2006 MISSION STATEMENT

It is my goal to host a talk-radio program. Due to the merging of various forms of mass communication, I hope to get involved with as many media outlets as possible during my time at Olivet College. I plan to work for the Olivet Echo, WOCR 89.7 FM, as well as the newly formed OCTV. This will give me experience in various fields of mass communication and will provide me with a well-rounded understanding of what it takes to be involved in media.

2006 SELF ASSESSMENT

I came into this class knowing that I had a lot to learn. I was well aware of the fact that I had much to learn from the Professor, but did not realize how much I would learn from interacting with my classmates. This semester I have met many people who have helped me better understand who I am as an individual as well as the goals I hope to achieve in life.

I also tried to take advantage of the fact that we had so many talented speakers speak to the class about their profession and what it took to get where they are today. I even had the chance to speak with a few of the guests outside of the classroom.

With this being said, I believe that I still have much to learn. I want to work more closely with those in leadership such as editors, layout-designers, and photographers. I also want to have someone help me with my use of commas, semi-colons, and paragraph structure.

Overall I believe that I have become a more informed student and have been given many tools by which to become a better man. I have a better understanding of journalism and a greater appreciation for those who have made it into the business. There’s so much that I have yet to learn and so many people I have yet to learn from.

2006 BEST WORK SAMPLE

Learning Outcomes demonstrated by this exhibit:

1. Research the history of this matter 2. Watch the actual address to the nation 3. Take rigorous notes 4. Read differing viewpoints on the matter

This is an article submitted to the Echo pertaining to President Bush's speech concerning the "surge."

I had to study the key players who helped put together the president's agenda. More importantly, I had to look into the different proposals the president chose to let hit the cutting room floor. The names, the lobby groups, the money backers, and those who would benefit from the surge was worth a story in and of itself, but the project was simply to opine as to what the surge would or would not do.

___JTB___

This exhibit reflects my best work in the areas noted above.

___JTB___

This exhibit reflects a high degree of professionalism in general writing skill, grammar and organizatio

Operation Continue Doing the Wrong Thing
By Jeremiah Bannister
Ran as "Bush Contra Mundum" in the Olivet Echo

"Failure is when your best just isn’t good enough," or so says the demotivational calendar I bought my father for Christmas. While the maxim is meant to be a joke, I couldn’t help but to think that in a very strange way it summed up Bush’s tenure as commander in chief. Regardless of how hard he tries, it appears that his every effort results in a worsening of an already horrific situation.

Unfortunately, his “new direction” for the Iraq war is no exception. To be honest, prior to seeing his speech on Thursday, January 11, my hopes were at a 4-year-high. With the pounding the Republicans received from the Democrats in November, the overwhelming public disapproval of the war and the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group getting praises from both sides of the political aisle, I bet my chips that Bush would abandon the neoconservative mantra for a more political and diplomatic approach. Time magazine had the same enthusiasm, publishing a cover story entitled, “The Iraq Study Group says it’s time for an exit strategy. Why Bush will listen.” Even neocon flagships like the Weekly Standard and National Review were biting their nails over the possibility of Bush “backpedaling.”

Unfortunately, those predictions were dashed to pieces when Bush made it clear that he would continue flying with the war-hawks. The Kagan-Keane report, a plan concocted by the same cabal that got us into this infamous fiasco, was the game plan our president ended up embracing. With Baker-Hamilton’s 79 recommendations tossed to the side and Colin Powell’s recent criticisms disregarded, the president chose to call for tours to be lengthened, deployments to be stretched and recruiters to go hog-wild in hope of bolstering the floundering enlistment numbers. This, contrary to popular demand, was the new direction for our policy in Iraq.

Will the plan work? Not likely. It emphasizes a surge that, like its predecessors, will not resolve the problems in Iraq any more than a Band-Aid would stop the bleeding of an amputated leg. With over 3,000 American soldiers dead, 25,000 wounded, over 100,000 Iraqi civilians six-feet-deep and the cost of the war surpassing $400 billion dollars, it would appear the that only surge worth pursuing is one that would include soldiers coming home. Then again, Bush is about as fond of conventional wisdom as he is of reading the newspaper.

In the end, my father’s calendar hits the mark when it says, “Quitters never win, winners never quit, but those who never win and never quit are idiots.” Unfortunately, these folks often end up dictating our foreign policy.

NARRATIVE

I was assigned this story by then editor Eleni Metropulous. The objective was to listen to the president's speech, analyze what he had to say, and then give my two-cents worth. Easy enough.

I watched the program at my grandmother's home because I know I would have the peace and quiet needed for such an assignment. Prior to having left school I printed out a number of facts sheets, articles from those supporting and those opposing the surge, as well as the conditions on the ground that led to the president's decision.

Once the speech was over I went over all of the material two more times. I made sure to get as many facts straight as possible. Dot every "i" and cross every "t."

2006 RESUME

122 East Prudence Lane Battle Creek, MI 49017

Phone 269-317-1263 jbannister@olivetcollege.edu

Jeremiah Bannister

Objective	News Runner for the Battle Creek Enquirer
Education	1992-1996 Family Altar Christian School Battle Creek, MI General Diploma 1997-1998 Christ for the Nations Dallas, TX Major: Practical Theology 1999-1999 Christ for the Nations Vancouver, Canada Major: Practical Theology Experience: · Worked with local charity on a weekly basis 2006-current Olivet College Olivet, MI Major: Jourmalism Minor: Political Science Current Courses: · Basic Reporting · Writing and Rhetoric II · Introduction to Broadcast Journalism · State and Local Government · Journalism Seminar Experience: · Staff writer for campus newspaper · Host a weekly talk-radio program on WOCR, 89.7 FM
Interests and activities	Reading, writing (includes blogging), politics, economics, religion, broadcast communication, debate (apologetics), public speaking, golf
Work experience	1996-1996 WOLY AM 1500 Battle Creek, MI Radio Host § Public relations § Sales § Wrote and created commercials 2004 New Jersey League of American Families Trenton, NJ Top Aide to Lobbyist · Research · Coalition building · Worked with numerous lobby networks on Marriage Amendment 2005 Temple Baptist Church Battle Creek, MI Associate and Youth Pastor · Research · Public speaking · Public relations 2006 Bannister and Sutherby TV Program Battle Creek, MI Co-Host · Research · Public speaking · Working with the editor, director, producer, and crew · Managing the TV show blog and email
Volunteer experience	Al Cavasin for State Senate David Horn for Congress Local charities in Vancouver, British Columbia
References	John Tomicki, Founder of NJ League of American Families Home: 215-739-3522 Mobile: 201-725-2154 Al Cavasin, former candidate for State Senate and owner of Great Northern Security Co. Mobile: 517-740-2887 Bob Sutherby, Nationwide Insurance and Co-Host of Bannister and Sutherby Mobile: 269-209-5959 Craig Dumont, Pastor of Okemos Christian Center Home: 517-336-6523 Mobile: 517-927-9541
Summary of qualifications	· Currently a staff writer for the Olivet Echo · Currently co-host a talk-show on local access TV · Conducted interviews · Studied religion, politics, and economics · Very familiar with current local, state, national, international events · Written extensively on social and economic issues · Worked in public relations · Written and created commercials for various groups/products · Worked/volunteered for various political campaigns · Done in-depth research on various issues