I've survived my week at the Freedom Forum here in Nashville, Tenn. -- literally. I can't remember the last time I've been so sick. Having spent so much time in my hotel bed, with little to do, I found my thoughts running away: "Am I really doing this? Can I be so lucky? What if this isn't it for me? What if it is?"
In a few hours I'll be on a plane back to the Lone Star State, where I'll spend a little more than 24 hours preparing to move to Oregon. I'm leaving Chips Quinn orientation in Nashville with some new knowledge but mainly some extra earnestness, drive, excitement and respect for building a relationship with a new community through my work.
This week with the Chips Quinn program has made the 2,600-mile drive and everything else required of me like some sort of duty that I'm ready to report for.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Worn out – and grateful
I'm worn out by the past eight days but at the same time I'm confident and energized. Everything about this week – the training, the orientation sessions, the coaches and more – has been beneficial and has eased my concerns about making the transition from student to reporter.
That positive experience is especially true of the relationships I've formed. The staff was incredible, and I loved having alums of the program join us for the orientation sessions and multimedia training. Talking to them and hearing about their experience has been encouraging for me because I was feeling uncertain about my future in journalism. I questioned whether I had what it took and if I'd be able to survive. These Chipsters and their successes, coupled with all the sessions, made me feel more confident and secure.
I truly feel like I'm a part of this family now. I feel as if I have a strong support network. I'm grateful to everyone for all they did and for the opportunity of being a Chips Quinn Scholar.
That positive experience is especially true of the relationships I've formed. The staff was incredible, and I loved having alums of the program join us for the orientation sessions and multimedia training. Talking to them and hearing about their experience has been encouraging for me because I was feeling uncertain about my future in journalism. I questioned whether I had what it took and if I'd be able to survive. These Chipsters and their successes, coupled with all the sessions, made me feel more confident and secure.
I truly feel like I'm a part of this family now. I feel as if I have a strong support network. I'm grateful to everyone for all they did and for the opportunity of being a Chips Quinn Scholar.
Proud to be a Chipster
I heard the call from across the airport floor. “Marco?”
I turned around to see a smiling woman approaching. “Marco Santana? I’m Javiera.”
She extended her hand and it was my first contact with anybody connected with the Chips Quinn Scholars program.
She asked, “Are there any other Chipsters here?”
“So that’s what they call us, huh?” I asked her. She nodded, still smiling.
Chipsters. The term seemed a bit cheesy to me. What had I signed up for?
During the first night of orientation, there were several mentions of family and what the program meant to everybody. As the week sped along and the 12-hour days of hard work passed, the class grew close and I began to notice some of the things mentioned.
I managed to get to know each of my classmates and learn much from them. The talent that surrounded me humbled me, and participating in a program with such enthusiastic and eager journalists boosted my confidence.
It was refreshing to hear alums of the program speak about how they embraced the family aspect. To a person, the alums humbly and sincerely credited the program with helping them to get their jobs. To know that this is the group I am now a part of excites me to no end.
On a practical note, I know that I now have skills that will make any newsroom better.
The educational aspect of this week is invaluable. I also know that I have a network of people who care about me and care about my career.
From line-dancing for the first time to participating in a sing-along and to renewing my love for the theme song to the “Golden Girls,” I have been changed in more than just professional ways by my participation in this group.
And one of the big changes is that I don’t consider it cheesy.
I’m proud to be called a Chipster.
I turned around to see a smiling woman approaching. “Marco Santana? I’m Javiera.”
She extended her hand and it was my first contact with anybody connected with the Chips Quinn Scholars program.
She asked, “Are there any other Chipsters here?”
“So that’s what they call us, huh?” I asked her. She nodded, still smiling.
Chipsters. The term seemed a bit cheesy to me. What had I signed up for?
During the first night of orientation, there were several mentions of family and what the program meant to everybody. As the week sped along and the 12-hour days of hard work passed, the class grew close and I began to notice some of the things mentioned.
I managed to get to know each of my classmates and learn much from them. The talent that surrounded me humbled me, and participating in a program with such enthusiastic and eager journalists boosted my confidence.
It was refreshing to hear alums of the program speak about how they embraced the family aspect. To a person, the alums humbly and sincerely credited the program with helping them to get their jobs. To know that this is the group I am now a part of excites me to no end.
On a practical note, I know that I now have skills that will make any newsroom better.
The educational aspect of this week is invaluable. I also know that I have a network of people who care about me and care about my career.
From line-dancing for the first time to participating in a sing-along and to renewing my love for the theme song to the “Golden Girls,” I have been changed in more than just professional ways by my participation in this group.
And one of the big changes is that I don’t consider it cheesy.
I’m proud to be called a Chipster.
One week vs. one semester
I have learned more in the past week during multimedia training at the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute than I did in a semester of college. My experience in Nashville, Tenn., was rich and filled with useful knowledge.
The instructors gave me great constructive criticism that made me aware of how to improve my skills. They did it in a way that didn’t put me down, but rather inspired me to want to do better and achieve more.
By working in groups, I was able to use my own ideas and learn from the colleagues I was working with, whether it was a technique in editing or a better camera angle.
Sharing the stories we produced was one of my favorite times of each day. The stories consistently blew me away. We were lucky to be surrounded by such great journalists who got along so well and respected each other’s ideas. I’ve made many new friends, both among peers and instructors.
