As We Go On, We Remember…

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Ok, so yes, those are the lyrics to the Graduation song, and no I’m not leaving just yet, but the year is almost over and it’s crazy to think how much I’ve accomplished/learned this year. As a student in the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida I have the opportunity and resources to create some amazing projects to go on my resume reel! Because the College even has its own daily newscast First at Five a lot of our work even gets shown to viewers at home, but is a luxury most college students don’t have.

At UF we are lucky enough to have alumni that so whole-heartedly believe in what the student body can accomplish that we were able to build both the CIMR and the Integrated News Facility to allow us better access and resources that will familiarize us with the real working world. Although I only had one class in the CIMR, I am extremely familiar with the INF because it’s where I spend my time editing class projects like this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy9BVl0J5-o&feature=youtube_gdata_player or working upstairs at the sports radio station ESPNRadio 850/900, where I’ve been volunteering and covering all kinds of Gator sports since 2011. 

I still have one more year as a Gator and while I know the time flies, I promise to keep using these resources to help build myself a great foundation so that one day I’ll be able to say that I no longer work for an affiliate, but the actual ESPN station!

And Then There Were More…

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So I can’t just link you to a few of my friends, I’ve got to set you up with the whole bunch! You’ve already met Casey, Katie, Jana, Rob, Keaton and Michael but here are the links to the blogs for the rest of my classmates! Please enjoy 🙂

Alex de Armas

Alexandra Morales 

Angelina Perez

Beth Odom

Carolyn Brewster

Chip Skambis

Fernanda Ponce

Isatou Saar

Jennifer Mesika

Juliana Valencia

Kaitlyn McGrath

Kareem Sandy

Kim Ortiz

Kristen Botica

Lauren Lettelier

Lindsey Zionts

Madison Kirby

Ricki Albritton

Michelle Williams

Sam Kerrigan

The Tipping Point

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The Tipping Point is a book that contains multiple studies and theories behind one main topic: how ideas start as something as small as a rain drop but can quickly turn into something as massive as a thunderstorm. The genius behind this book, Malcolm Caldwell, examines how a certain behavior can transcend all ages, genders and races and become a social epidemic.

When Caldwell first talked about the epidemic I was slightly confused by the comparison because I always associated that word with a negative connotation, like an epidemic of malaria or the swine flu. But the way Caldwell explains the epidemic is in a completely different light, sometimes good but other times, not so much. Like with his example of the subway shooting incident in New York: some people believed Bernie Goetz to be a hero by “taking back the subway system” and even dubbed him the Subway Vigilante.

Although Goetz committed a crime, people still stuck to their guns (no pun intended) and stood behind this man because he represented the solution to what was wrong with the urban crime rates. This anecdote is part of Caldwell’s Power of Context rule.

Another one of the rules Caldwell uses to explain his Tipping Point theory is  the Stickiness Factor which, in my opinion, makes the most sense and is the most crucial for actually bringing to life a social epidemic. The Stickiness Factor refers to how a thought or message can be so memorable to so many people that it sticks in everyone’s mind. The example he gave is Sesame Street and how different studies showed what kids do and do not retain and how to deliver the information so it does in fact stick in their minds, no matter how young a mind it may be.

The third rule Caldwell applies to his school of thought is the Law of the Few.

This rule states that only a small handful of people actually cause change, or a tip in the social atmosphere, and that this small group is so powerful in thought and influence that they can affect (in essence) the whole world. There are three types of people who have the power to convince such a mass amount of others: Salesman, Mavens and Connectors. The Salesman sounds exactly like what it is, a person who can sell you on an idea/concept and make one feel like he/she will be personally affected by this change. Then comes the Maven. The ones who refer to the most minute details of any situation. They become the people others can relay on because of how specific they are with their work. And finally, the Connectors. The ones who know all different types of people and are familiar with a broad range of topics. Connectors can influence people from all walks of life, which is why in my view they carry the biggest power/influence over any of the others.

