Tweet Roundup

Posted on by Sasha Kandrach

Using the hashtag #CoderJournos here are the tweets I found intriguing and relating to course content throughout the duration of January 3 through January 15.

Roll Tide’s Rule

While the odds didn’t seem to favor Alabama during the national championship game against the University of Georgia on Monday, Jan. 8, the Roll Tide overcame the challenge to claim their fifth national title over the span of  nine years. FiveThirtyEight created a data visualization of college football’s winningest teams over a 10-year period, which Alabama leads by a three-win margin.

 

O…2020

During the Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 7, Oprah Winfrey received the annual Cecil de Mille award.  Upon accepting her award, Winfrey addressed the #TimesUp movement against sexual assault, harassment and inequality within the workplace and hope for a brighter future for young women. Her speech sparked the a trend that Winfrey would run for president during the next electoral term of 2020. I read an analysis by the Washington Post which critiques Winfrey’s position on running.

Stock Market Comparisons within the First-Year of the President

I thought this was an interesting piece that fact-checked President Trump’s claims for having set records for boosting the stock market within his first year. The New York Times created a nice set of graphics to convey that Trump’s market gains are actually lower than those of former presidents, George Bush and Barack Obama.

The Minneapolis Miracle 

With the clock winding down and one-play remaining the Minnesota Vikings advanced past the divisional playoffs to earn a berth in the National Football Conference (NFC) playoff game with their thrilling win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Jan. 14. This article I tweeted analyzes the rarity and astonishment of the 61-yard sideline pass from Vikings’ quarterback and first-year NFLer Case Keenum to widereceiver Stefon Diggs.

 

More to come in the following weeks using #coderjournos.

May Analytics

Posted on by Sasha Kandrach

 

May Analytics – upon analyzing the Twitter analytics over the 28-day period below are the findings. 

 

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Over the 28 day period my tweets earned 106 impressions

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On average my tweets an engagement rate of 1.8%, 0 links, and 1 retweets.

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On average, my tweets earned 0 likes per day and 0 replies per day.

#AudioStories Twitter Roundup

Posted on by Sasha Kandrach

In our class discussion using the #AudioStories we tweet about topics related to podcasts or relevant newsworthy subjects that spark our interests, or pertain to our particular beat. As an aspiring sports reporter, I focus on topics related to athletics mostly in the Northeast or specifically hockey and anything regarding data visualizations or analytics.

Below are some of my tweets from April.

Tweet #1

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”und” dir=”ltr”><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/audiostories?src=hash”>#audiostories</a&gt; <a href=”https://t.co/PSkkGjMPEi”>https://t.co/PSkkGjMPEi</a></p>&mdash; Sasha Kandrach (@skkandrachaudio) <a href=”https://twitter.com/skkandrachaudio/status/861294636438048769″>May 7, 2017</a></blockquote> //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

13 Reasons Why is a Netflix Original show based off of Jay Asher’s novel. The premise addresses the harsh reality of the teen years and the devastating aftermath of suicide and the impact it has on those left behind. The show released on Netflix originally didn’t have any form of warning for the content or recommendations i.e. PG etc. which exposed a lot of youth watching it to some heavy stuff. The article I tweeted about discusses how the show subjects its viewers to a lot of intense, dark content and someone watching was not emotionally/mentally in a stable place they very well could be triggered to commit suicide.

Tweet #2

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”it” dir=”ltr”><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/audiostories?src=hash”>#audiostories</a&gt; data viz <a href=”https://t.co/FgAx2tIZCk”>https://t.co/FgAx2tIZCk</a></p>&mdash; Sasha Kandrach (@skkandrachaudio) <a href=”https://twitter.com/skkandrachaudio/status/861296633367191552″>May 7, 2017</a></blockquote> //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

As a data viz fan, FiveThirtyEight is one of most frequented publications. I thought this was an interesting read, as the FTE took a poll on when guests should show up to a party and ran analyses on the results to provide readers with results for different scenarios. I liked the data visualizations they developed, however I think they could have been more creative and used clocks, or heels/lipstick for fashionably late, or red solo cups for ragers, etc. Just different data visualizations for different scenarios maybe. Also, this would be interesting to explore across different cultures.

Tweet #3

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”und” dir=”ltr”><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/audiostories?src=hash”>#audiostories</a&gt; <a href=”https://t.co/ZrO2zik3QZ”>https://t.co/ZrO2zik3QZ</a></p>&mdash; Sasha Kandrach (@skkandrachaudio) <a href=”https://twitter.com/skkandrachaudio/status/861296942743212032″>May 7, 2017</a></blockquote> //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

This was the live video of the 143rd Kentucky Derby where #5 (contender) Always Dreaming won. I just thought this was cool to tweet because it’s such a historic and prestigious race. Also, it’s possible now with technology to watch or even stream the entire race via Twitter with Periscope.

