ASNE High School Journalism Institute Blog

Home again...

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:45:54 -0500

I'll bet I beat just about everyone home! Took me a record 3 hours and 15 minutes. But I had all that time to process everything that happened over the last couple of weeks. What a tremendous opportunity for us to participate in the Institute. Did any of us have a clue how we would be treated like royalty at all times? (Well, except for Greg getting a chariot ride to and from class!) Did any of us expect to have our brains filled with so much valuable information? And I certainly would never have thought tears would be shed at our last meal. Certainly not from me. Please do not tell my students...it would ruin my reputation. Be safe and enjoy the rest of your summer. Carol Carrico

A Few Last Thoughts. . .

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:02:25 -0500

If only softball weren’t so important to my daughter, I would encourage her to come to Washington and Lee University. I am so amazed by the demeanor of the staff, the numerous options available, and the outstanding financial aid packages the school has to offer. For many students, some of my journalism scholars, W&L will be a new name that I will encourage them to become familiar with. This two week roller coaster has given me a chance to view journalism from the students’ perspective and push myself to step outside some of my usual boundaries For most of that I can thank Jim McGonnell, more affectionately known as Big Poppy. Seeing someone who has such a passion for what he does after all these years lets me know it is possible to love a career as long as you don’t treat like just another job. When tomorrow sessions have ended and we each head back to our separate destination, I hope Jim was right about at least one thing: I hope I am really a giver. A giver of knowledge for those who lack the skills, a giver of compassion for those who have a life harder than many adults, a giver of hope to those who think college is not an option, and a giver of love for those who look at me as a mom. I wish you all the best next year and know that if you need help, Jim’s just an e-mail away. Denise

Never too late for a first post

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:32:47 -0500

I know I should have posted this last week, but I’ve always found it better to make sure I have a clear idea of what I want to say before I speak, or in this case, write something that will be posted in cyberspace for God knows how long. When I arrived in Lexington, Virginia, I was amazed at the beauty of the landscaping and the homey, small-town feel of the area. Coming from Fresno, California, it was nice to see another part of the country where friendliness, honesty, and education appear to be of paramount importance. I must admit being told I would be surrounded by thirty-four strangers of varying levels of knowledge in journalism, I was a little apprehensive. Yet, I think these two weeks have been amazing. I have learned more than I ever thought there was to know about newspaper, shared many laughs, and made some friendships I know won’t end when we say goodbye tomorrow. Denise

Harts, Darts and Goodbyes

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:14:54 -0500

Harts and Darts and Goodbyes Hey Guys and Gals. It’s been a great 2 weeks and I’m really looking forward to hearing how the year turns out for all of you. Per the class rules- here’s my final blog. The newspaper in Jackson, TN does a little thing called harts and darts. So here we go … Harts- To the Washington and Lee staff for showing southern hospitality at its best. The advisers spent time with us outside of the classroom –for example- the trip to Monticello and the Univ. of Virginia. You guys are awesome Darts- No shuttle from the hotel. I sweat really easy and getting to class dripping wet with sweat was really uncomfortable. Don’t get me wrong; walking to campus on the first day was cool. Lexington is a beautiful town, but walking should have been an option. A shuttle (van) should have been provided. One at 7:30am and another at 8:45 am Harts- Big Jim McGonnel gave us a ride to the golf course on Sunday morning! It was a free day and most people sleep-in on that day. Big Jim provided a us a ride when he could have said no. That’s a lot Jim. Now I can say I’ve played golf in Virginia. Darts- TALKING IN CLASS WHILE THE SPEAKER IS TALKING!!!! This happened way too much. One would think teachers –of all people- would be mindful and considerate of others. I have a hard time hearing and paying attention when people speak while the presenter is speaking (my wife can attest to this .. I have to turn the TV down to have a conversation. I just can’t concentrate. Learn how to whisper. Or better yet, shut up! Harts- Doug Urner took excellent photos in and outside of class. He provided wealth of knowledge on photoshop-even when he was working on his own assignments. Thanks Doug. You’re a great classmate. Darts- I didn’t learn a whole lot during the Photoshop lesson. (I did learn resizing photos..so I guess I don’t really have an argument here … but I thought I’d learn a little bit more). Harts- Teachers sharing lesson plans and assignment Ideas. I would like to see Carol Carrico lead a session in the future. She gave a lot of solid feedback in class and in the lab. Harts- To my classmates. Everyone provided something valuable. Some people provided early leadership in shaping the paper, while others asked excellent questions during class. I top to bottom, everyone provided something. For that I am grateful. Have a great school year. Continue to lead. Continue to learn. Continue to share. Greg Hammond Jackson, TN

