2 posts tagged “journalism”
The year is coming to a close and my first college experience has been an educating and worthwhile. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I applied for the program, but I feel that I've taken some important steps forward when it comes to developing my niche and my understanding of journalism. We've had a multitude of different courses, each specific and beneficial to the world of journalism. From grammar, to vocal techniques, developing story ideas and learning important skills on the Internet, this course has taken me beyond my initial expectation.
When I began the course, I had my blinders set on the world of professional sports broadcasting. Looking back now, I was oblivious to how vast and expansive the world of journalism is, and the necessary skills that are required to become a successful journalist. I still aspire to work within the sporting world one day; however, I now have a new found appreciation for news and the means in which to broadcast it.
One thing I know I've taken away from this program, is that I feel I'm more in tune with what's going on around me, and I've found myself critiquing and assessing different news programs and shows. Now that I understand some of the technical sides of production and newswriting, it's interesting to sit back and take an objective view while I'm watching a show or reading a newspaper. This course has added another level to my 'journalistic perception', and I'm looking forward to becoming even more involved with this program and different projects in second year.
This summer, I'll be back in my hometown of Barrie, ON, working and making money to survive in Hamilton once again in the fall. I hope to get back to my musical roots over the next few months and play a lot of acoustic shows around the city. While I have some time away from school, I want to focus on my music a little more. Music is a big part of my life and has been for the last ten years. Before I came to school, I had the opportunity to perform in two different music groups that were signed to a label in Toronto. We did some exciting things, and I've had that musical 'itch' ever since. I have a website, www.cambrown.ca, and I hope I'll be doing some things that will warrant an update on my site! Either way, I'm going to use my time off school to work and involve myself in music once again.
This school year has been a great motivator when it comes to my outlook and aspirations about my future in journalism. I look forward to using the summer to think about how to attack my second year, and how I can best contribute to the Broadcast Journalism program at Mohawk College.
Cam Brown
When I first started the Broadcast Journalism program at Mohawk College, I never anticipated learning so much about the Internet in this program. I knew that I'd be learning a lot about the media, the foundations of journalism, and I was excited to gain print, radio, and television experience. Learning a lot about the Internet in this program I consider an added and welcome bonus.
I compare what I've learned about the Internet in this course thus far to my knowledge of guitar. I've been playing guitar for about 5 or 6 years, and after awhile, I felt I hit a plateau in my playing abilities. I was good at what I had learned and practised, but I wasn't entirely sure how to move forward in order to adapt other skills. I tried different instructors, different music and difficult techniques, but I always found myself reverting back to what was comfortable. When I started this course, I knew what I knew about the Internet, and I found myself living in a repetitive cycle of continually visited web-pages and activities. This course has really opened my eyes to some great aspects of the Internet, and how to manuvre and use these newly acquired skills to my best advantage. One area of the online universe I've become very interested and aware of... is blogging.
In our Online Writing course earlier in the semester, we learnt different web-related techniques and websites, and I personally found it very educating and informative.
Also, through our actual journalism classes, I've decided that bloggers are without a doubt, journalists. In this day and age, anyone has the capability of capturing and broadcasting any information they choose on a multitude of different online forums. With cellphones, digital cameras, iPods, and other forms of technology commonplace, the average citizen is quickly becoming an incredibly important part of broadcasting news.
Blogging is not just an online activity, it's an online culture. Anyone with a computer or access to the Internet can write a "blog" for millions of others to potentially see. Being able to express ones opinion in a public forum and debate on different issues, to me, is an empowering form of journalism.
I consider blogs to be 'online journals', and I find no coincidence in the fact that all the word 'journal' needs, is an 'ism' at the end to create a word that's the cornerstone of our program at Mohawk.
I've found an interesting video on Youtube that takes a look into blogging and 'citizen journalism'. It's an interesting watch and I find the content of the video very relevant to our course.
As far as my guitar playing goes, I'm beginning to move off that plateau...
Cam Brown
