I Was Just Getting Started

“>After five weeks, Interactive Media Design is coming to an end. Although I am excited to have a short break froom school, I can honestly say that I am sad that this class is over. I feel like I was just getting the hang of the blogging world. This class helped me learn the proper skills and techniques I can and will use to create my own profession blog in the future. Digital Journalism is getting more and more popular and it would be useful for any journalism student to take this course.

Generally, I am very skeptical about taking online classes. I like to ask my teachers a lot of questions and in many of these classes it is hard to constantly keep in touch. Professor Wilder is one of the main reasons why I enjoyed this class much more than my previous online experiences. He was extremely helpful, accessful and patient. He assisted in making this class a great experience.

This class has been a great learning experience. I feel as though I learned more useful techniques and information than I have in other classes that were taught over a fifteen week period. Before I was enrolled in IMDS, I was familar with a majority of the social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter. I used these tools in order to keep in touch with friends and family, yet this course has shown me how it can and will benefit me in my future as a journalist. The popularity of these networks opens doors for writers who can use these sites to spread the word.

As a BROADCAST journalism student, I really enjoyed the modules on YouTube and podcasting. It is important for broadcasting students to understand how their videos can be useful in online journalism. I also liked recording my very first podcast. I like them because these tools bring more personality and originality to spaces such as blogs. My favorite thing about journalism is the freedom to be creative. Most other careers do not give the opportunity to stand out and do something unique, and videos, photos and podcasts are just some ways to be creative and grasp the attention of readers.

This class helped me develop a love for blogging. I always knew that it was definitely something I could see myself getting into, but this class pushed me in the right direction to finally try to get one going. This class gave me the chance to get started and learn the basic techniques and skills to begin making a personal blog.

Overall, I am extremely happy that I decided to take this class. I was very satisfied with everything that was accomplished in this course, but I was just getting started!!!

Vegas-Times
UNLV

Only YOU Can Prevent Fourth of July Fires

    

     It’s that time of the year again! Every Fourth of July people gather with family and friends to celebrate the day of our country’s independence. This holiday usually consist of barbeques, fireworks and a few cold ones by the pool. While distracted by the fun, often time people fail to see the dangers that may arise when fire is involved.
     According to the Green Bay Fire Department, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day of the year. If one does not take the proper precautions, it is very easy for a great evening to go wrong. Before hosting a Fourth of July event at your home, make sure that you fulfill each task that is recommended by the experts in the City of Las Vegas. These tasks include:
     1. Cleaning your yard: Make sure that weeds are pulled and grass is cut and watered.
     2. Take off all dead palm tree fronds. It is known that these burn fast and can spread the fire through wide areas.
      3. Always be ready with the hose and/or bucket of water, just in case any small fire breaks out, this can prevent them from spreading and getting larger.
     4. Keep all pets inside throughout the evening.
     5. Keep all cars and trucks in the garage or safely from the area where fireworks are being lit.

     Fireworks can also cause harm to people if not used properly. Each year thousands of people are injured while using consumer fireworks. A majority of these injuries happen on the hand or head of victims. While several fire departments report that 10-14 year olds have a higher risk of being injured on this day, everyone should take the time to practice the tips that firefighters encourage firework users to follow.
     1. Fireworks should be only be used on a flat, firm surface such as the ground or a driveway. They are illegal on street or sidewalks.
     2. Stay away from cars, lawns or anything else that may easily catch fire.
     3. Always have an adult present when fireworks are being used.
     4. Young children should not be lighting fireworks.
     5. After the firework has been used, one should pick up the remains with a shovel, dropped into a bucket of water and left to soak for several hours before being thrown in the trash. The same measures should take place when there is a “dud.” Do not try to relight any fireworks that were not originally able to function properly.
     6. Fireworks should never be used inside a house/building.
     7. Do not ignite fireworks while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Before partying all afternoon and sitting in front of a beautiful firework show, please take the time to BE SAFE on Fourth of July!

Firework Safety
Firework Statistics

Tourism: Why Vegas?

