Recruiting guru gives 2010 class advice

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Poynter recruiting expert Joe Grimm offers some good insight on the current job market for those about to graduate in 2010 in his latest Ask the Recruiter post.

His advice is grounded in many years of experience, so I advise checking out the post and I would encourage you to e-mail your own question. Take it from someone who knows. Grimm, who used to work for the Detroit Free Press and is now at Michigan State University, interviewed me when I  applied for an internship at the Freep in the early 1990s. Even though he was uncompromisingly intimidating — a good thing for an aspiring journalist — he also was friendly and more than willing to provide feedback on my clips later on, even though I didn't make the cut.

One way to do an infobox

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Here is a possible info box … Below is what I used to run at the end of blog posts I did about running for the The Flint Journal and the HTML code is on the jump. If you'd like to use, copy the HTML, and paste in your HTML editor, customizing your information.

Really, this is a healthy obsession …

About Christofer Machniak's running hobby

Age: 34

Occupation: Lecturer at Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan-Flint

Running background: One year of cross country at Livonia Churchill High School in the fall of 1991 (had a crush on a girl, found out I loved running instead). Got hurt in 1992 and quit running while adding "The Freshman 15" every year in college at Michigan State University (Go Spartans!).

Running highlights: Losing about 90 pounds after not really running for about eight years/winning 14 road races in Michigan (all small field events)/completing 16 marathons (including one during an Ironman triathlon in 2004 -- yeah, it was tough, but it was worth it).

Personal records: 16:46 (5K in 2003), 35:25 (10K in 2004), 58:42 (10M in 2004 at the Crim), 1:16:09 (half marathon in 2004), 2:49:03 (marathon in 2003) -- looks like my better days could be behind me (hope not).

Help with Google sites

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Here's the video to help with the Web portfolio assignment. Please e-mail me if you have any questions.

Figuring out Facebook fan pages

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Here is the video to assist with the Facebook assignment. And remember to publish your page.

AddThis video help

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — This step-by-step video aims to help you with this week's AddThis assignment.

Twitter, Internet (again) scoop MSM

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — This post focuses on how an Internet news service (BNOnews) and Twitter kicked butt on the Tiger Woods auto accident story.

The author points out how this story was out for 45 minutes before ESPN and CNN first reported it, arguing this is the future and the future is now. It's hard to disagree.

Jayson Blair discusses ethical missteps on CSPAN

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. —  Disgraced ex-New York Times reporter Jayson Blair — who was caught plagiarizing and making up quotes — spoke about his experiences to students and faculty at Washington and Lee University earlier this month.

The event made headlines at the time – it begins with a lengthy intro defending Blair’s appearance by the professor who invited him. It caught my eye early Saturday when I found the talk on CSPAN, but you can watch it anytime you'd like on the channel’s Web site.

This is an online journalism class in which ethics are an important aspect so it makes sense to examine real life transgressions at newspapers such as this. The program is lengthy at about 85 minutes, but I think any journalism student can learn as Blair says he accepts responsibility while adding it happened during the context of his personal problems. Now a life coach, he faces a fair but tough grilling from audience members who among other things want to know why he did what he did, how could anyone ever trust him again and what makes him qualified in his new career.

Layoffs hit multimedia journalists

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — This post from E-Media Tidbits shows that newspapers are even laying off those with multimedia skills.

It doesn't surprise me, though, because when The Flint Journal went from a daily to a three-times-a-week publication earlier this year, it cutback heavily from what had been exclusively an Internet-focused team among many other cuts across the board. This happened, I believe, because the paper could no longer afford a separate team and is now having its reporters and editors attempt to pick up the slack. To a certain extent, this flattening of specialization has been a long-running trend in journalism. This means those entering the profession will have to be a reporter, an editor, copy editor, videographer, etc. That'll be the reality, I think, until a more successful business model evolves.

Helpful minor blogging tips

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Here’s a short video I did to present three tips about Blogger — how to switch to the new editor, how to embed links into your text and how to insert a jump link into your post.

The reason I decided to point them out was because some of you aren't utilizing these tools in your posts and your posts would benefit if you started to use them.

Feed blog posts to Twitter

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — As promised here’s a short how-to video on sending blog posts to your Twitter account. Please e-mail me if you have any questions.

11-20-09 4:01 a.m. update: I had an interesting surprise after the feed posted. It didn't go to the JRN350 account, it went to tofermachniak instead. I think this was because I was already signed in at Twitter under tofermachniak. So, if you have multiple accounts, make sure you're signed into the correct account when creating your feed.

