Oklahoman interns NewsOK.com Blogging Community

Yesterday was a whirlwind of unexpected assignments - including a breaking news assignment to see the send-off of two OKC Red Cross volunteers who went to San Antonio to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Dolly.

My editors received the news release from the American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma at 4:01 p.m. — and the send-off was scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Luckily, I didn’t have much to do yesterday evening, so my editors threw a camera in my hand and sent me on my way.

I sped down I-235 toward downtown, managed to find the Red Cross offices and get there in time to get the story. I was able to do a video interview with the Red Cross director and then talk with the couple that was volunteering.

It turned out to be a really sweet story to do — and it gave me one more opportunity to practice juggling a notebook or tape recorder and a video camera:

Unfortunately, there happened to be a lot of news for today’s Oklahoman so, for whatever reason, my 10-inch story had to be drastically cut down for the print edition.

This is the first time at The Oklahoman that I feel disappointed that one of my story’s was cut… but I understand it’s not my decision to make - it’s my editors. And these moments happen to every journalist.

While the newspaper offers readers a few paragraphs on this Oklahoma City couple and the video provides more depth to those bits - this blog gives me an alternative medium to share the whole story with you, as it was approved by my desk editors:

By Kristen M. Daum
Staff Writer

Dean and Bunnie Morgensen drove to San Antonio Tuesday in a red-and-white emergency response vehicle, ready to assist if Hurricane Dolly hits southern Texas.

The Oklahoma City couple has volunteered with the American Red Cross for 31/2 years. They have been on nearly 20 trips to natural disaster areas across the nation.

“We have a passion to help people,” said Bunnie Morgensen, 71. “It’s about the hugs, and holding hands, you maybe cry a little bit with ‘em and tell them, ‘This too shall pass.’”

The Morgensens decided early Tuesday they wanted to go to San Antonio in case Hurricane Dolly took a turn for the worse, said Vince Hernandez, chief executive of the American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma.

“As an organization, we want to be sure we’re poised and ready to help anybody that might be affected by the storm,” Hernandez said. “If you wait a little bit too long, it can almost be too late.”

The Morgensens’ last trip with the American Red Cross was to assist flood victims in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They volunteered for 16 hours a day for 22 days, handing out nearly 9,000 meals.

“That minute we spend … to see them and give them a little relief … even a few seconds makes a big difference,” said Dean Morgensen, 82.

Bunnie Morgensen said past disaster victims have called them “angels” for the work they do.

“But I don’t think so,” she said. “We’re just happy to be doing what we’re doing.”

As Dean Morgensen organized supplies in the emergency response vehicle, his wife held a piece of paper with a quote by author Kenneth Blanchard that summed up why they spend their time in disaster zones.

“There is a difference between interest and commitment. When you are interested in something, you do it only when it is convenient. When you are committed to something, you accept no excuses.”

- - - - - 

It’s the new world of journalism: being able to offer news content through a variety of platforms.

~ Kristen M. Daum, City Desk intern at The Oklahoman.

Was hilarious! Especially since we have so many sports fans on this blog, you guys have to check this out. Justin Timberlake is the host, and although I don’t care for his music, it turns out that he has quite the since of humor. Even some of the people he is insulting are laughing! He talks about celebs’ jail time, some of their um….”intimate details.”

I think this is a classic example of celebs’ ambition to try anything on stage, not just music. In JT’s case, it turned out very well! So, here is the link…

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eUjP6emIOKc

 Monica Albert, Metro Desk intern

Hello, Readers:

Check out NewsOK’s podcast page to hear the interns reflect on their past six weeks at The Oklahoman!

— Kristen, Adrielle and Nathan, on interning for the City and Business desks and the Data team.

— Monica and Hailey, on interning for Metro and State.

— Mike and Dontay, on interning for Sports.

And now, we’ve got less than two weeks left — Who would believe two months could go by so fast?

~ Kristen M. Daum, City Desk intern at The Oklahoman.

Most of you probably know about the shooting of the 12-year-old at Luther, who later died.

