‘On the Air’ in Indonesia

by Mary T. Rogus

It is hard to believe that in just 36 hours our adventure to Southeast Asia will be over and Tim, Lindsey and I will begin the long journey back to Ohio. We bring home with us plenty of pictures, more than a few souvenirs (get ready for some great gifts, family and friends!), and many wonderful and interesting memories of the new friends we’ve made. We also come back to America with an important understanding of the television media in Indonesia.

We’ve visited seven national stations in Jakarta and one regional station in Yogyakarta. The facilities ranged widely from the brand new SCTV newsroom and studios built into an upscale mall where most Indonesians can do little more than window shop, to the oldest station TVRI, the former government, now public television station in several buildings which look as if they haven’t been touched with a paintbrush since the station went on the air in 1962. And then there is Metro TV, Indonesia’s CNN, in a building more opulent than most 5 star hotels, with highly polished mahogany trim, plush carpeting and beautiful Indonesian art work everywhere. With the exception of the public television, most of the technology is very similar to what one would find in an American station, or at the network level. Most of the news operations are using digital editing software and produce their newscasts with the same electronic newsroom management programs used in newsrooms here.

As I mentioned in the previous blog, these ‘superstations’ produce 70-90% of their own original programming, in addition to news. So they have multiple studios, many of which look much like a Hollywood production facility. We often found a dozen people busily creating or re-creating the next set for the upcoming live show, sometimes just hours before that show would air. Some of the shows have live audiences of 100-350 people, which adds to the chaotic traffic as show time approaches. The stations which are similar to our networks, producing a variety of entertainment and news programming, told us the most popular programs are the variety/music programs.

One of the very interesting things we found was how the stations respond to Ramadan, which is the fasting month for Muslims. For the entire month of September, most Muslims don’t eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset. That means that they get up in the middle of the night to eat a meal between 4:00 and 4:30am and then break their fast at 6:00pm. The stations have recognized this as an opportunity, so many of the national stations produce special live programming from 2:30-4:00am which apparently gets quite high ratings. They also typically move their evening news programs to an hour earlier, often starting at 4:00 or 4:30pm instead of after 5:00pm.

At every station we have had extensive time for discussion with news managers and producers and reporters, including the journalists who were part of the exchange program and visited Ohio last summer. These discussions were fascinating as we learned about the similarities and differences among U.S. and Indonesian television news. In just about every newsroom it was easy to identify the assignment desk, usually a hub of activity. We learned many things about the type of coverage stations do and what the ‘big’ stories were. Corruption is the clearly the number one story across Indonesia. As many of the journalists told us, bribery or ‘the envelope’ is a custom in Indonesia, even for journalists. Many of the major news organizations have policies forbidding their journalists from accepting any money, but for some of the smaller, regional stations, reporters told us, management expects that they are getting and accepting these gifts of cash, and therefore pay them as if these ‘tips’ are part of their salary. For the government bureaucrats, these cash payments are part of their budgets and giving the cash is simply part of Indonesia’s culture of hospitality. Their hope in giving the money is that they will make friends with the journalists, and then perhaps the journalists would not be so critical of their ‘friends’.

Another fascinating story we heard about is devil possession and exorcism. And no, this was not a topic on the Indonesian version of The Jerry Springer Show, this is a real story that news departments struggle with how and when to cover. Apparently it’s happened more than once that all the students in a school, typically middle or high school, will start screaming for no obvious reason. They believe the school is haunted by evil spirits and the principal might bring in an exorcist to rid the school of the evil. There was some skepticism among the journalists about what really causes the mass hysteria, but others admitted that they weren’t sure what might be happening, and perhaps one shouldn’t dismiss what can’t be proven one way or another.

[note: And we weren't ready to dismiss it either. Especially after seeing the sign below in front of the gorilla cage at a local restaurant. Yes, at a local restaurant.]





Of course there was great interest in the U.S. Presidential race given Barack Obama’s ties to Indonesia. In fact the elementary school he attended while living here with his mother was very close to our hotel. We were barely off the plane before we were accosted by a man who asked if we were American and then wanted to know immediately if we were voting for Obama. A couple of the national stations had crews in Denver and Minneapolis to cover the conventions. We were always asked about the election, and frequently put on the spot about who we personally supported. Lindsey was the best at skirting this question!

It was actually quite interesting watching the wide range of coverage from the BBC World, to CNN International, to Aljazeera English to the Australian Network. The speeches received heavy play, especially foreign policy portions, for the Democrats, but Hurricane Gustuv took center stage for the beginning of the GOP Convention. Across the board of international coverage John McCain received high praise for ‘setting politics aside’, and it was regularly noted that he was trying to dispel the memories of what was referred to as “Bush incompetence” from Hurricane Katrina. It is very clear in the coverage that there’s no love lost abroad for President Bush. The Sara Palin revelation that her unmarried, teenage daughter is pregnant was typically reported with no commentary or judgment.

One thing that was very clear from our many visits, was that, although television news is relatively young (typically just 10-15 years), the journalists understand how important it is in a country with low literacy and newspapers with circulations of a few thousand in a population of 240 million. Even in the most impoverished areas, every shack had an antenna on top to receive television signals.

Tonight we have our farewell dinner, and for me it will be especially sad. This time when we part, I don’t know when I might see the journalists whom I’ve gotten to know so well through the first workshop in Jakarta that brought the group together 18 months ago, to their six weeks in Ohio a year ago, and now our visit to bring Ohio journalists to Indonesia. They have become my family across the world, and more importantly they have become an incredible network of journalists committed to developing the professionalism of Indonesian journalism and focusing on a positive role for the media in this country’s many conflict situations. My pride in their work and their dedication grew daily as we saw them in action, and learned of their newest accomplishments, such as being three of the top five finalists, including the winner, of a British Consulate national competition for stories which show how conflict situations have turned to citizenship opportunities. The winning journalist did an incredible story of guerilla fighters in Aceh who now patrol the forests and protect the lands against illegal logging which can strip areas bald and lead to devastating flooding. When we visited this journalist’s station he brought me to his office, and there on the wall was the award certificate he had received only the night before, but next to it was his certificate for participation in our exchange program, and he pointed to each and said to me, “This is my award, but this is my social contract.”

