Thank you students for your insightful commentary on “The Origin of the News” and the Virtual Print Tours you took.
Some of the key points you noted from “The Origin of the News” included:
- The constant evolution of the news and news platforms
- The history of censorship
- The diversity of print producers across eras and in our own nation (which we also saw in the virtual tours of various printing districts)
- The incessant curiosity humans have for news of all kinds
- The very real dangers of “news cycle fatigue”
- The merits of “the general public becoming more aware of the news”
- The danger of “bias” in the news and the question of whether “news” coverage has become weaker over time
These are just some of the many media issues we will continue to track across the semester and I look forward to continuing to hear more from you about them.
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This week, we turn to the practice of journalism by examining a news feature that has always fascinated readers: interviews of famous, or otherwise interesting people.
If you end up working in the media, inevitably you will be asked to write a profile on an important person in a field of wide general interest.
In an upcoming assignment, I will be asking you to interview a fellow student. In preparation for your assignment, this week I want you to review two profiles, one on legendary journalist Juan Gonzalez and, the other on Eden Bridgeman Sklenar, editor of the legendary Ebony Magazine.
The first pieces are on Sklenar:
1) “Ebony Returns to Chronicle a New Moment”
2) “Did I Really Just Buy Ebony?” Interview with Eden Bridgeman Sklenar
The second profile features Gonzales, now co-host of alternative news site, Democracy Now.
3) “Street-Beat Confidential”
and the best interview of all (!) is one by Jillian Jorgensen of New York 1 in which she interviews City Tech student Carlos Rodriquez. Carlos was a student in my writing course this summer, where Jorgensen did the filming.
4) City Tech Student Profile on NY1
POST ASSIGNMENT: By Monday, Sept. 18, post a response to what you found interesting about one or two of these pieces (a technique, unique focus, or rhetorical move) that you think will be helpful for a student journalist. Be sure to read the student responses before yours and try to focus on a different point if you can.
In the article “Street-Beat Confidential,” something unique that Juan Gonzalez did throughout his journalism career that will be helpful to a student journalist is to dig deeper into stories that nobody covers and go to where nobody else is paying attention. Gonzalez uses networking skills and techniques. Networking can be helpful for a student journalist. For example, the article mentions that through his environmental contacts, he got results from tests that the Environmental Protection Agency and the city had been doing after the 9/11 attacks, which showed there was more contamination than people realized. Everyone focused on getting back to their daily norms. (Hond, 2013).
 Something interesting from the article, “Two decades later, a student returns to class at CUNY,” can be helpful to a student journalist is to make connections with the individuals around you. The people around you can be resources. They can have information and stories that can help a student journalist disseminate. The people around you can vary in age. Various information can be gathered from them on different topics that can help a student journalist assemble a good story.
The two articles I found interesting were “Ebony Returns to Chronicle a New Moment” and City Tech Student Profile on NY1. In the first article, I found the way they laid out the story very interesting, and the way they added interesting facts throughout the article kept the reader entertained. It was long but since the article was interesting I didn’t even mind it. I love reading articles like that the ones that you get so caught up with, that you don’t even notice how long the article is. In the second article, it was much shorter but the story and dialogue were quite interesting and in fact, made me wish it was longer. It felt as if I was there as well in person and listening to the interview going on. I felt a connection while I was reading it you could just feel how personal the story was. Looking at both articles, I find it helpful and important when writing an entry to make the article more engaging and catch the reader’s attention. With a good story and dialogue, it doesn’t matter how long or short the article is as long as the story is good and entertaining.
I truly believe all of these articles go into the very fundamental core of learning how to become a journalist, spreading news as it comes and goes, and maintaining a level of determination and strength knowing hard work pays off.
