Sorry for the bum link, 2013 participants. Your blog is here:
http://reynoldsphoenix2013.blogspot.com
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Favoring Fingers as Input Devices
Read full story: New York (CNNMoney)http://money.cnn.com/2012/07/10/technology/new-ultrabooks-tablets/index.htm?iid=HP_River
Denise Powell
Bok Technical high School
Philadelphia, PA
Twilight of Copyright
Don't use other people’s artwork, create your own or get
copyright usage.
In January an Alexandria, Va., federal
grand jury charged Megaupload and seven top officials with a racketeering
conspiracy focused on aiding and abetting criminal copyright infringement. The
government alleges that the defendants, led by Kim Dotcom, a.k.a. Kim Schmitz,
a.k.a. Kim Tim Jim Vestor, made $175 million from a business built on
facilitating the illegal distribution of at least $500 million worth of
copyrighted movies, music, television shows, books, images, videogames, and
software.*
For full story: ttp://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/07/11/megaupload-cyberlocker-copyright/Megaupload and the twilight of copyright
by Roger Parloff, Fourtune Jull, 2012
Denise Powell
Bok Technical High School
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA
Sunday, July 1, 2012
We are not alone
I didn't think it was possible, but words have become more precious to me. They hold more power.
I've never really had to interview and quote people in print. Now as I listen to conversations, I'm imagining myself attempting to catch the quote exactly on paper. It seems that reporting improves listening skills.
I love how Gregory Favre said that as journalists, we are listeners. "We are storytellers." He said, "We are not trained to be first responders." Though we show up before the firefighters and medics.
His final speech was so empowering. He revitalized this calling in me. He put me right up there with all of you as a journalist. Such power, such responsibility, such a heritage in that call. We are not alone, Mr. Favre so graciously reminded us.
I'm so excited to begin teaching students this power of reporting and precise listening.
So may we consider every word as precious as we rush into each situation to report truth with accuracy, as we live up to this calling, knowing that we are never alone.
Stephanie Platter
King's High School
Seattle, Wash
I've never really had to interview and quote people in print. Now as I listen to conversations, I'm imagining myself attempting to catch the quote exactly on paper. It seems that reporting improves listening skills.
I love how Gregory Favre said that as journalists, we are listeners. "We are storytellers." He said, "We are not trained to be first responders." Though we show up before the firefighters and medics.
His final speech was so empowering. He revitalized this calling in me. He put me right up there with all of you as a journalist. Such power, such responsibility, such a heritage in that call. We are not alone, Mr. Favre so graciously reminded us.
I'm so excited to begin teaching students this power of reporting and precise listening.
So may we consider every word as precious as we rush into each situation to report truth with accuracy, as we live up to this calling, knowing that we are never alone.
King's High School
Seattle, Wash
After two busy weeks, some final thoughts
If ever there were a lesson in how difficult it is to keep secrets in this connected age, it's my attempt to surprise you with a video summing up thoughts from our closing ceremony. It didn't help that I forgot about a Vimeo feature that tweets when I post a video (finally figured out how to shut that off).
So anyway, here you go. Enjoy.
I created this to share with the granting organization, hence the focus on statements of the program's benefits to teachers, their students and their school communities.
Because I am so intent on getting participants out the door – not to be rid of you but to fulfill my obligation to get everyone to the airport on time – my brief closing words always wind up leaving me unsatisfied. I do want to say this now that I have the luxury of time: It's been nothing short of a pleasure to get to know each of you. I've appreciated your attention and your dedication to the task, even when the days were long and the challenges great. I've appreciated your good humor. Perhaps more than anything, I've enjoying seeing you become a family of sorts through our sessions, social media interactions and even rumored evening extracurricular confabs at downtown Phoenix nightspots.
So thanks. It's been fun.
This post doesn't mean the blog need end. I'll leave it open until folks aren't using it.
I'll send a note later today with information on submitting lesson plans and how I'll go about reviewing assignments and assigning continuing-education credit.
