Photo bombing.

While at the ceremony for the plane crash last thursday, I noticed a plethora of photographers that were not associated with any type of media.
Photography is becoming a problem.
People assume because they have a "professional" camera means they can go wherever, whenever and take photos.
However, this is not true.
It's distracting enough having four or five photographers running around from actual papers, taking photos for their jobs.
Then you add about 15 more photographers jumping into shots and walking in front of people there to remember those lost, and you have utter chaos.
How disrespectful were those who ran around during a moment of silence, or in the middle of someones speech?
Marshall needs to work on keeping better control somehow of only allowing media to be taking photos during ceremonies during events, especially one as important as this one, so it doesn't look like a rodeo.
One of the football players even commented that while they were watching the lifestream their view was obstructed by the mass amount of photographers gathering around the fountain to shoot those placing the roses.
It was a bit out of control. It's sad that people lack enough common sense to realize how inappropriate that was.

Does time stand still?

A famous quote associated with the plane crash of Nov. 1970 is "time stands still." 

Does it?

43 years later, our community still comes together to honor those perished. 

However, on the campus of Marshall University that was so affected by the crash 43 years ago, classes still go on. Shops are still open on campus and around campus.

Why can't our town stand still for one day?

Would it hurt businesses so much to take part in remembering for one day by shutting down business.

What if our town actually stood still?

Professor's not from around the area have a small idea of why we do what we do on Nov. 14 every year. They won't cancel class. They won't take a moment of silence.

It wouldn't be difficult for our student body to come together and show Marshall that we want to truly stand still.

Why is the ceremony not a university excused absence?

Marshall University needs to stand still on this day.

Maybe next year, if enough students come tougher with this same passion we can truly be a town where time stands still.

11.14.13. Never forget.

"Never forget," two words that will never ring more true for Huntington, W.Va. 
After the plane crash of Nov. 14, 1970, the town of Huntington has stuck together as a community, growing closer as every year passes.
Those not from the area, those without connections to the crash, may wonder why our town still holds strong to the memory of that day 43 years ago.
However, that is what makes us who we are. The fact more than four decades later we still come together, honoring those lost entirely too soon, is what makes our town so special.
We don't hold to the memory of the crash to make us something special. We hold to the knowledge that if this were to happen today, the community would be behind each and every one of us, 100%.
Seeing the hundreds of people come out to Marshall University's campus on the 43rd anniversary of the crash was an amazing sight. 
This years memorial service had one of the largest attendance's in years, proving that we are still a close-knit community.
Seeing family, friends and loved ones of those perished brought tears to the eyes of many who aren't old enough to even know anyone who died in the crash.
However, holding on to the memories is what makes us who we are.
The bond the people of Huntington hold is a bond more special than most towns have.
For me, tears were brought to my eyes thinking of losing one of my own fellow editors. Tears came as I looked at the Parthenon we created to dedicate to the Parthenon of Nov. 18, 1970.
I can't imagine this happening today. Losing people that I cross paths with every day, losing a parent or sibling.
I can't begin to fathom what those who went to Marshall University, or those who lived in the town of Huntington in 1970 felt like 43 years ago today, but it's a wonderful feeling to be able to know that I live in a town that always stands strong together. I'm proud to be a daughter of Marshall. Proud to be a member of this community.
Never forget.

What DOES the fox say?

The latest internet sensation is a music video by Ylvis, a Norwegian comedy duo from Bergen. The duo consists of brothers Bård and Vegard Ylvisåker who debuted as professional variety artists in 2000. 
Their song "The Fox" became Viral in September of this year.
If you didn't listen to the words, you would think that it was a legitimate song on the music charts. 
The video is brilliantly produced and artistically played out, like many of the music videos that are so popular today.
Of course, when you listen to the song you realize that it's purpose is solely comic. The brothers sing about the different sounds animals make and then ask the question "what does the fox say?"
The end of the video displays a computer generated fox dancing and saying different things because, he's a fox of course. He wouldn't be a sly fox if he just let the world know what he said.
And really, what DOES the fox say? 

Birthday's and work are made better with friends.

Blowing out 22 candles at O'Charley's on Sunday, Sept. 29.

Let's just say my heart was overwhelmingly happy when two of my professors and some of my fellow Parthenon editors showed up to see me at work on Sunday for my birthday.

It was the sweetest surprise to be able to celebrate while at work with so many people that I spend almost every day with.    

My boss was completely on board with allowing me to have my own little birthday party while at work and even took the photo of the group shown below.

It was an unexpected surprise that made my birthday so memorable and special.

