Story Telling in Paradise

Give me a sign.

2009-09-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

There is nothing I love more than covering stories that make me happy. This student at the University of Miami, named Kemy Joseph, walks around campus with homemade signs to promote his message of peace and love. They say positive messages like: smile, have a good day, you're perfect, you're awesome, etc.
Now, as much as I want to keep my bias out of this, how can I not? I love this story!
The fact that anyone wants to spread joy in the world makes me happy. And even better to be creative about it.

I approve. :)

clouds with the sliver line...

2009-08-27T11:49:00.000-07:00

Heyyy!!
Okay so back to yesterdays biting off a little too much topic. Today I finally finished my article about this man from Kendall who had a hemorrhage three years ago. He got saved by these firefighters, from station 37, and went to a union meeting to thank them.
Sweet story from there right... well there is more.
Turns out, the guy, Edward Rodriguez, had a daughter who passed away a few months before this happened to him. Her husband was in the Army and they got into an accident while driving over there. She was in a coma for 45 days, and her family went to be by her side, but she never woke up from the coma so they never got to say good-bye.
Needless to say they were heartbroken at the time of the hemorrhage, Nov. 7.
But what saved Edwards life is that his wife, Lizbeth, got an e-mail a few months before telling her how to spot a stroke victim. She somehow remembered what she read, and made sure he was having a stroke before calling 911. And apparently that saved a lot of time for the firefighters who saved Edward because they would have spent time finding out what the problem was.
Interesting no?

I'll post the story when I am done.

Don't bite off more than you can chew, there are things out there the devil himself wouldn't do...

2009-08-26T21:14:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I did just that.
I think I bit off more than I can chew this week. I let myself get four articles to write and I feel so drained I cannot even think about writing number 2 of 4. I know, in the real world this would be nothing, but I am a firm believer that extended and longer deadlines make an article harder to write because you get lazy.
Hey there is always tomorrow!

Don't worry... I'm starting it now.

I thnk it's safe to say we're all here for a game of FOOTBALL!!!!!!

2009-07-01T07:33:00.001-07:00

There is nothing in the world I hate more than parents who push their kids into doing anything for their own sense of self satisfaction. It's just annoying and frankly, it's cheap.

Case in point a youth football clinic I covered this weekend at Florida International University. It was put on by the NCAA Youth Sport Initiative, Orange Bowl and the Miami Dolphins. Story is coming out on Thursday but until then can I tell you how annoying parents are who put their kids in sports? These parents clearly see their kids as a pay check and hope that one day their little running back will grow up and play for the NFL, and buy them a car and house along the way.

Kids should play a sport because they love it, and because they find it fun. When I was interviewing for this story not a single one of the kids I spoke to could tell me what they wanted to do with their lives if the NFL didn't work out. No wait, I lied. They did have an idea of what they wanted to do - play basketball. Not be a doctor, lawyer, teacher. sports agent, nope a basketball player.

Tell me this isn't sad!

been gone for a while. nearly a month

2009-06-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

I am so sorry for not updating this in such a long time. I have been so caught up with the Iranian elections that everything else has been on the back burner for me. I don't think I have seen much of my friends since everything began.
But as anything in life I think there is a great lesson upcoming journalist, such as myself, can take from what is going on in Iran. And no I am not talking about using Twitter and other alternative news sources when there is a media black out. Although all that stuff is important.
The lesson I am taking from all of this is how to stay composed during a crisis.

I am Iranian. I was born there, my family still lives there and I am very proud of my background and culture. That being said, watching my people killed on TV is not something I can watch without crying or feeling anger towards those doing the killings.

One of the greatest lessons I have learned is how to turn the human side of you off and the journalist on while covering something emotional. I used to think this would be easy, but as I have been sitting here reading Tweet after Tweet and seeing photos and videos from my country, it is hard to become that robot. It is hard not to want to cry, and it is hard not to think of the worst.

