The time is near for Xposure 2012

The 2012 workshop is a few weeks away so stay tuned for new content.

Jennifer’s Joe Imel article

Xposure Journalism Workshop director Bob Adams refers to Joe Imel as “the poster-man for community journalism.”

In reality, Imel is photo editor for the Bowling Green Daily News, and as a journalist, he said it is his job to tell everyone’s story.

“We are the voice for those who don’t have a voice,” he said on June 6, while talking to the students attending the 2011 Western Kentucky University Xposure Journalism Workshop.

Imel said he has been a photojournalist for 27 years and first began taking photojournalism classes in 1984 at WKU. But after he graduated, he saw that the photos he was taking at WKU were “just pretty pictures,” and they weren’t content-related, as those for journalism should be.

“It’s about the moment,” he said. “It’s all about the people in front of me.”

Imel referred to himself as a “visual storyteller” and even a “self-proclaimed photo evangelist.” He said that photojournalism is truly his passion and calling, and he loves his job.

“I am the one who lets 25,000 people know what happens in their own backyard,” he said, referring to Daily News readers.

Always armed with two cameras hanging from his neck, Imel is ready to take photos in a moment’s notice. And that moment often comes from an emergency scanner that Imel said he monitors from 5:30 a.m. to midnight each day.

“You’ve got to be there when it’s happening,” Imel said.

As a journalist, Imel has taken it upon himself to post some of these notifications on his Twitter page, which can be found at http://twitter.com/#!/joeimel. And his Tweets have quite a following. He currently has more than 1,000 followers on his site. And he told a story in which one man told him that his mother, in California, follows Imel’s Tweets.

During his talk with Xposure workshoppers, Imel offered some advice about photojournalism. He explained that staging a photo does not capture a story and that real journalistic photography catches people in action.

He said an important part of getting good photos is to tell stories and “get in amongst the people.”

Imel said that journalism is all about people, what they have to say, and what they want to see.

“People don’t want to see pictures of the press conference,” he said. “They want to see the three-legged dog running down the street and getting caught in a manhole.”

Imel said that hard work will pay off. He explained that he may not be as good as other photographers, but he will come earlier and stay later than them.

“Do a good job, and you’ll be welcome every time,” he said.

Xposure student Seth Fischer aspires to be a photographer, and he said Imel inspired him.

“Joe Imel is just fantastic,” he said. “He always does a good job and never complains about the bad parts.”

As passionate as Imel is about his job as a community photojournalist, he didn’t always want to report for a small paper. Imel said he wanted to work at a metro paper, but would have felt guilty if he made his family move for his work.

But now, Imel loves his job.

“I yearned to do bigger stories,” he said.  “But now I know that the best stories are in your own backyard.”

 

Destroy to Gain

By ALEXIS TAYLOR

Tates Creek High School, Lexington, Ky.

 

How can we accept the practice of mountaintop removal?

Mountaintop removal is a type of surface mining. The mining companies use explosives to blow off the top to make access to coal easier. More than 700 acres of western Appalachia are filled with debris from mountaintop removal.

There are some obvious benefits to this practice. First, it’s cheaper than sending miners into a mine.

And it’s certainly safer for the miners. For example, 33 Chilean miners were trapped underground for 69 days last fall. That doesn’t happen with mountaintop removal mining.

But that could mean that a lot of workers will be out of work.

Much needed jobs could be lost.

When miners take jobs, they know the risks. It’s not necessarily anyone’s fault when they get trapped. The risk is a part of the job.

The mining companies, on the other hand, are trying to get the biggest bang for their bucks and blowing the top of a mountain produces that. They’re getting reward with little or no work.

However, mining companies are arguing that they are actually improving the situation by planting trees on the damaged land. But destroying hundreds of acres, even if trees are planted, won’t change the condition of the land.

Besides the practice being destructive and making easy work for miners, it his harmful to people around the regions where this is happening.

Experts have said that the practice of mountaintop removal is dangerous because it can elevate mortality rates and cause chronic heart, lung and kidney disease.

Mining companies are willing to risk the well-being of human health for coal.

