As the term winds down, it's hard to look back without experiencing something that just falls short of nostalgia. I hesitate to use that word because The Rockbridge Report, while certainly a labor of love, is a labor in every sense. As producers, we have faced plenty of challenges. We have had to learn the ins and outs of running a news Web site and a weekly news broadcast. We have had to contend with stories that fall apart, sources who don't come through, and the frustrations of airing a product we feel is less than our very best.We set out to change the core format of our Web site, to update it and give it the modern facelift it not only deserved, but needed in order to stay competitive in the constantly changing world of the Internet. Naturally, not everyone was on-board with our original changes. They nitpicked over the placement or font or color of just about every object on the page. We couldn't understand why they weren't satisfied with what we thought was a valiant effort to revamp our Web site. But you know, I'm glad they weren't satisfied. The constant pressure, while a nuisance at the time, forced us to expand our original conceptions of the site. What emerged in the end was a truly unique and visionary product.And that's where we come to the not-quite-nostalgia. There were frustrations and setbacks at almost every turn, but in the end, the sense of achievement was that much greater. Where's the fun in taking the easy route? We conquered a path that had trials and tribulations aplenty, and we lived to tell the tale. Even though the reins of The Rockbridge Report are changing hands to our more-than-capable colleagues come January, I know a small part of this production will stay with me forever.
-Brett Holton
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Stories aren't always easy, fun
Wow. We're almost done. We're almost done! We're almost done?
Looking back at these past ten weeks it's hard to imagine that we've come this far.
Our first Web site featured a preliminary story to the Virginia Military Institute rape case trial, and it also had our first of many H1N1 virus stories. I remember sitting at the computer and staring at the screen wondering how in the heck I could tease a broadcast package about a rape story with very hazy facts still awaiting a solid conclusion.
Two weeks ago I sat at my computer writing scripts late into the night and once again encountered the swine flu and the difficulty of teasing a serious piece about sexual misconduct. But that time around, I felt a little more prepared to do it. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that along with learning how to do the technical, concrete tasks a producer needs to know like how to time a show, organize reporters, assign stories, lay out rundowns, incorporate video and live elements into stories, and run a control room, I've learned something less tangible, too. I've learned a little about the art of tact in news writing.
As a reporter I never covered a story that required me to carefully choose my words because misused words might have grievous ramifications for a victim or an accused person. Nor had I ever covered a story involving delicate issues like sexual misconduct or death (and sadly, we covered the deaths of one Cadet, one local high schooler, and a Washington and Lee alumni). But these are unavoidable stories in any real newsroom local or national, and learning how to handle them gracefully is an invaluable skill. I'm just glad we had the guidance of seasoned professors-sum-reporters to point us in the right direction and show us how to handle both ourselves and the stories.
I think you'll find Cameron Steele's follow-up piece to her sexual misconduct broadcast investigation to be an example of quality in-depth reporting combined with tasteful writing. Steele took an explosive, sensitive issue and handled tearful interviews gracefully and tactfully, being careful to use just enough to tell a story but not so much as to be exploitative.
Looking back at these past ten weeks it's hard to imagine that we've come this far.
Our first Web site featured a preliminary story to the Virginia Military Institute rape case trial, and it also had our first of many H1N1 virus stories. I remember sitting at the computer and staring at the screen wondering how in the heck I could tease a broadcast package about a rape story with very hazy facts still awaiting a solid conclusion.
Two weeks ago I sat at my computer writing scripts late into the night and once again encountered the swine flu and the difficulty of teasing a serious piece about sexual misconduct. But that time around, I felt a little more prepared to do it. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that along with learning how to do the technical, concrete tasks a producer needs to know like how to time a show, organize reporters, assign stories, lay out rundowns, incorporate video and live elements into stories, and run a control room, I've learned something less tangible, too. I've learned a little about the art of tact in news writing.
As a reporter I never covered a story that required me to carefully choose my words because misused words might have grievous ramifications for a victim or an accused person. Nor had I ever covered a story involving delicate issues like sexual misconduct or death (and sadly, we covered the deaths of one Cadet, one local high schooler, and a Washington and Lee alumni). But these are unavoidable stories in any real newsroom local or national, and learning how to handle them gracefully is an invaluable skill. I'm just glad we had the guidance of seasoned professors-sum-reporters to point us in the right direction and show us how to handle both ourselves and the stories.
