Rob's Class Blog

Micah Teague leads The Commuter team for 2025-26

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 18:21:00 +0000

Micah Teague

New year! New editor-in-chief at The Commuter.

Micah Teague leads The Commuter team this school year. Micah was appointed at the end of spring term by LBCC's Student Publications Committee, a group that includes students, staff and faculty from the college.

Micah succeeds Ryland Bickley, who graduated last spring and wrapped up his year as top editor at The Commuter. Bickley now writes for The Barometer at Oregon State University.

Last school year Micah worked as a photographer and reporter, contributing a variety of stories and photos to the college's monthly magazine, online site and social media.

In her application to become EIC, Micah wrote, "As a journalism student I have benefited a lot from working with The Commuter and receiving guidance from others on The Commuter staff. ... It has given me many opportunities to improve my skills and experiences that I would not have known of otherwise. I want to provide this support for other students who have found a love for journalism like myself. I would also like to continue improving my journalistic skills through this role and continue growing as a journalist.

"The Commuter focuses largely on news surrounding the campus. With feature stories on both students and faculty, The Commuter provides a platform for others to get to know the people around them, creating a more tightly knit community on campus," she continued.

"I believe it is also important to feature stories on a range of topics both positive and negative. By publishing these stories we are helping the LBCC community stay informed on issues and topics they might not have been aware of. Without a steady flow of information it can be difficult to stay informed. The Commuter is providing a way for students and faculty to be in the know about what is happening around them. As editor-in-chief I will encourage staff to continue writing stories that are relevant to the community and student body."

Those who would like to contact Micah or get involved at The Commuter are encouraged to email the staff at commuter@linnbenton.edu. Also see The Commuter's website at LBCommuter.com.

For more information about journalism at LBCC, contact The Commuter’s faculty adviser, Rob Priewe, at priewer@linnbenton.edu.

Ryland Bickley and The Commuter Team Gear Up for 2024-25 at LBCC

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 19:35:00 +0000

Ryland Bickley leads The Commuter team into the 2024-25 school year at LBCC. Earlier this summer, Bickley was appointed editor-in-chief of Linn-Benton's student-run magazine and website.

Ryland Bickley

Bickley succeeds Ryan Janowitz, who graduated this spring along with wrapping up his year in charge of The Commuter. Last year, Bickley served as The Commuter's sports editor.

He and his team are looking forward to a great year, already having produced two editions of The Commuter's monthly magazine, including the Welcome Day edition that will be available around campus starting this week.

Bickley is from Harrisburg and earned his high school diploma online from the Oregon Charter Academy, where he also served as editor-in-chief of The Current newspaper. Long before he began covering Roadrunners athletics, Bickley has been a sports writer the last five years for SB Nation/Vox, primarily covering his favorite NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his first year with The Commuter, he earned first- and third-place awards for his sports reporting and writing in the regional journalism competition sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Association of Journalism Educators.

Bickley is dual-enrolled at Oregon State University and is majoring in communications with a minor in journalism. He also is involved in LBCC's Civil Discourse Program, which promotes campus dialogue that enhances understanding among individuals with diverse viewpoints in an open and respectful environment.

In his application to lead The Commuter, he wrote to LBCC's Student Publications Committee: "I take The Commuter’s motto of 'for the students, by the students' seriously. I believe we have the responsibility of informing students about their school and community, showcasing student and local talent, and representing LBCC with a quality product."

He added, "I would like to expand our range of content, adding columnists, articles that focus on local history or the history of LBCC, lifestyle articles, more school news, editorial pieces, and more local features. I want the magazine and website to be full of fresh, creative, and informative content."

The college’s Student Publications Committee is composed of LB students, staff and faculty who annually interview applicants and appoint The Commuter’s top editor.

Those who would like to contact Bickley or get involved at The Commuter are encouraged to email the staff at commuter@linnbenton.edu. See The Commuter's website at LBCommuter.com.

For more information about journalism at LBCC, contact The Commuter’s faculty adviser, Rob Priewe, at priewer@linnbenton.edu.

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Ryan Janowitz Appointed Editor-in-Chief of The Commuter for 2023-24

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 17:50:00 +0000

Ryan Janowitz

The Commuter has a new editor-in-chief, Ryan Janowitz.

The Student Publications Committee appointed Janowitz after an interview with applicants on June 5. Janowitz succeeds Leah Biesack, who is now a student at OSU.

Janowitz has worked as The Commuter’s marketing director this school year. He will take over immediately as the student news operation’s person in charge.

As marketing director, Janowitz has worked with editors in production and distribution of the monthly magazine, managed the operation’s advertising and marketing efforts, updated The Commuter’s website, and produced and distributed The Commuter’s weekly newsletter.

Janowitz, a visual communications major at LBCC, will have the benefit of leading several staffers — editors, reporters, photographers, designers — who plan to return for a second year at LBCC beginning this fall.

In his application for the position, Janowitz wrote, “The Commuter’s responsibility to the school is to support the student body and the faculty to the best of our ability. We celebrate their achievements, their uniqueness, and creativity, we keep them informed on campus news and events, we provide entertainment, information, advice and encouragement.”

One of the points Janowitz emphasized in talking with the interview committee is his commitment to highlighting the outstanding work and successes of LBCC’s students, both current and recent graduates.

