It’s plus four on what seems to be the nicest day of the year.
To celebrate, I decide to take a walk downtown and end up at the Forks. I almost feel like I need my sunglasses to shield the streaming sun while I sit in the food court. The warm, bright, smiling sun shines through the tall long ceilings at the Forks Market in Winnipeg on this Monday. The sun sits on my back, and I know its rays are hitting my hair perfectly. 150 days of the year, I have black hair and for the rest, when the sun is as it is today, my hair has a tint of red in it.
After basking in the sun’s warm rays, I get up and continue my walk. I resist the cinnamon buns from Tall Grass Prairie…..although the warm, intoxicating smell of butter and cinnamon is overwhelming to the point that I have to stop and stare at the cinnamon buns glazed with white sugary icing. My mouth watering, I decide a bag of candy can also satisfy my sweet tooth.
Stella Gower, owner of The Almond Tree, chats with me in a thick addictive Ukrainian accent as I pick my treats, candy corn, chocolate raisins, and sour patch kids. I ask her whether the sun being out makes a difference in the amount of business the store receives.
She tells me that it absolutely does.
“Naturally, as soon as it gets green outside, people want to come out,” she says.
Then she says what I’ve been feeling all day.
“Everyone feels a little better once it’s nice out.”
She’s right. I feel better when I see the sun. I’ve been in an edit suite desperately working through the last of my work in CreComm as this is my last week in the program. Now, I’m here at the Forks in the strong sunlight and all I can think of is how lovely it would be to stay a little longer rather then head back to the blank draining disheartening computer screen that’s calling to me back at school.
I remind myself my walk isn’t over yet and head into the second corridor of sun. The vegetable and fruit aisle. The long line of food stretches on for what seem an eternity and the colours of the vegetables and fruits are extra bright and vibrant today, what with the sun shining down on them, reds, greens, and yellows. That’s where I find myself starring at the red and yellow mangoes, my favourite fruit, ripe and ready to eat.
Suddenly a woman comes up next to me…and I’m immediately obsessed with her. Why? She has a little tiny baby attached to her stomach in one of those baby-carriers-on-the-stomach things. He’s tiny. I can’t help it, I make conversation. She tells me he’s her son, Sylar, and her name is Angela Anderson. She’s on maternity leave and she decided, with the sun being as warm as it is, to take a walk from her home downtown.
"I debated where to go and decided on the Forks because I have the option of walking inside or outside," Anderson tells me.
I say hello to her little baby boy, tiny with soft blond precious hair, we agree the cinnamon buns are to die for and then I go on my way.
I move on from the engaging health aisles into another dream food world. Ice cream. With the weather getting better, I imagine there are people getting ice cream, gelato, or frozen yogurt. And I am right. A mother and daughter sit together and chat quietly while they eat ice cream at Neon Cone and a young boy, probably around 7, grabs his dad’s hand and maneuvers him to the ice cream stand, I laugh as I watch. I feel the same way.
I turn my head and watch a couple walking outside. They’re about the same age, but the girl is very tall, with long longs and a skirt so short it’s only appropriate in the summer. I’m intrigued. I follow them outside to the benches near the river. They sit, eat candy as I do as well, and chat away, clearly on some kind of date.
A few benches away, two middle ages women, friends I assume, sit together tightly on the bench. Their words are a distant whisper to me, articulated only by the expression in their waving hands.
One brown bench closer, a young woman in her 30s I believe, sits in a green sweater, jeans, and sneakers. She shields the sun with her hands and looks out the water, the river which is still half covered in melting off-white snow.
I look out with her, following her gaze. The soft breeze in the air hits me hard, it’s sunny, but the wind is still striking, any stronger and I’d consider it cold out.
Around me, the sound of leaves softly flutter across the grass…grass which is barely visible under the mud and dirt spring has brought. The grass looks yellow actually, dried and dead. Besides the leaves which have fallen from the bare grey trees, there is little sound besides that of the wind rustling softly.
I look around. Its quiet today, but I imagine what it will look like when summer begins, perhaps on Canada Day, when there’s not a free bench to sit on for miles. When streams of people crowd in the space like tiny ants waiting for the fireworks. I wonder if I’ll be back in Winnipeg this year to watch them…
I can barely get myself to leave. I wish I could have sat in that spot and took it all in for a moment longer. But I couldn’t. I don't know when I'll be back. It could be months. But I’m already looking forward to going back and am grateful for the peaceful moment I received from this place amidst life's craziness today. Under the smiling sun.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Final Two
Crecomm is coming to an end. Now what?
The end of the school year is approaching. Fast.
Last week, while standing in line at Tim Hortons with Dr. Petty, we both came to the conclusion that I only had two weeks left of CreComm.
It hit me.
Two weeks.
It’s the end of post-secondary education for me. Five years, a double major and a diploma later, I am done school. For now at least…I think I eventually want to get a Masters in journalism, but probably not for a few years.
So this is it for now. No more school.
I have the next two months of my life planned out. After these next two weeks, I head to Vancouver for a six week internship at Global National.
After that? I have no idea…
This is the first time in my life where I’ve had NO idea, absolutely no idea, where I am heading or what’s going to happen.
In two months, where will I be?
Will I have a job? If I do have a job, what will it be? An internship? Maybe I’ll be volunteering? Travelling?
Or maybe I’ll be working out and sleeping…or sitting at home unemployed watching soap operas?
I’m not scared of change….but it does make me a bit uneasy… I’d rather I knew what was going to happen…but the unknown is kind of wonderful too.
If you’d told me in September I’d be living in Vancouver for two months this summer, I’d have been shocked. Change can be so surprising and amazing…but I’ll admit it. I’m scared.
School has always been my security blanket. The one constant thing in my life. What am I going to do without it?
And I’ve realized, I’m really going to miss it.
The end of the school year is approaching. Fast.
Last week, while standing in line at Tim Hortons with Dr. Petty, we both came to the conclusion that I only had two weeks left of CreComm.
It hit me.
Two weeks.
It’s the end of post-secondary education for me. Five years, a double major and a diploma later, I am done school. For now at least…I think I eventually want to get a Masters in journalism, but probably not for a few years.
So this is it for now. No more school.
I have the next two months of my life planned out. After these next two weeks, I head to Vancouver for a six week internship at Global National.
After that? I have no idea…
This is the first time in my life where I’ve had NO idea, absolutely no idea, where I am heading or what’s going to happen.
In two months, where will I be?
Will I have a job? If I do have a job, what will it be? An internship? Maybe I’ll be volunteering? Travelling?
Or maybe I’ll be working out and sleeping…or sitting at home unemployed watching soap operas?
I’m not scared of change….but it does make me a bit uneasy… I’d rather I knew what was going to happen…but the unknown is kind of wonderful too.
If you’d told me in September I’d be living in Vancouver for two months this summer, I’d have been shocked. Change can be so surprising and amazing…but I’ll admit it. I’m scared.
School has always been my security blanket. The one constant thing in my life. What am I going to do without it?
And I’ve realized, I’m really going to miss it.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Winnipeg's Great War, close to one hundred years later...
Last week, I finished reading a book called Winnipeg’s Great War: A City Comes of Age by Jim Blanchard.
