What's in a name?

This week at SJI, we've been exposed to dozens of speakers and countless pieces of advice. Having tried to write down and retain all that information through the course of eight days can be challenging.

Everything, though, seems to lead back to one maxim: How much do you value your reputation?

Don't ask stupid questions and be known as the one who was unprepared. Don't make a mistake and be known as the one who was careless. Don't duck out of work early and be known as the one who did "just enough." Always press your "on" button.

That goes for our conduct both in and out the newsroom, both on and off the job. By extension, all the work we produce also reinforces our reputation — whether good or bad. David Ubben, a 2009 SJI grad and ESPN's Big 12 blogger, has told us over and over again that sports journalism is a small world. You never know who's watching.

“If you’re going to put something up with your name on it, make sure it’s right," St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bryan Burwell said Wednesday.

And that's the real kicker, isn't it? It's your name. As John Proctor said, "I cannot have another in my life."

The Last Night

I'm writing this last blog post from my classmate's laptop. Seven nights ago I couldn't have pictured this seen, but as we gather in this hotel room watching Family Guy and talking, I can only think about how far we've come as colleagues, and let's face it--friends.

A week ago we didn't know each other, young journalists from across the country with nothing else in common except SJI and a passion for our work. We had preconceived notions. We had our fears about what this week would be and how we would come out in the end.

As I look across at my classmates laughing and sharing our stories from the week, I realize that we're all going to be just fine. 

It doesn't matter what the future holds for us. Internships will be hard. The haters will come out like they always do, and sometimes we'll struggle. I find comfort in that I'll always have my SJI brothers and sisters  to depend on. We share a bond after these short, yet eventful days. We'll laugh when remembering Mr. Carter's crazy quotes.

"Season on the brink!"

We'll remember Greg Lee's stat filled sports checks and the occasional swear from Sandy Rosenbush when whenever we weren't moving fast enough to an appointment. I don't mean to steal his thunder, but I have to echo Nick Creegan when I say that joining the 2012 SJI Class was the best decision of my life. My college, my colleagues, and my new family has invested so much in me. I only hope I can make them and myself proud.

I got it.

Mr. Carter told us from Day One of SJI that some of us will get it, some of us will get it later and some of us will never get it.

I never really understood what "it" was, but I also knew that I was that person who usually gets "it" later. And it's true. I got it, later. 

There are 11 of us in the 20th class of SJI, including three instructors. Mr. Carter told us in the beginning of the week to take a look around the classroom and embrace the diversity because it will be the most diversity we will see. Sandy Rosenbush told us we're entering into a family. 

"Not true," I thought. I've been in diverse settings in college classrooms, churches, study groups and sports teams. After graduating college, I think I know who my real family is. 

But as the week went on, I reflected on my previous internship. 

I was interning in the corporate world for five months and realized how much I had to adjust to the culture of my working environment. I kept brushing off the fact that part of it had to do with me being the only Asian-American in my intern class and one of the few in the office building. The way I was raised, the lessons and values I learned growing up were different than my peers. 

It took SJI and a few "hehe's and haha's," plenty of "QUESTION NUMBER ONE's!" as well as the threats of "U-Haul's" for me to get it. I saw how this diverse group of aspiring journalists handled the pressure. 

We all knew why we were here. We all knew why they didn't have to call any U-Hauls. And we'll all remember this family as we disperse throughout the nation. 

Guys, I finally got it. 

We Came, We Saw, We Got Sports Checked

We came, we saw, we got sports checked.

The eight grueling, yet rewarding, days for 11 aspiring journalists have come to an end. This is a bittersweet moment.

It is sweet because we all get to start our highly anticipated internships at news outlets across the country, but it’s bitter because this could be the most diversity we see in a newsroom… ever.

We had the privilege of being supervised and mentored by some of the most influential people in the sports journalism world such as Sandy Rosenbush of ESPN, Leon Carter of ESPNNewYork and Greg Lee of the Boston Globe.

It would be impossible to jot down everything we’ve learned in the past eight days in just one blog post but there are a couple lifelong lessons I picked up here.

In the words of Leon Carter, “It is not where you start… It is where you finish.”