The Heart and Soul of Indonesia

by Mary T. Rogus

Yogyakarta, Indonesia — It took three trips and nearly two years, but now I can finally say I’ve seen Indonesia. Waves of traffic and hazy smog gave way to blue skies and acres of tender green rice paddies. You can see life slow down and faces lined with the stress of urban living are replaced with faces lined with simple wisdom and outdoor life. This is Yogyakarta — called the Heart and Soul of Indonesia. Just an hour’s flight from Jakarta took us to this place of history and culture, farming and craftsmanship.



Jogya, as its known, is not a small community. More than two million people live here, but you don’t get lost in a maze of skyscrapers or suburban housing developments (which you don’t find anywhere in Indonesia). It is streets and alleyways lined with small and large red clay roofed houses painted in rainbows of colors, mixed with open market store fronts selling anything you can imagine. And in between the places where people live and shop are the fields of rice, corn and grasses to feed livestock, all brilliant greens that would make any farmer in America envious. Framing all of it, as everywhere in Indonesia, are the dazzling colors of the tropical flowers.



Tim, Lindsey and I were definitely feeling the effects of jet lag and living on the wrong side of the clock Friday afternoon when we arrived in Yogyakarta, but one look at the open air resort we were staying at helped revive us. It was a lovely place tucked away in the shadow of one of the ancient Hindu temples in Jogya. We each had these little bungalows with no phones, and surprisingly to us, but apparently not to our Indonesian guides, outdoor showers! Being the skeptical journalists we are, Lindsey and I both carefully examined the high brick walls for peep holes or overlooks, before we risked washing off the last remnants of Jakarta.

On Saturday we made our first visit to a local television station. We had already visited two of the national stations in Jakarta that broadcast to the entire country. But Jogya TV reaches only the region of Yogyakarta. One of the things that had amazed us with the station visits we’d already made was the fact that these stations produce 80-90% of their own programming. Everything from dramas, and comedies to variety shows and soap operas, plus their news, is produced in-house, and much of it is live. One station we visited produces the top rated “primetime” show which is a six hour live variety/talent show with a full audience of enthusiastic (and well paid) fans. They also produce these programs in multiple languages including English, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and Javanese (an Indonesian dialect) as well as Indonesian. We watched a five minute news bulletin at Metro-TV, which is the CNN of Indonesia, and saw three anchors at the desk who each read one story, each in a different language!

Quite frankly we did not expect to find the same level of local production at Jogya TV since it was similar to local stations in the U.S. We were definitely surprised! Jogya TV produces 90% of its own programming. While we were there, we watched live production of a talk, variety show with two absolutely adorable women hosting. Meanwhile the station was setting up for its weekly Saturday night concert in the parking lot which will bring dozens of people to watch live, in addition to its television audience. This station has only been on the air since 2004 and in 2006 much of the facility and equipment was destroyed in an earthquake. But the station was back on the air and broadcasting live from the parking lot with earthquake coverage in four hours. The news department provided live continuous coverage from outside the building for weeks while the building was repaired.



Beyond the commitment to local programming, the station truly believes its mission is to help its community grow and prosper, while maintaining its culture and traditions. The station sponsors a mobile library that brings books to children and adults across Jogya, AND a mobile medical clinic that provides access to general health care and medicine to the people. When we asked one of the owners about profitability of the station, he laughed and said, “not yet, but that’s not why we’re here.”

We all left humbled by the involvement of the station and its employees in their community, and the commitment to the thousands of people who watch. We would continue to be humbled by the history, art and culture we experienced throughout the weekend in Jogya. From the awe of the temples, originally constructed in 900AD, to the color and fire of a traditional Indonesian ballet, to the precision of silver filigree work on jewelry pieces no bigger than my thumb, our respect and admiration for the talent and work ethic of the Indonesian people grew.



We also were touched by the open friendliness of the people we met everywhere. Lindsey went jogging every morning and people would come out of their houses to say hello. We were taking pictures at the temple and a family of Indonesian tourists came up to us and asked if they could take their pictures with us—so we had the whole family embracing us and smiling to have their pictures taken with the Americans. When we visited the area where much of the pottery is made, Lindsey stopped to take a picture of a young girl who couldn’t have been more than three and her sweet face was dusted with dried pottery clay. She watched quizzically as Lindsey snapped the picture and then when Lindsey turned the camera around to show her the picture she danced around, squealing with musical laughter, as if it was the first time she saw her own image.



In addition to the beautiful crafts, and awe-inspiring history, we also saw some of the most comical sights on the motorbikes that much of the population uses to get around. It’s not unusual to see three, four, even five people, often including very young children, on one small bike. And the other things people transport on these bikes is truly astounding. We saw one biker with a ten foot pipe on his shoulder, another had a full size love seat sofa balanced over the back of the bike, there were baskets of sheep, and bundles of hay or grasses. But the one which made us laugh the most was the man who was transporting a large truck tire around his waist.



It was hard to leave the many wonderful sights, sounds and smells of Yogyakarta, but we definitely brought back with us, through our memories, pictures and sense of peacefulness a little of the Heart and Soul of Indonesia.

The Contrasts, the Details, and the Big Moment

by Mary T. Rogus, Associate Professor

We had left Columbus, OH nearly 36 hours earlier. After three different flights, we were rumpled, tired and incredibly anxious to get off the plane. We are myself, Mary T. Rogus, Associate Professor of Broadcast Journalism, Tim Sharp, WOUB News Director and Scripps Faculty member, and Lindsey Seavert, WBNS-TV Reporter. For me, despite the exhaustion of travel, there was a special thrill as the plane descended and the red clay roofs, palm trees and tropical flowers that typify Indonesia came into view. A smile of anticipation at seeing the 18 Indonesian journalists I’ve come to know so well, touched my lips. I was back in Jakarta for my third visit.



Our trip is the last phase of a State Department grant for a program on Conflict and Diversity Journalism which Ohio University developed. After workshops in Jakarta and at OU, and then six week internships at Ohio television stations, the last part of this journalism exchange is to bring Ohio journalists to Indonesia to see how its news media works. So it is my pleasure to introduce Tim and Lindsey to some of the most wonderful people they will ever meet.



