Tuesday, April 29, 2008

SB1370

Well, I just did a big story like three days ago.
It might not be story in ordinary people's eyes, but to those journalism orientated, it is.
SB1370 is a new bill that is on its way to be signed by the Governor of California, or so we hope so.
In other words, it is The Journalism Teacher Protection Act. It protects journalism teachers from being disciplined, reassigned, removed from their positions because of a certain story that has been published in the school newspaper.


We as students have the right to use our free speech rights to the fullest. No one should tell us otherwise. Teachers from all over the state have lost their job because the schools administrators have disliked a certain story. The administrator then demands for the story to be removed. If the teacher refuses to do so, then that's when the teacher gets the boot.

This is wrong in so many levels. Who is the principle to say what we can write or not.

I currently had the privilege to talk to James Ewert, CNPA legal counsel. He was such a great resource for the story. He fully informed of the cases that have been occurring, and answered some questions that i could have not found online.

Monday, April 7, 2008

JACC Convention

First of all I received some complaints about my inexperienced it seems to the blogging world....(umm haters u noe who u are) Just Kidding guys.

Ok, so here I go in more experienced-AP Style-boring type of blogging.

I went to the JACC State Convention this past weekend and let me say it was the most thrilling experience I have ever received. Being part of the Talonmarks staff, has made a proud student here at Cerritos. Being awarded on the best online newspapers has had me thinking; "Man we're good."



The JACC offered various workshops varying from broadcast to print, to layout and design. The one's I mostly attended were the one's associated with the print, which includes newspapers, blogging and magazines. I attended more workshops than those that were required from my professor because I wanted to get the sense of things. Seeing all those students in the conference, really brought to my attention that I am not the only one trying to make it in this profession.



It showed me that I really need to start improving in my skills and actually start "selling myself" which was said by Randy Hagihara, recruiter for Los Angeles Times, which by the way was the most honest, and brutal workshop I attended. But that was a good thing, it introduced me to the materials that I need to succeed in this demanding business.



By the way I also participated in a competition (forcefully by my editor-in-chief) but I thank him for that, even though I was nervous. It was an amazing experience, the pressure was insane, and the gathering of information was stressful because all sorts of ideas are running through my head, that I lose the correct angle I am trying to get at. I have realized through this experience that I need to stay focus on one topic and deliver my opinion straight on. My stories end up all over the place, and that's going to end up hurting me.



Something I learned, that was eye -opening for me was feature writing. I can almost say this is my favorite type of writing. I like to write news, but I see myself as a story teller and that's what feature writing is about; description. For those who read my opinions I tend to that a lot, and I am not sure my editors like it that much, sorry.



But I think I rambled enough. I am so grateful for this experience and seriously, this made my decision of coming back next semester and giving it my all in the newspaper.