I came into the Sports Journalism Institute with a minute amount of sports writing experience because I have always been interested in broadcast. It was not easy, but I am pleased to say that within just eight days, I have made a significant improvement in covering games and writing stories. I’m excited to keep my craft growing by learning more at ESPN.com by writing and reading more.

Another valuable lesson: “There are those who get it, and those who don’t.” This is what separates the dreamers from the go-getters. You can always say you want something badly, but just be all talk. If you’re really about getting somewhere in this business you need to get it—as in, “dress like you belong,” as well as “listen more than you talk” and “have no sense of entitlement.”

It’s time for us to represent SJI, but most importantly represent ourselves.

I’ll Have Another lesson

Olivia Lewis
As a sports fan I have always enjoyed a good competition. That being said, before SJI I did not know anything about horse racing, except that they run. But the anticipation and build-up of the possibility of a Triple Crown for the first time in 34 years this weekend sparked my interest. Now that the infamous I’ll Have Another is out of the Belmont Races because of a left leg tendon injury, I’m back to not knowing much about the sport.
If I were sent on an assignment involving a horse race, I would have to do a lot of background work before heading to the race. When St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bryan Burwell visited the SJI class earlier this week, he shared his first experience covering an equine event. I learned a lot from his chat. Specifically, he said to find the story. Just because I may not know everything about horse racing right now, that doesn’t mean I can’t learn and build my way up. There is still a story to be found whether I understand everything that’s happening or not. I have to work my way up, and being observant will help me find a story that other reporters might be quick to overlook.

Connecting with readers, while maintaining respect and credibility

Olivia Lewis

Social media can be a scary thing in journalism. In 140 characters or less, Twitter can start your career or end it within seconds. On Thursday SJI students heard from Joy Mayer, director of community outreach at the Missourian. Serving what seems like a tight-knit community in Columbia, Mayer stressed how important it is for her and her staff to connect with readers.
While journalists are taught to keep themselves out of their work  to inform the community in an unbiased way, Mayer is experimenting with new techniques that connect her staff to its audience through social media. It’s all about inviting the readers to join a conversation.
While it’s not always necessary to give readers control of what is produced, journalists should be in touch with what’s important to the community. When that doesn’t happen, credibility and respect are at stake.

Goodbye Sunday Paper, Hello Sunday iPad

The Sunday paper has always been a big deal for my family. Usually the thickest paper of the week for small town Winston-Salem, NC. Sunday was the only day everyone had time to read the paper from front to back.

The recent national debt and the rise in digital media have made the physical aspect of the Sunday newspaper nearly obsolete. Consumers no longer have to wait for their Saturday night news to come to their door Sunday morning, when they can read about it online in the same night.

MLB.com vice president and executive producer, Jim Jenks, worked his way to digital media while it was in its prime, leaving what he could see what was turning into a dwindling newspaper business for new and improved digital media sources.

Not to get the two confused, Jenks made it clear that newspapers are still extremely important, but the physical aspect of a newspaper is not. There is no monetary gain of the physical paper anymore. Digital, or multimedia, is relatively better than the physical print medium because it reaches people so much faster, while still keeping the paper in business.

Jenks went on to explain how companies like MLB.com make their money. He explained that just like a physical newspaper, advertisements and sponsorships are a major component of their income. 


Subscriptions, online converse, ticket sales, as well as owning the rights to their content while sharing with their partners have given the company the ability to make money in numbers physical papers are incapable of reaching.

Peace Park rooster safe in new home

We haven't had too much time to explore the Mizzou campus just yet, but recent alum and fellow SJI member Gary Cotton has been kind enough to point out highlights as we've walked or driven around Columbia.

One landmark is Peace Park, the swath of grass neighboring our classrooms in the J-School's Lee Hills Hall. Originally called MacAlester Park, it took on its new name after thousands of Missouri students protested the Kent State shootings in 1970. Although it's a popular spot for relaxation and events like Earth Day, Gary added that the park is less peaceful after dark when the inebriated wander in from downtown Columbia.

The park was also recently home to a rogue rooster, a red-and-black bird known by such nicknames as Bob Dylan, Acorn, Roosty and Chicky. Originally spotted last May, the rooster became the park's starring attraction for several months, enjoying the easy life as passers-by made a habit of feeding him. MU Landscaper Services and Animal Control both failed to catch the rooster. The latter said that corralling the bird was not a high priority because it wasn't causing much trouble.

