Journey of a Journalist

I have no idea how I ever survived without my iPhone.

From GPS navigation to searching the internet to facilitating my new ScrambleWithFriends addiction, my iPhone is never far from reach and is by far my most valued possession. I honestly don’t know what I did back in the day when my phone was only good for calling and texting.

After reviewing some of my favorite calorie-counter applications, I discovered a recent Mashable article boasting the 10 best iPhone apps that assist in weight loss. And they’re all free!

Who knew this handy invention could change our waistlines as well as our communication habits?

1. Calorie Tracker. This app streams from Lance Armstrong‘sLIVESTRONG.com website and allows users to search and track their daily calorie, fat, carbohydrate and protein content.
2. Lose It! Coined a “weight management application,” users enter their statistics and create personalized weight-loss plans based on the desired weight loss per week. Graphing tools track progress as the days and weeks go by.
3. 40-30-30. Search for your lunch, and this app shows the percentage of carbs, proteins and fats in your meal. It is a great way to track your nutritional intake.
4. iPump Free Workout. Two full-body workouts developed by an exercise physiologist are shown with detailed images portraying the desired movements. A workout log is provided to track user activity.
5. StepTrackLite is essentially a pedometer in your phone. Throw it into your purse or back pocket and it tracks your daily movements as well as your pace.
6. iMapMyRun uses GPS capabilities to track the user’s speed, distance and pace. An optional Twitter feed is also provided.
7. iSPINNING allows users to track their distance, pace, speed and heart rate during bike rides or spinning classes. Additional equipment is necessary.
8. Pret-a-Yoga Lite shows beginning yogis how to perform basic yoga exercises and even walks users through breathing patterns.
9. 2Fat uses age, weight, height and waist circumference to estimate a user’s BMI and body fat percentage.
10. Heartbeat quickly calculates a user’s heart rate and beats per minute. It works by tapping the screen each time your heart beats, so it’s probably best used in a gym opposed to on a long-distance run outside.

I was slightly surprised that my personal favorite, MyFitnessPal, didn’t make the list.

Get with it, Mashable — MyFitnessPal combines Calorie Tracker, Lose It! and 40-30-30 in one handy tool!

I clearly remember Tuesday, April 20, 1999.

I’m sure the rest of the country does as well, but for me it was the marking of the first real tragedy I had ever witnessed firsthand. The only time I have ever been more afraid was on the morning of 9/11.

I grew up in Jefferson County, Colorado, a fairly safe and beautiful community which boasts the Coors Factory.

That day, I was working on something in the middle of my 5th-grade classroom when suddenly the principal rushed in — tears in her eyes, panicked, screaming something about getting away from the windows. We were all herded into the school’s auditorium, rightfully terrified, as the teachers padlocked the doors and huddled onstage. They were whispering frantically, crying hysterically, but would not say anything to us — children ranging from five years old to ten.

Eventually the adults composed themselves and attempted to calm us down. We were informed that our parents would be coming to get us immediately — school was done for the day. We played games uncertainly while children trickled out erratically, embraced by parents who looked like they’d never been so happy to see them in their lives.

Then: Columbine.

Part of what has terrifyingly become a pattern of truly tragic, needless violence. School massacres.

It took some time before news of the tragedy got out to the public. Adults working 9-to-5 jobs were not watching the news, and many news outlets did not regularly update their websites (nor did many citizens read them). By the end of the day, my mother and I were in a blood bank preparing to give blood. Dozens of people surrounded us then, the line was out the door, and all bleary eyes were watching the broadcast news for updates. There was no other topic of conversation. But this process took several hours. Most people found out through word of mouth.

Today: Oikos University.

Today was another tragic day. Around 10:30 this morning, a shooter in Oakland‘s Oikos University shot at least six people. My heart goes out to them, their families, and everyone who has been affected. It breaks my heart.

However, there is an interesting angle regarding how law enforcement successfully handled this needless catastrophe.

According to Mashable and Stephanie Haberman‘s article, the Oakland Police Department utilized its Twitter account to spread the word about the shooting, encourage people to evacuate, hunt down the shooter and update information regarding fatalities. When they had an idea of what the suspect looked like, people could keep their eyes peeled and tweet back any leads. The local news was utilizing Twitter as well, and citizen journalists took to Twitter to inform their friends and followers.

Technology is changing the way we communicate in such a rapid way. I learned about the most recent Virginia Tech shooting through Twitter last year. Clearly social media has evolved from simply a way to entertain ourselves. It is a way to educate ourselves, to protect ourselves, to arm ourselves.

My prayers are with all those whose lives changed today.

Much like Mark Briggs declared in his 6th chapter of Journalism Next, video photography is becoming increasingly important in the world of journalism. Visual storytelling often evokes emotions that text simply cannot replicate. A stunning picture can place readers directly into the heart of a story, deeming words unnecessary.

In terms of major news corporations, The New York Times is revered for its award-winning visual journalism. Lens, the corporation’s blog, regularly updates photos, videos and slideshows for the world to appreciate. In addition to serving as a showcase for Times photographers, the blog provides readers with up-to-the-minute visual content from around the globe.

But wait…there’s more.

According to Tuesday’s Mashable article by Sam Laird, the Times launched a new Tumblr account aptly titled The Lively Morgue. The site is dedicated to sharing  images from its newsroom archive, affectionately called the “morgue.” The blog will periodically bring spectacular images back to life — some dating back to the early 20th century — using social media as a defibrillator.

My father has been telling me for years that anything I put online will be there forever, and I need to be cognizant of the image I am projecting. He used to frequently search for me on Google — and let me know that he was doing it, as well as what he found. Once we became friends on Facebook, his comments became more frequent.

There’s a picture of you from 2009 at a party. It looks like the party was the kind that had alcohol. What do you think people think when they look at that?! They know your birthday! They can do the math!

I had to admit, he was right. In the crazy, collective world of the internet, people can tag you in photos that aren’t even on your profile. I was not too concerned, because nothing on my profile was too revealing or obscene. But I began thinking twice about even taking pictures, with his voice in the back of my head: “What do you think people think?!”

Every once in awhile I’ll get a call from him about comments other people put on my profile.

Peanut, profanity is disrespectful. You should tell him not to leave **** like that on your page.

The irony of that statement is not lost on me, by the way — but perhaps that’s the point.

My father was in the Navy for years and can have a bit of a potty-mouth sometimes. But he does not put those statements into the World Wide Web.

The conundrum of what is acceptable to say online becomes more important when you are a college student beginning your job search. There have been reports for years that employers check people’s Facebook pages before beginning the hiring process. But is this really true? And if so, does what they see really affect whether or not they’ll give you an interview?

According to an article by Mashable‘s Todd Wasserman, the answer to that question is yes. A recent study between three universities suggested that reviewing somebody’s Facebook page can accurately predict not only their GPA but also their future job performance. The researchers subjectively evaluated potential employees on five personality traits:

• Openness
• Conscientiousness
• Extraversion
• Agreeableness
• Neuroticism

My father was not completely right, however (but don’t tell him I said that). Wasserman states that in many cases photos of applicants drinking or partying will not disqualify them from a potential job. He also clarifies that more research needs to be done on this subject.

But still, companies are looking.

When you are job searching, you wouldn’t show up to an interview late or dressed unprofessionally. You want to make a good first impression.

So consider this: What if your Facebook profile is your first impression? Is there anything on it you wouldn’t want your boss to see?

If so…it’s probably best to remove it from your profile.