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An ultimate(?) online journalism list

February 17, 2009 in Multimedia views

UPDATED AGAIN: Added a few from comments, and reorganized Twitter higher up the list.

Okay, so this has probably been attempted before, but I’m working through some notes for upcoming conferences, and just wanted to post this list here for additions and comments. Here’s what I’ve got so far as far as potential areas for online additions to your college media web site. Anything I’m missing? It’s sort of built from simplest to more complex. Ideas?

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Ball State Daily News cuts confirmed

February 16, 2009 in College Media News

Last week, we noted some recent announcements from college newspapers cutting their Friday editions. Here’s the letter from the editor of the Ball State Daily News.

Samantha Zilal puts the best possible spin on the decision:

Suspending Friday publication is not a death sentence, and our Friday papers may be back someday. As the country struggles financially this is something that will tide us over until the economy bounces back.

Instead of sitting in a corner lamenting the glory days of print media, we’re going to do something we should have done a long time ago: Use our Web site for what it was intended and be a true, daily news source.

Tough times, tough measures. Not much to add to that.

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links for 2009-02-16

February 16, 2009 in industry news

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Professors: Catch up, or we’re all left behind

February 16, 2009 in innovation

This week’s #collegejourn chat is yet another example of how great minds can come together with great ideas (if you’re unfamiliar with #collegejourn chat, read more info here). After an extra hour of chatting, a small group of dedicated #collegejourn chatters have devised a plan to get college educators on board with the 21st century:

What: “Bring a professor” Chat

Who: Educators, professionals, journalists, students

When: Sunday, Feb. 22 (8-11 p.m. EST, 5-8 p.m. PST)

Where: www.collegejourn.com

Why: To discuss ways to modernize college journalism education

A common theme that arises from each #collegejourn chat is a general dissatisfaction with college professors’ unwillingness to think forward. Put simply: j-professors are stuck in their ways. And we want to change that.

Next Sunday, Feb. 22 from 8-11 p.m. EST (5 -8 p.m. PST) we’re inviting journalism professors to join a discussion with students worldwide. The topic: how to prepare your students for the real world. We’re not just suggesting, but demanding an education that prepares us for the real world of 21st-century journalism.

We’re also working to bring this topic to a panel at the Associated Collegiate Press convention on Feb. 27 that will be updated live on the web. Check back soon for details.

How you can help us

We can’t do this alone. We need your help to promote the chat and come up with topic ideas. By tomorrow — yes, tomorrow, Feb. 16 — at midnight PST, please write a blog post about:

  • How good journalism can be made better with new media tools
  • How your j-school program could be improved
  • What is going right at your school, or at other schools
  • The one thing you could change about j-school
  • What prevents professors from embracing the web
  • Why learning the business side of the journalism industry will help us all

Contact Suzanne Yada (the chat moderator) with a link to your blog post: suzanneyada at gmail dot com or twitter.com/suzanneyada or post a link to your blog in the comments. We will aggregate the posts to send to participants.

Spread the word

We want everyone to be get something out of our discussion. The more, the merrier. Here are a few ways you can promote the cause:

  • E-mail your professors
  • Retweet the information
  • Post our flyers (or make your own) in your journalism department (if your professors are unresponsive to e-mails)
  • Approach your professors/faculty face-to-face
  • Tell your journalism friends

Related posts:Calling All J-students: What is your discontent? by Sarah Wood

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links for 2009-02-13

February 13, 2009 in industry news

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links for 2009-02-12

February 12, 2009 in industry news

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Nationwide classroom No. 1: Writing for the Web

February 12, 2009 in ideas

News writing for the web is a challenge. Not necessarily because it’s hard, but because it means changing the way you think. This lesson will be a foundation for future lessons on audio, video, Flash and all the fun skills you want to learn. But be patient. We’re taking this one step at a time.

Writing for the web is a different experience– you have to think about search engines and reader attention span and site traffic. This is about more than copying and pasting your stories from InDesign to your CMS. It’s about mastering an art that few in the college media industry get. Read the rest of this entry →

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More Fridays going

February 12, 2009 in College Media News

Reading the newspaper: Brookgreen Gardens in P...Image via Wikipedia

 UPDATE: CollegeRag reports that BSU’s Daily News will also cease Friday publication soon and cut circulation by 4,000. The news hasn’t shown up on the DN web site yet. I’ll link when it does. Oh, and how did I miss this from the California Aggie.

Via Dan Reimold, note that Boston U.’s Daily Free Press will stop printing an edition on Fridays.

The editors say the move is “temporary.”

Also, the Washington Square News is looking at a proposal to drop Friday publication as well.

At WSN, there are other cuts taking place:

The changes, which have not yet been brought to the board for an official vote, would also call for publishing magazines online-only and canceling summer issues. While no staff reductions would take place, editors’ stipends will decrease 23 percent regardless of the board’s decision. Smith said there was a “pretty good possibility” the proposal would pass as early as Wednesday.

Reimold says the changes may benefit college journalists in the long run:

The who-cares content that has far too long frequented newspaper pages simply because there is space to fill or another day’s issue to put out is a thing of the past.  The Friday-less student press now has more of an opportunity to fill their remaining print issues each week with only the stories that matter most to its readers, leaving the crappier content out of print, as it belongs.

We’ll see. In my MediaShift article last month, I noted that there are a lot of college newspapers facing some big financial questions. And given the economic forecast for the next year to 18 months (it’s not pretty), my prediction is more of these announcements will come, probably in time for the fall semester.

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The Amherst Wire podcast

February 11, 2009 in industry news

Talked to a couple of the editors at Amherst Wire. Listen to the copress.org podcast and check out the links.

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My schedule for the next month

February 10, 2009 in Conferences

Whew. I’m already tired and I haven’t even started yet!

Feb. 20-22 – Illinois College Press Association – panel discussion on new media.

Feb. 26-March 1 – ACP National Convention, San Diego, CA – Thursday workshop (with the CICM Intern Lauren Rabaino!), three sessions (social networking, web site improvements, and liveblogging/livestreaming)

March 6-8 – Mid-America Press Institute/APME News Train – “When to do what with the news”/ tag-teaming with Brian Johnson from U of Illinois.

There are others coming soon. I’m not complaining, just noting that it’s going to be a busy time of year.

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