Print journalism will always have a place in my heart. In fact, print journalism is the reason I chose to study journalism at the University of Missouri. I love to write - it comes easy to me - but print can offer so much more. It is convenient. I can take a newspaper with me to Rocky Mountain National Park, far away from wireless and still be updated on the day's events. Print journalism never ceases to amaze me with the elegant way in which it allows a reader to a paint picture in their mind of what happening around the world.
  

BY JENNIFER ELSTON and JACOB CARAH                                    JULY 14, 2009
ST. LOUIS -- Inside the Ron Goellner Conservation Center at the St. Louis Zoo, slimy creatures two feet long hide under rocks in separate tanks. These solitary creatures are the largest amphibians in North American, giant salamanders known as hellbenders or "snot otters."
  
Hellbenders have been on the federal endangered species list since 2004. More...
   
Watch the supplemental web video on the Missourian site here.

BY JENNIFER ELSTON, JACOB CARAH and ERIK SHUTE                                July 3, 2009
COLUMBIA -- People such as Matt Rhinehart, marketing representative of Spirit '76 Fireworks, see fireworks as a thing of beauty.
 
"The best thing about fireworks -- it's sort of an art form for an instant," Rhinehart said. "A great painting will last hundreds of years, but a great fireworks show lasts a few minutes and then it's gone."
  
In Boone County, there are as many as 26 fireworks stands that set up shop for the legal selling period from June 20 to July 10. But, for some of those sellers, the fireworks industry is a year-round way of life.
  
Bob Geau, 69, has sold fireworks in Columbia for the past 44 years. More...
  
Watch the supplemental web video on the Missourian site here.

BY JENNIFER ELSTON, JOEL WALSH and BRENT DAVIDSON                                                                          June 18, 2009
COLUMBIA -- When the drops start falling in Columbia, it doesn't take long for the water to accumulate on fields, greens, basements and roadways. On Monday, June 15, 2009, Columbia accumulated approximately two inches of rain in just nine hours. Some businesses thrive on flooding and the aftereffects, while other have crossed their fingers waiting for a dryer day ahead. These rain surges, and ones like it earlier this year, have affected local businesses in different ways. More...

      

In convergence editing, I worked at the Missourian and edited the work of convergence reporters. I also worked with three team stories to help and advise them on the process. My editing experience taught me a lot about journalism, because it forced me to bring together all of my skills and then verbalize them to a group of people that need your help.

In convergence editing, I edited convergence reporter's video, audio and slideshows. I would find stories for the reporters to go cover, prepare them for the story, and then help them edit and produce their work.

Editing examples:

• Rock Bridge students participate in Artrageous Weekend event, by Ryan Taylor (October 11, 2009)
• World-class cyclists compete in Jefferson City, by Courtney Arnet (September 12, 2009)

My Missourian is the community-generated/written portion of the Columbia Missourian.  It can be found on page two of the paper, as well as on the website. At My Missourian, we believe that the true experts should write the story and we, the journalists, merely find the people, facilitate and edit their stories.

Examples:

• Mrs. Columbia to compete in Branson for Mrs. Missouri
• Organization attempts to give mobility to the world
• No to real tiger

For more examples, visit http://MyMissourian.com.