Flip Flopping Our Views of the Utah Legislature

Below is the results of a quiz that I took 3 weeks ago, you will see posted the results from February 1st and February 22nd. The poll results have completely flopped. The question was, do you have a positive or negative view of the Utah Legislature. 

Feb 1st:

66.7% Positive

33.3% Negative

Feb 22nd:

26.2% Positive

73.8% Negative

Why do you think there has been such a change? 

Do we blame the AG's office, do we blame the Lt. Governor, or are we just not happy with what the Utah Legislature is doing..and if we really do feel this way, if 73.8% of the public that participated has in this feels negatively, the second question of this poll would ask--what are you doing about it?

What can you do?

Before my internship here at the capitol, I didn't have a full understanding that as a member of society I could help influence my local lawmakers..but it is possible. There are plenty of way to get involved up here at the capitol. You can attend committee meetings and testify about senate and house bills, you can sit in on the session in the chambers, you can even easily contact your senator and set up an appointment with them. 

Please feel free to comment on this article, I would like to hear your opinions about the poll results.

Thank You, Antone Clark!

Antone Clark, photo courtesy of Linkedin.com

Antone Clark gave me probably some of the best advice that I have ever been given in a good while in regards to journalism.

1. Stop saying the word, "like." 
This tip gave me a good chuckle. It's so true, I don't know why but this generation has a hard time with vocabulary, I blame texting.

2. It's okay to go off the record
That was an eye opener for me. I've always been reluctant when people want to go off the record. The way Antone put it, if someone is willing to go off the record with you, do it. Reason being, it will give you a fuller scope of the bigger picture of what is going on and you will have a better idea of what is happening behind the scenes if and when the information does go public.

3. Journalism people can do PR work. PR people cannot do journalism work
Well, there's not much to say about that is there?

4. Kids are coming into this field don't know how to work hard, it's a major concern
My stupid generation of entitlement. This is a major problem, and I've heard this more than once. You have to work hard, even if it's for free. You need to be able to do the work that no one else is willing to do and do it well. You cannot expect a job to just be handed to you.

5. Find your niche
News stories tend to regurgitate the same information over and over again. You have to find a different spin or angle sets you apart from the crowd.

6. Know how to report
Knowing how to report is much more difficult then writing a story.

7. Do everything you can to study the information of what you are writing about
This will help you seem more reliable with your information and can save you from embarrassing moments.

Anyways, he was a pretty inspiring guy. I appreciated all of the kind words and advice he was willing to share with me. He is my fuel to the fire today for my journalistic passions.. wish I could leave my receptionist desk and interview people all day. Thank you, Antone Clark.