Oklahoma Institute for Duty to Journalism

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OIDJ Editor - page 30

OIDJ Editor has 309 articles published.

Walking across parking lots in the dark

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by Maria Chaves Two and a half months ago, I started my first job at a sushi place 10 minutes from my home. As an introvert, I tried to find my place in the fast-paced environment. I was one of three women who worked there. One was an assistant manager. The other was a cashier. We didn’t always work together. Most shifts, I found myself working with men. It wasn’t a problem. They were courteous and extremely helpful, not to mention highly entertaining. At the end of the day, I would leave work at 9:30 p.m., with a bag of…

OU alums screen their work at film festival

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by Camila Gonzalez Making movies isn’t easy, especially when a filmmaker doesn’t have a big budget or A-list actors. But University of Oklahoma alumni at the 2014 deadCENTER Film Festival in Oklahoma City proved these aren’t needed to make great films. Dylan Cox liked playing basketball in front of a crowd, so it made sense for him to become an actor. His first acting job was in a lottery commercial during his time at OU. At first, he had “no aspirations” to be a director and producer. But he loved working with a good team to get a project done.…

Bringing an end to animal shelter killing

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by Dyneisha Kornegay Every day, thousands of adoptable animals are euthanized in shelters throughout the U.S. Historically, animals have been euthanized when they are healthy and adoptable. Given patience and time, these animals would eventually be adopted. Luckily, some animals get to live in no-kill shelters. Though not able to happen within the snap of our fingers, more no-kill shelters can be possible. Francis Battista has become a key thought leader in the no-kill movement. His animal sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, is the largest no-kill shelter for companion animals in the U.S. An article on Forbes.com states, “Best Friends Animal…

‘Locavores’ flock to Norman Farm Market

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by Jordan Evans When Bucky Gibson worked in the Wal-Mart loading docks, he noticed that food crates sat for days until the produce wasn’t fresh. He began to realize consumers had better options than buying food from chain supermarkets. Now the owner of a two-acre farm, Gibson controls not only how fast the products make it to consumers but also how the fruit and vegetables are grown. He runs the farm with the help of his mother, who has grown produce for years. Together, they are able to provide fresher, more natural food, which he sells at area farmers markets.…

’13 Storms left animals homeless

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  by Caitlyn Minton On a 10-acre plot with plenty of grass, sunshine and a small pond to drink from, Amy the donkey is living well a year after she was caught in the May 2013 tornado outbreak in Oklahoma. The storms left not only humans but also pets and livestock homeless. Thousands of cattle, at least 300 horses, nearly 25 goats and one llama died from the tornados or their injuries, said Zoe Midyett, owner and operator of Red Dirt Tack and Feed of Edmond. About 45 horses, donkeys and mules found their way to Equine Medical Associates (EMA)…

Speaking through art

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by Micah Roberts On Tuesday mornings, the focus at the Fred Jones Junior Museum of Art shifts from looking at art to creating it. On those mornings, the museum hosts Art Adventures, a program that introduces children ages 2-5 to art projects and theories. This free year-round program serves about 25 children and adults each week, according to program administrator Karen McWilliams. Attraction to art helps kids turn into more artistically talented individuals, McWilliams said. She said children learn that museums are not scary, but are places that give people a sense of beauty and history. McWilliams said she wants…

Destiny Washington

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by Micah Roberts Destiny Washington is inspired by her uncle’s success as an award-winning television executive producer and director. Rayce Denton won an Emmy producing BET TV reality shows, including College Hill and DMX: Soul of a Man. Washington wants to be as successful as Denton, but as a journalist. The 17-year-old senior at Classen School of Advanced Studies in Oklahoma City wants toattend the University of Southern California. “I want to do some kind of media broadcasting because knowing things interests me,” Washington said. As a high school junior, she participated in The Oklahoman’s Newsroom 101 for student journalists.…

Lauren Szmutko

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by Chase Bryer Growing up, Lauren Szmutko had a passion for fashion like the main character in her favorite book, “The Devil Wears Prada.” But as Szmutko grew older, she realized she had a passion for journalism. The 15-year-old sophomore at Bartlesville High School is active with the school newspaper, student council, National Honor Society, band, Spanish club and high school leadership club. Her favorite subject is English because it goes hand-in-hand with the art of journalism. Szmutko thinks her age sets her apart at OIDJ. “Coming into OIDJ [as the youngest], I was a little bit nervous at first,”…

Destiny Smith

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 by Maria Chaves Being only 16 years old, Destiny Danay Smith conveys a sincere pop culture ideology and philosophy that can only be summed up in one phrase: “Don’t worry, be happy.” Always one to flash a smile, the warmth that Smith radiates to others is not something taught in a classroom but is learned from years of self-reliance. Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Smith has lived in four houses and has been able to call them all her home. “We usually got sick of the places that we lived in, but moving was always comfortable since I was…

Ronnie Rhodes

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by Richelle Hallows  At the end of the eighth grade, Ronnie Rhodes had to choose between re-joining the high school yearbook staff, where he would lose his title as editor-in-chief, or to leave yearbook behind. “I was pretty timid and shy in middle school, and I just wondered if I could handle going out and interviewing people, but my teacher, my mentor, really inspired me to continue doing yearbook,” he said. Rhodes was born in Lawton, Okla., where he lives with his mom, dad and older sister. He attended Tomlinson Middle School and will be a junior at Lawton High…

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