Tim

Running and shooting, it’s a family thing

2007-07-22T15:26:00.000-05:00

By Tim Devaney

FORT KENT – For some people, summer biathlon is a family-oriented sporting event.

Last week, the seven-member Saucy family came to Fort Kent so that three of them could compete in the National Summer Biathlon competition at the 10th Mountain Ski Lodge.

According to Master Biathlete Stephanie Saucy, the culture surrounding the sport encourages total participation in all aspects of family life, including quality time, training, warm-ups, and the competition itself.

For the Saucys, summer biathlon involves the whole family.

Kathy Mayo, director of the National Summer Biathlon in Fort Kent, says, “With them it’s total family time. They travel together, they stay together, and they train together.”

“It’s very much a family sport,” says Stephanie, the mother of five children, with one still in diapers. She says the biathlon community is also like a family. She said, “It’s such a tight knit family-oriented group. That’s what keeps us coming back.”

During a recent interview on Thursday, one of her children, just past the age of a toddler, clutched to her knee while she answered questions and recovered after the rigorous event.

That is life for the Saucy folks: a normal family that flourishes in a world-renowned sport.

They also get the benefit of traveling as a family. This weekend the Pennsylvania family is camping in Fort Kent for the first time, and they are impressed with the location. Stephanie Saucy says, “I like it.” She also complimented the 10th Mountain Ski Lodge for a friendly atmosphere and a relatively simple course.

While in Fort Kent, three members of the family competed in multiple biathlon events: Stephanie Saucy, in the Master Women’s division; Hilary Saucy, 15, in the Youth Women’s division; and Nathan Saucy, 13, in the Youth Men’s division.

On a humid Thursday evening, the Saucy family competed in the Sprint Competition.

The individual competitors took off every 30 seconds. The athletes ran a lap, shot at five targets from the ground, ran some more, shot at five more targets while standing up, and then ran a final lap. Penalty laps after missed shots were also common on a day when the targets were hard to see because of the bright sun.

According to Stephanie Saucy, “I usually would do better, but I couldn’t see our holes [this time].”

Overall, “It went well,” said Saucy.

During the summer they train by swimming each day and running Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) track events.

She says it is good exercise that keeps them in-shape for the season and is not too complicated.

Other members of the family participate as well. According to Stephanie Saucy, two of her five children, of the three children who are not competing in the biathlon, help watch the baby while the dad manages the family’s participation by taking photos, helping them warm-up, and taking care of any other managerial work.

Stephanie Saucy recognizes his importance. She says, “We wouldn’t do it if it weren’t for him.”
Stephanie is thankful he is there to help, because the family enjoys the sport too much to stop.

Prior to competing in summer biathlon, Stephanie was an accomplished tri-athlete, even competing in the prestigious Iron Man Competition in Hawaii.

“I wish I would’ve picked this up when I was fifteen,” says Stephanie Saucy. She says she has been an athlete since she was five years old, but she did not enter the biathlon until later in life.

Fortunately, for her children, that is not the case. Both Hilary and Nathan, who competed this weekend, are young and have plenty of years left to pursue the sport and fine-tune their games.

Ads for F.K. Recreation Department.

2007-07-11T15:19:00.000-05:00

Hoping to make the varsity soccer team someday? Soccer camp is a great way to help. From July 30 – August 10 co-ed campers grades k-8 can come learn the fundamentals of soccer. Players will be split up based on age and skill level. To ensure the best atmosphere for training, experienced players and coaches will be running the camp. As an added bonus, campers will participate in contests, games, and scrimages.

Do you enjoy the great outdoors? Then Outdoor Survival Camp is for you! From July 30 – August 10 campers grades 5-8 will meet to learn basic safety rules and concepts for camping. Campers will participate in fire-making, shelter construction, finding water and food, emergency first aid, common injuries, and finding direction when lost. Furthermore, campers will prepare a survival kit, learn how to predict weather and much more. Best of all, campers will get a chance to use their new skills as they camp out on the last night.

Merchants Golf Tournament this weekend

2007-07-11T12:35:00.000-05:00

By Tim Devaney
FORT KENT—As anticipated, the 23rd annual Fort Kent Merchants Golf Tournament will occur once again at the Fort Kent Golf Club on Saturday, July 14. Tee-off is 7:30 a.m.

The cost for this event is $35 for non-members and $30 for members. To register, participants must sign-up by Wednesday, July 11, and can do so by phone (834-3149), mail (P.O Box 436), or in person. Only the first 99 people will be accepted.

Eighteen holes will be played, and according to Bert Boucher, director of the event, officials will divide golfers into four divisions based on personal handicaps. The first division will consist of golfers with handicaps between 0-8. Golfers with handicaps between 9-13 will be placed in the second division. While the third division is reserved for golfers with handicaps between 14-17.
Finally, the fourth division will consist of golfers with handicaps of 18 and above.

Within each division two awards will be given out: one for the gross amount and another for the net amount. Special awards will also be given out.

The Special Hole-in-One Prize on hole three will feature a brand new 2007 Chevrolet Silverado and is sponsored by Valley Auto.

A new Webber Q Gas Grill with a stand will be given out to the golfers who are closest to holes three and twelve, sponsored by the Dead River Company and Quigley’s.

The Fort Kent Radio Shack is offering a Delphi XM Satellite Car Radio with a Home Dock award for the golfers who are closest to holes five and 14.

Dr. Tim Rioux is sponsoring an award for the golfer who hits the longest drive on hole 18, for the first and second divisions.

Chasse Chiropractic is sponsoring the same competition for divisions three and four.

Finally, Jim’s Custom Hats and Tee-Shirts is sponsoring the championship jacket.

Last year’s gross winner, Mike Rioux, will defend his title against the slew of competitors.
According to sports writer Legs Labbe, former SJVT sports writer Don Arnold, Sr., of Madawaska was the winner for the first four years of the tournament (1975-1978). Dave Plourde, also of Madawaska, is also a four-time champion. Phil Pelletier, Jr., formerly of Fort Kent, won the title five times.

For more information about the tournament, call 834-3149.

Local teacher receives top state honor

2007-07-03T11:11:00.000-05:00

By Tim Devaney, SJVT intern

FORT KENT—Recently, Scott Sevigny, a social studies teacher at Community High School at Fort Kent, was honored with the Maine Education Association’s Teaching Excellence Award. The award is given to the one Maine teacher who best meets the MEA’s criteria of Teaching Excellence.

To be considered for the award, teachers must be nominated by their local teaching associations and submit a lengthy application.

This is a prestigious award that has a history of recognizing Maine’s greatest educators by maintaining high standards and strict criteria for its selection of teachers. According to the MEA, the organization looks at five categories: professional practice, advocacy for the profession, community engagement, leadership in professional development, and attention to diversity. Those around Sevigny believe he deserves the award.

According to The Maine Educator, Philip Bouchard, president of the local education association to which Sevigny belongs, said, “He treats all his colleagues and students with the utmost respect.”

Timothy Doak, principal at CHS, supports that statement.

He observes, “Mr. Sevigny has approached his teaching career with a very simple philosophy: students come first. No matter the position of teacher entails, Mr. Sevigny always completes his work with enthusiasm and eagerness.”

Sevigny redirects the honor, though, showing respect for his colleagues, students, and profession.

“I’m surrounded with students and colleagues and a community who hold and value education. So because they set the bar high, it makes all of us as educators excel. It’s not about me; it’s about the profession,” he said.

His reverence for education drives him to excel, as he places the profession above himself.
Bouchard notes, “Driving by Community High School on most Sundays, one will find Scott’s car parked in front of the building as he is working to get all his plans in order for the week. He usually spends minimally four hours, and sometimes, eleven hours, each week-end working on making sure he is organized for the upcoming week.”

Sevigny provides his peers with a great example of professionalism, say his colleagues; however, he goes well beyond professional expectations.

According to Sevigny, he tries to be a genuine presence in the community, as he watches students excel outside of the classroom. Moreover, he tries to model good citizenship, as well as show students the value of education by being a life-long learner himself.

Doak notes, “Mr. Sevigny has modeled the true representation of a life-long learner by continuing his own education as well as fostering the education of his students.”

For Sevigny, it comes from the heart, as he excels at teaching because he cares. He has a passion for it and feels, “It is [his] duty to advocate for what is the best for the children.” Surely, he has made a difference in the lives of countless students, but with him it goes both ways, as they have made a difference in his life as well. (The students have made a difference in his life as well). “The most beneficial experience regarding my professional growth is my daily contact with my students,” he said.

Sevigny cites “reflection” as the key to his success. He was first introduced to that idea several years ago when he pursued a graduate degree to further his education. Now he is eager to constantly improve and feels that reflection is the best way to do that.

He said, “I know that my master’s degree program a few years ago really prompted me to engage in good meaningful reflection.”

Moreover, he believes that reflection is an asset that can be utilized by anyone. Particularly, he wants students to use this as an educational tool.

