Full Circle: From a student at Journalism Day to the director of Fall Press Day
by Karla D. Kennedy, Ph.D. , NWSP Executive Director
October 12, 2012
42 tips, tricks, exercises from the pros on how to write a memorable narrative for your publication
by Rob Melton, Contributing Editor
October 2, 2012
Follow these simple techniques to write the perfect caption every time to intrigue, inform readers
by Rob Melton, Contributing Editor
September 30, 2012
PORTLAND, OREGON -- November 17, 2011 -- A police officer deployed pepper spray at SW Yamhill, between the JP Morgan Chase bank and Pioneer Courthouse Square. The photo was taken from the southeast corner of the square, looking toward the intersection of 6th and Yamhill after a day of marching through downtown Portland, Ore., by Occupy Portland participants. People gathered on the east side of the Steel bridge earlier in the morning to demonstrate in support of the Occupy movement, on the day known as N17. Several people were arrested and the march continued over the lower span of the bridge into downtown, where a rally was planned. Later in the day people were arrested in a Wells Fargo branch downtown. Photo by Randy L. Rasmussen/The Oregonian
Advisers welcomed back with swag, door prizes, food by NWSP and UO SOJC at UO Turnbull Center in Portland
Karla Kennedy, NWSP Executive Director
August 23, 2012
Scholastic journalism advisers and friends gathered at the Portland UO Turnbull Center Wednesday evening to kick off the new year at a party hosted by Northwest Scholastic Press and the UO School of Journalism and Communication. Advisers filled their bags with classroom swag including 45 words buttons and posters, rubber duckies, UO frisbees, pencils -- and that didn't include the drawing for a UO keyboard, coffee mugs, bags and more. The next major event will be in Eugene on Wednesday, Oct. 24 when students, teachers and professional journalists gather for the annual Fall Press Day.
NW PERSPECTIVE
Thank you for participating in Fall Press Day at UO
Dr. Karla D. Kennedy, Executive Director
I want to personally thank all of you for your participation in the Fall Press Day Write‐Offs and Best of Show contests. The judges really enjoyed reading and evaluating all of your hard work. Special thanks goes out to Kate Moore, Nerissa Ediza, and Rob Melton for organizing this event. Northwest Scholastic Press is extremely proud of all of your accomplishments and look forward to working with you this school year. Thanks again for all of your continued support! Dr. Karla D. Kennedy
October 30, 2012 • Comments Off
- Full Circle: From a student at Journalism Day to the director of Fall Press Day October 12, 2012
- It’s time to recognize our best, brightest from Oregon at local, state, national level October 10, 2012
- Mob reporting at major school events results in outstanding live coverage, application of social media September 26, 2012
- Future of newspapers for those with skill, interest in serving local community August 8, 2012
Oregon Student Free Expression Law
Know the Oregon student free speech law, reprinted below in full
Oregon Student Free Expression Law (Public Secondary Schools)Citation: Ore. Rev. Stat. sec. 336.477 (2007) July 1, 2007 Summary: In addition to the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, states can provide additional free speech protection their own citizens by enacting state laws or regulations. The Oregon Student Free Expression Law is such a provision and provides student journalists attending Oregon public high schools with added protection against administrative censorship. (Ore. Rev. Stat. sec. 351.649 provides similar protection to the state's public college and university student media.) AN ACT Relating to student journalists; and declaring an emergency. Whereas the Legislative Assembly finds that freedom of expression and freedom of the press are fundamental principles in our democratic society granted to every citizen of the nation by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and to every resident of this state by section 8, Article I of the Oregon... read story
October 26, 2012 • Comments Off
Recent Oregon Student Free Expression Law Stories
SPOTLIGHT
Write great leads that will grab your reader’s attention by knowing these 9 effective strategies
Sue Barr
Editor's Note: This handout by former South Eugene H.S. journalism adviser Sue Barr is one of many that were shared with Oregon journalism teachers and at JEA conventions.The key to writing good copy lies in the first paragraph — the lead. It needs to capture your readers’ interest so they’ll read on. Objectives of the lead are: To get the reader’s attention. To introduce the subject of the copy. To lead the reader into the body of the copy. Therefore, begin the copy in the most attention-getting, striking way possible. As one adviser wrote, “Begin the copy with a lead that will tease, tickle or tempt the reader.” To do just that, consider using different types of featurized leads throughout a section, remembering as well... read story
October 9, 2012 • Comments Off
Follow these simple techniques to write the perfect caption every time to intrigue, inform readers
by Rob Melton, Contributing Editor
