Archive for the ‘journalism’ Category
Word about the possible end of the Fremont High School newspaper in Sunnyvale, Calif. is making the national journalism rounds – thanks to exposure on the Romenesko media site.
I thought I’d chime in because I served for two years as a newspaper staff member at the school back in the mid-1980s. During my last year at Fremont, I was the editor-in-chief of what was then called The Fremont Chief.
Scott Herhold of the San Jose Mercury News lays out his thoughts in a column and talks about a student-led protest on Tuesday that included duct tape and the words, “No newspaper, no voice.” He argues that the students have not produced a sufficiently compelling reason to keep their newspaper, The Phoenix, as part of a school-backed journalism class.
But my verdict – and yes, it is a biased one – is this: Save as many media institutions as you can for students.
Help them excel at thinking, asking questions, analyzing, writing and other forms of expression. Do so in a formal setting under the guidance of a teacher.
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Many of you in journalism or who are close to the orbit probably have noticed that the single space that once separated “Web” and “site” has officially been removed, according to a new addition of the Associated Press Stylebook.
So, for journalism copy, the word should be spelled: Website.
Poynter Online’s Mallory Jean Tenore noted that there was ruckus, of sorts, and people used Twitter, among other vehicles, to voice their happiness or concern regarding the change.
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I’m back, thinking about the blog and various sundries in life.
What caught my attention on this Thursday was Floyd Norris’ column in The New York Times. The company gave it prime online real estate, at least when I saw it.
His thesis, which has caveats, revolves around more hiring, better consumer spending and the fact that the recession is, most likely, over in the country.
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A drought believed to be the worst in China's southwest in a century has cracked the land. Image source: QQ via ChinaSmack
As rain fell on the Seattle area this week – and at times, pelting the ground – a shortage of fresh water thousands of miles away in China’s southwest region is turning into an epic problem – believed to be the worst of its kind in 100 years.
Chinese officials have turned their attention to the drought, which is affecting an estimated 24 million people and has hit Yunnan and other provinces, according to this Wall Street Journal article.
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Researchers at Tokyo University reportedly have made a robot that can conduct interviews, shoot pictures, search the Internet for background and crank out online stories. Image source: Charlie Catlett on Twitter
Perhaps, if journalists, content producers or information brokers – or whatever label you use – really want to get a jump on things in 2010, one logical step might be to enter the robot industry.
Why?
Well, robots might have the ability to do what human journalists do these days – at least, according to this blog entry from Singularity Hub which the Knight Foundation also noted.
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I suppose three decades can blow by fast.
But I wanted to take a minute to acknowledge one of my favorite broadcast news shows of all time – Nightline on ABC News.
I’m partial to when Ted Koppel’s deep voice and clear pronunciation were the hallmarks of the must-see broadcast for those inside the Beltway and news junkies in the country.
Producers at the show have posted a great interactive timeline, charting key moments in the show’s 30 years.
The show’s three-decade anniversary is March 24, 1980 – following the late show that Koppel hosted, “The Iran Crisis: America Held Hostage.”
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Once I learn the name of the artist who made this image, I’ll give proper credit.
I hope everyone is well.
And I’m not knocking copy editors – in fact, they’ve helped improve my copy and saved me from mistakes (in print) numerous times.
My former assignment editors have done the same, too.
I just like the idea of this headline – as a headline on this day.
UPDATE: I forgot to say I like the message in this photograph and the idea of information in a box.
Bill and Melinda Gates were married in Hawaii on Jan. 1, 1994. Photo credit: Copyright Grant Haller / Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer’s last print edition hit the streets on March 17, 2009.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of working there as a reporter was talking to a variety of journalists, including other writers, editors, artists and photographers.
They all have great stories and interesting backgrounds.
One of the photographers was Grant Haller, a 35-year staff veteran, who always surprised me with the stories he told me, as we passed in the office or went on an assignment together.
Earlier this month, I visited Haller, 65, and asked him to recount how he managed to get the photograph you see above of Bill and Melinda Gates’ wedding on Hawaii on Jan. 1, 1994.
After the jump, I’ve included video clips of the interview.
As far as he and I can tell, he was the only journalist to get a photograph of one of the most famous residents in the Seattle area – and a man known worldwide – at that moment.
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From 1998 to 1999, I worked as a newspaper reporter for The Pacific Daily News on Guam.
It’s a U.S. territory in the Western Pacific and where, as island residents will tell you, America’s Day Begins.
The newsroom had the nice feel of a coffee house with reporters thinking of ideas, chasing news and writing stories. And there was much news to be had out there.
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