It was filled with interesting details, information, stories, and anecdotes about people, businesses, and the history of Winnipeg during the First World War starting in 1914.
I decided to learn a little bit more about some of those organizations and places the book references.
One of the first places I visited was the Bank of Montreal building located at the corner of Main Street and Portage Avenue. This building, located at what is one of Canada’s windiest corners, was finished in 1913, right before the First World War began.
Today, it is still absolutely stunning, made from marble with high ceilings and beautiful architecture.
Caronline Torres, the senior customer service representative for the BMO branch, told me that most of the branch’s employees at the time of the war were male. They all lived on the third floor of the building in apartments. They had maid service, three hot meals a day, and laundry service. When the war broke out, the branch lost most of its employees as many went to fight in the war. In fact, the statue in the front of the building (still standing today) is of one of the employees who went off to war.
“Most of the bank’s employees at that time were men. As a result, when they all went off to war, that’s when we started hiring women to work at this branch,” she said. “That was the beginning of women working here.”
Torres also said that the branch was built in 1913 at the center of the city because (as Blanchard states in his book) Winnipeg was the third largest city in Canada and that its growth was imminent and booming. Branch owners thought by building the bank at the center of the city, it was a great way to be in the center of an economic boom.
But Torres said, after the war occurred, the bank went from being focused on Winnipeg’s economic growth and prosperity to farming.
“This branch became the center for farming,” she said. “After the war, the bank was now earning all its money from the farming community.”
This got me thinking more about Winnipeg’s Exchange District.
That’s why after the Bank of Montreal, I headed down Main Street and visited CentreVenture Development Corporation located at 492 Main Street. The senior development officer there Jeff Palmer showed me a large framed photograph taken of Winnipeg’s Exchange District, a national historic site, in 1911 (right before the war).
“This building was built in 1894 and is a designated building by the City of Winnipeg,” he said.
He directed me to the City of Winnipeg’s website, and I learned that the building was MacDonald Shoes for a really long time.
Thomas Ryan opened the store that year, a businessman who had confidence in Winnipeg’s boom. At that time, the building, with its four stories, cost close to $35,000 to make.
In 1900, Armine Banfield, a household furnishings dealer, took over the property. After a fire in 1903, he rebuilt the building. In 1933, after another disastrous fire, MacDonald Shoes took ownership of the property. Interestingly, T.J Ainslie MacDonald served in the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War One before settling in Winnipeg. Today, CentreVenture has been operating out of the building for a few years.
It’s interesting, as I read Winnipeg’s Great War as lifelong Winnipegger, how many names of businesses that I recognized, such as the Canadian Red Cross that’s still around today as well as the Winnipeg Free Press (although it has moved from its original location on Carlton Street downtown to its location on Mountain Avenue now).
The Hudson’s Bay Company, located on Portage Avenue, is also mentioned in the book and it’s still around close to 100 years later, but the Eaton’s building is not (although I do remember when Eaton’s closed when I was a kid).
Other newspapers mentioned in the book, The Winnipeg Tribune (1890-1980) and the Winnipeg Telegram (1907-1920), are also no longer in existence.
The Royal Alexandra Hotel is mentioned in the book and it is no longer around. Instead, a plaque where it used to be in Winnipeg’s Exchange District exists in its memory.
Lt. Colonel’s Thomson’s old home is now St. John’s Ravenscourt School, a private school in Winnipeg. My brother goes to that school and I can say, having visited many times, it is amazing to see how much it has changed from a home to a school over the years. It’s hard to recognize it as a home anymore.
I also found in my research that although the First World War took place close to 100 years ago and across an ocean, there are many memorials here in the city, even today, to pay tribute to all those who fought for our freedom. At Augustine United Church, located at 444 River Ave, a memorial stands outside the church to commemorate the soldiers who fought.
Outside the Bank of Montreal on Main Street that I visited, like I mentioned before, a 9 foot tall bronze statue with a marble base is of a World War One soldier to pay tribute to the 230 BMO employees who died in the war.
I learned a lot by reading this book and even more by doing some research about the places, businesses, and people Blanchard mentions in his book.
The thing I took away from this reading experience is that it is really nice to know that close to 100 years, in so many ways, in Winnipeg, the soldiers who sacrificed their lives have not been forgotten.
I also think it’s interesting to know how so many businesses in the Exchange District have been around for so many years….every day while I drive by these buildings to get to school, I never stop to think about how long the buildings have been around or what they were first used for. I will definitely do that in the future.
I definitely recommend Winnipeg’s Great War: A City Comes of Age to anyone interested in Winnipeg’s history.
Happy Reading!
It was filled with interesting details, information, stories, and anecdotes about people, businesses, and the history of Winnipeg during the First World War starting in 1914.
I decided to learn a little bit more about some of those organizations and places the book references.
One of the first places I visited was the Bank of Montreal building located at the corner of Main Street and Portage Avenue. This building, located at what is one of Canada’s windiest corners, was finished in 1913, right before the First World War began.
Today, it is still absolutely stunning, made from marble with high ceilings and beautiful architecture.
Caronline Torres, the senior customer service representative for the BMO branch, told me that most of the branch’s employees at the time of the war were male. They all lived on the third floor of the building in apartments. They had maid service, three hot meals a day, and laundry service. When the war broke out, the branch lost most of its employees as many went to fight in the war. In fact, the statue in the front of the building (still standing today) is of one of the employees who went off to war.
“Most of the bank’s employees at that time were men. As a result, when they all went off to war, that’s when we started hiring women to work at this branch,” she said. “That was the beginning of women working here.”
Torres also said that the branch was built in 1913 at the center of the city because (as Blanchard states in his book) Winnipeg was the third largest city in Canada and that its growth was imminent and booming. Branch owners thought by building the bank at the center of the city, it was a great way to be in the center of an economic boom.
But Torres said, after the war occurred, the bank went from being focused on Winnipeg’s economic growth and prosperity to farming.
“This branch became the center for farming,” she said. “After the war, the bank was now earning all its money from the farming community.”
This got me thinking more about Winnipeg’s Exchange District.
That’s why after the Bank of Montreal, I headed down Main Street and visited CentreVenture Development Corporation located at 492 Main Street. The senior development officer there Jeff Palmer showed me a large framed photograph taken of Winnipeg’s Exchange District, a national historic site, in 1911 (right before the war).
“This building was built in 1894 and is a designated building by the City of Winnipeg,” he said.
He directed me to the City of Winnipeg’s website, and I learned that the building was MacDonald Shoes for a really long time.
Thomas Ryan opened the store that year, a businessman who had confidence in Winnipeg’s boom. At that time, the building, with its four stories, cost close to $35,000 to make.
In 1900, Armine Banfield, a household furnishings dealer, took over the property. After a fire in 1903, he rebuilt the building. In 1933, after another disastrous fire, MacDonald Shoes took ownership of the property. Interestingly, T.J Ainslie MacDonald served in the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War One before settling in Winnipeg. Today, CentreVenture has been operating out of the building for a few years.
It’s interesting, as I read Winnipeg’s Great War as lifelong Winnipegger, how many names of businesses that I recognized, such as the Canadian Red Cross that’s still around today as well as the Winnipeg Free Press (although it has moved from its original location on Carlton Street downtown to its location on Mountain Avenue now).
