After taking this course, I have decided I definitely do not want to pursue Public Relations. When we had the guest speaker from the PR company, I was just not entertained or impressed. After that, I was assigned PR as my front for the media controversy. The entire project made me dislike PR a little bit more. However, it wasn't just the class that made me change my mind.
Mid-February, I went to Maryland with the women's basketball team and had possibly the most miserable weekend of my life. Not only was I missing out on part of my Freshman year, but I was bossed around and yelled at the entire time. That was it for me. Goodbye to my Sports Agent/Publicist dreams. If it was anything like this, I was out.
About a week later, I was trapped in the locker room studying for some midterm in front of the non-stop ESPN that dominates the flat screen. Up popped Rachel Nichols. The girl had no idea what she was saying, or what she was even talking about, but she made working on ESPN seem so easy, so I decided to go after her career as an ESPN sportscaster.
Through the NCAA tournament, the guest speaker from Carolina Week, and talking with a friend who writes for ESPN, I've decided that this is definitely a career path I am interested in, so I guess it's away from PR and off on the new path of Reporting!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Absence of Malice
Summary: The story of Absence of Malice centers around the murder of the head of a labor union and a chief suspect, a character named Gallagher. Gallagher is fighting to clear his name after Megan Carter publishes a report that Gallagher is a "prime suspect" in the murder of the union leader. Gallagher immediately goes to the FBI, the DA, and Megan to clear up the misunderstanding. This leads to a new investigation in which Megan learns Gallagher's controversial alibi (that he was in Atlanta with his friend who was getting an abortion) and Gallagher manipulates the DA into allowing him to be an informant, a role that allows him to turn around and ruin the careers of some of the investigators.
There were many controversies:
1) Publishing information that is unknown and just based on suspicions.
2) Publishing personal information (such as the abortion that lead to the best friend's suicide)
3) Befriending a subject of an investigation
4) Wording an article to create a public attitude against a figure
5) Writing an article about a non-public figure (slander?)
There were many controversies:
1) Publishing information that is unknown and just based on suspicions.
2) Publishing personal information (such as the abortion that lead to the best friend's suicide)
3) Befriending a subject of an investigation
4) Wording an article to create a public attitude against a figure
5) Writing an article about a non-public figure (slander?)
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Driving, The Radio, and Other Vacation-y Things
So, if I spill a secret onto this blog, it has to be kept a secret and not shared with the Women's Basketball team... The weekend of February 19th (I think it was then...), I, Madison Way, faked sick, skipped basketball practice, and drove to Columbia, South Carolina. I never lie or play hooky, so my adrenaline was pumping as I called a senior manager (coughing very convincingly, might I add) to explain my absence the next morning.
What began as a hyped-up drive dragged into a 5.5 hour drive of listening to "S&M", "Hold It Against Me", "Tonight" and other club-intended songs. As we left Chapel Hill, my friend and I were pleased to hear these songs, but as we continued down the highway toward Charlotte, our music slipped into some type of religious music. Quickly, we turned the dial to the pop station to find that they were playing the same, sexed up, club songs. By this time, it was around 11:30 at night so we forgave the song choices that were beginning to annoy us and continued down the road.
As we entered South Carolina, we were surprised to find that there was not a change in the annoying pop songs playing on the radio. Perhaps a love for sexual songs was felt across the southeast. While the number of country stations increased and the ads that took more airtime than music changed from North to South Carolina businesses, nothing had changed.
Perhaps in a day and age when Kiss FM didn't rule the air and Ryan Seacrest wasn't coming out of car speakers across the nation, a change could be noticed as one travels from state to state, but truth is, there isn't any diversity in the radio, just a repeat of Enrique, Rihanna, and Britney, and that's probably how things will stay.
