. I learned so much from his constructive criticism, insight, and talent. Our spring 2011 issue is the best-looking to date, in my opinion.

There were still quite a few bumps along the road (one was for the best--our cover/photo story about SU Korean drumming group Cheon Ji In is the result of a writer dropping her story. And the complimentary back photo = phenomenal!), but we managed to overcome them and produce a beautiful issue with great content, great photos. The two features, Somewhere I Belong, and The Kids Are All Right are so representative of Medley's theme. It's all there in those two pieces. For Somewhere I Belong, Kirsten profiled Alanah, a Hispanic girl who was born in Kenya and lived in several other countries during her life, finally settling (for now) in Syracuse. The piece discusses both the benefits and the struggles Alanah has experienced because of her nomadic life. The Kids Are All Right discusses gay parenting through the lens of two Syracuse students who have gay parents. It's such a great piece, even though it's already slightly outdated! Same-sex marriage is now legal in New York! I also contributed another short piece about Verbal Blend, this time choosing to focus on their newly formed p-board (poets' executive board) and the direction they hope to take in the future.

Medley was a great experience and I wish I had more time with it! Sometimes I feel I could have done more. Fortunately, we've left the magazine in great hands. Medley is young but I feel so strongly about the content we cover and can't wait for more people to take notice and to see how it will grow.

Keep up with Medley on Issuu.

Tight-ink boxes.

My emotions are untamed, vicious, constantly whirling.

They poke, they pull, they jab at my consciousness.

The only way to protect myself is to force them into a word.

Words are like jail cells.

When I confine my emotions, I release my thoughts from unrelenting torture.

Memories, feelings, they can't hurt me--not in their tight-ink boxes.

So, I study them. I learn from them.

They can't hurt me again.

- Brandon

On Sunday, I attended the last learning community workshop in Boland Hall for the purposes of filming it for my Newshouse project (which, btw, will probably be more of a disaster than success, but we'll see). Before the workshop, I interviewed a few of the poets, and because I probably won't be able to use all of it for my project, I'll probably edit a few of them and post on here. I was taken by surprise because I had planned to film the workshop a certain way, but because it was the last one, Michelle (the RA), decided to do something completely different. I think I'll be able to work it out, though.

During the second half of the workshop, Michelle gave the residents index cards and asked them to write what poetry meant to them. A few explained in list form, but others wrote poems. Brandon, whose last name I don't know, hardly ever comes to the workshops but he decided to stop by because it was the last one. By watching him I gathered he's not necessarily a shy person, but when he stood in front of the group, he became sort of bashful and said, "I don't usually write poetry, I just come to listen." When he finished, everyone was stunned. "That was incredible," Cedric Bolton said. A look of awe appeared on Michelle's face. I think Brandon himself didn't expect to receive the response he did. I don't think Brandon himself realized until that moment the talent of the words he spoke. Honestly, it was the best poem read that night.

The only way to protect myself is to force them into a word. They can't hurt me--not in their tight-ink boxes.

Tight-ink boxes. Isn't that wonderful??

I was so bummed because I couldn't make it to the only slam competition of the semester yesterday, but I was occupied with Medley proofs (we sent the magazine to print today! I'm so excited, it's our best issue to date). One of those things--when you want to do two things you love at the same time.

I'm really going to miss Verbal Blend.

THE ONONDAGAN

SYRACUSE 2011 ONONDAGAN PREVIEW

I'm a sucker for nostalgia. I take a lot of photos, often look through aged albums, on occasion peruse my high school, middle school, and elementary school yearbooks. I think a lot about the past, sometimes with regrets. Often times, I'm nostalgic for a past I was never, or could never, be a part of. I look at moments captured of young people, of events, of buildings, from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and wish, that for a second, I could be a part of that moment. The SU 1988 Onondagan Yearbook, is still, to me, one of the best representations of a moment captured and one of the best compilations of editorial and visual content I have ever seen. I realize that's a little strange to say, but I mean it. (When Justin told me that there remain 127 copies of the '88 book in storage, and that I could have one for free, it made my day, not joking).

