Moving Forward with Taur Ward

I am still in shock that I am writing my final journal entry for my mastery journal. When I first started on this path, I felt that it would take an eternity for me to finish. At times, I felt as if I would not rise to the occasion. Obtaining a higher degree such as a master’s degree is an intimidating thought for someone who is not very fond of school. The overall experience at Full Sail University was not the typical college experience. However, I preferred this method rather than the traditional method of test taking and memorizing information to only forget it months later when it is no longer applicable.

With the new media and journalism program, I was able to get hands-on experience and apply my skills that I had already possessed with skills that were recently taught to me. The courses were challenging, but they were also intriguing and interesting. If you would have told me four years ago that I would return to school to get my Master’s Degree I would have most likely laughed at you and walked away. Although I could not physically attend graduation, I have a weight lifted off my shoulders knowing that I have reached the finish line.

New Media and Journalism Final Project put things into perspective for me. It was in this class that I realized I was almost finished. There were times where I became relaxed in my work because I knew I was almost finished. My actions were unacceptable, and it reflected in my quality of work. I re-evaluated myself and realized, this is only the beginning of my career. I am not a senior in high school or undergrad with a case of “senioritis” I am an adult working towards my career. I needed to act accordingly. After all, if I became lazy for one or two weeks, then what is that to say about my work ethics? I know I am a passionate hard worker but other may not know. I must make sure I am proving myself each time.

The assignments focused primarily on our thesis which was a summary of our capstone project. I never had to analyze my work in such an intense manner in the past. There were a lot of categories I realized I was weak in such as social media promotion. I now understand why businesses hire professionals for their social media marketing. As an independent journalist, I need to be a jack of all trades which means I need to be very versatile. While my content may be strong, my work and content will be futile if I do not market it properly.

With this being my second to last entry for my Mastery Journal, it showed me how far I have come in this program and how close I am to living my dream. I was expecting this course to be very hard. Although it was quite a challenge at times, I could navigate through the course and grow even more. I knew that with this I would submit 10 months’ worth of work. The thought of a project that I began working on in the summer months finally being submitted was exhilarating and worrisome at the same time. I was not sure how my professor would perceive my topic and if I was doing justice to the story with my reporting tactics. I was concerned that I would miss the mark.

Each week offered insight on how I can be successful presenting this topic. I was able to put together strategies and distribution plans for this topic. I learned what worked and what did not work. This made me alter how I deliver my story to the public. Facebook and Twitter are the best platforms for me to promote my story on. With the recent stories surrounding rape culture, this shows that my story is newsworthy but it can also hinder it from being heard because some many other media outlets are talking about the actual individuals involved instead of the facts. I chose to focus on the facts instead of people.

Being a writer is not an easy profession. It is hard to earn a livable wage while being a small-town writer. Week four’s lesson taught me the most valuable lesson that I have learned in this entire program, monetizing and profiting from my product. This goes hand in hand with Marketing. Producing the final product was not as challenging as I thought, however, sharing my story and obtaining readers and views was the real challenge.

Before I started Public Relations and Reputation Management, I was very nervous and did not know what to expect. Of course, I knew that this course would be focused primarily on branding and promoting messages as that is one of the cores for Public Relations. However, I did not know where myself nor my capstone project would fit into that type of criteria.

The content and required readings I found to be very helpful during my journey through this course. I found that I could complete my assignments and envision them better when I took my journalist hat off and put my PR Specialist cap on. This was very different for me.

The course and Dr. Reneski help guide me through the course. Dr. Reneski’s feedback helped me improve and have faith in my work and the message I want to relay for my brand. It taught me to look deeper than just my tagline of, “Moving Forward.” I had to think of what Forward actually was and with whom I chose to take on this journey.

I had imagined that this class would focus on the present and promote past stories. This could not have been further from the truth. This class has taught me that in order to be successful, I must envision all aspects of the future and develop a tangible strategy and execution. Research is also key. I must research effective strategies for the platforms I plan to use. What may work for Facebook may not work for Tumblr or Twitter. Each platform is different just as the message I am delivering may be interpreted in ways I did not intend. I had to clarify my message to may sure there were no margins of errors in regards to how my message was being perceived. This required consent re-writing and drafting to get the proper message across. Reputation is very important in the Media and how you’re perceived can either make or break you.

Social Media and Online Community Engagement taught me a lot within a short time span. With each class in this program, I am learning more about sites and platforms I previously used and have introduced ones I never knew existed. Prior to this course, I did not know about StumbleUpon, nor that Pinterest could be used as a tool for a journalist.

