How many of us actually read our own publication, watch our own program, or listen to ourselves on the radio?
Not as many as one would expect.
At my last job, every 6 months or so an editor would remind us to read the newspaper. It’s painfully obvious if someone hasn’t been reading it – they won’t know which stories get second-day heads, or that we’ve been running a contest promo for the last five days, or a myriad of other things that one can learn by staying updated on what the company is doing.
Keeping up with daily publicatons (shows, etc) can be challenging, especially if it’s a large area where there’s a lot going on. But knowing what your colleagues are doing is priceless, and will pay off when editors realize you know your stuff.
And you don’t have to read every word of every piece. A quick morning skimming of hot topics, even just reading heads and decks, will give you an update on the city and information about your colleagues. You’ll know who’s putting in more stories, and what the well-written stories look like.
Also, you’ll learn the style of other employees and know when they’ve done something great so you can compliment them (a little deserved ego-boost never hurts). And if you’re just starting out you can learn from the headlines or articles you’re reading to improve your own work.
So never underestimate doing your own daily research. This little act can really pay off and is impressive, because most people forget to keep up with their own company’s work.

New Jersey Pro President (and Generation J Committee Chairwoman) Michelle Maskaly recently reminded SPJ members that Mentor Match-Up program helps to promote great journalism by introducing journalists with varied backgrounds and experience levels.
Need some guidance? Not sure if you should stay or go? Want to help an aspiring journalist get a start?
Please consider becoming a part of the program. Also remember that you can both sign up for an older mentor and as a mentor yourself to younger journalists.

Sorry for the late update guys. I’m finally adjusted back into a normal life, where I’m talking about inch counts and second-degree murders, rather than ball-step changes and “jazz hands.”

Every year, the Hawaii SPJ chapter hosts the Gridiron, a comedy musical in which we rip off known songs and change the lyrics to fit the past year’s top news stories. Then we get outstanding choreographers to teach a bunch of notebook gazing, microphone grasping J-geeks to do things like a chasse.

Both nights were sold out, and the proceeds go toward funding the chapter’s annual summer internships at all media outlets (which include two major newspapers and four TV stations). In September, we won the SPJ Small Chapter award for excellence in campus relations and scholarship activity, thanks to the Gridiron show. Anyway enough talking, here are some pics:

Circle of Lies: Obvious parody of the Lion King broadway show, which is showing here in Hawaii. Left is Honolulu Advertiser reporter Loren Moreno, and on the right is Cathy Foy, local actress and a former Miss Hawaii. The theme of the show was Randomly Tested, and that’s a large cup of “No.1″ Cathy is hoisting up.

Rail Rhapsody: Based off of Bohemian Rhapsody, this one tells the tale of the fight between the Honolulu city council and Mayor Mufi Hannemann (played by ABC weatherman Ben Gutierrez on stilts). You’ll later see why we needed the stilts.

Barry O. Superstar: Covering the nationwide Obamarama, to the tune of Jesus Christ Superstar.

I hope I get it: Last year veteran broadcaster Dane Cooke, who played our governor Linda Lingle, moved to the mainland, so this number is how the entire cast is trying out for the now vacant part. All the men dressed in drag and wigs. Last year, Cooke, as Lingle, stripped down to a stars-and-stripes spandex one-piece to the tune of the Pussycat Dolls’ “Doncha.”

Hard Knock Life: About how our poor University of Hawaii football team had no soap in their showers

Here’s me in the greenroom, as one of the governors. I received reactions going from complete silence to “You make one ugly woman.” I took all of them as compliments. Anyway ponder why I’m single and let’s move on.

Da Mayor with Ben: NOW you see why we needed the stilts.

For more photos or information, visit www.hawaiispj.org, or search for Gridiron on Myspace.com! All photos here are credited to Bruce Asato, except for the last two, which are taken from among more than 2,000 shots in various personal cameras.

Just wanted to let you all know that my beat is changing at the Register. I was covering Irvine for both the Register’s Irvine World News community paper and the Register. Starting today, I’ll be working out of the Santa Ana bureau for five months covering technology while the current reporter is on maternity leave. My code name on that blog is “iGirl” – named after I waited 26 hours in line for the iPhone, blogging about it for the Register. After, people called me “iPhone Girl” and then I just shortened it for the blog. If you want, check out the blog I’ll be running for the next five months.

And….now that I’m talking about blogs, any one out there want to join this blog? Please e-mail me if you would like to sign up.