The Hudson’s Bay Company, located on Portage Avenue, is also mentioned in the book and it’s still around close to 100 years later, but the Eaton’s building is not (although I do remember when Eaton’s closed when I was a kid).
Other newspapers mentioned in the book, The Winnipeg Tribune (1890-1980) and the Winnipeg Telegram (1907-1920), are also no longer in existence.
The Royal Alexandra Hotel is mentioned in the book and it is no longer around. Instead, a plaque where it used to be in Winnipeg’s Exchange District exists in its memory.
Lt. Colonel’s Thomson’s old home is now St. John’s Ravenscourt School, a private school in Winnipeg. My brother goes to that school and I can say, having visited many times, it is amazing to see how much it has changed from a home to a school over the years. It’s hard to recognize it as a home anymore.
I also found in my research that although the First World War took place close to 100 years ago and across an ocean, there are many memorials here in the city, even today, to pay tribute to all those who fought for our freedom. At Augustine United Church, located at 444 River Ave, a memorial stands outside the church to commemorate the soldiers who fought.
Outside the Bank of Montreal on Main Street that I visited, like I mentioned before, a 9 foot tall bronze statue with a marble base is of a World War One soldier to pay tribute to the 230 BMO employees who died in the war.
I learned a lot by reading this book and even more by doing some research about the places, businesses, and people Blanchard mentions in his book.
The thing I took away from this reading experience is that it is really nice to know that close to 100 years, in so many ways, in Winnipeg, the soldiers who sacrificed their lives have not been forgotten.
I also think it’s interesting to know how so many businesses in the Exchange District have been around for so many years….every day while I drive by these buildings to get to school, I never stop to think about how long the buildings have been around or what they were first used for. I will definitely do that in the future.
I definitely recommend Winnipeg’s Great War: A City Comes of Age to anyone interested in Winnipeg’s history.
Happy Reading!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Winnipeg’s Great War
I just finished reading Winnipeg’s Great War by Jim Blanchard.
I really enjoyed this book. I’ve always been interested in history, and this story was very detailed and intensely edited. The amount of information in it is absolutely remarkable.
The author, Jim Blanchard, came to our journalism class this week, and we had the privilege of asking him a few questions about his writing process.
He told us that he wrote the draft to this story by hand twice before ever sending it to an editor, and if you’ve read the book, that’s outstanding.
Moreover, like I mentioned before, the amount of research and information that went into this book is admirable.
The book is about the First World War starting in 1914 and basically goes over most of what happened in Winnipeg at that time.
I was particularly interested in this because, in my old job at Manitoba Film and Music, one of my tasks was to showcase the city to offshore producers who visited. Many producers saw Winnipeg as “the Chicago of the North” and I always told them that, at one time, Winnipeg was on the path to becoming as large and prosperous as Chicago.
I found this book to be very interesting, because it explained how Winnipeg went from being Canada’s third largest city in 1914 (“the Chicago of the North”) to the city it is today.
I was super interested in learning what exactly took place that changed the course of our city’s history, and I think Blanchard did a great job of explaining what happened.
My favourite topics in the book were women’s role in the war and how voting for women became legal. I also enjoyed reading about conscription and what events made enrolling as a soldier mandatory.
If you’d like to read more about how the First World War and Winnipeg in particular, pick up a copy of Winnipeg’s Great War at McNally Robinson.
I really enjoyed this book. I’ve always been interested in history, and this story was very detailed and intensely edited. The amount of information in it is absolutely remarkable.
The author, Jim Blanchard, came to our journalism class this week, and we had the privilege of asking him a few questions about his writing process.
He told us that he wrote the draft to this story by hand twice before ever sending it to an editor, and if you’ve read the book, that’s outstanding.
Moreover, like I mentioned before, the amount of research and information that went into this book is admirable.
The book is about the First World War starting in 1914 and basically goes over most of what happened in Winnipeg at that time.
I was particularly interested in this because, in my old job at Manitoba Film and Music, one of my tasks was to showcase the city to offshore producers who visited. Many producers saw Winnipeg as “the Chicago of the North” and I always told them that, at one time, Winnipeg was on the path to becoming as large and prosperous as Chicago.
I found this book to be very interesting, because it explained how Winnipeg went from being Canada’s third largest city in 1914 (“the Chicago of the North”) to the city it is today.
I was super interested in learning what exactly took place that changed the course of our city’s history, and I think Blanchard did a great job of explaining what happened.
My favourite topics in the book were women’s role in the war and how voting for women became legal. I also enjoyed reading about conscription and what events made enrolling as a soldier mandatory.
If you’d like to read more about how the First World War and Winnipeg in particular, pick up a copy of Winnipeg’s Great War at McNally Robinson.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Evidence based reporting
So this week, the journalism majors learned about evidence based reporting. Dr. Noralou Roos from the University of Manitoba visited our class and taught us about the Evidence Network. We learned that evidence reporting is essential for journalists in order to get the real story out. If one writes a story without adequate research or evidence, the story lacks depth, credibility, accuracy, and validity, especially for stories related to health care.
As an exercise, I took a health care related topic and searched articles about it written on the internet to see what I found. My topic was “patient financing of health care.”
I was astonished to find that in most of the journalistic articles I found, there was little evidence used as a reference or reported. Most of the stories were about the benefits of patients paying for their own health care (privatization in Canada).
Interestingly, by reading up about this topic through research from the Evidence Network, I found that in actuality, based on research and evidence done, it was found that for many patients, privatization is a bad thing.
Dr. Noralou Roos said that many patients are unaware of when they need to go to the doctor in the first place, when it’s really necessary, so when they do, if there is a user fee, it tends to discourage care for the people who really need it.
"In Saskatchewan, in a study done on user fees in health care, it has been found that people who need to be at the doctor’s office who avoid going because of user fees often end up even more sick and in the hospital because they didn’t go the doctor earlier as they could not afford the fees,” she said.
Roos said that it has been found through research that many people may not go to the doctor even if they need to because of the fees.
“Most people who are at the doctor’s office aren’t there because they enjoy being there,” she said. “People in the office are usually sick and need to be there. They need the care.”
I was shocked to see the results I found from the Evidence Network on this topic.
Through the search I did on patient financing of health care, it seemed that many people were in favour of patients’ paying because it would lead to better quality health care.
I see how for a journalist, it is essential to learn about your topic not just through stories and anecdotes or interviews, but to review research on your topic. Otherwise you could end up making a journalist’s biggest sin, not doing justice to the story.
As an exercise, I took a health care related topic and searched articles about it written on the internet to see what I found. My topic was “patient financing of health care.”
I was astonished to find that in most of the journalistic articles I found, there was little evidence used as a reference or reported. Most of the stories were about the benefits of patients paying for their own health care (privatization in Canada).
Interestingly, by reading up about this topic through research from the Evidence Network, I found that in actuality, based on research and evidence done, it was found that for many patients, privatization is a bad thing.
Dr. Noralou Roos said that many patients are unaware of when they need to go to the doctor in the first place, when it’s really necessary, so when they do, if there is a user fee, it tends to discourage care for the people who really need it.