In the “Street-Beat Confidential” piece, journalist Juan Gonzalez really hones in on his true perspective and vision about the vast mobility news journalism is, even for his city New York for which he is a New York Daily News columnist. Per the article, he has co-hosted “Democracy Now!”, a show relative to the idea of politics and the discussion of economical and societal events that are happening in real-time. Over his enormous career, Gonzalez has really emphasized the importance of covering vast amount of materials that otherwise would be left uncovered in our world. I would like to directly focus in on that particular segment that was featured in the article; “Today’s show ran long with a segment on the Obama administration’s crackdown on whistleblower, and the columnist had to rush out”. The Obama administration has been known for many things, but one of the things that was vitalized during Obama’s presidency was his pent-up resentment towards whistleblowers. In a country swarmed with ideologies about current mayhem related to the country’s participation in the Iraq war, whistleblowers did stand out the most. Then-President Obama opposed whistleblowers who came out and leaked confidential information, information that was hidden from the general public who in return had anything but doubt to cause outrage. Whistleblowers were forcefully prosecuted under the Obama administration, and Obama himself stated how whistleblowing was basically constituted a negative influence in our world. I believe whistleblower prosecution is unjust, and the reason why there were (and even today) these amount of whistleblowers coming out is because our very own government isn’t transparent with its American people. We talk about “the history of censorship” because things of these nature are present in our very country. Focusing back on Juan Gonzalez, I have profound respect for what he has to provide in the journalism space. He has clearly worked very hard to get to the position he wanted to be, which I highlight is the very core of becoming a news journalist.
I was also intrigued by the NY1’s article of student Carlos Rodriguez, having to derail his college aspirations earlier on to focus on becoming a dad for his children and finding employment opportunities in the city. Now he’s back at City Tech, working towards getting his facilities management degree so he can thrive and receive new opportunity. His own daughter is also in City Tech. I respect him for going back to college and trying to earn his degree because I really believe college shouldn’t be something people should take for granted. It is important for us Americans to build a long-lasting branch of work opportunity for ourselves in order to prosper, build a name for ourselves and achieve success on the basis of meritocracy. As Rodriguez states, “Learning is a lifelong process; it’s never too late”. He should be seen as someone who younger students look up to, to not fear about going to college.
Sharp readings of both profiles Mamadou. You raise a great point about the Great President Obama’s not-so-great lid on whistleblowers. Very interesting pick-up.
One interesting focus that Juan Gonzales focuses on in “Street-Beat Confidential” is focusing on community engagement as well as reporting locally. This can be extremely useful for student journalists since they are starting from within their own community and learning about the significance of change on a lower level. This can give students a steppingstone to do greater things within their career as a journalist. Juan Gonzales also uses historical context as a rhetorical move to add depth to his writing. After he gave background information on how he formed the Young Lords helped the readers understand how it led to him becoming a full-time reporter.
In the article “Did I Really Just Buy Ebony” I found it interesting how they would focus on family and legacy. Eden Bridgeman talks about how she is deeply involved within Manna, her family’s company. This helps show the readers how her family is important both personally and professionally. The article also begins giving anecdotes about Eden Bridgeman’s life which is heartwarming and helps the readers relate to her on the same level. This can help student journalists when they want to find a way to hook a reader into their story.
The first article/video that I watched was about Carlos Rodriguez. This short video has a lot of interesting moments that really stood out to me. I believe this video really attracts a large population of viewers because a lot of adults were or are in the same position as Carlos. He was going to college at the appropriate age when his child was born so he had to leave school and get an immediate job in order to support his child. Even after almost 25 years, Carlos came back to New York City Tech to finish his degree and show people that it’s never too late to go back to school. He even said that his own daughter goes to the same college as him and I believe that is a very cool thing to do. I believe the unique focus of this video was to target those people who never got a chance to achieve their degrees and to think about going back to their universities and accomplishing that goal.
The second article that I read about was called,” Street-Beat Confidential”. This article focuses on one specific columnist who works for the daily news. Juan Gonzales really focuses on his own point of view as he is always walking up and down the streets near Rockefeller center. One thing in the article that really stands out is when Juan participated in a broadcast called Democracy Now. He covered two major stories, one which was the Boston marathon bomings that we have all heard about and a Texas explosion that killed 15 people. All Juan’s work focuses on big movements or major disasters that occured in our time. He only likes writing about events that attract a big population to read about his work and make him more knowledgeable. I believe one of the techniques Juan uses is when he walks around the streets it really gives him a first point of view on a certain issue rather than reading it from another article. This gives him more confidentiality when he produces his own articles that people read about.
