On Nov. 16th, Journalism will be hosting 2 guest speakers from the Globe and Mail. Attend the J-talks and listen to their stories. Using their experiences as examples, think and write about what is needed to "make it big" in journalism professions.

“Making it big”. Work hard, work diligently, and strive for success. A journalist has to struggle to climb the ropes in order to make it big in the journal world. As we listened to the presentations of the two guest speakers, many factors come into play regarding how journalists work and how they themselves got involved journalism.

1. Journalists have to have patience. Without patience, then it is difficult to move up the ladder. Every journalists starts at the bottom and must work their way to the top. It is a long, hard road, but the benefits at the end of the road are worth the wait.
2. Journalists have to be willing to follow instructions. At first a young journalist will be working for another and must be able to follow instructions. When they are in good terms with others, those is powers of position will be able to put in a good word for them.
3. Working hard is key for journalists because they have to work hard in the office and in the field in order to get the facts of the story and be able to work under pressure to get the story done before the deadline. Being prompt will show others that they can work under pressure and still write a hard news story that can captivate the readers and draw the attention of the media to their story.

Journalists live a hectic life and need to organized. But i believe that a very important aspect of becoming a journalist is having the drive and the passion for the job. Like any other job, a person should enjoy what they are doing. At the end of the day, they should feel happy that they are at a job that they enjoying coming to everyday even though they whine and complain about all the things that they hate about the job. Having the love and appreciation for their own craft will propel them to work hard on every assignment and eventually they will make it big. It may take years, or possibly only a couple of months. But no matter how long it takes to "make it big", loving one's job is always important. Especially in the world of journalism because as one of the guest speakers said, one of the only ways that a young journalist can get a job at a newspaper is if one of the senior writers dies. It's a harsh truth, but the truth nonetheless. "Making it big" is a journey on its own, but a rewarding journey that makes all the whining and complaining seem like nothing at all.

silentsanchez

Time for some creative writing, J-Students! In the style of a cooking recipe, you will concoct a recipe for "Success as a Mary Ward Student."

INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS AS A MARY WARD STUDENT

1. 1 bowl of punctuality. Attend all morning TA sessions in order to be up to date on marks and gain valuable chat time with TA buddies. Pour one batch of tidy uniform into the mix and your TA credit will be flashing 100% at the end of year report card.

2. 1 cup of organization. A student bible – agenda – is necessary for success in all seasons. Without an agenda, organization skills may be thrown out the window and possibly units that one keeps inside the agenda. Always write down important dates, seminars, and test certificate numbers. Organize dates so that you do not forget to write a test or miss a super TA interview.

3. 1 tbsp. of responsibility. You will need 1 locker to keep books, clothes, and your trusty backpack in. A student’s locker is like a student’s room packed into a small rectangular bin. Everything is mess yet you know where everything goes. This locker comes especially handy when a student has to go to science since no bags are allowed in science. Don’t give out your locker combo because you don’t want that iPOD stolen. Be responsible and know where you keep your belongings because the worst thing would be to lose a unit.

4. 5 tsps. of discipline. Attendances of 5 periods of class each day are mandatory for student success. If a student is hallwalking constantly, then there is no room to get work done and consult with teachers. Discipline is essential for a student to get down to work and be able to do work even though there are distractions such as friends in the area.

5. Infinite glasses of coffee. As you reach the final weeks of school – June Rush – caffeine will become your best friend. Stock up before you go to school and possibly make a coffee rush during lunch in order to stay awake and not fall asleep while in class.

In order for the recipe to turn into success, a student must always use the proper ingredients. Depending on the time of year, a student may add a few tbsps. of each ingredient if a due date is to be met such as university deadlines. As a student progresses each year, the workload will increase and so will the volume of the ingredients. Discipline is very important during Unit 9 and 12 university deadlines, so add ingredients with care. Always stretch and get lots of sleep. An active mind is much stronger and beneficial than a lazy body. Partying should be kept to a minimum in May and use PA Days and holidays to refresh your mind or get up to date on your units. Follow the recipe and success will be right around the corner. Remember, stressing out is normal, but how you handle the stress will decide the amount of success you will gain. GOOD LUCK!

silentsanchez

There has been quite a bit of hype surrounding the new Nintendo Wii gaming system. Some say that the Wii's ability to "democratize" gaming for people of all ages and abilities is revolutionary. Do you think this is a true technological revolution or just hype?

Video gaming systems have revolutionized the gaming world time and time again over the past decade. Most recently, three major gaming companies – Nintendo, Playstation, and XBOX all released new gaming systems within a close time frame. All companies claimed that their system would revolutionize the way we play video games. With new enhanced technology and more games than a kid in a candy store can imagine, all three companies were placed on a pedestal for all to observe to see who would succeed the most.

Of the three gaming systems, I believe the console with the most changes both physical appearance and technological advancements, the Nintendo Wii have improved the most. The Wii is fresh, stylish, and has the potential to attract people of all ages to play the gaming system. I agree that the Wii is a true technological revolution in a way that people of all ages and abilities are able to play games on the Wii without being “lost”. The biggest development of the Wii would be the controller and wireless system. Instead of the traditional game controller, the Wii has transformed its controller into a rectangular shape that can be used numerous different ways; depending on what game the person is playing. With the wireless system allows for the Wii to be an interactive gaming system for all ages. Individuals are much more involved in the games they play such as boxing, golfing, and role-playing games such as Zelda. The Wii has revolutionized gaming because instead of traditionally sitting down and playing a game, the individual is able to get on their feet and is much more interacted with the game.