"In Saskatchewan, in a study done on user fees in health care, it has been found that people who need to be at the doctor’s office who avoid going because of user fees often end up even more sick and in the hospital because they didn’t go the doctor earlier as they could not afford the fees,” she said.
Roos said that it has been found through research that many people may not go to the doctor even if they need to because of the fees.
“Most people who are at the doctor’s office aren’t there because they enjoy being there,” she said. “People in the office are usually sick and need to be there. They need the care.”
I was shocked to see the results I found from the Evidence Network on this topic.
Through the search I did on patient financing of health care, it seemed that many people were in favour of patients’ paying because it would lead to better quality health care.
I see how for a journalist, it is essential to learn about your topic not just through stories and anecdotes or interviews, but to review research on your topic. Otherwise you could end up making a journalist’s biggest sin, not doing justice to the story.
Monday, February 28, 2011
IPP Go Time...
So here it is. The moment has arrived.
It's been over a year since this year's second year Crecomms began deliberating their IPPs (independent professional projects). And now, the time has come. It's almost hard to believe.
For those of you who don't know, my IPP is a video documentary on arranged marriages.
It has been a long and challening year for me with this IPP and, no doubt, the next week and a half, as I finish up and prepare for my presentation next week, will only be longer.
That being said, how sweet the end of the race feels!
I am so excited to finally have something to show for all of my work, and the final product reminds me why I chose a documentary in the first place. Because I now have something I can show to tell this story.
Next week marks IPP week. To anyone who reads this blog or knows anything about Crecommm, all the second year Crecomms will present their IPPS over the course of three days (March 9-11) at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. Here is the list of the order.
http://creativeinlove.blogspot.com/2011/02/ipp-time-baby.html
If you're in the area, drop by. It's unbelievable that Crecomm is ending and that in one week, the IPP, the thing that's been looming over our heads for over a year, will be over.
Wow. Time flies.
It's been over a year since this year's second year Crecomms began deliberating their IPPs (independent professional projects). And now, the time has come. It's almost hard to believe.
For those of you who don't know, my IPP is a video documentary on arranged marriages.
It has been a long and challening year for me with this IPP and, no doubt, the next week and a half, as I finish up and prepare for my presentation next week, will only be longer.
That being said, how sweet the end of the race feels!
I am so excited to finally have something to show for all of my work, and the final product reminds me why I chose a documentary in the first place. Because I now have something I can show to tell this story.
Next week marks IPP week. To anyone who reads this blog or knows anything about Crecommm, all the second year Crecomms will present their IPPS over the course of three days (March 9-11) at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. Here is the list of the order.
http://creativeinlove.blogspot.com/2011/02/ipp-time-baby.html
If you're in the area, drop by. It's unbelievable that Crecomm is ending and that in one week, the IPP, the thing that's been looming over our heads for over a year, will be over.
Wow. Time flies.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Going back to the basics
Duncan, I'm sorry! For my post today, I am reverting back to the beginning....to my original blog topic...Love.
I'm sorry, but it's Valentine's Day!!! How could I not post about something to do with love?
I will refrain from posting about how people who don't agree with the holiday should come over to the dark side....lol, I'll let that debate go (I already had it with 7 people today...)
Instead, here are some of my favourite love poems...They aren't all happy...as love can be a rollercoaster of good and bad, but nonetheless, here are some wise words about love.
And Duncan...how does this relate to journalism?
Easy....poems are words mixed with creativity...which in a lot of ways is what crecomm is all about!
The Benjamin Franklin of Monogamy
Jeffrey McDaniel
Reminiscing in the drizzle of Portland, I notice
the ring that's landed on your finger, a massive
insect of glitter, a chandelier shining at the end
of a long tunnel. Thirteen years ago, you hid the hurt
in your voice under a blanket and said there's two kinds
of women—those you write poems about
and those you don't. It's true. I never brought you
a bouquet of sonnets, or served you haiku in bed.
My idea of courtship was tapping Jane's Addiction
lyrics in Morse code on your window at three A.M.,
whiskey doing push-ups on my breath. But I worked
within the confines of my character, cast
as the bad boy in your life, the Magellan
of your dark side. We don't have a past so much
as a bunch of electricity and liquor, power
never put to good use. What we had together
makes it sound like a virus, as if we caught
one another like colds, and desire was merely
a symptom that could be treated with soup
and lots of sex. Gliding beside you now,
I feel like the Benjamin Franklin of monogamy,
as if I invented it, but I'm still not immune
to your waterfall scent, still haven't developed
antibodies for your smile. I don't know how long
regret existed before humans stuck a word on it.
I don't know how many paper towels it would take
to wipe up the Pacific Ocean, or why the light
of a candle being blown out travels faster
than the luminescence of one that's just been lit,
but I do know that all our huffing and puffing
into each other's ears—as if the brain was a trick
birthday candle—didn't make the silence
any easier to navigate. I'm sorry all the kisses
I scrawled on your neck were written
in disappearing ink. Sometimes I thought of you
so hard one of your legs would pop out
of my ear hole, and when I was sleeping, you'd press
your face against the porthole of my submarine.
I'm sorry this poem has taken thirteen years
to reach you. I wish that just once, instead of skidding
off the shoulder blade's precipice and joyriding
over flesh, we'd put our hands away like chocolate
to be saved for later, and deciphered the calligraphy
of each other's eyelashes, translated a paragraph
from the volumes of what couldn't be said.
"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways..."
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
William Shakespeare - Sonnet #18
Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And Summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And oft' is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd:
But thy eternal Summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wanderest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
I'm sorry, but it's Valentine's Day!!! How could I not post about something to do with love?
I will refrain from posting about how people who don't agree with the holiday should come over to the dark side....lol, I'll let that debate go (I already had it with 7 people today...)
Instead, here are some of my favourite love poems...They aren't all happy...as love can be a rollercoaster of good and bad, but nonetheless, here are some wise words about love.
And Duncan...how does this relate to journalism?
Easy....poems are words mixed with creativity...which in a lot of ways is what crecomm is all about!
The Benjamin Franklin of Monogamy
Jeffrey McDaniel
Reminiscing in the drizzle of Portland, I notice
the ring that's landed on your finger, a massive
insect of glitter, a chandelier shining at the end
of a long tunnel. Thirteen years ago, you hid the hurt
in your voice under a blanket and said there's two kinds
of women—those you write poems about
and those you don't. It's true. I never brought you
a bouquet of sonnets, or served you haiku in bed.
My idea of courtship was tapping Jane's Addiction
lyrics in Morse code on your window at three A.M.,
whiskey doing push-ups on my breath. But I worked
within the confines of my character, cast
as the bad boy in your life, the Magellan
of your dark side. We don't have a past so much
as a bunch of electricity and liquor, power
never put to good use. What we had together
makes it sound like a virus, as if we caught
one another like colds, and desire was merely
a symptom that could be treated with soup
and lots of sex. Gliding beside you now,
I feel like the Benjamin Franklin of monogamy,
as if I invented it, but I'm still not immune
to your waterfall scent, still haven't developed
antibodies for your smile. I don't know how long
regret existed before humans stuck a word on it.