Send tweets to your blog

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — It took several takes, but I've created a short video on how to set up a feed from Twitter to your blog. If you have any questions, please e-mail me.

Twitter plan, blog roll in place

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Just like the rest of the class, I've added all the elements required in recent assignments, including a blog roll of online journalism related blogs and two Twitter widgets (One searches online journalism tweets while the other is for this blog’s account JRN350).

All the new widgets line the right-hand column, which admittedly is becoming crowded, and I know I want to add a Facebook feed next. Am I in danger of looking too busy like too many newspaper Web sites? Is this why WordPress, with its menus, is considered a better blogging platform?

In the meantime, a short-term solution could be finding a widget that fits at the bottom well, but I haven't yet.

Facebook tips for journalists

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — I came across this archived chat this week about giving tips about Facebook for journalists. It's from the Poynter Online and it should help us with our research with more social networking in the coming weeks.

Advanced Twitter searching

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — In next week's assignment, you’ll be exploring Twitter much more closely and one quick point I want to make now is about the much-talked about advanced Twitter search that journalists covet.

You’ll quickly notice the search on an individual’s Twitter account focuses on people and businesses and doesn't offer advanced options like (search.twitter.com/advanced) can. So, when I ask that you to do an advanced search next week, that's where you should go.

Twitter plan for JRN 350 site

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — I’ve required you to formulate a plan and meet a deadline — so this is my turn at detailing a Twitter strategy.

For this blog, I’m proposing a two-part approach (Don’t forget, extra EC points if you tell me what you think about this in the comments below):

1. Include a widget (gadget in Blogger) of my own tweets.
2. Include a widget that searches Twitter for all posts related to "online journalism."
   

Before implementing No. 1, I have to decide how to brand the new account, and I've decided to create a separate identity for this site specifically geared toward this class (and I already have), as discussed the Mashable article “How to: Build your personal brand in Twitter.” In the article, it noted how Mashable’s founder associated himself with his more famous brand on Twitter, so it's not necessarily a bad idea, although some online journalism experts believe creating your personal brand is the way to go. (My name is also on the account and background also are on the account, so maybe I'm splitting hairs here).

News University offers Webinar on Facebook

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — We’ll be focusing on Facebook after we're done with Twitter, but if you want to learn about how journalists can use the social networking site, News University is offering a 2 p.m. Webinar on Thursday (that's tomorrow).

The session will focus on:

• Best practices for news organizations using Facebook.
• Techniques to build your online presence — personally and as a news organization.
• Ethical concerns.
• Strategies to build relationships with your online audience.

The cost is $24.95 and it lasts about an hour. I've learned a lot about the latest trends in online journalism from other News University Webinars. So, while we will be devoting some time on Facebook, this can only add to what we will explore.

The growing twitosphere

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Ignore Twitter at your own peril.

That was the message I heard from a presentation by Twitter media veteran T.J. Ortenzi at an Online News Association training seminar I attended last month in Ann Arbor. He cited some staggering numbers why. The microblogging Web site already has 25 million users and it's expected to quadruple to 100 million by the end of 2010 and 1 billion by 2013 (Well, Twitter thinks so in internal documents, anyway — we should be skeptical — we are journalists).

The Trouble with Twitter

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — This week we're examining Twitter as a tool for journalists, but some think the site isn’t useful at all and worth some humor. (I first watched this during the Online News Association’s training seminar I attended a few weeks ago). So, take a look. Warning, there is some adult-level cartoon violence:

Online journalism blog now open to the world

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Today I've opened up our class blog to the public so I can add features, such as an RSS feed and an internal blog search, that I'm requiring for all of your blogs. To help protect anonymity, I've abbreviated everyone's name, but if anyone objects, e-mail me and I will put the privacy wall back up. If we stay public and you want your name public, e-mail me and I'll change that, too.

Journalism class investigated

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — While not online journalism, this column about a state investigation into a journalism reporting class at Northwestern University reveals how one course probing murder cases in Illinois is “hands-on, gritty and raw.”

Twitter, lists enlisted in Fort Hood coverage

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — E-Media Tidbits focused on the use of Twitter in coverage of this week's shootings at Fort Hood in Texas. This is timely because next week we will focus on the microblog site.

Using Flickr Part II — The Movie

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — I decided to try something new with my how-to post. Please tell me in the comment section below if this was helpful or if you almost fell asleep (It would be worth an EC point to those who haven't commented yet this week). You might want to view this on YouTube directly for a higher quality and/or enlarge the image to a full screen. If you think this was effective as a presentation, I will do more posts this way.