Yesterday, Tim Monies and I went to Luther to get exclusive video from the family, as well as some photos and additional information. This first link is the article from when he died, the second is the follow-up from yesterday and the third is a video exclusive with his grandmother.

It’s interesting because she talks about how the family feels about the boy who discharged the gun, as well as where responsibility falls and donation of John’s organs.

Check it out if you get a chance!

– Monica Albert, Metro Desk intern

About rights. I’m sure you’re wondering what Las Vegas, the city that never sleeps, has to do with rights. Well, it’s also the city that always smokes. With all the new laws about not being able to smoke in bars, Las Vegas remains exempt from this in any place that does not serve food. Case in point, casinos.

First, let me say, I believe people retain their right to smoke. With all of the medical facts out now, I am in awe that people still choose to do so, rather than fight the hard battle of quitting. I am even more incredulous that people choose to start the habit. Anyway, I digress.

Here is my only thought: If you are going to allow people to smoke in casinos, why not at least divide the areas up a little? An area for those who wish to smoke, an area for those who wish (or need) to avoid it. I am in the need category. If I am exposed to the stuff for anymore than twenty minutes, I become that girl who wheezes and coughs, causing a scene for myself and all of those around me. Not cool.

I read a column in the Las Vegas Sun, written by a lady applauding one casino who made the smoking area proportional to the number of people who smoked. In that case, it was 25%. Smokers had their haven, non-smokers had theirs. It works.

I believe the reason most casinos won’t do this is they fear the loss of business. That’s understandable from their point of view, but call me biased if I (and many others) don’t wish to put our health at risk so they can turn a bigger crowd, and as a byproduct, a bigger profit. I’m not a huge gambler, but I know I choose that exposure when I walk into a casino. However, I also know plenty of people who would like to pull the slot handle a few times without a cigarette, so I think it’s a fair request.

Just a thought.:)

Happy Monday,

Monica Albert, Metro Desk intern

In my most recent discussion with fellow intern Dontay Allen, the topic of the SuperSonics’ recent transition from Seattle to Oklahoma City was at the center. More importantly, we shared opinions about what the team’s new nickname should be.

Oklahoma has a deep history - rich with a collaborative western and Indian heritage as displayed at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. There are also several top energy companies within the state and a history of tornadic disasters. And though famous outlaws such as George “Machine Gun” Kelley, Bonnie and Clyde, “Pretty Boy” Floyd, among others, may not necessarily be a positive thing, they did commit many heinous acts of crime throughout the state. I hope you’ll forgive me for being unable to name all the wonderful things this state has to offer (I’m not from here), but I hope it gets everyone’s creative juices flowing. Embrace this state and take pride in its culture by naming OKC’s new NBA team after the history of this state.

Here’s my top two picks:

Oklahoma City Cyclones (vs. the Twisters as listed on the NewsOK.com Poll: What should the team in OKC be called?)

Oklahoma City Outlaws

Just a thought for the day!

Adrielle Harvey, Business Intern

It was only fitting that today after I posted my blog “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave,” I attended a Rotary Club 29 meeting with Business Editor Clytie Bunyan, in which 20 people representing 10 countries received their citizenship into the United States. The newly sworn-in citizens participated in the Pledge of Allegiance and sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” for the first time as U.S. citizens. 

Rotary Club 29 is the Oklahoma City branch of Rotary International, a service organization that lives by the motto, “Service Above Self.” Rotary Club 29 is the fourth largest Rotary International Club with 530 members. There are currently more than 30,000 clubs worldwide.

It was nevertheless a humbling and exciting experience and definitely a great way to kick off my Fourth of July celebration this weekend.

 - Adrielle Harvey, Business Desk

I write not about what I am working on this week, but about the approaching holiday that makes me as excited as a 5-year-old on Christmas morning and causes me to cry at the many who have put forth their lives so that we may celebrate our Independence Day.

The first inclination of this celebration is often the topic of fireworks. Stands begin to dot the city and the countryside as early as June. Seeing them brings back memories as a child of lighting fireworks with my family. Every year, we would make the 30-minute trek to Salina, Kan., with our picnic lunch, spread blankets at the park around 9 p.m. and wait for the first burst in the sky. Afterward, we would journey home, mesmerized by the summer evening and the explosive bursts lingering in our minds. Then we would set our own off as soon as we pulled in the driveway, which extracted our neighbors from their homes so they could also watch.

