Thankful for people who care

The Spring 2007 class -- along with two members of the Summer 2007 class -- gather in front of the Diversity Institute in Nashville, Tenn.

I didn’t fully understand the experience I was about to embark on when I arrived at orientation.

This weekend was more than information about journalism and training for our internships. It was about support, great role models, mentors and the beginning of lifelong relationships.

I am used to doing everything on my own. I started working at age 14 and haven’t stopped. I went to Cuba by myself. I moved to a university of 45,000 students three days before school started, not knowing anyone. I moved myself. I paid for everything.

As I reflect on these experiences and the experiences of the weekend, I can honestly say for the first time that someone believes in me and that many people (besides my sisters) are behind me 100 percent.

I first applied for this program during my junior year and didn’t get in. I didn’t give up. I applied for the program the following year. Today as I sit here, I am glad that I did.

Most of all, I’m glad that there are people like (program founder) John C. Quinn who actually care about the future of the press and about each of us. The staff of the Chips Quinn Scholars Program is great, as well. They are the people who made this weekend a great experience and who give me hope for the future.

-- Maria Ines Zamudio, Summer 2007 Scholar, Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader (one of two Summer Scholars attending Spring orientation because of scheduling conflicts)

An abundance of gifts

The weekend makes me optimistic about the future of journalism and about my own future in the field.

The friends and mentors I have made amazed me so much, taught me so much and made me laugh so much. Ashley (Anthony) was brave to be the first to recite the First Amendment. It helped to have Stephanie (Armenta) to share our fears of fast-paced dailies since we have worked only at magazines. When I learned that Kellie (Hwang) and Mariecar (Mendoza) also belong to the Asian American Journalists Association, I felt comfortable sharing that already-established connection with them. (I'm excited to have the same connection with Chips Quinn alums).

Deanna (Dent) showed me her photography project and gave me tips on getting into photography. At odd hours of the night, Maria (Miranda) and I shared our experience of studying journalism and discussed how my classes in Hong Kong emphasized different things from her classes here. Maria (Zamudio) and I talked about traveling and going abroad; I hope she has a wonderful time in Beijing (try fried scorpions!).

Tara-Lynne (Pixley) is a fabulous dancer and I loved her contagious energy. Connie (Llanos) is fun and hilarious; it inspires me that she tries hard and asked for so much advice about getting more feedback on her work throughout this orientation. She'll be an amazing editor and mentor herself one day--I'd work for her :) Craig (Henry) impressed me when he talked about how direct he is with his editors about what he wants to learn. I hope I can one day be that assertive. And I hope to one day acquire as many new media skills as Brian (Aguilar). Alex (Burris) is one of the sweetest people I've ever met, Gabby (Gonzalez) is passionate and inquisitive, and Diana (Diroy) packs so much energy into her tiny self.

I hope that the skills and traits that I admire in my fellow Chipsters have rubbed off a bit on me. And I hope that I have contributed something to someone while I'm here.

It's sad that orientation's over now but I know that we'll stay connected in some way. I'm looking forward to also learning from the dedicated, passionate and knowledgeable network of mentors we now have.

-- Cathy Tran, Spring Scholar, The Orange County (Calif.) Register and University of California-Santa Barbara

The elusive cowboy

Having fun line dancing at the Wildhorse Saloon, a Nashville landmark, are Ashley Anthony (left), Career Coach Colleen Fitzpatrick and Connie Llanos.

His thumbs hooked in the belt loops of his jeans, the man in cowboy attire high-kicked and pivoted with a grace that comes only from experience. His tipped black hat, matching boots and shirt fit the Wildhorse Saloon's decor and clientele. But still, he managed an air of superiority. I was enthralled.
I've never traveled to anywhere even close to the nation’s Heartland before. My closest brush with the stomps and gyrations of line dancing came in elementary school, years ago. My cowgirl-wannabe of a school librarian would give me short lessons in the hallway. No, this man was far removed from any previous experience or understanding I had in the way of country anything.
He was the real thing.

Twanging accents shouting friendly "Hey ya'alls!" and the never-ending barrage of country crooning formed an unintelligible din. The sounds curled up through the saloon's atrium, filling the three floors then bouncing back to the dance floor, where The Cowboy was fully engaged in serious dancing.

Giggling teenagers tried their feet at a line nearby but no one could approach the calm confidence of The Cowboy's obvious expertise. Side step after side step, swivel, stomp and swivel again, he never missed a beat. But he also never smiled. I thought that was curious.

We joined him and many others on a packed dance floor to misstep and laugh our way through a simple routine. After repeating the same stomps and pivots what seemed like a hundred times, our gaggle of line-dancing hopefuls swarmed back to our tables. Laughing uproariously and red-faced (line dancing is more strenuous than it looks), I noticed that The Cowboy had taken his leave of the lines and was nowhere to be seen. Perfection alone must be far less entertaining than making goofs with friends. The Cowboy showcased his skills, inspiring our laugh-worthy attempts, then high-tailed it. Our night, however, was only getting started.

-- Tara-Lynne S. Pixley, Spring Scholar, The Greenville (S.C.) News and Florida A&M University

Showing, not telling

The Wildhorse Saloon was the perfect setting for photos, dancing and fun.


In just a few hours I’ll be on a plane back to California. As I sit here typing my final blog entry I am drawing a blank. Maybe it’s because we’ve done so much in so little time that I’m at a loss for words.

Or maybe it’s because I’ve had such an amazing time here – in Nashville and as a participant in the Chips Quinn orientation – that I can’t think of any words that could possibly define how much fun I’ve had and how much I’ve learned.

So instead of writing it here, I’m going to show you what I’ve learned through the articles I crank out every day.

For the moment, I’ll tell about the non-journalism stuff I learned here in the music capital:

* I learned to line dance – almost mastering “Money Bags.”

* I learned that Jack Marsh is better than I am at line dancing.

* I learned a new cheer: “Hooooooooooooooooollllllleeerrrr and swoller!”

* I learned that I have a Nashville accent late at night (I’m a native Californian).

And I learned that country music ain’t all that bad.

-- Mariecar Mendoza, reporter, The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, Calif., and California Polytechnic State University

Living Loie's philosophy

When I arrived at the John Seigenthaler Center Thursday my thoughts were filled with the comments I had heard from previous “Chipsters” who affirmed I would never be the same after my Chips Quinn experience. I was excited and grateful for the chance to come to Nashville and participate in the conferences and exercises. I was confident the speakers and coaches would improve my writing skills and maybe even give me the dose of “journalism juice” I was craving.

Five months into my first job, after three months as an intern at the same paper, self-doubt had begun clouding my work and fear was steering me toward another career path. Cynicism from colleagues was beginning to wear on my usually vibrant personality and positive outlook. Even a dreaded career in public relations had begun to look like a possibility.

I am not saying all my fears are quelled. I teeter between a lack of confidence and an incessant drive to succeed, which makes my life harder than it has to be at times. But these last few days have filled me with hope that journalism is the place for me. I cannot begin to name everyone who has touched me over these last few days. Each person has been special and has provided me with some needed comment or warm set of words.

Sitting through session after session with my fellow Chipsters, alums and all of the phenomenal Freedom Forum gang, I never felt more at ease or more satisfied with the people I was surrounded by.

From line dancing to dancing along to the Freedom Rockers, from laughs to tears, all of it was special and life changing.

There are so many quotes I take away with me. I plan to hold on to them and replay them in my head so when times get tough again I can remember why I am doing what I am doing, and why I belong exactly where I am.

But quite possibly my favorite quote of this trip is something John Quinn said as he handed out Loie Legacy Awards to Chips alums. He said his late wife lived by the quote: “Dance like nobody’s watching, sing like nobody’s listening, love like you’ve never been hurt and live like it’s heaven on Earth.” I plan to.

-- Connie Llanos, education reporter, Daily News, Los Angeles and California State University-Northridge

An orientation 'high'

I have a feeling that when I get back to Arizona, I will still be on an orientation “high.”

The only problem with these past four days is that they flew by too fast. The second you start to get to know someone, understand a topic or appreciate an aspect of journalism you didn’t notice before, the rug is pulled out from under you.

When I got here, I did not know what to expect. I was shocked by the attentiveness of the Freedom Forum employees and the quality of every session and speaker. From each person, I learned at least one valuable lesson that I will take with me into the newsroom.

