I’m not covering a war torn nation. I work in a secure, on-campus office in the middle of a student union building. As a self-proclaimed, college-captured journalist, I worry about after-graduation employment and dealing with student newsroom drama. Yet there have been a few times (already!) that I’ve wondered about the implications my career choice lays out for my own safety.
The big awards seem to go to journalists who flash notepads in the middle of gun fights and chase soldiers through hostile territories. What does that say for the few of us who wish to make it big without laying our asses out on the line? These days it seems like you have to be kidnapped, beaten and nearly killed to receive any recognition.
Stranger yet, there are plenty of ways to put yourself in danger back home.
Try publishing any controversial story. There's always retaliation. The day Broadside published the "Thirsty Thursday" article, I didn't feel safe in my 'so-called secure' office. Or how about the anthrax scare that occurred in the Gannett Towers the day before I started my internship at USA Today.
There's plenty of grief in simply being a journalist.
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Related: Nicholas Kayser-Bril writes in OJB about a blogger who decided to quit self-publishing when severely beaten in front of the American embassy in Brussels.
-- Why was this not covered? Is it because he's a blogger/freelancer?
-- Where is his award?
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
The Essentials
Second intro post. Better than most.
The Staff
Whitney Rhodes
The blogger.
Underpaid, over-worked online managing editor.
Skills: Impressing peers with fake dancing skills. Oh yeah, and managing web sites.
Strange Thing You'd Never Ask: Why yes, I am named after Whitney Houston. Only, I'm not a crack addict, or affiliated in any way with Bobby Brown (can't sing either).
Where You Can Find Me: Facebook. Or email me here: mebroadsideonline@gmail.com.
Where You Can't Find Me: MySpace.
James Grasselli
Assistant Online Tech Editor
Skills: Actual programming. I use the pansy content management software, he does everything else.
(Not So) Strange Thing You'd (Definitely) Ask: Single? Actually yes. And he does have a secluded little cabin on a mountain in West Virginia.
Where You Can Find Him: Email him at james.grasselli@gmail.com.
Helen Hilios
Assistant Online Content Editor
Skills: Lifting quirky ideas high into the air so I can shoot them down ... with rubber bands.
Strange Thing You Definitely Don't Know: She's Greek!
Where You Can Find Her: Email her at hhilios@gmu.edu.
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I'm noting my underlings without their express permission, so sorry for the lack of photos. No worries, though. If they complain, I'll fire them.
And if you really want to see pictures of James and Helen, they're very easy to find on Facebook (wink).
The Staff
Whitney Rhodes
The blogger.Underpaid, over-worked online managing editor.
Skills: Impressing peers with fake dancing skills. Oh yeah, and managing web sites.
Strange Thing You'd Never Ask: Why yes, I am named after Whitney Houston. Only, I'm not a crack addict, or affiliated in any way with Bobby Brown (can't sing either).
Where You Can Find Me: Facebook. Or email me here: mebroadsideonline@gmail.com.
Where You Can't Find Me: MySpace.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James Grasselli
Assistant Online Tech Editor
Skills: Actual programming. I use the pansy content management software, he does everything else.
(Not So) Strange Thing You'd (Definitely) Ask: Single? Actually yes. And he does have a secluded little cabin on a mountain in West Virginia.
Where You Can Find Him: Email him at james.grasselli@gmail.com.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Helen Hilios
Assistant Online Content Editor
Skills: Lifting quirky ideas high into the air so I can shoot them down ... with rubber bands.
Strange Thing You Definitely Don't Know: She's Greek!
Where You Can Find Her: Email her at hhilios@gmu.edu.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm noting my underlings without their express permission, so sorry for the lack of photos. No worries, though. If they complain, I'll fire them.
And if you really want to see pictures of James and Helen, they're very easy to find on Facebook (wink).
First Post Bloink.
Forgive the shoddy Blogger template. It's after midnight and no matter how often I try, I'm too used to staying up all hours in the Broadside office to go to sleep at even this ungodly hour. Despite the time, I'm not going to dedicate effort to making this thing look pretty when there's an easy out. I'd rather write -- something I'm not allowed to do (or so it seems) in addition to gathering online-savvy staff members, redesigning Broadside Online (for the billionth time), assigning stories and introducing a print-geared newsroom to a glorious online future.
Who am I?
I'm the loud-mouthed yet entirely forgettable managing editor of Broadside Online. You know, that site that no one reads. I'm also a senior communication major at George Mason University, veteran intern of USA Today.com and arguably the most stressed and unappreciated member of that hidden SUB I newsroom.
What on earth am I doing?
Who knows? This blog serves to let you know just how difficult it is to work at a student paper, and how much more hair-tearing frustration is endured when said crazy individual decides to take on the responsibilities of a student news online site.
What you need to know:
I will note the fortunes and travesties (to lightly mock our print managing editor) of convincing others that Broadside Online is indeed a cool thing ... and log my nearly impossible attempts at proving it to them.
The exhausted conclusion?
Next post ahoy!
Who am I?
I'm the loud-mouthed yet entirely forgettable managing editor of Broadside Online. You know, that site that no one reads. I'm also a senior communication major at George Mason University, veteran intern of USA Today.com and arguably the most stressed and unappreciated member of that hidden SUB I newsroom.
What on earth am I doing?
Who knows? This blog serves to let you know just how difficult it is to work at a student paper, and how much more hair-tearing frustration is endured when said crazy individual decides to take on the responsibilities of a student news online site.
What you need to know:
I will note the fortunes and travesties (to lightly mock our print managing editor) of convincing others that Broadside Online is indeed a cool thing ... and log my nearly impossible attempts at proving it to them.
The exhausted conclusion?
Next post ahoy!
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