Running head: A FAMILY WITH FACTS 1

A Family With Facts

Sonoma Gioscia

Arizona State University

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Abstract

Journalism is not dead, nor will it ever be. Journalism can be misunderstood and

misinterpreted into something that is not true or biased, especially now in this political climate

where some News stations only report on things pertaining to their political agenda, instead of

being objective, which

Keywords​: Journalism, Objective, Inspiring

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A Family With Facts

Section 1, Question Bank

I was curious about Journalism majors simply because there are a lot of controversies

behind Journalists, News stations, blogs, etc. A lot of people believe that in their writings and

reports Journalists are biased and don’t know how to be objective, so I went to the root of the

problem and asked Journalism majors about their curriculum and what they are taught on a daily

basis. I was hoping to prove this theory wrong and give Journalists the benefit of the doubt.

Journalists may write about things that they agree or disagree with, but that doesn’t necessarily

mean that their opinions are interwoven into the words that they type. Their writings probably

have nothing to do with their beliefs or views because it’s their job to write about what is going

on in the world.

“Central Research Question”

● Do you think it’s important for Journalism majors to be opinionated when writing?

● What object do you think is essential for a Journalism major?

● Do you think Blaze Radio and Cronkite News helps prepare you for the future?

“General Inquiry/Observation Questions”

● Are there any internship opportunities available through Walter Cronkite?

● What happens in the Forum?

“General Interview Questions”

● Where do you get your information/news from?

“Interview Questions for Specific People”

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● What inspired you to become a Journalism major?

● Was there someone in the Journalism business that you looked up to?

● What do you want to do once you get your degree?

● Do you feel like you belong at Walter Cronkite?

● What stereotype about Journalism majors bothers you?

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Section 2, Sites of Inquiry

Sites of Inquiry Contact / Location Dates / Times

Taylor Place Dorm Room Amanda Day (Journalism

major)
120 E. Taylor St.
Phoenix, AZ 85004

Walter Cronkite School of Amanda Day (Journalism

Journalism major)
120 E. Taylor St.
Phoenix, AZ 85004

Taylor Place Dorm Room Rae’Lee Klein (Journalism

major)
120 E. Taylor St.
Phoenix, AZ 85004
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Section 3, Inquiring into Objects /Artifacts

Part 1, Summarize the experience, including responses and notes (~200 words):

Writing, not an object or artifact, but something that is very important to Journalism

majors. It’s the one skill that needs to be learned and perfected because it will be used throughout

the student’s future careers. For Journalism majors, writing is a powerful tool that will be used

often. It is a needed skill for Journalism majors because it’s pertinent to their future in the

Journalism profession. It’s their job to inform the people properly, objectively, and concisely and

this learned throughout their education at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism.

Since writing isn’t necessarily an object, to write people use pens, pencils, paper, and

their computers. So to pick a specific object then it would have to be the writing utensils used by

the Journalism majors. Some might wonder “how could something so simple as a pencil have so

much significance?” and for Journalism majors that’s not even a question because to them

writing utensils can make or break their career. The pens, pencils, paper, and computers used are

objects that will advance their skill in writing and help them become the best Journalist that they

can possibly be.

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Part 2, Principle Quotes or Observations with an explanation of value:

1. “Does writing count as an object?”

2. “Definitely a computer. I use it all the time in my JMC Lecture class for Rough Drafts,

Final Drafts, Discussions, etc.”

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Part 3, Reflect on the process, occurrences, and results of this research, including inferences
about the significance of your observations and interview responses. (~300 words):

It was kind of difficult for me to find one object that had great significance in the field of

Journalism because both women that I spoke to said that writing was very important. With

writing it’s not an object or an artifact, but it’s an action. It’s an action that can have

consequences, power, emotion, subjectivity, objectivity, etc. Something so easy as putting a

pencil to paper can have the power to change a person’s perspective on a current event. To find a

specific object, I looked at the things that helped people write and that was a pencil, paper, pens,

and computers.
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Section 4, Inquiring into Place

Part 1, Summarize the observation, including responses and notes (~200 words):

The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism is a big place with many things on each floor.