But my strange love for nostalgia is not why I took the position as an editor for the 2011 yearbook. I took it because I thought I could squeeze another extracurricular into my schedule and, mostly, because it paid. I'm a little ashamed to say it but I should probably make that clear. I wouldn't have considered the position if it wasn't paid. Only halfway through did I realize I would not be paid nearly enough, and there's a lesson in there somewhere.

As often as I complained, cried, and ranted during the past seven months (holy shit, has it really been 7 months?!) about the work, I'm so glad I did it. I edited, edited, edited, I wrote and rewrote. I learned so much about managing people, dealt with the frustrations of uncooperative writers, and felt the joys of planning a good idea and executing it. I interviewed so many interesting students (especially during winter break, when I finally had the chance to catch up on the work) and learned about the many different facets of the colleges at SU. I'll admit it's a little corny, but I really did enjoy speaking to people about their college experience and learning more about the university through them. I've spent my four years here in the Newhouse bubble, and haven't really tried to understand what it's like for the 2,000+ other students who study a different discipline. And, above all, this book helped me reminisce.

At one point last semester, when all the work just became too overwhelming and I wasn't sure how to handle it, I visited my advisor, former dean of the Newhouse school, who I greatly respect and adore. He suggested I drop something. He told me yearbooks are passe. I disagreed, and really I'm not sure what I was hoping he'd say. I had already committed to yearbook, to Medley, to my classes. I knew dropping something was not an option, I'd have to suck it up. But he was a little right. Though I didn't deal with sales, I heard often how difficult it was to convince seniors to buy the book. My peers don't care about the yearbook. They can find pictures, reconnect, and reminisice on Facebook. And even if they couldn't, I find my generation, my class, is largely apathetic, and not at all sentimental. But I worked hard to curate and create content that maybe 10, 20, 30 years down the line, would evoke some nostalgia and (hopefully) happy memories in whomever decided to purchase the book.

It FINALLY went to print last Monday. We had one of our last meetings today. Now we just wait for the book to arrive during the first week of May (This is the first SU yearbook, btw, in 126 years, that will be delivered to seniors in the spring instead of the fall after they graduate--another reason it was difficult; we had that time crunch). I don't agree with all the artistic decisions (I still lament an illustration of Newhouse 1 instead of Newhouse 3 in Academics, and the removal of a wonderful, but tasteful, full bleed photo of a late-night beer pong game due to, in my opinion, unfounded cautiousness on the part of our advisor). The book is definitely not perfect, but it's pretty damn good, I have to say. It's better. I'm extremely proud of the hard work we put into it and prouder to represent all of the editorial content of the Academic and Student Life sections.

No regrets.

We're too comfortable for change

We're too comfortable for change--picking a name from a ballot is more than enough,

and too much sometimes.

We sit back and watch as the world is controlled from a place too far

from the television screen,

put trust in the knowledge of others, devils in suits,

No questions.

- Amanda Fox-Rouch

Quick Verbal Blend-related post. Last night I attended the weekly Sunday workshops held in Boland Hall, where the poet's learning community resides. The workshops run much like the ones led by Cedric Bolton, except Bolton doesn't attend these and the discussions are facilitated by the students themselves. This week, Michelle, the floor's resident advisor (I've mentioned her in previous posts), led the workshop; she chose Hate Crimes as the night's theme because last week she learned about James Byrd's murder and "couldn't stop thinking about it." For an hour and a half, the 9 students who attended, along with Michelle and Jaris (Boland's residence director) discussed hate crimes and other topics such as fear and hate (and whether one leads to the other), about government, misunderstanding of culture, Westernization, America's influence, money, and how political motives influence government decisions. Like a seasoned professor, Michelle sat at the head of the group and encouraged her peers to express their thoughts and ideas. Some were quieter than others, but all had something to say. I took so many notes and recorded the whole thing, I wish I could say more about it. All I'll say for now is that it was so refreshing to see a young group of students actively, willingly, engaging in intelligent conversation and freely expressing their thoughts while teaching each other, too.

Another idea that stemmed from the conversation was American apathy. A revolution like the one that happened in Egypt could never happen here, Amanda noted; Americans are too comfortable. Above is her poem, written in the 10 minutes after the discussion ended.

I mentioned I would find another way to get Verbal Blend on the Newshouse. I decided to do my final project for Web Journalism about them. The project consists of a story, video, photos, and an interactive component to be published on the site. A little nervous. I have a lot of ideas, I just hope I'm able to execute them.

