Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 January 2003 — Page 7

FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2003 ■ PAGE A7

The Recorder JAWS section (Journalism and Writing Seminars) is a nonprofit instructional program established through The Recorder Charities to provide students of color (interns) hands on training and exposure to the field of journalism. The goal is to encourage participants to pursue careers in journalism.

Indy DJs like the radio scene

By Jocelyn Hurst Cathedral High School Recorder Intern Radio One rang in the New Year with Something familiar and something new. “Terri D what you got in the news," that’s a familiar phase we hear daily over the Radio One airwaves. Terri D, the only female newscaster at Radio One, has been in radio for 16 years. "I prefer radio because the privacy it gives. TV is unforgiving for women because the world is image conscious. In television as soon as women get a wrinkle or show signs of aging they are gone even if they are good at what they do The competition in the radio industry is very tough. It’s mostly if you have the ability and skill, and if you are willing to push yourself to always keep learning in and outside of radio," said Terri D. Born and raised in Indianapolis, Terri D brings a local touch to the news during the syndicated Russ Parr morning show, Monday through Friday and with her own talk show on Sundays. "My talk show is believable; it’s something real, current, understandable and about all aspects of life. People who listen to my show come from all walks of life and all

Terri D

stated Terri D.

age groups,

" I love this city. This is the best station; the people here genuinely want to help you to get where you are trying to go,” said JJ, the WHHH 96.3 new morning DJ. JJ said, "Being a DJ you get to listen to all your favorite songs, and communicate with listeners. I have a passion for what I do, in other words, I have what is called a ’Mic addiction’ here at the station. Basically I love what I do.” Originally from Cincinnati, JJ started her career in high school. After high school JJ attended Clark University in Atlanta and finished her education at Wright State in Dayton, Ohio, where she majored

Wreck One in communication. She has worked her way through many of the major markets such as Atlanta, where she was employed at station WCLK and New York at station WBLS. A typical day for JJ starts at 9 a.m. as she prepares to go on the air at 10 a m. by browsing the Internet for the latest info. Once on the air JJ’s in her own world playing the hits and talking to her new found fans. By 2 p m. she’s off the air and making calls to people to become more involved in the community. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday she is at Club Mecca making live appearances representing Hot 96.3. At about I a.m. she is crawling in

the bed only to start the work cycle over again. "I would like to stay in Indianapolis, I am preparing myself for a management position, or to be a program director," JJ said. JJ learned a lot about the politics of radio while in Dayton. “When I was in New York I had a good supervisor who taught me how to be a good DJ," she said. “It's not as hard as it used to be for women to make it in the radio industry. Women can carry a show by themselves,” said JJ. "Radio has always been dominated by men, but at the same time you need women because most of the time it’s women who are listen-

ing to the radio. Radio is a game where a lot of the DJs have ego problems, and you can’t tell them anything. Being a DJ is the next best thing to being famous. In this industry everybody is everybody’s competition; not only do you have to compete with other stations, but there is also competition amongst the DJs which can be both good and bad,” states Wreck One the newest addition to the Radio One staff. Having to deal with egos is what at one time made him want to quit the radio business, but instead he pressed his way through with persistence and being dependable. Hailing from St. Louis, Wreck One, started his career in 1995

with an internship. "I was the person they could always call on and I worked my way up from there. I wasn’t worried about replacing Amp Harris. You have to do what you got to do, give it your all, because in whatever you do people are going to like or not like you; that’s just the way it is," he said. "I like the pay factor. I like the connections that the job has to offer and the relationships built with record company owners, artists, and with people in general," he said. All the connections should assist him with the goals he plans to reach in the future of being a music producer and becoming a retired millionaire.

