| OCR Text |
Show 4 Wednesday April 24, 2013 OPINION www.dailyutahchronicle.corn Staff says farewell to 2013 Valuable lessons from the newsroom News life supplies incentive to succeed Learning from an adverse situation Words of gratitude to staff, readers ALEX TYLER JAKE MARJORIE LEWIS PRATT BULLINGER CLARK Asst. Managing Editor Production Manager 've spent my entire collegiate career at the Chronicle, from a wee freshman to a poised and knowledgeable senior. I've made great friends by being a part of this newspaper — it's been epic. Managing deadlines and getting the paper out on time has been quite a trip. I apologize for threatening to torch your house down if you were going to miss deadline. Discipline got our paper out on time though, didn't it? I'd like to take time to impart some of the great things I've learned about the newspaper industry through my years at the Chrony. I'll start with my specialty: the copy desk. Copy editing and proofreading mean everything to writing. Our copy desk has been the front line to perfecting stories and crafting them into polished pieces. Fresh eyes can mean the difference between a good story and a great story. Grammar gurus, you will always be my favorites. From the news section, I've learned that a story can break out right before your eyes. The police scanner will buzz and say something about a breaking story, and news writers will zoom out the door in an instant. It's exhilarating to live vicariously through them. The arts and entertainment section has enlightened the student body to gems hidden within corners of campus. I've gotten to write a few articles in this section, and it enables students to share passions for all kinds of performances. From the opinion section, I've learned that no matter your opinion, you can argue anything. Whether you agree or not, having a forum for expression is vital to actively analyze the world. With sports, I have learned an incredible amount of sports terminologies to which I never thought I'd be privy. Passion and dedication abounds in the sports world, and because of that, those writers are some of the best I've seen. As for the photo section, sometimes you can explain a whole story with one picture. All you See LEWIS page 5 I Sports Editor News Editor ell, it's here. Year after year of coming back to the Chronicle, I was really just delaying the inevitable — writing this damned farewell column. You see, I've been working at the Chronicle for some time now, and each year every member of senior staff that is graduating has to write one for the last issue of the semester. They're usually filled with all the lessons he or she has learned during their time here filled with a plethora of inspirational messages and so much nostalgia that it's almost nauseating. For nearly three and a half years, I've dodged it, but it appears as though my time has come. It's time to throw in the towel and somehow motivate myself to get through the rest of this. While we're on the subject of motivation, anyone who knows me well knows that this is something I lack. Quite honestly, I didn't value my college experience in the classroom as much as most people at the U, not to mention the communication department isn't exactly known for their scholarly aptitude. That isn't to say I haven't had some damn good professors and experience in the classroom, but I can honestly say the majority of what I've learned during my college experience has not been in the classroom but in this newsroom. I've been here through four different editors, received cease and desist letters, built a magazine from the ground up, had ethical discussion after ethical discussion and have been in literal shouting matches with my editor. But most importantly, I've been introduced to so many talented people who have given me the push I need to do "important things," such as "go to class" and "apply for graduation." Without them, I would probably not be here, and you would be reading this column ear Jim Boylen, You probably don't remember me, but I was involved in the blow-up you had after a BYU game that went viral in the state of Utah. If you'll recall, your team trailed BYU by 12 at the half during the March 3, 2010, contest. BYU responded with a 12-o run to start the second half, and I asked you how you felt about it. Of course, your answer was immortalized. "Like shit," you responded. "How would you feel?" Now, I was a freshman covering my second basketball game, so I obviously felt terrified. My bodily response was to not speak, which I suppose is better than pissing down my leg. Thank God Gordon Monson swept in following my silence, and the rest is history. You might think this letter is to get mad at you for embarrassing me, but it is the exact opposite. I thank you, Jim, for coming after me after I asked a not-so-well formed question. At that moment, I grew up, and my journalism career officially began. What followed was three more years of experiences I'll never forget. I traveled to some of the best towns in the West Coast chasing football games. I worked with some ridiculously talented people, some of whom became my better friends. Hell, my "work days" consisted of going skiing or covering a basketball game. That moment you challenged me eventually built a stronger journalist. Many felt you blew up unnecessarily, but I'm aware I asked a stupid, or at least unclear, question. After that press conference, I learned to ask smarter questions and be confident in my interviews. Because of that, my journalistic pursuits took me everywhere from Beaver to Manhattan. My pursuits have ventured beyond sports, but every day that interview with you influences the way I go about my job. D las, it is my last day at the Chrony. I'd like to say it's been a long road, but reality says it's only been 18 months. I'd also like to say it's been a fun, easy and enjoyable ride. But that has not always been the case. Either way, it's been good, mostly fun and I owe my after-graduation employment to the Chrony. So, thank you for that. To the Chrony's biggest critics: Keep on critiquing. Your remarks are taken seriously, and if you aren't telling us what we are doing wrong, we won't know what to change, and then we won't get better. To Chrony staff: I have learned oodles from you, and you have pushed me to be a better reporter and writer. I don't know of another place where it is appropriate to discuss the difference between poop, feces, scat and solid waste. Also discussed was the connotation of saying "kids touching body parts" in the newspaper and the definition of "formal prostitute," which turned out to be a typo that should have read "former prostitute." Thank you for allowing me to completely nerd out over baseball and discuss ethics ad nauseum. Also, a reminder that any argument can be resolved with the dictionary. To Jim Fisher: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I do not have enough words to express my gratitude for what you have done for undergraduates at the U, for