MY STORIES:

• Emeritus Salt Lake focuses on building relationships with residents
• AARP classes can make older drivers smarter and give discounts too
• My ride-along with Meals on Wheels

MY BLOG:

Since becoming a sports writer, it has sometimes become a difficult transition to write about anything else. So when I found out that our beat was Aging, I panicked. In reality, I shouldn’t have.

I enjoy the feeling I get in my gut when I’m assigned a difficult school project because professors don’t give you assignments and projects if they don’t think you can achieve it. I didn’t know very much about aging at all at the beginning of the semester and I learned way more than I thought I would.

Having never thought about it before, I was shocked at the language I was forced to use while discussing aging-related issues. In particular the word “senior” should be used with sensitivity when reporting. Some of the vocabulary I was using wasn’t acceptable and I stumbled plenty of times through the semester trying to change it so it was polite.

My reporting took me all over the Salt Lake Valley when I went for my ride-along for Meals on Wheels. Places I didn’t even know were there. It made me realize that the aging problem is much bigger than was explained by our guest speakers. I was amazed by just how many houses we stopped at. It seemed like it was every other house in a matter of a few hours.

This beat reporting has given me a better outlook on professionalism in general. I’m so comfortable when writing about sports that I don’t view it as a job. I just think it’s fun. There aren’t that many funny aspects about the Aging beat. I was forced to get serious while reporting.

This community is growing. Aging adults are growing in numbers and while I was reporting, I figured that there are plenty of houses I pass every day where older adults live. My reporting became more sensitive throughout the semester. You have to be sensitive to adults’ feelings and emotions. It made me a better reporter as a whole.

What did I learn about myself? Well, that list could go on forever. I learned that when I don’t know too much about a certain subject, I jump right into the deep water to see what I can find. Phone calls, emails and random visits are a great way to do this. It can be very awkward, but it will be useful to you by the end of your work. In the world of journalism, you’ve got to be comfortable with cold-calling and unscheduled interactions.

ABOUT ME:

I didn’t want to become a writer until I was a freshman in college. I remember it like it was yesterday: was assigned a research paper, like all the other freshmen, and I got nervous. I’ve always had trouble writing about topics that I didn’t pick myself. Luckily for me, my professor let me choose my topic. The paper was sports related and I took a month to complete it. One full month of constant searching and browsing until I found what I wanted. That entire month made me realize that when I want to write about something, the work that I put in isn’t work to me. It almost feels like second nature.

Coming to the University of Utah has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. They’ve got a great communication program and strong professors who really take the time to teach the little steps instead of skipping over them. I learn something new every day. Of course, there is plenty of stress that comes along with a journalism degree. Plenty of phone calls and interviews with people you’ve never met before can be awkward. But if this is what you want to do the rest of your life, you’ve got to be willing to take the leap.

Currently, I work at the Daily Utah Chronicle as a sports writer and I will probably be working there until my scheduled graduation in spring 2016. It’s been a great experience writing sports. Before that, I wrote news and that is one reason I feel that news came so much easier this semester. I’ve learned to branch outside of my comfort zone in order to capture great news. I hope that my interest will continue to grow and that I will succeed not only as a student, but also as a journalist as well.

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MY STORIES:

• Salt Lake City library teaches older adults basic technology
• Local man travels to Salt Lake City locations and does hair for older adults
• Salt Lake City couple takes PALS program into their own hands

MY BLOG:

Throughout this semester, I have learned several valuable lessons. My beat, coupled with the array of discussions we have had in class, have allowed me to better understand the community around me. I have realized the great variety of ways individuals, such as me, can help those around us. I will use one particular article I wrote in order to demonstrate the most valuable lessons I learned. This article would be the story on an individual named Gary Cunningham.

Cunningham is a great example to me. Long ago, he decided he would pursue a career that would allow him to better serve his community. More particularly, he decided he would specifically find a job that caters to the aging population — providing hair care at very reasonable prices. The primary part of his business entailed traveling to assisted-living facilities, retirement homes and clients’ homes to offer such services. This made it much easier on retired people, some of whom can’t drive, to benefit from having pretty or groomed hair. They, too, care about how they look and feel.

