Check this out:

Here is an example of good journalism. This writer saw a photo of fireballs shooting out of manhole covers in in Omaha. He questioned it (where did it come from? Was it photoshopped?) and then investigated and investigated and investigated.

Read the story here: http://www.omaha.com/article/20130129/NEWS/701299893/1685#the-great-manhole-fireball-photo-mystery

Farewell!

It's the end of the semester! But instead of sugar plums, visions of finals are dancing in your heads. So to cut down on your stress let's make this the easiest blog post yet.

Tell me about your semester.
What did you learn?
What did you wish we spent more time on?
How were your other classes?
Did you think your freshman/sophomore/junior/senior year would be like this?
What are you looking forward to with the break or next semester?

Add anything else you want me to know! Just write!

When you're done please prepare for your LAST news quiz.
Pd. 1 The Girls are winning with 36 points.
Pd. 7 The Masonators have 46 points (trailed by The Blackhawks).

Freedom Writers

Image from Moviefone.com

With our bizarre testing schedule this week, we had some time in class to watch the beginning of Freedom Writers. Every time I've shown or I've observed other teachers show the movie, I'm astonished at the pure, undivided attention it receives. Even the students who need me to hover over their shoulders during class will stop talking and fidgeting to watch. 

Because we haven't blogged in a while (keep writing those news stories!), I want to hear your thoughts on the movie. Write a little review over Freedom Writers -- yes,  opinions included, even though I just spent a month pounding it into your brains that you should NOT put your opinion into news articles.  

Consider these questions: 

What is so appealing to the masses?

What is your favorite/least favorite story line?

How does the movie make you feel?

What connections can you make to your education or life?

For some inspiration check out these reviews from 2007. 

New York Times

CBN

Parent Review

Fabricating.

As we wind down our discussion on media law and you start thinking about writing your own stories in the next couple of weeks, it's important that we also focus on media ethics. We all know lying is "bad" and journalists need to seek the truth.

It's the whole point of journalism. Find the truth, and tell the public. Whistle blow. Be a watchdog.

You learned about Stephen Glass and how he fabricated 27 of 41 stories he wrote before ending his career as a journalist. And you listened to the This American Life episode "Retraction," which focuses on a more recent incident of fabricating stories. (If you were absent from class that day for mono, a broken ankle or knee surgery -- good grief, kids --- listen here or read here.)

Your blogging assignment for this week is to respond to those stories. Consider these questions:

• Why did Glass (Stephen not Ira -- they aren't related) and Daisey lie? 
• How did that turn out for them?
• What happens to the publication that prints or airs those fabricated stories?
• If you had read or listened to those stories on your own, how would you feel to find out they lied to you?
• Should you believe anything these "journalists" say?
• How can you avoid doing that with your own writing?

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

A few weeks ago we discussed our freedom of speech, biases and being politically correct as journalists. Some of you made the argument that under the first amendment you don't have to be politically correct when speaking or writing even if your words hurt other people.

If you have been paying attention to the news (I hope you have for your weekly news quiz!), you are aware of the rioting in Libya and what started it. The actions of one American exercising his freedom of speech may have cost other Americans their lives.

If you are not familiar with this news, please read the following blog: http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/12/six-things-to-know-about-attack-that-killed-ambassador-stevens/


And now that we are all up to speed on that event, please read one of the following articles about a French magazine that ran an "offensive" cartoon about the Prophet Mohammed (despite growing tension between Muslims and the western world) AND respond to it on your blog.

Free Speech of incitement? French mag runs cartoons of Prophet Mohammed

France on Alert, Closing Embassies, After Magazine Publishes Muhammad Cartoons

France shutters embassies as anti-Islam cartoon spurs fears of new backlash

Your response should focus on the first amendment and how exercising that right can affect other people.

We're Off!

Hazzah! If you're reading this, you've successfully created your own blog. Hopefully you've designed it, read your assignment and are on your way to completing your first post.

Just a reminder (because I'm tired of writing it on the board every day ... apparently we have really tidy custodians), your assignment is to mimic my first post "Blasted Titles Again." Read the post and answer the following:

• How did you choose your blog title?
• What blogs do you like to read (link to them!)?
• Are you comfortable blogging? Why/Why not?
• Are you excited to blog? Why/Why not?

I expect at least TWO paragraphs (you can do it!).

When you are done with that, play around with blogger. Find new blogs. Add photos/videos (MUST BE SCHOOL APPROPRIATE). Enjoy.

 ***************************************************************************

Rooftops! I love chilling on rooftops. This is in Park Slope, Brooklyn. 

Per your request, here are some photos of why I have to move away. Sorry! We'll find a good replacement; I promise!

Parks! Reading in the park is the best.

City Dogs. They are so friendly and
awesome. I want these two. 

Friends! Some of my college friends
moved to New York after school.
I miss them! 

More friends! Even friends from
Beatrice are in New York! 

Singing the Second Semester Blues

After witnessing one of my journalism classes yesterday, I am still terrified for them to express themselves on the internet (for my class that is, I am very aware that all of them are on facebook, twitter or hoe-book or any of that nonsense because they talk about it endlessly). 

Is it really that difficult for teens to understand that there is a time and place for things? It wasn't too difficult for my 8th graders to understand last year. It wasn't very difficult for my classes to understand last semester. However, the maturity level of some of my students this semester is just astounding. Nobody needs to hear your input after every comment in class. Nobody needs to hear that you support proposition-what-ever-the-one-is-with-legalizing -- you are all too young to smoke tobacco anyway, so that law doesn't really affect you right now. Save that discussion for outside of school. Nobody needs to know that you had to use the restroom before class.  

My favorite part of teaching is building relationships with my students. Getting to know them. Getting to know their writing. Having fun in class while still learning. Making an impact. While last semester was different from last year, this semester is totally different than last semester. I'm struggling with mustering the enthusiasm I had last semester for journalism, because it is either met with dead silence or inappropriate comments. 

The point of this post isn't to make my classes feel bad about their behavior because it isn't every student.  It isn't even the majority of my students.

The purpose of this post is to find a way to make writing fun for my students while still protecting my class from rude, inappropriate, out of place comments and drama that seems to be on many teenage minds. Blogging is supposed to be fun. It isn't like writing in any other class. I'm not telling you you need to compare two characters or write a five paragraph essay. Blogs are yours to explore. To think. To share. 

So, second semester journalism classes. If you are reading this, we are going to try to start blogging. But before you build your own, I want you to check out a few blogs to understand what I am expecting. 

General Rules:

1) You are not allowed to write anything related to an illegal activity so long as your blog is connected to this class. That means no talk of drinking, smoking, stealing, bullying (yes, I am counting bullying as illegal), etc.

2) Do not use foul language. -- I am the judge of what is foul. Do not even try to argue that different words are OK to use. Think about the words I use in class. These are Ok.

3) I know tumblr and other sites have "blogs" with just photos and videos with a small caption. This is not acceptable in journalism. I want you to WRITE about what you post. Reflect. Think. 

Check out these blogs:

366 Random Acts of Kindness

Hello Giggles- Photobombs

(notice in this one, that they do use photos or video, but it also has at least two paragraphs of text! WRITING!)

I love the AV CLUB! Entertainment news and opinions. Still uses photos and videos but provides commentary just like you are supposed to do!

My friend's food blog: Freshly Grated Ginger. Again, photos, instructions and still commentary!

Sports blogs. One of my students likes this blog. 

Another friend's blog: Lovely Day

When you are done checking these out you can explore my previous posts to get an idea of what blogging was like last semester. We are going to do things a little differently.