“I have learned throughout my career that learning is an investment of time and all learners need time to reflect. Encouraging and challenging students to reflect upon their learning is a powerful practice…because this habit of mind is modeled in many situations throughout our personal and professional life.”

Sevigny said he daily tries to help students with this concept by personalizing the education for each student individually.

Sevigny, who won the MEA’s Teaching Excellence Award earlier this year, mentioned that he is one of many teachers who will be representing their respective states at the national conference in Washington D.C. in February 2008.

Tim's First Article for St. John Valley Times

2007-06-28T19:58:00.000-05:00

Recently, Tim began an internship with the St. John Valley Times. Tim, who was looking forword to the opportunity, is already enjoying the internship as he is making emence progress in his journalism skills. Here is what the newspaper had to say about him on page 23 of the June 27 edition:

SJVT SUMMER INTERN—Tim Devaney, 19, of Fort Kent will be working with the St. John Valley Times this summer as our summer intern. He will be joining Geoff Cyr, our student intern for 2006-07. Devaney is a 2006 graduate of Community High School. He is a sophomore at Cornerstone University (Grand Rapids, Mich.), where he is majoring in business and sports management and minoring in journalism. While at college, he contributes to his school newspaper The Herald, and his career goal is to become a sports writer. He is the son of Phil and Gail Devaney and the grandson of Carl Franklin and Ruby Devaney, as well as Carl and Joan Boutilier. If you have an interesting sports story you would like Devaney to consider, call or email the Valley Times editorial department at 728-3336 or news2@sjvalley-times.com

This is his first experience with a professional newspaper, and on Wednesday, June 27, his first article was published on the front of the Sports Section (pg.19). The following is his first article is the Valley Times, titled "Van Buren skier now ranked among top on east coast:"

By Tim Devaney, SJVT intern
VAN BUREN—Dominique Cyr, a Van Buren native, is quickly becoming a top-notch skier as he travels all over the world to compete. In fact, he is already one of the top young skiers in the eastern United States. While he acknowledges the fact, Alan Cyr, his father, says, “He’s being modest. He’s the top skier in the East Coast.” Scouts must agree, because he is a member of the National Development team, which is sponsored by the U.S. Ski Team.

Dominique began skiing when he was 4 years old. His dad recalls his competitive nature even as a child.

“All he wanted to do when he was a kid was not even turn but go straight down the hill. From the first day the need for speed was there…He’s always had a naturally ability to go fast and control it. In skiing that’s a gift,” he said.

Growing up in Van Buren, Cyr had little opportunity to compete. When he was 10 he joined his first team, he said, but only competed in one race. Fortunately, he was still able to develop his skills as he went to Edmundston, N.B. to ski with his family most weekends at Mont Farlagne. According to his mom, Lisa Cyr, he also skied in Fort Kent and Mars Hill, but they went to Edmundston most of the time because it was closer. Looking back, she attributes the coaches in Edmundston to helping Dominique develop into a great skier.

As he grew older, coaches and scouts recognized his talent and gave him more chances to compete, but when he began high school, it was a whole new story.

He transferred to Carrabassett Valley Academy as a freshman in 2004, because they have one of the best training programs in the country for young skiers.

According to Alan Cyr, the school has produced the likes of Bode Miller, Kirsten Clark, Emily Cook, and Seth Westcott. Dominique Cyr hopes to be the next major talent to emerge from the school. He learned about the skiing-focused school as a child from other skiers whom he competed against and wanted to go there ever since, according to Lisa Cyr.

Clearly, this is not an ordinary school. In fact, the academy, which functions much like a college, focuses on training athletes to ski. Therefore, their schedule is different. They have classes early in the morning (7:30 – 9:30 a.m.) and late in the afternoon (2:30 – 5:30 p.m.), while taking a break in-between (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) to ski, according to Cyr. Furthermore, he says that skiers can defer a class for a short time during the skiing season, and make it up in the summer. The academy is making him into an even better, more seasoned skier, and for Cyr, it is a dream come true.

He almost did not make it, though. Carrabassett is a private school with a high tuition, and his family could not afford it. Luckily, Cyr was granted a scholarship before his freshman year at Carrabassett. In fact, according to his dad, he was the first recipient of that particular scholarship. The school recognized that Aroostook County had talented skiers and wanted to help them in their athletic pursuits. Therefore, they gave the Maine Winter Sports Center the responsibility of finding the two most deserving recipients. Cyr was an obvious choice to receive the award.

Unfortunately, the scholarship does not cover everything. Going through the ranks as a young skier is expensive, and it continually becomes more so. While the scholarship pays for the school bill, it does not cover his extra-curricular expenses. In fact, Cyr is in the middle of a dilemma: he needs to raise $15,000 to continue his studies and training. Usually, professional skiers get their expenses paid for by sponsorships; however, Cyr is not quite at that level yet. Therefore, he is looking to other options, such as donations, to raise the money he needs.

If you would like to assist Cyr, call 868-2635. Cyr believes if each person in Aroostook County gives only $1, he could reach his goal. The family is grateful, too.
Alan Cyr says, “Whatever the size of donation we can get, it would be appreciated. It’s definitely going to help.”

Regardless, Cyr trusts that things will work out, and plans to move on to new heights in the near future.

“The plan is, if everything goes well, I could make the U.S. Ski Team next year,” says Cyr.
Moreover, according to Alan Cyr, “The goal would be [to make] the next Olympics in Vancouver in 2010.”

He reminds his son, though, “It is one of the most difficult disciplines to actually succeed at in life and it takes years and years to get to the top,” but that does not stop Cyr from giving it his best shot.

Dominique Cyr is the son of Alan and Lisa Cyr, brother to Kristin Cyr, and the grandson of Merilda Cyr and Del and Val Duplessis.

Next week look for Tim's second article on Mr. Scott Sevigny, a Teacher at Fort Kent Community High School.

Lebron ahead of pace

2007-05-22T10:41:00.000-05:00

Monday night LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers played against the Detroit Pistons in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals. It was a close game, and they prevailed in the end. During the Cavs' last possession they had a chance to tie or win the game when the ball was in LeBron’s hands. He elected to pass to his teammate, Donyell Marshall, for the go ahead basket. Marshall missed the shot.

After the game the TNT crew blamed James for the loss, saying his decision to pass the ball instead of shoot it was wrong. The crew was on to something: LeBron does need to be more assertive in certain situation - at the end of the game - but he needs to find a balance that only he can figure out, and that will come with time and experience. Experts are criticizing the very thing that makes him better than many other young super-stars – trust. They were wrong in saying that LeBron made a bad decision by passing. His decision showed maturity beyond expectations.

Many exerts compare James to Michael Jordan. They look at the teams they were both on in their early years, their rivals (the Pistons), and their development. Supposedly, James is on a path to duplicate Jordan. Yet James has shown uncanny development that is beyond Jordan’s development at the same time in his career. The two problems people had with Jordan as a young player was that he played on a bad team, and because of that he was a selfish player. They said he needed good teammates to win. One could argue that James plays on a bad team as well, and needs his own Scotty Pippen. Until that happens, no matter how well he plays, it is unlikely that he will win a championship. Yet, during this time, he is not letting it get to him; instead, he is growing as a player at a more rapid pace than Jordan. Experts say that Jordan did not become a champion until he learned to use his teammates, but LeBron already does that. Unfortunately, that is what he is criticized for. Don’t fault James because of the pass. He didn’t do it because he was afraid to shoot; he did it because he had confidence in his teammate. That is something that cannot be taught. He does need to work on timing, but the choice shows a mature mindset that Jordan did not display early on.

Don’t criticize the failure: Praise the development.

The Catch! (Short Story)

2007-05-13T18:53:00.001-05:00

In any sport there is nothing like winning a championship. Whether it is Little League Baseball or Major League Baseball, this is the one common goal every team and every player has; it surpasses all others. Many players aim for trophies, but nothing else pertaining to sports is comparable to the feeling an athlete gets from winning a championship. Some professional players spend their whole careers chasing after a championship, and yet they never get one. Whether the player is self-centered or a team player, once he tastes a championship he will cherish that feeling forever above all other feelings that sports can bring a person…

Drizzle poured out from the clouds, creating a dusk sky on a mid-summer evening. Nervous twitching and the chill in the air combined to create a force which caused every fiber of my body to shake from within. I was standing in left field at Hart Middle School and I could not keep myself still! I cherished the situation, the reason for being there, and the satisfaction and excitement that this brought me, but I loathed the circumstances of the moment. The gloomy, insecure feeling that the smell of rain gave me invaded my senses, telling me to despise the notorious circumstances. I do not know how long I had been standing in that place, but it was longer than I wanted to be there – any insignificant moment in time was too long to be in that place! There was a clash between my critic and my muse. My critic repeatedly said, “I want to go to the dugout. I want to go home. I wish this game would hurry up and get over.” “No!,” my muse continued to answer, “This is an important moment – it will mean a lot to me someday – I need to dial in, stick it out, and give it my all until it is over.”