I think you'll find Cameron Steele's follow-up piece to her sexual misconduct broadcast investigation to be an example of quality in-depth reporting combined with tasteful writing. Steele took an explosive, sensitive issue and handled tearful interviews gracefully and tactfully, being careful to use just enough to tell a story but not so much as to be exploitative.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Where's the Holiday Spirit?
The holidays are almost upon us here in Lexington, but for such a busy and festive time of the year, the town is pretty quiet. Sure, Christmas wreaths are already up (all in the name of putting on a show for WSLS out of Roanoke), but even that hasn't done much to liven up the atmosphere. Where are the bustling tourists? Where are the family members in for the holidays? Maybe it's the incessant rain keeping everyone inside, or maybe I'm just jumping the gun on my expectations of seasonal cheer, but in my four years here, this is the quietest holiday I've seen yet.
I'm curious to see how this currently lackluster season will play out for local retailers. Business owners are already in a bind with the economy floundering as it is, and with the new health-care bill kicking around in the Senate, things could get even tighter. A 'yes' vote from them would make staying in the black even harder for retailers in town, who rely mostly on part-time employees. And while everyone was originally optimistic about the surge of new small businesses in Lexington, I have to wonder whether they can survive the winter. These new businesses are certainly attractive, but if the season is slow and the health-insurance mandate comes down from Washington, they face grim prospects. Newcomers, especially in the business world, have an uphill battle to fight for the first year or so before they can reasonably expect to turn a profit. Couple these inherent start-up losses with the fact that they just haven't had the necessary time to prove why they're equal competition in the Lexington market, and the red ink starts to bleed its way through their earnings sheets.
Maybe I'm being a bit too harsh on them. Perhaps this chilly weather has dampened my holiday spirit. I just hope that all these exciting new ventures live to see the thaw.
I'm curious to see how this currently lackluster season will play out for local retailers. Business owners are already in a bind with the economy floundering as it is, and with the new health-care bill kicking around in the Senate, things could get even tighter. A 'yes' vote from them would make staying in the black even harder for retailers in town, who rely mostly on part-time employees. And while everyone was originally optimistic about the surge of new small businesses in Lexington, I have to wonder whether they can survive the winter. These new businesses are certainly attractive, but if the season is slow and the health-insurance mandate comes down from Washington, they face grim prospects. Newcomers, especially in the business world, have an uphill battle to fight for the first year or so before they can reasonably expect to turn a profit. Couple these inherent start-up losses with the fact that they just haven't had the necessary time to prove why they're equal competition in the Lexington market, and the red ink starts to bleed its way through their earnings sheets.
Maybe I'm being a bit too harsh on them. Perhaps this chilly weather has dampened my holiday spirit. I just hope that all these exciting new ventures live to see the thaw.
Monday, November 2, 2009
All work and no play? Not a journalist's way --
All work and no play?
It isn't exactly a journalist's credo.
Last year the producers implemented an "About Us" page to put the faces to the hard work that goes into creating the news each week; the reporters and producers alike undoubtedly deserved that recognition and the recognition that giving you news that is timely, important, local, and accurate is a pretty daunting task.
But what they failed to mention was how much fun it can be. I think sometimes we forget that, too. So before the madness of today's 4:30 p.m. deadline hits home I took some time to reflect on why the heck I find this so enjoyable.
The people in news are terrific. I literally spend entire days in the journalism lab, but they're days filled with laughter and thought-provoking discussion. I sometimes wonder if I would spend less time working if I could isolate myself from the newsroom, but then I realize what a disservice that would be to the news; sharing perspectives both goofy and serious help balance the news and give it a fairness one person can't alone create.
The product we finally produce every Thursday at 4:30 is usually worth the hard work, too. There's nothing like the feeling of seeing a great show on air after working for days after a week's worth of hard work went into it. Furthermore, there's nothing better than the feeling (almost a vindication, if you will) that you get when your audience comments on the end product.
And even more, I've never seen a newsroom without Diet Coke and chocolate - the real fruits of the earth.
