Here is a compilation of some of the news packages and shorts I have completed throughout the year. The first part consists of a montage of my packages, the second section contains two full news packages and the third section has two 5-minute shorts that I have produced and edited.
Kroger, like any other grocery chain or business, wants the best for its customers and employees. Well, I beg to differ about Kroger's treatment of employees due to my personal experiences. I have been working for Kroger in Jonesboro, Ga. for almost three years. In the beginning, as a 17-year-old girl, I was oblivious to what the Kroger that I worked at was really about "behind-the-scenes." After working with the company for some time, I began to notice the unfair nature in which I worked in. This was due to the fact that all of the careless employees began to be favored by management for some reason. Many times, there have been instances where few employees seem to do the "right" thing by coming to work on time, listening to the supervisors and being efficient during their shifts. Although employees, as previously described, do not cause any trouble, there never seems to be any positive feedback or rewards from supervisors and management. On the other hand, employees that tend to be late almost every day for work, get sidetracked at work, and always take too long of a break, just never seem to get caught or given a warning by management and supervisors. For example, I have been four minutes late to work, in which I never am late, and upon arrival to my shift, I was being scolded by my supervisor. At the end of my shift, my relief was over 20 minutes late and did not once get spoken or scolded from the floor supervisor at the time. From what I observed, it seemed as if the managers and supervisors placed all of the workload on employees that they knew worked well. This was while they (the managers) allowed other employees that did the minimum amount of work to remain the same work level because of the low expectations they already had for these workers. Does that give these poor workers an excuse to remain unproductive at work or to even have a chance to keep their jobs? This situation that I experience at work on a daily basis brings up issues of inequality. I have always told myself that I would say something to the managers or supervisors, but then I think to myself that if someone is fired, then they should inflict that proposition on themselves. Only time will tell if the Kroger that I work at will have a more fair work environment, but hopefully I will be off doing better things with my life after I graduate college.
Nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court are awaited to make a decision Friday morning over the legal debate on same-sex marriage. Constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage have passed in 31 out of 50 states. However, nine states, including Washington, D.C., legalized gay marriage in which three of those states did so on Election Day, November 6. According to Reuters, Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, or D.O.M.A., which only allows for the recognition of marriages between a man and a woman. This act is the issue for the reviews of gay marriage cases because the law prevents same-sex married couples from receiving equal federal benefits as heterosexual married couples. Even in the states that legalized gay-marriage, same-sex couples remain ineligible for the same federal benefits as heterosexual couples due to D.O.M.A. Due to the equal protection provision of the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering five cases that dispute the law as a violation. According to Reuters, the high court anticipated to at least seek one of the challenges, whereas the court usually "reviews lower-court decisions that invalidate a federal law." States will have the free ability to legalize or reject gay marriage on "their own terms" if the court "invalidates the law," according to Reuters reports. However, if the court ratifies one of the cases, then rulings should be expected by the end of June with arguments beginning in early 2013. In my opinion, why should same-sex married couples not be able to receive the same federal benefits as heterosexual couples? I mean, in substance, a gay marriage still consists of two people who love each other in which both parties want to be together and happy. I do not see the problem or the obstacle in which gay couples have to face in order to be together. I hope, among other supporters and modern thinkers for same-sex marriage, to see an equal and fair chance at marriage in all 50 states and access to federal benefits as well.
"Black Friday," a day after Thanksgiving which allows people to stay in bad lines outside of retail stores for good deals, has begun at an earlier hour than Friday morning.
According to the National Retail Federation, an expectation on sales for this "Black Friday" and throughout this holiday season is a growth of around four percent.
With "Black Friday" as the kick-off holiday, the ability to earn one-third of annual sales and profits amounting up to 40 to 50 percent means wages are high for retailers in the United States.
"I think spending is better for the economy...If you save all of your money that will only make it [the economy] worse," said Saiful Islam, a 21-year-old New York accounting student.
Across the nation, many of the larger retail stores found themselves with more staff than customers on Friday morning due to the earlier opening hours for "Black Friday." Many "Black Friday" shoppers embraced the opportunity to shop for good deals "before midnight or in the early morning hours," according to Reuters.
"I think it's [Black Friday] better earlier," said Renee Ruhl, a 52-year-old hotel worker outside of the Target store last year. "People are crazier at midnight."
According to Reuters, other "Black Friday" shoppers were not all satisfied with the earlier hours of the money-saving holiday. In order for Target to "save Thanksgiving" a petition was handed out which received approximately 371 thousand supporters by Thursday afternoon.
Earlier opening hours for "Black Friday" were meant for shoppers who could not "brave" crowds, according to Jason Buechel, a senior executive in the retail practice of consultancy Accenture. Companies with declining sales, like J. C. Penny Co. Inc., used "Black Friday" as a test day for shifting strategies in hopes for higher sales, according to Reuters. Retail chains that did not decide to open in earlier hours for "Black Friday" were faulted by shoppers and stores lost out on possible sales. "They should open earlier," said 18-year-old Christian Alcantara. "I've been everywhere else and I've already shopped."
Halle Berry's ex-boyfriend and current fiancé are sent to the hospital after "brawling" with each other out side of the actress's Los Angeles home.
The incident took place on Thanksgiving Day when Berry and Aubrey was in the motion of exchanging their 4-year-old daughter, Nahla.
"We have to move on," said Martinez to Aubrey referring to the recent battle of Berry moving to France with Nahla (in which a judge denied the request.)
According to TMZ reports, ex-boyfriend, 36-year-old Gabriel Aubrey, attempted to hit 46-year-old Olivier Martinez's face, but impacted his shoulder instead. Aubrey shoved Martinez to the ground and Martinez punched the 36-year-old in the face. After the scuffle between the two men, Martinez made a "citizen's arrest" for assault once he held Aubrey on the ground.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Aubrey's bond was set for $20 thousand and was booked for "a private person's arrest for battery." An hour later, Aubrey bonded out of jail.
Before Aubrey's arrest, according to TMZ reports, he was taken to the hospital on accounts of a "broken rib," "contusions in the face" and a possible "head injury." A little while afterwards, Martinez also headed to the hospital with a "neck injury" and a possible "broken hand."
As a result, a judge issued an "emergency protective order" that directed Aubrey to withhold at least 100 yards from Martinez, Berry and Nahla, according to TMZ reports. It was safe to say that Martinez and Aubrey were not thankful for each other's presence during Nahla's exchange.
Before the brawl on Thanksgiving Day, it was reported that Martinez, Berry, Nahla and Aubrey showed up to the same holiday party in a Beverly Hills home. This was reportedly when Berry "handed-off" Nahla to Aubrey where they were both seen later on that night going to see a movie together.
