CollegeJourn http://collegejourn.com An Ongoing Discussion of College Journalism Mon, 30 Aug 2010 02:35:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 #cjchat Transcript 8-29-10 – Bringing in the freshmen! http://collegejourn.com/2010/08/cjchat-transcript-8-29-10-bringing-in-the-freshmen-85/ http://collegejourn.com/2010/08/cjchat-transcript-8-29-10-bringing-in-the-freshmen-85/#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 02:35:22 +0000 AramZS http://collegejourn.com/?p=85
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Transcript from August 28, 2010 to August 30, 2010
All times are Pacific Time
August 28, 2010
5:18 pm Chronotope: Hey #collegejourn – The first #cjchat of the Fall semester is this Sunday at 8 p.m. Our topic is Bringing in the freshmen!
7:02 pm TauhidChappell: RT @Chronotope: Hey #collegejourn – The first #cjchat of the Fall semester is this Sunday at 8 p.m. Our topic is Bringing in the freshmen!
7:55 pm AramZS: Hey #collegejourn – The first #cjchat of the Fall semester is this Sunday at 8 p.m. Our topic is Bringing in the freshmen!
August 29, 2010
7:55 pm collegejourn: Hey #collegejourn – The first #cjchat of the Fall semester is today at 8 p.m. Our topic is Bringing in the freshmen!
9:17 pm newzed: RT @collegejourn: Hey #collegejourn – The first #cjchat of the Fall semester is today at 8 p.m. Our topic is Bringing in the freshmen!
9:18 pm saragregory: RT @collegejourn: Hey #collegejourn – The first #cjchat of the Fall semester is today at 8 p.m. Our topic is Bringing in the freshmen!
11:12 pm Lenny_Neslin: Nice! RT @collegejourn: Hey #collegejourn – The first #cjchat of the Fall semester is today at 8 p.m. Our topic is Bringing in the freshmen!
11:21 pm collegejourn: Hey #collegejourn – The first #cjchat of the Fall semester is tonight at 8 p.m. Our topic is Bringing in the freshmen!
11:45 pm newzed: Join me for a #cjchat TweetChat at: http://tweetchat.com/room/cjchat #cjchat
11:54 pm AramZS: RT @newzed: Join me for a #cjchat TweetChat at: http://tweetchat.com/room/cjchat
August 30, 2010
collegejourn: Hello #collegejourn and welcome to the first #cjchat of the Fall semester and new school year. Our topic tonight is Bringing in the Freshmen
12:03 am Chronotope: Let’s introduce ourselves. Say who you are, what college you’re at and position you hold in your college media outlet. #cjchat #collegejourn
12:05 am saragregory: Hey #cjchat. I’m Sara Gregory, a UNC senior and @dailytarheel’s community manager.
12:05 am newzed: Good evening & welcome back all :) i’m El Heller, managing editor @outlookpress, student paper @sunyrockland in Suffern, NY #cjchat
12:06 am AramZS: Hey everyone, I’m Aram Zucker-Scharff @Chronotope and I am the community manager for @GMUStudentMedia (George Mason University) #cjchat
12:07 am Lenny_Neslin: What’s up everyone? My name is Lenny Neslin, I’m managing editor for The Quinnipiac Chronicle. Worked under @AndrewVazzano last yr. #cjchat
12:07 am AramZS: @TauhidChappell @Lenny_Neslin Hope you can join us for #cjchat tonight?
12:08 am AramZS: @saragregory @newzed Welcome, glad to have you here tonight! #cjchat
12:12 am AramZS: Q1: Recruiting Freshmen? Have you reached out to them over summer, how are you following up to bring them in? #cjchat
12:14 am TauhidChappell: Crud! I’m late!! #cjchat
12:14 am Lenny_Neslin: Don’t think we’ve reached out to anyone this summer. Our main source of recruiting is an involvement fair early on in the semester. #cjchat
12:15 am saragregory: We send all freshmen a “welcome to UNC” issue in the summer. Follow up at Fall Fest (a school organization fair before class). Q1 #cjchat
12:15 am newzed: Q1: staff attended orientation & spoke to students. we also went to the honors orientation. a bunch of talented students there. #cjchat
12:15 am AramZS: @TauhidChappell @Lenny_Neslin Hi! Good to have you here! #cjchat
12:15 am TauhidChappell: Q1: We had this thing called Gobblerfest which is a festival for everyone in the community.A lot of student clubs/local businesses– #cjchat
12:16 am saragregory: Q1 We also have interest meetings the first few weeks of school and give tours of our office. #cjchat
12:17 am TauhidChappell: Q1 reserve tables up and down this long street and try to recruit students/potential employees.We had a table up from 11 a.m.- 7 p.m #cjchat
12:17 am collegejourn: Q1: Recruiting Freshmen? Have you reached out to them over summer, how are you following up to bring them in? #cjchat
12:17 am Lenny_Neslin: @saragregory I like your idea of a welcome issue. What sort of stuff do you include in it? How long? Send PDF via email? #cjchat
12:17 am AramZS: @Lenny_Neslin We’ve reached a lot of freshmen during Mason’s orientation sessions. A lot of people signed up at least :) #cjchat
12:17 am TauhidChappell: Q1: Also using Facebook/Twitter to reach out and get freshmen interested. #cjchat
12:18 am AramZS: @saragregory I like that idea, office tours sounds like a good way to pull interested people in. #cjchat
12:18 am newzed: Q1: we will also continue to invite students to our club meetings so can see who we are. #cjchat
12:19 am Lenny_Neslin: @AramZS Good stuff. Definitely something to think about implementing for next year. #cjchat
12:19 am TauhidChappell: Belated intro: I’m Tauhid Chappell and I’m the Executive Editor for Planet @blacksburg, a student run media org at Virginia Tech #cjchat
12:20 am saragregory: @Lenny_Neslin Our summer staff puts it out just like the usual paper. Articles like “best places to study” etc. that gets mailed. #cjchat
12:21 am AramZS: RT @Lenny_Neslin: @saragregory I like your idea of a welcome issue. Send PDF via email? [You could post it and send us the link :) ] #cjchat
12:21 am AramZS: @saragregory Is there a lot of re-printable evergreen content in your welcome issue? #cjchat
