All the President's Men

It didn't take too long for this movie to lose me. Right off the bat I was confused about what exactly was going on here. All I know is that the Natural and Bernie Focker were working together on a controversial story that nobody wanted to come forward and talk about.

Early on in the movie it was interesting to see how they conducted their interviews. They were insistent but inviting. In person their eye contact seemed to go a long way but I think the most important tip I took away from this is their tone of voice. Even when they were frustrated with their lack of results they were able to stay steady and maintain a curious innocence.

DC for the day

Super long day, but I did it without even a sip of coffee. Below are my favorite moments of the day and aspects of the newseum.

- First of all I absolutely hate flying. Everything about it. Can't stand airports. Going through security is a pain. They got me again when I forgot to take my laptop out of my bag. I had three bottles of water I forgot about in there. The kind TSA man asked if I'd like to go outside and finish them before entering. But after that everything went alright. Smooth flight. Felt like we were only in the air for 15 minutes. Only downfall was when I stood up to leave the plane and banged my head on the overhead luggage space. I then proceeded to do the same exact thing getting out of the shuttle that took us to the train. It turned into a movie moment when it happened for a third time getting out of the train. Ridiculous.

- I've always loved DC. I could just walk around for hours. Or until my feet started to hurt which would probably be about a half hour. At least in the city it always feels so clean!

- I was a little disappointed I didn't find more stuff about sports journalism at the newseum. Watched that documentary in the sports theater two and a half times too many. It was good though and got me interested more in the media side of sports journalism. Filming sporting events, compiling highlights etc.

- It was interesting to see an actual reporter interview someone from the museum. It was cool to see how he made her feel comfortable and how he carried himself.

- My favorite part of the newseum was the Pulitzer Prize photos room. Lot of really tough images to look at. They weren't easy to get over and it would have felt like you were cheating them and yourself by moving by too quickly. But since there were so many disturbing images my favorite was the one of the police officer and the small child. Just perfectly captured that kid's total innocence. The back story was that he had been about to run into the street when the officer stopped him, and was explaining why he had to stay on the sidewalk. The child is looking up at him with complete faith and trust. Almost like he's about to ask if the officer wants to be his Dad.

Rec-IM

Competition reveals character.

That is the motto given on the Gordon College website for the intramural sports department. On that same page it says that the goal of the department is to “foster community among students, encourage Christ-like sportsmanship, and promote a healthy lifestyle within a structured and fun environment.” The school offers a wide array of intramural sports options. This semester alone there is flag football, beach volleyball, kickball, and 3 v 3 basketball. Referred to as Rec IM, it is hugely popular throughout the student body. While competition does reveal character, it also helps to bond students socially.

“Rec IM is a really good way to get to know people in your dorm who might be outside your friend group,” said John Clancy, a senior soccer player at Gordon who has participated in Rec IM as both a player and an official in the past. “That’s especially true in sports that require more participants. Competition has a way of bringing people together.”

One of Rec IM’s main goals is to foster community amongst the students. But some students, especially former high school athletes, require a bit more to work off their competitive edge. There are two different leagues, A and B. B-League is more relaxed, with the aim being to have fun regardless of the outcome. A-League is a bit more fast-paced and aggressive.

“I really like to play A-League just for the high level of competition there,” said Sam Stockwell, a sophomore at Gordon and an intense Rec IM participant. “My feeling is that if you could compete in A-League, you should, and if you’re a dedicated athlete you’ll want to.”

Important Rec IM information can be found on the Gordon Go site. Also several emails are sent out per week, keeping students up to date.

Tom Lake visit

His visit was a few weeks ago now but I forgot to put my reflections up on the blog. I'll do the best I can to remember what I took away from his visit.

- Right off the bat I was surprised that he didn't mention sports at all. I think besides saying that he worked for SPORTS Illustrated, I'm not sure he even said that word again. Definitely not what I was expecting.

- He confirmed for me something that I'd definitely been fearing when he said being a good journalist is all about repetition. Doing as many interviews as possible, covering as many stories, and getting practice working under deadlines.

- It was interesting hearing him talk about his paper route and how that helped his grow as an interviewer.

- Finally it was nice to share my story idea with him and to receive back some positive feedback.

Twitter is Changing the Game

Sohaib Athar, or @ReallyVirtual as he is known in the world of Twitter, was in the right place at the right time. When he posted on his account about hearing helicopters circling Abbottbad, Athar became the first reporter to cover one of the most impactful news events in recent memory.

