The Lopez Report

Last Saturday, I spent over two hours in Barnes & Noble until it was past 10 p.m. Who knew they would even be open that late?

Anyways, this year I am a Resident Assistant in the Freshman girl’s dorm at Xavier and also the head of the book club. I thought it was interesting that my advisor chose me as the head of the book club but I took on the task with great ambition for the group. 

While I spent those lovely two and a half hours in Barnes & Noble, I went through 5 fiction, 7 non-fiction and just about the rest of the store besides the children’s section trying to find something. I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to have the club read, so I chose three different books for them to choose from. 

One book I came across was Alida Nugent’s, You Don’t Have to Like Me. 

I was attracted by this book because of its cover (which I know is cliché), but also because of what it talks about. Feminism is a hot topic in this book along with added humor from the writer. 

I can't wait to actually read the book and see how Nugent speaks about being a feminist. I think many people don't think they’re feminists because they’re unsure of what the term means. Hopefully, my choosing of this book will help them decide. 

Here is a link to more information about the author and her work: http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/316997/you-dont-have-to-like-me-by-alida-nugent/ 

Hello, fellow tumblr-holics. This is the end of another semester for me and it has been a great challenge. Maintaining my blog has been one of the more difficult tasks for me this semester, on top of the many other assignments I was given throughout the semester. But I got it done, as I always do.

I have definitely become a better writer this semester. I am very proud of myself and the hard work that it took for me to get to this point. This semester, I have become more comfortable with the different techniques and styles of media writing and I will continue to master them.

Throughout the summer, I plan to stay abreast with the news and frequently read newspapers, blogs, online print writing, and watch the news on television. It is important that I am up to date with what is happening in the news because it’s the field that I am in. In order to get better I have to keep reading and achieving. 

Thank you for a great semester, and as they said in middle school H.A.G.S (Have A Great Summer).

On Wednesday Apr 29, the Baltimore Orioles made Major League Baseball history as they became the first team of the sport to host a game where fans were not allowed inside the stadium.

This is of course, due to the recent riots in Baltimore which began Apr 25, in response to the death of Freddie Gray. Gray, a 25 year old African American male, died due to injuries sustained in police custody. While peaceful at first, the protests eventually turned into riots.

The Orioles were to host a 3 game series against the Chicago White Sox, however, the first two games were rescheduled which left Baltimore with one game to host.

In response to the riots, the Orioles decided to ban fans from attending the game. In fact, a handful of talent scouts were the only people allowed in the stadium aside from the players and the officials.

Here’s a link for more information on the Orioles game: http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/29/us/baltimore-surreal-scenes/

The "Fight of the Century" boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is scheduled to be held on May 2, 2015 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Maywather, a world class boxer, has 47 wins and 0 losses in his professional career. An impressive feat in and of itself, 26 of those wins are by knockout. Pacquiao is also a world class boxer. With 57 wins, 5 losses, and 2 draws under his belt, he has established himself as one of boxing's best. As implied by the name of the fight, it is one of the most anticipated matches of recent memory. After months of failed negotiations, the boxers reached an agreement and the fight was officially announced on February 20, 2015. Tickets went on sale April 23. The cheapest tickets cost between $1,500 and $7,500. Although this is a hefty price for the average boxing fan, tickets still sold out within minutes. Despite this, the fight can be seen on pay per view through Showtime or HBO.

For more information about the boxing match visit: http://boxingjunkie.com/2015/04/28/boxing-fight-of-the-century-floyd-mayweather-manny-pacquiao

Since Norman Francis announced his plan for retirement in September of 2015, what is in store for the university that he is leaving behind?

After his presidency of 46 years with Xavier University of Louisiana, Francis is leaving behind a legacy of creating excellence within the students that graduate each year. 

Now, students are looking for a change in the leading of their university. Although Xavier University students will miss Francis and the history that he has created here, they are looking forward to a fresh start with a new president. 

“I’m hoping that with a new president at Xavier we can grow out of some of the traditions that have been around for decades and create something new” said Janice Wright, a junior, biology major. 

Xavier University faculty and staff expressed their feelings of how they will miss Francis as well. “I am going to miss Dr. Francis, but I am looking forward to meeting the new president and being able to continue the legacy that Dr. Francis started” said Joyce Sandifer, a staff member at Xavier University of Lousiana. 

Although students graduating after the 2014-2015 academic year will not be able to shake the hand of Francis while they cross the stage during graduation, Xavier University will not fail in helping its students succeed.

If you would like more information about Dr. Francis’ retirement announcement: http://www.xula.edu/specialevents/today1.php

Since August 2005, the city of New Orleans has been consistently working to regain its spirit before Hurricane Katrina. 

Now ten years later, residents and state government officials are collaborating to rebuild communities that were once washed away in the storm, along with provide programs in support of equal business opportunities in the city. 

ProsperityNOLA was created by the New Orleans Business Alliance and Mayor Mitch Landrieu in order to drive economic growth well into 2018. The plan incorporates months of planning and includes Landrieu’s vision for a diverse, sustainable and prosperous economy for all citizens of New Orleans.

Organizations like the New Orleans Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together New Orleans are working to donate new homes to the estimated 300,000 families whose homes were destroyed in the storm. 

“After Katrina my family and I relocated to Dallas,” said Reynard Mitchell, a New Orleans native. “We lived in the Gentilly area where the water rose above the level of our home before we could evacuate. After surviving that moment of crisis and relocating to Dallas we were chosen to receive a home from Habitat for Humanity. We were at a loss for words but felt truly blessed.” Facts since Hurricane Katrina: - Approximately 1.5 million Louisiana residents were displaced after the hurricane. - New Orleans population dropped by nearly 400,000. - The Department of Labor estimates 230,000 jobs predominately lost to Hurricane Katrina.

