Sarah Walsh - Diversity Response

I really like to talk about social issues, especially ones related to diversity and social justice, but I didn’t love that our diversity activity left so little room for nuance when we were talking about issues that are often much more complicated than a yes-or-no answer. I also didn’t like that only one person in each group was allowed to speak – while it was definitely reflective of the way that different groups often end up being defined (in the eyes of others) by the opinion of one especially loud individual, I would have liked to have some more discussion between everyone in the FIG. I had hoped this might be an opportunity for us to get Freedom Writers-y and explore how we as individuals are diverse, or discuss our opinions with one another instead of having you and Professor Steffens as sort of a neutral sounding board. It would have been a very interesting learning experience! Not that I didn’t like what we did, though; it was still interesting and thought-provoking. J

Like I said during the exercise, Mizzou is a far more diverse environment than Kearney, Nebraska and I feel very lucky to be here for that reason.

I think religious diversity is often left unaddressed simply because it’s such an overwhelmingly touchy subject and most people who practice a given faith are convinced that it’s the One and Only Correct Religion Ever. When it comes to religious questions, reason pretty much goes out the window because there are no truly definitive answers – if you’ve looked at the comments for literally any given YouTube video, from Gaga’s latest to LOLCats, you’ve probably seen how vicious people get about tearing down the religions of others when their own are just as dependent on sheer belief instead of anything physical or measurable. It’s a really difficult discussion to facilitate, which I think is sad because we could learn so much from one another if we were willing to sit down and listen.

Related to religious diversity, I think diversity in sexuality is another topic that I honestly don’t see a lot of outside of specifically LGBTQ-oriented spaces. I guess it’s related to religious diversity – most people who are homophobic are that way for a religious reason, so their convictions are obviously quite hard to shake. On some level, this could be a discussion that it is sometimes best not to have with people you want to continue liking, but on another I think it’s an important and very current issue to discuss. 

Diversity Reflection- Cassie Naes

Diversity to me is important in society. I am a believer in the idea that everyone is unique, which makes everywhere we go in the world a diverse place. Most people assume diversity is just dealing with racial issues but in different settings it can be a less obvious occurrence. Things such as hair color, majors, or religion make us stand apart from the rest. Just within our FIG we have people majoring in different subjects, we have different hometowns, and different beliefs. The fact that people are looked down upon for being different sickens me. Being different is what makes us unique and if everyone were the same there would be no point in getting to know people; you’d be friends with an identical version of yourself.

            Diversity at Mizzou is something that I think is encouraged. There’s different clubs for different people and there is always someone like you to reach out to if necessary.  I think racial diversity is least dealt with in society and schools because it can cause such chaos. Society preaches the idea of everyone being equal, however more often than not it seems like certain people always get special treatment. It is less of an issue then it used to be but Americans, African Americans, Asians, and other races aren’t seen as equals.

Diversity Reflection-Jennifer Heck

               What I liked about the diversity activity we did in class was that we got to see right away everyone’s results to the question. What I didn’t like was how it was not anonymous and that we had to choose one side over another when you felt like you could argue both sides of the statement. It was interesting to hear everyone’s reasoning for choosing that particular side.

                I feel as if the diversity here at Mizzou is wide. Everyone comes from a different place and background. Even if a group of students came from the same high school, there would still be diversity within that group. I feel that the least talked about concern with diversity has to be the language barrier. Communication is a big part of living here at the University of Missouri. I understand that a lot of students are international students, but it makes it extremely difficult to work on projects with them when you cannot understand what they are saying, and they cannot understand what you are trying to say. I am a very patient person when i work in groups like these, however some people are not, and being like that makes it difficult for everyone in the group to complete the task. 

