Comm Speech

A Bed of Cancer

Many teenagers want to have a tan complexion all year round, but it is safe to lather your body with color? Within the last two years, at least 32 states have passed laws restricting minors to use tanning equipment without parental consent, and other various restrictions. These new laws are to prevent young teens from developing skin cancer as adults. This risk comes from the ultraviolet lights used in many tanning beds and the exposure gives young teens a very risky future.



Photo of a Melanoma skin cancer spot


There are two different types of skin cancer that teenagers can get from using various tanning equipment, melanoma and nonmelanoma. Both types are very similar however, melanoma is more dangerous and potentially fatal. Melanoma is most likely to spread through sunburns, fair skin, freckles, moles, and family histories of melanoma. If caught during the early stage, melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer can be treated. To lower the risk of developing skin cancer, the American Cancer Society suggests to stay out of sunlight from 10 am to 4 pm which the sun's rays are strongest, weat protective sun gear while outside such as hats and sunglasses, and of course avoid tanning devices with ultraviolet lighting. Unfortunately, the National Cancer Institute reports that about half of Americans who live to age 65 will develop skin cancer therefore, nobody is safe.

Unfortunately, out of the 32 states with tanning regulations, Oklahoma is not one of them. In 2009, State Senator Andrew Rice proposed Bill SB 544 to prohibit minors to use tanning devices without a parent/legal guardian consent form, and for children under 13 to have a parent present along with a physician consent form. In 2010, the bill was not passed but if it had been, the state Health Department would've been required to investigatee salons and complaints and violations would be fined $500. Luckily, some tanning salons in Oklahoma do have their company consent forms that they are legally allowed to give out. The At The Beach Oklahoma City location requires customers under the age of 14 to have a parent present and written permission.


An example of how bad tanning can affect your beauty

When Senator Rice was promoting the SB 544 bill, he really tried to express the need for this bill to pass, "My hope is that my bill will help Oklahomans and make parents and others more aware of the dangers of tanning, particularly among adolescents." Of course, the bill didn't pass but the impact that Rice put on the bill hopefully stuck with many parents who have children who tan or are wanting to begin using taning facilities.

Only time can tell when or if Oklahoma will pass a law about minors who tan, but 32 other states have successfully began to shield younger children and teens from risking their health just for a little color. This future bill could save a life from skin cancer, so why are we waiting?


Photos courtesy of whydidigowrong.co.uk and skincanceronface.com

The Adventures of a Cameraman

Ray Bribiesca spoke Monday, November 1^st in the Hall of Fame Room of the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication about his job with 60 Minutes. Bribiesca gave us an idea of what his job entails as a photojournalist by showing a 60 Minutes video segment about American soldiers fighting in the war against Afghanistan. This story showed what Bribiesca does every day in his job. The war clip in particular showed Bribiesca putting himself in danger to get the story told. “The point of a photojournalist is to document a story so that the audience knows what’s going on if you turn the audio off,” Bribiesca said.

Bribiesca also played a video clip from the 60 Minutes website where viewers can watch behind-the-scene videos to get more in depth with different stories. Bribiesca went on to talk a little bit about how even when he’s not working with 60 Minutes, he feels that he needs to always be prepared for a news story to break out. He does this by always keeping a camera in his car just in case something happens.

Bribiesca fought in the Vietnam War, so when he had to shoot footage for the war in Afghanistan, it was a little more meaningful to him. However, in the video we saw him take shots of video footage where he had nothing protecting him from getting shot by the Afghans. Bribiesca mentioned that the story was important for people to see and he wanted to do anything to get that story across. This was a true sign of how dedicated Bribiesca is to his work.

Bribiesca gave different insights on what he thought was important to keep in mind for the field of journalism. He used many examples from his own personal work to back up his advice for the students who listened to his lecture. One thing that stuck out in his speech was directed toward measuring yourself in the world of journalism. “In 60 Minutes, you are only as good as your last story,” Bribiesca said.

Bribiesca is now retiring from 60 Minutes after decades of filming. The day after his lecture at OU, he left for Yemen to finish his final work as a photojournalist for 60 Minutes. However, for Ray Bribiesca, his work will never end.