Music Journalism - The big hit!

Dear Journalism and blogger friends,

So I started with a new study book this week: music journalism. It's awesome! I can't tell you how interesting it is already, after reading only a couple of pages. This might actually be my new focus! Should I be a music journalist? So far, it's sounds pretty exciting to me.

So what's "inside": The first chapter starts with an introduction into music journalism: definition, professionalism, print, broadcast and a critical reflection. Gives a great overview on the topic! The second chapter is all about the music industry: Who are the people behind the music industry? Publicists, musicians, and managers. What changes happened within the music industry? Also, there is a critical reflection at the end of the chapter. The third chapter deals with "sources" such as press releases, music (live or recorded), interviews, and events. The most interesting chapter is to follow, chapter four talks about the "content" such as news, interviews, video- and audio interviews, articles, documents and alternative content.

Of course, there are exercises after each chapter to be solved voluntarily.

I can't wait to get started with the exercises, they sound fun!

I hope this little insight into the music journalism study book gives enough information to let you know how interesting and awesome this topic is.

I'll keep you posted as my study progresses.

Best,
Kate

Travel Journalism and Blogging

Hello,

I hope you all had a great week! I am really excited to tell you about my newest endeavors in Travel Journalism! Believe it or not, but I am almost finished with the study book. I have read all chapters (still need to do the exercises), because I enjoyed it so much. It was really easy to read one whole chapter each day. I highlighted with a marker most important information for later, when I actually prepare for the exam. It was a real joy!

So now here we go: Travel Journalism is probably not really my future, although I really think it is an awesome journalistic field. Why? Because I think you need to be fully equipped with all kinds of things that I just could not imagine carrying around all day, several days. It seems to me that Travel Journalists need to be cross-media oriented which is exactly what carrying around a lot more equipment is all about. Maybe I'll change my mind... once I studied the whole course.

So blogging has always been a passion of mine. The most recent study on blogging and journalism - its similarities and differences - was quite motivating. It reassures me in my decision to take a journalistic journey in order to train my skills.

Btw, the next study field will be Music Journalism. Stay tuned!

Yours,
Kate

Travel Journalism

Hello journalism friends!

So I took the exam on "Interviews" the other day. It was quite interesting - I have never taken an online exam before. I was a little nervous about it, but I think I did well. Still waiting for the result!

I already started with the new module book on Travel Journalism - what a joy! I love it very much. Let me tell you a few things about this specific module: It has 7 chapters, including the topics "Travel writing context", "Categories and audiences", "Conveying place", "The features of the feature", "Travel Markets", "Travel writing issues", and "Travel writing futures". So far, I have read the first 15 pages which encompass the first chapter, including summary. I really like the fact that each chapter has a short summary. It makes it easier to remember important aspects after reading a whole chapter. Also, there are exercises (tasks) after each chapter to help you repeat what you have just learned. I have not looked at them yet but of course I will eventually.

The school recently published a new survey on blogging and journalism which was interesting to read. The results are astonishing: There is not so much difference, in fact, between those two. Blogging requires almost the same skills as professional journalism!

Well, I need to get back to work. Stay tuned with Kate for more!

Next entry will be all about Travel Journalism and a few details on blogging (my personal experience) in comparison to my first humble attempts as a journalist.

Yours,
Kate

Happy New Year, Journalism friends!

Kate is back! :)

Barely... I made it barely back to my desk this time. I had such a nice time with my family. My niece got a dog for Christmas - can you believe it? From an ethical point of view, this is certainly something to discuss. But it was good to see her smiling face when she held her puppy close to her. Nothing better than seeing happy kids on Christmas!

I actually interviewed a couple of people during the holidays. So there is my uncle Gerry and my aunt Betty who really loved my "technique". I also interviewed my little niece I just mentioned (the one with the puppy) - that was quite a pill. She is just not old enough and I had some trouble to keep her focused. I also interviewed my Dad. Interestingly, I didn't just "practice" my interview skills, I also found out some family secrets! Sorry folks, I cannot publish them on this blog. ;)

Well, I think I'm ready for my first exam. It's a little scary because I'm not sure how this works. I have to take the exam online. But I'm sure it'll be fine!

I already know which study topic is next for me: Travel Journalism! :) I can't wait to start reading it.

Well, I better prepare for my exam now... Interview is still on the desk and I need to get it done by the end of this week.