I don't know how many paper towels it would take
to wipe up the Pacific Ocean, or why the light
of a candle being blown out travels faster
than the luminescence of one that's just been lit,
but I do know that all our huffing and puffing
into each other's ears—as if the brain was a trick
birthday candle—didn't make the silence
any easier to navigate. I'm sorry all the kisses
I scrawled on your neck were written
in disappearing ink. Sometimes I thought of you
so hard one of your legs would pop out
of my ear hole, and when I was sleeping, you'd press
your face against the porthole of my submarine.
I'm sorry this poem has taken thirteen years
to reach you. I wish that just once, instead of skidding
off the shoulder blade's precipice and joyriding
over flesh, we'd put our hands away like chocolate
to be saved for later, and deciphered the calligraphy
of each other's eyelashes, translated a paragraph
from the volumes of what couldn't be said.
"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways..."
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
William Shakespeare - Sonnet #18
Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And Summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And oft' is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd:
But thy eternal Summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wanderest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Media Law
As I watch the daily coverage of the Candace Derksen trial, I wonder just how difficult it must be to cover this story as a journalist.
While I was interning at CBC last month, the trial was just beginning, and I went with one of the reporters to watch the first day of the trial. The reporter was doing live hits about the trial, and I noticed just how careful she was about what she did or did not report. What evidence she presented, what information she gave, and what facts she told were all carefully planned out and checked over with lawyers so as to not provoke a re-trial.
Today in J class, we reviewed some of the things we learned last year about media law and some of the above topics came up.
For journalists, there are so many rules and standards they should know before they report on trials in particular, especially in a case so high profile as the one about Candace ( I've personally read her mother's book about her murder and recommend it, it's riveting.)
All the rules must be daunting for journalists, but I'm assuming that experience over time helps them learn what is appropriate to report on and what needs to be left out. Also, I'm sure it helps that places like the CBC have lawyers to help them sort through all the regulations!
While I was interning at CBC last month, the trial was just beginning, and I went with one of the reporters to watch the first day of the trial. The reporter was doing live hits about the trial, and I noticed just how careful she was about what she did or did not report. What evidence she presented, what information she gave, and what facts she told were all carefully planned out and checked over with lawyers so as to not provoke a re-trial.
Today in J class, we reviewed some of the things we learned last year about media law and some of the above topics came up.
For journalists, there are so many rules and standards they should know before they report on trials in particular, especially in a case so high profile as the one about Candace ( I've personally read her mother's book about her murder and recommend it, it's riveting.)
All the rules must be daunting for journalists, but I'm assuming that experience over time helps them learn what is appropriate to report on and what needs to be left out. Also, I'm sure it helps that places like the CBC have lawyers to help them sort through all the regulations!
Monday, January 31, 2011
When does a challenge become a bad idea?
So, as most people who are close to me know, this year, my biggest challenge has been working on my IPP which is a video documentary on arranged marriages.
I have sincerely enjoyed the process, heck to some extent, I even enjoy staying at school late night after night working away at something I'm so passionate about.
But lately, I've got to thinking, was this IPP a good idea?
Now don't get me wrong, I love my topic, arranged marriages. It is one that is so intense and passionate, one I feel very strongly about. It is a topic I think people need to be educated on and I honestly feel I have come across stories throughout this six month process so far that deserve and need to be told. So I don't regret choosing arranged marriages as my topic for my independent professional project this year...not one bit. I love it as much today as I did a year ago when I decided on it.
The problem I'm struggling with now is the video documentary part of it. When I decided to do a doc last year, it was because I truly believed this was the medium that was best suited for this topic. It was the medium which would most accurately portray the issue in its full capacity.
But I look back now, and I wonder, did I make a mistake? The reason being is that I am a journalist. I am a writer, I am an interviewer, I am a storyteller. But I am not a shooter, and I definitely am not an editor.
It brings me to the question: when does challenging yourself become a mistake? I chose the video documentary medium because I thought, well, that it was the best medium to portray the issue and that even though I was completely unfamiliar with shooting and editing, it was a challenge and one I should face in order to grow and learn.
And have I grown and learned a lot. Definitely. Do I regret that? No way. Have a learned so much about the production of a documentary that is invaluable? Yes. Have I gained amazing skills? For sure.
But was it the right answer? I'm not sure.
The reason being is because....I am all for challenging one's self, but as I work on my documentary night after night, I realize one thing. This is not as good as it could be. It is not reaching the potential it could be. IT could be better.
I am so happy with my interviews, my topic, my stories. But as I look at the way the interviews are framed, my b-roll, the lighting, even the editing, I think, man, a professional shooter or editor could really have made this 100 per cent better.
I really wish that I had chosen to get someone else to shoot and edit this documentary for me. Not because I am lazy or because I haven't enjoyed the process, but because I feel indebted to my topic. I feel such loyalty and a connection to it....and I don't think I've done it justice in terms of my shots or my edits.
Why not? Because those things just aren't my strength. And while I am all for challenges and growth, I have started to realize, we are good at what we are good at, and I think my documentary would be a lot more effective had I spent more time storytelling and interviewing and less time shooting and editing.
This post isn't about complaining....or knocking my documentary. I'm sure in the end, it will be something I am incredibly proud of.
I just feel that I was blessed with discovering such a wonderful topic, one that deserves to have justice done to it, and I'm not sure it will be done because of the shooting and editing which really bothers me.
Let me propose an analogy. It's as though you have an amazing idea for a painting to convey a topic...for argument's sake, an idea of how to portray love through a painting...maybe it's through the use of colour, texture, and technique.....but just because you have a topic and an idea of how to tell the story, it doesn't mean, if you are not a painter or have the natural talent as an artist, that you'll be able to portray your idea as well as you could if you were a professional painter.
When my documentary is done, I'll be proud. And I'm so grateful to everyone who has helped me or participated in it. But do I hope to one day have the opportunity to take this topic and re-do it, this time by being the producer, director, and journalist....not the shooter and editor... for sure.
I have sincerely enjoyed the process, heck to some extent, I even enjoy staying at school late night after night working away at something I'm so passionate about.
But lately, I've got to thinking, was this IPP a good idea?
Now don't get me wrong, I love my topic, arranged marriages. It is one that is so intense and passionate, one I feel very strongly about. It is a topic I think people need to be educated on and I honestly feel I have come across stories throughout this six month process so far that deserve and need to be told. So I don't regret choosing arranged marriages as my topic for my independent professional project this year...not one bit. I love it as much today as I did a year ago when I decided on it.
The problem I'm struggling with now is the video documentary part of it. When I decided to do a doc last year, it was because I truly believed this was the medium that was best suited for this topic. It was the medium which would most accurately portray the issue in its full capacity.
But I look back now, and I wonder, did I make a mistake? The reason being is that I am a journalist. I am a writer, I am an interviewer, I am a storyteller. But I am not a shooter, and I definitely am not an editor.
It brings me to the question: when does challenging yourself become a mistake? I chose the video documentary medium because I thought, well, that it was the best medium to portray the issue and that even though I was completely unfamiliar with shooting and editing, it was a challenge and one I should face in order to grow and learn.
And have I grown and learned a lot. Definitely. Do I regret that? No way. Have a learned so much about the production of a documentary that is invaluable? Yes. Have I gained amazing skills? For sure.
But was it the right answer? I'm not sure.
