Yet another tutorial for Ex 2-2: SHU Screencast.
September 2008 Archives
Even though I enlarged the text size, you can't read anything in my Ex 2-1: Inform 7 Screencast when it plays on YouTube, but you can when it's viewed in Windows Media Player.
E-mail Forwarding at SHU -- Ex 2-2: SHU Screencast
The Universal Experience of Newswriting
The Student Newspaper Survival Guide, by Rachele Kanigel, discusses the advantages of being a student journalist. She believes that because of the typically young age of students, they have unique contributions to make. And though this book was written for an audience of staff members that participate in large student newspapers, I still find the information applicable to the very small staff of the Setonian. I have yet to read a chapter that isn't relatable in some way.
Large or small, all newspapers function in similar ways. They all use language that relates to their readership and they all have the same problems, like worrying about false sources. Regardless of the size of a student paper, they are the best way to gain experience in journalism.
And with the Internet, student newspapers can put their content online and watch it grow. They can gain experience in new media as well as journalism. Each new group of staff members can contribute more innovative applications to their campus newspaper's website so that it is constantly evolving.
“Student newspapers should offer upclose reporting on college life and culture… Young journalists want to be lke older professionals and don’t realize that their greatest resource is being themselves - young and surrounded by student life.” - Ch. 8, The Student Newspaper Survival Guide by Rachele Kanigel, p. 64
This chapter is about the arts and entertainment section about how being young means we have a different perspective to offer. However, I think this can be applied to all of the sections.
When writing news articles on topics that the Tribune Review has already covered, I’ve found they often miss important details. This is probably because we have more access to the SHU staff than they do. Our contacts are better and easier to access.
“Where 1.0 was all about establishing an online presence and providing news, information, and entertainment for users to consumer, Web 2.0 is all about engaging people in many ways, empowering them to become active participants in the communication process. Indeed, we have entered the age of the ‘We’ in new media.” - Preface, The Elements of Online Journalism by Rey G. Rosales
It makes sense that we would find ways to adapt and utilize the Internet in new and improved ways. We have moved beyond the “exploration” phase of all that is the Internet and are now personalizing it to fit our unique tastes.
I played “Lost Pig” and “House of Dream of Moon” because they didn’t require any downloading. Trying to find an interactive fiction game that can be played without downloading is nearly impossible. Most of them even require downloading interpreter programs.
The games were basically the same. A lot of wandering around, picking things up, examining, and asking about. Eventually I’d get stuck after I’d been in every room, examined every object and picked up everything that I could.
"Translate jargon. Interpret bureaucratic, legal, scientific or technical language for readers." - Ch. 5, The Student Newspaper Survival Guide by Rachele Kanigel, p. 42
Technical language can't be used in general newspapers because the audience is wide. They can only be used in magazines or journals with specific audiences. Internet jargon is being used in most general newspapers, however, because they are becoming common terminology.
Topics: Adjusting the Screen, Zooming, Altering the Shape, Adding Color, and Adjusting Color Specifics
1. Press the middle mouse button to adjust the screen so you can see the shape.
2. Scroll to zoom in or out.
3. To change the shape, go to Edit Mode.
4. Right click and drag to alter the shape, and left click when finished.
5. To color, click “Material buttons” in the panel.
6. Select the box next to “Col”.
7. Select a color.
8. Drag the bars in Specular and Mirror to find a specific color.
9. To alter the hue and saturation, click HSV and drag the bars.
"E-mail Interviews
You're never really sure who is answering your message." - Ch. 4, The Student Newspaper Survival Guide by Rachele Kanigel, p. 33
This could be true with phone interviews if you've never met the person or if you just don't remember the sound of their voice. It can also be true of face-to-face interviews if the person is pretending to be someone they're not. No method of interviewing is full proof.
"You can't ask spontaneous questions... Reponses can be stilted or carefully crafted."
These are only important if the article your writing is particularly controversial or delicate in nature. Besides, you can ask follow-up questions and you can ask them in a way that tries to get an answer that isn't PR.
“The most efficient way to cover a campus is to develop a coordinated beat system.” - Ch. 3, The Student Newspaper Survival Guide by Rachele Kanigel, p. 20
A beat is a reporter's specialization, a topic they often write about. I don’t think we really use that term with the Setonian. People have sections that they like to write for. I think that’s the same thing.
