A Crash Course in Photojournalism

Looking for a crash course on photojournalism? Mindy McAdams has just what you're looking for in a new post on her very helpful and inspiring blog, Teaching Online Journalism.

In this seventh post of her series, “Reporter’s Guide to Multimedia Proficiency,” she tackles photojournalism. In "Learn How to Shoot Decent Photos" McAdams covers those basics on why still photos still matter, and why it's essential for young journalists to know how to take a good photo. She writes:

"Every journalist should be able to capture a decent photo in a breaking news situation. You might be the only journalist on the scene. Sure, today it’s likely that 100 people with cell-phone cameras will be on the scene too — but why shouldn’t YOU be the one who captures the Page One image that gets picked up by Reuters or AFP and zapped around the world?"

She goes on to say that you don't need the most sophisticated photo equipment to get the job done. What matters is that you know what makes a good photo, and that you can get the shot when it counts.

Finally, she has the same message I've been drilling into my students this term: Practice, practice, practice!

"Shoot lots of photos of EACH thing you think is worth shooting. Since photojournalism is real life and not posed, your subjects will be moving and changing. Part of the trick to getting a good shot is to shoot waaay more pictures than you ever did on your summer vacation."

So, what are you waiting for, get out there and take some more photos!

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(Photo credit: "Kuwait Free Photographers" by NoNo^Q8 - Free Photographer, courtesy of Flickr.com)

Why Cover Letters Still Matter

In a few weeks, my Feature Writing students will be wrapping up their portfolios. Part of that process includes writing a cover letter.

OSU journalism professor Pam Cytrynbaum passed along an outstanding New York Times career column on cover letters. It extols the virtues of the artful cover letter, which many young jobseekers seem to think has become passe. Uh, think again...

"Cover letters are still necessary, and in a competitive market they can give you a serious edge if they are written and presented effectively," notes Phyllis Korkki at the outset of the column.

Whether you've written what seems like of ton of cover letters or you're crafting your first, you'll find some great reminders/tips here.

And speaking of tips, thanks Pam for another fine one...

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(Photo credit: "Rusty Writer" by Steve Wampler, courtesy of Flickr.com)

Nerd World: Facebook Is for Old Fogies

I suspected months ago that I was too old for Facebook. Not anymore! Old fogies have taken over the social networking site! That's according to Lev Grossman in his "Technoculture" blog on Time.com.

(I'll give LBCC journalism student Rick Casillas credit for dubbing Time.com "Nerd World" on his evolving site -- Mediocre Gatsby's Wild Publishing Party. Check it out.)

Anyway, Grossman delivers 10 reasons why Facebook is for old fogies, including:

4. Facebook isn't just a social network; it's a business network. And unlike, say, college students, we actually have jobs. What's the point of networking with people who can't hire you? Not that we'd want to work with anyone your age anyway.

or

10. We're not cool, and we don't care. There was a time when it was cool to be on Facebook. That time has passed. Facebook now has 150 million members, and its fastest-growing demographic is 30 and up. At this point, it's way cooler not to be on Facebook. We've ruined it for good, just like we ruined Twilight and skateboarding.

Watch out those of you under 30, we've got Twitter in our sights...
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J-students Make Waves with Social Media

Social media isn't just fun for today's college journalists, it's essential as they look to expand their skills as well as their portfolio. In a new post on MediaShift, journalism instructor Alfred Hermida shares how students are maximizing the reach and power of social media to do their journalism and build their personal brands as newspeople.

He writes: "Today's students should be building up their professional persona online through social media, creating a digital identity as an ambitious, engaged and curious reporter."

In addition to connecting with sources through Twitter, his students use their blogs as their "business card," showing off their professional as well as school work.

Hermida concludes:

"Being active online, sharing experiences and engaging with audiences is fundamental for students looking to enter journalism. It is even more important at a time when journalism students are uneasy about their job prospects. Budding journalists have always had to work hard to get themselves established. But the emergence of social media, through platforms such as Twitter, has added a new dimension to this, one that the reporters of tomorrow cannot afford to ignore."

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(Photo credit: "The Ultimate Blogger's Kit" by m-c, courtesy of Flickr.com)

Getting Organized Can Start Now

I'm always on the lookout for ways to become better organized or remind myself of ways to save some time. We all could use more time for the things we really enjoy.

I happened upon these seven productivity tips by Elliott Kosmicki. (For more, see his GoodPlum blog.)

A couple of Elliott's suggestions stood out for me, including the reminder to look at each e-mail only once -- and do something with it, even if that means hitting "delete."

And I hadn't ever considered #7 - Reflection, then refraction:

Most people are able to reflect on the past week and think about the good and bad… but how we refract that (alter slightly) into change for the next week is important as well. During your weekly review, don’t spend too much time fretting over what you could have done differently - slingshot those thoughts into what you are able to change for the week ahead.

That said, I'm looking forward to Monday ...

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(Photo credit: "Getting Organized - Day 43" by Mark Allanson, courtesy of Flickr.com)

Exploring the Media's Twitter Obsession

Why are journalists falling all over themselves trying to figure out Twitter? Because the social network is growing at epic pace, from alerting the world to breaking news to providing sources and a media audience.

In a MediaShift story, journalist Alana Taylor, a student at New York University, reports on a recent panel discussion, "Journalists and Social Media: Sources, Skills, and the Writer." MediaBistro organized the event. She writes:

"Journalists are obsessed with Twitter. Obsessed. They use it, talk about it, analyze it, deconstruct it, reconstruct it, love it, hate it, capitalize on it, become experts on it, monetize it, argue about it, and become micro-famous on it. They are mesmerized with what it is and they are as giddy as Tom Cruise on Oprah just thinking about what it could be."

She goes on to share what panelists had to say about Twitter as a reporting tool and its place in the evolving media.

Attached to her story is this MediaBistro video featuring the panelists discussing social networking and the future of journalism.

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Worth Sharing: "Before the Music Dies"

This week in Media & Society we wrapped up our discussion of the music and radio industries. As part of the class's online forum, one of the students found this video related to "Before the Music Dies," a documentary on the music industry.

The video highlights the way those in the industry can take an idea, combine some sound mixing and attractive pictures and market the "next big thing." Sadly, I fear, it's not that far from reality.

Thanks, Hilary, for finding this video.

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