Nearly Naked Mile

Despite what I said in a previous post about disliking event coverage, I covered another event for my Web Journalism class. Each week, several people in my class are "Newshouse reporters," so we pick from stories available that week and do them. When I received the list of the week, most were events, and I chose the one I thought I'd have the most fun with. It was really between an academic lecture and the Nearly Naked Mile run at SU. I chose the latter. The event was the first-ever at SU (though other universities have held them in the past), hosted by the SU Triathlon club to raise money for themselves and the community. Read: "Runners Strip Down for a Good Cause." The event started at 8, ended at about 8:30, came home, transcribed all the interviews I had and then went to bed, woke up early, and wrote the story. It takes me so long to write! I really need to improve. Also, I need to realize when writing for the Newshouse, that it's still very much news. I spent so much time trying to capture the feel of the event and trying to be creative, and then my editor shortened my piece to reveal only the most important information about the event.

Well, it was wild. I arrived at about 7:15 to the registration table to talk to people and only the members of the club were there. All really friendly people. Joseph Prosnitz, who I mention in the story, was one of the first people I interviewed (I had interviewed Dan Larkin, who was also there, earlier in the day, and Paul Knepley via phone the day before). When I met him, he was jumping up and down and talking extremely fast. He's hyper and he talks a lot. For the record, I interviewed him for about 10 minutes and he was jumping THE WHOLE TIME. Not exaggerating, I was pretty dizzy after our interview ended. But he's a funny kid, and I thought the perfect person to lead my story with. Members weren't sure about the turnout because it was cold and raining--not hard, but enough to possibly discourage participants. But half hour before the event started, people started showing up. Some included older women from the community wearing bunny ears, Mike Collins (mentioned in story) in his orange suit, and girls with painted faces dressed to win the race's SU Spirit contest. Fun crowd, I'd say.

The transition from quiet crowd of few, mostly clothed, people to a LOUD, large crowd of nearly naked, people happened so fast. Next thing you know, Dan is standing on the bus stop yelling from a megaphone, vying for everyone's attention. Everyone just seemed so excited, but also really cold and anxious for the event to start. But for the most part, I think a lot of people felt thrilled to say that they participated in such an event. Honestly, most students probably just wanted an excuse to be able to strip and run around campus. Actually, I'm pretty sure of it, haha.

Anyway, after a while my hands were numb and I could barely take my recorder out of my pocket, let alone take notes. I always underestimate the way my body will react to the weather when I'm out on an assignment. Journalists on TV make it look so effortless. Luckily, I also managed to take a few photographs because the photographer the Newshouse sent had "technical difficulties." My photos aren't great by ANY means and I was bummed to hear that the photographer couldn't capture anything because I think there was opportunity to take some really great shots. I just sort of took mine for proof that the event happened, haha. But it shows I need to stay on top of these things and, in the future, take as many good photos as I can, even if I'm not assigned to.

By the end, I was freezing (literally had to stop in a building on my way home so my feet could defrost) but happy I went. The one thing I want to end this event coverage post with is an observation about myself. I think I've alluded to this in the past but journalism, in many ways, has been my excuse--an excuse for my shy self to step out into the world and ask the many questions that exist in my mind that I'd otherwise be afraid to ask. I'm not saying journalism is the only reason, but it's definitely been a great factor in helping me conquer that timidness, and fear. I'm still not the most outgoing person you'll ever meet. It still takes me a lot of courage to be the first to speak, or the first to walk up to someone and introduce myself, and I usually don't do it unless I have to. But that's my point. Because of journalism I've had to. Friday was a challenge because there was a lot of down time and I couldn't just sit there and observe, so I walked up to a bunch of people, introduced myself and asked questions. Because I haven't really covered events, I haven't had to do interviews in that way. (I don't mind talking to people--I love it--it's the approaching that's difficult). But I knew I couldn't just stand there and watch. What if that one person has a great story? A great anecdote? The quote that will make the piece? An angle I never thought of? The fear of missing something combined with the pressure of the impending deadline and the desire to do good work forces me to brave myself and walk up to someone, extend my arm, shake their hand, and start a conversation.

