“Those who won’t are no better than those who can’t,” said former head coach of the Baltimore Ravens Brian Billick, in a speech before Towson University students and faculty.
Billick spoke to an audience of 100 in Smith Hall last Thursday, in honor of receiving a lifetime achievement award for his accomplishments in the public relations field. Billick, who graduated from Brigham Young University, “never intended to use his communications degree,” with an emphasis in public relations. “The field was so exciting and broad based, I figured I could use the degree for anything,” says Billick. Although he had no intent of utilizing his degree, he began his career as the Assistant Director of Public Relations for the San Francisco 49ers.
Throughout the speech, Billick informed the audience of what “corporate America” is seeking in an employee. He spoke of leadership, passion, and conviction. “In a bacon and egg breakfast the chicken is involved but the pig is committed. You want to be a pig,” states Billick. The suggestion of being a pig was a theme throughout the speech. Even when Billick discusses football players, he depicts some of them as being pigs and patriots (literally and figuratively), and some as being chickens and mercenaries.
Billick educated the Towson University students to “nurture the ability to develop and maintain relationships. Figure out what the person is about. How can we help one another? Make a connection.” This segment of the speech stuck with sophomore, and public relations major Karina Halvey. “Everything he said really made sense. There is much more to relationships then on a business level."
The audience listened attentively to Billick as he compared a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, to what personnel in the business world are supposed to resemble. The Baltimore Ravens were down by five, at the seven yard line. It was the final play of the game. “I have a play for every situation,” Billick stated, “although if you’ve read the Baltimore Sun I don’t.” Billick told the quarterback the play, and when it came time to execute he did not follow through, but nonetheless they won the game. When Billick asked the quarterback why he threw it to the wide receiver instead of the pass he was supposed to implement, he simply replied, “Because he was open.” The quarterback looked at the situation and came up with a better solution; he did not just do something merely because he was told,
Billick’s speech was well thought out and directly to the point. The audience laughed at his jokes, and with good reason. When asked his plans for the future Billick replied, “We’ll see. I have a huge passion for coaching, but I do not just want to coach because there is nothing else to do.” Billick is currently in the process of writing a book, and has contracts with CBS, and Fox to appear on several sports shows in the fall.
To find out more information about Brian Billick and his achievements, please visit these websites:
Baltimore Sun
WJZ News
Monday, April 14, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Chapter 14
Objectivity in Chapter 14 All the News, requires journalists to stick to observable facts and avoid injecting their opinions into news reports.
Thoroughness requires time to track down and talk with the best sources, find the best documentary evidence, and so on. The goal is to give the audience as much information as possible so they can understand what is happening and make informed decisions based on that information.
Accuracy is a vital factor in journalism. If something is not accurate is has no value. People base plans on the information they are given, so the information must be accurate.
Fairness in the simplest form, means make sure all the bases are covered. Fairness means listening to different view points and incorporating them into journalism. Fairness is about letting people respond when they think you are wrong. Fairness emerges from a state of mind. Sometimes reporters can trample the fairness aspect when they are in a rush to exposed a wrongdoing.
The idea of transparency is to gain and retain people's trust. Journalists must be as open as possible about whatever biases they bring to the job, how they get their information, and how they make decisions on choosing and reporting stories.
In my opinion I think the most important aspect is transparency. I think thoroughness, accuracy, fairness, and objectivity all fall into transparency. They must be accurate, so we are able to see where the information is coming from and if their sources are credible. With objectivity, there shouldn't be any bias, and with transparency you can see if there is. With thoroughness, we can also see where the journalist was collecting his information from and if he actually collected all the information he could. With fairness, you can allow people to respond when you are wrong, and in turn gain their trust. All of these aspects sort of fall into one.
Thoroughness requires time to track down and talk with the best sources, find the best documentary evidence, and so on. The goal is to give the audience as much information as possible so they can understand what is happening and make informed decisions based on that information.
Accuracy is a vital factor in journalism. If something is not accurate is has no value. People base plans on the information they are given, so the information must be accurate.
Fairness in the simplest form, means make sure all the bases are covered. Fairness means listening to different view points and incorporating them into journalism. Fairness is about letting people respond when they think you are wrong. Fairness emerges from a state of mind. Sometimes reporters can trample the fairness aspect when they are in a rush to exposed a wrongdoing.
The idea of transparency is to gain and retain people's trust. Journalists must be as open as possible about whatever biases they bring to the job, how they get their information, and how they make decisions on choosing and reporting stories.
