Newspapers not giving up yet

As pundits have debated the future of print newspapers over the years, I have held firm in my belief that many people will always hold on to a strong bond with paper: I do. As technology has become more and more prevalent, with tiny screens providing the means to access just about anything, anywhere at any time, in some ways that will also be the savior for newspapers.

What I mean is, we will only go so far with technology before there is some push back.

That push back may be happening now. According to research done by the National Newspaper Association, readership is up for newspapers (www.nna.org).  The NNA reports, "In 2008, more people reported reading a newspaper each week, rising to 86 percent form 82 percent in 2005 and 83 percent in 2007."

I thought that was an extremely high number. And it gets better, "They also report that they're spending more time reading the newspaper, up to 45 minutes, an increase over 2005 (38 minutes) and 2007 (42 minutes)."

While some want to write off newspapers as a dying breed, I'm not ready to jump on that bandwagon. I am ready to admit newspapers need to continue to be smart, responsive to readers and nimble enough to dance with the times.

While this may disappoint some who will have to admit they were wrong about the future of newspapers, they're not going away as an entire industry.

Feature Stories

Feature stories are what set newspapers apart. A basic newspaper reports information - as it happens and previewing events. A reader-oriented paper provides information in a more interesting way. This includes investigative reporting and feature writing.

In a lot of ways, feature writing is best when it's worked into the news on a daily basis. Reporters can ask questions: How can I relate this to readers? Who is affected by this story? Is there a personal example of the implications of this story I can use to relay the information?

When these approaches are used, information is transferred to readers in a more meaningful way. For example, a story about the number of home foreclosures last month in Detroit is interesting. A story about an individual family, with their personal struggles and situation, is memorable. Both tell the story about a problem in Detroit and nationwide. Which would you rather read?

Torch suggestions

Among the advice Saul Hansell of the NY Times had for members of the Torch staff was this: Serve readers (students) where they are. What was he getting at with this comment? Basically, do more beyond the print edition. One tip he had was to have a blog for each section of the paper that would be updated on an "as news happens" basis rather than waiting for Wednesdays to roll around to provide news.

A statement he made: No mature adult wants wait to read about a football game that happened Saturday until Wednesday's paper comes out.

Passion for your work

Saul Hansell, technology reporter for the NY Times, visited Big Rapids this week as part of the Ferris State University Political Engagement Project. Members of the Torch staff and I were lucky enough to have dinner with Saul. While he had many enlightening things to share, the main thing I took away from him was his passion for what he does for a living.

If we could all carry that sort of passion into our career, the world would be a better place.

What I want to read....

I would like to read an article about the presidential election that gets the candidates to talk about the economy in a new way. Where I'm heading is reminiscent of JFK's famous "ask now what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" speech.

What burden must individual Americans bear in order for our country to get through this economic crisis? I don't believe all the blame goes to Congress, the White House, the banks or the lenders. Individuals are also to blame. And I want a president who will hold all parties responsible, not only the obvious ones who everyone is blaming.

To do this, a reporter will have to ask good questions. And put the candidates on the spot. Can it happen?

News Judgement

Sometimes, news is thin.

Those days are most difficult in newsrooms. Figuring out what is worthy of front-page print is easy when there are major stories - a fire with multiple deaths, a presidential candidate visits town, the mayor is found guilty of perjury, a car accident blocks the major highway during rush hour, a school bond passes to build a new high school - those are easy decisions.

When news is not flying like that, things become more difficult. There are many reasons a story can end up on the front page of a paper: Timeliness, value to readers, a well-written piece, and/or simply a slow news day can all factor into decisions. Lately, there has been a flood of major national news with the presidential election looming and the economy taking center stage.

What do you think is worthy of front page news? Why?

Pride

I spent two years advising the student newspaper at Grand Rapids Community College, The Collegiate (collegiatelive.com). It was already an award-winning publication when I took over advising. However, the staff was nearly all new along with me. Only two students returned with real experience - the sports editor (who was a better news writer than editor) and the photo editor (who was on campus very little).

There were plenty of mistakes - on everyone's part that year. Sometimes I was too lenient. Sometimes I was too stern. Students spelled headlines wrong, botched layouts, failed to produce stories in a timely manner, etc,.... Overall, I was confident they were learning.

While awards are not the best sign of a great publication, they can be a sign of something good going on. During the second year (2007-08), things really started to improve. Most of that credit goes to a dedicated staff. Some people joined the returning Collegiate staff and together really made an impact.

