See ya!

I’m back. Yep, it’s me Newsgyrljunkie, returning to bring you the last @UNITY blog entry after bringing you the first earlier this week.

Like I promised, it’s been a long week, right?

We’ve heard from Kerry and Bush, attended workshops, visited the job fair, and, definitely, had lots of fun at all the parties.

Proof of the good times walked into my room about 2 a.m. last night.

My roommate was so blasted that she stumbled in, ran straight to the bathroom and stayed there for an entire hour. Since there were three of us in the room, naturally, my other roommate and I were worried about her.

We knocked and knocked on the door and decided to bust in to see what was really going on. Instead of praying to the porcelain gods, she had fallen fast asleep while sitting on the porcelain potty.

That was the highlight of my night. And yes, there’s still time to shake ya’ booty. There are still more parties tonight and probably even Sunday if you stick around.

I’m sure many of you had entertaining experiences at UNITY. Perhaps it was the homeless people on the street, getting a strange look from a career-fair recruiter or listening to Connie Chung sing at AAJA banquet.

It was a blast for sure, and we’re glad you had fun and made the trip to UNITY.
How many people can honestly say they’re part of something that’s boosting diversity across the country?

Well, you certainly can because UNITY is all about making sure our newsrooms represent all Americans, including people of color.

So, in the spirit of the great Julie Andrews flick “The Sound of Music” … “So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen and good night!”

Go on the record

Stemming from one of my fellow blogger’s question: “Why don’t reporters want to go on record at a journalism convention?” I am adding my two cents.

After politely approaching several people and asking them if they had two minutes to answer a question for our Q&A after President Bush spoke, the response was “no” more often than “yes.” I identified myself as a reporter for the student UNITY online project but that didn’t seem to motivate people to answer my question.

I’m merely a student trying to learn the craft. Why aren’t more reporters willing to help aspiring journalists learn the skills of the trade? Maybe they are trying to teach us the principle of perseverance. I sure hope that’s the case.

And why are some reporters not willing to give their opinion on major issues because of where they work? It’s a scary thought that I might lose my right to express an opinion if I go to work at a major newspaper.

As a budding journalist, I’m learning to have a thick skin and not to take things personally. I have to give those who said no the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they were having a bad day or really didn’t have two minutes to stop.

I hope as the convention continues professional journalists and student journalists will help each other out in achieving the goal of sharing the news with others.

Have a great day!
Shotgun Journalist

Be on time for Bush

If you’re planning to hit President Bush’s speech Friday morning, remember: no bags, video cameras, umbrellas or audio recording devices, please. But, don’t panic. cell phones and still cameras are OK. And don’t be strolling in on “CP Time.” UNITY officials warn that you need to arrive early. Doors will open at 6:30 a.m. and shuttle buses from convention hotels will begin running at 7 a.m. If you oversleep and can’t get in, check out the speech in on the big video screen across from the registration area.

Popularity Contest

U.N.eye.tee.why.girl here again.

So here’s a question: With Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, speaking today, and Republican presidential candidate George Bush speaking tomorrow, who’ll turn out to be the better?

This is a tricky question for journalists to answer. Although, we all have our own political opinions, our job at all times is to remain objective and unbiased. I looked really hard today for political stickers, buttons or any overt indication of who people are supporting, and it was hard. The most colorful and exciting buttons I found? “Exercise the Right to Vote.”

Of course, after Kerry’s speech/Q&A session, folks mostly conversed about their opinions of the candidate.

A reporter who shall go unnamed said he liked the answer Kerry gave to a question about Bill Cosby’s controversial comments about the responsibility of helping blacks, saying he felt certain that Bush would not have been so eloquent.

This reporter’s friend said he found Kerry’s speech to be very boring, admitting she almost fell asleep. Maybe she was at the NABJ party last night and awoke early to beat the security lines, too.

Some people are calling the party scene their second 9 to 5 (9 p.m. to 5 a.m., that is). Although I just turned 21 two days ago, I must be getting old, because with all of the late-night activities going on at the conference, I can barely manage my day job.

Talk to you later.

Get a J-O-B

This is U.N.eye.tee.why.girl signing in.

There is nothing I love better than sleeping in on a rainy morning, but today I had to get up early to beat the long security lines for the Kerry speech. I’ll have some thoughts about the speech later, but first…

I managed to walk to the convention center in the drizzle and overcast skies. I hope the inclement weather did not put a crease in your nice suits or dampen your portfolios.

Speaking of suits, portfolios and such… nothing – including the rainy weather and security details – could stop the thousands of ambitious journalists from rushing the “Media and Career Expo,” aka the “job fair.” With the hours trimmed to 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. because of Kerry and Bush’s speeches, many of you are probably thinking, “so many hands to shake, so little time.”

My advice: Make a game plan. Have a list of companies, newspapers and TV stations that you are really interested in and visit those first. Wait until later to check out other organizations, and if you don’t have time, check them out on the Web. You can find a list of the companies exhibiting at the conference at the UNITY convention Web site.

Personally, I think you are just as likely to meet your next employer in one of the long, expensive food lines as you would talking to yet another recruiter for 10 to 20 minutes about all the great work you have done. You can network anywhere and eyes are always watching. So if you are out to make a great impression, don’t get too drunk at the parties and banquets. I saw some embarrassing stuff at last night’s NABJ party that I won’t soon forget.

When I talked to some of the job fair attendees, many of them said they already had jobs but were there just to “check things out.” So, is it cool to openly shop around for better pastures while you’re working somewhere else? I’m sure there are lots of possible answers, but here’s my advice for the all the folks peeking over the fence. I hope your boss doesn’t catch you!

