Internship Report, Week(s) 9-10

Intern Name: Mark Hamilton
Internship Site: KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM and 1160 AM
Emphasis: Broadcast Journalism
Semester and Section: Fall 2008, Section 001
Week Number: 9-10
Number of Hours This Week: 45

Week 9-10 Report:

When I went to write the report for week 10, I realized I never wrote a week 9 report. Sorry about that! I’ll try to re-cap both weeks…

So, after I was offered the position working BYU’s basketball season too, things started changing. All of a sudden, I was “in the loop” about planning and preparation for games. I started getting schedules, getting timing rundowns for the show, etc.

Last week was much like the others have been, since the basketball season hadn’t actually started yet. But then this week was crazy! I did all of my normal football-related duties, but added in a basketball game. That was crazy, because we had to use a whole different studio upstairs in the Triad Center. We had to use that studio, because this pre-season exhibition game was not broadcast on KSL Newsradio—it was only on ksl.com. In addition to the change of venue, it was interesting adapting to only having two people doing the work of four. Normally for football, there are four of us working to cut audio, get ready for half-time shows, etc…but for basketball, we’re basically on our own.

My responsibilities for basketball include—but are not limited to—updating the score on the website for people following the game from Iraq, or wherever, cutting highlight audio during the game, cutting post-game interview audio, and rolling a recording of the whole game for the podcast.

The guy I’m working with did what I was doing last year, and he is now a full-time employee of KSL. He showed me everything I needed to do, and I did my best to go above and beyond what he told me. Really, an offer of a “real” position at KSL would be great, so I am doing everything I can to secure one. One example of what I did was get highlight audio prepared from the first half in time for him to use it in the halftime show. He was extremely grateful for it, since he didn’t even expect it.

Basically, I’m learning that you have to do whatever it takes to get what you want in this industry—something that should help me next week, when I have two basketball games AND a football game, and I will have to drive to KSL SIX times in one week.

Things are going great though! I love what I’m doing!

Thanks,
Mark

Increased Interconnectedness Suppresses the Spiritual

Media and World Religions Midterm
Question 6

Discuss the interconnected nature of our lifeworld. What is the impact of this interconnectedness on our spirituality?
As the world grows more and more interconnected, mankind seems to simultaneously be losing its connection with the divine. In the earliest times of civilization, people seemed to focus their time and attention on religious matters. In fact, it is difficult to completely divorce the divine from daily life during much of the earth’s history. Entire religious groups intentionally separated themselves from “corrupting” influences and society, and established their own belief systems where they lived in isolation, cut off from the world. These people were often viewed as religious zealots. We think of them as monks, reformers, Puritans, the Amish, and others. Often, these monks would sacrifice all their earthly possessions in order to grow closer to the divine. Their entire focus was their personal spirituality.
Conversely, in these so-called “modern times,” mankind has become so busy and distracted, that we have distanced ourselves from the divine. This process has been so gradual that most people seem to have not noticed, like a frog you place in a pot in which you gradually increase the heat. An ever-more interconnected world inevitably leads to the stifling of originality. An ever-more interconnected world is an ever-more homogenized world, as weaker practices and cultures are forced to adapt to the whole. In a setting such as this, the spiritual has become marginalized, and in some places ceases to exist altogether.
It has been said that the human mind is like a stage where only one actor can be performing at a time. This means that in our frantic attempts to simplify our lives with invention and innovation, our lives have become so cluttered with “necessity” that other, former, and arguably more important actors cannot break through the din for their chance to perform. Deity has taken a backseat to politics, the economy, entertainment, professions, and leisure. Religion and spirituality was once seen as as much of a necessity as anything temporal. These times have passed for all but the select few groups we mentioned earlier. Indeed, it requires great effort to maintain the spiritual aspects of our lives, and our society in a world where doing so has become looked down upon, and is no longer touted as honorable by at least a vocal minority who would seek to stamp out spiritual practices altogether.
It is evident that increased interconnectedness suppresses the spiritual.

