Jennifer Midberry: "Work On Developing Your Style."

Jennifer Midberry thought she might grow up and become an elementary school teacher. Or a social worker of some sort. Then she won a photo contest while being a student at Bucks County Community College. She met a few professional photojournalists who were encouraging and she meandered her way into being a professional shooter herself.

She's managed to build a career that allows her to see the world and tell stories about issues she cares about.

"People open their doors to journalists," Jennifer said. "Being a journalist lets you see things most people wouldn't ordinarily see."

Here are a few things she said that stood out for me:

• You need to take the initiative. When 9/11 happened, she went to New York City and documented the aftermath of the attack, despite not working for a news organization. Because she was there, she was able to sell the images she made. And that lead to her first full-time shooting job.
• "Being a journalist means you get to see everything as it happens," she said. "You get to be on the front lines of history."

• Following 9/11, she was upset about the portrayal of the Islamic community and Muslim-Americans by the media. This made her want to travel to the Middle East and learn more about this culture that was being maligned.

• She does not believe that objectivity can exist in the media. "You're always documenting from a certain perspective," she said. "We have a lot of control over the messages conveyed in photos."
• "The role of the press is to draw attention to social issues," Jennifer said. "We keep government accountable, and we offer different perspectives."

Jennifer offered this advice to those interested in photojournalism:

• Everyone studying photojournalism will develop similar technical skills. It's how you see, compose and visually tell stories that will make you stand out. "Get technically proficient and then forget about it," she said. "Work on developing your style."
• "You can do a lot with very simple equipment," she said.
• You will have assignments involving topics you don't care about (Jennifer doesn't care for sports). So she tried to shoot them in her own style.
• You need to have commitment and drive, and you need to take the initiative if you are going to succeed.
• As a female photojournalist, she tried to use her size and gender to her advantage.

Did the Police Have the Right to Evict the Press?

Around 1:00 am this morning, police gave final warning to the Occupy Philly protesters to evacuate Dilworth Plaza, next to City Hall.

Before the police issued their final warning to the protesters, however, the police told journalists that they had to vacate the area and watch the events unfold from across the five lane street, probably 150 feet away from the entrance to the Occupy Philly encampment. From the press vantage point, it was almost impossible to see the actual protest site.

Did the police have the right to evict the press?

Were the police simply ensuring that journalists did not interfere with the police work?

Or were the police trying avoid a situation like that at the University of California, Davis, where video of a campus police officer pepper-spraying a group of protesters became a viral phenomena?

Oops. That's Not What We Meant.

A BALTIMORE TELEVISION station reported on Black Friday events and accidentally put "Black Holiday Shoppers" in the lower-third (rather than labeling them as "Black Friday Shoppers").

Does the newscast have a responsibility to apologize to their audience?

In the age of the Internet, when information is old news in a matter of moments, do the media have to have every fact immediately correct? Or, as a society, have we just accepted that what we learn from the media may or may not be true?

Is that a problem?

How would you handle the Black Friday mistake - or better yet, this incredible story?

Did The Media Get Joe Paterno Fired?

HOURS AFTER THE Penn Sate University board of trustees fired football coach Joe Paterno and the university president for their actions (and inaction) connected to the child sex scandal involving a former PSU football coach, students rioted in the streets. Among the ways they released their anger and frustration was by knocking over a television live truck.

The students, according to some reports, believe that the media got Joe Paterno fired.

“I think the point people are trying to make is the media is responsible for JoePa going down,” a PSU freshman told the New York Times.

While acknowledging that the rape of helpless children was awful, many people spoke to the media and wrote op/eds saying that the media put their focus on Joe Paterno rather than the actual suspect in these cases because focusing on the alleged perpetrator would not sell newspapers or draw eyes to newscasts or websites.

"You know what will sell, though?" a blogger/ journalist wrote. "The downfall of an American icon. A man who has spent 60 years building the reputation of a football program, a university, a whole town doing the 'legal minimum' but not his 'moral duty' being pummeled both in writing and by cameras and microphones everywhere he goes. I can guarantee you, if Penn State was coached by some no-name, the stories churned out would be about the victims and the men who perpetrated these crimes."

Did the media focus on the wrong person in this situation?

Or did the media act responsibly, reporting all angles?

Should You Cut The President Some Slack?

THIS ISN'T NEW but it is a modern classic. In the wake of Kanye West hijacking Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the MTV video music awards, President Obama called West a jackass.

The moment was videotaped as the president was being prepped for an interview. The president and the reporter were simply conversing as lights, cameras and mics were being set up.

The president asks for some slack after everyone laughs. Is it too late to ask that the statement be off the record at that point?

Is this news?

Michael Moore: "You're Just Punk Media."

WAS THE REPORTER out of line in asking filmmaker Michael Moore about his reported net worth? Or was he being a good journalist?

Topless Journalist Reports on Naked Drunk Driver.

A REPORTER IN Ohio covered the court case of a woman arrested for drunk driving and speeding. The accused drunk driver was nearly naked when arrested.

This report brings about a number of questions:

• Is the drunk driver story actually newsworthy?
• Were the photographer and videographer attacked?
• Did we need to see the reporter topless in the car?
• Is it acceptable for journalists to air the surveillance video?
• Is this "story" handled responsibly?