Steve Elliott
Arizona State University
Phoenix
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Journalism Exile
As if the ASNE Reynolds High School Journalism Institute hadn't given us enough, Gregory Favre and Alan Weintraut counseled our group Friday to prepare for the return home so that we might continue our noble mission beyond the June 29 exit. Favre said we should recognize that journalists, our students, will need a little more care and he referenced the emotionally charged events of Hurricane Katrina and September 11. As an example of high school journalists facing the trials of covering sensitive events, Alan shared the story of a young Annandale High School editor's courageous coverage of a freshman student's suicide. He said she had an experience she would never forget, and I know that is true.
I shared with several of you that I covered an on-campus suicide while police beat reporter for The Daily Skiff at Texas Christian University. I had met the young man when he studied computer programming with my roommate. I imagined his face when I read the police report. His mother and brother candidly told me his story of consuming depression, and cried about their loss as I asked them to describe him over the phone. When I hung up the phone, I sat at my editor's desk and wept. To the editor's credit, he did speak to me after I had filed my story. He said that he believed I was best to cover the story because of my sensitivity. I'm not sure I believed that, though. When the prospect of covering such a story left me with anxiety at the beginning of every day, an insightful professor advised me to consider other options. With that climactic event, I made a decision to avoid a profession in newspaper journalism. I hadn't been trained for any other kind, and in Dallas/Fort Worth, publication options outside of the newspaper aren't prevalent.
Since 1999, I've consumed news and advocated for journalists, but as an admiring outsider. I exiled myself from the world of journalism, no one did it to me. I believed my days as a journalism insider should end because my sensitivity would make me a less-than journalist, and the idea of that was unacceptable to me. I could only pursue a career field where I might be above average or truly great. I believed that my emotions would make me a biased, weaker journalist and that in some ways the best reporters and writers could switch off their humanity.
Favre said, "I never believed as a journalist that I left my humanity at the door." He said he looked for journalists who had both talent and heart. "Make me care. Make all of us who read those stories care," he said.
So, you're saying that caring makes me a better journalist? With his words, Favre solidified my invitation back into a world I so admired. ASNE and Steve Elliott had issued the invitation, but I didn't truly feel worthy of it until Favre said those words. Some of you have wondered why this experience has been so emotional for me, and now you have your answer. I've loved teaching, and I know I was born to teach, but I never felt right about entirely leaving journalism. Now, I merge my two loves. The Cronkite program showed me that journalists today must be many things, and I love the creativity journalism demands and the options that new journalism allows for those who may not fit into that somewhat limiting hardened newspaper reporter role. I have been finding my way out of exile these past two weeks, with you as my sherpas. You've helped me feel included, supported and cherished for all that I am, especially someone who cares.
Thank you.
Rhonda Dickens
Chisholm Trail High School
Fort Worth, Texas
I shared with several of you that I covered an on-campus suicide while police beat reporter for The Daily Skiff at Texas Christian University. I had met the young man when he studied computer programming with my roommate. I imagined his face when I read the police report. His mother and brother candidly told me his story of consuming depression, and cried about their loss as I asked them to describe him over the phone. When I hung up the phone, I sat at my editor's desk and wept. To the editor's credit, he did speak to me after I had filed my story. He said that he believed I was best to cover the story because of my sensitivity. I'm not sure I believed that, though. When the prospect of covering such a story left me with anxiety at the beginning of every day, an insightful professor advised me to consider other options. With that climactic event, I made a decision to avoid a profession in newspaper journalism. I hadn't been trained for any other kind, and in Dallas/Fort Worth, publication options outside of the newspaper aren't prevalent.
Since 1999, I've consumed news and advocated for journalists, but as an admiring outsider. I exiled myself from the world of journalism, no one did it to me. I believed my days as a journalism insider should end because my sensitivity would make me a less-than journalist, and the idea of that was unacceptable to me. I could only pursue a career field where I might be above average or truly great. I believed that my emotions would make me a biased, weaker journalist and that in some ways the best reporters and writers could switch off their humanity.