Religion's Survival in a Mediated World

Media and World Religions Midterm
Question 5

Present media tends to be more visual. How is the visual interpreted by religions? What do you forecast for major changes in visual media and how will that affect religious practice?
The visual nature of today’s media dictates adaptation for survival of religious practices as we know them. Increased media exposure makes sacred things less sacred. The term “sacred” could practically be synonymous with “scarce.” The very nature of the sacred thing, practice, location, etc. is almost tied to its scarcity. The more people who have access to something or somewhere, the less sacred it becomes. In an ever-increasingly visual world, more people have access to more things than ever in the world’s history. Now, things that were once sacred rites or practices are now fodder for tourists, spectators, and TV Producers. The cathedrals, mosques and synagogues of the world have been converted into tourism hotspots for architectural or historical junkies.
I suppose it was inevitable. The predominant mediated religion is Christianity, and Christian structure dictates communication. In Christian tradition, a single person or limited group of people has control over information, and has to disseminate this information to their adherents. This source takes different forms, whether it be the Pope, a prophet, a leader, etc. Indeed, the centralized nature of Christian religions necessitates this system of dissemination of information. Within the sects of Christian religions, congregations tend to be as close to uniform as possible in their practices and teachings. This cohesiveness is the strength of the organized religion. But religion’s dependence on visual media could prove its undoing, if it goes unregulated.
So-called “televangelists” got their name from the showmanship of their profession. In the Book of Mormon, we read why televangelists cheapen the very faith they seek to build: “…if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith…And neither at any time hat any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God.” (Ether 12:12, 18)
Those religions which seek to use the media without being used by the media are those religions who succeed in an ever-mediated environment. Religions like The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who embrace every new medium to share their basic tenets with the world, without divulging the sacredness of their rites by splashing it across computer and TV screens. This allows for true faith to exist where other religions have consciously or subconsciously “damned” their own progress.
Indeed, one might explain that the very reason The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had to be restored when it was is because of the inevitability of the mediated world not long after. If Joseph Smith had seen God the Father and Jesus Christ in 2008 instead of 1820, the world would demand proof, and he would be publicly decried and largely ignored…his efforts would have been in vain. “Seeing is believing” is really a phrase that can only describe our most recent history. Because Joseph Smith had no “tangible” evidence of his claims, the people of his time had to genuinely believe in the teachings, instead of believing in the miracles alone.
One might argue that ALL organized religions depended on an unmediated world to establish themselves and expand. Would the world accept the Islamic religion if someone named Muhammed claimed today that he had been visited and instructed by an angel? And what of polytheistic religions such as Hindu? The simple fact of the matter is that these religions exist today because they were conceived in an unmediated world.
That being said, the religions exist. The LDS Church enjoys one of the fastest growth rates at a time when church attendance worldwide is down, largely because they have embraced television, the Internet, Blogs, etc. and used them without being used by them. Today, they—especially Christian religions—must adapt to an ever visual world in order to continue to thrive and grow.

11 September 2008

I was going to write this yesterday, but time didn't permit it. I thought a lot yesterday about the events that happened seven years ago. I almost can't believe that so much time has passed.

The events of 11 September 2001 left an indellible impression on me--they changed me forever. They changed the way I looked at the world. They changed my values, my patriotism--my life.

It was then that I decided that I wanted to do something that would make a difference. Something that would help people around the world, and give me a platform to share what I considered to be most important. They say "no man is an island," but prior to 9-11, I think the feeling in the U.S. was that we WERE. It was immediately apparent that the world had been forever changed, and from that point forward, the world's concerns were ours and vice-versa.

That's why I am a journalist. To help this nation in its continuous struggle to break free of ignorance and closed-mindedness and reach out to the world around us. Knowledge is power, more than any other force.

Every day of life and freedom that I--and you--continue to enjoy is thanks to the millions throughout history who have fought for that life and freedom. Whether you agree with the events that have transpired since that fateful day 7 years ago or not, ALL of us owe the men and women in the Armed Forces our support and gratitude for their sacrifices on our behalf.

Freedom isn't free.

Palin-who?

I woke up this morning later than usual...since it's my day off from my internship, "all" I have to do is work at BYU Television International today.

When I woke up, one of the first things I found out was that John McCain had caught us all off-guard by reaching deep into left field for his VP pick...first-term Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. I don't think ANYONE expected that. And maybe that's why McCain picked her. I mean, who had even heard of her before this morning? Probably no one but the 670,053 residents of Alaska. That's about the population of the college town I live in during the school year. And I don't think the Mayor of Provo is qualified to be Vice President.

"Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency." - Bill Burton, Obama campaign spokesman

Sarah Palin
Governor of Alaska

As I broadcast industry-insider, I did enjoy watching the media scramble to come up with information and video about her, in an attempt to try to explain this inexplicable choice. It should be fun to see what happens in the next few days as we near the Republican National Convention.

The only thing I can say is that I, along with millions of others I'm sure were hoping his pick would be Mitt Romney. I fear this choice will help Obama win in a landslide, and this morning the Obama camp is drawing up a statement addressing the issues of bringing in someone "without experience" who is "under investigation in her own state" etc. Others note that choosing a woman as his running-mate may further help McCain attract those disgruntled voters that still support Hillary Clinton.

Only time will tell what the repercussions of this choice will be, but I am now mentally preparing myself for 4 years under a democratic Presidency.

KSL Sports Radio Internship

Anyone that looks at the date on the previous post will see that I am pathetically behind on my Blog. Well, I've been inspired by the faithful dedication of my new boss to HIS Blog.
If you recognize him, it's because he is a local celebrity. I say local, but his influence is far-reaching. His name is Greg Wrubell. You may know him as "The Voice of the Cougars."

Yes, out of the I'm-not-sure-how-many people who applied for the internship, I was the one lucky soul who was selected. So, KSL Radio has now become an integral part of my life, and will be for at least the next 14 weeks or so.

Thus far, it has been great. Greg is awesome to work with, and I feel like I'm actually part of the action and that what I am doing really helps.

The schedule for me is thus:

Mondays, we have a BYU Football press-conference at Legends Grille from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. That's where we gather our audio for the week's radio segments. Coach Bronco Mendenhall and two players are the speakers.

Tuesday through Thursday, I drive up to KSL's Headquarters in Salt Lake (in a car that probably shouldn't be doing that--I'll get into that more later), and I'm there from 6:00 - 9:00 a.m. That's when I cut up the audio from the press conference, teleconferences, the Bronco Mendenhall Show, etc. into usable soundbites for air.

Saturdays (or gameday) I am once again in Salt Lake for the pre-game show, the game, and the post-game show. It usually takes about 8 hours. As I haven't yet done this, I'm not sure exactly what I will do there.

Greg Wrubell's Blog:
"Cougar Tracks"

What’s Religion Got To Do With It?

This is a paper I had to turn in for my Comms. 300 class (Media Literacy), and I thought you might enjoy it:
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What’s Religion Got To Do With It?

I have watched the political world with interest and eager anticipation as we head toward elections this Fall. The prospect is captivating. For the first time in a national race, we have a woman, an African-American, and a Mormon running for office. Any one of the three, if elected, would be the first of their kind to achieve the office of Commander-In-Chief of the United States.

But I have been disappointed.

About a year ago, it seemed hardly anyone knew anything about Mormons, and even fewer had heard of Mitt Romney. Sure, he was a veritable “hero” (at risk of over-using, and thus diluting that title) in the state of Utah. His sweeping reforms and reorganization saved the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake. They came off without a hitch, and were praised for their organization, budget-cutting and security in the months immediately following 11 September 2001. But who, apart from Mormons, is likely to vote for a Mormon?

As a resident of Massachusetts, Romney saw a unique opportunity to propel himself into the political spotlight. As a successful businessman, and now as the hero of the Olympics, Romney capitalized on his “go-to-it” attitude and his past ventures. His vast personal fortune afforded him the unique opportunity of running as a social conservative in a state that is overwhelmingly liberal.

But Massachusetts has done this before.

Why does a state that is so decidedly “blue” seem to consistently elect “red” officials as its governor? Maybe it is because Massachusetts was suffering under the strain of one of the largest budget deficits ever seen in the United States? The so-called “Big Dig” project, to put many of the highways and major roads around Boston UNDER Boston, was the largest and most expensive construction project in the history of the United States. Massachusetts was reeling, and Romney stepped in to once again “save the day” as he had done in the business world, and the realm of the Olympics.

Romney was elected, and under his leadership, Massachusetts climbed out of their budget deficit, reformed health care, and instituted a number of local and state-wide social rehabilitation programs—all without raising taxes. His success in a state that seems to produce a number of political “would-bes” (does the name “John Kerry” ring a bell?) convinced Romney that he might have a chance at something bigger.

Romney for President?

Romney is not the first Mormon to run for office. Even Joseph Smith tested the political waters in the mid 1800s. Romney’s own father led a short-lived campaign just a few decades before. But what was different this time? Why did it seem that the media was out to get him?

