As the fall 2008 semester comes to a close, students graduating from the Sacramento State journalism program are face to face with the unknown when it comes to life after college. Facing an uncertain industry, several students think that is unlikely that they will land a job right away.
“I think for now I’m going to freelance write,” said Jake Corbin, a journalism student graduating this fall. “But in terms of an actual paying job, there isn’t one.”
Corbin currently works for the California Secretary of State and isn’t very willing to give up his “cushy government job” and take a chance at earning a living in field whose future is filled with question marks.
“The job market right now is extremely difficult to break into,” said Sacramento State journalism professor Mark Ludwig.
Though no one knows what the future will hold, not all those that are graduating are worried about possible job opportunities.
“Even if everything is in the tank but you’re still marketable and have skills that nobody else has, then ultimately you’ll be okay,” said Cody Kitaura, a senior journalism major.
Marketability is a key to getting a job according to Ludwig, as well as his colleague in the Sacramento State Journalism Department, Molly Dugan.
“My first piece of advice is don’t be afraid to move,” said Dugan. “Newspapers in the Midwest aren’t struggling as much as papers on the coasts.”
Even though the outlook is not good, Corbin kept his hopes high, “When Rolling Stone gives me a call, I'll got ahead and quit, jump over, and work for them.”
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Vote or Don't
A number of Sacramento State students cited laziness or a lack of free time in their busy schedules as reasons they chose to not vote in the 2008 presidential election.
On Election Day, many students around the campus of Sac State said their swamped life is mainly a result of a tough school schedule, work and as one student put it, “extracurricular activities.”
All of these things contributed to many students not voting, but most still acknowledge the importance of getting out to vote.
Sac State Senior Hunter Demaray said many people who aren’t voting think it is important to vote, but often find themselves short on time due to many different issues, raging from school to extracurricular work.
The majority of the students that were interviewed expressed disapproval with those people who were qualified and able to vote, but for whatever reason decided to not make the trip to the polls.
“You’re not doing your part as a citizen and taking care to understand what your responsibilities are and know about your community and your government,” said Rachel Rogers, junior at Sac State.
One student, who chose not to vote this time around, has his own outlook on electoral voting process.
Mike Rosemary, Sac State Senior said he thinks it’s important for people to vote, but doesn’t see how his one vote could possibly change anything in the grand scheme of things; Rosemary didn’t vote.
On Election Day, many students around the campus of Sac State said their swamped life is mainly a result of a tough school schedule, work and as one student put it, “extracurricular activities.”
All of these things contributed to many students not voting, but most still acknowledge the importance of getting out to vote.
Sac State Senior Hunter Demaray said many people who aren’t voting think it is important to vote, but often find themselves short on time due to many different issues, raging from school to extracurricular work.
The majority of the students that were interviewed expressed disapproval with those people who were qualified and able to vote, but for whatever reason decided to not make the trip to the polls.
“You’re not doing your part as a citizen and taking care to understand what your responsibilities are and know about your community and your government,” said Rachel Rogers, junior at Sac State.
One student, who chose not to vote this time around, has his own outlook on electoral voting process.
Mike Rosemary, Sac State Senior said he thinks it’s important for people to vote, but doesn’t see how his one vote could possibly change anything in the grand scheme of things; Rosemary didn’t vote.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Local Residents Ask "Why?"
As the U.S. Congress struggles to come together and pass the $700 billion bailout bill, many Sac State students and local residents are left asking one simple question, why?
“I don’t see what the point of it is,” said Rhianna Cole, a Sac State student. “Everywhere I go, Starbucks, the mall, people are there spending money. So why do [Congress] say we’re going into a depression?”
This lack of knowledge about what this bill will actually do for people seems very widespread, but the reasons for this appear to be twofold.
On one hand, many people are aware that whatever happens will affect them in some way, but they simply don’t understand the situation.
“I watch the news from time to time and try and figure out what’s going on,” said Jessika Johnson, a high school history teacher. “But a lot of what’s said in the news can only be understood by economists and not regular people.”
Johnson was not alone in her view. Many others interviewed expressed similar concerns that if this situation could be explained more easily they would then understand how they will be affected and take more of an interest.
The other reason people don’t have much of an understanding of this issue is that, like Rhianna Cole, they simply don’t care. The majority of Americans who are going to concern themselves with what is happening will do so when the economic problems begin to change their lives.
Unfortunately it is not known when or if Americans will see a change in their day-to-day lives, but even if no change takes place, taxpayers may still be footing the $700 billion check that is about to be written by Congress.
“I don’t see what the point of it is,” said Rhianna Cole, a Sac State student. “Everywhere I go, Starbucks, the mall, people are there spending money. So why do [Congress] say we’re going into a depression?”