In addition to the tutorials provided by professor Foley, I was encouraged to find additional resources to help me support my work. I found myself revisiting a site that helped me during my undergrad years, Poynter. Poynter provided me with many tips on how to become a better journalist. Just like Pinterest, I never imagined using Reddit to promote my stories. My interaction with the site has always been for educational purposes. Professor Foley and Poynter provided tips on how to promote my stories on this platform. Poynter directed me to an article written by Muck Rack on how journalists should use Reddit, according to their Director of Communications.   I also learned that Pew Research Center is a valuable resource to use to find studies that were conducted.  

Multimedia News Reporting gave me a chance to expand on my storytelling skills. I was given choices of the type of stories I wanted to produce. Having background in video-editing, my selection was biased. Two of three of my publications consisted of a video being my third element, writing was primary element. My third publication consisted of the usual elements, text, and photos; however, I made an exception a did an infographic for the type of story that I produced.

My third publication would be what I considered as a hard hitting story that hits very close to home. I chose to do a story on one of my friends because I felt the story of her daughter is newsworthy. My son and her daughter were roommates at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia after they both had heart surgery at a few days old. My son only needed one surgery; whereas her daughter required all three.

I learned with this course that the execution of producing the piece is key. I was determined to not fall behind during this course and make sure that I had my stories uploaded and finished well before the deadline. If I did submit it close to the deadline it was because I did not get a chance to upload the completed product when I initially finished it.  

Although I would prefer not to reflect upon Digital News Productions, I must. It was not the course, it was me. The assignments, as always, were pretty much straight forward. They’re always a challenge when it comes to initiation and not when it is assigned. The real challenge is time management and this class I failed horribly. I had a rough time juggling between work life, school life, and home life. It felt as it the three were not in tune at all during this course.

When you’re in the field gathering footage and trying to visually edit in the back of your mind,  you’ll come to the realization, “you can never have enough b-roll or footage,” which prompts you to get additional footage. Each time this thought crossed my mind, I realized during editing that I did not get all of the footage that I would have liked to get nor the variety of shots. Shooting with the tripod proved to be challenging because if something interested was happening roughly 12 feet away you would have to either run and capture it up close, or pan and zoom while hoping the footage captured is clear enough to be placed in the piece.

These four weeks went by too fast. It may have been the summer break that made it feel like someone put their foot on the gas pedal when we came back for week two. This was the class that I had to decide what I would do for my Capstone project. Although this project is in the infancy stage, I realize it is not to be taken lightly. I plan to start initiating interviews in August and September so I can focus primarily on gather the contact and orchestrating it on the media platform.

When Digital New Production began, I expected to create video packages. I was not sure of the length of the packages that we would create but I anticipated it would have been two stories for the entire course. I was partially wrong; we were to produce four pieces. Nonetheless, clear audio would have to be included in the piece because without good audio the piece would be null and void. These assignments gave me a chance to strengthen my written skills which are still developing.

In Research and Investigation Skills Development course I learned to include as many hyperlinks as possible. In my undergrad years, this was not stressed to nor instructed to me. It was something that the teacher referenced once and continued with the course not notating how important it would be.

One of the goals for this class that I feel like I am still learning is navigating and retrieving information from public databases. My previous courses touched on this topic but this course went further in depth. Pulling records from public databases can be challenging if you’re not sure where to go to obtain the information.

The Data Storytelling chart provided in Week 2 helped me draft my stories. It provided the structure and how the story should flow when presented in the form of a chart or infographic. The infographic played a major role in Week 2 assignment. I learned how to differentiate between a good infographic and a bad infographic.

Week 3 elaborated on storytelling aspect of the course. I could ask Jersey’s Fav and Phitted questions about their music and tell their story. It was very exciting to be a part of the magic that they were creating. This course was challenging because I was unable to obtain the public records that I had in mind such as permits to venues; however, I was still pleased to know that I can view copyrights online for certain publications.

The library resources were an additional source to help find information. I did not know that we can have material shipped directly to our home from the Full Sail Library. It is nice to know that at any time I can obtain additional information a search for professional experts within the field.

Memorable Release on Memorial Day

Jersey’s Fav and Phitted on their radio tour promoting their new song.

There will be a memorable release on Memorial Day.

Richard Anthony, better known by his stage name, Jersey’s Fav, and Latroy McKinley-Fuller, better known as Phitted, are anticipating the release of their music video, #SFYBISLM. Jersey’s Fav and Phitted recorded the song not knowing that it would become a hit amongst Willingboro residents.

