Day 7

March 11, 2010: Our girl did it!  This post is in follow- up to her previous one of the week prior. She writes about her experience in the race, running 13.1 miles and the craziness which ensued in preparation for the race. This is, in some ways true investigative journalism, in some ways true 'new- journalism.'

Mallary lived this story and experienced it with her own senses, serving as motivation for her writing about it. Within this style of 'free' journalism, the writer is in position to write on behalf of her own will. It almost seems as if she is quoting herself. She is a primary source, anyway. 

Personal accounts of her "... waking up in the middle of the night to run 13.1 miles..." are personal anecdotes and give her credibility on the issue. Her credible voice creates interest for the reader, as we are learning this from a seemingly- informed 'expert' on the subject, or at least a primary source.

"Was I crazy?" she asks herself. This drops the barrier of unfamiliarity. There is no reporter playing middle-man on this story. The subject is the same as the reporter. 

Again, I recognize the importance of freedom in the blog- world.

Day 6

March 5, 2010: In today's blog post, Ms. Tenore truly exercises her freedom as a blogger. Her journalism background has influenced this passage, though with the foundations of a new- journalism typed style, the story holds a deeply personal edge. In fact, the first word is 'I,' whereas the 'laws of journalism' has probably taught her (as it has me) that there is no room for such letter in news reporting.

The article is about her newfound passion for long-distanced running and her training for a half- marathon at Disney World next weekend. She writes about begrudgingly waking up each morning to build up her endurance with an early jog of a half-dozen or so miles and the constant burn she endures of muscle fatigue throughout each day.

Most notably to me is the sincerity of her writing. The way in which she speaks as a primary source keeps me reading. Running, honestly is pretty boring to me. I don't even really like doing it. I get bored quickly and when the possibly of taking a jog comes up, I suddenly find reason to clean, or do laundry, or allot sometime to watching a movie.

Ms. Tenore uses her internet blog as a source of confidence. Ironically, any web- surfer may stumble on her page, making the privacy of her thoughts quite vulnerable. As a journalist, her 'outer- personal' writing must adhere to specific guidelines. As mentioned, there are no rules on the internet and Mallary's writing remains as free as her trains of thought.

Day 5

February 23, 2010: Using my personal judgment of the author's few photos, I'd imagine her to be in her mid- to late- 20s. Whether she just looks good for her age or not, she is hip to modern journalism, for sure. 

This article furthered my knowledge of a recent problem in the field of journalism: dealing with internet journalism in terms of making money. Major printed press companies are turning belly- up, after struggling to keep up with the job market. 

Magazines, newspapers, and periodicals are not making as much money anymore since their content is more accessible online. It is that simple.

Mallary writes about a story that she wrote for the Poynter Institute regarding 'bounce rates,' a term which describes when a news company's website catches a reader for only a short period of time. News readers log- on to an article and commonly 'bounce' off, back into the web and far away from that news website.

The money link exists in the website's advertising. Many news media companies stay afloat with the help of advertising and are able to sustain themselves with the increase need of advertising on behalf of larger companies and the money that they provide for ads on the website. 

People who log- on to a website and do not 'bounce' away are obviously spending an extended amount of time (longer than the length of reading just a few paragraphs,) and are therefore, more likely to click on the advertising published in the website's margins.

My journalism professor, Ms. Lauro has incorporated this subject in some of her teachings. She likes to target aspects of journalism that are of value to my younger generation. It is ever- changing and the internet will forever be driving the journalism field from here on out.

Can Professor Lauro be my Mr. John Quinn as I'm to her Mallary Jean Tenore? In that post, she mentions how she hopes to somehow inspire young journalists as Mr. Quinn did for her. It seems a bit ironic to me on account of my need for writing this be as a college assignment, given to me from my journalism professor. 

Day 4

February 17, 2009: Again, Ms. Tenore gets a little bit emotional. In this passage, she talks about a trip that she took across Florida to revisit a friend and old mentor of hers in college. Professor John Quinn teaches at both his and her alma mater, Providence College.

He sets out to further the field of journalism and teaches his students fundamental aspects of actual journalism such maintaining morale in a newsroom and entrepreneurial opportunities, presumably freelancing skills. I see clearly how learning 'practical' lessons in journalism has remained very dearly to the young journalist. 