I had recently messed up in a similar situation earlier in the season, and I was not looking forward to my next encounter with competition. In fact, I was already at a disadvantage because I was not only terrified of making a mistake, but I was continually focused on the negative possibilities, predestining myself to an ill-fated happening. I despised any and every chance of failure. Every time I was faced with a fork in the road, in regards to competition, I wanted to shy away; but once again, I fearfully took up the challenge that was presented to me, knowing that I may never get another chance at this. Constant embarrassment due to insecurity was a part of life and there was no way it would miss an opportunity to rear its ugly head, ring out its voice, and screech at the top of its lungs at the occurrence of one of my mistakes.

I dug in and prepared for the dreaded fate that was to befall me. Before I knew it, the somewhat water-logged ball was headed my way. I panicked! “What do I do?” I naturally moved into position to catch the ball, but the mechanics of this art – first step backward, two hands on the glove, glove above your head, eye on the ball – were so easy to mess up, making the possibility of a mistake all-the-more evident. I fretted internally, as my nervous twitching continued, and sunk in for my encounter with the competition – catching a fly-ball. My worst nightmare began to come true as the ball invaded the boundaries of my glove and came popping back out ever so quickly. It moved in a slow, upward motion, as I juggled it with a combined effort between my hands and my glove. Then gravity altered the path of its course and it came back down in a southward motion along my body. I blew the opportunity to stop it as it past my eyes, then chest, then stomach, then belt, continuing on its destined course, downward and downward, further and further. All of a sudden, my heart sank, momentarily paralyzing my movements. For all I knew, I had lost the battle as I watched the ball rush down below my grasp. The ball seemed to race down past my hips, continuously picking up speed and never again to be seen, as if gravity was now the enemy. As a last gasp, natural-reaction, without even thinking about it, my knees swung shut! Low and behold my knees were NOT empty – I felt an object lodged between them. “UHHH!!! NO WAY!,” I thought, as I glanced down. To my surprise, wedged between my knees was a baseball – the baseball that had nearly destroyed my self-esteem!

I quickly grabbed it from my knees and hurled it to the second baseman, who came over from his fielding position toward me in leftfield to catch it. My teammates were frantic, screaming that the base runner had left early and forgotten to tag up. He was stuck between the bases with no way or time to get back to second base. I had plenty of time to make the throw that would end the game, but with the adrenaline rush that flowed from my brain throughout my limbs I wasted no time, firing the ball over to second base as soon as my brain would cooperate. The baseball made its way there and the second baseman grabbed it, ran over to second base, and tagged the bag. THE GAME WAS OVER! I joyously dashed in from the outfield, throwing my glove into the air, as was the custom to do when you were the champion. For once in my life I felt the unbelievable, questioningly, excited feeling of being a champion!

Then came the dreaded moment which sucked the life out of me – the base runner was not called out! Apparently he had done a sufficient job of tagging up, because he left while I was juggling the ball, and that was acceptable. Disappointed, I trotted back to the outfield. Our opponents were now one run closer than before, but fortunately for us, we still had the lead and there were two outs. This event only prolonged our destiny to become champions. Soon afterwards, the infield made a play that actually ended the game. We went on to win the Rochester Hills Little League (Major League Division) Championship. This memory has been a moment of pride, joy, and humor for me throughout the years. It will live on in my mind as long as my brain functions.

My recollection fades after this, but I do remember the awards ceremony and parts of my coach’s speech. With question and disbelief in his mind, a relieved smile on his face, and laughter in his voice, he said, “And Tim, wow, I’ve never seen any thing like that before.” I remember my dad chipping in with, “He saved the game for the team!” I was uncomfortable and did not know what to feel. I was excited that I made the play, yet embarrassed that I did it in such an unfashionably, clumsy way.

Today I may be a better ball player than I was, but this event accurately resembles the same approach I take to every game. After each game I am confident in my abilities, but during each game I play with the jitters, fearing that I will make a mistake. This is a tough circumstance to deal with, but I don’t let it get in the way of doing something I love and it won’t keep me from playing baseball. Instead, I try to let the jitters out before each game by making efforts to relax. Therefore, I take a very loose approach to practice, trying to reach the opposite end of the spectrum, but I have not been entirely successful in that effort yet. This may not be the best method, but it is my approach.

Looking back, I am convinced that a Little League Champion may find more joy in winning a championship than a World Series Champion because of the care-free attitude and wonder of that age. When a child grows up he gains a sense of sophistication and he looses (or diminishes) his ability to freely express his true feelings. We had essentially only beaten out about 10 other teams, compared to the 30 in Major League Baseball. In essence, we had only done so in the matter of 14 games where as Major League Baseball plays 162 games. Realistically speaking, we had only done so at a level that all of us could play in, compared to the League that none of us were likely to ever play in. But we didn’t know that, and if we did we didn’t care. Major League Baseball had the prestige, but we had the free-spirited nature. We were exuberant, and that was that.

Copyright 2007 by Timothy C. Devaney

Baseball is more than a game (Research Paper)

2007-05-13T18:47:00.000-05:00

Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out to the crowd,
Buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks,
I don’t care if I ever get back,
For it’s root, root, root for the home team,
If they don’t win it’s a shame
For it’s one. Two….No need to finish this familiar song - we all know how it ends! Baseball is a favorite American pastime, and its influence is engraved in American society. Some people say baseball is only a game, but through in-depth analysis it is evident that baseball is a double-headed institution of business and teaching, which make it more than just a game.

Let's get down to business: baseball is business. Through multi-party involvement in processes such as player contracts, free agency, endorsement signings, and merchandise sales, baseball prostrates itself to the world of business. The separate entities within baseball, known mainly as the owners and players, are the primary business parties in baseball. Baseball has not only led to business within baseball but also outside of baseball as third party businesses leech off of baseball’s success. They use it as a foundational stepping stone to build their own financial empires separate from baseball. Third party businesses are those that are unaffiliated with baseball. The third party businesses referred to are primarily those that have some type of connection to baseball. Baseball is entangled in a web of economic matters, and there are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. The roles of and connections between each of these parties is clearly business.

Major League Baseball functions, in part, as a financial operation. In 1869, the Cincinnati Reds introduced this system to baseball when they began paying their players; therefore, they are considered the first professional baseball team (Bellis 1). Their level of play at that time was not necessarily better than their opponents; but, because they paid their players and their opponents did not, the Reds were considered a professional baseball team. This created a drastic change in the landscape of the sport, and soon afterwards other teams followed suit. “Professional baseball soon spread throughout the country,” according to Mike Michaelson, a writer for the Chicago Daily Herald. The 1869 Reds changed baseball for generations to come.

Today, professionals excel above most others in their respective occupations. Many occupations contain both professional and amateur levels of performance, with the professional level being superior. In 1869, a professional baseball player simply meant a paid player because few other baseball players received wages at that time. When the Cincinnati Reds began paying their players, they introduced professionalism to baseball; however, there was no guarantee that professionalism would bring a better quality of play to the game. The correlation was strong that this would happen though. Most players obviously wanted to play for the team that paid the most money, so the Reds had an advantage on the rest of baseball since they were the only team that paid their players. This allowed them to choose from a large pool of players. It is no wonder then, that they chose the best players because they wanted the best team. The best players across America soon filled professional baseball as other teams followed suit. This caused the division between Major League and Minor League Baseball. While Minor League Baseball was not necessarily bad, Major League Baseball was almost certainly better. The leagues that paid more money attracted more players and the first Major League, known as the National League, sprouted up. According to 1919blacksox.com, a website dedicated to the 1919 Black Sox that knows much about baseball history, “After changing its name to the American League in 1899, the A.L. would officially become a Major League in 1901.” After this second Major League developed, the two leagues joined together to form what is now known as Major League Baseball. The Minor Leagues became a place of development. Hence, from the process started in 1869 by the Cincinnati Reds, one saw the beginnings of the business side of the game that one knows today.