“I’d like to put more of an emphasis on student projects and events. We have a lot of talent in our student body and I want the Commuter to be a platform where they can display what they’re working on and what makes them unique.”

In addition to appointing his staff, Janowitz already is at work planning stories, photos and other content for The Commuter’s website, a summer edition, and the back-to-school Welcome Day edition of the newspaper/magazine, which readers can look for on campus the week of Sept. 20.

The college’s Student Publications Committee is composed of LB students, staff and faculty who annually interview applicants and appoint The Commuter’s top editor.

Those who would like to contact Janowitz or get involved at The Commuter are encouraged to email commuter@linnbenton.edu or ryan.janowitz.2994@mail.linnbenton.edu.

For more information about journalism at LBCC, contact The Commuter’s faculty adviser, Rob Priewe, at priewer@linnbenton.edu. To see more work by students in LBCC’s journalism program, see their blogs at robpriewe.blogspot.com.

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Leah Biesack Serves as Commuter Editor-in-Chief for 2022-23 School Year

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 04:47:00 +0000

LBCC student Leah Biesack has begun her tenure as this year's editor-in-chief of The Commuter, the college's award-winning student newspaper and website.

Biesack was appointed this spring by the college's Student Publications Committee, a group of LB students, staff and faculty who annually interview applicants and appoint the newspaper's top editor. Biesack succeeded Dakota Gange, who's term as editor-in-chief concluded with publication of the newspaper's last issue of the 2021-22 school year in June.

As editor-in-chief, Biesack is responsible for pulling together the newspaper staff for the school year and takes the lead in setting the direction for The Commuter's website, social media, newsletter and printed editions of the newspaper. Over the past two years Leah has been a writer and reporter for The Commuter, and last year served as the Arts & Entertainment Editor.

In her application to the Student Publications Committee, Biesack wrote, "The Commuter has a responsibility, first and foremost, to our student body and campus audience (teachers, faculty, staff). It’s our job to showcase the various events and latest news, as well as highlight our student voices. It’s important to feature the different departments and organizations of the college, as they are our foundation. The Commuter is by students, and very much for our students.

"That said, I believe it’s also crucial to expand our coverage to the surrounding communities. LBCC has a high percentage of non-traditional students (myself included) who likely have lives that aren’t centered around campus life. I feel proud of how The Commuter has stepped up to cover our local community life and seamlessly blend it into our vibrant campus life."

Biesack encourages students, staff and faculty to reach out to the newspaper with questions and suggestions for coverage in the year ahead. She can be contacted through the newspaper by emailing commuter@linnbenton.edu.

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Dakota Gange set to take over as next editor-in-chief at The Commuter

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 14:23:00 +0000

LBCC journalism student Dakota Gange will be the next editor-in-chief of The Commuter, the college's award-winning student newspaper.

Dakota Gange

The college's Student Publications Committee appointed Gange on May 27. She will succeed current Editor-in-Chief Katie Littlefield, who will conclude her tenure as the newspaper's top editor with the last edition of the school year June 2.

Over this past year, Gange has served as the newspaper's Student Voice Editor, highlighting various issues facing students, from the pandemic and homelessness, to paying for college and sustainability. She also has collaborated with LB's student government to highlight the advocacy efforts of other student leaders on campus.

In appointing Gange, members of the Student Publications Committee applauded the enthusiasm that Gange brought to her interview for the position, her successes this past year as Student Voice Editor, and expressed confidence that she can build on the success that Littlefield and her team had this school year. The committee is comprised of LBCC students, staff and faculty.

In applying to be editor-in-chief in the coming year, Gange told the committee, "Writing is my way of bettering the world around me, myself included. It’s how I further reach the public, and further grow myself. Through this career, I can share the stories of those who otherwise might not have a voice, or go unheard. It’s the truth I’ve always sought after, and a way to reach out to others. I want to hear people; I want to listen to their truths, and I want to communicate with them. I thrive on these opportunities."

On the role of the newspaper, she wrote, "We have a duty here to report on important topics revolving around LBCC and the surrounding community. It’s our job to find the truth out there, and bring it forth to the light. We exist to better understand, inform, and report on various topics for our readers."

She credited Littlefield with initiating the kind of journalism she wants to continue at The Commuter: "Littlefield has shined a light on the importance and involvement of the student voice/body, and I passionately plan to continue her work/wish. Through finding student stories, we can better listen to their needs. This year we have had a paper full of diversity, and I plan to continue that through the student voice."

As editor-in-chief, Gange will lead a team of reporters, photographers, editors, graphic designers and others who produce The Commuter, which publishes weekly editions during the school year in addition to its website, a weekly newsletter and various social media.

Those who would like to contact Gange or get involved at the newspaper are encouraged to email to commuter@linnbenton.edu or dakota.gange.2771@mail.linnbenton.edu.

For more information about journalism at LBCC, contact The Commuter's faculty adviser, Rob Priewe, at priewer@linnbenton.edu. To see more work by students in LBCC's journalism program, see their blogs at robpriewe.blogspot.com.

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Katie Littlefield Appointed Editor-in-Chief of The Commuter for 2020-21

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 18:20:00 +0000

LBCC student Katie Littlefield will be the next editor-in-chief of The Commuter, the college's award-winning student newspaper.