12:21 am Lenny_Neslin: @saragregory Having a summer staff would be nice. Ha. Our best bet would be to get together some time over the summer and design it. #cjchat
12:22 am saragregory: @AramZS @Lenny_Neslin Can’t find a PDF online and not in the office now. I could e-mail it to you if you DM me your addresses. #cjchat
12:23 am AramZS: @Lenny_Neslin I know that our paper has folks come in a week early to work on the first issue. Perhaps that’s an option? #cjchat
12:24 am Chronotope: @saragregory Very cool. Do you do any demoing of tech or procedure or just walk them around the office? #cjchat
12:24 am TauhidChappell: @saragregory I really like the @dailytarheel’s web design! :) #cjchat
12:25 am Lenny_Neslin: FYI: My paper’s website is www.quchronicle.com We’re on Facebook and Twitter too. #cjchat
12:26 am newzed: here is a “Freshman Survival Guide” from the @dailyemerald (PDF & Online) #cjchat
12:26 am Shishev: RT @TauhidChappell #cjchat http://bit.ly/9E6jDz
12:28 am AramZS: @Lenny_Neslin Great website. I see you use Issuu, was it easy to set up? #cjchat
12:28 am AramZS: @newzed I think you left off the link. #cjchat
12:29 am AramZS: By the way, if you have a question you’d like us to discuss just @ reply me. #collegejourn #cjchat
12:29 am newzed: woops, here is the link folks: http://www.dailyemerald.com/magazine #cjchat
12:30 am AramZS: @saragregory So you mail the issue to all the freshmen’s homes? Isn’t that expensive? #cjchat
12:30 am Lenny_Neslin: @AramZS Very easy to instal. Issuu is a great sidebar widget for newspaper websites. It tracks views for you, I think. #cjchat
12:31 am Lenny_Neslin: Great, great newspaper website. Powered by MTV?? RT @newzed: woops, here is the link folks: http://www.dailyemerald.com/magazine #cjchat
12:31 am AramZS: RT @newzed: woops, here is the link folks: http://www.dailyemerald.com/magazine [Daily Emerald's freshmen guide. Nifty.] #cjchat
12:32 am saragregory: @AramZS I’m not sure the cost to mail it, but it’s well-supported with advertising. #cjchat
12:32 am newzed: @Lenny_Neslin yes, it’s running on @collegepublish #cjchat
12:34 am AramZS: Ok. Moving on to Q2 now, though feel free to continue discussion on Q1 as well. #cjchat
12:36 am AramZS: Q2: The incoming class is more mobile + social media savvy then ever. How are you reaching out to them via new media? #cjchat #collegejourn
12:36 am collegejourn: Q2: The incoming class is more mobile + social media savvy then ever. How are you reaching out to them via new media? #cjchat #collegejourn
12:37 am newzed: re: issuu, be sure to check out their “shelf” feature. great for archives. (sample: http://www.outlookpress.org/2.10751) #cjchat
12:37 am TauhidChappell: Q2: Facebook primarily.A lot of #hokies are on facebook, but not many are on Twitter. Hoping to introduce Twitter to our new members #cjchat
12:37 am AramZS: @AndrewVazzano @Lenny_Neslin Good to know. We’ve been using a custom program, but I’ll have to look into switching. Thanks. #cjchat
12:38 am TauhidChappell: Once we introduce Twitter…Will have to teach how to tweet efficiently and effectively as a journalist. That’ll be fun #Ithink #cjchat
12:38 am newzed: @AndrewVazzano not sure if any one responded, we are @OutlookPress #cjchat
12:40 am newzed: Q2: it’s facebook for us. twitter hasn’t taken off yet in our school (or so it seems) #cjchat
12:40 am AramZS: We’ve been looking into using QR/Barcodes in our posters and ads. We want mobile-ready links to sites and specific content. #cjchat
12:41 am TauhidChappell: RT @collegejourn: Q2: The incoming class is more mobile + social media savvy then ever. How are you reaching out to them via new media? #cjchat #collegejourn
12:41 am saragregory: Q2 We reach out via @dailytarheel, Facebook mainly. Have been active on the UNC class of 2014 Facebook page and other UNC groups. #cjchat
12:42 am AramZS: @AndrewVazzano Not sure, but still a decent number are on CP. Just look at the Pacemakers – http://bit.ly/a1w9uj #cjchat
12:43 am AramZS: @saragregory Interesting. Most of our activity is on our own page, not inside their groups. Have you had a good response? #cjchat
12:44 am saragregory: @newzed @TauhidChappell I find the majority of UNC students who have Twitter protect their accounts. Facebook still dominates. #cjchat
12:45 am AramZS: @AndrewVazzano I concur. I think that the #collegejourn scene is slowly but surely moving away from CP because of that. #cjchat
12:45 am newzed: @AramZS @AndrewVazzano CP has become more aggressive in showcasing customization. see recent blog post http://bit.ly/bjYIWM #cjchat
12:46 am AramZS: @saragregory We have a growing number of Twitter users [see: @GMUStudentMedia/ultimate-gmu-list ] that we try to keep up with. #cjchat
12:46 am AramZS: @newzed I expect they have to be. The field has quickly gone from no competition to a lot of competition. #cjchat
12:47 am Amadeus3000: @AramZS We’re talking about QR codes now, too. Put them on the front page. Scan and read the “paper” on your phone. #cjchat
12:48 am newzed: @AramZS @AndrewVazzano sorry, this is the link i wanted http://bit.ly/9xQf2y interesting post visualizing top sites on CP #cjchat
12:48 am saragregory: @AramZS I’d say decent. I also try to tag UNC pages when I post a link to an article on our page that involves their group. #cjchat
12:49 am Amadeus3000: Anthony Capps. An editor at the Iowa State Daily. Also trying to pay attention to the Emmys. #cjchat
12:52 am AramZS: @newzed Huh. If there’s a lack of inspiration, someone should put together list of good looking #collegejourn sites for reference #cjchat
12:52 am AramZS: @Amadeus3000 Welcome! I honestly forgot all about the Emmys >.< #cjchat
12:53 am TauhidChappell: @AramZS I like that idea! #cjchat