Favre said, "I never believed as a journalist that I left my humanity at the door." He said he looked for journalists who had both talent and heart. "Make me care. Make all of us who read those stories care," he said.
So, you're saying that caring makes me a better journalist? With his words, Favre solidified my invitation back into a world I so admired. ASNE and Steve Elliott had issued the invitation, but I didn't truly feel worthy of it until Favre said those words. Some of you have wondered why this experience has been so emotional for me, and now you have your answer. I've loved teaching, and I know I was born to teach, but I never felt right about entirely leaving journalism. Now, I merge my two loves. The Cronkite program showed me that journalists today must be many things, and I love the creativity journalism demands and the options that new journalism allows for those who may not fit into that somewhat limiting hardened newspaper reporter role. I have been finding my way out of exile these past two weeks, with you as my sherpas. You've helped me feel included, supported and cherished for all that I am, especially someone who cares.
Thank you.
Rhonda Dickens
Chisholm Trail High School
Fort Worth, Texas
Size doesn't matter, typeface does
I can't tell you how many times my editors would go through the copy in our papers and to maintain spacing in the page they would alter the leading or the kerning. It drove me up the wall because I saw the difference. I saw what it looked like on the page when we printed it and it was tacky. I didn't say much then because I was uncomfortable and didn't feel like I knew much, but boy do I know better now!
If anything that is the greatest lesson I have learned or feel better about - confidence (beyond my other blog haha). I have never felt more confident and excited about teaching in my life.
Now I feel like I'm actually ready to teach and be an authoritative figure to my students about where I stand. Now I know what my role is.
I can use the vocabulary that we've been given over these past two weeks and sound like I know what I'm talking about two.
I also want to comment that Favre made me realize that the power to communicate well, that the power to communicate poetically yet effectively is still the most powerful tool anyone can have. Favre put in elegant terms our charges - to take what we've learned and turn it into reality.
The power that journalism and its skills gives to our students is the ability to communicate and codeswitch. Student journalists under our care will hopefully be better able to speak the right language to the right people. Hopefully they will be able to pick and choose how they present their point and information better than if they hadn't worked with us.
Bring it on...
Hannah Sagaser
Mandan High School
Mandan, ND
Now I feel like I'm actually ready to teach and be an authoritative figure to my students about where I stand. Now I know what my role is.
I can use the vocabulary that we've been given over these past two weeks and sound like I know what I'm talking about two.
I also want to comment that Favre made me realize that the power to communicate well, that the power to communicate poetically yet effectively is still the most powerful tool anyone can have. Favre put in elegant terms our charges - to take what we've learned and turn it into reality.
The power that journalism and its skills gives to our students is the ability to communicate and codeswitch. Student journalists under our care will hopefully be better able to speak the right language to the right people. Hopefully they will be able to pick and choose how they present their point and information better than if they hadn't worked with us.
Bring it on...
Hannah Sagaser
Mandan High School
Mandan, ND
Friday, June 29, 2012
Breaking down The Sheraton Sherpa
Much to my dismay, my proposed publication name, the Sheraton Sherpa, was summarily shot down by Alan Weintraut, who clearly had an axe to grind after being out-punned on Facebook.
And, by the way, to show how upset I am, I deliberately went against the AP Style on ax. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr. Rewrite!
In all seriousness, though, I think those two words together really do a lot toward explaining what made this trip a unique experience.
Sheraton: This part has everything to do with the way that the Reynolds Institute, ASNE and ASU rolled out the red carpet for us. Going in, I had no idea what to expect from the weather or the living arrangements. Even though we had already seen some of the Reynolds generosity with the resources and flight arrangements, there were many ways it could have gone wrong.
The Sheraton was perfectly located and proved the ideal setting for a group of adults to conduct a two-week confererence with all the comforts and amenities we needed. The free internet and the $5 coupons were definitely deal breakers, of course.