Katie Littlefield

Littlefield was appointed Wednesday by the college's Student Publications Committee, which is comprised of LBCC students, faculty and staff. She succeeds McKenna Christmas, who took over as editor-in-chief spring term, leading The Commuter during the college's unprecedented lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Littlefield, entering her second year at LBCC, has had a regular byline in the paper attached to her work as a reporter, photographer and editor.

During her interview with the publications committee, she emphasized her desire to reach out to other parts of the campus, encouraging a wider variety of students and staff to contribute to the weekly newspaper, the LBCommuter website, and its social media platforms.

"LBCC has so many amazing students with great talents that I want to showcase to our whole school," she wrote in her application for editor-in-chief. "I believe that one of the greatest responsibilities The Commuter has is student involvement and appreciation. This has been done very well over the years and I got to witness it first hand while working as managing editor for two terms. I’d like to amplify the voices of LBCC and showcase the hidden talents at this community college."

The responsibilities of The Commuter's editor-in-chief include appointing and managing the newspaper's staff; coordinating the work of the staff, including assigning and editing stories and photos; leading staff meetings and other newspaper activities; and representing the newspaper in the college community.

For more information about getting involved in The Commuter, Littlefield can be contacted at katherine.littlefield.5238@mail.linnbenton.edu or via the newspaper's email at commuter@linnbenton.edu.

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Commuter Shares First Issue of Spring Term 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 23:55:00 +0000

Check out the first digital issue of the term from the terrific team of Journalism students of The Commuter newspaper at Linn-Benton Community College.

Bravo!

Here's the link. And be sure to check out LBCommuter.com.

# # #

A New Term, and a New Routine at LBCC

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 19:23:00 +0000

My students' grades had been posted and Spring Break had begun ... sort of.

Instead of sitting on the grass beyond the outfield fence of Hohokam Park in Mesa, Arizona, I was sitting in my living room in Oregon. Instead of watching the Chicago Cubs play the Oakland A's in a major league baseball spring training game, I wondered what else in my life was about to change
because of the coronavirus.

Nearly two weeks later, the answer is ... a lot!

I didn't travel to Arizona for spring baseball, and right now there's no telling whether baseball -- or any other routine activity -- will return to "normal" anytime soon. I've barely left my house but for some exercise (running and walking), one trip to the grocery store and two stops for take-out pizza.

The bulk of my past week has been devoted to converting all of my typical face-to-face classes at Linn-Benton Community College into online-only experiences for my journalism and marketing students. And I'm working with the school newspaper staff of The Commuter to map out a strategy for shifting the attention of the weekly newspaper to its website and social media.

I'm becoming a Zoom video master and realizing all I took for granted in the luxury of working with students on campus each day.

I'm learning a variety of new skills and getting even more organized than I thought I was before.

Most of all, I'm looking forward to the start of Spring Term, a new routine, and the work that I love at LBCC.

Play ball!

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Caleb Barber Appointed Next Editor-in-Chief of LBCC Commuter

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Fri, 24 May 2019 19:40:00 +0000

Caleb Barber has been appointed as the next editor-in-chief of LBCC's student newspaper, The Commuter.

Barber will succeed Alex Gaub, whose term at EIC runs till the end of spring term. Barber, who is studying journalism and English at LBCC, will begin his term this summer and continue through the 2019-20 school year.

Caleb Barber

Barber was appointed after being interviewed by the campus Student Publications Committee, which is composed of LBCC faculty, staff and students.

In his application, Barber wrote, "As LBCC moves into the new academic school year, I would like to start strong as the leader of an award-winning student newspaper. I want to encourage a wide array of creative expression throughout the newsroom and campus."

One of his top priorities, Barber told the Student Publications Committee, is to recruit a variety of talents and voices to the Commuter.

"Some changes I would like to make to the Commuter would include adding more graphics, photo illustrations, columns, graphs, and overall diversifying the sum of content we publish every week," he wrote in his application.

He added, "I would like to get more students interested in web and graphic design involved in the paper, and give them freedom and initiative to produce new and innovative ideas for the paper."

Over the past year, Barber has contributed to The Commuter in various roles, including reporter, photographer, reviewer, columnist and copy editor.

The responsibilities of The Commuter's editor-in-chief include appointing and managing the newspaper's staff; coordinating the work of the staff, including assigning and editing stories and photos; leading staff meetings and other newspaper activities; and representing the newspaper in the college community.

For more information, or to contact Barber, his email is caleb.barber.3147@mail.linnbenton.edu or contact the newspaper at commuter@linnbenton.edu.

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LBCC Hosts Open Records Forums on Nov. 15

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 19:09:00 +0000

Whether you’re looking for election spending and campaign contributions, property transaction information, or business licensing documents, much of this public information is easily accessible to citizens -- if only they knew how to best access the records.

Linn-Benton Community College will host a pair of Open Records Forums on Thursday, Nov. 15, designed to demystify the Oregon and federal public records systems and give people the tools they need to easily access the information and records they are seeking.

A forum primarily for college students and staff begins at 2:30 p.m. in the college’s Boardroom, Room 103, of the Calapooia Center on LBCC’s main Albany campus, 6500 Pacific Blvd. S.W.

A second forum for the general public begins at 5:30 p.m. in the same location. Both forums are free and open to the public.

