MY STORIES:

• The difficulties of being LGBT in sports
• LGBT Resource Center connects through Pride Week
• The Paper Moon, a one-of-a-kind bar in Salt Lake City

MY BLOG:

At the beginning of the semester I knew we were going to have to cover a beat regarding the LGBT community. At first I was very worried, as I didn’t know much about the subject matter. But as a journalist I knew the No. 1 thing I had to do was become informed about what was going on in the community.

Be objective and neutral throughout was of essence.

Not knowing a lot about the community and many of the issues the LGBT community faces on a daily basis, I quickly hit the web to try to eat up as much information as I possibly could.

In connection to researching about LGBT issues, I also found that having guest speakers (Kai Medina-Martínez) come into class at the beginning of the semester to talk was very helpful on trying to expand on my ideas to create a story with a unique angle.

Personally, I felt that it was a huge change from what I was used to writing at the Daily Utah Chronicle as the beat writer for the volleyball team. I felt I had to go much more in-depth with topics, and I also found getting interviews became evermore difficult than just talking with players.

Overall I felt that it was great experience for me going out into the actual public and having to discuss topics that I hadn’t previously explored. When it came to interviews I felt like I was actually asking questions to help my personal knowledge of the subjects in the articles i wrote; and since I didn’t know a lot of the answers unlike with sports, I felt it was a great learning experience on how to gather outside information from others and  through research that I might not have known before.

All the interviews this semester really helped me break out of my box and get away from being shy when asking questions. I normally don’t like confronting people about serious questions, so this class really pushed me on that aspect.

ABOUT ME:

I am currently a third-year student at the University of Utah. I plan on graduating with a degree in communication with an emphasis in journalism, as well as a business finance degree at the University. I have always had a passion for sports, but with this class I have gained further knowledge and respect for the journalism aspect as well. With such a bright and gleaming personality, I always enjoy talking with others and finding out how people tick. Each and every person has a unique story about themselves, and getting the chance to find out about their lives through journalism on a daily basis is quite a privilege that I hope to pursue through my entire life.

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MY STORIES:

• Fighting for Utah LGBT rights involves more than just marriage
• Campus resources and policies make the University of Utah attractive for LGBT community
• Affirmation helps gay and lesbian Mormons reconcile their faith and attractions

MY BLOG:

I have found in my life that learning is most rewarding when it is a topic that I knew little about before diving right into it.

That was the situation I was in when starting the COMM 3660 Intermediate Reporting class with Professor Kimberley Mangun. The beat was the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

I was naïve enough to think that the only issue that the LGBT community was dealing with was whether individuals can, or ever will be allowed to be legally married. The struggle and fight for equal rights goes way beyond just marriage.

Brandie Balken, from Equality Utah, started my education as she visited our class and talked about the wide-ranging difficulties that the LGBT community goes through. Lack of equality involves more than just marriage. Balken talked about visitation rights in hospitals, health benefits at work and transferring of inheritance, all of which are made more difficult in Utah because same-sex marriage is not allowed and marriages or civil unions are not recognized in this state.

From the discussion with Balken and taking part in Pride Week 2012 on the University of Utah campus came my first story about the struggles that the LGBT community has to overcome.

Our next guest speaker was C. Kai Medina-Martínez, executive director of the LGBT Resource Center at the U. Medina-Martínez talked about all the good things the university is doing to accommodate the LGBT students. From that discussion came my article about how the U is one of the top-25 schools in the nation for being LGBT-friendly.

My enterprise story was something that sparked my curiosity. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I wanted to see if there were any groups of gay Mormons and how they view the church and their spirituality.

My search led me to a group called Affirmation, which is a group for gay and lesbian Mormons. Starting from the top of the organization, I talked with Joshua Howard Behn, who is president of the group. Talking with Behn and others from the group, I learned of the struggles and fight as far as religion is concerned with the LGBT community.

Overall, I feel like I learned a lot about how extensive the struggles are for the LGBT community and how they go way beyond marriage. The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community are happy with any progress but are still looking to be treated as equals.

