ASSIGNMENT please share this post--- Important to all JFresh-mates

Sally Ann and I are reading away and gobsmacked by your experiences in the interview process.

OK - so now that I know you are avidly reading one another's posts and comparing...

Start a little note to yourself on a pad or some booklet you will bring to class...  think of these questions as prompts...  Short answers - a word or two, a note to yourself, NOT an essay.  Think, don't sweat...

Again, you are now becoming both creators of content and as important, critical consumers of content.

    What was the most personal story?
          For its content?
          For the way it was packaged and told?
          Is there a difference?  What?

    Was any piece intrusive or did you feel ill-at-ease as it crossed boundaries that made you uncomfortable?

    How many of you now feel they have openly been teased by the postings but want even more info - you're hungry - for more?
           Why?  Which?  Because?

    Was any story/interview so penetrating that you look at both the writer and the interviewee with new respect for their story/work?
           Who?  Why?  Could you tell them in words if asked to say so?

    What was truly something that got to the heart of who the interviewee was (as opposed to staying 'safe') and how do you think of that interviewer now - differently?

    Having read the blog - now what question do you WISH you had asked?  If you had a 'Mulligan' to do some part of your interview over again, what would it be?
    What has this taught you --- about yourself, your technique, your strategy?

    Who feels their story didn't go far enough - that they (as the interviewer) pulled back or held up - and now see that was a 'safe' but not necessarily wise editorial decision/choice?

    If you could ask one more question of your interviewee… what would it be?




OK - so pass the word that I have made this post... be sure to share it among your JFresh-mates.


You DO NOT have to answer each question above in a linear fashion - use them as prompts for what will be an albeit brief discussion Thursday and - yes, both Sally Ann and I are available to chat further with you.

You did good work.  Of course this means SAC and I will have to ramp up the pressure going forward.  Are you ready?  Can you handle that?

(I see smiles as you read...)

Sally Ann and Peter

OU freshman eschews partying for studies (Kelsey Miller)

In the days leading up to 10Fest, Ohio University freshman Kelsey Miller spent her time reading up on local bands, looking at pictures on Twitter and watching a forty-five minute documentary about Fest culture on YouTube. When the day of 10Fest finally arrived, Kelsey couldn’t have been more excited—but the event did not prove to be what she was expecting.

[begin SOT]
“It was not for me. I wasn’t in the mood to get as crazy as everybody else. I wasn’t a big fan of the crazy atmosphere and being so close to everybody and getting drenched with alcohol.”
[end SOT]

Kelsey’s lackluster experience at 10Fest didn’t just mean having to spend a Saturday night inside. For Miller, the experience harkened back to a concern that has haunted her ever since she first began considering her college choice. Since middle school, Kelsey has been told that Ohio University is a party school, churning out degrees just aren’t respected in the workforce.

[begin SOT]
“When I was in middle school, one of my teachers mentioned OU and she said, ‘I don’t know, I’ve heard a lot of bad things about it. People make fun of you if you go there.”
[end SOT]

Looking at Kelsey, however, you would never guess that Ohio University is anything but the most prestigious, demanding college in the state. Kelsey is a hard-working and motivated Journalism major who, between class work, still finds time for the ImPRessions public relations organization and Mixed Martial Arts club. And Kelsey, who attended high school among a circle of shallow, judgmental “Bible beaters,” doesn’t mind the party culture—even if she chooses not to participate in it.

[begin SOT]
“People at OU, because of their crazy lifestyles, are less judgmental in the process.”
[end SOT]

Although Kelsey is well on her way to success in the E.W. Scripps School, she still sometimes gets derision over her college choice from friends and co-workers. However, Kelsey is driven by a need to succeed and says she is determined to prove her detractors wrong in these next four years.

[begin SOT]
“With my grades, I’d like to show them that it isn’t just a party school. There are a lot of academic standards here.”
[end SOT]

Following Her Heart: Interview with Amna Durrani

            Every person has a moment in their life when a decision they have made will have a huge impact. Amna Durrani’s life was drastically changed when she made the decision to run away from home.

Amna’s mother raised her with Muslim values.