12:54 am AramZS: @Amadeus3000 We’ve been looking at that as well. http://www.stickybits.com/ looks like it might have some potential also. #cjchat
12:55 am AramZS: @AndrewVazzano Really? That’s unpleasant sounding. Most of the people I’ve talked to have had a smooth transition out of CP. #cjchat
12:56 am AramZS: Tip: If you want to use QR codes, you can get the small 100×100 kind here – http://createqrcode.appspot.com/ #cjchat
12:57 am newzed: @AramZS @TauhidChappell you can start here http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/ & http://collegemediamatters.com/ #cjchat
12:57 am AramZS: I’d love to use StickyBits to create commenting areas and virtual mini-tours on objects around campus. The app is still a lil rough #cjchat
12:57 am Lenny_Neslin: Loving this idea. RT @AramZS: Tip: If you want to use QR codes, you can get the small 100×100 kind here – http://bit.ly/amxbru #cjchat
12:57 am Amadeus3000: @collegejourn Q1 Reference: We have a Daily Directory http://bit.ly/9qjdPk … then a Welcome Back edition http://bit.ly/bTyJPd #cjchat
12:59 am AramZS: @newzed We should really put together a list of them, all in one place, with screenshots and thumbnails. Something more accessible. #cjchat
12:59 am AramZS: @Lenny_Neslin We’ve been putting them in posters around campus. Some link to the site, others to specific articles. #cjchat
1:00 am collegejourn: Q3: What positions do you make available to Freshmen in your #collegejourn outlet? Where do you recommend they go? #cjchat
1:00 am AramZS: Q3: What positions do you make available to Freshmen in your #collegejourn outlet? Where do you recommend they go? #cjchat
1:00 am AramZS: @AndrewVazzano I can imagine #cjchat
1:00 am newzed: @AramZS sure, we can do it together :) #cjchat
1:01 am AramZS: @newzed Sounds good to me :) #cjchat
1:01 am tgounley: Hey, #cjchat. Thomas Gounley, Executive Editor of @thenewhampshire.
1:02 am saragregory: Q3 Freshmen work one day a week for us their first semester. Usually aren’t hired as editors until after second semester. #cjchat
1:02 am AramZS: We actually had an incoming freshmen who lived locally come in over the summer interested in writing right away. #cjchat
1:02 am AramZS: But enthusiasm may not = reliability or quality. How do you work with that? #cjchat
1:03 am newzed: Q3: start of as contributing writers, after set amount of articles become staff, then are offered promotion as appropriate. #cjchat
1:03 am tgounley: Q1 Come back few days early and put together an issue for freshmen. “Freshman 15″ theme this year- 15 articles about surviving UNH #cjchat
1:03 am AramZS: RT @andrewvazzano: Oh, people, if you know any out of work journalism graduates (possible in CT), let them know we’re hiring and to contact me. #cjchat
1:04 am AramZS: @tgounley Welcome! #cjchat
1:04 am Amadeus3000: @AramZS We discussed how to use QRs in special sections (specially our bar guide). Use the codes as another online refer. #cjchat
1:04 am saragregory: Q3 They also must attend a certain number of weekly seminars led by our adviser. Basic writing, reporting, newsroom advice. #cjchat
1:04 am Lenny_Neslin: Same RT @newzed: Q3: start of as contributing writers, after set amount of articles become staff, then are offered promotion (maybe) #cjchat
1:04 am saragregory: That’s all new as of last year, and really helped us retain freshmen! They got lots of one-on-one help and didn’t feel so lost. #cjchat
1:05 am tgounley: Q3 #cjchat Most everyone starts as contributing writers. Good ones become staff writers, eds eventually. Different for design, photogs.
1:06 am AramZS: @saragregory That’s good. Do you know about how much time ended up going into the freshmen help sessions? #cjchat
1:06 am saragregory: @AramZS We let local incoming freshmen work over the summer. They get a lot of hand-holding until we see what they’re capable of. #cjchat
1:07 am Amadeus3000: Q3: Get the programmers / developers / web geeks. However, few organizations have the money those people can earn elsewhere… #cjchat
1:07 am tgounley: Q3 #cjchat Looking to offer a little more one-on-one guidance between eds and freshmen writers this year. Often aren’t in journo classes.
1:07 am AramZS: Do you have any specific projects for freshmen? #cjchat
1:07 am TauhidChappell: Q3: (part/full-time)Photographers,writers,editors,reporters,videographers. We have established officer positions for the time being.#cjchat
1:08 am AramZS: @Amadeus3000 I’ve encountered a bunch, but many don’t come in thinking that a media outlet is something that would interest them #cjchat
1:09 am AramZS: @Amadeus3000 What can you say to appeal to the more technically-able freshmen to get them on board? #cjchat
1:09 am newzed: @tgounley same here, many students join as a way to be involved. don’t necessarily want to study journalism. #cjchat
1:09 am saragregory: @AramZS There were 7 hour-long sessions a semester last year. Our adviser usually offered 2 time slots, so 14 hours + planning time. #cjchat
1:11 am AramZS: @saragregory Intense. Freshmen sat through the whole 7 hours or was it split up among individual time with multiple people? #cjchat
1:11 am tgounley: @newzed Yeah. Plus, typical journalism student still doesn’t take basic newswriting class until 3rd semester. So ability varies. #cjchat
1:11 am newzed: @AramZS @saragregory i guess at a larger paper that’s possible. at our community college that would never happen. #cjchat
1:11 am Amadeus3000: New freshmen reporters are just like any reporter. Must go through training. Attend section meetings. Produce content like others. #cjchat
1:11 am saragregory: @AramZS Sorry, that was seven sessions of one hour each. They had to attend four. Different speakers, topics each time. #cjchat
1:12 am AramZS: @newzed @tgounley Definitely important to train them all the same. Do you need different approaches for j-students/non-j-students? #cjchat
