Blog 27: Senior Project Reflection

1. Positive Statement
What are you most proud of in your 2-Hour Presentation and/or your senior project? Why?        -The thing I am most proud of for my 2-Hour Presentation would be the fact that I got plenty of compliments on my activities. Knowing that the activities were engaging and interactive enough for my audience was a big relief. Also, just knowing that the audience enjoyed and got the connection between my answers and activities was really nice.
2. Questions to Consider
a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your 2-Hour Presentation (self-assessment)? Why?        -I would give myself an AE because my presentation was very well thought out. I planned my groups to be publications and that tied into my activities and answers. I also demonstrated plenty of research and evidence, as well as a clear connection for the audience. I also added personal touches to my presentation such as the Press Passes that my audience received as part of my presentation. I think the small details like that made my presentation stand apart.
b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)? Why?        -Overall I would give myself somewhere between a P and an AE. I think throughout the year I have demonstrated work worth a P or higher consistently be it in science fair, research, or my presentations. Although there were one or two assignments in which I received an AP, I believe that the highlights of the year outweigh the very minimal amount of low points. 
3. What worked for you in your senior project?
        -For my senior project, my service learning worked because it gave me plenty of experience seeing journalism in action. My presentations also worked for me as I demonstrated extensive research and knowledge on my topic.
4. What didn’t work for you in your senior project?        -During the senior project, the Three Column Chart really did not work for me. Although some students succeeded in it, I found it very difficult and felt extremely lost and confused on the requirements needed and the end goal of the Three Column Chart. It honestly did not help me in anyway, but I believe that has to do with the fact that I tend to be better in the arts and humanities.
5. Finding ValueHow has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples.         -The senior project, although extensive and stressful, has proven to be very useful. Next year I plan to be part of Whittier College's student newspaper, and thanks to my senior project I will have already had experience working at a student newspaper due to my service learning. It also opened my eyes to journalism and my dream of ultimately working for a publication. 

Blog 26: 2-Hour Presentation

Here is the link to my 2-Hour presentation plan: 


My 2-Hour Presentation Plan

Blog 25: Service Learning

1. LIA Response to blog:

    Literal

·     Jocabehd's Service Learning Log

·       Contact: Cecily Arambula (cecilyarambula@gmail.com)

      The Poly Post Editorial Office: (909) 869-3530

    Interpretive

     Perhaps the most important thing I have learned from my experience while service learning has been that journalism is always changing. While there I learned a lot about how journalism now requires video and copy. Recently, The Poly Post incorporated a "Weekend Update" segment to their website. Also, their website has been redone in recent months. My service learning mentor taught me a lot about how now, journalism majors are required to not only know how to write, but also work cameras, edit, and take photos and videos alike, since technology is ever changing constantly. The Poly Post had to have some changes done in order to keep with the changing world of technology. This is perhaps the most important because I could not have learned it as well as I did from simply reading articles or books. Being able to see it before my eyes was possibly, the greatest piece of research.  

   Applied

     My experience of service learning working at The Poly Post during the past few months has tremendously helped me answer my essential question. The Poly Post is really the place where journalism majors at Cal Poly Pomona are molded before they go onto real jobs in the industry. This was the same for me. My internship there helped me learn about ethics, technology, and new techniques in journalism. While there, I got the idea to create my project based on mainly ethics in journalism. This focus on ethics, as well as the guidance of my service learning mentor, Editor-in-Chief Cecily Arambula, I was able to see my project with new light. From there, she guided me through my answers including knowing your audience. This one in particular came to me because while at service learning, the editors are always trying to keep the content fresh and interesting for their readers. Even when designing the front page of the weekly newspaper, they always keep the students of Cal Poly in mind and what they will be interested in knowing each week .While I was there, I had access to many journalism books that helped me in the answering of my essential question, such as photojournalism books and books on AP Style writing. 

Blog 24: Independent Component 2

My Independent 2 has been a continuation of my first Independent Component: Yearbook.

Literal

(a) “I, Jocabehd Lobos, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.” 

(b) For my Independent Component 2, I have been in iPoly's yearbook elective working as an Assistant Photo Editor taking photos and writing copy for spreads.

Interpretive

My Independent Component demonstrates 30+ hours of work because being in elective class twice a week for 1.5 hours plus weekly editor meetings add up to that. On top of that, going to events like Pep Rallies to take photographs adds to that time so I can take photos. The significant parts of my component have definitely been taking photographs for the yearbook that will then be published in the yearbook come May.