I watched, disappointed, as Romney struggled against the tide calling for him to make a “Kennedy Speech.” He reaffirmed again and again that religion should not be a determining factor in politics. But public opinion polls showed otherwise, and Romney conceded. But that has not stopped the media from discounting him, in my eyes. In the vital Iowa primaries, News outlets, both national and local “called” the Republican outcome hours before all the votes were counted, but claimed the Democratic race was too close to call, at just 5 or 6 percentage points. But as I watched, and numbers kept coming in, Romney eventually pulled within 5 percentage points of then-Republican Front-Runner Mike Huckabee. So why was Romney discounted, if Hillary Clinton was not? Because the media plays favorites, and they don’t want to see a Mormon in office.

In his speech, Kennedy proclaimed that he was not a Catholic running for President, but a man running for President who happened to be Catholic, but would not be influenced by Catholic Church leadership in his Presidency. It worked just fine for him, and he went on to become arguably one of the greatest Presidents this country has ever known.

The question is, can Romney win over the hearts of voters and convince them that religion should have no bearing on how they vote? It of course remains to be seen, but after last Tuesday’s victory in Michigan, and Saturday's victory in Nevada, it seems Romney has another chance at proving he’s electable.

I just wish religion wasn’t so much of an issue.

Tragedy Strikes at the "Wyview Crossing"

I am sure that many of you are not aware, but last night, tragedy struck at the crosswalk between Wyview Park and BYU campus (across University Ave.) in Provo.

I still have not heard many details, but what I know at the moment is that one or more BYU students were hit by a 66 year-old Park City man while they were crossing the street.  Emergency personnel (including 3 Police Cruisers and 3 Ambulances, according to witnesses) responded to the scene.  A 24 year-old woman was taken to the hospital, where she died of her injuries.

While I am saddened by the event, I am more than a little frustrated that nothing has been done before.  After all, even a novice reporter like me saw the danger in that crosswalk almost a year ago as a student in an Intro. to Broadcast Journalism class.

You can read about it online - Salt Lake Tribune Article, 08 Jan 2008

I have already posted this video, but I'm posting it again for reference:

Back to Business--For the First Time

Well, after much anticipation, it's finally here--the semester where I'm actually taking classes for my major.  Finally.

Yesterday was my first day of classes as an official Broadcast Journalism major, and it was GREAT!  Every time I go to class, I am reminded why I'm in this major, and how much I love the field.

With classes this amazing, I find myself wondering if I somehow found a loophole in the system--how could something I enjoy so much be considered "college" and how can I get credit for doing something I already love?

Feel the joy.

On another, not-related-at-all note, the New Hampshire primaries are today, and I have been watching political coverage for weeks in anticipation of what will be decided in just a few short hours.  At risk of betraying my journalistic professionalism, I will not say who I would vote for--just that I would be VERY happy if a Mormon won for the first time ever.

Benazir Bhutto, (21 June 1953 - 27 December 2007)

While I was on vacation enjoying good food and good company, half a world away there was no "peace on earth, good will toward men."

Last week, my wife and I watched the movie "Hotel Rwanda." While it is unfair to draw connections between the events unfolding in Pakistan and those portrayed in the movie, there was something from the movie that struck me.  The movie states that when the world sees what is going on in Rwanda, they will say "Oh, that's too bad" and then go back to their lives.

And THAT is why I want to be a Broadcast Journalist.  I want to help people see that there is more to news than headlines.  These are real people, with real families.  They are the heart of news as Art Rascon says in his book of the same title.  I learned on CNN this morning that most of Bhutto's family had already been killed prior to her assassination.  I was sick inside.

Prime Minister Bhutto was a real person, with a real family, and real friends.  She knew that by speaking out against the current leadership of Pakistan, she risked death--yet she returned from exile anyway.  For months now, we have watched as she toured around Pakistan, hosting rallies and protests all over the country.  For months we have watched, and we have waited...sensing somehow that it was too good to last.

So, while it was a shock that she was assassinated, it was hardly a surprise.  I had already spent months hoping, rather than believing, that she could do what she wanted to do.  And maybe I'm wrong.  Maybe she knew all along that she would probably be killed.  And maybe she didn't care.  Because maybe, just maybe, it was the hearts of the international community that she was trying to win--and not the presidency.

