That's The Jyst of it

Online editor Sam Green, College Living editor Jayna Barker and I got lost on our way to Clermont Northeastern High School today. No big deal.

We ended up finding it and were only, oh, you know, 20 minutes late. Sigh. Being lost and late make me cranky. But, I mean, a lot of things make me cranky.

We talked to the students who make up The Jyst, the monthly student newspaper at CNE. They were cool, had a lot of really good questions. Sam, Jayna and I had fun. I wanted to interview some of the students on what they thought the future of journalism might be like, but that didn't work out. So, I talked to sophomore Kathleen Arthur and juniors Alexa Hawley and Jenna Varner about the paper and what they want to accomplish next year.

Hopefully News Record editors will make this a regular thing, and not just at CNE. It was cool to reach out and talk about something we're so passionate about.

-- Taylor

Your staff is how big?

I posted this to my new blog, but thought it was worth cross posting since, well, it's about The News Record.

I’ve been on a blog kick since I started this thing. Mostly I’ve been interested in reading blogs by other journalists — student or professional — to see how things are going in their world.

In the past two days, I’ve come across two different blogs by two different student editors at two different universitys and read that they have staffs that are in the 150-175 range. What the heck kind of newsroom is that?

The News Record has a staff of 11 editors — myself (EIC and opinion), the managing editor, two news, two sports, entertainment, college living/spotlight, online, multimedia and photo. We also have one chief photographer and four designers on payroll. There are five people in the business department. As far as bi-weekly paychecks go, that’s it.

We have stringers who can be paid if they reach the minimum number of published stories/photos (10 per quarter), but even then there are, between reporters and photographers, we have, maybe 40 stringers who do work on a regular basis. What’s even more surprising is that we’ve had more people interested in working with us this year than ever before, at least in my memory.

How in the heck do you convince 150 people to be interested? It’s like pulling teeth to get students to come into the newsroom with a genuine interest in working and sticking around. You would think that the students in the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program would at least want to be involved, but even still, I don’t know anyone in program who doesn’t or hasn’t worked for The News Record.

Not only how do you convince that many people to give a damn, but how do you afford a staff that huge? Am I missing something?

I’m not complaining (except that I kind of am), I’m just mostly astonished. I can’t even imagine what TNR would be like if that many people were reporting or shooting or doing video work. We do a damn good job with what we have, but with 150 people we might be able to take over the world.

I’ll have to share this thought with editor-in-chief-elect Gin A. Ando. Maybe he’ll have better luck recruiting than I did. UC journalism students, if you happen to be reading this, if you’re not working with The News Record, what are you doing?

Enough said.

-Gin A. Ando

Insanity reigns....

Tonight truly is the busiest evening I've had yet as a news editor.

Around 2:30 this afternoon, a nice steaming pile of a story dropped into my lap concerning faculty who harshly grade students.

Had to start from scratch, too. Somehow I had to wrangle up three sources before business hours ended, get their input and turn it into at least a 400 word story.

Considering that we normally set a deadline of noon for our reporters to get their stories in, it's obvious that I was tremendously behind the power curve.

Strike one, right?

It kept raining and pouring after that.

One of our intrepid reporters had to bow out of covering tonight's student government meeting. Normally wouldn't be an issue, except the new prez, v.p. and at-large senate winners of the SG election were to be announced. Ice that cake with a possible vote on a smoking bill and more discussion about a diversity board.

Shiver me timbers, Batman!

So, now I have to cover two stories with 400 words each (SG meeting, election results) in addition to finishing a grading story back at the homestead.

How did I wrong you so, dear God?

I got back to the office and went to work fiendishly. Three word documents pulled up at one time, typing away on all of them simultaneously. The phone is attached to my ear, as I get quotes from both Dean Hardcastle and a newly-elected senator for the respective stories.

Mercifully I was able to finish them all with some wiggle room before deadline. It was exhilarating. Thrown into a seemingly hopeless situation and proving my mettle truly made my evening.

It helped remind me of why I found this job so attractive in the first place, and why I love writing.

Now I need a damned drink.

Keep your powder dry, folks.

--James

Everyone needs an editor

I noticed there was a new comment on one of my old columns today. It was kind of funny, so I thought I would share. And, being that I am an editor, I couldn't help myself.

Plus, I could name at least three people who would notice if I died and only two of them are friendless hippie sluts.

-- Taylor

Power?

Hello Off The [News] Record readers,

There has been a recent development.

The designers have received blogging power.
Finally, the recognition we deserve!
Stay tuned for the unveiling of our master plan.

This is all.

-J.Ritz

Out of sight, out of mind

It's strange to think that I'm still in school right now.