Applied
My Independent Component 2 has helped me answer my EQ because it has given me a feel for what it is like for a journalist; working through deadlines and working with a large staff. It has also helped me answer EQ because I have improved my interviewing skills, which are pivotal to being a successful journalist.

Link to my Log: Independent Component #2 Log

Blog 23: Helping 2013

Who did you interview: Leslie Lopez

What day and time: Friday, April 20 at 11:30AM

1. What ideas do you have for your senior project and why?

• Something related to Horror Films.
• My feedback included saying that when choosing a senior project, you really should think about the whole picture and making sure the topic would work with all of the components that are included such as Service Learning.

2. What do you plan to do to complete the 10 hours of service learning (working with an expert) which is due prior to senior year starting?  Note: They also have to complete the 50 hours during the school year.

• She plans on finding an internship at a place such as Universal Studios.
• My feedback was that she should think of a couple other places as back-ups just in case her first plan didn't work out. I also advised her to start contacting a wide range of places as soon as possible since she hasn't done so as of yet.

3. What do you hope to see or expect to see when watching the class of 2012 present their two hour presentations?

• She stated that she wanted to "actually learn something" about each topic and each project.
• I told her to be patient with all of the presentations as it can be exhausting to go through two straight weeks of presentations as a viewer. I told her of my experience as a junior last year and how I observed how by the second week, many of my classmates grew tired of presentations. However, I told her how now, as a senior, I have grown to appreciate the senior project presentations as I now know the pressure and hard work that goes into it. 

4. What questions do they have about senior project?  What additional recommendations would you give the 2013 student about senior project?  Be specific and note what you told them.

• She asked many questions including: 
• How will I be prepared for presenting my 2-Hour?
• My answer: There are several presentations beforehand throughout the year such as the 5 and 20 minute to help with stage nerves and preparation.
• What has been the most difficult?
• My response: Finding service learning, since many places can't or are not willing to allow a minor in their business/company. 
• What additional recommendations did you give them?
• My recommendations were to get started on her service learning ASAP and rake up as many hours as possible! I told her of my experience of having trouble finding a place that was willing and the difficulty of finding time in my schedule to complete my service learning. 

Who did you interview: Jared Gonzales

What day and time: Thursday, April 26 at 11:00AM

1. What ideas do you have for your senior project and why?

• He said he was interested in making his topic based on policing or army related things. He's always been interested in those topics and wants to pursue a career in either the field of policing or military. 
• My feedback was that something of that nature would be good when coming up with activities for presentations. 

2. What do you plan to do to complete the 10 hours of service learning (working with an expert) which is due prior to senior year starting?  Note: They also have to complete the 50 hours during the school year.

• He is looking forward to working as an intern at a police station.
• My feedback was to start asking places as soon as possible, since many places have a set number of required hours. 

3. What do you hope to see or expect to see when watching the class of 2012 present their two hour presentations?

• He said that he thought the class of 2012 would produce good presentations.
• My feedback was to be patient with the class of 2012 and to be prepared for the repetitive nature of the 2-hour presentations, particularly during the second week. 

(4) What questions do they have about senior project?  What additional recommendations would you give the 2013 student about senior project?  Be specific and note what you told them.

• He only had one question and it was "Is it worth it to stay at i-Poly for senior year?"
• I responded by saying that it was definitely worth it because although it is a tremendous amount of work, it is definitely possible to overcome. Also, I told him of my service learning experience as an intern at a newspaper and the countless other things I've learned thanks to my senior project that I wouldn't have learned had I gone somewhere else for my senior year. 

Blog: Answers

The following are my current answers for my essential question as of: April 13,2012.

1) Strive for Accuracy and Fairness
    A journalist shall provide information that is verifiable and that is free of fabrication. A journalist shall neither add nor omit material which would distort or change the meaning of a story or photograph.
2) Be Accountable
    A journalist should remain accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers, and each other. They must admit their mistakes and correct them promptly. At the same time, they shall abide by the same high standard to which they hold each other.
3) Be Independent and Transparent
     Journalistic independence can be damaged by accepting free gifts of any kinds. A journalist shall avoid conflicts of interest and should always identify themselves as a journalist when on any assignment.
4) Respect Diversity
    A journalist should always strive for fairness and balance when on the job by looking into all sides of every issue and presenting all relevant viewpoints. A journalist must treat all sources in professional and respectful manner, not overlooking the weak in favor of the rich and powerful.