I'm extremely grateful to journalism for that.

Jack's team

For our first video assignment in Web Journalism, our professors paired us with one other person in the class and told us to find a story, any story, related to the Syracuse Men's Lacrosse season opener on February 20. My partner, Marie Claudet, and I wanted to do something about a young passionate lacrosse fan, a child, because we thought that would be more fun. While researching, she found that the team adopted 5-year-old Jack Tweedy last year through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, which pairs college teams with children who have pediatric brain tumors. We decided to pursue the story and immediately contacted his father, who agreed to participate. On Sunday morning before the game, we drove out to his house 30 min. from campus in Brewertown, N.Y., to conduct an interview (since it would be difficult to do during the game), and then drove back to meet them at the game. As part of the program, the Tweedy family sits in the first row (unaccessible to anyone else), right behind the team's bench. After the game, Jack gets to run on the field with the other players and follow them into the locker room (we weren't allowed to follow him in there). I really loved this assignment. It was a little nerve-wracking, especially since I was nervous we wouldn't get back in time to film enough of them at the game. Luckily, the Tweedy family only makes it to the second half of the game anyway. Afterwards, we had to race around and try to get an interview with Jack's favorite player, Jovan Miller. The whole process was hectic, but a lot of fun. In the week and a half after, Marie and I met frequently to sit down and edit together--a process not always so easy. Good thing Marie and I got along really well and we more or less had the same vision. Filming is difficult, and I imagine the more I do it the better I will become, but I really enjoy the editing process, merging video and pictures and sound to tell a story. It's a process tons different than writing, in that you think about what you want to do, and once you know, you just do it, and it's not as taxing on the mind. If that makes sense. In the end, our professors really liked our work, and I'm extremely proud. In an earlier post, I mentioned that I would really love to experiment with multimedia in the future, and I'm glad this course is giving me that opportunity.

To use some of the photos we used in the video, Gregg (Jack's father), asked that we sign up at Carepages to have access to Jack's personal page, where they were posted. Now that the project is over, I still receive Gregg's updates about Jack's life and progress. I didn't expect to keep my Carepages account after we finished the project, but every time I receive an update in my e-mail, I can't ignore it; I have to check to see what Gregg will say. If you want me to be really honest? I think a part of me opens them to just make sure that he's...okay. That the news Gregg imparts is good news. When we met Jack, his condition was pretty stable but, most recently, his condition raised concern. They rushed him to Children's Hospital Boston again and this morning he will undergo another surgery to remove a cyst (which looks like it may contain another tumor). He is so, so young, and it just boggles my mind that any 5-year-old should have to go through what Jack has gone through.

Our package.

What I've Learned

I'm not particularly good at covering events.

I don't particularly like covering events.

Last week, my professors for my Web Journalism & Innovation course required the class to live-tweet one of two events, a university lecture featuring either Eric Schlosser or James Balog.

I chose Eric Schlosser (an investigative journalist) simply because the James Balog event would occur at the same time as the Verbal Blend open mic, and I didn't want to miss it. My professors asked (as part of our participation grade) if anyone wanted to cover the event to accompany the live-tweets and a video interview. I volunteered because I thought, why not? I never covered an event and I would be there anyway. The lecture lasted two hours (4-6 pm) and my deadline was 8 pm. I interviewed several people after the event to get an audience reaction, then raced back to Newhouse to write it up. Anxiety x 1,000! I have so much respect for newspaper journalists who can turn around stories in such a short amount of time. It usually takes me at least two hours just to sift through my notes! I just need time when it comes to writing. The editor gave me a one hour extension, and of course the end result is not as good as I would like it to be. But I did it. In the end, I was actually pretty pleased with it, and I think the entire package has a lot to do with that.

I thought I could try it again with the Verbal Blend open mic. I pitched it to my professor who said that if I could write the article and take a decent photo, it wouldn't be a problem to get it on the site. I borrowed an SLR from the Newhouse cage, attempted to take photos in the dim-lit auditorium while recording and taking notes (fail), and speed-walked home after the 2-hour event ended, at almost 10 pm. And then, I couldn't do it. I was hungry, I was exhausted (barely slept the night before and had been up all day), and disappointed in myself. Right now, if I don't cover Verbal Blend, no one will and I wish I had completed the task. I'm excited to post about the event here though; twas a wonderful event. And I'm going to find other ways to get them on The Newshouse.