Overall the book was entertaining and it showed me a different way of thinking about how social trends occur. An epidemic can hit fast and quick, but its affects can be felt for a lifetime.

Equality For All

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So in my last post I spoke about a few of my female friends, but this post is going to be dedicated to the Y chromosomes of the world, or at least those in my class. My good buddy Robert Lopez, more affectionately known as RoLo, is a man constantly fighting a losing battle. As a South Floridian myself, I realize the strong bond the 305 has with its basketball team the Miami Heat, especially after acquiring LeBron and Chris Bosh. But poor RoLo, stuck in that New York state of mind that he constantly gets bashed by everyone around him when he roots for the Knicks (needless to say they’re currently on a winning streak and he didn’t shed the slightest bit of a tear when the Heat had theirs broken). If you know what’s it’s like to be a sports fanatic stuck in the wrong city, or even state, share his pain and read his awesome thoughts on his blog 🙂

Not to be outdone by sports, my new friend and producer Keaton Webb like to be sporty as well. Although his blog isn’t about volleyball, which is should be because he’s amazing at it, it is about working out. Like most telecom majors, Keaton is a busy guy and finding time to eat healthy and exercise can sometimes be very difficult. But there are always ways to fit breaking a sweat into your daily routine, no matter how jam-packed it is! To learn more about ways to stay active while leading an active lifestyle subscribe to the boys’ blog. Not only is it a good read but he even has videos and pictures, what could be better than that?!?!

 And since we’re talking about being healthy, there’s no one else who knows how hard but rewarding it is to get fit than my pal Michael Cadigan! Caddy runs like a mad man and eats like a health nut too (well except for the occasional buffalo chicken sandwich, but who can blame the kid) which is how he lost so much weight. He really is a great example of how hard work pays off and if you want to feel as inspired as I do then you should be clicking on the link and reading his blog!!

I’m Not That Interesting….

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Although I’ve been posting a lot about myself lately, I’m not even close to being an entertaining person. Some of my friends, however, have more interesting interests (for lack of a better word) than my TV obsession. Take my good ‘ole Southern Belle of a friend Jana Jones for example. Not only is she one of the classiest (and sassiest) people I know, but the girl knows her sports! Although she’ll probably end up with a job at a great TV station covering all sorts of hardcore News, she’s a sports chick at heart. So if you like a girl who knows what’s going on in the world but can also talk circles around you when it comes to sports, you should definitely check out her blog!

And speaking of sports chicks, my girl Katie Gillen is alllll about the X’s and O’s. Not only has she covered the Gator football and basketball team, but she anchors the sports segment of a news show produced at UF. You can catch her at all the press conferences and games going on at Florida, or you can just read her blog and find out what the coaches and athletes have to say. Trust me, if you want the inside scoop before the paper comes out the next morning (and yes this is metaphorical because honestly, who reads the paper anymore??) her blog is a MUST!

And if you ask me, there’s nothing that goes better with sports than food (except beer of course, for those of us of age that is!). Which brings me to my girl Casey Liening. I’ve known her for less than a year but let me tell ya, home girl can cook! The great thing about being friends with people who know how to use a kitchen appliance other than a microwave is that free meals are a frequent occurrence! Now I’m not a greedy/ungrateful person so of course I offer to do dishes on the nights I free load off her home-cooked meals, but if you want recipes for meals that are delicious and affordable (hello, we’re on a college budget here) stop reading this and go check out her blog. NOW.

Getting To Know Me

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Well if you’ve been following this blog at all clearly you’ve picked up on my TV addiction (please refer back to the fact that I have a schedule made up just for my shows (https://entertainment220.wordpress.com/2013/02/04/time-management-issues/). I’m also a huge sports fan, particularly the Tampa Bay Bucs and of course the Florida Gators!! I mean come on, how cool is it that my school busted out the Harlem Shake (https://entertainment220.wordpress.com/2013/02/16/going-viral/) at a basketball game?!? And because of my sports addiction, I would also love for sports reporting/anchoring to be my future. And though I only have minimal experience (https://entertainment220.wordpress.com/2013/03/19/jillian-baach/) I’m working hard everyday to try and make that dream come true!