What I value most is that I now have a strong support system that I will not be shy to turn to. The genuine compassion that everyone in this program has for each of us truly amazes me. I couldn’t think of anything better than knowing that I am not alone.

And that support does not stop at just the Freedom Forum. My fellow class Scholars and I are in the same boat. I don’t think any of them will hesitate to come to my aid when I have a problem, drop by to visit me when they are near, or just call out of the blue to say hello. There are not many people in my life I can say that about.

I can only say that I hope this high never ends

-- Kellie Hwang, Spring Scholar, The Arizona Republic, University of Washington

Mixed emotions

It's the final day of Chips Quinn orientation. Part of me is happy about that because it means I get to return to my job. But it's also difficult to leave.

I have had the pleasure of knowing many people involved with the Freedom Forum for many years now, and it is great to see them again and catch up. Obviously, it also is difficult to part with the new friends I have made. I'm torn between getting back to doing what I love – working for the Argus Leader – and leaving the people I have grown to love.

I have heard it described how Chipsters are a close family. I didn't believe I would be able to get close to 14 strangers in just four days. I was wrong. The Chips Quinn Scholars program is an unforgettable experience.

From the inspiring words of John Quinn and other speakers, to hanging out with Rick (the owner of the Red Door Saloon – Go Bears!) with Mariecar (Mendoza), Brian (Aguilar), Kellie (Hwang) and Connie (Llanos), to watching Jack Marsh and Karen Catone line dancing at the Wildhorse, to all of the other experiences: Thank you.

-- Craig Henry, online journalist, Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, S.D., and University of Oklahoma

We are family

One more chapter in my life is closing, yet many others are on their way. These four days have made a significant impact on my life that will contribute to my future career and personal life.

Since my acceptance into the program, I haven't stopped thinking about my first day on the job. Orientation has given me the tools to perform professionally in the field. I now have more confidence in my ability to face problems and work with my colleagues.

I am taking a heavy package with me: Responsibility and loyalty. I have a responsibility to be a good communicator, to be accurate and professional and to love and enjoy this career.

I am honored to have witnessed the Loie Legacy Awards that recognize the hard work of Chips Quinn Scholars and paid tribute to coach Dick Thien.

Many seminars were helpful and inspiring, including "Do's and don'ts," "First Amendment,” and "Rules of the room."

The combination of delicious food and dancing at the Wildhorse Saloon will make for a lasting memory – not to mention my accidentally stepping into people on the dance floor (sorry!), doing the wrong steps and even falling down. Yes, the Wildhorse Saloon was wild.

Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories and letting me to get to know you more. I guess we are all a family now. And thank you for the gift of a wonderful and unique life experience.

-- Gabriela Gonzalez, Spring Scholar, Ventura County (Calif.) Star and California State University-Northridge

Support as great as a pyramid

In a little more than one and one-half hours orientation will be over. I wish it could continue for another six months.

But now it’s time to arm myself with the care, knowledge and support that Karen Catone (CQS program director), Kristen Go (CQS alum), Jack Marsh, John Quinn and all the other speakers provided. It’s time to march into the world and newsroom with confidence and determination.

I entered The Daily Advertiser’s newsroom about a month ago feeling lonely, scared and overwhelmed. When I return to work tomorrow I won’t feel any of those.

The support the Chips Quinn staff provides is comparable in magnitude to a Great Pyramid in Egypt: large and overreaching. I feel confident. I feel like me for the first time in a long time. I feel like a journalist. I’m ready.

-- Alexandria Burris, reporter, The Daily Advertiser, Lafayette, La., and Louisiana State University

Deep gratitude

Oh no! It's almost over. As the hour of my departure from the nation’s music capital nears, I think of all the people I've met, everything I've learned and the good times spent with the Chipsters.

Last night we learned how to line dance. The Wildhorse Saloon was an atmosphere I hadn’t experienced before. I'm glad I tasted the delicious food, heard the country music (with a hint of Montel Jordan) and photographed the dancing.

The photos and line dancing didn’t stop with the saloon. We went to a few more spots and spent most of our time at one place waiting to sing, "I will survive" on karaoke. Sharing two microphones, a dozen of us girls sang our hearts out.

This morning, it was really good to hear from Jack Marsh and (alums) Chris Viola, Kristen Go and Manny Lopez about their first days in the newsroom and things we should and should not do. I start at The Oakland Tribune this week with a mixture of emotions: excitement, nervousness, anxiety.

Two words cannot truly express my deep gratitude to the Freedom Forum and the Chips Quinn Scholars Program, but I will say them anyway. For all the relationships I built and lessons I've learned, thank you.

-- Diana Diroy, Spring Scholar, The Oakland (Calif.) Tribune and San Jose State University

Ready to jump in

So, the question is, Are we ready? I hope so. Yes, we’re going to make mistakes. Yes, we’re going to have to work nights and probably weekends, but we’re going to be fine because of this program. I’m ready to get my feet wet.

Orientation has helped prepare us for our internships more than I ever imagined. I never knew I would be joining a family when I became a Chips Quinn Scholar. I wasn’t fully aware of the extent or strength of the support system I have repeatedly heard about at each session. I am glad I can call it my own.

I plan to use to my advantage everything I have been exposed to throughout our training. I can already see myself weeks into my internship, looking over the notes I took, using the books provided for us (Thanks for the new stylebook!) and checking in with my career coach and others.

That’s the beauty of this program: None of us will be alone. Not only do we have the people behind CQS to help guide us, but we also have each other.

This is just the beginning. The relationships we formed this week will carry through from tomorrow to the moment we get our first jobs and to when we’re called upon someday to serve as mentors to future scholars.

-- Ashley Anthony, Spring Scholar, The Jackson (Tenn.) Sun and University of Houston

I will survive

When I boarded the plane on Thursday, I had no idea what to expect in Nashville.

Meeting and listening to such wonderful people has lessened my fears about my internship. I appreciate how open and honest everyone has been. I will never forget these four days at the Diversity Institute.

We wore jeans and sneakers for our class photo, a first for Chips alums. I think Chips would be proud, seeing us in our everyday attire. We shared a fun Saturday night, singing karaoke. We got on stage and sang “I Will Survive.”

Now that I think about it, the song we chose was perfect for all of us nervous interns entering the real world of journalism. Having gone through the program and being a part of this family, I know that we all will survive our new experience.

I hope John Quinn (CQS program founder) knows how much he has done for a person like me. Being a Chipster will always be a part of me. I also appreciate the interest Mr. Quinn has taken in getting to know each of us. He is truly a remarkable person, and I hope to impress him someday with my writing career. Thank you for this wonderful experience.

-- Stephanie Armenta, Spring Scholar, The Arizona Republic, Phoenix and Arizona State University

Giving our all

Brian Aguilar, left, and teammates compete in Newsmania, a news game.

It's a good bit of advice: "Write every obituary like it's never been written before," Manny Lopez, a 1994 CQ alum, said to the Spring Scholars this morning at our final forum discussion ("Talking to your editors/peers").

Manny wanted us to know that we should always try to do our best and give our all during our internships. Considering it's the last day of the CQS orientation weekend, I’ll keep those words in mind this summer when I join the Contra Costa Times.

As Jack Marsh (vice president/diversity programs for the Freedom Forum), sitting next to Manny, said a moment later, "Amen, Manny."

-- Brian Aguilar, Summer Scholar, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., and University of California-Berkeley

Thanks for the memories ...

Karen Catone and Dick Thien

Thank you to everyone for such a special day Saturday. It was wonderful.

You almost made me change my mind about retiring. Almost.

Good luck to each of you this coming year. You are now in a select group –
the Chips Quinn Scholars program. Cherish your time in it and have fun.

Hugs,

-- Dick Thien
:-)

A standing ovation

Alums Manny Lopez, Kristen Go and Nealy Gihan
before their salute to coach Dick Thien.

A well-respected man received a well-deserved tribute today. After 16 years as a career coach with the Chips Quinn program, Dick Thien is retiring. About 50 people crowded into the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute lecture hall this morning to praise the man who has affected so many lives throughout his journalism career. Through "cheers and tears" as (CQS Program Founder) John C. Quinn said at the podium, one speaker after another thanked Dick for his commitment to journalism and for being a wonderful teacher, great friend and loving father. Several of those seated in the room were of the Thien clan, including four of Dick's grandchildren.

