JMC 201 Enterprise Story

by Taylor Bryant

Sitting in the doctor’s office with a fever of 105 and not cleared to play for her soccer game that day, the doctor takes her blood and makes her pee in a cup to figure out the problem. Five minutes later the doctor came back with news that would change Jazmine’s life forever.

She felt like she was dreaming when the doctor informed her that she was pregnant. The first thing that came to her mind was how would she tell her family. Just as pressing was how she would deliver this shocking news to her boyfriend. Not forgotten in all of this was that she also had a soccer game to play in later that day, but how was she going to do it with such a big burden on her shoulders?

“Every time I got on a social network someone was popping up pregnant and I felt like it was a trend, but I never thought I would become part of the trend,” said Jazmine Rhodes, 19.

Teenage pregnancy does not only affect the expecting mother, it affects everyone close to them. The pregnancy also can raise many health risks for a young mother and her baby.

“I was really scared when I first found out that I was pregnant, so I cried and cried and cried ,” said Rhodes. She did not understand how she could become pregnant when she was on the pill. After thinking for a long time she realized she missed a day and thought taking two pills the next day would compensate for it.

“I was very upset when Jazzy told me she was pregnant, but I had to be supportive because

at the time all she needed was support,” said Jazmine’s mother Michelle Tafoya, 40.

Telling her parents and boyfriend was one of the hardest things for Jazmine to do. She did not want to feel like a disappointment to her parents. Her mother was supportive but very unhappy about the situation. When she told the news to her father he grew distant from her, but he came around eventually. Her boyfriend was most supportive when she delivered the news to him - he was excited and nervous all at the same time.

Terri Green, 21, who also is a teenage mother She became pregnant at 18 during her senior year of high school. She never thought she would become a mother at such a young age, but it all changed when she decided to have unprotected sex with her boyfriend at the time.

“There is no more “me” time, said Green.

Green also admitted that telling her parents and boyfriend about her pregnancy was a difficult thing to do. She says having the baby has been hard at times because the baby’s father is not consistent with helping support their child. And while her parents were at first disappointed with her, they now provide their unyielding support with helping raise the baby.

It may not seem like it but there has been a dramatic 44 percent drop in teenage pregnancy since 1991. The decline in teenage pregnancy has been seen across all ethnic groups

according to CBS News. They say the reduced rate is due to the use of prevention

messages and the use of contraceptions like birth control and condoms.

Although there has been a decline in teenage pregnancy, the United States still has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in the industrialized world. It is also costly and risky for teenage mothers to give birth. “It is risker for a teen to give birth than older mothers. It can cause complications for both mother and child,” said Dr. Joseph Oh.

It is more likely for a teen who is giving birth under the age 15 to die from pregnancy complications than older mothers. In addition, teenagers are more likely to have poor eating habits which can increase the risk of the baby having health problems.

Babies born to teenage mothers are more likely to be born at a low birth weight, premature and are more prone to disorders. Dr. Oh says that babies born to teenage mothers can have immature organs and have difficulty controlling body temperature and blood sugar levels. It is suggested that teen mothers start seeing a doctor when they find out they are pregnant to lower the risk of complications for her and the baby.

Now at seven months pregnant Jazmine has realized how much of her life has changed in a short period of time. She went from a normal student-athlete trying to graduate and play soccer in her final year of college to an expecting mother. Rhodes does not profess to have everything figured out, but she is glad she has her parents and boyfriend to support her until she can fully get on her feet.

“My life has changed so much but in a good way. Now that I'm a mother I have a different outlook on life,” said Green. She said although having a baby at such a young age

was difficult it was a blessing in disguise. She has become much more responsible and now works harder to provide a better life for her child.

Deciding to have a baby at a young age can be life changing and difficult all at the same time for some people. Many do not realize the risk or effects of having a baby at a young age. Although the use of contraceptives has lowered the rate of teenage pregnancy, it is still an ongoing problem in the United States.

JMC 201 Interview Story

Kevin Longley, known as “The Voice of JMC 201,” is a man of many traits but there is more to him than his smooth voice at 20-years-old.

Longley was born in Washington D.C., but grew up in the small town of Potomac, MD. Full of private schools, country clubs, and pharmacies full of wealthy people although he is not one of them. He grew up on the outskirts of the city. He got to experience life outside of town by getting involved in many sports programs growing up which allowed him to experience diversity although his school tried to keep him sheltered.

“I became reliant on sports over the years, relying on it to get me through my frustrations or pitfalls and elevate my happiness,” said Longley.

His emotions are tied into sports so much that his happiness depends on it. As a child Longley was sat in front of the television for sports games. His family has had Washington Redskins season tickets since the 50’s and its in his blood to have an everlasting love for sports.

Outside of his love for sports he is a man of many hobbies, Longley loves listening to music, going to concerts and eating.

“I’m huge on trying different foods and learning how to make them and such, I’m rather obsessed with fine dining,” said Longley.

“My passion is definitely sports, although it’s not all sports,” said Longley. He loves football, basketball and golf. He is a huge Washington Redskins and Los Angeles Lakers fan and his mood is contingent on if the two teams win or lose. His passion for sports is what led him to pursue journalism and become editor-in-chief of his high school newspaper.

Michael Wilbon is Longley’s sports journalism icon. He wrote for the Washington Post so growing up he was Longley’s local favorite. He is also the highest paid sports journalist in the country. He does work for companies like ESPN and the NFL. He works in both print and broadcast journalism and Longley loves him most because he has a very objective view as a sports critic.

