What to do this new year…

By Charles E. Roop

Well, the year is over. The spring term will start in about six days. However, I have and still have a lot to think  about when it comes to my future.

Lately, I have been a little reflective on what I have accomplished as a photojournalism student this year. I would like think that my photo skills have improved some since 2007 when I first started at UF.

A few weeks ago, I attended the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar and got another taste of great photography from some UF students and others from across the country. I received some portfolio reviews at the seminar, as well. The reviews were better than the year before, but I still have some work to do. Most of the comments given were about distractions in my photos. The good thing is that I didn’t get comments suggesting I sell my gear and immediately change my major. My work is getting better, but I have a ways to go (especially after seeing all the great talent from others at the seminar).

A couple of weeks ago, I discovered that I was denied an internship at one of the newspapers I applied to for summer 2009. That put a damper on my mood.

That and other events made me think: What the hell am I doing? Why am I wasting my time and energy on something that I might end up in unemployment or, worse,  a poor house. With journalism in a situation with thousands of job losses in 2008 leaves future journalists (print, photo, online, etc) in a more competitive environment.Where does that leave me at this point with a year until graduation: not good. Unless President-Elect Obama’s policies can pull a miracle on Main Street and get us out of this heavy recession by the end of 2009, things don’t look that great.

So what should I do? Do I sell my gear, drop the photo track and high-tail out of there? No. Do I prepare for option two? Hell, yes.

It is time to look at other career or education options. Graduate school looks like an interesting option. Do I go for a masters in journalism? If so, what do I do with it? What should I research? Should I teach? Erin and others suggest that I would make a good instructor, but is it something that I would want to do?

If not a masters in journalism, then what else? Geography? Maybe I could research more in the physical geography (atmospheric sciences and climatology, specifically).

What about meteorology? Yea, I know. I have been down that road before. That is why I spent four years at a community college. The calculus and physics nearly took away any sanity and brain cells I had left. Do I go for a bachelors (how does three bachelors degrees sound?) or masters? However, the math and physics is still blocking me. I would need to finish the remaining prerequisites: Calculus 2, Calculus 3, Differential Equations, Physics 1 and 2 with Calculus.

However, at the old age of 25, do I want to continue being a student? Part of me wants to just get out and get into the workforce.

What about the degrees I will get in Dec 2009? Journalism (photo track) should help get a job in photojournalism…if there are any left. I could freelance, but it’s not a completely reliable source of income straight out of school. Geography might give me a job doing GIS, but do I want a desk job? I could do it if I need to.

So, the doors are open. The question is which one do I walk into. I sort of have a plan for the beginning of 2009:

1) Continue the photo track. Continue and enhance promoting my work through my website and with meeting with potential employers at career fairs and other venues. Also, I need to keep shooting: get better photo stories, be a more aggressive photographer and keep my imagination open. There is still some hope with photo, but there are specifics I need to work on:

a) Get more sports. I have mostly done football, but I need to branch out into other sports and get better shots.

b) Like I mentioned earlier, I need a better, powerful photo story. I hope to accomplish that in Advanced Photojournalism 2.

c) Expand my weather photo portfolio. One day, I would not mind (at all) to be a professional severe weather photographer (i.e. Warren Faidley, Jim Reed, etc). I could even branch into weather videography (i.e. Jeff Gammons, Jim Edds, etc). I could take the tallent of photo/video and combine it with my thirst for experience and knowledge of weather. However, getting better stock images to be established could take time.

d) I need better breaking news shots. The IPN notification service has helped (a great deal), but I need more of a quicker way of getting to a scene. Sometimes the alerts can be delayed by a few minutes or more. I need to listen to the scanner more often to get a real-time update.

2) Talk to professors from both journalism and geography about options. Also, I should talk to career counselors.

3) Take the GRE. I never thought of taking it until a few months ago. I need to start studying and take it as early as mid 2009.

4) Study calculus. You read that right. I need to get into the habit of spending 15 to 20 minutes per day on a certain subject of Satan’s math (sorry math majors). Be ready for the math just in case the time comes to switch gears.