1:13 am Lenny_Neslin: We’ve had P.T. majors join our paper. Our sports section is by far our largest section (by people) despite our sub-par sports teams. #cjchat
1:14 am AramZS: @Lenny_Neslin People get really intense about their sports teams, whatever their quality :) . #cjchat
1:15 am Amadeus3000: @AramZS Offer the possible developers a vision. Here’s our ambitions – mobile, apps, post-web. You can create it. Leave a legacy. #cjchat
1:15 am TauhidChappell: I like the idea of holding training sessions separate from a general meeting. Problem is scheduling these sessions. #cjchat
1:15 am AramZS: RT @Amadeus3000: @AramZS Offer the possible developers a vision. Here’s our ambitions – mobile, apps, post-web. You can create it. Leave a legacy. #cjchat
1:16 am Lenny_Neslin: @AramZS Very true. I was the sports editor last year and I didn’t know what to say to other editors about retaining my large group. #cjchat
1:17 am Lenny_Neslin: @TauhidChappell Last year I led a sportswriters workshop – obviously a lot easier to schedule with smaller groups. Do that maybe? #cjchat
1:20 am AramZS: @Lenny_Neslin @TauhidChappell We also ran section-internal training at one point. Still hard to schedule. :/ #cjchat
1:21 am Amadeus3000: @Lenny_Neslin When an editor hits 8 reporters I think they’ve maxed out. When they reach 9, time to find a second editor. #cjchat
1:21 am TauhidChappell: @Lenny_Neslin Good idea. I’ll be looking at my officers to lead their teams and train whoever needs it. #cjchat
1:21 am Lenny_Neslin: @AramZS @TauhidChappell Best way to get around that? Throw free food at them. Pizza works like a charm! #cjchat
1:22 am AramZS: @Amadeus3000 Good to know. Have you had 3 or more editors in a section? Is it difficult to coordinate them? #cjchat
1:22 am Lenny_Neslin: @Amadeus3000 I experienced this last year. Had 10+ kids turn out for each meeting. I took it on alone for a while, but it was a lot. #cjchat
1:23 am AramZS: Question 4 in three minutes. Is there something you want to ask the group? @ reply me to have your question included. #cjchat
1:25 am williampd: Is #cjchat still going on? William P. Davis, former editor of @TheMaineCampus and online editor of @BangorDailyNews
1:25 am AramZS: @Lenny_Neslin Ah, Pizza, the ultimate college recruitment tool ;-) #cjchat
1:25 am AramZS: @williampd Yes and Welcome! We go until 10. #cjchat
1:26 am Lenny_Neslin: @AramZS Question idea: How often do you put out your paper? Include your staff’s total size. #cjchat
1:26 am AramZS: Q4: Training staff, new and old. Obviously a big issue. What are your favorite training materials and techniques? #collegejourn #cjchat
1:26 am collegejourn: Q4: Training staff, new and old. Obviously a big issue. What are your favorite training materials and techniques? #collegejourn #cjchat
1:28 am Lenny_Neslin: Biggest problem school newspapers have are writers not hitting deadlines. Solution: Great communication. Get cells, IM, email, etc. #cjchat
1:29 am williampd: @AramZS Oh goody. I’ve never actually joined in. #cjchat
1:30 am AramZS: @Lenny_Neslin Have you seen one communications method keep them on task better than others? #cjchat
1:30 am AramZS: @williampd :) Well, glad to have you this time. Hopefully you’ll make it to future chats as well. #cjchat
1:31 am newzed: @williampd hey, do you know what’s running mainecampus.com? #cjchat
1:31 am Lenny_Neslin: @AramZS Q4: Pop quizzes at general staff meetings. We also come back to school a weekish early for training sessions each semester. #cjchat
1:32 am williampd: #cjchat Q4: I made a custom test for training copy editors, etc. Materials should be custom to cover problems that differ paper-to-paper.
1:32 am Amadeus3000: @AramZS The news reporters are divided among 4 assistant news editors. They’re overseen by the news editor, who’s big picture-minded #cjchat
1:32 am AramZS: @newzed Interesting WP skin they have there. #cjchat
1:33 am Lenny_Neslin: @AramZS Cell phone #s by far. AIM second. Last year I texted my writers for in-game updates. I texted them deadlines. #cjchat
1:33 am TauhidChappell: RT @collegejourn: Q4: Training staff, new and old. Obviously a big issue. What are your favorite training materials and techniques? #collegejourn #cjchat
1:33 am williampd: @newzed Don’t remember the name at the second, but I can get it for you later. Why? #cjchat
1:33 am AramZS: @williampd @Lenny_Neslin – Interesting. We have copy tests also, but not for contributers. I’d love to see some examples? #cjchat
1:34 am AramZS: @Lenny_Neslin Nifty. We don’t see a lot of AIM users at Mason anymore. Mostly Facebook chat now. #cjchat
1:35 am Lenny_Neslin: @williampd I like the idea of creating tests for copy editors-in-training. I’m on it! @QUChronicle #cjchat
1:36 am AramZS: @Lenny_Neslin Yeah. Years ago we had a problem with the quality of copy editors’ work, that was when we put together the test. #cjchat
1:36 am AramZS: Curiosity: How many of you have in-house style guides? #cjchat
1:36 am newzed: @williampd reminds me somewhat of http://www.idsnews.com & nyt. just curious. #cjchat
1:36 am williampd: @AramZS Test includes grammar, style and university-specific knowledge. Part of it’s at http://bit.ly/baznsA #cjchat
1:37 am TauhidChappell: @Lenny_Neslin Good idea. Keeps them coming back to meetings for one thing! #cjchat
1:39 am williampd: @Lenny_Neslin I gave it to all the assignment editors, as well. Really gave me a good idea of where our editing weaknesses were. #cjchat
1:41 am Amadeus3000: @AramZS Our in-house style guide has about 300 entries. #cjchat
1:41 am AramZS: @newzed @newzed Yeah, it looks like that was what they were going for. They’ve done a pretty good job of it too. Wonder what theme. #cjchat
1:41 am AramZS: Q5 arrives in 4 minutes. #cjchat