The forums will be led by Ginger McCall, Oregon’s Public Records Advocate, a newly appointed position intended to help the public access records and other state information. She will discuss the general framework of open records in Oregon as well as focusing on how to most easily access those records. In addition, she’ll touch on aspects of the federal Freedom of Information Act.

LBCC’s Communication Department, Journalism Department and The Commuter, the college’s award-winning student newspaper, are hosting the event.

For more information, contact:

Zakir Khan, LBCC Communication Dept. Chairman, khanz@linnbenton.edu, 541-917- 4834
Rob Priewe, LBCC Journalism Faculty, priewer@linnbenton.edu, 541-917-4563
Ginger McCall, Oregon Public Records Advocate, Ginger.MCCALL@oregon.gov, 503-378-5228
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CNN host Brian Stelter honors mentor, inspires students at ACP journalism conference

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 03:11:00 +0000

CNN senior media correspondent Brian Stelter talks social media with
journalism students Feb. 27 at the ACP conference in Los Angeles.
Photo by Christopher Trotchie/The Commuter

LOS ANGELES -- We need more reporters, and not as many pundits, people who think they know all the answers, according to Brian Stelter.

Stelter is CNN’s senior media correspondent and host of “Reliable Sources,” the weekly TV program that examines media and journalism. He got his professional start as a media reporter at the New York Times, after launching a blog called “TV Newser” when he was still in college.

On Feb. 27 Stelter was the keynote speaker at the annual West Coast conference of the Associated Collegiate Press, which attracted some 700 journalism students, advisers and media professionals from around the United States and Canada. He filled in for his mentor and former New York Times colleague David Carr, 58, who died Feb. 12.

In his talk, “What David Carr Taught Me About Journalism,” Stelter paid tribute to Carr and shared with students the skills and attributes he believes they will need to succeed in journalism in the 21st century.

In addition to the skills of the trade -- reporting, interviewing, writing, mastering social media -- Stelter said students must have a passion for journalism. His own passion for reporting and commenting on media goes as far back as his childhood, when he created a website to write about R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps” books.

Today, Stelter joked, he and the popular author follow each other on Twitter!

When he arrived at the Times, however, he was not so confident he belonged among the likes of Carr, who Stelter described as the “most important and influential media reporter of our time.”

Stelter said he kept his head down and kept reporting and writing as many stories as he could, gaining confidence and the skills he needed to succeed with every published story, which quickly numbered in the hundreds in his first year at the Times.

“I absolutely did not belong there,” he recalled. “I was terrified.”

Like his mentor, Stelter believes good journalism results from thorough reporting and interviewing. Journalists have to exercise curiosity, make phone calls, and write with confidence.

Stelter recalled Carr saying that a funny thing happens when you do more reporting and more interviews -- a story gets more complicated. It’s the responsibility of the reporter to sort it all out and explain it to readers.

These days, students must be multi-taskers -- versatile and talented. He noted how he recently broke a story that involved writing an article for CNN’s website, which posted the story the same time he reported it on TV. Meanwhile, he had already teased the article on social media, and linked to the full story soon after.

Building video skills will be essential for journalists, he said. Americans watch an average of five hours of video a day. That’s not going away.

It’s also “vitally important” that students take their “personal brand” seriously. When they “google” themselves, the top 10 results better be work they’ve created.

Think about specializing in something, he urged all the young reporters in the audience. “Follow your passion. What can you do better than anybody else?”

Most people today don’t trust the mainstream media, he said. Every day journalists have the opportunity to earn the public’s trust or further erode that trust.

David Carr was terrified of making an error, Stelter said, and so should every journalist.

As for the future, Stelter said he shares Carr’s optimism -- not just for media but also for the young people heading down that career path.

He ended his talk by quoting from one of his favorite Carr columns, “The Fall and Rise of Media,” which was published in the Times in November 2009:

“Somewhere down in the Flatiron, out in Brooklyn, over in Queens or up in Harlem, cabals of bright young things are watching all the disruption with more than an academic interest. Their tiny netbooks and iPhones, which serve as portals to the cloud, contain more informational firepower than entire newsrooms possessed just two decades ago. And they are ginning content from their audiences in the form of social media or finding ways of making ambient information more useful. They are jaded in the way youth requires, but have the confidence that is a gift of their age as well.

“For them, New York is not an island sinking, but one that is rising on a fresh, ferocious wave.”

-rp-

Rob Priewe and Brian Stelter talk
journalism at the ACP conference.
Photo by Christopher Trotchie/
The Commuter

At a glance:

Brian Stelter is CNN’s senior media correspondent and the host of “Reliable Sources.” Before that, he was a media reporter for the New York Times.

“Reliable Sources” airs at 8 a.m. Sundays on the West Coast.

Follow Stelter on Twitter by way of @BrianStelter or @CNN Reliable.

Or search “Reliable Sources” on Facebook.

Stelter, along with David Carr, is among the journalists featured in the 2011 documentary “Page One: Inside the New York Times.”

“I had a lot to learn from David Carr. He would say, he learned more from me,” Stelter said. “‘Page One’ really solidified our bromance.”