"It's been a long time coming... it's going to be a long time gone"

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:30:27 -0500

During our time here, I've decided a number of things based upon what I have "drunk in" from the environment. One, is that the first amendment is not dead or even mortally wounded; it may have been sleeping, but there are still a few newspaper people happily kicking it in the ribs. Glenn Proctor immediately comes to mind. He is a diligent soldier still willing to stand in the front lines when the bullets start flying. I hope I will always muster the courage to stand shoulder to shoulder with him. Secondly, this newspaper adviser thing can be a complicated business. The skills required to do it well include the all-encompassing abilities of a global ambassador, a Chancellor of the Exchequer, a technical zenmaster, a visual alchemist, and an administrative bull-rider. I don't think I have all of these skills, just yet. I've fallen off a few mustangs in my day. But the key is to keep getting back up on the horse. Perhaps In-Design and I will come to terms someday. Nobody is going to die. All the mediums that I have been been mourning are not yet dying grievously pitiful deaths. It was refreshing to be reminded by Wendy Zamparelli that established media is not obsolete. Her reassurance that newspapers will really morph into visual and literary butterflies, and that the true act of journalism is in the delivery and not the medium speaks to the fact that it is still a blissful art. Lastly, Marshall McLuhan is still right after all these years: The medium is the message. Meta everyone, Susan C-S

a long...and short two weeks

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:59:05 -0500

I was really anxious in the days coming up to this institute. I wasn't sure what to expect, how difficult it would be, how much I would learn, and who would take care of my garden for the two weeks I was away. Overall, it has been a great experience. The weeks went much faster than I expected, but we've had so much to do and I am EXHAUSTED! I have really enjoyed the opportunity to share ideas and experiences with teachers who are as excited about what they do as I am. The people here have been incredibly generous in sharing thier knowledge and time. I have learned a lot, but I still feel underprepared for the task in front of me. I know my students will be patient with my learning curve, but they really do deserve the best. Without a class, funding and support I hope I can make the progress I am aiming for this year. I know somehow I will make do--I always do, but I worry that I've taken on more than I can handle in my school between all the clubs and activites I run, the AP classes I teach, the technology i'm supposed to be in charge of. With so many things quality surely will suffer, but then again, I've always been happier and more successful when i'm overscheduled than when I have too much time on my hands. I hope I can find some people locally who are as supportive as you all have been, who will volunteer to help even if they won't volunteer to lead. Thanks again! Mary

Louisa's second post

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:19:59 -0500

Our time here is coming to an end, and I am starting to think about sleeping in my own bed again. It's been a great two weeks here, and I am very glad I decided to come to the institute. The people are great, the town is quaint, and the lessons were valuable. Today Shay and I took some time to explore the area we've been traveling through each day. We visited some stores and helped out the local economy some more. There have been many long nights here, and it might be strange adjusting to free time again, but I would come back if ever invited.

I will be on my own couch in 28 hours... and counting.