The Sheraton also speaks more generally to the social element of the trip--the (reasonably) late-night sessions in the lobby, the baseball game, karaoke night and Cronkite Clue. One of my few regrets is that I stayed in my room early on and probably missed some great opportunities to get to know people. The other regret is that I never got up quite early enough to see the Phoenix sunrise or to take advantage of the pool and exercise room. Kudos to those who did all these things!
Sherpa: This part could easily reference the crazy sense of humor in our cohort--both among the Reynolds fellows and presenters. (I may always be left wondering if Tracy Collins added that sherpa stuff into his design presentation based on the group Facebook page or if it was coincidence).
"Sherpa" could also reference the extreme climate of Phoenix (seriously, what sort of city has a dust storm? Is this the Sahara?), which, of course, will take us all back to our video journalism experiences.
However, I would like to take "sherpa" back to its original sense and say that part of the name relates to the guidance we received, which we now will be able to take back and use ourselves to guide the next generation.
For me, this experience wasn't as much about learning journalism, but teaching it. Even though I already have my master's in multimedia journalism and newsroom experience, in the classroom, all of the tacit knowledge I have about practicing journalism will go out the window. I was delighted to take a step back during sessions like newswriting and AP style in order to see how the experts made teaching them engaging. It has caused me to reflect on my own lecture-heavy practices and to think of how I can adapt some of the more hands-on, activity-based lessons that Steve and Alan used.
Getting more resources and insight into how to set up the journalism program by hearing Alan and all our other veteran teachers discuss theirs was also huge.
Thanks so much for all the memories and resources! I will look forward to keeping up with you all on Facebook and Twitter (anyone on LinkedIn?)--at least until social media goes the way of the dodo, assuming my publication story is correct.
Ben Sellers
North Stafford High School
Stafford, Va.
 |
| Reappropriated without permission from Sarah M. Zerwin. |
And, by the way, to show how upset I am, I deliberately went against the AP Style on ax. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr. Rewrite!
In all seriousness, though, I think those two words together really do a lot toward explaining what made this trip a unique experience.
Sheraton: This part has everything to do with the way that the Reynolds Institute, ASNE and ASU rolled out the red carpet for us. Going in, I had no idea what to expect from the weather or the living arrangements. Even though we had already seen some of the Reynolds generosity with the resources and flight arrangements, there were many ways it could have gone wrong.
The Sheraton was perfectly located and proved the ideal setting for a group of adults to conduct a two-week confererence with all the comforts and amenities we needed. The free internet and the $5 coupons were definitely deal breakers, of course.
The Sheraton also speaks more generally to the social element of the trip--the (reasonably) late-night sessions in the lobby, the baseball game, karaoke night and Cronkite Clue. One of my few regrets is that I stayed in my room early on and probably missed some great opportunities to get to know people. The other regret is that I never got up quite early enough to see the Phoenix sunrise or to take advantage of the pool and exercise room. Kudos to those who did all these things!
 |
| Reappropriated without permission from Marlo Spritzer. |
"Sherpa" could also reference the extreme climate of Phoenix (seriously, what sort of city has a dust storm? Is this the Sahara?), which, of course, will take us all back to our video journalism experiences.
However, I would like to take "sherpa" back to its original sense and say that part of the name relates to the guidance we received, which we now will be able to take back and use ourselves to guide the next generation.
For me, this experience wasn't as much about learning journalism, but teaching it. Even though I already have my master's in multimedia journalism and newsroom experience, in the classroom, all of the tacit knowledge I have about practicing journalism will go out the window. I was delighted to take a step back during sessions like newswriting and AP style in order to see how the experts made teaching them engaging. It has caused me to reflect on my own lecture-heavy practices and to think of how I can adapt some of the more hands-on, activity-based lessons that Steve and Alan used.
Getting more resources and insight into how to set up the journalism program by hearing Alan and all our other veteran teachers discuss theirs was also huge.