Sex appeal of ‘video girls 9 sends wrong message to young people

By Lenisha Watson North Central High School Recorder Intern Today more than ever we are seeing a growing trend in music videos — especially in rap. More and more artists are using sex appeal to sell CDs. Exposed sexuality is more common because the rap industry has become more commercialized. Essentially, these types of videos are just an endless parade of "goodies” to keep the viewer tuned in and satisfied enough to want to buy the CD after the song is over. But what about all of the rump shaking, half-naked and extremely beautiful girls who actually consent to being used primarily for nothing more than a background? What kind of personal values can our youth possibly develop when the images of blatantly naked women are regularly shown on television? Granted, a very large percentage of these women are dancers, models or actresses, but they represent the sisters, mothers and wives of today and of the future. For many of these women, appearing in rap videos is a valid way to one day obtain a legitimate career. Becoming a "video girl" adds experience to their resume, that may get them discovered later on. But what about the devastating impact they leave.on our impressionable youth? Rap videos arguably show that gyrating around in a g-string is cool, acceptable and right. Many young girls see that image and are motivated to have the body of a model at all cost, which can be very unhealthy. There is something very immoral and disturbing about a man being fully clothed and surrounded by practically naked women. Is it about power? As long as rap artists, A&R executives and fans con-

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The About-Face website, located at www.about-face.org has helpfu information concerning body image for young people. tmue to demand these types of darkness of the stereotypical im

fantasies and sexually explicit videos, the powerful trend will steady implement the minds of the

younger viewers.

Hopefully, children will see these videos for what they really are - false advertisement. Not everyone is a model with a perfect fig-

ure.

In a study by Mellin, Scully & Irwin in 1980, of approximately 500 young girls, 81 percent of 10-year-olds reportedly said they had dieted at least once Society needs more positive women role models in the media to shed light on the

ages constantly found in main-

stream entertainment.

These images dampen the spirits of the many teens struggling with low self-esteem, disabilities, depression and obesity How can kids who are struggling with obesity feel confident about their individuality? What happens to their abilities and their bodies when the media constantly reflects the current trend of our culture’s standards for shape, size and beauty? Why does society place an unrealistic importance

on beauty?

Do an About-Face About-Face, an organization that promotes selfesteem in women and girls everywhere hopes to shed some light on this increasingly popular subject. About-Face offers a spirited approach to educating others on sexism, diversity, gender equality and cultural change. About-Face suggests simple solutions to empower young people to feel more confident about their bodies. • Stop talking about your weight. The emphasis on being thin is new and arbitrary and it can be reversed. • Make a list of women that you admire. You’ll probably find that a lot of them aren’t perfect. • Concentrate on things you do well. If you’re feeling good about other things in your life, you’ll be less critical of how you look.

• Voice your opinion. Both large and small businesses are interested in your input. Your letters and phone calls really make a difference.

Does modesty matter!

By- Faateamh Abdur- youth need a feeling of self-worth. Rahman As a teen ager my mother tried to School of Knowledge instill the moral values in our famRecorder Intern ily that her mother instilled in her. Now it might be the fact that most It seems that today we live in mothers are so young and that a society where immodesty and they work, and might not have immorality is widely accepted, time to teach moral values, until On almost every commercial ad j it’s too late; but whatever the case, vertisement, whether it be a bill- I definitely see a change.'' board, television, or magazine, Next a school administrator told and no matter the product, the how his school chose to conduct allurement is not the product and enforce school dress codes, itself, but the men and women Malik Abdul-Rahman, the chancelwho are immodestly dressed. lor at MTI, said that teacher and Immodest dress can be de- student dress codes are alike. Dress fined as anything that calls atten- code is in accordance with the tion to ones body, or exposes Islamic guidelines. Abdul-Rahman one's skin either by thin tight said, " MTI chooses uniforms to fitting, or revealing clothing. keep the look of organization and Many may wonder about the unity." different opinions of people and And finally the youth of today whether or not modesty mat- shared their shopping habits and ters. how their religious rulings affect To find the root of this issue, their dress. Imen Mitiche a 14Susan Wilson a woman in her year-old said, that "because of my 50s was spoken to. She explained religious rulings my shopping habthat when she was in school the its are restricted, and I spend less females weren't allowed to wear time and money because I don't slacks, and the schools had dress try to conform to what the latest codes that seemed to follow bib- styles are I try to find clothes that heal standards. I can wear and feel modest in." "We had to be covered, but Changes have definitely ocnow, it appears that anything curred over the years, and they goes, such as hip buggers, belly are very noticeable Some people tops, shorts, and it also seems may try to confirm, while others that we flirt sexuality and we are prefer to create their own styles, offended when males and fe- Whatever the case, some people males take things a step further," feel that modesty is a better choice, said Wilson however what’s right for one perShe continued, I feel like son may not work for another