I find it really difficult to remain cynical about the politics of media nowadays, because grassroots/independent media is more important than ever. Also, you certainly don't have to go to J-school to be an effective journalist any more than you'd have to join an MFA program to become a novelist - a fact that has never been more clear with the "rise of the creative underclass," as it were. Anyway, the Pew Center's done studies on those who trust any kind of major news outlet, and it's unsurprising that most everyone is turning to blogs/other independent sources for news, et al.
Anyway, not to discourage you from j-school but I think the entire idea of nonvocational graduate study (and, conversely, vocational undergrad) is fucking ridiculous. Like practically every communication-oriented profession, success in journalism is basically based on smarm, charm, and schmooze.
I should edit this to say, I think nonvocational graduate study is "fucking ridiculous" in the context of going to journalism school to be a ~real journalist~, communications to be a PR expert, and/or the aforementioned creative writing MFA just to write some books. You learn these things by experience, trade, and who you know, NOT by theory or "textual evidence." It is like 6 in the morning your time and lunchtime mine, in any event.
You still have one of these? While I agree, it's comforting to learn it from "people in the biz" or people who just know a shit ton about it. Hey, it's my parents dime anyway. Might as well do something interesting. Maybe I'll start a real blog and just become a raging douchebag. There's a guest spot opening for a soulless, scathing Anne Coulter type. Interested? I kid I kid. How are your academic escapades?
you don't have to start the blog to be a raging douchebag, you can just write for Gawker Media or Huffington Post. Sign me up! I agree about doing things for the sake of other people paying -- half of the reason I'm where I am. Haven't begun the academic portion yet, but certainly have had some escapades en France. Mostly of the drunken variety, but some involving a series of jumps through the circle of fire hoops that is French Administration and Bureaucracy. This country is fucking nuts. But I did just have some delicious nutella and baguette, so not all is lost. I didn't even know they really had a journalism program at USF St Pete. You should try to intern/do something with the Poynter Institute, talk about schmoozes.
I've never had a big mac butjasminerainSeptember 11 2008, 12:11:09 UTC
Shut the fuck up!
actually..i completely agree with you. If i watch the news i end up yelling at the TV Asking it how another hurricane over cuba is news, one hits every other day this time of year but the media has to scare us all into buying a billion dollars worth or "hurricane supplies" every weekend or maybe i just have something against cuba
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Anyway, not to discourage you from j-school but I think the entire idea of nonvocational graduate study (and, conversely, vocational undergrad) is fucking ridiculous. Like practically every communication-oriented profession, success in journalism is basically based on smarm, charm, and schmooze.
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While I agree, it's comforting to learn it from "people in the biz" or people who just know a shit ton about it. Hey, it's my parents dime anyway. Might as well do something interesting. Maybe I'll start a real blog and just become a raging douchebag. There's a guest spot opening for a soulless, scathing Anne Coulter type. Interested?
I kid I kid. How are your academic escapades?
Reply
I agree about doing things for the sake of other people paying -- half of the reason I'm where I am.
Haven't begun the academic portion yet, but certainly have had some escapades en France. Mostly of the drunken variety, but some involving a series of jumps through the circle of fire hoops that is French Administration and Bureaucracy. This country is fucking nuts. But I did just have some delicious nutella and baguette, so not all is lost.
I didn't even know they really had a journalism program at USF St Pete. You should try to intern/do something with the Poynter Institute, talk about schmoozes.
Reply
actually..i completely agree with you.
If i watch the news i end up yelling at the TV
Asking it how another hurricane over cuba is news, one hits every other day this time of year
but the media has to scare us all into buying a billion dollars worth or "hurricane supplies" every weekend
or maybe i just have something against cuba
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