# # #

OSU Crowd Goes 'Wild' Over Cheryl Strayed

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 05:02:00 +0000

Photo courtesy of Karl Maasdam Photography

CORVALLIS -- Oregonians love Cheryl Strayed. Even some of the snotty, elite backpacker society who have hated on her best-selling book “Wild” since its release two years ago.

Readers’ adoration of Strayed was on full display last Thursday from the moment she sheepishly popped on stage from behind the curtain midway through the introduction at OSU’s LaSells Stewart Center.

An hour before her talk, the overflow crowd filled every spot in the 1,200-seat auditorium, with hundreds of others left to stand in the aisles or sit on the floor. Sadly, those who hadn’t hustled to find a seat had to retreat to the lobby, where hundreds more watched the hour-long talk by live stream.

Karl Maasdam Photography

Strayed’s upbeat speech ranged from grueling tales along the Pacific Crest Trail and her transformational journey from near self-destruction, to funny moments behind the scenes with Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern, who’ve both been nominated for Academy Awards for their roles in the movie version of “Wild.”

Mostly, however, Strayed fondly remembered her mom, the most “essential” person in her life. It was her mom’s death that precipitated the downward spiral that eventually led Strayed to hike 1,100 miles of the epic and challenging Pacific Crest Trail, otherwise known as the PCT.

Strayed’s story was familiar to most of the Oregon State University crowd, about three-quarters female, who nearly unanimously indicated they had read “Wild,” seen the movie or done both. In her talk, Strayed recounted elements of the story, eliciting both laughter and near tears, sometimes in the same anecdote.

“It really is about my mom, and her life … and what her death meant to me.”

For example, Strayed shared her own college experience and the naïve manner in which she decided to attend the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. After looking at various brochures, she settled on St. Thomas largely because the people pictured in the pamphlet seemed the “least weird-looking.”

Upon being accepted by the only college to which she applied, she learned that parents and grandparents also could attend classes … for free. Her mom took that opportunity to get the college education she always wanted.

“It was every student’s dream,” Strayed joked. “Would any of you bring your mom to school?!”

Going to college together, however, strengthened the already-impenetrable bond Strayed had with her mom after growing up with an abusive, alcoholic father and living “off the grid” in northern Minnesota. Her mom was her best friend, her confidante, her inspiration.

But on campus, Strayed said, her mom wasn’t to acknowledge her unless Cheryl spoke first. Of course, that embarrassment quickly disappeared. Her mom was a straight-A student, hungry to learn, and redefining her own life.

At the same time, Strayed said, “My mom knew where I had to be at that point in my life. Suddenly I understood who I was, like I never had before.”

So it was that senior year spring break that their lives took a terrible turn, when her mother, 45, was diagnosed with lung cancer. Seven weeks later, she was gone.

Karl Maasdam Photography

Her mother’s death catapulted Strayed, then 22, into binges of alcohol and drug abuse, wanton sex, and “violent, tyrannical” behavior that destroyed her first marriage.

“In my sorrow, I lost my way.”

Four years after her mom died, purely by chance she saw a guidebook for the PCT. And amidst her heartbreak she threw herself relentlessly into her spiritual quest for redemption and renewal.

Strayed said she couldn’t honor her mom by “wrecking” her own life. Full of regret, she needed to start doing the right thing.

She recalled a short scene at the outset of the movie that takes up only a few pages of the book. And yet, it sums up her quest.

She is standing in a hotel room the morning her hike is to begin. All her gear is laid out on the bed. She had never packed a backpack in her life. After she squeezes everything into the enormous bundle she realizes it’s too big.

She can’t budge it.

“What was I thinking?!”

It was upon reflection years later that the moment’s deeper meaning became apparent, she said. “I learned what it means when we have to bear what is unbearable.”

And go on, one step after another.

“You can only figure out how to bear it yourself.”

At one point of the trail her feet were blistered and bloody.

“My feet hurt so bad that I forget about my heart.”

Alone, sometimes scared, often frustrated and exhausted, she persisted. To the end of her journey, at the Bridge of the Gods, which connects Oregon and Washington over the Columbia River.

It almost seems trite, she said, to start life anew at the Bridge of the Gods. No editor would allow her to make that up.

Yet that’s where her trek concluded in 1995, and her new journey began. One that she’s sure would make her mom proud.

Strayed began writing “Wild” in 2008, “when I could really tell what happened.” By then she had already published her novel, “Torch,” was remarried and had two small children.

She’s been overwhelmed by the success of “Wild,” the movie and the hundreds of emails and letters from appreciative readers. Their kind words far outnumber the caustic reviews from those who have criticized her hike along only part of the 2,600-mile PCT.

They’re critical because she didn’t do the whole trail, she didn’t know what she was doing or even what to pack. And the notoriety of “Wild” will attract all manner of people to the trail, spoiling it for hikers.

They miss the point, she said. It’s not a book about backpacking. It’s about conquering heartbreak and starting over.

People ask her, “What would you say to your mother now?” Strayed said she used to tell people she’d say what you’d expect, “I love you, mom” or “I miss you.”

In the movie, her mom is played by Laura Dern. In real life, her mom wasn’t much taller than five feet. Strayed described Dern as beautiful, tall, willowy.

If she met up with her mom now, Strayed said, she would flatter her by saying, “Laura Dern is playing you in a fucking movie!”