In summary, I will stay with photo but be ready for alternatives. I have bills to pay like everyone else, as well as student loans.

I will not be saffing at the Alligator in the spring – mainly due to the rigors expected in the Advanced Photojournalism 2 class. I need all of the time in the world for the photo stories I will be working on. I will be my own boss of sorts this term and expect to freelance for area publications (and hope to make a little money). This lack of commitment from an Alligator staff position will allow me to focus on my academics and Advanced 2.

The new year is just a couple of hours old and there is a lot to do. I will be out of UF in 11 months and 18 days…and time is ticking. Time to get to work.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Semester Wrap-up

By Charles E. Roop

Here are some interesting photos from the last four weeks.

Here are a few post-vehicle accident photos from Dec. 2 on University Avenue and Buckman Drive near campus. Unfortunately, the accident led to the death of UF student Michael VanWagner after a car struck his scooter.

Kal Penn visits UF.

By Charles E. Roop

This was my first Alligator online video that I edited with Final Cut Express 4. It was a little tough at first. However, thanks to Steve, I was able to figure it out and go from there.

Actor Kal Penn (from Harold and Kumar, and House) visited UF to campaign for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama.

I actually got word back from the University desk that Penn and the Obama organizers liked this video. I felt kind of star struck. If Kal Peen ever reads this, I say “thanks for the comment.”

Since I can not get the video to be embedded (damn you, WordPress), here is the link: Kal Penn Campaigns for Sen. Obama at UF.

B.U.S.Y.

By Charles E. Roop

Good evening, readers…if there are any left. I apologize that this is my first post in over a week, but life has been a little crammed.

For those who do not know yet, I have been selected to be the Alligator’s multimedia editor (which works with the photo editor). It’s a brand-new position at one of the largest student-run college papers in the nation. I will be dealing with not only photos, but video and other visual multimedia. Fun! So far, so good. I was able to create two videos in the past week (I will post those on the blog momentarily).

So far, the first week of classes for the fall 2008 is going smoothly. I hope it remains that way for the rest of the term. I am taking Advanced Photojournalism 1, so expect some additional photos to be posted.

The Fallen Hero Commemoration Act

By Charles E. Roop

Another photojournalism-related bill will soon be sent to capital hill according to the NPPA. For the last few years, The White House and The Pentagon have been trying to avoid what happened in Vietnam and keep photos of flag-draped caskets from reaching the press…

Powerful photographs from the Vietnam War, including those from Dover [Air Force Base in Deleware], helped shift public opinion about the conflict and more and more Americans became opposed to the country’s efforts in Southeast Asia.

In America’s ensuing wars the military wanted to make sure that didn’t happen again and tried different methods of corralling photojournalism, including censorship in the first Gulf War and embedding photographers with troops to keep them under tight control.

[...]

At home the clamp down has included trying to control coverage of the return of soldiers killed in war. Since 1991 and the Persian Gulf War the media have been banned from covering the arrival of flag-draped coffins at Dover. The air base is the military’s largest mortuary facility, where the bodies of soldiers killed in overseas action are prepared for burial before they are sent to famalies and hometown cemeteries across the United States.

Citizens and journalists have been crying foul over this mess from the DOD and the Redneck Administration.

Polticians are also crying foul. U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones, a North Carolina Republican, has taken a step forward by introducing the Fallen Hero Commemoration Act (HR 6662). The bill will allow “credentialed media members to photograph Dover’s military ceremonies as bodies of soldiers killed on active duty return home, as well as covering the flag-draped coffins arriving at any military installation.”

“Throughout the history of our Nation, members of the United States Armed Forces have selflessly given their lives to secure and protect the freedoms Americans enjoy today,” Congressman Jones said. “Today, our military is serving our nation in Iraq, Afghanistan and many other parts of the world. Without a loved one serving in the military, it is sometimes possible for Americans to overlook the sacrifices that have been made – and continue to be made – by members of the Armed Forces on behalf of our Nation.

“By once again permitting access to accredited members of the media at military commemoration ceremonies, memorial services conducted by the Armed Forces, and the arrival of the remains of fallen service members at U.S. military installations, this legislation would honor those who have given their lives in defense of our Nation,” Jones said.