A supercell thunderstorm rolls across the Montana prairie at sunset. (Photo and caption by Sean Heavey) Captions The first thing a reader does is to look at the dominant photo, then they look under the photo for the words. If you've planned well, the next thing they'll do is look at the headline and read the story and sidebars, too. When it comes to copywriting, captions are the work horses of the book. Every single photo must have one, and it must quickly tell the reader what the picture itself cannot say: Names, stories, dates, places, significance. In fact, you could tell your story through captions only. Captions that tell and intrigue When someone looks at a picture, they'll look at the caption for the specifics (name,... read story
September 30, 2012 • Comments Off
How to write an effective column or editorial that persuades others to your point of view
By Rob Melton, Contributing Editor
EXPRESS YOURSELF AND INFLUENCE OTHERS TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL PEOPLE. THAT’S THE GOAL OF ALL GOOD OPINION WRITING. Expressing your opinion and changing others’ opinions are two different things. In opinion writing, we are more effective if, in the process of sharing our own opinion, we have the potential to change another person’s points of view, too. A good opinion piece is based on facts – that is the backbone of a great newspaper, not the mistaken notion of “That’s my opinion and that’s a fact” that passes for opinion writing these days. An opinion piece should be a thoughtful, reasoned perspective that connects to a broader view of life. REMEMBER THE REASON YOU ARE WRITING YOUR OPINION COLUMN: You want... read story
September 28, 2012 • Comments Off
Pre-reporting: 6 questions journalists should be able to answer before pitching a story
Editor's Note: We love and highly recommend the Poynter Institute's blog poynter.org. For decades, they have been on the forefront of research and thinking using their flagship newspaper The St. Petersburg Times. They pioneered EyeTrack research to test theories about design, and pioneered narrative journalism studies that identified what worked -- and what didn't -- with readers. Here's a recent column that may give you ideas how to teach your beginning journalists to do some basic research before they pitch a story. Use the six questions to explore potential topics to find out if there is a worthwhile story. Use the recent flap over Newsweek not checking its sources to reinforce good reporting and interviewing practices.by Tom Huang Published... read story
August 23, 2012 • Comments Off
Recent SPOTLIGHT Stories
- ‘WHAT I DID during summer vacation’ feature gets a makeover July 9, 2012
- Journalism education cannot teach its way to future June 15, 2012
- 5 Lessons From The Oregon Daily Emerald’s Digital Reinvention June 4, 2012
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WEB
SNO FLEX gets our stamp of approval, School Newspapers Online our highest recommendation, for new responsive design, photo display options, fresh design options, low cost and money-saving potential
Rob Melton, Contributing Editor
(May 22, 2013) -- SNO FLEX is the latest, greatest upgrade you should have from School Newspapers Online, the leading provider of websites for high school and college newspaper programs across the nation. The new responsive design allows your news site to be easily read on a smart phone, tablet or computer. In addition, you can now experiment with all the design templates to find the one that's just right for your program. You can now add Google fonts to customize your site's look from the wide variety of typefaces available. SNO FLEX templates have fresh, fun new design options, including the showcase carousel or photoblock to display top stories, more control and additional features over... read story
May 22, 2013 • 0 comments
BIOGRAPHIES
Charles T. Duncan taught journalists to be tough, fair
Rob Melton, Contributing Editor
To call Charles Duncan's 55 years of work simply a career does not speak to the insight and humor with which he approached it. For Duncan, the practice of journalism and the education of future journalists was a life's work—one that included working as a newspaper reporter, an author and columnist, a journalism professor and as dean at University of Oregon and University of Colorado at Boulder. As a student of his writing class from 1974-76, I can attest to his demanding standards and love of... read story
October 30, 2012 • Comments Off
Ellen Kersey is welcome addition to Oregon journalism community, mentoring new journalism teachers and advising college publications staffs
Rob Melton, Contributing Editor
New Oregon journalism advisers have been fortunate to work with JEA Mentor Ellen Kersey, CJE. She was a journalism teacher at Camarillo High School in Camarillo, California, before retiring from teaching public high school and moving with her husband Earl, a retired Baptist pastor, to the Salem area to be near her grandchildren. While in California, she served as JEA’s Southwest Regional Director and served on the JEA Board of Directors. She won JEA’s Medal of Merit Award in 2000. As... read story
October 11, 2012 • Comments Off
Dorothy Hallaian was early leader and dynamo among Oregon journalism advisers
Rob Melton, Contributing Editor
Dorothy Hallaian was a leader in the scholastic journalism movement in Oregon. Born in Montana in 1922, she lived briefly in California before moving to Corvallis, Oregon, in 1954 with her husband and children. Sometime after 1964 she moved with her family to St. Helens where she taught photography and English and advised the Lions Roar newspaper at St. Helens Senior High School from 1969-1984, when she retired. Hallaian earned a master’s degree from the University of Oregon School of... read story
October 10, 2012 • Comments Off
Journalism teacher Sue Barr led powerhouse publications program at South Eugene H.S., generously shared teaching materials with others