ABOUT ME:

I am a senior at the University of Utah pursuing a BA in communication with an emphasis in journalism. I am fluent in both English and Spanish.

I started writing in 2008 as a stringer for the Deseret News sports section mainly covering football and soccer games. From there I took a full-time job in 2009 with the Tooele Transcript-Bulletin covering sports and writing a monthly hometown/feature story. I spent over three years at the Transcript until deciding to come back to school and finish up.

While at school in 2012, I have had the experience to have my own two-hour sports/music radio show on the campus radio station K-UTE. I am also performing an internship with the Utah Grizzlies hockey team as I produce the games on the radio at KFAN 1320 AM and help with the radio duties at Maverik Center during home games. I also write a weekly article for the Close-up Section of the Salt Lake Tribune, mainly covering education-related topics for the Valley West section.

My goal would be to become a sports writer for a newspaper but I have also have a fun time writing news and features as well.

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MY STORIES:  

• Utah’s gay and lesbian parental rights
• Studies show no difference for children raised by same-sex parents
• University of Utah named one of top 25 LGBT-friendly university and colleges

MY BLOG:

When I was first found out that our beat for Intermediate Reporting was the LGBTQ community, I had split feelings.  With the election coming up and many states wavering between legalizing gay marriage, I was afraid that writing about this beat would be like beating a dead horse.

The second part of me was really enthusiastic about our beat because I had just attended a protest against Chick-fil-A, in support of my openly gay hair dresser. It was the first indication that lack of equality involves a lot more than just marriage, which led to me to my first story.

I was raised in Decatur, Ill., and moved to Bountiful, Utah, four years ago, so I was fortunate to have been exposed to many different viewpoints. Not having a particularly strong stance either way really allowed me to write my stories objectively.

Professor Kimberley Mangun taught me to analyze any and all topics from many different angles and the AP stylebook is a journalist’s bible.

It is such a broad issue that there was no shortage of original material for me to write.

Our first guest speaker was Brandie Balken, director of Equality Utah. She gave me a new perspective on the wide-ranging difficulties that the LGBT community faces. Balken talked about adoption, work and survivor benefits, visitation rights and many of the other struggles that are faced in Utah.

The first person I interviewed was Jessica Finnegan, a mother of five who is in a lesbian relationship. I was surprised to find out that marriage rights aren’t her No. 1 priority. She is much more concerned about being able to see her partner or her kids if they are hospitalized, or simple things like picking up her son from school or taking her children to the doctor.

The topic of my enterprise story was inspired by my first story. It’s a topic I feel is widely ignored: How do children fare when being raised by same-sex parents?

After conducting interviews and much research, it furthered my belief that everyone deserves equality.

One advantage I found in writing on a single beat was being able to really immerse myself in the topic. For each of my stories I was able to sink my teeth into them because I had done so much research for prior stories.

Overall, I am more confident than ever that I would like to be on the broadcast television side of things and I walk away from this class with a new respect for journalists.

ABOUT ME:

I am a junior at the University of Utah. I am pursuing a degree in mass communication with an emphasis in journalism.

I am starting a sports-reporting internship at local news station KSL in January 2013.

I plan to move to Los Angeles after I graduate to pursue my modeling and broadcast career.

My long-term goal is to become a sports broadcaster for a major news network.

My dream is to be the host of College GameDay on ESPN.

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MY STORIES:

• Pride Week at the University of Utah, a ‘top-25’ LGBT-friendly school
• 2012 election results give LGBT community hope
• ‘I am who I  am’: A profile of one man’s journey toward self-acceptance

MY BLOG:

Attending my first day at the University of Utah was intimidating in itself but walking into intermediate reporting with Dr. Mangun and hearing our beat for the semester was the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, I felt way over my head.

Coming from a significantly sheltered home and community I was very uncomfortable knowing I was about to be shoved from my comfort zone and into the “real world.”