“We were on the topic of how one of our friend’s girlfriend was flirting hard,” Jersey Fav explained how the song’s concept was created.  “The thought came across my mind that if she would let me, then I would. Creating the hashtag.”

The song can be described as controversial by some because it glorifies having relations with someone who is in a relationship. The hashtag stands for, “Still F Your B If She Lets Me”. The title is controversial but has been favorited 24 times on Soundcloud alone. On Facebook, the preview to the video has been viewed over 800 times. The song is definitely creating a buzz within the South Jersey area.  

On set of SFYBISLM. Phitted left, DJ Lite Eyez middle, Jersey’s Fav right (photo credit Taureanna Ward)

The music video takes place in a club. It focuses on the main character being and his girlfriend. Jersey’s Fav plays the antagonist who tries to steal the girl while the main character is away. Phitted’s character appears as the protagonist’s conscience.  

Recently, the two have been on a radio tour to promote their new hit single. They have interviewed with Scarlett NuVvo  and Jurnee Marie of REVBAD on GSNJ Radio. They have also interviewed with StrickliQueenShow on Elv8tionRadio. On both shows, Phitted and Fav gave listeners a look into their life and music.

Phitted explained that he is motivated by the recent passing of his mother, who died last month. “I’m going to make her proud and express myself through my music.” Phitted continued, “It’s what she would have wanted me to do.”

Jersey’s Fav and Phitted were friends long before they were label mates. Fav took the death of Phitted’s mom hard as well. “She was like a second mom, Phitted is my brother,” Fav explained.

After experiencing such tragedy, these two men have focused on their music even more. They sat down with their management team and discussed the official release of the video. It was decided that SFYBISLM music video would be best released on Memorial Day. Memorial Day Weekend is known as the holiday that marks the beginning of summer. Although summer does not officially begin until June, colleges and other schools generally let out for summer break in the month of May.

Dreams do come true… well at least for one Willingboro High School alumnae. Meka Bennett is the owner of Top Level Beauty Bar, a hair salon located in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. Bennett graduated from Willingboro High School in 2009. During Bennet’s last year at the school, it was determined that the cosmetology program would not return for the 2009-2010 school year, thus leaving students devastated. There was no prediction of when the program would resume or if it would return.

The cosmetology program at Willingboro High gave students like Bennett insight into their future at an early age. The allowed students to enroll their freshman year and, for those who wanted to, continue with classes throughout the rest of their time in high school. Students who stuck to this blueprint went on to make careers out of being a cosmetologist. Bennett, however, not only made a career out of becoming a cosmetologist, but also started a business of her own. “Sometimes you just have to step out there and believe in something you can't quite see” Bennett quoted one of her favorite quotes from the book “The Pact”.

Bennett opened Top Level Beauty Bar in October of 2014. After experiencing success with her own salon, Bennet collaborated with a few former high school peers to bring the cosmetology program back so future generations can have the same opportunity that she was given. After years of talking to the board of education and coming up with budgets and funding for the program, the program was reopened in January 2017, eight years after the program closed.

Bennett returned to her high school, not as an inspirational speaker, but as a teacher. Not only did Bennet help implement the new cosmetology program , but she is also passing on her knowledge to the younger generation. When the school year ends in June, Meka will have successfully completed her first semester of teaching cosmetology at a high school level. During the 2017-2018 school year, Bennett will teach two semesters of the cosmetology program and will continue to run her own business.”

Writing is hard no matter how good of a communicator you are. There is a certain art that comes with putting the words down on paper. As a technical person, I find delivering my stories via video and podcast is more within my reach than writing the words. Writing for Interactive Media has given me more courage to not have my voice heard but my words read.

 Although I have had many courses and writing courses in the past, I never fully fathom the idea of enjoying what I’m writing about. My previous years in college I was geared and directed to write about subjects that did not spark my interest. With this course, I was given complete freedom to write about a subject that sparked my interest which means the anxiety of writing was taken off.

 There were times when I pitched a story in class and the teacher completely discarded the story and gave me another story to do instead. I digress. That was also a learning opportunity because it showed me early on that you must do things that you do not want to do but it also made me lose hope of telling stories I want to tell and not the stories others want me to tell.

 Each of my classmates in Writing for Interactive Media offered valuable feedback and encouragement not only to myself but to everyone. Even though we may never meet each other in person, we have built a companionship through our discussion board posts.