Joseph Akeley
1334 Burkette Dr.
San Jose, CA 95129
(408) 393 - 5980
Objective
To obtain an internship as a sports writer, editor, producer
Highlights
Executive Editor of the Spartan Daily, San Jose State's daily newspaper, Spring 2010
Special Budget Issue awarded second best special issue by California College Media Association
Experience
Silicon Valley Metro, San Jose, CA
Sports Intern, Fall 2010
Weekly sports columnist, covering major teams in the South Bay, including the San Jose Sharks, San Jose Giants, San Jose Earthquakes and Stanford
Spartan Daily, San Jose State University
Copy Editor, Spring 2011
Edited all stories involving the newspaper
Executive Editor, Spring 2010
Managed editors and first-time reporters
Made final call for everything involving the newspaper
Sports Editor, Fall 2009
Designed the daily sports section while covering the football, basketball and soccer teams
Online Editor, Spring 2009
Instructed staff writers in editing audio slideshows and podcasts
Maintained the Spartan Daily’s website and blogs
Wrote, broadcasted and produced weekly sportscast for SJSU sports
Access Magazine, San Jose State University
Copy Editor, Fall 2011
Edited all stories involving the magazine
90.5 FM KSJS, San Jose State University
Disc Jockey, Spring 2011
Broadcasted four San Jose State baseball games
Co-hosted a one-hour weekly sports show for the entire semester
Education
B.S. degree in journalism at San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Expected graduation date: December 2011 SJSU GPA: 3.6
Spartan Daily Clips:
1. Adrian Oliver Feature
http://bit.ly/sBU5bI
Metro Clips:
1. http://www.sanjose.com/news/2010/10/22/stanford_star_christen_press
2. http://www.sanjose.com/news/2010/11/22/sports_rounup_nov._22
Spartan Football Previews:
http://spartandailysports.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/spartan-football-preview-10-22-09/
http://spartandailysports.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/spartan-football-preview-11-12-09/
http://spartandailysports.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/spartan-football-preview-11-24-09/
http://spartandailysports.wordpress.com/page/3/
KSJS Broadcast Clips:
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Late Fish out of Water
My family has had multiple generations of college graduates. So, when I attended the First Generation Students Stress Management Workshop, I felt like a fish out of water.
Being the odd man out in the room made me feel a bit uncomfortable at first. But I quickly got used to it.
The lecturer began the workshop by asking the 35-person audience about the stresses they have faced as a first-generation college student. Their answers were similar to the stresses I've faced as well. they said they struggled with procrastination, adding classes and time management.
The lecturer then addresses those issues with a PowerPoint presentation. She encouraged students to make to-do lists, eat three meals a day, exercise more and consume less nicotine and caffeine.
I felt she had the attention of the room and that she knew what she was doing. But the class was shy to ask questions and to contribute to the conversation. Her teaching methods might have lacked a bit of charisma, but ultimately I believe it was the student's decision to be shy in class conversations.
Her last point of the workshop with six quick tips to release stress: deep breathing, muscle relaxation, visualization, warm bath or shower, massage and stretching.
She then ended the workshop with an 8-minute video that showed a muscle relaxation exercise. I felt the 8-minute video was the most effective part of her workshop. I felt very relaxed.
Ultimately, the workshop didn't focus specifically on how being a first generation student is more difficult than it is for multiple generation students. It focused on ways to help all students. And maybe I came to this conclusion because regardless of our backgrounds, most college students are stressed by similar things.
Being the odd man out in the room made me feel a bit uncomfortable at first. But I quickly got used to it.
The lecturer began the workshop by asking the 35-person audience about the stresses they have faced as a first-generation college student. Their answers were similar to the stresses I've faced as well. they said they struggled with procrastination, adding classes and time management.
The lecturer then addresses those issues with a PowerPoint presentation. She encouraged students to make to-do lists, eat three meals a day, exercise more and consume less nicotine and caffeine.
I felt she had the attention of the room and that she knew what she was doing. But the class was shy to ask questions and to contribute to the conversation. Her teaching methods might have lacked a bit of charisma, but ultimately I believe it was the student's decision to be shy in class conversations.
Her last point of the workshop with six quick tips to release stress: deep breathing, muscle relaxation, visualization, warm bath or shower, massage and stretching.
She then ended the workshop with an 8-minute video that showed a muscle relaxation exercise. I felt the 8-minute video was the most effective part of her workshop. I felt very relaxed.