Well, that is exactly what it did. I was pulled from my sheltered box, educated on something I wasn’t sure I wanted to be educated on and learned for myself. I learned a lot about the community, the individuals and the trials they face.

Being from Utah I thought the only real battle the LGBT community was fighting was the legalization of gay marriage.

Yet, that is just the tip of the iceberg. While gay marriage is still important, gay and lesbian individuals just want to be equal. Equality is it. To be recognized as a couple to see their significant other in hospital without paperwork, to receive their partner’s benefits, things you and I may take for granted but will cost a same-sex couple thousands of dollars in lawyer fees to obtain.

There is a gap, there is too much hatred and there is not enough effort to understand. This is on both sides, might I add. Through education I’ve become more conscious of equality efforts or issues in Utah and around the country. I have become more comfortable with stepping outside of my “comfort zone” to educate myself on topics I may initially feel uncomfortable with. Frankly, it is part of life, it is part of the job, and at the end of the day I still know who I am, I still know and value my beliefs.

Education is key, if we take the time to put down our walls as a society, though we may not agree on everything, there would be a lot more harmony and a lot less hate.

ABOUT ME:

I am in my first year of my bachelor’s degree in communication at the University of Utah. I received my Associate of Science degree at USU-Eastern in Price, Utah.

I’ve been dancing since I was 3, so it’s safe to say it’s always been a passion of mine. The way I expressed myself had always been through dancing, until I discovered writing. My interest in writing was sparked during my junior year of high school when I took a creative-writing class. I loved the freedom to be creative and express myself in a way I’d never practiced before. This led me to journalism and through that desire I received a communication department scholarship at USU-Eastern.

I wrote for The Eagle newspaper my first semester. I realized I didn’t like the assigned structure and rules of news writing; it didn’t let me show my personality. I wanted to continue being me, showcasing my personality as an individual and expressing creativity.

I’ve always liked being on camera, and as a child I was referred to as the “ham” of the family. So, I have looked into the TV aspect of journalism. I researched multiple jobs in the field and finally I came to the lifestyles aspect and fell in love. I watched multiple talk shows, researched the field and knew that’s where I belonged. It would allow me to explore the things I was interested in, show my personality and be creative.

My goals in the future are to obtain my degree in broadcast journalism and continue my work at KSL-TV in Salt Lake City, where I want to earn a spot on Studio 5, the lifestyles program.

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MY STORIES:

• Inequality for same-sex couples in Utah’s laws
• Gender Blender at University of Utah Pride Week
• Misrepresentation in media portrayal of the LGBT community

MY BLOG:

As a novice writer fairly new to the journalism major, this course was difficult for me, not only because the longest news piece I had ever written before this class was about 400 words long and for an Introduction to News Writing class, but also because the topic was something I had never even thought about reporting on.

The LGBT community is a diverse and colorful group of people that frankly, I didn’t think existed in Utah. Reporting on the LGBT beat this semester was challenging, but also eye opening to the climate in Utah regarding the LGBT community, as well as its presence here.

From University of Utah Pride Week in October to Cyber Slut’s bingo parties to adoption and legal issues to media representation of gays and lesbians, there has been no shortage of material to research and report on. I have learned new things about myself as well as the community I live in.

That being said I believe my future career leads not to writing but to some sort of speaking. I have found that I can get my ideas across much easier when I’m telling someone face to face. As news director of KUTE student radio I really enjoy interviewing people on air and making a personal connection from them to my audience. I have enjoyed the practice this course gave me in writing because I have become, literally, 100 times better than I was when I came to this class, which is a scary thought.

I have become more aware of some of the issues and problems faced by the LGBT community of Utah, such as adoption rights, right to medical power of attorney, job security and bullying. I think that working on a specific beat during the entire semester was a great opportunity to really be able to delve into the subject and have the stories build on one another, not necessarily in content, but in my personal knowledge that I relied on while writing.

