Feature Writing Blog
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Second Life Feature Idea
I wanna focus on fashion, specifically styles of dress that is outdated, but still popular, from times like Victorian, Midevial, and Elizabethean times. I already have a connect and I plan on getting more connects by the end of the week.
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Query Letter
Skyler Jones
490 Prospect Rd.,
Pembroke Place531
Pembroke,NC,28372
(252)312-1170
October 19 2012
Roberta Myers, Editor-in-chief
Hearts Communications, Elle Magazine
300 West 57th Street
New YorkNY10019
Dear Ms. Myers:
I hear a lot of talk about submission lately, and not from Muslims in regard to God. But from men wanting their women to submit to them and saying it should be this way. This argument is one that has been heard not only in my college university center, but on talk shows Monique Show, web videos, and from Christian politicians.
This brings me to the question, is submission good towards a man? As this idea grows and men adopt this, will women become submissive to receive love? Will being submissive mean that all that women have worked for over the years to become equal be a waste? Alas, women have said that this role is a good one that helps women receives empowerment.
I’ve asked it too. Empowerment in submission? These two words have two completely different connotations. But Republican Tea party politician Michele Bachmann says that this is what God wants. Less religious author of “Change Your Man” Kenya K. Stevens said on the Monique Show that I use to think I had a penis and now I know my role. On her web blog she goes on to say that there is power in submission.
I only talk about these things to show you where I’m going with my topic. I want to discuss the pro’s and cons of being submissive. What men says this means and what women say, give an objective view on the topic. What do feminist and Women’s Rights groups say about this.
My qualifications for this article are that I have kept up with media that discusses this topic, I write for a college newspaper called The Pine Needle and have been published several times. I also believe that this is going to become the new trend for young Americans.
At this portion of the letter I would like to thank you for reading my article idea. If it is not what you are looking for I am still very grateful that you have taken the time to read an that this topic has come to your attention.
Best regards,
Skyler Jones
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Pulitzer Prize Presentation
The link to my power point presentation
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Professional Profile
A Story Untold
By: Skyler J Jones
Dr. Ana Berrios office is simple, with a few photos framed on her wall, a book shelf stacked with social work books, and a Chicano style soldier graphic on her wall behind the chair that is designated for visitors.
No one would suspect that the 61-year-old assistant professor was a lead singer in four bands inPuerto Rico.
Rafaga (1977-1980), Aura (1981-88), Los Dulces Payasos (1986-88) and Banda Criolla (1979-1999) make up the professor’s musical resume. Los Dulces Payasos (the sweet clowns) was so popular it was able to star in its own television show. The kids show ranged on subjects of good manners and health, featuring only authentic Puerto Rican music.
The television show eventually got cancelled in 1987, which prompted Berrios to move her family a husband and two sons, and the band Banda Criolla to the states. Banda Criolla performed at colleges, weddings, and Hispanic festivals in theU.S.
The family band broke up in 1999 and as a result gave Berrios more time to focus on her educational pursuits atSmithCollege. After she earned her degree in social work she began working, at a local high school, inConnecticutas a councilor.
In 2002, she returned toSmithCollegeafter being accepted in the Ph.D. program. This allowed her to pursue her other passion, learning about the stories of other first generation Puerto Rican women who immigrated to theU.S.
[More]
“Their stories are not told because we pay too much attention to the immigrations of other Hispanic,” Berrios said.
In her dissertation Berrios clearly defines the difference between first generation Puerto Ricans, who have immigrated toAmerica, in contrast to second generation Puerto Ricans, who have been born and raised inAmerica. It also touches on what the women had to face coming into this country including language barriers and discrimination.
During her Ph.D. process, she met her current husband of 7 years Ronald Blodgett. Blodgett is a retired engineer, and they currently reside inSanford,NC.
“He was sent by God,” said Berrios. “He was very supportive during the whole process.”
Dr. Berrios came to the university in the summer of 2012, but had worked with the university as an adjunct previously. Before she came to university, she was working inFayettevilleas a therapist in VA Medical Center.