The Osama raid is just one example of an event that the majority of college students were first made aware of via Twitter or other social networking sites, if only from seeing friends posts. The accessibility of Twitter means people everywhere can receive news quicker and from a wider array of sources. But Jack Dorsey, Executive Chairman of Twitter, first created the site as a communication tool.

“I use Twitter more because it’s entertaining,” says Alicia MacDonald, a sophomore at Gordon College. “It doesn’t really change the way I access news, except for sometimes when I check something out that’s trending that I maybe wouldn’t have otherwise.”

There’s no denying the advantage this real time reporting tool can provide for the news industry. It allows journalists to share their thoughts, stories, articles, pictures, videos instantly with anyone who cares to see them. For busy college students with little to no free time, speed and accessibility is everything.

“I would definitely say that Twitter has changed the way I get my news,” says Dave Hanson, a Gordon College sophomore. “In todays day and age all sorts of information is available at our fingertips. Twitter definitely keeps me more informed on whatever is happening in the world.”

Local newspapers like the Salem News are fully embracing this reporting revolution. Their twitter profile @salemnewssports provides regular sports updates and in-game coverage of both high school and college level teams on the North Shore.

The immensity of Twitter means there is something there for everyone. The site will continue to thrive because so many enjoy the ease of sharing information with each other.

Page One - Inside The New York Times

I thought this documentary was a bit of a mess. Maybe it was easy for other people to follow but personally I struggled with the pace and style. The fly on the wall style of filming being synched with interviews took some discipline to understand.

It was interesting to look inside the New York Times and get a peek at how journalists perform. As far as I remember they didn't show one interview that was conducted in person; everything was done over the phone.

Besides that I didn't take too much away from the film. I was aware that the newspaper industry is dying and that everything is headed in a different direction.

Gordon Student lives Patriot Way

It’s no accident the Patriots are the best organization in sports. The owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick, and quarterback Tom Brady, have all had a hand in creating an environment conducive to bringing out the best of each individual on staff, regardless of their position. Craig Ramsey, a 20 year old junior at Gordon, is a member of that staff. As an assistant equipment manager, just about everything you see the players wear on game day was put in their locker the day before by Ramsey. Far from star-struck, Ramsey understands he’s there to do a job. With that attitude, he fits right in.

“The misconception is that I’m just taking laps around the locker room giving high fives,” Ramsey said. “People forget that it still is a job. It’s hard work. Everyones there to do a job.”

Everyone understands what they’re doing is vital for the overall success of the organization.Robert Kraft ensures that everyone feels appreciated. He’s the quintessential example of how a boss should carry themselves.

“Bob Kraft is a genius first of all,” Ramsey said. “He has a real good relationship with all his staff and workers. He’s really cordial with everyone. Shaking hands with a billionaire is something I never thought I’d do in my lifetime. But he’ll always ask how you’re doing and make sure you’re alright.”

So-called experts always wonder how the Patriots get the best out of players with controversial pasts like Corey Dillon, Randy Moss, and now Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth. Simply put, it’s easy to perform when you feel respected by your boss.

“The organization treats everyone well and that’s all a part of the Patriot Way,” Ramsey said. “It falls all the way down to the equipment managers and ball boys.”

Ramsey is already adept at conducting himself as Belichick does with the media. In post-game interviews, the head coach always emphasizes the importance of everyone doing their specific job. If Brady has a good game throwing the ball, Belichick is quick to credit the offensive line. If the secondary snagged a few interceptions, he’ll note that wouldn’t have been possible without the pass rush. Each part has to be working cohesively in order for the machine to function as a whole.

Being around the team gives Craig a chance to watch Tom Brady put in work.

“He demands perfection from himself,” Ramsey said. “And that spills over into everyone else. Even in practice if he makes a play that he felt should have been a touchdown but was only a first down, he’ll be visibly upset. He comes every day ready to work.”

When a leader expects so much from himself, everyone else has to fall in line. Maybe they don’t have that same motivation, but they know they can’t let down number 12.

Ramsey clearly impressed the Head of Equipment in his interview as he was hired on the spot. Less mature individuals would have struggled to come to work with a business first approach. To Ramsey, that work ethic is second nature. He does not plan to pursue a career with the team, but the values engrained in him from being around the Patriots will make him a high caliber asset wherever he goes in life.