Dec. 14, 2011 -- Student Press winners and your assignment

Here are very important student press winners.
Click here.
Survey the topics that the student journalists were covering.
Then critique them by asnwering the following questions. 1. How did the lead get your attention?
2. How many sources were quoted in total?
3. Who were these sources? Were they close to the story? Great value added quotes or not?
4. How did they wrap up the story? Was anything from the lead referred back to? Did they do something completely different? Was there a twist?
5. What did the pictures (art) do for the story?

This is due on Friday, Dec. 16. Type up and hand-in to Ms. Greer.

Remember, modeling and looking at students who have this together will help your own projects.

Ms. Greer

Dec. 6, 2011 Assignment

So watch these videos and comment on them. Turn in to substitute.

1. Fashion show is this week. Look at this video from Bill Cunningham of the NY Times. He has a documentary out now and he captures the fashion buzz on the streets of NYC.

2. Hockey and concussions(note that there are three videos) click here. Think of a localized version of this story. Several of our football players suffered from concussions this past season.

3. Sandusky talks AGAIN here.

4. Remember Danny from the Class of 2010? Here is a story that he would like from the NYTImes Sunday Magazine. Click here. It is a great representation of a sound slide show.

Turn in your comments. Looking for ways to tell our local stories we can use.

Ms. Greer Silver Spring, Md

Dec. 2 - Check these out and write it up

Here is the news on the iconic meme photo of the pepper-spraying cop photographer. He is young, like you guys, and he was just doing his job waiting for the best shot.
Here is a commentary on our high school student who made the Governor of Kanasas look like he really does not have it together.
Today's short assignment:
Write a reaction to both pieces. Doesn't have to be long but must have some of your own analysis in it. 15 pts.
Ms. Greer

Nov. 28 - Branding

We looked at the pepper-spraying cop on Wednesday and all the memes that cropped up from that.
Look at this article in the NYTIMES today
Then follow the Adbusters link in the copy and explore. What caught your attention?
What do you think about the power of memes? What exactly are they?
Write your thoughts and turn in today. Just a paragraph or two. There is a lot of heft to this.

Oct. 24 - Classwork

Here is the top story on the NY TImes this morning.
Click here to see.
Follow the links in the story and write up what you think about the site.

How is is different than television news?

Ms. Greer Silver Spring, Md.

October 10

Don't know if you are following the Occupy Wall Street events. Several things are happening journalistically that are very interesting, however.
The first is the traction of a broadsheet that is written about here in NY TIMES today.
The second is the radio station (live stream) they have started that you can find here
What are you thoughts on the demands of the protesters? Have you thought about one fashions a message which so many competing agendas? How do you get your message out? Is the media following this story? Will this be a big story or will it just run out in time?

Ms. Greer Silver Spring, Md

October 5, 2011 -- Class work

PHOTO CAPTION RULES
READ THE FOLLOWING AND WRITE CAPTIONS FOR THE EMBEDDED PHOTOS.
SHare with a partner, check facts, cheerleading, cliches . . .
if all good, then turn in to Ms. Greer.

1.

• Check the facts. Be accurate!
• Avoid stating the obvious. “Dennis Rodman smiles as he kicks a broadcast photographer in the groin.”
• Always identify the main people in the photograph.

2.

• Don’t let cutlines recapitulate information in the head or deck or summary.
• Avoid making judgments. “An unhappy citizen watches the protest…” Can you be sure that he is unhappy? Or is he hurting. Or just not photogenic. If you must be judgmental, be sure you seek the truth.
• Don’t assume. Ask questions in your effort to inform and be specific. Be willing to contact and include the visual reporter.

3.

• Avoid using terms like “is shown, is pictured, and looks on.”
• If the photograph is a historic or file photo, include the date that it was taken. Mayor David Dinkins, 1993.
• A photograph captures a moment in time. Whenever possible, use present tense. This will creates a sense of immediacy and impact.
• Don’t try to be humorous when the picture is not.
• Descriptions are very helpful for viewer. The person dressed “in black,” “holding the water hose,” “sulky from chagrin,” or “standing to the left of the sofa, center” are helpful identifying factors. (Photographers must ferret out this kind of material.)
• Be willing to allow for longer captions when more information will help the reader/viewer understand the story and situation.
• Use commas to set off directions from the captions to the picture. “Kachira Irby, above,…”or “Kennetra Irby, upper left…”
• Quotes can be an effective device, be willing to use them when they work.
• Conversational language works best. Don’t use clichés. Write the caption as if you’re telling a family member a story.
Courtesy of The Poynter Institute