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AI Training by Mike Reilley

During class, we had the opportunity to hear from Professor at University of Illinois, Chicago, Mike Reilley. During this Zoom, he went into depth on AI tools, and how we have been using them for a few years without realization. His presentation was titled, "AI + Journalism: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Unknown".

Reilley’s discussion on AI in journalism was particularly intriguing, showcasing how AI tools can aid in investigative reporting, data analysis, and even in generating news stories. However, he did not shy away from addressing the ethical dilemmas posed by AI. He underscored the importance of transparency, accountability, and bias mitigation, warning against the unchecked deployment of AI systems that could perpetuate societal inequalities. Reilley also touched on the future of AI, predicting advancements in natural language processing and autonomous systems, while advocating for robust regulatory frameworks to govern AI use.

The lecture concluded with a Q&A session, where Reilley engaged with the audience on practical concerns. Overall, Reilley’s lecture was a thought-provoking and informative session that underscored the profound impact of AI on contemporary society and the crucial need for responsible stewardship of this powerful technology.

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Marcus Yam Lecture

During one of our classes, we had the opportunity to hear from Pulitzer Prize winner Marcus Yam. I was excited for this lecture because Marcus is an award-winning photojournalist, and I have always had in interest in photojournalism. In my free time, I enjoy taking photos of what I see around me. However, it was inspiring to see Marcus Yam's work.

During this lecture, we were able to learn about Yam's time as a foreign correspondent and how he covers breaking news in places such as Afghanistan, Tijuana, and Venezuela. The pictures he took tell devastating, brave stories of people from around the world. Personally, the images that captured the fall of Afghanistan were the most impactful for me for various reasons. In many of the pictures, even the eyes of people tell a story.

Additionally, we had the opportunity to ask Yam questions about how he copes with what he sees, what inspires him, and how to take a photo while respecting others. It was interesting to learn that in a sense he feels "desensitized" to what he takes pictures of due to his childhood. However, he also voiced that he does partake in healthy outlets to help cope with his stress and emotions.

Overall, I enjoyed listening to this speaker and I was able to gain invaluable insights in reporting breaking news in different countries.

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Final Project

For our final group project, my group and I decided to focus in on forest schools and outdoor education. Prior to this project, I had never heard of any alternative forms of education, except for home-schooling. Therefore, this topic was very interesting to me and I was eager to learn about forest schools, their benefits, and how parents decide on enrolling their children in this form of education.

In order to grasp the idea behind what constitutes a forest school and its benefits, we interviewed Dr. Scott Morrison. Here at Elon, Dr. Morrison is an associate professor of education and currently teaches four classes. During his interview, we learned that he values the idea of outdoor education, and takes his students outside frequently. A quote that stood out to me was, "When kids play, kids are still thinking, they're still communicating. They're learning about their bodies, they're engaging with their peers, there's so much learning that's happening going on through play." This quote emphasizes the idea that students develop emotional and motor skills when outside and are overall greatly impacted.

Additionally, we went to Longleaf forest school located in Durham, NC. Here, we interviewed the director and founder, Maddi Sullivan and a parent of one of the children enrolled at Longleaf. Here, we had the opportunity to learn more about the teacher's perspective. Maddi shared her thoughts on forest schools, and explained how she views herself as a facilitator rather than a teacher. “If you talk to most teachers of this age they'll say probably the same thing, that what you're doing is helping grow good people and you're trying to help guide these little people into being kind and respectful citizens of the world.” 

Overall, creating this story with my group was a great experience. We all worked together as a team, and were able to contribute to this project by exhibiting our strengths. For example, I was able to take on the role of writing the story – something I enjoy and am passionate about. However, everyone worked great together and I truly am happy with our overall work.

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Personal Project

For my personal project, I struggled with coming up with an idea that I felt comfortable with sharing. However, I eventually learned that one must be uncomfortable in order to grow. I decided to tell a story about my best friend, Courtney, and how her friendship helped me develop into the person I am today. In high school, I was very outgoing and loved chatting with every and anyone. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and everyone across the world became isolated in their houses, things began to change. During this time, I lost a few family members; however, losing my uncle hit harder than anything. Due to this time period, I became closed off and stayed to myself. When the time came to enter college, I struggled with meeting friends, which led me to going home every single weekend. Although this was mostly on me due to my shyness, I was afraid to push myself out of my comfort zone. Until I met my best friend during my sophomore year at Elon. Courtney was able to help me come out of my shell and remind me of the happiness that comes with opening up to people. The security and comfort she made me feel is invaluable, and truthfully I have never experienced a friendship like it. Therefore, I wanted to focus this project on her impact on me. This one is an ode to Courtney and friendship.

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charity: water

The video we watched in class, "The Spring," evoked powerful emotions. This past winter term, I studied abroad in Spain and Morocco. However, I had the opportunity to see differences in society not only between Spain and Morocco, but between the states as well.

The second day my classmates and I were in Morocco, I saw something that changed my perspective entirely. We were on a walking tour through the Medina of Tangier, and a 6-year-old boy named Youssef came up to us. He had a little woven basket filled with post cards and magnets related to Morocco. A girl in our class bought a small magnet from him, and Youssef immediately trusted her with everything in his basket. He handed her the basket for a minute, walked away, and came back with a piece of food for himself. This little 6-year-old boy was all alone selling small souvenirs in order to have the smallest amount of food for himself.