the Chrony in general and for me. Your consistent guidance, angry words and critiques have pushed me to be a better and more thorough reporter and editor. When I came to you at the end of last year to ask for advice about being the assistant news editor, the first thing out of your mouth was to ask if I had received my psychiatric evaluation yet. To which I laughed, rolled my eyes and replied in the negative. I cannot count the times I have thought of this exchange during the past 12 months and grinned. Your description of the position could not have been See PRATT page 5 See BULLINGER page 5 See CLARK page 5 W Managing at Chrony provides eye-opener Managing Editor T A wo years ago when I started working at the Chrony, I came into the office as a complete grammar nerd who knew nothing about being in a newsroom. I remember being shocked I was actually surrounded by people who cared as much about "their, they're and there" as I did, and people who wouldn't just roll their eyes at my dedication to commas and apostrophes. I immediately knew this office was going to be the place for me. Slowly I was introduced to the world of news, page designing, photography and deadlines. I also came to the wonderful realization that there was so much more I could do with my English degree than just teach (as I had previously planned to do). I could edit — something I had been passionate about my whole life but never actually thought about as a career path. Then, this semester I found myself in the position of managing editor — a position that felt completely overwhelming at first. The hours were long and the job had its frustrations, but the people I came to know better in the office because of my new position made it all worth it. I have been surrounded by truly talented people from all walks of life that have each taught me something new every day. They made working fun, and I loved watching us create a newspaper together every night. The people I have met working at this paper have changed me for the better. I will always have fun memories from this office that will last me a lifetime (das racist, totes and sheep dip just to name a few). So yes, Ryan, we are "golden" for the last time. But best of luck to you all, Chrony-ites. It has truly been great to work alongside you. t.bell@chronicle.utah.edu Letting go of the student life Chrony experience invaluable the release of Kid Cudi's new album "Indicud," SAVANNAH I've been in a haze of CudiTURK filled tunes from old to new. In my reminiscence, songs like "Pursuit of Happiness" Ao-E Editor and "Soundtrack 2 My Life" take me back to the dorms during freshman year where breaking news from Twitter Cudi sang the anthem to with me. which we all lived our lives. I can see the appeal of beAs graduation gets ever ing a college student forever. closer, it seems like those days Kid Cudi can serenade you are so far away, and I already through life, and a miniature feel old. Staying up until 3 a.m. version of your dream job is no longer exciting, it's just is right on campus without a pain in the rear. I have to having to carry the weight pay off my student loans and of real-life consequences. A trade in my ragged backpack part of me is tempted to just for a classic purse. The most continue enrolling and stay in difficult and exciting part college forever. about graduation, however, is But as much as I love my finding a "real" job. student status, I know that In a perfect world, I could bigger and better things await work at the Chrony forever. the graduated me. The only Instead of putting in years task left — besides surviving writing boring crime beats finals week for the last time — or tailing high school sports is saying farewell to this fair games, I'm already in my ideal campus. position as an A&E editor. I It's hard to say good-bye have a cozy desk, a stellar staff to the places and people that and good friends that laugh shaped you so much for so at YouTube videos and share many years. In a way, it seems walked out of my last-ever college class yesterday. There were no balloons, no whistles, no extravagant banners to mark the event. No deep welling of emotion or screaming out of OSH. I didn't even Instagram it. But what could have been one of the most anti-climactic moments of my collegiate career morphed into giddy expectation as I realized my time here wasn't finished. A hop in my step ensued as I walked to my final day at The Daily Utah Chronicle. The Chrony has hands down been the single most defining experience at the U the past three years. As editor, I have had the honor of working with the most talented, dedicated and fun staff I could have asked for. They were award-winning, idea-generating and hard-working. I learned from them every day and am blown away with what they have accomplished. We even man- th like no matter what you say, it's never really good-bye. Every time the thought crosses my mind that this is one of the last times I'll walk across the U campus with a backpack on my shoulders, I laugh at the impossibility of such a thing. Perhaps it won't be until I move out of Utah and begin a new chapter of my life that I can really say "au revoir" to my campus. Most days it feels like freshman year was a dream, and I know two years from now my senior year at the U will feel the same way. But whenever I hear Cudi's "The Prayer" or tell the story of my last Kerfuffle, I'll remember it wasn't a dream, just some of the best years of my life. Too sentimental? Maybe, but it's hard not to be. The truth is that I am on the pursuit of happiness, and the U and the Chrony have been an important step in making that happen. Perhaps goodbye isn't the right thing to say. Perhaps, instead, I should say thank you. s.turk@chronicle.utah.edu I "The Chrony has been the single most defining experience at the U. " LAURA SCHMITZ / aged to squeak by without any major controversies this time around (you're welcome, Student Media Council). I'm going to miss the shouts to the copy desk: "Is Sugar House one word or two?" and Ryan McDonald's signature "Are we golden?" as he exits the room to ensure his section had met its requirements for the day. I'm even going to miss the weekly hate emails (no, really), because even in their most hurtful moments, they were humbling and almost always spurred improvement. As I hunt for a "big girl" job like so many other seniors, there is certainly a small twinge of nervous- Editor-in-chief ness, but mostly anticipatory joy. I take my hat off to you, college. After two schools, three majors, two internships, thousands of hours, seven jobs, four countries, three states, five homes, 12 roommates, hundreds of acquaintances, dozens of friendships, a few dearly close ones and that coveted sheet of bachelor's degree paper ... you are complete. Thanks for the amazing ride. And to Emily Andrews, the next editor-in-chief: Here is the proverbial torch. You're going to rock the journalism world's socks off. Can't wait to watch. l.schmitz@ chronicle.utah.edu |