News Record takes up a lot of time. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but I'm not looking forward to going to class and taking two back-to-back examinations tomorrow morning. It's kind of... blehhh. Reality check.

But more importantly, we're scheduling to run another streetcar article this week. I think it's quite an interesting topic, honestly.

It seems like without constant reminders that it's still an issue and being worked out people might forget about it.

The next big thing is right around the corner. But that doesn't mean we should neglect other stories worth following.

Big day tomorrow. I hope I remember what wages expenses and all that other accounting terminology goes on.

Assets = Liabilities + Stockholders' Equity. I think I'll be OK.

See you in the funny pages, jerks.

-Gin

The Importance of Being Earnest

This isn't about Oscar Wilde.

With Undergraduate Student Government elections coming up, I've decided that I need to address a few things.

Going to school near the place you grew up is hard. You'll inevitably meet someone you know. But, when you're a journalist at the school's paper, life can get a little bit harder, honestly.

I don't want to say that I feel like I'm being used. That's not quite it. Well, maybe a little bit. It's strange to think that someone you've known for years might be taking advantage of your relationship to advance their goals.

That's not necessarily happening to me, but I thought I'd address it.

Conflict of interest is a large part of what you write. Even if you realize it or not.

So, to novice reporters out there, take note of it.

I've always been told that the way you write -- even if all the language is objective and based on facts -- some subjectivity remains.

"The candidate is running for ______ position."

Fine. Very well and good, then.

"The candidate, who was caught cheating on his wife in December, is running for ____ position."

While both statements might be true, you might show some subjectivity by writing either statement. If you know the candidate was caught cheating on his wife and don't write it, you might be subconsciously protecting him from public scrutiny. By writing that he did, you're opening up more criticisms.

What's right? It's really hard to keep an objective point of view. I'm not saying I am masterful of it by any means at all, but, well, it's just something for everyone to keep in mind when writing news.

Good luck.

-Gin

Lessons Learned

What I've learned:

Write it down. Write every little bit of html code and info you have and could ever need.

Because one day, you just might find it's all ... gone.

*sob*

Auto correct

Sometimes I rely on Microsoft Word's auto correct function way too much. It's so damn easy.

Today I worked on rewriting the editor-in-chief handbook. It's pretty old. And kind of irrelevant. No good. Well, as I was typing away, working my fingers to the bone, as I was still stewing over drama from the past four days, I laughed. And I laughed hard.


It's hard to read, I know. My original text says: Any assignments not picked up by photographers or videographers must be done by the photo or multimedia editor.

The auto correct version? "The photo or multimedia editor must do videographers."


-- Taylor

What would you ask Sean Hannity?

It's a good question, isn't it?

What would you ask Sean Hannity, the conservative pundit from Fox News?

I have to tackle that issue this Thursday during the Tea Party Tax Day rally at Fifth-Third Arena. Despite being on the media list, I will probably have to bullrush Mr. Hannity like a rabid mongoose and spout off a couple of questions before his handlers beat me like a red-headed stepchild.

Though I know my plan of approach, I still don't know what to ask the man. I haven't read his book "Conservative Victory", nor I probably never will. Political books to me are just a tangible paper version of Thorazine - meant to make you pass out.

So, what would you ask him? Respond one, respond all - socialists, neo-cons, anarchists, liberals, tea partiers, coffee swiggers, whatever your label may be.

Tell me what you'd ask a man that millions of Americans love and despise.


-James

Didn't know editing books was part of the job description

Wow....

I assigned a very good reporter to cover an event on campus this past week. It seemed to me to be a very cut-and-dry event.

Get the facts, the quotes and the responses. Then give me 500 words.

No problem, right?

Well, I now need help inserting my foot into my mouth. I am not limber enough to do it anymore and became quite adverse to the taste of my toes from previous incidents.

My very good reporter turned in a 1,900 word tome on the event. What am I going to do with 1900 words? Pare it down and use the leftovers as filler on the jump page? Sell words to my fellow editors if they need extra for their stories?

Save them for a later date when someone only turns in a 250 word story?

I don't know what I'm gonna do, honestly. It will take me at least 2 hours to edit this novel (with Gin's help at that) and I'm supposed to do it sober?

At times like this I truly wonder what the great Hunter S. Thompson would do. Something tells me it would most certainly involve guns and drink.

Unfortunately, I have none of the above. Guess I'll be tackling The News Record's version of "The Old Man and the Sea" without anything to assist with the pain in my brain.

Life is so unfair.

-James

Precision Reporting class Week 2

I had the same student as in my last class. This time, though, I have to grade a little harder, because it's a 400-level class.

I fear the collective creativity of our student body is falling to a point beyond repair.