Blog 22: Answer #3

• Essential Question: What is most important to success in journalism?
• Answer 3: One of the most important factors to success in journalism is the ability to be independent and transparent. 
• Some components of my answer include: 
• Journalistic independence can be damaged by accepting free gifts of any kinds.
• Avoid conflicts of interest.
• Always identify yourself as a journalist when on assignment.
• Any scene dramatized should be clearly stated. 
• Evidence:
• Example 1: While reading The Elements of Journalism by Bill Kovach & Rob Rosensteil, I came across a section that discussed the purpose of journalism, to provide information for the public, so they can make decisions and self-govern. In order to fulfill this and thus, be successful in journalism, remaining independent and neutral.
• Example 2: According to the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, one of the cornerstones is to Be Accountable, which is broken down into avoiding any contact/ties with outside sources or publications. An example of this would be to be receiving outside gifts or compensation from a company or publication to publish/report a story that will be waived in said company/publications favor for whatever reason. This, as explained in the Code of Ethics, leads to lack of accountability to the bribed journalist.
• Example 3: While speaking with my service learning mentor, she spoke to me about what journalists' job is. She said journalists are responsible for "being the voice to the voiceless". In order to do that, she said, they must do they toughest thing, be neutral. She gave me an ethical case study known as the picture with the vulture in Africa. The photojournalist there was covering a story there and took a photo of a malnourished African toddler who had collapsed while a vulture looked on and was about to hunt. The photo was legendary and sparked huge controversy in the journalism world. Although being neutral is ethical, many discuss the extent of it. 
• Source:
• The Elements of Journalism by Bob Kovach & Rob Rosensteil
• Personal Interview with Cecily Arambula, EIC of Poly Post
• Concordia University Code of Ethics

Blog 21: 3-Column Chart

My 3-Column Chart is listed on the right hand side w/ its own tab. There is also a link for it here:

Jocabehd's 3-Column Chart

Blog 20: Room Creativity

1. How do you plan to address the room creativity expectation?
     I plan on addressing the room creativity expectation by using posters and decor revolving around my topic of journalism. To do this, I will create various posters with my essential question and posters about small subtopics within journalism. Another idea I had for decor was to hang newspapers and magazines from around the country or globe including the New York Times, The Poly Post, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, ten57 Magazine, etc. This, I believe will enhance my presentation and allow for my audience to really capture the essence of journalism and its impact on our daily lives. Using magazines that teens read, such as TeenVogue, Seventeen, etc. will enhance this goal of mine. 
2. What activity ideas do you have for answer 1 or 2?
    For my first two answers, I was thinking of one activity revolving around the idea of good interviewing (Answer 2: TEA Method) and my Answer 1, accuracy/research. For my first answer, which revolves around research and accuracy, I plan on having an activity that is based on checking sources. This can be incorporated into the previous activity and be made into a Part 1, Part 2 sequence. Part 1 would incorporate Answer 1, which is about researching the interviewee and checking sources, while Part 2 would include the actual interviewing process of planning effective questions and working toward a presented story that their "editor" has assigned them. This will involve my audience and allow them to work with others to create effective questions for their given goal/story.

Blog 19: Answer 2

• Provide a rough draft in how you plan to address the following:
• EQ: What is most important to success in journalism?
• Answer 2: One of the most important keys to success in journalism is through using the TEA methods to have effective interviews. Interviewing is a vital source for stories, as most stories will be based off interviews with the "players" of a scenario/case in which you are reporting. 
• The TEA method consists of: 
• Telling the interviewee how questions will be used
• Preparing effective questions
• Creating a comfortable atmosphere
• Evidence/Sources= 3 pieces (facts and examples)
• 1. 13 Simple Journalist Techniques for Effective Interviews by Sarah Stueville: This article provided me with tips about the atmosphere of an interview. I had never thought about how much the setting of an interview can affect the interviewee and their responses. For example, the article states that "people are more comfortable in a familiar place". This can aid the interviewee provide insightful and useful information.
• 2. Interview Questions by Media College: This article was aimed toward the importance of having questions prepared ahead of time before an interview. This is essential for having a base of questions to start off from. Of course, an journalist should have the ability to think on their feet, but having a few set questions will allow for more time.
• 3. Interviewing: The Ignored Skill by Poynter.org: This article by Poynter.org refers to how society tends to believe that anyone can ask questions and interview, however, this is an incorrect assumption. Example:  "If we aren’t proficient at asking the right questions at the right time, we’ll miss on accuracy, fall short on context, and stumble on fairness."
• 4. Personal Interview with Cecily Arambula, EIC of Poly Post: My interview with my mentor at my service learning facility, The Poly Post, spoke to me about the importance of having effective questions prepared. This, she explained, can be achieved by doing sufficient research. She explained this to me by talking about her own experience when tracking down the University's president. She only had a few minutes between two of his meetings on campus to get an insightful story for the newspaper. She did this by researching and having a set of prepared questions beforehand.