If we say "oh, that's too bad," and go back to our lives, then she indeed died in vain.  Only the coming days and weeks and months and years will show how deep of an impact she had on her country and the world, but one thing is certain--she did not die in vain.  Those who wished to silence her have only helped her voice grow louder.  That is why her story must be told.

I pray for Pakistan and its people--the people behind the story.

A VERY Merry Christmas for me...

This last semester was among the worst I have ever endured. It was what they call your "dead semester" in the Communications Department at BYU. What that means is that I had to apply to the Broadcast Journalism major, but I couldn't take any classes for it, because I hadn't been accepted yet. That left me with one option--Generals.

So I thought I'd make the most of it and take classes that interested me, and would help broaden my perspective (hopefully helping me in my Journalism career.) So, I took World Civilizations from 1500, Intro. to Comparative Government and Politics and Ethnographic Writing. Big mistake.

I figured I would kill two birds with one stone...I had already taken AP World History and AP European History and Modern World History in High School, so I thought History 202 - World Civilizations from 1500 would be a breeze.

Not so.

Also, I had taken AP U.S. Government and Politics, AP Comparative Government and Politics and AP Human Geography, so I thought Political Science 150 - Intro. to Comparative Government and Politics would be a cinch.

Also not so.

And Honors 300R - Ethnographic Writing? I thought THAT would be easy because I had taken AP English Language and Composition AND an Honors English class last year in which I got an A.

Also ALSO not so.

The amount of work required for these GE classes was off the hook...these should have been a relative walk in the park, but they had me working so hard I was often at my wit's end...I was stressed beyond belief and terribly sleep deprived.

But it's over. Finally. And I can breathe again.

THAT is why I am so excited for this break. Because I'll have a chance to spend more time with my wife and be able to sleep in and be able to "waste time" guilt-free. Oh, and celebrate Christmas, of course.

All of this was a VERY round-about way of saying that I am SO excited for next semester, because the next time I set foot on BYU's campus, I will be a Broadcast Journalism major--now my real life can begin.

Changes...

You may have noticed that things look a little different around here now...I've done some major housekeeping.

So, take a minute to look around...vote in the poll, leave a comment on a post, or watch one of my videos.

Thanks for your interest in Mark Reports! Watch for more changes to come!

~ Mark

06 - Wyview Crossing

For this project, we had to come up with a story, choose an angle, shoot our interviews, B-roll, and stand-up, write a script, record voice-overs and edit the package. So, it was a story start to finish. Professor Walz turned this final project into a merit-based grade, where only those that were good enough to be shown on “BYU Daily News” would receive full credit. Luckily, I made the final cut, and ended up with an A in the class.

I never use this crosswalk. I don't trust it.

Mark Reports, You Decide

03 - Electric Car

Also from my Comms. 275 class, this clip is about Electric Cars.

For this assignment, we were given a number of clips paired with their own audio. We were also given a script to follow. (Incidentally, all the clips are from a story that our professor Robert Walz did. He works for ABC 4 News in Salt Lake.)

Also, I am sure you will notice that two of the clips aren’t that great…it’s because they gave us the wrong set and couldn’t find the right one:
- There is one of a girl sitting in a car who says “Yeah, I’m impressed. It’s got all the amenities of a normal car, um, it looks pretty ‘schnazzy.’”
- The other is Professor Walz’s stand-up, and he says “BYU and other Universities race formula cars like this one to demonstrate the abilities of the electric car. But the real application is developing technology for a commuter vehicle.”

It looks pretty “schnazzy.”

Mark Reports, You Decide

02 - Trauma Room

This clip came from my Comms. 275 class too. It's kinda' like E.R.--except not as cool.

For this assignment, we were given a number of clips, and each clip included footage and its own audio. We were to tell the full story, using split edits. (The intro shot is extra—I was just playing around with graphics.)

Oh, and Fred, make sure she doesn't go into a coma.

Mark Reports, You Decide

01 - Rainforest

This clip came from my Comms. 275 class, "Intro. to Broadcast Journalism." It is the first video I ever edited. If you like the rainforest, enjoy this public service announcement, care of yours truly.

For this assignment, we were given 2 continuous audio tracks (one of music and one of speech) as well as a number of B-roll clips. We had to pair the clips with the audio in a way that we thought best told the story.

If we don't save the rainforest, what will happen?

Mark Reports, You Decide