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On WJI: Felons find job training



One project that I had worked on quite a bit, but had to give up, was a story on a nonprofit organization that had just started providing job training for former prison inmates in New York.

I didn’t want to give it up, though, so I didn’t really. I kept corresponding with my contact, and though I could not put together a convergence project (i.e., a story with video and slideshow and audio to accompany it), I ended up with a decent print story with a few photos. That story was just posted online today.

And the best part about this story was working with my contact. She was amazingly cooperative—not a common experience for a journalist—and even went so far as to stay up late just to find me an official document stating New York’s recidivism rate. I have an e-mail from this lady date-stamped at 11:26 at night, after she was already worn out after a full day at various New York prisons and looking forward to the Memorial Day weekend. I would never have asked her to do that, but she went the extra mile on her own initiative to make sure I had the information I’d need.

That’s why I couldn’t let this story go. I had to see it through.

Comments

da_baum said…
One of the other members of your class at WJI, Laura Vaillancourt, graduated from the local high school here where I live, and goes to the 'rival' college to mine... I don't think I've ever met her, but I thought that was random... Makes me want to sing, "It's a small world after all, it's a small world after all..."

I'll stop now...
readersis said…
Nuh-uh!! She was the same gal who'd met another person from my college, in a CCCU program out in L.A. It really is a small world.... how in the world did you figure that out?
da_baum said…
Well, after reading your article, I clicked on "Meet The WJI Class of 2010", and saw that there was a student (Laura) from Bethel University (it's basically right up the street from NWC), so I was curious if I had ever have run into her, so I looked at her bio, and saw she graduated from the local high school the same year I graduated (though since I was home schooled, I obviously didn't graduate from there...).

Also, I haven't been using Facebook for close to two months (I know, what is this world coming to, right?), so if she adds me as a friend to stalk me, it may be a while before I add her back. I *might* get on this weekend, but no promises on that... I don't mind being stalked by non-creepy people, but it's not really stalking if she has permission from the person she is stalking to stalk said person, is it?
readersis said…
Haha, so you're on a long-term Facebook fast of sorts? Or are you attempting to give it up for good? I think I remembered this vaguely, but I left you a message on your wall anyway. And no, it's not really stalking if she has your permission. :P

Oh, do you remember my pen-pal by any chance? She got married last week. I'm going to (finally) send her a little congrats card today or tomorrow. We're probably going to renew our old correspondence by snail mail soon.
da_baum said…
Well, I'm mostly just giving up Facebook until I absolutely need it, or don't think I'll be wasting my life by using it. So if I need to get in contact with someone I am only friends with through Facebook, then I'll probably get back on. Or ask a mutual friend to get me contact info for the person, one of the two.

I remember mention of your pen-pal. I don't particularly remember anything beyond that she is from MN... Did she marry anyone I know? :P
readersis said…
Ah, I see. It's likely a good idea, though I can't say I'll be doing the same anytime soon. I have limited my FB use in the past, but never actually quit using it. It's the only connection I have with several friends who've graduated or live in the uttermost parts of the earth (i.e. outside Ohio).

I sincerely doubt you know her husband. (That's just sooo weird to say/type!) He's from New York. They met while she was nannying there, a couple years ago I think.
da_baum said…
I tried just limiting my use, but that only worked for a little while. This way, hopefully if/when I get back on, I'll have a routine in place that will keep me from wasting time on it. I have some ideas on how to do that already, but we'll see if that actually works...I'll probably be off until the end of July, since I have a class that goes until then. We'll see how that works...

It'll be even weirder when we start talking about our own spouses! Scary thought...*shudder*
readersis said…
Yeah. Limiting FB use seems almost futile. Yet I try every single summer, once I realize how much time I waste on the site!

Gah, don't even say that. I feel so much disconnect with my friends already when they start talking about their fiances/husbands. I haven't a thing to say in those conversations, unfortunately. :P
readersis said…
...and it took me THREE tries (and a password retype) to get that comment posted. What is up with Blogger today?
da_baum said…
I feel like I waste a lot of time even now that I am without Facebook...I don't think I'd accomplish anything if I still had it...

Ha, yeah, I just start talking about my beautiful trombones when guys start talking about their girlfriends, or girls about their boyfriends. Then they look at me funny...I don't understand...
readersis said…
Well, I suspect that other time-wasters tend to fill in where Facebook leaves a void. Happens in other cases.

Haha! You rascal (even with your litte halo).

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