If Animal Control had caught the rooster, it would have sent the bird to the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, where he would have been killed if no one claimed him within five days. Luckily for the rooster, a small rescue mission organized by retired psychologist Summer Allen spent over an hour searching for the him on the morning of Dec. 4. After successfully grabbing him, they turned the rooster over to a "hobby" chicken farm near Rock Bridge Memorial State Park — about four miles south of campus.

How the bird ended up in Peace Park in the first place is still unknown.

Getting Carded...at an Ice Cream Parlor?

A group of senior college students and recent graduates walked into a store, and their eyes lit like kids in a candy shop.

It was a sunny, warm afternoon in downtown Columbia, Mo., and their SJI teachers decided to treat them to Sparky's Homemade Ice Cream, a place known to have sold cicada-flavored ice cream. Real cicada's. Cicadas freshly picked from the air.

The SJI students peaked over their peers' shoulders, trying to see what different flavors were offered. Unfortunately, no cicadas. They weren't in season.

Flavors ranged from Thin Mint to London Fog, from Salty Caramel to the basics such as Vanilla Bean. They spent the first five to seven minutes sampling the various flavors.

Then, there were the "adult" flavors, including White Russian. They had a Guinness Float written on its menu in bold print right next to Root beer Float. There were also one-pint cans of Guinness for sale in their mini-fridges that could easily be confused as cans of Arnold Palmer Ice Tea. 

But no. Guinness was actually being sold at this ice cream parlor, and yes, one of the ice cream flavors was White Russian. 

One of my fellow SJI classmates asked to sample the White Russian-flavored ice cream, curious to see if it matched the same tastiness as the other flavors we sampled.

"Can I see your I.D.?" the lady asked. 

I look at my classmate, then look again at the lady behind the cashier who was wearing an apron and grey visor. She knew she caught us off guard. 

But I looked at her again, and her face simply read, "Yes, I know we're carding you in an ice cream shop. But it's policy. ... And this ice cream is made of real goo-goo."

Trying to Be Better Leaders

Today was day five at the Sports Journalism Institute here in Columbia at the University of Missouri. Michael Anastasi, managing editor at The Salt Lake Tribune and outgoing APSE president, stopped by to talk to the class about someday getting into management.
Anastasi discussed the characteristics of good leadership and he said a couple of things that struck a chord with most of the class. The things he said that stuck out the most was that the best leaders are the best learners.
The saying made a lot of sense to me because I've been in a management/leadership position before when I was the sports editor at The Daily Aztec at San Diego State. Because the more you learn, the better you'll be.
I mean after all, knowledge still is power. I've learned a lot this week, I'm sure my classmates have too, I know I'll benefit from it down the road and hopefully that'll make me and my classmates better leaders someday.

Information is Key

Even before my stint at the Sports Journalism Institute, I've always been interested in column writing. The freedom of it, the freedom of expression is something you can only really find in..well...blogs. I always knew one thing though, I had to earn my right to speak. 

I learned from sportswriter and on-air personality Bryan Burwell today that information is what separates a blogger from a columnist. He told us that when we are informed, we can't be intimidated.

"You can smoke anyone once you gain that knowledge," Burwell said. 

  

I believe that, and I plan to gain that knowledge. My MLB TV account will be reactivated. ESPN will be my homepage, and I WILL finish those baseball books I bought. Burwell told me that the best way to gain the knowledge I need is to totally immerse myself in it.

Pretty common sense advice when you actually think about it. Even though it intrigues me, I wouldn't even think of doing any column writing until I gain that intuitive knowledge I need. That will only come with hard work and practice. After that, who knows? Maybe I can start spouting out my opinions. 

 

Hope From the Mouth of Bryan Burwell

St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports columnist Bryan Burwell offered plenty words of inspiration, but one that made me chuckle a bit was this:

"Newspapers are never going to go away. Why?" Burwell said as he spoke to our SJI class on column writing. "Because it's easier to go to the toilet with one of these (holds a newspaper), rather than one of those (points at someone's smart phone)."


It's old news that newspapers are suffering, and many journalists heading into the print side of the industry constantly worry about job opportunities. So in a time like this, when job security, or even landing a journalism job at all, it's always good to let out a little laugh.

Besides, they say laughing boosts your immune system.

