Through the years, I’ve been carving out my beat of green energy. It’s what I’m interested in, not only for the implications on the economy, the electric grid, and technology, but also because I’m a science fiction nerd and believe green tech and renewable energy can help us realize better, cleaner futures. I’ve been blogging mostly […]
The incredible Taylor Lewis reflects on the power of writers as activists, her experiences teaching abroad in France, going to grad school in Hawaii, and the current political climate in a recent article in The Writers’ Bloc. Back in 2011, at the Jiménez-Porter Writers’ House at the University of Maryland, Taylor had the great idea to […]
This is a really interesting piece by Melody Kramer about how journalists can create and control technology, instead of being controlled by tech. Kramer interviewed Dave Winer, a software developer who has worked on blogging, podcasting and content management systems — such as an open-source version of Medium, a blogging platform. Journalism students should learn […]
The Columbia Journalism Review published an article yesterday asking why there aren’t more minority journalists in newsrooms. Alex Williams, a PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania, studies trends in journalism. While the Commission called for an increased emphasis on better housing, education, and social service policies, some of its strongest criticism was directed toward mainstream media. […]
This is a great moving comic about privilege. Maybe the moving comic will become a new genre? It’s different than gifs and video. The reader can spend more time on it, and concepts can be explained in a more in-depth manner. Comics for journalism, anyone?
Last night I attended The Kalb Report at the National Press Club. Five NPR reporters and anchors focused on the sound of news. Steve Inskeep, Mara Liasson, Scott Simon, Susan Stamberg and Nina Totenberg discussed how NPR started making great radio in the 1970s and continues to do so today. Here are tidbits straight from […]
Tomorrow I will begin working at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University for a 10-week fellowship through the News21 Carnegie-Knight Initiative on the Future of Journalism Education. This year, News21 reporters are focusing on gun laws in the nation. We are reporting on the diversity of gun laws and cultures in America. I will […]
It’s one of those nights. The moon is far and small in a brisk December sky. I’m in bed, not sleeping, but thinking about tomorrow. Tomorrow I’m graduating from the University of Maryland. Finally I can say those words: I’m a graduate, an alum of the university. Tomorrow the next part of my journalism adventure […]
The story of an undocumented citizen By Marlena Chertock First published in The Writers’ Bloc. Jose Antonio Vargas, a journalist, came out of the closet when he was in high school. But it’s taken him 12 years to come out of the “illegal” closet. In 2011 Vargas wrote a story about his status as an […]
By Marlena Chertock May 4, 2011 Steve Riley, an editor for the News & Observer in Raleigh, pushes reporters to write with authority. Riley manages a team of three investigative journalists and spoke to communications students at Elon University on May 4. “Be very assertive, very confident in what you present,” said Riley, who has […]
Chapter 9: The Classics APRIL 15, 2011 To be a reporter, to be a good reporter, one has to have a passion for the craft of writing. Reporters must have a passion for journalism. Journalism is often a quest for social reform. Good reporters whose writing is powerful report on injustice, corruption, social issues and […]
Marlena Chertock APRIL 13, 2011 You have to be compassionate and show your personality when reporting, Keren Rivas said. Rivas was a reporter for the Times-News for six years and a 2004 Elon alumnus. Now she “has come over to the dark side to public relations” as Assistant Director of University Relations for Academic Communication, […]
Marlena Chertock APRIL 11, 2011 These are in no particular order, but they are all people or news organizations who I find Tweet useful and important information about journalism, media, the future of journalism, social media and other updates or trends in journalism. 1. The Washington Post-The Washington Post has multiple twitter feeds that offer […]
Chapter 8: Terrorism, war and disasters Writing about terrorism, war and disasters is tricky, has to be accurate and on tight deadlines and is difficult to write. It’s hard to witness disaster, but people need information about what happens and the response to it. So reporters must go, witness, observe, interview, research and report. These […]
Laura Roselle pushes media literacy at conclusion of Media and Politics Conference at Elon University MARCH 30, 2011 Marlena Chertock Practicing media literacy is everyone’s responsibility, according to political science professor Laura Roselle. Roselle gave a wrapping up session at 9:30 to 11 a.m. in McKinnon Hall in the Moseley Student Center at Elon University […]
NPR provides a vital service and reducing funding will undermine good journalism Marlena Chertock MARCH 30, 2011 Since 1971, National Public Radio has offered news to listeners across the United States. The organization employs more than 300 reporters and staff members around the world, not including those who work at the member stations that make […]
Frank Sesno offers advice to media on remaining open, accurate and honest in 21st century Marlena Chertock MARCH 29, 2011 Frank Sesno issued a warning to Elon University students and faculty during his speech about 21st century media on March 29. “In a sea of information in which we now exist we are adrift in […]
Chapter 7: The Profile and Feature Story Feature and profile writing has been called the art of journalism, the art of journalistic writing. The feature story can be about diverse topics and issues. But what all good feature stories have in common is rich details, possibly metaphorical or figurative language and a person at the […]
Alumnus offers editing tips to communications students Marlena Chertock MARCH 16, 2011 Sometimes she has three hours to work on a story and other times three minutes. But Assistant Director of University Relations for Alumni Communications Kristen Simonetti always reads through a story first and then edits it in more detail. Simonetti, who graduated from […]
Director of Elon University News Bureau Eric Townsend offers communications students writing advice *** Eric Townsend on finding good stories