UGA writer gains experience on the go as a new journalist

University of Georgia student and Patch.com writer Daniel Burnett learned that accuracy is vital when covering crime stories.
Daniel spoke to journalism students at the University of Georgia Monday morning to discuss his experience covering his first crime story which involved the accused cop killer Jamie Hood’s Hostage situation.
Burnett emphasized how important it was not to use convicting words toward the suspect when writing the story.
During the investigation, Burnett gained information in various ways.
“Whenever I saw cops I would hit the breaks to find out what they were doing” said Burnett. Burnett said he also talked to bystanders during the hostage standoff to get their reaction and point of view.
While waiting for Hood to surrender to authorities, Burnett said he and a number of other journalists were only allowed to gain information from a nearby church where they all waited because they were not allowed on the scene.
When Hood surrendered, Burnett was able to capture the reaction of Hood’s family members. He described their reaction as “rough to watch”.
Burnett described covering the story as a challenge because he and his editor were the only two members involved in the coverage for Athens Patch.com.
“Every piece of information I would get, I would instantly email it to my editor” said Burnett.
Ironically, Burnett has never met his editor in person, but he admits that it takes a lot of trust and teamwork to cover a story with only two team members.
Burnett is set to graduate in May and intends on working for Patch.com in the future or possibly moving to Washington D.C to find work.

ACC committee set to adress potential city wide changes

The Athens County Clarke County Commission Committee met in an agenda setting Thursday night to discuss current issues in the county as well as proposals for improvements.
The committee spoke briefly of the problems that would be addressed at a later date and also covered the issues that they would resolve next week.
The Four subjects discussed at the meeting involved requests by the committee to develop multi-family housing, to renovate buildings to accommodate residents as well as rezoning specific acres for more development.
Each specific subject will either be approved or denied by the Voting Committee once meetings are resumed.
Other topics at hand included The Plaza and Hill St, abandonment of East Hancock Ave and Athens Clarke County Jail expansion.

Pressure by Georgian Government motivates Journalist to be Pro active with new media

The attempts of pressure by the Georgia government only motivate journalist to be successful in their responsibility to their audiences to give accurate information regarding current issues.
A group of six radio and newspaper journalists from the Georgia visited the University of Georgia Monday to explain the state of news and media in their environment and to learn from American media culture.
The trip to the University of Georgia was funded by the open world program, a program in collaboration with the U.S. congress.
There are many government restrictions on the media outlets, but journalist agree that Journalism is progressing and gaining more freedom.
“The Georgian government often tries to “pressure” or threaten radio stations and websites that tell Georgian citizens information that they otherwise wouldn’t know” said Khatuna Gogashvili.
“The effect of this is bad for local radio stations as the government blocks information from the media and access to the information becomes more limited. Because of this, local outlets are the last to get information and often get the news when the story has lost its effect.”
“Media is a very competitive field” said Khatuna Barbakadze. “It is risky and often requires a strong competitive nature to be successful.”
In spite of the government turmoil, there has been an upside to being in the field of media. Digital media has had a massive affect on communication in the nation of Georgia.
Journalist and television personnel have started to use Facebook to communicate with each other as well as their audience.
“In the month of February Georgia had the largest amount of new Facebook Users” said Irina Arabidze.
“This new media has allowed information to be spread independently and not be monitored by government” stated Khatuna Barbakadze. Because of the digital media the Georgian journalist have a newfound hope of one day being the free speaking nation it envisions.
The experience and information gained from visiting the United States hopes to give the journalist more motivation to make Georgia a nation with limitless possibilities and a bigger variety of trustworthy outlets to news and media.

Local government should be important to us

Harry Hayes, a faculty member in the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, spoke to journalism students Monday morning about the importance of local government, and how it impacts our everyday lives without us knowing it.
Without the small necessities a local government offers, our undemanding lifestyle may be a little different.
Hayes portrayed our federal government as a “quilt of local governments” describing how our national government is simply a link of organized small governments that form together to make our nation operate properly.
Because local governments are creatures of the state and not the federal government, they can provide specific services to citizens based off the citizen’s preference.
This is due to the fact that cities can be created and incorporated by the general population.
Recently, there have been a few new cities added to the Georgia state government based off its growth as a community; Sandy Springs and Dunwoody being the latest.
The local governments of cities like these around the United States provide its citizens with the every day necessities such as sewage, water filtering, and trash services. These are services that we may take for granted, but without them we understand their importance.
Local Governments can also take on a bigger role. Fairfax County recently helped aid in the victims of Japan’s recent tragedy. Hayes stated “since the United States doesn’t have federal rescue unit, local governments are very important in aiding a national crisis.”
Local governments around the United States are extremely vital to our nation’s success, we should appreciate their existence.

U.S. city and state government is unique in many ways

Harry Hayes, a member of The University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government spoke to Journalism students Monday morning about the diverse structures of county and city government in the United States and the uniqueness of America’s freedom in Government.
The consolidation of Counties in the United States can often be decided by its citizens.
In Athens- Clarke County the county failed three times before getting consolidated. Ironically the fourth time the community citizens pushed for consolidation and they succeeded.
This is a unique quality that Americans have the luxury of enjoying that other countries may not.
“There are 3,067 counties in the United States and they all form a quilt of local government” Said Hayes.
Hayes encouraged students to think of our United States government as a quilt that needs its fellow state in order to thrive.
In the United States county governments are required to do similar services as the city governments.
For example, Canada has a national police system that provides protection for the entire country. The United States relies on local police and sheriff services in different jurisdictions. This is an example of the separation of city and county government throughout each state.
Mr. Hayes illustrated how the American way of life and system of government allows citizens to govern as well as be governed in a fair and lawful way.

Journalism a brightspot in a communist country

Brandon Boykin
Assignment #7

Tutor Vlad, the associate director at the Cox center traveled to Romania last week to teach different research methods to students at the National School of Political Studies in Romania.
Vlad was invited to the Romanian University by Remus Pricopie who is the Dean of Communication at the University.
While on the trip, Vlad tried to find ways to help journalist in a communistic country have independence in advertising and marketing.
Vlad spent the majority of his time in classrooms while in Romania, but when he wasn’t teaching he toured the city of Cluj-Napoca, where he visited the school of journalism which he founded and other government buildings.
Vlad is from the city of Cluj-Napoca and his family currently lives there.
Although the trip pleasant overall, there were some events that were controversial.
There were two protests while Vlad was in front of the central government building.
“The protests were a result of salaries decreasing and political tension amongst citizens and government” said Vlad.
The communist ways of Romania are controlling the citizens and distressing their ability to improve their lifestyles.
Although the country is experiencing turmoil there is some noticeable change happening. “The quality of journalism programs have dramatically improved overtime due to the influences from western professors and journalism” stated Vlad.
Independence is the key to a happy future for the citizens of Romania and Tutor Vlad wants to be a part of the solution.

UGA students ready for spring break

Jessica Brewton, a sophomore at the University of Georgia will travel to Panama City Florida for spring break in two weeks.

To prepare for the long awaited break, Jessica has laid out on her rooftop after class when the weather permits.

“Everyone wants to have that nice tan before they hit the beach” says Brewton.

Jessica is going with three friends from her hometown of Gwinnett.

“This will be my second time going to Panama City; I went once my senior year of high school. I am hoping this year will be more fun.”

Jessica plans to arrive on Monday, March 14th and leave Thursday, March 17th.