CMIR and My Life as a Journalist Thus Far

I have to admit, I never really knew what CMIR stood for. I always considered the Center for Media Innovation and Research, “the random room with Apple laptops connected to the table.” The goal of CMIR is developing tomorrow’s journalism and communication forms, as well as, working to create new ways of telling the stories that journalists tell, to develop new ways of disseminating strategic communications and to research the effectiveness of both. I can honestly attest to the success of that goal. I had the opportunity to interview Les Rose in CMIR and I met an awesome man who has been part of the University of Florida since before the integration.

As for my journey as a journalist, it’s taught me that channel 2 sound does not translate well from Final Cut Pro to Youtube (well, for me that rings true). Not but seriously, my NAT POPs never translate! On a more serious note…my journey as a journalism student has really affirmed my interest in health, social issues, and good deed doers. I prefer to not talk about crime or get too heavy into politics unless it’s a major issue impacting the lives of the most fragile people. I really enjoy sharing success stories, good deeds, and health awareness stories.

This journey has really made me think about what my purpose is in life. Which is why I’ve decided to pursue a Graduate and Doctoral degree in Clinical/Counseling Psychology. I want to work with children and at risk families and be able to effectively communicate community needs, which is where my degree in Telecommunication, I believe, will really come in handy. Below is a picture from the Southwest Advocacy Group where I volunteer. The picture captures a puppet show called the “Dream Act” that we put on for the kids and later, as you can see, we helped them create puppets of what they would like to be when they grow up. The picture to the right is from a story I covered on colon cancer testing. For more media, click on the blue words in my post. They will take you to several different stories.

     

 

I don’t mean to continue bragging about my classmates but…

     The end of the semester is here and I can’t help but reflect on my accomplishments and the accomplishments of my super-duper awesome peers; many of whom are going on to do great things this summer and after graduation.

     Kimberly Ortiz is one of the new faces of our campus TV-News station, First at Five and she’s doing a wonderful job. She’s definitely been taking the necessary steps to further herself in the Telecommunications field.

     Juliana Valencia, that name, to me just screams FAMOUS! From her internship at CNN to her spot on First at Five, I’ve watched her grow and after reading her bio I can definitely relate to her a little more. I too, have had a difficult time finding my “niche”. She hopes to pursue a Law degree although she’s graduating with a degree in Telecommunications. I’m graduating with a degree in Telecommunications as well but hope to go to Graduate school for Speech Pathology (my minor)…at least that was the plan until I had an epiphany and decided what I really want is to pursue a Master’s and Doctorate in Clinical/Counseling Psychology…just trying to find my niche guys.

     Chip Skambis, all I can say is keep your eyes open for this guy. He’s extremely intelligent and definitely a future mover and shaker in this field, especially in the political realm.

 

 

 

 

My Classmates > Your Classmates

I’m kidding, everyone is awesome in their own right, but I absolutely adore many of my classmates. They’re hardworking, kind, and fashion savvy. Most of my peers are Telecommunication News majors, like myself, but have interests that go beyond reporting the news. In fact, I believe many of them can have actually have TV careers featuring their hobbies one day.

Alexandra Morales, better known to me as Xandra loves everything entertainment and fashion. She’s not your typical bob hair cut, hard news reporting student that’s seen mostly in our classes. From her hairstyles to her personality, she definitely lives by her motto, “Dare to be Different”. Without a doubt I can see her hosting a hip-hop radio show or entertainment show interviewing up and coming artists and trendsetters.

Casey Liening, is another Telecommunication News major. She’s a great reporter and anchor for WUFT-TV but I can tell her real first love is cooking. Her blog is all about cooking and hopefully when we’re roommates, some of her cooking (especially baking) skills will rub off on me. I totally butchered a red velvet cake a few years ago and I’ve actually been craving spaghetti for the past few weeks. So crazy that she just blogged about a special sauce. Yum!

