Implementing "Neue Journalism"

I love social media... I mean love it. Everything from Twitter to Facebook to Flickr, it all makes everything more fun and entertaining (except for MySpace, so dumb).

So why are so many people still out of the loop?

Monday marked the start of the new school year at Spokane Falls, and with it came one of the largest staffs in Communicator history (over 30 people in a closet sized newsroom). Most of the students were new to the paper, only making new Editor-in-Chief, Hilary Vandenbark's head hurt that much more.

But beside the massave number of students, one other thing caught my attention.... Only about half of the staff owned and operated a twitter account. This not only blew my mind, but also got me thinking why?

Things like Twitter are not only essential tools for students, but student journalists even more so. These are tools tht allow the news to get out quicker, more accurate and to a wider audiance.

So, today I strongly suggested that everyone in the newsroom not only create a Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn account, but use it. So far quite a few students have set accounts up, and I am interested to hear the feedback of what they think both now, and at the end of the term. My guess is they will never think twice about social media again.

Something to take serious: The value of a journalism internship

College isn’t easy; anyone who has been through it knows that, but majoring in journalism makes it even tougher.

It’s obvious that the journalism industry is pushing through a tough period, one that is putting more journalists into the endless pit that is unemployment. Everyday, we place another newspaper six-feet-under. Publishers have placed journalistic quality on the back burner as they focus on the bottom line. When I put all of these pitiful puzzle pieces together, a strong message is created for and directed at us future journalists. Change your major.

But there is a reason I chose journalism. Wether it's spending hours upon hours calling that one source to get the story in by deadline or shooting 500 photos only to have one printed, it’s the thrill of the hunt that keeps me going. So how do we, the media future, get to the finish line when all we are holding is a college degree? The answer is as simple as putting on a shirt and tie, printing a copy of that resume and finding an internship.

For those who have yet to experience the wonders of the journalism internship, prepare to be blown away when you realize how much you have to give for what at the time seems like nothing. Just remember, that nothing will turn into a career down the road.

To start off, expect little to no pay for the hard work. Companies are relieving people of their corporate duties (as one employer I worked for put it) due to financial woes. By bringing in a group of 10 college students who will do anything they are asked to do at no pay is a publisher’s dream.

Don’t go into the internship expecting to be getting coffee for people. There is a reason that an intern is brought on board, writing front-page stories, shooting a feature photo, designing the centerfold or managing the social networking sites are all jobs that an intern should expect to do.

The new-media newsroom in many cases is too advanced for old school reporters, leaving multimedia, web and more recently, social networking up to those of us who know it. These are all tools that newsrooms are starting to use to get their product out quickly while keeping it cost effective. Having an intern do it makes it even cheaper.

Be able to write the story, take the photos, record audio for a multimedia piece and layout the page while Tweeting the whole time. It sounds like a lot, but the more you can do, the better the chances of an editor or publisher recognizing not only your ability, but also your knowledge and drive. This is where being in school pays off, all we have to do is sign up for audio production or photography as an elective, and within 2 months we have the knowledge of four employees.

Be there for everything. Unlike an employee, interns should have no set schedule. Working 50 hours a week is not unrealistic, as a matter of fact, it’s beneficial. Being there for every staff meeting or production weekend only increases your face time with the people you are trying to impress.

Work for a college publication. As much as we would like to think that taking an introduction to news writing course teaches us all there is to know about being a reporter, it is using that information and applying it to a real life situation that proves you know how to write a news story. College newsrooms offer it’s staff members the ability to practice every aspect of journalism and get a byline out of it.

The concept of an internship seems simple when it's undertaken, but it is vital to remember that these are the people who can open your career door. They will not come to you, but if you can walk up to them, and prove that you are the best, you will not be denied.

Lessons learned in a college newsroom pt. 3

Getting the good shot:

I could be the greatest writer in the world. Get all the best sources and all the bets quotes, but without a great photo, it means jack.
I preach to photographers in the newsroom that standing in one space and taking 10 photos DOESN'T CUT IT!
The rules of news photography are well known.... So why is it so hard to execute them?
Don't be afraid to do WHATEVER is needed to get the best possible shot. I was asked today to go and write a story and take a photo of a new fire truck at the station by my work. After taking notes and getting the background info set, it was time to take the photos. So... Did I stand next to the truck and snap a few photos? NO
What I did do though is take about 200 photos from every angle, including signing a medial release form, strapping on a safety harnest and going up into the engine's bucket ladder and take photos at over 100 feet in the air.
When I think of a good news photo, I want to see everything though the eyes of the subject.