But on Sunday, I was reminded why I truly love this holiday. As my sister sang “Letters from War” by Christian music artist Mark Schultz during church, a slideshow that she had put together flashed before us. Flags of red, white and blue splashed before us, but so did the common camouflage of soldiers kneeling in prayer, wounded in battle or hugging their families. Other pictures were of children praying and showing their patriotic spirit. Needless to say, there were very few dry eyes in that church building on Sunday. It reminded all of us of the lives that have been sacrificed throughout the years so that we may have the freedoms we do - even in a declining, skyrocketing fuel economy. And though we may not agree on the premise of our current wars, we can agree that our soldiers are fighting for our freedoms.

 On Friday, enjoy your day off work, the summer Fourth of July evening, the family and friends, the BBQs and fireworks, but also remember what this Independence holiday truly means and keep those loved ones close to your heart and in your prayers.

 Adrielle Harvey, Business intern

Well, I clearly haven’t won any riddle awards, but I might win for least number of posts. Just want to say that everything is good in photoland. I just published to videos from my overnight stay at Quartz Mountain for the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute where students can go to excel in drawing, writing, singing, dancing, and many instruments. Both videos are on newsok.tv, but if you don’t see them in the list there, you can search ‘oklahoma arts’ and you should see them. There might also be the Red Earth festival video that I did a few weeks back. Happy to hear suggestions for improvement!

My view, in response to Kristen’s questions, is that this is the most exciting time to be a part of problem-solving in the news business. Since I’ve only been pursuing photojournalism recently, these changes feel pretty natural. I don’t see my work as a huge upheaval of the way things were but rather just the way things are. 

Communities of people love to learn and share, or basically tell stories, and for forever we’ve enjoyed storytelling through many disciplines and mediums (theatre, film, writing, singing, spoken word, painting, photographs, and a hundred others). So I understand why media companies are struggling to change in an industry where they haven’t been forced to make much change compared to others. But despite the change, the product is essentially the same, sharing information. 

I think it’s great to force ourselves to be more resourceful and find ways to better understand and reach customers/readers/viewers (or whatever you want to call them). It seems to me that when we combine the business talents, which seems to be the case at The Oklahoman with direct mail, niche publications, wimgo, newsok.com, and other endeavors, with the journalistic talents, that someone somewhere is going to be successful at providing a valuable service to the communities in which we live.

And to plug the glory of my job in particular. I really think this is a great time to be a photojournalist because now I have an array of tools, not only still photographs, to use in order to tell the most complete and compelling stories that my noggin can muster.

P.S. This might be complete garbage. I really know nothing. It’s all just in my head. Maybe someday I’ll be able to talk with actual authority on something.

Amy Rymer, Photo Intern 

This is also in response to Kristen’s questions:

Q. Do you believe Imus’ rebuttal that he meant it as a pattern of racial profiling and stereotyping?? And were you offended by his initial comments??

I believe he did, and now he is just trying to cover himself. After what happened with the Rutgers team, it would not surprise me. It’s the type of situation where after he offered an apology, he never, ever should have mentioned race in a way that could be questioned. I was definitely offended by the initial comments, which I assume you mean to be the one about the basketball team. Nobody should be referred to in such an insulting way, especially based on race.

 Q. Regardless of his intentions, was it appropriate to make those remarks in a sarcastic manner?? Was his intended message good or bad for social dialogue??

It was not appropriate at all. True journalists would normally  know better, but again, he definitely should have considering his history. It would be okay if you were talking face to face with someone who could see what you were trying to imply, but on radio? Are you kidding me?

 Q. When commenting about racial or cultural matters, how should journalists and political commentators approach the subject??

Clearly and without any sort of bias. The approach should be provocative and encourage others to expand their perspectives. It should NOT, in any way, make people wonder if you were being sarcastic or racist. It is not a matter for that sort of questioning.