The Chimes Shadow

  For my second media week shadowing, I went to The Chimes newspaper on Wednesday and saw how the editors of each section prepared for the printing of this week’s edition of the paper. They meet in the Student Union Building in a room just big enough to fit all the necessary computers, which had the software Cork. This is the software that the editors use to format each page of the school’s newspaper. The editors said that it is easy to use if you’re computer savvy or once you get familiar with the way it works. This was one of the things that interested me most about the Chimes. Once the editors had all of the written articles submitted to them they were able to place the articles anywhere with whatever layout they wanted. Something that I learned is that the editors are the people who come up with each article’s headline. They have to read each article in their section and come up with a headline that can fit the space that was designated for the headline’s the text. They also had to keep in mind where to place pictures, and ads.

            I also learned that the editors choose specific stories that they want covered and send out their ideas to multiple students who then write the articles and send them to the editors. Although this makes the editor’s job easier, it also leaves them to rely on the journalist who promises to cover the story. This was a minor problem yesterday when one of the articles wasn’t received on time. However, the article eventually was received and easily put into the space on the page, which was reserved for that story. This showed how important it was to have the layout of each page ahead of time, and how important it is to have reliable journalists.

            While shadowing The Chimes I also saw how the editors make captions for pictures. They first have to describe what is happening in the picture in one sentence, and in the second sentence they write an excerpt that lets the reader know a little bit about the article. I can imagine this process would be more difficult than it looked considering they have just one sentence to describe the article and catch the reader’s attention since pictures catch eyes more than anything else in a paper.

            Before the final paper is put together and printed, the editors have to print out drafts of each page. This is so that the pages can be edited once again and physically written on. If the editors just send their work in and have it corrected for them, they do not get the experience of going back to the original document and adjusting their page to make it work.

            The atmosphere of The Chimes’ workroom was much more relaxed than Eagle Vision’s atmosphere. Despite my sense of relaxation in this room, the editors said that this week was one of the more “hectic” weeks due to the students shadowing their work. However, this is probably so because they are very well organized and good at time management, which takes a load of stress off their shoulders. I could see myself working for The Chimes or a business like it in the future mainly because of their efficient work and positive attitudes.

Time: 8:00pm - 10:00pm

Eagle Vision Shadow

            I went and shadowed Biola’s Eagle Vision with Professor Stew Oleson. It takes place in the production center and starts at 9pm. Professor Oleson was one of the first to be there along with a couple other tech guys who explained to me how they prepare to film the school’s broadcast. Although it is not filmed live, they don’t record using tape or anything. The broadcast is recorded straight into the computers. Since it is not filmed live, this allows the people who are on camera to have an occasional slip up because it can later be edited.  Before the filming started, some of the crew was setting up while the anchors and reporters hung out and talked about their stories. Minutes before filming the anchor went into the broadcast room and got on camera. They clarified camera numbers, adjusted camera angles, the background, and the anchor’s position while she read through her script a few times in order for her to know her script. From the convergence room I could see all the different cameras on separate screens along with a screen that had the script as it scrolled up the teleprompter. When the filming began everyone was quiet as the tech guys cued video and audio clips, and cameras that were being addressed. Professor Oleson was in charge of the script’s movement on the teleprompter. The whole process of the filming of Eagle Vision was very interesting and somewhat intense as the cameras began rolling yet at the same time it seemed more manageable for me to do than I expected.

Group Discussion 9/24/2010

Afghan Boys are Prized, So Girls Live the Part

            In Afghanistan it is common for families without a son to dress up and raise one of their daughters as a boy. This is done for many reasons that are intended to benefit the children and the family. One of the reasons is so that their “son” would be respected by society and would get all the same privileges that a normal boy would have such as the chance to play sports. Other reasons include social pressure to have a son, help with daily tasks, and superstitious beliefs that doing this will somehow lead to the family having a boy. However, this confuses the girl when puberty comes and it is time for her to become a girl and live a completely different lifestyle.

           

Senators Vote to Block Debate on Military Bill

            The bill to bring the military’s “don’t ask don’t tell” policy to the Senate floor keeps getting denied. The idea is that anyone should be able to fight in the military despite their sexuality. Although the bill hasn’t been passed yet, democrats continue to fight for its passing.

A Wave of Addiction and Crime, with the Medicine Cabinet to Blame

            Over the years many doctors have been prescribing an over abundance of addicting medicines such as: Vicodin, Percocet and Xanax. Many of the people consuming these pills (prescribed or illegal) have become addicted therefore leading to many home invasions, robberies, assaults, homicides and thefts when they run out of the medicine. Police around the country have set up drop off stations where they encourage anyone who no longer needs the medication to return them to the “prescription drug take back program” organized by the DEA. This is the first movement of its kind.

Attendance:  Abbey Bennett, Joseph DeClercq, Amber Amaya, Ashley Antone