About Carlos Rodriguez what i learned from his message is whatever life has for you it has to be accomplish and never discouraged because he clearly stated that “he knew he wanted to come to back “ and eventually he did. At city tech student show a lot of maturity and i am seeing this me when i first started college i was a bit worried because i did not want to be in class with people that can be the same age as my dad or a bit little than me but honestly it did not matter because we can learn from them and take advice, learning is happening anytime in life this is why going back to school for other that gave up earlier should not affect them mentally dont hesitate because it never too late to get a degree no matter the gap age , this video should help student to be motivate about school whether you work or not you can find a time for knowledges
The story behind Ebony/Jet is that since the beginning he wanted to be part of the family business following the path of the family and build something that could help the future generation that was one of the technique use
Ebony‘s earlier content focused on African-American sports and entertainment figures
They use the black culture they wanted Ebony/Jet to be a place where people can be free to talk about anything and be honest
They wanted to show the truth about what is really happening in world
In the article “Two decades later, a student returns to class at CUNY,” I found it intriguing that Carlos Rodriguez attended City Tech at an old age and how he still had the motivation to go back to school. Also, how he has held on to his school ID card for over 25 years. It is also shocking how his daughter is enrolled at the same college as him. When Carlos had to drop out and seek employment, it is sad that he had to do that to be able to support his child but however he did eventually come back to school 2 decades later. In the article, the author gathered all necessary information so that the author can construct the story of Carlos Rodriguez. The article starts with a strong lede as well because I was intrigued by just reading the first few sentences. After just the first few sentences, I immediately continued to finish reading the rest of the article. The article also has a video with Carlos’s professor and daughter speaking to verify the source. Lastly, the article was straight to the point by the simpleness of the wording. Nothing was confusing and difficult to understand. Therefore, this makes the article more intriguing and very straight forward.
“Ebony Returns to Chronicle a New Moment” is a great demonstration of business journalism. Journalist Marc Tracy explains how Ebony magazine, a leading publication covering Black life in America has emerged from bankruptcy with a new owner and ambitious plans. One thing I found interesting about “Ebony Returns to Chronicle a New Moment” is Marc Tracys ability to relay multiple stories simultaneously, relaying the impact of said stories, and then being able tie them together at the end to one consistent point. The ability of a veteran journalist to implement multiple stories, points of view, and sources shows why it is important how you structure an article. The ability to properly structure an article allows the writer to tell many branching narratives while maintaining the ease of understanding for the reader.
Avis Weathersbee’s interview with Eden Bridgeman Sklenar is another example of great journalism.She allows Sklenar to answer each question without interruption and builds on some questions. This shows that she is knowledgeable about the topic and interested. Student journalists should be able to expand on questions. It shows that they are actively listening and produces more substantial answers.
One piece of information that stood out to me was in the article “Ebony Returns to Chronicle a New Moment” is the issues published during the times of the company being weighed down in debt, resorting to writing about the mirror of the happier life of Negro Life. Ebony would compare the differences and the similarities between modern aspects of life to their culture, such as Harlem to Hollywood, the positives of both types of aspects and the achievements that have been accomplished. Issues that were published during this time revolved around the lifestyle of their race and culture, leading up to the positions of the foremost chroniclers of Black Entertainers. The published issues during this era was also significant because it proved to be a comeback for the company from the debt it was suffering from the previous company parent. Two of the issues that were published focused on different points of views, compared to everything else that was considered a positive/optimistic view of the world. Ebony went through lengths to develop something out of their comfort zone to cover recognition of serious topics that normally wouldn’t be shared.