Thank you to the instructors for giving me important tools that I can use to further my career, to everyone at the Freedom Forum for organizing this event and taking care of the technical issues without a glitch, and for making it possible for me to be here. And thank you to my peers for making the week so much fun.
The instructors gave me great constructive criticism that made me aware of how to improve my skills. They did it in a way that didn’t put me down, but rather inspired me to want to do better and achieve more.
By working in groups, I was able to use my own ideas and learn from the colleagues I was working with, whether it was a technique in editing or a better camera angle.
Sharing the stories we produced was one of my favorite times of each day. The stories consistently blew me away. We were lucky to be surrounded by such great journalists who got along so well and respected each other’s ideas. I’ve made many new friends, both among peers and instructors.
Thank you to the instructors for giving me important tools that I can use to further my career, to everyone at the Freedom Forum for organizing this event and taking care of the technical issues without a glitch, and for making it possible for me to be here. And thank you to my peers for making the week so much fun.
A new verb – ‘to multimedia’
My Chips Quinn scholarship continues to be a wonderful experience. Although I am attending the multimedia training months after my summer internship ended, I feel like it was only yesterday that I last saw the wonderful Freedom Forum staff.
The multimedia program has been intense and comprehensive. I’ve learned more in a week than I have in many multimedia classes in school. The instructors have gone above and beyond their responsibilities to guide and encourage our multimedia growth.
Gone is my fear of the unknown, replaced by excitement as I await my next project. I will buy a video camera as soon as possible and work to capture footage that complements my Soundslides. With this newfound knowledge and desire “to multimedia the world,” I will improve my portfolio and standing as a visual journalist.
The multimedia program has been intense and comprehensive. I’ve learned more in a week than I have in many multimedia classes in school. The instructors have gone above and beyond their responsibilities to guide and encourage our multimedia growth.
Gone is my fear of the unknown, replaced by excitement as I await my next project. I will buy a video camera as soon as possible and work to capture footage that complements my Soundslides. With this newfound knowledge and desire “to multimedia the world,” I will improve my portfolio and standing as a visual journalist.
Keeping perspective
Wow.
This past week has been among the most productive and eye-opening experiences of my life. Where do I begin?
First, the young reporters (and even those not quite so young) whom I have met are supremely talented. That's been said often, but it deserves to be said again and again. I learned almost as much from the other 10 people in my class and the half-dozen or so alumni as I did from our instructors. The Scholars each contributed something different that, in the end, enhanced our multimedia products. To name a few examples, Bettina Hansen taught me how to get organized in Final Cut, Marjon Rostami showed me how efficiently we can work and Nicole Santa Cruz reminded me how much fun being a reporter could be.
Even though our instructors, coaches and support staff were here to teach us, it never felt like anyone was trying to force knowledge through my head or, worse, treat me like the kid people think I am. They were brilliant, conversational and constructive. I was impressed by their ability to combine professionalism with true mentorship. It was also comforting to see Danese Kenon -- a successful woman of color and a multimedia reporter for The Indianapolis Star -- in all her fiery passion and incredible wisdom. She is truly an inspiring figure.
As I fly back to my newsroom Friday and start work Saturday, I carry with me a better sense of self and a renewed zeal to help my community.
If had to take away just one thing or one piece of advice from this week, it would be this: "Don't take life too seriously."
Trust me -- I won't.
This past week has been among the most productive and eye-opening experiences of my life. Where do I begin?
First, the young reporters (and even those not quite so young) whom I have met are supremely talented. That's been said often, but it deserves to be said again and again. I learned almost as much from the other 10 people in my class and the half-dozen or so alumni as I did from our instructors. The Scholars each contributed something different that, in the end, enhanced our multimedia products. To name a few examples, Bettina Hansen taught me how to get organized in Final Cut, Marjon Rostami showed me how efficiently we can work and Nicole Santa Cruz reminded me how much fun being a reporter could be.
Even though our instructors, coaches and support staff were here to teach us, it never felt like anyone was trying to force knowledge through my head or, worse, treat me like the kid people think I am. They were brilliant, conversational and constructive. I was impressed by their ability to combine professionalism with true mentorship. It was also comforting to see Danese Kenon -- a successful woman of color and a multimedia reporter for The Indianapolis Star -- in all her fiery passion and incredible wisdom. She is truly an inspiring figure.
As I fly back to my newsroom Friday and start work Saturday, I carry with me a better sense of self and a renewed zeal to help my community.
If had to take away just one thing or one piece of advice from this week, it would be this: "Don't take life too seriously."
Trust me -- I won't.
Monday, January 26, 2009
On Top of Old...Twitter
Sometimes it can be suffocating to be a part of today's ever-evolving information age, but feeling like you're on top of things gives you an ego boost that's hard to describe.
I have yet to Twitter, but listening to Ellyn Angelotti of The Poynter Institute describe what makes the fairly new social networking site awesome, I knew I'd be on the site soon enough.
Many of the Twitter functions she talked about were basically things I'd use Facebook for when reporting. I've "followed" individuals by befriending them online and reading their updated statuses, notes and posted items. Same with groups, where I could know every event a student club was hosting.
I have yet to Twitter, but listening to Ellyn Angelotti of The Poynter Institute describe what makes the fairly new social networking site awesome, I knew I'd be on the site soon enough.
Many of the Twitter functions she talked about were basically things I'd use Facebook for when reporting. I've "followed" individuals by befriending them online and reading their updated statuses, notes and posted items. Same with groups, where I could know every event a student club was hosting.
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