Thanks so much for all the memories and resources! I will look forward to keeping up with you all on Facebook and Twitter (anyone on LinkedIn?)--at least until social media goes the way of the dodo, assuming my publication story is correct.
Ben Sellers
North Stafford High School
Stafford, Va.
Why teaching is more rewarding than professional copy editing
Back in 2007 I was a cubicle monkey. Night after night I poured over horrendously written copy trying to fix it. Sometimes it felt like I was performing surgery.
There were a few things I did like about working on the copy desk. Most of all I enjoyed the egoism of the job. I got to correct people. I got to say, "I am right. You are wrong." But beyond that I hated the job. I was good at it, but I hated it
The worst thing was that none of the reporters ever thanked me for fixing their work. I also don't remember any of them coming me to ask me why I made certain changes and how they could do better in the future. Sometimes I was unsure whether they even read their stories once they were in print or even noticed the changes made by the copy desk. The same reporters made the same mistakes over and over again, and they never bothered to improve.
When I decided to go back to college in 2009 to become a teacher, I wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing. Now I know I did. The great thing about teaching journalism is that I still get to work with lots and lots of words, but producing a publication is a secondary goal to helping kids become better writers. When my students thank me for helping them fix their stories, it makes it all worth it.
Elaine Broussard
Belle Chasse High School
Belle Chasse, La.
There were a few things I did like about working on the copy desk. Most of all I enjoyed the egoism of the job. I got to correct people. I got to say, "I am right. You are wrong." But beyond that I hated the job. I was good at it, but I hated it
The worst thing was that none of the reporters ever thanked me for fixing their work. I also don't remember any of them coming me to ask me why I made certain changes and how they could do better in the future. Sometimes I was unsure whether they even read their stories once they were in print or even noticed the changes made by the copy desk. The same reporters made the same mistakes over and over again, and they never bothered to improve.
When I decided to go back to college in 2009 to become a teacher, I wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing. Now I know I did. The great thing about teaching journalism is that I still get to work with lots and lots of words, but producing a publication is a secondary goal to helping kids become better writers. When my students thank me for helping them fix their stories, it makes it all worth it.
Elaine Broussard
Belle Chasse High School
Belle Chasse, La.
Friends for two weeks?
Yeah, maybe.
Perhaps we were just 'ships that pass in the night' or maybe, just maybe, you want to start a dialogue.
I was considering tonight what feedback I could offer to this opportunity that would be useful. There is very little I would change. Our speakers have been impressivve and engaging and the whole conference has been so useful.
If I could have one thing be different however, it would be more 'free' or slightly structured social time to get to know you all: my two-week friends . Next year the binder and digital files are going to surely save my life. But what about two years from now, when everyone is hologramming and I'm thrown in the deep end again?
That is when knowing you beyond the two-week mark will really come in handy.
Teaching is isolating. My 'co-workers' are often 15 years old. I have enjoyed knowing people who will happily teach me the wonders of the i-phone on a road trip to Sedona (Thanks Marlo), or help me think about my 'order of operations.'
So stay in touch. I take comfort knowing you're out there.
Bridget Parker
Seton - La Salle High School
Pittsburgh, PA
The best way to reach me:
bridgetparker35@gmail.com
Perhaps we were just 'ships that pass in the night' or maybe, just maybe, you want to start a dialogue.
I was considering tonight what feedback I could offer to this opportunity that would be useful. There is very little I would change. Our speakers have been impressivve and engaging and the whole conference has been so useful.
If I could have one thing be different however, it would be more 'free' or slightly structured social time to get to know you all: my two-week friends . Next year the binder and digital files are going to surely save my life. But what about two years from now, when everyone is hologramming and I'm thrown in the deep end again?
That is when knowing you beyond the two-week mark will really come in handy.
Teaching is isolating. My 'co-workers' are often 15 years old. I have enjoyed knowing people who will happily teach me the wonders of the i-phone on a road trip to Sedona (Thanks Marlo), or help me think about my 'order of operations.'
