Tag: Journalism

Back in action…sorta

The newsroom was abuzz for the first time in more than a month.

Editors abound. Couches pulled out. Ideas overfloweth.

It was great to see everyone again after break for The Miami Hurricane‘s first staff meeting of the semester. Old faces and new faces, all ready to get back into action (please excuse the cliche).

Here are some of the topics we discussed:

  • Copyediting all possible content before layout, which will begin with first issue
  • Outlook for multimedia this semester and what role the multimedia editor and assistant multimedia editor will play
  • Preview of Web site overhaul, which will be a collaborative, semester-long effort; Art Director/Visuals Editor Will Wooten, Webmaster Brian Schlansky and I will take the lead, working with other staffers and Chris Delboni’s CNJ 442 class
  • New Sunday meeting structure
  • Outline of SG spring election coverage timeline
  • What everyone’s favorite color is
  • Adjustments to process for editorials
  • Emphasizing the importance of blogs and being connected
  • Highlighting that we are not just a newspaper, but a news organization

Weigh in: What would you like to see from the paper this semester?

‘Filipino Monkey’ phenomenon

I learned of this story after it was picked up, but this is the first time I’ve heard about this “Filipino Monkey” character:

“Navy Times’: Strait of Hormuz ‘Showdown’ with Iran May Have Been the Work of Prankster

Here’s the original article, ‘Filipino Monkey’ may be behind radio threats, ship drivers say and a couple links it includes:

See the Pentagon’s version of the video

A link to the Iranian version (click the camera icon)

It’s potty time!

Ok, so I’m in the mood for posting links tonight.

This story is one that’s not to be missed. I mean, how often does the New York Times write about toilets? It’s a great narrative. And I love the Star Trek references.

While the subject of this article isn’t the Man’s Bathroom (see video clip below), designed by Tim “The Toolman” Taylor, it’s quite a spectacle in it’s own right:

Greetings, Earthlings. Your New Restroom Is Ready.

I know what you’re thinking. Are they low-flow? According to the Times’ City Room blog, absolutely not: A Toilet That Uses 14 Gallons? Oh Gosh!

Dave Barry would have personally killed each one if they were low-flow. Of course, he had the news at 8:19 A.M. this morning, with an update at 2:48 P.M.

Here’s another NYT blog post on the chrome throne: New Yorkers, You May Be Excused: A Pay Toilet Opens

Weigh in: Would you use NYC’s new public potty?

Just for fun: As promised…

Bloggers’ thoughts that student journalists should heed

Similar to the links I posted on journalism education a few days ago, here are some bloggers’ thoughts on the skills and such that student journalists should note.

Further notes on the new journalism skillset » Invisible Inkling (Ryan Sholin)

Teaching Online Journalism: Dreams vs. reality in journalism ambition (Mindy McAdams)

What sort of things should an aspiring journalist be thinking about? (Rob Curley)

Take note of what these three detail and be sure to subscribe to their blogs.

I’m glad I waited a day to publish this post, because Ryan Sholin wrote a post called Your real competition, which links to related Paul Conley and Dave Cohn posts, that all student journalists should be aware of.

If you go to interview for an internship or job at a place that says what Ryan writes below, you’ll A) Not be exposed to the kind of working environment that will help you compete for jobs and B) Probably not have a job very long because the organization will become irrelevant to most readers, especially younger ones.

“If you’ve said the words ‘Oh, well we’ve always done it that way’ in the last FIVE YEARS, you have a problem with addressing the question of who is competing with your organization.

If you’ve said the words ‘Oh, but that won’t work here’ in the last THREE YEARS, you definitely have a problem with addressing the pace of change in the news business.”

I’ll soon post a Top 10 list of advice for student journalists that will help them to stay relevant, viable and competitive in the evolving world of journalism.

Links about journalism education

A journey through the murky depths of my electronic correspondences (read that, trying to clean out my Gmail inbox), brought me to the ACP Web site and led me to these very interesting reads:

Are journalism schools ‘getting it’? Jarvis, Greenslade, Woods – Editors Weblog- Analysis

Pajamas Media: What Journalism Schools Should Be Teaching

Is journalism school really unnecessary? – Editors Weblog

I found this less recent article article by ZDnet’s Larry Dignan after a quick Google search of “journalism education.” How journalism education should change | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com

“…most schools still segment folks–magazine focus, TV focus, newspapers etc. All of those specialties should be infused with online learning.” – Larry Dignan, executive editor of ZDNet news and blogs

Looking forward to future j-education coverage from the SPJ Classrooms and Newsrooms blog:

“For the August 2008 J-Ed issue might we analyze and evaluate the various ways newsrooms and classrooms intersect ~ be they innovative student internships or practica, unusual professional development programs for instructors, curricula that integrate newsroom practices or products into instruction, or the recruitment and retention of professionals into the academy? This weblog would be a perfect venue to propose or flesh out ideas.”

Click Quill 2008 Journalism Education Issue for the original post.

I’m already pondering some ideas.

Weigh in: To students, what do you want to learn? To editors, what should we learn?