BY KAYLA LOKEINSKY AND SARAH ROUSSELL
We’re blogging together from the University of Miami summer journalism program. As we sit here in the newsroom waiting for our first articles to be edited, let’s recap our first week so far:
Basically, what we do is we wake up at the insane hour of 6:30 am, then dress in business casual clothes (that worked out for only the first two days, then everyone started slacking) then we eat, then sit, then eat again, then sit again, then eat one more time, then sit and go to bed.
Actually it’s not as boring as it sounds. Sarah and I are learning a lot of valuable tips that we’ll be sure to bring back to The Lariat with us to whip our staff into shape. This year’s theme for the Miami Montage, the publication the camp puts out is Social Media: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
My story was originally about promiscuous girls on the web, but that didn’t work out so well because obviously no girl would admit to being one of those. I was actually the first person to cry at camp (our editor-in-chief would be so proud) because the story didn’t work out. Luckily, now I’m writing about a website called careerexcuse.com, a site entirely devoted to making fake job resumes, including fake references with real websites and contact information. Talk about sketchy. Sarah, as usual, is using her incredibly sweetness to write a story about a boy who changed the world.
Sarah interviewing HALO award winner Herold Charles. Photo credit: STEVE PIERRE
Sarah here:
During the first few days of camp, one of our counselors explained that one day we would have an interview that would really move us and change our lives. After interviewing the lead of my story, I can definitely say that I’ve had a life changing interview. I’m writing a profile on a student named Herold Charles, a recent graduate of Miami Lakes Educational Center. After the 2010 Haitian earthquake, he used twitter to locate missing loved ones of 25 different families. I can’t even explain to you how moved I was hearing his story and how honored I felt to be the one to tell it. His story led me to tears and it will definitely be one that I will remember for the rest of my life.
Other than writing a wonderful story, Kayla and I have really gotten to know other student journalists who carry the same passion. The first week into the program and we already feel like we’re a family with the rest of the Montage Staff. I’ve learned so much already and can’t wait to see what else is in store!