Today, baseball has progressed even further in the business side of things by instituting free agency. This process gives players freedom to negotiate contracts by restricting owner tyranny; it also keeps the landscape of baseball continually fresh and changing, which improves fan attention and guards from a monotone roster. In 1919, The Chicago White Sox became known as the infamous Black Sox, while playing a preliminary role in the development of free agency. By that time, professional baseball had completely changed into a business through the guidance of the 1869 Cincinnati Reds. Unlike today though, owners were the controlling power and players were paid meager wages and treated like slaves. They had no say over their contracts and could not change teams in search of the best offer; this was called contract jumping and was illegal (1919blacksox.com 1). Without help from the government, players were left to suffer the fate of owners’ decisions regarding their contracts. At that time, the formerly known White Sox were quite possibly the best team in baseball, and no one could compete with them. Many people believed they would win the World Series. In fact, that explains why the White Sox became known as the Black Sox. Dan Sewell, a writer for the Associated Press says, “The 1919 World Series is known historically for the Black Sox Scandal, the exile of eight Chicago White Sox players from baseball for conspiring with gamblers…” Tired of being paid unreasonably low wages, nine players (it was later determined eight) on the 1919 White Sox team decided they could make more money by throwing the World Series, so they lost purpose. Sewell goes on to say, “…they were heavily favored to win.” Therefore, the gambling odds were stacked in their favor because they were expected to win. If this were not true the whole event may have never happened; but, because they were considered much better than their opponent, certain men approached them about throwing the game. One-by-one, nine players agreed to throw the game. Soon after loosing the World Series, they were caught and banned from baseball. This event helped in the push for free agency. Today, players negotiate for enormous contracts. Furthermore, free agency has led the way for professional agents, another occupation, to enter the market. Now, professional agents work hard to negotiate gigantic contracts for some of the world’s best athletes. Clearly, through interactions between owners, players, and professional agents, baseball truly is a business in an American capitalist society.

Additionally, outside businesses use baseball to get where they want to be. By producing Major League Baseball affiliated merchandise, player endorsers, and using combination of the two, third party businesses tie themselves into professional baseball’s own little economy. Some stores will produce items to sell to the general public with Major League Baseball and player logos, designs, implications, and icons. Many businesses will also sign professional baseball players to massive endorsement deals in order to connect their product to a celebrity who is well known by the public, such as Derek Jeter. Holly Sanders, a writer for the New York Post, says, “Jeter's roster of endorsement deals includes Nike, Gatorade, Ford and Steiner Sports memorabilia.” Derek Jeter is a successful baseball player who is well known and has a spotless public image. This, similar player endorsed schemes, is designed to increase sales for the business. While many businesses only choose to have players endorse a general product, some businesses will produce products that are specifically related to baseball and sign player endorsers who symbolize the product. Through this economic activity involved within the game of baseball, one can see that each of these sides compete against each other, while working with one another to achieve a communal goal. If these items are being consumed at such a massive rate, clearly baseball is important to the American society; but, it continues to validate the claim that baseball is a business.

As one can see, baseball’s connection with business can be very complicated and overwhelming. Most people would agree that business is not a game, and without a doubt, baseball is a business, thus baseball is more than a game.

Baseball also teaches lessons of life. Virtue, hard work, and focused determination, are three important lessons to be learned from the game of baseball. Virtue is neglected in much of American society today, yet it can be found in baseball. Not all coaches, players, or teams are subjected to this value, but one cannot belittle the virtuous character taught and displayed by players and coaches alike. Peter Diaz, a Christian who is a teacher and baseball coach, has learned from past mistakes, and wants to teach his players to avoid them (Haines 1). Baseball has classy teachers. Andy Lopez, a successful baseball coach and virtuous Christian, is another classy coach. He says, “I insist that we also show humility, class, and compassion.” Even if players do not have such virtuous coaches, virtue can be learned from the game of baseball itself because it is a training station. Life is what someone makes of it, and if someone wants to be virtuous, he can be virtuous. Baseball can be a great training tool to help players develop this value, and it also provides a place for this value to become a characteristic in a person’s life.

Many moral dilemmas occur in baseball that force players to make ethical decisions. James 1: 2-4 In the New American Standard Bible says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” By displaying class in all circumstances, such as accepting the umpires call, acting with sportsmanship, and forming healthy relationships with opponents, teammates, coaches, management, and media members, players can trandescend the world’s level of virtue. They have an opportunity to display compassion and love to all those around them, and baseball proves to be a steppingstone of opportunities for this to happen.

Overall, virtue is seeking to do things for more than self-gain, according to Lopez:
I want to be in the group of coaches who are driven to be successful yet are driven to do things right, driven to develop young athletes into solid citizens later in life. Yes, I want to win another national title, but my value as a father, husband, Christian, and coach is not a direct result of winning 40 games every year. I hope I can teach that to my athletes. (8)

Virtue is very prevalent in Lopez’s baseball program. Similar to other tasks, baseball proves to have many opportunities for players to learn to be virtuous through its teachings.

Some people argue that professional baseball players lack morals. If this were true there would be no virtue in baseball. This is a legitimate argument, and, in part, it is true. Today, more-and-more professional baseball players are suspended for steroid use, and it is a commonly held belief that many are still getting away with it. Additionally, many players are derailed for making too much money. These are valid arguments, but one cannot judge many based on a few. This is an American pastime, so it should include the ideals of American society. In America people are considered innocent until proven guilty. Therefore, it is not fair to say that baseball or the players within it do not have virtue. Furthermore, baseball is not limited to one league, such as professional baseball; from games in the sandlot to Little League Baseball to Major League Baseball, it is enjoyed by many. To say that steroids are present in Little League Baseball across America is ridiculous! Moreover, because baseball is wide spread, it discards the argument that ballplayers make too much money to be virtuous. This is a popular criticism of professional athletes, but it does not reflect the whole. Not only do all baseball players below the professional level not get paid, but many baseball teams and players rise above this claim. It is common to see baseball teams and players volunteer to help a better cause than their own wallets or time. In fact, a children’s baseball team from California is dedicated to this. “The opportunity to be a positive role model in kids’ lives has Corona excited about becoming involved with the North Coast Cannons, a competitive club team for 9- and 10-year-olds that blends learning baseball fundamentals with community service,” says Gigi Alford. Virtue can be seen in many ballplayers from all levels of play; if society is willing to keep an open mind and reject being skeptical of every aspect of baseball players’ lives they will notice this.

Baseball is demanding in many ways, and it takes hard work to keep up. With a few games a week and practices in between every game, baseball consumes time, and it can be easy for one to fall behind in other areas of life. Baseball’s life struggles, though, teach people the old American value of hard work. Through physical and mental struggles, players develop a sound work ethic. Physically, the strain on players’ bodies can be heavy. Practices are tough and games are worse. The burden of the work load is great and injuries are prevalent. Baseball may not seem as tough as football, but it is no cake walk either. Through the mountains and valleys of the season, emotions can run high causing pressure to mount. When players make mistakes they sometimes experience a natural instinct to give up, but baseball teaches them to persevere (Lopez 28). This is an important lesson and one well learned. The mental aspect of the game may be the toughest. Chad Corona says, “I want to impress on these kids that physically you can be ready, but you have to be there mentally.” When the season drags on and confidence staggers players can get discouraged. If a negative attitude prevails it keeps getting worse and worse until the player cannot handle it anymore. Therefore, it is crucial that players learn to be mentally sound in respect to baseball. Baseball is not easy but it is worthwhile. The physical and mental hard work ethic baseball teaches can help players succeed in many areas of life.

Additionally, baseball strengthens the mental approach of players by teaching them to be focused. The season can be long and rigorous because it is mentally demanding. For players to make it through the season they need to remain focused on the present and keep things in perspective.

The first key to remaining focused is keeping ones mind on the present situation. Worrying is human nature, and planning for the future is encouraged in American society; unfortunately, it can be easy to mix these two things together. When that happens, people are constantly thinking about what will happen tomorrow, but they forget about living out today. In Matthew 6: 34 of the New American Standard Bible Jesus addresses this problem when He says, “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Sometimes, however, worrying seems inevitable as the anxiousness of future events can lead to it; while other times it is simply old habit that causes people to revert to this symptom. It is a problem either way.

People’s minds constantly wander, and, unfortunately, baseball players are not immune to this, but they are taught to overcome it. Coach Andy Lopez says:

I want to teach my athletes not to be double minded. This philosophy works well off the field, too. If someone wants to be an athlete, he should not confuse the issues. When he shows up for practice, he should be an athlete. When he’s in the classroom, he should be a student. When he’s on a date, he should focus on his relationship with the other person. For about two or three hours every day during practice, I demand that all players and coaches be completely focused. As a coach, I must also separate my work and family times – and be absorbed in each when the time calls for it. (8)

Lopez is not the only person who teaches this, baseball itself also demands it. There are 162 games in the Major League Baseball regular season, and as one can imagine it is tough to remain focused throughout the season. However, if players cannot learn to do this, they will not succeed in baseball. Lopez believes, “Baseball is a game designed for failure. The participants in the game of baseball are destined to fail…They will fail.” If players worry too much about past or future failures, they will not be prepared to succeed in the future. Lopez combats this by teaching his players that it is “rebounding from failure” that counts. Once again, baseball teaches players to improve their ability to stay mentally focused on the tasks at hand.

The second key to remaining focused is keeping things in perspective. Andy Lopez believes people need to set their priorities straight. He says, “The game is trivial relative to the bigger issues of life, trivial in the sense that it cannot consume you at the sacrifice of other important aspects of your life.” There are many addicts and addictions in the world, and if baseball were just a game it could become an addiction to many fans and players alike; but baseball is more than a game – it is a teacher – and it teaches players that there are more important things in life than itself. The sign of a true teacher is complete honesty, where the truth is spoken whether it hurts the speaker or not. Lopez teaches that baseball is not the most important thing in life, and that could hurt it, but it also shows that baseball is a true teacher. This can be an effective approach to any area of life and it is learned from baseball.

