Posted on May 14th, 2012 by
colin.fitzpatrick
Emotions. Those pesky things that get in the way whenever we try to do something. Somehow, after years of evolution, we are still hardwired to feel. Sure, sometimes this can be great–if you’re happy or hopeful or excited–but it seems like there are far more negative emotions than positive ones. Fear, hate, anger, anguish, and despair seem to be far more powerful emotions than those of joy and hope. That’s why fear of a consequence is used more often than hope for a reward. For example, we threaten criminals with prison, rather than giving money to everybody that doesn’t commit a crime. But negative emotions can be crippling. …read more
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Posted on May 14th, 2012 by
colin.fitzpatrick
One of the activities that we did in class discussed various conflict types, and in what situation we should use them. We read an article by Ralph Kilmann, which analysed the pros and cons of five methods of conflict: competing, avoiding, accommodating, compromising, and collaborating. Kilmann stressed the benefits of collaborating process, basically dismissing competing, accommodating, and avoiding strategies due to the fact that they are “zero sum”–one person wins and one loses. However, I think that there are some situations in which a so-called competing conflict style is most effective for both parties–not just one. …read more
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Filed under: Character/Leadership
Posted on May 13th, 2012 by
colin.fitzpatrick
Finally, at the end of the semester, I can satisfyingly say that I have completed my research. I’ve scrolled through hundreds of pages of text, followed innumerable links, hear speakers, watched videos, and flipped through magazines. Now I can pull all of my research together and put forth my advocacy plan. Now, my issue was different from most in my class. I’m not trying to figure out how to get clean water to Mexico City or clean up the Pacific Ocean. My issue is dealing with how to be a safe, profitable, and ethical journalist in today’s day and age. Rather than try and put forth an advocacy plan for an NGO or a corporation to put forth, I’ve decided to create my own “Journalistic Code.” As an aspiring journalist, I want this to be my own personal set of values as I (hopefully) go forth in my career. …read more
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Filed under: Research
Posted on May 13th, 2012 by
colin.fitzpatrick
Throughout the course of my research, I’ve talked a lot about the face of modern journalism–social media, government transparency, the danger imposed on journalists–but these issues didn’t simply spring out of thin air in the last ten or twenty years since the rise of the internet. …read more
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Filed under: Research, Uncategorized
Posted on May 6th, 2012 by
colin.fitzpatrick
As we’ve been discussing communication the last couple weeks, I’ve been trying to think of an example of a group that communicates effectively, so that we as a class could try to cross apply. Our reading , a conflict resolution study by Ralph Kilmann, wasn’t particularly helpful; it seemed very scientific and clinical, rather than an actual model for us to follow. The reading presented a theory on how avoiding conflict is counter productive, but the tone made the reader feel alienated. What I was looking for was a tangible group that we could watch communicate in action. And after Varsity Lacrosse beat Country Day last Friday, I knew that I had found my example.
…read more
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Filed under: Character/Leadership, Uncategorized
Posted on May 3rd, 2012 by
colin.fitzpatrick
So today in class we started really getting into the meat of our communication problems. At first, I thought we were making great progress. We identified facts. We voiced our feelings. I actually think that for once, we actually got everything out on the table for everyone to see. At one point, I actually was content with the way things were progressing. Everyone was speaking; there wasn’t a lone person or two in the corner spaced out or bored. Conflict was being resolved. …read more
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Filed under: Character/Leadership, Uncategorized
Posted on April 26th, 2012 by
colin.fitzpatrick
Recently, I was asked a question that caught me completely off guard. Are you happy? …read more
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Posted on April 26th, 2012 by
colin.fitzpatrick
Journalism as a business has constantly been linked with the latest information technology. The birth of journalism grew out of the invention of the printing press, because before cheap publishing, regular reporting to a wide audience simply wasn’t feasible. Journalism continued to adopt new communication technology as it developed, from radio to TV to the internet. …read more
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Posted on April 26th, 2012 by
colin.fitzpatrick
A lot of what people have been talking about as far as changing the class and the Global Studies program in general has been geared towards improving the program for the grades to come. To an extent, I understand why people would be interested in bettering the path for those who come after. After all, isn’t that basically the point of human progress? But at the same time, I think that there is something to be said for dealing with a frustrating situation. …read more
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Filed under: Character/Leadership
Posted on April 23rd, 2012 by
colin.fitzpatrick
One thing that we are supposed to be improving over the course of our Global Leadership class is our ability to think strategically. In theory, this growth is supposed to come primarily from our PDS improvement project. But I noticed this weekend that I think strategically all the time, and just didn’t recognize it as such. …read more
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Filed under: Character/Leadership, Uncategorized
