OIDJ at Gaylord College

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A day at The Oklahoman, and pondering Gaylord College

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My experience at OIDJ so far has been eye opening. I got to visit The Oklahoman, and what I experienced was not what I expected it to be.     The atmosphere was very modern and it felt very friendly. It did not feel intimidating to be there, while speaking to those who work and intern there I realized there are different parts that help the industry function and make it what it is. For example, I did not know they had a website, let alone an actual person that was specifically in charge of running the sports part of…

Week in review: OIDJ

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Coming here for OIDJ has been an extraordinary experience so far. On day 1 we basically got to tour a bit of the Gaylord Hall. Afterwards, we got the opportunity to introduce ourselves and get to know each other. Some of us made friends quite fast and some of us are now just coming out of our shells, like myself.  Everyone has been so kind and respectful to each other that it literally feels like we are family. After we played some get-to-know-you games we headed to our first session– blogging. I found this session useful because I wanted to blog about healthy eating and make a living…

A huge thank you from the OIDJ 2015 participants

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The  following quotes come from the 2015 OIDJ high school participants from all over the state. The students and the OIDJ director would like to thank the Dow Jones News Fund and the Gaylord College for their financial support this year. “Everyone with a hand in this program has allowed many students the opportunity to really learn and stir up some great potential. I have seen students become very inspired in just a matter of days. You are all so great, thank you again.” “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to have experience in the world of journalism… Journalism is…

Looks aren’t everything

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Somewhere, an overzealous mother in her mid-thirties calls out: “Smile!” Her daughter, 5, stops mid-backyard-play, constructs her lips just so and freezes for the camera. “Look happy,” the mother says. The little girl stretches her mouth to the point her cheeks twinge. “Yay! Good girl!” “Oh, wait! No! You’re squinting. Let me take one more.” In a world where social media’s influence grows by the second, just smiling isn’t enough anymore. Users of Instagram and other social media find validation not in the quality of pictures, but in pursuit of the perfect moment. With so many competing for followers and…

Confederate flag not just about heritage

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Racism is nothing new—not around the globe and not in America. In 1619, slavery began in America. While the country has come a long way in nearly 4oo years – even electing a black president, some Southerners remain stuck in the past when it comes to issues like the Confederate flag. When I was little and growing up in northeastern Oklahoma, I remember going to the Saline courthouse with a friend and her parents to take pictures. There’s a tree there that everyone calls the hanging tree. Her dad told us stories about how people used to be hanged there,…

Too often novels lack character

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An unlikeable protagonist is an instant story killer. In the increasingly popular world of young adult and new adult fiction novels, there are a couple character traits that can turn the heroine we’re supposed to love into someone we love to hate — in a way that the author never intended. The first trait, codependence, is probably the most common of the two. More and more these days, we see characters such as the ever-unpopular Bella Swan from the “Twilight” saga. She spends the entire series repetitively stating how much she loves Edward and doesn’t ever want to be without…

Does music improve academic development?

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by Micah Roberts Think of a world without music. Think of all the lifeless faces walking the streets with apathetic expressions. The days would seem longer. Without music, the world might even become shrouded in a despair that wouldn’t be able to be repaired. That is how important music is. Music allows people to express their creativity through something that can be extremely simple or complex. It has also been shown to help students succeed in other academic areas. That has been my experience. Like any hobby, there is always something to learn with music. Through my experiences in bands,…

Growing up in Tornado Alley

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by Teagan Halbrooks I was born in Lawton, Okla., and have grown up four miles beyond the city limits. Severe weather has always been a part of my life. Sirens often sound when spring changes to summer, and summer to fall. Living in Lawton means witnessing weather that changes in mere minutes. Weather has always interested me, and I want to be a meteorologist. I would love chasing tornados and experiencing the thrill of trying to catch them in action. From my front porch, I have spotted tornados on the horizon. The massive storms range in size and color, light…

More Americans should shop local markets

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by Jordan Evans   Big-name supermarkets have cropped up across the United States and left local markets to dwindle in the dust. Small shops and markets dominate European and South American countries, but Americans rely on the convenience of supermarkets. These supermarkets keep up with the fast-paced American lifestyle, but they are unable to provide the friendly, open environment that local markets do. Supermarkets are crowded and loud. There’s no one to question about where the food comes from. The stock boys don’t know what kind of fertilizer the farmers used. The checkout girl doesn’t know if the product was…

Body Image vs. Reality

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by Mariela Claudio In today’s society, a lot of magazines, television shows and fashion models send us the same message: “This is how you’re supposed to look, and this is how you do it.” It’s no wonder a ridiculous number of people seem to have low self-esteem. Celebrities, models and sometimes our own families are telling us what we should look like. Continually pointing out kids’ and teens’ flaws had to lead somewhere. Some people actually start to believe that something is wrong with them because they don’t look anything like the people in magazines. Sometimes, the people in magazines…

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