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:59:14 -0500

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here, don't get me wrong, I have learned a lot and have had a great time. Yet tomorrow night, I will be eating Chick- Fil- A, watching 10,000 BC (which arrived from Netflix last week), sitting with my husband and cat(who is probably extremely upset that I have left and neglected her), and I cannot be happier. I will miss the people, and oh how I will miss the view, but I am taking a lot home of new knowledge that I can keep forever, or at least until my papers are lost and Alzheimer’s sets in. So everyone, let’s keep in touch, and keep exchanging ideas. Hope to see you at the next newspaper conference. -Shawna

Lament for the English Language

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:25:36 -0500

Poor Jim! He caught the brunt of my ire yesterday… that I had to edit my article yet again. In part, my temper tantrum stemmed from my own arrogance. I am accustomed to literary criticism and philosophical treatises. But knowing I would be forced to adjust considerably to a journalistic style did little to alleviate my annoyance. And yet, as an educator who is merely playing at being a journalist, I cannot but feel that something is lost in the translation. Certainly, begrudgingly, I’ve had to admit to instances in my article of the insertion of my own opinion, either through inadvertent word choice or overt statement. Yet some of the ‘corrections’ I’ve had to make have, to my mind, actually decreased the accuracy of my writing. I recall a stand-up comedian (whose name I do not recall) who joked about the difference between the letter of a Civil War soldier (‘My dearest, darling Martha, I am resolved to stand ever firm against the cruel forces of tyranny and oppression; yet as I gaze across the carnage and horror of the war-strewn battlefield, beloved wife…’) and that of a Gulf War soldier (‘Adrianne, it is hot as hell here in the dessert. Say yo to the gang. Don’t f*** anyone whiles I’m gone…’). Of course, this is an comedic exaggeration and we can all immediately point to a variety of socio-economic factors which would argue that this is not truly a genuine comparison. And yet. We talked earlier in this session about technology and the natural evolution of language. I embrace this idea and find the living nature of language one of the more delightful aspects of linguistics, but I have to wonder if we can exactly call our current language developments an ‘evolution’. To consider it such would be to imply a greater capacity for communication, to my mind. I’m not sure that is what I’m seeing. Or am I merely clinging obstinately to an adolescent fantasy in which I am living in a Henry James novel? Sigh.

The Most Important Lesson

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:12:16 -0500

With great enthusiasm and energy we plunged into producing a print version of our institute paper. Now hours before deadline, I'm realizing the wisdom of our instructor's original plan. They had only asked us to do a web site, using the ASNE template. They knew how much work there were already asking us to do. Something about youth and energy vs age and wisdom…

As we plowed in where wiser people would not have gone, it looked just like a fresh staff of high school students! That was a lesson worth learning. If a group of adults, teachers even, is struggling to turn ourselves into a working team, surely I should be patient with my students as they work out the same problems. That may be one of the most valuable lessons I'll take home.

--Doug Urner

Going Out of My Mind!

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:07:30 -0500

It’s coming down to crunch time and I feel like rolling over and playing dead. I could complain about the number of assignments and the packed days with little work time, but neither of these statements are true and neither have caused me to feel overloaded. No, in actuality, I have done this to myself. In an overly eager effort to gain as much experience as possible I not only wrote two and a half articles, but also volunteered to design a page and work on the website. I am crazy and all of this eager beaver garbage has put me behind on all of my assignments. Right now I am wondering how I will possibly ever get everything done tonight and tomorrow in order to have it in my folder on time. I know I will, but I’m afraid I will have to sacrifice sleep and my sanity. So, when you see me on Thursday night, hair disheveled and eyes bugged out and crazy, just know that I have learned a lot here at ASNE Reynold’s High School Journalism Institute! Mandy Manning Jonathan Levin HS for Media & Comm. Bronx, NY

Home, sweet home. . .