A Morning with Mayer

Joy Mayer, the director of community engagement at the Missouri School of Journalism spoke to our SJI class about social journalism. Her philosophy is that social media has always existed, but the expectations have changed. She used the example of a little girl who confused her father when she searched for the "mouse" for their television set.

She couldn't fathom that she couldn't interact with the content. It reminded me of this video, I saw a while ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXV-yaFmQNk

For that baby, traditional print-based media was unacceptable. She wanted to interact. She wanted to know how she could manipulate the content she was seeing. That's the point Mayer made in her lecture. As journalists we have to constantly look for ways to make our audience a part of the conversation.

They need to trust us. When we can make that happen, we can do our jobs better than we've ever done.

The Importance of Mentorship

Nick Creegan

Speaking to Darnell Mayberry, the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer at the Oklahoman, gave me a  greater appreciation for our mentor, Justice B. Hill, a long-time sports journalist.

“Justice is one of the most influential guys that I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to lean on,” Darnell said. “He is willing to go out of his way to make you better.”

Seeing Darnell’s success and hearing him speak highly of the guidance that Justice has given  him makes me appreciate and understand why Justice pushes me so hard.

It’s to reach the level of success he has helped Darnell reach, and then some.

I would have never thought that someone I’ve only met once in my life at a National Association of Black Journalists convention would be willing to invest a great amount of time and energy into the development of my career and character.

The only way Justice wants me to pay him back whenever I become successful down the road is to buy him a burger and most importantly guide as many younger people as I can to becoming successful.

Mentorship is not just beneficial for the mentee’s development, but also for the mentor.

You want to set a good example by the way you carry yourself, things you do and image you portray. I have experienced that with my younger brother. I try to set good examples for him from being professional, to staying humble yet always hungry to become better in anything you commit yourself to.

One of the most important and valuable “nuggets” of knowledge Justice has given to me that I have instilled in my younger brother is to ignore negative people. Not everyone will be happy for your success and some will expect you to fail. He left me with a lesson that will resonate in my head whenever I face adversity. 

In James Baldwin’s book "The Fire Next Time" he write a letter to his nephew, a young black youth who was coming of age. Here's what Baldwin, a realist, told him: "You are not expected to aspire to excellence; you're expected to make peace with mediocrity."

If excellence is really our goal, we should find someone of wisdom who has done what we are trying to do. When we make it to where we are trying to go, do the same for the person who are in the shoes you were once in years ago. 

Gumppppppp!!!!

Mariah Baylor

Today I discovered that I have more in common with my Sports Journalism Institute classmates and editors than I thought. What iconic measure brought myself, classmate RJ Young, and NABJ President Greg Lee together? Forrest Gump!
On the walk back to Mizzou’s journalism school after our dinner at Noodles and Company, I was involved in a hilarious rehearsal of Gump quotes such as “me and Jenny was like peas and carrots” that had me practically in tears.
Forrest Gump came out in 1994 when I was hardly old enough to understand the humor. But I’ve watched it over and over as I’ve grown. Tom Hanks’ character never ceases to have me weak with laughter.

Private Gump

The movie depicts several decades in the life of Forrest Gump, a slow-witted man from Greenbow, Alabama who witnesses and influences some of the defining events of the 20th century.
The rehearsal was a heartwarming and an abdominally taxing exercise. And although I’m sure ESPN New York’s Executive Editor Leon Carter might not have enjoyed all of my “hee hee and kee kee.”
I’m sure he’d be glad that I can look back on my week at SJI as both a helpful and wonderfully memorable experience.

Of Roosters and Rodents... and Flamingos

Bill (above), a plastic flamingo who calls this perch above
Missourian Sports Editor Greg Bowers' desk home.

(Reporter’s Note: If you don’t have the patience to read through 651 words and need to know why there is a picture of a plastic flamingo named Bill atop this post, skip to No. 11.)

This morning at day two of SJI, Missourian Sports Editor Greg Bowers informed the class that there was a rooster running rampant at the adjacent Peace Park.

Let that sink in for a second.

A rooster. In Columbia Mo. Next to a newspaper building. Bobbing and weaving its feathery head and neck in a place called Peace Park.

Exhale. Breathe in. Chuckle. Chuckle again.