Past Chips Quinn Alums also were present to thank their career coach. Manny Lopez (CQS 1994) showed his appreciation for his mentor by donning a sport coat similar to the one Dick has worn for years. Following the tribute and a slide show recounting Dick's career, everyone gave him a worthy standing ovation. New to the CQS family, I never had the opportunity to work with Dick. Yet watching today's emotional celebration of the man, I wish I'd had the chance. Cheers, Dick.

-- Brian Aguilar, Summer Scholar, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., and University of California-Berkeley

Going to Go for inspiration

It’s hard to believe that Kristen Go, a 1996 and 1997 CQ Scholar, ever felt nervous about starting her internship. That’s just not the type of vibe I get from someone so sharp.

During her session today, she stressed the importance of respecting readers’ time. “You’re competing with time,” Go said. “Make your story worthwhile.”

I used to be one of those students who thought the longer the story, the better. I’ve learned that’s not always the case. Many people don’t have time to read an entire news story that jumps from one page to another, so being able to get to the point and master grabbing readers from the beginning is fundamental in this business. “If you can’t tell them why this story is important, you have some issues with your reporting,” Go said.

She doesn’t hold back. Go, an action-team leader at The Arizona Republic, will tell you how she feels. During the hour-long session, I learned that Go is not fond of anecdotal leads, although one ran in today’s paper but only because she approved it.

She has great respect for the reporters she works with. When asked for an example of one whose work we should be reading, she had a hard time singling out just one reporter. “They are very seasoned,” Go said.

Go makes you want to be one of those “seasoned” reporters.

-- Ashley Anthony, Spring Scholar, The Jackson (Tenn.) Sun and University of Houston

A man I wish I knew

John Quinn thanks Dick Thien for his years of encouragement and support of the CQS program.

I’ll devote my time to talking about Dick Thien – a man I wish I knew. He’s retiring as a career coach with the CQS program. In a bittersweet tribute, everyone talked about how wonderful Dick is and how devoted he was to his students.

The tears got to me. Everyone who talked about him cried: his son, (CQS Program Director) Karen Catone, Kristen Go. It was as if these people got to share something special that my class is missing out on.

It seems like Dick touched almost everyone in that room. I’m not sure what he did. Everyone said he gave honest criticism and a pat on the back and a kick in the pants when needed. We got to touch a tiny piece of him through Karen and everyone else who spoke.

-- Alexandria Burris, reporter, The Daily Advertiser, Lafayette, La., and Louisiana State University

Photographers are journalists, too

Working outside in the chilly Nashville morning, (Spring Scholars) Deanna Dent, Tara Pixley and I practiced lighting with Chris Viola, a photojournalist and Chips Quinn alum. Working in a small group was intimate and I learned a lot.

"Hold the flash a little bit closer... now a little bit to the right," we said to each other as we took turns practicing with transmitters, off-camera flashes and an umbrella.

Chris was a great teacher. He told us about graduating from San Francisco State University, having five internships, job hunting, how to hunt for feature stories and how to light a subject with one off-camera flash. The session will be beneficial to my work in the field at The Oakland Tribune.

After "Lighting 101" we headed to the auditorium for the Loie Legacy Awards. The beautiful ceremony recognized Dick Thien as the amazing human being he is, and left many of us watery-eyed. Hearing from people who know him touched my heart and made me feel as if I know him, too. I talked to the other scholars and all said, "I wish he was my career coach."

Meeting people like him, and like John Quinn and John Seigenthaler (founder of the First Amendment Center), inspire me. They are journalism, and their presence and words urge me to follow in their footsteps toward the pursuit of truth.

-- Diana Diroy, Spring Scholar, The Oakland (Calif.) Tribune and San Jose State University

Tips and words to remember

Today was fun – and educational.

Tara Pixley, Diana Diroy and I were lucky enough to meet with Chris Viola of The Florida Times-Union to learn lighting skills, photographic styles and what to expect during our internships. Every photographer I meet has a million different ways of doing things and tricks and tips that are new to me.

(Career Coach) Mary Ann Hogan gave us good advice. She reminded us that we are who we are, so we just have to deal with it. Those words will be a constant source of reference over the next 12 weeks.

-- Deanna Dent, Spring Scholar, The Bulletin, Bend, Ore., and Arizona State University

What the profs don't tell you

Learning the "Rules of the Room" was a fascinating experience, especially because this topic is not normally discussed in class.

Professors sometimes will tell us what to expect but not really prepare us for the realities of what we will be facing in the newsroom. I believe that professors should teach this valuable information. Learning how to talk to and approach editors and reporters to get their full attention is an important issue, as important as learning to write a lead.

Knowing the written and unwritten rules will be our shield not only in the newsroom but also in the field. We can apply the rules to the interviews we conduct, the meetings we attend and even to the things we do in our personal daily lives. Although many of these rules are based on common sense, it is always good to be reminded of them.

-- Gabriela Gonzalez, Spring Scholar, Ventura County (Calif.) Star and California State University-Northridge

Never stop learning

The most valuable thing I have learned at orientation is to never stop learning. No matter what your skill level is, there is always someone who can teach you something.

I hope to continue to learn every day. When I return to my job at the Argus Leader, I will be sure to ask the people around me for tips and pointers. How could I have improved that story? What would you have done differently?

People look at stories in many different ways. It's not a bad idea to get feedback from a variety of people. I want to take the extra time to ask for feedback from my editors, mentors, peers, readers, family and anyone who is willing to give me pointers to improve my reporting and storytelling.

If you stop learning, life is boring.

-- Craig Henry, online journalist, Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, S.D., and University of Oklahoma

Planning my day, saving my hair

One of my biggest worries going into my internship is juggling a million things, especially with the advent of online journalism. Addressing that concern, one panelist said simply, “Plan your day.”

Other advice: Get into work early and figure out exactly what needs to be done. Give yourself a certain amount of time with each task, prioritizing the stories with the earliest deadlines.

It sounds so common sense, but given the fast pace and urgency of news, it is easy to be thrown into the disarray and start panicking.

Although I like organization, I am not always organized. If I start my day with an idea of what I will do, I won’t be tearing my hair out (at least not my entire head’s worth) when I suddenly get a breaking news story or am inching uncomfortably close to a deadline.

My day will start the night before, making sure to prepare lunch ahead of time if I know I can’t break away from the desk, or fill up my gas tank if I’m going to be doing a lot of traveling the next day.

I will arrive at the newsroom at least 10 minutes early each morning, sit at my desk and draft an itinerary, scribbling down the names, numbers or addresses of sources so I can have everything in one place. I know my workload and experience at the paper will be much more manageable with this approach.

I don’t want to go bald before I even get my first job.

-- Kellie Hwang, Spring Scholar, The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, and University of Washington

Moments of human connection

John Quinn with Scholars (left to right) Mariecar Mendoza, Craig Henry, Stephanie Armenta, Connie Llanos and Ashley Anthony.

I have learned so many things during the past 56 hours at Chips Quinn orientation.

I have learned about the First Amendment from a man who not only embodies all that it stands for, John Seigenthaler, but also who is passionate about preserving it. His energy was truly inspiring.

I have learned that there are things about a career in journalism that I really didn’t understand until this trip. Given the challenges that our field is facing, it has been informative and refreshing to see so many talented journalists, working, retired, and those who have moved on to executive positions, who still believe in the future of journalism.

Learning about the five graphs from Kristen Go was great. I plan to use those principles immediately in my writing.

I have written to my web editor to let him know that as a result of my Chips Quinn experience, I have some material to bring to the discussion of online media in our newsroom. I was afraid of applying for a spot on the recently announced online team, fearing it would be perceived as arrogance to assume I belonged on that team. Now I am confident that I have something to offer.

Ironically, it is not the lessons on journalism that I will take with me after we leave tomorrow.

Karen Catone, Kristen Smith (administrative assistant with the CQS program), Jack Marsh (vice president/diversity programs for the Freedom Forum) and the lovely and charming John Quinn have repeatedly mentioned how we are now a part of a family. That is a statement often said yet rarely displayed.

Today, as I watched the tears flow during the tribute to Dick Thien, I could not help but cry, too.
But my tears were not sad. I cried because moments like that, moments of human connection, are so hard to find.