Because my grandmother and mother owned a cosmetology school my entire childhood, walking into this interview, I thought I already knew exactly what it would entail. However, by the end of the interview, I realized just how little I knew about what people could offer in this industry. Throughout all my childhood, I was around hundreds of individuals entering the same hair care industry. Not a single one of them did it for the motivation that Cunningham did — to help individuals in a difficult spot, or in other words, to help the aging population who have little to no money or mobility receive the benefits of proper hair treatment.

Because of this great experience, I now have a better goal for my own life. Not only have I acquired a greater desire to serve the retired community, but I also have generated a new plan for how to do so. I want to combine my journalism skills with my photography background to create a great package deal for families all over Utah. This package would include videos, photos and written stories directly aimed at cherishing and documenting one retired individual’s life, such as someone’s grandmother or great-grandmother. I might also offer an obituary package, which would involve a professional picture and written obituary — a great opportunity to utilize my journalism skills acquired in this course and others. Both these packages would be offered at a discounted and affordable price, thereby allowing many families to benefit from having the stories remembered of those aging individuals in their respective families who may soon pass away.

In short, this class has taught me invaluable lessons. I look forward to my future of service in this particular community.

ABOUT ME:

I am a junior majoring in broadcast journalism at the University of Utah. I have attended a different university each year of my college education. All three schools have taught me something about myself. As a freshman at Utah Valley University, I learned how to live on my own and do everything myself. My sophomore year was spent in Logan at Utah State University. I fell in love with writing under pressure for the school newspaper, The Statesman. I now attend The University of Utah. My writing skills have been tested and I have made a lot of headway. I am excited to see the continuous growth.

I intern with the Utah Jazz as a radio broadcast assistant. Photography is a passion of mine, along with writing. Seeing my name in print is amazing, as well as seeing my signature on a professional photo that will forever mean a lot to whoever my client might be. I have come to the realization that nothing compares to the smiling face I encounter when I show my source the finished work that involves their story and input.

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MY STORIES:

• Canyon Rim Care Center is home to many older adults in Salt Lake City
• Aging in place: 50 years in Winnifred Jardine’s home
• Saving for retirement: start now

MY BLOG:

Initially, upon finding out that the beat to be covered this semester would be aging, I thought that the topics would be hard to relate to and uninteresting to me. I have been proven wrong. I think the main thing I learned from covering this beat is that in general, everyone has the same wants and desires in life. Those whom we consider to be “old” were “young” once. They still have goals and needs and wants. It made me realize that one day I am going to be an age that I now think of as old and I will have learned a lot from my experiences, but I will still have a lot to learn and do. Some of the people I interviewed, like Winnifred Jardine, inspired me to prepare for that time by taking care of myself and thinking about the future. People who have lived longer than I have have a lot to share and teach. It was interesting to hear about their experiences and what they think about the way things are now, as opposed to how they were when they were my age.

It has been easy to go on with my life without thinking about how aging adults live. Studying statistics about the aging population has helped me realize that this demographic greatly affects our society and that we need to be aware of what we need to do to prepare financially and in every other way. The things I have learned from studying this beat have helped me know what to do to help my parents, grandparents and others. I want to call others to action on this subject so that they know what needs to be done so that our society can age happily and productively.

Overall, I feel more respect for people who are older than I am. I want to know their stories and learn from them. I want to prepare for when my parents can’t take care of themselves anymore and I want to be ready financially, physically and mentally for my own life. I also want to educate others on the issues and resources available so that aging can be enjoyable.

ABOUT ME:

I am a senior at the University of Utah studying communication with an emphasis in print journalism. I hope to become a columnist or a creative writer after I graduate in spring 2015. I also enjoy editing. One of my passions is writing creatively and I hope to publish a book someday. Another one of my goals is to write and illustrate children’s books.

Traveling and seeing the world and how other people live is a big part of my life. I studied at a university in Innsbruck, Austria, for a semester and had the opportunity to travel to different places.

Some of my other passions include: running, painting, playing the piano, reading, cooking and skiing.

I hope to share other people’s stories, make a difference and inspire others through my writing.

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MY STORIES: 

• Two Utah women draw on experiences, listening skills to succeed at work 
• Aging adults find joy in dating
• The Sandwich Generation: Becoming a parent for your parents

MY BLOG: 

Being assigned to the aging beat this semester has been an incredible journey. When we were first introduced to this topic, I definitely had my doubts. I wasn’t sure how well I’d be able to connect with my sources and didn’t know much about their community. I realize now that the aging beat is a niche topic in journalism that needs to be covered more.