Ultimately, the workshop didn't focus specifically on how being a first generation student is more difficult than it is for multiple generation students. It focused on ways to help all students. And maybe I came to this conclusion because regardless of our backgrounds, most college students are stressed by similar things.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
IMHO #2
Title: All internships should be paid by law
John Doe needs to complete an internship to graduate this summer. Knowing that the SJSU internship policy requires a 240-hour internship, he chooses to quit his job. Knowing that he was only going to find an unpaid internship, Doe saved up enough money to pay his rent for three months. Little did he know that he had to pay the school more than $1,000 to take the course...
This scenario has become a reality for many students at SJSU.
According to an article in the New York Times, 50 percent of college graduates had to do an internship to graduate, up from 17 percent in 1992.
Companies, especially during the current economic crisis, are taking advantage of the system by offering unpaid internships.
But the Labor Department is trying to save the day.
“If you’re a for-profit employer or you want to pursue an internship with a for-profit employer, there aren’t going to be many circumstances where you can have an internship and not be paid and still be in compliance with the law,” said Nancy J. Leppink, the acting director of the department’s wage and hour division, in the New York Times article.
Leppink's words aren't being taken seriously at SJSU. Most of my friends have done unpaid internships to graduate from SJSU. In fairness, internship adviser Bob Rucker did ask me if I was OK with working for free. He put the onus on me to make a decision if I wanted to fight the company, and I decided not to fight.
I shouldn't have to fight to get paid for doing work. The United States has long been known for improving its labor laws. But for some reason, this country has been slow to end the cycle of college students working like slaves.
According to the New York Times article, companies that made their unpaid interns do unskilled work in a non-academic environment are clearly against the law.
In other words, if all your employer made you do was do coffee runs for three months, you could try to sue the company if you were unpaid.
And even for those companies that do provide an academic environment to their interns, it's still anything but fair that they contribute to the success of your business and get no funds in return.
I realize that getting experience in your career field is often unmatched by any class or lab. Making college students do an internship before graduating makes sense in that regard.
But for many, the internship kicked out a potential employer so the company could have someone do the work for free.
Part of freedom is not being forced to do things for free. And having to pay to do an unpaid internship sounds a lot like slavery.
College students already go through enough hoops to pay for their education, and not getting paid for an internship shouldn't be one of them.
John Doe needs to complete an internship to graduate this summer. Knowing that the SJSU internship policy requires a 240-hour internship, he chooses to quit his job. Knowing that he was only going to find an unpaid internship, Doe saved up enough money to pay his rent for three months. Little did he know that he had to pay the school more than $1,000 to take the course...
This scenario has become a reality for many students at SJSU.
According to an article in the New York Times, 50 percent of college graduates had to do an internship to graduate, up from 17 percent in 1992.
Companies, especially during the current economic crisis, are taking advantage of the system by offering unpaid internships.
But the Labor Department is trying to save the day.
“If you’re a for-profit employer or you want to pursue an internship with a for-profit employer, there aren’t going to be many circumstances where you can have an internship and not be paid and still be in compliance with the law,” said Nancy J. Leppink, the acting director of the department’s wage and hour division, in the New York Times article.
Leppink's words aren't being taken seriously at SJSU. Most of my friends have done unpaid internships to graduate from SJSU. In fairness, internship adviser Bob Rucker did ask me if I was OK with working for free. He put the onus on me to make a decision if I wanted to fight the company, and I decided not to fight.
I shouldn't have to fight to get paid for doing work. The United States has long been known for improving its labor laws. But for some reason, this country has been slow to end the cycle of college students working like slaves.
According to the New York Times article, companies that made their unpaid interns do unskilled work in a non-academic environment are clearly against the law.
In other words, if all your employer made you do was do coffee runs for three months, you could try to sue the company if you were unpaid.
And even for those companies that do provide an academic environment to their interns, it's still anything but fair that they contribute to the success of your business and get no funds in return.
I realize that getting experience in your career field is often unmatched by any class or lab. Making college students do an internship before graduating makes sense in that regard.
But for many, the internship kicked out a potential employer so the company could have someone do the work for free.
Part of freedom is not being forced to do things for free. And having to pay to do an unpaid internship sounds a lot like slavery.
College students already go through enough hoops to pay for their education, and not getting paid for an internship shouldn't be one of them.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Target audience
In the Silicon Valley Metro, I found a full page ad from the company Planet Orange.