Lauren Lettlier is also a Telecommunication News major well on her way to success. She’s one of the sweetest young women I’ve had the pleasure of meeting at the University of Florida. Not only does she save squirrels in her spare time she loves everything fitness. My weight has always been a struggle and I’ve heard a lot about Crossfit. Now that I personally know someone who does it, maybe I’ll give it a try.

See? I told ya my classmates are awesome! And that’s not even half of my wonderful peers. I will be creating another post very soon to continue the appreciation for the people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.

Digging Deeper Than the Typical Reasons of “WHY?”

 

If you’re a “why this” and “why that” kind of person, the book “The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell is for you. I’ve always been a naturally curious person,(hence my major), so this book was an easy read for me. In my opinion, it was quite philosophical. I’ve always bombarded my mom with “why” questions and ultimately being unsatisfied with her explanation, I would try to figure it out on my own. This book does just that. When it came to the dramatic drop of crime rates in New York, author Malcolm Gladwell was dissatisfied with the typical explanations of what caused the dramatic turn. The economy improving and the police force using better tactics were all great explanations but Gladwell described these dramatic changes as the tipping point and characterizes epidemics as having a three components.

The tipping point is for one reason or another, one little thing that happens that has a big impact, whether it’s a fashion fad, crime or disease.  As it pertains to crime, the most intriguing example mentioned was the 1964 stabbing death of Kitty Genovese. Genovese was chased by her assailant and attacked three times on the street, over the course of half an hour, as thirty-eight of her neighbors watched from their windows. However, none of the thirty-eight witnesses called the police. Most studies or theories will have you believe that this was a classic case of the dehumanizing effect of urban life. But the book offers an explanation by two New York City psychologists that I see today, the “bystander problem.” The lesson is not that no one called despite the fact that thirty-eight people heard her scream; it’s that no one called because thirty-eight people heard her scream. The three rules of the Tipping Point includes the Law of the Few, the Stickiness Factor, and the Power of Context. Unfortunately for Kitty Genovese, if fewer people rather than many heard her screams, she may have survived the attack.

The other component of the Tipping Point, the stickiness factor, also struck me when the author connected it to HIV. At one point my small hometown was called the AIDS capital of the world. If you search the HIV epidemic, most sites will say the spread became an epidemic through the lack of healthcare facilities or most popular, the use of crack cocaine. However, the book explains it in a more behavioral way. Epidemics are a function of the people who transmit infectious agents, the infectious agents itself, and the environment in which the infectious agent is operating.  

 

Biography

I was born December 4, 1990 in West Palm Beach, Florida and raised in South Bay, Florida; more commonly known as “The Glades.” I am a first generation American. It’s impossible for me to discuss my drive for success without giving a brief family history. My mother was born in Jamaica and came to America at the age of 6. Upon arrival, her parents worked in the cane fields, raising 5 children in a one bedroom apartment. Through hard work and sacrifice, my grandparents purchased their first home in when my mother was in middle school. That home is still standing a place of peace and of course remembrance of the struggle and what you can accomplish through hard work.

Growing up in the Glades, I witnessed firsthand oppression, violence, disease, and poverty. I would describe it then and today, as a third world city in a first world country. Bearing witness to this way of life, I always knew I wanted my life purpose to put me in a position where I could make a difference and spark a major change. I was unsure of how I would be able to make a difference until I was in fifth grade. In fifth grade, I had the opportunity to produce and anchor the morning news for my elementary school. It would air to all of the classrooms on campus and by the end of the day, many teachers and students recognized my face and congratulated my and my peers’ work on the morning news. Initially, I believe I saw it as something fun and I knew I wanted to pursue this as my career. As I got older, I realized the positive impact I could have on the lives of others. I could be a voice for the voiceless.