What began as a hyped-up drive dragged into a 5.5 hour drive of listening to "S&M", "Hold It Against Me", "Tonight" and other club-intended songs. As we left Chapel Hill, my friend and I were pleased to hear these songs, but as we continued down the highway toward Charlotte, our music slipped into some type of religious music. Quickly, we turned the dial to the pop station to find that they were playing the same, sexed up, club songs. By this time, it was around 11:30 at night so we forgave the song choices that were beginning to annoy us and continued down the road.
As we entered South Carolina, we were surprised to find that there was not a change in the annoying pop songs playing on the radio. Perhaps a love for sexual songs was felt across the southeast. While the number of country stations increased and the ads that took more airtime than music changed from North to South Carolina businesses, nothing had changed.
Perhaps in a day and age when Kiss FM didn't rule the air and Ryan Seacrest wasn't coming out of car speakers across the nation, a change could be noticed as one travels from state to state, but truth is, there isn't any diversity in the radio, just a repeat of Enrique, Rihanna, and Britney, and that's probably how things will stay.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
A Trip Through Insanity
After flipping through what seems like hundreds of possible radio shows to listen to, I fell upon "A Trip Through Insanity" on The Story with Dick Gordon, a collection of stories in which rape, gospel, and post offices are discussed. I chose this podcast mainly because the story of Pippin Ross (an NPR reporter who was raped on the job and was later arrested on drunk driving charges) was interesting to me. Listening to Pippin was almost painful. Because the podcast was purely audio, the intensity of Pippin's choked-up, sobbing stories of rape were uncomfortable to listen to. This discomfort creates a sympathy for Pippin that stretches out to the inmates that she describes as having "Precious-personas." Before listening to this section of this podcast, I had never sympathized with inmates, but Pippin's soothing, radio-made voice and heart-felt descriptions of the women she met in jail make jail seem like a home for women trapped in the mishaps of their past.
Another reason why I chose this podcast was because of the section on post offices. I am heading to Albuquerque this weekend for the NCAA tournament so this section about southwestern post office stories intrigued me. All the stories were cute and simple, however I did not see their connection to the rest of the post office and I felt like I had wasted time by listening to it.
The final section is on performing gospel in the Subway. I was slightly bored with this selection and wished the trains in the background had been edited out. That being said, the story was inspirational and gave me a better understanding of the homeless citizens of New York. This story also was interesting in the way it showed how pride can deter you from pursuing something that could be enjoyable.
Overall, I liked the radio show. I wish it had more scandalous stories (a la 48 Hours Investigates or 20/20), but I found the show easy to listen to. Not only this, but I found that I could listen to the radio and do other things at the same time. This reminded me of the New York Times statement that Radio was easier to multitask with than TV. So true. Right after I wrote this, I watched an episode of Glee only to realize I never published this...
Another reason why I chose this podcast was because of the section on post offices. I am heading to Albuquerque this weekend for the NCAA tournament so this section about southwestern post office stories intrigued me. All the stories were cute and simple, however I did not see their connection to the rest of the post office and I felt like I had wasted time by listening to it.
The final section is on performing gospel in the Subway. I was slightly bored with this selection and wished the trains in the background had been edited out. That being said, the story was inspirational and gave me a better understanding of the homeless citizens of New York. This story also was interesting in the way it showed how pride can deter you from pursuing something that could be enjoyable.
Overall, I liked the radio show. I wish it had more scandalous stories (a la 48 Hours Investigates or 20/20), but I found the show easy to listen to. Not only this, but I found that I could listen to the radio and do other things at the same time. This reminded me of the New York Times statement that Radio was easier to multitask with than TV. So true. Right after I wrote this, I watched an episode of Glee only to realize I never published this...
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Because somebody's gotta make a remake!
My all-time, hands-down favorite book in the entire world (I'm really into it, if you couldn't tell) is The Handmaid's Tale. We had to read it in IB English Senior year of high school, but to say that I simply "liked" it would be the understatement of the year. Still know quotes ("Sinfully scrabbling, quick eat your words", anybody?) and if you handed me a xeroxed page with the page number blacked out right this second, I could give you its placement in the plot, the symbolism, and the overall significance. Literally obsessed.