There have been a couple of nice validating moments: 1. The paper's web site won first place in the state's community college newspaper competition and the print edition was third (no other paper was honored in the top three for both print and online). 2. The Collegiate won the prestigious Apple Award during the College Media Advisers spring national convention in New York City (due to a hotel scheduling problem, staff members were robbed the opportunity to accept the award on stage). 3. The Collegiate was recently named a finalist for the Associated Collegiate Press' prestigious Pacemaker Award.

Awards, on their own, do not prove excellence. However, there's no way all three of these organizations are wrong. The Collegiate stands out.

I could not be more proud of the students who put so much into the paper. I can't think of anything more satisfying than to watch students being successful.

Constitution Day

Constitution Day came and went Wednesday, Sept. 17. For most, the event went unnoticed.

Most are not aware it is actually a federal mandate that all institutions receiving federal funding honor the event in some way. Maybe many do in small ways I'm not aware of. I doubt most comply.

This year, Grand Rapids Community College stepped up thanks to members of the student newspaper The Collegiate. The paper has been on a roll under editor-in-chief Lonnie Allen. A non-tradition student, Lonnie has led the Collegiate from an inexperienced staff two years ago to winning the prestigious Apple Award and now making the finalist list for the Pacemaker Award. Those are both notable achievements for any staff.

What I'm most impressed with, however, is the level of passion exhibited by stepping up to the plate with an event like Collegiate staff organized for Constitution. The event was modeled after one started by students at Florida Atlantic University, known as Free Food, Free Speech. Students willing gave up their First Amendment rights during the event in exchange for a free lunch.

What's amazing is how few people realize what it would really mean to give up those rights. I don't ever want to find out.

Don't read!

It's that time of year when many people like to bash "the media" for its coverage. Presidential election time brings this cry to a climax. The Republican National Convention crowd gave one of its biggest cheers when the media was criticized.

Bring on the criticism.

I say, we (the media) criticize you and you criticize us right back. That's how it should work. We're both need to answer to our critics. We don't need to cry foul when criticism happens. We need to listen and respond appropriately.

A thriving democracy thrives when citizens are educated and informed. Education is a lifelong pursuit. Information comes from many sources - the media being a primary provider. Consumers of media need to be able to filter for themselves what information is reliable and what is not worth your time.

Tune out if it's not reliable. Don't read if it's clearly biased.

It's your decision what to absorb.

The Torch

Advising a college student newspaper puts a bit of a target on a person's back to begin with. I'm not going to be one of the few who increase the size of that target by publicly critiquing the paper online.

I advise the Torch, the student paper at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich. While this is my first year at FSU, it is my third year advising a student newspaper.

Each edition of the paper, I take pen to newsprint to point out all the flaws. That may seem a bit harsh, but it's the reality of the newspaper business. Every edition has flaws - plenty of them. There has never been a "perfect edition" of any newspaper.

So, I critique. Some of my students have called my criticisms harsh. Others have readily accepted them. I believe it's my duty during critiques to point out specific areas where there can be improvement.

So, I finish with my latest favorite quote from the book "The Last Lecture" by the late Randy Pausch: When you're screwing up and nobody says anything to you anymore, that means they've given up on you.

Think about it....

Just a woman?

Women will never be left out of the political equation in the United States like they once were. Those days are over. Women vote, women make decisions, women make an impact and women can run our country.
My 5-year-old son was big on voting for Hillary Clinton because he thought "a mom would make a good president." He's probably right. Being a mother, and a father for that matter, is a valuable life experience to becoming the president.
Once Hillary was eliminated from the presidential race, there was some clear disappointment among many women. I side with those who thought Hillary being elected to president would not have been as groundbreaking as it could have been. Sure, a woman president would have made for huge headlines. But truth be told, she is forever linked to her husband. I don't hold it against her, I just point it out as reality. She was First Lady before she was a politician.
Insted of Hillary, I hope a woman emerges all on her own as a serious presidential contender in the near future. A woman the likes of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (a groundbreaking achievement of its own) or McCain's vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
Which brings me to Palin. Is it good enough to just stick a woman on the ticket to gain widespread support among women?
If anyone thinks so, I find that narrow-minded thought process disappointing and insulting to all women.