-Gin

Duck x-ing

There's been a lot of heat on me right now.

While picking up designer Jamie Ritzer to meet EIC Taylor Dungjen in Cleveland for an SPJ awards ceremony, I hit a duck with my car.

I was cleaning my windshield and there was terrible sun glare. Not until all the fluid was gone did I see this duck.

This duck, however, was not all it seemed to be. See the below comic for the documentary-style representation.


All right. Now you know.

-Gin

The importance of not relying on spell check

Hello friends.

As journalists, we know how much a word can change the meaning of a sentence. No, not even. It can change perceptions of people and even ruin someone's reputation.

Let me illustrate with this really REALLY bad job at Photoshop I did.

This is Brian Kelly. B-R-I-A-N Kelly.

Brian Kelly, former UC head football coach was well regarded around these parts until he left for ND. Well, some might still say he's a good man. However, if you simply rely on spell check in your copy, the following example might happen.

This, friends, is Brain Kelly. He's not quite up to the caliber of Brian, but he might look similar.

READ YOUR COPY!

I just thought this photoshop picture was terrible so I needed an excuse to put it on the blog hahahaha.

Lone,
Gin A. Ando

My first day of class

So, my first day of teaching modern urban literature came to a close today.

Not a bad day.

-Gin

Poli-ticking everyone off

Underrepresentation. It's one of those things that's a Catch 22. You're not being represented in your legislation but, also, if you run, you won't win because you might be a representative of a jaded, disillusioned group of people.

How can you run and win to be a representative of said group? It's tough. Obama pulled something fantastic, whether you agree with his policies or not. (I'm not saying I do or don't, but being able to propel tons of new Americans to vote the way he did is admirable, I believe)

But there is hope.

The hope comes in increments, though. As a journalist -- which mainly means I'm a normal citizen with a Shield Law -- hearing the promise of change is like clockwork. New election, new faces, new promises.

I think the promise of radical change has become almost standard. And if someone doesn't, well, he or she sure tried his or her damndest to do it. It's not like they should be fully accountable if something fails -- I'm not that dumb -- but, if they're wrong about something, it's become fully acceptable. If anyone cares at all, at least.

It reminds me of the weather. It's good to know whether or not it will rain tomorrow. If it does, you knew about it, if not, fantastic. But if it rains when the forecast originally says it's supposed to be sunny, you're not going out to stab Al Roker with a sharpened toothbrush a la Oz.

I think it might take a stronger constitution to admit that you might not be able to complete everything you set out to do. To set the stage. To not be the person who rocks the boat but the person who buys the damn boat so it can be rocked.

I would run for SG, but I can't -- conflict of interest (in both journalistic and literal sense ha ha).

So for someone saying "under-represented people are that way because they don't run" is both ridiculous and largely untrue. This isn't a city or state where all you have to be is 18 to vote and can motivate your constituents to come to the polls by assuring them you're doing the best. This is a university. The entire demographic is different.

So please, before making another completely untrue and narrow-minded response, think it over.

OK, I've rambled, strayed, whatever, but it's been a ridiculously turbulent day. The Web site is getting up, and that's that. I talked to Rick VanMatre of CCM's jazz studies program. So it's not all that bad.

See you in the funny pages, jerks.

-Gin

The Two C's of my Sin

My life is kind of routine.

Wake up, go to school, go to work, do homework (sometimes) and repeat.

I'm glad, though, that there are some things that help me cope with it. I'm not necessarily saying anything is bad, it can just get a little repetitive at times.

Coffee and cigarettes help me a lot. More than sleep and running, at least.

Taking a "fresh air" break, though, is almost unheard of. I like getting that short break in the day where I can go outside, and just sit on the awkwardly placed concrete bench outside the office and clear my head.

Coffee, yes, I don't think I'll ever have too much. I love drinking coffee. Almost as much as I love a smooth, chocolaty Scotch.

But smoking takes precedent. For those of you who will complain about secondhand smoke I respond thus: Frankly, I don't think you deserve to be privy to my secondhand cool. (Kidding)

Which brings me to the actual point: If the smoking ban happens on campus, I'm completely screwed. Never mind the breach of student rights and how we pay tuition dollars and ultimately help pay for custodial staff, etc., etc. It's part of who I am, I think.

I guess I can always switch to an e-cigarette.

I wonder how I can get one of those for free...

It's a different mindset. Something you would have to understand. It doesn't make sense... I can agree with that. But why go through life doing nothing bad for you and feeling completely neutral than doing said bad things and guiltily feeling good for it?

My dad said he never wants to get old.

I agree.

-Gin

What I was thinking ...

