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
Friday, January 26, 2007
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
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
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.)
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
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
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
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
-- 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
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
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