The target audience of this ad must be upper-middle class people of any gender. The picture of the house in the ad appeals to homeowners and the picture of the parents holding a child appeals to parents, mainly ages 25-50. The magazine likely supports the environment with an ad about saving energy and helping the environment.
The ad itself describes how Planet Orange Home Greening Services will save you money on your utilities. And the ad says you will receive a free home energy audit. Planet Orange is trying to appeal to an audience that is concerned about the environment.
Planet Orange also offers an in-home assessment. Clearly the company believes it can sell itself by offering its first services for no cost.
The company offers its phone number and website on the ad. The tag phrase, "living green can save you green," appeals to just about anyone. Just about everyone is looking to lower their energy expenses.
The company line, "Doing the right thing was never so easy," is almost an attack on people who don't save energy. This ad assumes that the audience's value is living a green lifestyle.
The target audience of this ad must be upper-middle class people of any gender. The picture of the house in the ad appeals to homeowners and the picture of the parents holding a child appeals to parents, mainly ages 25-50. The magazine likely supports the environment with an ad about saving energy and helping the environment.
The ad itself describes how Planet Orange Home Greening Services will save you money on your utilities. And the ad says you will receive a free home energy audit. Planet Orange is trying to appeal to an audience that is concerned about the environment.
Planet Orange also offers an in-home assessment. Clearly the company believes it can sell itself by offering its first services for no cost.
The company offers its phone number and website on the ad. The tag phrase, "living green can save you green," appeals to just about anyone. Just about everyone is looking to lower their energy expenses.
The company line, "Doing the right thing was never so easy," is almost an attack on people who don't save energy. This ad assumes that the audience's value is living a green lifestyle.
Word of the Week #10
litigious- inclined to dispute or disagree; argumentative.
Apple's iOS 4.2 Update Boosts iPhone 3G Perfomance
But will it be enough to quiet litigious iPhone owners unhappy with Apple's last update?
The lawyer was litigious in court.
Apple's iOS 4.2 Update Boosts iPhone 3G Perfomance
But will it be enough to quiet litigious iPhone owners unhappy with Apple's last update?
The lawyer was litigious in court.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Media Ethics symposium
At the third annual Spuler Media Ethics Symposium, four public relations speciliast stressed the importance of upholding your moral compass. Although I am a journalism major, I was able to apply much of what they said to my job.
Jonathan Hirshon brought up real examples of withholding information in a press release. He said, for example, if you know that one and a million people have a chance at getting cancer from a drug, and you withhold that information, then you aren't being ethical. I immediately thought about my journalism stories and how they need to be balanced. Presenting an unbalanced story is unethical in its own way, because readers may believe one side is true when in reality there is a huge opposing viewpoint that readers don't get.
The speakers also talked about the stakes being higher in today's market. "Google never forgets" was a line from one of the speakers. It was reference to the fact that if you do something unethical, it will never escape, whereas a few decades ago, that wasn't necessarily the case.
Ultimately, Hirshon said the moment you are considering if the ends just the means, you should stop yourself, because the day when you wake up and you can't look at yourself in the mirror is the day you've lost your ethical nature.
Jonathan Hirshon brought up real examples of withholding information in a press release. He said, for example, if you know that one and a million people have a chance at getting cancer from a drug, and you withhold that information, then you aren't being ethical. I immediately thought about my journalism stories and how they need to be balanced. Presenting an unbalanced story is unethical in its own way, because readers may believe one side is true when in reality there is a huge opposing viewpoint that readers don't get.
The speakers also talked about the stakes being higher in today's market. "Google never forgets" was a line from one of the speakers. It was reference to the fact that if you do something unethical, it will never escape, whereas a few decades ago, that wasn't necessarily the case.
Ultimately, Hirshon said the moment you are considering if the ends just the means, you should stop yourself, because the day when you wake up and you can't look at yourself in the mirror is the day you've lost your ethical nature.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Word of the Week #9
Scintillating- animated; vivacious; effervescent.
Jaguars at Bills halftime observations on ESPN.com
Roscoe Parrish has been criticized for his aversion to contact as a receiver, but he made a scintillating catch, leaping high for the ball and coming down with it despite a big undercut hit that sent him cartwheeling.
The soccer player's scintillating shot that traveled perfectly into the corner of the net from 30 yards away was the game's lone goal.
Jaguars at Bills halftime observations on ESPN.com
Roscoe Parrish has been criticized for his aversion to contact as a receiver, but he made a scintillating catch, leaping high for the ball and coming down with it despite a big undercut hit that sent him cartwheeling.