In the article “Two Decades Later, a student returns to class at CUNY”, what really stood out to me is the conversation about the age gaps from students and Carlos Rodriguez when returning to class. Despite being much older than the students there, age shouldn’t be a factor of stopping what you want to achieve. Everyone still views people the same regardless of age or other factors, including religion, race, ethnicity or any other aspects that may give insecurities to other students. l
Did I Really Just Buy Ebony?” Interview with Eden Bridgeman Sklenar
This interview with Eden Bridgeman Sklenar is interesting because it talks about her personal life and tastes as well as her career and what she wants the EBONY and JET names to become. Some interesting points:
In the interview, she talks about her part in the family business and her goals for EBONY and JET while also sharing personal stories and thoughts. We can get a better sense of Eden as a person and as a businessman from this.There are things Eden likes besides work, like beautiful movies, the Olympics, and even the clothes she wears. She seems more real and likable because of this. It’s highlighted that heritage, family, and social engagement were important in Eden’s life. Her participation in charitable activities and her desire to leave a meaningful memory show how much she cares about making a difference in her community. Given that her family owns Wendy’s stores, the question about her favorite menu item shows how her personal and work life touch each other. A big part of the story is Eden’s plan to bring EBONY and JET back to life by building on their media roots and using them as places for important talks and healing in the African-American community. It shows how much she wants to carry on the family names of these well-known brands.The information about Eden Bridgeman Sklenar’s personal interests, her work with her family’s business, her dream for famous brands, and her commitment to social and community causes was mostly very interesting to me. Her story is interesting and relevant because it has both personal and business parts.
In the article, “Ebony Returns to Chronicle a New Moment,” one thing I found interesting is that ebony and her family they are currently experiencing a financial problem. For example, “Ebony Magazine was about to close its doors for good. Johnson Publishing, the original parent business, battled with enormous debt and sold Ebony and Jet magazines to Clearview Group, an Austin, Texas-based hedge fund, in 2016. Many issues arose as a result of the shift in ownership, including allegations of layoffs, reduced office space, and delayed payments to staff. This turbulent time ended in 2017 when the National Association of Black Journalists gave Ebony an unfavorable assessment.” Ebony magazine had financial instability and ownership changes that harmed its operations and image in the media community.
In “street beat confidential,” one thing interesting about González is that he became the first person to go to college, and as a sports writer for the Spectator, he got the opportunity to write a news piece on a student-run tutoring program for disadvantaged families on the West Side. González became enamored with the show. He left the Spectator and became interested in other local concerns, such as mobilizing locals in Manhattan Valley against a gym that Columbia proposed to establish in Morningside Park. Some individuals objected to the concept of a private organization building a recreational facility in a public park in a disadvantaged area without providing locals with equal access. Also in January 1968, Gonzalez had joined a protest, and young African Americans also joined Gonzalez after they all got arrested, and Gonzalez got arrested twice, actually, and he would get suspended from Cloumbia.
Recently, I had the pleasure of reading “Street-Beat Confidential” by Juan Gonzalez. As a student journalist, I found it to be a valuable resource. Gonzalez’s approach of exploring underreported stories and paying attention to neglected areas is truly inspiring. He brings a unique perspective and vision to the vast field of news journalism, especially as a columnist for the New York Daily News, covering his hometown of New York City. I particularly appreciated his incorporation of historical context into his writing. For instance, his inclusion of background information on the formation of the Young Lords not only adds depth to his work but also helps readers gain a better understanding of how his experiences ultimately led to his successful career as a full-time reporter.
Also, I recently came across an article titled “Ebony Returns to Chronicle a New Moment.” The writer, Marc Tracy, masterfully weaved intriguing tidbits into the article, keeping my attention throughout. The emphasis on family and its legacy was a refreshing touch. The article delved into how Ebony magazine, a renowned publication chronicling Black American life, overcame financial struggles and has now been acquired by new owners with ambitious goals. As an avid reader, I was taken aback by the seamless structure and captivating narrative.
Overall, after reviewing all these, there were two articles that stood out to me the most. One is “Did I Really Just Buy EBONY” and the other is “Citytech Profile on NY”. Both of these articles focused on many different aspects. One focuses on family business and hobbies meanwhile the other focuses on life goals and how he wants to continue the education he wanted.
In the article, “Did I Really Just Buy EBONY”, it’s interesting that this interview talks mostly about the family’s business, legacy, and history as well as some of her hobbies such as what she likes to do, her favorite sport, any collectibles..and more. One thing I found interesting in the article it gave much information not only about Ms. Eden’s background but also about her whole history. Another thing that stood out to me was when Ebony asked, “Clearly you’re used to wearing a lot of different hats, before we talk shop, can you describe the most outrageous hat you’ve donned for a Derby”? I did find this a lot interesting knowing that she collects different types of hats one being what she called “Blue Hat”. Another thing that stood out to me was when Eden said, “I never follow the trends. My style is based upon what I like, current or vintage pieces, which just kinda speak to my personality”. This to me is a plus. I do like her confidence when she said those. I like how most of these questions she’s able to add some history and background into it other than it just being a plain answer.
