inc.
internships. news. commentary.
a publication of the Ohio University
Society of Professional Journalists.
Vol. 2 January 27, 2009.
ethical reporting in a crisis.
Dr. Yusuf Kalyango will tell his story to SPJ.
story Jessica Lovejoy art
On Feb. 3, the Society of Professional
Journalists welcomes guest speaker Dr. Yusuf
Kalyango. With experience as an investigative
journalist, he has covered affairs in the East
Africa region, working in Uganda, Kenya and
Tanzania, the three countries of the original East
African Community, while collecting survey
data for his studies and reports.
“It is really exciting to have a journalist of this
caliber among our faculty,” said SPJ President
Evan Millward. “Yusuf Kalyango has so much
knowledge to impart to students, from his own
work experiences to how to cover stories of
utmost crisis and human tragedy.”
His inspiration for journalism and reporting
came at a young age. Kalyango recalled, “I was
always inspired by television anchors…when
I was younger, my dad would make me watch
news stations.”
According to Kalyango, broadcasting is but
a single aspect to journalism. Kalyango said he
also, “likes the writing aspect of journalism…
in college, I started writing for the university
paper,” he explains.
From there his career blossomed, leading
to thirteen years working in the field of
communication. Spanning from radio to
newspaper and television stations in East Africa
and the USA, Kalyango has gained invaluable
experiences from his work.
Creating such a successful mark in journalism
has made Kalyango the recipient of several local
awards. He has also recieved two international
awards for journalism excellence by the African
inside inc.
society news. pg 2.
internships. pg 3.
commentary pg 4.
Ian Bowman-Henderson
Journalism Foundation in 1997 and CNN World
Report in 2000.
However, some of his most rewarding
experiences have been also the most difficult
to endure. According to Kalyango, the most
difficult points in his career were “reporting in
third world countries. There is limited freedom
of the press.” Oftentimes, he could not have
access to much of the needed information
information.
“There was lots of self-censorship among the
people,” Kalyango further explains, “There was
a fear to be persecuted by authorities. Because
of this, [these people] would not readily give
information.” Oftentimes, Kalyango would talk
to them carefully, knowing they knew certain,
valuable, information, but it was hard for
“people to talk without fear for their lives.”
Being thrown into prisons was a common
punishment for speaking too candidly to the
press.
No journalist can that deny the communication
world has inherent risks and challenges, but
there is a need for resilience for this generation
of journalism students. “Today’s reporter
needs to be an all-around reporter,” Kalyango
advises. “This is the most important advice I
can give to students at this time. In order for
students to be more resilient, they need to be
able to cover audio communication as well as
visual communication. They also need to be
able to report stories online and produce online
next meeting
tuesday. 5:00.
scripps 111
speaker: Yusuf
Kalyango
reports.”
At the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at
Ohio University, there are a total of six programs
in which a student can specialize. In order to
adapt to the changing world of communication,
this generation of journalists should be prepared
to have the ability to work, to some extent, in all
of these different media.
Journalism students cannot ignore the
possibility that one day, an entire specialization
may branch out into separate fields, or that other
specializations may turn obsolete.
Society is already seeing this change in how
news and information are packaged. According
to Editor & Publisher, on Dec. 16, 2008 the
Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News became
the first major metropolitan newspapers in the
U.S. to end daily home delivery.
Communication is in the middle of major
transition, and the possibilities could either be
numerous or constrictive. There may be a day
when newspapers may simply be obsolete,
and will be replaced by faster, more efficient
delivery of news, such as online.
As of now, there is the newswriting and editing
sequence at OU, but according to Freshman
Advisor Robert Stewart, if students want to be
serious about a future career as a journalist, they
need to keep an open mind to a future career
change into a more online-oriented field.
Keeping a closed-mind could be a journalist’s
downfall.
It’s challenging, and it’s intimidating. In
a growing, volatile world, journalists are
under constant pressure to discern the truth
and report the facts. Journalists are preparing
to make remarkable impacts in the field of
communication in years to come.
“I hope our members will come away from his
presentation with a sense of their unique role as
a journalist,” said SPJ president, Evan Millward,
“Hopefully it will inspire some of them to
pursue a career in foreign correspondence. After
all, our world is so much bigger than we tend to
remember.”
 inc.
internships. news. commentary.