Without further ado, here's the rundown on the rooster:

1) We can report, in follow up talks with Bowers and through online research, that the rooster in fact was caught last December. The rooster is now cock-a-doodle-dooing happily at a hobby chicken farm outside of city limits. Bowers regrets this initial error.

2) The rooster's name is Bob Dylan. Yes, the rooster bares a slight resemblance to its namesake, especially its feathered, frizzy hair on top of its head. Very Blonde on Blonde esque.

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan

3) A retired psychologist named Summer Allen had been feeding Dylan daily during Dylan’s eight month stay in the park.

4) Bowers said he thinks Dylan was able to survive for eight months by, "eating bugs and stuff".

5) It took Allen, five other adults, two children, a net, two blankets, an hour’s worth of time and a diabolical plan based in rooster psychology and chicken migratory techniques to capture Dylan. Well...capture and shepherd Dylan to the safety from the mild Columbia winter that is.

Appreciating the finer things

In the middle of a lecture during class today, Sandy Rosenbush stopped when she saw something outside the window of Lee Hills Hall here at the University of Missouri.

Leon Carter also stopped speaking to take a look out the window. It turned out to be a rabbit outside that the two were looking at.

Carter's explanation was pretty simple when he told us why he had to stop and look. He said sometimes you just have to stop what you're doing and appreciate nature.

I know it's only day two out here, but I think stopping to appreciate is something most of us will do while we're here in Columbia. We've all been offered a great opportunity to learn from some of the most experienced professionals in the sports journalism business.

Despite the impromptu sports checks at Shakespeare's Pizza or the threats of midnight sports checks, I'm pretty sure all of us will appreciate the time here when we look back on it down the road. But for now, our job is just to soak it all in.

Opening the Door

As a minority, I've always been a little self conscious of my perception in the newsroom. Throughout my collegiate career, I've always been the only African American around and it made me wonder what that meant. I was on school on a diversity scholarship, I was a student of a black journalism workshop in Kansas City and I didn't hide it on my resume. I'd often ask myself if I was here because of my skills as a journalist or because of my race.

Today, I heard a great quote during a presentation for the Sports Journalism Institute given by Dan Le Batard. The Cuban-American sportswriter said, “I don’t care why (they) open the door, as long as (they) open it.”

That struck a chord with me. It was the thing I've always felt, but never heard another minority say out loud. I can't complain about my race, the hardships it has caused pales in comparison to the doors it has opened. The fact that I'm about to be an intern at MLB.com through an institution focused on placing minority journalists is a testament to that. My race only helps open the door, it's up to me to keep it open.

Writing, a foundation for Dan Le Batard

I found I have something in common with Dan Le Batard, a weekly sports columnist for the Miami Herald and also host of his own show on ESPN, "Dan Le Batard is Highly Questionable."

He knew what he wanted to do right away, which was to write. In high school, he wanted to write about his friends playing sports. It was a way for him to stay young. He was also a paper boy.

Minus the paper boy, I enjoyed writing and reading about sports during high school. I'd go to our school library during lunch, open the Chicago Sun-Times and scroll through the prep scores, seeing results of other schools in my conference. 

I loved reading about my friends and friends from other schools in the paper. I could see myself writing for a newspaper and knew right away I wanted to go into sports journalism in college. 

Same with Dan, he said he just wanted to write as we went into the University of Miami.

In a cramped conference room with laptops and power cords stretched across the floor, my fellow SJI classmates and I had a conference phone call with Dan. (Note: Don't call him 'Sir.' That's his dad's name.) 

It was odd at first. We had just finished watching his half-hour show on a projector in class, and now we had him on speaker. 

The guy we watched on the screen talked about his dad taking off his shirt in front of his girlfriend, furious that the Heat had just dropped Game 4 to the Celtics. Dan joked and painted the image of his dad being "hairy, sweaty and disoriented" in front his his girlfriend.

It was difficult for me to picture Dan being serious. But the guy who I thought was too goofy on TV, discussing non-analytical sports topics seemed to have an alter-ego -- a more down-to-earth personality. 

He went from print to radio to TV and without any schooling in radio or TV. 

How'd he do it?

"Writing prepared me very well," Dan said.

It "sculpted" him. 

"Read as much as you can from as many places as you can," he added. 

Very reassuring words.

