The Onion Visits OU

By Nicholas Masopust, student journalist 

Two writers from the Onion visited the University of Oklahoma Wednesday night to provide laughs and allow audience members an inside look at their creative process. 

The Onion is a satirical news website that has been writing fake news in print and online for over 25 years. Hosted by the CAC, the event took place in the Molly Shi Boren ballroom with two of The Onion’s staff writers, Jen Spyra and Seena Vali. 

Vali and Spyra explained things like how The Onion’s stories emanate from humorous headlines submitted anonymously by the writing staff, and then grow into news briefs and full stories on the web site. 

Those in attendance, such as student Ryan Bird, took notice. 

“Their honesty was really surprising,” said Bird, “comedy always seems so organic so it was really interesting to see the formula behind it all” 

 Vali and Spyra answered plenty of questions from the audience after their presentation, explaining some of the inner machinations of The Onion as well as delving into their own backgrounds. 

“I was always a fan” said Spyra, “it used to irritate me that people had that job. “

Vali’s path to The Onion was uncommon, first majoring in Mathematics before getting into writing. 

“We’re not actual journalists” said Vali, “you can say whatever you want as a writer here, it’s great.”

Since the majority of The Onion’s readers are in the 18-44 age group, a college-aged crowd was an appropriate audience. 

“We’re kind of growing more cynical as a nation, so it’s good to have someone poke fun at the news giants and show they’re not infallible. “ said student Katie Taylor. 

In keeping with the satirical and humorous tone of the website, the presentation’s opener was filled with classic Onion headlines and fake information about the Onion presented as real. 

“The Onion is the greatest invention in human history” said Vali, “better than polio, the wheel, television, ALL OF IT.”

Their opening included The Onion’s “coverage” of events such as the 1906 San Francisco earthquake or the Titanic disaster with the headline, “World’s Largest Metaphor Hits Ice-Berg”. 

The presentation continued on with other pieces of fake news and reporting told by Vali and Spyra with deadpan straightforwardness. 

The opening had the entire auditorium laughing, with the speakers often being unable to even be heard above the laughter of the audience inside. 

Vali and Spyra stayed after the presentation and Q&A to talk with fans one on one, sign autographs, and take pictures. 

With a Peabody award to their credit and an estimated 7.5 million unique web visitors a month, The Onion shows no signs of slowing down. 

While ventures into the television and film industries didn’t pan out as well as expected, those at the Onion say there is still new ground for them to cover in the future. 

“As news evolves, we evolve..” said Vali, “with the world of journalism changing there will always be something new to satirize.” 

Lead-in: Chair of the Speakers Bureau for the Campus Activities Council Katie Taylor introduces the Onion and speakers Jen Spyra and Seena Vali to those in attendance at the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom Wednesday night. VIDEO: Nick Masopust, runs 14 seconds.

Brian Boyer enlightens students on data and hacker journalism

PHOTO by Nicholas Masopust Brian Boyer shows off NPR's "Wolves at the Door" report, one of many examples of the photo journalism being done at NPR.

Story by Nicholas Masopust, student journalist
Brian Boyer is an editor and journalist for NPR on the cutting edge of technology and information gathering in journalism.

Brian Boyer didn’t follow the traditional path to get where he is now. After getting a degree in Computer Science from the University of Illinois, he was a software developer by trade.

 “I really cut my teeth as a Microsoft programmer” said Boyer.

 It wasn’t until 2008 when he made a drastic change to get into the industry he currently resides in.

 Boyer went back to school in 2008 at Northwestern and received his Master’s in Journalism through a 1-year program. A relative newcomer to the field, Boyer has already made an impact.

 Boyer’s PANDA project has made information gathering easier for journalists, using computers to sort through important numbers and files and allowing journalists to get the information they need to do true investigative work.

 Using his “hacker journalist” method, there is now an indexed listing of safety reports online for nursing homes in Illinois.

 “I really love going to work every morning,” said Boyer.

 In addition to the difference he makes with his statistical analysis, Boyer has been at the forefront of keeping NPR relevant in today’s environment of social media and smartphones.

"If it doesn’t work on mobile, it doesn’t work” said Boyer, “people are looking at most things on their phones now. You have to meet the audience where they are.”

 For Boyer, simply getting people to look at the NPR app on their phone isn’t enough.

 “I can make people click on stories,” said Boyer, “our goal is not traffic, it’s to drive people to what matters.”

 For those in attendance at the Hall of Fame room at Gaylord Hall Monday morning, there was plenty to take away.

 “It was really interesting,” said student Clarke Sachs, “I didn’t realize there were so many jobs in data journalism and just how expansive it is now. “

 While he wouldn’t get into too much detail about it, Boyer’s next project that will delve into the world of television.

 “It’s the one box we all still sort of have in our home” said Boyer, “I’m really excited about it.”

 After years spent in software, Boyer says he’s landed in the right spot.

 “I like my job” said Boyer, “I feel like I’ve found my people.”

 Lead-in: Brian Boyer shows those in attendance an example of the hard-hitting photo journalism being done at NPR. VIDEO: Nick Masopust, runs :34 seconds

Midterm Profile Piece

Blind Ambition
by Nicholas Masopust, student journalist

Karissa Schlickbernd is a student at the University of Oklahoma that strives to be normal amid circumstances that are not. Born legally blind to parents in South Korea that abandoned her, things were never going to come easy.

 “I lived in an orphanage up until I was 10 months old and my parents adopted me and took me back to Nebraska” said Schlickbernd.

Karissa was born with an incurable form of optic nerve damage that leaves her very nearsighted and unable to see further than a few inches from her face. “

My parents told me I’m legally blind. I’m not allowed to drive because of my condition and I have to get rides around or ride my bike to school” said Schlickbernd.

While in school it leads to difficulty reading handouts chalkboards, and makes it necessary for her to increase her screen size to six times the resolution as that of a normal student.

It was a trait she inherited from her birth mother, whom she has yet to meet. Things weren’t always smooth with her adopted parents either. They divorced when she was just a 6th grader.

“When my parents got a divorce it was really difficult. My mom is not really in the picture anymore. I still talk to my dad every once in a while but we’re not really close like we used to be.”

What sets Karissa apart isn’t so much the circumstances surrounding her, but her attitude to move on and keep them from dragging her down as a person. Her adopted sister Alexa Debilbis saw that firsthand.

“She didn’t want to be different” said her Devilbiss, “It’s something she’s just always been able to push through. She’s so normal sometimes you forget she has any kind of disability at all.”

She is not the type of student to want help or receive attention for her disability, she’d much rather be open and caring to others first.

“She really loves people” said Debilbis, “she’s the type to give you the shirt off her back.” 

Schlickbernd makes a strong impression on most people she meets, such as friend Tisha Pinder.

 “She’s just a really genuine person” said Pinder, “I can’t ever see her doing something bad.”

Schlickbernd’s approach with people translates to her studies in Psychology, where she hopes to counsel people that have gone through hardships such as divorce like she has.

“I feel like I could help kids in some way. Ever since I took my first class I’ve just been very interested in Psychology in general.”

Schlickbernd is currently on track to graduate with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2016.

Lead-in: The video shows Karissa Schlickbernd in a typical day for her at OU. She goes to the computer lab, rides her bicycle to school, and goes about her day in a normal fashion despite her disabilities. Cutline: “I was born in Korea…” VIDEO: Nicholas Masopust, runtime :35.25