Of course, I am saying this as an Iranian, but these feeling can come from anyone and anywhere. Imagine 9/11 and the feeling of helplessness then. How those journalist went on air I have no idea.

I think it is fine to have some feelings while covering something like Iran. Feel what they are feeling, it's hard not to. But don'tn forget that your job is to get the truth out and let the world know everything about the situation the best you can. Journalist aren't helpless, they are the ones who inform and get help to those who need it!

blame it on the rain...

2009-05-30T15:42:00.000-07:00

So I go out to do a story today in Richmond Heights and on my way over I notice the sky keeps getting darker. By the time I make the 45 minute drive it's black. And of course, they don't cancel the event, even though it's an all day outdoor event with no alternative to move inside. The event was to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the city, which is the first community made for black veterans who came home from WWII.
No one came to the event, but hopefully someone will show up tomorrow.

McGovern

2009-05-27T19:40:00.000-07:00

Here is the link to the story I did about George McGovern:
Click Here

This had to be one of my favorite stories to write just because of the personality of McGovern. He is friendly and approachable but you can tell he still very upset about not winning the election in 1972. The whole speech he at the book signing was a big, "I told you so," to those who came.
Apparently only winning two states isn't enough to win the presidency but it is enough to tell everyone that we could have avoided Nixon's second term had the other 48 states come to their senses.

Spell check!

2009-05-27T19:32:00.000-07:00

This sounds like a silly tip, but honestly sometimes you forget the simple things - always spell check! Easy I know, but there is nothing more embarrassing than having your editor yell out, "Hey Paradise can you spell?" across the newsroom.
So make sure you take the time to read things over.

How many people are here?

2009-05-22T09:41:00.001-07:00

Most people cannot look at a room and say, "there are 134 people here." And I am not one of those people who can. I thought when I did the story on Geroge McGovern that I saw about 50 people there, turns out I was off by about 50!
I called the PR today to check out the number and she told me that there were eight or nine rows of about 10 and then people standing in the back of the room.
Opps, I was a little off. But I could've sworn it was 50 til she told me how many people where actually int he rows. I was thinking seven rows of anout six.

Do not believe a word they tell you... until you check it

2009-05-22T09:34:00.000-07:00

Okay so normally when a person tells you they live in Plantation, or Miami Beach they are not lying to you, but you never know.
Today I was driving over the Herald and I got this thought in my head, "those people I quoted, did I spell their last name correctly?"
So of course I go online and I put in their last name and home phone number in YellowPages.com, which by the way is my savior half the time, and turns out they lived in Miami, not Broward like they said.
Just to confirm it was looking at the right people I call them up, and the women tell me that they do live in Miami - Palmetto Bay to be exact.
So always double check, because had that been wrong I would have looked dumb for having Plantation in the story and in my notes.

Let's just waste away the day

2009-05-19T18:36:00.000-07:00

So Sugarland is leading in CMT nominations. YAY!
I love this group! May not be traditional country but there is not denying that Jennifer Neddles has one of the most powerful voices out there.

The last time I freak out

2009-05-19T17:53:00.001-07:00

There is something weird when you get a phone call by someone who says, "hello this is __fill in with name of politician here__."
The funny thing is that I could care less when I met a movie star, rock star you name it. It doesn't phase me. But political heads grab my attention and make me want to listen. Does that make me weird?

when in doubt, check the number out

2009-05-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

There is nothing worse than calling a wrong number and having the guy on the other end play along. Just called for US Representative Mario Diaz-Balart and dailed the wrong number. Turns out a lot of people do the same thing, and the guy who I called just plays along now.
He was really friendly, but part of me was like "really you let me rant on for that long for no reason."
So check numbers!

show up to class

2009-05-19T10:56:00.000-07:00

You never know who you will interview, so show up!
So I just did an interview with one of my old professors. Who still had my grades, and class information on his computer. He made sure to double check them while talking to me as well. So make sure you are nice to everyone and show up to class. It would have been really embrassing I failed and never showed.

every lesson is a lesson learned

2009-05-19T09:23:00.000-07:00

Okay so the new idea behind this blog is to give lessons to any interns and really to be a way for me to talk about interning at the Miami Herald this summer. I have tons to still learn about journalism, so I figure I will share these lessons with anyone who wants to hear them.

