Better safe than sued

If you follow my blog, you may or may not recall that I am currently the opinions editor and a writer for the Skyline College publication, The Skyline View. Being on the paper staff is really amazing. My time on staff has had no shortage of fun and frustration, but it is also the best learning experience for the aspiring journalist.

One thing that we learned about first hand at the Skyline View was plagiarism. Most of us know that plagiarism is wrong and can result in dire consequences, but sometimes avoiding plagiarism is a lot easier said than done.

When writing a news story, a reporter has to obtain sources. These sources can be first-hand interviews, speeches or written statements, or they can be other newspapers. There’s nothing wrong with getting some of your information from other papers, but you have to be especially careful using content that’s already been published as one of your sources.

First, you should cross reference the info in the publication with as many other sources as you can to make sure the information has merit. Second and most importantly, you need to make sure—beyond a doubt—that you do not inadvertently plagiarize the publication.

It can be really easy to read a piece of information, and then when the time comes to write your own piece, use the information in almost exactly the same words.

The frustrating thing about plagiarism is that intent is pretty much irrelevant. It doesn’t matter whether or not you meant to do it. It’s still been done. So the only safeguard against plagiarism is constant vigilance. Writers should check and double check their work against any written sources they use. And if you’re ever in doubt about whether or not a sentence verges on plagiarism, put it in quote. Better to be safe than very, very sorry.

Tebow Time

Here’s a surprise: Today we’re talking football. I’ll be the first to admit that when it comes to football, I’m just an average fan. I follow the local San Francisco 49ers. I know the names Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. But use the abbreviation “D.B.” in conversation and I’ll probably snicker, because it brings a non-football related, rather inappropriate term to mind.

But today let’s ignore the fact that I’m not 100 percent sure what I’m talking about, because even if you’re not a football fan, there’s one story in the NFL that’s hard to ignore. Tim Tebow started his season with the Denver Broncos as the third string QB, and five games into the season the Broncos were in the AFC West basement. But after being brought in as the starter, Tebow has four wins out of his last five games and the Broncos are back in the mix for the AFC West title.

The amazing thing about Tim Tebow is not that he has made the Broncos a winner, but rather the spark that his persona has brought the team. Sporting news has really picked up on what is being called “Tebow Nation”, and made him the biggest story in the NFL.

What sets Tebow apart from other QB’s is partly his style of play. Writers criticize his style of play (as well they should) because Tebow plays the option far too often. But, the thing is, the “Tebow rush” has been working. It’s been winning games. For how much longer it will win games remains to be seen.

Analysts and writers love to criticize Tim Tebow, but without him they would have nothing to write about. And that’s because Tebow brings a breath of fresh air to the NFL, as well as one heck of an underdog story.

I left my heart in Sacramento

It’s really a shame that it’s taken me so long to get back on my blog, because there are so many cool news-related things that have been going on lately in my life. (My Thanksgiving was fine, by the way. Thank you for asking.)

A couple weeks ago on Saturday Nov. 12, I went to the Journalism Association of Community Colleges Nor-Cal Convention with most of the staff of The Skyline View newspaper. I was hesitant to go at first, mostly because I was not keen on waking up at 4:30 in the morning to spend my whole Saturday in Sacramento. But I have to say that all things considered, it was a really great experience.

I got to carpool up to Sac State with a few of my buddies (our friend Diana was kind enough to provide transportation), hear a key-note address from a reporter who works for the Sacramento Bee, attended several workshops, and even took home an award for myself.

I received a certificate for honorable mention in opinions writing, which I was particularly proud of (especially since I don’t have very strong opinions to begin with).

By far the best workshop I attended was given by sports writer Bill Bradley who founded the website SacStateSports.com. He touched briefly on how to create your own sports site before opening up the floor to questions, at which point I went into sponge mode trying to absorb everything he was saying. If there’s one thing I remember most from the workshop, it’s that one needs to capture the drama of the sport in their writing. If you can hone in on, and highlight, the dramatic aspect of a given sporting event, you’ll garner many more readers than you ever would with straight game coverage. I probably figured that out subconsciously a long time ago, but I’d never heard it said until I attended Mr. Bradley’s workshop.

So, the JACC Nor-Cal Con. was a big hit as far as I’m concerned. I learned a heap of stuff, got into the competitive spirit, but probably best of all I got the chance to spend an awesome day in the company of many people on The Skyline View paper staff who I now consider to be my friends.