I hope you appreciate what goes into our work. I'd love to hear what you have to say about it - good or bad, it's always good to know you're watching. But don't let any journalist give you the ol' martyr line; we wouldn't do this unless we love it and the sacrifices we make never go unredeemed.
It isn't exactly a journalist's credo.
Last year the producers implemented an "About Us" page to put the faces to the hard work that goes into creating the news each week; the reporters and producers alike undoubtedly deserved that recognition and the recognition that giving you news that is timely, important, local, and accurate is a pretty daunting task.
But what they failed to mention was how much fun it can be. I think sometimes we forget that, too. So before the madness of today's 4:30 p.m. deadline hits home I took some time to reflect on why the heck I find this so enjoyable.
The people in news are terrific. I literally spend entire days in the journalism lab, but they're days filled with laughter and thought-provoking discussion. I sometimes wonder if I would spend less time working if I could isolate myself from the newsroom, but then I realize what a disservice that would be to the news; sharing perspectives both goofy and serious help balance the news and give it a fairness one person can't alone create.
The product we finally produce every Thursday at 4:30 is usually worth the hard work, too. There's nothing like the feeling of seeing a great show on air after working for days after a week's worth of hard work went into it. Furthermore, there's nothing better than the feeling (almost a vindication, if you will) that you get when your audience comments on the end product.
And even more, I've never seen a newsroom without Diet Coke and chocolate - the real fruits of the earth.
I hope you appreciate what goes into our work. I'd love to hear what you have to say about it - good or bad, it's always good to know you're watching. But don't let any journalist give you the ol' martyr line; we wouldn't do this unless we love it and the sacrifices we make never go unredeemed.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Sprezzatura
The Italians have this thing called "sprezzatura." It's what our Italian friend referred to when, stomping around Rome earlier this year, we marveled at the perfectly "thrown together" model types traipsing down the Via del Corso.
While our dear guide Francesco couldn't give us a direct translation, he described it as the art of making that which is hard seem easy.
A Google search later, we found that it originated in Baldassare Castiglione's 16th-century Il Cortegiano. Castiglione describes the term as "an easy facility in accomplishing difficult actions, which hides the conscious effort that went into them."
While Castiglione encourages courtiers to have an air of sprezzatura, I have found no better way to describe that which The Rockbridge Report embodies. The Web site is streamlined, and the anchors calmly smile, but rockbridgereport.wlu.edu and our corresponding newscast are the weekly products of hours upon hours of plain hard work from a small group of students. Every story is student-written, student-filmed, student-edited and student-produced.
That's why you'll notice a new feature to our Web site this week -- photos and short bios of the reporters and producers who strive to provide the Rockbridge area with the best journalism possible. We're putting faces to names and showing you who we are.
Hope you enjoy meeting us.
- Monica Chinn
While our dear guide Francesco couldn't give us a direct translation, he described it as the art of making that which is hard seem easy.
A Google search later, we found that it originated in Baldassare Castiglione's 16th-century Il Cortegiano. Castiglione describes the term as "an easy facility in accomplishing difficult actions, which hides the conscious effort that went into them."
While Castiglione encourages courtiers to have an air of sprezzatura, I have found no better way to describe that which The Rockbridge Report embodies. The Web site is streamlined, and the anchors calmly smile, but rockbridgereport.wlu.edu and our corresponding newscast are the weekly products of hours upon hours of plain hard work from a small group of students. Every story is student-written, student-filmed, student-edited and student-produced.
That's why you'll notice a new feature to our Web site this week -- photos and short bios of the reporters and producers who strive to provide the Rockbridge area with the best journalism possible. We're putting faces to names and showing you who we are.
Hope you enjoy meeting us.
- Monica Chinn
Friday, February 27, 2009
Going green has become fashionable
"Reduce your carbon footprint!" "Go Green!" "Wind energy!" Save money and save the planet!"
It seems that these slogans supporting environmental causes are everywhere nowadays. This week our reporters followed a couple stories on the environment. The stories focused on air quality and even how having hens can help you save money and help the planet.