The soccer player's scintillating shot that traveled perfectly into the corner of the net from 30 yards away was the game's lone goal.
copy edit the world part 3
Spartan Daily article SJSU men's water polo team prepares for 2010-11 season
November 2, 2010
assion, commitment and team camaraderie have helped the SJSU water polo team fight through past struggles and gain a positive outlook towards the future, said the team’s treasurer.
In the AP Style Book, "towards" doesn't work. It's "toward."
The same year the team also had access to a huge recruiting class, with ten new freshman added to the roster.
"freshman" should read "freshmen"
In 2006 the team held a fundraising campaign and was able to easily pay off all of their league fees, Wagner said.
team is a collective noun, "their" should be "its"
Spartan Daily article: Giants win the World Series
November 1, 2010
The Giants pitching lead the major leagues with a 3.36 ERA (earned runs allowed) during the regular season, according to the MLB website.
"lead" should be past tense "led"
Spartan Daily article: San Jose Sharks beat out New Jersey Devils in Oct. 27 game
October 27, 2010
The Sharks top-line of captain and center Joe Thornton, along with wingers Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley, took it upon themselves to get carry the Sharks out of their early season funk.
the word carry should be deleted. The sentence makes no sense.
November 2, 2010
assion, commitment and team camaraderie have helped the SJSU water polo team fight through past struggles and gain a positive outlook towards the future, said the team’s treasurer.
In the AP Style Book, "towards" doesn't work. It's "toward."
The same year the team also had access to a huge recruiting class, with ten new freshman added to the roster.
"freshman" should read "freshmen"
In 2006 the team held a fundraising campaign and was able to easily pay off all of their league fees, Wagner said.
team is a collective noun, "their" should be "its"
Spartan Daily article: Giants win the World Series
November 1, 2010
The Giants pitching lead the major leagues with a 3.36 ERA (earned runs allowed) during the regular season, according to the MLB website.
"lead" should be past tense "led"
Spartan Daily article: San Jose Sharks beat out New Jersey Devils in Oct. 27 game
October 27, 2010
The Sharks top-line of captain and center Joe Thornton, along with wingers Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley, took it upon themselves to get carry the Sharks out of their early season funk.
the word carry should be deleted. The sentence makes no sense.
Japanese Internment Memorial Essay
1.The Japanese-American Internment was an American reaction to the bombing of Pearl Harbor in World War II. Immediately following the bombing, the FBI raided the houses of Japanese-Americans and sent them to internment camps.
2. Ruth Asawa was one of the approximately 40,000 Japanese-American children sent to internment camps. In her free time, she would draw and paint with other professional interned artists. Asawa used her experiences to her advantage, becoming one of the most decorated sculptists of all time.
3. In Japantown in San Jose, every single business was shut down because of the internment. Within the next decade, post-internment, Japanese-Americans rebuilt their businesses in San Jose.
4. At SJSU, 125 Japanese-Americans were forced to out in the middle of their education. That numbered represent more than half of all interned people in the CSU system.
The Japanese Internment Memorial shows a timeline for Japanese-Americans in America symbolized by vignettes. The vignettes show the culture that Japanese-America brought to the U.S. before they were interened. Once they were interned, the vignettes show the suffering of families broken apart. The vignettes accurately show how Japanese-Americans were void of a free life. Rather, they were trapped in an internment camp while guards in watchtowers made sure they couldn't escape. And lastly, the vignettes show that the Japanese-Americans overcame the internment and can live life freely now.
The first vignette that stood out to me was the two FBI agents forcing a Japanese-American to leave. This marked the beginning of the internment, and eventually 110,000 Japanese-Americans were forced into military areas. The American government had no evidence to suggest that Japanese-Americans were going to organize and attack the homeland, yet the FBI forced them to move anyway.
The next vignette that spoke to me was the one of two families separated by a curtain. Living conditions were inhumane, yet some Japanese-Americans made the best of them. Ruth Asawa used her free time to practice her artistic abilities. Asawa's experiences at the internment camp paved the way for a lot of her art.
The last vignette that had significance to me was the paper airplane. As Professor McCune said, things could get out, but the Japanese-Americans couldn't. I think it was a symbol of freedom for everyone but the Japanese. The effect of your freedom for an extended period of time can't be measured. The people in the internment camps lost their privilege of receiving the highest education. One-hundred and twenty SJSU students were interned. Not only did they lose valuable time for education, they might have lost their innocence of humanity as well. Overall, Japanese-Americans moved past the internment, and in San Jose, they rebuilt Japantown as if the internment never happened.
