My Time With The Honors Mentorship Program

Throughout this amazing process, the Honors Mentorship Program has helped me to grow in more ways than I thought possible. Because of my time with Cumming Local, paralleled with my other responsibilities within the Program, I was able to not only pursue an intense passion of mine every week, but I was also able to develop more practical skills in the process. I've seen, for instance, the areas in which I lacked a certain amount of experience or skill (like effectively scheduling out my plans, proper communication, and time management), and refined them over time. To do this, I had to actively write down and check on events and due dates in my calendar, while also making sure that I had my days planned out by the hours. In doing this, I found myself free to not only write the articles I had needed to finish, but to have enough time to be as creative as I desired during the process.

Even though this experience has most certainly been one of the highlights of my life, as with every good thing, I knew that there would be certain drawbacks. In this instance, they merely were setbacks that I alone was accountable for. Because of my lack of planning (and my occasional inability to understand the concept of due dates from time to time), I was forced to develop a more responsible sense-of-self. I had to not only hold myself accountable for any mishaps that occurred on my end of the bargain, but to also be proactive in finding ways in which I could ensure that it wouldn't ever happen again. Even though I may have fallen short at the beginning of my internship, with the grace and guidance of my both my mentor and my teacher, I was able to grow into a confident and authentic employee, writer, and businesswoman.

Because I had never before put myself in a position to write in such a manner, the journalistic opportunities that I had received this year helped me to grow in my ventures. It was, of course, a challenging ordeal, but overall, the maturity in my writing tended to develop positively during this adventure of mine. Even though I was exposed to this new form of writing without any prior experience, I found myself enjoying it more than I ever thought I would. While I'm still not certain about which career I will end up pursuing, the Honors Mentorship Program, in all of its wonders, has given me the opportunity to realize that journalism is not only a sensible route to take, but it is an interesting one as well. Because of this realization (along with all of the amazing other attributes of the Program), I would encourage any students that are interested in applying to give it everything they've got. Don't falter on your invigoration for the internship, and keep up with all of your assignments. Be ready to learn something around every corner, and stay humble throughout the process's entirety.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140704164020-103239692-the-case-for-why-journalism-is-not-dead

Confidence in my Presentation

Because the end of the year is rapidly approaching, I've begun to understand exactly what I need to do to end my time with the Honors Mentorship Program with as much success as possible. One task, for example, is the relevant presentation that I must complete so as to include it in my Capstone project. And, quite honestly, I thought that I had this part of the project in the bag; all that I really had to do was speak... right? Well, after finding the video "Be a More Confident Public Speaker" (link found below), I began to realize the extent to which I was under-preparing myself; I had much more to do than I had originally anticipated! In the video, it speaks about being able to know the content of your speech or presentation backwards and forwards, making sure that you've not only integrated the best content possible, but that you can also adapt to each audience and know exactly how to get your point across. For my relevant presentation, I now know that I must, at the very least, write out a specific way in which I can truly and accurately reach my audience, and I must practice as much as I am able. Because of this video's method, I am now not only able to aptly present the information I wish to convey within my project, but I am also able to expand upon my accumulated set of skills, allowing my to become more successful in my future regarding public speaking and all that it entails.


 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tShavGuo0_E

Annotated Bibliography Summary: The Sociology of the Professions and the Problem of Journalism Education

   Anderson, C.w. “The Sociology of the Professions and the Problem of Journalism Education.”       Radical Teacher 99 (2014): 62-68. Web. 26 Feb. 2017

Professor C.W. Anderson, in his article "The Sociology of the Professions and the Problem of Journalism Education", showcased in depth the extent to which his university, the College of Staten Island, is not only taking precautionary steps to unravel the reasoning behind the crash of available jobs in the journalistic market, but is also taking into account all of the possible ways in which students with a heart for journalism can succeed in this new world. As show on page 63 of his article, saying, "As documented by the Pew Research Center’s State of the News Media 2013, ‘estimates for newspaper newsroom cutbacks in 2012 put the industry down 30% since 2000 and below 40,000 full time professional employees for the first time since 1978…" this article constantly reviews the proven struggles graduates have faced for decades, highlighting the exact ways in which the job market has both fallen through larger corporations and risen with private businesses. Anderson's purpose in writing this article was to educate possible journalists regarding the tangible likelihood of difficulty they may face, while also accentuating the accuracy of alternative journalistic careers.