society news..
the maestro of new media.
Paul Matson talks web 2.0 with SPJ.
story Ian Bowman-Henderson photo Graylyn Roose
Every week the Society of Professional Journalists brings in an industry
professional to speak at our meetings. If we’re lucky, they stick around
to answer a few questions for inc. This weeks guest is Public Relations
Student Society of America President Paul Matson.
Inc.: Why do you think social media is But for something with risk, what happens
growing so quickly? with now is, say a blog [about a certain
Paul Matson: Web 2.0 basically de- person] gets a lot of traffic. If they get of-
scribes this whole idea that anybody can fended by something in the comments…
be in charge of the news. What was before and they want to sue the administrator of
open to only people who had tech positions the website, if the content is monitored
is now available to everybody… anybody they can be sued.
can get involved and comment, so you’re Inc.: What are some companies that are
increasing your social network. And I think doing a good job of taking advantage of
people inherently want to be noticed. Social Media?
Inc.: How can a person make the change Matson: Ford will be one, another one
from just using social media to get noticed that is fantastic is Apple. There are people
to using it productively? from Proctor and Gamble… because they
Matson: You have to have a goal in mind have so many things that are used person-
as soon as you’re signed up. Making that ally.
transition beyond your personal life, some Inc.: Why is it important for future jour-
people use Twitter just for business. Big nalists to know how to use social media?
brands like Ford will hire somebody just to Matson: It absolutely is, because the job
manage their social media presence. of a journalist is to report what you see to
Inc.: Is there a danger of social media the people. People inherently want to have
like Twitter creating a conflict of inter- control over the news and the info they
ests for the traditional journalists who use read so doing that now you will have a bet-
them? ter chance of making a name for yourself.
Matson: Some people do fear that. Right And the more personal you are the more
now it really comes down to who makes the chance you have to get an audience. Hav-
decisions in your company, with the flight ing an RSS feed or a quick way to sub-
that went down in the Hudson this week, scribe will make people come back to your
the first photo of that was on Twitter. A site without actually having to return to that
Twit-pic as we call it… and that was cool. website.

just the facts. inc. goes digital. 2/10.

AP stylebooks. $15. Daniel DeLawder.
t-shirts. $15. 740.349.3746.
 inc.
internships. news. commentary.

internships..
making a difference.
featured internship. The Interactivist.
story Graylyn Roose
The Interactivist is sending out an open hiring notice for all interested
writers, reporters, and designers, as well as anyone with an affinity for
advertising. As an independent publication that publishes once to twice a
quarter, the magazine covers political issues both globally and in the city
of Athens.
Ohio University sophomore Jacqueline Jones is in charge of hiring and
recruiting for The Interactivist. While she describes the hiring process as
a “rolling deadline,” she said that interested students should apply for the PHOTO: The front page of The Interactivist from September, 2006.
desired positions as soon as possible, adding that the magazine will soon We’re a small organization as it is, so if you come in, you’re really going
be going through some changes. to have a say,” Jones said. “We’re not just taking upperclassmen, we’ll
“We’re kind of going through a reorganization phase,” said Jones. take everyone.”
“Even though we’re developed and established and have a readership, According to Jones, the current staff of around 15 members intends
we’re changing a lot within the magazine. It’s a good time for new people to add around 10 people before the end of the school year. There are no
to come in if they really want to be a part of something,” Jones said. restrictions from working for other publications. There are openings for
The magazine began as a newsletter for OU’s Interact Club. However, many different positions, including a special need for a layout coordinator
Jones said the publication is no longer affiliated with any university- and an advertising coordinator, but no positions will be offered monetary
sponsored club. compensation. Interested applicants should contact jl394307@ohio.edu.
“No one on staff anymore has ever been in Interact,” said Jones, who Jones said that she feels that the magazine is a good way for journalists
added that the paper is still funded by the Student Action Committee. to gain experience dealing with sensitive issues and political news.
Although applicants are encouraged to include clips of past work, Jones “I think the most important thing that a student can learn is a way to
stresses that The Interactivist is a good way to learn the ropes for those look at socially challenging issues and be able to present them to a larger
who have not had a great deal of past journalism experience. audience in a way that’s going to inform and make more people aware,”
“It’s a good experience for people to come in and be more involved. Jones said.

old questions. new opportunities.

who. what. when. where. how. why.
China Daily Web Design February off-site chongwu@ the official
USA Intern 2009 (where you are) chinadailyusa. candy of China:
com Mao and Laters
Men’s Editorial Summer Manhattan, letters@mens it will put hair
Journal Intern 2009 New York journal.com on your chest

