Monday, May 7, 2007

mistake?

Upon looking back at this semester, and in particular this class, I have been thinking about my classes and the potency, effectiveness, and growth that has occurred in each. I have come to the conclusion that, although this class is an excellent course, I took it prematurely. Considering that this is only my fourth semester here and only taken a few journalism courses (J30,J20,J50), this class was way over my head. I survived (or so I hope) but, without taking basic reporting, this class was definitely not for me in my current state.

Upon review, I discovered that yes, I did learn a great deal, but I also equally struggled. With a hectic schedule, it was hard for me to not be reminded weekly, even twice weekly, that I had to get on it. But, that is how the real world will be. Maybe instead of the title, freelance magazine writer, I can be called freestudent magazine writer. For in this class, I truly was challenged when given a story to think up and research with solomente mi (only me) and tasted what it would be like to fend, claw, and scratch for myself in the so called "real world".

At any rate, everything is a process and everything is to be learned from in life.
Lesson learned: Take ALL the requirements before you take electives - especially upper division.


still fighting,
akm

Better late then never

SO I've finally got my query letters sent out. Due to the fact that I was in Tennessee for five days, and I've had little to no extra time to really sit down and think things out, my query letters have been sent out a little later than I was expecting. All these queries are for my Rowing Recruitment article, which I'm still trying to craft.

I found three places via the Writer's Market:
Outdoors NW: Covers outdoor recreation in the Pacific NW, according to the Writer's Market, the editor says "Writers must have solid knowledge.... They must be doers." So that works out quite well for me, hopefully I'll get a jump on that one.
Query:

May 7th, 2007

Becky Brun

Price Media, Inc.

PMB 3311

10002 Aurora Ave N. #36

Seattle, WA 98133

Dear Ms. Brun:

The all-out brawl for women’s sports scholarships is over in one sport.
Since the passage of Title IX, the sport of rowing has become a very popular choice to even the score for most universities across the nation. Within eight years of its passage, the number of universities offering a NCAA registered Women’s rowing program has jumped from 55 schools in 1997 to 86 in 2005. Depending on the school's funding, and the coach's choice of disbursement, roughly 3/4 of a collegiate rowing team is on scholarship.
High school rowing clubs, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area, have started to become popular places for parents to put their children in, and girls are even more encouraged by the prospect that they will most likely be recruited by PAC-10 schools such as UC Berkeley, Princeton, and Gonzaga. These clubs have schools from all over throwing scholarship deals towards their female rowers. The head coach for Oakland Strokes said, "Last year, between September and October, I'd say about 30 to 40 coaches came through here looking at our kids".
I would like to write an article for this magazine to highlight this sport. I believe that it is a vital, yet underestimated, opportunity for women. And with the collegiate competition in the Pacific Northwest, it should be recognized as a stronghold in the community of adrenaline seeking competitors.
I have been rowing for two years myself and have experienced the hard work that goes into this graceful sport. I know what sorts of discipline and strenuous activity these girls pour out to work at these scholarships, and it’s about time that we get some recognition!
I am a full time journalism student-athlete at Sacramento State University. I have spent 6 days a week for the past two years getting up at 5 a.m. for this sport. It has been a blessing to me, and I want to share this blessing, and put this sport in the open, for you and your readers to share.
In Regards,
Anne Morrison
contact info went here

Hemispheres: An inflight magazine for United Airlines with lots of different takes on things, I sent one out regarding the sports dept. - "Eye on Sports"
Query:
Alicia Miller
Senior Editor, Hemispheres
Pace Communications
1301 Carolina Street
Greensboro, NC 27401

Dear Ms. Miller:

The all-out brawl for women’s sports scholarships is over in one sport.
Since the passage of Title IX, the sport of rowing has become a very popular choice to even the score for most universities across the nation. Within eight years of its passage, the number of universities offering a NCAA registered Women’s rowing program has jumped from 55 schools in 1997 to 86 in 2005. Depending on the school's funding, and the coach's choice of disbursement, roughly 3/4 of a collegiate rowing team is on scholarship.
High school rowing clubs, especially in the SAN FRANCISCO Bay Area, have started to become popular places for parents to put their children in, and girls are even more encouraged by the prospect that they will most likely be recruited by PAC-10 schools such as UC Berkeley, Princeton, and Gonzaga. These clubs have schools from all over throwing scholarship deals towards their female rowers. The head coach for Oakland Strokes said, "Last year, between September and October, I'd say about 30 to 40 coaches came through here looking at our kids".
I would like to write an article for this magazine to highlight this sport.
I have been rowing for two years myself and have experienced the hard work that goes into this graceful sport. I know what sorts of discipline and strenuous activity these girls pour out to work at these scholarships and education, and it’s about time that we get some recognition!
I am a full time journalism student-athlete at Sacramento State University. I have spent 6 days a week for the past two years getting up at 5 a.m. for this sport. It has been a blessing to me, and I want to share this blessing, and put this sport in the open, for you and your readers to share.

In Regards,
Anne Morrison
my contact went here

Collegebound Teen: I found this in the Writer's market, and upon looking at the website, found that they stopped taking queries a couple months ago, so closed published magazine means a no-go on that. I'm still in search for a third query, but am not having to much luck.
Query I was to send out:
Dawn Papandrea
Editor, Collegebound Teen Magazine


Dear Ms. Papandrea:

The all-out brawl for women’s sports scholarships is over in one sport.
Since the passage of Title IX, the sport of rowing has become a very popular choice to even the score for most universities across the nation. Within eight years of its passage, the number of universities offering a NCAA registered Women’s rowing program has jumped from 55 schools in 1997 to 86 in 2005. Depending on the school's funding, and the coach's choice of disbursement, roughly 3/4 of a collegiate rowing team is on scholarship. Each receiving anywhere from $1,000 to $7,000 a year.
High school rowing clubs, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area, have started to become popular places for parents to put their children in, and girls are even more encouraged by the prospect that they will most likely be recruited by PAC-10 schools such as UC Berkeley, Princeton, and Gonzaga. These clubs have schools from all over throwing scholarship deals towards their female rowers. The head coach for Oakland Strokes said, "Last year, between September and October, I'd say about 30 to 40 coaches came through here looking at our kids".
Recruiting isn't limited to rowers either, since the sport isn't offered at many high schools, coaches look for athletes with similar abilities and frames that are consistent with rowers. Swimmers, track and cross country runners, and basketball players are just among the few whom coaches look for. Michelle McMullin, a current rower at Sacramento State, was recruited in high school by Gonzaga University because of her outstanding track record.
I would like to write an article for this magazine to highlight this sport.
I have been rowing for two years myself and have experienced the hard work that goes into this graceful sport. I know what sorts of discipline and strenuous activity these girls pour out to work at these scholarships, and it’s about time that we get some recognition!
I am a full time journalism student-athlete at Sacramento State University. I have spent 6 days a week for the past two years getting up at 5 a.m. for this sport. It has been a blessing to me, and I want to share this blessing, and put this sport in the open, for you and your readers to share and to give high school athletes an opportunity and insight into this world.
In Regards,
Anne Morrison
contact info went here

Monday, March 19, 2007

brainwashed?

At this point in history, I believe it's not a matter over the state of being brainwashed. I think it's more the matter of what you are washing your brain in.

take a bite and digest that for a while. I'll waiting to hear what waters you bathe in.

"Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'" John 4:13

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." Psalms 1:3

Monday, March 5, 2007

Dearest world,

Coming halfway into college, I had a revelation of sorts. About half-way through my freshman year, I heard a quote, it rang: "Open your mind and shut your mouth"

It profoundly affected me and it's exactly what I did. I was done with dealing with the life I had for four years in high school and I wanted to change (which in H.S. I knew I wanted to change too - I wanted to be free). So, I literally opened my mind even wider and shut my mouth.