As I studied throughout the course of this semester, I realized that journalists tend to overlook this demographic. It is rare to find an article on aging-related topics. It was a great experience to explore this community and learn more about people and issues. I hope that covering this beat will shed light on their life, their story, and their journey.

Journalists should be determined to cover all communities and make an effort to tell all sides of the story. We truly have so much to learn from the aging generation. As Peter Hebertson, information and referral program manager of Salt Lake County Aging and Adult Services, related about his aging neighbor, “We still have young thoughts.”

It is easy for someone from my generation to “sensationalize” an older adult if they surpass our minimal expectations of seniors. We learned again and again this semester, either in class or out in the field conducting research and interviews, that their generation thrives. They have amazing life experiences and are strong, healthy and have so much to offer to our community.

I realized about halfway through the semester that I enjoyed, and actually preferred, being assigned to this beat. I love taking the time exploring different aspects of aging, and finding the beauty in the inevitable. I’ve always been drawn to stories of triumph and determination, and that’s what I’ve been able to find over and over again through my work. What an amazing journey this has been.

Another thing I’ve learned through trial and error is that writing is truly an art. Being an “excellent communicator” means to tell the story, to show the readers what you want them to see, and not just report it. Including resources in an article helps increase the level of excellence, as well as images and powerful quotes that help reiterate the focus of the story.

I’ve learned that simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication. I tend to over explain certain aspects of my writing, but now realize that in a professional journalism setting, you have to be concise and always accurate.

Before this semester, I had discounted the importance of the aging generation, thinking that it really had nothing to do with me while I’m still young and in college. What I realize now is that it has everything to do with me. We are the future older adults, and we have to prepare for that now. And from what I’ve heard, getting older has its advantages and joys in living life to its fullest.

ABOUT ME: 

I have always had a passion for writing. When I was little I would always enter in “Reflections” contests to submit my stories and artwork, which sometimes ended up going to regional and state competitions. I loved the fact that others could read and experience something that I had been able to share.

That passion segued into my high school years, where I was a reporter and editor of The Crusader, our high school newspaper at Granger High in Salt Lake City. It was then that I truly fell in love with journalism. I loved conducting interviews, and loved the positive reaction when others would see their quote or picture published in the newspaper. I loved seeing a reaction to my work, and loved the challenge of writing a captivating article. That’s when I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in journalism.

Throughout my time in college I have followed this dream. I graduated with my Associates Degree of Science in Sociology from Salt Lake Community College, because I love the human aspect of our community, which directly ties into journalism. After transferring to the University of Utah I decided to major in communication with an emphasis on broadcast journalism. I hope to become a journalist or reporter after graduating, and be able to inspire many people with the written word.

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MY STORIES:

• Educational accommodations for students with disabilities
• Fremont High School seminary teacher overcomes disability
• Opportunities for actors who are disabled are scarce in Salt Lake City

MY BLOG:

I never realized just how many aspects of a person’s life could be affected by having a disability. This course really helped me to think about how difficult it must be and how strong people with disabilities have to be to get through things that are so simple for me.

During interviews and class speakers saw so many examples of people I want to be like. For example, Carol MacNicholl who doesn’t let being dead slow her down. I realized how little help they receive from outside sources. I couldn’t believe some of the things that happen to them, like Jeremy Chatelain being ignored by a bus driver, and the way they are treated just because they have a disability.

I think it is impossible to know the extent of difficulty unless you are also living with a disability. However, through this class I learned to be more compassionate and understanding of people who are disabled. Most of the people I spoke with said they just want equality. This is something that really made me admire them for not wanting special treatment.

I came into this class thinking that I wanted to be a news anchor for a big station in a big city. Well, that isn’t really the case anymore. As much as I understand the need for written journalism, I don’t enjoy writing it. I like performing and talking but I don’t like interviewing, writing, and editing. If someone could write the stories for me and I could just talk about them, this might still be the career path I would choose.

