tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8690237.post115228835372216068..comments2023-10-18T04:35:11.186-05:00Comments on Theme Park Experience: Journalism 101Eric Grubbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08237140729566147948noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8690237.post-1152557516373527622006-07-10T13:51:00.000-05:002006-07-10T13:51:00.000-05:00anything's possible -- next thing you know we'll b...anything's possible -- next thing you know we'll be talking about monkeys and hamlet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8690237.post-1152546556497096062006-07-10T10:49:00.000-05:002006-07-10T10:49:00.000-05:00Jen: Mea culpa . . . I read your statements incorr...Jen: Mea culpa . . . I read your statements incorrectly. To me it sounded like you were stating that these things <I>could only </I>be learned in class.<BR/><BR/>Although, I might be one of those entertained by seeing someone try to learn to play guitar on stage - out of messes sometimes come happy accidents, no? :-)Random Kathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11865533397931886768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8690237.post-1152544602173707412006-07-10T10:16:00.000-05:002006-07-10T10:16:00.000-05:00let me just clarify: at no point in time did i say...let me just clarify: at no point in time did i say or even imply that any sort of formal training is necessary to do anything. unless you want to be a surgeon or something...i was simply stating basic interviewing protocol. nor did i comment on the quality of writing that comes out of journalism programs: <I>journalism classes don't only teach people how to write (because a lot of people just can't learn anyway), it teaches them the ethics involved in writing</I>.<BR/><BR/>and my actual statement was: <I>educated or not, a person should find out how to do something properly before going public with it (ie. learn how to play guitar in whatever manner you choose, but at least know how to play it before you get on a stage).</I> <BR/>"learn" doesn't mean you have to take lessons or do anything formal. learning can be done through trial and error, reading up on something, or just plain old guesswork. but i can't think of anyone who thinks it would be entertaining to watch some guy pick up a guitar for the first time on stage and start playing it. perhaps i should have said "practice"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8690237.post-1152485935512881372006-07-09T17:58:00.000-05:002006-07-09T17:58:00.000-05:00I just wrote a long comment which disappeared . . ...I just wrote a long comment which disappeared . . . I'll take that as a sign to be brief . . .<BR/><BR/>I agree with Eric and disagree with Jen - many fine journalists never set foot in journalism school. They just learned by working their way from the very bottom, by trial and error, by writting with passion and making their mistakes, learning from them and moving on. I would argue that journalism school has taken a lot of the "authentic voice" out of news these days, which is why people scramble to read good writing that connects to them - such as that that can be found in blogs. I love people who just go out and try and do things because they do them and want to learn as much as they can at their own pace. I also think that that is where the most original and creative work can be found - through those who don't know all of the rules, but still finds a way to say what they want to say and get others to be moved by it.Random Kathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11865533397931886768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8690237.post-1152321992650947412006-07-07T20:26:00.000-05:002006-07-07T20:26:00.000-05:00Eric, I think that for better or worse the interne...Eric, I think that for better or worse the internet has become somewhat of an equalizer in ideas vs. mass media. It allows people to write about topics that would get zero coverage in mainstream and even a lot of indie media.<BR/><BR/>You and I can write whatever it is we feel like writing about, and we can read whatever blogs we want to, but that doesn't mean that anyone will read what we have to say. I don't read poorly written blogs and I also think I'm pretty good at wading through all the crap out there, but that doesn't mean that someone needs a formal education in order to do something.<BR/><BR/>As for "learning to play a guitar before you get on stage," I think that is bullshit. Punk rock. If someone thinks their voice is important and puts some feeling behind it, good for them. But if they suck I won't bother with it. Formal training has its merits in facilitating the creation of art, music, words, but that only goes so far.<BR/><BR/>I don't know the rules of journalism 101, but that is my opinion for what its worth.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07637160543979509710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8690237.post-1152302307814576542006-07-07T14:58:00.000-05:002006-07-07T14:58:00.000-05:00here's the thing...identifing yourself as a journa...here's the thing...<BR/>identifing yourself as a journalist/writer/etc. when speaking with a person is not an attempt to put a "label" or title on anything. journalism classes don't only teach people how to write (because a lot of people just can't learn anyway), it teaches them the ethics involved in writing. i was originally a journalism major in college, but even before that i knew that if you plan on interviewing and/or using someone's words and ideas in your own print (be it an article, a zine, or a blog), they should know who you are and what you plan on doing with it (not necessarily your point of view per se, but that you intend on using their words at all). it's competely deceitful to aproach a communication that you plan on using without letting the person know that they may or may not be "used". educated or not, a person should find out how to do something properly before going public with it (ie. learn how to play guitar in whatever manner you choose, but at least know how to play it before you get on a stage). call it journalism 101, call it common sense, or call it having respect for what you're trying to produce. i can only hope that, in all of the interviews you've done for <I>post</I>, you've actually told people you're writing a book -- that's something every writer should know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8690237.post-1152293462915035542006-07-07T12:31:00.000-05:002006-07-07T12:31:00.000-05:00I'm with you Eric...I have my history degree, yet ...I'm with you Eric...I have my history degree, yet I ended up being a graphic artist, a chef, and now I do music promotion for Indie labels.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Oh, and Sommerset Maugham was a doctor and didn't become sucessful writing novels until his 40s.<BR/><BR/>Education shouldn't necessarily be a vocational endeavor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com