Another article, “Citytech Profile on NY”, focuses on how Carlos Rodriguez wasn’t able to accomplish his degree. One thing Mr. Rodriguez said that inspired me was, “Learning is a lifelong process…It’s never too late”. When he said that, I was overwhelmed. He reminds me of a phrase called YOLO meaning you only live once. It is never too late to do the things we are passionate about or when we were once passionate. We have to be able to try to reach and succeed in our goals even after a long time. As I mentioned before, it’s never too late. Another thing that Mr. Rodriguez said that stood out to me is, “It doesn’t really matter whether you’re 40 or whether you’re 19 or 18. Everyone sees you the same, and you actually connect with older people”. What he said was true and I can relate. I do have friends who are either 5 or 10 years older than me but I wasn’t aware of the age gap because it doesn’t really matter or affect me in a way. After knowing about our age gap, I don’t treat them much differently. We’re all the same. We’re all here in college to be able to learn new things and reach the goals we want if we succeed.
What I found interesting was the commitment to improving diversity and representation in media as shown in the article “Ebony Returns to Chronicle New Moment,” which focuses on the resurgence of Ebony magazine. The journal’s historical importance as a forum for African American voices highlights the importance of its function in constructing cultural narratives. The article discusses Ebony’s commitment to encouraging meaningful community interaction while highlighting the magazine’s purpose to advance diversity and elevate underrepresented viewpoints within the contemporary media landscape. Additionally, it clarifies Ebony’s forward-looking goal by describing how it intends to negotiate the rapidly changing media landscape, accept digital platforms, and engage a larger readership. This tactical strategy prepares Ebony to accept a progressive and significant role in the future of journalism and cultural production while also honoring its illustrious heritage.
It was also intriguing to me how In “Ebony Returns to Chronicle New Moment,” the author skillfully crafts the tale to appeal to a particular readership—those interested in African American history, culture, and media. The article draws readers who recognize the historical value of the journal as a venue that has historically glorified African American life by exploring the resurgence of Ebony magazine. It appeals to readers looking for a thoughtful examination of how Ebony intends to uphold its legacy while changing with the times. The article acknowledges Ebony’s role in tackling these significant concerns while also appealing to a larger audience interested in diversity and representation in media. The article successfully connects with readers who are enthusiastic about diversity and the future by highlighting Ebony’s dedication to these
In City Tech Student Profile on NY1 what I found interesting about this is the entire story of Carlos Rodrigues on how his life has progressed. Not only that but how he seems passionate about school. A technique that I like is how they gave the viewers a background story on why he left college. Also how they included other people thoughts and opinion on what Carlos was doing. Another piece that I found interesting was “Did I Really Just Buy Ebony?” Interview with Eden Bridgeman Sklenar. What I found interesting about this article is the way the reader make it seem like it could be a video and not just an article. What I mean by this is that when I was reading the article the reader would put the questions of Ebony and name of Eden in bold font which helped create a picture in my mind where both the interviewer and Eden were sitting side by side like if it was a video.
I have watched the video about Carlos Rodriguez. It is very interesting for me to see someone with so much passion and the strive to achieve his goals. Even after he had to leave school because his child was born he was able to find work and worked to support his family. Then he wanted to go back for his Bachelor’s degree. To see this you truly understand that you can go back to school no matter when. If you want to return to school it’s never too late says Mr Rodriugez. I can relate to Carlos there is an individual in one of my classes. He doesn’t seem to be 20 or 19 but i had the privilege to speak with him. He had the same thing happen when he was going to school and he had a family emergency and had to drop school in order to provide for his family. Now he returns to school to pursue his education in City Tech.