Jennifer Heck

Ali Johnson-Diversity

I liked the activity because it got us thinking about issues we might not have thought about before. It also forced us to choose a side. There were many times when some of us couldn't choose a side, but you weren't allowed to stay in the middle. This forced us to really think about what the statement was and choose the side that best reflected our opinions. However, this is also something I disliked about the activity. There were times when I couldn't choose a side, but had ideas to back up each side. I wanted to justify why I wanted to stay in the middle, but that wasn't an option.
While I have never noticed anything shocking about Mizzou's diversity, some of my classmates brought certain things to my attention. I wasn't aware that African Americans have separate Homecoming activities. I definitely think this is an issue Mizzou needs to work on because Homecoming should be a huge event for the whole university to come and celebrate together. The Homecoming events I took part in were a lot of fun and I would want everyone to be able to be involved in them.
This is a topic that is least talked about with diversity. As a student, I was unaware of this occurring and I'm sure a lot of other students would agree. So many are unaware that the lack of diversity occurs, including at Mizzou. Since people are unaware, it can't be changed.

diversity reflection - Nikki Osberg

The diversity exercise we did in class was very informative. It was interesting to see what stance everyone took on certain issues, especially because most of us fall into the same demographic. It seemed to me that religion played a big role in whether people traveled to the “yes” or “no” side of the room. Race also had a hand in the decision-making. I liked being able to take my own stance, since until I moved here, most of my decisions and opinions were formed for me on behalf of my family and peers. The statements were thought provoking and gave me the opportunity to truly think about what it is I believe in.

I have seen a lot of diversity here at Mizzou, much more so than at my high school and in my hometown. Sure, if you travel about ten miles from my California suburb you can see plenty of diversity. But here, on campus, the diversity is much more realistic. It shows that race and sexual orientation and religious beliefs do not contribute to whether or not you have the capability to get into a good school and perform well. Regardless of the diversity all the students here are here for the same reason. The only issues I have seen first hand are in regards to homecoming. I was not aware that we had strictly African American fraternities and sororities, or that they have their own block of Homecoming events separate from the other Greek houses. I find this incredibly unfair and even archaic. We should be coming together as one without labeling ourselves based on color or race. Mizzou seems to have a very open student body and I hope that soon we all participate in school events together. No one should be cast out. 

Amy Parks Blog #3

So far I have not made any progress on my interview paper, I have not even started but I have started it and I plan to do the interview either in person or over the phone depending on the person I chose. I plan to do either a journalism professor at Mizzou or someone else within the j community. Also I think it will help expand my understanding of journalism careers in general because right now I am not entirely sure what I would like to do within journalism so this could help narrow it down for me. I plan to ask them how they got started in their profession, what made them choose to enter the field they are in, and what the benefits and flaws are to the job. Also what they recommend in reference to today and what I can do to be prepared for the job market and what I can do to really stand out. I hope to gain a better understand of the type of individual I need to be in order to be competitive in the job marker and also what benefits such professions could have on the impact of my life. I don’t have any questions about the assignment. 

Final Project - Sophie Newman

I have thought about this project, but I have not come up with a concrete person of who I plan to interview yet, although I have a few ideas.  My mom works in politics and has many colleagues in the public relations field.  I have not yet contacted someone yet, but I hope to do a phone interview with someone working in this field.  I want to ask them what exactly they do, and what type of hours they work.  I am concerned that I could not handle some types of journalism majors because of the fast paced lifestyle.  I also plan to ask them questions regarding how they found their job, and what pathways they took to get there, during college as well as post college.  I believe this will be helpful as I am planning on majoring in Strategic Communications through the Journalism school, and would love to learn more about it.  If this does not work out I plan to contact a professor of Strategic Communications here at Mizzou and set up an interview.  I am fascinated by this public relations and advertising sequence, although I am not exactly sure what type of career it could result in.  I think this project will be especially useful in helping me to see what type of profession I could possibly end up in. 

Sophie Newman 

Final Project Blog - Sarah Walsh

I’m going to be very honest here and say that I haven’t thought about this paper since the last FIG class. With Thanksgiving and classes, it flew straight out of my head. I think I can probably get one of my editors at the Maneater to sit down and chat with me, since many of them work or intern at for-real publications during the summertime. Ideally I’ll interview Kari Paul, my Arts & Entertainment editor, who worked at Ms. Magazine last summer. I’ll probably do so within the next week, since after this Sunday my life will be all finals, all the time.

I hope that interviewing Kari will give me a better idea of what it’s like to be an actual professional in the field of journalism, not just a student who writes a story or two every other week. I feel like there’s a huge disconnect between student journalism and professional journalism, mostly because of time issues – between homework and classes, writing for the Maneater is actually quite low on my list of Things I Actually, Legitimately Need To Do. I’m interested to learn what it’s like to have it at the top.

