Oklahoman interns NewsOK.com Blogging Community

Here’s the funny thing about good-byes:

You can see them coming, but when you actually have to say those two dreaded words. . . it’s never easy.

That’s how I feel today, with less than four hours left in my Oklahoman internship.

I couldn’t agree more with Richard and Dontay: This experience has been invaluable to me beyond words, and looking back now, I can’t believe how much I’ve learned.

Like I’ve told my editors, the only reason I came to Oklahoma was because of the glowing reputation for The Oklahoman’s internship program. I had no ties to this state, so there was no other incentive for me to come here. Yet I couldn’t be more glad with the choice I made! This internship program surpassed its great reputation, and I’ve found Oklahoma has the same “Midwestern nice” qualities I’ve been familiar with all my life, which is a comfort and a joy.

Like Richard, I also find myself wondering, “What if?” [What if I didn’t find the courage within to take risks and travel to places I’ve never been?] Well, then I’d certainly have regrets.

But that’s not the case. I’ve treasured every moment here in Oklahoma - even the stressful ones.

I came here wanting to improve my writing and gain experience in multimedia - and I feel like I did just that. Plus, I’ve had the pleasure of working with some amazingly talented reporters, editors and photographers, who’ve each helped me become a better journalist.

I’ll walk away from here with improved skills and new friendships that I hope will last. [That means you, fellow interns!]

It’s sad to be saying good-bye. But as I’ve been saying to my colleagues here, it’s only good-bye for now. This certainly won’t be the last you hear from me.

Thank you, Oklahoman, for everything you’ve given me this summer. It’s been a wonderful ride.

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

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.

First board meeting for OKC Superintendent

   
Karl Springer started a new tradition for the Oklahoma City Board of Education tonight during his first board meeting as superintendent.

During each school board meeting, Springer wants time set aside for a “superintendent’s report” - which he says he’ll use to tell the public about what he’s been doing around the district. Springer said he requested this time and received unanimous support from the board members.

“We need to be transparent,” Springer said, during his first report to the board. “We want to cause everybody to rally around the students. . . My politics, my agenda is to make sure every child gets a quality education.”

School board chairman Al Basey applauded Springer’s work during his first six days in the superintendent’s role, calling him “the greatest advocate of employees and kids we’ve ever had in our district.”

As Springer was introduced during the meeting, he received a lively applause from parents and community members in the audience.

Springer appeared enthused about his new role - describing with excitement the various things he’s done during his brief time with the district: media interviews, visits to schools and speaking at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

As several parents and family members of Classen SAS students spoke about the administration issues at the school, Springer sat attentively and seemed interested and responsive in the parents’ feedback.

~ Kristen M. Daum, City Desk intern at The Oklahoman (reporting for The Oklahoman’s Wendy Kleinman).

** Also featured on NewsOK’s Education Station blog.

[Readers: Agree or Disagree?? Talk back under the comments section.]

For years, journalists have been fighting for protection of their anonymous sources, and Congress has yet to officially support them.

But that time may come to an end in a few short weeks.

“The Free Flow of Information Act” (S. 2035) - aka the Federal Shield Law - is scheduled for a vote on the Senate floor before the August recess, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid tells the Society of Professional Journalists.

Every state, except Wyoming, has its own shield law — but there is still no national law in the books. So, last week, SPJ members were on Capitol Hill lobbying Congress for support of a shield law - which is far from ensuring passage.

Only 18 senators (out of 100) have signed on to the Federal Shield Law. For the House version (H.R. 2102), there are only 71 congressmen signed on, out of 435.

That means just 16 percent of our national legislators have declared formal support for protection of journalists’ anonymous sources!!

In May, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.) wrote a column for The Washington Post, articulating why this bill is so vital to America:

“If we are to have a free press, it is necessary to protect the relationship between journalists and trusted sources to whom journalists have promised confidentiality … The lack of a federal standard undermines state shield laws and the public interest embodied in those laws.“

As Specter notes, the bill doesn’t make journalists “above the law” or allow them to withhold information that affects national security. But it would protect journalists from naming their anonymous sources in general cases.

While anonymous sources are often avoided - and for good reason - there is still a place for them in modern journalism, and to not have them at all would be devastating to the freedom of the press and American democracy.

Some of the most defining political stories of 20th century American government revolved around anonymous sources. When used correctly, these sources have divulged undisclosed information on American warfare and led to the downfall of a president, such as what happened in the investigative stories of the Pentagon Papers and Watergate.