Unfortunately for me, the beautiful writing of Margaret Atwood was turned into a horrible film-adaptation starring the late Natasha Richardson (RIP). This might sound exciting, but to give you an idea of the tackiness that this masterpiece became, I present to you the film poster:
My version of the film would a) be a lot classier and a lot more timeless (80's hair, Natasha... really?) and b) would actually stay true to the themes of the book instead of throwing a bunch of plot points together and thrusting Nick into the mix to stir up the storyline rather than making him an integral part of the plot. Also, since when is Offred named Kate? (If you didn't read the book, the women are named after who they belong to and Offred-of Fred- is never given a name to symbolize her loss of identity)
On to casting! The most important roles of the film are Offred (the Handmaid), the Commander (her master of sorts), Serena Joy (his peppy and frightening wife), Nick (the man who defies the social system to save Offred), Janine, and Moira.
Offred- Kate Winslet
Commander- Clint Eastwood
Serena Joy- Meryl Streep
Nick- Edward Norton (kinda love him)
Janine- Winona Ryder (I forgive her shoplifting simply based off her performance in Girl, Interrupted)
Moira - Helena Bonham Carter
I think I would keep the soundtrack down to a simple instrumental as to not ruin the strong themes. The plot would be made as similarly as possible with the removal of many of the meetings of the Commander and Offred (those are just too uncomfortable and one is plenty). I would also remove many of the descriptions and some flashbacks as they become repetitive.
Summary: A catastrophe and great social change bring about a new social order in which women are nothing but carriers of offspring for the wealthy. One woman fights to defy the expected and break free of a tyrannical military government.
And in closing,
Nolite tes bastardes carborundorum
Unfortunately for me, the beautiful writing of Margaret Atwood was turned into a horrible film-adaptation starring the late Natasha Richardson (RIP). This might sound exciting, but to give you an idea of the tackiness that this masterpiece became, I present to you the film poster:
My version of the film would a) be a lot classier and a lot more timeless (80's hair, Natasha... really?) and b) would actually stay true to the themes of the book instead of throwing a bunch of plot points together and thrusting Nick into the mix to stir up the storyline rather than making him an integral part of the plot. Also, since when is Offred named Kate? (If you didn't read the book, the women are named after who they belong to and Offred-of Fred- is never given a name to symbolize her loss of identity)
On to casting! The most important roles of the film are Offred (the Handmaid), the Commander (her master of sorts), Serena Joy (his peppy and frightening wife), Nick (the man who defies the social system to save Offred), Janine, and Moira.
Offred- Kate Winslet
Commander- Clint Eastwood
Serena Joy- Meryl Streep
Nick- Edward Norton (kinda love him)
Janine- Winona Ryder (I forgive her shoplifting simply based off her performance in Girl, Interrupted)
Moira - Helena Bonham Carter
I think I would keep the soundtrack down to a simple instrumental as to not ruin the strong themes. The plot would be made as similarly as possible with the removal of many of the meetings of the Commander and Offred (those are just too uncomfortable and one is plenty). I would also remove many of the descriptions and some flashbacks as they become repetitive.
Summary: A catastrophe and great social change bring about a new social order in which women are nothing but carriers of offspring for the wealthy. One woman fights to defy the expected and break free of a tyrannical military government.
And in closing,
Nolite tes bastardes carborundorum
Monday, January 31, 2011
An Introduction of Sorts
I'm Madison. It's funny to say that, though. All through middle school and high school I was very well known for being "Maddie Way", a nickname that apparently described me very well. My brother is 3 years older than I am, so growing up, I was known for being his lively little sister, and so the name stuck. It's still a little startling when I go home to hear everybody call me "Maddie Way" (not even with a pause in the middle, more like one word) because I'm not "Maddie Way" anymore.