One of the key moments from the film is when Dern’s character, stricken with cancer, says, “I never got to be in the driver’s seat of my own life. I was always a daughter, or a wife, or a mother …”

Strayed smiled as she described her own cameo in the movie. It happens near the start. She is driving the pickup that drops Reese Witherspoon, aka Cheryl, off at the hotel in Mojave, Calif., the night before her hike.

Months later, Strayed said, the irony dawned on her: “In the movie of my life, I got to be in the driver’s seat.”

At a glance:

Portland writer Cheryl Strayed, best-selling author of “Wild,” spoke Jan. 15 at OSU in Corvallis.

Her talk was part of the annual Discovery Lecture Series, which brings prominent scientists, writers and policymakers to campus. Next up is Dr. Richard Besser, ABC News chief health and medical editor, on April 13.

In addition to “Wild,” Strayed has written articles for the New York Times, Washington Post and other publications, a novel, “Torch,” and she was the advice columnist behind “Dear Sugar,” a blog on the TheRumpus.net .

The movie “Wild,” now in theaters, stars Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern, who have been nominated for Academy Awards as best actress and best supporting actress.

For more information, see CherylStrayed.com.

Strayed generated the loudest laugh of the evening when she described getting a bit of acting advice from Witherspoon leading up to her cameo in the film.

Strayed only needed to say two words, “Good luck,” as Witherspoon climbs out of a pickup to gather up her hiking gear. The scene was one of the last ones filmed for the movie, and Strayed said she started to panic as the moment approached. “It turns out there’s a thousand ways to say, ‘Good luck.’”

So she turns to Witherspoon, who she describes as the most lovely, nurturing, supportive person on the movie crew.

And Reese responds, “Cheryl, just don’t fuck it up!”

-rp-

LBCC "Spring's Light"

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Mon, 19 May 2014 21:31:00 +0000

Emcee Leslie Hammond talks up the crowd Friday, May 16, 2014, during "Spring's Light," the third annual prose and poetry fundraiser for LBCC's English Department. The event, which supports the LBCC English Endowment Fund, filled the atrium of LBCC's Benton Center in Corvallis. Money from the event supports literature, arts and students

Michael Winder humors the crowd at "Spring's Light" with a story he calls "You Are Invited to the Sparkle Barbecue."

LBCC graduate Jennifer Hartsock shares her young adult fiction. She was among a dozen readers who alternated between providing poetry and prose, humor and serious commentary.

To see more photos from this year's event, see Rob Priewe's photostream on Flickr.com.

LBCC instructor Gary Westford shares his '60s stories, poster art

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Wed, 29 May 2013 04:03:00 +0000

Graphic arts student Pauline Evans admires one of the concert posters on display Tuesday during a talk by LBCC art instructor Gary Westford.

ALBANY -- Borrowing a phrase from the counterculture, Gary Westford quipped, "What a long, strange trip it's been."

That's how Westford wrapped up his "Sixties Presentation" Tuesday afternoon at LBCC, a sort of final lecture for the art instructor who will wrap up his tenure at the college at the end of this term.

Gary Westford

During his hour-long talk, Westford reminisced about attending San Francisco State College during the peak of one of the most exciting eras in U.S. history.

Westford's years at the community college coincided with the anti-war, social justice movements that embroiled his campus almost daily in clashes between students and police. Meanwhile, he had a front-row seat to one of the major musical movements of our times.

As part of his talk, he showed off signature pieces from his psychedelic rock music poster collection by Wes Wilson, David Singer, Stanley Mouse and others. Their work touted "mind-blowing" concerts by the likes of the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, the Chambers Brothers, and Big Brother and the Holding Company. The dozen or so audience members nodded along with Westford in appreciation of the musical talents that came through town, from Jimi Hendrix, Janice Joplin and The Doors, to Chuck Berry, Count Basie and Albert King, every bit the equal of legendary bluesman B.B. King.

Along with the posters, Westford shared photos and an iconic video performance by Buffalo Springfield: "There's something happening here, but what it is ain't exactly clear ..."

What was clear to Westford is that he was fortunate to have a choice view of history during his years at SF State, from January 1968 to 1971. He arrived on a wrestling scholarship, the son of a U.S. serviceman who was at Pearl Harbor and a career military nurse. While once tempted to follow his father into the service, he has no regrets today that his life took a different path. After college he worked as a probation counselor, along with earning a master's degree in art.

"I wanted to be an agent for change in the system," he said.

In 1979 he landed in Salem, Oregon, teaching art to prison inmates. He worked two decades in the state's correctional system before joining the art faculty at Linn-Benton. This spring he will be retiring, along with graphic arts colleague John Aikman.

On Tuesday, Westford relished the opportunity to share his passion for art, music and education, and how they collided spectacularly during the late-1960's. He described what it was like to live in Haight-Ashbury, the epicenter of San Francisco's counter-cultural revolution.

"The scene was like from another planet," he said. "I knew it was a very special time."

He likes to think that what happened there made a difference, sowing seeds of exploration and discovery. Though he acknowledges "the jury is still out."

Westford also recalled the "Human Be-in," a January 1967 gathering of upwards of 30,000 peace activists in nearby Golden Gate Park. While Westford didn't attend the event himself, he has documented it with a short film, courtesy of footage supplied to him about five years ago by Albany resident Bob Ramsdell.