The Cream

I am in last place in scoring in the 2012 SJI Class. Ok, maybe not the last, but close enough to it. I lack a lot of the background knowledge many of my classmates have. I miss references and misspell names of anything that isn't basketball related. But then I saw this video.

Macho Man Randy Savage

We (the SJI class) are the cream of the crop. We were all selected because we have the potential to rise. That's exactly what I intend to do. I've learned so much already, but there's still much more to learn. That's what makes the challenge so exciting, I can do more "rising" than anyone else.

Not keen on copy editing? Think again

Jack Wang

Copy editing has never sounded like a great job — strapped to a desk, nit-picking stray commas, never allowed to write anything of your own.

But as news rapidly moves off the page and onto the web, the role of copy editors is quickly changing. Laura Johnston, the senior news editor at the Columbia Missourian, talked to the SJI class today about the importance of her copy editing duties. "Think of copy editors as people who sell your story, people who help you get noticed," Johnston said. "Think of ways to do that yourself."

SEO is now especially important to keep in mind. Analytics can tell journalists what words pique readers' interests and when the peak reading hours are. One two-paragraph story about former Missouri football player Derrick Washington and his legal troubles, for example, blew up with 15,000 page views back in 2010. Even the Missourian's follow-up edits got 5,000 views. Using data, the Missourian editors realized that most readers were searching for Washington's name, prompting them to include it prominently in all headlines.

Because what's the point of directing all your effort into crafting the perfect sentence if no one ever sees that sentence? Besides helping your work get more eyeballs, copy editing other writers also makes your own writing better. By constantly checking others for style and grammar, you become less likely to make the same mistakes yourself. "There's always something new," Johnston said. "Someone said copy editors don't leave the office all day. The thing I like about my job, though, is I never know what it's going to be like that day."

Near the end of her session, she gave some book suggestions as well:

Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer

The Glamour of Grammar: A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English

El ratón de Hialeah

Mariah Baylor

On Monday, I watched the ESPN show “Dan Le Batard Is Highly Questionable” with my Sports Journalism Institute classmates. Dan hosts the show with his father Gonzalo, who goes by “Papi” on the show. We were told that after the show, Dan was going to call the class and we would have an opportunity to ask a few questions. Naturally I typed his name into Google for some background.
I was intrigued by the fact that Dan and Papi are Cuban-Americans. Dan grew up in Miami after his mother and father moved to the United States from Cuba.
I learned that Dan and his father do the TV show in what Papi calls the armpit of Miami. That would be Hialeah, with a population comprised of mostly Hispanics and an economy that is struggling. Papi loves the city and began to call himself "el ratón de Hialeah" (the rat of Hialeah).
I was immediately interested to learn this, as I attended a Spanish immersion school from kindergarten through eighth grade. Many of my friends are first- or second-generation Americans and have roots in Hispanic countries. I respect Dan and Papi and understand how his culture has helped him succeed.

Le Batard offers good advice

Olivia Lewis

I am often told that I have the look of a deer in the headlights, even when I know exactly what is going on. My attention to detail has always been lacking. It’s not that I don’t pay attention, it’s more that I’m just not observant of the little things, which has truly smacked me in the face this week in our Sports Journalism Institute boot camp at the University of Missouri.
For example, every morning I dread the upcoming sports checks. I have downloaded at least five more news source apps to my phone since I landed in St. Louis last Friday. Scouring through as many articles as I can get my hands on, I still seem to miss things and I’m realizing it’s my lack of attention to detail. While I’m looking at the employees of Shakespeare’s Pizza on the campus of Mizzou, instructor Sandy Rosenbush is standing off to the side, looking at a T-shirt that tells when the restaurant was founded.
But I’m working on it. In our chat Monday afternoon with Dave Le Batard, who writes a weekly column for the Miami Herald and hosts a show (“Dan Le Batard is Highly Questionable) for ESPN, he told us that as he was moving up, he learned by failing. I guess I must have learned a lot so far working with SJI.

Advice worth taking from MLB.com execs

Maya Jones

Sitting in the pressroom at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday with Carlton Thompson and Jim Jenks of MLB.com, I was able to listen to advice being given by two men who are where I want to be. Jenks and Thompson have been through some things in this industry that I hope I never have to experience, including having to make cutbacks in staff, and seeing newspapers fold—though neither occurrence seems all that rare nowadays. 