First day in class at Ferris

Today was my first official day in the classroom at Ferris State University. Coincidentally, my first class was in the same room where I taught a class as part of my interview back in November 2007. That seems like such a long time ago now. I took it as a good sign, since I did get the job.

I have one ENGL 150 course. It's new for me. The exciting thing is it all freshmen. They look unsure, but ready to learn. It's my job to help them move along through the semester. I'm sure there will be ups and downs, but each class is only 50 minutes long.

I have two Journalism classes - 121. They are back-to-back. The only difficulty to that is I need to be sure I don't skip important content in the second section. Sometimes, it is challenging to remember which class I said what in. Am I getting old?

All three classes started well. We didn't accomplish much other than setting the tone for the semester. What can you do in 50 minutes anyway? It really flies by.

I also got my first edition of the Big Rapids Pioneer in the mail today. Another newspaper to add to my daily reading. So far, it reminds me a bit of my days back at the Huron Daily Tribune. Small town paper with small town news. It's great stuff!

A new chapter

I officially began a new chapter this week as a full-time, tenure track professor at Ferris State University. I am excited and anxious to get in the classroom. Ferris has been fantastic about helping new faculty members become acclimated to the campus, the students and colleagues. I am still working out some kinks in my syllabi, the Blackboard version used on campus known as Ferris Connect has been an adventure, and I'm still waiting for my laptop, but things will fall into place this week.
The last month I have done more writing for the Grand Rapids Press than I had all summer. It was partially a need for some cash on my end and partially a need by the Press as things got busy. It worked out well.
Now, I'm focusing completely on Ferris. Students at The Torch have been working to produce the first paper of the school year. It's due out Wednesday (Aug. 27) in print and online. I'm anxious to get a look at what they produce.
In class, I have one section of freshman composition and two journalism classes. The English course is definitely causing me the most anxiety. There are more unknowns for me in that group. I have a great network of support and definitely plan to use their help.
I hope to check back in here more frequently now that I'm back on a regular routine.

More on access to public information

My students at GRCC, in the JR 257 Reporting class, again ran into problems obtaining public information from the college. I have done the same assignment at GVSU with no problem, but GRCC is not cooperating with student requests for information. It is perplexing and disturbing. This gets me frustrated and a bit angry.
I want my students to learn to be journalists - or at least what it's like to be a journalist. I guess this is a teachable moment for them. The truth is, not everyone will cooperate. Even when they are required to by law.
The funny thing is, what starts as a simple request for public information can escalate when public information is not turned over as requested. The questions are natural for reporters: What are they hiding? Why aren't they handing over the information? What is really going on?
While officials apparently are trying to keep information from reporters, they are actually only heightening the interest in that information.

Journalism Awards

Spring seems to be a popular season for both entering and learning outcomes for journalism awards. A couple weeks ago, I was proud to accompany two members of The Collegiate, the GRCC student newspaper, to the Michigan Community College Press Association conference in Monroe. Collegiate staff won 21 total awards.
The most noteworthy award was for best online publication - for Collegiatelive.com. This is the latest attempt for The Collegiate to have an online edition. I believe it is the best and most likely to stand the test of time (at least for a while). It is informative, interesting and visual. It provides much of the print content, but also web-original content, with polls, videos and blogs.
One of the funny things about awards is that many journalists get very excited about them. However, they are a difficult animal to figure out. Awards are often determined arbitrarily, sometimes with one person looking over material. They do not always represent the best work, but sometimes the most interesting topic. For many reasons, journalists should not strive simply for awards. Nor should they hang their hats on winning one award.
Having said that, it was very exciting for Collegiate staff members to learn recently they won the Apple Award - a national honor bestowed from College Media Advisers.... More on that story to come soon.....

More on access to information

A few comments have led me to follow-up the last post on access to information at GRCC. First, I have no immediate reason to believe the college is intentionally withholding information from the public. I want that to be clear.
However, I do also strongly believe that access can be severely limited even in unintentional ways. That's what I see going on now. If things like the college budget and faculty salary book are not made more easily available, then eventually my opinion may change. For now, I'm in a wait and see mode.
The comments are accurate when they wonder why access is not more easily obtained. That's what happens in these situations - individuals are left to wonder. That should not be the case.
I have heard that faculty members don't like the salary book available for viewing. My response: Get over it. GRCC is a publicly funded institution - salaries are public information. The only reason I can imagine a faculty member would not want information to be made available is for possible embarrassment. The only reason to be embarrassed is if the facts would show salaries are too high.
As this string of comments and posts shows, holding back information is not good for anyone. It leads to guessing, assuming and speculation.