Having finished this course I can now proudly claim the title of “Intermediate Reporter.” While this was sometimes a course in the basics of writing, as well as the more intricate ins and outs, it taught me time and again that one of the most important aspects of your writing is connecting to your community and to your audience. After all without an audience, who are we?

ABOUT ME:

I am a communicator with a passion for telling stories. I believe that everyone, everywhere has some sort of story to tell, whether it be long or short, visual or written, happy, sad, funny, moving or encouraging. I am working toward a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and hope to someday have my own talk show telling people’s stories for others to hear. I believe in focusing on the good in life and helping others find it too.

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MY STORIES:

• Equality Utah and LGBT Resource Center work to prevent bullying
• Immigration and gay rights discussed at the University of Utah
• How Mormonism shaped Salt Lake City gay activist Troy Williams

MY BLOG:

Covering the LGBTQ beat opened my eyes, not because I was surprised at the difficulties that faced the community, but at the privileges I have that some people do not. In a way, I am an outsider. I am a young, white, able-bodied, straight, gender-conforming male. I do not have to worry about censoring something about myself in order to fit in. In talking with Hispanic gay immigrants, I found out that they do have to modify their identities in different communities. They worry about being seen as too Hispanic in the gay community and being seen as too gay in the Hispanic community. It shocked me. I have never had to check any part of my personality, and I realized that it was because I am not a member of a group that has been marginalized. Imagine being told by loved ones or by society that an aspect of who you are is wrong or evil. That is essentially what some in the LGBTQ community go through.

I have learned so much about this beat from my short time reporting on it. I think when most heterosexual people see LGBTQ people they see the stereotypical gay couple who has been portrayed on shows like “Modern Family.” While this is an aspect of a relationship, it is only a segment of life. The LGBTQ community covers so many different areas and people. It is just as diverse as any other group. There isn’t one opinion on issues like gay marriage in the gay community, just as there would be in any other. I may be an outsider looking in on the community, but I’ve learned that I am an ally.

ABOUT ME:

I have lived in Utah my entire life. I grew up in both West Jordan and Taylorsville. The idea of becoming a journalist is a relatively new ambition that I am cultivating. I originally wanted to become a physical therapist but I found that the path I was taking was not fulfilling me. I took a hard look at myself and realized a little over a year ago that I wanted to become a sports broadcast journalist. I couldn’t have made a better choice. While I am still trying to get involved in sports specifically, I have discovered that all types of journalism interest me.

I currently work as a news DJ for K-UTE, which is the college radio station for the University of Utah. I also want to start writing for the U’s school newspaper, the Daily Utah Chronicle, in Spring 2013. I want to see my work published in print because seeing my stories online has been exciting and I want to be able to bring a copy of the paper to my family and friends and show them that I am a journalist.

After I graduate in Summer 2013 I want to start down my career path by getting an internship at a sports radio station and move my way up until I can become a DJ with my own show. I also want to explore print, television and online journalism as well. I do want to attend graduate school too. I want to attend Northwestern University and participate in the Medill Graduate Journalism Program. The reason being is that some of my favorite sports broadcasters, Mike Greenberg and Michael Wilbon, both attended Northwestern. The idea of getting paid to talk about sports on any level and through any medium is my dream.

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MY STORIES:

• Mental health court offers refuge for repeat offenders
• Building bridges to the Mexican economy
• The convenience of college obesity 
• Addicted to cellular connection

• MY  BLOG:

Through the course of this semester I have gained a deeper appreciation for news reporting and writing. I am realizing that all the aspects I have been taught during my schooling here at the University of Utah come together to create the perfect storm. I wasn’t so sure as to why I was learning certain styles or techniques until now. Ahha! It all just clicked! I have gained a stronger sense of confidence regarding my ability to write. At the same time, I continue to be challenged and humbled as I read and learn from the professionals in the field.

