You are currently browsing the monthly archive for July, 2008.
Apparently not as many people as I originally thought. While this year’s Unity convention as been great and really encouraging in that I’ve had a chance to meet and reconnect with a lot of wonderful people, it is also a bit discouraging in a few ways.
I can not give this blog the full length and in depth discuss it is worthy of at this late hour (I must write more at a later date). But before I go to sleep and rev up for another day of workshops and such in Chicago, I must say this. Unity is a very big deal. Every four years at Unity all of the minority journalist organizations get together. And it’s happening in Chicago, yet some of Chicago’s great media folks aren’t here. We got to here a taped message from Oprah at the opening ceremony. Seriously? I don’t know the circumstances, so maybe she has a good reason for not being here. I hope she has a very good reason, because I found it such a disappointment that she would not show up for such an event in Chicago, of all places.
Sen. John McCain has cancelled his appearance here. And he wonders why he only gets the JV journalists to cover him. This is only my second time attending Unity, but it has been my understanding that presidential candidates and presidents are always there. The last time they were. Basically, by not showing, McCain has shown that journalists don’t matter, especially those of color. Seriously, he has lost whatever cred he ever had with me.
There’s plenty more I can write about, such as why Mediabistro isn’t even represented here, but I must go to sleep now. Goodnight.
Who would have ever thought this time last year I would be exactly where I am today? Who would have ever thought just a little more than a month ago I would be spending most of my summer away from the beach?
Yet here I am, all packed up and ready to leave Reno and this editing program a changed woman.
Reno, Nev. Seriously, this is one place I never imagined I’d ever visit, let alone live for six weeks.
Six weeks ago, I had no idea these nine people I have grown to see as family even existed. But now I can’t imagine life without them.
We’ve laughed a lot. Hurt one another’s feelings. Even pissed each other off from time to time. But with each experience we’ve grown closer and have become allies, uniting newsrooms across the world (well, actually just the East Coast and Texas).
In addition to the countless knowledge bestowed upon me by our illustrious faculty, I have learned so much from my peers. I’ve learned…
- Not to cook with too much salt.
- I’m smarter than I give myself credit for being
- I can do so much better than certain people
- Texans really know how to represent
- How to make delicious salsa
- How to play Black Jack
- That you can win at penny slots
- What fault lines are
- Sometimes political cartoons are just funny
- Communication is key
- There are such things as antelope squirrels
- I can live with roommates
- I can live without television
- Lake Tahoe is as beautiful as I imagined
- Prayer can change things
- Smoke is unhealthy
- I’m capable of doing more than I can imagine
- We all share some similarities
- I can use InDesign
- Sometimes being awful, awful is good
- I have nine-plus more people in my corner.
I’m really going to miss everyone!
Throughout middle school and high school, my best friend Susie and I were like peas and carrots. We shared wallpapered lockers with dog and cow stickers (something only she and I will ever understand). We dyed each others hair. We shared countless inside jokes.
Last fall, I had the opportunity to see Susie’s band, East Hundred, perform in Richmond, and it was great. But better than the rocking music and meeting the folks in the group, the best thing was seeing Susie. She looked incredible and happy. She was working as a dog groomer and playing keyboard for the band.
And now East Hundred might have a chance to open for Coldplay. How cool is that?