Unfortunately, I do think something like this could happen again. My trust in humanity isn't as high as I want it to be. If war is possible, then an internment can't be out of the question. After 9/11, Muslims in America faced discrimination. I fear that all it would take is one more organized attack by Muslims for American to overreact. In other countries, this type of hatrid still exists. For example, North Koreans would very likely imprison South Koreans if they entered their land.
2. Ruth Asawa was one of the approximately 40,000 Japanese-American children sent to internment camps. In her free time, she would draw and paint with other professional interned artists. Asawa used her experiences to her advantage, becoming one of the most decorated sculptists of all time.
3. In Japantown in San Jose, every single business was shut down because of the internment. Within the next decade, post-internment, Japanese-Americans rebuilt their businesses in San Jose.
4. At SJSU, 125 Japanese-Americans were forced to out in the middle of their education. That numbered represent more than half of all interned people in the CSU system.
The Japanese Internment Memorial shows a timeline for Japanese-Americans in America symbolized by vignettes. The vignettes show the culture that Japanese-America brought to the U.S. before they were interened. Once they were interned, the vignettes show the suffering of families broken apart. The vignettes accurately show how Japanese-Americans were void of a free life. Rather, they were trapped in an internment camp while guards in watchtowers made sure they couldn't escape. And lastly, the vignettes show that the Japanese-Americans overcame the internment and can live life freely now.
The first vignette that stood out to me was the two FBI agents forcing a Japanese-American to leave. This marked the beginning of the internment, and eventually 110,000 Japanese-Americans were forced into military areas. The American government had no evidence to suggest that Japanese-Americans were going to organize and attack the homeland, yet the FBI forced them to move anyway.
The next vignette that spoke to me was the one of two families separated by a curtain. Living conditions were inhumane, yet some Japanese-Americans made the best of them. Ruth Asawa used her free time to practice her artistic abilities. Asawa's experiences at the internment camp paved the way for a lot of her art.
The last vignette that had significance to me was the paper airplane. As Professor McCune said, things could get out, but the Japanese-Americans couldn't. I think it was a symbol of freedom for everyone but the Japanese. The effect of your freedom for an extended period of time can't be measured. The people in the internment camps lost their privilege of receiving the highest education. One-hundred and twenty SJSU students were interned. Not only did they lose valuable time for education, they might have lost their innocence of humanity as well. Overall, Japanese-Americans moved past the internment, and in San Jose, they rebuilt Japantown as if the internment never happened.
Unfortunately, I do think something like this could happen again. My trust in humanity isn't as high as I want it to be. If war is possible, then an internment can't be out of the question. After 9/11, Muslims in America faced discrimination. I fear that all it would take is one more organized attack by Muslims for American to overreact. In other countries, this type of hatrid still exists. For example, North Koreans would very likely imprison South Koreans if they entered their land.
Monday, November 1, 2010
IMHO #1
Title: NFL fines players left and right
On any given Sunday, you will find 22 of the most athletically gifted people in the world attempt to bruise each other on the gridiron.
The picture I'm describing is the National Football League.
I have been a fan on the NFL for years because it is a forum for bone-crushing hits, jaw-dropping runs and unbelievable plays.
But when do you decide that players are at such a high risk for injury that the game needs to be changed?
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been coming down hard on players lately for nasty hits. With an influx in dangerous hits in recent weeks, fines have reached $75,000.
The NFL is under some serious scrutiny for its protection of its players. Just as boxing has lost much of its lore over the years for being too barbaric, the NFL potentially faces that same consequence.
Goodell has fined players on a weekly basis for illegal hits since he's been commissioner. I believe that he is doing the right thing by attacking players' wallets for some malicious hits that truly deserve fines.
But suddenly upping the ante to $75,000 for some hits that weren't even illegal bothers me. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported that Steelers linebacker James Harrison was unfairly fined for a hit that was legal. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10292/1096447-100.stm
I agree with Harrison, and his hit was one of many over the last couple weeks that has been wrongly fined.
Part of what makes football so great is that it is so violent. Unfortunately, players have been restricted over the last few years by rules that intend to make the league less violent.
For example, it is now illegal to hit a quarterback high (helmet area), or low (below the knees). Although these rules have the right intention, "illegal" hits are just as common as ever.