“The top 3 reasons to come to Vegas: food, shows and gaming,” said Mary Lockton, tourist from Houston, TX.
Luxurious resorts,  exquisite cuisine, astonishing shows and trendy nightlife are some of the ingredients that make Las Vegas a top-choice vacation spot.
The Las Vegas Strip is a 4.2 mile street that consists of 39 of the largest hotels in the United States. With clever themes and decor, Las Vegas makes it possible to visit tropical waterfalls and exotic animals after walking a few blocks away from the Eiffel Tower and Egyptian pyramids.
The hotels on the strip are filled with fine-dining restaurants that can send anyone’s tastes buds on a trip. Wolfgang Puck, Mario Batali, Emeril Lagasse, Tom Colicchio and Joel Robuchon are just a few of the celebrity chefs have restaurants along the strip. The wide variety of cuisine makes it impossible for anyone to go unsatisfied.
From the comedy of Carrot Top to the mouth-dropping Cirque du Soleil stunts, it is hard not to be entertained in the Entertainment Capital of the World. With over 100 different shows, it would be hard not to find something to be interested in. Vegas also makes it easy to be entertained while walking along the strip. The Belligio Fountains, The Sirens of TI and the Volcano at the Mirage are just some infamous attractions that tourist can enjoy free of charge.
Las Vegas is best known to many by its nickname, “Sin City,” and sin is usually what a lot of people look for when visiting. While there is 24 hour bar access and numerous amounts of strip clubs that tourists can visit, reports show that the biggest guilty pleasure Vegas visitor partake in is gambling. Based upon statistics from the UNLV Center for Gaming Research, Gaming made up 47.5% of the cities revenue last year. That’s a lot of losses!
The United States economy has made it difficult for tourist-based cities. While the foreclosure and unemployment rate has been at an all-time high, sources showed an increase in tourism in 2010 and explained that the start of this year has anticipated bigger overall numbers.
Although Vegas is known for all fun, for some, this place can be strictly business. Thanks to the hundreds of millions of square feet of convention space, Las Vegas is the home of tons of conventions who visit annually. The combination of event space and room occupancies, Las Vegas is one of the only places that can comfortably accommodate the larger convention gatherings such as the Consumers Electronic Show, Jewelry Circular Keystone Event and Computer Dealers’ Exhibition which can bring hundreds of thousands of people to the city.
There are a lot of different attractions that would bring people to the city of sin. When one asks why do people visit Las Vegas? The best answer is.. well, because IT’S VEGAS!

Vegas.com
Visit Las Vegas

A Walk in the Park

For this assignment, I could have taken photos of several different places, people or things. Las Vegas is filled with tons places that can be the scene for many Kodak moments. Rather than choosing the infamous Las Vegas Strip or one of the beautiful hiking destinations our city has to offer, I went with something a bit more simple. The setting of my photo essay was Paul Meyer Park.

I chose this park because it is the home of MANY childhood and even adolescent memories. This park is located directly behind the elementary school that I attended from kindergarten through fifth grade. Paul Meyer was close to my childhood home and it was a place my parents took me frequently. 

At the age of 10, I was on a girl’s softball team. Our practices took place at the Paul Meyer Park Baseball Field. Prior to the construction of the field, Paul Meyer was the destination for PeeWee Football practices and games. While my brothers were on the young football team, I was on my very first cheerleading squad at 5 years old. As if I was not active enough, I had tennis lessons for approximately two years at the tennis courts on site.

When I got older, this park was even the place where I had my first kiss. Although these picture show the scenery of what could be considered you standard or traditional park, this park, like any other park in Las Vegas, could be the setting of several memories you may have in the future.  

This park was the location of my 4th birthday and several Easter Sunday barbeques. It was place that gathered friends and familys to celebrate the days that were meaningful to us. 

Since I chose to use this destination while driving, I did not have my normal digital camera on hand. I took these picture with the camera off of my boyfriend’s IPhone4. It may have been a bit better quality to have used my camera, it does not take much in order to grasp the concept behind the simplicity of this location. It is similar to the parks we all imagine.

My trip to Paul Meyer Park showed me that a trip down Memory Lane can be a walk in a park!

Twitter: A New Era for Journalism

   

   As surprised as most people, I initially thought that it was quite silly to use Twitter as a journalistic tool. I have had a Twitter account for quite some time now, but I only followed my friends. Not that they did not have anything good to say, but I did not see the point. I was already friends with a majority of them on Facebook and it felt as though I was just reading about their meaningless daily tasks for the second time.

   It was not until I started taking journalism classes that I noticed the idea behind Twitter. In order to keep myself updated on current events for the current events quizzes that were given to me, I decided to follow CNN and E!News in order to make sure I kept up with the important stories and headlines. It came to me that Twitter made it easy for me to see what’s going on and then simple click a link that would provide me with more information on my interests.