And as I did, I started to turn a corner in my life. Things started to make sense, and when I was facing my new road that was around that ever sharp corner, I found God. And it's been amazing ever since. The revelation that I have recieved from the Almighty has been all I could ever ask for, the gifts He has brought to me have been greater than anything I could imagine and the things that He has planned for me are not fathomable to my incapable, tiny brain.

And I think I'm finally starting to turn another corner and to walk down the deep dark ally of my career in the world.. and we'll see where it takes me. So here's to the adventure of life - three cheers for the unknown.

sincerely,
the girl determined to change the world.


Post Script: and this is just the tip of the iceberg...

Research story #2

Thus far in my search for a story, I was going to do the article on this guy:



But, he's a little inaccessible so again, I'm doing something rowing related (blah).

A repotting story on my coach to be exact. His name is Mike Connors, and word on the street has been that he droped everything to become a coach full time. To the extent of which, I'm not really sure. I've talked to some other people and they have told me that he's been coaching for quite sometime. According to his bio at the Sac State athletic website, he's been coaching for 20 years. While in college, he won most valuable oarsman twice and was inducted into the Santa Clara University Hall of Fame.

He coached at Oakland Strokes (a high school club) for about a year and then moved to coach the UC Davis Men for about four years leaving behind nothing but a good record. Prior to this, he was head coach at Santa Clara University of Women's crew for seven years. He is currently in his fifth season at Sac State.

I've yet to interview him myself, due to how busy we all are, but I should have it done by the end of the week.

Saturday, February 24, 2007

zine - n. An inexpensive, self-produced, underground publication

For the past couple of years, I haven't really truly subscribed to any specific magazine. I think the last, and only, one I had a subscription to was Teen People. I never really had an interest in magazines, but then I was introduced to the wonderful world of zines.

In my high school years, I would go to Tower Records and sit in the mega-magazine section reading through all the zines on all different subjects. The raw intensity of most of them really struck me and grabbed my attention. I was hooked.

I've had many failed attempts since then to start one of my own, due to lack of commitment from friends, but I dream of starting my own someday.

I think that the self-publication process is the greatest and worst part about a zine as well. Without the constant need for consent from the public and funding from advertisements, zines can be free to do as they please. But, I believe, that this is also the greatest downfall.

A zine cannot be written by one sole person, and the ones that are, for the most part, are very boring. Therefore, it must depend on the word of others, whom don't take it as seriously as some should- i.e. they don't do the work. But when they do, it is so free-flowing and real that there is nothing in mainstream magazines that can beat it.

All in all, I try to read as many zines as possible, but I still look from cover to cover while waiting in line at the grocery store. But who doesn't do that?

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Pride and Prejudice or Monster?

It really hardens my heart to see band's myspace profiles with girls that send nude pictures of them with the bands name written across their breasts. It pissed me off to see that women cry out for these lovely, Jane Austen romances, for the most chivalrous guy on the earth, yet treat themselves like crap.

It's even more bothersome when they think they are empowering themselves because they are making guys gawk at them. WHAT KIND OF TWISTED IDEA IS THAT? Guys will degrade a girl and gropple and man-handle a young lady and she ACCEPTS IT?! Seriously, will someone please tell me what is wrong with the world today?

Women like that need to be changed. And, for the record, I hate people. I hate the human race. I am the most pessamistic person you will ever meet, BUT the Lord isn't, and I was created in His likeness, and so I have compassion for these girls and all human kind because He has compassion for all.

At any rate, boys are dicks - because women let guys treat them like it. I, on the other hand, won't stand for that or anything less than a real man.

And guys, F.Y.I. - girls really do want to be treated with respect, NO MATTER WHAT they say to you otherwise. So to all you men out there, don't give up. A true love is waiting for everyone.

what a sick world.