Being an environmental studies and journalism major, I believe that the attention to these stories by the news media reflects the interest of the country in environmental issues. From small student-run media outlets like The Rockbridge Report to The CBS Evening News, journalists are running stories on alternative energy and other environmental issues.
Public interest is needed to spark a change in our energy use and our environment, and the public surely has begun to be interested. And not just in a superficial way. Going green has become fashionable. Cars, clothing, electronics, you name it -- if it's green, it's most certainly cool.
The new MacBook by Apple is advertised as the most green laptop on the market. What does that mean? Who knows? But it sounds cool. If this keeps up, the environment can change without people even knowing it, and that's a good thing for all of us.
- Michelle Boniface
It seems that these slogans supporting environmental causes are everywhere nowadays. This week our reporters followed a couple stories on the environment. The stories focused on air quality and even how having hens can help you save money and help the planet.
Being an environmental studies and journalism major, I believe that the attention to these stories by the news media reflects the interest of the country in environmental issues. From small student-run media outlets like The Rockbridge Report to The CBS Evening News, journalists are running stories on alternative energy and other environmental issues.
Public interest is needed to spark a change in our energy use and our environment, and the public surely has begun to be interested. And not just in a superficial way. Going green has become fashionable. Cars, clothing, electronics, you name it -- if it's green, it's most certainly cool.
The new MacBook by Apple is advertised as the most green laptop on the market. What does that mean? Who knows? But it sounds cool. If this keeps up, the environment can change without people even knowing it, and that's a good thing for all of us.
- Michelle Boniface
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Who wants to be a half-millionaire?
I guess it serves the government right for trying to do a good thing. It literally did a reverse Robin-Hood -- took money from the hands of hard-working taxpayers who are losing their jobs and facing foreclosure -- and put it in the hands of greedy business executives. Before the check was even signed, they arrived by private jet to make the case that they can't afford to keep business afloat.
Now all you hear about is the exorbitant bonuses executives are still receiving after having been bailed out.
Then again, not all businesses that received bailout money continue to spend wastefully. Wells Fargo for example -- which benefited from a $25 billion federal rescue -- canceled a 12-night luxury retreat in Las Vegas for its staff. Now let's think about this for a second. The relative cost of this "luxury retreat" compared to a $25 billion-dollar loan... is trifling! When CEOs start pulling the Sarah Palin, and by that I mean selling company jets on eBay, then I'll be satisfied.
While we wait for such a phenomenon to occur, word on the street -- Wall Street, that is -- is that greedy executives are finally going to get what's coming to them. Pres. Obama has announced a plan to cap the salaries of executives whose companies received bail-out money at $500,000.
Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout.
My only question is: How far down the pole will these salary caps go? At some of the bailed-out banks, traders and bankers make more than the big boys on top receive.
Now of course, adversaries are devising a slew of cockamamie excuses to challenge a cap on executive salaries. My favorite appeared on CNN earlier this week. Wolf and Andy were discussing how opponents believe a salary cap will drain the 'bail-out sector' of talented managers.
Because why would a talented manager work for a company where multi-million dollar bonuses are no longer offered???
If by "talented" these people mean those who have received the highest salaries in the last decade, then the "talented managers" are the ignoramuses responsible for our current state of recession. I'm willing to bet that the statistical correlation between pay and performance of executives at these levels of corporate America is slim to none.
While I find the continued greed on Wall Street atrocious, I have to admit that I'm somewhat sympathetic to those who stand to lose millions with an executive salary cap. Really now, how would you feel if all of a sudden your annual income was missing three zeros after the comma? Granted, these big wheelers weren't earning the salaries of the average Joe six-pack (another one for the Palin fans). For Joe, an annual salary of $500,000 is more than plenty to live a pleasant life.
But for a business tycoon who's been pocketing millions, $500,000 is chump-change. More seriously, when you've living an extravagant lifestyle and are suddenly unable to afford it, you stand to lose important items like your home and car.
Perhaps 'mansion and yachts' are more accurate in this case....
At any rate, I think a salary cap will provide Wall Street with a much-needed "corporate cleansing." If these pay caps help corporations get rid of people who work there only because they receive millions each year, then Obama is doing these corporations a serious favor. They'll actually start employing honest, ambitious leaders who want to do something other than line their own pockets as fast as possible.
