Views from the News

I felt a little hindered at first, knowing that because of the coronavirus I couldn’t visit the television station and whip up a story like I normally would. But, being a multi-media journalist means being flexible. So, I and some fellow Troy University student journalists are reporting the news the best we can while also practicing social distancing; via social media.  Because I can’t necessarily create a TV news package, because I really don’t have much to film in my home, I’ve had to rely more on a print format. I’ve reached out to the university and will soon reach out to students through my phone to get information from sources.  I’m currently working on a story for Troy University’s student newspaper, The Tropolitan, about on campus dining closures. Many restaurants have closed down shop to prevent the spread of the virus.  All dining options in the Trojan Center are unavailable, and a few other eateries have new, temporary hours. Troy’s dining hall is now offering to-go

The coronavirus, or COVID-19, has been a hot topic in the headlines recently, and for good reason.  Back in December 2019, the media first broke the news of the disease, which sprung up in China. Overtime, journalists continued to cover the coronavirus; reporting on how what appeared to have been an isolated incident became a worldwide pandemic. The virus is now present in countries across the globe and all 50 U.S. states have confirmed cases. Overall  USA Today  says there have been at least 222,000 confirmed cases worldwide (as of March 19, 2020), and that number continues growing. Despite an alarming amount of cases, some argue that the media has blown the whole pandemic out of proportion. Some social media users have taken to Facebook to express their disproval of the news media. I have heard people comparing the coronavirus to the flu, which is obviously more common and has affected more people. While the flu may be more common, this viral outbreak is screams “newsworthy

The world of broadcast journalism is competitive. Journalists have to work quickly and accurately to get stories covered first; but before you can pick up a microphone and begin reporting, you have to get hired. Today, we focus on a graduate of Troy University who served in the TV news business for years and has returned to teach students about the industry in hopes of getting them hired. Stefanie Hicks East grew up in Enterprise, Alabama, before attending Troy’s Hall School of Journalism and Communication, majoring in broadcast journalism. She worked at the on-campus television station TSU TV, which is now known as Troy TrojanVision News, then accepted an internship with WTVY in Dothan, Alabama. She was soon hired, and worked to create broadcast news stories independently, as a “one-man band.” She was then promoted as the station’s morning news anchor and woke up every morning at 1 a.m. to produce the newscast. She then took on another job opportunity in 2004 as the evening

Aaron Taylor is the television production coordinator at TROY TrojanVision News. For 18 years, he has taught young reporters how to become successful broadcast journalists. He helps students produce 15 newscasts a week and teaches them how to create in-depth news stories. As TrojanVision’s television production coordinator, you welcome in young journalists and help prepare them for the professional world. What is it like to play a part in making student’s aspirations a reality? It’s amazing. Yes, we do produce newscasts every day, but the purpose of that is to give the training to students to go out and succeed. I measure my success based of the success of the students that are under me. Every time one of my students gets a job working somewhere, or I tune in and I see one of my kids on television, or I’m checking out they moved to a bigger and better market; that makes me happy. What is it like watching an unexperienced reporter flourish over college into a professional

Being a journalist carries a lot of weight. It is my responsibility to communicate important information to the public so people can create be well informed opinions, and then turn around and elect officials to represent them. This applies at the national and local level. Locally, journalists must cover state and city elections. Without this coverage, citizens in smaller areas would likely know nothing about each candidate. For students who aspire to become professional reporters, acquiring the skills necessary to cover these elections is a vital part of becoming a reliable journalist.   For student journalists, this means we must cover the executive officer elections for the school’s governing body, the student government association; as this “local news” is what our college community needs to decide who to support.   Here at Troy University, Troy TrojanVision News has been covering the election process for weeks. We were there at the first SGA exec interest meeting, allo

Being a journalist carries a lot of weight. It is my responsibility to communicate important information to the public so people can create be well informed opinions, and then turn around and elect officials to represent them. This applies at the national and local level. Locally, journalists must cover state and city elections. Without this coverage, citizens in smaller areas would likely know nothing about each candidate. For students who aspire to become professional reporters, acquiring the skills necessary to cover these elections is a vital part of becoming a reliable journalist.   For student journalists, this means we must cover the executive officer elections for the school’s governing body, the student government association; as this “local news” is what our college community needs to decide who to support.   Here at Troy University, Troy TrojanVision News has been covering the election process for weeks. We were there at the first SGA exec interest meeting, al

Creating and maintaining a professional social media presence is important for a journalist. Social media allows viewers to connect with you beyond the limitations of traditional media. Here are some easy ways you can make sure your social media pops with professionalism.  Professional profile photo Your social media followers want to see you, as this mimics a face to face interaction. As a journalist, your face is important, as it is part of your brand. Because you can expect business professionals and viewers to view you profile photo, it is important to make sure it displays the best representation of you. Make sure your profile photo is a well-lit and clear image. A headshot, from your shoulders up may be a good option. Avoid selfies and funny faces. A simple smile is all you need.  Brief and informative bio The bio section of you profile is your first chance to describe yourself to newcomers. You may list the schools you have attended, the degrees you hold, your