On the first floor, there are lecture halls where students with different majors come to learn

subjects that will help them in getting their degree. The second floor, I think, is the most

important; it’s a place where students can hangout in the Forum or go to the library and study,

they’re JMC lecture is held, there is a museum with artifacts that show the history of Journalism

and of Walter Cronkite’s career, and so many other things. JMC lectures are classes focused only

on Journalism and the history, aspects, skills, and careers that come with this specific major. On

the second floor, they hold Must See Mondays every week with new topics to talk about and

speakers that come in to inform the students about that certain topic. Blaze Radio is on the third

floor and it’s a radio show that most Journalism majors participate in. Cronkite News is another

activity taken place on the sixth floor that is a professional program for seniors and juniors.

The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism definitely prepares these students for the

future and gives them insight on what Journalism truly is. Students here feel like they belong and

feel as if they are being taught on what is to come of the next few years.
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Part 2, Principle Quotes or Observations with an explanation of value:

3. “They always have something going on and it gives us great opportunities to learn.” This

is significant because it shows how much the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism is

invested in every students success and how much they want to see them prosper, meaning

that they truly care for their students.

4. Amanda was so excited and happy to show me the different areas of the Walter Cronkite

School of Journalism. The significance of this is that Amanda felt so comfortable in

Cronkite and it shows just how amazing Cronkite is to it’s students.

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Part 3, Reflect on the process, occurrences, and results of this research, including inferences
about the significance of your observations and interview responses. (~300 words):

When Amanda took me on a tour around Cronkite on a Sunday, so I didn’t get to see the

hustle of all the students throughout that building. I took it upon myself to find a seat in the

Forum and I watched what went on as time passed for 40 minutes. I saw that students were

studying in the Library area, studying in the actual Forum, watching the News, working on

homework, or just hanging out with friends. As time passed, I realized that the Walter Cronkite

School of Journalism was a safe haven for students to come and relax and to be themselves. I felt

no tension in the air, the vibes were great, and I felt a calmness while sitting.

Both Amanda and Rae’Lee told me how welcomed they felt once they stepped foot into

Cronkite. And I saw that they were right, even I felt like I belonged and I am a Nursing major.

There were no perplexed faces coming out of class, they were all smiling and happy to be at

Walter Cronkite
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Section 5, Inquiring into Activities/Events

Part 1, Summarize the observation, including responses and notes (~200 words):

Blaze Radio, an activity that focuses on giving students the opportunity to learn more

about the Radio business and the aspects required for a Journalism major to craft and perfect for

the future. The show plays music, talks about the weather, politics, business, etc. for the public

and ASU students to hear. It helps students learn about the different aspects of Journalism and

gain their confidence and create a voice. Blaze Radio teaches you how to express your emotions

through the way you speak because in the radio business faces are not seen, so it can be quite

difficult to convey the correct emotion for a certain situation.

And on the sixth floor, Cronkite News, a professional program for juniors and seniors

that allows students to see behind the scenes of a News station. It encourages them not to just

think of Journalists as someone on TV as a Newscaster, but it shows them the producers, writers,

executives, etc. Cronkite News is something that is real and shown on National Television for

everyone to see, this forces students to face the reality of television production and all that goes

into it.

Both of these activities prepare Journalism majors for their future careers and it turns

students into professionals that have a deeper understanding of Journalism as a whole.

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Part 2, Principle Quotes or Observations with an explanation of value:

5. “Blaze Radio forces you to work on your voice because your face isn’t shown, so people

can’t read your face and they can’t read your body language.”

6. “Cronkite News is awesome. It’s a program mostly for juniors and seniors, but freshman

can volunteer. I usually work the camera for the News Reporters, but with this

opportunity I get to see all aspects of a News show.” This is significant because it’s a

professional program that is a useful tool to help students understand all aspects and

responsibilities that come with an actual News station.

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Part 3, Reflect on the process, occurrences, and results of this research, including inferences
about the significance of your observations and interview responses. (~300 words):

A lot of people are scared for what’s to come after college and I couldn’t agree more.

Thinking about the future is frightening because that’s when you’re on your own and you can

only rely on yourself to get things done. And for people in college, once they get their degrees

they don’t know what comes next, but Journalism majors don’t feel this way at all. Through all

of the activities held at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, Amanda and Rae’Lee felt

more prepared than they thought and this is only their first semester of freshman year.