Of course as we drove into the city from the airport, Tim and Lindsey notice what strikes me every time I go out into Jakarta—the incredible contrast between modern development and abject poverty. In center city Jakarta there are skyscrapers and parks and fountains, with almost ostentatious retail/entertainment complexes. Yet just a mile away you drive by shanty towns that it is impossible to imagine are ‘home’ to thousands of people. And they marvel, as I do each time I go out, at the amazing traffic. There are lines on the road, but they seem to have no relevance to where people drive—the road may be marked for two lanes, but there are easily four lanes of traffic with hundreds of motorbikes weaving in and out among the cars and mini-buses. I think even a New York City cab driver would find it tough to survive Jakarta traffic!



Tim, Lindsey and I also had the fun of dealing with the money here—one US dollar is equivalent to 9000 Indonesian rupiah. So we all left the airport millionaires after converting our cash. But then it hits you hard when the deposit at the hotel is 1.4 million! And it didn’t take Lindsey or myself long to blow the power in our rooms as we tried to use our handy dandy converter plugs and then turn on our high power hair blow dryers.

Our second day in Jakarta we made the first of many television station visits, and I was reunited with the first four Indonesian journalists who came to Ohio. It was great to see them in their environments. SCTV is similar to a superstation, like WGN or TBS. It broadcasts entertainment programming and news to the entire country, which is huge. (Indonesia is the fourth largest country with more than 240 million people spread over 17,000 islands.) SCTV just moved into a brand new facility which is part of a large, very upscale, mall. Again one is struck by the contrasts of designer labels versus ragged clothing and bare feet.



While we are walking around SCTV’s new, state-of-the-art newsroom, Nurul Admin, a producer gives me the news that will definitely be a highlight of this trip. One of the things the Indonesian journalists did while in the US was attend a reception at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. They also saw the professionalism of US journalists and the assistance that groups such as the National Press Club can bring. Nurul was so impressed by this idea of an organization to support journalists that he got together with some other journalists here in Jakarta and organized the National Press Club of Indonesia. The organization just launched this week with a debate among the presidential candidates for Indonesia, and they had more than 70 journalists as well as dozens of dignitaries attend. When he showed me the brochure for the organization, Ohio University and this program are mentioned in his bio as an important element in the development of the organization. I can’t begin to tell you the impact of seeing his work and receiving his new business card embossed with National Press Club of Indonesia. That kind of organization is exactly what this exchange program was all about—helping journalists in this country, which hasn’t had a free press that long, develop professionalism and a set of ethical standards to hold their new government accountable. Our greatest hope was that the 18 journalists who participated would come back with strong bonds among themselves, and spread what they’d learned to other journalists across the country. The National Press Club of Indonesia is the pinnacle of reaching that goal. As Nurul talked about the Club and what he hoped to accomplish with it, I was choked up with pride at what he had done and the inspiration that this exchange program provided to accomplish this major task.

Tomorrow we visit another station in the morning and then head off to Jogyakarta, a much smaller city with historical ruins and significance for Indonesia. I am very excited to see some of what people here call the ‘real’ Indonesia. My two previous trips I never got out of Jakarta because of very tight schedules. So Tim, Lindsey and I will explore what is supposed to be some of the more beautiful Indonesian countryside, together for the first time.

Allie LaForce interview:

Allie LaForce is a freshman at Ohio University, majoring in journalism in the Honors Tutorial College and the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. JSchool director Tom Hodson interviewed LaForce during the first week of spring quarter.

Q: With what local media are you involved and in what capacity?

A: Currently, I am involved with WOUB as well as Ohio Sports Zone. For WOUB, I travel to and report on high school basketball games as well as produce the morning sports cast about once a week. For Ohio Sports Zone, I am a reporter as well. I was very active in the fall and will continue to be active in the spring. Unfortunately, I was not able to report during basketball season due to conflict in scheduling.

Q: How would you rate your opportunities to engage in “sports journalism” as a first-year student at Scripps? Explain.

A: On a ten point scale, ten being the best, I would rate my opportunities as a ten. Professors, students, and alumni have done a wonderful job informing me of all of the opportunities that Scripps has to offer. On top of that, I have been embraced by each local media organization to become an active participant. Also, each organization has proven to be extremely flexible making a valiant effort to work around my busy schedule.

Q: How have you been able to juggle your academic commitments and your sports journalism commitments?

A: Juggling academic commitments with sports journalism commitments has not been difficult for me. There are stressful times however, I keep my priorities straight. I keep in mind my class load, important academic dates, as well as my time dedicated to basketball before making a sports journalism commitment. The sports journalism organizations that I have worked with are well aware that academic commitments come first.

Q: Are you happy that you decided to come to the Scripps School? Are you getting what you were promised? If so, how?

A: I am extremely happy that I decided to come to Scripps. When I came on my visit I asked, “Why should I come to Ohio University instead of Northwestern (my second choice)?” I was told that I would be able to gain hands on experience as a freshman that I could not have at Northwestern. He was completely right. I have already gained a great deal of journalism experience and my freshman year is not even finished!

Q: Are you getting adequate academic and career advice?

A: Absolutely. My academic adviser is available at all times. In my journalism classes, the professors have brought in many speakers to share both academic and career advice. I recently transferred to the Honors Tutorial College. My new academic adviser helps me plan out classes as well as discuss steps toward a successful career on a one-on-one basis. He is available at all times. The Honors Tutorial College has a very close-knit environment. Everyone is willing to share adequate academic and career advice at any time.

Caleb Troop interview:

Caleb Troop is in his first year of study in Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. In this interview he tells JSchool director Tom Hodson about experience he is gaining as a freshman.

Q: With what local media are you involved and in what capacity?

A: I work for several different media companies. On the print side, I have been the sports columnist for The Athens NEWS since I arrived on campus in late August. I stay busy on the radio at WATH-AM and WXTQ-FM in Athens. I co-host a nightly sports talk call-in show weeknights from 6-7 on WATH called “The SportsFan”. Additionally, as the flagship station of Ohio University sports, we have several pre-game shows for every single football game and many of the home basketball games. Our stations also cover local high school sports, so I did countless play-by-play broadcasts of football and basketball in the fall and winter, respectively. On the Ohio Bobcat Sports Network, I did the play-by-play for one OU women’s basketball contest on top of my regular pre-game report duties, and I will contribute as a play-by-play broadcaster for the OU men’s baseball team this spring. Lastly, I write frequently on my “Bobcat Blog” hosted on my website, www.TroopSports.com.