1:42 am riocarmine: #cjchat Mario Moretto, former news editor for @themainecampus, current copy editor for Kennebec journal @kj_online
1:43 am AramZS: @riocarmine Welcome! Glad to have you here! #cjchat
1:44 am Lenny_Neslin: @riocarmine Glad to see some college newspaper grads are getting jobs. How’s the real world? #cjchat #journalism
1:44 am williampd: @riocarmine Heyyyyoooooo! #cjchat
1:44 am AramZS: @Amadeus3000 Mostly stuff relevant directly to your university or specific style choices that are applied generally? #cjchat
1:44 am Amadeus3000: @williampd @AramZS We’ve considered a grammar/university quiz for everyone in the application process. #cjchat
1:44 am AramZS: @Amadeus3000 What about freshmen who may not know as much about the university yet? #cjchat
1:45 am collegejourn: Q5 (via @Lenny_Neslin ) – How often do you put out your paper? Include your staff’s total size. #cjchat #collegejourn
1:45 am AramZS: Q5 (via @Lenny_Neslin ) – How often do you put out your paper? Include your staff’s total size. #cjchat #collegejourn
1:46 am williampd: @Amadeus3000 @AramZS Tests are important for finding faults, but don’t let them dominate. Look for promise, as well. #cjchat
1:47 am newzed: Q5: our paper comes out every two weeks (don’t laugh, it used to be monthly). our staff size varies. #cjchat
1:48 am AramZS: Broadside, @GMUStudentMedia ’s print paper, is released every Monday during the school year. #cjchat
1:48 am Lenny_Neslin: @newzed Please ballpark it for us (me). I’m very curious. #cjchat
1:49 am riocarmine: Q5: Our paper was twice-weekly, with a senior editor staff of about 10, plus a couple dozen or so hourly staff and freelancers. #cjchat
1:49 am williampd: #cjchat Q5: @TheMaineCampus puts out twice a week. EIC, 8 editors, 2 asst. editors, 6 copy editors, 3 designers, varying writing staff + biz
1:50 am Amadeus3000: @AramZS Half and half. The guide is kept online so it changes regularly. Mostly clarification if someone sees various options #cjchat
1:51 am riocarmine: #cjchat Q5: What @williampd said.
1:51 am AramZS: Broadside has about 17-20 senior staff, 4 copy editors, 2 designers and an extremely variable set of contributers. #cjchat
1:51 am Lenny_Neslin: @williampd We’re a little smaller than you, but we go weekly. What days do you put out? We go Wednesday. #cjchat
1:52 am saragregory: Q5 We’re daily Monday-Friday, with an EIC, managing editor, about 40 paid editors and 150 or so volunteer staffers #cjchat
1:52 am AramZS: @Amadeus3000 Good call with that. Our style guide is still print and bound. On what platform do you maintain your guide? #cjchat
1:53 am newzed: @saragregory okay, things are starting make sense here… #cjchat
1:54 am AramZS: @saragregory *jealous* :) #cjchat
1:55 am AramZS: @Lenny_Neslin I always wonder if it might be wiser to go out mid-week. W/a Mon paper we have trouble covering weekend events. #cjchat
1:55 am newzed: @saragregory how many work on the design? #cjchat
1:56 am Lenny_Neslin: I think we need a separate chat for rich, giant school papers like @saragregory’s. #justkidding #cjchat
1:57 am Lenny_Neslin: @AramZS Mid-week is nice. Weekends are free for designing, but so many events need to be covered and aren’t newsworthy a week later. #cjchat
1:57 am AramZS: @Lenny_Neslin :( – It’s also a matter of ad support. Bringing in money = more paper and staff. #cjchat
1:58 am saragregory: @newzed There are typically three or four design editors, maybe 10ish staffers. @kellymchugh would know for sure. #cjchat
1:59 am saragregory: @newzed @Lenny_Neslin Staff retention, getting folks excited, keeping them excited, etc… still a struggle for larger papers too. #cjchat
1:59 am AramZS: Wrapping up: Please come by again this time next week for the next #collegejourn chat. Submit topic ideas for next week to me via @ #cjchat
2:00 am TauhidChappell: Q5: No paper! Strictily online :-) #cjchat
2:00 am AramZS: I’ll also be putting up an archive of this chat at collegejourn.com, which I’m hoping to update (as a site) soon. #cjchat
2:01 am newzed: TIP: i post relevant links throughout the week w/ the tag #collegejourn #cjchat
2:01 am Amadeus3000: Q5 Mon-Fri paper. EIC, 2 MEs 22 editors, 40+ reporters. 20 in copy/design. 16 ad reps. 4 online dev. 12 in ad creation. All pay. #cjchat
2:01 am AramZS: And finally, if you are not already on the list at http://twitter.com/Chronotope/collegejourn – tell me so I can put you on. #cjchat
2:01 am saragregory: RT @newzed: TIP: i post relevant links throughout the week w/ the tag #collegejourn #cjchat
2:01 am TauhidChappell: @AramZS Another great #cjchat! Glad it’s back!
2:01 am newzed: thanks for chatting, good night :) #cjchat
2:02 am riocarmine: To all my non-newsy twitter friends: Sorry for the #cjchat clutter.
2:03 am AramZS: @riocarmine I actually set up a separate account for chat because of that problem. My main account is @Chronotope #cjchat
2:03 am williampd: @Lenny_Neslin Mondays and Thursdays. #cjchat
2:03 am AramZS: RT @saragregory: RT @newzed: TIP: i post relevant links throughout the week w/ the tag #collegejourn #cjchat
2:03 am williampd: FYI, all our editors are salaried, copy editors and designers are hourly, writers are paid by the article. #cjchat
2:04 am Lenny_Neslin: Madness, but awesomeness. RT @Amadeus3000: Q5 Mon-Fri paper. EIC, 2 MEs 22 editors, 40+ reporters. 20 in copy/design… All pay. #cjchat
2:04 am AramZS: Thank you to everyone who made it tonight! I hope to chat with you soon. Good night and good luck with your new year/classes. #cjchat
2:08 am Lenny_Neslin: Just printed out @williampd’s copy editing test. http://bit.ly/bBb4o5 Great chat, I’ll be back next week! #cjchat
2:11 am Lenny_Neslin: @saragregory Gotta make it fun! I definitely suggest social outings (dinner, sporting event) for newspaper staff/e-board #cjchat