Tweet #4

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”und” dir=”ltr”><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/audiostories?src=hash”>#audiostories</a&gt; <a href=”https://t.co/waToS69ldA”>https://t.co/waToS69ldA</a></p>&mdash; Sasha Kandrach (@skkandrachaudio) <a href=”https://twitter.com/skkandrachaudio/status/861298428860653569″>May 7, 2017</a></blockquote> //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

ESPN recently cut 100 on-air personalities and writers due to a loss of subscribers and an increase pressure on costs. The full list of cuts has not been released, but many of the reporters and former professional athletes shared the news via Twitter. This article addresses this issue and yet another major media company facing trouble because of the change in direction of the industry.

Tweet #5 

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”und” dir=”ltr”><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/audiostories?src=hash”>#audiostories</a&gt; <a href=”https://t.co/nhUvNtdsNj”>https://t.co/nhUvNtdsNj</a></p>&mdash; Sasha Kandrach (@skkandrachaudio) <a href=”https://twitter.com/skkandrachaudio/status/861309786389925896″>May 7, 2017</a></blockquote> //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

According to the results of the French election, the independent centrist, former investment banker Emmanuel Macron will be the next President of France over his far-right opponent Marine Le Pen. At just 39-years old, Mr. Macron will become the youngest President France’s Fifth Republic in it’s 59-years.

Weekly Twitter Wrap-Up Week 10

Posted on by Sasha Kandrach

Using the hostage #digitaljournos on Twitter from week six through week ten, I followed various stories related to my usually sports beat, but also the election as Donald Trump was named our President-elect on Nov 8.

Tweet #1: I tweeted an article after the Chicago Cubs forced Game 6 over the Cleveland Indians to continue their surge to claim the World Series title. I thought it was worth mentioning, as the Indians were favored by a lot of people to win the series and eventually lost a 3-1 game edge over the Cubs.

Tweet #2: I thought this was an interesting article as the rare sports equinox occurred for the 16th time on Oct. 30. A sports equinox happens when all four major American leagues play a game on the same day, i.e. NFL, NHL, NBA and MLB. The article was written by one of my favorite publications, FiveThirtyEight and broke down the previous sports equinoxes.

Tweet #3: I thought this was a great article continuing the Cubs’ success as they soundly defeated the Indians 9-3 in Cleveland. The article was again written by FiveThrityEight, but since baseball is such a data-driven sport I like to get my coverage from the data-driven site created by data enthusiast himself, Nate Silver.

Tweet #4: The Chicago Cubs came back to defeat the Indians in a nail-bitter Game 7 that resulted in an extra-inning AND a rain delay. After a 108-year dry spell (the longest in the MLB), the Cubs took home the title. I thought this video was a great idea to capture the emotions of the fans who long-awaited this victory and were about to celebrate in good fashion.

Tweet #5: Harvard University’s men’s soccer team had the remainder of their season cancelled as a result of discovering the team had been ranking the women’s soccer team since 2012, using vulgar, misogynistic and demeaning remarks in their rankings. This article by The Boston Globe, then reported how Harvard discovered its men cross country team was participating in similar activity of ranking the women’s team on spread sheets.

Tweet #6: After the agonizing result of the 2016 Presidential Election I thought it was interesting and quite fitting that Google searches for, “how to impeach a President,” had increased by 5,000%. The article did a nice job of showing people’s reactions and incorporating the unsettling map of Trump’s victory across the U.S.

Tweet #7: I didn’t use the #digitaljournos tag in this tweet, because Professor Matranga actually showed us this comforting visual when we attended his class the day following the election. The graphic depicts the results of the youth voter turnout ages 18-25, depicting how the future voted. It was comforting in a time of shock, fear, anger and disappointment to know that a brighter, better future is ahead and I’m apart of the generation to (hopefully) do so.

Tweet #8: I simply re-tweeted this video from Seth Meyers’ show, but I also found it comforting following the election. Meyers made a few good points that while Hillary did not win, this was a turning point for a woman who someday will be our President. She will remember this historic day and will someday be the woman to make history. I was very inspired by his commentary to take time out of his segment to address such a real, difficult issue. Meyers also addressed the difficulty many parents faced as they had to explain to their children the outcome of the election and what Trump’s victory means for America. While Meyers only has an infant, this was a very prominent issue for parents across the country with children trying to fathom the concept just as their parents were.

 

DU Winter Break – six weeks up to students

Posted on by Sasha Kandrach

The University of Denver operates on the quarter system in which students participate in three 10-week quarters spread throughout the year; fall, winter and spring quarter. Fall quarter begins in September and ends prior to the luxuriously combined Thanksgiving and winter break before returning back in January. One of DU’s biggest draws is the six-week winter break offered, providing students a surplus amount of time to relax, take an additional class, get an internship or take advantage of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.

