Kayla Docto - Journalistic Writing

Journalistic writing is vastly different than academic writing. Throughout high school and even my freshman year of college, I was taught how to write lengthy, detailed, essays or stories, but Writing for Mass Media completely changed the rules I had learned. I now have to write the least amount possible, instead of a thesis at the beginning, a formulated lead that describes everything in less than 30 words, and no hint of opinion. I am an opinionated person. It’s difficult to change when it goes against what I’ve been taught previously, but these tasks are not unachievable, just very different.

Kayla Hand- Journalistic Writing

Writing for journalism is very different from writing for academic papers. Writing for journalism consists of stating the facts and information you have gathered in the simplest terms. Academic papers take a lot of explanation and details to get your part across. I personally find the biggest differences between writing for journalism and writing for English papers. When writing for English papers it is acceptable to use a lot of adjectives and “fluff.” It is really difficult for me to make this switch because the gap between the two styles is so wide. My entire life I have been writing for academic reasons, with the exception of writing for the yearbook and even then I got to write feature stories and got to "paint" the story for the readers.

Colin Parajon - Journalism Writing

Writing has always been a passion of mine, but I’m partial to narratives and fiction and poetry. Journalistic writing is on the complete opposite side of the writing spectrum. The difference between the two writing styles is the intended audience; I like writing for me, but I must now learn how to write for a mass media. The transition may be difficult, but it is important to learn how to package a message in order to reach the broadest audience possible. The AP Stylebook is my worst enemy and best friend. If I ignored the tedious, annoying rules of AP style and wrote daring, imaginative stories, my story’s message and my future as a writer would share the same dismal fate. It’s just another of the world’s necessary evils.

Courtney Goforth- Diversity

My website is for the Native American Journalists Association, or NAJA, that is based in Norman, Okla., on the University of Oklahoma's main campus. The organization was established in 1984 as the Native American Press Association. After six years, the organization changed their name to better reflect their principal goals and inclusion of radio and television.

The mission statement on the site presents that "It's primary goal is to improve communications among Native people and between Native Americans and the general public." It also provides that part of its purpose is to increase representation of Native American journalists in mainstream media and it encourages high standards of professionalism, ethics and responsibility to be attained by mainstream and tribal media outlets.

This site is an important tool for those working in all areas of mass media because it is a great source for professionals in media to learn, stay informed and provide feedback to the Native American community. The media can learn the culture and be introduced to their perspective on issues and remain aware of any concerns they have. Also, this site is an informative source to the media about any initiatives, proposals or suggestions about serious topics that are being discussed. Most importantly, the media can provide feedback to issues if they are staying well-informed of what is happening in their culture.

Diversity in our culture can be representative in mainstream media, if all areas and professions of the mass media take advantage of informing and educating themselves on cultures that are sometimes looked over.

Brianna Kwasny - Diversity

The National Lesbian and Gay Journalistic Association is an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators and students working in the news industry for fair and accurate coverage of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues. It opposes all forms of workplace biases and provides professional development to its members.

The founder of NLGJA is Leroy F. Aarons. Aarons founded the organization in his living room in Piedmont, Calif. It is now led by a board of directors at the national level and is split in 22 chapters that are lead by freelance journalists, television and radio personalities, LGBT media professionals, and reporters for major metropolitan dailies. The board and 22 chapters reflect the organization's geographic and professional diversity.

NLGJA is an important tool to journalism because it is an organization that shows diversity in the profession. It also provides an organization that LGBT can become a member of and gain the many benefits of it. Through NLGJA members gain an affiliation with an internationally recognized professional organization that represents their media interests. It provides them with a network; members can post and read others' tweets on Twitter. They are also able to follow what is happening for LGBT in the media and work and write to further right for their cause.

NLGJA not only provides an organization for LGBT, but also works to promote fairness in the workplace.

The organization also reaches out to students. NLGJA provides a way for them to get involved. It gives them a website to voice their opinions and begin their writing career. It hosts student projects and provides scholarships and resources.

Cameron Patterson - Diversity Resources

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is an organization in pursuit of gaining fair representation of the gay community in media life and coverage of LGBT issues. Not only does it seek advancement and change for the LGBT lives but also offers professional development to all members.

Former Oakland Tribune executive editor, Leroy F. Aarons, founded NLGJA but unfortunately passed away 6 years ago to cancer. NLGJA's board of directors consists of people who reflect specific diversity, both geographic and professional. NLGJA consists of 22 chapters led by journalists and media professionals of the LGBT community. The organization has put together a strong bond of diverse members to fulfill a professional goal of promoting non-discrimination morals and equalities. Through educating others of the sensitive and crucial need for accuracy in media, news coverage has prospered in the LGBT community.

I believe this organization is one of many diversity tools that will truly help the problem of misrepresentation in mass media. NLGJA, alone, has a wide range of followers that seek equality just like the majority of other Americans. The organization has strictly put their views and thoughts on the issue boldly to better advance others' knowledge of the issue. It's important to take the time to note how to correctly observe and acknowledge others in the media but also in all aspects of life. NLGJA has taken that time by forming an organization set to achieve various goals to enhance and provide the diverse information to those who are unaware of the sensitivity felt by the LGBT community.

Kayla Docto - Diversity

The GLAAD, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, website is very proactive in wanting to change the way gays and lesbians are represented in the media. The heading of the website states "words & images matter." The website's mission is to change people's hearts by creating positive images of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered individuals in the media.

People can follow them on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and YouTube. The outlets of networking involve more people, which in the field of media is many times our goal. Although it is a website focused on sexual orientation, there are "snapshots" of Spanish language media and another about communities of African Descent. The website as a whole represents many different diverse groups.

For people working in the area of mass media, this website is an example of a constructive way to encourage media industries to not shed negative light on a diverse group of people. The site is bright, colorful, and happy, showing that it does not take protests or force to change people's perspectives. All areas of mass media are able to look at a website whose PR and Advertising departments are showing positive images of diverse groups, writers who are choosing not to bash those disagreeing with their views, but to write in a positive light. This website is a great exemplar of the way things could be if people did not focus on the negative.