Blog 18: The Product

As of March, my product is improved interviewing skills. This is because prior to my senior project, I would take my interviews lightly and would often have to do double-takes to get the story I wanted/needed. Now, with the combination of my service learning and research, I have been able to get my interviews done faster and have them be more efficient and therefore, not have to do them over. I feel as though the work that I have been giving has been of higher quality/standard as a result of my senior project. For example, the senior project spread I had been working on took my partner (Leah Rodarte) and I, approximately less than two weeks to complete. This was done faster than prior stories that took up to 4 weeks and had to be corrected/edited several times.

Product Definition: My interviewing skills have improved. My interviews now are more efficient in both quality and time. 

Blog 17: Fourth Interview Questions

Edited as of: Friday, March 23rd, 2012
1. What is most important to success in journalism?

2. What do you believe is the purpose/goal of journalism?

3. In your opinion, what does it take to be awarded the Pulitzer prize?

4. What has been the most difficult/stressful situation you have been in while "on the job"?

5. Which famous/well-known journalist in history do you admire and why?

6. What was the most vital piece of advice you have ever received as far as your career in journalism?

7. What is most satisfying about your work?

8. If you had done something differently when you started your career, what would it have been and why?

9. What is the most difficult aspect of production of a story and why? (e.g. editing, finding sources, research, etc.)

10. While starting out in the field of journalism, who was your mentor and what did they teach you?

11. Describe your first internship and the experience you gained.

12. What do you believe is a not well-known fact about journalism that should be exposed?

13. How important are sources to a journalist?

14. As a journalist, what would you change in the field of journalism today and why?

15. How important is news and journalism in today's society?

16. Do you believe that a journalist can "make it" even if they're not working in a large city such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, or Miami?

17. What is the most important duty/function of journalism?

18. While in college for journlaism, what was your favorite course you took and why?

19. What is the worst mistake a journalist can do?

20. To be a journalist, do you think that a degree in journalism is required?

Blog 16: Independent Component 2 Plan Approval

1. Write a description of what you plan on doing for your independent study component.

For my independent study component, I plan on working on the I-Poly Yearbook, The Globe. I will be working on copy (print journalism) and photojournalism. I will provide the content that will go into spreads. Last semester I worked on approximately 5 spreads and so, I hope to achieve that same number this semester, as well. As Assistant Photo Editor, my work will include taking photos at school events, choosing photos for the yearbook, interviewing for possible stories, attending weekly editor meetings, etc.

2. Describe in detail how you think your plan will meet the 30 hours of work requirement.

Yearbook work takes a lot of time. I have yearbook elective twice a week for approximately 1.5 hours each time totaling into roughly 3 hours a week. In addition to that, I attend weekly editor meetings that are approximately 1.0 hour each week. In total, I will be working on yearbook for 4 hours per week. Since the due date for the Independent Component is until a few months, I will have the 30 hours of requirement done by that date, if not more than the required hours.

3. How does your independent study component relate to your EQ?

Since my essential question and senior project revolve around the topic of journalism, yearbook is the perfect fit. The answers to my essential are most likely going to be skills and qualities needed for success in journalism, so what better place to practice and perfect the skills I will gain from my senior project research than yearbook. Interviewing skills, accuracy, and other answers all follow with yearbook and journalism alike.

Blog 15: Independent Component 1

My Independent Component for the first semester was working on the iPoly Yearbook.

·     Log of hours on a calendar: My Independent Component 1 Log

·     Evidence of the 30 hours of work (e.g. transcript, essays, tests, art work, photographs)

 The Scare Faire Spread

 Main Photo taken by me

·     LIA

Literal

(a) “I,  Jocabehd Lobos, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.” 

(b) Explanation of what you completed.

For my Independent Component 1, I worked on the iPoly Yearbook, the Globe, throughout the semester. During the course of the semester, I worked as the Assistant Photo Editor, which duties included having photo meetings with photographers, taking photos for various stories/school events such as Pep Rallies, house competitions, etc. I also worked as a copy writer in which I worked with a partner to complete multiple spreads. The spreads took time in class as well as outside of class, as various interviews and photos were required. As part of my role as an editor, I am required to attend weekly editor meetings outside of regular class time.