This lack of knowledge about what this bill will actually do for people seems very widespread, but the reasons for this appear to be twofold.
On one hand, many people are aware that whatever happens will affect them in some way, but they simply don’t understand the situation.
“I watch the news from time to time and try and figure out what’s going on,” said Jessika Johnson, a high school history teacher. “But a lot of what’s said in the news can only be understood by economists and not regular people.”
Johnson was not alone in her view. Many others interviewed expressed similar concerns that if this situation could be explained more easily they would then understand how they will be affected and take more of an interest.
The other reason people don’t have much of an understanding of this issue is that, like Rhianna Cole, they simply don’t care. The majority of Americans who are going to concern themselves with what is happening will do so when the economic problems begin to change their lives.
Unfortunately it is not known when or if Americans will see a change in their day-to-day lives, but even if no change takes place, taxpayers may still be footing the $700 billion check that is about to be written by Congress.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Time to Represent
Several hundred hot dogs, a few cell phones and even an iPod Nano were just a few of the things given away to over 500 teenagers who packed the Woodland High School gym on Wednesday night.
The event was called “Represent” and organizer Donny Burleson, an evangelist and motivational speaker, made no bones about who and what he was there to represent, and it was not to give away prizes.
“It my desire that not one young person would set foot outside these doors without knowing the life you have for them, God,” said Burleson in his opening prayer.
In the week leading up to Represent, Burleson put on assemblies at each of the high schools and middle schools in Woodland where he gave kids a non-religious speech on making the correct choices in life. He gave first hand examples of how a life of drugs and alcohol leads to nowhere.
The timing of the event couldn’t have been more perfect for the youth of Woodland. During the week of Burleson’s assemblies at the schools, a 16-year-old student was shot in a drive by shooting and a gun was brought onto the campus of Woodland High School that forced a 4-hour lock-down of the school.
Needless to say, tensions around town were running high, but Represent quickly helped to alleviate them by turning the gym into a huge game room with bounce houses, obstacle courses and even sumo wrestling.
The event was called “Represent” and organizer Donny Burleson, an evangelist and motivational speaker, made no bones about who and what he was there to represent, and it was not to give away prizes.
“It my desire that not one young person would set foot outside these doors without knowing the life you have for them, God,” said Burleson in his opening prayer.
In the week leading up to Represent, Burleson put on assemblies at each of the high schools and middle schools in Woodland where he gave kids a non-religious speech on making the correct choices in life. He gave first hand examples of how a life of drugs and alcohol leads to nowhere.
The timing of the event couldn’t have been more perfect for the youth of Woodland. During the week of Burleson’s assemblies at the schools, a 16-year-old student was shot in a drive by shooting and a gun was brought onto the campus of Woodland High School that forced a 4-hour lock-down of the school.
Needless to say, tensions around town were running high, but Represent quickly helped to alleviate them by turning the gym into a huge game room with bounce houses, obstacle courses and even sumo wrestling.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Students Can't Add, Classmates Laugh
For many students, attempting to add a class causes the level stress to rise much earlier in the semester than the typical high stress time that takes place as the first round of midterms approach. But looking back on attempts, some failed and some successful, to add a class can actually provide some laughs.
"It's funny to see people go crazy," said Sac State student Michael Smith, who witnessed a student scream and yell at his professor when trying to add into an english class.
Not all students resort to yelling, but some go to great lengths when attempting to add. Some sit on the floor, others stand in the back of the room for the duration of the class. And some even resort to sitting in the lone chair that is awkwardly placed at the front of the room and faces the other students.
Others are even faced with the challenge of communication with their professors as was the case with Jessica Casewell, a student at Sac State who was attempting to add a sign language class.
"I've never been so frustrated," said Casewell when describing how her professor in a first semester sign language class would not let her communicate in anyway other than sign language.
There's no end in sight for the problems people face when trying to add a class, but hopefully those that get the most stressed out can take some satisfaction in the fact that their stress is entertaining to some of their classmates.
"It's funny to see people go crazy," said Sac State student Michael Smith, who witnessed a student scream and yell at his professor when trying to add into an english class.
Not all students resort to yelling, but some go to great lengths when attempting to add. Some sit on the floor, others stand in the back of the room for the duration of the class. And some even resort to sitting in the lone chair that is awkwardly placed at the front of the room and faces the other students.
Others are even faced with the challenge of communication with their professors as was the case with Jessica Casewell, a student at Sac State who was attempting to add a sign language class.
"I've never been so frustrated," said Casewell when describing how her professor in a first semester sign language class would not let her communicate in anyway other than sign language.
There's no end in sight for the problems people face when trying to add a class, but hopefully those that get the most stressed out can take some satisfaction in the fact that their stress is entertaining to some of their classmates.
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