Lessons for journalism – and life

The session today by Keith Woods, dean of faculty at The Poynter Institute, was informative. The lessons he bestowed can have an immediate impact on my interviewing and writing. I will pay more attention to my paraphrasing and general sentence writing in order to avoid confusion. I also can take these lessons with me into my personal life. Thinking more about how my statements will be received will allow me to be perceived as a better individual.

Thankful for the opportunity

As orientation comes to an end, I can't help but marvel at how this is only the beginning of our experience with this program. Perhaps years from now, we may be coming back to assist the new classes of scholars. When I first heard about Chips Quinn at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists convention in Fort Lauderdale a couple of years ago, I didn't apply. But as we have heard throughout this orientation, we are here for a reason, and I'm glad I waited. Our CQS class is the first to experience the Newseum in all its glory and is among the first to receive multimedia training at the end of the summer. I'm thankful to be a part of this program and am looking forward to my future endeavors.

Who’s reading the paper?

Scholars play Newsmania. (Photo by Russel Daniels, Summer 2008)

“Blue! Blue! Blue!” What could unify and divide us more than the ever-popular Newsmania game? It was perhaps the best part of orientation so far, and I firmly believe that it would be appropriate to conclude each night with a rousing round of Newsmania – for the joys and sorrows of the teams’ wins and losses and most important, to see who read The Washington Post that morning.

What they don’t teach in J-school

Keith Woods, dean of faculty at The Poynter Institute, taught us something they don't teach in J-school: Journalist have a duty to gather as much information as needed to makesure readers fully understand what is being said. "You can control half (of the conversation), but you have a responsibility for it all," Woods said.

A helpful array of speakers

From left: Jason McKibben (Spring 2005), photographer, Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune and Xavier Mascarenas (Summer 2008). (Photo by Sue Serna, Summer 2000)

My favorite thing about orientation so far, besides the people I've met, is how well the program has mixed professional journalists who are outside of our age range with alumni from just 10 years ago. I was a bit nervous that the journalists we would meet would be patronizing or would tell us things we had already learned. Instead, it's clear that the speakers put much thought into their presentations and took care to discuss issues that aren't taught in college (or at least at mine). The lessons we've learned here are helpful, not only for our internships but also for the rest of our journalism career.

Using words with care

Keith Woods' session was invaluable. His words on language and how it can bemisinterpreted is a lesson all journalists must learn. As journalists, we have a duty to be accurate and fair. In order to do that, we must be careful with the words we use in our reporting, interviewing and writing. Keith, who is dean of faculty at The Poynter Institute, touched on the issue of the tension among races and how messages can be distorted and misperceived by reporters and editors who fail to provide context for what people say. I will remember what Keith said and be aware of the language I use and the messages people are trying to convey.

In order to understand, ask questions

Is it racist when someone of a background other than your own tells you that you are surprisingly articulate? Is that considered offensive? Growing up in the South, without an accent to pin me down to any race, per se, I have experienced this offense. I learned today from Keith Woods, dean of faculty at The Poynter Institute, that I have to resort to questions in order to understand where a person who says this is coming from. As journalists, we must ask questions to avoid making mountains out of mole hills. Mr. Woods’ speech, I hope, will stay in the mind of Chipsters and be spread throughout our profession.