There were a couple of things said that stuck with me and made me realize not only how much I’ve grown in a short amount of time, but also how far I have to go, and things I need to start improving on now.

“I talked more than I listened.” Thompson said this about his internship experience and where he felt he messed up. I actually felt the opposite way about my performance in my first internship. I listened more than I talked, and that could be just as frustrating. During my first internship, I didn’t want to “bother” my editors. I didn’t want to pitch ideas for fear that they would be rejected. I listened, took advice, but never really sat down or talked to anyone about how I felt regarding stories or the way things were being handled. Since then, I’ve learned the importance of forming connections with colleagues and editors.

“When you get an opportunity, you have to make the most of it.” When Thompson said this, it made me realize how important programs like SJI are, and how seriously they should be taken. Not everyone gets a chance to be taught by the best of the best. Not everyone gets the chance to experience what it’s like to have mentors who are really looking out for you, rooting for you and wanting to see you succeed. It’s only been two days and I already feel like the people who are teaching me will be there for me whenever I need them. That’s an extremely good feeling to have.

Rude Reputation Proved Wrong

Mariah Baylor

Arthur Bryant’s: Good food—and good service
There’s a dining hall-style eatery on the corner of 18th and Brooklyn in Kansas City, Mo. I’d been hearing great things about all the places my class at the Sports Journalism Institute has eaten at, and so far each restaurant has passed with flying colors. I had high expectations for Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque as well. After all, if it’s good enough for past presidents and a host of celebrities, I’m sure I should at least try it.
I love barbeque, but there was one thing discouraging my anticipation. I appreciate quality customer service and friendly people in general, and I was warned that this was not the place to find either of those. I heard that this was a “tell them what you want and move on” kind of place, with no time for chit chat or a kind word. I was a little nervous.
The restaurant was busy after a Sunday afternoon Royals game and my fear of being rudely rushed or barked at was fast approaching. I got in the school lunch style line and, to my horror, people ahead of me were being shuffled along, receiving coarse remarks or no verbal greeting at all.
I made a bold move. I said hello to the first man behind the counter, who looked tired. He replied with a hurried “hi.” He seemed pressed to move me along to the next man, who was to take my drink order, but I was determined to make a positive personal connection with someone in the famous restaurant no matter how brief. I asked how he was and how his day was going. And to my delight, he grinned and answered “I’m doing fine, how are you?” I even got a smile and a hello from the cooks and cashier too.
Everyone knows why Arthur Bryant’s barbeque is so famous. I had a wonderful experience with the food—and I also enjoyed quality customer service and a friendly atmosphere.

Malcolm Moran: Deadlines, Interns and Sandusky

Knight chair in sports journalism and society Malcolm Moran spoke with the Sports Journalism Institute's 2012 class at the University of Missouri for the first of two sessions. His first session was about deadline writing and the traits separating good (sports) interns from bad (sports) interns.

Here are a few of Moran's tips for deadline writing:

• Crystallize the story -- be selective
• Be careful about using featured ledes on deadline
• Be on time with your copy and write it cleanly
• Understand singular-plural agreement
• Create a comfort zone by over-preparing for an event
• Develop a premise early in the event

Here are a few of Moran's tips for being a next-level intern:

• Take the initiative
• Be self-sufficient
• Be precise
• Come with ideas
• Be a team player
• Nothing is beneath you

Moran's second session was about his experience during the Jerry Sandusky news break. Sandusky, 68, was indicted for sex crimes on Nov. 4, 2011 in Centre County, Penn. following a two-year grand jury investigation. He was a long time Penn State football coach and founder of Second Mile charity organization.

Here are some of the lessons he taught and points he thought would be useful for the class:

• Some of the best reporters advancing the story were students
• You can make a mark as a young reporter
• You can distinguish yourself by asking the right questions

-- RJ Young, 2012 Sports Journalism Institute student

New Yorker gives Missouri pizza an A

Nick Creegan


Before I walked into Shakespeare pizzeria for lunch, I had already made up my mind.  I would be disappointed.

Greg Bowers of the University of Missouri faculty and Missouri student Gary Cotton claimed the place served the best pizza around. But before I even tried it, I was begging to differ. 

I'm from New York. I know great pizza, and there is no way this place could be as good as these Missourians make it out to be.

