[Journalists] Real journalists

[Graham Downie]

This missive has become quite long, so read at your leisure.

In no way do I wish to overstate my ability in photography. The photograph I 
took for the paper was simply of the interviewee standing against a wall. I 
would have had someone else take the picture, but there was no one present 
at the time.

The wonderful thing about digital cameras is that one can have the subject, 
assuming he/she can see, check the picture. As long as it is reasonable, the 
photographers at work can make any necessary adjustment.

While in Canada last February my friend wanted a picture of his skiing. I 
did the job. He was unhappy with the result - he said it showed is poor 
technique. (grin) that was a head-on shot, so I needed only to face straight 
down the track toward my friend.

My interest in photography dates to primary school. Even then, I could not 
see pictures. I now have many boxes of slides and more recently CDs of 
digital pictures. Most of those photographs have been taken by other people. 
I simply enjoy having images of where I have been and of people to show to 
others. With help, I caption my digital photographs.

I would not be offended if work asked me to produce landscapes, cathedrals 
and so on, but work, and I, know that is not realistic. It might result in 
some interesting pictures, but not if the intention was to have fun at a 
blind person's expense.

Returning to the question of early journalistic challenges; I did use a 
small frame and stylus when covering some meetings. I also used a typewriter 
and could not proof read my copy, or remember where I was up to after a 
telephone call or other interruption.

Computers with adaptive technology have made writing significantly easier, 
as is recovering previous work. Access to the Internet and to news sources 
were not possible until about 10 years ago. Now, to check a spelling of 
someone's name and numerous other facts, I call on Saint Google and have the 
answer faster than our library could find it.

Since I began as a journalist, December 3, 1973, I have used sound 
recorders. Even that technology has improved. This year I bought an Olympus 
DS50 recorder. It includes voice guidance. Though not entirely accessible, 
it is very good and small enough to fit in a top pocket. I use a software 
program for dictation playback and archive any interview I wish to keep on a 
CD.

Makes me wonder how we succeeded without technology. Yet a late friend was a 
journalist with the Melbourne Herald long before I began. Clearly, many 
things are possible, given perseverance and helpful attitudes by editors. 
Without the latter, I probably would have not had the opportunities given to 
me.

Now, on this warm and very windy spring morning, I am off for a bike ride.

Best to all

Graham Downie



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Deborah Kendrick" <dkkendrick at earthlink.net>
To: "Blind Professional Journalists List" <journalists at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 11:27 PM
Subject: Re: [Journalists] Real journalists


> Graham,
> I do hope you will share that profile with us when it is published.  Would
> also love to hear about your adventure in the land of photography!
>
> Deborah
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Graham Downie" <grahamd at netspeed.com.au>
> To: "Blind Professional Journalists List" <journalists at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 5:58 AM
> Subject: Re: [Journalists] Real journalists
>
>
> Yes, I still cover religion - and numerous other matters. These include
> transport, water (or the lack of it) some telecommunications and my two
> weekly columns. One deals with consumer complaints. The other is a comment
> piece, "The Way I See It". The title was suggested by me as a joke and
> quickly accepted. Though I have no useful vision, I hope next week to have 
> a
> profile published in which I am the writer and the photographer. Hmm. I 
> have
> waited a long time for that.
> Best wishes to all.
> Graham Downie
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Cheryl Wade" <cwade at mdn.net>
> To: "Blind Professional Journalists List" <journalists at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 10:24 PM
> Subject: Re: [Journalists] Real journalists
>
>
>> Oh! I just realized, after sending you my
>> last note, that you're the writer I met at Ski for Light, and you
>> sang and played the guitar, and you wrote the "Scout Snaps" book,
>> which I gave to my friend! Oh, what a run-on sentence! Forgive me for
>> not realizing who you are.
>>
>> Cheryl Wade
>>
>> PS: Do you still write religion?
>> _______________________________________________
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