Do Minority Journalist Face Challenges with Social Media?

Well so far this summer has been all about work trying to make ends meet I feel that that my journalism readings and writings have been on the back-burner. Earlier today between my double shift at Ruby Tuesday's I found an article dealing with on Poynter addressing the question whether or not minoirty journalist face additional challenges when using social media. http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=58&aid=162353.

School world plus real world equals life

School at the University of Missouri had commencement May 16, then summer school for journalism students began Monday May 18th! Well the start of an intesnse but, meaningful senior year is now underway and I have exactly one year to soak in all the knowledge possible from this great Journalism School.

I began Jen Reeves, Advanced Internet Applications for Radio and TV class last Monday. This is a very popular class at MIZZOU because it helps advance students to the new media world of using social networking as a tool for journalism as well as connecting with the community. This includes blogging, Twitter, Facebook, KOMU.com and so much more in order for use to reach as many people as possible. We participate in weekly shifts called "Dot-COM Shifts" for KOMU-8's website. KOMU is an NBC Affiliate in mid-Missouri is experimenting with new ways to connect with its community using webcasts, and social networking . In this class we learn how to maintain the site, keep stories posted, add new information and stay engaged with the news. The main priority of this class is to expand our knowledge to help serve the community better as well as land a job. In an industry where the old model is out the door and a new model is being discovered, knowing how to do just about everything is a must!

While I'm taking summer school I'm also working as a server at Ruby Tuesday's . I've never served before so this is a great life experience. I'm trying to make some extra money on the side as well as do something different to gain experience. I feel that all jobs are worth it since it helps you learn about others as well as understand where people come from. I think if I want to be a journalist in the future, I have to experience different things so I can be a better journalist. Knowing what people go through can help one become a better writer!

Happy Memorial Day! Thanks to all those that served, are serving and will serve this country!

Performance Tax and the Death of a Friend

It's widely known that the journalism industry is going through a turbulent time.  Well, this doesn't exclude radio stations and with a proposed Performance Tax things might just get a lot rougher.  

According to the National Association of Broadcast (NAB) sponsored website, NoPerfromancetax.org, "record labels want the government to impose,"  a performance tax on radio stations in which they would be charged a fee for airing music.  This is not including satellite radio, but rather the traditional radio in which the public listens to for free. 

With purchasing songs on the computer with the click of a mouse, people are not as inclined to go buy CD's ( Compact Disks) as they used to be.  This is what's prompting the record labels to propose this tax. The No Performance Tax website says the record labels make it seem as though they are trying to compensate for the artist, but the website says the money will go into the pockets of the record label. 

The radio worlds seems to be excluded from dialogues about the industry and I think think this is a huge issue which could be quite serious.  First of all, radio stations regardless the music, talk shows or other items they host play a big role in the community.  A lot of service announcements are made through the radio and with a extra tax added on to what's already a struggling business, air time might have to be cut.  I think the area that would be impacted the most would be smaller stations.  

What is puzzling about this proposed tax from record labels is the fact that by radio stations playing their artists songs or pieces, record labels are benefiting.  With radio stations playing a variety of songs, people are exposed to new music and will either go buy the album, attend a concert of go to iTunes.   NAB says radio already pays a compensation fee to composers and songwriters of about $550 million annually.  

I think this should be watched very carefully and receive more coverage, at least in the journalism world, because that is a heavy hitter to radio broadcasters.  Peoples jobs could be lost if a station has to shell out thousands of dollars just to play songs.  

http://noperformancetax.org/issue.asp

Death is something that is commonly talked about day in and day out.  It's not until a loved one passes away does it's mysterious nature take a toll upon us and make us ponder the meaning of life and the speed at which it goes.  

My friend from my home town , Travis Pierce, passed away two weeks ago.  When I first found out this numbing feeling came upon me.  Even though he and I hadn't talked in a while, there was a point in our lives in which he and I talked every single day.  I was explaining this to someone the other day how people serve a purpose in ones life. Whether it's for a second, a day or years to come.  His purpose in my life was to bring laughter, a lending ear and friendship during the awkward times of middle and high school.  

While this incident hit really close to me personally, I just have to have faith.  My professor recommended some readings  and I want to share some parts of them with you.

"Forget the past and the future, for happiness is naught but the moment."  and He also gave her a cup of sorrow and said, "Drink from this cup and you will understand the meaning of the fleeting instants of the joy of life for sorrow ever abounds." 

-Tears and Laughter by Kahlil Gibran

"If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.  For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one."

-The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

I have dreams about my friend and randomly remember old memories, all I can do is hold those thoughts dear and cherish them in the moment.

Cheers,

-Sophia Beausoleil