Youssef joined us for the rest of the tour, all of us purchasing a souvenir from him. He smiled, joked, and opened up to us about his life. At that point, most of us were paying attention to this 6-year-old boy who immediately touched our hearts, instead of the tour focusing on architecture. Yet, our time got cut short and the class had to go to our scheduled lunch.

As we all ate fresh seafood, bread, and salad, I looked across the street and saw Youssef sitting by himself. The emotions I felt in that moment are truly indescribable, but when I say I will never forget that moment I mean it. It truly was a moment of reflection. Reflection of the opportunities and privilege I have back home, but how there is millions people across the world who do not have access to a basic necessity to live.

A few of us invited Youssef to eat with us, but he did not join because he wanted to sell more souvenirs to make money for him and his family. After lunch, we all piled onto the bus, but I couldn't help but stare out the window. We begun to drive away, and I saw Youssef run to our tables and eat the leftovers. I remember this moment so vividly and can picture it in my mind when I close my eyes.

I could talk about the lessons, feelings, and thoughts that stemmed from this day for hours on. Yet, watching the video on charity: water reminds me of the same emotions I felt this day.

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Building Trust: A Pulitzer Center Resource (Reflection)

Trust is the cornerstone of any effective communication and collaboration, especially in the realm of journalism. In a world with information from various sources, establishing trust between journalists and their audiences is crucial. Yet, how do you build trust with sources when reporting a sensitive story? What do you do when someone pushes back on a question or wants to remain anonymous?

Before watching this video, I reflected on what I have learned in classes concerning these questions. Personally, when cultivating trust between sources, transparent reporting, fact-checking, engaging with communities, and prioritizing accuracy and integrity in storytelling are essential. Additionally, ethical practices are important to follow, and I believe respect must be established – especially when a person is opening up about their story. Reflecting on the importance of trust-building in journalism, one might consider the broader implications for society. Trustworthy journalism not only informs and educates but also serves as a check on power and a catalyst for positive change. By prioritizing trust-building efforts, journalists can better fulfill their role as watchdogs, advocates, and storytellers.

When Pulitzer Center grantees were asked, "How do you handle when a source says "no" or pushes back on a question?" someone answered that there could be many reasons behind why a source says "no". For example, their safety can be at risk – especially when speaking with survivors whose perpetrators have not been arrested or faced any form of punishment. Ultimately, this specific source ended up not being included at all because of the reporter feeling uncomfortable. Also, it is important to know the language and be aware of what phrases or words can be triggering.

When reporting sensitive stories, reporters may encounter a toll on their mental health or work ethic. When asked about coping methods, therapy came up as a solution. It is important to have time for yourself and speak your feelings outside of your usual circle of journalists. Additionally, self-care is important to value and incorporate into your routine.

Overall, "Building Trust: A Pulitzer Center Resource" serves as a valuable resource for journalists seeking to enhance their practices and strengthen their connections with their audiences. By prioritizing trust and respect, journalists can have the opportunity to tell a more informed, engaged, and resilient story.

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The Pixar-produced series, "Introduction to Storytelling," offers a captivating look into the art, mechanics, and raw emotion behind creating a story. Through conversations with storyboard artists and directors of Pixar, this series offers valuable insights for aspiring writers and storytellers. From character development to narrative structure, the series delves into essential elements that breathe life into the stories we see on screen.

While watching this series, what immediately sticks out is the fact that we are all storytellers. We have all been storytellers since we were children, playing with dolls and creating conversations between them. Also, our imagination as children ran wild, with imaginary best friends and stories we would whisper on the school playground. However, every story has a character and a world containing a metaphor we can all grasp.

"Introduction to Storytelling" emphasizes the importance of "what if?" questions and how this drives the imagination while expressing different parts of our hearts and minds. During this part of the series, a Pixar storyboard artist explained how asking these questions helps engage with the creative part of your brain, and the two-word question can act as a key to unlocking a new world. Yet, ultimately, each story is connected to a character and a world, or in other words, the environment or a set of rules in which a story will take place.

When asked, "What movie pulled you in?" someone answered, "Toy Story". They explained how this movie acts as a beautiful metaphor for growing up. As I reflected on this question, the Pixar movie "Elemental" immediately came to mind. This movie serves as a metaphor for immigrating to the United States, each element resembling different cultures, ethnicities, and identities. Personally, the way the story unfolded felt very close to home because my mom immigrated to the United States from Peru. Through the visualizations and dialogue on screen, viewers can experience a glimpse into racial discrimination and language barriers that come with immigrating to a different country. "Elemental" is an excellent example of storytelling from a diverse perspective that emphasizes important societal issues.

Overall, a piece of advice that resonated with me was that things take trial and error. At times, you may feel like you have made no progress and that you are stuck in one place. However, even if there is a stack of papers on your desk or loose pages of drawn-up ideas – you're making progress. "You have to keep practicing it's as simple as that".