Part of the joy of what we do

One could probably (hopefully) tell from my reading site, but I don't think I've ever mentioned here that I love Esquire. And that Chris Jones is one of my favorite writers. Love him for his great writing, his honesty. (This is not connected to my work, btw) Recently he started a new blog dedicated to writing and words, which really could not have been more perfect for me, for so many reasons. I've been reading it religiously to learn and to be inspired, and I just wanted to post an excerpt from his most recent interview with Charles P. Pierce:

"Isn't that part of the joy of what we do? When whatever it is that makes us writers fires at the right time and at the right place, and the perfect word/phrase/sentence in exactly the right place happens? It can happen anywhere—you could be somebody who's doing four running stories in an afternoon at a state high-school tournament, or a bonus piece for SI, or anything in between, and you see a player or experience a moment, and something sparks in your head, the connection happens, and you can almost hear a big door closing—WHOOM!—because there's nothing more to say. You've found a way, at least for that moment, to get the language to do exactly what you want it to do."

I love the moment when the words come exactly the way you need them to. Though lately, must admit, quite unfortunately that moment often happens when I'm in the shower. But the other day (oh, here's the connection to my work!), I was having lunch by myself and I was just thinking about writing/editing for the yearbook, and how it's been nothing like I expected in both positive and negative ways. As I was wording the sentiments in my head I decided I should just write it all down. Kept writing and writing. I can't promise it'll be good but it felt right and it often takes me awhile to get even a paragraph down to the way I want it.

So, that will go up soon.

A bus transformed into a moving room

I know, I know. Well, to my defense, I've been writing/working tons, just not posting anything here. Busy as ever finalizing all the content for the student life section of the yearbook (have a lengthy post already prepared about my experience with the publication), writing/editing for Medley, and working for my Web Journalism & Innovation course, the content of which is published on The Newshouse (a post coming up soon about that as well!). I consider the three above the most important in my life at the moment, but I also have wine appreciation, art history, and Italian literature courses to consider, too.

In the meantime, thought I'd post excerpts and links to two articles I wrote about Verbal Blend for the Connective Corridor newsletter earlier in the year. I'm still following Verbal Blend, as much as I can, when I can. I'm currently writing an article about them for Medley's spring issue and covering their first open mic of the semester for The Newshouse.

OK, so:

On this particular night, a bus was transformed into a moving room: headphones came off, cells were stowed in pockets, and the riders-turned-audience-members directed their attention to the center of the bus where the poets stood. Not only were the poets praised with applause, new riders were greeted with equal enthusiasm. "Magical" was the word Farschman used to describe the evening. -- "Poetry in Motion" Turns Busses into Performance Venues

and

After basking in the glory that came with winning the banner competition at the annual LC Palooza opening weekend, learning community members became quick friends. The four sophomores on the floor serve as PALs, or "Poets Achieving Leadership," who help their mentees make the transition from high school to college. PALs also work with mentees to develop and improve their poetry.

"We have our own little network where we talk and vibe off of each other," says Christiona Hawkins, a PAL on the floor. Aside from participating in poetry sessions, the learning community poets attend Verbal Blend poetry workshops, which Bolton conducts twice a week for six weeks each semester. -- Poets Put Down Roots

Well, Syracuse University just granted its first full snow day in 18 years (and the second one ever). I'll post more soon, but for now I'm off to enjoy!

They can write about anything.

"Write everyday. Regaining momentum takes three times as much energy as sustaining momentum." - Daniel H. Pink (via @AdviceToWriters)

I'm going to try and make writing my priority this semester. Really, really, really. It makes me so sad when I can't. Or that last semester I couldn't as much as I wanted to. For now, I'll just post another excerpt from my final story (which got an A, btw! I picked it up from my professor a couple of days ago). I ran into Cedric Bolton today, actually, and he said he found my blog during break, which I didn't expect, lol. I guess all it takes, though, is a Google search of "Verbal Blend" and "college." I'll be following up with him soon to learn about their plans for this semester. Anyway, another excerpt. At this rate, I should just post my whole story, right?