How students choose to spend their break generally varies grade-by-grade as a result of maturity and the proximity of adulthood. Many freshmen spend their break returning home to spend time with friends and family and relaxing. Sophomore year, however, is when students planning to study abroad are advised to finish their applications and prepare themselves for the remainder of the process of leaving the country. kev-pic-3

“Over winter break, I am going to be spending a lot of time working on my application for my nomination, writing all the wonderful essays that go with that for studying abroad in Ireland,” current sophomore Elli Torsell said. “I’ll be getting my passport and just be trying to figure out what else I need to do.”

While Elli looks ahead at finishing her study abroad requirements before break, current abroad juniors look to salvage their final weeks during break before they return for winter quarter.

amsterda“A big group of my friends and I will be going to Amsterdam,” DU junior currently studying in Cork, Ireland Kevin Blunt said. “For Thanksgiving my American friends and I will be having a big pot-luck style meal. On Dec. 30, I have two close friends from DU flying in. Some of my friends and I are planning to meet them in Dublin and then head up to Scotland for a long weekend.”

kev-picSimilar to Kevin and other juniors trying to make the most of their remaining time abroad,  seniors at DU do the same as graduation continues to approach marking the official transition into the work-life. DU’s winter break is an opportune time for upperclassmen to hold internships.

“Now, senior year for this winter break I will have an internship,” Denver senior Gretchen said. “I’ll be going home for Thanksgiving and then coming back here [Denver] and working until Christmas.”

For students who want to get ahead on their classwork, DU offers an extensive list of interterm courses to knock out tedious credits. Students who value skiing can take full-advantage of DU’s convenient location to both the mountains and the city during winter break with Colorado’s prime powder and city life.

While six weeks may appear to be an extensive amount of time solely set aside for break, students can really take advantage of their time whether it be dedicated to academics, career, leisure, or personal time with loved ones.

Twitter Analytics Week 8

Posted on by Sasha Kandrach

Over the past 28 days, from Oct. 5 to Nov. 2, I viewed my tweet activity courtesy of the Twitter Analytics tool.

 

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My overall engagement rate over the past 28 days is 1.6%. I averaged 1 click per day, for a total of 18 clicks. On average I received 0 retweets per day, and ten total retweets.

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I received 29 total likes which averages out to one like per day. I received a total of six likes, averaging out to zero replies.

I continued my theme of sports and data related tweets for this month. Now that hockey is back in season, I have been covering the games and occasionally tweeting updates which always seems to draw a lot of attention.

Physical improvements on the University of Denver’s campus

Posted on by Sasha Kandrach

Before severe Colorado weather settles in, construction crews at the University of Denver are working on various sites across campus.

The new addition of the Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science building located on DU’s south end of campus continues to undergo renovations to the aesthetic aspect of the facility. The crews are assembling a lake out front of the building, landscaping and a stone wall to outline the property and walkways.

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On the north end of campus, on East Asbury Avenue crews are working on renovating and polishing a few areas of wear and tear from the busy campus throughway. Sidewalks and landscape appear to be the focus of this side of campus.

 

 

Weekly Twitter Wrap-up

Posted on by Sasha Kandrach

Keep up-t0-date with the news by following #digitaljournos on Twitter. Below are tweets ranging from Oct. 14 through Oct. 22 primarily focused on sports news and politics.

Tweet #1:

In his NHL debut, Auston Matthews, the 19-year old Scottsdale, Arizona native finished his first game with the Toronto Maple Leafs with four goals against the Ottawa Senators. Matthews was the first player to have ever scored four goals in his first game, boasting something even the legend Wayne Gretzky cannot.

 

Tweet #2: 

Former Pioneer hockey player, Joe Colborne scored a hat trick in the season opener for the Colorado Avalanche. Colborne returned to Denver this summer, keeping close ties with his alma mater.

Tweet #3:

It’s no surprise that Donald Trump has no filter when it comes to just about anything, especially women. I thought this article was interesting as it provided evidence to Melania’s blaming of Billy Bush regarding her husband’s crude comments. Also, in spite of Billy Bush’s recent dismissal from NBC’s the Today Show because of a misogynistic conversation Bush had with Trump regarding women.

Tweet #4:

The rise is real. The Colorado Buffaloes football team is continuing to make a name for themselves on the national level as they beat Stanford 10-5. The Buffs haven’t been bowl eligible since 2007.

Tweet #5:

The New York Times broke down the differences between the Clinton and Trump Foundations. I thought the article provided a great breakdown of the details of each foundation, the prominent differences and how each foundation has been criticized to provide a neutral, informative perspective on two highly-polarized candidates.

Tweet #6: 

Glenn Greenwald and his work with Edward Snowden’s NSA leaks is something I am definitely fascinated by. I loved this article by the Intercept which details the ruling of mass surveillance that occurred secretly for nearly two decades in the U.K. without the consent or acknowledgement from the general public.