Dec. 18 -- Today

TV Production -- You will give up your audio file to me mid-period on Monday. Tuesday is our listening party. It will be cool to hear everyone's stories.

Again, no recording today.

The DVD for the show is sticking out of my computer. You are welcome to watch it. The file was too big to put on Vimeo. There is one big error. Can you guess what it is?

Journalism -- Family Market, the games tonight, Open Mic, Glenmont Rescue Squad tree sale . . . a zillion stories are all around you. Please use your initiative and reporter's curiosity to turn in something of your choice. Talk to your editors.

I will be back on Monday.

Keep the place and equipment safe.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Dec. 15 -- Pixar Rules for Storytelling (Use for Hindenburg Project)

Once upon a time there was ________.
Every day, ___________.
One day _____________.
Because of that, ___________________.
Until finally ______________.

Now this may not work with the story you want to tell about your special holiday. That is up to you. I give this to you as a gift from Pixar.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Dec. 15 -- Warm-up

Check out this cool video.

Check out this video. Watch the way it is shot.

Do you like boxing? How would you shoot it? Check this out.

Dec.9, 2015 -- Journalism only

Here is the link to SNO FLOW.

Dec 2 - Hindenburg and the DJ Project Assignment (20 pts)

Today, you will learn Hindenburg, the really cool audio editing program that is used by NPR and other radio broadcasters.

I also want your to get familiar with the Guest DJ Project at KCRW in California.

That is the model we will use with the file I am giving you from Mr. Dullaney. He keeps our computer network running here at Kennedy and he is a big blues expert.

You are to edit his audio with the music clips I gave you like the examples in the KCRW Guest DJ Project.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Nov. 17 - Current Events Assignment (15 pts)

Click here for an update.

Today's assignment. Turn in to me tomorrow. You may use the internet.

1. What are the authorities saying about Playstation and the bombing in Paris?

2. Jeb Bush said that "only Christians" should be admitted to the country and has caused The New York Times to call that idiocy in their editorials today. Who was Bush talking about?

3. Explain in your own words what happened in Paris.

4. In another earlier attack, the Russians are now saying that it was caused by a bomb. What attack are they talking about?

5. ISIS has threatened DC. Is this credible according to security experts?

6. When people say fear is our biggest enemy, what do they mean?

7. What does ISIS want?

Extra Credit

Why is the Twitter meme saying Dick Cheney is the father of ISIS? Explain.

Ms. Greer

Silver Spring, Md.

November 11 -- Assignment for those who are not editing their teacher interview (15 pts.)

Click on this link for a heart-warming story. Scroll down to the videos and look for The Doctor Who Saved 100,000 Eyes.

Click here for a link to see what is going on on the Missouri campus in the video Tackling Racial Tensions on campus.

Click here for a personality profile in Meet Diana Ross and Daft Punk's Hitmaker.

Write up the characteristics and a critique of these packages. Paragraph for each.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

November 9 Critique and B-Roll Assignment (20 pts)

Write up a paragraph each about what you like and dislike AFTER you watch the B-Roll video.Here is the B-Roll Video from my teacher friend, Gil Garcia. He runs the TV program at Austin High School in Texas.

Answer these B-roll Questions:
What is B-roll?
Explain W.O.C. H. U?
Can you shoot minors?
What is ambient sound?
Before and after camera moves what do you do?
Again, what is the point of B-roll?

Check out the following shows from other schools. Critique them as you do our show.

Write it up.

Check out the Mustang News here.

Check out T-Bird TV here.

Check out the news packages on Buzz TV here.

Ms. Greer,/br> Silver Spring, Md.

Nov. 6 -- Warm up Written Work (15 pts)

Click here for the day's warm-up.

What will we think about when we go out on our video shoots?

Then Listen to this podcast from Radio Lab. Look up the photographer online to see her photos as you listen.

What is honorable about this photographer?