Within the past year, Bolton and Verbal Blend members have traveled to local schools to conduct similar workshops and provide a forum for young students to express themselves. Bolton collaborates with Marcelle Haddix, an assistant professor in the School of Education with a Ph.D. in literacy, language, and learning. Haddix moved to Syracuse three years ago and immediately decided to commit her time to community work. “One of the things I noticed right away was that there was a need for writing,” she says. “Parents and community members were really concerned with writing achievement, particularly of African American youth.” In response, Haddix created the “Writing Our Lives” project, an annual writers’ conference open to middle school and high school students.

This year, students and Verbal Blend poets rose early one sunny Saturday morning in November to go to Hughes Elementary School, a magnet school in the Syracuse city school district. The second annual “Writing Our Lives” conference attracted more than 120 students in the sixth to 12^th grades. Workshops provided guidance in topics such as journalism, comics, and fiction writing. Older students registered for “Writing the College Essay.” Bolton led “Discovering your Voice,” with four Verbal Blend poets, including Hawkins. “I always had a passion for the public education system because I grew up in it, so I know that everything isn’t always as it should be,” she says.

Bolton prepares large sheets of white paper on the stage. Time to brainstorm. “What are the things you want to give voice to in your communities?” he asks the shy students who sit around the red octagonal tables of the cafetorium. He waits. He sighs. “It’s going to be a long morning,” he says, when the students hesitate to answer. Slowly, they gain confidence and begin to raise their hands. Vandalism, gangs, racism, violence, teenage pregnancy, hip hop, bullying, hatred, drugs, single parent homes, sports, love, multiculturalism. They can write about anything, even the kind of men and women they want to be in ten years. Professor, Grammy winner, architect, business owner, forensic scientist, surgeon, lawyer, mother, father, responsible, independent, strong, happy.

###

To put the excerpt in perspective, the city of Syracuse currently not only suffers from poverty, crime, and underdevelopment, but from, like many cities in the US, a poor education system! This recent study, A Call for Change: The Social and Educational Factors Contributing to the Outcomes of Black Males in Urban Schools, applies; many African-American families live in the city. Many children from those families (and children who represent other minority groups) attend Fowler High School, recently reported to have the worst graduation rate in New York State--an astounding 33 percent, according to the Post-Standard. Lately, local groups and initiatives have dedicated themselves to mentoring and tutoring students in the nearby neighborhoods--including a few from Syracuse University. Verbal Blend is one of those groups. And though they can't fix the system, small gestures such as the one described above prove meaningful and worthwhile.

Medley

Open publication - Free publishing - More diversity

Medley is dedicated to providing a forum for students to explore cultural differences and its manifestations on campus, in the city of Syracuse, and abroad.

So the new semester started and I still haven't updated about Medley, as promised. Figured I should do this now, as I've already met with Kirsten (Editor in Chief) and Luis (Art Director--he's fantastic, we got so lucky) to discuss what worked, what didn't work last semester, and the schedule for the spring issue. I joined the staff spring semester of freshman year, fact checked and copy edited for a year and a half before I went abroad fall semester of junior year, and came back last spring as a senior editor. But my managing editor position last semester has been the most challenging of all the positions, of course, and also the most challenging thing I've done during my four years at SU. I guess I underestimated the difficulty of balancing the position with four challenging classes (and a position as an editor for the SU yearbook). Being managing editor at Medley is different (than those of most publications in the "real world") in that, in addition to the typical duties required of one, such as creating the editorial schedule, managing the budget, or following up with editors and writers, due to our small staff, it also encompasses editing, writing, fact checking, copy editing, coming up with display copy, design ideas, etc etc etc. Basically, EVERYTHING, lol. I feel like a part of me is in a part of every bit of the issue, every story, because I had pretty much the final say in everything (along with Kirsten), from where the comma is placed in one story, to what topics we chose to write about, and the cover photo (which I love, love, love. The back cover too). Everything. It's a really good feeling.