“Sources almost always have an agenda when they speak up, but sometimes they have information of vital interest to the general public and much to lose if they’re caught passing it along. If journalists can’t protect their sources’ identities, you will be much less informed about the world,” writes past SPJ President Christine Tatum.

“Lately, federal prosecutors have dragged too many journalists into court, flaunting subpoenas for notes, work product and recollections of private conversations. The feds’ arrogant insistence that journalists should be compelled to act as arms of law enforcement undermines free speech, a free press and an informed citizenry,” she said.

But on the other side of the issue, U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey has spoken out in opposition against a federal shield law:

“The heavy evidentiary burden the bill would impose on prosecutors seeking information from reporters will impede investigations… Reporters serve a vitally important function in our democratic society, but they are not above the law. This legislation would change that — with grave consequences for national security and law enforcement.“

Journalists are not the judge or the jury. We find the facts and disseminate them to the public through various presentations.

It is up to law enforcement officials to find the evidence that is used in courtrooms — and to take that evidence out of a reporter’s notebook (while breaching the trust between a reporter and anonymous source) is simply lazy.

Without the First Amendment and without journalists, Americans would be uninformed and our democratic government would go unchecked and unaccounted for.

Journalists should not be above the law, but they should be afforded some degree of legal protection when they must expose the truth of those who wish to keep it quiet.

If the government continues to lock up journalists who refuse to name sources, America’s free press could tumble down a horrible spiral until our rights are no better than those given to journalists in totalitarian dictatorships, where propaganda replaces truth.

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

Since this was our last weekend as Oklahoman interns, it was a chance for many of us to make some lasting memories with the friends we’ve made this summer.

Friday night was a night out at the Oklahoma Redhawks game - courtesy of OPUBCO/The Oklahoman, which provided us with free suite tickets and an all-you-can-eat promotion pass (Thank you, OPUBCO!).

Some interns brought family members or friends to share the night with, while the rest of us made use of each other’s company to share in America’s past-time. But either way, good times were had by all!

Ironically, rather than watching the ballgame, many of us spent the night chatting together with the other Oklahoman employees who joined us: Joe Hight (director of information and development), Patti Shubert (executive assistant) and Jim Beckel (photographer).

I’m sure we provided them with some added entertainment with our intern cameraderie and antics — and maybe a little terror too, in Jason’s case…

The evening passed much too quickly, and before we knew it, the ballgame ended. Even though the Redhawks lost at the bitter end, the night still closed with a bang…

 Then on Saturday, a few of us met up again for an ol’ fashioned board-game night.

Jason and I faced off in a game of Scrabble - since I wasn’t fully convinced of his mastery over the game. He soon put my doubts to shame as he won with more than twice the score of mine. That put me in my place.

When Amy, Jenn and Dontay joined us, we switched to Scattergories, which led to much laughter as we began to question the worth of each other’s answers during the numerous rounds we played.

Some of the best moments?

– Dontay fast becoming the underdog and likely winning more rounds than all of us.

– Amy calling me out on “flakes” actually being “snowflakes,” so I couldn’t use it as an answer for “F” under “Things that are cold.

– Jason and I having some kind of telekinetic link and coming up with the exact same obscure answers as one another.

– Jenn being constantly distracted by my playful kitten and coming up with random answers.

So, as you might tell, it was an exciting and fun-filled weekend with some great friends. It’s amazing how fast you can get used to being around the same friends all the time, and before you know it - that time is up.

One more week of memories, my friends… Let’s make ‘em worth it.

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

The crowd at last night’s Redhawks game in Bricktown got a little more entertainment than they might have expected.

Among the ballplay, hotdogs and other traditions of America’s past-time were some performers of overnight pop-culture fame: The ZOOperstars.

The ZOOperstars were featured on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” showing off their acrobatic hilarities to a national television audience.

But on Friday, the ZOOperstar performers entertained the few thousand baseball fans gathering in downtown Oklahoma City!!

Here’s a glimpse of what the crowd was able to see in Bricktown Ballpark:

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

Stay tuned for more blog updates this weekend
about The Oklahoman interns’ night out at Friday’s Redhawks game!

Yesterday at The Oklahoman city desk, we had the annual lunchtime BBQ on the OPUBCO grounds.

That meant an hour-and-a-half away from the stressful rush of the newsroom to relax, enjoy good food and good company in the pleasant July sunshine.