Baseball increases players’ mental strength by teaching them to remain focused. This task is tough to embody and requires much patience, but when it is utilized effectively it gives the user a notable advantage over the competition. Through virtue, hard work, and focused determination baseball becomes a classroom for teaching, and this is more valuable than the result of the game itself!

Is baseball a game? Of course. Is it more than a game? Most definitely. Clearly, baseball has evolved from a game into a business and a classroom for teaching. It is still a game, but at the same time it is more than a game. By looking through a realistic lens at the game of baseball, one can see that it has become much more than a game.

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Works Cited
Alford, Gigi. “Model of Success; Former Santa Fe Christian Athlete Eager to Teach Youngsters How to Wear Different Uniforms With Pride.” San Diego Union-Tribune (2006). Lexis-Nexis. Cornerstone University Lib., Grand Rapids, MI. 26 Nov. 2006. .
Bellis, Mary. “The History of Baseball – Alexander Cartwright.” About.com. 2006. 27 Nov. 2006 .
Haines, Diane. “Touching All the Bases; Baseball Coach Teaches the Importance of a Well-Rounded Life.” Herald News (2006). Lexis-Nexis. Cornerstone University Lib., Grand Rapids, MI. 26 Nov. 2006. .
Lopez, Andy, and John Kirkgard. Coaching Baseball Successfully. Champaign: Human Kinetics, 1996.
Michaelson, Mike. “Cincinnati Sights Explore Dissimilar Themes: Baseball and Slavery.” Chicago Daily Herald (2005). Lexis-Nexis. Cornerstone University Lib., Grand Rapids, MI. 26 Nov. 2006. .
Sanders, Holly. “Jeter is Making a Pitch for Movado Sports Line.” New York Post (2006). Lexis-Nexis. Cornerstone University Lib., Grand Rapids, MI. 26 Nov. 2006 .
Sewell, Dan. “Baseball Halls of Fame Having Resurgence.” Associated Press State & Local Wire (2006). Lexis-Nexis. Cornerstone University Lib., Grand Rapids, MI. 26 Nov. 2006 .
The New Inductive Study Bible New American Standard Bible. Eugene: Harvest, 2000.
“The Story.” 1919 Black Sox. 2005. 27 Nov. 2006 .

Copyright 2007 by Timothy C. Devaney

Journalism Study (Research Paper)

2007-05-13T18:42:00.000-05:00

Introduction:
On a daily basis, humans communicate with one another through personal and mass communication. Personal communication is two-way conversation between small groups of people. Mass communication, in contrast, is one-way contact directed towards large audiences of people. Accordingly, journalism is in the business of communication, which builds a bridge from personal to mass communication, and puts truth to pen. According to Kovach and Rosenstiel (Defensor, 2006), “[Journalism] is that part of communication that keeps us informed of the changing events, issues and characters in the world outside” (p. 5). The production of journalism requires a thorough organizational structure that communicates well. It is dependant upon sources, words, and art, and displays itself through print and online structures.

Journalism has a critical role in society because of its purposes to demonstrate the values of society, provide information, and keep the government in check. Accurate communication helps journalists perform these functions. They walk a tight line, however, because journalism can also be a dangerous weapon, and when used improperly it has negative consequences. Some of the common dangers of unbridled journalism are false promotion of information, distortion of truth, and advancement of biased material. Without regulations and ethical restraints, it could harm society. Therefore, it must be controlled in a way that does not hinder its ability to perform its primary functions. With so much riding on journalism’s role in society, it is useful for citizens to understand its functions, purposes, risks, and responsibilities. Moreover, they should be aware of how journalism meets these guidelines in their society. This paper examines the relationship between journalism and communication, by looking at its production, possibilities, and responsibilities.

Production of Journalism:
Journalism is produced through the effort of separate work related roles within a news organization. Some of the key roles in journalism staffs are news sources, writers, photographers, cartoonists, editors, newspaper designers, and web designers, whose combined work produce print and online journalism. Effective communication among these staff members can help increase the quality of the finished product.

Newspapers use news sources to get information. Hannabuss (1995) suggests that some common news sources include news agencies, experts, contacts, files, and additional journalistic works. These sources are vital for multiple reasons. First of all, they often provide notification. For example, news agencies commonly inform journalists about breaking news. Secondly, news sources frequently provide journalists with concrete details for stories. In turn, their provision of information finalizes the process by validating the stories. Readers want to know what happened based on evidence. Therefore, journalists have to convince them through eye witness accounts, expert opinions, and records. These types of sources are key elements in producing stories that are accepted by society. Communication intercedes by directly linking all three of these processes in which journalists interact with news sources.

Writers play an important role in journalism, because they direct communication towards society. Attfield, Blandford, and Dowell (2003), say “Writing is amongst the most common tasks within which information seeking is embedded” (p. 1). In fact, they are responsible for the majority of the content in journalism as they take the work done with news sources and turn it into stories. News reporters, feature writers, and columnists are three common types of writers. News reporters are expected to report unbiased facts, while functioning as an objective channel of communication. They write about what they are told and personally experience, using their own words, as well as direct quotes, to supplement the stories. Reporters are also pressured with deadlines. Usually, they must write about events soon after they happen for publication the next day. In contrast, feature writers study a topic for a longer period of time, while writing a more thought out story. Their work usually appears more like a story than a report; however, they too, are expected to be objective. Columnists, on the other hand, are allowed to be entirely subjective, projecting their personal opinions into the stories they write. These writers have become very popular and at the same time controversial among a vast landscape of readers for this style of writing. Regardless of position, though, writing principles apply to all writers. One noteworthy principle states that writers may only count on small amounts of their stories being read. Therefore, journalists write in a logical style, attempting to put the most important information towards the beginning, while hoping to communicate something interesting to the readers before they get distracted or uninterested.

Newspapers that are black and white are not read all over anymore. Presently, they realize that a picture is worth a thousand words. As a result, they have been using art to attract readers for hundreds of years. In fact, the first newspaper cartoon is believed to have been published by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 (Harrower, 2002). Photographs and cartoons are two common forms of newspaper art. Photographers engage in photojournalism, which is the art of taking photographs that tell an actual story. They primarily take photographs of natural occurrences in a professional manner that accurately represents the scene. Occasionally, however, photographers may take studio shots as well, which are posed photographs. These photographs are commonly seen in news stories and photo spreads. Cartoonists, likewise, draw art that goes into the newspaper to provide text relief in an amusing form. They perform a vast amount of tasks, such as photo illustrations, editorial cartoons, commentary drawings, and caricatures. Their tasks are difficult and require top-notch performance from talented professionals. Clearly, art has progressively revolutionized journalism, as it communicates a story through sight.

Editors are responsible for leading a team of newspaper staff to success. They have to make sure their newspapers are marketable in content. Burke (2007) quoted Pontin saying that he believes, “People will go to them expecting the best information and as long as that information remains quality, those readers will continue to return” (p. 1). Therefore, they must ensure that the entire news organization operates smoothly, by doing everything from planning to correcting. This requires a great deal of communication between themselves and other staff members. Their ability to lead can be seen in the assignment of staff members to cover the events they feel will make the best stories. Furthermore, editors will usually estimate the lengths of the stories and sizes of the photographs before they receive them, based on the news events they assign. This allows them to begin mentally planning for the next edition. Editing takes a great deal of experience and expertise, and that is why editors are the leaders of newspaper production staffs.

Newspaper designers decide how the newspaper is going to look. They are responsible for making sure the newspaper is marketable in appearance. They must decide where every picture, story, and headline will fit. This is similar to putting a puzzle together, and if one piece has to be changed it affects the whole page. Through this, they visually communicate to readers, hoping to make a good impression. There are many tedious guidelines to follow when designing, making their job difficult and demanding, but designers are talented and creative enough to get the job done. Although it may not come natural to all of them, they learn and grow at this process with experience. Their jobs are important, since they are the final channel of communication that a newspaper goes through before it reaches the readers.

Web designers, the editors of the Internet, create company websites. Their tasks can be complicated, and require a mastery of desktop and web design computer skills; however, they do not have the same daily time pressures print journalism staffs have. Since the Internet is becoming increasingly popular, their jobs are becoming more important, because they must communicate effectively with large audiences of readers.

All roles within journalism organizations need to communicate frequently and effectively among one another. Although staff members, such as writers, photographers, editors, and designers perform separate roles, they depend on one another. This can be seen through the web of interaction among these roles. Writers depend on photographers to visually improve their stories to make them more attractive to readers. Conversely, photographers depend on writers to compose stories which will effectively supplement and accurately portray their photographs. Meanwhile, both depend on editors to adequately correct their work so that it is presented as well as possible, yet not diminished. Similarly, all roles depend on newspaper designers to make their work look its best, so that it is at the pinnacle of its effectiveness. Editors and designers, in contrast, depend on the other roles to provide them with enough high-quality material for the newspaper development. Clearly, there is a need for an effective form of communication among staff members.