Q: How would you rate your opportunities to engage in “sports journalism” as a first-year student at Scripps? Explain.

A: My first year opportunities have been fantastic at Ohio University and the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. I came to college with a strong amount of experience, in high school, so I felt that the sky was the limit if I worked hard. That said, not once did I think I would be involved to the extent that I am currently. While I have been fortunate with the connections I have made, without a doubt the school and the city that surrounds it allows for boundless opportunities.

Q: How have you been able to juggle your academic commitments and your sports journalism commitments?

A: One’s ability to juggle a course load and extracurricular events is always vital. In large part due to my work ethic and ability to stay organized, I have been able to keep up with my hectic schedule. For me, experience in the field of sports journalism is as important if not more important that classes, so I have not found myself saying ‘No’ to any of the opportunities that have come my way. However, when push comes to shove, I have made sure to keep my academics a priority, and that has showed with my grades through the first two quarters.

Q: Indicate how your sports journalism experience during your first-year will help you with future internships.

A: My experience has already helped my garner a very impressive internship at one of the largest radio stations in the nation. I will be interning at KMOX-AM in St. Louis this summer. The station has been the starting spot for many of the prominent sports casters over the last several decades, including Bob Costas, Joe Buck, and many more.

Q: Are you happy that you decided to come to the Scripps School? Are you getting what you were promised? If so, how?

A: I am extremely pleased I chose to come to the Scripps School over other schools such as Missouri, Syracuse and Northwestern to name a few. My decision was based on one word: experience. I could have waited a year or two to be on air or in a newspaper at other journalism programs, but I was told that I would have the ability to step in and make a difference right away at Ohio. Sure enough, my first quarter I took two journalism core classes and was busy on the radio five or six nights a week.

Q: Are you getting adequate academic and career advice? Explain….

Q: Yes, I am getting an overwhelming amount of advice at Ohio University. The moment I established a relationship with Director Tom Hodson late this summer I knew my professors and bosses would quickly become friends, and they have. Whether it is help in a class or help with my growth as a broadcaster and writer, Hodson and others have been ubiquitous. But maybe the most important and surprising guidance I have received has been away from the books or the microphone. The people at Ohio University care about my augmentation in life, too.

Brian Boesch interview:

Brian entered Ohio University in the Fall of 2007. He's in the Honors Tutorial College with a journalism major. Prof. Tom Hodson, director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, interviewed Brian prior to a basketball game at Ohio University.

Q: With what local media are you involved and in what capacity?

A: In Athens, I am involved with WOUB, the tv/radio station right on campus. Here, I have done morning sports updates and reported at some local high school games, including a regional basketball game and a state semifinal volleyball game. In the winter, I worked with Tom Hodson as the color commentator/statistician for the Ohio women’s basketball team. I worked at all of the home games, and I made three road trips at the end of the season to Akron, Kent State, and Miami.

I also have begun working for WATH, another radio station just a few minutes off of campus. Here, I have filled in for Jimmy Smith as the co-host of The SportsFan, a sports talk show from 6-7 every weeknight. When I was on the show, I worked with Caleb Troop, the other regular co-host. Also, I am working for WATH as a play-by-play commentator for its broadcasts of the Ohio baseball team’s conference games. I have already traveled to Central Michigan, and I will also be heading to Toledo and Akron before the season is over.

In addition to these two stations, I will be contributing regularly to a new sports blogging Web site. The university has approved the website, and we will begin writing on it sometime during spring quarter. My role will be to blog about a few of Ohio’s sports teams, such as the women’s basketball team and the baseball team.

Finally, over the summer, I will be the media relations director of the Southern Ohio Copperheads. My role will be to manage a staff of writers and web designers and to do the play-by-play broadcasts of all of their road games.

Q: How would you rate your opportunities to engage in “sports journalism” as a first-year student at Scripps? Explain.

A: Before coming to Ohio University and to Scripps, I had very little journalism experience. I had been the sports editor of my school newspaper and had covered my high school’s football team, but these jobs did not offer much preparation. Despite my lack of experience, I jumped right in at WOUB. By the end of fall quarter, I was covering a few games around the Athens area. Once winter quarter began, I was cleared for morning radio, and I was continuing to report some games.

As for WATH, I have been working for them since the middle of winter quarter. In that short time, I have already done many broadcasts. I also received my internship with the Copperheads from the general manager of the organization and of WATH, Dave Palmer.

Thus, I would say that my opportunities as a first-year student have exceeded my expectations. I am truly fortunate to have had so many chances so early in my journalism career.

Q: How have you been able to juggle your academic commitments and your sports journalism commitments?

A: As a freshman here at Ohio University, I have had many responsibilities, whether it is classwork, journalism commitments, or my social life. However, if you are a responsible, hard-working person, you can handle the large workload. The key for me is to stay organized. It does not matter how you accomplish this, as long as you do it. Organization is critical as a journalist and as a student. The Scripps school will push you, but as long as you have some push as well, you can handle it.

Q: Indicate how your sports journalism experience during your first-year will help you with future internships.

A: My experience with WOUB and WATH already helped me get an internship with the Copperheads for this summer, so my experience is already helping me. As I move forward in my collegiate career, my experiences should help me get even better internships down the road.

Q: Are you happy that you decided to come to the Scripps School? Are you getting what you were promised? If so, how?

A: I am thrilled with my decision to come to the Scripps School. I have already completed five journalism classes in just two quarters of time here in Athens, and I have engulfed myself in a few media outlets around the area. This school promised me journalism classes as a freshman and opportunities to put my knowledge to work outside of the classroom, and Scripps has definitely delivered. I can confidently say that this school is the place for me.

Q: Are you getting adequate academic and career advice?

A: I have gotten advice from many people, including Dave Palmer (GM of the Copperheads and WATH/WXTQ) and Tom Hodson (the Director of the Scripps School). After all of the success they have had, I know that I am getting great advice every time I ask them a question. My extensive interaction with them, along with all of my journalism teachers, has helped me as I try to find a role within the sports community of Athens. Working with Dave Palmer on a weekly basis and having two classes with Tom Hodson, along with the broadcasts we have done together, have been extremely beneficial to me.