“I want to go into sports radio because people say I have a good radio voice and I love talking about sports,” said Longley.

Growing up Longley said he always had the deepest voice, but after puberty is became even deeper. People have been telling him since then he had a good voice for radio. With his voice, love for sports and journalism he decided sports radio would be the perfect career. He said waking up in the morning to go talk about pressing sports issues to the world and all access to sporting events would be the dream job. He would only be concerned if he doesn't make it big that the pay for sports radio would be insufficient.

Longley would like to work for ESPN radio one day. He said the national scene would be awesome but even the ESPN outlets in big cities like D.C., Los Angeles and New York would be awesome too.

JMC 201 Mock Print Articles

Story #1DOUGLAS, Ariz.- On Thursday Leticia Garcia,62, was convicted and sentenced to three years in a state prison for drug trafficking in a Cochise County court room.

“It was the thrill of bingo that led Mrs. Garcia down the dark path of drug smuggling,” said Alan Warchowsky in a released statement from the Cochise County attorney’s office. It is believed that Garcia was selling marijuana to feed her bingo addiction.

When on the stand Mrs.Garcia told the courtroom that she does not work and only receives 250 dollar welfare check a month for taking care of her granddaughter. She then went on to say she plays bingo quite often and sometimes has won thousands of dollars.

Ironically Garcia was pulled over on her way to bingo and that is when the police found the marijuana in her car.

Garcia told the courtroom that she did not know the dope was in her backseat. She accused her sons godfather Larry Zimmerman of planting the drugs in her car, because he had her car all day the day before she got pulled over. Garcia stressed she would never sell drugs just to feed her bingo addiction.

After the verdict was announced Garcia’s attorney Robert Zohlmann said he was disappointed, that his client maintained her innocence and told press they would be filing an appeal.

Story #2WASHINGTON D.C.- Six time Gold Glove winner Eric Chavez signed with the Washington Nationals in an emotional press conference Thursday.

“I am really really excited I thought my career in baseball was really over,” said an emotional Chavez who signed a two-year, $2 million contract with the Nationals which is nothing compared to his previous contracts in the MLB.

“Its never about the money not at this stage I just want to play and do what I love,” said Chavez.

Chavez previously played for the Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees in the prime of his career.

“The years take their toll, but I feel like I still have something to give,” said Chavez. Chavez ended up in D.C. because he was a free agent after this past season with the Yankees.

“We felt like we needed to bring more veteran leadership to our team,” said general manager Mike Rizzo. Rizzo was disappointed in the teams performance in the last season and felt they were a disappointment to their fans.

Chavez doesn’t expect to be thrown in the starting line up. He says he knows his role is to motivate and be a role model for the younger players.

Chavez said he enjoyed his time with the Yankees and thanks them for putting in a

good word for him, but he is happy to be in D.C. with the Nationals. Chavez says he feels like D.C. is the right place for him right now because he has become politically outspoken and always advocating for Hispanic causes.

At the end of the press conference Chavez thanked his wife, in-laws, who live on the West coast, and agent for always supporting him. Story #3 Three people are dead after a three-car collision on Mill Avenue and University Drive Monday night at about 8:30 p.m.

A late model Corvette and a Dodge Stealth were drag racing on University heading west at extremely high rates of speed when the light changed at the intersection of Mill and University, resulting in the Stealth hitting a Toyota Tercel. The Corvette fled the scene after the collision.

Sgt. John Garcia told reporters the stealth hit the tercel on the driver side and the impact was so great it cut the Tercel into pieces, leaving twisted metal all over the scene. The stealth was heavily damaged and ended up near the outdoor seating at P.F. Chang's.

“I ran over to the wreck to help but there was nothing to be done to whoever was in the little car,” said witness Larry Niven.

Joseph A. Goodrich, 26, a resident of Chandler, was the driver of the tercel, Daniel S. Allen, 26, also a resident of Phoenix was the front passenger, and unidentified backseat passenger were pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Stealth, Charles G. Gardner, 23, from Tempe and passenger Ridly

Patterson, 23, from Tempe were taken to Tempe Memorial Trauma Center.

Gardner was later arrested for three counts of vehicular homicide. “The preliminary test show his blood alcohol level was .19 which is more than twice the limit. The penalty for vehicular homicide is 10 years per count,” said Sgt. Garcia.

Tempe Police Department is seeking information from anyone for on the identity of the unknown driver of the late model white Corvette convertible that could possibly have collision damage and may have a license plate that starts with the letters JL.

Story #4A Student was shot and wounded Thursday afternoon at Cronkiteville High in the parking lot after a fight broke out between two males.

Sgt.John Garcia told us reporters the wounded student, is identified as, Oscar Luis Madison. Madison was shot in the leg.

Witnesses say the fight broke out during the lunch hour between two white males who are apparently from two rival gangs.

“Suddenly one of them pulled a silver handgun out of his pants pocket and started waving it at the other one who immediately backed off,” said Garcia.

Witnesses said the gun went off, whether on purpose or accident is unknown.

“As far as we know right now Oscar was an innocent bystander,” said Garcia. The bullet missed the other kid but it hit Madison, who

was standing about 30 feet away with the other students watching the fight Garcia said.

The two unidentified males ran off and dropped the .22 -caliber pistol that shot Madison in his leg and left him on the ground bleeding profusely. Madison was taken to Cronkiteville Memorial by ambulance.

Sgt. Garcia had no comment on the names of the unidentified males because the investigation is active.