Summer Update

Blogging takes time commitment…something I need to work on. Anyway, although I haven’t exactly been ‘broadcasting away’, I have been learning from the best in the field-either at the radio (NPR) or TV (ABC) during my internships. More updates to come with anecdotes/photos.

A Historic Paper: The Boston Globe

Boston Globe Office

A rally organized by the Boston Newspaper Guild today focused on the Boston Globe’s possible closure by the New York Times. Readers, journalists and union leaders all gathered in support. The crowd gathered at Faneuil Hall, Boston to rally in support.  I spoke to Sean Murphy, A Globe reporter for 22 years, who can’t imagine Boston without the paper. And even one of Boston’s youngest supporters would be saddened if the paper closes its doors since her mother works there. The Globe is celebrated as one of Boston’s best, and the speakers at the rally only embellished that. The Globe must meet $22 million in concessions to maintain its operations.

Tax Day Tea Party & Aftermath

Thousands of people gathered in the Boston Common, on the streets of NYC, and in countless other states. What were they rallying about? Well, “Tax Day” …or in essence a protest to higher taxes and government spending. And while the media may have portrayed it as “spontaneous”, it really wasn’t. So who is behind the protests? It may seem as though people gathered randomly, but the planning was extensive. It grew word-to-mouth over the internet instantly. And surely conservative talk show hosts might have played a role..

TEXAS TO SECEDE? A rumor?

Governor Rick Perry TX

And then there was the unforgettable news headline concerning Texan Gov. Rick Perry.. Perry says the U.S. is not what it used to be. The country’s founding principles of limited government have been “abandoned” and federal government has “strangled” taxpayers in taxation, spending and most importantly, debt.

I leave you with two questions: Was this a grass roots movement? And what will it lead to?

TV News Producing.

A Short Behind-the-Scenes Look at a TV News Show

[Photo of Johnny R. and Me on set for TV News.]

“Anchors”: TV News Anchoring may appear relatively easy, but it can get quite nerve-racking. Anchors need to mentally prepare for any ‘technical difficulties’. Tele prompters can never fully be relied on. They sometimes experience delays or don’t display stories. Hence, anchors need to be familiar with their stories. 

[Photo of Lindsey A., & Me ]

“Last Minute Details”: TV News Producers have immense powers but how they use their authority is even more important. In our production, Lindsey proved to have control over the show, but also maintained good communication with everyone contributing to the show. 

[Photo of Evan A. and us live on set]

“The Control Room”: During the show, the producer, writers, etc. are in the control room. Through headsets the producer communicates with the anchors. The Floor Director (Evan) alerts all on-air staff to look at specific cameras, and tells anchors when to wrap up/extend stories through different cues.  

 Lastly, here’s a Youtube video of a day “Behind the Scenes” at the BBC, my favorite TV News Station in the World.

http://tinyurl.com/cufa2w

WECB News: “Oddly Enough”.

Strange Night at Government Center, Boston

Most online newspapers have a section of ’strange’ stories. These stories often aren’t covered by mainstream media. Reuters has a similar section, “Oddly Enough“.

So what do Reuters and Emerson College Radio have in common?

Well…Meg (my co-anchor) and I or “The Dream Team” host WECB News, a news talk show on America’s first commercial college radio station. During the show, we freely discuss vital news stories and mention Reuter’s “Oddly Enough” ones too. WECB NEWS airs every Thursday from 6-7 pm on WECB!  Tune in to hear commentary, a dry sense of humor, personal anecdotes and of course, the news! http://wecb.emerson.edu/

News-in-Brief: Mass. Budget Cuts Damage Children’s Programs..

Programs for children affected by Budget Cuts

My radio story based on Boston Metro’s article. It briefly discusses the impact of Gov. Patrick’s budget cuts of October and January, and how they have impacted children’s programs (http://www.childrensleague.org).

The Internet & Social Media Show

 

Photo By: Silverman Associates

It’s been a productive year for me at the WERS 88.9 fm News Department  (http://blog.emerson.edu/wersnews/). I’ve been producing the station’s Public Affairs News Show, You Are Here. As its host,  ’rise and shine’ time is at 5:30 am every Sunday before the show kicks off from 7-8 am. 

This week we focused on Internet and Social Media expansion: mentioning websites like www.facebook.com and www.twitter.com, blogs, and even www.hulu.com. Every week we aspire to invite an expert or if we get lucky, have two… I talked to Shelly Palmer and John Wilpers about social media.

Here’s the interview with Shelly Palmer (www.ShellyPalmer.com)

Later on I talked to John Wilpers of Global Post, a Boston online start-up for international news, concerning the growth of blogging.

A passion for news, an interest in people’s stories.

 

Photo by: Chance Dorland

Travel is an integral part of life. It encourages us to be open-minded. It allows people to experience a new culture, one similar or nothing remotely familiar to our own. I grew up in a multi-cultural, bilingual household in the Netherlands, Europe. My parents introduced me to numerous countries from a young age. Now, my enthusiasm for travel, a keen interest in news, and connectedness with diverse people have translated into a true passion for journalism. 

While journalists use different mediums to tell their stories, I’m inspired by them all. James Nachtwey, a renowned photojournalist, takes gripping photographs of famine, war and other casualties. Reporters from the BBC have balanced, well-researched coverage. The journalists for TIME magazine write compellingly. 

 To gain in-depth journalistic experience, I applied to Emerson College. Three years have passed, and I’ve loved every minute of it. At Emerson, I’ve grown at one of the country’s Best College’s Radio Stations, WERS 88.9 fm, and through observing what the faculty offers. The show I work on even received mention from the Boston Globe Magazine! Here’s the article: http://tinyurl.com/5v5u5h