P.S. (Updated at 11:06 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009) — Sorry about the blurriness. It was much sharper on the original. I already see that's one place I need to improve.

The social media bypass

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Jennifer S. sent in this link of an article about politicians using social media to bypass the mainstream media. Her timing is excellent because social media is on the agenda in two weeks.

Here's what she said about the link: “Here's an extra credit article for the week. It's about how politicians are using social media to bypass the press and I think that's an increasing trend for politicians being able to put forth whatever positive press they want. I'm friends on facebook with Dayne Walling and it's a very good way to be informed on those matters.”

P.S. Jennifer is back in first place all by herself. Is anyone going to catch her? Will she get to 15 points? Only time will tell. Remember, each week you can earn points by sending me links like this one (two point maximum) and by commenting on posts on this blog (one point maximum). Also, you can earn even more by doing more posts to your blog this week (See the assignment sheet for details).

Using Flickr Part I

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Flickr — a photo sharing Web service owned by Yahoo! — is considered by some a valuable tool for bloggers. Online journalism professor Mindy McAdams has a great post that discusses Flickr and using photos on a blog that I'd like you to read in addition to the rest of this post.

How personal should a journalist’s blog be?

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Meet Lily. She's my daughter who was born at 2:07 p.m. Friday, sharing her birthday with my wife’s.

Obviously, I'm a proud papa — why else would I post a photo of her here as I did on Facebook? But a larger question looms, especially for journalists — how personal should their blogs be? Is it OK to venture away from the main topic, as I have here, and detail a little about my own life? What would be too much information?

Tell me what you think (in addition to how cute you think she is) to earn some EC points.

UM-Flint student blogger seeks readers

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — I received an e-mail today in my University of Michigan-Flint account — so you probably did, too — from Marcos Baston, a student blogger for UM-Flint. He's trying to generate some buzz and comments for his blog through his e-mail. Sounds like a good idea to me.

As journalism students, what do you think of the university having a student blogger? Does this compete with or augment other student media, such as The Michigan Times? As a university blogger, I wonder how much freedom to express himself that he has. What do you think of his blog?

Remember, if you comment, you can pick up some EC points. If not, this might be a good enough of a subject for me to post our “Discussion Board.”

New Twitter list tool expected to help journalists

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Twitter is about to unveil a new tool publicly that allows users to create lists — a move that will benefit journalists, according to Craig Kanalley in his post today on E-Media Tidbits.

It would be smart to check this post out because we will be working with Twitter in a few short weeks.

One other side note, I learned about this impending change last week at that training seminar put on by the Online News Association in Ann Arbor. I still plan on some posts from what I learned there as we go.

Figuring out No. 4

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — In this week’s assignment, I'm asking that you create a widget “with a list of at least three Web site links that relate to your topic that readers would find useful.”

So, today my plan is to build that link list for this site (See Must See Links on right).

Why is this important? There are two reasons. One, readers always appreciate an stable place of useful links, so I plan to include links to the AP stylebook, Yourdictionary.com and a free stock photo Web site (always useful to those of us seeking art — see notebook right). Second, you might have a favorite Web site that you plan on aggregating (collecting) news about your site and readers appreciate links to those places.

But here's where it gets a little complicated. Now, my topic is online journalism and we know I already visit Poynter’s E-Media Tidbits. But is that a Web site or a blog? Does it matter? Yes, it does. In the blog widget (which I'll be requiring people to create later), it includes an option for an update feed, which readers and you as a blog publisher might find useful. 

Because E-Media Tidbits is actually a blog, I'll wait for the blog roll for that one (I get e-mail updates already, anyway).

So, what do you think of my list? Any suggestions to add or subtract? Remember, you could earn EC points.

(Photo above right courtesy of SXC)

Breaking news, death and Facebook friends

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A blog post from Poynter today discusses the ethics of should a reporter contact a person’s friends on Facebook after that person died during a breaking news event. The Poynter experts weigh in. Notice, this is one of those tough, case-by-case, situations, but they do offer good advice. Feel free to give your two cents here (Remember, you could earn a point in the EC contest).

Don’t forget the labels (tags)

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — We learned from the text (pages 63-64) that tags can help people find related posts within a site and potentially help people searching the Internet find your posts.

