University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange SCOOP Communication and Information Spring 2008 SCOOP magazine Spring 2008 College of Communication and Information Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk-scoop Part of the Communication Commons Recommended Citation College of Communication and Information, "SCOOP magazine Spring 2008" (2008). SCOOP. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk-scoop/9 This Magazine is brought to you for free and open access by the Communication and Information at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in SCOOP by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. School of Journalism and Electronic Media ScoopThe University of Tennessee Our Eyes on a Shrinking World Spring 2008 1 Welcome to the #1 bookstore on campus. Featuring 8 Campus Locations •Main Store- UC •UC Computer Store UPPER LEVEL University–supported computers, software, and supplies at discounted prices for stu- -The Volunteer dents, faculty, and staff. Located on the Shoppe 2nd floor of the UC. featuring authentic Tennessee sportswear and apparel, including “Private Stock” -School supplies, gifts, cards, health and beauty aids - 7 levels of parking in the UC garage •Presidential Store Variety of snacks, basic health and beauty aids, school LOWER LEVEL supplies, apparel and gifts. -Textbooks and general books - Save 25% off the new book price when you buy used textbooks. •Art & Architecture Store Art and school supplies, snacks, drinks and more. •Hodges Library •Hess Hall Store Store Variety of snacks, basic health and Variety of snacks, basic health and beauty aids, and school supplies. beauty aids, and school supplies. •Lobby •Conference Center Store Shoppe-UC Located on Henley Street in the UT Conference Center. Large selection of Open early for a quick stop on the apparel, gifts, and snack items. way to class; variety of snacks and drinks. Online @ www.utbookstore.org 2 Welcome to the Supporting the next generation of journalism Welcome to the and media leaders. In other words, you. #1#1 bookstore bookstore onon campus.campus. FeaturingFeaturing 8 8 Campus Campus LocationsLocations •Main•Main Store- Store- UC UC •UC•UC Computer Computer StoreStore University–supported computers, software, UPPER LEVEL University–supported computers, software, UPPER LEVEL and supplies at discounted prices for stu- -The Volunteer and supplies at discounted prices for stu- -The Volunteer dents, faculty, and staff. Located on the Shoppe dents, faculty, and staff. Located on the Shoppe 2nd floor of the UC. featuring 2nd floor of the UC. featuring authentic authentic TennesseeTennessee sportswearsportswear and andapparel, apparel, includingincluding “Private “Private Stock” Stock” -School-School supplies, supplies, gifts, gifts, cards, cards, health health and and beauty beauty aids aids - 7 levels- 7 levels of parking of parking in the in UCthe UCgarage garage •Presidential•Presidential StoreStore VarietyVariety of ofsnacks, snacks, basic basic health health and and beauty beauty aids, aids, school school LOWERLOWER LEVEL LEVEL supplies,supplies, apparel apparel and and gifts. gifts. -Textbooks-Textbooks and and general general books books - Save- Save 25% 25% off the off newthe new book book price price when when you you buy buy used used textbooks. textbooks. •Art •Art & & Architecture Architecture StoreStore ArtArt and and school school supplies, supplies, snacks, snacks, drinks drinks and and more. more. •Hodges•Hodges Library Library •Hess •Hess Hall Hall StoreStore StoreStore VarietyVariety of snacks, of snacks, basic basic health health and and VarietyVariety of ofsnacks, snacks, basic basic health health and and beauty aids, and school supplies. beauty aids, and school supplies. beautybeauty aids, aids, and and school school supplies. supplies. •Lobby•Lobby •Conference Center Store •Conference Center Store Shoppe-UCShoppe-UC Located on Henley Street in the UT Conference Center. Large selection of Located on Henley Street in the UT Conference Center. Large selection of OpenOpen early early for for a quicka quick stop stop on on the the apparel, gifts, and snack items. way to class; variety of snacks and apparel, gifts, and snack items. way to class; variety of snacks and drinks. drinks. OnlineOnline @ @ www.utbookstore.org www.utbookstore.org 3 3 4 When sushi is this good, you can eat twice as much. Knoxville: The Gallery 865.588.2064 Knoxville: Turkey Creek 865.966.2317 Johnson City 423.232.6000 Kingsport & Ashville coming mid 2008 stirfrycafe.com 5 Editor’s Letter With technology bringing the world closer every day it is fitting that the School of Journalism and Electronic Media explore how these technologies are expanding our class- rooms, getting us “ready for the world.” I would like to welcome you to the sixth edition of Scoop magazine. Backpack journalism, multi-media news packages and