Slacking...

Since I am new at this blogging scene, I have been neglecting my blogs due to nice weather and of course May 2-4, which oddly enough came quite early this year.

I will report back tomorrow when I have a little more time to rattle out a few more details.

Embassy Hotel in flames

Last night as I was driving downtown with my fiancée to take the dogs for a walk I noticed that distinctive trail of black smoke floating across the London skyline. So, as any good aspiring journalist, I followed my lead (pun completely intended). I ended up at Lyle and Dundas Streets where I was diverted by London Police. Although I was completely unprepared to write a story about the fire, I was pleased by my persistence to follow the smoke trail. My fiancée was not so impressed, however. That all changed when we were able to see flames shooting out of the roof and two large London Fire Department trucks spraying water on the charred building.

It is too bad we are not a little further into the term as this would make for a great story. When I was reading The London Free Press this morning, I learned that the building has recently been sold and is slated for a future condo development. The potential for some interesting twists is a distinct possibility!

First Three Classes

In our first two JOUR - 9700 (Print) classes we have been tested twice on whether we are staying current with the news. I look forward to these tests and it will definitely force me to read ALL of the paper and not just the first section and sports scores from the night before.

Today we began learning about our new best friend. The library. Since returning to school (two years ago to take distance courses) I have been fortunate enough to avoid the library, but now I feel that I am going to become intimately acquainted with the large concrete building known as D.B. Weldon.

Another night of no homework or assignments. While I am anticipating learning about journalism, I am graciously thankful for these quiet nights. I know they will become few and far between in the upcoming months.

Orientation is done, let the school work begin

With orientation and the first few days of class behind us, the class of 2010 is starting to settle into a groove with lectures and assignments starting to roll out.

In the first three days of class this week we have been reintroduced the basics of grammar and the basics of grammar for journalistic writing. First and foremost, we learned that our first priority is to the reader and not to our future employer. Initially this seems to be confusing, but when you look at the big picture and to who journalists are writing for (the readers), it makes perfect sense.

As future journalists we are now expected to be news savvy. As a result, we are expected to stay on top of the happenings in London, Ontario through our daily local The London Free Press but we are to know what is the top stories from the rest of Canada and globally. We will be staying informed through The Globe & Mail. I have to say that although I love the news, I do not read the newspaper, I am an addict of news channels such as CP24 and CTVNewsnet. I will have to expand how I take in the information and get up and extra hour early and read the papers every morning.

I am thoroughly enjoying going to class everyday, which is a departure from my undergraduate days. I am learning much about a culture and profession which I know little about. The future is exciting, and I eagerly look forward to learning the "ins" and "outs" of print, broadcast, and radio.

First Blog EVER!

First off, welcome!

This is my first attempt at a blog and my first post. So if you're tuning in, I hope to keep this updated on a fairly regular basis while I am going through the trials and tribulations of the University of Western Ontario's (UWO)- Journalism School.

Well after attending my first day of my Master's program in Journalism I have to say, I AM EXCITED! The group of people that have been paired together for this 2010 stream seem outstanding.

So, what can you expect from me here? Consider this (your) the reader's bill of rights.
- I will try to give a full and comprehensive account of my experiences at UWO's Journalism school.
- I will not blog about gossip or "real" people unless they have given me permission to do so. Gossip is fine, we all do it. I love TMZ as much as the next person, however, this blog is not proper forum for it.
- I will provide as much information about what it is like to be a journalism student.
- I will attempt to keep this updated as regularly as possible... keep in mind that I am in school, so if I'm not around for a little bit, it's because I have been completing my student journalistic duties.

I think that is all the rights you will have. Any suggestions, please pass them on. I hope a little bit of sarcasm is showing through.

Now the big question. Print, or should I say, text. Radio. Or Broadcast? I entered the program like many others with a mind set on print. As I sat in class I had already discounted radio, however, the passion of our professors with the radio stream resonated with me and I will definitely have to keep my opinions and options open.

I think that is all for today. It has been a long few days. I will try to fill in some more details tomorrow.