Article Writing
Article writing is the process of creating a non-fiction text about current or recent news, items of general interest or specific topics. This form of writing is found in publications like newspapers, magazines, and blogs.
Editorial: Two MICA Alumni Contribute to Emmy Award- Winning Projects
This story was written for Maryland Institute College of Art’s (MICA) magazine Juxtapositions in celebration of two Emmy-nominated and award-winning MICA graduates.
Alumni Javier Ameijeiras’05 (illustration) and Carlos Florez’07 (graphic design) both contributed to projects that were winners at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards.
Ameijeiras said he was shocked when he found out a project he worked on as assistant art director, the opening titles of HBO’s Bored to Death, won an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Main Title Design.
“I did not find out until almost a year later when I was congratulated by a designer,” he said. “I was caught off guard and had to go online to confirm it.”
Like Ameijeiras, Florez was pleasantly surprised when he learned the series he’d been collaborating on as a production designer, NBC’s Sunday Night Football, had won an Emmy in the category of Production Design/Art Direction.
“It was my first Emmy,” Florez said. “I’m extremely grateful for that experience and to have been able to work with such a highly talented group of artists.”
Since studying at MICA, Ameijeiras has worked on 19 films and 11 television shows. In that time, he has contributed to two Emmy-winning art departments and three Oscar-nominated films. Florez owns his own studio, REZLAB, where he has been writing, directing and producing short films that have won awards at several film festivals around the world.
“MICA gave me time and a foundation to better my skills, and the Student Activities and Admissions Office taught me the business skills that I need to thrive as an entrepreneur,” Ameijeiras said.
Florez said that MICA provided him with tools that assisted him in starting his career, and he credits faculty members, such as former co-chair of design, Bernard Canniffe, and his typography professor, Jennifer Cole Phillips, as inspiration.
“MICA taught us to free our minds and gave us the technical skills to help us realize those ideas, but the biggest teaching was to encourage us to keep learning. Problem solving is the most invaluable thing I’ve learned from MICA,” he said. “This is the best teaching a university can give a student, and I think this is what separates MICA from the hundreds of colleges in the USA.”
Editorial: Walmart’s Dionna Alexander-Moses: Empowering Women in STEM
854-word profile of Dionna Alexander-Moses, Director of Infrastructure and Operations at Walmart Global Technology Services India. Ms. Alexander-Moses shares her experience in developing programs, and encouraging young girls to pursue an interest and career in STEM. This story is published in Women of Color Magazine.
Dionna Moses has always understood the importance of women obtaining careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines. As the Director of Infrastructure and Operations in Walmart Global Technology Services India, it has been her mission to motivate and mentor women who share her desire to excel in these fields.
Born in Kansas City, Mo. and raised in St. Louis, Moses graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2002. Before attending college, however, she participated in the school's Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES) program, created to address the low numbers of minority students pursuing advanced technical degrees. MITES was a spring board for Moses's involvement in enhancement programs for minorities in STEM, as she would later devote much of her time to similar programs.
After earning her degree, she reluctantly applied for a job at Walmart on her grandfather's advice. “When I got the call from the recruiter, I basically said, “I’m not interested.” But they convinced me to listen to what they had to say. My interest was piqued by the size and complexity of the systems and the breadth of exposure and responsibility that I would have very early in my career, so I decided to join Walmart, she says.
Despite her initial reservations, she soon discovered that Walmart is a great place to work, grow a career and make a difference both individually and globally. For example, as part of Walmart’s East Data Center project, Moses coordinated and managed 13 infrastructure areas, 123 application teams and more than 40 IT associates.
In 2005, Moses was awarded the Women of Color Rising Star award for her achievements in her career. A few years later, Moses was asked to make a presentation at the Girls of Promise Conference, which she says has introduced thousands of eighth grade girls across Arkansas to information about careers related to math, science, and technology, while giving them the opportunity to meet with women professionals for a greater understanding of their own potential and power.
“These events encourage girls to pursue academic excellence during their high school and college years. Attendees get to meet other girls like themselves and realize that it’s okay to be a bright, motivated girl with big dreams.
Moses also had big dreams. By her freshman year in college, she landed an internship with Boeing, and interned with Goldman Sachs during her final undergraduate years. She explained that she wanted her early career to be an inspiration to young girls with an interest in STEM.
Moses believes that when attempting to land a career in STEM disciplines, not only should young people be able to communicate effectively but they should also have “a strong foundation of technical experience and knowledge.”
In February 2012, Moses formed her first mentoring group Information Security and Compliance Women’s Mentoring Circle while part of the Information Security department, before leaving to begin her new position as Walmart’s e-commerce Director of Infrastructure and Operations in Bangalore, India.
The Circle, which Moses refers to as one of her proudest accomplishments, consists of a group of 16 women who have made their way to leadership positions in information security.
Moses says it’s important tor women to show that they are just as qualified for leadership positions as men, adding that there are two key points to get ahead, which women should take heed: know your business and show a capacity to take on more.
“We can’t just show that we can handle what’s on our plate, but we must show that we have the capacity to move forward and take on more. We should always think “What else can I do?” Moses stresses.
Following her own advice, Moses continues to motivate women in the STEM field, and will serve as the 2013 - 2014 co-chair for Women’s Resource Committee within the Walmart Global Technology Services in India. As one important pillar in this committee is lnvest in Women Globally, this program will focus on activities that engage women to pursue STEM careers worldwide.
Moses has had many accomplishments and has helped a number of people on her way. However, in spite of all of her success, she says she is happiest when she witnesses those she has helped, or a person whose life she has touched, achieve a huge accomplishment in their career.
Throughout her journey, Moses has learned many lessons, but says the greatest learning has been to always practice humility. She says when she creates mentoring groups and contributes to STEM and professional programs or projects, she thinks about the people she is helping.
“It’s not about me,” she says. “I’m not one to boast or to be prideful. Often times we try to show that we can do everything, but that’s not possible because we aren’t naturally good at everything. There are certain things that I know that I do well and excel at, and there are certain things that I’m not good at. I’m very well aware of my strengths and weak-nesses.” Clearly, one of Dionna Moses’ strengths is helping other women in their journey to achieve successful STEM careers.