So, over the weekend, I added the requirement of adding tags (called labels in Blogger) for your first post. Get used to adding them because you’ll be required to have them with every post. I've taken a few minutes and added labels and a widget for the labels, which you should see on the right (It's the cloud display, BTW). Notice that the greatest number is “online journalism,” which I basically put in nearly every post. Now, after this week, I might remove “online journalism” from the widget because if you clicked on it, you’d find virtually every post on this blog, but it’s good to keep as a label so people searching on the Internet might find the post because of the label. Yes, this can be tricky, I know.

Also, note you have several options in creating your label widget on the right (see screen shot above from my computer). Note, I didn’t require the label widget this week, but adding it now would help you get an “A.”

Blogging as a journalist — there is a difference

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — After reading a couple of more proposals, there’s another point I want to re-emphasize as we do these blogs — don’t forget that we’re posting with our journalist’s hat on.

That means while blogging does involve your personality and your opinions in certain situations, it  doesn't mean you compromise yourself as a reporter, either. The basic mission of journalism is to seek out the truth about something for your readers and that has to remain the top priority, at least when it comes to your final project and any other original reporting you plan.

Tease to generate buzz

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Well, my last post was 10 days ago. That's not what you want to do while blogging. Typically, you want to have content at least once a day if not more. But I have been busy. I did attend the Online News Association’s Parachute Training seminar Thursday in Ann Arbor. There was a lot of good tips about Twitter and how make yourself noticed as a blogger. One of those was to try to create a buzz about your content by not sharing everything … so let me just say I'll be incorporating many of those tips in upcoming posts. Come back often to find them.

How to share best

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A Monday posting from E-Media Tidbits provides some good tips that we should keep in mind once we start creating our blogs soon on how to best integrate Web-sharing tools, such as Twitter.

Does the author’s Web site follow his advice?

For those who need a kickstart

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Journalists keep finding ways to pay for their work, including this Web site called Kickstarter.

Anyone find a potential ethical problem here or if it's anonymous donors paying, does that nullify it?

‘Talking to the Taliban’

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Kaitlin D. sent this link from the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail about the Taliban.

Here are Kaitlin’s comments: “While searching for an example of multimedia journalism, I stumbled upon “Talking to the Taliban,” as well as the story I chose. I found the Web site for this particular piece of journalism to be outstanding. Not only are there plenty of videos to keep me interested, but I loved how organized it was. There was so much information, yet it was neatly compiled according to the date it was written and further categorized into an introduction and parts one through six. There was also plenty of photographs and even maps and graphics to explain what the text said. I was thoroughly impressed with the organization and level of commitment this project clearly took. It is definitely not something that was put online quickly. It seems to have been very well thought out. And, as is the objective of journalism, it also taught me a lot. It gave me a deeper insight into the Taliban as well. Overall, I thought this was an exceptional piece of multimedia journalism. It also won an Emmy, so I assume I am not the only one who found it very thought provoking and outstanding. :)

http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/talkingtothetaliban/

-Kaitlin D.”

Learn about how to get internships

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The Poynter Institute’s Colleen Eddy and Joe Grimm, who also was the Detroit Free Press’ former recruiter, is holding a live chat today about how to get internships. If you're interested in a media career, I recommend you checking this out. Internships help you build contacts and a resume.

It's at 1 p.m. If you can't make it, you can go back and read the chat later.

Extra credit points for anyone who contributes a question to the chat that I can go back and verify afterward.

The next Wave?

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Jennifer S. sent in this story today about a new platform called the Google Wave.

Here are her comments: “Google has yet another new feature out trying to revolutionize the internet, the Google wave. This article even touches a bit on how the features of Google Wave can be used for journalism. What I find interesting about Google Wave is that it's very exclusive at the moment, kind of like facebook used to be. You have to have an invite to use it, but my gay ex boyfriend's friend he made at Swiss Business school used to intern at Google has super invites, so he's allowed to invite more than eight people. I commented on his status and asked him to invite me, so hopefully I get to try it out. I figure since we're already focusing on a Google feature this week it's interesting to read about a potential new feature of Google.”

BTW, this extends her lead over everyone but Lorry N., who has taken over second place by herself. Want to get in on the action? Send me a link or comment on this post or others here.

Serwach surges into lead

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Jennifer Serwach took the lead in the extra credit contest this week for her willingness to explore Second Life and report back, earning three extra credit points. That's the typical maximum you can earn in one week. She is now 11 points away from at least a 1 percent grade boost.