The connections between these different roles in journalism can be confusing, but there is a way to pull it all together. Buck Ryan, a brilliant newspaper analyst, created a newspaper development process called the Maestro Concept. Harrower suggests this is a way of integrating the separate work done by writers, photographers, cartoonists, editors, and designers. In this system, the necessary staff members meet before performing their jobs, using a complex form to coordinate a sketch of how the newspaper will look and what each staff member needs to do to accomplish the task (2002). This system is an excellent means of communication among members of a journalism organization, saving time and preventing horrendous productions.

News is the centerpiece of journalism, because journalism revolves around investigating, processing, and outputting news. In these separate phases of journalistic production, communication can be seen with sources, staff, and society. Print journalism focuses on the output of news in print format. This includes any writing in print with a journalistic style, such as newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and brochures. Since newspapers are particularly common, it is useful to understand how they are produced, the different elements of a newspaper, and what it takes for news to be published.

Newspapers are produced through the collaborative work of the entire staff, who work together to produce a timely and complete newspaper, filled with information. The process begins with communication between news sources and the newspaper. After the initial contact is made, Harrower (2002) says, “Editors assign reporters, photographers and graphic artists to make concepts understandable in both words and pictures” (p. 152). Once finished, writers and photographers give their work to editors, who correct it. The editors then relay the finished products to designers who devise the newspaper’s appearance. This detailed process can be accomplished successfully with a combination of experience, diligence, and communication.

Newspapers are filled with many major and minor elements which communicate with readers. Some of the elements are familiar enough that readers easily recognize them, but other elements can be overlooked; yet with any of these elements absent, newspapers would be noticeably different. In specific, the front page must be the most dynamic, because it markets the whole newspaper. Therefore, designers give special attention to that page.

Minor content on front pages works subtly to comfort readers. The flag is the logo that identifies the specific newspaper, and is commonly found towards the top. While the folio, which can also be found at the top, shows its details. Many readers expect indexes to give them a detailed listing of what is inside the newspaper. Refers and teasers both promote stories inside newspapers and may be found on front pages as well.

Newspapers are filled with main content as well, such as stories and photographs, which are responsible for the majority of the communication that newspapers send to readers. This is the meat of the newspaper – the actual depiction of news – because stories are the most notable element in newspapers. They come in different forms, such as news stories, feature stories, and columns. Those that cover a popular topic may be placed by sidebars, which are similar stories that help readers get a broader understanding of the topic. Additionally, all stories receive unique headlines to describe the stories they accompany in a small phrase or sentence. Accordingly, decks and summaries are two similar elements that go directly after the headline, further explaining the article. Bylines identify the author and accompany most stories. Furthermore, each story that is continued on another page is given a jumpline, which is a numbering system designed to help readers find where the story finishes. Many articles are also accompanied by a photograph, which will frequently give a line of credit to the photographer. Cutlines are text captions that clarify a photograph and can be found underneath most of the photographs they explain. Clearly, these elements help newspapers communicate satisfactorily with modern readers.

Although newspapers are huge works filled with information, they are limited in the number of events they can cover because of costs, space, and time. In an attempt to draw the largest possible readership, they try to pick the most reader appealing material. Consequently, it can be tough for news to meet publication demands; however, because journalism is filled with news, select stories that will interest readers are published. Namely, current news is the most likely type of news to have a place in the newspaper. Old news tends to be boring and irrelevant, while future news, such as forecasts, is only effective when used sparingly. Furthermore, Hannabuss (1995) suggests that news that is significant, meaningful, and relevant relates to readers’ interests, while dramatic and surprising news also attracts readers. Generally, the news that communicates what society wants to hear gets primary attention.

Journalism is an ancient practice that has been produced in print format for hundreds of years. Its landscape, however, is constantly improving. The internet is the most recent trend of improvement. In fact, as it has become increasingly accessible, its popularity as a communication medium has grown among diverse audiences. Naturally, the journalism industry has recognized this opportunity to transport its business to a new medium that will reach more readers.

Following this potentially rewarding adventure, many journalism organizations have virtually recreated their newspapers digitally over the internet. In doing so, they list many articles from their print editions. Furthermore, on the web, space becomes less of a constraint, and newspapers are able to list more content. Therefore, readers may typically find previously posted articles that are still listed on the website. It is organized conveniently for readers, because the older news is placed towards the back and the newer news towards the front, since current news is preferred. This is helpful for readers who want to find old information, while satisfying many readers who only care about current news. Additionally, websites may include articles that are not found in their print editions. The internet effectively helps newspapers communicate more.

Weblogging, commonly called blogging, is another popular form of internet journalism that has taken advantage of this opportunity. According to Deagon (2005) Sullivan says, “[It] is changing the media world and could, I think, foment a revolution in how journalism functions in our culture” (p. A05). This new form of journalism can be fulfilled by newspaper staff as an additional outreach. In this case, it is similar to writing a digital column. When the newspapers provide journalists to produce internet journalism it is more likely to have a professional quality. In contrast, citizens who want their voices heard may also blog. When this happens, however, the results can be unpredictable. It is called citizen journalism. Sometimes it accurately conveys the opinions of society from a first-hand source, but many times the quality of their work is poor. The inconsistent reliability among these bloggers may cause readers to doubt the entire practice. However, while their publications can be misleading and false, formal institutions are trying to fix that by establishing principle requirements. Either way, it is causing such a revolution in journalism that in the future, print newspapers may cease to exist.

Furthermore, photographs are not tied to print journalism only, but are also being used in internet journalism. Not only are individual photographs added to stories to make the visibility more reader friendly, but newspaper websites are also beginning to provide photograph galleries for readers to interact with. This photographic revolution over the internet is attracting many readers.

Purposes of Journalism:
In journalism, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. While its production is intriguing, its purpose is profound, because it was established to communicate important information. It is a process that takes mere words and orchestrates them in a way that captures the attention of readers. Therefore, it is much more than simply another occupation in America. In fact, it functions to demonstrate dominant cultural values, inform society, and keep the government in check.

Just as the government is intended to represent the political viewpoints of American society, journalism represents some of the values of society. It may even communicate the current stage of American life through its news coverage and story choice. In order to sell newspapers, sometimes they will say what the majority of society wants to hear. In doing so, they demonstrate the collective values of society. This can be seen through the events that journalists cover, the stories newspapers choose to print, and any political biases they display. When journalists are truthful and accurate, some of society’s values may be seen.

If the stories are reliable, the actions and events that occur in society show a picture of how parts of society behave. Their stories are supplemented with interviews from third party sources, as well, whose quotations may show a well rounded view of society’s opinions and values. Although this way of observing the values of the American society may not display the values of minorities in terms of these values, it does give readers a fairly clear picture of the dominant values that the majority of Americans share.

The second purpose of journalism is to inform society. According to Odeyemi (2006) Dare says, “The Press is the principal institution to carry out the information dissemination that is essential to a sound democracy” (p. 1). By recording occurrences, journalism does just this, helping people stay informed. This is important because America is a technologically advanced society that relies on information to keep running soundly. Therefore, journalism aids society by functioning as a source of communication.

Information output is also important because it keeps the government in check. Eggington (2005) adds, “The essential role of the free press is to hold the government and other institutions to be accountable for their actions” (p. 1). Journalists’ investigative work and output can help prevent the government from disregarding the Constitution; journalists also expose any injustices. They can look out for the good of society by searching the landscape for events and portraying what they find truthfully and accurately. By doing this, they live up to the purpose of journalism.

Risks and Responsibilities of Journalism:
Journalism may be the protector of society, but it can also present its own risks when corrupt people use it to promote personal agendas. In certain cases, it can be flawed with bias and misleading information. Unfortunately, it is common to see stories that twist the truth. Furthermore, newspapers may overemphasize insignificant news, and leave out significant news. When this happens, journalism is not fully performing its duties.

It can remain responsible to society, though, by maintaining a balance between the purpose and ethics of journalism. While there may be no step-by-step process to follow, by acting with integrity journalists can best perform their responsibilities to society. Eggington (2005) supports this by stating, “[Every] journalist needs to have integrity…in order to practice good journalism” (p. 1). Therefore, they should communicate honestly. Rather than distorting stories, they should display the news accurately, creating stories that are proportionate to society’s actual occurrences. Those who aspire to be trustworthy communicators by acting ethically are usually respected.

