As time moved throughout my collegiate career, there has never been a more interactive class than this class, Reporting Contemporary Issues, JMC 312. The class has been set up to make the student understand that interviewing is important to writing the best story.
The countless nights stressing about getting your last interview in before the story is due and making each sure those grammatical errors have been corrected are finally over. And as I look back at my semester in class, I have noticed my growth in writing and journalism.
If the semester were to go on any further, I feel as though Dr. Klyde-Silverstein could only help us as reporters to find easier ways to network and know who would make the best interview for the story.
The advice that I would give to the new arrivals to the JMC 312 class: Time management. Make sure that you, as the interviewer, get those interviews as soon as possible. Council members and government officials are busy people, and getting an interview might take up to two weeks.
Procrastination is no friend. The more you put off the interview, the more likely you are to not get a good candidate for your article.
Without procrastinating too much this semester, the students have put together a website sharing with students and other viewers about the Greeley City Council. With hard work and dedication, we have completed stories to help tie the bound between Greeley and UNC.
A reporter can take a story from any angle; which way are you looking at the news?
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Keep It Simple
The Greeley City Council had a short meeting tonight. There was little to talk about on the agenda and the consent agenda had few items pulled.
The new mayor, Tom Norton, was not at the meeting, so there was a new arrangement to the council tonight. At the meeting on Monday, John Gates, Councilmember Ward III, was elected for the pro-tem position. This position allows Gates to run the City Council meeting when the mayor is not present. Gates was the acting mayor for tonight's meeting.
Donna Sapienza, Councilmember Ward II, recognized students who participated in UNC's Third Annual Embracing Community, Together. Sapienza was excited to hear about students who have been volunteering and getting involved with the Greeley community.
Sapienza asked Rick Brady, City Attorney, to inform the council about the Poudre Heritage Foundation, a non-profit cultural preservation organization that a few UNC students help volunteer for. The Railroad Museum is one of the several cultural landmarks that this organization is helping to maintain and expand. This organization helps bring people to Greeley to spend money in local establishments.
The new mayor, Tom Norton, was not at the meeting, so there was a new arrangement to the council tonight. At the meeting on Monday, John Gates, Councilmember Ward III, was elected for the pro-tem position. This position allows Gates to run the City Council meeting when the mayor is not present. Gates was the acting mayor for tonight's meeting.
Donna Sapienza, Councilmember Ward II, recognized students who participated in UNC's Third Annual Embracing Community, Together. Sapienza was excited to hear about students who have been volunteering and getting involved with the Greeley community.
Sapienza asked Rick Brady, City Attorney, to inform the council about the Poudre Heritage Foundation, a non-profit cultural preservation organization that a few UNC students help volunteer for. The Railroad Museum is one of the several cultural landmarks that this organization is helping to maintain and expand. This organization helps bring people to Greeley to spend money in local establishments.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Election Rush
Tonight, at the Greeley Tribune, newspaper staff assembled to discuss deadlines for the articles about Greeley's election. These articles will be printed on the front page of tomorrow's edition. For most reporters, Election Day is the busiest day of the year.
As pizza box lids fly open, so does the newsroom meeting. The meeting began with the staff introducing themselves to us, UNC student reporters.
Randy Bangert, editor, started the meeting discussing the online live chat. The Tribune hosted an online forum to help the public with any questions and live updates on the election.
Kelly Tracer, managing editor, discussed what will be covered in the election and by whom.
In a newsroom meeting, editors are fast and quick to the punch. My word of advice while attending a meeting: if you have questions speak up fast. Editors move quickly and expect you to know your duties.
Ballot counts and totals started rolling in to The Tribune at 7:30 p.m.
The Tribune was very accepting of hosting UNC students in their meeting. It was an opportunity to watch journalists in action. Election Day is busy and journalism students should all be given the opportunity to see a newsroom in action.
As pizza box lids fly open, so does the newsroom meeting. The meeting began with the staff introducing themselves to us, UNC student reporters.
Randy Bangert, editor, started the meeting discussing the online live chat. The Tribune hosted an online forum to help the public with any questions and live updates on the election.
Kelly Tracer, managing editor, discussed what will be covered in the election and by whom.
In a newsroom meeting, editors are fast and quick to the punch. My word of advice while attending a meeting: if you have questions speak up fast. Editors move quickly and expect you to know your duties.
Ballot counts and totals started rolling in to The Tribune at 7:30 p.m.
The Tribune was very accepting of hosting UNC students in their meeting. It was an opportunity to watch journalists in action. Election Day is busy and journalism students should all be given the opportunity to see a newsroom in action.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Support from 2010 Budget
At the last Greeley City Council meeting, mayor and city council members discussed how the 2010 budget was to dispense money to local shelters. Tim Nash, Finance Director for the city of Greeley, said that A Women's Place will receive $1,600; however, Envision and Transitional House of Greeley will each receive $7,000 in 2010. The Weld County Food bank will also receive $3,500 to help Greeley's local shelters.
As exciting as this may seem, the City Council allowed the citizens of Greeley to voice their own concerns.