What I learned today:
Come early and know when to leave!
You know that annoying person at a party who just wont leave even though everyone is gone. Or anyone really who over stays their welcome. Reporter are the same way, no one wants you to just stand around when the event is over without a reason to be there.
I did a story on Geroge McGovern this weekend, and the interview was long over before I had to sit down and watch him eat lunch because another repoter wanted to ask questions, which she didn't even do.
It looks tacky and my goodness who likes it when people watch them eat. You want to kill the person staring.
So when you're done leave! No need to stick around and walk the guest out. You're job is not to babysit.

Act like a pro, even though you're not!
Tell people you're an intern, that's fine but do not act like you do not know what you are doing. Trust me I have done it myself. People hate it when you walk around like a deer in the headlights, or have to have a PR person guide you through everything. Do not ask for advice for an upcoming reporter, or act like a groupie when you see someone important. Just pretend you know what you're doing, you can freak out later to your friend on the drive home!

Don't let it be love...

2009-05-12T07:30:00.001-07:00

I am not saying that prostitution is okay and should be legal but honestly I do not see the big deal when someone is caught with it. I read this article on the Sun-Sentinel about a women who was running a online pron site, turns out it was a prostitution ring.
What I don't understand is what makes this girl who goes online, and finds a guy and ends up sleeping with him any different than the girls who do it for free? Sorry but fair is fair, and if the woman in this story made millions from prostitution I say good for her, now put them cheating husbands who used her services in jail.

boys will be boys

2009-05-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

Another great article on MSN. God I know how they think they know relationships.
This one is Five Traits That Bag a Boyfriend.
What the hell happened to be yourself? The best part is that one of them is not having self- confidence in terms of feeling fat, or wanting something more. Please, tell me what girl has this? There is not one woman who does not want to be thinner, fatter, have curls, have straight hair, want a better job, want more down time... if you find me one I'll be impressed.

you weren't around to cheer me on

2009-05-11T17:33:00.000-07:00

Okay so I found this article on MSN called Why Guys Dump Girls They Dig.
Of course being the girl I am I had to check it out. Turns out the reasons are true in a sense but ugh, they suck to come to terms with. And needless to say I have issues with each of them.

1. Timing is off - well duh, no one wanted to be with someone at an off time. But really if you really love someone why wouldn't you be with them? It makes no sense. If anyone if lucky enough to find that right person they should stay with them. Not let them go because of timing being a little off. To me this sounds like something people just say. Timing is important, if you are just in different places but why risk having that person find someone new if you know you're right for them?

2. We're Not Finished Playing the Field- Any guys who breaks up cause of this is not worth it!

3. We're Fixated on the Worst-Case Scenario - Again... jerk!

All of these sound like the lame excuses people give not to be with someone. Maybe he is just not that into you, because if you have feelings for a person this crap doesn't matter.

eye contact

2009-04-27T18:22:00.000-07:00

I think there is something wrong with my eyes! I normally wear contacts but today I couldn't even finish my article because my eyes were so bad that I couldn't see the computer clearly. Even on the drive home everything was blurry.
Should I go eye surgery or stronger contacts every year?

Help!

First One Around

2009-04-26T12:40:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I created this blog because I have nothing to do this summer! Since I began college in 2006 I have been going to class non-stop, including summers! Being the nerd that I am I think that I need a side project.

This summer I am going be continuing my internship at the Miami Herald. I have loved every moment of it thus far, so I figured I would use this blog to do what I am supposed to do best - tell people about what's going on.

Enjoy!