Running Google maps

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Back in Chapter 4 of “Principles of Convergent Journalism,” the text talks about Google Earth and discusses how journalists in Chicago have used crime data to make interactive maps with Google, showing crimes on a block-by-block basis. In Chapter 10, we're once again talking about adding multimedia.

One of your assignments this week is to make a simple Google Map. I've done one which you can view below the help video. It shows where I have run marathons (As a reporter, I had A LOT of stress covering Flint City Hall and dealing with editors, so I became a runner. I lost a lot of weight, too). I did it by creating a Google account and following their instructions in the video below.



Next is a wide shot of where I have run marathons. My dad likes to tease me about where I have gone, saying if I want to run 26.2 miles, all I need to do is put on my shoes and run out my front door. Why travel thousands of miles? I hope to run a marathon again in Detroit on Oct. 18, but I will bail if my wife is in labor.


View My marathons in a larger map

Lastly, we have a zoom of New York, where I ran the marathon in 2007 (I created both of these images using the customize embed feature). I thought I could run with Lance Armstrong and I blogged about my experience while I worked for The Flint Journal. I was wrong, but I did get a cool medal. Click on the placemark for a photo that I accessed through Flickr. We'll focus on Flickr more in a few weeks, but if you want to put a photo in, you'll need a place to host your images, so I set up my own account there.


View My marathons in a larger map

My take on Week 4 readings

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — So, here I am trying to figure out how to sit down on an log and I sit in the fire. Ouch, that hurt, I think?

That's how well my foray into Second Life was. Like Jennifer Serwach said on the Discussion Board, I wasn't that impressed with the interface or the virtual world itself — although after I did sit down some stranger walked up to me and asked me in Spanish if I wanted to be his friend (Not exactly like Facebook, eh?).

What I found more fascinating is how these people are writing and producing their own stories about this virtual world. Can't make it as reporter in the real world? Maybe you can make it in Second Life, a place with its own economy and problems just like the other world we share, although MSM, such as Reuters, has already cutback its own bureau in SL (just like the RW).

Apple’s expected tablet could redefine print

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Jennifer S. sent this link about a rumor that Apple will soon have its own digitial book reader to compete with the likes of Amazon’s Kindle.

Here are her comments: “So this article basically says that there's rumors of Apple releasing a product similar to the Kindle. As we all can tell from the iphone, Apple tends to revolutionize technology so perhaps the Apple alternative to the Kindle will be even more unique and revolutionary. If Kindle catches on more mainstream, that could impact newspapers greatly since the Kindle has a lot of features for seeing a newspaper in more of the form that you would see in print. And since Kindles aren't backlit in the same ways computers are they tend to be easier on the eyes. So more companies creating products similar to a Kindle means that they're catching on and that could help the news industry in the long run.”

A virtual summit on arts journalism

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Lorry N. sent this link earlier today about a virtual summit on arts journalism (P.S. This puts Lorry in the lead).

Here are her comments: “Check this website out - I believe it's just a blog but I never knew about this event. It seems like it would be very interesting to get on and watch. But, I'm not sure if it's open to the public or not!
Lorry N.”

AP Stylebook for iPhone

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — For those who want the AP Stylebook wherever they go, there's now the stylebook for the iPhone.

At $28.99, I think it's too pricey.

(Remember, comment here or send me a similar link and get into the extra credit contest).

College journalism workshop this weekend

Update 10:37 a.m.: I received a message from one of the organizers. There's no problem if you sign up the day of the event. Also, the start of the day goes like this: 9:15 a.m. coffee, welcome remarks 9:45 a.m., first session 10 a.m.  

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Interested in learned new journalism skills and brushing up on ones you already know? The Michigan Collegiate Press Association is hosting its fall workshop “ABC Easy as Attitude, Basics and Convergence” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Eastern Michigan University.

The slated sessions include “Going Online Only” and “Adapting to a New Media Environment.” The cost is $20 for members and $30 for nonmembers. An RSVP deadline was Sept. 18, but I would think they'll be flexible (I'm checking into it).

If anyone goes and writes about what they learned from one of the online sessions for a posting here, it'll be worth three extra credit points (Please email if you plan on doing that).