There, she helped veterans who were suffering from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) andVietnamvets who had not received much help or care after the war. This is where Berrios received her soldier graphic, for outstanding work in her field and contribution to mental health.
Dr. Berrios plans on continuing her dissertation topic in the future. She feels as if there are still first generation Puerto Rican women, like herself, who have not had their stories told.
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“I would like to continue the study and interview more women to see if the themes are the same, so that I can have more representative data of this population,” she said.
Dr. Ana Berrios
Assistant Professor
Department of Social Work
Hometown:
Amherst,Massachusetts
Education:
M.A.UniversityofPuerto Rico
M.S.W.SmithCollegeSocial Work
Ph.D.SmithCollegeof Social Work
“Puerto Ricans are citizens too and go through acculturation,” Berrios said.
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Video Feature
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Pembroke Day Feature Story
Skyler Jones 296
Pembroke Day
September 29 2012
Pembroke Day
Pembroke Day began with the national anthem and band performance by the school’s own Spirit of theCarolinasmarching band. The band played selections as vendors sat around and listened to the music around them.
There were 52 organizations presenting their information and recruiting members. One organization in particular National Council Of Negro Women was positioned in the middle of Pembroke Day.
NCNW has been apart of UNCP for about 10 years and is one of the oldest black organizations in the country. As tradition NCNW members are stationed at their table to pass out information this year in the form of bookmarks, a sign up sheet is presented to possible new members, and a poster board with the clubs mission and purpose.
NCNW was able to obtain over 12 new members and was caught dancing to Latin music song from a pageant contestant.
66 businesses paved the Quad pavements advertising products. Food businesses like Taco bell had people in costumes passing out coupons. KFC had its famous Coronal Sanders meeting and greeting potential customers.
28 UNCP Department tables informing students on important issues plaguing Pembroke. The Disability Support service was raising money to eradicate hunger in Pembroke.
9 local arts and craft vendors selling things such as jewelry and simple crafts showcasing their talents.
A Health Faire was going on during Pembroke Day as well. 44 vendors stationed around the Quad are. These venders were bringing about awareness of certain illness and check ups available to students and locals. A Blood drive was going in the UC, people were advise to eat before and after giving blood.
A few food vendors were out selling their wares to anyone who could afford them. Free refreshments given out by the school included cookies, soft drinks, and lemonade.
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Student Profile
Situs Inversus 188
Skyler Jones
September 11 2012 Rare Abnormality
Kyra Ruivo a UNCP college student on the outside looks pretty normal.
However in the inside she has her major organs such as her heart, lungs, liver, stomach and spleen or all reversed inside her body.
This condition is called Situs Inversus a rare abnormality that happens in about 1 in 8,500 people.
Situs Inversus is not fatal because the organs are in perfect mirror image to the ordinary order. This makes organs function possible to be executed in the same way.
Kyra has lived with this condition all her life since she was born with it. She says she inherited the disease from her mother and her first cousin who also has S.I. This type of abnormality is hereditary and is passed down in families.
“I’m perfectly fine,” said Kyra. “I can do what everyone can do, its nothing new to me I’ve lived with it my whole life.”
The only side effects with this abnormality are bad allergic reactions and migraines. Kyra says that rain storms for some reason bring on these symptoms.
Sometimes people born with the disease suffer from heart problems due to lack of blood flow in the right ventricle.
S.I. is caused when the embryo is being developed and sometimes loops the heart to the other side along with other major organs.
End
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Story Ideas
Story Ideas:
Week 1: Most frequently traveled places during the holidays
Research
1) I would look up the top visited places in theUS for the holidays on-line
2) I would ask around school and town where do they travel for the holidays
3) I would look at traffic reports on highways that lead into major cities and see what has the highest during a certain time of year
4) I would look dates where college students have winter break to see if there a spike in traffic report
5) I would do a separate list for college students, because of course the most visited would be home towns
6) After compiling information I would pick the top ten visited destinations in general and top five for college students
Lead
Winter slopes ofAspenhave a spike this year with it being the number 1 visited place inU.S.for the holidays
Week 2: What are they planning now: Olympic Athletes
Research
1) Do a search on the web for any interviews given from athletes
2) You-tube search for any interviews
3) Article/ magazine search for any interviews given during Olympics where athletes discussed future plans
4) Write up the profile of Athletes dividing them in different categories based on Olympic events
Lead
Olympian Michael Phelps, who won gold for theU.S.in the 200-meter swim, is pondering a life of golf and traveling around the world.