EDITIOR'S NOTE: This interview is part of a series on the freshman experience in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University.

Computer Assisted Reporting offered in spring

Scripps grad student Steve Siff is teaching a section of computer assisted reporting (JOUR479) in the spring quarter.
In this video, Steve talks about the course, and about the kinds of stories students wrote the last time he taught the course.

Catalog copy: "Advanced class designed to introduce fundamentals of computer-assisted reporting, specifically using database analysis. Prerequisites: JOUR 233 & (331 OR 464). Credit Hours: 3 Repeat/Retake Information: May be retaken two times excluding withdrawals, but only last course taken counts."

This video was produced during the first IRE CARR workshop at Ohio University, in December 2006.

Poem presented to Guido Stempel

Prof. Emeritus Ralph Izard of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism presented a framed copy of a poem written on behalf of Prof. Emeritus Guido Stempel.

The presentation was made during the 2007 Homecoming reception.

Waititu prepares to report from Africa

JSchool alumnus (MSJ '07) Ernest Waititu saw a problem with the coverage of news from Africa. He wanted to do something to fix this problem instead of just standing by wondering why African news was not getting coverage in U.S. media.

Waititu talks about his trip in this video. Check out his Web site: afrikanews.org.

Waititu was doing research on under-covered news for his master's project. His research stemmed from his early days in the U.S. (2003) when he noticed how hard it was to get international news, especially from Africa. He didn’t understand why international media organizations were not picking up events happening in Africa.

Waititu proposed establishing Afrikanews.org to provide more coverage of otherwise under-covered news from Africa. Waititu took matters into his own hands and created Afrikanews.org as part of his masters program at Scripps.

“Afrikanews.org is primarily dedicated to coverage of under-covered news from Africa. We aggregate content from different sites that have a considerable amount of news from Africa,” Ernest said. “Also, we work with journalists in and out of the continent to provide content in the way of news and/or opinion.”

The site highlights stories every month from Africa. The site utilizes RSS to get the most recent news from Africa. According to the site, it is “reaching out to common people on the streets and providing them with an avenue from which their opinion and news can be accessed. It also aims to promote blogging in cities and towns around Africa.

"More bloggers on the continent will ensure a steady flow of information on the site and boost the coverage of Africa." Lydia Gutierrez

Working at the Goverment Channel

As a Senior at Ohio University I report and anchor for The Government Channel in Athens, Ohio, watch the video to see what my responsibilities are and what the station has to offer. Lynn Walsh

Walsh shows us around the Government Channel

Bloomberg Training

One of my journalism professors offered extra credit for attending the Bloomberg terminal training in the Lasher Learning Center in Scripps. As a senior I had received e-mails about the terminal before, but I never thought it would interest me much. I was wrong.

The Bloomberg trainer started by listing the multiple ways journalists and professionals worldwide use the terminal. With just a few keystrokes we accessed profiles of world leaders, live AP wire feed, stock reports, sporting news, weather forecasts and more. Interested in how much Bill Gates makes annually? Looking for a contact person at General Motors to interview for a story about the strike? Want to know how much gas is going to cost you tomorrow? With Bloomberg, this information is easily accessible.

The terminal is intimidating. When I first saw the two screens, each full of color-coded buttons and links, I was overwhelmed. Fortunately for rookies like me, Bloomberg has 24-hour assistance. Just click the ‘help’ button twice and instant message with a Bloomberg expert who will help you locate the information you need.

The job listing section really excited me. I have no doubt that as I begin the hunt for my future career, Bloomberg will be one of the first tools I utilize to search for possible employers.

After the 30-minute training session, I had a new perspective on Bloomberg. What I thought was just another search engine turned out to be one of the coolest, most comprehensive means for information gathering I’ve ever used. Now I only wish I had discovered it sooner! Chris Glaser

Smith Schuneman, Ph.D.

Interview with Smith Schuneman conducted by Kirsten Brownrigg

Bob Woodward's visit to Ohio University

After weeks of anticipation, Ohio University students and faculty welcomed journalism giant Bob Woodward to the Athens campus on Wednesday. Students crammed the aisles of Scripps lecture hall to solicit interviewing advice from the Washington Post assistant managing editor.

Faculty and residents lined up for forty minutes with one or several of his eleven books in tow, hoping for a signature and a handshake from the man who broke the Watergate scandal.
Bob Woodward signs copies of State of Denial following a talk with journalism students at Ohio University. [see more videos below]

And at the end of the day, people filled every seat in Templeton Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium to hear Woodward speak about American politics and the state of journalism today.

“When you wake up in the morning, what is the first thing you worry about?” Woodward addressed a room of mostly journalism students and faculty, just before the lecture. “I’ll tell you what I wake up worrying about: the secrecy of government. I’m concerned about the difference between what a person says he is and what he really is.”

Journalists are charged with calling the public’s attention to that difference, he explained.

“We need to shine a light when democracy is dying in the dark,” Woodward said.

Those words struck a chord with senior Matt Zapotosky, editor-in-chief of the student newspaper The Post.

“I think a lot of what he spoke about is what we try to do at The Post,” Zapotosky said. “I’m glad someone was down here spreading the message that shining the light on dark areas is a good idea. I’ve been trying to spread that message, but I think that coming from Bob Woodward, people will really listen.”

Woodward described to students the information he stumbled upon one summer while working as a janitor for his father’s law firm in Wheaton, Ill. While rifling through papers on his father’s desk, Woodward said he discovered some of the darker secrets of his classmate’s families.

“If you think your janitor doesn’t know exactly what you’re doing, you’re wrong,” he said. “No one knows more about what’s going on than the janitor -- the janitor, and the taxi cab driver.”

In part, his pursuit of journalism and savvy researching techniques stemmed from that point, he said.

But journalism today has been undermined by impatience and speed, Woodward told the audience at MemAud.

“During Watergate, we typed on things called typewriters. They’re in museums, now,” he said. “We could work on a story for two weeks. Nowadays, if it looks like you have even an incremental lead, they want to know if you can have it on the Web by 10 a.m.”

Woodward spoke at OU’s campus as part of the university’s Kennedy Lecture Series. In years previous, the lecture’s pre-ceremony reception was designed as a sit-down dinner where only those seated at the guest lecturer’s table could speak with him or her. OU President Roderick McDavis decided to change that, this year.

