CM
Media Maker
Journalism Portfolio
I am passionate about Journalism and Film with a focuses in documentary film making, photography, and article writing
For as long as I can remember I have always loved listening to individuals tell stories. Whether someone was telling me about themselves, a place they visited, a movie they watched, or even a meal they ate last week, I listen with an eager desire to obtain as much information as they are willing to share.
Early on in my high school years, I found a home within my school's paper. After just two years I was an editor and the director of my own department; the video deparment. Deciding what I wanted to major in at college was easy. The hard part came in proving to myself that I could be successful in what I wanted to do.
After four years studying at the University of Rhode Island, I am proud to say that I have found my voice and I cannot wait to continue to meet and talk with individuals and share stories to the masses. My goal within the field is to write and educate. At the same time, I have a focus in research, article writing, and documentary making. I enjoy the multimedia aspect of journalism because news packages and multimedia allow me to express my creativity to match a story with visuals. Multimedia stories only provide more information that can be consumed, as well as an opportunity for me to incorporate all my skills into one.
I hope to utilize my skills in research, writing, content creating, and multimedia making to produce content that aims to educate individuals and bring attention to social issues that often go unlooked or underreported.
I aim to continue learning and be inspired by others to create. I want to contribute to the community and produce content that positively impacts the journalism profession and individuals that experience my work.
Learning Outcome 1
Capable of entry-level media work in one of the major’s areas of emphasis. This level of professionalism includes the following characteristics:
-the ability to think critically, creatively and independently
-the ability to express oneself clearly, both in writing and orally
-the ability to carry out journalistic research and interviews
-the ability to prepare content for news media outlets
-the ability to meet deadlines
the ability to competently use technology appropriate to the medium
Journalism is a practice of finding and reporting on news, or information that should be public knowledge. At the same time, journalism is essential to democracy, a practice of ethical decision-making, a source of knowledge that is necessary for the public to know, and many more things. Journalists are key in providing the general public with all that they need to know in order to educate themselves and make motivated decisions.
Over the past four years at the University of Rhode Island, I have really expanded my knowledge and ability to practice journalism.
The first three pieces of evidence were written for a Journalism class in which the professor had given each of us a concentration at the University of Rhode Island. I had picked the School of Oceanography and covered topics that were new or recently publically released. In order to write all three of these, I had to schedule multiple interviews with professors and researchers that highly impact the school. I had to look and read around for new information coming directly from the School of Oceanography that would be beneficial, important, or even fun for the general public to know and learn about.
The first piece of evidence, "Taking the Classroom outside of the Classroom," was an article about URI's School of Oceanography and the curriculum's ability to provide students with the most of their education.
The second piece of evidence, "New Species of Bioluminescent Lantern Shark Named After Nearly 30 Years," is about a URI professor that discovered a new species of shark.
The third piece of evidence, "Local Professor Inspires Shark Research," is about the same professor and his impact on the School of Oceanography.
All three of these pieces taught me what it was like to be a beat reporter consistently discussing different elements that fall under the same topic. I also grew my understanding of how to report on topics that concern scientific reporting.
The fourth piece of evidence "Local Spot Encourages Patrons to “Just Go Topless,” is an article about a coffee shop, Cool Beans Cafe, and the steps they are taking to become more eco-friendly. For this article I had to go to the cafe to interview the individuals that work and own it. Writing this piece I furthered my knowledge in being able to take an important story such as conservation and put a fun twist on it. I wanted this article to reflect the easy-breezy, cool environment that Cool Beans aim to create.
Learning Outcome 2
Informed about journalistic ethics and capable of articulating an ethical decision
Graduates understand professional codes of ethics and can apply them to ethical dilemmas faced by journalists. Employing personal as well as professional ethics, they are prepared to make thoughtful decisions from among alternatives and are capable of defending those decisions.
Journalism ethics provide a standard of reporting to the way in which a journalist should go about handling each and every story. Ethics are an important part of the decision-making process and a journalist needs to consider many different things when reporting. In order to do this, a substantial background and understanding of journalism ethics and journalism ethics theories is necessary.
The two case studies that are linked as evidence provided me with a real-life case in which the importance of journalism ethics becomes very obvious. Both of these analyses' helped me think about how journalists need to consider journalism ethics, as well as think in an ethical manner, in order to work through a situation that isn't so clear.
The Analysis of Newsmax was a project I had worked on with a classmate in which we had to create a presentation and write an analysis on a news company. We had to examine Newsmax and discuss the ways that the paper was good at or violated the elements and ethics of what it means to be a successful journalistic publication. I learned, through a real-life example, that not all sources of news even regard the same standards of reporting and follow the same ethical beliefs.
Learning Outcome 3
Able to explain the importance of journalism in the United States
Graduates understand the historical and legal significance of the First Amendment, the traditional role of journalism as society’s watchdog, and the rights and responsibilities of journalists.