UNITY, and a whole lot more

Newsgyrljunkie is back yet again, reporting for the last time.

After attending the UNITY opening ceremony a few moments ago, I was thinking back on the highlights of the day.

It was certainly reaching a boiling point outside with a high of 83 degrees. Of course it always feels 10 degrees hotter.

Most people were strutting around with their newly acquired UNITY bags and neatly pressed business wear. However, I spotted an outrage!

Can you believe there were actually people walking around in jeans and sneakers? I mean, I know it was the first day, but how did they expect to make good first impressions?

On another note, the turnout was fairly exceptional for the conference debut.

Let’s see: expensive food? Check.

Confusion among participants about directions. Check.

Great sponsors and recruiters. Check.

An explosive opening ceremony. Check.

It was everything I expected it to be and more. Well, I figure things will get even better. There’s a party every night, so somebody’s always going to be happy.

Men of AAJA, now on DVD

Another Nerdy News Boi posting: late afternoon

“The Men of AAJA DVD”

Okay, so I can’t be the only person who thought of a swim suit video (or an Asian American Journalists Associations’ version of, “Boys gone wild.”)

Instead this handy recruiting tool is the brainchild of Randall Yip, vice-president of broadcast for AAJA.

The DVD features clips of male Asian-American television reporters and anchors who were at the Radio and Television News Directors Association/National Association of Broadcasters convention held in April in Las Vegas.

Hmmm…maybe the city of sin helped contribute to the title.

Regardless, by showing the work of AAJA members, leaders from that organization have helped with efforts to get more Asian American men on news casts around the country.

According to an AAJA news release, a 2002 study by the Annenberg School for Communications at the University of Southern California found that there were only 20 male Asian Americans on the air in the country's top 25 markets.

“By comparison, the USC Annenberg study found a total of 85 Asian American female television broadcasters on-air -- a nearly 5 to 1 ratio of women versus men.”

To see a private screening of the DVD head down to Nathan’s of Georgetown, 3150 M Street N.W., Washington D.C. on Thursday at 9 p.m. (202) 338-2600.

The Friends of AAJA party is hosted by Samantha Cheng and Lisa Chung. Check out the music, dancing and hors d’oeuvres.

Donations are not required to get in; but don’t be a cheapskate, any cash given will go toward the AAJA Endowment Fund.

Stereotyped?

Are we playing into racial stereotypes?

After talking with a few conventioneers about the UNITY sponsored party events, some journalists were a little miffed.

They’re convinced that UNITY may be playing into racial stereotypes.

Example: The NABJ is hosting the dance party, the NAHJ is throwing the Salsa Party, the AAJA plays host to the karaoke party. (Not sure where the NAJA fits into all this…)

Anyhow, some thoughts below:

“Aren’t we supposed to fight this sort of thing?” asked Jessi Reyes, a reporter at the Seattle Times.

“I don’t think it was intentional; but it’s pretty funny,” said one editor who did not want to go on record.

Editorial note: Why don’t reporters want to go on record at a journalism convention?

-- Nerdy News Boi

So, what else is new?

Hola, Y’ah’teeh’ and Hello

Nerdy News Boi signing on late-afternoon here at the UNITY convention.

As usual, where there are reporters, there are interesting bits of conversation and viewpoints being spouted (and overheard) in the Convention Hall.

This morning journalists were buzzing about the release of a report that says only 10 percent of the White House Press corps are journalists of color.

The report, based on census numbers, was conducted by the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism. The study was the first of its kind.

According to the web news story, “UNITY Report: Washington press corps lacking in diversity” at www.atunity.org, only 60 out of 574 are minority journalists.

According to the 2000 Census, more than 30 percent of the U.S population are minority groups and those populations are rapidly increasing.

This wasn’t a surprise to some UNITY conventioneers.

Here are some their thoughts on the story:

“It’s (messed) up. But it’s no surprise considering that 98 percent of the White House is white,” one reporter remarked.

“Can we be surprised here? That’s the demographic in life. But that’s why journalists come to conventions like UNITY, to change those numbers,” said Vu Ngyen, reporter for the Orange County Register, covering Little Saigon.

Home away from home

This is Newsgyrljunkie signing on midday. Apparently it's not so early in the corporate REAL world. After flinging matter and leftover mascara out of my eye, I received an unexpected visitor. The housekeeper came by the room rather early. And not just to ask when I would be leaving so she could do her job. She came to get the comforter. That's right...THEY WASH THE COMFORTERS AT THE RED ROOF INN-CHINATOWN!!!

For the most part, us students, broke and unable to provide ourselves with the finer things in life , i.e., the Grand Hyatt, Marriott or even the Renaissance Hotel, were either bunking on the floor of someone's room, sleeping on a cot or fortunate enough to be sharing a full-size bed.

So, what I really want to know is what did you expect to get when you checked into your hotel? There are supposed to be at least 7,000 people here. I say good luck to you. Try and have a comfortable stay (the walls were sweating in my room), and at least get a sneak peek at one of the presidential candidates. It's going to be a long week!

Registration problems

It wouldn't be a convention without problems with registration. Several people who pre-registered by mail instead of online experienced problems when picking up their registration materials. They had to stand in several long lines before finally getting help. So what is the point of pre-registering if you have to stand in long lines and be told your info is missing? We all love the Internet but there is something to be said for actually mailing registration confirmations to attendees. Share your registration experience.