I’ve been on every journalism committee from elementary to high school, featuring stories primarily on health issues. Not much has changed coming into college. I’m a student at the University of Florida majoring in Telecommunication News. Many of the stories I tend to volunteer to cover are health related or deal with social issues. Gainesville, FL, is a wonderful city but once you get out of the comfort of the UF bubble, you will see that like any town, Gainesville has its issues. I frequent an area known as “Tent City” where the homeless live and I’m a volunteer  with Partnership for Strong Families weekly. The level of need here, reaffirms why I’m here. I’m here to get an education and sharpen my skills so I can better serve my community.

Today, my focus is on becoming a better servant to my community by sharpening my skills. Upon graduating, I hope to obtain a job with a non-profit organization as well as a news organization, while pursuing a Masters in Communication Sciences and Disorders. But ultimately, I hope to reach back and give back to my community and help them reach their full potential.

Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams

Autism Parent Focus Group

The University of Florida’s Center for Autism and Related Disorders is a community outreach program working with families, caregivers and professionals to optimize the potential of people with autism and related disabilities. Perhaps the most intimate extension of their program is the UF CARD Parent Partner program which hosts a parent support group the second Friday of every month.

UF CARD Parent Partner Margie Garlin says when her boss presented the opportunity to start this group it was a natural transition. Margie knows firsthand what it’s like raising a child with autism and the bleak picture some professionals paint for your child’s future. Her son was two years old when he was diagnosed with severe autism. Health professionals told her not to have too many expectations but her son has been going exceeding expectations from the start. When she spoke to people at CARD, they told her there were no limits to her son’s capabilities and she listened. Margie says her son has always been included in regular classrooms and today he hopes to achieve the same goals as his peers; a GED and enrollment into college. It’s this positive message she was given years ago that she continues to share with parents in the support group today.

“The parent focus is a chance for parents with children on the autism spectrum to come together and share ideas and support hearing that other parents have experienced similar things. It’s a way to get connected, especially for parents new on their journey,” said Kathy Robinson. It’s the idea sharing that sparked her interest in visual support and how to adapt curriculum. Today, Robinson is the Visual Supports Specialist and Human Resource Counselor for CARD. Robinson says visual support opens the doors to communication for people who otherwise may not be able to communicate.

Robinson adds as a parent of a child with autism, the parent focus group extends far beyond the monthly meetings. Parents schedule play-dates and recommend places to take their kids for haircuts. Knowledge is power and the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities gives parents an opportunity to pass along that power.

March is Colorectal Cancer Month

Screen for Life is going mobile to provide enrollment for free colonoscopy screenings to qualifying people every Saturday this March from 10am to 2pm at several locations. If you are age 50 to 64 and uninsured or underinsured, you may qualify for the free screenings. Screen for Life screens over eight-hundred thousand people annually in efforts to prevent colorectal cancer in vulnerable populations. Healthcare professionals say you should consider preventive health screening from the age of 50; that age lowers to 40 if you have a family history of stroke, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes. Visit Screen for Life for more information on eligibility and locations.  

Speaking of Adventures…

Lately, I’ve been sharing my everyday adventures of covering stories and working on my writing and video skills as a reporter. I do some pretty daring things but it’s all in the comfort and security of my school. What about my adventures after graduation? Sometimes you have to take chances and just go for it, when you’re pursuing your dreams. When I think of risk takers the first person that comes to mind, is a recent University of Florida graduate, Lysette Portales. She’s “Taking a BIG Bit out of the Apple” and sharing her adventures on her personal blog. Her experiences are truly inspiring for me and it kind of gives me the encouragement to do the same or at least get myself in the mindset that “yeah, I can do this too.” 

I-75 Crash Anniversary

Hi! I hope you all are having a wonderful Wednesday. This is a story I covered at the news organization I’m currently interning for. A year ago in January, a deadly car pileup occurred on I-75 south claiming the lives of 11 people. Low visibility due to fog from a man made fire was the cause. The fire starter is still at large. I’m choosing to share this story with you because just this month, another deadly car crash occurred in Gainesville on University Avenue. There have also been a string of pedestrian accidents which I’m hoping to update you all in the near future. But for now, here’s the story I put together. Please take to heart the tips shared in this video. Thank you.