Readinggg

Chapter 8: Covering Criminal Courts
Okay, so this is a lot more specific than the other readings. Or maybe I just know a lot less about this stuff. Everything I learned about this topic I learned from television, and had to have someone explain everything to me while watching. My brain isn't wired for this stuff.

So I'm reading this and I don't really know what to write about. It's just a whole lot of information right now. I like how they give all the definitions of motions though, considering I knew like 2 beforehand. The portion covering trials was helpful as well. It gives a good play-by-play of exactly what's going on and what a journalist needs to understand.

Normally when I write in my blog I try to compare the reading to something. I have nothing to compare this chapter with. It's straight facts. And my knowledge on courts is limited, very limited.


Chapter 9: Covering Civil Courts
This looks just as interesting as the previous chapter...hah. Sorry, this stuff simply does not interest me. It takes me a really long time to process it all. I feel like an idiot.

Alright, I know the examples they used for civil lawsuits. Now I don't feel as dumb.

Great quote: "For many court reporters, the civil court is the stepchild of the criminal courts."
(I just find it funny when they apply family terms to things that aren't related by blood)

The Liebeck example is useful in this chapter. I plan on spilling a lot of coffee on myself, not that I don't already. But in the future, I plan on making some sweet money off it.

I think I like reading about civil courts more than criminal courts. This is like Judge Judy stuff. When I was little, I would go to my grandparents' house at least twice a week. They had this computer maintenance guy who came over a lot (their computer must've been really messed up, and he just happened to be a good friend) and he would always watch hours and hours of Judge Judy on their couch. Because of this, and the fact that he adored his cats and fed them Doritos, my grandmother concluded that he was gay. Turns out, he is. I saw him at my grandfather's funeral this past Thursday and had a hard time placing him. I just saw his face and thought, "Judge Judy."

That is my comparison of the reading to my life for tonight. That's as good as I can get right now.


Chapter 14: Covering a Beat
This sounds exciting, but difficult at first. I take a bit to get used to things so I don't know how well I would do at this in the beginning. I like to know exactly what I'm doing, but I also have an interest for learning new things.

Okay, so clearly you need have a good broad knowledge. Hopefully, we are all getting that at school. I'm not so sure I am, maybe once I finish my minor I'll work on taking some basic classes. That would probably be a good idea.

This may be a line that I would normally skip over, but I somehow picked it up. And I like it, a lot: "History may not repeat itself, but knowledge of it helps you assess the significance of current events and provides clues to what you can expect." It's like the age-old history teacher motto "if we don't learn from our history we are bound to repeat it" but I feel like it says so much more. We need to be able to acknowledge what the public needs to know to help our society. As reporters, we need to know what we are writing about. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people write about something and they have no idea what they are saying. That goes more with opinion pieces, but still. It bugs me.

The textbook mentions that one of the most common mistakes of beginning reporters is giving up too easily. Lalala this is me. I'm getting better though.

I like how it says to "be there." It seems trivial to say, but maybe it isn't. For beat reporting the best way to get the story is to be right there. Otherwise, you are completely missing out.

Okay, so then the chapter goes further into each specific beat. My ear really hurts. I'm going to bed.