I thought about my connection to someone I have never met. As I heard Mr. Quinn talk about his son Chips, I couldn't help but think how incredible it would have been to meet and talk with him. Yet his memory will live on through my career, as it has in the careers of 1,033 journalists in the last 16 years. I hope to make him proud.

-- Connie Llanos, reporter, Daily News, Los Angeles, and California State University-Northridge

A network of support

This morning I got a text message from Chips Quinn alum Erik Lacayo, now of The Fresno Bee, that said: “I read your CQ blog. Stop whining.”

I’ve known Erik since high school, when we both worked for our school’s paper, The Raider Review, so I read that text and laughed. I laughed because one, I know he wishes he were here and two, he’s working on a Saturday.

On a more serious note, the text reminded me of how important it is to stay in contact with people you know in the business.

As I look around me, at my fellow Chipsters, I’m excited by the idea that one day I can be working with one of them (or for them).

Sure, the journalism world can be cutthroat, but it’s nice to know that I’ve got at least 14 Chipsters, Mary Ann Hogan, John Quinn, Kristen Go and so many others associated with this unique program to lean on, look up to and learn from. You guys will forever be a part of my career.

P.S. For the record, I keep in touch with Erik because he’s Erik and not just because he’s a journalist – honest.

-- Mariecar Mendoza, reporter, The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, Calif., and California Polytechnic State University

A toast to learning

I received, yet again, another epiphany: I believe I was over thinking online reporting.

After hearing about the fast pace of the online world and the immediate demand for a story written quickly, I began to worry. Was I going to be able to keep up? Could I truly handle writing two to three stories a day and briefs and online updates?

Sometimes I do my best work under pressure. But there are times when the weight makes me feel as though I’m sinking into the ground.

After the class with my career coach, Mary Ann Hogan, I realized online updates are not supposed to be complex or even stressful. The key word is simple. Be quick, concise and accurate, and that’s all. Don’t worry about inventing the perfect, most articulate lead—just give the facts. Think “Dragnet” and everything will be OK.

On a different subject, I loved the first five graphs session with Chipster alum Kristen Go. I’m all about bulleting and Kristen gave me exactly that. The first five paragraphs of a story should include the news, context, impact and human dimension. That’s all. Simple. Precise. Easy to remember.

I never had it broken down that plainly for me before. I knew that those aspects needed to be included in the story, but I never knew exactly how to arrange them. Scary thought, considering I just graduated.

It’s interesting—in a sad and disturbing way—that I’ve learned more in the last four days than I learned in some of my classes. I found that the classroom instruction at my college didn’t get to the nuts and bolts of story breakdown.

Writing is a learning experience. I figure if I don’t learn something new every day, I’m not truly living. Here’s to living.

-- Maria Miranda, reporter, Madera (Calif.) Tribune, and California State University-Fresno

Tips, stories and ... relief

It's rare to find photographers who are willing to break things down for you and share details about life and photography in equal amounts. So the opportunity to converse with a fun and informative fellow shooter this morning was a treat. I learned a few tricks of the trade, heard a few funny stories and felt a great deal of relief.

It's easy to get caught up in the seriousness of photography and the pressure to get a great shot that everyone will think is amazing. I'm sure it's a lot to have hanging over your head when you're a seasoned photojournalist, but as a young photographer, it's downright terrifying.

Concerns about what your editor and every other photographer viewing your work thinks of it can cloud your other purposes. Obsessing over exposure, content and speed takes so much out of you there's little time to enjoy the experience of doing this awesome job.

Underneath all the pressure, self-imposed and otherwise, is the distant memory of magazines and newspapers strewn about, allowing me to soak up the images featured on the pages. Sunday mornings used to find my father and me flipping through a National Geographic while I stared, wide-eyed and wondering if I could ever create something so beautiful. Photography was a passion of mine before I could say the word passion.

I’m now trying to get to where I can live my dream of making my passion my livelihood. I appreciate any smiling face or bent ear I meet along this journey. It's so much easier to forge onward when you know you have allies. After this morning, I feel a little less nervous, a little less alone and a lot more excited. Here's to allies.

--Tara-Lynne S. Pixley, Spring Scholar, The Greenville (S.C.) News

A case of reach exceeding grasp

The most valuable thing I learned at orientation is that attitude and the desire to learn are as important, if not more so, than any specific journalism skill or piece of knowledge.

Just a few months ago, I tinkered with the idea of applying to science graduate school. I love science research and have done it enough to feel confident that I could do well in that field. I majored in biopsychology, conducted research for years, presented at conferences, taught junior high science and wrote chapters for a science textbook.

Journalism, however, is a different story: I took only a few journalism classes while abroad. I don't know AP style (yet). And I have never written for a daily newspaper, not even a college paper.

It's a bit scary to leave something that I was happy, comfortable and successful with to pursue something so uncertain. But something tells me that there's a chance that I'll love newspaper journalism.

The thrill of writing for a newspaper, the opportunity to educate a general audience about science, and being a part of an exciting, rapidly changing environment (including the incorporation of new media), makes this path worth it for me.

I've realized here that it's OK that I have less journalism experience than my Chips Quinn Scholars cohort. It’s OK that I likely will have less experience than other interns at my paper. It's OK because I have goals that I'm passionate and excited about. I'm willing to learn and work as hard as I can to develop the skills to accomplish those goals – and that's what's important.

I'll leave here with less nervous energy and fears, more confidence and excitement and a new group of friends and. Thank you.

-- Cathy Tran, Spring Scholar, The Orange County (Calif.) Register

The First Amendment -- and a trip to China

John Seigenthaler gave us a wonderful talk about the First Amendment yesterday. I was not only amazed by him but also by the amount of information he gave us.

It was hard to grasp all the information at the time. Now that I’ve had time to reflect on and think about this training and my coming trip to China, I understand that the First Amendment is the most powerful tool we as journalists have.

During the last two weeks, I’ve been doing as much research as I can before I travel to China in May. My reporting class requires us to complete a 10-minute story for radio about an issue in China.

The more I read about China, the more nervous I’ve become. China has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, but it is still a communist state. China does not have freedom of the press; because of that, more journalists are in jail there than in any other country. Having to deal with a language barrier and with censorship will be challenging.

I plan to find sources before I travel, seeking help in overcoming the barriers from journalists who have worked in China. (CQS Program Coordinator) Michelle Hedenskoog has promised to give me the contact information for some Chips Quinn alumni who have traveled to China. I also want to pursue and meet with experts here in the United States who might be able to put me in touch with people in China.

-- Maria Ines Zamudio, Summer 2007 Scholar, Springfield (M0.) News-Leader

A verb or not a verb, that is the question

I chose to minor in professional editing in college, so I'm one of those people who find reading a chapter about semicolon usage to be joyable and the difference between who and whom to be more fun of a challenge than Sudoku is. So when we were given a mini grammar lesson at orientation, to remember that "intern" is a noun and not a verb, I quietly chided myself: "Oh my God, I've been using it as a verb all my life. Why has no one ever corrected me?"

Mental note: "I must, must, must remember this!!"How exciting it was, a new grammar rule.(Hopefully a group of journalists won't find that comment above to be as nerdy as my non-journalism friends would.)

But in an interaction with Merriam-Webster, this excitement quickly turned to confusion:

Main Entry: in·tern

Pronunciation: 'in-"t&rn, in'

Function: transitive verb: to confine or impound especially during a war - in·tern·ee /(")in-"t&r-'nE/ noun- in·tern·ment /in-'t&rn-m&nt, 'in-"/ noun

Main Entry: in·ternPronunciation: 'in-"t&rn

Function: intransitive verb: to work as an intern

Not only is intern a verb according to M-W, it could be both a transitive and an intransitive verb. Uh oh. I contacted my other favorite internet friend, consultant Google News,who tells me to "search and browse 4,500 news sources updated continuously." Perfect, will do. The word "interning" went into the search box and out spouted this:

Results 1 - 10 of about 142 for interning. (0.34 seconds)

I skim through to find if there are any big name papers, not that they're necessarily always grammatically correct, but you know. Dallas Morning News has an article with "I'll be interning at a local TV news station..."

The Tennessean --whose managing editor (my lovely dinner neighbor) might be just as big of an ice cream fan as me, or dare I say, an even bigger one -- used the sentence: "While a student at Belmont, Smith spent nine months in Chicago interning for Winfrey's...." in a recentarticle.