A learning place that applies what is taught to real life situations is amazing and I even

talked to Amanda and Rae’Lee about this. They feel incredibly lucky to call Arizona State

University their home and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism their college. Both of them

were so happy to be apart of Blaze Radio and Cronkite News because it’s something of

substance, it’s real and it allows them to try the different paths of Journalism. I can see that

Cronkite encourages every single student to try different things and learn about new aspects of

Journalism through these activities, resulting in well-rounded Journalists for the future.
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Section 6, Inquiring into People/Person

Part 1, Summarize the observation, including responses and notes (~200 words):

I interviewed both Amanda Day and Rae’Lee Klein about their Journalism majors. I was

curious about why they chose Journalism? Who or what inspired them to become Journalism

majors? What do they want to achieve after getting their degree? What are some fun things you

do within the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism? And some other questions.

From all of the questions asked about their school and it’s faculty, I could tell how much

they loved what they were doing and how excited they were for the future. Amanda said that she

feels comfortable in Cronkite and she realized how bizarre that was because she considered

herself to be an introvert. Rae’Lee was surprised at how much Crokite has prepared her already

in such a short amount time. Rae’Lee already had a little experience in Journalism because she

was her high school’s hockey reporter and she was really looking forward to what Cronkite

could offer her, needless to say her expectations were met.

I asked them about the community of Journalism majors, if it was super competitive or

somewhat of a support system?

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Part 2, Principle Quotes or Observations with an explanation of value:

7. “I definitely feel like I belong here. I love the people because everyone is so including

and they all make me feel welcome.” The significance of this is that although Amanda

considers herself an introvert and someone who is rather shy, the people at Cronkite

made her feel accepted and it shows how open and

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Part 3, Reflect on the process, occurrences, and results of this research, including inferences
about the significance of your observations and interview responses. (~300 words):

When I heard that we had to interview at least two people from the community, I was

very nervous. But, then my friend Amanda suggested to me that I research Journalism majors

and I thought why not? So, I interviewed Amanda and Rae’Lee both of them are my friends.

Before I interviewed them I was still anxious because I didn’t want to embarrass myself or do

something stupid.

Once the interviews started, I felt more comfortable because these two girls were my

friends and I was excited to hear about something that they have a passion for. Amanda, a quiet

and kind young woman was inspired by Michael Strahan to become a Journalism major and

hopefully a Newscaster in the near future. Rae’Lee was inspired by her passion from reporting

on her high school hockey team. She really loves hockey, she even has a list of future husband’s

that are mostly made up of hockey players. Amanda is an alternate for Blaze Radio and an

executive for Cronkite Cut and Rae’Lee is a host on Blaze Radio. They also volunteer for

Cronkite News. With all of the things that they are involved in, they know that it’s important to

stay on top of studies and homework, most of the time they help each other.

From what I can see the community of Journalism majors and the people apart of it are

special because they are kind, helpful, and ready to learn.

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Section 7, Soundscape Links

file:///Users/soso123/Desktop/The%20Forum.mp3
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Section 8, WP3 Proposal

If you asked me a few weeks ago what I know about Journalism majors it would be next

to nothing. However right now, I know they are hard working people that are dedicated and

focused. I’m not trying to diminish any other majors, I’m just saying that with what little I have

seen, I am incredibly impressed. The programs held throughout Cronkite are quite amazing in

that they prepare Journalism majors for all things in the Journalism world. The academia of

Cronkite enhances students abilities to be objective and a good writer. I have to admit that I

thought all Journalists were biased in their writings, but from what I’ve learned that is something

frowned upon at Cronkite. Cronkite encourages students to be as objective as possible, but they

also understand that sometimes it’s very difficult to keep one’s opinion out of their writings. Not

only are they taught about objectivity, but they are taught about the different aspects in

Journalism through activities like Blaze Radio and Cronkite News. People with Journalism

majors are well-informed about everything that goes on in the News as well because they have to

take a Newspaper quiz twice a week for their JMC lecture classes.

All of this information I have gathered through research and observation has been

prompted by the question of whether Journalists are actually unbiased or do they just speak their

mind?
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References

Day, A. (2018, October 10). Personal Interview.

Day, A. (2018, October 21). Personal Interview.

Klein, R. (2018, October 26). Personal Interview.