“I thought, get rid of the dinner altogether, bring all the students into one room with him and have a Q-and-A,” McDavis said. “It’s so much better this way, having a give-and-take between the professional and a select number of students pursuing the same profession.”

The atmosphere made the Pulitzer Prize winner incredibly accessible, said junior broadcast news major Jessica Demczar, who numbered among those chosen to attend.

“I really did feel like it was more intimate,” Demczar said. “I actually got to ask him my own personal question and I felt as if he was just talking to me one-on-one when he answered.”

Tom Hodson, director of the journalism school, also presented Woodward with the Carr Van Anda Award at the lecture.

“Bob Schieffer [of CBS] has called Bob Woodward the best reporter of our time, maybe the best reporter of all time,” Hodson said. “We at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism would have to agree.” Kirsten Brownrigg

Woodward speaks with students in Mark Tatge's Journalism Law (JOUR411) course.


Woodward visits with Terry Anderson following Woodward's visit with the media law students.

Studying magazine journalism at OU

As a magazine journalism student at the Scripps School, I was aware that there were several options for gaining outstanding journalism experience in Scripps and around campus, and was quick to join POISEfashion magazine (www.poisefashion.com) in order to begin to hone my skills as a magazine writer. Other magazine journalism students I know have had incredibly rewarding experiences in other publications such as speakeasymag.com, The Post, Sphere, as well as through organizations like the Society of Professional Journalists and Scripps Magazine Society.

After I interned at a regional magazine in the Pittsburgh area, I felt that I had made an important step. Like most internships of its kind, mine included fact-checking, some scheduling, interviewing, and contributing to several of the monthly departments - truly a fantastic experience and one I won't forget soon. But, once it was all over, I began to set my sights on something grander. What about the BIG magazine internships? With all the amazing connections available to our journalism students, how does one begin to prepare for this experience and to ultimately secure one of these highly coveted positions?

That's when I found Jen Ator, magazine journalism student and former ASME intern. Here she shares with us some of her secrets for landing, and making the most of, an outstanding internship.

"This summer I was an ASME intern in New York City. For those of you not familiar with ASME (American Society of Magazine Editors), it’s an internship program available only during your junior year. Ask your advisor if you’re interested in finding out more.

I was placed at Guideposts magazine, where I did everything from fact checking, to attending editorial and art concept meetings, pitching stories, and yes, even writing! I also worked with their sister magazine, Positive Thinking, helping with their website and pitching story ideas. ASME also held weekly luncheons everywhere from Newsweek to Money to Self, where I got to meet the likes of Roberta Myers (Editor in Chief of Elle), Sunny Sea Gold (Health Editor of Glamour), and Brandon Holly (Editor in Chief of the late-Jane)—just to name a few.

I came out of New York with a huge wealth of new knowledge, a ton of new contacts and networks, and even two freelancing contracts! My advice is to know what you want and be willing to do the work to get it. Snagging an internship takes time and effort, and it starts long before you send in your application.

Build a foundation of good clips that showcase your writing ability (don’t include anything but your best work! If you’re not 100% proud of it, it will probably fail to impress). Get your resume and cover letter in perfect condition, send it in early, and keep following-up afterward. If you don’t, you’ll just be a piece of paper sitting on their desk. It’s a tough and competitive industry, but if you’re willing to do the work, it will eventually pay off. Best of luck!"

In addition to discovering the ins and outs of internship applying, I wanted to begin to discover what it is that would make me the most marketable to a potential employer. This year's E.W. Scripps Visiting Professor, Mark Tatge, shared with me some of his thoughts what j-school students should be focusing on during their time at Scripps.Tatge comes to us from seven years at Forbes Magazine's Midwest Bureau where he specializes in investigative, enterprise stories on issues that are often overlooked by major media. His job there includes a great deal of creativity, research, and stamina as Forbes attempts to satisfy a sophisticated readership of nearly 1 million. Previously, he worked as a Staff Writer at the Wall Street Journal, and as a Reporter and Staff Writer for The Plain Dealer, The Dallas Morning News, and The Denver Post.

According to Tatge, journalists today must be business savvy. The modern journalist should also be specialized and equipped with analytical skills. It is important, notes Tatge, that a journalist is able to go beyond simply collecting information - he or she must know what it means. While our generation of journalists is being better prepared than in the past, it will still be our responsibility to ensure that we fill this often underemphasized hole in our journalism knowledge base. So, unlike some journalism students think, overcoming the math phobia that most of us have can truly make a difference in our future prospects - so much so, says Tatge, that it could help ensure that our writing commands premium prices from employers.

So how do we get this education? First of all, make sure to stop by Mark Tatge's office during his time here. He has a wealth of knowledge and is committed to utilizing his time here to help students focus on the analytical/business knowledge necessary for the field. During his time at Scripps he hopes to assist in this process by writing curriculum and teaching classes pertaining to this important topic. He hopes that we as students will become aware of the fact that these are the skills needed to be a top journalist - and we need to start acquiring them now. Check out his future classes and monitor ways in which the school is growing over the next few years in terms of more concentration in business - take advantage of these opportunities as they are made available!

As I sat in Tatge's office with visions of myself attaining the skills necessary to analyze numbers dancing in my head, I thought it was about time to ask the million dollar question: So what if, after making the most of the resources available to me while at Scripps, I want to work at Forbes or another business magazine? Tatge says they are great places to work (and despite a former fear of math, I believe him). Make sure to become web savvy as this is an important trend in the business magazine niche. A business journalist requires understanding segments, speculating, analysis, and a lot of experience and analytical skills.

POCO Certificate – the Perfect Supplement to Journalism

I knew for sure that I wanted to be a broadcast journalist during my junior year of high school. However, I faced a dilemma: I loved watching the news, relaying the news to my friends, and analyzing the news with my dad, but I hated the thought of having to interview some woman who just found her 3-year-old daughter’s lifeless body behind a trash can. I couldn’t imagine spending my life interviewing hurting people during the worst time in their lives, all to “get a story.”

But I also couldn’t imagine myself as anything other than a journalist. And, to have some seasoned journalists tell it, there is no other choice but to report on all that is gory.