A search at nytimes.com brings up over 100 articles that use the word "interning," most of which are used as verbs. So maybe, just maybe it's OK to say that I'm very, very excited about *interning* at The Orange County Register next month?

Hmmm, Dick Thien, can you confirm? :)

-- Cathy Tran, Spring Scholar, The Orange County (Calif.) Register and the University of California-Santa Barbara
... who still has lots to learn about grammar!

Editor's note: Dick Thien says that the English language does change. If a word is used enough, it becomes acceptable. There are many sources on language. The dictionary is always the most authoritative source. (But do read John Bremner's Words on Words.) Webster's New World Dictionary (Third College Edition) lists "intern" first as a noun. Until it lists "intern" as a verb (not a transitive verb), it's not acceptable usage. Have fun working as an intern at the Register.

On the multimedia bandwagon

Today, I had an epiphany. It’s time to get my butt in gear and jump on the multimedia bandwagon. After hearing the fascinating presentations on the changing environment of the newsroom, I realized I must learn all that I can about multimedia. I need to learn about blogging, audio and video feeds and maybe even podcasts. Although I have a general knowledge of these, I do not know how they work.

It’s intriguing to see how fast the newspaper business is changing, but it also is intimidating. I don’t think I truly realized the extent of how connected the Web and the newspaper are until the presentations of David Ledford (executive editor, The News Journal, Wilmington, Del.) and the former Chipsters. As soon as I get home, I’m going to view the disk Ledford gave us and look into how to learn more.

On a different note, I was little surprised that I share the same opinion on the death penalty as Kenneth Starr. I don’t know why I'm surprised. I have little knowledge of him, other than his connection to the impeachment of President Clinton and the Monica Lewinsky scandal. I don’t believe we should abolish the death penalty, but I do believe it is in need of restructuring.

I also agreed with Starr when he said that one of the only real defenses in death penalty cases is self-defense. There are just some people who can not be rehabilitated, although the percentage is probably small. The problem is knowing who can be rehabilitated and who is incapable of change.

To end on a happier note, I loved talking with the former Chipsters and career coaches over lunch. (Career coach) Mary Ann Hogan, (alum) Sue Stock, Robbie Morganfield (of the Diversity Institute) and (alum) Kristen Go gave me so many helpful tips about generating story ideas for my county-government beat that I could have cried. I didn’t, of course, because that simply would be unprofessional.

-- Maria Miranda, reporter, Madera (Calif.) Tribune and California State University-Fresno

Free therapy

If I sum up this day in one word, the word would be "awakening." My appreciation for journalism awakened today for the first time in a month. I feel like everything that happened today renewed my spirit for journalism.

One of the most profound things I heard today came from Mary Ann Hogan, our career coach. In our last session, she had us sit in a circle and confess our fears. Everyone has the same fears. We all fear the pressure of deadlines, fast-paced newsrooms and expectations, etc. My fear, of course, is not living up to the expectations of my editors and to my own expectations.

Mary Ann said that everything she heard fits into three categories: Who, what and how. She told us that we can’t change who we are, what we do will constantly change and the only control we have is how we conduct ourselves. Just get over who you are, she said.

Let me just say that I got a free therapy session! Mary Ann is right. I’m young and very green. I accept that now. I don’t know everything, but I will learn.

Robbie Morganfield of the Diversity Institute also was at the session. He said we need to take our jobs seriously but also enjoy them. I need to start doing that again. The only expectations that are super high are my own. So, I’m getting the monkey off my back! He also said every day is a new day to learn, and I'm also going to do that.

This morning John Seigenthaler, the founder of the First Amendment Center, spoke to us about the First Amendment and how it’s taken for granted. John is an interesting guy. He has so much passion for history and journalism. He put us in teams, and we had to answer questions about the First Amendment. I was team captain. Brian Aguilar and Craig Henry were on my team. We tied for second. But I just want to say that I have a minor in Balkan and Eastern European history until 1918. My American history facts are rough, and I’m going to refresh them when I get home.

Earlier today, Mark Silverman (of The Tennessean, Nashville), (Career Coach) Colleen Fitzpatrick and Meg Downey (of The Tennessean) spoke to us about charting our career path. Mark said that “we need to understand what we don’t know and what we need to learn”--personally and professionally. Amen. How therapeutic.

-- Alexandria Burris, reporter, Daily Advertiser, Lafayette, La., and Louisiana State University

Moving too fast

The lecture by David Ledford titled “Evolving in a digital world” impressed me. But at the same time, it scared me. A story can benefit greatly from audio and visual elements. However, I’m afraid of what this might mean for the future of journalism and for my future as a starting journalist.

I enjoy photography, film and radio, but I’ve not had work experience with them. As I think about the future and the demands that I will face during my internship, I worry a lot. It is frightening to think that I will have to produce several stories a day under deadline. I also might have to produce blogs, updates for the newspaper’s Web site and multimedia pieces to go with a print story. I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to juggle all those things in a day without loosing my mind. The idea that journalism is changing even more also scares me. Journalists now have to juggle several things at a time. Because of that, they might be forced to produce shorter stories.

In today’s forum titled “The Press, the Public and the Death Penalty,” one of the panelists made a valid point about the complexity of the death penalty and the way journalists cover the issue. Kenneth Starr, dean and professor of law at Pepperdine University, said that one of the cases he worked on in California did not receive media coverage. One of the reasons, he said, was because the law and cases that deal with capital punishment are complex. In order to report on the law, a reporter must understand the law. Other panelists agreed with Starr. They said some reporters who interviewed them had only a day to report the story. They also said that reporters did not follow up, and it's important to do so to understand a case.

One of the reasons why I am so passionate about journalism is because I am a curious person. I like to know how and why things work the way they do. The transition from the fast world of journalism into an even faster world of journalism scares me. Not just because of the daily deadlines but because of the resulting quality of the product.

-- Maria Ines Zamudio, Summer 2007 Scholar, Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

A surprising entertainer

His eyes move slowly around the room, scanning and acknowledging everyone who meets his gaze. It is difficult not to smile when his eyes meet yours. He seems perfectly innocent in the back of the room, leaning against that beautiful cane, listening intently as John Seigenthaler begins to speak. Suddenly. John Quinn cracks a joke about Mr. Seigenthaler’s age as a ripple of laughter sounds through the room. Not so innocent after all.

During the morning break, Mr. Quinn approaches me and Mariecar Mendoza while we are mid-conversation and tells us he has a juicy story about Mr. Seigenthaler. Our ears are burning and the reporters in us instantly take over. The story is good. Tabloid good. We are cackling with laughter at the story’s end, and Mr. Quinn nods with satisfaction, ambling away to entertain more unsuspecting victims. Unfortunately, we must respect Mr. Quinn’s confidentiality request and cannot share the information.

Something tells me that when John Quinn says that Chips Quinn becomes your family, he ain’t lying. I've never before met such a respected and seasoned person in the journalism industry and felt liked I've known him forever. But like any family member, I know I better keep any of my indiscretions well-hidden from Mr. Quinn.

-- Kellie Hwang, Spring Scholar, The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, and University of Washington

Journalism on the Internet

I heard about the future of journalism today. David Ledford, vice president/news and executive editor of the The News Journal in Delaware, gave a presentation this afternoon on how his newsroom is transforming itself to meet the demands of a tech-savvy world. The changes he outlined were many. They included: restructuring the newsroom to better accommodate the online edition of The News Journal; changing the philosophy of the workspace from newsroom to "information center", a place where news and resources are compiled in a 24-7 environment and are easily accessible online; training his staff to know how to publish on the Web; distributing news in several platforms via mobile devices, the Internet and print.

I came away impressed with what he spoke about and felt excited about what lies ahead for journalism on the Internet.

-- Brian Aguilar, Summer 2007 Scholar, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., and University of California-Berkeley

Learning from accomplished journalists

Today has been a very busy day, packed with a lot of useful information from many intelligent people. At times, I feel a little intimidated by all the accomplished journalists I meet, but I remind myself that they are here to help us young aspiring reporters.