Conclusion:
Journalism is a complex production. New sources, writers, photographers, editors, and designers intermingle with one another to create a masterpiece of expressed news. The Maestro Concept enhances communication among these roles and helps generate vivid ideas and put them into action. While it is difficult to get published, fresh news that is significant, interesting, relevant, dramatic, and surprising is more likely to make publication (Hannabuss, 1995). New outlets have communicated in print for many years. This includes newspapers and magazines. The recent success of the Internet has convinced this industry to move there.

Journalism is more than its production indicates, though; it is a respected American establishment because of three purposes. It is called to demonstrate the values of society, inform, and keep the government in check. It must, however, be balanced, because it can also harm society. Journalists can achieve this balance by performing their duty to society responsibly and maintaining integrity.

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References:

Attfield, S., Blandford, A., & Dowell, J. (2003). Information seeking in the context of writing: A design psychology interpretation of the “problematic situation.” Journal of Documentation, 59(4), 1. Retrieved February 7, 2007 from www.emeraldinsight.com.

Burke, J. (2007). “Editors are like the bartender at your favorite bar.” Retrieved February 24, 2007 from www.editorsweblog.org.

Deagon, B. (2005). Surveys say bloggers not yet big factor for mainstream. Investor’s Business Daily, A05. Retrieved February 15, 2007 from www.lexisnexis.com.

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Copyright 2007 by Timothy C. Devaney

Cornerstone corrections: smooth college transitions (Research Paper Version)

2007-05-13T18:28:00.000-05:00

Leaving for college scared me. Most of the time I tried to ignore the issue, but when the moment finally came I severely dreaded it. Like myself, millions of young people all across the world are terrified to take this next step in their young and rapidly changing lives. “Perhaps no other task in life involves so much emotional energy, time and money for this kind of an outcome,” said Dr. Scott Smith, a professional psychologist. Some people handle the transition exceptionally well, but the uncertainty of this event approaches all too quickly for many others. Fortunately, at Cornerstone University, the transition is well met with a family-oriented community and a strong Christian environment. Nevertheless, prior to attending and experiencing the Cornerstone environment many students, understandably, are so engrossed by the negatives that they do not take time to dwell on and realize the positives until they get there. This is due to the fact that new college students face academic, social, independency, and family issues; thankfully freshman students are able to discover solutions to each of these issues at Cornerstone University.

The first issue concerning many new students is the notorious image of academic intensity that is associated with this level of education. This scares even the best high school graduates. The challenge is clearly time-consuming just as much as it is laborious. For many students this is where the true battle is fought. Trying to hold down a job on top of the demanding school work can add to this burden and make things even worse. Unfortunately, many students are obligated to do so in order to pay for their college tuition. This issue causes concern-filled faces of countless incoming freshmen to flood the campus. To add to the stress, many students feel they are unprepared and worry about their academic abilities as well as the quality of their work. The extremity of exams seems to be too much of a stretch for many students. Furthermore, the most glaring issue may be that in spite of all the tough college work, incoming students believe college professors will be stiff and unwilling to help. “I was nervous because of the teaching differences,” said Cornerstone sophomore Kevin Fisher when referring to the time leading up to his freshman year at the university. It is a recognized belief that college professors do not hold students accountable to do their school work as high school teachers did for them in the past. The shock of academic independency will seduce them with lethargy and strike them with a ferocious bang. Academic issues are some of the most applicable issues concerning new students.

The second issue is social related. For many, this new journey on life’s road is a path of sad endings and fearful new beginnings. Being uprooted from your life-long friends and thrust into meeting new people – OUCH! That seems harsh. As if the pain of leaving their best friends was not enough, now they have to make new ones; but it is part of life for these new adults who are facing many changes in their young lives. It is no wonder they spend much of their time prior to leaving fretting about such things. In fact, meeting new people and making new friends is only the outskirts of the issue; a majority of students must deal with dorm life apprehension. This involves meeting your roommate as well as your dormmates. It can obviously bring up many different concerns for different people. Of course, they wonder how well they will get along with their roommate, but they may also wonder how adaptable the dorm hall will be to themselves. For many people these social issues are of the foremost concern to them because this is life as they know it.

The third issue facing these young adults is the uncertainty of independency. The thoughts of being surrounded by debt, the pressure of getting a job, and trying to keep up with school work is too much for many students. “The young adult has to negotiate a whole new world with less parental supervision or involvement than at any previous time in his life,” said Dr. Smith. On top of this, the little things such as having to do their own laundry or trying to find a church keep popping into their minds. This new level of independency causes so much anxiety for certain students that a countless number of them wonder if they will make it on their own. Clearly the doubt and insecurity that independency can bring plays a big part in their new lives.

The fourth issue, a strong concern for many students, is family related. Most students start the grieving process of missing family members before they even leave! The precious, adorable, and unforgettable moments they have witnessed begin to flood their minds. It can “tug hard on the heartstrings,” as Dr. Smith puts it. Leaving their family is a sad moment which causes many students to breakdown emotionally. Furthermore these students begin to realize the wonderful support they received from their family, and fear the burden of having to bear life’s struggles alone.

It may be difficult at first, but fortunately Cornerstone University helps these students make a smooth transition into their new life. The expanding fears students experience as they leave their own driveways and pull into Cornerstone’s driveway is erased in the flood of new academic opportunities, caring professors, kind friends, and continued family support.

The first solution found at Cornerstone is the new way students begin to look at academics. As these students begin a new stage in their lives they start to realize new academic opportunities and possibilities. They begin to make connections between academics and their future careers. Although he says Cornerstone “rips him off,” Donny Irving, a Cornerstone sophomore admits, “They prepare me for my future endeavors.” Overall, students begin to see the usefulness in what they are learning and even enjoy it to a point. This is the focus of their education – this is what they have been working towards. The material they are learning will stretch them, force them to grow, and help them to succeed in their future careers and lives. Even the rigorous and demanding classes will payoff, in that they teach discipline, an important value in the labor force. The academic field at Cornerstone not only enables these students to go into the real world, but it gives them the confidence to do so.

The second solution is that students find that their professors actually care. They do not live up to the stereotypical, superior professor image that is taught in high schools; they go beyond this tempting ideal with a caring attitude. John Wallace, a freshman at Cornerstone, said, “They get involved in an emotional level that I don’t think would happen at another school.” Whether it is praying specifically for the students before class, carefully explaining the lessons, or patiently answering questions, they rarely fail to care. These professors do not take a superiority mentality to class as many professors of other colleges may, but instead they take a shepherding mentality with them. The fact that they seek to guide their flock of students both in school and out is comforting. Students can be confident that Cornerstone professors will guide, stretch, and comfort them during their years at Cornerstone.

The third solution students find is that fellow Cornerstone students care about them. Cornerstone’s friendly environment spreads like fire among those who wish to partake in it. Granted some students neglect this gift, but students who look for friendly faces are bound to find them. There are many loving, Christ-centered students at Cornerstone who seek to build up the Christian community on campus by reaching out to fellow students. The friendliness of fellow Cornerstone students makes the transition much easier for the new students, and is one of the most notable reasons why many students are able to adjust so quickly.

The fourth solution students find is that the new sense of independency that they are rushed into turns out for the best. Dorm life, over time, teaches students to be more independent in a real-life sense. They may not rent an apartment or own a home off-campus, but they are responsible for their own living space. Through these times students learn to adapt to and even enjoy diversity. It is also natural for them to pick up a greater sense of responsibility. In fact, best of all, students are tested and stretched in their faith (Fisher). Moreover, independency is also learned unconsciously over the first few weeks of handling the busyness of schoolwork, jobs, and other such events. During this time students gain confidence in themselves and their ability to handle the real world. By the time they go home for Christmas, over a span of only three-and-a-half months, these young adults are brand new people. Independency can be a great thing because it teaches responsibility and at the same time ushers many young adults into adulthood.

The fifth solution that students find is that their family still cares. Above all, the people that really matter in their lives, and the ones that have been there for them for their whole lives – their family – will still be there for them. Whether they are across the world or across the road, a family’s love is never-ending. These new students find out how much their families care for and love them during these times. Whether it is a thoughtful card, a care package, or a call to say “We’re thinking of you,” families are still families. Their family’s support will be ever-present and much more appreciated during these times.

Leaving for college is tough – that is inevitable – but it does not have to remain that way, and at Cornerstone University it does not. Here, new students are amazed that resistance is met with a compassionate hand. Fisher, when reflecting on his first semester at Cornerstone, said, “I found that I did enjoy college.” Students are going to go through many changes and crises during these times and it will be difficult, but Cornerstone does not leave them to deal with these issues alone. Rather, Cornerstone fosters a friendly Christian environment to help students overcome difficulties and eventually grow. A compassionate and graceful person is willing to help vulnerable and weak people rather than expose them. That is what Cornerstone University does – they are compassionate and graceful to students in need, and helpful and encouraging to students who are seeking to grow in academics, life, and godliness.

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Works Cited

Fisher, Kevin. Email interview. 4 Oct. 2006.

Irving, Donny. Personal interview. 8 Oct. 2006.