... during my Digital Sights, Sound and Motion class

Professor: Someone tell me what the rule of thirds is.
Me (thinking): Fascinating. Back when I learned about it in third grade.

Fellow student: What is B-roll?
Me (thinking): Please, dear God, let this moronic mindless dither end.

*As a 5-minute conversation ensues about bars*
Me (thinking): I love being underage. Weee.

Epihany of the day: I despise half the people in this class.

Modal Newspaper

I realized something today.

I think a newspaper that has a staff like The News Record resembles a huge band playing modal jazz for eight hours and coming out with an album. Three times a week.

OK, so if you're not quite familiar with modal jazz, it goes something like this: Instead of basing a song off of a set of chord progressions, it uses scales. Listen to the song "So What" by Miles Davis off of the record "Kind of Blue." You might not like jazz. But be aware that those eight or nine minutes of music are all based off of ... maybe... 50 preconceived notes in three bars at the max. Still with me?

While that might not resonate with some people regarding the difficulty of being able to do all that for EACH song, think of it this way: you get a writing prompt. It's on the history of the Asia. You're with five other people, each writing a line and then passing it on to the next. And you do it for four or five pages.

Yeah, I think it's something close to that.

Trane, "Cannonball," Miles and Evans were all able to carve out careers on their own, but egos had no place in making an album hailed as "the greatest single session of jazz" ever recorded.

Today, it was great to see staff members work together in such a way that highlights their ability to work under pressure. We came out with a very pretty paper and no one will know the pains we put into it.

They might use it to leave on their floor for their dog. They might use it as a starter for a bonfire. Or you might just see Monday's issue on the concrete in front of Swift Hall deconstructed and not think twice about it.

It's really a beautiful thing, working at a newspaper. When someone picks it up and reads it, it's informative and they might even take something away from it just as someone who has never listened to jazz hears "So What" and thinks "This trumpet saxophone stuff isn't too bad."

I think they go together pretty well. There's a lot of impromptu action and decisions that come up around here and it's nice to see that where someone leaves off, another person on this staff can finish it seamlessly and even sometimes add a drop of grace.

-Gin

(For those of you who want to branch out to something besides Miles and Trane, I'd recommend "Cheesecake" by Dexter Gordon. What a tune.)

Please do not waste my time by responding

There are some things I will never understand.

Like, when you get an e-mail from an angry reader, who asks a lot of questions about content, lack of content, the presumed abduction of columnists, and then they say, "Please do not waste any more of my time by responding to this e-mail."

Like any good person, like any annoyed editor, I hit "reply" and began typing away. Why? Why would I do something a reader specifically requests that I do not do? Because, as I would say to said e-mailer, "You, sir, have just wasted my time. I feel it's only fair that I waste a little more of yours."

If you ask questions, expect answers. That's the nature of my business. I don't believe it not providing information to the public. That's what this is all about, right?

Let me save you a little of your time and a little of mine if you don't want me to respond to an e-mail: don't send one.

-- Taylor

Just a reminder

News Record staffers, News Record readers, Len, journalism students and anyone else, I just wanted to take the time to remind you guys how much... well, you need sleep.

Of course, we work long hours at TNR sometimes and then attend class the next day, but that's not really the point. The point is, some of us forget to sleep. Or eat. (Senior) designer Jamie Ritzer told James Sprague that I never ate. Which is kind of true, because sometimes I forget to eat.

So, remember, even though we are all awesome at being awesome, sometimes we have to take time out to eat, sleep and relax. I don't think people realize how blessed they are if they get off work at 8 p.m.

Stay good to yourselves, e'erybody.

-Gin

D'Oh!

Today, I learned that not everyone knows The Simpsons as well as some of us in the newsroom do.

I wrote a caption "My eyes! The goggles do nothing" on top of a photo for today's issue. Organic chemistry lab overseer/professor: not happy.

Not only do their goggles NOT do nothing, they are top-of-the-line, said she. (Later, EIC Taylor Dungjen's roommate Alyssa said they don't even allow students to use them -- unless they pay, but that's beside the point!)

So, it kind of made me reflect. I've always been able to remember obscure quotes. I used to be able to go through good amount of movie dialogue in my head when I should be studying.

It got so bad that I had a quote for everything at one point in my life. Well, relevant to everything. It wasn't so much "blah blah blah - Thoreau" kind of things, but more like "You get that way when you drink ginger ale, too? - The bartender guy in the movie Kingpin."

Alas, my then-girlfriend grew tired of it (which I inevitably connected with a movie quote).

All for the better, I say. A person needs to know their priorities.

And it just so happens that Radioactive Man > Real Problems In The World.

UP AND ATOM!

-Gin