(Quote)

 “My whole life I was smothered and closeted and my life was being put on a path that I wasn’t planning on.”

(End Quote)

 This path meant an arranged marriage in Pakistan.

Amna grew up watching Pakistani women complain about their lives, they were miserable and trapped in a loveless marriage. This did not set a good precedent for Amna.

            When she reached the age of 18 her parents began to plan their trip to Pakistan, to find a husband for her. However, Amna had dreams of going to college and becoming a successful working woman. The predetermination of her life left her trapped in a situation that she did not desire. She further explains that

(Quote)

 “My parents cared how I felt, but they said what I was feeling was wrong because it was against Islam.”

(End Quote)

And then, Amna met a boy from Ohio, who wasn’t Muslim. Against everything her culture valued, Amna developed intimate feelings for him, which led to a long distance relationship.

One night, while talking on the phone with him, her mother walked in. She was outraged and threatening her with words like, “If you’re going to be indecent than I wish you weren’t born.” Her mother was so furious that Amna actually feared for her life.

This was the night that Amna decided that her thoughts of running away finally had to be acted upon.

The next morning she had her files transferred to the local high school in Athens, where her boyfriend lived.

And later that day, she packed everything she owned, the most important things were underwear and her artwork.

 And then, very early in the morning on February 17, 2011, Amna packed up her friend’s truck. But, just before she shut the door on the only family she’d ever known, her mother asked her where she was going. After physically struggling to escape she realized that in that moment her life would change forever.

It was far from easy for Amna to cope with her decision, she admits to being overwhelmed and stressed for a very long time after running away.

After graduating in Athens, she took a year off to put her life back in order. During this time she had many revelations, one of which was

(Quote)

“No matter what I did or did not do she [her mother] would always be depressed or worried or stressed. That’s when I realized that whatever I did wouldn’t make her happy. I’d be sacrificing my happiness for nothing.”

(End Quote)

            It has been a year and a half since Amna has been home. She admits to having several regrets, especially leaving her mother who lived life through her, pinning her happiness on Amna.

            The hardest part about leaving for Amna was figuring out who she was. Her family disowned her because she put shame on the family name. The only people she ever loved didn’t accept her. Her mother still thinks that she is going to Hell. But, while Amna admits that she isn’t exactly a Muslim anymore she is still spiritual.

            (Quote)

“I feel like if there was a god, how could he stand to put somebody through eternal torment and pain? How could I ever do anything to betray the all mighty being? I am so insignificant.”

(End Quote)

She truly does believe that if she had stayed at home, for the sake of her mother’s happiness, then she would be married in Pakistan right now.

Amna is one of many young women who have rebelled against arranged marriages, and she suggests to any Muslim woman who wants to run away to

(Quote)

“Think really hard about it, talk to your parents, don’t put yourself in harm’s way, but tell them you are planning on it.” 

(End Quote)

Her main goals now are to be accepted and to do something productive with her life.

Amna isn’t sure if she will ever reconcile with her parents. But, she didn’t run away to betray them. She just had to follow her heart. 

The Outlier: A Refreshing Point of View

We were lost in the children’s section of the library.

It wasn’t until Jeff Kassouf (Kah-soof) admitted this that I suggested we ask the service desk where the room we reserved was. Yet, what seemed like such a simple resolution didn’t occour to him until that moment.

But it would be unlike Jeff to be conventional.

SOTFULL (Kassouf) - “I don’t really pay attention to the norms. I just kind of roll out of bed and do my own thing.”

A native of west Cleveland, Kassouf  (Kah-soof) lived among suburbanites with what he describes as "cookie cutter personalities" and one size fits all beliefs.  

SOTFULL (Kassouf)- "They couldn't comprehend the thought of someone being a different way than them...I went through so much of my life having to filter and suppress myself." 

Despite this, Jeff managed to make the most out of his high school experience: he submerged himself into a diverse social life and used his position for the school newspaper as an outlet for some of his opinions.


SOTFULL (Kassouf)- "I figured out journalism is really what I was made to do because I'm into activism, news, and current information."

An advocate for equality and freedom, Kassouf's  (Kah-soof's) eyes lit up and his head immediatly started shaking when I asked what made him tick.