Jillian Baach

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Jillian Baach

So clearly my obsession/hobby is watching all sorts of TV shows, but one of my other great passions is sports. I hope to some day work as a sideline reporter or even an anchor! I’m lucky enough to be doing an internship this summer at a TV station where I get to cover games and practices, but so far a lot of my experience has been in radio. Check out my resume to see what I’ve done to prepare for my summer experience 🙂

Fun at Paley

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Ok, so if you read my last post (https://entertainment220.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/paleyfest/) and were trying to figure out which panels I tuned in to, think no further! After looking at the lineup I decided to watch clips from Nashville, New Girl, 2 Broke Girls and Parenthood. Even though Parenthood is done for the season and awaiting word on whether or not it will be picked up for a fifth season (*fingers crossed*), Lauren Graham is probably my favorite person on the planet so I had to watch just to hear what she’d say (yes, if you’re wondering, Gilmore Girls is my jam and honestly the reason why I became such a fast-talking, witty-referencing, TV obsessed freak!). Anyway, if any of the shows you enjoy were featured at Paley you should totally log onto Hulu and watch!! Enjoy 🙂

PaleyFest on Hulu: http://www.hulu.com/inside-media-at-the-paley-center

And here are the direct links to the panels I thoroughly enjoyed:

Nashville http://www.hulu.com/browse/picks/nashville-at-paleyfest-2013

New Girl http://www.hulu.com/browse/picks/1557

Parenthood http://www.hulu.com/browse/picks/1546

PaleyFest

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Aside from attending a major award show like the Oscars, Emmys or Golden Globes one of my dreams is to attend either (or both) Comic Con or PaleyFest. If you’re not familiar, both are large gatherings of TV show casts and obsessive freaks like me who watch their show. It’s an amazing opportunity to ask the actors/writers questions about the series as well as just be in the same room as all your favorite on-screen characters! Hulu does this great thing where they upload clips of different Paley panels so weirdos like me can spend their Friday or Saturday nights learning about how these actors got the role or what the chemistry between the cast is really like when the cameras aren’t rolling.

Here’s the main link for The Paley Center For Media so you can learn even more about it: http://www.paleycenter.org/paleyfest-home/

If you want to see which shows were in attendance this year, here’s the 2013 lineup: http://www.paleycenter.org/paleyfest2013-lineup/

And if you want to see what panels I’ll most likely be tuning in for, take a look at my weekly TV schedule and cross check which shows I watch will be in attendance: https://entertainment220.wordpress.com/2013/02/04/time-management-issues/

Entertainment Weekly

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Entertainment Weekly

One of my favorite sites to visit is Entertainment Weekly, or EW. I realize they call it “weekly” because their magazine comes out every Friday (yes, I’ve been a subscriber for years), but it should really be called Entertainment Always because the site never lacks in inside information. EW always has the scoop on the newest movies, shows and the actors that act in them! They also do a great job of covering special events like the Oscars (which are on tonight, by the way!) Just visit the site yourself and you’ll see what amazing content their have for every form of entertainment!

Oscar Buzz: http://www.ew.com/ew/package/0,,20311937,00.html

Get caught up on everything you missed this week in TV: http://tvrecaps.ew.com/

Check out your local listings to see what time/channel all your favorite shows are on: http://affiliate.zap2it.com/tvlistings/ZCGrid.do?aid=entweekly

Another thing EW does really well is review and grade movies. Now I’m no where near the caliber of those writers, but I definitely have my own opinions on every movie/TV show I watch. I even wrote a review of Jason Statham’s movie Parker in an earlier post. If you want to see how I felt about it check it out here! https://entertainment220.wordpress.com/2013/01/29/parker/