The eyes have it

YPSILANTI, Mich. — Marla D. sent this link about Web site usability and how eyetracking studies have helped in Web site design (I'm posting this from Eastern Michigan University, where I'm also teaching a feature writing class). Here are her comments:

“I was astonished after reading this article on usability of a web page. The technology that was used to follow a readers eye patters on a home page or photos really proves that the content, layout, colors and graphics play a huge role in how effective the information is being relayed. I can relate this article to the comparing website assignment we just did. I thought one of the home pages was far too cluttered and my eyes kept jumping around.
Enjoy,

Marla”

Freep wins another Emmy

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The Detroit Free Press captured yet another Emmy for its multimedia journalism with this project about a foster home for boys in Detroit. I think I might later make this a topic of our Discussion Board … but don’t let that stop you from checking out what’s setting the standard. And if you want an extra credit point, post a comment here after taking it in.

My take on Week 3 readings

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — I can’t say it any plainer than we’re witnessing journalism being completely reinvented and no one sure is how the story will turn out. This week’s reading just continues to reinforce that.

These chapters detail how the Internet has transformed the news business forever in print and broadcast. Some is new to me. I never heard of a Fisher Grid (developed by the authors), although it makes sense to these evolving situations. From a reality standpoint, however, in a newsroom, I can tell you, figuring out what’s best for print vs. the Web just happens. No one typically diagrams it. There isn't time.

Blackboard back up, but extension remains

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Blackboard is fixed, and while you can certainly turn in your essay this evening, I'm going abide by my extension for 11:59 p.m. Monday. I think given the circumstances that is fair, but in the future if Blackboard goes down on a deadline day I would like everyone to e-mail their assignments to me as an alternative (Aspiring journalists need learn to be resourceful to make their deadlines).

But in this case, for all of you who were in need an extra day, fate has smiled upon you. Use your additional time wisely.

- Chris

Outage extends deadline for essay

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Because of an unexpected outage of Blackboard today, I’ve decided to extend the deadline for the essay an extra 24 hours.

The assignment is now due at 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21. The Blackboard outage might also affect when next week’s assignments are available. I will keep everyone posted the best I can.

If Blackboard is not up tomorrow, you can submit the essay to me at cmachnia@umflint.edu as an attachment via e-mail (a backup process that we will also now follow for future assignments).

Please email or call me at (810) 730-5565 if you have any questions.

- Chris

Second link focuses on Web design

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Here’s Trina M.’s submission:

“I've been reading “What Web designers can learn from publication design.” I found it made some good points about design and content:

1) Web and publication design should share a rigid design template that determines the look and feel of the content.

2) Great publication design allows the designers to find creativity and flexibility within the template system.

I've have been using some of these ideas in addition to those covered in the text for our assignment to evaluate web publications.”

Our first link is about ‘FYLP’

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Well, it took only a few hours for one of you to submit the first link in our contest — an E-Media Tidbit from Poynter Online about the multimedia magazine FYLP. It's from Kaitlin D. Trina M. submitted a link on another topic by commenting on the posting about the contest a minute later than Kaitlin’s e-mail. While I appreciate the enthusiasm, I've asked Trina to resubmit hers via e-mail before I repost it here.

Here's what Kaitlin said with her link:

“Working for my high school newspaper for two years, I know how important the cost of making a newspaper is. There were many times when we actually had to shorten our newspaper or cut stories and fill it with ads just so we could have an issue.

Link, comment your way to extra credit

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — As promised, today I'm announcing an opportunity for extra credit in this class through a contest designed to enhance everything we do in our assignments and on our discussion board.

This blog is dedicated to online journalism and you can earn extra credit by helping me add content and discussion. Tally enough points by submitting links to me related to online journalism and by commenting on posts from others in this blog and you can boost your grade.

Here's how it'll work. There will be two ways to earn points. They are:

My Take on Week 2 Readings — Back to the Future

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — As promised, here’s my take on this week’s readings (feel free to post a comment, but it’s not required. We'll keep the graded discussions on Blackboard).

Chapter 2 of “Principles of Convergent Journalism” says you have to broaden your knowledge and skill base to make it in today’s converged journalism world. It's no lie — at least locally. But an important factor driving the changes, in my view that the book doesn't address, is the contraction of resources at news outlets.

My take on Week 1 readings

As promised, here’s my take on this week’s readings (feel free to post a comment, but it’s not required. We'll keep the graded discussions on Blackboard):

For journalists, the future is here and they all better get used to it or decide to do something else.

Welcome

Hello everybody,

I created this blog to serve as another teaching tool for this class (You’ll be creating your own blogs later in the semester). For today, that means I’ll shortly post my take on this week’s readings. In other weeks, I might use this site to post audio and video to add to the topics we’re reading about, or when we look at Twitter, you can come here to read my example tweets.

- Chris