In my opinion I think the most important aspect is transparency. I think thoroughness, accuracy, fairness, and objectivity all fall into transparency. They must be accurate, so we are able to see where the information is coming from and if their sources are credible. With objectivity, there shouldn't be any bias, and with transparency you can see if there is. With thoroughness, we can also see where the journalist was collecting his information from and if he actually collected all the information he could. With fairness, you can allow people to respond when you are wrong, and in turn gain their trust. All of these aspects sort of fall into one.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Sunday, April 6, 2008
lede and interview update
My main contact Stephen Chapman had informed me that he would not be able to let contact anyone from the program without permission, (which is a given) but he can not let me know until Monday or Tuesday. Our paper is due Wednesday, and I am scared I am not going to be able to obtain interviews and write a feature story in less then a day. HELP!!!
Possible Lede:
Being able to travel the world, and having your student loans paid for sounds like a dream doesn’t it? Well thanks to the Peace Corps it has become a reality for countless numbers of individuals.
Possible Lede:
Being able to travel the world, and having your student loans paid for sounds like a dream doesn’t it? Well thanks to the Peace Corps it has become a reality for countless numbers of individuals.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Brian Billick to give speech at Towson University
Famous--and recently fired--football coach Brian Billick will speak to students on campus before receiving a lifetime achievement award from the university at a gala dinner. The Towerlight editor has asked you to cover the speech.
Some basic information needed for the story would be what exactly Brian Billick has achieved in his lifetime. You can look at past news articles, or biographies about him to find out this information.
You can also create questions beforehand, because usually someone making a speech prepares it in advance, and sometimes they will send out news releases before the speech is even given.
If you have time, go out and conduct research on the topic. Possibly asking citizens their opinions of Billick would be a great addition to the story. If you can interview the people who voted or chose Billick to receive this award, then find out why they picked him.
As a reporter, you have to determine how the event will be received by the public, and what it means to them by using information given to you, such as the agenda, or information you had in advance.
You need to check the details before pritning a story. How large was the audience? Who was in attendence? Try to get names, titles, and affiliations. Also try to make a contact who is connected to the event, so you can get a chance to do a follow-up or clarify any details.
Find the most important information, or most interesting. It is not the fact that a speech is happening, but what is SAID in that speech.
One challenge you may face is getting all the questions answered. It is also not guranteed that you will understand everything.
Multimedia components that should be published along with the paper online would be past articles about Brian Billicks achievements, such as getting the Ravens to the Super Bowl, and winning. Also, possibly some video clips of him coaching would be a helpful addition.
Some basic information needed for the story would be what exactly Brian Billick has achieved in his lifetime. You can look at past news articles, or biographies about him to find out this information.
You can also create questions beforehand, because usually someone making a speech prepares it in advance, and sometimes they will send out news releases before the speech is even given.
If you have time, go out and conduct research on the topic. Possibly asking citizens their opinions of Billick would be a great addition to the story. If you can interview the people who voted or chose Billick to receive this award, then find out why they picked him.
As a reporter, you have to determine how the event will be received by the public, and what it means to them by using information given to you, such as the agenda, or information you had in advance.
You need to check the details before pritning a story. How large was the audience? Who was in attendence? Try to get names, titles, and affiliations. Also try to make a contact who is connected to the event, so you can get a chance to do a follow-up or clarify any details.
Find the most important information, or most interesting. It is not the fact that a speech is happening, but what is SAID in that speech.
One challenge you may face is getting all the questions answered. It is also not guranteed that you will understand everything.
Multimedia components that should be published along with the paper online would be past articles about Brian Billicks achievements, such as getting the Ravens to the Super Bowl, and winning. Also, possibly some video clips of him coaching would be a helpful addition.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
interview
My interview was with Stephen Chapman, who is the Public Affairs Specialist for the Peace Corps in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
My interview went well, although there a few questions he did not know the answers too. He helped me with anything I needed to know, and I could tell he felt bad when he could not give me an answer.
I think my questions were ones that needed an explanation for an answer, not just yes and no. I think I could've asked more questions. It flowed, but there was a point where I was just asking questions straight from my notes.
When I asked possibly for names of people who have benefited from this program he said he could not release any. I am stuck on how to get more interviews for people who have been helped by this organization.
My interview went well, although there a few questions he did not know the answers too. He helped me with anything I needed to know, and I could tell he felt bad when he could not give me an answer.
I think my questions were ones that needed an explanation for an answer, not just yes and no. I think I could've asked more questions. It flowed, but there was a point where I was just asking questions straight from my notes.
When I asked possibly for names of people who have benefited from this program he said he could not release any. I am stuck on how to get more interviews for people who have been helped by this organization.
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