The Rose

A LETTER TO YOU, THE READER, SO THAT YOU CAN FINALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT I’M THINKING.

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THIS MONTH: The Society of Professional Journalists

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Dear Reader,

When I first started this blog, I swore I would not turn it into my diary. My aim was, and always has been, to make The Rose into a resource which celebrates creative writing and the English language. If I injected any parts of my personal life into this webpage, I tried to do it through my writing, because I believe my own experiences make my writing realistic and powerful.

I’m concerned, however, that my fears have been realized. My efforts to share my thoughts with you here on Ad-Lib, perhaps, have become the focal point of this blog, more than I originally intended. And, for that, readers, I’m sorry.

Instead, I wanted to use these entries to support my writing. I wanted to explain my experiences here so you would understand them in poetic form. I reasoned that, because most non-writers do not understand all the intricacies, tools, and mechanisms I use to create my poetry, this would give them a better appreciation of my work.

So, this month, I want to focus on something more writing oriented: the Society of Professional Journalists. The nation’s largest organization for working journalists, this association aims to perpetuate the free press as a cornerstone of the United States and its citizens’ liberty, according to the mission statement on their website (www.spj.org).

Currently, they have local chapters across the nation where professionals and students alike pursue different aspects of this goal. Some chapters discuss issues like free speech, ethics, and journalistic law, and problem-solve how to improve and advocate these issues. Other groups, like students at local universities, also work with professionals to improve their craft and hone their writing skills.

Oakland University has recently started such a chapter through the Oakland Post last month. Through weekly, democratic, Friday meetings, we have elected our officials, established our bylaws, and begun to develop our skills as future professionals. As an official member, it is now my job to participate to show I’m serious about my journalism.

One way to participate is by attending or helping to organize SPJ events, which, in the collegiate world, are often held at respective universities in different areas of the country. To clarify, SPJ divides the county up into regions, numbered one through 12. Michigan is part of Region 4, which also includes Ohio.

According to the SPJ website, the biggest upcoming event for this year will be the annual SPJ Spring Conferences. Region 4’s Spring Conference will be held in Lansing, MI at Michigan State’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences by Michigan State’s School of Journalism from March 23 to 24. Entitled “Journalism Rebooted”, activities will feature a communion of professional and academic journalistic thought. Tickets are $30 for students and $60 for professionals.

(I’m planning on going to this event because I think it will be a fantastic opportunity to get an inside look at the journalistic community. Also, I wouldn’t mind a few tips on my writing. God knows it has a long way to go! 😉 )

Other ways to participate include Quill, the society’s newsletter, which examines the issues, changes and trends that influence the profession, and shares tips and resources on becoming a better journalist (according the membership letter I got from them in the mail). Their most recent issue mourned fallen journalists like Maria Coven, who recently died when Syrian government forces bombed foreign correspondents temporary “headquarters” in Homs, Syria by honing in the satellite phone transmissions (http://keirsey.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/bravery-and-bravado/#more-2903). I usually don’t receive Quill by snail-mail, however. Every once and a while (maybe once a week?), I’ll get an e-mail, which, in essence, is Quill.

The SPJ website also offers a variety of resources on their website to aid journalists and creative writers alike on their quests to become better writers.

One such resource I really appreciate is the Journalist’s Toolbox. This comprehensive webpage is daily maintained by SPJ specifically for any journalist out there who might need it to write a story right now. It has information and links to just about every topic you can think of. Comparatively, you might even say it rivals the AP Style Guide, a wire-service style manual updated annually by the Associated Press which many writers and editors affectionately nicknamed “the journalist’s bible”.

My part in this is simple: as a new SPJ member, this is something I will definitely be thinking about this month. I will be attending the meetings and going to that Region 4 Spring Conference one way or another. Along with my other resources, the Journalist’s Toolbox will be in the back of my mind, ready and waiting if I need it.

This is because, as I said earlier, I’m serious about my journalism, my writing. I want to reach people, to help them through my writing if I can, like Mitch Album or Karen Kingsbury. I want to be one of those professionals one day mentoring that college kid on the tricks of the trade. And, that is going to make college all worth the effort. I can guarantee it.

I hope, however, that you will take a part in this too. Maybe, this month’s Ad-Lib will aid you in your quest in whatever you are writing. Even if it’s a term paper, and you’re just using the Journalist’s Toolbox to fix up your facts, punctuation, grammar and spelling, I hope you explore these SPJ resources as I have. I’m confident that they will be useful to you.

Or, if, indeed, this information will probably not be useful to you in the future, I encourage you to watch how it impacts my own writing through the Oakland Post and this blog. I’m already seeing a vast improvement. No sir or ma’am, you will not see me using incorrect information or usage in my poetry any longer. Thank you Media Editing (JRN 300) class and SPJ. Mmm-hmm!

But, if you are interested in looking into these matters further, I encourage you start by picking up “Eats, Shoots and Leaves” by Leanne Truss. This fun little book is a first in its class: it entertains you while teaching you about punctuation. She gets to be a little long winded, but her good jokes definitely make up for it.

But, in conclusion, I want to say: THERE. Finally, I have written a (hopefully) useful Ad-Lib which helps you as a reader and lets me express my thoughts as a writer. X-nay the diary entries! Welcome, thoughtful and useful prose! 🙂

Sincerely, Your Author,

Jessica McLean

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Recent Happenings:

• March’s Ad Lib is here!
• I was hired by the Oakland Post as a Reporter Intern for Winter 2012. To read my articles, go to theoaklandpostonline.come, pick up a copy of the Post on Wednesdays, or check out the links featured on Grains of Sand (thisbreathforward89.wordpress.com). 
• SPJ Spring Conferences are coming up from March 23 to 24! (www.spj.org)
• Editing, editing, and more editing.
• Waiting 🙂

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