The smell of sizzling mozzarella hit my nostrils and the sight of kids' faces covered with marinara sauce made me chuckle. I decided to keep an open mind. I gave the pizza a shot.

I'm glad I did.

I took a look around at the restaurant and noticed the unique brick wall decorations, such as the vintage five-cent Nichol Kola sign. The menu was also different. Never before had I seen two toppings menus. There was a section for "regular" toppings and one for "exotic."

I don't know what makes tomatoes or broccoli more exotic than anchovies, but maybe native New Yorkers are just used to every topping -- yes I'm biased.

I enjoyed the feel of this place, and in the words of instructor Leon Carter, I decided this pizza would have me "going to glory."

By the time we took our seats, my stomach was growling and I was ready to forget about whether this pizza was as good as a New York pie and just eat. Then the pizza arrived, all hot and bubbly, and I knew things would get messy. I guess that’s the reason Shakespeare’s does not offer napkins but, instead, hands you a big red rag.

The pizza was delicious.

Our SJI group of 11 students and 4 instructors devoured four pizzas as if they were our last meal. Knowing our editors, that just might have been the case.

Alternative Learning

Olivia Lewis

Walking around on the campus of Hampton University I have heard the pompous remarks from business, engineering, and pharmacy majors ridiculing journalism as an easy major. The work of a journalist is not lax, it’s just different. The work outside of the classroom truly mirrors what a journalism student has learned.

At the University of Missouri students are taught by doing, while at most universities journalism students are taught in a structured classes to gain experience on their own. The burning question still stands, how do you get experience if jobs, including internships, require prior jobs?

Many university’s have school newspapers, radio stations, and even television stations; but all run by students with faculty advisors. The University of Missouri has them all; the difference is they also have community news outlets on campus run by professionals where students work as staff.  The movement of teaching journalism in the workplace, rather than 24/7 classroom time is monumental.

The novelty idea is one of the many that have helped Missouri claim itself as one of the top journalism schools in the country and proves that a large part of journalism should be taught in the workplace.


“In journalism you have to learn-by-doing,” said Greg Bowers, sports editor of The Missourian.


His statement is true. Media outlets expect potential employees to already have experience. 


“It’s kind of like an internship on campus,” Bowers said. 


As a professor of the Missouri journalism school, Bowers believes the system works because of the direction it gives students. 


“Students have passion and energy but no direction. They need help with direction and that’s where we come in,” Bowers said.

Not-so-Peace(ful) Park

Clacking, banging, screeching, groaning and grunting were the sounds heard through the open window in Lee Hills Hall at the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism this weekend. The skateboarders were out, trying stunts that sent their bodies flying one way and their skateboards in the opposite direction.

But as I set out to find these skateboarders, I realized that they had moved on.

Clacking, banging, screeching, groaning and grunting. As I looked up to follow the sound of what I thought was the return of the skateboarders, I found another group—carrying shields, axes and swords—gathered in Peace Park, across from our classroom in Lee Hills Hall. The medieval atmosphere made me more curious as to what they might be doing. As it turns out, they were playing a game, called Dagorhir.

Dagorhir, founded in 1977, is a full-contact combat simulation in which members dress the part and engage in a melee using a combination of handmade weapons. The sport is known throughout the country and has chapters in a number of states, mostly on college campuses.

Stephen Rawlings, 24, enjoys the sport and makes the weapons for the Stonewater Marches, a Dagorhir chapter in Columbia.  “I was walking in the park, heard guys beating on each other and decided to join, Rawlings said. “I like to think of it as paintball, but with swords.”

Members of the Stonewater Marches meet every Saturday at 2 p.m. to practice and welcome anyone who wants to join the chapter.

Rubbing the Nose

From the famous columns, to Thomas Jefferson's original tomb, the University of Missouri's Francis Quadrangle has several noteworthy sites. One of the more popular, is the bust of Francis Quadrangle itself  which is said to bring a little extra luck. 

Located just right of Jesse Hall, visitors and students at the University of Missouri are encouraged to take advantage of a long held tradition of rubbing the statue of David R. Francis' nose. You can't miss it, it's well worn and shiny from thousands of fingers in need of a little good fortune. It's not the original nose though. The tradition has led to three replacement noses for the statue since it was erected in 1924.