Page One: An Aspiring Journalist's Response

After watching Page One: Inside the New York Times, the part inside of me that channels my journalistic aspirations took a punch. Since I started telling people my dreams to become a professional journalist, I can't count how many times the person on the listening end has given me that look; the look that says "Do you really know what you're getting into?". The look that says "You're doomed, kid."

I'm here to tell you that I sincerely believe the industry isn't dead. Page One conveys most of its shock through a startling set of quotes. By picking apart these quotes and looking for contradictions, I've discovered several instances of faulty knowledge that will suggest that the documentary overdramatizes the downfall of modern investigative journalism.

Here are two quotes that I find especially misinterpreted:

"Advertising market has turned upside down and the revenue has taken a hit." - Is this honestly as bad as it sounds? As the demand for advertising in print media rapidly declines, the demand for online advertising has risen dramatically. A change in mediums doesn't necessarily mean a change in the way advertising revenue is gained. Take a look at this screenshot I took of the Times' front page:

Notice the array of advertisements. In a single window, you can see ads for Marc Jacobs Eyewear, Times' Digital Subscriptions, Orange Savings Account, and Ameritrade. It's impossible to point to a decrease in advertisement revenue when the paper's front page is nearly half ad space. 

"And people will start asking, can we really trust The Times?" - I don't think anyone would even consider that question. Just yesterday, an Iran newspaper ran a news story from The Onion, believing it to be credible. Seriously? If someone, somewhere believes The Onion, then The Times has nothing to worry about. The Times is still the most reputable media outlet in the United States, and I find it hard to believe that anything will change that. 

"Experts" shouldn't be pushing aspiring journalists away from the industry. The rise in technology might make print newspaper less and less relevant, but that does not equate to the demise of journalism as a whole.

Maybe I am just defending my industry because I'm scared. Or maybe I am defending my industry because it's not dying.

Maybe it's only just begun.

A Life Worth Living

*This is a reflection paper I wrote for my Economics class at Duquesne University. I put this together after volunteering at Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank on Saturday. As a member of the Ratio learning community, I am required to do this twice, once in Southside and once in Northside. Then, after the service, I will work with my community to propose solutions to the problems facing the food bank, specifically regarding their additional services.*

When I left the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank on Saturday, I can’t exactly comprehend what I was feeling. One thing’s for sure; it was an odd mixture of overwhelming satisfaction and humbling sadness.

It’s unbelievably satisfying lending my time to helping those less fortunate. In high school, I would do little activities like bingo and library assistance, but nothing that had such a significant impact on people. The few hours we spent at the food bank were extremely personal. I actually got to have quick conversations with each and every person I was assisting.

As we were walking back to the line area, an older woman bumped her cart into a crack in the cement and all of her food scattered across the ground. She shrugged, smiled, and proceeded to retrieve her food (of course, we helped). That’s where the humbling sadness comes in.

These people have been through everything to end up with nothing. This woman ignores the negativity because it comes naturally to her. What kind of world have we built that lets this happen?

Before we walked to Southside, I stopped at Brueggers for an iced coffee. A seemingly unimportant event? Absolutely not. Thinking about it, I understand that I am blessed to have options. If I wanted a bagel with my coffee, there would be nothing stopping me.

It makes me feel like a bad person. It makes me want to give everything I have inside of me to helping those people on Saturday. I appreciate everything in my life. God, I wish everyone could be worry-free.

Going into Saturday’s volunteering, I fully expected to be disgusted at how ungrateful some of these people receiving the food are. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Everyone smiled. Everyone hoped. Everyone thanked.

I now realize that the ungrateful ones are us, the fortunate. I now realize that nothing breaks my heart more than seeing a child hold his mother’s hand while she gratefully accepts food from charitable hands.

If I could do this every day, I would. I absolutely loved helping out at the food bank. Nothing is more gratifying. But at the same time, I loathe selfishness. We are all on this Earth together. We are only as strong as our weakest. Why doesn’t anyone understand?

Songs of the Week #4

I have an unbelievable amount of work to do tonight, but I care about you so much that I will push that to the side for a moment to give you this week's songs.

Am I ready for the week ahead? No. There's too much to do and almost no time.

Am I excited for it? Absolutely. On Thursday, I'll have my very first article in The Duke. My very first college byline. Another milestone in the long, difficult path to achieving my dreams. Actually, the second "milestone" in the month of September. Last week, writer Jeff Pearlman (Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton) complimented my work, specifically the short Steve Bartman column I penned for Media class.

That's when I realized: maybe, just maybe, the dream I've chosen isn't too unrealistic. Maybe I won't need a prayer to make this happen.

Sorry to ramble. You're just here for some kickin' tunes.

1. "Sad Sad City" by Ghostland Observatory. Sometimes, I think about strapping a bag to my back and hitchhiking to Austin, Texas. Every band I've ever raved about, seemingly, has roots in the Live Music Capital of the World. Add Ghostland Observatory to the already-extensive list. "Sad Sad City" combines the vocal range of The Limousines with the drums of every dance floor rock song ever made. Very catchy.



2. "Burn It All" by The Dean's List. I don't enjoy Lil Wayne, I barely find Wiz Khalifa appealing, and I hate cliche rap songs about drugs and partying (yes, I'm one of those "losers"). But "Burn It All" never stops putting a smile on my face. Does anyone know why? Perhaps it's because of the mesmerizing piano loop. "If this the good life, I'm aimin for a better one. You shootin for the stars, boy? You gon' need a better gun." Right?



3. "Gimme Sympathy" by Metric. Female vocalists...yummy. I'll admit, I was extremely naive in thinking that "Help, I'm Alive" was Metric's only good song. Listening to their discography this past week has been extremely enjoyable. "Gimme Sympathy" is now my favorite song that has the word "gimme" in it ("Gimme" by Donnis has been dethroned).