Blog Post 1 - October 6, 2025
Fall is approaching and the semester is in full swing! As the weeks fly by, I have been brainstorming the avenue I want to take for my upcoming story. While my story will focus on the importance of third spaces, right now I am working on narrowing down the people and places I want to highlight. I want my story to center around individuals who are creating third spaces for their communities, and how community members are responding to these spaces. I believe that interviewing small business owners whose spaces foster community will allow for my story to have a fresh lens and new perspective. I am excited for the progression of this story and to dive into the individuals who are building up and strengthening our community through third spaces.
Aside from my ongoing story, I have also been enjoying class thus far. Building this portfolio and learning more about digital storytelling has been exciting, and I am looking forward to further progression in both of these areas. I am eager to learn more about digital and audio storytelling and how the journalism field continues to progress and evolve.
Sample Chart - October 29, 2025
Interactive Map - November 3, 2025
Blog Post 2 - November 3, 2025
Hello again! Writing these little blog entries has made me realize how much I want to start my own blog! I'd love to create a space where I could write about my hobbies and interests, post-grad plans, and all of my trials and tribulations that occur along the way. I have been enjoying building this portfolio throughout the semester and am really excited for when it is complete. My story about third spaces is coming along, and I know I'll feel a huge sense of relief once I have it completed. Learning more about the history of third spaces has been really interesting, and I am looking forward to highlighting some of the amazing third spaces in our own community.
I have also been enjoying our recent class activities. I had no idea how easy it was to create digital elements such as interactive charts and maps. I've also been learning a lot about how to utilize spreadsheets and how they can help create valuable data for future stories. I didn't realize how important these elements were in journalism, but seeing their impact and effectiveness in a story has been interesting. I'm excited to finish the remainder of the semester strong!
Blog Post 3 - November 12, 2025
Let's talk about modern-day matchmaking! In a world of casual and online dating, matchmaking is making a comeback. Hulu's new docuseries, Muslim Matchmaking, highlights Muslims navigating modern-day dating and cultural expectations while maintaining a focus on identity and faith.
After learning more about the show's goals and overall message, I really enjoyed how the producers and hosts were able to create a fun and fresh dating show that still maintained its cultural integrity and identity. In the dating show world, I think cultural and social values can be easily buried under the need for drama for the sake of high ratings. I liked how Muslim Matchmaking prioritized the importance of remaining authentic - for both participants and the production team.
Often, I feel as though in the media, the Muslim community is either left out of the conversation or portrayed in a negative light. Truthfully, before learning about Muslim Matchmaking, I had a very limited understanding of the Muslim community and the ways they have been presented in the news in the past. We often hear about the mistreatment of women in Islamic countries regarding their freedoms and rights. While this may be true for some countries, it is only one part of the picture. Another perception I had regarding Muslims when it comes to dating was the concept of arranged marriages. However, the show was able to portray how many Muslims are in control of their own dating lives and relationships. As a future journalist, the show reminded me how important it is to understand different cultures and religions from a multi-dimensional lens. It is so important to remain open-minded at all times and unbiased when reporting on sensitive topics such as culture and religion.
Oftentimes, the media coverage of the Muslim community reinforces outdated stereotypes and ideas. I think that media like Muslim Matchmaking helps dismantle these warped perceptions and reinforces that, despite differences in culture and religion, we all have shared interests and values in some capacity. When covering Muslim identity, culture and relationships in the media, reporters should always come from a place of curiosity, with a willingness to learn about people different than them, rather than holding onto any pre-conceived perceptions they may already have.
Blog Post 4 - November 24, 2025
Hi again! Thanksgiving is almost here, which means the end of the semester is fast approaching! I know the new year will be here before I know it, so I thought this would be a great time to reflect on my growth in digital journalism thus far. While I have enjoyed all of our class materials, expanding and evolving my skills in digital design have been some of my favorite parts. I have really loved growing this portfolio and have had fun making my infographics for my upcoming story. I really enjoyed being able to combine the course materials with my own personal style to create a webpage and infographic designs that I feel showcase my style.
I have also enjoyed building my story about third spaces and am excited to upload it here soon. I know that moving forward, when it comes to creating an evergreen story, I need to strengthen my time management skills and not be afraid to reach out to sources multiple times to secure my interviews. While my story may not have turned out exactly how I had hoped, I enjoyed the process of growing my story and talking with community members. Third spaces are a simple yet niche concept that many people are unfamiliar with, so I am happy I was able to explore the concept and share it with others. I am looking forward to presenting my story and portfolio to the class and am eager to finish the semester strong!