Westford collaborated on the seven-minute film with Ken Long of LBCC's media services department. The film offers a unique viewpoint of one of the era's pivotal happenings.

It concludes with another popular saying from that era: "If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem."

Those who would like to catch an encore presentation of Westford's talk can join him at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, in Room 106 of North Santiam Hall at LBCC's Albany campus.

-rp-

"Spring Light": A Fundraiser for LBCC English

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:25:00 +0000

LBCC English instructor Chris Riseley serves as master of ceremonies during "Spring Light," a fundraiser last Friday, April 19, at the Benton Center in Corvallis. Featuring LBCC faculty and friends, the event raised money for English department programs such as the Valley Writers Series.

LBCC English instructor Robin Havenick reads poetry and prose during "Spring Light." Among the passages she read were a bit of "Canterbury Tales" and poems by Frieda Fredrickson.

Kiera Lynn Eller and Crash perform as Little Brother during "Spring Light." They are students at LBCC and involved in the college's Poetry Club. More photos from this event are posted on Flickr and at "LBCC Journalism" on Facebook.

CopyBlogger offers cure for writer's block

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 17:26:00 +0000

Need some inspiration for your next blog post? Here's some help, courtesy of CopyBlogger:

Like this infographic? Get more content marketing tips from Copyblogger.

Peter Jensen Next Up in Valley Writers Series

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:29:00 +0000

LBCC English instructor and Shakespeare aficionado Peter Jensen will discuss his new book, "Shakespeare's Lovers," at the next Valley Writers event on Wednesday, Feb. 22.

Jensen will read from the novel and "describe his journey of research and discovery" beginning at 3:30 p.m. in Room 106 of North Santiam Hall on LBCC's Albany campus.

In addition to publishing "Shakespeare's Lovers," a fictional mystery that focuses on the playwright's life in London and Stratford, Jensen recently updated "Shakespeare's Name Code," a chronology of research concerning Shakespeare's autobiographical code.

In addition to sharing his expertise on Shakespeare, Jensen teaches fiction, science fiction and writing. He earned is bachelor's degree in English, philosophy and anthropology at the University of Michigan and his master's in English from New York University.

For more information, go online to shakespearessonnets.googlepages.com/home.

The next event in the Valley Writers series will feature Charles Goodrich, Marjorie Sandor and George Estreich from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, in the Fireside Room of the Calapooia Center at LBCC.

-rp-

Review: “The Googlization of Everything (And Why We Should Worry)”

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:16:00 +0000

Siva Vaidhayanathan - Photo courtesy of Anne Helmond

All who are fascinated by Google should add “The Googlization of Everything (And Why We Should Worry)” to their reading list. This book by media scholar Siva Vaidhayanathan is an essential companion to Ken Auletta’s “Googled” and “What Would Google Do?” by Jeff Jarvis.

As Vaidhayanathan notes at the outset, his examination is not a rehash of Google’s storied history, which is adequately detailed by Auletta and others. Rather, he proposes a series of questions about Google, its mission and its outsized and growing impact not only on individuals but society. He focuses on Google practices and their impact on privacy, copyright and censorship.

While enthusiastically endorsing much of what Google does and the services it provides — “Google has made my life better and richer” — he encourages readers to go beyond the company’s famous “Don’t be evil” motto to consider the broader implications of the company’s business practices. More than anything, we need to remember that Google exists as a profit-making enterprise beholden to its shareholders. Yes, it provides users with information through its industry-leading search services, but it makes its billions by targeting advertising at those same users.

As the author notes, Google’s main business is “consumer profiling.” It takes all those searches by users and turns them into leads for advertising to those same users. And for the most part we are content to just go along with it.

Likewise, we seldom hesitate to give over to Google personal data as we make use of all its various platforms, from Google search to Blogger to YouTube to Google Docs. The company processes that data and combines it with everything else it learns about us to further “enhance” all those same services.

This all seems fine as long as the company purports to “don’t be evil.”

The dilemma becomes “How much do we want to control what we do using Google?” vs. “How much are we willing to allow Google to control us?” For example, my Media & Society class has been debating the “filter bubbles” that gradually begin to erode the diversity of our online searches as Google’s sophisticated algorithms offer results more and more in keeping with our interests and opinions.

As Vaidhayanathan notes early on (p. 9): “If Google is the dominant way we navigate the Internet, and thus the primary lens through which we experience both the local and the global, then it has remarkable power to set agendas and alter perceptions. Its biases (valuing popularity over accuracy, established sites over new, and rough rankings over more fluid or multidimensional models of presentation) are built into its algorithms. And those biases affect how we value things, perceive things, and navigate the worlds of culture and ideas.”

The author also explores questions surrounding the Google Books Library Project, an initiative to scan and make available all the world’s books, including works contained in the libraries of universities. While a noble effort in many ways, it runs smack into copyright concerns as well.

Likewise, Vaidhayanathan examines how Google’s products are “customized” from one country to the next — according to local laws and customs, the company notes. Some call it censorship, noting the business incentives that Google has for remaining on good terms in its host countries. The issues raise a variety of interesting free speech and freedom of information questions, which the author notes are constantly in play depending on the political status of each nation.

“The Googlization of Everything” is a thought-provoking read, providing a solid groundwork for evaluating Google both as a force of business and a force for democracy.

