What I learned in Comm 255

I learned that while I thought I was a really good writer, I can still always learn something new. As I write this, having just finished my last rewrite and about to begin my final story, I reflect on the fact that I had to use each rewrite. That's not something I'm used to doing and its eye-opening for me how seriously on your game you need to be to be able to do this job. I thoroughly enjoyed this class, especially how focused we were on current events in the beginning of the semester. I learned not only how much I should pay attention to the world around me but also how to listen to the stories and report them. I would definitely recommend that everyone take this course, not just Communication majors because its definitely worth the effort.
-Mark Swenson

Gas Prices dropped for Elections? (Localization story)

Swenson/Localization

                Is the low price of gas connected to the upcoming elections? Some Parkside students may believe so.

                For almost the last 15 years, gasoline and the price of a gallon of gas, has been one of the most talked about and speculated items among out country and something that can change within an instant. The price of gas in October 2013 was around $3.30 a gallon and while scrolling through the Gas Buddy app, the lowest price that has been seen so far in Kenosha has been at a Shell gas station, $2.79 for a gallon of gas if a person pays with cash. For a working college student in today’s economy, this is a huge deal.

                “During the summer, I was spending about $80 a month on gas to fill my tank from empty to full but in the month of October, I think I have saved about $20 with how much gas has dropped”, exclaimed Gina Easter, a psychology major at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. When asked why she thought gas prices were so low, she made a joke about how she thinks they government is lowing them so more people will drive to vote. Another student, Andrei Georgescu, echoed this sentiment, “I do find the current price of gas surprising, but I do think it’s because of the elections. I expect them to go up.”

                So is it possible that the government lowers gas prices to help foster better morale among constituents and help foster votes, or is it more likely that the price of gas is just starting to hopefully turn in the public’s favor? I’ll let you guys decide.

What I have learned from Comm 255- Mel Webster

After taking this course, I have learned and experienced a lot. There is so much time a dedication that is devoted to this type of job that I really feel you have to be on your game at all times. If your boss wants you to get up and go find the details of a story, you go do it without hesitation and no matter what you are in the middle of working on. You have to have exceptional listening and writing skills. You have to be well organized and keep up to date with things. Deadlines are a huge factor. I think I struggled the most with trying to keep my own opinions out of the stories I was reporting about. I kept reminding myself that I was reporting the story not giving my opinion or thoughts about it. I enjoyed this class because it was a different approach to writing unlike anything I have had to do before. After writing so many stories, I think I have improved my writing skills as far as grammatical errors. When you write a story you have to really watch your grammar and taking this class really helped me become a stickler about it which will only help me in the long run. I do recommend any Comm majors to take this class because it gives you a test of a job you might not have considered and you gain some very great tips on writing!

-Mel Webster

What I learned from Comm. 255

There are a number of things that I learned from Comm 255 that I see myself either using or thinking about more in my everyday life. One of the main things I appreciate more is the amount of work that goes into writing a beat. Behind the scenes work never will get the recognition it deserves, but it is the most essential part when writing a good beat. The time and effort journalists have to put in just to get the information they need.

Also, I really like the fact that this class has made me become more aware of what's happening in the world. To be honest, I never really cared much about politics, world happenings, or anything that was really important until I took this class. Professor Elle challenged us every time we met to have a new topic to speak about, or to talk about any updates to the stories we previously mentioned. This class did more than just make us better writers and journalists, it made us more aware of what really matters in the world around us. It did more than just test us on what the course is about, it educated us.

By. Erik Skaarnes

An incredible response to African American Oppression

It has become a more highly debated topic since the footage of Rodney King being beaten by LAPD officers was released. Police oppressing minorities, black citizens mostly, is the most talked about topic today due to the rise in police brutality, unjust unarrest, and killing of black men. Proving that white privilege is very much a thing in America and that on a consistent daily basis black men are more likely to be harassed by police officers. Yes, the same police officers sworn to serve and protect. I do not believe all police officers are racist, power hungry people; I do, however, believe the system our country abides by is.

http://youtu.be/MHFI2y92jvA

By. Erik Skaarnes.

What I learned in 255

Kennow/Dec.7/What I Learned in 255

            Communication 255, or Introduction to News Writing, was a class that I had not anticipated taking, but I really looked forward to it after making my schedule for Fall 2014. I have always had a passion for writing and communicating through outlets such as social media, newspapers, or magazines. I do not necessarily want to write about current events and stories once I am pursuing my career, but I do want to write about other things as a part of my job. Communication 255 taught me how to plan my writing, organize my thoughts, and clearly express my points. Because I do love to write so much I sometimes get carried away with my words and end up completely off topic. I had always wanted to take a course, that was not English of any sort, that would teach me how I could write creatively, but in an organized, professional fashion.

            The inverted pyramid interested me a lot because of what we learned about its origins. I think its amazing that we use this system in writing today because all the way back during the Civil War they felt they needed a more efficient way to communicate their battles, without being cut off or confused. I now use the inverted pyramid in some way when I write anything, always being sure to state the point of my writing to draw the reader in, and then set my writing up in order of importance. Learning about things like the “nut graph” was helpful, because before this class I knew nothing about the importance of the second paragraph of your writing and how it can effect your over all text. Although we learned about systems such as the martini glad and the kabob, I feel the inverted pyramid is the clearest way for me to express myself without being confusing. Setting my writing up by asking who, what, when, where, why, and how helps me to keep my focus.

            What I think I will take away the most, however, is probably how to tell a creative and clear story without being bias or opinionated in any way. I love writing to share ideas and not only to just promote my own ideas, and the idea of writing about an event or issue without trying to convince anyone of anything interests me. I think I would really enjoy writing things with the intention of simply giving information to the public and not just to convince them of something. After this class I confidently feel as though I can write a piece of news or information in an effective and interesting way.

Black Friday or Black Thursday?

Kennow/Personal Blog/Dec. 6

Black Friday or Black Thursday?

            On Thanksgiving of 2014, retail workers all around America left Thanksgiving dinner early to go to work. After eating as fast as they could and sharing as many memories as possible, they put on their game face and headed into the black Friday madness. Throughout the past few years, black Friday has slowly started earlier and earlier, but this year the majority of retailers decided to open their doors around 6pm on Thanksgiving Day. Some stayed open over 24 hours into the next day to ensure that shoppers had time to attend their sales. 

According to CNN Money, spending was up nearly 24% on Thanksgiving, and slipped about 7% on Black Friday, according to early Black Friday estimates from Shoppertrak, which monitors spending at and visits to brick-and-mortar retail stores. Shoppertrack also shared that Thanksgiving visits were up 27% on Thursday compared to 2013. Black Friday visits were down 5.6%. So what does this mean for the future of Black Friday and those who have to work it? This year and years before, retailers have began promotions and black Friday deals during the week leading up to the day. Every year the success of black Friday grows and it doesn’t seem as though it is going to stop any time soon. One plus to the early opening: most employees are paid time and a half for working during a major holiday.

The popularity of this shopping holiday is growing larger every year and new retailers participate every year. While this might be hard on retail employees and their families during the holidays, it does give provide a new kind of income for businesses and their employees.