There were several quotes within this article that I found would not only help me with my research, but would also provide me with a perspective that differed my mentor: journalism's popularity, along with its relevancy, is in a rapid state of decline. In saying, "And then, at some point, comes the class I dread. The baldest version of the title is 'How to Get a Job.' Because the problem is, I don’t actually have an answer." (Page 63), Anderson brings the real issue to light; he proves that even he, a professor of journalism, cannot provide a way in which stability is ensured. This is further expanded upon of page 66, when he states that many professional writers, and scholars alike, did not even consider journalism to be a viable and stable career choice any more. He goes on to say, “What is worse, neither entrepreneurial journalism nor the teaching hospital model really addresses the professionalization challenge—the fact that the value of journalistic professionalism is ever more in doubt as technologies democratize access to media production.” (Page 66), which only further proves his point of view to be even more bleak than originally anticipated, forcing the reader to truly ponder upon how this crisis came to be, as well as the ways in which society as a whole can mend the bridge.

Because this article was written by a professor of journalism at the College of Staten Island, indicating Anderson's professionalism and experience, it represents a true, first-hand account of how the job climate is affecting graduate students. It is also a featured, reliable source on the Galileo webpages.

Through my current Essential Question, "What realistically profound challenges could I possibly face in the future through entrepreneurial journalism, and in what ways am I able to better prepare myself for a successful journalistic career in this job climate?", I've constantly pondered the issues that face the world of journalism today, and contemplated the ways in which I, as an individual writer, could leave my own impact in this realm. Because this article showcases a more negative side to the equation, focusing on the lack of jobs and experience within this profession, it has broadened my perception on the matter. Now, I am able to take this source and compare it with the more optimistic side of the entrepreneurial journalism career choice; this will allow me to more accurately and effectively shape my research with little to no personal bias, while also expanding my understanding of a possible profession!

My Plan for The Program

Throughout my time in the Honors Mentorship Program, I've not only deepened my understanding of the ever-evolving world of entrepreneurial journalism through my internship with Cumming Local, but I've also broadened the depth of my entire perception regarding the very essence of the career. While I've always considered journalism to be the perfect combination of writing and employment, through some of my research, I found that some people involved in this career don't always feel the same way; sometimes, journalism is depicted as an occupation filled with loose ends rather than one of fulfillment. In my effort to truly understand this profession, and the roll I may have in its societal standard, I've come to the conclusion that I need to not only research the applicability of entrepreneurial journalism for college students through basic research (highlighting both sides of the equation), but I also need to create visuals that emphasize the information and summaries I have found. In doing this, I will create both a Prezi presentation, to summarize my findings, as well as a survey, in which I can evaluate the point of view of my fellow peers.

Annotated Bibliography Summary: Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism Among University Students

Rojano, Fj Paniagua, M. Gómez Aguilar, and Me González Cortés. "Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism among University Students." Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism among University Students (2014): 548-70. Web. 29 Jan. 2017.

The researcher featured in the article, "Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism Among University Students", examined a Spanish, university-level journalism class and recorded the information regarding the students' opinions, concerns, and comments about entrepreneurial journalism, leading to a further examination of the results. This article constantly reflects the obstacles that many aspiring journalists face, delves deeper into the reasoning behind why the issues have occurred, and showcases the exact journalistic departments in which these challenges have  most commonly arisen throughout recent years. The purpose of the research depicted in the article is to establish the efficiency of the new implementations to the journalism programs, and to determine their worth. It constantly refers back to the students and their judgement, seeking their opinions regarding not only the challenges they fear to face in this career realm, but also how effective the course was in preparing them for these challenges. The article also highlights the possible benefits of becoming an employer, rather than an employee, through the eyes of the students and professors involved.