I believe the reason is the game is happening so fast that they are inevitable. I don't think fines or rule changes are acting as a deterrent for players to hit illegally.
I believe Goodell is panicking that the NFL may lose some popularity by its violence, but I don't like that he is overreacting by fining players inordinate amounts because of the pressure he is under.
Plus, some of the players who are being fined aren't hitting illegally, but the result of their hits look so bad that they are getting fined.
Ultimately, if an NFL player walks on the field with the intent to maliciously injure the opposing team, then that player should be fined, suspended, or even imprisoned.
But until we can prove the intent of such players, changing the game with ridiculous rules and raising the amounts of fines isn't going to solve the inevitbale problem that the NFL is violent.
If anything, Goodell's actions will alienate his diehard fan base, including the author of this column.
On any given Sunday, you will find 22 of the most athletically gifted people in the world attempt to bruise each other on the gridiron.
The picture I'm describing is the National Football League.
I have been a fan on the NFL for years because it is a forum for bone-crushing hits, jaw-dropping runs and unbelievable plays.
But when do you decide that players are at such a high risk for injury that the game needs to be changed?
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been coming down hard on players lately for nasty hits. With an influx in dangerous hits in recent weeks, fines have reached $75,000.
The NFL is under some serious scrutiny for its protection of its players. Just as boxing has lost much of its lore over the years for being too barbaric, the NFL potentially faces that same consequence.
Goodell has fined players on a weekly basis for illegal hits since he's been commissioner. I believe that he is doing the right thing by attacking players' wallets for some malicious hits that truly deserve fines.
But suddenly upping the ante to $75,000 for some hits that weren't even illegal bothers me. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported that Steelers linebacker James Harrison was unfairly fined for a hit that was legal. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10292/1096447-100.stm
I agree with Harrison, and his hit was one of many over the last couple weeks that has been wrongly fined.
Part of what makes football so great is that it is so violent. Unfortunately, players have been restricted over the last few years by rules that intend to make the league less violent.
For example, it is now illegal to hit a quarterback high (helmet area), or low (below the knees). Although these rules have the right intention, "illegal" hits are just as common as ever.
I believe the reason is the game is happening so fast that they are inevitable. I don't think fines or rule changes are acting as a deterrent for players to hit illegally.
I believe Goodell is panicking that the NFL may lose some popularity by its violence, but I don't like that he is overreacting by fining players inordinate amounts because of the pressure he is under.
Plus, some of the players who are being fined aren't hitting illegally, but the result of their hits look so bad that they are getting fined.
Ultimately, if an NFL player walks on the field with the intent to maliciously injure the opposing team, then that player should be fined, suspended, or even imprisoned.
But until we can prove the intent of such players, changing the game with ridiculous rules and raising the amounts of fines isn't going to solve the inevitbale problem that the NFL is violent.
If anything, Goodell's actions will alienate his diehard fan base, including the author of this column.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Blog #8 Drinking Coffee Elsewhere
In "Brownies," the short story from the book "Drinking Coffee Elsewhere" by Z.Z. Packer, Packer uses quotes to personalize what is going on at Woodrow Wilson elementary. She uses anecdotes to describe whey all the girls were laughing so hard. They laughed hard because they thought the use of big words that they didn't know was funny, especially the word Caucasain.
Packer sets the scene in the first few pages piece by piece. Instead devoting a page to explaining the situation, she strings the reader along. She put in a bit about the troop girls, follow it up by talking about religion, and then she goes into how Woodrow Wilson is a school in South Atlanta that is almost entirely African American.
She uses dialogue to show what the group of girls of thinking of doing after someone of non-African American descent called another girl a nigger. The girls all give their ideas of what to do in a round robin discussion.
I like how I don't know the protagonists name after the first few pages. The only way we know the protagonist is as "snot," the name a fellow-girl gave to her when she was in the first grade, which was another anecdote.
Packer sets the scene in the first few pages piece by piece. Instead devoting a page to explaining the situation, she strings the reader along. She put in a bit about the troop girls, follow it up by talking about religion, and then she goes into how Woodrow Wilson is a school in South Atlanta that is almost entirely African American.
She uses dialogue to show what the group of girls of thinking of doing after someone of non-African American descent called another girl a nigger. The girls all give their ideas of what to do in a round robin discussion.
I like how I don't know the protagonists name after the first few pages. The only way we know the protagonist is as "snot," the name a fellow-girl gave to her when she was in the first grade, which was another anecdote.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
NPR Interview
Terry Gross interviewed Jon Stewart in September.