I was delighted to hear from Meg Downey (managing editor, The Tennessean, Nashville). She spoke about managing her personal life along with her career. She mentioned that she decided to take a part-time job after having children. This is something I am struggling with. I want to gain all the experience I can, but I am torn between wanting to work full time and wanting to be home with my beautiful son. She told me that I could contact her if I had questions, which I will plan to do. She gave me hope that this issue I’m having can be resolved.

I also enjoyed hearing about the kind of person John “Chips” Quinn Jr. was. From the stories we’ve heard, it appears that he was a man full of life, a man who was not afraid to be himself. Sometimes, I see John Quinn Sr. in the hallway. I would love to approach him to ask him questions because I know he has some great stories to tell, but my shyness stops me.

I wish that I had the ability to not care so much about what people think of me. I think that is why I am so scared to start my internship. I hope that after this weekend is over, I will have more confidence in myself and in my writing career.

Listening to John Seigenthaler talk about our history was eye-opening. How much he knows is amazing.

I feel honored to be in the presence of such accomplished journalists. I only hope that one day I can have as much talent as they have.

-- Stephanie Armenta, Spring Scholar, The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, and Arizona State University

Words of comfort

Nerves are pretty much reducing my stomach to nothingness at this point. Before I arrived at orientation, I had my own expectations and those of editors at my internship newspaper to consider. Now, I am concerned about all the people I am meeting and coming to know as presenters, coaches and directors of this esteemed program. I want to live up to -- even surpass -- their expectations as a way to properly thank them for the time and effort they're putting into my career. It's scary to imagine that I might fail at any one or all three of these goals.

I thought that there was little any one could say to quiet my concerns or the never-ending gnawing of my nerves. Nothing can prepare you for jumping into your first job and finally getting to do what you've always dreamt of doing. You swim like crazy to get to the other side and don't take a deep breath until you get there. Or you sink. I am doing the backstroke like a mad woman.

A few words of advice are actually calming my anxiety. I think it really is true that life gets better when you realize that you have no control over it.

I'll take this advice to my internship with me, keep it in mind on all my assignments and even find a way to apply it to all other aspects of my life.

You cannot change who you are. You don't decide what will be asked of you. But how you handle it is up to you.

Thank God for small favors and words of comfort.

-- Tara-Lynne Pixley, Spring Scholar, The Greenville (S.C.) News and Florida A&M University

Why I'm smiling

Whew! Today was a long day. Sure, Karen Catone and Chipster alums warned me that the days were going to be jam-packed, but I don’t think anything could prepare me for this. And it’s only Day One.

With my head throbbing as it continues register all that I’ve learned today (though I must admit, the throbbing might be the result of last night’s visit to the Red Door Saloon), I find myself unable to stop smiling. I smile because Mark Silverman (editor of The Tennessean, Nashville) said it’s OK not to know how to do a job from the get-go because your career always should be a continuous learning process.

I smile because Meg Downey (managing editor of The Tennessean) is living proof that a journalist’s career is unpredictable.

I smile – and giggle – because John Quinn told me the “X-rated” story about Chips we weren’t supposed to know (and no, I won’t repeat it because I promised Mr. Quinn I wouldn’t).

I smile because I had the honor to sit through a history lesson conducted by John Seigenthaler of the First Amendment Center.

And I smile because David Ledford (executive editor, The News Journal, Wilmington, Del.) gave me a preview of all the possibilities I have as a journalist in this new era.

Yvonne Pingue, a Chips alum, friend and former AAJA Voices buddy, told me: “You’re going to leave orientation more inspired to do journalism.” She is so right.

-- Mariecar Mendoza, reporter, The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, Calif., and California Polytechnic State University

Accepting me for who I am

I’ve always been aware that I have an accent when I speak. How could I not? English is not my first language. In fact, I didn’t learn English until I was 11 years old. During interviews and other assignments, some people point out that I have a “cute” accent. No one ever made me feel uncomfortable or self-conscious about it. That was until I took an advanced reporting class during Fall ’05. My professor was a former journalist who had won the Pulitzer Prize. I admire him because he has done all the things that I want to accomplish. The first day of class he singled me out and pointed out my accent to the class as a possible problem. I couldn’t help but feel bad about the comment. Ever since that day, every time I interview someone, every time I pick up the phone to call a source and every time I write a story, his words come to mind.

Today I feel different. Today I can finally say that I no longer am ashamed of that accent. I have come to embrace it.

It all started when I heard Getahn Ward speak to us. Ward is a Chips Quinn Scholar alum from 1994. He is a business reporter at The Tennessean in Nashville, where he has worked since 1998. After he welcomed the Scholars to the orientation, I was lucky enough to have him sit at our table. During our delicious dinner and dessert, he talked about his beloved country of origin, Liberia. He talked passionately about his experiences as a reporter there when he was only 15 years old. My eyes watered as he talked about what he saw during the country’s civil war, which took almost 14 years to end.

I decided to talk to him privately. He, too, wanted to talk. He wanted to talk about the newspaper where I will be working as an intern next Summer. I looked at him and told him that I wanted to ask him a personal question. He listened carefully. I gathered the courage to ask him if he had ever felt self-conscious or uncomfortable interviewing someone because of his accent. We shared experiences and talked about the issue for a couple of minutes, and he said something that I will never forget. He told me that the accent was part of him and that if the newspaper where I worked liked me then they would have to accept the accent because that is who I am.

-- Maria Ines Zamudio, Summer 2007 Scholar, Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader, and University of Illinois-Champaign

I could be in her shoes

One day that might be me. I definitely wouldn't mind being in Wendy Isom's shoes. Her name was one of the first to catch my eye on the list of orientation speakers. She is a reporter at The Jackson Sun, where I will be working soon as an intern. I had seen her byline online and in print thanks to my editor, who signed me up for a subscription to the newspaper. Isom covers many feature stories, and features helped sparked my interest in journalism. She also helps prepare video for the newspaper's Web site. She seems to have benefited from being at a publication with a smaller circulation because she has freedom to nurture her journalism talent. I am confident that I will learn a great deal from her, and I feel privileged to have met her before my first day as the new girl in the newsroom. (I mean the "local information center.") You learn something new every day.

-- Ashley Anthony, Spring Scholar, The Jackson (Tenn.) Sun and University of Houston

Appreciation for the First Amendment

I have millions of reasons why I love online multimedia. Designing's fun, infographics add explanatory power, interactive flash features are engaging, and the list goes on. But one advantage I didn't know until a couple hours ago is that there is more freedom in new media. Online service providers, Wikipedia, and blogs have absolute freedom of the press and are protected from libel lawsuits.

I wonder why new media has this special protection. Is it because it's hard to track the authors of online information? Is it because it's not feasible to ask people to monitor Wikipedia and blogs given their wide usage?

And the United States can't be the only country to have this law, right? Wouldn't all countries need to adopt this law for it to mean anything since anyone in the world can contribute to Wikipedia and blogs? Otherwise, Wikipedia and blogs can still face libel charges from other countries, right?

Today, we talked about how many people take the First Amendment for granted and many of my fellow Chipsters mentioned that the amendment was not discussed in their journalism classes. That's surprising to me because it was a major topic in my media law and ethics class when I studied abroad in Hong Kong. I remember feeling scared about pursuing journalism after learning about the defamation lawsuits in Asia. But then my professor emphasized how lucky U.S. journalists are as she explained the First Amendment--and it was the first time I learned about its effects on the press.

Today reminded me to be very, very appreciative of those rights.

Thank goodness that there's one less thing to worry about because I'm so nervous about 928579257 things as it is!

-- Cathy Tran, Spring Scholar,The Orange County (Calif.) Register, and University of California-Santa Barbara
...who hopes that more of this nervous energy turns into excitement!

Editor's note: Check out the First Amendment Center's Web site for more information about online and First Amendment protections.

Shaping the future of news

There is something about being in Nashville with so many ambitious people and accomplished mentors that is as reassuring as it is nerve wracking. At the start of the day, we listened to a great deal of newsroom (or should I call it local information center) experiences and how the newsroom is moving to multimedia.

After walking away from David Leford's talk about online, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the instant gratification readers want from today's news organization. Part of me wondered: How difficult will it be to compete with someone walking around with a camera cell phone or a point-and-shoot camera? When the deadline becomes minute-to-minute and hour-to-hour, can anyone who is around do the assignment? After thinking about all these questions, I thought about how important it is to act on these fears rather than to be intimidated into inaction. I believe that as the next generation of journalists we will be a big part of shaping the future of news.

