Session 1: How to Get A Job, Keep A Job
At this session the speaker gave us strategies for how to stand out to potential employers and how to apply those same strategies to keeping a job. He talked about the importance of writing a good cover letter that shows your uniqueness and qualifications, and how crucial it is to develop contacts, which can be extremely helpful in getting a job. He aslo suggested sending a written a thank-you note after every interview, which I had never heard of or thought about. I though this session was informative, and obviously relatable to me since graduation is not far off.
Session 2: 101 Story Ideas
I thought this session was really good, because as a features writer I sometimes have trouble coming up with story ideas or ways to cover a familiar story from a different angle. The speaker gave us a list of ideas of campus stories, from student life and academics, to news events and campus trends, that we could flesh out and turn into stories. She also gave us ways to find stories on our own, such as looking at bulletin boards, Facebook groups, mass e-mails or just by listening to what people are talking about on campus.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Friday-Day 2
Session 1: First Amendment Free Food Festival
This morning I gave up my First Amendment rights in exchange for food. I could not speak or sit with who I wanted. I had to accept whatever food was given to me—in this case a blueberry muffin, a glazed donut, a glass of iced tea, and a breakfast burrito that was taken from me by the foreign country’s “leaders.” While we ate, we were at their mercy. People with eyeglasses and those wearing red or black were told to move to the same tables, while others had to eat their meager meals on the floor or run around the table. No one was allowed to read any literature; to do so would be exercising their right to express themselves. The event, designed to make us appreciate our First Amendment freedoms, more than made its point in my opinion.
Session 2: Re-Imaging Your Radio Station
In this session the speakers, two general managers at the KWSC-FM radio station in Wayne, Nebraska, discussed how they changed their station’s name from K92, “where the squirrels come to rock” to 91.9, the Cat. They talked about the process, which including surveying students via Facebook, stories in the school newspaper and putting posters around campus to inform and involve the student body in the decision. Reactions to the name change were also discussed, which lead to a wider discussion among everyone in the room about their stations’ formats and different problems they were having finding and maintaining an audience on their campuses. I thought I could relate to a lot to this session and the topics discussed, but I wouldn’t say I learned anything new.
Session 3: The Entertainment Editor’s Guide to Making the Rest of the Newsroom Jealous
The session was taught by Michael Kortezky, the same guy who spoke at the Chicken Salad session Thursday. He did not disappoint. This session was just as hilarious and informative as the first. Kortezky spoke about the importance of creativity and thinking outside of the box when dealing with entertainment topics like music, movies, food, fashion and gaming. He cautioned us to avoid copying other writers’ styles and to find our own voice, and stressed the importance of collaboration between designers and reporters in making an entertainment section into something unique.
Session 4: Opinion Writing That Gets Results
This session was pretty good, and consisted mostly of advice on crafting good editorials. The speaker lectured on how different topics, such as city budgets or crime, can serve as good sources for editorials. He also discussed how blogging and commentary in general have become an important connection between newspapers and their readers. The point he stressed the most however, was good opinion must be backed up by facts so it can stand up to scrutiny. Overall I found this session informative.
Session 5: Dynamic Features
The importance of matching image designs with words was the key topic in this session. The speaker talked about how a good combination of these two elements can convey the tone of a story to reader before they even read the first sentence. Storytelling devices such as line, repetition, typography, illustration, keeping it simple and working with what you have were also discussed. During the class we also broke into groups and brainstorming design ideas for stories the instructor gave us. I thought I learned the most from this class, because at this point I haven’t had to deal with any design or layout techniques, so it was very informative.
This morning I gave up my First Amendment rights in exchange for food. I could not speak or sit with who I wanted. I had to accept whatever food was given to me—in this case a blueberry muffin, a glazed donut, a glass of iced tea, and a breakfast burrito that was taken from me by the foreign country’s “leaders.” While we ate, we were at their mercy. People with eyeglasses and those wearing red or black were told to move to the same tables, while others had to eat their meager meals on the floor or run around the table. No one was allowed to read any literature; to do so would be exercising their right to express themselves. The event, designed to make us appreciate our First Amendment freedoms, more than made its point in my opinion.
Session 2: Re-Imaging Your Radio Station
In this session the speakers, two general managers at the KWSC-FM radio station in Wayne, Nebraska, discussed how they changed their station’s name from K92, “where the squirrels come to rock” to 91.9, the Cat. They talked about the process, which including surveying students via Facebook, stories in the school newspaper and putting posters around campus to inform and involve the student body in the decision. Reactions to the name change were also discussed, which lead to a wider discussion among everyone in the room about their stations’ formats and different problems they were having finding and maintaining an audience on their campuses. I thought I could relate to a lot to this session and the topics discussed, but I wouldn’t say I learned anything new.