As for questions:

1. 1)   Can you tell me a little about the work environment at a professional news publication? How is it different from the environment here at The Maneater?
2. 2)   What kind of work can someone just entering the field expect to do at first?
3. 3)   What do you like most about your job? Dislike?
4. 4)   What is the most strange or interesting experience you’ve ever had in journalism?

Overall, I think this interview will help me develop a clearer and more realistic picture of what real-world journalism is like, and hopefully be a good indicator of whether or not it’s right for me.

Interview Paper- Andi Kaufman

The Interview Paper that was assigned to our FIG class has brought about much curiosity in regard to  what a person who is actually working as a Broadcast Journalist experiences on a day to day basis.  So far, I have not completed the interview, as am I still pondering who I will choose to question.  I know there are plenty of sources available to me on campus, as well as there are several people from my home town whom I know I could receive information from.  As of right now, however, I am trying to decide who will give me the most information in regards to all of my questions.  I plan to first and foremost ask what a typical life in the day of a Broadcast Journalist is.  If this is going to be something I will be doing for the rest of my life, I think I should become familiar with the routine.  I also want to ask about their journey to journalism.  Right now, I have faced several bumps, becoming unsure of my every move and motive.  When talking with an actual Broadcast Journalist, I plan to ask if this was the case for them too, and if journalism was something they had always dreamt of doing.  Finally, I hope to talk to them about their greatest struggle so far in the field of journalism.  Understanding that the field is extremely competitive, I know that this question could give great insight in the challenges a journalist faces. 

From this interview, I hope to familiarize myself with the life of a Broadcast Journalist.  I want to know about the before, the during, and the after.  Right now I currently find myself in the before phase, so I am eager to hear from someone who has been through all three.  With this project, we are encouraged to reach out to someone whom we would not normally be in contact with, or at least, those are the circumstances I will be facing.  I find this to be great practice for the future, for in the field of journalism, it is nearly an everyday matter to be in contact with people.  As for right now, I am anxious to get insight into what could be my own future.  

Emelia Patterson, Blog Post #4

I'm planning on interviewing Dick Johnson, who is a co-anchor for NBC 5 television news in Chicago. He came to speak to my journalism class at my high school a couple of years ago, and he offered good insight into the hectic but rewarding life of a broadcast journalist. I've contacted him by e-mail and we have yet to schedule our interview. I believe that speaking to him would offer me more information about the area of journalism that I want to possibly enter. I want to ask what the hardest and easiest parts of being a reporter are, and I also want to know, realistically, what the demands for the job are. I also want to ask about salary and if and how reporters can move up the corporate ladder once they start working.
If I'm not able to speak with Mr. Johnson, a family friend of mine, Chris Chulumovich, is involved with public relations for many companies and regularly posts press releases. Strategic communication is another area of journalism that I've become interested in, so I feel as though it'd be worthwhile to talk to him about possible career opportunities in that area of study. Sometimes I feel as though I have a difficult time interviewing successfully, and I believe that getting involved with public relations and advertising could hold some promise for me. I'm going home for the weekend this coming weekend, and I have plans to meet up with Mr. Chulumovich to talk about public relations so that I'm able to understand more of how that business works. I would ask him what the salary is expected to be for a student right out of college, and I would also ask him how he feels about his job, because enjoying your job is a big part of career satisfaction. Again, like with broadcast, I would like to realistically know the demands of the jobs involved with strategic communication. I would ask questions such as :
-Are there strict deadlines?
- Is it a high pressure situation?
-How do you juggle your job with other aspects of your life?
-Do you find your job rewarding?
-What are your least and most favorite parts of your job?
-Do you consider what you do a job or a career?
-Is it difficult to make a name for yourself in this field?

I hope to gain a greater insight into these jobs, and learning more about strategic communication could also further my decision about which sequence I would like to major in.