Cris Ikenberry, Greeley resident, expressed her concerns to the City Council about A Women's Place.
"If you are bringing in money to A Women's Place make it fiscally responsible," said Ikenberry. She said places like A Women's Place should be held accountable to know exactly where the funds from the government are being spent.
Ikenberry asked City Council to suggest spending funds on self-defense courses for the women, training police officers to notice female abuse, and help those women with emotional or mental stress.
Ikenberry also suggested that the city should look into creating internships to help suppress paying an employee.
Ken Fox, Greeley resident, also expressed his concern for the Transitional House of Greeley.
Fox said he walked in front of the Transitional House he found people were smoking marijuana.
"We need to establish the need of responsibility on how the government funding is being spent," said Fox. He did not think that government funding should be supporting an illegal action.
With the budget being passed, local Greeley shelters will get funding from the government. However, there might be some accountability in store for where those funds are actually being spent.
As exciting as this may seem, the City Council allowed the citizens of Greeley to voice their own concerns.
Cris Ikenberry, Greeley resident, expressed her concerns to the City Council about A Women's Place.
"If you are bringing in money to A Women's Place make it fiscally responsible," said Ikenberry. She said places like A Women's Place should be held accountable to know exactly where the funds from the government are being spent.
Ikenberry asked City Council to suggest spending funds on self-defense courses for the women, training police officers to notice female abuse, and help those women with emotional or mental stress.
Ikenberry also suggested that the city should look into creating internships to help suppress paying an employee.
Ken Fox, Greeley resident, also expressed his concern for the Transitional House of Greeley.
Fox said he walked in front of the Transitional House he found people were smoking marijuana.
"We need to establish the need of responsibility on how the government funding is being spent," said Fox. He did not think that government funding should be supporting an illegal action.
With the budget being passed, local Greeley shelters will get funding from the government. However, there might be some accountability in store for where those funds are actually being spent.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Support Women!
Are local shelters up for funding from the city of Greeley?
After tonight's hearing of the revised budget for 2010, the mayor and city council members are in full support. Tim Nash, the Director of Finance for the Greeley City Council, said that the city of Greeley will be spending less money than the 2009 year; Greeley will be seeing more opportunities this upcoming year for local spending. The mayor, Ed Clark, opened the discussion to the public to hear where the city should spend money.
Jean Myer, a representative of Woman's Place, Inc., said that funding for the shelter has decreased over 70 percent over the last year and the shelter is financially challenged. Woman's Place, Inc. is asking for assistance in their financial burden, anything will help.
A Greeley Transitional House representative, Jodi Hartmann, also asked the council for funding in the upcoming year. The Transitional House helps ensure homeless families will have shelter. They are full to capacity currently, with a waiting list.
Woman's Place, Inc. President, Ellen Szabo, discussed with the mayor saying she did not need any more money, despite the financial cut. Szabo also said if the city were to fun shelters they should send funding to the Greeley Transitional House, Weld County Food Bank, and Envision. The shelter relies on these non-profit organizations to help find housing, clothing and food. The money given from the city will help bring assistance to finding homes for those in need.
The mayor's action: to help out! The mayor asked Roy Otto, the City Manager, and Nash to find the funds to support the Transitional House, Weld County Food Bank, and Envision. The necessities for the change in the 2010 budget will be approved at a later City Council meeting.
After tonight's hearing of the revised budget for 2010, the mayor and city council members are in full support. Tim Nash, the Director of Finance for the Greeley City Council, said that the city of Greeley will be spending less money than the 2009 year; Greeley will be seeing more opportunities this upcoming year for local spending. The mayor, Ed Clark, opened the discussion to the public to hear where the city should spend money.
Jean Myer, a representative of Woman's Place, Inc., said that funding for the shelter has decreased over 70 percent over the last year and the shelter is financially challenged. Woman's Place, Inc. is asking for assistance in their financial burden, anything will help.
A Greeley Transitional House representative, Jodi Hartmann, also asked the council for funding in the upcoming year. The Transitional House helps ensure homeless families will have shelter. They are full to capacity currently, with a waiting list.
Woman's Place, Inc. President, Ellen Szabo, discussed with the mayor saying she did not need any more money, despite the financial cut. Szabo also said if the city were to fun shelters they should send funding to the Greeley Transitional House, Weld County Food Bank, and Envision. The shelter relies on these non-profit organizations to help find housing, clothing and food. The money given from the city will help bring assistance to finding homes for those in need.
The mayor's action: to help out! The mayor asked Roy Otto, the City Manager, and Nash to find the funds to support the Transitional House, Weld County Food Bank, and Envision. The necessities for the change in the 2010 budget will be approved at a later City Council meeting.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Getting Started
Blogging is something that I have never experienced before. I have always thought that it would be interesting to learn because it is a public forum to publicly express my thoughts on any topic. This assignment will be very different from any other assignment I have done throughout my college career. With these assignments it is especially important to get the message across clearly and concisely. Blogging will help improve my writing skills and further my knowledge in the ever-changing mass media world.
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