Reflecting upon the topics we wrote on this semester, they were all new to me. This sparked new interest and knowledge in the fact that I can write about topics even if I haven’t covered them before. It has been extremely beneficial for me to have to write about something I originally knew nothing about. I learned how to research without becoming biased to one side or another, and to take the research and turn it into an avenue for questions and further learning. We were lucky to hear from Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. We also heard from Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank. I had no previous knowledge regarding these two individuals or what exactly their jobs entailed. I was able to listen to them and be inspired to write.

It is fascinating what progress can be made while being stretched in new directions. Journalism is far from a “comfortable” career. With new topics, fast paces, and technological advancements the journalism career is not one to stand still in. I have learned and relearned the inevitable, that what you put into your work is what you get out of it. The success is absolutely affected by the amount of work put in. I am excited and anxious to continue writing and see where it takes me.

ABOUT ME:

My name is Blakely Bowers. I am 24 years old. I am majoring in journalism at the University of Utah. I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. I have been married for about three years. We have lived in Washington D.C.,and spent the last year in New York City, where I have been interning for an entertainment company while simultaneously on a self-guided “foodie’s tour of the city.” I enjoy putting the many thoughts racing through my brain into writing. Journalism is my creative outlet. I hope to influence those who read my stories. Whether it simply be the awareness of the topics, or the writing itself, I hope others can take something away from my stories.

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Photo by Hannah Harrington-Dunn

MY STORIES:

• Drug courts beneficial for users seeking rehabilitation
• The racial frisk: profiling a concern in Utah
• Pushing the envelope: college students set out to bring back handwritten letters
• Getting Dirty: Why children need to be outdoors

MY BLOG:

I remember when it started, when I began to fall in love with journalism.

I was 18. I was sitting on the brown leather sofa in my living room, holding open a crisp copy of The Salt Lake Tribune. It was like any other day: I woke up, brushed my teeth, went to the living room and picked up the paper off of the coffee table. Except that on this day, when I sat down on the couch and turned to the Utah section, I found myself staring at a photograph of me.

It was one of those let-me-perform-the-most-awkward-smile-and-pose-for-you-nervously photographs that you like to forget exists. There I was in all my glory: sitting in the newspaper room at my high school, wearing thick-rimmed glasses, holding the last edition of The Bulldog Press that I’d be a part of, and staring into the camera with wide eyes and a raised brow.

The headline above the photograph read: “Judge teen named Super Journalist”.

Whatever that means.

At 18, I’m not sure you can be “super” at much, except maybe telling wisecracks at inappropriate moments or walking around thinking you’re cooler than everyone else.

But I was most certainly not a Super Journalist, I thought. I was not deserving of the capital S or the capital J. I just liked to write. And there was nothing Super about that.

I began reading the article, skimming the words that I had said to a reporter a week before.

“I just think [journalism is] a good way to help people who don’t have a strong voice,” Katie said. “I feel like I can be a voice for them. Also, journalism is a really good way to spark change or spark a movement toward something.”

A strong voice. Sparking change. Reading those words quickly brought me back to several months prior.

I sat in a dark living room in an obscure Salt Lake City suburb that I wasn’t aware existed. Across from me sat a college-aged kid, shoulders slumping, eyes gazing at the floor. His mother sat next to him, her hand on his knee, as if to say, “I’m here for you sweetie.” His foot was tapping on the floor nervously. I felt nervous, too. Extremely nervous. But ready.

“So, tell me about your accident,” I said.

He didn’t speak much. His mother mostly spoke for him, explaining the fateful night when her son ran a red light — allegedly text messaging — and crashed into another car. That car was carrying a 16-year-old girl named Lauren Mulkey — known for her beauty and vivaciousness — who did not survive the crash.

The only words he muttered clearly during the interview were “I think about her every day,” though even those ones were spoken faintly.

It was apparent that he felt ashamed. But it was also apparent that he wanted to say something. Loudly. Proudly. Without his mother. But he couldn’t. It hurt too much.

If only he could say something loud enough for someone to hear:

Stop being distracted. Stop multi-tasking while you drive. Your life can be altered, shattered, destroyed in a single moment.