Cleveland Editorial Summer Cleveland, trickey@ visit scenic

Magazine Intern 2009 Ohio cleveland Lake Erie
magazine.com
Los Angeles Online Media break your
Summer Los Angeles, Dakotta.Alex@
Times Intern addiction to
2009 California LATimes.com trans-fat
Reporting/ Summer Ashland, 1 (804) 550- you can eat all the
Industrial trans-fat you want
Reporting Inc. Editorial Intern 2009 Virginia 0323
in Virginia
 inc.
internships. news. commentary.
commentary..
losing trust for the trustees.
students and citizens have a right to information.
column Evan Millward
“The Ohio University Board of Trustees serves the public trust. The members of
the Board are charged with the responsibility to be accountable to the institution’s
mission and cultural heritage, the transcendent values and principles that guide
and shape higher education and the public interest as well as the legitimate and
relevant interests of the institution’s various constituencies.”
Visitors to the official website of the Ohio
University Board of Trustees are greeted by
this message. The board has a noble mission,
yes – protecting the assets of the first university
in the Northwest Territory and the oldest in the
state while continuing to foster success and
growth. But they also serve to enhance and
protect the educational experiences of over
20,000 students across six campuses. In order
to operate efficiently and effectively in this role
requires a strong sense of the community that
exists on each of these campuses. The board
says so themselves, they have a responsibility
to be accountable to the interest of OU’s various
constituencies – faculty, students, and alumni.
With this responsibility comes the need for
transparency and openness. The board holds
the purse strings for the university and acts
as watchdog over administration. These 14
people wield a great deal of power – and yet are
accountable not only to the staff and students of
the university, but also to the state as a whole,
which provides much of the annual budget
funding.
Imagine, then, the shock that comes with the
revelation of this kicker from board chairman
C. Daniel DeLawder in an email in July 2008
after the Athens NEWS picked up on the board’s
continued disregard for fulfilling records
requests from student-run newspaper The Post:
“This is a very sore subject for me, and
perhaps it’s time we started pushing back.
And I am quite serious; I am even unsure that
we should provide the next document without
a fight. It sickens me to think of the waste and
unproductive time being spent in the name of
open records and freedom of the press.”
It seems as though the pesky reporters out in
Athens are getting on Mr. Chairman’s last nerve
and he won’t have it anymore. And who could
argue with the man, filling those requests for
direct from HQ.
“Spread the Word” bookdrive:
donations are being accepted at
boxes in Baker Center, Alden
Library and all the dining halls.
‘09 National Convention and
Centennial Celebration:
public records is a waste of the money handed to registration now open at
the board by the general fund paid by the same SPJ.org/convention.
students who made the request.
Maybe it is time we remind Mr. DeLawder
and the rest of the board that despite their high,
mighty, and very distant position with this
institution, they are a state entity and therefore
must act within the letter of the law. Some of us
have a name for that law even – the Ohio Open
new on the blog.
Records Law, a state extension of the Freedom
of Information Act.
While it may seem that records requests are a A Friend in the Whitehouse:
“waste” and “unproductive” to Mr. DeLawder, it President Barack Obama
is a necessary element to our free society and to has instituted new policies of
our jobs as journalists. But journalists aren’t the
only people affected by this brash and blatant
openess and transparency for the
disregard for transparency and accountability. government, including easing
Providing open access to meetings and access to public records.
availability of related public documents is
something we should ALL fight for. It is
certainly worth our time and dedication. Thus,
I invite all students who believe in the public’s
right to open records to speak out and stand up –
join SPJ’s efforts to curb this movement within
our university community!
To use Mr. DeLawder’s own words, this is a
very sore subject for me, and perhaps it is time
we start pushing back. And I am quite serious.
inc. identified:
Should the OU Board of Trustees implement Managing Editor Ian Bowman-Henderson
this asinine policy, SPJ will certainly push back
– just like it has done for the past 100 years in
order to protect the nature and rights of people Copy Editor Cameron Glover
and journalists across the nation. The Board
needs to live up to its creed of account ability to Copy Editor Graylyn Roose
its constituencies.
The OU Society of Professional Journalists
will be holding an event this spring to help
Contributing Writer Evan Millward
familiarize students and citizens with the
Freedom of Information Act. Additionally, SPJ Contributing Writer Jessica Lovejoy
is extending a special invitation to any members
Board of Trustees who would like to attend. Contributing Writer Graylyn Roose