Mountaintop removal not only harms people, it harms the earth. When mining companies blow up the mountain, tons of debris are left behind. This debris is either in the air, or it gets washed into rivers affecting drinking water throughout the region. Also the debris left over has destroyed acres of the deciduous forests in North America.

Mountaintop removal causes serious environment and health problems and destruction of land.

Why consider it?

Disko, Disko Partizani.

Aghhh! I cannot express how amazing grape this opportunity was. I met so many amazing people this year, everyone here was so grape on a stick and I will totes miss everyone.

Getting to know you guys makes it so hard to say goodbye.

I shared so many different memories with you guys, and it’s so unbelievable how well we got along. I’m looking forward to see you all sometime in the future. I will remember this workshop.

I know this can’t be a goodbye forever. I wish every single person in this workshop the best. YUMZ, GRAPES ON A STICK, SCORES, and TOTES to everyone <3

MUCHO LOVE,

Yazmin Martinez.

An unexplainable experience- Tim Nwachukwu

Wow. It’s been a pretty fast week, but not the kind of fast week where I look back and I don’t remember anything that happened. After the last two weeks, I have to say that I’ve had so many memories, I’ve made new friends, and I’ve learned a heck of a lot of things that will definitely make me a better journalist. As much as I’ve always thought that I was a social butterfly, I realized that the people around me were just as friendly and just as amazing. This school is amazing, everyone that I’ve crossed paths with is nothing shorter than great. I’m so glad that I’ve been able to be at Xposure, it’s made my world so much better, so much more lolsy, and I honestly can’t wait until i’m old enough to be like Brenda and chill with the kids at the workshop. There’s so much that I could  say, but I think I might run out of space on here. Eh, it’s all gucci. Thanks so much for everything, I owe this program so much.

Stay fresh,

Tim Nwachukwu

Just a Piece

My experience at the Xposure journalism workshop was worthwhile. I got to experience just a piece of what life is like for a journalist. Everything from writing stories to snapping photos. My hardest challenge was photography. I learned that photography isn’t my strongest suit. It is hard to get a good picture in just 2 or 3 frames. I had to step out of my comfort box, and try new things. Alongside taking photos, another difficult thing for me was the dorm rooms. They were iceberg cold. It took time to adjust, and actually get some sleep. On top of that, the showers made me feel like i was in an ice storm. Luckily, my dorm-mates and I found showers with warm water.

Speaking of dorm-mates, the best part of the workshop wasn’t about the feeling of writing a great story or even from taking a good picture. It was meeting Alexis, Diamond, Kamilah, Lyndsey, Leah, Heidi, Lashana, Yazmin, Jackie, Jennifer, Seth, Tim, Gary, Toni,Brenda, Mr. Neil, and certainly Mr A. These people made my time amazing. I was never bored a day in my life when I was around them. Even though, this may be the last time we see each other I know that we have all made lifelong friends.

Overall, I learned that being in the journalism business isn’t easy. It takes time and effort. Being here made me realize that everything isn’t always going to go MY way, and that I have to work.

Beverly Fishback

Lyndsey Pender, Overton High School, Memphis, Tennesse

Yazmin Martinez

Yazmin Martinez, a 16-yr-old Louisville native isn’t your average teenager. Martinez is a self-motivated vegetarian; a lifestyle she takes seriously.  “ I became a vegetarian because of animal rights, though the first few weeks were hard.”  Martinez says.

Being a vegetarian is not were the eccentricities end. Martinez has a love for fashion, while still maintaining her individualism.  “I don’t wear jeans. I wear leggings.”

Martinez is a teenager who never leaves home without one thing: her camera. “I like drawing the most, and I go take pictures. I really love art.”

Martinez first got a taste of photography thanks to her dad. She admits that he is her inspiration, and he also provided her with her first point and shoot camera. Martinez says her father gives her tools and skills she appreciates. “ My role model is my dad.”

Some of the information Martinez knows about her camera was self-taught.  Seth Fischer, one of Martinez’ fellow high school students, and also a fellow Xposure Workshop Journalist, was also able to lend information. “Seth helped me a lot.”

Her first pictures were of people for her dad’s film business.  Now Martinez shoots with her two cameras. One is a Nikon D60, and the other a Nikon D90.