The second article I read was titled “Street-Beat Confidential”. This essay is about a certain daily news journalist. Juan Gonzales is continually moving and focused on his own point of view in the streets around Rockefeller Center. It really stands out in the narrative when Juan participated in the Democracy Now program. He covered two important incidents: the bombings at the Boston Marathon, which we have all heard about, and a Texas explosion that left 15 people dead. The majority of Juan’s body of work focuses on significant historical events or movements. He just likes to write about subjects that will interest a large audience and increase his field of knowledge. Juan employed a variety of techniques, but I believe one of them was to walk about the streets rather than read about something to get a first-person perspective on it.
My favorite article was “Two decades later, a student returns to class at CUNY” by Jillian Jorgensen. Right off the bat, I was drawn to the piece for sentimental reasons; one of the first few sentences is a heartfelt quote from the student who is covered in the piece, Carlos Rodriguez. “In my heart, I always knew I wanted to come back to school. I don’t know when that was going to happen, but I knew that eventually it would happen,” Rodriguez said. This quote immediately gives the audience someone to root for and a reason to continue reading the story to see the victory of this person. This piece not only can resonate with those of us who are nontraditional students, but anyone who has ever had to wait for their dreams to come to fruition. I think the technical move of involving his daughter, a fellow City Tech student, increases the sentiment the reader/watcher feels towards the subject. The story is engaging and very clearly written in a style that makes it seem like Carlos’s journey has come full-circle, which is very satisfying to read. It reminded me of an instance that occurred a few weeks ago–I was at my partner’s parents’ house for dinner and we stumbled across his dad’s Hunter College student ID from the 80’s. We compared it to my Hunter College ID, which I received in 2022. His dad ended up dropping out of Hunter to work full time, similar to Carlos. Though he never ended up returning to school, he is very successful in his career now and has a son who has a college degree and was given a better life than he had, which is all he wanted. Stories like the one Jillian wrote are relatable to many people from all walks of life, which make them successful.
Riley, This is such a great connecting story to the Carlos Rodriquez piece. I do think NY1 did a great service in capturing the pride of getting a college degree as well as the challenges many face in their pursuit of one. Very insightful analysis of the interviews of both Carlos and his daughter, as well.
I had found something interesting in the article” Two decades later, a student returns to class at CUNY”. I am strongly agree with the sentence appearance in the article, “Learning is a lifelong process,” he said. “It’s never too late.” Especially in the United States, its a diversity country, and age is not a problem. I think its also showed out the willpower to returns school. Most of the friends said gap the school for a semester or a year. After this, they found a fulltime job. They said, “its hard to give up a fulltime job salary to going back to school, and get a parttime job. Because the salary reduce half of before.
Excellent points QiTing on how important — and how hard it is — to sometimes get a college degree.
In the article that I simply chose that’s interesting was, “Ebony returns to new chronicle a new moment” I believe this was interesting because Eden Bridgeman Sklenar used to read Ebony and Jet magazines while she was a child in Louisville, Kentucky. She would accompany her mother there once a week to get her hair styled in tight curls. The relaunch of Ebony, which was first published as a monthly magazine in 1945, began in March with the posting of daily stories and videos on its website, which had been dormant for years. Debt-ridden Johnson Publishing, the original parent firm, sold Ebony and Jet to Austin, Texas-based hedge fund Clear View Group in 2016 for an unknown sum. Publisher John H. Johnson stated in the debut issue of Ebony, which was released in November 1945, that the publication “would aim to represent the happier side of Negro life – the positive, everyday triumphs from Harlem to Hollywood. The CEO, Ms. Ghee, claimed that due to recent financial difficulties, Ebony was able to start over.” Ebony is making a comeback amid a media landscape that has undergone significant shift since the publication’s peak.
The article “City Tech Student Profile on NY1” tells an inspiring story of Carlos Rodriguez, who first enrolled at CUNY City Tech in 1998 but had to leave college when he became a father. After a long hiatus, he returned to the same college, City Tech, two decades later to pursue a degree in facilities management.The true message of this article is about the importance of pursuing education at any age. Carlos Rodriguez’s story illustrates that it’s never too late to go back to school and continue learning. He overcame obstacles and challenges in his life, including becoming a parent and working full-time, to pursue his educational goals. Rodriguez’s story serves as an inspiration for others who may be considering returning to the classroom to pursue their dreams and education.
I’m glad you enjoyed this piece on my former student, Cindy. Your analysis of its power and importance is spot on.