The reason being is because....I am all for challenging one's self, but as I work on my documentary night after night, I realize one thing. This is not as good as it could be. It is not reaching the potential it could be. IT could be better.
I am so happy with my interviews, my topic, my stories. But as I look at the way the interviews are framed, my b-roll, the lighting, even the editing, I think, man, a professional shooter or editor could really have made this 100 per cent better.
I really wish that I had chosen to get someone else to shoot and edit this documentary for me. Not because I am lazy or because I haven't enjoyed the process, but because I feel indebted to my topic. I feel such loyalty and a connection to it....and I don't think I've done it justice in terms of my shots or my edits.
Why not? Because those things just aren't my strength. And while I am all for challenges and growth, I have started to realize, we are good at what we are good at, and I think my documentary would be a lot more effective had I spent more time storytelling and interviewing and less time shooting and editing.
This post isn't about complaining....or knocking my documentary. I'm sure in the end, it will be something I am incredibly proud of.
I just feel that I was blessed with discovering such a wonderful topic, one that deserves to have justice done to it, and I'm not sure it will be done because of the shooting and editing which really bothers me.
Let me propose an analogy. It's as though you have an amazing idea for a painting to convey a topic...for argument's sake, an idea of how to portray love through a painting...maybe it's through the use of colour, texture, and technique.....but just because you have a topic and an idea of how to tell the story, it doesn't mean, if you are not a painter or have the natural talent as an artist, that you'll be able to portray your idea as well as you could if you were a professional painter.
When my documentary is done, I'll be proud. And I'm so grateful to everyone who has helped me or participated in it. But do I hope to one day have the opportunity to take this topic and re-do it, this time by being the producer, director, and journalist....not the shooter and editor... for sure.
Monday, January 24, 2011
CBC Internship
For my first work placement, I interned at CBC News Winnipeg (television).
It was a really challenging yet rewarding experience.
I can't believe just how intense it can be to daily report. The reporters at CBC have to produce a 1.5-2 minute story as well as a BG (vosot) which they edit themselves by 4:30 pm each day. Their edit times are 2:15 pm and 3:15 pm….which makes for a short day to conduct your interviews, pick your clips, and write your script. A lot of work, but I think it all pays off once the story goes to air.
I learned so much during my internship….about story pitches, software, writing for TV, and general television reporting.
Everyone at CBC was kind and helpful; they answered all of my questions, and in the end, gave me a wonderful opportunity to produce my own story.
On-the-job work experience is invaluable. I took a lot of the things I’ve learned at university and Crecomm to the job but actually being at CBC in the flesh was a whole different experience all together.
I’m excited for my next internship in April!
It was a really challenging yet rewarding experience.
I can't believe just how intense it can be to daily report. The reporters at CBC have to produce a 1.5-2 minute story as well as a BG (vosot) which they edit themselves by 4:30 pm each day. Their edit times are 2:15 pm and 3:15 pm….which makes for a short day to conduct your interviews, pick your clips, and write your script. A lot of work, but I think it all pays off once the story goes to air.
I learned so much during my internship….about story pitches, software, writing for TV, and general television reporting.
Everyone at CBC was kind and helpful; they answered all of my questions, and in the end, gave me a wonderful opportunity to produce my own story.
On-the-job work experience is invaluable. I took a lot of the things I’ve learned at university and Crecomm to the job but actually being at CBC in the flesh was a whole different experience all together.
I’m excited for my next internship in April!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Winnipeg North speaks
Democracy works. That’s the message that rang through the Punjab Banquet Hall on Monday night during the Winnipeg North federal byelection.
Piercing wind and flying snow couldn’t keep 300 Kevin Lamoureux supporters from watching the former Liberal Party of Canada’s Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Inkster win Winnipeg North’s Member of Parliament (MP) seat with 46 per cent of the vote.
A sea of red and white exploded in whistles and cheers as supporters as multicultural as the riding itself jumped up and down as the newly elected Member of Parliament entered the hall.
Lamoureux addressed the crowd and greeted many constituents by their first names.
“For those of you that have been with me for years, thank you,” he said. “Politics is about engaging people and building on relationships. I couldn’t have done it with you.”
Winnipeg North has been a New Democratic Party (NDP) riding for years. In the 2008 federal election, NDP MP Jusy Wasylycia-Leis won the seat she’d held since 1997 with 62.61 per cent of the vote. Lamoureux stepped down as MLA for Inkster, a position he’d held since 1988, to run in her place when she resigned to run for Mayor of Winnipeg in 2010.
According to the Elections Canada website, NDP candidate Kevin Chief came in a close second with 41.7 per cent of the vote. The Conservative Party of Canada’s Julie Javier received 10.3 per cent of the vote, Pirate Party of Canada’s Jeff Coleman received 0.6 per cent of the vote, Green Party of Canada’s John Harvie received 0.7 per cent of the vote, Communist Party of Canada’s Frank Komarniski received 0.4 per cent of the vote, and Christian Heritage Party of Canada’s Eric Truijen got 0.3 per cent of the vote.
After tonight’s byelection, the Conservative Party of Canada has 143 seats in the House of Commons, the Liberal Party of Canada has 77 seats, the Bloc Québécois has 47 seats, and the NDP has 36 seats. Two seats belong to individuals and three remain vacant.
Jan Gabbs, 67, said it is Lamoureux’s dedication to his constituents that sets him apart.
“Every Thursday night he holds meetings at McDonald’s where any constituent can come to talk to him,” she said. “When he moves to Ottawa, he’ll come home every weekend to do the same thing.”
Vince Vasallo, 37, said Lamoureux’s leadership is hope for Canada’s future.
“If you ever need any help with government problems, even if you don’t live in his area, he’ll help you.” he said. “I hope he becomes party leader and eventually prime minister.”
Piercing wind and flying snow couldn’t keep 300 Kevin Lamoureux supporters from watching the former Liberal Party of Canada’s Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Inkster win Winnipeg North’s Member of Parliament (MP) seat with 46 per cent of the vote.
A sea of red and white exploded in whistles and cheers as supporters as multicultural as the riding itself jumped up and down as the newly elected Member of Parliament entered the hall.
Lamoureux addressed the crowd and greeted many constituents by their first names.
“For those of you that have been with me for years, thank you,” he said. “Politics is about engaging people and building on relationships. I couldn’t have done it with you.”
Winnipeg North has been a New Democratic Party (NDP) riding for years. In the 2008 federal election, NDP MP Jusy Wasylycia-Leis won the seat she’d held since 1997 with 62.61 per cent of the vote. Lamoureux stepped down as MLA for Inkster, a position he’d held since 1988, to run in her place when she resigned to run for Mayor of Winnipeg in 2010.
According to the Elections Canada website, NDP candidate Kevin Chief came in a close second with 41.7 per cent of the vote. The Conservative Party of Canada’s Julie Javier received 10.3 per cent of the vote, Pirate Party of Canada’s Jeff Coleman received 0.6 per cent of the vote, Green Party of Canada’s John Harvie received 0.7 per cent of the vote, Communist Party of Canada’s Frank Komarniski received 0.4 per cent of the vote, and Christian Heritage Party of Canada’s Eric Truijen got 0.3 per cent of the vote.