Journalism Jeopardy and Twitter

Answer: HTML, CSS and XML. Question: How do you make a journalist cry?

I know that these are only simple file extensions, but the brain of a journalist is not trained to think outside of .doc and .jpeg. I've said before that journalism is changing, and the only people who will succeed in the industry are the ones who take that time to learn all the aspects of what I call, "neue journalism." By simply going to Barnes and Noble (a place all journalism students know well) and venturing into the dark abyss that is the computer software learning section, you can pick up a copy of "Dreamweaver for Dummies" (a really good read actually) and learn the basics of web design and maintenance. Also... For the love of god, learn what Twitter is. If I hear my mother ask me, "Is that a twitter" every-time my phone rings, I might strangle her! Just kidding, I love my mother. But honestly, Twitter is THE way for journalists to communicate. If you do not already have an account... GET ONE.

Btw... You can follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/madison_mccord

An interns life for me pt. 2

Witnessing the fall of journalism

I read it in the news everyday. See the print journalism industry walk down one of two paths... Trying their luck on the World Wide Web or Extinction.

Various news outlets all around the nation close every week, while we sit at home reading about it thinking, "sucks to be them."

Karma is a bitch.

On Monday, August 10. LIFE Publications, the company I have spent the last 2 months interning at closed one of their 13 local newspapers and laid off four staff members. I am witnessing the fall of print journalism. Now in all fairness to the publishers and the company, the reason for shutting this paper was not solely based on money, but me, the person who has backed the industry over the last few months had my eyes opened to the facts. Things are no longer getting worse... They are at rock bottom.

In the days leading up, the large office was filled with small groups of people talking in secret starting rumors that flew from desk to desk.

Now, I'm not gonna dress up and stand on a sidewalk in NYC screaming, "The end is near!" Firstly, because I don't have the gas money to get down there and secondly, because I still, for what its worth, have hope for the industry.... That is until my college newspaper folds. In that case NYC, here I come.

An interns life for me pt.1

As I finish up my third week here in Connecticut, I realize that professional newsrooms are not that different than a "well run" college one. People still like to joke, have fun and shout obscenities.

I know my title is technically "intern," but the people here from day one have really accepted me as a co-worker (or they are really good at acting. My vote is for the first.)

They have me doing everything from writing stories for the local newspapers to the city magazine, designing ads, shooting photos and copy editing (don't laugh).

The latest endeavor, a launch into social networking, really makes me feel more confused about what part of journalism I want to find a career in, but at least I now know that whatever field I choose I will have enough knowledge in it to succeed.

Lessons learned in a college newsroom #2

Spend the extra time, learn HTML.

The growth of online media has been covered from every possible angle. We know that the newspaper industry is hurting, but what business isn't. Even with that said, I feel it is important to be well versed in other types of media. 

When I sat down in the newsroom on campus everyday during Spring Break with our graphics editor, Marshall Moore, we took the time to learn the basics of HTML and used that knowledge to rebuild our paper's website from ground zero.

The sad part is that not enough college editors are taking the time to do this too. The college news website market is dominated by College Media Network or Wordpress templates. Rarely will I stumble across a college site that was built by the students, and in my opinion, a bad site that is hand-built is more impressive than a Pacemaker winning CMN site.

So, that week of hard work, where two people sat in a hallway (you should see our newsroom, it's that bad) and took the time to learn and apply something that all journalists will have to know in a few years, produced a very good website, a Pacemaker Finalist site.

I know for daily or even weekly newspapers, keeping up with HTML can be "time consuming" but there is something special about seeing two great sites lined up next to each other, and only one of them built by hand.

First Podcast launched

My first Podcast is finally up on both my newspaper's website and available on iTunes. The piece, "Campus in brief" which I produced, wrote and edited (No talking involved, I don't have the most glorious radio voice) is a weekly podcast that breaks the top stories surrounding our school (Spokane Falls Community College) into quick bite-size pieces.

To listen to the piece online:

http://faculty.spokanefalls.edu/Communicator/sections/multimedia/multimedia.html

Or to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes (Even better):

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=315263081

Lessons learned in a college newsroom #1

Is it co-workers who are friends, or Friends who are co-workers? I know that I am not alone in saying that some of my best friends are the people I work with in the newsroom everyday, some of them. But the line between keeping a close friendship and having those same people be part of the collaborative effort that is the production of a newspaper/website is quickly becoming blurred. The solution varies from person to person, friend to friend and editor to editor, but the one thing to remember is that a good friend will be there forever, compared to the four years we have to deal with a co-worker.