SOTFULL (Kassouf)- "The expression of power for the sake of showing off power...it really bothers me that people think because they have certain traits that it makes them better than others."

Kassouf  (Kah-soof) has his own traits and skills that set him apart from others, but you won't hear it from him. Jeff has experience in photography, drawing, acting, writing, and playing piano and the upright base. The amount of hobbies Jeff has alone proves he does not like to be stuck doing one thing for too long, a quality that attracted him to Ohio University.

SOTFULL (Kassouf)- "There's always something to do [at Ohio University] always somewhere to go. You can just walk around and find something that fits your interests, or sparks new interests that you didn't know you had."

Not only has his need for change helped him in deciding where to go to college, but also what field of journalism he would most like to go into. 

SOTFULL (Kassouf)- "I would love to be a foreign correspondent and travel a lot, or a correspondent for the country and just travel all over the United States. I wouldn't want to be a local reporter, I would hate to focus everything that happens in a certain city...Having a broader canvas is much more important to me." 

As Jeff's playlist came to an end and his attention gradually shifted to his compter, ready to change his focus, I asked one final question. 

SOTFULL (Kueser)- "I notice you don't really filter yourself so much anymore? What happened?"

He reached to unplug his laptop charger from the outlet, paused, and then said "I really just came to the realization that I don't need to do that because it's my only chance to ever say anything while I have it on my mind and while I'm alive. I might as well say what I want to say." 

And at that, Jeff's mind had moved on. 

"I think I'm gonna go explore the library for a bit." he said. 
 

A Collegiate Beginning: An Interview With Evan Rhodes

Distance makes the heart grow fonder. That is what Freshman Journalism student Evan Roads has come to believe in the few short weeks he’s been at college. Growing up, Evan had a rocky relationship with many of his family members,     but    has experienced positive change with his loved ones since he’s moved away from his hometown of Mansfield, Ohio to his new home in Athens.

Growing up, Evan never spent much time with his family, choosing to be with his friends instead. He distanced himself because he felt his family was too involved with his life. He used his friends as an escape.

There was never a separation between his school life and home life because his mom was the librarian at his high school. Because she was constantly present and talked to many of his teachers, Evan felt his mom knew too much about her son.

Evan also had trouble with his older brother, Curran. Now a senior at OU, the older Roads brother paved an impressive path that Evan felt pressured to follow, especially when it came to grades and schoolwork. Curran was number 1 in his high school class and Evan felt that though he could try to live up to Curran’s achievements, he also had his own potential. This already strained relationship was made worse by the brothers’s differing personalities. Evan and Curran would often disagree on things such and found their arguments led to a standoffish relationship

Because of the issues he faced with his family members, Evan often found himself fighting with them and felt like the black sheep of the family.

Un-ex-pec-ted-ly, things have been looking up for Evan and his loved ones. Since he’s been at college, he has been able to distance himself not only from his hometown, but from his home problems. His relationship with his mom has improved because they are far enough away to only focus on the good things and not their troubles. Similarly, he and his brother have been able to bond over the stresses of college, instead of focusing on their differences.

For Evan, college has been like a fresh start. Not only for himself, but for his family. The physical distance between he and his loved ones has caused emotional closeness. Evan hopes these positive changes continue and he can form even closer relationships with his family.

Watch these prior to Thursday please

Let's start to focus on your ultimate assignment of producing something that you (and your cohorts) would read/listen to/watch/support/enjoy/embrace as a news program...
It's among the most challenging questions facing media today - how to attract a younger demographic and ultimately make a business model more robust and sustainable than anything existent today?

There are already an amazing number of business models and programs competing for your eyeballs and loyalty.  Some are consistently good and professional, others are splattered all across the production/professional spectrum.  Some I think are even insulting in that they seem to believe you are a demographic which can be consistently satiated by crap unable to discern the difference between flash and jiggle and valued content.

Some programs you know - Jon Stewart, Colbert come to mind.

There are other Internet programs you may not be as familiar with.