Terry definitely did her homework. She told Stewart what he said at one moment in his life and asked questions about it. She asked questions about Stewart's Jewish background, his view on politics and his TV show.
She would ask a general question and follow it up with a more personal question. For example, she asked a question about Stewart becoming more political through his show and followed it up with one of his serious moments on the show. Some questions were serious and some were humorous. At one point, she stopped Stewart to ask a specific question about the war in Iraq.
Terry clearly had a strategy. She kept the interview fairly fun despite many questions being very serious. Asking a question about Stewart being voted the most funny person in high school was definitely an example of asking a question to keep a light feel on the interview. Also, making fun of Stewart's athletic ability, or lack there of, kept the interview fun. Gross's job is to conduct an entertaining interview so her audience is satisfied, and I believe the mix of quesitons helped entertain the crowd.
Any evasive meaning to a question was answered with humor, which isn't surprising because Terry was interviewing a host of a comedic show.
The relationship between Terry and Jon appeared to be comfortable. Both seemed to have a lot of respect for each other.
Terry Gross taught me that you can never do too much homework for an interview. She was prepared, and that's the most important thing. Terry also listened closely to Stewart and asked several follow-up questions. These follow-up questions enhanced the interview. No amount of preparationg can replace being inquisitive and looking for moments to get a deeper, richer answer. I will look to be more attentive in my interviews.
Terry definitely did her homework. She told Stewart what he said at one moment in his life and asked questions about it. She asked questions about Stewart's Jewish background, his view on politics and his TV show.
She would ask a general question and follow it up with a more personal question. For example, she asked a question about Stewart becoming more political through his show and followed it up with one of his serious moments on the show. Some questions were serious and some were humorous. At one point, she stopped Stewart to ask a specific question about the war in Iraq.
Terry clearly had a strategy. She kept the interview fairly fun despite many questions being very serious. Asking a question about Stewart being voted the most funny person in high school was definitely an example of asking a question to keep a light feel on the interview. Also, making fun of Stewart's athletic ability, or lack there of, kept the interview fun. Gross's job is to conduct an entertaining interview so her audience is satisfied, and I believe the mix of quesitons helped entertain the crowd.
Any evasive meaning to a question was answered with humor, which isn't surprising because Terry was interviewing a host of a comedic show.
The relationship between Terry and Jon appeared to be comfortable. Both seemed to have a lot of respect for each other.
Terry Gross taught me that you can never do too much homework for an interview. She was prepared, and that's the most important thing. Terry also listened closely to Stewart and asked several follow-up questions. These follow-up questions enhanced the interview. No amount of preparationg can replace being inquisitive and looking for moments to get a deeper, richer answer. I will look to be more attentive in my interviews.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Copy Edit the World Part 2
But Florida (4-3, 2-3 SEC) can still get to the SEC title in Atlanta if it wins its final three conference game.
Game should be games.
He's completed just 42 per cent of his passes and was missing badly on deep balls before he was benched.
per cent is one word. Percent
Game should be games.
He's completed just 42 per cent of his passes and was missing badly on deep balls before he was benched.
per cent is one word. Percent
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Word of the Week # 7
The Denver Post
Then again, the Obama administration's preposterous attack on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce does nothing to help Democrats and everything to reinforce the moderate voter's perception that the president's party has gone bonkers.
Dictionary definition
Contrary to reason or common sense; utterly absurd or ridiculous
My sentence
The ending to "Fight Club" was preposterous because it made no sense and it boggled my mind.
Then again, the Obama administration's preposterous attack on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce does nothing to help Democrats and everything to reinforce the moderate voter's perception that the president's party has gone bonkers.
Dictionary definition
Contrary to reason or common sense; utterly absurd or ridiculous
My sentence
The ending to "Fight Club" was preposterous because it made no sense and it boggled my mind.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Mystery person
I was a four-sport star at UCLA in the early 1940s, playing football, basketball, baseball and track. I am the only player to have my number retired by every single major league baseball. I played most of my baseball career for the Brooklyn Dodgers. I broke the baseball color barrier in 1947.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Word of the Week #6
Tiger Woods' annihilation was key to Super Sunday, says Europe captain Colin Montgomerie
annihilation- total destruction
The atomic bomb caused annihilation of Hiroshima.
annihilation- total destruction
The atomic bomb caused annihilation of Hiroshima.