Write that up and turn in to me today.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

November 3 -- Inside Modern Love Column NYTimes

Click here for the story. Read this and find the three articles that are the most popular and linked to this interview. Tomorrow I will ask you questions about these.

Ms. Greer
P.s. Here are the 36 questions about how to fall in love.

November 3 --

Look at this post someone made from Ira Glass. Cool. Click here.

October 21 Journalism Assignment (Due Monday, October 26 for 20 pts.)

Now that you have begun to learn the audio editing software, Hindenburg, it is time to think about how to do audio news packages.Please listen and take notes on the following two posts. I listened as I drove to NYC last weekend and it was really helpful. Turn your notes into me for credit and I will return them. I would draw diagrams if it helped me figure that out. Turn in before end of day on Monday, October 26

Here are the two very helpful posts from HowSound about the reporting processes of two different reporters.

Here is a link to Barf on a Page.

Here is a link to Writing out of Tape.

Both of these posts will help you be a better audio reporter and that is going to be very important this next quarter.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Top Five Places High-income Teens like to Eat -- Prediction

So, in our quest to find out about iron deficiency and teens, here is an interesting sidebar about what some teens and their fast food choices.

Before you hit the link, predict on a sheet of paper five (5) fast food places you think high-income teens are eating.

Here is the link.

Which brings us back to the iron-deficiency question. What kind of questions would you now ask as a reporter for your news package about teens and anemia?

Write up two questions and turn in to Ms. Greer.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

October 12 - Assignment Due Monday, October 19 beginning of class

Here are some examples of the 6Word/6Shot assignment:

Example one

Example two

Example three

Example four

Best,

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

October 6, 2015 - News Engagement Day Assignment ALL CLASSES (9 pts)

I am sorry I have to be out of school today. It is News Engagement Day and I want you to look at the different news stories on the front of both the NYTimes and the Washington Post.

There are weather-related stories and war and gun shootings and also beautiful/creative events like sports, fashion, music, art, nature, etc.

My biggest hope is that all of you will be engaged with the world and know what is going on. It is a beautiful place.

Knowledge is also power, so KNOW what is going on.

News in Fashion is kind of cool.

Fifty of our Best Stories from the NYTimes: Click here.I want you to scroll down and look at the pictures and how much information they convey from the visuals along.

ASSIGNMENT: Write up three short paragraphs about what you read and what it makes you wonder about. For example, how can you localize a story from what is going on and give it a JFK slant? Just don't bore me. Show original thought. You bring much to the table, so express your opinion and what questions you have about what you have read on the front of the newspaper.

DO NOT BORE ME!!

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

October 2 -- My assignment gift to you today -JOURNALISM AND TV PRODUCTION

Okay . . . I want you to listen to this guy and EVEN IF YOU HAVE SEEN IT BEFORE, you must watch all four of his talks and write up notes as you do. I want you to get this guy in your head.

He is a storytelling genius.

He wants us to fail faster.

Even though he seems like the biggest dweeb in the world, he is a broadcasting god.

We have much to learn from him.

Turn your notes into me on Monday.

10 pts.

Ms. Greer

Silver Spring, Md.

Sept 30 -- TV Production Assignments

Today, I want you to listen to this podcast and take notes about what you hear. This is Radiolab, one of the best podcasts made today. Listen to how they layer audio. Write up your impressions and turn in by Monday. 10 pts.

You will also get a project to edit on the volleyball team.

This is to be cut to :30 seconds OR :60 seconds. It should be fast cut (meaning lots of cuts) and it must be on the beat of the music.

It will be due at the end of the period. 20 pts.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Video Assignment : C-Span Competition

C-Span runs a video competition for high school and middle school. The prizes are amazing. Money. Money you get to keep. It is also something to put on your resume.

Many students have won this competition from this area, especially Eastern Middle School and Blair.

No reason we can't give it a shot.

Here is what some other students thought of their experience and their advice to you.