“Journalists are using twitter to engage with their audience,connect with sources and continue building their personal brand,” said Leah Betancourt, Digital Community Manager at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

   Betancourt explained it well. Twitter is social networking through more than just friends and family. It is a great way to network between businesses, companies, specific individuals and a broad audience all over the world.

   As journalists, we have a natural ability to intrigue people with our words. It is simple for journalists to take the lead from their story and translate it for twitter. The use of symbols, abbreviations and links makes it possible for journalists to grasp their follower’s attention with a post that is 140 characters or less.

   Twitter is a great way to keep yourself aware of what is going on within the city, the country and the world. By following other journalists, television networks, publications and individual people, you are able to obtain information almost instantly. As more than just a journalist, but a Twitter user, I like the fact that I am able to give my opinion. I love the way that I am able to interact with writers and other people. It makes me feel as though my voice and other reader’s voices can and will be heard.

   Twitter is more than your typical social network. For many, it is a way to read what their favorite celebrity has to say. For journalists, it is a NEW ERA!

Twitter

MY Blog Design

After hours of search and previewing several themes, I decided that I would stick to the “desk mess” theme. I chose this theme for several reasons. The main reason is that there is nothing that describes me more than a pen, paper, coffee and an IPhone. As a college student that also works full time, I am constantly on the go. Coffee can be my best friend while trying to stay up and my school work is everywhere. I wanted to give my readers the idea of what it looked like when I wrote it, and let me tell you this theme almost hits the nail on the head.

The layout of this theme was exactly what I wanted, simple. I like how you are able to see each blog clearly and thoroughly. I am not a fan of websites that are cluttered and take five links to take you to where you want to go. This theme makes it easy for readers to navigate. I personally love the basic two column style. I think my brain processes two columns the best, since that is the way I take notes and keep myself organized. Both the size and style of the font is easy to read. It is nothing too crazy, because anything else may take away from the style of the design. I like that the main images are on the header of the page and not interfering or taking away from the blog space.

The mood I get when I look at theme and its colors is somewhat of a coffee shop feeling. I do not know if that’s the best way to describe it, but that is what initially pops in my head. Other than a desk at home, several students hit the books at their local coffee shop. The decor in most of them are mellow, and include earth tones such as greens and browns. I feel the same vibe when seeing this page. Again, I want my reads to get the feel as if my blog is written from a typical college student.

The setback to this theme is that it is not easy to completely customize it. I am unable to change a majority of what was set. Although I love every aspect of this design, I would have liked if there was some places where I could add more color to show that although I am a busy student, I am still young and would like that to come across in the appearance of my blog.

More than anything, the overall theme of my blog design is SIMPLE!

Digital Journalism

Technology has taken over the world today and has completely altered the way we receive and retain news and information. I strongly believe that it is vital for journalist to be able to keep up with the changes. It is important for modern journalists to take the time to learn both mediums and use each area to their advantage.

I believe that young journalists my age have definitely be given an advantage, since they have grown up around the use of computers and understanding its different functions almost comes naturally. I would like to think that I have mastered the popular social networks such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace. The internet and social networking sites give readers a chance to communicate to the writers directly and quickly, unlike a column in a newspaper. If the reader wanted to get a response from the writer it would take quite some time for the writer to get back to them, if they do at all. In a world like today, time is money and people do not have the patience to wait for a response. Modern technology could make it easier for readers to have a voice.

Although I believe that it should be obvious for journalists to transition into the digital era, this article has helped me view this issue from a different perspective. I find the internet to be simple to navigate through and media through social networking to be convenient and easily assessable. I was able to read the opinions of others which proved that not everyone is as enthusiastic about digital changes as myself and a majority of my peers.

After reading this article, I was able to understand that it is not just some readers who would prefer keeping things the way they are, it is also journalist. Some journalists do not believe they should have to be trained in digital journalism. I can understand the fact that some writers have be journalists for decades and  they are comfortable with the way they have always done it. Some people are not fond of change. In my opinion, they are the ones missing out.

The world is changing and if one wants to keep up with must be willing to roll with the punches and learn. I do not feel that it should be required for older journalists to transition to a new way of doing things if they do not want, but digital journalism is only going to get more popular and desirable so it is vital for journalism students to succeed in this medium, as well as the more traditional ones.