Due to the comments several incoherent people have posted on our TalonMarks website, it has come to my attention that it really isn't their fault they write stupid comments.
To be fair and rather nice, I am taking the responsibility to inform, or better yet share, what it is that we do as part of the newspaper staff.
For those who don't know how a newspaper works, I understand the ridiculous, immature, and absolutely naive comments they make.
Take for example two of the most recent articles written about homecoming.
One written by my fellow friend and staff writer Rick Gomez, and the other written by myself, Elieth.
Rick's story was supposed to announce this year's Homecoming Queen, and it did just that.
If I'm not mistaken, the very first line of his article states, "After the Homecoming events held the past few weeks, Helen Eggleston of the Court Reporting Club was announced 2008 Homecoming Queen."
Now, if this was a "feature" story, we (Talon Marks) would have run an entire article about Eggleston and how great she is and how excited she was to win etc. etc.
However, this was not a feature story. This was a news story, meaning it was just supposed to supply the information known, along with several quotes from various sources.
When people say things like "you guys are biased" and "that's slander," it is clear that you don't know what you are talking about.
Just because the newspaper provides quotes of people who opinion different than you does not mean it is being bias. It simply means that there are people out there who don't agree with what many think.
It is our responsibility to incite campus discussion.
We do not input only those sources whose opinions we agree with, let alone sugar coat our stories to please the school government or its faculty or its students.
We collect facts, along with insight of people on campus, and provide the information through our articles.
If someone thought another candidate should have won, well then that is their opinion and they are entirely entitled to it.
Just the same, you are entitled to your own.
However, don't go around calling people names and pointing fingers just because the entire campus does not agree with you.
So when it really comes down to it, we don't put the pictures of the floats or people we "prefer."
We use whatever it is we can use.
We try write stories and provide pictures that apply to what is going on on campus.
To be honest, the homecoming stories and pictures should not have even been in the paper.
It was printed because this event was appealing to the students on campus.
So really, people should be glad we even made it as big of a deal as we did.
If certain people expect us to be the promotional and encouraging lip of the student government and clubs, they are wrong.
We cover stories from various point of views, not just the one that gives a lovey-dovey portrayal of its topic.
If anyone disagrees with my opinion, oh well so be it. I'm just trying to inform those who don't know what it's like to put a paper together.
Instead of criticizing it, you might want to consider joining and experiencing it first hand.
So don't just take my word for it, but of course I'm pretty sure most are already talking crap thinking I'm acting like a know-it-all.
Frankly, it's quite fine with me.
You don't write for the paper, you don't edit the paper, you don't produce the paper, you don't know half of the effort and hard work it takes to be in the paper.
So honestly, until you perform even the tiniest bit of responsibilities the people in here do, then I will take your opinion into consideration.
6 comments:
First of all, your "insightfulness" brings me some humor because, seriously-- how old are you? And how long have you worked in a newspaper? Oh, yeah, and by that I mean a recognized paper... you shedding light on what YOU believe should be on a feature story and what shouldn't be on there is rather humorous; being that I know for a fact that you're simply stating what you've learned so far in your obvious "baby" college life.... A word to the wise, mi amiga-- while enlightening others on what you've LEARNED is never a bad thing-- please do it with grace when it's obvious that you are not an EXPERT. For your information, (and please feel free to run this by an EXPERT, not your college newspaper buddies)-- journalism, and specially within the print media has transitioned into a completely new trend. Journalists are now covering many beats, genres, and topics, and "feature writing" or "news writing" as we ONCE knew it-- is a thing of the past. Just take a look at nationally recognized papers, such as LATIMES or the WashingtonPost, and you'll find that many of their stories are a mix and cuisine of many reporting and writing styles.... and PLEASE, take a look at reporters who have been nationally recognized for their work and see if they've EVER posted a blog as rude as yours! I don't mean to be rude, but it's very obvious that whatever little experience you're getting from this very insignificant little newspaper that I am SURE has been your ONLY experience withing the journalistic sector so far-- has blown up your head so fat... So come back to earth nena. Respect people's opinions and instead of judging, learn from it and if you MUST argue-- do it with some grace.
and by the way, here's some grammar 101-- since it's obvious YOU don't know-- Check your spelling and syntax before you publish ANYTHING, and proper dictation is always nice too....
"Just because the newspaper provides quotes of people who opinion different than you does not mean it is being bias."
I'm surprised you didn't learn that in Journ 101; perhaps you will in 102.
Again, think twice before you choose to go on a publicized rampage.
I have kept up with most of the articles that have been published on this sight, especially those concerning Homecoming and ASCC activities. To make a clarification, students had an issue with the article you mentioned not because of the contenct concerning Helen Eggleston, but because to quote one student without adding context to her quote, or taking the time to inquire the opinion of several other students, is biased. Reporing the facts is the most important part of journalism if you are not an editorial writer, and while gathering the opinion of students is not bad, the quote about Victoria Kennedy was completely irrelevant if a survey was not taken.
As for the Homecoming article about the Homecoming Court themselves, the author was completely misinformed in the fact that the girls were not representing their club- I am a direct witness of this because I am the Vice President of the Associated Students, and did not only attend every Homecoming event, but helped direct them as well. The girls promoted their clubs every chance they got, and the turnout for the election was higher than that of our Senate, Presidential, and Trustee elections.
As another note, as a responsible writer, it is probably not a good idea to refer to your constituents as "ignorant or naive". Maybe this will clear up a few things for you, and encourage the staff to do a bit more research. We at the ASCC are more than willing to provide you with any accurate information you need.
Shola Shodiya
ASCC Vice President
As another comment, I think that most of the people you write about in your articles, whether it be the Homecoming Court or members of the ASCC share your feelings about criticizing work- before you can criticize them or write about their faults, you may want to experience their duties yourself, or at least take the time to find out what they do and how much work they have put into their responsibilities. The major difference between them and you as a writer however, is that you publish articles that reflect the student body and that is a very important task- you must realize that people are going to have strong reactions to anything you publish, and not be so quick to take offense to it as a public figure. Thanks again,
Shola Shodiya
Im in high school and even I know better than to post something like this.
Be careful with what you say, you can make your whole staff look bad.
As a copy writer and editor i can safely say you should use more quotes. The quotes shouldn't give off opinions, they should only prove the facts, figures and feelings you presented beforehand. BE CAREFULL!!!!
I know your blog is referring to me and honestly i love the attention.
As an English major, i know a thing or two about writing. I have taken plenty of journalism classes in the past AND i have also been part of a newspaper production. So you can't use all that against me, since i am not INCOHERENT. I do a lot for this campus, and since you don't really know who i am and what i do, you have no right to judge me or call naive or in a sense stupid. I know being part of Talonmarks is a lot of commitment and hardwork, but writing is a work in progress. It is process of error making and learning from criticism. How will you improve your writing if your too afraid to take criticism. My criticism was not an attack on the writer, since i don't know who he is. If your not willing to take criticism given to you by students i prefer closing the "leave comments" section, since it would be no use to you.
On further note, i love how Talonmarks was promoting "freedom of speech" in the beginning of the year and here i was using my right as a student and Senator only to find myself being critisized and attacked by the writers. Isn't the point to improve our campus? That includes the school newspaper.
So please don't take these criticism's personally, because their just remarks on writing, not the person.
Thanks :)
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