I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but I moved to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina when I was four. My parents told me it was Gullah Gullah Island, so I wasn't terribly upset at the time and I did eventually get to meet Ron and Natalie (no BinyaBinya, though) so I grew very fond of Hilton Head very quickly. To answer the questions that I'm sure will be brought up by my sharing of my hometown: 1) yes, people do live there and there are in fact houses and schools... not just golf courses, 2) yes, I have been to the Salty Dog. In fact, I worked there... Terrible summer 3) no, I do not golf. Not by choice. Hand-eye coordination isn't my thing.
Now I'm a "First-Year" at UNC-CH. I'm a little scatterbrained when it comes to the whole major thing. I guess technically I'm a double major in Psychology and Journalism and I'm on the Pre-Law track. I have no idea what interests me in Journalism other than the area as a whole. I might do Broadcasting (Sports, specifically) or Public Relations. At this point, I quite simply don't know what I want to do, I just know what interests me. I wanted to be a sports agent for a while, but now that I'm heavily involved with the Women's Basketball Team, I'm thinking that's a bad idea.
I'm taking JOMC to clear up some of the confusion explained before. Perhaps something will catch my eye or inspire me. Also, I'm interested in media because it really does influence a lot! I was a ballerina for 15 years in high school and May of my senior year, fed up and worn out, I quit. I didn't think I missed it, but then I went on Youtube and watched a few dances and then Black Swan was released and watching Natalie Portman dance sent little shivers down my spine and I realized that I missed ballet like crazy. Now I'm in Blank Canvas and I'm looking for (this sounds bad) more serious companies to join next year. Media has a funny way of giving you ideas like that. I remember when I was younger I used to have themed parties like they do in Laguna Beach. Even now, my friends and I are having a party in Florida this summer that mirrors one shown in the first season of Laguna Beach. In my opinion, we strive to do what is shown through the media because it is what we think the norm is. We think having extravagant theme parties at beach houses is normal or that it's not weird to be a ballerina and I think people like thinking that what they do is the norm, even if it isn't.
I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but I moved to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina when I was four. My parents told me it was Gullah Gullah Island, so I wasn't terribly upset at the time and I did eventually get to meet Ron and Natalie (no BinyaBinya, though) so I grew very fond of Hilton Head very quickly. To answer the questions that I'm sure will be brought up by my sharing of my hometown: 1) yes, people do live there and there are in fact houses and schools... not just golf courses, 2) yes, I have been to the Salty Dog. In fact, I worked there... Terrible summer 3) no, I do not golf. Not by choice. Hand-eye coordination isn't my thing.
Now I'm a "First-Year" at UNC-CH. I'm a little scatterbrained when it comes to the whole major thing. I guess technically I'm a double major in Psychology and Journalism and I'm on the Pre-Law track. I have no idea what interests me in Journalism other than the area as a whole. I might do Broadcasting (Sports, specifically) or Public Relations. At this point, I quite simply don't know what I want to do, I just know what interests me. I wanted to be a sports agent for a while, but now that I'm heavily involved with the Women's Basketball Team, I'm thinking that's a bad idea.
I'm taking JOMC to clear up some of the confusion explained before. Perhaps something will catch my eye or inspire me. Also, I'm interested in media because it really does influence a lot! I was a ballerina for 15 years in high school and May of my senior year, fed up and worn out, I quit. I didn't think I missed it, but then I went on Youtube and watched a few dances and then Black Swan was released and watching Natalie Portman dance sent little shivers down my spine and I realized that I missed ballet like crazy. Now I'm in Blank Canvas and I'm looking for (this sounds bad) more serious companies to join next year. Media has a funny way of giving you ideas like that. I remember when I was younger I used to have themed parties like they do in Laguna Beach. Even now, my friends and I are having a party in Florida this summer that mirrors one shown in the first season of Laguna Beach. In my opinion, we strive to do what is shown through the media because it is what we think the norm is. We think having extravagant theme parties at beach houses is normal or that it's not weird to be a ballerina and I think people like thinking that what they do is the norm, even if it isn't.
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