After tonight’s byelection, the Conservative Party of Canada has 143 seats in the House of Commons, the Liberal Party of Canada has 77 seats, the Bloc Québécois has 47 seats, and the NDP has 36 seats. Two seats belong to individuals and three remain vacant.
Jan Gabbs, 67, said it is Lamoureux’s dedication to his constituents that sets him apart.
“Every Thursday night he holds meetings at McDonald’s where any constituent can come to talk to him,” she said. “When he moves to Ottawa, he’ll come home every weekend to do the same thing.”
Vince Vasallo, 37, said Lamoureux’s leadership is hope for Canada’s future.
“If you ever need any help with government problems, even if you don’t live in his area, he’ll help you.” he said. “I hope he becomes party leader and eventually prime minister.”
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Hiroshima by John Hersey
I recently finished reading a book called Hiroshima by John Hersey.
As the title of the book implies, the book is about the use of the first atomic bomb by America on Hiroshima in 1945 where close to 100,000 people were killed.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the author’s use of real people to tell the story of Hiroshima. This added a wonderful amount of believability to the story but also gave the reader the opportunity to feel for the characters in the book, because we knew their stories were real. What I would have liked for Hersey to do differently is, I wish he had put his characters in first person. I think this would have added another level of empathy from the reader for the characters because it would have felt like we were actually experiencing the actual events from the point of view of the characters.
The other thing I felt was missing from Hiroshima was some bigger context to the atomic bomb being dropped. Although I agree that there has been much written about the American perspective of the events and tragedy, I would have liked to read a bit more about the history of conflict regarding Pearl Harbour, Hiroshima, Nagasaki etc.
From a journalist’s perspective, I think there’s a lot that I could learn from reading this book. I think the amount of work and research, time, effort, and resilience it would have taken Hersey to compile all of the information and interviews he did to write this book must have been very much. I think from Hersey, journalists can learn that interviews can be the backbone of a really good story.
I watched a BBC TV documentary on Hiroshima before called Hiroshima: The First Weapon of Mass Destruction. I found the book by Hersey and the documentary to be similar in that they both used eyewitness accounts to tell the story about what happened during that time in Japan. I did find the documentary more effective for the sole reason that the visual clips (although many were computer generated) helped give the story context.
Quite interestingly, when Hiroshima was published in The New Yorker in 1946, it filled up the entire issue. There were no other articles or cartoons and it sold out the day it was put on newsstands. Many radio stations around the world read the text out loud and the article was published into a book soon thereafter.
I really enjoyed reading Hiroshima. I found it to be a stimulating, exciting, thought provoking, and emotional read. I would definitely read it again or recommend it to anyone who wants a good history lesson.
As the title of the book implies, the book is about the use of the first atomic bomb by America on Hiroshima in 1945 where close to 100,000 people were killed.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the author’s use of real people to tell the story of Hiroshima. This added a wonderful amount of believability to the story but also gave the reader the opportunity to feel for the characters in the book, because we knew their stories were real. What I would have liked for Hersey to do differently is, I wish he had put his characters in first person. I think this would have added another level of empathy from the reader for the characters because it would have felt like we were actually experiencing the actual events from the point of view of the characters.
The other thing I felt was missing from Hiroshima was some bigger context to the atomic bomb being dropped. Although I agree that there has been much written about the American perspective of the events and tragedy, I would have liked to read a bit more about the history of conflict regarding Pearl Harbour, Hiroshima, Nagasaki etc.
From a journalist’s perspective, I think there’s a lot that I could learn from reading this book. I think the amount of work and research, time, effort, and resilience it would have taken Hersey to compile all of the information and interviews he did to write this book must have been very much. I think from Hersey, journalists can learn that interviews can be the backbone of a really good story.
I watched a BBC TV documentary on Hiroshima before called Hiroshima: The First Weapon of Mass Destruction. I found the book by Hersey and the documentary to be similar in that they both used eyewitness accounts to tell the story about what happened during that time in Japan. I did find the documentary more effective for the sole reason that the visual clips (although many were computer generated) helped give the story context.
Quite interestingly, when Hiroshima was published in The New Yorker in 1946, it filled up the entire issue. There were no other articles or cartoons and it sold out the day it was put on newsstands. Many radio stations around the world read the text out loud and the article was published into a book soon thereafter.
I really enjoyed reading Hiroshima. I found it to be a stimulating, exciting, thought provoking, and emotional read. I would definitely read it again or recommend it to anyone who wants a good history lesson.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Journalists for Human Rights
Here's an organization which pretty much sums up my journalism dreams.
http://www.jhr.ca/en/
Visit their website to learn more.
Last summer, I received an internship with the organization in Toronto. Unfortunately, I was not able to take it because of other circumstances, but I hope everyone takes the time to check out the website and get involved with the organization because it is one that I am very proud to be associated with.
Dani Finch, a first year Crecomm wants to start up a chapter of the organization here at Red River College. If you're interested, message me and I can forward you on to her!
JHR, you inspire me!
http://www.jhr.ca/en/
Visit their website to learn more.
Last summer, I received an internship with the organization in Toronto. Unfortunately, I was not able to take it because of other circumstances, but I hope everyone takes the time to check out the website and get involved with the organization because it is one that I am very proud to be associated with.
Dani Finch, a first year Crecomm wants to start up a chapter of the organization here at Red River College. If you're interested, message me and I can forward you on to her!
JHR, you inspire me!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Good interview. Great answers
Oprah Winfrey gets to interview people for a living. I wish that were my job.
Watch the interview with Portia de Rossi below (Ellen Degeneres' wife) about struggling with her eating disorders and coming out as a lesbian.
Oprah's questions are fine, but its the honesty in Portia's answers that brings true light to this interview.
I always say, it is up to the interviewer to make the subject feel so comfortable they will open up with them.....but I never forget, that an interview is only most successful, if the subject is willing to give you the truth.
Watch the interview with Portia de Rossi below (Ellen Degeneres' wife) about struggling with her eating disorders and coming out as a lesbian.
Oprah's questions are fine, but its the honesty in Portia's answers that brings true light to this interview.
I always say, it is up to the interviewer to make the subject feel so comfortable they will open up with them.....but I never forget, that an interview is only most successful, if the subject is willing to give you the truth.
Monday, November 1, 2010
So that’s what a murderer looks like in person….
Today, Red River College Creative Communications students took their second trip to the law courts and low and behold, I experienced something I’m sure I’ll never forget.
I came face to face with a murderer…or at least, he’s accused of first-degree murder (innocent until proven guilty, I know….but for the sake of argument, let’s call him Mr. Murderer.)
Our assignment was to get to the Law Courts and cover something interesting. And boy, was it ever.
Yvonne, Jessica, Kim, and I sat through the day long proceedings where we saw an accused first-degree murderer go on trial. The Crown presented three witnesses in the case, and the defence lawyers cross-examined them. The trial continues on for the next few weeks but the first day was a good indication of what was to come.
The jury sat and listened and I couldn’t help but think, wow…I am so glad I am not them.
Why? Because I found my opinion changing as the day went on. In the morning, I was sure, its first degree murder…lock him up! Then as the day went on, I became less sure…maybe its second degree murder or maybe its manslaughter.