on- line media are the new frontiers shaping journalism. News is infiltrating e-mails, text messages and Facebook pages. We, as journalists, must improve how the public receives this information. Technology rules not only the news world, but also the classrooms at UT. With Skype teaching aids, up-to-date Mac computer labs, and advanced audio and video equip- ment the School of Journalism and Electronic Media is do- ing its part to prepare students for a future in new media. Sara Kate Parker is a senior in Journalism Inside this issue you will be able to see what UT is up to, and Electronic Media. After graduation and also take a look into the lives of international students she is seeing where the wind takes her. studying here. Ann Taylor of NPR shares tricks of her trade, we explore how the new advances in communica- tion affect our relationships, and we provide a warning about social networking sites that all students and alumni should read. I hope that you will enjoy this issue of Scoop, and check out our new Web site at cci.utk.edu/scoopmagazine. 6 spring 2008 Scoop36 features 40 Backpack Journalism Updating the traditional role “Honest to Blog?” 44 Blogging’s effect on journalism today Foreign Correspondent 46 Covering Africa from civil war to genocide Classroom Innovations 48 Teaching technologies advance UT students 50 International Exchange A look at international student life on campus Love at a Distance 55 Technology is bringing relationships closer every day, no matter how far the distance 7 Scoopdepartments 16 6 Editor’s Letter 8 12 Who We Are Not bound by space: Mark Littman 14 From the Wire 1410 Tnjn.com is bringing us the world 16 Trade Tips 12 NPR’s Ann Taylor shares her tricks of the trade 18 Research in the Round Hittin’ the books vs. hittin’ the field 22 Trade Tips 52 International radio waves 24 Then & Now Diversity: redefining the UT experience 26 Ink/Screen/Mic Facebook alert: one new notification 18 28 Tennessee Traditions Smokey: the man behind the mask 26 32 Press Passport Freedom Writer: Oleg Manaev 16 28 34 A Thousand Words Culture 26 58 Pieces of Our Park Set in stone 60 Circle View 2620 8 28 9 Scoop Magazine of the School of Journalism and Electronic Media The University of Tennessee Editor in Chief Sara Kate Parker Managing Editor Nick Miller Editorial Design Directors Kimberly Hood Yolanda Ortiz Features Editors Whitney Vairin Jennifer Lyle Kelly Johnson Jimmy Wilson Editorial Staff Beverly Adams Wyatt Badger Mary Faucett Janna Rudolph Erin Tutt Copy Chief Jessie Lowery Research Editors Caitlin Rockett Andrew Horwat Lorato Powell Photography Editor Kate Humphrey Web Editors Brendan Rogak Jessica Thomas Advertising Director Jessica Ayers The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. RO1-2910-098-001-07 cover photo illustration by Nick Miller 10 spring 2008 Sara Kate Parker Nick Miller Kimberly Hood Yolanda Ortiz Whitney Vairin Jennifer Lyle Kelly Johnson Jimmy Wilson Jessie Lowery Caitlin Rockett Andrew Horwat Lorato Powell Kate Humphrey Brendan Rogak Jessica Thomas Jessica AyersAyres springspring 2008 11 Who We Are Not Bound by Space From numerous awards, to a shelf full of books, Mark Littmann is one accomplished guy Story by Jessie Lowery Photo provided by Mark Littmann Mark and Peggy Littmann on Mount Timpanogos near America Fork, Utah in 2004 hen he is not chemistry lab, joking that it might of the grants he had written. About studying the have been dangerous for him to be in 650 other planetariums worldwide abyss of space, a lab. He decided to continue school used his programs, which is rare for J o u r n a l i s m for another year at Hollins College to other planetariums to do. and Electronic get his masters in creative writing and While directing at Hansen, he Media’s Dr. Mark Littmann is teaching modern literature. taught at the University of Utah, studentsW about the wonders of science He then went to Salt Lake City to be- Westminster College and Brigham and technology. He is a man of many come the first director of the Hansen Young University. He enjoyed teach- talents and an amazing multi-tasker. Planetarium. The only experience he ing so much that he decided to get his When he attended college, he had no had for directing the planetarium was doctorate in English at Northwestern idea what he wanted to do as a career. one introductory course in astronomy University. He was still teaching “I envied those who knew,” Littmann during college. and directing at the planetarium as said. He considered becoming a nucle- “The planetarium medium is such well as writing while working on his ar physicist because “it sounded neat.” a wonderful medium,” Littmann said. doctorate. Beginning at the age of 14, he had the “A lot of drama could be brought and “As I look back now, I can’t imag- privilege of learning to fly a plane and made into a play.” He knew he could ine how I found the time and energy.