One can only hope.
-Alisha Laventure
Now all you hear about is the exorbitant bonuses executives are still receiving after having been bailed out.
Then again, not all businesses that received bailout money continue to spend wastefully. Wells Fargo for example -- which benefited from a $25 billion federal rescue -- canceled a 12-night luxury retreat in Las Vegas for its staff. Now let's think about this for a second. The relative cost of this "luxury retreat" compared to a $25 billion-dollar loan... is trifling! When CEOs start pulling the Sarah Palin, and by that I mean selling company jets on eBay, then I'll be satisfied.
While we wait for such a phenomenon to occur, word on the street -- Wall Street, that is -- is that greedy executives are finally going to get what's coming to them. Pres. Obama has announced a plan to cap the salaries of executives whose companies received bail-out money at $500,000.
Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout.
My only question is: How far down the pole will these salary caps go? At some of the bailed-out banks, traders and bankers make more than the big boys on top receive.
Now of course, adversaries are devising a slew of cockamamie excuses to challenge a cap on executive salaries. My favorite appeared on CNN earlier this week. Wolf and Andy were discussing how opponents believe a salary cap will drain the 'bail-out sector' of talented managers.
Because why would a talented manager work for a company where multi-million dollar bonuses are no longer offered???
If by "talented" these people mean those who have received the highest salaries in the last decade, then the "talented managers" are the ignoramuses responsible for our current state of recession. I'm willing to bet that the statistical correlation between pay and performance of executives at these levels of corporate America is slim to none.
While I find the continued greed on Wall Street atrocious, I have to admit that I'm somewhat sympathetic to those who stand to lose millions with an executive salary cap. Really now, how would you feel if all of a sudden your annual income was missing three zeros after the comma? Granted, these big wheelers weren't earning the salaries of the average Joe six-pack (another one for the Palin fans). For Joe, an annual salary of $500,000 is more than plenty to live a pleasant life.
But for a business tycoon who's been pocketing millions, $500,000 is chump-change. More seriously, when you've living an extravagant lifestyle and are suddenly unable to afford it, you stand to lose important items like your home and car.
Perhaps 'mansion and yachts' are more accurate in this case....
At any rate, I think a salary cap will provide Wall Street with a much-needed "corporate cleansing." If these pay caps help corporations get rid of people who work there only because they receive millions each year, then Obama is doing these corporations a serious favor. They'll actually start employing honest, ambitious leaders who want to do something other than line their own pockets as fast as possible.
One can only hope.
-Alisha Laventure
Friday, February 6, 2009
Super Bowl Shock and Awe
Sunday's Super Bowl was not supposed to be good.
Of the teams assembling in Tampa--the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers--neither were the Cinderellas of the season, nor the dominating powerhouses or sentimental favorites (sorry, Manning brothers).
And at that, the Steelers' star wide receiver walked onto the field with a bum knee, while a lackluster Cards defense lined up to meet them.
The nation was coming off one of the coldest weeks of the year so far.
Even Sports Illustrated and Playboy canceled their Super Bowl parties. The Super Bowl? Without an SI party?
But the second the Vince Lombardi Trophy found its way into the hands of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the rest of the Steelers, the exclamations began: This was the best Super Bowl. Ever.
What happened? How can such a lackluster exposition give way to such a climax and even more exhilarating denouement?
There's no answer; just the facts:
The second quarter ended with a drive-stopping interception run back for a 100-yard touchdown by the Steelers' James Harrison.
The Cards' first lead of the game came by way of a 64-yard touchdown pass to Larry
Fitzgerald with 2:37 left in the game.
The last Pittsburgh offensive drive ended with an impeccable perfect throw-perfect catch combination in the Cardinals' end zone ... and victory.
Most importantly, America exhaled this Sunday. Everyone who tuned in got caught up in it, not just the 71,101 people at Heinz South Stadium.
The emotionalism this game ended up capturing just proves that you can still expect the unexpected; that what is predicted is not always what is delivered.
And now, when few things allow us to focus on something besides the state of the economy, that is something increasingly important to remember. We can barely get our morning coffee without hearing about this downturn's latest victim.
