Connecting the colonies with modern journalism
May 29th, 2008
Every institution is a product of what happened earlier to the people who created that institution, and today’s journalism is no exception. Though some would trace our origins back to the Stone Age or at least Johannes Gutenberg, let’s just concentrate on the American colonists and why they abandoned Europe. Then we’ll work our way 200 years to the modern journalism era. This discussion will give you a better understanding of journalism and the need for it to constantly progress.
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Off the record? No, never, well only when …
May 29th, 2008
If you watch movies or TV shows featuring reporters, you get the impression reporters casually slip “off the record” and back “on the record” all the time while interviewing anyone from a girl scout to a candidate for president. In fact, Hollywood is famous for depicting reporters as idiots – stooges for whoever needs to manipulate the public. There is a little truth in all of this, but only if you look for it. Let me explain this off-and-on-the-record business first, and then I’ll highlight similar myths you need to know.
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Learning how to use and format numbers in writing
May 14th, 2008
Except for the diehard journalism students, this will not be a fascinating PodCast. And some of the diehards might flinch, too. In this PodCast, I’ll take care of some necessary business for journalism students. The rest of you should grin and bear it, though you might find some of it interesting. I want to discuss the use of numbers, addresses, and phone numbers in news stories, and this is not easy to do in an audio format. I’m sure no one will grade me well in the comments, but this work must be done.
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We use Bob Dylan’s song to learn writing lesson
May 14th, 2008
One of the common mistakes young students make is to overwrite, providing needless details for a scene requiring much less. Learn to give the reader a little credit. If you provide precise hints in the appropriate order, readers will fill in the blanks for you and be delighted you asked them to contribute.
Sketch a picture for the reader. Do not provide every detail you can think of.
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How to identify people in news writing and attributing information to them
May 14th, 2008
In a news story, readers deserve to know who is speaking, making pronouncements, or predicting grand success in a project. Who are these people? What experience or education do they bring to the table? Do they have titles? By and large we let people use whatever name they want to be known by. Marion Robert Morrison, for example, wanted to be known as John Wayne. We let him. In terms of the everyday man on the street suddenly caught in a news story, news writers traditionally identified people with name, age, address, and occupation. We have dropped the occupation part over the years because it seldom has any bearing on the news story. But, if it has some relationship to the story, be sure to include it.
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Why you should learn to write well
May 14th, 2008
Many of you are now in college, and like your high school teachers, professors still settle for papers exploring your reactions and your feelings. How do you FEEL about politics…. After all, most professors can’t write, either. Meanwhile, you’ve discovered that the professional world demands you write well, clearly, and concisely. Who in the hell is going to teach you to write? I can’t teach you everything, but I promise that you will learn much from me about being a good writer who also thinks clearly, explores complex concepts, and struggles to find words and phrases to capture those concepts in words. A good writer works intensely at this craft.
