Reflective Writing

The magazine project… GREAT!

 The magazine project provides an opportunity for me to prove and elaborate my knowledge in practice.  In my magazine project, I decided to topic on introducing/ profiling a Japanese anime.  Since I am familiar to this subject, I can find and give information easily. 

 Throughout the magazine project, I am happy with the results, but I do think I could do better.  The reason why I think it could be better is that I do not have enough technical skills.  For instance, I spent a lot of time try to figure out how to put a large-print headline in the middle of a three-column page.  At the end of the project, I still have not figure out a way to do so.  A headline is very important for a journalist.  It is the first thing that readers are looking for/at.  On the other hand, the information/ graphic box, it would be looked better and more professional if I have more technical skills. 

 From the beginning to the end, I spent around six to seven hours to finish the project.  It consumes lesser time than I thought.  I spent most of the time of the magazine-style piece to rewrite, rewrite and rewrite.  As a result, it is the most satisfying part in the whole project. With the process of rewriting, the story came out another point of view that I have never thought of at the beginning of the writing process.  In addition, when this “surprise” came out, I had a second thinking journalism is really interesting and unpredictable.

 Throughout the project, the most enjoyable part is the information/ graphic box.  It offers me an opportunity to be creative and have fun.  But at the same time, I controlled myself not to put too much graphics and information in the page that I do not want to overwhelm readers with all the graphics.  Therefore, I chose the most suitable, most related, and most representing pictures on it.  But unfortunately, I was not able to find any sound clips and even I found one, I did not know how to put it on the page due to my lacking technical skills.  On the other hand, the least enjoyable part is the broadcast script.  It may be due to the topic I chose, I found that it’s harder than I thought to write a broadcast script on it.  I did not have any problems on writing a broadcast script on the previous assignment.  But, somehow, when it comes to this project, this topic, I stopped for a while to think how to write the script.

 I would like to do a totally different topic next time.  If doing the same topic, I would like to use a different angle to write the story.  For instance, I would think I am one of the characters in the anime and introduce/ profile the whole anime.

 As I mentioned before, I was really surprise while I was rewriting and rewriting the magazine-style piece, and I suddenly came up with a total different point of view.  It had really shaken my mind a little bit.  The unpredictable, the unexpected feeling makes the job more exciting.  Moreover, by doing the information/graphic box, it makes me understand that journalism is not all about writing but also creativity and have fun. 

 My suggestion for students who are or going to do the similar project is that find a topic that you are familiar with and try to use different angle to write the story.  Don’t be afraid, be creative, write down what you think, keep writing, writing and writing.  Rewrite, rewrite and rewrite, until a “surprise” comes up to you. 

Topical #4

Christmas is a mystery for me.

 

According to my knowledge, Christmas is an annual holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus.  In theory, people should prepare gifts and make merry to Jesus.  However, nowadays, people seem like forgetting the origin of the Christmas.  Most of the people buy gifts for their love ones, line up for Christmas sales, and party with friends.  But not much of them buy Jesus a gift, sing carols, and go to church and bless Jesus. 

 

In contrast, Santa Clause seems to have more publicity in the Christmas day.  Another question arises: what is the relationship between Jesus and Santa Clause?  Are they related?  How about all the elves? Do they work for Santa Clause or Jesus? Christmas is Jesus’ birthday, then why Santa Clause is giving out gifts to people but not collecting gifts from people and give it to Jesus?

 

Christmas, is still a mystery day for me.

 

But I am still going to follow the tradition… celebrate with my love ones.

Merry Christmas!

Top News #2

Winter Storm Pounds Northeast

By the Associate Press 

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/weather/12/02/winter.weather.ap/index.html

 
Impact:

The winter storm affects the whole Northeast.  Winter storm warnings were in effect in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Michigan, parts in New York State, and more.

 

Timeliness:

It is a progressive event.  It happened on Sunday and continuing until now.

Feature Leads Exercise #2

A squirrel played pranks with 47,000 rail commuters in Manhattan.

 
Due to a squirrel climbed onto the Metro-North Commuter Railroad power lines, the power was lost on Monday afternoon mass transit commute in Manhattan.  The electrical power surge and weakened an overhead bracket.  That caused a wire from the overhead bracket dangled down and got absorbed in a train passing underneath, and ended up tearing down all the lines.  Commuters waited for hours but trains were not running that they couldn’t get out of Manhattan.  In addition, according to Metro-North spokeswoman Donna Evans, the squirrel was electrocuted while frisking on the power lines.  

Service was restored by crews by Tuesday morning.

 

Topical Post #3

When facing a sick friend, it is hard to care or even don’t want to bother about his/her imperfections. Even how you grievance against him/her before, you will still put everything aside and pray for him/her.

 

I went to hospital with my boyfriend to visit his friend last night. She is suffering from MS (Multiple Sclerosis). She has been on a wheelchair for one week that she couldn’t feel one of her legs and couldn’t drive but still went to work. And finally, she went into the emergency room the night before and did a body check.

 

She was a manager of my boyfriend when they were still working for the same company. We used to hang out a lot. The more we hung out, the more I observed about her. She is a very dominant girl that she loves to be the center of the group. She always wants every of her friends to follow what she says. If you don’t follow what she says, she will be so upset or mad. She likes to control and she is spoiled by her parents. My boyfriend and I started not to hang out with her too much and keep a little bit of distance, because we don’t want to hate her; we don’t want to lose a friend but gain an enemy.