I realize that this is wishful thinking, though. If you want a career in journalism, you have to be the whole package, writing, interviewing, reporting, and editing. That is not what I want to spend my whole life doing. When Kathy Thomson, of the Los Angeles Times, came to speak with us, my whole career plan kind of changed. I loved that she worked so closely with news but didn’t necessarily have to write stories. She worked almost more in a public relations capacity for the Times. If I could have her job at a big television news station, I think I would be very happy.

This course made me realize just how difficult it is to be a journalist. People don’t always give you what you want in interviews. Editors criticize papers that you think turned out really well all the time. Deadlines are difficult to make and add a lot of stress into your life. AP style isn’t just common sense; you have to use the stylebook. I know now that I can’t spend my life working under deadlines and being critiqued. I am glad I enrolled in this course and realized this before I got too far into a journalism major and had to live with that career.

ABOUT ME:

I am currently a junior at the University of Utah studying strategic communication. I expect to graduate in the Spring of 2015. I would like to either be an event and wedding planner or handle public relations for a large company such as Disney. In 2013 I participated in the Disney College Program in Orlando, Florida. In 2014 I will serve as the Vice President of Chapter Relations and Standards for the Beta Nu chapter of Alpha Chi Omega.

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MY STORIES:

• Chandler Hunt and the gift of sight

MY BLOG:

As a person who lives with a disability myself, I immediately connected with this beat. People with disabilities are so inspirational and fascinating to me and I could not think of a more appropriate topic to write about. I was nervous at first because I am so passionate about music and about disabilities in general I felt like I might not be able to be objective in my reporting. However, that was the best part of the learning experience altogether. I purposely chose stories that I knew I would struggle with, profiles that would prove to be difficult to cover and asked all of the hard questions.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am extremely extroverted and I have no boundaries. In this process I have learned that those traits I possess have actually helped me get that great quote that makes the story or get that interview that no one could get. I am extremely blunt and I want to know the harsh truth in every situation. This is one of the reasons as to why I want to pursue journalism. I have such a passion for people and as I went about interviewing and creating my stories this semester I found that I couldn’t get enough information, I couldn’t interview enough people and I believe those different aspects are what make a good journalist.

Although I have passion for journalism, passion isn’t enough to make me successful. I learned that I have the discipline, drive and social skills to create an amazing piece but I lack in the writing process area. I have had to rewrite several drafts because my organization didn’t flow and because I lack major writing skills that are necessary in news reporting. I also had a really hard time separating myself from my stories. I had a hard time not putting myself into the story. However, I also realized that there is a balance between remaining unbiased and someone with a disability reporting on the disabled community.

Once I realized this, I knew the task at hand. I was the voice of the people and an outlet for them to get their stories heard. This was such an amazing experience for me with each of the stories I wrote because I had to decide if I was going to share my situation with the people, person, or organization my story was about or if I was going to remain faceless.

I really cherish my experience with Voices of Utah because it taught me so many skills that I need in order to be a fantastic journalist. One word that comes to mind in regards to my experience this semester is passion. I learned how much passion I had for writing, the passion I possessed for the beat and the passion I have for life in general. Looking back on the stories I covered and the people I interviewed I know that my perspective on life has been changed by those people and their stories and for that, I will be forever grateful.

ABOUT ME:

Music is the universal language of life. As I have studied music and communication here at the University of Utah I have learned that I have a driving passion for both subjects. Originally a Violin Performance major, I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome and had to forfeit my scholarship. As a freshman from the rural area of St. George, Utah, I had to ask myself what the next chapter of my academic and professional career would be.

One of the reasons why I am so drawn to music is because it is a way for me to communicate my feelings toward others without having to use words. I think this is an amazing tool and as I lost my ability to play I found myself in a trance not knowing how to convey my feelings. Anytime I felt an emotion whether it is happy, mad, sad, lonely I just shut down rather than sharing my feelings. I realized that I was not happy with my lack of communication and decided that I was going to spend my time working on becoming a more confident and vibrant communicator.

In order to achieve this goal I participated in various events and became a member of almost every club on campus. For example, I attended UC Berkeley’s journalism conference where I had to constantly speak in front of people and this is where I learned that I wanted to be on camera. I participated in many pageants and was crowned Miss Saint George where I endorsed several sponsors and gave many speeches for the mayor, the city and my attendants. I also became a radio host here at the University of Utah. This was one of the first steps I took. I felt like if I didn’t have to show my face I wouldn’t get so embarrassed about speaking in front of other people and I would be able to be more myself and convey my feelings. This was such a great tool for me.