I first became interested in politics, particularly the presidential elections, in 2000. The media extensively covered George W. Bush and Al Gore’s campaigns, and I was intrigued. In 2004, I turned eighteen, just in time to vote in the 2004 presidential election. I stood in line at the polls for two hours that day, well-versed on the candidates (having followed the entire race) and ready to cast an educated vote. I stayed up in front of the television until about 11:30pm that night waiting for the results of the election to be aired. I think it was around that time as I flipped through Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC and listened to everyone’s opinions of the candidates, analysis of the difference between the candidates, and predictions of the outcome that I decided what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a political analyst.

With that in mind, when I was accepted into the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, I decided to major in Broadcast and minor in Political Science. I searched the course catalog for the classes I needed to in order to graduate in four years as an aspiring political journalist. That is when I stumbled upon a hidden jewel: the Political Communication certificate. Why have I never heard of this? I wondered. I gathered all of the information I could about the certificate.

The certificate is a collaboration between the Scripps College of Communication and the College of Arts & Science’s Political Science department. As the website states, “Political Communication encompasses the interactions of political figures, political issues, the media, and the public.” The certificate is open to all undergraduates in any program at the university. And, I definitely recommend the Political Communication certificate to people who are political junkies like I am and aspiring to be political journalists or even lobbyists. It is a great supplement to any degree, but especially journalism.

Fall quarter of sophomore year, I took the introductory course POCO 201. To say the least, I learned a lot. Anne Gordy was my professor and she was great. The class was everything I expected it to be. We had many interactive class discussions, the lectures were informative, and we watched different political documentaries.

There is no way of knowing exactly where life will take me, but with my journalism degree coupled with a Political Communication certificate, I know I will be totally prepared. Alissa Griffith

Get yourself online

From the first day you walk into Scripps Hall and in most days thereafter, somebody’s going to tell you “online is everywhere.” I’m here to tell you they’re right. After I made a purchase at The Front Room, a hub of student traffic housed on Baker Center’s fourth floor, I retreated to The Post newsroom to enjoy my Tazo peach iced tea over some reading.

I’m the managing editor at The Post, the independent student-run newspaper, where I started more than two years ago as a copy editor. The job comes with long hours, big-time responsibility, a host of good experience and a desk.

When I cracked open my Tazo, the satisfying pop reminded me of the tradition established on the tea’s cap – tea leaf wisdom. I was, however, surprised to find that my daily wisdom had been replaced by a new message.

“Visit tazo.com for your complimentary tea leaf reading.”

When the Internet has found its way to the bottom of my tea cap, I need no more proof that “online is everywhere.”

That phrase is the reason media on campus is making a clear push to the Internet. In 2005, Speakeasy, a “student-produced alternative Web zine,” launched as one of Athens’ first online-only publications. Even at The Post, a newspaper that publishes five days a week, we have re-launched our Web site to accommodate multimedia elements.

The truth is that your time at Ohio University is the time to learn, to experiment and to make yourself more marketable as a future journalist. Don’t think of yourself as a reporter or an editor or a multimedia guru or a columnist – you are working to become a journalist in a job market that demands you are all of the above.

And you will not get all of that in the classroom.

You will learn a lot in Scripps Hall, but you need more than an A in Precision Language to get an internship or job. You need the experience of working a conference room, of writing a story on deadline, of operating a camera, digital voice recorder and taking notes at the same time.

Student media is more than willing to give you those opportunities, too, even if you don’t know which way is up on a Mac or which five states aren’t abbreviated in AP style.

At The Post, interested students begin in a three to four week orientation program called General Assignment. At GA, future Posties will learn the bare bones basics of working at The Post, whether you’re interested in reporting, copy editing, designing, working on the Web team or any other editorial department.

The Post’s Web team is new and inviting new ideas. For the first time, The Post’s Web site supports multimedia such as slideshows, video and podcasting, and editors are willing to teach new journalists to use the equipment and software.

The story isn’t much different at Speakeasy.

Susannah Elliott, Speakeasy’s managing editor, said her staff is willing to teach newbies their way around a camcorder to produce content for their growing multimedia staff.

The news industry is in a world of hurt right now, and the best we can do as students is make ourselves the most marketable candidate for a job. Students who get the multimedia experience will not be those who narrowly define themselves as reporter or editor or videographer, but rather those who understand the difference between those titles and what it means to be a journalist. Rick Rouan

News-Ed... "print journalism"

By the time I entered my first year at Ohio University, I'd known for half a decade that I wanted a full-time, long-term career in journalism, probably in print. I harbored an unfortunately optimistic outlook on the future of the industry because I knew little about its true state, but I knew that I wanted to dive in headfirst.

So I did. I joined – or some might say I sold my soul to -- The Post, the independent, student-run daily newspaper on campus. There are a handful of us still around the newsroom that have lasted all four years, and that number is small because the time commitment can be incredibly demanding if you let it. If you do, you can become blissfully submerged in small-town politics and city coverage, collegiate athletics or the culture and operation of the university. If you don't, then you're one of those folks who understand that a higher being invented the concept of "stringing" for a reason. That said, putting your soul and your time into something can yield great rewards. I probably haven't slept more than five or six hours a weeknight for three years, but I'm happy to say that the road from The Post has led to three internships, the most recent of which was across the country with a major newspaper.

As a news-editorial student, I can speak to the benefits of starting out at The Post because it's what I know, but to be fair, there are other print publications in Athens that are happy to have extra student hands on deck. The most widely circulated are the daily Athens Messenger and the twice-weekly Athens News.

The Messenger draws interns through classes at Scripps, but the editors sometimes use students as volunteer writers or paid stringers, too, Managing Editor Steve Robb tells me. "Basically we just see what they can do,” he said. “If they can demonstrate to us that they can write, we'll use them." The down side: To get to the office, you probably need a car.

News Campus Editor Bryant Greening said that although his staff is pretty full right now, the paper always has an eye out for up-and-coming writers with a flair for feature writing and delving into issues. Staffers there cover both the city and campus aspects of stories and are paid per article, he said.