The Super Bowl shocked and surprised. It made some of us cheer, some of us cry.
So I'm going to give the advice that might get me excommunicated from the journalistic world: This weekend, put your newspaper down. Get your nose out of the newest article lamenting the absurd unemployment rate and miserable budget cuts. Put on your coat and gloves and go enjoy yourselves -- and each other. Walk around your downtown, meander down Main Street. We live in a beautiful place with great people.
You might want to wait until Saturday, though. The forecast says Lexington's going to hit 62 degrees.
-Monica Chinn
Of the teams assembling in Tampa--the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers--neither were the Cinderellas of the season, nor the dominating powerhouses or sentimental favorites (sorry, Manning brothers).
And at that, the Steelers' star wide receiver walked onto the field with a bum knee, while a lackluster Cards defense lined up to meet them.
The nation was coming off one of the coldest weeks of the year so far.
Even Sports Illustrated and Playboy canceled their Super Bowl parties. The Super Bowl? Without an SI party?
But the second the Vince Lombardi Trophy found its way into the hands of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the rest of the Steelers, the exclamations began: This was the best Super Bowl. Ever.
What happened? How can such a lackluster exposition give way to such a climax and even more exhilarating denouement?
There's no answer; just the facts:
The second quarter ended with a drive-stopping interception run back for a 100-yard touchdown by the Steelers' James Harrison.
The Cards' first lead of the game came by way of a 64-yard touchdown pass to Larry
Fitzgerald with 2:37 left in the game.
The last Pittsburgh offensive drive ended with an impeccable perfect throw-perfect catch combination in the Cardinals' end zone ... and victory.
Most importantly, America exhaled this Sunday. Everyone who tuned in got caught up in it, not just the 71,101 people at Heinz South Stadium.
The emotionalism this game ended up capturing just proves that you can still expect the unexpected; that what is predicted is not always what is delivered.
And now, when few things allow us to focus on something besides the state of the economy, that is something increasingly important to remember. We can barely get our morning coffee without hearing about this downturn's latest victim.
The Super Bowl shocked and surprised. It made some of us cheer, some of us cry.
So I'm going to give the advice that might get me excommunicated from the journalistic world: This weekend, put your newspaper down. Get your nose out of the newest article lamenting the absurd unemployment rate and miserable budget cuts. Put on your coat and gloves and go enjoy yourselves -- and each other. Walk around your downtown, meander down Main Street. We live in a beautiful place with great people.
You might want to wait until Saturday, though. The forecast says Lexington's going to hit 62 degrees.
-Monica Chinn
Thursday, January 29, 2009
A little more fun for a little less
During a time when melancholy stories of budget cuts, job cuts and a failing economy dominate the news, it is refreshing to hear stories like that of the Sample of the City event in Lexington.
Alicia Budich covered the story for The Rockbridge Report, and her experience proved that, despite the hardships that Lexington residents and U.S. citizens are undoubtedly facing during these hard times, people can still find a way to have a little fun and eat some good food. Restaurants from around the city came together to show locals and out-of-towners what they had to offer and, despite the cold and damp weather, created a cheery and festive event.
As a former longtime employee of local restaurant The Bistro, I like knowing that Lexington's small but impressive restaurants got to show what they are made of. Local restaurant owners take their importance in this small city seriously and it shows in their delicious refined dishes and excellent service.
It is just another example of an American characteristic that I value above all else, that people in the United States will always find a way to get by, to persevere, and to have some fun. Even during the Depression, when it seemed that things could not get any worse, professional sporting events still went on and communities gathered together to celebrate holidays. During this recession we can all be assured that the same will be true.
Maybe, with the economy slowing down and things getting "back to the basics," as my new favorite Allstate commercial says, people will be able to have a little more fun for a little less.
- Michelle Boniface
Alicia Budich covered the story for The Rockbridge Report, and her experience proved that, despite the hardships that Lexington residents and U.S. citizens are undoubtedly facing during these hard times, people can still find a way to have a little fun and eat some good food. Restaurants from around the city came together to show locals and out-of-towners what they had to offer and, despite the cold and damp weather, created a cheery and festive event.
