Two travel articles!
March 31, 2010
I’ve recently been trying my hand at travel writing – all the while staying stationary. Here are excerpts from two travel articles, recently published on other sites.
A Girl’s Travel Guide to Charlottetown
- Charlottetown is the capital city of Prince Edward Island, Canada’s smallest province. Nestled into Canada’s rugged east coast, PEI is a lush, green island, best known for being the home of Canada’s Confederation, gorgeous red sand beaches, rolling potato fields, and Anne of Green Gables… (Continue reading.) (Published at Girl’s Getaway.)
10 UK Hostels That Are Far From “Hostile”
- I’m desperate to take a jaunt over to the UK for a couple months after I graduate from college next year. When I started my travel planning, I quickly realized staying in hotels would simply not be an option for me, as my wallet would be stretched to the limit anyway… (Continue reading.) (Published at TalentEgg LAUNCH.)
J-H.com redesign
March 17, 2010
As the title says, I’ve redesigned Jillianne-Hamilton.com. I like it. It’s both pretty, practical, simple and displays my various websites and blogs to my liking. Feel free to shower me with compliments.
I’ve also started a travel blog called Jaunt. The following links are my posts there, so far.
I also have a new post at TalentEgg LAUNCH: How to Rock a Tattoo in the Workplace
‘Precious’ review & ‘7 ways to save money’
March 12, 2010
I’ve got two more blog posts published at LAUNCH.
140 characters is the new black
March 10, 2010
CBC reporter Brendan Elliott was late for an interview with the Souris mayor.
Desperate for the mayor’s contact info, Elliott sent out a plea on Twitter.
“Literally within five minutes, I had a direct message back with the new mayor’s home number,” Elliott said. “The message came from one of my followers who lives in Charlottetown, but is from Souris.”
Elliott uses Twitter for three things.
“It’s a way to find out what’s going on in my community, a way to let people know breaking news as soon as it happens and a Rolodex of contacts that I can reach out to when a story breaks.”
Twitter has provided Elliott with several story ideas. A recent example was when word broke about Google Maps Street View being available in P.E.I.
“Word spread quickly on Twitter that various spots on P.E.I. could be found.”
Elliott pitched the idea the next morning.
“We were the first media organization reporting on the Street View story.”
He reached out to real estate agent Joel Ives, who was discussing the topic on Twitter and invited him to do an interview on Island Morning.
“All of this was possible because I am active on Twitter.”
Twitter also allows Elliott to let his “followers” know breaking news when it happens.
“I live-tweet from the legislature as well as various city or town council meetings around the province,” he said.
Many of his followers are political junkies who crave news from various arenas. Twitter allows them to get these tidbits almost instantly from Elliott when he’s out in the field, he said.
“I also have my Twitter feed linked through GPS so people can tell where I’m tweeting from when I tweet.”
Some small-town newsrooms are hesitant to start using new media and social networking. Being connected to the community is essential for local media outlets, Elliott said.
“I really feel like I have a sense of community with the people I follow and who follow me.”
Still, Elliott is one of the only CBC reporters who uses Twitter on a regular basis.
“I see it as an advantage over other journalists in the building,” he said. “Essentially, it’s a bit of an exclusive network for me to gather story ideas and to also share stories I have written.”
But developing a personality on Twitter can take some effort, Elliott said. You get out of it what you put into it.
“The more I tweet, the more comments I receive from my followers and the more incentive I have to write more,” he said. “The more I can be relied upon to provide breaking news, the more people will want to follow me. So, it really is only as useful as the person wants it to be.”
INTERVIEW: Streeter Seidell
March 7, 2010
He’s one of the original cast members of CollegeHumor and his sketches are some of the funniest on the website. Check out some of my favorite videos featuring Mr. Streeter Seidell.
How did you get your start with CollegeHumor? Besides act in various skits, what exactly do you do for the site?
I started at CH by writing articles when I was still in college. I used to write a few a day and post them to the site. When I graduated they offered me a job. As for what I do at CH, I do a little bit of everything. I act, write sketches, write articles, come up with T-shirts and do the live shows. But along with Jeff, I run the editorial department of all CH sites which means I co-oversee our whole operation.
What character is your favorite to play?
If I got the chance to ever play Phantom, I think that would be my favorite.
Do you have a favorite CH skit you’ve been in? What would might it be and why?
I really like one Pat and I did called [“Don’t Ask Don’t Tell“]. Pat and I wrote it together after improvising this little scene on the set of a different video and I think it’s really funny. I really like the way it looks, too.
What did you learn while doing the short film Old Man and the Seymour?
I learned that when actors complain about being tired there is actually some truth to it. I was exhausted the whole time and I had always thought that was bullshit.
You’ve done some stand-up comedy in addition to your work with CollegeHumor. What techniques can you use in either domain? What are some challenges when it comes to doing stand-up?
I think the same rules for comedy apply to all different ways of performing or writing. You just need to do what you think is funny. When I have tried to change my voice to fit what I thought an audience wanted to hear, it didn’t work.
Do you have any tips for up-and-coming comedy writers?
You know, I get asked that a lot and I always say the same thing which feels like a cop out, but I really think it’s true. The best thing any aspiring writer can do, of any genre, is get his or her work out there. Nobody is going to come knocking on your door asking if you have any great ideas unless you give them a reason to show up. Everything I’ve done and hopefully will do is a result of just putting my stuff out into the world.
And lastly, after Amir’s latest prank, how do you feel about skydiving?
I still think skydiving is perhaps the most fun thing you can do in the world.
Check out Streeter’s page on CollegeHumor, follow him on Twitter, check out his blog or become a fan of him on Facebook.
INTERVIEW: The Phantom of the Office
March 7, 2010
“Distance makes the heart grow fonder, but soaking it in brine makes the heart far more delicious.” – Phantom of the Office
To see more Phantom of the Office stuff, check out his phat Tumblr page. Or follow him on Twitter. Or see his videos on CollegeHumor.
Describe your perfect date.
I’m honestly more of a prune man myself, but dates will do in a pinch.
What historical catastrophe, caused by you, are you most proud of?
I might have to say the Johnstown flood. Look it up.
If you were stranded on an island, what book, movie and food would you choose to have with you?
Funny you should say that. I was stranded on an island for some time in the mid-Atlantic. All I had with me was a Bible and thank God, because it truly was a miracle. Using its pages, I was able to start a signal fire that could be seen miles out to sea.
Two more at TalentEgg!
March 1, 2010
This new gig at TalentEgg’s LAUNCH seems to be going quite well. I recently had two new articles published.
I’m especially proud of the second article, as some of my best photos act as visual stimulation for the reader.
I’m currently working on a redesign of J-H.com. I think I’ve come up with a better, more efficient way of showcasing all my different blogs and websites on one screen without the visitor having to search through a bunch of links.
Plus, I’ve been tooling around with a new image editing program, so that’s always fun.
Until next time- tally ho!
“5 Movies…” / Back to class!
February 13, 2010
My first article with Talent Egg has been published at their lifestyle magazine site, LAUNCH. Click the link below to check it out.
5 Movies That Make Us Believe in Love Again
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I just finished my first week back at Holland College Journalism. My experience at the Sackville Tribune-Post was definitely a good one. Thanks to Scott, Katie, Jane and Susan for making my time there not only tolerable, but even enjoyable. 🙂
It feels weird being back at school. A lot of the 2nd-years float in and out, doing stories here and there but mostly working by their own schedules. Before I know it, I’ll be wearing a cap and gown and getting my diploma- and symbolic red pen.
It’s bizarre, really.
The Blog of Jillianne Hamilton 