The Final Countdown

As we speak, I am working on finishing up the final project for this class. I have the article done and most of the video... I need to shoot the pictures still and thankfully I have some ideas. Unfortunately, since it is a group project, we have to get it done as a group. I think that's gonna be the hardest part. And apparently, my group disagrees with how everything should be split up. I'm just hoping that I don't get blamed for something since it's not my problem. I really wish that I was able to have a say in what the website will look like, but I guess we'll see how it gets put together. I really needed experience with the different types of media, but it was very hard to find people to interview, most of the ones that I wanted to interview were too "camera-shy." Thankfully, some sucked it up for me and did it anyway. I was really into my subject of the Marquette meal plan vs. home cooked meals since for the past two years, I have had a meal plan, but have felt jipped everytime I swiped my card. I had so many meals left over at the end of the semester, that it just wasn't fair to me or my wallet. Marquette needs to figure out something with their meal plans. I loved the new meal exchange program in the AMU and Cafe Schroeder, but other than that, the meal plans rip us off. This week is filled to the brim with group meetings and final projects and papers, hopefully I make it through.

Amanda

Happy Halloween!

It's almost November and that means one thing... my birthday is just around the corner... It also means that many classes are preparing for their final projects and our Journalism class is no exception. This week in class we learned more about iMovie and how to edit video projects as well as make photo slideshows. With all the things we've done in class, it really makes me want to buy a Mac. I love iMovie and am was excited to learn that you are able to create some special things for gifts. I'm not sure how to go about the final project, but I would like to start on it sometime soon. My group has given me the pleasure of writing on all the food in between such as vending machines, vendors, and snacks. I want to put a nice as well as different spin on the story... We'll see.

Time flies when you're having fun!

This week we took our"mid-term" for the class and it was so hard! Not to mention that I almost had to do without my AP Stylebook... luckily, I got to borrow someone's. I'm not sure how I did on the test... probably not so well. I've always thought that I was grammar savvy, however, this class has taught me that I am anything but. We can all learn a thing or two about grammar. I know for sure that I am not cut out to be an editor, but I love to write. I guess we'll have to see where my journalism degree takes me. This class so far has tremendously helped me out in the way that since the field of journalism is converging, I am now able to operate more programs. I learned PhotoShop and two weeks ago we played with InDesign. I am really excited to learn more. I am nervous though since Fall Break is coming up next week and the end of the semester is going to come quickly... I should probably start thinking up some ideas for the final project in this class.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

When our Journalism class was given the assignment to go out and take pictures of anything, I was a little nervous. But I came to find that I loved the assignment . I am not much of a photographer, but I love taking pictures and capturing the moment. I wasn't exactly sure what he was looking for but I figured that the Menomonee River Parkway in Wauwatosa was sure to give me something I could use. And was I right. The beginning of fall is near and the trees are admist changing colors. Fall is a wonderful time of year and all of the trees are beginning to change. I took so many pictures because there was so much that I wanted to capture and I ended up taking some great ones.

The PhotoShop tutorial in class this week was interesting as well. I was happy to learn some tricks, but was disappointed to see that it wasn't as in depth as I would have liked. However, I did play around with it and learned some cool stuff. Maybe if I get my internship back, I'll be able to show my boss that I am capable of designing and editing photos in PhotoShop.

I really am enjoying this class and look forward ot the rest of the semester. It's going by so quickly... it's already October!

I love my schedule.

My three day weekend has just begun. I have no idea how I did it, but I did. My schedule only goes Monday through Thursday. But even with four day weeks, my classes keep me busy on those three day weekends.

This week in Journalism was okay, however I pressume that when we get into taking photos and videos, it will be very interesting. I am quite technology savvy, but when it comes to editing photos and videos, I have no clue what I am doing. I am really looking forward to learning PhotoShop. I have always wanted to learn to make cool pictures and don't have the software program available. I think that learning how to operate PhotoShop will ultimately benefit me since when I worked as an intern at the Milwaukee Mile, there was one person who knew how and she wasn't very confident with the program. They use PhotoShop for logos and photos created for pamphlets, guides, signs, and posters. Tons of people see the finished product that it needs to look good, so that the reflection on the Mile is a professional one. Hopefully, I am able to learn about taking/making photos so that I can go back with new knowledge.

I was excited to dive headfirst into the editing assignment for the week, but it was quite long and tedious. I hadn't realized how hard it was to condense and correct a long article without losing the author's voice. I have the edit under control, but I am unsure as to how much of the story could actually be cut. I would hate for an editor to cut something crucial in one of my stories, but I guess that's the editor's job... to make the story better.

Back to school

I can't believe it's September already. The summer flew by quickly. The new school year has started and classes have commenced. I'm starting my junior year at Marquette and am nervous and excited. Only two more years!