]]> http://collegejourn.com/2010/08/cjchat-transcript-8-29-10-bringing-in-the-freshmen-85/feed/ 0 Help make CollegeJourn chats better! http://collegejourn.com/2010/08/help-make-collegejourn-chats-better-66/ http://collegejourn.com/2010/08/help-make-collegejourn-chats-better-66/#comments Sun, 01 Aug 2010 23:34:03 +0000 AramZS http://collegejourn.com/?p=66 Hello everyone!

CollegeJourn chats continue to be on hiatus for the summer. However, there are still possibilities to virtually gather over the summer, if people are interested. I’m assuming the same time slot in the poll here, but if you’d like a different day and time you can enter it into the poll.

Beyond that, we’ve played around with a few other options for chat platforms over the summer, and I’d like your opinion on which you liked best for the fall.


Thanks for your votes,
-Aram

]]> http://collegejourn.com/2010/08/help-make-collegejourn-chats-better-66/feed/ 1 #cjchat 5-2-2010 http://collegejourn.com/2010/05/cjchat-5-2-2010-63/ http://collegejourn.com/2010/05/cjchat-5-2-2010-63/#comments Mon, 03 May 2010 02:41:54 +0000 AramZS http://collegejourn.com/?p=63 Thanks to all participants in tonight’s #collegejourn chat! You can read the transcript here.