Martinez’ photography subjects have changed. Now she photographs red roses, snowy days, and her German Shepherd Osito. “Osito means little bear,” Martinez says.

If she is not drawing, or photographing, Martinez is designing. “I love photoshop,” Martinez says of the Mac designing program.

Martinez plans on attending college after high school, and lists Western Kentucky as one of her options. She plans on majoring in commercial photography, photojournalism, or graphic design.

Martinez plans on traveling to Cataluña, Spain. “The name sounds really unique, she says. Martinez also plans on traveling to Poland and visiting some of the Holocaust Concentration Camps. “Even though it was really tragic, it should never be forgotten.”

Lashana Harney

When I first found out I was accepted into the program, I was completely shocked and excited. It was a chance of a lifetime and I new I had to come, so I rearranged my babysitting plans and packed my bags, and bam! I was here in Bowling Green, Kentucky on WKU’s campus.

I had always been a writer and passionate about everything I do, so I new the work would be fine as long as I dedicated myself to it, but when it came to people I was a bit nervous thinking I wouldn’t get along with anyone. I was wrong, so wrong. Everyone has been such an eye-opener and an inspiration to me, and I’m pretty sure I’ll try to keep in touch with everyone here, I’ve made life-long friends that I’ll never forget.

Writing-wise, I definitely learned a lot.             Journalistic-wise, I learned a lot too. Joe Imel was such an inspiration and when he said “Everyone has a story, and that’s the journalists job is to get peoples stories out. It makes a difference.” I really took that to heart, and put that passion into my writing. I’ve always said I’ve wanted to make a difference in someone’s life and I learned that I can do that through journalism and I can take that motivation back home with me when I return to high school.

I learned what the reporters do, and even though I’m not going to pursue a career in photojournalism, I got to learn a lot about photography. When Gary handed us a camera, I was like I know nothing about this, but others helped me and taught me a lot. I learned how to capture a moment, not a pose. I learned how work the angle of the camera and how to adjust the lighting to where it’s almost perfect. I’m attached to my camera now, I’m going to hate giving it up.

When I leave this place I think I’m going to cry. Every single person has been an impact on me, and everyone is so nice and just awesome.  Living on campus has been fun and my eleven days of freedom from my family has paid off and made me more responsible.

Xposure Journalism Workshop 2011’, I’m going to miss you D:

eat. sleep. journalism

We’ve eaten, we’ve slept, and we’ve learned all about journalism.

Thirteen students from various states have had this experience on Western Kentucky University’s campus, for the Xposure Journalism Workshop. We arrived on June 6, and the days have flown by since then.

I have learned many things over these ten days in the workshop, I haven’t only learned about journalism though, but myself too. I have found how to become a better writer, photographer, and how to deal with criticism.

The Ali Center was the story I covered, and I had a blast. We all enjoyed the opportunity seeing Ali’s motorcycle for the first time. The writer’s and staff at the Courier Journal taught us a lot about their job and experiences while we enjoyed lunch with them. The Louisville Slugger Museum was interesting, as we learned how bats are made. We also went to Mammoth Cave, and learned about the history and other interesting things about it. We enjoyed dinner and a baseball game at Hot Rods stadium, with a tour earlier in the week.

We have all come together and shared these experienced, and we will forever these ten days that we ate (a lot of pizza and DUC), we slept (in our bed, the lobby, the study room, under our desks), and we learned all about how to be a journalism.

By,

Heidi C. Kimmich

Lyndsey’s favorite picture and experience

 I actually have two favorite experiences.

My first would have to be Mammoth Cave. It was such an amazing place with so much history. Our tour guide Ranger Jerry was pretty awesome also, he told us about his family ancestors and how they were connected to Mammoth Cave also.

My second favorite experience would have to be the W.C. Handy Blues Festival. Being from Memphis, Tn whenever downtown I hear blues all the time. The festival reminded me of home, the music was calming, the food was tasty, the people I met were gracious; it was an all around good day.

The picture above is of Blind Dog Gatewood, and this picture was actually published in our newspaper too!!

-Lyndsey Pender