Session 3: The Entertainment Editor’s Guide to Making the Rest of the Newsroom Jealous
The session was taught by Michael Kortezky, the same guy who spoke at the Chicken Salad session Thursday. He did not disappoint. This session was just as hilarious and informative as the first. Kortezky spoke about the importance of creativity and thinking outside of the box when dealing with entertainment topics like music, movies, food, fashion and gaming. He cautioned us to avoid copying other writers’ styles and to find our own voice, and stressed the importance of collaboration between designers and reporters in making an entertainment section into something unique.
Session 4: Opinion Writing That Gets Results
This session was pretty good, and consisted mostly of advice on crafting good editorials. The speaker lectured on how different topics, such as city budgets or crime, can serve as good sources for editorials. He also discussed how blogging and commentary in general have become an important connection between newspapers and their readers. The point he stressed the most however, was good opinion must be backed up by facts so it can stand up to scrutiny. Overall I found this session informative.
Session 5: Dynamic Features
The importance of matching image designs with words was the key topic in this session. The speaker talked about how a good combination of these two elements can convey the tone of a story to reader before they even read the first sentence. Storytelling devices such as line, repetition, typography, illustration, keeping it simple and working with what you have were also discussed. During the class we also broke into groups and brainstorming design ideas for stories the instructor gave us. I thought I learned the most from this class, because at this point I haven’t had to deal with any design or layout techniques, so it was very informative.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Thursday-Day 1
Session 1: Changing Freelance Markets
In this session the speaker discussed the affect the Internet and online journalism has had on the freelance market. He gave tips on how to submit query letters to publications and which publications to target to have the best chance of a response. I thought this sessions was interesting because freelancing is something that I'm interested in.
Session 2: Breaking Into Magazines
This session was pretty much a continutation of the first session in that it dealt with freelancing and how to establish yourself as a regular contributor to magazines. I thought this session was more helpful than the first because the speaker had handouts discussing different types of publication contracts, tips for freelance writers and an example of a query letter.
Session 3: Chicken Salad
This was definitely the most entertaining session of the day. The speaker was really energetic and humorous, but was still informative. The topic, design and layout tips, was something I didn't have a lot of experience in, so this session offered the most new material for me.
Session 4: Lifeguards, Tyrants and Survivors: Words of Encouragement for Today's Copy Editors
This was probably the most boring session of the day. The session really didn't offer any new insights into copy editing or what a copy editor does. The speaker mostly discussed the importance of the job and the tension that can occur between reporters and editors. While this was encouraging, it wasn't very engaging.
Session 5: Lesbian and Gay Student Journalists Roundtable
This session was the most informal and unique. Instead of having a speaker lecture to us, everyone gathered around in a circle, introduced themselves and talked about their experiences as gay and lesbian journalisms. A range of topics, from dealing homophobia on campus and coverage of LGBT issues in student media, to administrative attitudes and personal coming out stories were discussed. It was interesting to hear how attitudes towards gay issues and LGBT students varied from campus to campus.
In this session the speaker discussed the affect the Internet and online journalism has had on the freelance market. He gave tips on how to submit query letters to publications and which publications to target to have the best chance of a response. I thought this sessions was interesting because freelancing is something that I'm interested in.
Session 2: Breaking Into Magazines
This session was pretty much a continutation of the first session in that it dealt with freelancing and how to establish yourself as a regular contributor to magazines. I thought this session was more helpful than the first because the speaker had handouts discussing different types of publication contracts, tips for freelance writers and an example of a query letter.
Session 3: Chicken Salad
This was definitely the most entertaining session of the day. The speaker was really energetic and humorous, but was still informative. The topic, design and layout tips, was something I didn't have a lot of experience in, so this session offered the most new material for me.
Session 4: Lifeguards, Tyrants and Survivors: Words of Encouragement for Today's Copy Editors
This was probably the most boring session of the day. The session really didn't offer any new insights into copy editing or what a copy editor does. The speaker mostly discussed the importance of the job and the tension that can occur between reporters and editors. While this was encouraging, it wasn't very engaging.
Session 5: Lesbian and Gay Student Journalists Roundtable
This session was the most informal and unique. Instead of having a speaker lecture to us, everyone gathered around in a circle, introduced themselves and talked about their experiences as gay and lesbian journalisms. A range of topics, from dealing homophobia on campus and coverage of LGBT issues in student media, to administrative attitudes and personal coming out stories were discussed. It was interesting to hear how attitudes towards gay issues and LGBT students varied from campus to campus.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)