Emelia Patterson

Final Project Blog- Sara Fox

For my final paper, I am planning to interview one of the professors that specializes in broadcast journalism, because that is the profession that I am most interested in at this point in time. I already have some questions prepared for when I find someone to interview, and hopefully they will be able to see me and answer these questions for me. Because I have not found anyone to interview at the moment, my paper is nowhere near being done, but I have been able to find a focus for when I write my paper, so after I get an interview writing the paper should go a lot faster. Some of the questions I'm thinking of asking is what made them want to study broadcast journalism, did they ever have doubts about their profession, what kind of job opportunities are available for people with this kind of degree, do they enjoy the kind of work they are doing, and what is the greater good that their job does for other people. These are the kinds of questions that I'm working with having them answer and hopefully will allow me to see if this is the kind of path that I want to take with my degree. I hope that I can gain insight to what my life could be like in 4 or 5 years after I have graduated with my degree, and if I like the way the picture that they put in my mind with what can be done with my degree. I also hope they can help me decide the best way to plan out the rest of my college years so that I will be able to get the best experience out of my years and graduate with the degree that will get me to my dream job.

Final Post-Jennifer Heck

            My progress with the final project is not too far. I believe I am going to do an e-mail interview with a nurse in Des Moines, IA. I hope this person will give me insight to the details of her job, so I can decide if a nurse is what I really would like to be. Some of the questions I plan to ask include:

1)      What college did you attend?

2)     What route did you take to become a nurse?

3)     What is your favorite part about your job?

4)     What courses did you struggle with in college?

5)     What is the hardest part of your job?

I hope to gain knowledge on the job skills required to be a nurse. Also, I hope to learn the pros and cons of the job. Interviewing a person in the nursing field will give me an inside look at the job of a nurse, it won’t just give me facts like doing a research paper would. I am learning one’s opinion about the job of a nurse.

Jennifer Heck 

Final Project Process - Katelyn Rudolph

In regards to the progress on my final project, I am in the beginnings of the workload. I am not sure who I want and plan to interview yet, but I plan tomorrow to research professors in the different journalism fields that I am interested in such as magazine design, newspaper design and strategic communications. I plan to e-mail them and hope to set up an interview sometime later this week or early next week. 

By interviewing the professor of my choosing (or whoever ends up being the most available and relevant to my project), I hope to continue narrowing down in my decision for what journalism sequence I want to pursue, even though I have it narrowed down from the 30+ sequences that exist right now to like 5, but that still doesn't give me any solace towards choosing a career path. I also hope this interview gives me some insight into what it's really like to have a job revolving around journalism. 

Some of the questions I plan on asking include the following: What classes did you take in college that helped you get internships? How many internships did you have in college? Where are the best places to get internships? Should I even look for an internship in journalism or just get a general internship? and so on.

Overall, I hope to gain from this interview a better sense of where I truly fit in the journalism world and what steps I can take to make sure my journey from undecided journalism major to full-fledged journalism employee is a smooth and awesome one.

Interview Progress - Nikki Osberg

So far I have not begun my interviewing process, however I have a solid idea of the type of person I want to interview and the questions I plan on asking. I would like to find someone who works within a magazine publication and/or an advertisement company since those are the two areas of journalism I am most interested in. I am very curious to know how magazines work, how stories are given out to different staff writers and how much leeway is given to the writers, such as topic, interview questions, and overall style. I hope that this interview will answer many of the questions that I have about the industry and market.

For the rest of the year I hope that my drive and grades continue to rise. It will be odd not coming to this class every Monday but I believe it has prepared me for the rest of what college has to offer. I look forward to my upcoming classes and getting more involved with the journalism program.

Final Project

I don't know who I am interviewing yet, I do know it will be somebody in the HDFS department. This person should help me because they can tell me their mistakes and the things they struggled with to achieve their career.  I hope to interview someone who is experienced in the field of counseling and children so they can help me better understand the path into obtaining a good job. I plan on asking them the education requirements, how hard it was to get a job with their degree, if they are satisfied with their degree.I also want to know how long it took them to decide what they wanted to do with their life.  I hope to gain a better knowledge of their career choice as well as to being on the right path with my career choice.

-Ola Akintola

In-class assignment for 11/28

Final Project Post --Final Post of the Semester!! 

Write about your progress with the final project. Who are you interviewing? When is your interview? Explain --How will this person help you gain a greater understanding of your career goal? What are some of the questions you plan to ask them? What do you hope to gain from this interview? 

Remember to include your name at the bottom of the post.