These lessons are what matters. Schooling on journalism can only extend so far. Since journalism exists  because the act of writing exists, it is an art. With art, it must be expressed honestly and naturally. Therefore, as a journalism student, the 'laws of journalism,' i.e. the A.P. standards are stressed in the classroom. This rubric creates a standardization and basis of judgment for news writing, as it also provides a template for artists, via their newswriting, to mold their writing to.

With blog writing, these rules are nonexistent. (L.o.L! [Laugh out Loud])

Day 3

February 8, 2010: Today, Ms. Tenore shares personal insight into her world of journalism. She speaks about a pre- Super Bowl story that she wrote for her job. It was not about football however, it had a political edge. 

The Super Bowl, a professional sport's championship game, is something that multiple thousands of Americans will tune into via all media streams. Lucky ones get the much- sought after experience of actually attending the game, namely in her article: political advocates using the public outing as a scene for political fundraising. Mallary quotes an excerpt of her own article because on a blog, you can do that.

This blog entry was really of no interest to me subject wise, probably because both political issues and sports tend to bore me. Instead, I gathered cool insight into the world of an actual journalism scholar/ copy editor. I assume that she is some sort of political journalist, though I also understand how daunting it may be. Either way, she either enjoyed covering this story or she did not; regardless, it was for her job at the Poynter Institute and she wrote it to keep eating food. Perhaps all new-journalists may experience this situation of reporting on something with little or no interest to you (maybe it is of interest to her.)

You must be a journalist because  the love for writing and of storytelling, in some ways. Considering her other entries, Mallary definitely has a passion for this  mode of creative expression. For all she knows, maybe not one person follows her blog. Her need to write keeps her publishing as an active blogger.

Day 2

January 26, 2010: This girl, Mallary seems pretty legit in terms of her journalism career. She writes on this day about her interview with CBS journalist Katie Couric and how much of an honor it was. This, to me, is a great example of how her blog 'humanizes' her.

Anytime a seemingly normal person, which could be synonymous with 'a person you'd see during your every day life,' has some sort of contact with a celebrity, it is interesting to the rest of the population of normal people. Journalism has been a great job for Mallary and concerning the level of famous people she is able to connect with, her love for writing has lifted her to great heights.

 

Katie Couric, an internationally esteemed/ despised American television journalist is probably an ideal idol for Ms. Tenore. 

In this article, she again draws from memories of childhood, her admiration for Ms. Couric, while again bringing up her mother. "Talking to “CBS Evening News” anchor and managing editor Couric on Monday made me think about Mom and about how much I’ve grown up since the days when I would admire journalists from afar. " As an employee of Poynter and as a journalist by profession, her current perspective of the craft is much different than it was as a girl. Mallary's childhood reminds of her of her mother and recollecting from it begins a definite cycle of catharsis for Ms. Tenore. She taps into her emotional subconscious by thinking of these memories, providing a vast subject to write about.

Also, she mentions how her mother enjoyed going to the "CBS Evening News" taping as a child because the tickets were free. While reading that, I recognized a reason for Mallary to enjoy internet blogging so much; it's free-ness. Getting published is seriously at a 'click's' reach. 

Speech, the internet, a blogger account: it's all (almost all) free. 

Happy 2010.

Day 1

February 2, 2010: Mallary discusses the sometimes-a-bit touchy subject of personal writing. Where some writers may feel bashful or find it hard to express themselves on an intimate level, Ms. Tenore confides in her 'blog-o-sphere.' She uses examples of a few topics that are close to her and the motivation that she has for writing about them.

Reading this entry, it feels ultra personal, perhaps due to it's short length. In just a few scattered paragraphs she talks rather passionately about personal topics and while correlating a few of her favorite memories, she explains how she values food and her mother on a similar level of intimacy. 

Memories have always been of interest to me and I enjoy thinking about them in terms of how greatly I give attribution to them involuntarily. Her memories have done such a great amount for her on an emotional level that they seem to naturally 'file' themselves into categories. As a writer, she has outlet to express these emotions and a blog provides a great place for her to freely publish these writings for viewers (some whom do leave comments, which Mallary sweetly responds to each one) to read at their will.