After the day was over, all four lawyers and the judge were kind enough to hang with us journalism students in the courtroom and answer some our questions. This was the best part because we had the chance to clarify things with them (such as, why was the accused in normal people clothes? Turns out they do that so the jury members won’t catch on to the fact that he’s in jail for other charges right now….they don’t want to sway their opinion.)
I also asked the lawyers if they defended people they knew were guilty. They replied, “of course, it’s the nature of the job. The Crown has to prove the person is guilty….even if I know they are, it’s their job to prove it. If they can’t, the person goes free.” I don’t think I could do it….but the two defence lawyers just shrugged and said, “it’s the nature of the job.”
Crazy. An exciting day it was. I had never considered court reporting before, but now, I don’t think I’d mind it at all.
Except for the fact that you have to spend time around potential murderers….err. That part isn’t so great…
I came face to face with a murderer…or at least, he’s accused of first-degree murder (innocent until proven guilty, I know….but for the sake of argument, let’s call him Mr. Murderer.)
Our assignment was to get to the Law Courts and cover something interesting. And boy, was it ever.
Yvonne, Jessica, Kim, and I sat through the day long proceedings where we saw an accused first-degree murderer go on trial. The Crown presented three witnesses in the case, and the defence lawyers cross-examined them. The trial continues on for the next few weeks but the first day was a good indication of what was to come.
The jury sat and listened and I couldn’t help but think, wow…I am so glad I am not them.
Why? Because I found my opinion changing as the day went on. In the morning, I was sure, its first degree murder…lock him up! Then as the day went on, I became less sure…maybe its second degree murder or maybe its manslaughter.
After the day was over, all four lawyers and the judge were kind enough to hang with us journalism students in the courtroom and answer some our questions. This was the best part because we had the chance to clarify things with them (such as, why was the accused in normal people clothes? Turns out they do that so the jury members won’t catch on to the fact that he’s in jail for other charges right now….they don’t want to sway their opinion.)
I also asked the lawyers if they defended people they knew were guilty. They replied, “of course, it’s the nature of the job. The Crown has to prove the person is guilty….even if I know they are, it’s their job to prove it. If they can’t, the person goes free.” I don’t think I could do it….but the two defence lawyers just shrugged and said, “it’s the nature of the job.”
Crazy. An exciting day it was. I had never considered court reporting before, but now, I don’t think I’d mind it at all.
Except for the fact that you have to spend time around potential murderers….err. That part isn’t so great…
Monday, October 25, 2010
Welcome Home, Dawna Friesen!
Red River College welcomes Dawna Friesen, Global National anchor, on Tuesday, Oct. 26.
She’s the face of Canadian media. And she’ll be at Red River College tomorrow.
Rumour has it; Dawna actually asked Global National if she could stop in at her old school during her Winnipeg stop of the show’s national publicity tour.
She will be hosting a live broadcast of Global National later in the afternoon, but in the morning, she’ll be speaking to Red River College students about social media.
Those of you who know me or have read this blog, I’m sure, could guess how I feel about this. I’m super excited.
Dawna Friesen grew up in a small town in Manitoba, took CreComm, and then went on to work in Portage La Prairie, Thunder Bay, Saskatoon, and Brandon. After that, she worked nationally for CTV and CBC before becoming a NBC foreign correspondent. She held that position for the past 11 years and is now the Global National anchor and executive editor.
According to a press release from Canwest Corporation, Dawna has covered “everything from the murder of journalist Daniel Pearl in Pakistan to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the British Royal Family. Assignments have taken her to Africa, Middle East, Russia and across Europe. Dawna was part of the Emmy® award-winning team covering Barack Obama's election and returned to Vancouver in February to report on the Winter Olympics.”
I cannot wait to ambush her tomorrow…err…congratulate her.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Passion in Journalism
This week, my blog is going to be about a segment of television from The View.
I don't really want to start talking about the content of what the discussion in the below clip is about (it sort of makes my blood boil, so I'd rather not). What I do think is relevant to this blog is the confrontation that takes place in this clip.
Take a look:
Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg get up during the interview with Bill O'Reilly and walk off stage, saying "I don't have to sit here for this." Basically, O'Reilly says, "Muslims killed us on 9/11," and the women are so offended by this, they leave the interview. They do return after O'Reilly has apologized for what he has said but, I still think this walk-off merits discussion.
Now, after the women leave the set, Barbara Walters (Queen of the Universe) says that her colleagues were wrong to leave because in today's society, people should be allowed to speak their minds and there should be an open forum for discussion, without people getting angry, violent, or storming off.
While I agree with Walters to an extent, I also see why the women walked off set (and trust me, Goldberg is my least fave of The View women, even over Hasselbeck).
I think sometimes, passion, when it comes to journalism, is necessary. I don't blame the women for walking off set to prove their point. The reason for that is this, sometimes, when you are dealing with someone who is quite set in their ways, discussion really will not change their minds. Additionally, I feel that as the interview went on, O'Reiley's comments only got more and more offensive, more ignorant, and more hurtful. It was only after the women left the set that he finally stepped back and apologized.
Now, don't get me wrong. I also see the benefits of letting an interview get more and more heated. Often, that is when the real juicy or truth of the matter comes out. Such as in this interview, O'Reilly's real feelings came out as a result of things getting heated.
But at the same time, sometimes, even as a journalist, I feel we need to take a stand. No matter how important an interview is, I do feel the journalist, if they feel offended, disrespected, or completely ignored, can get up and say, "I am done with this interview." Sometimes, integrity matters more than a good interview.
What do you think?
I don't really want to start talking about the content of what the discussion in the below clip is about (it sort of makes my blood boil, so I'd rather not). What I do think is relevant to this blog is the confrontation that takes place in this clip.
Take a look:
Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg get up during the interview with Bill O'Reilly and walk off stage, saying "I don't have to sit here for this." Basically, O'Reilly says, "Muslims killed us on 9/11," and the women are so offended by this, they leave the interview. They do return after O'Reilly has apologized for what he has said but, I still think this walk-off merits discussion.
Now, after the women leave the set, Barbara Walters (Queen of the Universe) says that her colleagues were wrong to leave because in today's society, people should be allowed to speak their minds and there should be an open forum for discussion, without people getting angry, violent, or storming off.
While I agree with Walters to an extent, I also see why the women walked off set (and trust me, Goldberg is my least fave of The View women, even over Hasselbeck).
I think sometimes, passion, when it comes to journalism, is necessary. I don't blame the women for walking off set to prove their point. The reason for that is this, sometimes, when you are dealing with someone who is quite set in their ways, discussion really will not change their minds. Additionally, I feel that as the interview went on, O'Reiley's comments only got more and more offensive, more ignorant, and more hurtful. It was only after the women left the set that he finally stepped back and apologized.
Now, don't get me wrong. I also see the benefits of letting an interview get more and more heated. Often, that is when the real juicy or truth of the matter comes out. Such as in this interview, O'Reilly's real feelings came out as a result of things getting heated.
But at the same time, sometimes, even as a journalist, I feel we need to take a stand. No matter how important an interview is, I do feel the journalist, if they feel offended, disrespected, or completely ignored, can get up and say, "I am done with this interview." Sometimes, integrity matters more than a good interview.
What do you think?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