It became apparent to me during that interview that I was the person who could say those things loud enough for people to hear. Loud enough for people to acknowledge, to accept.

Looking back at that interview, and at the work I have done in this class, I am constantly reminded why I fell in love with journalism.

I am a voice for those who don’t have one. I am a seeker of voices that would never be heard if it weren’t for my endless desire to make sure that they are.

Throughout this class, I have sought out voices. Voices that had something to say. Voices that were worth hearing. Voices that spoke about law and justice. Voices that spoke about what it means to be creative and happy and human.

This class has given me tools to better find those voices, to have them heard more concisely and eloquently. But most importantly, this class has reminded me why journalism is loved by so many. It’s a profession that focuses on people.

Meeting people. Speaking to people. Influencing people and being influenced by them. The more I write, the more interested in people I become, the more I want to know.

I still believe there is nothing I have done that is all that deserving of that capital S and that capital J once printed in the Salt Lake Tribune. But perhaps I’ve come to realize that what can be defined as “Super” are the thousands of people who make the pages of newspapers worth reading.

They are — and always will be — something Spectacular.

ABOUT ME:

I am studying print journalism at the University of Utah. I’m drawn to journalism because it gives me an opportunity to instill a voice in people who are too afraid to use their own. I have the desire to constantly improve the human condition through my writing.

The Wasatch Mountains have kept me enthralled for 21 years and counting. I was born and raised in Salt Lake City and I am only beginning to discover the wonders that this place has to offer. I live to ski, rock climb, travel, camp, and eat delicious food. I am learning Spanish and attempting to become a self-proclaimed Italian food connoisseur. I want to see the world and experience the cultures that reside within it.

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by BILLY YANG

MY STORIES:

Sim Gill: Policing the police

HB 497: The long arm of the law overstretched

Chowing down with SuAn Chow, goddess of SLC mobile cuisine

Spotlight on Jeremy Lin exposes Linsane Asian stereotypes

MY BLOG: Genuine enjoyment

I had a moment of clarity when I was working on an assignment. It was something that caught me by surprise.

As I was wrapping up my day at the Gallivan Center, where I spent a few hours shooting photos and interviewing patrons of the Chow Truck, when it just struck me. I genuinely enjoyed the work I was doing. It is definitely something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life, I thought.

I love talking. I often say it’s one of my favorite things to do. But I also love hearing stories. And I firmly believe that everyone has a story to tell.

Which other profession allows me to walk around, meet interesting people and tell their tales?

Even though every journalism teacher I have had at the University of Utah has told me journalism is a dying profession, I personally believe there will always be a place for proper journalists.

Being a journalist means going out and getting the story — finding sources, hitting the beat. This is what sets professional journalists apart from basement bloggers.

My class had a guest speaker that I found particularly inspiring and encouraging. Kevin Pang, a features writer at the Chicago Tribune, spent time talking to the class about his career and gave us tips about writing.

There was one thing Pang said that really stuck with me. There will always be jobs for people who can write well, he said.

I was lucky enough to secure a one-on-one meeting with Pang and he agreed to read a couple of articles I wrote for The Daily Utah Chronicle and critique them. When I showed up to the meeting, I was shocked to hear that he enjoyed my work.

Pang told me I am a good writer but there is room for improvement. He then went on to give me tips on how I could make my writing really pop and even introduced me to internships and career building programs at the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune.

The experiences I’ve had this semester were real confidence boosters. While I’ve been told numerous times throughout my schooling that journalism is dying, I am optimistic that there will be a future for me in my dream career.

ABOUT ME:

I’m a journalism major at the University of Utah. It’s my junior year and if everything goes according to plan, I will graduate next spring.

What draws me to a career in journalism is the prospect of exploring the world, hearing interesting stories and retelling them.

As an aspiring world traveler and fledgling foodie, I hope to become a travel writer. I imagine a life of jet setting to stunning locations across the world, eating at the best restaurants and writing about my experiences — basically, getting paid to go on vacation.

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