-- Deanna Dent, Spring Scholar, The Bulletin, Bend, Ore., and Arizona State University

Gift of orientation

A second day is almost finish, and my fears about my internship are reducing every second. But at the same time, my anxiety is starting to grow.

There have been great ideas shared today. They will guide us in our careers. "Understand what you don’t know,” Mark Silverman (editor of The Tennessean in Nashville) said. “I have never been ready for a job,” he also said.

There is a strong message we should keep in mind: One of the gifts of journalism is the learning experience. There is no preparation or training for a story because every story is unique, every source has his own way of seeing the world, his own way of telling the story that makes the person even more interesting.

Learning about the First Amendment from John Seigenthaler was a precious moment. This is information we -- not only reporters but the public in general -- should know. It is sad that we hardly studied it school. To best use our five rights from the First Amendment, we need to also understand how the political system works in America.

Also today, learning about multimedia was a great experience. Multimedia is becoming crucial for online news. Some of us don’t have much background in multimedia, but it is necessary because it will open many doors for future jobs.

And even learning from everyone’s experiences is a gift that this orientation is providing.

I had a great day.

-- Gabriela Gonzalez, Spring Scholar, Ventura County (Calif.) Star and California State University-Northridge

Ready to make the jump

I had a flashback today: I'm hundreds of feet above the ground. Below I see canyons and a river that looks like a blue skinny snake. It was about three years ago and I was in New Zealand about to jump off the second-highest bungee jump in the world.

It is still scary just thinking about it, but it was definitely an adventure. Some people think I'm risking my life. But to me, it was a definite thrill.

I was reminded of that moment when Meg Downey (managing editor of The Tennessean in Nashville) said these words, "Jumping off a cliff is more an adventure than a risk."

This orientation is getting us ready for our futures. And there will be times when we are looking below, ready to jump.

Mark Silverman (editor of The Tennessean) said, "You're never ready for your next job." I probably am not, but I'm definitely excited and looking forward to it.

I've learned a lot today, especially the importance of multimedia. I do audio and still photos, but it seems as if video is a growing trend online. I am excited to learn how to edit video. It might be a challenge, but I look forward to it.

-- Diana Diroy, Spring Scholar, The Oakland (Calif.) Tribune and San Jose State University

I see the future

Day Two in Nashville and, despite my late-night escapades at the devilishly fun Red Door Saloon,(which I highly recommend), it was not marked by a hangover but by an eye-opening presentation. Coming into this experience, I knew I wanted to ask a lot of questions. I planned to prod the minds of the seasoned journalists, hoping that just a sprinkle of their wisdom would rub off on this "green" reporter. The biggest question I had -- one I feared I'd be afraid to ask or unable to find an answer for -- was where journalism is headed and where I fit in. Today, David Ledford, executive editor of The News Journal in Wilmington, Del., showed me the future. It looks dynamic: Newsrooms transformed into "local information centers," plasma screens and video cameras, audio slide shows and interactive news being produced by the minute. Whoo! I will admit that as a bit of an old soul I had questioned how or why newspapers wanted to change. I refused to believe that my generation has no interest in newspapers with our incessant need for reality television, You Tube and all things Britney. I am excited to learn about all of this new technology and eager to see how far it will let me take some of my stories. I also have decided that David Ledford would be a great boss to work for. That brings me to another panel, but I have already written enough.

Until tomorrow.

-- Connie Llanos, reporter, Daily News, Los Angeles, and California State University-Northridge

Blessed with opportunities

People who know me are aware of my feelings for the Freedom Forum and the programs that I have had the honor to be involved in -- the American Indian Journalism Institute and the Native American Newspaper Career Conference. The Chips Quinn program is not unlike these programs. In true Freedom Forum fashion, we are blessed with the opportunity to meet some of our industry's best. John Seigenthaler, a gentleman I met previously, gave us a great lesson in history. Again, in true Freedom Forum fashion, we received some free stuff as well. Of course, one of the most exciting aspects of the day was listening to a panel discussion titled “The Press, the Public and the Death Penalty,” which featured Kenneth Starr. I don't want to forget to mention everyone, both in front of and behind the scenes, who has made this program possible. As with all of the Freedom Forum's programs, only the best will do. Though this journey isn't over yet, I want to say thank you.

-- Craig Henry, online journalist, Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, S.D., and University of Oklahoma

The importance of journalism

Thursday night’s sneak peek at what this weekend has in store for the Chips Quinn Scholars was almost like a breath of fresh air and a reminder of how vital journalism is. It was quite inspiring meeting determined young journalists who have the same goals as I and professionals who are dedicated to helping us pursue those goals. This weekend is not just about helping young aspiring journalists; it also is about the view we all share. (Program Director) Karen Catone asked us Scholars to find something in common with each person in the room. Being at the orientation already convinced me of one thing we all have in common: Our belief in journalism.

It's a beautiful thing to see a room full of individuals dedicated to truth and the importance of showing it through photos or telling it through words. It's a beautiful thing to hear my peers talk about what they hope to accomplish by becoming journalists. Just being at the Freedom Forum -- where the First Amendment is shining bright as you walk into the building and where headlines are posted in bathroom stalls -- serves as a reminder of the importance of journalism.

The inspiration I experienced reassured me that I am on the right path. I am proud to be taking such an adventurous route.

-- Diana Diroy, Spring Scholar, The Oakland (Calif.) Tribune and San Jose State University

Re-engergizing experience

I spent Wednesday night in the company of good food, good people and great friends. Many more than I expected came to tell me goodbye as I was preparing to leave my saguaros and tumbleweed for orientation across the country in Nashville, Tenn., and my eventual internship in the snowy town of Bend, Ore. Through the night, I received words of advice, firm hugs and one cactus-shaped coffee mug for future cold nights.

The flight on Thursday was quick, and I slept through most of it. The hotel room in Nashville proved to be quite elegant, and I can sit in the living room and watch the guests go by my front window. I met Alex, my roommate, and many others over hors d’ouvres and dinner.

At the conclusion of the evening and our introduction to the Chips Quinn Scholars Spring 2007 program, I felt re-energized. I was excited to see how many women journalists were present, as well as the diversity among the 15 Scholars. I hope that the newsroom I eventually work in will have some semblance of the room I sat in Thursday night

-- Deanna Dent, Spring Scholar, The Bulletin, Bend, Ore., and Arizona State University

Two degrees of separation

I arrived in Nashville for my Chips Quinn Scholars Program orientation weekend this afternoon and already I've learned one important thing: Don't screw up!

These were the words from John C. Quinn, founder of the CQS program. He gave them tonight while addressing the 2007 CQS class at the opening dinner.

When he said these words, I first felt a bit tense, but then wondered why he was telling us not to screw up. I soon found out from colleagues at my table.

It turns out that for any veteran journalist, life does not consist of six degrees of separation.

"I think it might be just two degrees," said Kristen Go, action-team leader for The Arizona Republic and CQS alum.

Besides Kristen, I sat at a table with Mary Ann Hogan, CQS career coach, and Robbie Morganfield, executive director of the Diversity Institute. Two other new Chips Quinn Scholars also were at the table. What startled me was how connected all of us are.

For starters, Hogan knows my UC-Berkeley graduate school adviser, Paul Grabowicz. They worked together during the late 1980s at The Oakland Tribune. Meanwhile, Morganfield knows some previous colleagues of Hogan’s; he met them when he worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. And, of course, everyone at the table knew some of the 1,033 Scholars who are now working at media publications throughout the country (one of them introduced me to the program).

The people at my table made Quinn's lesson very clear to me: If you screw up, everyone will know about it.

-- Brian Aguilar, Summer 2007 Scholar, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., and University of California-Berkeley (He is one of two Summer Scholars joining the Spring class for orientation.)

Learning from a great man

One thing that has been very clear today is how important it is to have people of color in newsrooms to provide substantial coverage of multicolor America. The new generation of journalists in today’s America is able to communicate with every citizen regardless of background and ethnicity. As I turned to my right or to my left, I was happy to see young people like me with great hopes and millions of ideas for changing the world and, of course, changing the newsroom.

As long as you have passion as a reporter there are no obstacles.

