Photo Essay [Philadelphia Journalism]

Granted that I won’t be having inside access until I’ve earned a Bachelor’s degrees, one should still pay closer attention the buildings that we pass en-route to another location. From Benjamin Franklin to Delaware Valley syndicated television programs, from radio to internet, from town criers to podcasts – Philadelphia has had an amazing impact on the world of journalism. It’s easy to views these conglomerates as the end all be all – of journalism. However, hundreds of smaller media outlets exist. I have chosen to focus on these as being the impetus for the questioning South Jersey college student. To have all of these outlets in close proximity of us – makes the bottled potential that we all have even more valuable. In a struggling industry of newspaper, Philadelphia still hasn’t given up hope. You shouldn’t either.

[Benjamin Franklin photo credits - http://rhapsodyinbooks.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/benjaminfranklin-big.jpg]

Where do I go?

Courtesy of http://www.sjdogwatch.com

Leaving the class of 2006, to enter the class of 2010; I had the dream of becoming a well-known journalist, in a well known organization, publication, or highly read blog. However, the limitations of those invisible lines that the separation of states soon became apparent. Philadelphia and New York City became more of a dream and less of a reality of my future. I’m sure I’m not the only one who asks – where am I going?  Is my adviser just telling me to take classes that are required because they inform me on what I’m doing – will the actually get me job I want. How far should I go – should I chase my master’s degree down, what minor will match with a journalism major? Is there even a Doctorate in Journalism is it worth spending all that time in college? Will I  hit a strike of luck and become syndicated for something simple? Will I be a starving artist so to speak? More than anything where do I go? Is this a journey that has no clear leader to pave the way? As a student who has pondered these question over the past 4 years. I hope not only to be wondering soul, but a resource for my colleagues, and future college students who feel lost in the confusing land of words and locations.

Hopefully, this blog will have less of us looking like this when we graduate.

Photo Courtesy of: http://www.eduinreview.com/blog/tag/college-advice/

The Social Revolution that is Twitter.

Has opened boundless doors for many college students; as a matter of fact, a writer for the Whit, Emily Kostic took the leap of faith in the whirlpool that is twitter, and has been swimming laps and has been quite the example of what can happen when a South Jersey student utilizes the social network for more than telling us what she had for breakfast. She interviewed via twitter one college student who able to freelance because of her twitter networking.

“Lauren Rabiano, a junior journalism major at California Polytechnic State University goes by “laurenmitchell” on Twitter. She recounted how through the Web site, she met Steve Enders, a former Yahoo! News employee with a start-up in San Francisco called Tonic News. Enders, whose Twitter alias is “senders,” asked her if she could write a guest column about women and sustainability for their site.

“I was able to freelance because of a tweet,” Rabiano said.

http://www.thewhitonline.com/?p=10223

[Story courtesy of The Whit, and Features Editor Emily Kostic, April 15 2009]

Twitter might be a jump into the past because the only thing you see is the option to see tweets, look up tweets, favorite tweets, see who replied or Re-Tweeted your statement, and etc.

It might be the best thing you’ve done in your life. It might be most boring social networking site you’ve been on, but you’d be surprised how many editors are gaining freelancers and employees via twitter.

In other words, just because it’s isn’t tangible, and it’s virtual doesn’t mean it can help your journalism career, as a matter of fact -

Joey Baker, a communications photography and political science student studying at Syracuse University who goes by “joeybaker,” echoed Rabiano’s sentiments.

“There is nowhere but Twitter where I have instant, unparalleled access to the top minds in my industry,” Baker said.

Can’t top that. In fact the Staff Writer was able to write her entire story by searching for journalism students.