Stay tuned!

Yours,
Kate

Season's Interviews

Dear bloggers, dear friends, dear family,

It's been a great week! I have started with the new study book on "Interviews" last week. It is a great joy to read. I love the little exercises (they keep my brain busy), and what a feeling of success each time I find out that I solved them correctly. So far, I really like this study book. There is only one thing I'm regretting...

I realized I don't have much time for friends and family any more (not as much as I used to). That is very unfortunate. I wanted to let each one of you know that I think of you a lot and miss you. I know that each of you understands... it is too important to let go. And I really love it so far. So, I just wanted to thank all of you for your understanding.

My big sister always told me to never let my dreams go. She still thinks that way. Now, she has four kids and a husband. She lives in a nice house near the coast. I visit her every summer. I love my two nieces and two nephews. That was her dream.

My dream is to become an "important" reporter. I want to inform people, I want to advice them and, most importantly, always tell them the truth. I realized throughout this year (and even before that on a more subconcious level since I haven't thought about it as much before I started this journalism course) that there has been so much bad journalism out there. Ill-informed journalists who just want to sell the story as fast as possible. I don't want to be this type of journalist. I truely believe that sometimes it is better to just wait it out until you have more information. What do you think? Am I right?

So my plan for this holiday season is as follows: Since I'm reading the study book on Interviews, I want to interview some of my family members during my visit for Christmas. I want to try out some techniques and get some practice that way. I will let you all know how it went. I think Interviews are incredibly important in every way. There is hardly any journalist who doesn't need to interview people. That's why I think it is important to get some practice. Even during the holidays. :)

Merry Christmas to everyone. Stay tuned for more in the New Year (get there safe)!

Best,
Kate

Post partum colloquium

Hello again, dear blogger (and journalism) friends,

It's Kate, your journalism student who is incredibly sad today. You know what happened? Well, here is my short story (but feeling a lot better now).

So I was "online" today to "meet up" with the tutor to help me with some questions I had regarding my study book Trade and Business Journalism (remember?). Anyway, there were too many students online so I had not really a chance to thoroughly go through all my questions. :/ Don't get me wrong, these online colloquia are great. I appreciate them, especially since there is no other way to interact with anyone about details of a specific journalism field. Right now, I'm a little frustrated. So then I called the student's office and asked them if a tutor could help me out over the phone. They said "no" but I can write a personal message to one of the tutors. So I did that, too... Well. Of course, there is no response yet. I suppose it takes a little bit of time. And who knows how many requests they get? I might not be the only one. I was so surprised to see how many students actually made use of the online colloquium.

Aside from that little unfortunate situation I'm doing really well. I'm close to finishing the first study book and look forward to taking this exam next week. It's going to be my very first exam, so that is so exciting.

I have not decided yet which module book I will study next. I have two choices so far: Arts Journalism and Interviews. Not sure which one I prefer. They both look really interesting. Interviews seems to be a little thicker than the other one... but since I have to read them both, it doesn't really matter. Might as well get the thicker one over with first. So "Interviews " is next, I think.

Hey, feel free to send me more messages! I'd be happy to chat with you! I already am in touch with some of you, so that is really great. Let me know what your favorite journalism topics are and such. Also, I'd love to hear from some more experienced "journalists" some stories if you may. :)

You'll here from "this" journalism student again next week. Then I'll take a little holiday break. Stay tuned, friends!

Kate

'Tis the season!

Hello, dear Journalism friends,

And thank you for all your interesting questions! Unfortunately, I cannot answer them all right away. Please be patient for a little bit longer as I am trying to answer each one of you thoroughly.

I had no idea journalism had so many "fans".

But still, these days, you hear a lot of bad things about it. Why? Well, obviously, this election year had a great impact on that. Journalists are being accused for "fake" news, for being biased. You know what I think? I think this is all just to blame someone else... Seriously, can we really blame journalism for bad coverage? Yes we can. However, there is always another side to things like that. We can't blame "journalism" for it, but most certainly "journalists". They broke our trust in reporting. Not all of them, but some of them did.

With this in mind, I want to become a journalist with principles. Truth, ethic, trust.

By the way. I almost finished my first course book on Trade and Business Journalism. It is fun, but also really tough questions included. I will take the online exam tomorrow. Let's see how that goes but I'm pretty confident.

Stay tuned until next week!

Yours,
Kate