Week 3: New musical groups that came out in 2012
Research
1) Look up musical groups on web
2) Youtube search 2012 new musical groups
3) Youtube mostly frequently watched videos, searching for music videos
4) Search contemporary music magazines like Rolling Stones for any articles on new music groups
5) Look up concert dates and tours for performers of any artist missed
Lead
New pop group One Direction burst on to the scene in January 2012.
Week 4: A Disney park actress employment story: How is it like to work at aDisneyPark?
Research
1) Compile list of questions to ask employees
2) Look up employees of local Disney parks
3) Call the actual park headquarters to ask if I can set up interview
4) Travel to actual parks and ask to interview actors later on or then
Lead
Orlando Disney park employee Sydney Mullen, who plays as Cinderella began working for the park after a friend recommended it.
Week 5: RV owners that travel and their travel plans and prior places visited
Reasearch
1) Look up information of people who are listed in RV shows
2) Go to RV dealers and ask for names of people sold to
3) Ask around town to see who owns an RV locally
4) Go to local DMV’s and ask how many RV licenses given out in the year to try to track down an RV owner
5) Call out to other DMV’s and see how many people or registered
6) Compile questions for RV owners
Lead
Stanley and Ainslie Jones fromElizabeth CityNorth Carolinaretired from their city and principal positions to travel around the country in their RV.
Week 6: An update on how many guns sold inAmericaand what state has the highest
Research
1) Look up gun sales data from polls taken on an on-line poll
2) Look up gun laws in different states to compare whose the most lenient
3) Check NRA magazines to get additional information about gun control and statistics
Lead
15,000 guns are sold in a year in the U.S. Georgia isn’t just known for its peaches, having the highest gun sale rate in the country.
Week 7: Caffeine addictions are they a problem on college campuses
Research
1) Compose questions for interview
2) Interview at least a thousand students
3) Look up caffeine amount in drinks popularly sold, energy drinks, star bucks drinks, or any caffeinated beverage
4) Go to student health science building to see if any study has been done or anything has come up about it
5) Go to Counseling and testing and see if they ran across the situation or what surveys for incoming freshman reported
Lead
Many students use caffeine products to keep them a wake during growling days, late night papers, and study sessions. At least 50% of 1,000 people interviewed said that they use caffeine products four times a day. Over 450 mgs of caffeine a day.
Week 8: Ketamin “Special K” club drug used for curing depression
Research
1) Look up the affects of Ketamin on humans
2) Look up any study that is being done on depression
3) Track down a Ketamin user and ask about depression and severity
Lead
A study recently done on depressions shows that the club drug “Special K” can now be used as a method to cure sever depression.
Week 9: A profile on comedians from outside of the country
Research
1) Search face book for comedians not inAmerica
2) Google search comedians not from theUS
3) Compile questions for interview
4) Track down comedians and ask them questions
Lead
Comedian Dawn Owens fromAustraliasaid she always wanted to see the Big Apple.
Week 10: foreigners migrate toCaliforniafor medical marijuana harvesting jobs
Research
1) Look up the migration rate inCalifornia in respect to foreigners
2) Try to get in contact with police department inCalifornia and ask how many arrest they’ve made in regards to this
3) Look up certain areas inCalifornia that have ideal growing weather and soil for Cannabis
4) Look up any news story that talks about drug boost or foreign migration for statistics
Lead
Over a 100 foreigners are arrested for illegal harvesting jobs inSanta AnaCaliforniafrom 2011 to 2012.
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ME
Hey this is sky, my first time writing a blog. I hope I dont suck at this and get all the information that I need to pass=)