This bill, which is supported by the NPPA, is the first step in the right direction. The powers-to-be right now are cesnoring the press (which I beleive is constitutionally illegal) for the sake of making the public beleive that any war does not have a human cost. The current policy is also a discrace to the soldiers who risk their lives for our country. Also, as NPPA general legal counsel wrote to Congressman Jones, “to deny media coverage of the return of our fallen heroes is a brazen attempt by the military to deny history.”

I hope this bill gets more support and will be passed.

Late News: Vote for Federal Journalist Shield Law Stalls

By Charles E. Roop

I forgot to post this last week, but I guess it’s better late than never. For the last few months, a federal shield law for journalists, titled the Free Flow of Information Act of 2007, was in the works. Late last year, it passed the U.S. House with a surprising 398-21. Last week, the vote to discuss the bill came up according to the NPPA (read story). Needing 60 votes to continue discussion, it failled 51-43 (6 not voting). Why? From the NPPA…

The Senate vote to block the federal shield law from moving forward had other motives, and that was that those voting against it were refusing to begin debate on it until the Senate addresses a bill that provides more domestic oil and gas production.

The fact that the federal shield law failed to move forward appears to have less to do with the details of the bill and more to do with being caught in the political process, as Republicans wanted to force the Senate to remain focused on the energy issue, which has been stalemated in Congress.

The Bush Administration also promised to veto the bill (no surprise…damn redneck). Both presidential candidates Barack Obama (D) and John McCain (R) support this bill, but were not there to vote.

I am hoping that it can at least be passed enough to override a presidential veto by the end of the year. This is a bill that is in desperate need of passage. Too many journalists are being jailed and fined for failing to give up their sources in court. Maybe i can understand doing so with NATIONAL SECURITY MATTERS, but they are doing this for other reasons. It’s important that confidential sources be protected. Otherwise, no one (i.e whistle blowers) will trust the press.

I support the NPPA, SPJ and other media outlets and organizations with their stance to get this bill passed…and I hope that it will.

To see who voted for or against the cloture motion, check out this page from the Senate site. To see who voted against the bill in the U.S. House, check Open Congress’ site here.

“Faux News” does it again…

By Charles E. Roop

Image Source: http://hangedman.wordpress.com/

On July 2, The Fox News Channel pulled their faux journalism stunts once again. This time, they altered photos of New York Times staff. From Media Matters…

On the July 2 edition of Fox News’ Fox & Friends, co-hosts Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade labeled New York Times reporter Jacques Steinberg and editor Steven Reddicliffe “attack dogs,” claiming that Steinberg’s June 28 article on the “ominous trend” in Fox News’ ratings was a “hit piece.” During the segment, however, Fox News featured photos of Steinberg and Reddicliffe that appeared to have been digitally altered — the journalists’ teeth had been yellowed, their facial features exaggerated, and portions of Reddicliffe’s hair moved further back on his head. Fox News gave no indication that the photos had been altered.

And people wonder why I hate that network. They are unethical and so damn slanted, it’s not even funny.

Journalism Cuts

By Charles E. Roop

It’s the economy, stupid. Or is it?

The newspaper industry has suffered like a mother in the last few months to the point where job cuts are imminent. Many in the journalism world are hoping to God that they will either be employed or be able to get a job when they get their journalism degree (like me).

One of the factors to the mess is bad economic conditions. When businesses cut their budgets, advertising is one of the things that gets sent to the back burner. Therefore, newspapers and TV stations loose revenue, and – well you get the picture. Also, another bad sign is the dwindling readership of newspapers. For most people everybody is getting their news from TV or the internet, that or attention spans are much shorter.