Throughout the article, there were several quotes that I knew would help my research and push along the findings of my essential question. In saying, "[Farias] describes how in recent years journalism went from being a profession characterized by professional intrusion to a profession characterized by job insecurity, then by unemployment, and later by the current situation, in which job insecurity and independence issues are the major concerns of journalists. As a result, the credibility of the information and the professional activity of journalism have been deteriorated in the last five years", found on page 549, the article accurately portrayed the real, traumatic issue plaguing the world of journalism that ultimately deters students from pursuing this long lasting opportunity. This point of view is also supported by several line on page  554, all showcasing the difficulties that come along with the job. The researcher, however, goes on to state the multitude of reasons in which students are captivated with this career option, constantly highlighting the efforts that the class took to help them realize how amazing entrepreneurial journalism can actually be in this day and age (found on pages 553, 557, 559, 561, and 564-567). This is largely supported by the quote, "At the end of the course, most students recognized that it was helpful, to such an extent that, before taking the course only 39% had ever consider the possibility of launching a journalistic enterprise and the rest (61%) never thought about it; while now, after completing the course, 91% of them does consider this option as a career opportunity” found on page 559.

Because this article was a research document written by a professor and an associate professor of the School of Communication Sciences at the University of Málaga in Spain, it represents both a first-hand account of the ongoing interactions within the classes, as well as an accurate depiction of the world of journalism and its complications as told by those with the correct qualifications. It is also featured as a reliable source in the Galileo folders.

While this article reflects the challenges and situations that many Spanish students fear, it represents a true depiction of the effects journalism and its challenges have worldwide (as is evident by the reference to the economic crisis that occurred in 2008). It also parallels much of what the article, "Entrepreneurial Journalism and the Precarious State of Media Work", highlights. Both articles establish the limitations and challenges that aspiring journalists continue to face, and provide reasons as to why this may be. "Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism among University Students", however, includes a more optimistic mindset regarding the entrepreneurial approach to journalism. This coincides more with my new essential question, "What realistically profound challenges could I possibly face in the future through entrepreneurial journalism, and in what ways am I able to better prepare myself for a successful journalistic career in this job climate?". This article will allow me to further my knowledge of entrepreneurial journalism, and expand my understanding of its realistic mechanics; all while seeing another side to the same story.

Annotated Bibliography: Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism Among University Students