The staffing, style, content and scheduling varies among each of the aforementioned papers, and different aspects appeal to different students. The common thread is that they provide news-editorial students with a venue to start getting clips and building experience, and that, in my opinion, is definitely worth losing a few hours of sleep. Kantele Franko

Studying PR in the JSchool

As a freshman, I was not completely positive that I was in the correct sequence. I knew I would do well in public relations, but I didn’t truly understand every aspect of the field. The only examples of public relations that I had were the fabulous life of Samantha Jones on “Sex and the City” and the stressful world of Press Secretary C.J. Cregg on “The West Wing.” I understood that these were extremes, and I understood that most public relations work was somewhere in the middle.

Joining the local chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America helped me clearly identify that middle area. PRSSA is a fantastic opportunity for PR students at Scripps. PRSSA brings in speakers every week from the field of public relations. These speakers are usually active members of Public Relations Society of America, and often Scripps alumni. I have heard from speakers in many different areas of public relations including government relations, public relations firms, not-for-profit public relations as well as corporate public relations. PRSSA is also fantastic for networking; not only within the group where you are directly connecting with future members of the field, but also networking with the speakers directly, all of whom are more than willing to answer questions or exchange E-mails. PRSSA offers many more opportunities—for more information visit their website: ohiou.edu/~prssa.

Another stress of freshman year unfortunately does not go away after freshman year: internships and public relations experience. There are literally dozens of public relations opportunities. Everyone wants publicity, so finding a place to gain experience only requires a bit of creativity. For summer internships, working for a huge PR firm in New York City, is not the only option; you can stay local. Not-for-profits are always looking for help and you are guaranteed a great learning opportunity. Another option for internships include PACE positions during the school year. PACE stands for Program to Aid Career Exploration, and offers jobs on campus as part of the financial aid program. Public relations positions within PACE are usually handling publicity for different offices or departments on campus. Student organizations often have a public relations position that is open to PR students as well. Sally Neidhard

My introduction to the journalism major is certainly not unique—like many freshmen, I chose a sequence at random and then spent my first year searching for the best fit. The variety of tasks associated with public relations, along with the opportunities available for work in just about any industry, finally swayed me. For those who are considering the public relations sequence, there are a number of ways to get involved. You might not be able to take the introductory PR class until sophomore year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get hands-on practical experience and a ton of practical experience—you just have to know where to look.

Sally mentioned joining the Scripps chapter of PRSSA. It’s a great place to meet people in your sequence, find mentors, learn about different career options, and start networking. There are a few opportunities to participate in public relations projects with PRSSA, but if it’s intensive PR experience you are looking to gain, there is no better way (in my opinion) than joining ImPRessions. It is a student-run public relations firm that has won national awards, and it is organized just like a “real” PR firm. Members are split into teams and work for clients that include local businesses, non-profits and even some national campaigns. Along with getting clips and meeting other PR students (though the firm welcomes ALL majors), you get the opportunity to learn about everything from writing public service announcements to developing full public relations plans. The executive board even holds a “PR for Dummies” workshop each year to teach even complete PR novices the basics.

Another, often overlooked way to find out if PR is right for you is to meet some of the faculty. A great thing about Scripps faculty is that many of them have years or even decades of real-world experience. This is certainly true with the PR faculty. Professors Bojinka Bishop and Patricia Cambridge are joined this year by Michelle Honald, who has formerly taught at the University of Oregon and has also worked in a PR firm, government PR, corporate communications and for a non-profit agency. All three of these professors have a wealth of knowledge to share, and taking the time to get to know them is one more valuable resource at your disposal. Reanna Stoinoff

Advertising -- my life

Most of us channel surf and groan when commercials interrupt our viewing pleasures, but as a junior advertising major I welcome advertisements (especially the latest Clearasil “Caution: May Cause Confidence” campaign – simply brilliant).

Unfortunately for my roommate, I feel the need to analyze every advertisement that comes my way. The other night I kept her up to watch some of the newest ads on youtube, but after about 20 minutes I began to sense that she was not as enthralled as I was.

Fortunately for me, ad club started this week in Scripps 111. So, Wednesday night I was able to give my roommate a break and talk about commercials to people who understand.

Now formally known as Ohio University’s Advertising Association (OUAA), ad club is off to a promising start for fall quarter. Complete with catchy slogans and free “so rad it’s sad” magnets (yes the “ad” in those two words is bolded, plus hey if there is something free and you’re in college you should show up), this club offers imaginative and original ideas for this brand obsessed world we live in.

Obviously you don’t have to be an advertising major to appreciate this kind of innovative experience. OUAA is a great opportunity for those interested in a variety of majors. There were probably around 65 people in attendance (I am just guessing here, I am in journalism because math was never my strong point), and there were a variety of majors. Marketing, graphic design and business, just to name a few. So whatever your major is it doesn’t hurt to be around some fun and creative people. It’s a great way to make new friends, which also means more connections. And, BONUS! You can put this activity on your resume.

And what would club membership be without perks? New York City trip at a discounted price! OUAA is planning its annual trip to The Big Apple for the advertising conference in October, which is another great opportunity to see some ingenious creativity. Not to mention I can score some valuable business cards of executives in the business for future internships and jobs. And I may just have to throw in a little shopping on the side as well. After all, where better to get some of those brands that have mastered the art of advertising than NYC?

OUAA also participates in the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC). This is a chance to participate in a real campaign for a real company’s brand. Last year ad club built a campaign for Coca-Cola and received third place in the district. The company this year has yet to be revealed, but this competition is always a great way to get hands on experience by developing an advertising and marketing campaign to tell future employers about.

Ad club isn’t all fun and games though... there are fund raisers, community service projects and socials. Oh wait, those are fun. So basically, anything you do with this club is bound to be a good time. OUAA also hosts speakers from top name agencies who are serious about the branding business. They come to meetings to give advice, show examples, and get to know everyone. Once again there are great networking opportunities here.

So, if you want to meet speakers with great advice for resumes, internships and inspiring advertising, hit OUAA up on Wednesday nights in Scripps 111 at 6 p.m.
Look for the posters around Scripps, or visit the newly designed website at OUAdAssociation.org. Remember, you’ll get to meet fun people who are obsessed with creating slogans for the brands we all wear, consume and love. And, where else can you watch the Super Bowl commercials for research? So, if you’re looking for something to satisfy your creative urges “ad yourself” to the most imaginative club at Ohio University. Katelyn Mooney (km347105@ohio.edu)