As a former longtime employee of local restaurant The Bistro, I like knowing that Lexington's small but impressive restaurants got to show what they are made of. Local restaurant owners take their importance in this small city seriously and it shows in their delicious refined dishes and excellent service.
It is just another example of an American characteristic that I value above all else, that people in the United States will always find a way to get by, to persevere, and to have some fun. Even during the Depression, when it seemed that things could not get any worse, professional sporting events still went on and communities gathered together to celebrate holidays. During this recession we can all be assured that the same will be true.
Maybe, with the economy slowing down and things getting "back to the basics," as my new favorite Allstate commercial says, people will be able to have a little more fun for a little less.
- Michelle Boniface
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Celebrating a real American - and his family
Barack Hussein Obama is the 44th president of the United States. His father was not a former president. His last name does not denote the wealth that a name like Rockefeller or Forbes does. At first glance, the name doesn't even seem American! But no one who was paying attention to his presidential campaign, the passion with which he speaks about our country, and the enthusiasm with which he recited the presidential oath of office on Tuesday can deny that he as red-blooded an American as George Washington himself.
I still have a hard time believing that the first African-American president has been elected. I did believe that it would happen, one day. But never in my wildest dreams did I think I would see it happen so soon. I feel so blessed to have been a part of such an historic event. As an African-American, I am inspired by Barack Obama. He inspires me to believe that anything is possible - anything.
Seeing the First Family, a black first family, shows another, less-often seen representation of the black American family. The last time such a family was seen on television -- two highly educated parents with smart, well-rounded, respectful kids -- was when The Cosby Show was on air. It is so refreshing to see such an image.
But apart from being an inspiration to African-Americans, I have to believe that Barack Obama is an inspiration to the entire country, if not the world. His presidency shows us all that we are capable of change, great change. And with this change, I believe, comes a new era of prosperity and peace.
- Alicia Laventure
I still have a hard time believing that the first African-American president has been elected. I did believe that it would happen, one day. But never in my wildest dreams did I think I would see it happen so soon. I feel so blessed to have been a part of such an historic event. As an African-American, I am inspired by Barack Obama. He inspires me to believe that anything is possible - anything.
Seeing the First Family, a black first family, shows another, less-often seen representation of the black American family. The last time such a family was seen on television -- two highly educated parents with smart, well-rounded, respectful kids -- was when The Cosby Show was on air. It is so refreshing to see such an image.
But apart from being an inspiration to African-Americans, I have to believe that Barack Obama is an inspiration to the entire country, if not the world. His presidency shows us all that we are capable of change, great change. And with this change, I believe, comes a new era of prosperity and peace.
- Alicia Laventure
Thursday, January 15, 2009
New year, new hope
So a new year has begun and a new team for The Rockbridge Report has been assembled. Being involved in The Rockbridge Report has long been a dreaded experience for new journalism students, but as a veteran of the j-school I can say that this semester's Rockbridge Report is going to be wild and crazy, yes, but I also have a feeling that my fellow producers and the reporters are going to make it run as smoothly as, say, a baby's bottom.
So what will this new year of 2009 hold for us? For me, 2009 will be the year of my college graduation, filled with memories of friends, nights out in Lex Vegas, and of course my days in the j-school. For many of us, 2009 will also be the year that we struggled to get by, struggled to find a job, and prayed that the economy would take a turn for the better.
It will also be remembered as the year of Barack Obama, the year that our country proved it was ready for change, politically and socially. Although there are inevitably going to be many challenges in 2009, maybe these challenges will allow us to cherish the small and simple things in life and, I hope, happy memories of graduations, family and friends will be the ones that we remember.
-Michelle Boniface
So what will this new year of 2009 hold for us? For me, 2009 will be the year of my college graduation, filled with memories of friends, nights out in Lex Vegas, and of course my days in the j-school. For many of us, 2009 will also be the year that we struggled to get by, struggled to find a job, and prayed that the economy would take a turn for the better.
It will also be remembered as the year of Barack Obama, the year that our country proved it was ready for change, politically and socially. Although there are inevitably going to be many challenges in 2009, maybe these challenges will allow us to cherish the small and simple things in life and, I hope, happy memories of graduations, family and friends will be the ones that we remember.
-Michelle Boniface
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