Access to Information

Thursday night, I paired up students in my Reporting class and instructed them to head to the library in search of budget information on the college. It was a multi-part assignment/project. I wanted them to:
1. Actually go through the process of finding public information.
2. Get a real look at how complex things like budget can be.
3. Spend time in groups figuring out what in a budget is important.
4. Return as a class and present group findings.
5. Formulate story ideas based on the information.
Classrooms are great, but when it comes to teaching journalism there is no replacement for actually doing it.
What students found, however, was that the Grand Rapids Community College (Michigan) library does not have basic budget documents available in the library. They were told that they haven't had things like that available in the 13 years the librarians on hand could remember. And the class was told to contact a college administrator to get a copy of the budget; assuring them that the information was readily available.
I was disappointed by the entire scenario. When information is difficult to obtain - only available in certain places, and during certain hours - that can have a similar chilling result as not making it available at all. No matter what the intention. I think that's why most colleges make these sorts of documents available at a place like the library - where the hours are longer, including evenings and weekends.
It has been researched and reported that keeping documents like these only in administrative offices (even if freely available there) can have a similar result as keeping them under lock and key. Not only is it difficult for some people to get to the offices during normal business hours, but it can also be intimidating for some in the public to approach administrative offices. And I'm addressing not only journalists here.
I am a strong believer in open and freely available access to information. Libraries often provide a fantastic venue for those; in a non-threatening atmosphere.
I hope GRCC considers a change in policy regarding documents; sooner rather than later.

Writing for the Web

Journalists have to be ready to fill a number of roles within a newsroom. One of them is writing web-original content.
Some of the general guidelines of web news include: concise, specific, to-the-point, easy to navigate, links, lists and timely updates. Many of these overlap with good ol' fashioned news-writing. Some are clearly different.
The Collegiate staff had an opportunity to do some Web-original content when staff members learned the morning of March 20 that Grand Rapids Community College President Juan Olivarez announced he is resigning to take a position in Kalamazoo. After some confusion and discussion, staff members rallied to get the Web site (Collegiatelive.com) updated by the afternoon. It included a photo, short story, a list of past GRCC presidents and a bio.
The content was timely and mostly well done.
The biography came directly off the GRCC Web site and should have been cleaned up for news style, with much of it condensed. It was too flowery. A link to Wood TV8, with video, also seemed unnecessary - it steers readers away from The Collegiate Web site. That's not a good idea.
Overall, I was impressed with the quick and well-planned coverage of this major news story. It's not easy to get the Web side of news right - this came pretty darn close.

Conference in NYC

I'm attending the College Media Advisers spring national convention the next few days in New York City. The convention this year moved to the Marriott Marquis in Times Square - creating quite the buzz among attendees. It's in the heart of the action.
That said, I couldn't wait to get away from the mania of Times Square yesterday. To find food, fun and the real city. I think a lot of people want to do that in a place like this; few actually find a way to do it.
Getting off the beaten path is a cliche among journalists in a lot of ways. As a collective, we talk about doing things differently and looking at the other side. Too often, we fail at that as an industry.
One of my goals for this conference is to find ways to encourage students to continue to look outside their comfort zones. To explore new story ideas, watch for new possibilities - and how to explore those to produce news content.
I have several other things I'm interested in doing here, of course. But journalists need to be reminded to continue to look not just straight ahead, but up, down, around and to the future in order to properly serve readers.

NY Times: Making news on McCain?

Did the NY Times go too far with its article on John McCain?
I know this for sure, the news about the article has been bigger than the news about the content of the article. Media making the news is not a good trend for media credibility.
We discussed this story in one of my classes. Students seemed mostly uncertain about how this thing will play out. They seemed somewhat concerned about the NY Times doing an article based on anonymous sources.
My bigger concern: Has McCain, who claims to be outside the dirty politics of Washington, just like all the rest? Does he take lobby money, allow lobbyists to influence him and basically act the norm in D.C.?
If he's better than the rest, that's also potentially a bad sign!
Maybe this is the reason we haven't had a senator win the presidency in some time now. When we learn the details of how they operate, it's difficult to stomach. Will the same happen with Hillary and Obama at some?