[Journalists] backpacks are unprofessional?

[Gary ODonoghue]

Hi, Well I have been a BBC political correspondent for five years now
and a BBC reporter for 17 years - and I use a back pack everyday. Quite
frankly, given the amount of kit we have to carry around as blind people
- laptops, recording gear, braille displays etc etc etc - it's really
the only practical bag to use to leave your hands free to use a cane or
a dog and carry your morning coffee from the takeout. A number of other
reporters I work with (sighted reporters) also use back packs. So I'd
ignore the prof and do what's comfortable - your back will thank you in
the long run.

 


Gary O'Donoghue
BBC Political Correspondent 
Tel: +44-207-9736057
Mob: +44-7802-232212


-----Original Message-----
From: journalists-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:journalists-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Martha Harris
Sent: 29 January 2009 04:39
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing li
Cc: Journalists at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Journalists] backpacks are unprofessional?

Hi Everyone,
I'm a journalism major; as part of our magazine production, we have to
go out in to the community to sell ads, talk to Lions Clubs, have tables
at local events, ETC. We have two conditions: dress professionally, and
don't wear a backpack. I totally understand the dress professionally,
but what do you all think about backpacks? Do they make us look too much
like students and not professionals, and if so, why? As a blind student,
would I not be taken seriously because "she doesn't know that everyone
else has different bags?" or something like that?
Personally, I prefer the backpack. It is painful to have the strap of a
messenger bag, satchel, or large purse on my left shoulder with the bag
on the right side of my body, and having the strap on my right shoulder
with the bag hanging on the left gets in the way of my hand with the
dog. Our professor says that since our target audience is permanent
residents between 35 and 55 years old who live in the two surrounding
counties and not students like the traditional college magazine, we
shouldn't look like we come from the university when we go into the
town. Thoughts?

Thanks,
Martha
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