What did you think of running the chat on Twitter tonight? Would you like to do it again or do it some other way?

]]> http://collegejourn.com/2010/05/cjchat-5-2-2010-63/feed/ 1 Tonight: Twitter Chat using #cjchat http://collegejourn.com/2010/05/tonight-twitter-chat-using-cjchat-60/ http://collegejourn.com/2010/05/tonight-twitter-chat-using-cjchat-60/#comments Sun, 02 May 2010 23:19:05 +0000 AramZS http://collegejourn.com/?p=60 Hello CollegeJourn,

Tonight we are going to be trying something different and running our chat on Twitter. Use the hashtag #cjchat to participate in the discussion.

Not sure what the best way to participate in tonight’s chat is? You can use your normal Twitter app and follow the hashtag or use TweetChat. You can log into TweetChat with your Twitter account and use the site to participate in the Twitter conversation as if it was a chat room.

In order to not  bother your followers you may want to warn them before we begin or start up an alternate Twitter account for the chat.

-Aram

]]> http://collegejourn.com/2010/05/tonight-twitter-chat-using-cjchat-60/feed/ 0 CollegeJourn chat http://collegejourn.com/2009/09/collegejourn-chat-50/ http://collegejourn.com/2009/09/collegejourn-chat-50/#comments Mon, 14 Sep 2009 02:57:37 +0000 admin http://collegejourn.com/?p=50 Journalism Students, Grads, Professionals and Educators Welcome!
Please Use Your Twitter Handle as Your User Name in the Chat Room
#CollegeJourn Takes Place from 8-10 PM GMT / 3-5 PM ET Every Sunday
For Previous Chats Click Here
http://www.meebo.com/rooms

]]> http://collegejourn.com/2009/09/collegejourn-chat-50/feed/ 2 The CollegeJourn international reporting project http://collegejourn.com/2009/09/4-4/ http://collegejourn.com/2009/09/4-4/#comments Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:26:46 +0000 admin http://collegejourn.com/?p=4 On Aug. 23, 2009, the CollegeJourn.com kids decided we wanted to collaborate on a global-scale reporting assignment. And in true CollegeJourn fashion, within a week the ball was already rolling.

Here is everything you need to know to get involved:

THE BASICS

WHAT:
This is a global collaborative reporting project on health. Choose one of two assignments: For news, the question is "How does health care on my campus compare to others around the world?" This project will be data-driven and will require digging up statistics so we can compare different locations accurately. The features assignment is "What does health mean in my area?" This is an excellent opportunity for reporters to do something creative and informative with features and multimedia.

WHO CAN BE INVOLVED: 
Students, educators and professional journalists.
  • Students can participate either individually or with others in their school. Recent grads also welcome.
  • Educators can use this project as an assignment or material for student publications, and also provide guidance to others in the group. 
  • Professionals can help mentor students and edit the reports. They can also provide contacts and feedback to aspiring journalists. 

  

THE ASSIGNMENT (pick one)

FEATURE: 
What does health mean in your area?

We want stories about people. Be as location-specific as possible, but from there, be creative. Will it be a long-form 2500-word piece? An interactive Flash presentation? A documentary? A photo essay? Several short profiles bundled into one? Pitch your work to the Google group (see "How can I get involved?" below) with your specific plans BEFORE you get started.

Some prompts you may want to explore:

  • What is physical health?
  • What is mental health?
  • What is good health care?
  • What is a healthy work/leisure balance?
  • What is healthy eating?
  • What are healthy relationships?
  • What is addiction?

Focus on stories that can be compared and contrasted with other stories around the globe. 

DUE SUNDAY, DEC. 6, 2009. If you do not have an editor or instructor to look at your piece, it will be due before then, sometime in November.

NEWS: 
How does health care on my campus compare to others around the world?

PART 1: Establish a narrative. 
What happens when a student needs immediate medical attention on your campus? What is the process? What levels of bureaucracy do they navigate? Are there any first responders on campus? Any medical facilities on site? Have there been past examples of emergencies that have gone right/wrong? This narrative will also require exploring your nation's health care system, but through the eyes of a university student. 

[Before we do anything, however, we need to send out Freedom of Information requests in countries where FOI is available. Those may take months to get, so the sooner the better. We'll discuss specifics on the Google group.]

PART 1 DUE OCT. 30, 2009. This gives you two months. For written pieces: 1500-2000 words, photos required. For video: 3-4 minutes. If you want to make a longer documentary, create a web teaser one minute long to link to your longer piece. For audio: 3-4 minutes. Please pitch your projects to the Google group if you wish to go longer.

PART 2: Collaborate and gather data.
Once part 1 is turned in, everyone in the project will be able to see the different narratives around the world. Then you can incorporate their reporting into one bigger article, written for an audience in your area who doesn't know about the other universities. 

In the meantime, with any luck the FOI data will be trickling in, and we will also have an open spreadsheet where we can compare and contrast statistics. The metrics will include items such as:
  • Distance to nearest hospital or clinic
  • Ambulance response times
  • Average cost of visit (if not to student, then to taxpayer)
  • Number of clinicians per 100 students
  • What services are available on-site
  • Population statistics over time for the campus
  • Statistics like weight, pregnancy, AIDS diagnoses, gonnohrea/syphillis, etc.
Some of this data can be collected without an FOI request. Also, this is NOT a final list, and we may have to adjust based on 1) what we can find and 2) how quickly we can find it. Keep an eye on the Google group for more details.