Rob Melton, Contributing Editor
Legendary publications adviser Sue Barr taught at South Eugene H.S. in Eugene, Oregon from 1980 until she retired in 2001. Barr was considered one of the top high school journalism teachers in the United States. The publications she advised, The Axe newspaper and Eugenean yearbook, were two of the most sought-after examples of publication excellence by other high schools, consistently winning both newspaper and yearbook Pacemakers, Gold Crowns and Silver Crowns year after year. In fact,... read story
October 8, 2012 • Comments Off
Catherine Hampton learned first-hand about the newspaper business and built one of the state’s great journalism programs
Marshfield High School is proud to have the 2006 Oregon High School Journalism Teacher of the Year—Catherine Hampton—on its staff. Hampton, a 1991 MHS graduate, has been an English teacher at Marshfield since 1998 and became advisor to the school’s student newspaper, The Ma-Hi Times, in 2002. With no prior experience teaching journalism, Hampton consulted veteran advisors throughout Oregon and created her own curriculum. She wanted her students to create every facet of a high... read story
June 6, 2012 • Comments Off
Recent BIOGRAPHIES Stories
- Michael A. Forrester, from pioneering Oregon newspaper family, dedicated to supporting journalism education for decades June 6, 2012
- Frank Ragulsky was versatile, dedicated scholastic journalism leader who engaged as many high school and college students in journalism as possible June 6, 2012
- Mary Hartman’s energy, enthusiasm inspired excellence and a generation of journalism teachers May 16, 2012
Fall Press Day
If you attended Fall Press Day 2012 at UO, take our short survey to help us improve next year’s event
If you attended NWSP's Fall Press Day 2012, please take this short survey and tell us about your experience. Northwest Scholastic Press will use this information to evaluate and improve next year's Fall Press Day. Click on the link to start the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/V2938X8
November 1, 2012 • Comments Off
Best Of Show Awards given to outstanding student media at Fall Press Day 2012
Awards were given to this year's outstanding Oregon student media. the 27th annual Best of Show competition at Fall Press Day sponsored by Northwest Scholastic Press. This year's judging was conducted by UO students majoring in journalism in the School of Journalism and Communication. Judges were impressed by the attention to detail in writing and editing, design and layout, and photography. A... read story
October 30, 2012 • Comments Off
Fall Press Day Program now available online as PDF, use twitter hashtag #fpd12 during conference
The time is already here and we are ready for Fall Press Day. You can download a PDF of the Fall Press Day Program here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/110939388/Fpd-Program . Delegates will receive a printed program for each registered student tomorrow morning. Please remind your students to sign up for the tours at www.facebook.com/events/477730358925432/. During the day, you can use our twitter... read story
October 23, 2012 • Comments Off
- Fall Press Day schedule announced October 14, 2012
- Award-winning author, broadcaster, journalist and now UO professor to lead session on the journalistic interview, a critical tool for journalists September 29, 2012
- Former television producer leads session on thinking visually in style of video news; encourages youth to learn, produce engaging media September 26, 2012
- Writing coach extraordinare to share secrets of telling true stories at Fall Press Day September 26, 2012
- UO journalism professor to lead session on ‘Multimedia Storytelling’; advises students to be open to different pathways in journalism September 24, 2012
PODCAST
Podcasting students share their tips
One of the best ways to drive readers to your website is to include multimedia -- video and audio that changes regularly and provides information or entertainment. Podcasting uses the same skills radio DJs have been using for years, and it's a simple yet effective way to provide interesting stories or commentary. To get started, check out these tips from podcasting students who share their tips with the BBC about how to get started. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/school_report/6320117.stm
Best of Show Podcast from South Salem HS
Lily Gordon produced the Best of Show winner in the 5A podcast category. Her podcast, "Social media success story," surveys school alumni social media posts. To listen to Lily's podcast CLICK HERE.
ABOUT NWSP
About NWSP…
MISSION: Northwest Scholastic Press provides services to the scholastic journalism community in the Pacific Northwest, including conferences, workshops, contests, critiques, awards and scholarships. Dr. Karla D. Kennedy Scholastic Journalism Outreach Coordinator University of Oregon UO Turnbull Center Portland, Oregon George Turnbull Center 70 NW Couch St., Third Floor Portland, OR 97209 503-412-3664 (office) kkennedy@uoregon.edu NWSP... read story
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QUILL & SCROLL
Quill & Scroll: Connecting Your Story to the Web
Tyson Braun, search engine specialist with EngineWorks, a Portland, Ore., search engine Internet marketing firm
By Tyson Braun The Internet is vast but can fit each of us. Our news can be precisely what we are interested in reading, and “The Office” is on when we’re ready to... read story
January 30, 2012 • Comments Off