-rp-

Steve Jobs: The Infographic

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 23:30:00 +0000

Check out this amazing infographic of the life and times of Apple genius Steve Jobs, courtesy of Infographic World:

Created by: Infographic World

Commuter seeks editors for next school year

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Mon, 02 May 2011 21:36:00 +0000

For journalism and other students looking to step up their involvement at LBCC’s student newspaper, now is the time to apply.

The Commuter is accepting applications for editor-in-chief as well as the other positions on staff, such as managing editor, photo editor, webmaster, and arts and entertainment editor.

Editor-in-chief applicants will be interviewed by the Student Publications Committee on Wednesday, May 18, beginning at 3:30 p.m. The 10-member committee consists of LBCC students, faculty and staff and meets each spring to appoint a new Commuter editor-in-chief.

The duties of The Commuter's editor-in-chief include:

Appointing and managing the newspaper's staff of editors, reporters and photographers.
Coordinating the work of the staff, including assigning and editing stories and photos.
Leading staff meetings and other newspaper activities.
Representing the newspaper in the college community.

The next editor-in-chief, who will succeed current editor Justin Bolger, starts the position over the summer and continues through the 2011-12 school year.

The deadline to submit editor-in-chief applications is Monday, May 16.

Applications for staff positions are available at The Commuter office in Forum 222, or from the newspaper’s adviser, Rob Priewe. His office is in North Santiam Hall, room 114.

For more information about the application process or duties of the various Commuter staff positions, contact Priewe at 541-917-4563 or rob.priewe@linnbenton.edu.

-rp-

A New Term for Journalism at LBCC

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 21:05:00 +0000

"Finish/Start" by I Like, courtesy of Flickr.com/Creative Commons.

We are off and running into a new term at LBCC.

All the Journalism classes are full and students have created the blogs they will use to display their work this term. Check them out in the blogrolls to the right of this post.

I'm looking forward to a great term.

-rp-

LBCC Winter Term Means New Student Blogs

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 18:57:00 +0000

Take a look to the right and you'll find a new lineup of student blogs for Winter Term.

This term LBCC's Journalism program is offering Feature Writing (JN217) and Media & Society (JN201). Like most other departments on campus, all the Journalism classes are already full.

As part of their coursework, students in these classes will publish their work on their own blogs. Check out some of the student journalism from last term as well.

The Commuter also is fully staffed and looking forward to working with students new to writing, reporting, editing and photography. Numerous students are enrolled in the Journalism Lab (JN215A) and the Design and Production Lab (JN215B), where they contribute weekly to both the printed edition of The Commuter as well as the online site.

This promises to be another great term. The staff of the Commuter is looking into attending another journalism conference this spring, possibly the Associated Collegiate Press convention March 3-6 in Los Angeles.

Finally, The Commuter and LBCC will once again be host to the annual Collegiate Day conference organized by the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. This event, May 6, is a one-day journalism conference and awards program for the state's college journalists.

So there's a lot going on in the months ahead!

(Photo credit: "extreme sports and blogging" by Will Lion, courtesy of Flickr.com/Creative Commons)
-rp-

Welcome to Fall Term Journalism at LBCC

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 17:52:00 +0000

Thanks for checking out "Rob's Class Blog." This is where you will find work posted by my students during Fall Term 2010.

This term I'll be teaching sections on News Reporting, Photojournalism and Media & Society.

I'm looking forward to reading and enjoying the journalism produced by my LBCC students, and encourage you to check back from time to time during the term.

The class assignments produced these students also will be considered for publication by the staff of The Commuter, LBCC's award-winning student newspaper.

To find out what else is going on in journalism, new media and LBCC's Journalism program, see "Rob's Media Blog."

(Photo credit: "Third Tuesday #Olympic Journalism" by rocketcandy/Elizabeth Sarobhasa, courtesy of Flickr.com/Creative Commons.)
-rp-

PDX marketing experiment features Fiesta, clothes and concerts

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:31:00 +0000

Interesting story in the Oregonian about "lifestyle marketing" and creating a "cultural hub" around a product. In this case, the Ford Fiesta, which is being displayed in a downtown Portland store space that serves as a "lounge"/clothes boutique during the day and concert space at night. The story, "Ford taps local flavor to sell Fiesta," was written by Oregonian reporter Elliott Njus.

And while we're thinking of creative, innovative, interesting ideas, check out "Ten Inspiring TED Talks for Startups," a blog compiling 10 favorite TED videos focusing on innovation and creativity. (It includes two of my favorites by Seth Godin and Clay Shirky.) It's on the ReadWriteStart blog.

-rp-

Old Spice Guy: A Guide to Viral Marketing?

noreply@blogger.com (Rob's Media Blog) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:28:00 +0000

For those of us who can't get enough of the "Old Spice Guy," make way ...

Niraj Chockshi of The Atlantic writes how the company and its ad agency have targeted social media sites to generate buzz that just keeps on keeping on.

... and does any of this have to do with the future of news? Maybe, as this Nieman Journalism Lab post notes ...

Or if you'd like to know how Portland marketing geniuses Wieden + Kennedy are making these "ads" ...

... Or the "Man Your Grades Could Be Like" -- a terrific parody by the creative library crew at Brigham Young University.

-rp-