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:59:19 -0500

Well, this wonderful two week rollercoaster ride is slowly beginning to draw to a close. While I am excited about returning home to spend the last two weeks of my summer vacation with my husband, I am more excited about the wealth of resources and the new friendships I have found within this institute. There were times when I felt overwhelmed and wished I could go home and curl up in my bed, but thinking about why I was doing this (for my students), I chose to keep trying. When I arrived, I thought I was the most inexperienced and underfunded in the group. I met a lot of people who were in similar situations, so I didn’t feel so bad. Then, I heard horror stories of people who were in positions much worse than mine, so I became grateful. In the end, I have decided to make the best of whatever resources I have, pester everyone on the listserv for ideas and advice (especially Papa Jim), and know that at the end of the year I have given my students the tools to ensure success. I can’t wait to get home and start my lesson plans. I have so many ideas and only two weeks to prepare. I have no idea how ASNE can afford this workshop and I definitely agree it’s too good to be true, but I’m thankful and plan to tell all advisers, new and old to apply next year. I hope everyone enjoys what is left of the summer, and please don’t ignore me because I will email you all (especially you, Papa Jim!). Take care! Shay

It's been a great ride...

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:52:59 -0500

I was overwhelmed at the thought of being away from my family for two weeks, but it seems that the time has almost come for us to get home. There is not much time for reflection, as we are all finishing up assignments and getting the paper ready for launch, so I will be quick. Since we have been here, I have learned more than I ever would have studying on my own. I am thankful to my family for encouraging me to come, and to all of the amazing presenters and staff here. Everyone has had something meaningful to share, and I look forward to going back to Washington with a full toolbox. My students are going to benefit from a competent adviser, and for that I will forever be grateful! I appreciate everyone who was here, and I made some friends that I will be in touch with forever. It was great to see people come together to finish it up, and go above and beyond the requirements. Thanks Pam and Brian for the great advice and critique, Michael for the technical advice, and Jim for modeling what it is to be a caring, knowledgeable adviser who is hard on students because he knows they have the potential. I will not only take what I learned into the classroom, but into my life as well. Sorry to get sappy, all I can say is THANKS!

Newfound appreciation - Lori

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:06:42 -0500

Hello everyone! Well, after spending the majority of the past two evenings in the computer lab working on Indesign I must say that I have acquired a new found respect for my newspaper staff and all the hard work that they do in order to produce our school paper. Having been on the side of dishing out comments and asking for revisions, it's been a humbling experience having my own work critiqued. No hard feelings! All was done with the best intentions - I'm sure - and hopefully this paper will pay off in the end. I've been having an amazing time with everyone, especially our times in the lab - it's like layout nights all over again. Lisa yelling for people that are not even in the room; Kevin running from computer to person and back again trying to get stories edited last minute; and then there's quiet Mike silently working hoping to not rouse anyone's attention. And here I thought the school year had ended. We've become our own newspaper staff and in case I forget to tell you - it's been a heck a time working with you all and I appreciate all your hard work! Lori Garcia

New Newspaper Ideas -- How Papers Are Changing

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:19:19 -0500

Though newspaper circulation seems to be spiraling downward, I think we’ve heard some hopeful points. Glenn Proctor says The Richmond Times-Dispatch has a “breaking-news team” that updates the web more than a dozen times a day, and it’s competing with the local television station. The paper also publishes a specific edition for daily sales. Charlotte Hall’s Orlando Sentinel has reporters posting blogs and is putting some of them in the print edition. The paper has started running columns on page 1 “to give the paper more voice.” And the metropolitan newspaper recently ran in-depth coverage of an impoverished high school with a reporting using “I.” I never would have expected this, but I think we need to embrace the changes in journalism, for they come from the readers. Hall also said she wants reporters to move to a more conversational tone, to allow their voice to come through in their writing. It’s pretty simple to find out who’s reading what – through surveys, interviews, and sales figures. I’d be curious to hear from others what their hometown newspaper have done that surprised them. So how about it – respond with ideas? Maybe then we’ll get additional ideas for how to make our schools’ coverage more applicable to students. Kevin Schneider