So stay in touch. I take comfort knowing you're out there.
Bridget Parker
Seton - La Salle High School
Pittsburgh, PA
The best way to reach me:
bridgetparker35@gmail.com
Talk about type!
In our discussion today we talked about typography. Mastering important fundamental
type design rules will help your school newspapers look professional.
Mastering these 10 commandments of type would lead to the promised land of design in print and web.
- Thou shalt understand the key anatomy of type
- Thou shat understand type spacing
- Thou shalt employ two type families, three if you’re good
- Thou shalt not commit type adultery
- Thou shalt honor thy H&J
- Thou shalt kern every art headline
- Thou shalt honor the role of type as information
- Thou shalt keep peace between type and grids
- Thou shalt respect the impact of color on type
- Thou shalt leave the “Hooker” type to kids
From the 10 the one that will make or break your design from my experience as an art director is number 3, using too many fancy typefaces to force your design. Work with a good readable body copy. Then use a font family with varied weights for your headline treatments.
Denise Powell
Bok Technical High School
Philadelphia, PA
Life is too short not to participate.
I have to admit that for as much as I wanted to attend the Reynolds Institute, I was also nervous about a lot of things. How would I leave my husband and kids for two weeks? Isn't it still kind of scary to fly across the country and spend two weeks with total strangers?
Well, my husband and kids survived (of course, we missed each other), and those total strangers were quickly dubbed my "two week friends." Truth is, those two week friends have not only become a great resource, but I've forged some fantastic friendships that I hope to maintain for a very long time.
None of this would happen if I didn't participate!
It's a message that we need to remember ourselves as we go forth in our lives. Sure, I've learned a TON of stuff and made great connections here at the Cronkite School, but it doesn't stop there. Take karaoke. Sure, it's terrifying if you've never done it before, but when you take the risk and jump in -- participate -- you have a much better time than the spectator. If that isn't a life lesson, I don't know what is.
I also think it's a message we can give to our students. So often they want to play it safe. They sit in their chairs and look to their computers for stories, always inclined to turn to the friends next to them for quotes. What kind of journalism is that? They need to get out there! They need to participate! That's what good journalists do. They take a deep breath and approach a stranger who happens to be a team coach, or make a phone call to talk to someone they've never met, and ask the questions they never thought they could ask. Our students need to take some risks in order to be great, and they'll be glad they did.
I hope we all continue to participate in life, and pass that lesson on to others. Imagine the possibilities!
Marlo Spritzer
Southern Lehigh High School
Center Valley, PA
Well, my husband and kids survived (of course, we missed each other), and those total strangers were quickly dubbed my "two week friends." Truth is, those two week friends have not only become a great resource, but I've forged some fantastic friendships that I hope to maintain for a very long time.
 |
| Kelly is one of many friends I made this week! |
None of this would happen if I didn't participate!
It's a message that we need to remember ourselves as we go forth in our lives. Sure, I've learned a TON of stuff and made great connections here at the Cronkite School, but it doesn't stop there. Take karaoke. Sure, it's terrifying if you've never done it before, but when you take the risk and jump in -- participate -- you have a much better time than the spectator. If that isn't a life lesson, I don't know what is.
I also think it's a message we can give to our students. So often they want to play it safe. They sit in their chairs and look to their computers for stories, always inclined to turn to the friends next to them for quotes. What kind of journalism is that? They need to get out there! They need to participate! That's what good journalists do. They take a deep breath and approach a stranger who happens to be a team coach, or make a phone call to talk to someone they've never met, and ask the questions they never thought they could ask. Our students need to take some risks in order to be great, and they'll be glad they did.
I hope we all continue to participate in life, and pass that lesson on to others. Imagine the possibilities!
 |
| There's nowhere to go but up! |
Marlo Spritzer
Southern Lehigh High School
Center Valley, PA
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