That is what I learned on the first day of orientation from a great man. No words can describe how fascinating he is. But let me try. With great personality and spirit and tremendous humor, he is a wonderful human being -- a person you feel very comfortable talking to. He is a former reporter and editor with a lot of passion. But he has gone beyond to guide people and provide advice to new generations of reporters. This extraordinary person is John C. Quinn. I was delighted to see how well he knows every Chips Quinn Scholar. I am lucky and feel honored to share these four days here with colleagues and with Mr. Quinn. I don’t have enough words to describe this great opportunity. I know I am on the right path because I am a proud Spring 2007 Chips Quinn Scholar

-- Gabriela Gonzalez, Spring Scholar, Ventura County (Calif.) Star and California State University-Northridge

Finding some comfort

I haven’t been able to sleep the past few weeks, and that is very unusual. I don’t know if it has to do with moving to a new place, feeling pressure to succeed in my internship, meeting new people or a combination of all three things, but I find myself lying in bed staring at the ceiling with a million thoughts zipping through my mind.

Getting on a plane this morning and dealing with cranky security-checkpoint guards, screeching babies and blistering cold weather didn’t give me a sense of relief. I didn’t quite prepare myself. Upon leaving the airport, I received a text message from Mariecar Mendoza. She and I met last Summer at the Asian American Journalists Association conference in Hawaii. I suddenly remembered she was going to be here. She said she was arriving at 1:30. I felt a surge of relief. We shared a snack and vented our uneasy feelings at the dive bar across the street from the hotel. I realized that everyone is feeling the same way I do.

It’s the people you meet along the way who help you through the obstacles. When (Program Director) Karen Catone was speaking tonight, she stressed that we should get to know every person in the room. I know now that the relationships I form will be for life. Even though we are journalists competing in a cutthroat industry, we also are trying to make a difference in the world or, as Mariecar said, “to change the world.” We couldn’t do that if we all didn’t work together. Knowing this, I really will sleep better at night.

-- Kellie Hwang, Spring Scholar, The Arizona Republic, Phoenix and University of Washington

Antidote for self-doubt

Everyone I have met so far seems really cool. But everything else that happened tonight went by in a blur. I’m really tired, and I’m preoccupied with work.

I started at The Daily Advertiser on Jan. 2. On my first day, I was told that I would be the city hall reporter. Almost a month later, I still feel as though I have been thrown into the middle of the Pacific Ocean without a life raft. I’m overwhelmed, and I think it’s starting to show. (Program Director) Karen Catone asked me how I was enjoying my job, and I hesitated before answering. There’s so much to learn. The beat is big, and I’m a perfectionist at heart.

I heard someone say that this is the weekend that will reignite our flame for journalism. I hope that’s right because my flame is struggling to stay lit. I packed an extra dose of self-doubt, and I’m waiting to see if this weekend will help me rid my already overstuffed suitcase of any doubt. I’ll let you know if my flame gets reignited.

-- Alexandria Burris, reporter, The Daily Advertiser, Lafayette, La., and Louisiana State University

Journalism is a hero's life

A desire to change the world is a strange concept to grasp. It isn't the sort of thing one learns in primary or secondary school. Higher education does not generally offer Change the World 101. So most people tend to think it is a fruitless pursuit. And yet there are individuals who find their way to this internship program, all miraculously sharing this intent and ambition.

Although I have just entered the world that is Chips Quinn, I feel a strange stirring that it is the missing course, the forgotten instruction that so many of us have waited for our entire lives.

Many people wax poetic about changing or saving the world, and some of these people become police officers, politicians, firefighters, teachers, engineers. There are many ways to save the world piece by piece. But to aspire to be a journalist is a two-pronged career goal. It is one-part complete self-absorption. After all, who can deny the pull of seeing your name in print each day, of smugly watching a fellow citizen peruse a newspaper and view your words or photos? Yet, a journalist's main goal is not that someone sees your name; it is that someone feels your work. The ability to be heard is a heavy responsibility, one that requires you to weigh what you say with care. This is a skill acquired with guidance, focus and drive. I believe the directors of Chips Quinn choose students for our drive so that they may focus our efforts and guide us through the very turbulent waters of internships and first jobs. I am grateful to be on the precipice of learning what I need to know to change the world and to be in the presence of so many others who yearn for the same. Journalism is a hard life, but I think it can be a hero's life. After all, I don't believe it's a coincidence that some of the most beloved superheroes were journalists by day. And though I don't have a cape, I do have a camera. I'm starting to believe that might be enough.

-- Tara-Lynne S. Pixley, Spring Scholar, The Greenville (S.C.) News and Florida A&M University

Part of a new family

The first day of orientation has been exciting. Being in the presence of great journalists is inspiring, and this is only the first day. I remember when my husband came home from his Chips Quinn experience. The first thing he talked about was the great people he met -- fellow Scholars, speakers and mentors. I can see why he was so enthusiastic about me applying to the program. There was a warm, welcoming feeling in the room. Hearing jokes among veteran journalists and watching desserts being traded (I won’t mention any names) made me see that this is truly a family. I am very proud to be a part of this family, and I just hope that I “don’t mess up.”

-- Stephanie Armenta, Spring Scholar, The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona State University

Looking forward

The first day of orientation was a new experience for me. Not only was it my first time flying, but also flying alone. Traveling alone was unnerving, and arriving in Nashville was even more so. I didn’t know what to expect or whether I was in over my head. But as soon as I walked out of the airport gate, (program assistant) Kristen Smith approached me with a smile. I immediately was put at ease. Every person, both Scholars and Chips Quinn associates, are friendly, helpful and kind.

At the reception, I was able to talk with other Scholars, and I realized we are all in the same boat. We are all nervous, a little unsure and hoping to make a difference in our jobs or internships. It was refreshing to be surrounded by so many other students and graduates who have the same aspirations and goals.

I look forward to the rest of the orientation. I can’t wait to receive help and guidance from my coach. I want to find my own voice and distinct writing style. And, after hearing what previous Scholars said about the program, I am confident that this orientation will help me reach my goal.

-- Maria Miranda, reporter, Madera (Calif.) Tribune and California State University-Fresno

Catching up with a buddy

As the plane made its final descent into Nashville, my eyes gazed out the small window to a part of the world I had never seen before. My eyes darted right and then left, playing peek-a-boo with the clouds, as they tried to help my brain register the images of Tennessee. Tiny homes, green pastures and ant-sized cars greeted me as the plane glided through the air. Then BAM! The plane’s tires screeched as they hit the pavement, signaling the start of what I expect to be an inspiring weekend. As soon as the flight attendant made the announcement about the use of cell phones, I turned on my cell to text Kellie Hwang, a fellow Chipster and former AAJA Voices buddy.

It's been almost a year since I've seen Kellie. But as soon as we saw each other at the hotel, it was just as we left it in Hawaii at the end of the AAJA convention. After a few brush strokes through my hair, I was off with Kellie to catch up. We chatted about music, food, Chips Quinn, more music and more food repeating to each other that we must absorb what we can from the Chips Quinn and Nashville experience.

Now at 8:33 p.m., as a newly named Chipster, I embark on my first night in Nashville. I raise my glass -- and my handy reporter's notebook -- and say, "Ya'll better watch out now."

-- Mariecar Mendoza, reporter, The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, Calif., and California Polytechnic State University

Lessons in the 45 words of the First Amendment

I don’t know why I raised my hand when Jack Marsh, Freedom Forum vice president for diversity programs, asked a Spring Scholar to recite the First Amendment in front of a room full of strangers. It’s not that I’m terribly shy, but I have to admit I was nervous. I guess I was trying to make myself feel more comfortable and a part of an atmosphere that was inviting from the moment I sat down at a dinner table between Marsh and Career Coach Colleen Fitzpatrick. I was not prepared to answer additional questions from Marsh, but that’s what being a journalist is about. Sometimes we are not ready for the situations we face. It’s important to know how to deal with situations as best as we can. These experiences can turn out to be lessons for tomorrow. I might not have known everything I should have about the First Amendment, but I am positive that I never will forget it or forget Marsh for putting me on the spot. It wasn’t necessary for Marsh to apologize for what he called “picking on me,” but he did. As far as I’m concerned, he did me a favor when he called on me. Knowledge is power.

-- Ashley Anthony, Spring Scholar, The Jackson (Tenn.) Sun and University of Houston