When Words Collide

When Words Collide: A Media Writer's Guide to Grammar and Style has got to be one of the most useful books I have bought in college. In studying for the midterm we had today, I realized that my life would have been a lot easier these last four years with it. I really wish I would have bought it right when I became a journalism major.

Part Two, which is the Topical Guide to Grammar and Word use is so incredibly handy. Not only does it give you definitions of all the parts of speech, but there is a comprehensive list of words that are commonly misused. I will never misuse one of these words again as long as I have this book.

The among/between entry is probably the one that surprised me the most. I always just used those words interchangeably. Now, I know I was wrong. Extremely wrong. "Among relates to more than two persons or things, and between applies to only two."

I also was using convince and persuade wrong, which I am glad was in the book, because it was on the test today.

Printing Press

I had no idea what I was going to write this blog post about until I was walking home from Editing today and I hear this car honk at me. It was my editor-in-chief Tommy Trafton yelling at me to get into the car. I got into the car, saw that one of the buzz photographers, Abby, was there as well. I asked where we were going and got no reply. All they said is that I will know when I get there.

We parked in Champaign and started walking. I noticed we were headed towards the direction of The News-Gazette and began wondering what exactly we would be doing there. It turns out we were going to take a tour of the printing press where the DI and buzz are printed. We have one of our biggest issues of the year coming out tomorrow, so Tommy wanted to see it being printed.

It was a great experience to see where the papers are printed. We leanred that that printing press used to do the Chicago Tribune until last April when they lost the contract. I also learned that to print buzz, the printing press uses about 4 tons of paper.

It was great to see where the buzz and DI are born each day/week. Plus, te guy who gave us the tour was super nice. I reccomend checking it out if you can.

A little pick me up

After watching that video about the Rocky Mountain News going out of business on Monday, I have been thinking a lot about trying to get a job when I graduate here in May. Everything seems to keep reminding me that my journalism degree might not be worth that much when i go out into the real world and look for a job. Especially things like this: http://gawker.com/5163731/ten-new-jobs-for-j+school-graduates

While that IS funny..it is also kind of depressing. That is why, to cheer up all of the Journalism majors stressing about trying to get a job, I present this video: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=581_1236064812

If those ducks aren't afraid to jump off of that tree, then I am not afraid of finding a job.