The first-ever 24-hour news network in the industry and I share a few traits. Both of us were born in 1980. Both of us were born and raised in Atlanta. And both of us completely lose it whenever snow falls for more than 20 minutes in and around town.
We also both love journalism … right? I do, though I struggle with its state in the realm of public discourse from time to time. And I’ve been thinking for a while now that CNN has been struggling with it to the point of desperation. It tried to stretch itself so thin to meet the supposed desires of an audience more and more inundated with hyperbolic, personality-driven commentary, incessant social media fandom, and outlandish publicity stunts – largely thanks to the neighborhood kids that eventually hit their growth spurts to become CNN’s bullies: MSNBC and FOX News.
Ratings for the network have been reported to be at their lowest point since before the Persian Gulf War in the early 1990s, an event that introduced the era when CNN set new standards for reporting and made 24-hour news coverage essential to the viewing public. Earlier this month, political correspondent turned-anchor John King had to see his show cancelled and replaced by an extended hour of Wolf Blitzer’s “Situation Room,” complete with the beard that’s as monotone as his voice. For several years before then, the network went through a cycle of prime time shows that all ultimately failed until the network settled on pulling the quasi-network brand Anderson Cooper back to the slot.
But it was the June 28 decision by the Supreme Court regarding the Affordable Health Care Act that the deer that is CNN jumped in front of the oncoming truck. For several minutes as the decision was being read, CNN wrongly reported that the law known as “Obamacare” had been overturned. Granted, FOX News also blew it by delivering the wrong outcome of the SCOTUS decision, but they’re regularly doing things like that – to the point that this May 2012 survey shows that viewers who watch FOX News know less about current events than people who don’t watch TV news at all. And yet, FOX News remains No. 1 in cable news ratings. (more…)
A few weeks ago I had an opportunity to attend SPJ’s Reporters Institute held at the famed Poynter Institute for Media Studies in beautiful St. Petersburg, FL. The program gathers a group of thirty journalists from various mediums to train in a wide range of topics covering social media, SEO, public documents, mobile reporting, etc. What makes this program unique is that all the participants are currently within their first few years of their careers, either at their first or sometimes second job after college.
Through the course of three days, participants gain the skills to further develop as journalists.
Honestly, I was a bit apprehensive about applying. I didn’t know what to expect and what could I possibly learn that I didn’t know already. However, with the a few encouraging words from fellow Gen J committee members and R.I. alum, Lynn Walsh and Victoria Reitano I soon found myself on a jet plane to St. Pete that I will never forget. It has become one of the best experiences that I am thankful to be a part of. I have gain many skills that I can’t wait to put into practice along with meeting a group of amazing young journalists. It was a great feeling to know that I am not alone when it comes to making sense of this big, crazy, and sometimes mixed up “real world”. The program itself inspired me to continuing to pursue journalism and to seek the truth and report it, minimize harm, to act independent and to be accountable as a journalist.
To read a thread of tweets from our program on Twitter, use #RI.
View my slideshow of pictures below and check out those take by Jeff Cutler by clicking here.
To view my video recaps check out Gen J’s Facebook page and like us: https://www.facebook.com/SPJGenJ.
Claudia Amezcua is a freelance multi-plaform reporter and production assistant based inf Los Angeles, CA. She is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelors in Communications, and is currently pursuing an Associates Degree in On-Air Radio Broadcasting from Mt. San Antonio College. Ms. Amezcua’s work experience includes anchor, reporter, and DJ at 90.1 KSAK in Walnut, CA, and as a freelance production and library assistant for CNN. You can follow Claudia on twitter by @ClaudiaAmezcua, or visit claudiaamezcua.com.
While we may not be rocking in treehouses, we’re certainly rocking the Internet. Tweets come and go all day long, but have you ever stopped to think about what exactly YOU should be tweeting?
My social media strategy for my personal brand is simple: don’t share it unless you would show it to your grandma (which, in my case, pushes some boundaries, but I’m ok with that); share some personal tidbits; be aware of your followers and YOUR message.
I’ve been told I’m crazy, stupid and foolish for this strategy, but guess what – MediaBistro just vindicated the heck out of it! (Insert crazy touchdown dance here).
In this recent MediaJobsDaily article, the author wonders if “we’ve been doing Facebook wrong our whole careers,” to which I say — if you’re not sharing personal details, then YES, yes you have! (more…)
The past four weeks of my life have been a whirlwind thanks to work. Following 2 1/2 years at the NBC affiliate in Austin, Texas, I am now reporting at WFTS in Tampa. These broadcast moves are not easy and your entire life ends up in boxes that you are lugging across multiple states. You can trace my steps from Chicago, to Georgia, then to Texas and now to Florida–I am tired just thinking of all the miles I have trekked!
Transitioning between jobs is never easy. You pretty much end on-air in one market and show up on-air in another market. If you are lucky, you are heading to somewhere you are somewhat familiar with. Believe me, I am thanking my parents endlessly for taking me to South Florida multiple times a year growing up. If you are headed into the unknown, it is like tackling a bear. You must learn the local lingo, what matters, who the go to people are, etc. (Where is the easy button?)
But, there is a way to go about things when closing one door and opening another. Even though I was turning packages and going live while trying to cram in packing, I still found the time to hand write more than 30 thank you notes to people who helped me at KXAN. By the end of the night, my hand felt like it was going to fall off and my tongue was numb from licking envelope glue. I didn’t let anyone know what I was up to and on the sly dropped them in their mailboxes. I tried to reflect on a time we shared, how they helped me or just how meeting them added to my life.
Although I felt ready to take that next step in my career, walking out of the newsroom was bittersweet. Looking at my colleagues made me realize that some had become family members, others frenemies and others mentors. Our business is small and the likelihood is that you will run into a few people again. But, the group we had will likely never be together again. (more…)