Birthday celebration at work with my School of Journalism family

I'm so blessed to have these people in my life!

Thank you all so much for coming out and spending time with me on Sunday. You have no idea how much it meant to me! :)

Chapter 10 of The Art of Editing, summarized.

Brian S. Brooks, of Missouri School of Journalism, and James L. Pinson, of Eastern Michigan University, start the chapter off by discussing various news sources and why newspapers are still relevant to today's reader.

"Newspapers, usually only one per city, provide far more depth than any of the other traditional media and typically do the best job of explaining." (Brooks and Pinson, 293) 

Brooks and Pinson give statistics as to why the notion that newspapers are dying is a myth.

Some statistics were:

• Almost eight of 10 adults (77 percent) nationwide read a newspaper or a newspaper Web site during the course of a week.
• When consumers look to buy things, they think of newspapers first. Fifty-five percent go to newspapers first compared to only 19 percent for the Internet and 8 percent for television. 
• Visitors to newspapers' Web site say these sites are among their most-used media sources during the workday. Forty-nine percent spend time on these sites between the hours of 8 and 11 a.m.
• Two-thirds (66 percent) of all online newspaper readers visit a newspaper Web site at least once a day. Half of these visit several times a day.

 The authors also give insight into editing stories that come in, whether they are wire stories (immediate sources that come from Associated Press and other services) or local stories along with giving credit to whom credit is due.

Brooks and Pinson brought up a new formula to news-writing that I hadn't been familiar with before. Journalists are well-aware of the inverted pyramid style, but they discussed using the Wall Street Journal formula. Instead of beginning with the most important information first, such as hard news stories, this formula begins the story with an anecdote and leads into the story with that.

The authors continue discussing developing a paper and lead into budgeting and laying out the design of the paper. Budgeting stories is important in newspaper design because without it it's difficult to create an aesthetically please look to the paper. You can't have a story that's a 32 column inches next to a 13 column inch story and expect it to be neat and clean.

Along with budgeting stories, Brooks and Pinson explain the importance of incorporating the principles of design when laying out the paper. Contrast, unity, balance and the other principles are crucial to creating a professional looking paper.

The authors wrap up the chapter with examples of a newspaper layout.

WORK CITED:

Brooks, Brian S., and James L. Pinson. "Chapter 10." The Art of Editing: In the Age of Convergence (Ninth Edition). Beijing: Zhongguo Ren Min Da Xue Chu Ban She, 2009. 293. Print.

GTA V

For many college students at Marshall, this past week has been exciting. Those students who consider themselves gamers most likely felt like a kid at Christmas as they waited in line Monday evening at their chosen gaming store and waited for the midnight release of Grand Theft Auto V.

According to The Parthenon, this game had a larger budget than the move "Avatar" with its budget of $265 million. "Avatar" had a budget of $237 million.

This gaming series has been popular since it's first release back in October 1997.

GTA V costs around $60 to purchase.

To find more information on GTA V, visit http://www.rockstargames.com/grandtheftauto/

Correction Policy

Dedicated to writing truthful, local stories about happenings in Huntington, W.Va.
If any errors are found, contact me and changes will be made accordingly.
Steele98@marshall.edu

Huntington hosts 5k Color run

While most associate Huntington with unhealthy eating habits, ironically Huntington hosts a plethora of 5k's for such a "lazy" city.

The majority of 5k's held in Huntington are typical runs for a cause and are held at Ritter Park.
The 5k happening in town on Saturday, August 31 was a bit out of the norm.

The Color Run came to Huntington and the turn out was astronomical. According to the Herald-Dispatch, the color run brought out an estimated 3,000 people.
The color run is not timed. The idea of the whole event is to get people pumped up and excited. Even when the sky clouded over Saturday morning, the vibe was still an excited one. Those who attended and those who came to watch did not seem phased by the weather's threat of a storm.

The color run began at the Veterans Boulevard and ended at the Harris River Front Park. The "color" aspect of the run were packets of colored, food-grade cornstarch that runners were given to throw in the air, themselves or others. Needless to say, parts of Huntington were much livelier after the run took place. Not only were the streets of Huntington more colorful because of this 5k, but the people attending were as well. Many of those participating in the run came out wearing unique costumes. Although the morning was anything but sunny, the colors and spirits of all those who came out for the event created a cheerful vibe for such a dreary morning.

Saturday was quite the eventful day for Huntington. In the morning the streets were full of energized participants for the color run and by night the streets were full of cheerful Marshall fans celebrating the first game, and win, of this fall's football season.

And people say nothing happens in Huntington.

                            Color Run, Harris River Front Park on Saturday, August 31, 2013.