News release assignment
Scholar Series focuses on economic crisis
SJSU sociology Professor Scott Myers-Lipton will discuss his most recent book on Oct. 13 as part of the University Scholar Series.
Myers-Lipton’s book, “Rebuild America: Solving the Economic Crisis through Civic works,” focuses on ways the government can increase employment and gives readers a history of public works in America, according to the SJSU events website.
The events of the University Scholar Series, which are co-sponsored by the Office of the Provost, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library and the Spartan Bookstore, are free of charge and open to all members of the public.
According to its website, the University Scholar Series provides a unique opportunity for showcasing the important research and scholarly activities of SJSU faculty members.
Myers-Lipton is the second of three speakers, with history Professor Mary Pickering scheduled on Nov. 17.
The event will take place from noon to 1 in Rooms 225-227 of the King Library.
For more information, contact Gina Marin in the Office of the Provost at 924-2404 or Elisabeth Thomas in King Library at 808-2193.
SJSU sociology Professor Scott Myers-Lipton will discuss his most recent book on Oct. 13 as part of the University Scholar Series.
Myers-Lipton’s book, “Rebuild America: Solving the Economic Crisis through Civic works,” focuses on ways the government can increase employment and gives readers a history of public works in America, according to the SJSU events website.
The events of the University Scholar Series, which are co-sponsored by the Office of the Provost, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library and the Spartan Bookstore, are free of charge and open to all members of the public.
According to its website, the University Scholar Series provides a unique opportunity for showcasing the important research and scholarly activities of SJSU faculty members.
Myers-Lipton is the second of three speakers, with history Professor Mary Pickering scheduled on Nov. 17.
The event will take place from noon to 1 in Rooms 225-227 of the King Library.
For more information, contact Gina Marin in the Office of the Provost at 924-2404 or Elisabeth Thomas in King Library at 808-2193.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Word of the Week #5
Inviting a comedian to appear before a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives to poke fun at an issue as divisive and explosive as immigration is emblematic of what a joke Washington has become in the view of many Americans.
Emblematic- a visible object or representation that symbolizes a quality, type, group, etc, esp the concrete symbol of an abstract idea.
The rally cap in baseball is an emblem of hope.
Emblematic- a visible object or representation that symbolizes a quality, type, group, etc, esp the concrete symbol of an abstract idea.
The rally cap in baseball is an emblem of hope.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Copy Edit the World
Today's Spartan Daily online version
The first snap by No. 13 Utah was a reverse play taken 43 yards to the house by sophomore wide receiver Reggie Dunn and the Utes never looked back, defeating SJSU 56-3 Saturday in Provo.
The Spartans played in Salt Lake City, not Provo.
Sanjose.com
Local celebrity Joey Chestnut has done it again. After losing to a petite Virginia woman in a Labor Day wing-eating contest, the man with the iron stomach won the burrito eating contest at the New Mexico State Fair, gulping down 47 4-ounce burritos with beef and beans in just ten minutes.
Ten should be the number 10.
Dodge City Daily Globe
The four powerhouse teams have combined for five losses this season, all but one were against one another.
I'd do this.
The four powerhouse teams have combined for five losses. All but one were against one another.
Phil. 66 Syllabus
Faculty Office Building 206. (The Faculty Office Building is a two-story building between the Spartan Complex and Dwight Bental Hall. English is on the first floor. Philosophy is on the second floor.)
Dwight Bental Hall should be spelled Dwight Bentel Hall.
The first snap by No. 13 Utah was a reverse play taken 43 yards to the house by sophomore wide receiver Reggie Dunn and the Utes never looked back, defeating SJSU 56-3 Saturday in Provo.
The Spartans played in Salt Lake City, not Provo.
Sanjose.com
Local celebrity Joey Chestnut has done it again. After losing to a petite Virginia woman in a Labor Day wing-eating contest, the man with the iron stomach won the burrito eating contest at the New Mexico State Fair, gulping down 47 4-ounce burritos with beef and beans in just ten minutes.
Ten should be the number 10.
Dodge City Daily Globe
The four powerhouse teams have combined for five losses this season, all but one were against one another.
I'd do this.
The four powerhouse teams have combined for five losses. All but one were against one another.
Phil. 66 Syllabus
Faculty Office Building 206. (The Faculty Office Building is a two-story building between the Spartan Complex and Dwight Bental Hall. English is on the first floor. Philosophy is on the second floor.)
Dwight Bental Hall should be spelled Dwight Bentel Hall.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)