Journalism is essential to a thriving democracy. In a democracy, citizens need to be informed in order to make educated decisions and vote in a constructive manner.
The First Amendment protects the rights of citizens and guarantees individuals the freedom of speech, religion, and the press and the right to peacefully assemble and protest the government. The First Amendment protects the speech of journalists and the right of the citizens to have access to a free press.
The first piece of evidence included titled, "The Business Model of Journalism," provides an argument that the journalism industry is becoming increasingly capitalized. I argue that the press has a role and responsibility in society that cannot be overlooked due to financial needs. This project provides an argument for the need of reliable, accessible news.
The second piece of evidence, "Exploring the Importance of Journalism in the United States," does just that; explores the importance of journalism in the US. This piece was a part of a short essays assignment I wrote in a Journalism class. The answers provided to the promps discuss core elements of what it means to be a journalist and practice journalism.
The third piece of evidence, "The Rise and News Deserts and the Fall of Democracy," Is a paper I wrote for a journalism class. This paper explores the rise of areas that lack a local newspaper and how this can effect that community. When individuals or whole communities of people are not able to obtain important or necessary information, they are not able to fulfill their full role within a democracy; they are not able to make educated decisions based off of information that directly pertains to them. Through this paper, I furthered my understanding in the availability of local news within the US and how this can impact how our Democracy functions.
Learning Outcome 4
Conversant with contemporary media issues
Because the present cannot be discussed intelligently without an awareness of and appreciation for the past, implicit in this standard is the graduates’ understanding of their professional roots. They are familiar with the issues now facing journalists and those likely to face journalists, particularly those being written and talked about by news media practitioners, users, observers and critics.
Journalism is essential to the function of democracy. When issues arise within the field of journalism, journalists and publications must do whatever they can to get information out to the public in a responsible and constructive manner. Contemporary issues in journalism range from a multitude of issues, but all have similar outcomes; news not reaching the public at the rate that is efficient enough nor is news and information reaching all individuals within our society. When individuals miss out on news and investigative reporting, whole communities of people can face the consequences.
The first piece of evidence included, "The Rise of News Deserts and the Fall of Democracy," is an article I wrote for my journalism class. We were tasked with investigating and writing about news deserts in America and the issues that these news baren areas bring. The dramatic increase in news deserts over the past few years is increasingly presenting to be a problem for modern journalism and journalists.
The second piece of evidence, which is titled, "Performance, the Allegory of the Cave, and Democracy," is a final research paper I wrote in partnership with a short video for an upper-level English course. We were asked to explore a modern issue facing society. This article compares the modern consumption of news to the Allegory of the Cave. The video no longer is able to be displayed, but it is described within the research article.
The third piece of evidence, "Contemporary Issues Facing Journalists: Journalists' Credibility and Public Trust in News Media," is an essay I wrote for a journalism class. This essay explores the social attitudes towards journalists, why this came to be, and how we can alter the course of increasing public distrust in the journalism industry.
Learning Outcome 5
Prepared for a diverse and multi-cultural world and workplace.
Graduates recognize that they live and work in a world characterized by difference and change, and they recognize the associated challenges these present to themselves and to journalism.
Every single person deserves to have a voice and be heard. In all professions, it is important to have a diverse workplace and individuals that understand the importance of being kind to all people regardless of race, gender, sexuality, and any other part of an identity that can be different from one's own. The journalism profession is no exception.
Journalists hold an essential responsibility of finding and reporting on stories that are relevant and important to the community of readers. America is a diverse country, therefor relevant and important reporting means providing coverage to all communities. Journalists must provide unbiased and unmotivated reporting to inform individuals on anything that could be relevant to their community.
Oftentimes within the United States, minority communities have a deficiency in coverage and representation within the news industry. The issue of a lack of coverage could be coinciding with the fall of local newspapers or stem from systemic inequality. The journalism industry needs to push back even harder to reach all members of society.
Individuals within different communities of people often have the best understanding of that community of people. A journalist's role is to deliver the news that they think will be essential in the way that people function within a democracy; they provide information so that readers can make informed decisions and vote.
The journalism industry needs to be a place for all people.
The first piece of evidence, "Think Piece: What it Means to be in The Wake," was written for an upper-level English class in which the professor had us reflect on Christina Sharpe's "In the Wake on Blackness and Being" article. The article provided me with a point of view of life that was different from my own. In the essay, I was able to analyze the article and write about what I had learned
The second piece of evidence is a profile-style article I did for a Gender and Women's Studies class titled, "Does This Make Me a Bitch?" I was tasked with interviewing a positive feminist role model in my life. In our interview, we talked a lot about feminist ideas and how growing up in a male-dominated society affected us.
The third piece of evidence, "The Importance of Recognizing Diversity and Differences," was a paper I wrote for a psychology class. The professor asked us to reflect on the importance of diversity, how the program aims to enforce respect and two examples of discrimination at a broad level.