For countries with nationalized health care systems, you may need to find information within a 5- or 10-kilometer radius of your campus' location. 

PART 2 DUE DEC. 6, 2009. The longer story written for an audience in your location should be about 2000-2500 words, preferably less. For multimedia producers, take photos, audio and video produced by other students and expand your project by 1-2 minutes.

Pitch all other ideas, address any issues or questions to the Google group.

THE DETAILS

WHERE WILL THIS BE PUBLISHED?
A final website, but we also hope your stories will be published in your campus publication or in another local professional publication you wish to send your pitch. But the real end result will be the comprehensive website. At the bare minimum, it will be a WordPress site. At its pinnacle, and depending on the talents and skills of the people involved, it will be an interactive map where users can click on countries and cities and pull up the stories, video, audio and databases we create. 

You are allowed to pitch your final piece to publications of your choice, and even get paid for it, as long as they include the tagline, "The CollegeJourn reporting network contributed to this report." 

If that publication forbids you to post it to our website whatsoever, no deal. If they want first rights and we can find a way to link it back to their publication but still keep our website as a central hub for the content, then deal.

If the publication doesn't like the open collaborative reporting nature of our project, then no deal. I understand different publications have different accountability and fact-checking mechanisms in place. We will be edited and every effort will be made to fact-check stories accurately. That will be discussed more thoroughly on the Google group. 

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?

You must do two things:
  1. Input your contact information into this Google form. (http://bit.ly/2DnjRr)
  2. Join the Google group: http://groups.google.com/group/collegejourn-reporting-project/
And you probably should do three other things (they're great resources):
  1. Join our group at WiredJournalists.com: (http://www.wiredjournalists.com/group/collegejourn/)
  2. Join Publish2.com and start linking relevant news and websites that would help us understand the complexities of health care in different countries. Join the newsgroup here: http://www.publish2.com/newsgroups/collegejourn-reports-health-care-on-campus
  3. If you're in the UK, join HelpMeInvestigate.com: (http://helpmeinvestigate.com/investigations/98) This website puts you in touch with professional reporters who can point you in the right direction.

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
The project was created by journalism students with journalism students in mind, to get our feet wet with collaboration, information, international reporting, data and multimedia, while producing news and information relevant to a university-based audience. The CollegeJourn students responsible for this idea meet in a chatroom every Sunday, 8 pm BST/3 pm EDT/noon PDT, at collegejourn.com. (Blame us.)

HELPFUL LINKS:
So now that you have the lowdown, let's get started, shall we?

-Suzanne Yada
]]> http://collegejourn.com/2009/09/4-4/feed/ 0 North America CollegeJourn moved up! http://collegejourn.com/2009/08/north-america-collegejourn-moved-up-48/ http://collegejourn.com/2009/08/north-america-collegejourn-moved-up-48/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:56:21 +0000 admin http://collegejourn.com/?p=48 Until further notice, the North America CollegeJourn chat will be moved up to 3 p.m. EDT/noon PDT Sundays to meet with the Euro CollegeJourn chat (which remains for them at 8 p.m. BST).

Why, you ask? So we can coordinate with our new global reporting project. Read Josh Halliday’s writeup here, and my writeup here. Then get excited.

-Suzanne Yada

]]> http://collegejourn.com/2009/08/north-america-collegejourn-moved-up-48/feed/ 0 CollegeJourn comes back! http://collegejourn.com/2009/08/collegejourn-comes-back-46/ http://collegejourn.com/2009/08/collegejourn-comes-back-46/#comments Sun, 02 Aug 2009 02:55:44 +0000 admin http://collegejourn.com/?p=46 We’re reviving CollegeJourn US to get everyone prepared for the up-and-coming school year! Come on by, same time, same channel, Sundays, 8-10 p.m. ET.

Also, I am going to be on a panel for the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication on Tuesday, August 4, and would love to get your feedback on what you would like me to pass onto instructors. It will be the first topic for Sunday’s Check out the panel details here.

-Suzanne Yada

]]> http://collegejourn.com/2009/08/collegejourn-comes-back-46/feed/ 1 North America CollegeJourn on summer hiatus http://collegejourn.com/2009/06/north-america-collegejourn-on-summer-hiatus-44/ http://collegejourn.com/2009/06/north-america-collegejourn-on-summer-hiatus-44/#comments Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:53:32 +0000 admin http://collegejourn.com/?p=44 ATTENTION: Because of low attendance, the North America CollegeJourn chats, which normally happen every Sunday from 8-10 p.m. ET, will be on hiatus until Aug. 2, 2009. Enjoy your summer!

]]> http://collegejourn.com/2009/06/north-america-collegejourn-on-summer-hiatus-44/feed/ 2 CollegeJourn chat – May 10, 2009 http://collegejourn.com/2009/05/collegejourn-chat-may-10-2009-42/ http://collegejourn.com/2009/05/collegejourn-chat-may-10-2009-42/#comments Mon, 11 May 2009 02:52:37 +0000 admin http://collegejourn.com/?p=42

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