 

Last night, when we were at the hospital, she was sleeping. Looking at her, I felt sad. She couldn’t feel her leg for a week already, but still went to work. Can I say she is strong or she just wants everyone to feel sad and pity on her? Last night, standing at the end of her bed… I chose to believe the first one, she is strong… she is a tough girl.

 

I start thinking: where is all the criticism I had about her before? She loves to be the center of the group because she is tough? She wants every of her friends to follow what she says because she is tough? She likes to control because she is tough? My every negative comment on her turned into positive in one night.

 

Why we have to hate people and avoid or keep distance with them? And until one day, when we found that we may be going to lose them, then turned everything into their merit. Isn’t it too late? Why can’t we just accept who they are at the first place and cherish every time we’re together?

 

Now, I pray for the girl I didn’t like before. I start to admire her and to have a new thought about her. I hope she will be fine and live happily.

 

 

Online Writing Exercises #1

http://www.cnn.com

a) Do the news items reflect immediacy?

Yes. They have latest news or breaking on the very top of the web site.

b) Does the site try to help readers save time?

Yes. They divide the news stories into different categories very clearly, such as latest news, popular news, world, politics, etc.

c) Is it quick and easy to get information?

Yes. They divide the news into different categories such as “latest news,” “popular news,” “more news,” “video,” “CNN TV,” etc. In this way, readers can browse the sites based on what kind of information they are looking for.

d) Does it provide both visual and verbal information?

Yes. They have videos and “CNN TV” for readers to watch online.

 

e) Do the stories contain lists and bullets to make them easier to scan?

Yes. But I think it will be more clear and easier if they list and bullet the stories in alphabetically.

f) Are the stories broken into “chunks”?

No. The stories are well-organized and clear.

g) Do stories provide hyperlinks to additional information?

Yes. They provide hyperlinks for certain phrases. When you click into those links, it will bring you to other news that related to the phrases.

h) Are there opportunities for readers to “talk back”?

No. They don’t have any space for readers to leave comments on each news stories. But they do have a section, “I-Report”, for readers to send their own stories or leave comments on people posted stories.

i) Does the site use multimedia to enhance understanding and add appeal?

Yes. They provide videos, “CNN TV”, and lots of pictures. Readers are able to feel and get involved in the news stories.

A Brief Memo

Memo

 

Date: November 29, 2007

To: Professor Cynthia A. McCune

From: Grace Lau

Re: Magazine Segment Project

 

There are three parts in this magazine project. First, there will be a short magazine-style piece where I am going to introduce a Japanese cartoon, Doraemon. I am going to describe the cartoon’s general idea, each personality of each main character, and a little bit about the background of the cartoon. Second, there will be some graphics with some captions on the side to illustrate the well being of the cartoon.

 

The last part of this magazine project will be a 60-second broadcast script. The broadcast script will be in a form of cartoon profile/ “new and upcoming” cartoon form. And hopefully, I am able to find one or two sound clips which appear in every chapter and post them on my blog.

 

 

 

Play Editor

I believe this newspaper story contains passages that are libelous.

I think the first paragraph, “Karen Hart … she declined his invitations”, contains libelous passage.

First, Hart said that Jungle has touched and invited her to his apartment.  There is no evidence to proof that she is telling the truth. 

Second, we do not know if this story is truth or not.  The case has not sent to the court yet and we don’t know whether Jungle is guilty or not.  We don’t know if it is just Hart’s side of the story or not.  If the story is published like this, it seems like it is the truth and that Jungle has already found guilty.

I have couple solutions for this news story.

First, I will put Jungle as anonymous.  In this way, it won’t affect Jungle’s reputation if it comes out is not true.  Second, I will not publish the story until it has enough evidences or the case has sent to the court.  

Ethical Decision

Scenario 1

I will ask her about them when she returns, and ask her politely if she can give those documents to me and take a look.

 

Scenario 2

Yes, I would do it.  I think that first-hand experiences are more important and more accurate than any other information, such as interviews.  And also, it will help me to write a better story and won’t miss an opportunity that the editor gave me

 

Scenario 3

1)      I will not use those quotes as if I obtained them myself.  I will try to think of other quotes by myself with similar meaning.  Or if I am not able to do so, I will credit the written source in my feature story.

2)      If I obtained the quotes from a web site, I will credit it at the end of my feature story.  

 

Topical blog post: “A place to learn”

Airport is a place that I hate and love a lot. 

 

 I hate, because it takes people far apart.  Standing in front of the departure gate, you can see people cry, sob or even force themselves to smile.  On this side, a couple is saying goodbye to their kids who are going to study abroad for couple years.  On that side, a wife is kissing goodbye her husband who is going to a business trip for couple months.  Many kinds of separations happen in front of the departure gate; many tears dropped, many weeping sound can be heard there.  I left my family and came all the way to the United States by myself.  I will never forget the atmosphere in front of the departure gate on that day.  I couldn’t stop crying, and I had so much love that I didn’t know how to tell.  Separation makes people understand how important to cherish people, things, and time.  Farewell always brings people to introspect what they have missed and what they have done wrong. 

I love, because it puts people together.  Standing in front of the arrival gate, you are able to see people with happy face.  Kids who study abroad come back for vacation, husband is back from his business trip, and friends come to visit.  Happy reunion appears at the arrival gate; joyful greetings and delighted laugh can be heard there.  However, by that time, people may start forgetting how to cherish… until another departure takes place. 

 

Airport is a place full of laughs and tears, a place that I hate and love.  But, it also is a place for us to learn how to cherish everyone and everything you have anytime and anywhere.