But are there more factors? One blogger says “yes.” Hilary Lehman, a friend and journalism student at UF, referenced Mark Potts’s post and he has his reasons:

Failing to understand the power and impact of the Internet.
Failing to be creative about business models to fully monetize Internet content.
Failing to be creative about working with advertisers to find new online ad models.
Failing to take seriously powerful new competitors like Craigslist, Monster and Google.
Failing to provide readers with enough relevant, compelling, can’t-get-it-anywhere-else content–especially local coverage.
Failing to understand that 20 percent profit margins aren’t a divine right.
Failing to move quickly enough to rein in costs and find efficiencies throughout the business.
Failing to move quickly enough, generally

Nearly 900 journalism jobs have been lost in one week according to Pott’s post. This is a wake-up call to not only journalists and journalism students, but to our profession. But what can we do to fix the problem that that newspaper management crackpipes helped start? Maybe fire some of those execs who don’t know anything about how journalism really works. A lot of these people have some B.S. degree (I don’t mean Bachelors degree) in business who’s only goal is to cut corners, make a six-figure salary and place in ridiculous profit margins. These people don’t have informing the public in mind at all.

Maybe another strategy in who and how the news is gathered? Restructuring? Shuffling? More of an online focus w/ extensive multimedia, but leave in-depth stuff for print? The Tampa Tribune is apparently making some bold moves according to Jessie DaSilva’s blog (another J-school friend and current intern at the Tribune – read her post). However, some sacrifices have to be made for that bold move: 21 employees need to be let go in the coming days. Photographers from the Tribune and WFLA-TV (both are under the same roof) are asked to “reapply” according to the National Press Photographers Association latest posting.

Maybe consider either charging for in-depth online content or more advertising?

Maybe consider a redesign of the paper? Or online redesign? Make the content more attractive. Allow more reader feedback online (if that’s not already in place). The more hits, the more $$$ in advertising.

Maybe move from a profit system to a non-profit system like the St. Petersburg Times? I have yet to hear of any major financial issues. Maybe because they don’t have profit margins or greedy shareholders to deal with.

You know, I think one of the big issues of newspapers (or the media in general) is greed. It’s all about money. Nobody gives a flying-$%#@ about journalism, the greater good or anything close to that. And I think that because of these cuts, the quality of journalism is suffering. The “that’s okay if it’s not the best” bull needs to stop now.

I also think that it’s lack of playing “catch up”. There needs to be some bold moves done in the business to fix the problem.

I believe the press has a fundamental place in a democracy. You don’t have a free press, you don’t have a democracy. Cutting corners, laying off staff and creating bad morale  will not make it better. It’s time for a journalism revolution. What will be the keys to this revolution is up for discussion. However, change needs to begin now not only for our jobs (or, for us journalism students, future employment), but for the mission of the press.

So, it is the economy? Yes…and no.

TIM RUSSERT – 1950-2008

Photo Source: The Associated Press/ Yahoo! News

By Charles E. Roop

The news of the passing of NBC’s Chief Washington Correspondent and moderator of “Meet the Press” Tim Russert did not come to me via TV or Yahoo! News, but Facebook. Soon after NBC broke through regular programing to tell the sad news and word went on the wires, my friends at the journalism school at UF already posted their feelings of his death on their status updates.

I am shocked and saddend of the sudden passing of Tim Russert. He was an icon of American political journalism. Whenever I saw him either on “Meet the Press” or other NBC News programing, I never had to question his integrity. He would always ask the tough questions and never give anybody a free ride, but he did it with grace and civility. His only agenda was to inform the American public on our elected officials and wanted noting but the facts. He was a great political analyst and reporter. He is a role model to the journalism world and a great American that will be missed.

Sun Assignment: Juice Truck Wreck

By Charles E. Roop

My second day on the job as an intern for the Gainesville Sun was very active. One of the big stories of the day was an accident on I-75 north of the Micanopy exit in south Alachua County.

A juice truck flipped on its side blocking all northbound traffic for miles. They closed the interstate at the Micanopy exit and rerouted traffic on to nearby U.S. Hwy 441 north to Williston Road and back on I-75.

The first two ran in today’s Gainesville Sun.

It took me 90 minutes to travel about 10 miles – from the accident scene to the Sun’s office. That’s probably the longest I have waited to get that far. It was not a great afternoon for traveling in south Alachua County.

An update on the accident has been posted on the Sun’s website along with the two photos that ran.