Source / Bibliography (MLA format)	Rojano, Fj Paniagua, M. Gómez Aguilar, and Me González Cortés. "Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism among University Students." Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism among University Students (2014): 548-70. Web. 29 Jan. 2017.
Summary/Annotation	The researcher examined a Spanish, university-level journalism class and recorded the information regarding the students' opinions, concerns, and comments about entrepreneurial journalism, leading to a further examination of the results. This article constantly reflects the obstacles that many aspiring journalists face, delves deeper into the reasoning behind why the issues have occurred, and showcases the exact journalistic departments in which these challenges have  most commonly arisen throughout recent years. The purpose of the research depicted in the article is to establish the efficiency of the new implementations to the journalism programs, and to determine their worth. It constantly refers back to the students and their judgement, seeking their opinions regarding not only the challenges they fear to face in this career realm, but also how effective the course was in preparing them for these challenges. The article also highlights the possible benefits of becoming an employer, rather than an employee, through the eyes of the students and professors involved.
Potential Quotes	"[Farias] describes how in recent years journalism went from being a profession characterised by professional intrusion to a profession characterised by job insecurity, then by unemployment, and later by the current situation, in which job insecurity and independence issues are the major concerns of journalists. As a result, the credibility of the information and the professional activity of journalism have been deteriorated in the last five years." (page 549) "The important growth in journalism students can be explained, in part, by the seduction that this type of studies generates among young people." (page 552) "... the educational system must provide citizens with a number of basic skills… interpersonal, intercultural and social and civic competences, sense of initiative and entrepreneurship…” (page 553) "The economic crisis of the news companies makes it harder for recent journalism graduates to access decent jobs in the traditional media. Therefore, a professional employment alternative is self-employment." (page 554) “…several participants stated that after having completed this course they have considered the idea of creating their own journalistic enterprise, although some confessed that they had already thought about it before taking the course.” (page 557) “At the end of the course, most students recognised that it was helpful, to such an extent that, before taking the course only 39% had ever consider the possibility of launching a journalistic enterprise and the rest (61%) never thought about it; while now, after completing the course, 91% of them does consider this option as a career opportunity.” (page 559) “The previous information confirms the first two hypotheses of the study: that before taking the course journalism students did not consider self-employment as a career option, probably because they chose this degree influenced by the mythification of the journalistic profession; and that if students were encouraged during their studies, through a specific course focused on providing business and entrepreneurship-related content, many students could change their mind and consider starting a news media company as career option.” (page 561) “The sections of the project proposal that students found the most difficult to complete were the budgeting and viability plan as well as the analysis of the context and the competition. These findings confirm our third hypothesis: there is a need to improve the economy and business knowledge among journalism students…” (page 564) “This idea reinforces the second hypothesis of this research study: if students are encouraged with contents and courses that are related to the creation and management of news media companies and offer alternative career opportunities, it is likely that many of these students will consider the option of creating a journalistic enterprise.” (page 565) “This is recognized by 91% of the surveyed students, who admit that after completing the course they have considered starting their own journalistic enterprise. Before taking the course only 39% of the students had considered this career option.” (page 567)
Assessment	Because this article was a research document written by a professor and an associate professor of the School of Communication Sciences at the University of Málaga in Spain, it represents both a first-hand account of the ongoing interactions within the classes, as well as an accurate depiction of the world of journalism and its complications as told by those with the correct qualifications.
Reflection	While this article reflects the challenges and situations that many Spanish students fear, it represents a true depiction of the effects journalism and its challenges have worldwide (as is evident by the reference to the economic crisis that occurred in 2008). It also parallels much of what the article, "Entrepreneurial Journalism and the Precarious State of Media Work", highlights. Both articles establish the limitations and challenges that aspiring journalists continue to face, and provide reasons as to why this may be. "Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism among University Students", however, includes a more optimistic mindset regarding the entrepreneurial approach to journalism. This coincides more with my new essential question, "What realistically profound challenges could I possibly face in the future through entrepreneurial journalism, and in what ways am I able to better prepare myself for a successful journalistic career in this job climate?". This article will allow me to further my knowledge of entrepreneurial journalism, and expand my understanding of its realistic mechanics; all while seeing another side to the same story.

Moving Forward Through The Program

Ever since I was a little girl, I always found myself eagerly gravitating towards any sort of activity that involved any form of writing. I would write letters, stories, and (just recently) articles through Cumming Local. I've always known that this was the area in which I coveted an intense passion, and through my recent research, I've found that I am able to figure out ways in which I could not only actively involve myself in some sort of writing, but I could also be able to form a potential career. This research, through the Honors Mentorship Program, has given me the opportunity to hope and dream, while also finding ways in which I can express my passion in a plausible, influential way.

From the start of my research, I decided to further investigate the question, "how can the interpretation of modern journalism corroborate its stature as a plausible, exciting career, and in what ways am I able to defend its validity?". At the beginning of my experience with the Honors Mentorship Program, I read the article, "Entrepreneurial Journalism and the Precarious State of Media Work", of which its sole intent was to investigate the job security many prospective journalists face upon graduating. And after reading this article, I got the impression that any job security availability was wiped away, and graduates were left in the dust, After speaking one on one with my mentor, and current owner of a professional blog, however, I began to understand the flip side of this perspective. While the article had a tone of objective negativity, my mentor constantly (and naturally) beamed about all of the amazing attributes of her job. She had tips and tricks that helped quell any of my fears and objections; I noticed later, even, that some of these ideas were represented in the article as well. This caused me to take a few steps backward and rethink my understanding of the situation. In doing so, I came up with a new essential question that will help further my understanding of this career: "What realistically profound challenges could I possibly face in the future through entrepreneurial journalism, and in what ways am I able to better prepare myself for a successful journalistic career in this job climate?"

As I continue my research this semester, I plan on creating both an informative website and a brochure directed at my target audience so as to better articulate my findings.

For my real inquiry, I will research relevant and academic article relating to my essential question, focusing on different perspectives regarding the matter. This will allow me to see all sides of the equation, and will hopefully trigger more of an intense questioning on my part. This will lead to more extensive research, and guide me to question everything to a much greater extent, lending my conclusion to be one of value, strength, and quality.