External Links:

http://nolaba.org/prosperityNOLA.aspx

Keeping up with the media is like playing a game of telephone. There are so many sources and each source has a different piece of the story to tell. How do viewers know whats real and what has been fabricated?

What news source is seen as the most reliable? Today, there are more than just two methods of how news is distributed. Journalism has evolved from print, to television, to the web and now social media. With social media there are also different branches of applications (i.e. Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat etc.).

There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these methods of news distribution but how can we tell what’s correct or not? There’s CNN, ABC, FOX, The New York Times, The Times Picayune, Twitter, and Snapchat but what source is the most reliable?

According to Business Insider, The Economist is number one on their list of most and least trusted news sources in America. The Economist has a print publication, online website and multiple phone applications that allow you to read the news in the comfort of your home or on the go.

External Links:

http://www.businessinsider.com/here-are-the-most-and-least-trusted-news-outlets-in-america-2014-10

Today, being a journalist is one of the most underestimated and difficult occupations. Time, accuracy, and competition are some factors of what journalism is daily.

Being a journalist is like being in a race. Not only are you racing against your opponents, you’re also racing against the clock. Journalists strive to get their story out before others, but also have to make sure that what they are saying is an accurate source of information.

Competition is a factor of this profession, because you are competing against other news outlets but also other methods of how news is distributed as well.

Because I go to a university that is oriented around science I am constantly stressing how my position in the professional world is just as important as those who are working to be doctors. How can we change the way our profession is viewed by others?

According to the Data Research Center, 39 percent of New Orleans’ residents are living below the poverty line. As of December 2014, the New Orleans’ unemployment rate is 7.1 percent of its population.

Homelessness is a topic that I rarely see being discussed in the media. Seldom do I see stories about how this growing issue has an impact on our country.

I can’t say that the media fails to see that poverty leads to many of the crime stories that they broadcast, but I think that it is an important piece of information that is omitted.

We need to change the conversation. By saying this, I don’t mean that I want the media to become a source of inspiration and telling its viewers that poverty is where it all goes downhill. Simply mentioning its national impact would be enough of a reminder for people to not forget that this issue is still happening.

External links:

http://www.datacenterresearch.org/data-resources/who-lives-in-new-orleans-now/

I think because of dominant culture, black men and women are marginalized into looking and portraying a certain role on television. What the media fails to represent are the many different looks that black people in our world have, whether it’s represented through hairstyles, views of success, or skin color.

I don’t think the media is doing an adequate job of representing people of color in the media because there is no variety with the characters they play. I feel that there is this stereotypical life style that is given for black actors to play. The mother is a crackhead, there is no father present, and the son is a drug dealer. A general hairstyle goes for most black women on television. Either the hair is long and fake or curly and fake. There is no real representation of black culture on television. Because not all black people are the same or gather the same way. I think that should be shown in the media.

The media is trying to do a better job of the way they portray black culture in the media, but will this change of representation affect the image that has been broadcasted for decades?

ABC’s How To Get Away With Murder (htgawm) is giving black women a new definition of success. This show portrays a black woman who is successful in a male oriented occupation. My favorite scene of the show was when it showed Viola Davis remove her wig, and makeup to reveal her true self. This is the first time I’ve seen a black woman completely bare on a television screen. Because of the diversity of the actors playing roles for characters on this show, htgawm is the taking the next step to improving the media’s take on race and gender.

External Links:

When I see things in the news about race whether it be a on television or written publications it is handled differently. Recently, I watched the news about Martin Luther King, Jr. Day where they discussed his historical significance and the legacy he left behind. The conversations that they held on this topic on television were very general and didn't get too deep into detail.

Everyone may feel differently about how race is spoken about in the news. What they may not understand is that this isn't a personal conversation that these news anchors are having. This is a conversation that is being broadcasted all over America. It's hard to please everyone, which makes this a very challenging topic to talk about in the media. 

Is the media doing an adequate job covering race? I think the media is doing the best they can to cover race. It would be inappropriate to talk about something like racial stereotypes on television because it is offensive. 

An organization that I know is working to create open and honest discussions about race is the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). One thing I know of the NAACP fighting against is the portrayal of colored people in film and television. 

Do I think that this situation will ever change? I have hope for it but ultimately I doubt it ever happening in my lifetime.

External Links:

https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/news/2013/03/05/55599/the-medias-stereotypical-portrayals-of-race/

Hey fellow tumblr-holics. This is a fresh start to the beginning of a new semester for me. Not a lot has changed with me since last semester except for the goals that I have set for this semester. In this new chapter I would like to continue to stay on top of my blogging and to get more comfortable with my writing on and offline. I plan to get to bed at a respectable time each night and wake up so I can make it to breakfast every morning in the cafeteria. I’ve decided that I am also going to change my eating habits a bit. So far, the beginning of this semester has been great for me. I am growing as a person but also as a young professional in this new city that I have fallen in love with over the past two years. This semester is going to be much more interesting for my writing also, so stay tuned and enjoy!

This semester has been very interesting with blogging. It has kept me abreast with a lot of current events and updates that I may have normally not payed attention to. I liked having to do research and direct my audience to other sites so they could gain more information on the topics that I wrote about. I had the ability to get creative with my work by including photos or simply choosing the background that my blog had. Writing on my blog gave me the chance to do research on other blogs and then come up with more ideas for my own. The Tumblr accounts that I usually view are more about fashion so when I took on the challenge to make my Tumblr into a news portal I was determined to make it the best. Now that the semester is over I have decided that I won't stop updating my Tumblr, and I will continue to blog and pay attention to what's happening now.