At the same time, I wrote a profile about the Muslim Students' Association at SU (pg. 16). This also provided many challenges and really, I have to give a lot of credit to Kirsten and the two senior editors, Kathleen and Maria, for helping me shape this story. When we first sat down in September to discuss story ideas, I suggested a story that addressed, in some way, the "Ground Zero mosque" issue that gained much attention last summer. Or a story that discussed the college experience for Muslim-American students in the US. Kind of ambitious, and it didn't work out. But I started that angle by interviewing the president of the Muslim Students' Association, the vice-president, and the former president of MSA and current board member of the local mosque. By then, I decided I found my focus: the organization. I couldn't really emphasize within the 750 word limit how great the three guys are. I truly enjoyed spending time with them; they're extremely funny and down-to-earth, and today I consider them (especially Azhar and Ismail), good friends. They gave me tons of information and were so enthusiastic and genuinely appreciative for my interest, that I took the time to find out more about their organization. While reporting for the story, I also met the imam of the local mosque mentioned in the story, who was very friendly, honest, and willing to answer any questions I had. He gave me copies of the Quran (including one in Spanish! lol, it's actually quite beautiful) to keep and pamphlets to read to help broaden my understanding of the religion. I also attended jumu'ah one Friday at the mosque, and sat with the MSA secretary, Haseeba. Haseeba went out of her way to make sure I was comfortable and understood what I was listening to and watching (the service is in Arabic). The women and men are separated--the women have to sit in the upper balcony of the small mosque. Women of all ages and backgrounds sat or kneeled with their children in the small space. I also wore a hijab (required of all women in a mosque), which, I mean, I don't want to make it sound like it's a big deal overall, because it's not. But it was my first time, and I definitely felt different. I should add that the final sentence of my story as seen above is not the final version. I think the above is literally the 2nd to final version before we sent the issue to print. I had such a difficult time with the conclusion! But it ended up being: "Although many Muslims around the world face criticism for creating places of worship, Syracuse offers a welcoming community."

I'm really proud of this issue. Medley has only been around for a few years and is still a work in progress compared to the other publications on campus. But we are definitely on the right track. We received a really great response from people on campus for this fall issue, and I'm excited to increase awareness about a magazine that covers topics, people, and places really important for students and the community to know about. And though this is my last semester and Medley is just beginning to grow and improve editorially and visually, it makes me excited to know that we can leave a sort of legacy.

"Stop apologizing for what you do."

Another excerpt from my story, another moment, another reason students join:

Alecia Gordon, an undecided sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, reads a letter addressed to God, filled with the anguish that comes with knowing you’ve disappointed. By the end, tears stream down her face. She lets out a small laugh, embarrassed by her moment of weakness and vulnerability. As Gordon walks back to her seat, Hawkins, her roommate, turns to give her a hug. The poet to Gordon’s right, Janel Sullivan, turns and says under her breath, “I’d want to hear it again, if you can type it up and send it to me. That was really beautiful.” Gordon still can’t shake the embarrassment. “I’m so sorry, that wasn’t supposed to happen,” she says. “I hate when that happens!”

“Can I say this one more time?” Bolton says in a stern voice. “Stop apologizing for what you do. It was meant to be.”

Gordon cried the first time she attended a Verbal Blend meeting, too. The power of the other poets’ words affected her in such a way she decided to keep coming back. Bolton credits poetry with having a therapeutic quality that many students on campus may need. “If they need to cry, they can cry and get it out through that poem," he says. "[The poem] will help to heal them."

Ayo Technology

Above is a picture from the "Ayo Technology" Skype open mic event--the same one depicted in my lede. Verbal Blend poets alternated with poets from Voices Merging (on screen), the group that Cedric Bolton started at the University of Minnesota before he came to Syracuse. It's quite a shame that not many people knew about it or had an interest because it was truly a unique event and I'm willing to bet the first of its kind.

"This is the element. Now you set up a stage, you're connecting two schools, faculty, community, students--the artists who are there with our artists who are here--through digital mediums." - Cedric Bolton

Tyler (above) is one of Verbal Blend's most dynamic members. He's a great poet and I plan to dedicate one of my future posts to describing him and his poetry in detail. Check the woman on the screen. She became a permanent presence during the event; as both Verbal Blend and Voices Merging poets recited from their phones, laptops, or memories, she stood in the background and signed in American Sign Language for deaf viewers. It was beautiful. Even the most vulgar of words looked delicate on her fingers.