Upon this transformation I fell in love with the journalism program here at the U. My favorite class up until this semester was my public speaking class. If someone came to me two years ago and told me that was going to happen I would have told them to get out of town!  Nowadays you can’t keep me off the camera. I guest host on Newsbreak, model swimsuits on KSL, radio host on K-UTE and practice my poise as Miss Davis County 1^st Attendant.

I am so grateful for the many opportunities my education has given me and the opportunities I have had to transform myself into a confident outward person. Instead of being invisible I am often the center of attention and I would be lying if I said I didn’t love it.

I graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Communication and a minor in Violin Performance in Spring 2014 and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store.

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MY STORIES: 

• People with disabilities take issue with comments by the public
• Public transit services for Utahns with disabilities
• Utah’s employment resources for people with disabilities

MY BLOG:

This course was very valuable toward my career in journalism. From the assignments I have three published stories. This will enhance my portfolio. Our beat reporting taught me to keep my judgments detached. I allowed my opinion to influence a story and this mistake taught me a great deal.

The mistake came when I let a person I’d interviewed persuade my view in regard to a policy of a certain company. The policy was presented to me as being unfair. Upon hearing this I agreed and with this view in mind my first draft of the article clearly pointed to the unfairness. I turned in my first draft and my professor pointed out it might not be as unfair as I’d thought. I did more research and found this policy was enacted throughout every state in the country. I changed my attitude and corrected my story. I understand better the importance of not allowing people I interview to influence my judgments until I’ve looked into the facts. This was a worthwhile lesson. I’m grateful for the experience and for the person I interviewed.

From the beginning of this course to its completion I’ve seen my writing skills improve. For example, I’ve learned to tighten my sentences. They were too wordy prior to this course. This was one of the first of my mistakes our professor pointed out to me. It took time and practice to overcome. By my third story I had improved considerably. I neutralized this flaw from working on other of our assignments. We were given several articles throughout the course to read and reflect on. Three in particular we critically analyzed and gave feedback to the class. Having been made aware of my error these reading assignments helped me realize the tight sentences of other journalists. I incorporated the ones I felt could improve my skills.

In addition to writing we discussed other platforms of storytelling. Short videos and slideshows help impact a reader’s experience. We were given the challenge to make a slideshow for our final story. Learning to use the applications to create them adds versatility to my journalism skills. A slideshow or video gives readers a more in-depth experience and understanding. This additional learning gives me more resources to draw from in order to gain an audience.

Moreover, our course required that we involve ourselves in the community. I conversed with company directors, citizens, college students and my family members about people with disabilities. I gained a connection with individuals I’d not met before. I felt an emotional attachment which compelled me to write in the best manner possible so the public could better understand the issues I covered. I feel the overall experience this course gave me has strengthened my desire to become a journalist. I believe this attribute is essential to journalism.

“Make things as simple as possible but no simpler.”
-Albert Einstein

ABOUT ME:

I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. I served a two-year mission in Tokyo, Japan, from 1984 to 1986 for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I also lived in Hawaii on the island of Oahu for two years, from 1987 to 1988. While attending BYU-Hawaii, I worked at the Polynesian Cultural Center as a Japanese-speaking tour guide. Later, I was promoted to assist the president of Japanese Sales & Marketing for the Center. I still speak Japanese well. I’m currently attending the University of Utah part-time as a senior majoring in communication with a minor in Japanese. I hope to begin working as a journalist after graduation. I’ve been married for 20 years with three children: Hannah, Frank and Mary. I landscape for a living on my own while attending school.

I enjoy music, mostly older stuff like Eric Clapton, Led  Zeppelin, The Who, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and Cat Stevens. But, I very much enjoy contemporary stuff because of my kids. Movies I like are “Goodfellas,” “Scarface,” “Raging Bull,” “Taxi Driver,” “Harold and Maude,” “Sling Blade,” “A Storm in the Summer,” “Dumb & Dumber,” “Young Frankenstein,” “Bridesmaids” and many others. Two of my favorite books are The Grand Inquisitor by Fyodor Dostoyevsky and The Stranger by Albert Camus.

I have recently started using Twitter and WordPress because of a course assignment. My goal is to build an audience to my work in journalism.

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