Smith, Scott. “Psychology: Leaving home for college can be tough … for parents.” FAMILY LIVING (2006). 7 Oct. 2006 .

Wallace, John. Personal interview. 7 Oct. 2006.

Copyright 2007 by Timothy C. Devaney

Cornerstone corrections: smooth college transitions (Article)

2007-05-13T18:23:00.000-05:00

Leaving for college is intimidating. “Perhaps no other task in life involves so much emotional energy, time and money for this kind of an outcome,” said Dr. Scott Smith, a professional psychologist. Some people handle the transition exceptionally well, but the change approaches too quickly for many others, bringing up numerous concerns. Fortunately, Cornerstone University helps students make a smooth transition.

One common concern is increased academic pressure. This can scare even the best high school graduates. The challenge is both time-consuming and laborious, requiring focus in all aspects of one’s life. Unfortunately, many students feel they are unprepared and worry about their academic abilities. Moreover, incoming students may fear that college professors will be stubborn. “I was nervous because of the teaching differences,” said junior Kevin Fisher. Academic concerns are some of the most applicable issues for new students.

Things change at Cornerstone, though, as students begin to view their education in a new way. They start to realize new academic opportunities by making connections to their future careers. Donny Irving, a Cornerstone junior, says, “They prepare me for my future endeavors.” This education will stretch them, force them to grow, and help them succeed in the future.

Moreover, Cornerstone professors actually care. They do not act arrogantly like a stereotypical professor may. Freshman John Wallace said, “They get involved in an emotional level that I don’t think would happen at another school.” This can be seen in different ways, such as when they open class with prayer, carefully explain lessons, or patiently answer questions. Students can be confident that Cornerstone professors will guide, stretch, and comfort them.

Another concern is social-related. Being uprooted from one’s life-long friends and thrust into meeting new people – OUCH! That seems harsh. Moreover, a majority of students must also deal with the apprehensions of dorm life. This can obviously cause much anxiety.

Fortunately, at Cornerstone, fellow students care. There are many Christ-centered students who seek to build up the Christian community by reaching out to new students. Their kindness makes the transition much easier.

New students may also fear independency. Being surrounded by debt, as well as trying to maintain a job and keep up with school work is too much for many students. “The young adult has to negotiate a whole new world with less parental supervision or involvement than at any previous time in his life,” said Dr. Smith. This new level of independency causes so much anxiety for certain students that some wonder if they will make it on their own.

Many times, however, the new sense of independency helps them mature. Dorm life requires students to take responsibility for themselves. Time management is crucial as students must get to classes, work, and appointments on time, as well as study. Social skills are also important, as students must learn to adapt to diversity by getting along with others. During this time students can gain confidence in their ability to handle the real world.

New students’ foremost concern may be family-related. Some students start the grieving process before they even leave, as unforgettable moments flood their minds. It can “tug hard on the heartstrings,” according to Dr. Smith.

Nevertheless, students find that their family still cares. Whether they are across the road or across the world, a family’s love never ends. During these times, students find out just how much their families care for them.

Leaving for college can be, tough, but it does not have to remain that way; and at Cornerstone University it does not. Here, new students are amazed that distress is met with a compassionate hand. Fisher, when reflecting on his first semester at Cornerstone, said, “I found that I did enjoy college.” Students are going to go through many changes during these times and it will be difficult, but Cornerstone does not leave them to deal with these issues alone. Rather, they foster a friendly Christian environment to help students overcome difficulties and grow.

Copyright 2007 by Timothy C. Devaney

Little Pine Island Camp (Article)

2007-05-13T18:12:00.000-05:00

Christians are called to serve God. One way they can do that is by serving people. God did not tell the early believers to stay in the church, hoping that people would come to them. He simply said to seek them. Christian organizations around the world are serving Christ in this way. Little Pine Island Camp, affiliated with the Salvation Army, is one of those organizations. They further the Kingdom of Christ by showing people His love.

The Salvation Army is a Christian organization that reaches out to the world. In fact, they are a base-church that sponsors many Christ-centered programs. They spread out around America into smaller churches that are all connected to the Salvation Army. These churches are called cores. In addition, the Salvation Army establishes regional camps where multiple cores each send groups of children. The Little Pine Island Camp is one of these camps.

Their mission is to evangelize, and they enact it by showing Christ’s love. Many people who attend this camp come from broken families and do not know Christ. They use this opportunity to reach out to them, allowing these children to enjoy a different life for a week. The main way they accomplish this is by forming lasting relationships with each camper.

The Little Pine Island Camp is not merely an organization; they are made up of Christian individuals who work because they have a passion for serving Christ. Their website states, “The motivation of the organization is love of God and a practical concern for the needs of humanity.” The best way to do this is by living as Christ did. As the Bible says, “He came to serve and not be served.” This staff can see the Kingdom of God being built around them, and each member has a passion to take part in its development.

Little Pine Island Camp continues year-round because it succeeds. “If it were not beneficial, they would not do it anymore,” said Jessie Johncock, a Cornerstone senior who works at the camp. The success and benefits have no relation to money, though. In fact, it is a non-profit organization that allows people to come to camp for almost no cost. Still, the benefits are visible. When children accept Christ it becomes worth it to them. Moreover, they enjoy simply interacting with the people. These are the type of benefits that keeps this camp running – not money.

This camp revolves around the story of Jesus. This is what gives them hope and keeps them going. According to Johncock, “That’s the whole reason we do what we do.” Johncock has personally been impacted in numerous ways by working at the camp. She recalled “two brothers who were ridiculously poor,” yet they always came to camp with a smile on their face because the staff showed them the love of Christ. Additionally, the campers often keep in touch with their counselors after the camp session is over. This shows that they have made a difference. That is what the camp is all about: making a difference for Christ by showing His love.

Like many non-profit organizations, Little Pine Island Camp is always looking for help. They are seeking Christians who are willing to serve Christ. Those interested in serving at the camp may visit their website (www.lpicamp.org) or call 616-784-1404 for more information.

Copyright 2007 by Timothy C. Devaney

Golf transfer is Chase-ing success (Herald article)

2007-05-13T18:01:00.000-05:00

Tiger Woods? Arnold Palmer? Zach Johnson? No, but he is getting there.

Chase Vandenberg, a new member of the Cornerstone University golf team this past fall, is continually improving his golf game and helping his team while he does it.

So far, he has had a huge impact on the Golden Eagles’ golf team. During the fall semester, he maintained an average score of 74. This spring has not been any different for him, starting right where he left off.

“We’ve had one match so far [in the spring semester], and I shot 74, so I feel pretty good about the way I’ve played so far,” said Vandenberg.

Since a score of 72 is usually par, he is very close to taking the next step as a golfer. The best professional golfers tend to score in the high 60s, which is not far away from Vandenberg’s scores.

When assessing his golf game, Vandenberg said, “The best thing about my golf game would be my consistency. I can hit it straight. Probably my accuracy is my best [attribute], and my putting - I’m a pretty good putter.”

His hard work has helped him develop the skills necessary to be a success. In fact, he has quickly become the second leading golfer on the Cornerstone team.

Vandenberg transferred to Cornerstone this past fall after an ironic situation. He had spent two dissatisfied seasons at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and he wanted a change. Before the fall 2006 semester, he received his opportunity.

Vandenberg said, “Halfway through the summer my dad randomly met the coach here … the coach said, ‘Bring your son out to Clear Brook Golf Club. We can play 18 holes, and it will be like a tryout for him.’”

Needless to say, the tryout went well.

Vandenberg could not be happier with the transfer. He feels that the competition at Cornerstone
is much better than at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and he enjoys his teammates and coach.

Was Vandenberg a Tiger Woods golf prodigy at three years old? Not quite. His talents did not appear overnight. Though, he has been golfing since he was young.

When he was only eight years old, his grandfather built Mullenhurst Golf Course, and that is where it all started for Vandenberg. From there, he went on to compete in other venues as well.
“I got into junior tournaments in the Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo area. Two or three tournaments a summer,” said Vandenberg.

Over the years, his early experiences in life in golfing helped him find success. He went on to play four years of varsity golf in high school. Then came college. During his first two years at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, he went to the nationals in Alabama twice.

He said of the experience, “It was in Alabama, and they fly you down there. You get there and feel like a pro. You get water and Gatorade at every hole. They treated you real well.”
Clearly, he is thirsty to get back. Vandenberg said, “If we make it to nationals, it will make my year.”Is the team good enough, though?

“We’re good,” said Vandenberg. “We didn’t play up to our potential last fall. It was kind of inconsistent. If we all put it together, I think that the team has a serious shot of going to nationals. I truly believe that.”

They may have to play an underdog role to do so, but those are always the best stories anyway.

“No one’s expecting Cornerstone to come out and win it, but that’s kind of why I think we’re like the underdog,” said Vandenberg. “And I think that’s why we might surprise some people at regionals. We have a legit chance.”