Ole Miss alum Jess Holland returns to alma mater to discuss career and give advice to students.

 

Jesse Holland, Ole Miss alum and author of “Who is the Black Panther”, returned to his alma mater on Tuesday and talked to students, staff and members of the community in the Overby Center about his career as a writer and offered advice to students.

Holland expressed to the crowd to not be quiet about what you love and want to do.

“I am loud and proud about that I’m a comic book geek,” he said, “Lucas Films and Marvel would of never found me if I kept my passions hidden.”

Holland has been writing since 2005. His first book, “Black Men Built the Capitol: Discovering African-American History In and Around Washington” was published in 2007 and his second book “The Invisibles: The Untold Story of African American Slaves in the White House” was published in 2016.

He was approached in 2016 to write a backstory for a character named Finn in the “Star Wars” trilogy and in September “The Force Awakens: Finn’s Story” came out.

A month later, Marvel reached out to him to write a book telling the origin of the Black Panther so they’d have an introduction of those characters for the movie that was coming out in 2018. In September of 2017, “Who is the Black Panther” was published and now is sold out internationally.

He emphasized the importance of having mentors and connecting with those in the area they want to be in.

“I have mentors in journalism, non fiction and fiction writing who I turn to,” he said. “Find your tribe and they’ll keep you on the right path.”

Holland majored in journalism and English as well as worked at the Oxford Eagle, the Daily Mississippian and hosted a radio show while at Ole Miss.

“Ole Miss allowed me to experiment and learn all types of journalism,” Holland said. “It gave me the opportunities to learn my craft.”

Holland left Ole Miss having done five internships and he stressed to students the importance of getting hands on experience

“It’s just as important to know what you don’t want to do as it is to know what you do want to do,” he said. “I got into journalism so I could write my books.”

For the upcoming future, Holland is in discussion with Marvel for a potential project as well as writing the outline’s for his next two non fiction projects.

“There will be more comic book and science fiction in my life, but I’m not going to leave non fiction behind.”

Chancellor Jeffery Vitter expressed that it’s always a good day when a esteemed alum returns and reaches out the students.

“I’m very proud he’s a graduate of our university,” he said. “He’s a role model to the university and an inspiration to our students.”

Sophomore and broadcast journalism student Andranita Williams enjoyed listening to all the advice Holland offered.

“I learned that if you want to be successful in journalism you need to surround yourself with people who desire to be into journalism as well,” she said, “I liked learning what I can do to become a better journalist.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Works: Week 8

Russian shopping mall fire killed 41 kids, 23 others; Putin blames ‘sloppiness’

This story caught my attention not only is it sad and very newsworthy, but one of my good friends is studying abroad in Moscow right now and I immediately needed to read it.

This article definitely has a hard news lead, stating, “Thousands of Russians took to the main square of a Siberian city Tuesday to confront local officials after a shopping mall fire killed at least 64 people, most of the children.” We learn who, what, when, and where all within one sentence.

I think on thing the writer does to help pull readers in is he doesn’t just say what happened, but he also writes about what Putin thinks and how officials are reacted to it. Many people are fascinated with leaders thoughts and actions and probably saw the title and needed to read more.

Also people generally always look for someone to blame and having that blame accused in this article probably pulled more readers in to see what went wrong and who’s responsible.

The writer used many officials and investigators as sources which added a lot of creditability to the story. Pretty much all of the sources agreed that it was pure sloppiness and there’s no explanation for the bad decisions that were made.

I personally find it so frightening that the doors were locked and no one could get out and that no alarm system went off signaling to anyone to get out in the first place.

 

Additional changes to Oxford’s proposed annexation map

More changes were proposed to the annexation map Tuesday at the Board of Alderman meeting. The next meeting on April 3rd will not be a public hearing on this topic and the board will vote on the final map.

The board and public went through the six areas that will be added to Oxford, totaling 12 square miles of land.

Area one had a change proposed by Alderman Rick Addy. After discussing with Joe Huggins, owner of Goose Feather Tree Farm located in that area, Addy proposed going back to the first map that was proposed in February which has the boundary line 600 feet away from the new 13 million road being constructed.

“I am ok with that as long as it doesn’t affect anything with the tree farm” Huggins said.

This changed was motioned by Alderman Addy and went unopposed.

Just like last meeting, most of the discussion centered around area four where the Southpointe subdivision resides.

Last meeting resident Jeff Byrd presented 48 signatures from other Southpointe residents who are against being annexed and two motions to move the boundary line lacked a second motion.

This meeting resident Matthew Farrell presented two maps, one containing a line drawn between the subdivision including the northern part in the annexation and excluding the southern one.

Farrell explained that south of the line is traditional family homes.

“We’re already developed”, he said.

Farrell also pressed that it’s an extra tax burden on these residents.

Mayor Robyn Tannehill explained that these residents receive and use city services such as sewage and water. She also stated that people who are also getting this tax burden from annexation don’t get these services.

“You’re paying for the water you use, but not the tax”, she said.

Tannehill also explained that this area will be able to receive fire and police safety as well as garbage services.

She reminded the room that the subdivisions in the county that use city water and sewer services from the city signed a contract stating they would not object to any future annexation from the city. This ordinance was not in place till six months after the Southpointe subdivision was developed resulting in no sign contract from them.

Farrell expressed that 60% of the neighborhood is strongly against this annexation and they are willing to take this fight further.

“We have a huge financial interest in this so we will take the next step, go to court and have someone represent us if needed,” he said.