From personal experience, I attest to my opinion that the Wii has revolutionized gaming for all ages. Since my dad bought my younger brother and myself a Nintendo when we were younger, he was always the one in front of the television day and night playing video games. He would always beg my dad to buy him the newest gaming system and he would always spend most of his birthday money on a new game. Video games were my brother’s thing; sports were mine. When the Wii came out, I was not as excited as my brother was, but a trip to my friend’s house changed all that. I was amazed at how interactive the system was. I was on my feet for every single game I played because I was truly drawn in. Excitement filled my mind because of all the different ways I could use a controller whenever we played a different game. The Wii has the ability to involve individuals who normally don’t play video games and allows the games to be exciting and interactive. Hype is placed around a new pair of shoes that cost $200 and has a new model come out the following season, hype is not what should be labeled around the Nintendo Wii. The Wii has brought gaming to a new level and I believe that competing companies won’t be able to create a system as interactive and creative as the Wii for many years to come. It is a system that will last the ages.

silentsanchez.

In one recent J-Talk, we discussed the Reporters Without Borders 2006 report on Press Freedom. The report reveals the harsh realities that journalists are facing around the world for the sake of bearing witness to the truth. Some pay the ultimate price. This begs the question: Why do journalists struggle so hard, sometimes even risking their own lives, to get the story?

Journalists have a job where they are living on the edge and are always awaiting for the next riveting story. The job is full of ups and downs and there are many risks that need to be taken in order to get to the bottom of the story. Journalists struggle in the field to get the story and struggle in the newsroom to get the story finished by press time. To some, risking their lives may be a small price to pay in order to find facts and truths regarding the story they are covering. Journalists that are stationed in countries where war is taking place are the ones who are in most danger. But uncovering the truth is why they are there and why they won’t leave until they job is done. Times are hard for all involved, but no one else will get the job done and no one else has the will to bring even just a little bit of justice to the lives of citizens involved. To some, getting to the bottom of the story is not because they are in need of a big payday or recognition from the public, it is because they are passionate about their job and have the drive to find the truth.

Journalists struggle hard to get the story because there are so many factors involved when one has to overcome obstacles such as people who are “guarding” the story that they are reporting on. Just as paparazzi fights to get a photograph of celebrities outside of their comfort zone, journalists fight to find the end of the story. They have to find witnesses to speak to and have to dig dirt on others in order to present a captivating story with all the facts. Journalists sometimes risk their lives to get the story because they themselves want to learn the truth. They understand that people are captivated with the story and want to know all the facts. It is their personal drive and their passion to bring the truth to the people that push a journalist to go over and above to get to the bottom of the story.

The story that captivates the entire city and brings a little justice to citizens’ lives is enough satisfaction for a journalist who has gone beyond their limits to find the truth. Risking their lives just a little is not what worries journalists. Not being able to bring the truth to the world is what would bother the journalist so much more if they didn’t find the truth. Some may face the price, especially when they are in a dangerous situation, such as in the middle of a war. If justice is served and the truth is revealed, then the journalist has done their job and at the same time has brought satisfaction to themselves and to society.

silentsanchez.

How does buying a red cell phone help a child in Africa suffering from AIDS? Consumerism=Humanitarianism?

You're walking through the mall and you step into your local GAP store. The sale rack is in shambles but the centre table is neat and tidy. The setting appeals to you and you walk to closer to take a look as to what is so organized at the table. RED. It is sea of RED apparel, $150 jacket, a $50 t-shirt, a $70 long sleeve, you put down the items and walk away. Was this your reaction when you first set your eyes on the line of RED clothing featured at the GAP? Did you have any clue as to why the clothing cost so much money? So what do you do when you learn that when you purchase any RED apparel that proceeds of the sale will go towards AIDS benefit for people in Africa? Does that prompt you to buy that t-shirt just a little more? The same goes for any product that is related to RED, such as the RED Motorola RZR cell phone and the RED iPOD nano. Is there something in the back of your head that gives you a little nudge to buy the product because proceeds go to children suffering from AIDS?So the question remains, how does buying a red cell phone help a child in Africa suffering from AIDS? Buying a red cell phone is an incentive to get people to buy products but at the same time allow them to feel good that buying red cell phone is also providing medicine for a child with AIDS. This is truly placing consumerism on the top of things that society is becoming a product of. We are a society of buying what is in demand, what is the most popular, the most technological, and the most expensive. Consumerism is taking advantage of society's weakness. The average consumer is probably associated with certain brand names that they are attached too and won't buy the same product of a different brand name. Society has become brand name consumers and consumerism is growing due to that fact. Consumerism does not equal humanitarianism because there are different principals to those two concepts. We want to promote humanitarianism and we don’t want consumerism to grow as it consumes enough of society as it is. Humanitarianism should come from within a person who believes in the cause that they are supporting and understands where, how, and what their money is doing to make the lives of those less fortunate better. Celebrity endorsements of products raises awareness to causes that they believe in and want others to believe in as well, but placing large price tags on red cell phones may be crossing the line just a little bit. At times, society needs a push to direct them in the right direction and celebrities are the go to people in order to raise awareness to a cause. But we don’t have to use products to make us feel better that we are helping those who are less fortunate. We should be able to dig into our pockets and donate money or our time and help instead of rewarding ourselves with a $50 t-shirt that had 10% of the final sale go towards children with AIDS in Africa.

In the end, the money donated goes to the same cause – one that will benefit the lives of those less fortunate and hopefully bring a string of light to their lives. We should feel good that we took money out of our own pockets to help those who are ill and suffer from many problems. We do not have to buy a red cell phone in order to make ourselves feel good. Charity comes from the heart, not from incentives in the form of red cell phones.

silentsanchez.