(And since the heat hasn’t been nearly as bad as what it usually might be, it was indeed a pleasant afternoon.)

Each city desk staff member signed up to bring a food item for our BBQ spread.  And it ended up we brought so much, there’s still food left over here in the newsroom — although it’s mostly cookies and chips.

At around noon, the city desk’ers trekked out to the covered pavillion (including BBQ grill) on the OPUBCO grounds to enjoy a quality summer day in Oklahoma.

City Editor Michael Baker became master of the grill — serving up burgers and brats for his staff. Meanwhile, the rest of us laid out the condiments, plastic flatware and desserts.

As the meat came off the grill, we all settled down to a hearty lunch and friendly conversation.

But, of course, the noon-hour passed much too quickly, and we soon found ourselves trekking back up to the OPUBCO Tower and our 8th floor newsroom.

As an intern, I soak up moments like yesterday’s - because I know in just six more work days, I’m gone. It’s still hard to believe: I feel like I just got here!

While this experience has certainly been memorable and valuable to me, it’s not time for good-bye’s just yet. . .

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

I’m obviously somewhat unfamiliar with Oklahoma customs - thus, my appalling reaction to one recreational past-time: Noodling.

Sunday’s Oklahoman featured a multimedia package on the nine Okie Noodling Tournament. Again, I’m a little taken aback that this is considered a sport - but even more so, that it’s a full-blown tournament!

In my ol’ stomping grounds of the northern plains, deer-hunting and regular fishing were the typical outdoor activities. Certainly, there was nothing that involved sticking your hand in an unseen hole just to have an animal bite your arm up to your elbow!!

I get a confused look on my face just thinking about it, but when I actually see it being done, I cringe:

I can see the argument for getting an adrenaline rush out of it, but it just looks and sounds painful! I have to give credit to those of you noodlers who are brave enough to try it and thrive from it.

The closest thing I’ve ever come to noodling: Testing my worth at the Bocca della Verità in the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome. The legend goes that if you place your hand in the “Mouth of Truth” and are found unworthy, the mouth will close on your arm.

Apparently, I must be worthy, or just plain lucky - because I still have my arm.

… but I don’t know if I can say the same for noodlers. Catfish might be a little less forgiving.

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

For the past two years, my college newspaper The State News has been in a legal battle with Michigan State University.

At stake: Freedom of information, government accountability and personal privacy.

In February 2006, three men allegedly went into an MSU dorm room with a gun, poured gasoline on one of the residents and threatened to light him on fire. Thankfully, no one was hurt in what was called “the Hubbard Hall incident,” and the three men were later charged for their actions.

But - even now - Michigan State University police failed to disclose the incident’s police report, saying that to do so would invade the privacy of the assailants and the victims. So, The State News submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to release the report, only to be denied both by the police and MSU administration officials.

Under Michigan law, state universities are themselves government bodies — and therefore are subject to FOIA. But because of the ambiguity of a university’s “governmental role,” The State News and MSU engaged in a two-year cat fight over the right to public information.

This essentially was a battle of principle, since the information The State News wanted had already been made public through court proceedings.

Well, The State News lost the first round - with the circuit court denying the report’s release in its entirety.

Then the Court of Appeals ruled halfway in the newspaper’s favor, by saying the circuit court should have decided what information in the police report could and could not be released.

This spring - two years after the incident - the contest came to the Michigan Supreme Court.

And yesterday … the court released its decision.

In effect, it’s another win-lose for The State News.

The supreme court agreed that the lower court must review the case and decide which bits of information in the police report are and aren’t public. But the court fell drastically short of offering a definitive answer on the public’s right to know vs. personal privacy.

So The State News is back to square one in its fight for free flow of information.

Now, what’s this have to do with you, or anyone outside of Michigan State??

Well, by the time this case reached its second appeal — it’d become a class-action lawsuit, meaning the supreme courts ruling would not only apply to The State News, but every student newspaper in Michigan that had a similar qualm with its university.

It would have set a precedent for FOIA and privacy rights in the state of Michigan — had the supreme court chosen to rule definitively on the case’s core issues.

At the very least, The State News didn’t lose… but collegiate journalism still has a long road to hoe before it’s taken seriously by their respective institutions.

Until then, we have to keep fighting for accountability of our universities and ensure the public’s right to information is not infringed by a university’s desire to quash a controversial situation.

~ Kristen M. Daum, City Desk intern at The Oklahoman
(and former State News staff member, 2005-07).

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.