Total: 25 points 

Study Abroad-Ali Johnson

I would love to do a business study abroad program because in the business world other countries are very important. My emphasis is marketing, so it is good to look at how other countries do marketing because they are your competition. Someone in the business field always has to be aware of how other countries are progressing because you need to be at the same level or better. If I studied abroad, I would become familiar with how other countries do business. It would teach me things I didn't learn in the US. I would want to study abroad in either in Australia or England. I don't know a foreign language so these would be the easiest for me. I've always wanted to travel to Australia, so I would be so excited to go there. However, Australia is the only place I would be able to go. On the other hand, if I studied abroad in England, I would be able to travel around Europe on the weekends. This would expose me to so much more culturally.

1. What type/How many credits do you receive when traveling abroad?
2. How does housing work?
3. Would I know anyone going?
4. How does the cost compare to spending a semester at Mizzou?

Sarah Walsh - Blog Post #3

I'm definitely planning to participate in Study Abroad while I'm here at Mizzou! I love to travel and I love to learn about other places and cultures, so doing that as part of my education is pretty much a dream come true. Ideally, I'd like to study in China, since I plan to minor in Mandarin Chinese and having a hands-on immersion experience would really help my speaking and listening skills develop as well as giving me real face time with modern Chinese culture. Honestly, though? I'd be fine if Study Abroad took me to Canada. I just want to get out of the States, into the world, and start seeing things for myself!

Four questions for the SA presenters:
1. Is it necessary for students to have experience with the native language of the country they plan to visit?
2. What are the benefits of taking a class abroad as opposed to taking it here in Missouri?
3. Which Study Abroad destinations are most popular or have the most spots available?
4. Can you tell me a little more about Journalism-specific Study Abroad programs?

Study Abroad - Christina Roddy

I’ve wanted to study abroad for years, but I feel like my plans for this are already changing. I’ve taken French for five years in addition to this semester, but I don’t think I’ll be taking it in the future because of the different direction I think I’m taking, with my major and everything. I still really, really want to visit Europe, though. When I talked to my advisor about it he told me that Mizzou does four-week study abroad, which sound perfect to me. I’d still really like to visit France (I heard Mizzou does Lyons a lot), or maybe Britain if I get to nervous and chicken out. I really like rain. That would work for me.

1.    1.  Which study abroad programs have you gotten the best feedback from (especially four-week ones)?

2.     2. How often do non-language majors study abroad in non-Anglophone countries, and how much success do they have in exploring that culture?

3.     3. How likely is it that I’ll have an English campus at my study abroad location?

4.     4. When should I make up my mind about studying abroad?

study abroad

I plan on studying abroad in Brussels for a semester my junior year. Studying abroad seems like a great opportunity. Originally, I planned on going to Richmond University in London so that I could experience my college years abroad, but due to expenses and distance I chose to just take advantage of programs that U.S. schools offer. Luckily, here at Mizzou there are multiple study abroad programs. I am currently looking into the Brussels program and the New York summer program. Although New York isn't technically abroad the program is still incredibly intriguing. I hope to secure an internship during my abroad study as well as learn about a new culture.
Questions:
1) What is the hardest thing to adjust to in foreign countries?
2) What kind of classes should one take when studying abroad?
3) What kind of internship opportunities are available?
4) How many other American students can one expect to be in contact with when studying abroad?

Olivia Kabbani-Study Abroad

    I would consider studying abroad if it was somewhere cool and affordable because I myself dont have the money to even take a road trip somewhere.  I would want to go to either Italy, Spain, or Ireland.  My mom actually studied abroad to Vienna, Austria when she went to school at Mizzou and thats how she met her (ex) husband.  But looking at her pictures she took and the stories she would tell me made me want to travel somewhere one day.  My major is business so international business is something that would require me to travel around the globe.  Its a good experience to be able to live the lifestyle of a college student in a different country for a little bit to see how it differs from us.  At the same time I wouldnt want to go just because of the money issue and I dont have a passport yet.  Also, it depends on where to go cause some places over seas can be a bit "sketchy" if you ask me.  So I guess my point being, I would go if I got the opportunity because it may be the only time I will get to leave this country.