Here is a the 2015 East Coast winner (students were from Blake and Sherwood). How much money did they win?

We are going to discuss this today.

You need to think about the question posed and write up your thoughts.

Write it up before the end of the period. Writing helps you form an opinion and solidify your thinking.

Ms. Greer,/br> Silver Spring, Md.

Sept 18 -- Becoming a Better Reporter

Yesterday I heard this piece on NPR's All Things Considered (WAMU 88.5 on your FM dial). It had such a rich sound that I wanted to share. I could understand the refugee crisis in Europe so much better. Please listen here.

I also looked at The New York Times article and found a video embedded in the site that helped me understand the crisis in an immediate and visceral way. Click here to see this.

Class discussion about being better reporters now commences. What say you?

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

September 15 -- Assignment for Journalism (10 pts.)

Homecoming parade preparations are beginning.

Homecoming will be here before we know it and we will have many stories to do.

HOWEVER, FIRST DO THESE THINGS.

Click here so you can register to do this game. DO THE GAME and report your score somewhere on the paper that you do with assignment below.

Also, set up a student account with the Newseum. Click here to do this.

Tomorrow we will talk about staff organization, schedule and staff jobs.

Also, we will be doing current events quizzes starting on Friday. They won't be bad. In the meantime, check out this video and write up (by hand as printer is not connected for some reason) a paragraph with your takeaway on what video means to you. Show analysis/thought. Turn in to Mr. Brewer.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Assignment -- Localizing Stories -- Your plan in writing (15 pts)

Caption: Ms. Greer's daughter's cat, Pierre, gets relaxed in his new house.

The above has nothing to do with your assignment and is a bad example of a photo in a written piece. DO NOT DO THIS.

So, your assignment is to localize a story.

Here is an example of a story that I would localize. By localize, I mean look at national stories and try to figure out how to make it "local" here at Kennedy.

I would be all over this story (click here).

You need to look at the following three newspapers to see what is trending:

The New York Times

The Washington Post

The Wall Street Journal

You can check your Twitter feed, Instagram, Yahoo, and other sources like CNN, etc.

You need to research and pick out three stories you can localize.

Explain how you would do that and who you would talk to besides random students in the hall. Find people who are relevant and have gravitas with the story. If story on counseling issues, talk to a counselor. Attendance issues, talk to the Attendance secretary and maybe Mr. Gyimah or teachers who have strong opinions about kids missing school, etc.

I want a link to the story AND your WRITTEN plan on how to localize this story.

Ms. Greer,
Silver Spring, Md.

Malcolm Johnson - Kennedy Grad now a Fox News Reporter Assignment (10 pts)

Here is the link to our speaker tomorrow. Click here to see his reel.

Click here to see the CNN story that is about the girl and her truck with the Confederate flags.

HERE IS ANOTHER ONE.

BE THINKING OF QUESTIONS YOU WANT TO ASK HIM. TURN FIVE GREAT QUESTIONS IN TO ME TOMORROW BEFORE CLASS. KEEP A COPY FOR YOURSELF. NO YES OR NO ANSWEW QUESTIONS. (10 PTS).

MS. GREER

SILVER SPRING, Maryland

September 1 -- Journalism Assignment (15 pts)

You are going to look at all the following papers. Make extensive notes about what you notice on each website. PLEASE NOTE: write this on paper as the printer is not connected to your account in this classroom yet.

These are online newspapers you need to check out and write a critique.

How is the photography? Do they go outside their school to do stories? How is their sports coverage? What did you especially think was good/engaging? What did you not like?

Really use your time in here to examine them. They are:

The Paly Voice

Silverchips

The Pitch

Wilson High School, DC

Now Wilson High's student journalists are in the middle of a fight with the principal over their First Amendment rights. See the story here.

Define "prior review." What do you think it means in the context of the above story?

Due at the end of class. Ms. Greer

Silver Spring, Md.