Interpretive

My work with the yearbook demonstrated and was worth of over 70 hours of work over the course of the first semester. Working through a single spread took a matter of weeks to get done. The process of making a spread consisted of creating concepts for angles and blurbs, researching interviewees for the blurbs/mods, actually interviewing students, and taking photos. Over the course of the first semester, my work was exhibited in approximately 6-8 spreads. Some of this work was my photos and others it was some of my copy work. 

Applied

My Independent Component 1 helped me answer my EQ in the way that through my research about journalism and interviewing and my experience in yearbook, I found my first answer which is accuracy. In my yearbook experience, I have dealt with having misinterpreted information and on the yearbook, it can lead to moments of panic. For example, once I accidentally got my quotes mistaken with two interviewees for a story. Had the issue gone unseen, students would have been upset and the context could've been misinterpreted. This, along with my research, helped me obtain my first answer. Thus, this is how my work on the yearbook helped me answer my EQ. 

Blog 14: Presentation 2 Rough Draft

Here is my 20-Minute Presentation.

My 20-Minute Lesson Plan

Blog 13: Answer 1

1. What is answer 1 to your EQ? Be specific in your answer and write it like a thesis statement.
       One of the most important elements to becoming a successful journalist is to strive for accuracy and fairness.

2. What possible evidence do you have to support this answer?

• For example, if a journalist gains insight from a "credible source" that turns out to not be so credible, the journalists' employer/publication will be at risk of lawsuits, etc. 

• Another example as to why accuracy is essential to success in journalism is because the news are used by the public to inform themselves about current events. The public, according to The Elements of Journalism by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, uses the news to make informed decisions in a democracy.

• Lastly, another example taken from The Elements of Journalism by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, where Pulizter's Sun Magazine's motto for a number of years was, "Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy."

• The Elements of Journalism
 by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel

• The Code of Ethics by the Society of Professional Journalists (
http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp)

• Principles of Journalism by Journalism.org

3. What source(s) did you find this evidence and/or answer?

Blog 12: Service Learning

Where are you working for your service learning?
I am working at the Poly Post Newspaper, a student-run publication, at Cal Poly Pomona University.
What is your contact?
My contact at the Poly Post is Cecily Arambula, the Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper. She is the one that manages my hours and the tasks I perform while doing my service learning.
Summarize the services you have performed to complete the 10 hour requirement?
While doing service learning, I have performed various tasks. The tasks I do vary from editing copy that will go into the newspaper, typing up memos and lists for the Editor-in-Chief, editing photos, observing weekly staff meetings, and I've even learned how to edit using PhotoShop for newspaper publishing.

*Remember that your house teacher should also have the contact phone number for this person.  If they do not, you will not receive credit for this blog. We will be calling to verify.
Hours?
I have worked for 10 hours as of 01/13/2012.
My Service Learning Log

The ESLRs

Literal
1. Which aspects of the ESLRs are you focusing on?
-I'm focusing mainly on the following ESLRs: Effective User of Technology and Effective Communicator. For example, in my senior project I am required, as an aspiring journalist, to learn how to use the Internet medium to publish be it the senior blogs, in my service learning, and even by using the web and computer programs to create presentations. Another example of the Effective Communicator ESLR is when, as a journalist, I am working with the interview requirements of the senior project as well as practicing my journalistic skills and interviewing skills.
Interpretative
2. How will you do this (or how have you done this already in your senior project?)
-I have done this by going on multiple interviews, researching, and even in my science fair where I am conducting my research by emailing my survey to journalists across the United States.
Applied
3. How will this help you become better, educationally?
-These skills will help me in my educational career by acquiring and applying these skills to use technology to research more effectively, communicate better with my peers as well as my superiors, and giving me a more well-rounded sense of skills.

Blog 11: Third Interview Questions

1. In your words, what defines success in the field of journalism?
2. In your opinion, is there a correlation between experience in journalism and annual income? If so, how?
3. How important are interviewing skills to a journalists' success?
4. In your opinion, what is the most important quality a journalist?
5. How much education should a journalist have and why? (e.g. Bachelor's degree, Master's, Ph.D, etc.) 
6. How valuable is journalism school for a journalism undergraduate major?
7. What is the relationship between the field of journalism practiced and the income earned?
8. Describe a journalist. What characteristics/qualities should a "good" journalist have?
9. In your opinion, are these qualities acquired or are you just "born with it"?
10. Lastly, what is the key to success in journalism, in your opinion?
11. What are the key factors to monetary success in the field? (e.g. region, specific field, experience, awards, etc.)
12. Where do you see the future of journalism going? 
13. Are there any tips that you would give to an aspiring journalist like myself?