1. estimated cost
2. meal plan or buy your own food
3. places to visit/schedule
4. how much credit hours

Sara Fox- Studying Abroad

I have considered studying abroad, especially after hearing about all the opportunities that come to me as a Journalism major from my J1010 class. I think that studying abroad would be interesting because you would be in a new environment, so it would be like getting a fresh start from everything and being able to learn new things in a new way. I also think it would be interesting to interact with different people on a daily basis, because of the cultural experience. Going to a new country to study abroad is more than just studying to me, it would be a chance to experience a whole new way of life for a semester, and then when I come back I would be able to use my newfound knowledge to create new aspects of pieces and writings. Some of the places I was interested in going were Australia, or somewhere in Europe like Ireland or Italy. I think that these places would be very interesting because these are the places that I actually come from, and I would be able to dig into my own history roots while there and see what some of my ancestors saw. I also think that these places would be good to study in because they all have the native language of English, which would be easier for me because I am not taking a language in college, and while it might be hard to understand their points at times, overall it would be an easier transition than going somewhere where I would have to learn a new language.
Four questions for Studying Abroad Program:
1. What is the average cost for a study abroad trip and what extremities does that cost include?
2. How early do you have to apply for a study abroad program?
3. Difference between study abroad program and study abroad internship?
4. What are the biggest advantages to studying abroad?

Ola Akintola- Study Abroad

I have always wanted to study abroad, ever since I came to the states.  Studying abroad gives me a chance to return back to Africa, specifically Nigeria and work with children and revisit my old house if possible. I already feel as if I am studying abroad now, since I didn't grow up here, but going back would  be refreshing and rewarding. It also gives me an opportunity to travel and explore places that I never had a chance to see . Some questions I would ask include

1. How long does the proccess take to sign up and get accepted?
2. Do you travel with persons who share the same interests or majors as you?
3. How much does it cost?
4. Are there any requirements?

jessica hughes study abroad

How much does it normally cost?
What countries are we able to study in?
How many credits are typically given?
What are the different study abroad programs Mizzou offers?

I already plan on studying abroad my second semester of junior year.  I hope to study in England because it is a country that I've always wanted to visit and it is relatively close to other countries for small weekend trips.  As a psychology major I need to look into the different programs that would better enhance my education path.  Studying abroad will give me more experience in life and at that time in my life I think it will be a good adjustment to make, shake things up a bit.  It'll be my first real experience of life on my own in a way, not being sheltered by familiarity and comfort. Something I am fearful about however is graduating on time if I study abroad, seeing as I want to graduate in 4 years that makes my time here in Columbia limited to just 7 semesters.  I have a real desire to study abroad so I would want to start looking into it now so that I am able to do it in my future.

Study Abroad- Amy Parks

What are all of the locations that are apart of the study abroad program?
How much does it cost?
Will if affect my graduation date or put me behind schedule?
What are the requirements for the program so that we are eligible to study abroad?

I am looking into study abroad, in context to journalism, but also just for the cultural experience that studying abroad will provide. I plan to do it sometime junior year but I was also looking into doing a semester at sea this coming summer. Someone in my sorority did it and said she gained residency through semester at sea and it would be nice to explore the world, take classes, and also gain residency to lower my tuition to MU. I would love to make sure I'm on the right track college wise and because I love to travel so much maybe it will help me clarify what I really want to do with my life and it will open up doors to other opportunities either within journalism or in a different field.

Sophie Newman - Study Abroad

I am strongly considering studying abroad.  I learned about MU’s study abroad program through J1010.  I was surprised at all the different options and countries available to study at through MU’s J school, while even earning credit for journalism.  Mizzou offers three different international programs such as exchange, internship and short-term sessions.  The exchange program offers twelve different destinations to study for one semester at a partner university.  I studied Spanish all through middle and high school, and have always wanted to go to Spain.  Taking advantage of this opportunity to travel to Spain seems like a great way.  My mom studied in London and she has been encouraging me to go abroad for as long as I can remember.  She has always told me it was one of the best experiences of her life.  In addition, I traveled to Italy two summers ago and fell in love with the culture.  I would love to experience other countries. 

            1 – Is the application process hard?

            2 – Are there options for financial aid or scholarships?

            3 – How many credits can you get?

4 – Are there people to help you to decide on what program/country to travel to?