Please take just a few minutes to browse about on these links:
Vice.com --- http://www.vice.com/en_us
Channel One --- http://www.channelone.com/video/
Buzz 60 --- here's their piece in advance of the Presidential debate - http://buzz60.com/#!video/content/top-3-mitt-romney-primary-debate-moments
Raw Story --- http://www.rawstory.com/

Read the few paragraphs about this new California-based news company that has not even launched their beta --- http://cir.ca/about and ask yourself, "What do they mean?"
Circa will re-imagine the way you consume news. We're crafting an experience that we feel is missing in today's world of current affairs and building the product that as users, we would want. Our vision is to create the best possible news experience by optimizing for truths, encouraging diversity, and empowering readers.
We see Circa as the future of keeping the public informed and engaged around current affairs.

Sally Ann and I will begin opening a dialogue on this subject presently.

So what do you think?  What links can you share with us --- either good or bad, thoughtful or not-so-much, places where you have gone for 'news' content?

This is going to come up in subsequent classes so consider this post to be a  prompt for those of you who want to engage in the conversation to start taking a critical look at what else is being produced... are these good models?  Do you like these - if so, why?  How would you do it differently?

Oh, by the way... no one is succeeding at this anywhere yet... so there's really no pressure but there is UNLIMITED opportunity. 

Peter

Mindful Movements-- An Interview with Kirsten Kueser

                Kirsten Kueser’s (Key-zur) life is one of constant motion. As a child, Kirsten was always moving—she’s lived in 5 different states in her lifetime.  First was Virginia Beach, Virginia, where she was born; then her parents and she headed to Maryland; then to Indiana, where her parents divorced; her mother and she moved to Toledo, Ohio while her father moved to Michigan. Her father and she stopped talking as much while Kirsten attempted to adjust to life in a new town; first starting school for a day a half hour from her house, then at Sylvania’s Northview High School, and finally at Sylvania’s Southview High School. On high school, Kirsten says,

(Quote)

                “I guess I had a good high school experience, kind of normal, until I went through that stage every girl goes through where they have that falling out with their friends. Up until junior year I was fine until that falling out, and then I realized that everyone is so selfish and I couldn’t stand that anymore. I just branched out and did my own thing.”

(End Quote)

                Kirsten’s life moved again from one of ordinary high school friendships to self-imposed isolation. But then there was the question of why Kirsten chose OU. Sure, she loved to do her own thing, but aren’t there several universities within the Toledo area? Kirsten says,

(Quote)

                “There was no way I was going to school in Toledo; Athens was perfect. Obviously also because of the Scripps program—it had been down to Miami and OU. I decided to see Kent, also, because Miami was too stuffy for me. That day I signed into my email while at Kent and it said I was in the Scripps school. The funniest thing was that I emailed Prof Stewart back by asking him ‘Is this a joke?’ I was dumbfounded, but I tried to cover it up in the smartest way possible. The first time I met him in class, I introduced myself and I told him I was the girl who asked him if it was a joke; he laughed and remembered.”

(End Quote)

                She moved, then, to start anew; once again Kirsten was in motion. The Scripps School is obviously the main reason many people eventually choose OU. But how do these people choose Journalism in the first place? Kirsten offers an enlightening reason why,

(Quote)

                “I may not be the most informed human being; in a room of journalism majors, I will not be the first person to tell you about what happened in Libya last night. But, when I go and sit in front of the news, I feel connected to the world. If I miss watching the news I feel isolated; the news reminds you that you have this whole world, it’s bigger than your own life. And I love talking.”

(End Quote)

                What exactly made Kirsten keep diving in, despite her not being quote-unquote “the most informed human being?” How did she always keep moving along on things? On this final note, Kirsten had to say,

(Quote)

                “I’ve always wanted to do things but I’ve never been the best or recognized for things. My driving force is all the times I haven’t been acknowledged or have been pushed aside. My dad and I don’t speak and my old friends have replaced me. My driving force is to be irreplaceable or unforgettable. Obviously I don’t want to blow up a school, or something-- but that’s my driving force. I want to be of importance to something. I want to get out of an experience as much as I put in.”

(End Quote)

                Always pushed aside, Kirsten has had to remain moving in order to keep on living her life. However, what’s the problem with a life of constant motion, when some lives are fixed in the same track, never moving and never experiencing the world around them?