Sign up for new Reporting for Online News class starting October 12

Great start to the Fall 2007 term.

New courses like the soon to be required JRN 400 (Reporting for Online News) made its debut under JRN 492. Students are learning to shoot and edit video and audio to enhance their story telling skills.

Students interested in taking this course can sign up for the second session (JRN 492, Sec. 303) NOW!! The class will meet on Fridays from 9:10-3 p.m., Oct. 12-Nov. 9.

Three students are gearing up as part of two teams creating new ideas for online communities as part of the Knight Brothers Challenge grant awarded to the J-School and six other universities and colleges across the country. Our students made brief presentations on Friday to the members of the Journalism Professional Advisory Council at its fall meeting. Prior to the start of the meeting, a small group of JPAC volunteers will be reviewing course portfolios for JRN 200, 300, 305, 403 and 406 to ensure these classes measure up to J-School standards. In other words, students are learning the skills they need to succeed in media careers.

I was in Reston, Virginia most of last week attending a seminar on Leadership in Disruptive Times run by the American Press Institute. API awarded me the James Ottaway Fellowship so I could attend. These certainly are challenging times for the industry and higher ed. It was a very engaging and informative seminar. I am glad I attended.Thanks API and Mary Glick!

On campus, we watch with concern and interest as the state legislature and the governor work to find a budget compromise to address the projected $2 billion deficit. The governor has withheld the fourth quarter payments to the 15 public universities in the state. This has happened twice previously several decades ago. If MSU gets its allocation, we will all be relieved. If the state decides to withhold it, trouble looms. Tuition already jumped 9.6 percent.

Proficiency test dates set, awards and upcoming lectures

With one week under our belt, the term has started out extremely well. Not only are classes going smoothly, but the Spartans won on Saturday and the Wolverines lost!

Freshman and sophomores—mark your calendars and starts studying grammar and AP Style. Two dates are set for the Grammar Proficiency Test. JRN 108 students and others who plan to enroll in JRN 200 need to pass this test. The test will be given twice on both dates in 145 CAS. Bring your student ID and a calculator with you.

The dates are:
Friday, October 5
Test 1: Registration from 2:30-3 p.m., Test from 3-4 p.m.
Test 2: Registration from 4-4:30 p.m., Test from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Friday October 19
Test 1: Registration from 2:30-3 p.m., Test from 3-4 p.m.
Test 2: Registration from 4-4:30 p.m., Test from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Testing dates will also be scheduled early in the Spring 2008 term, but it is best to take an earlier test in the event you need to retake it!!

Four J-School students (Jordan Barnes, Jonathan Oosting, Steve Patterson and Katie Rausch) with their faculty mentor Darcy Greene will be making a presentation of their incubator projects at the annual Online News Association conference in Toronto, October 17-20.

Two environmental journalism students (Spring 2007 graduate Carol Navarro and Mairin MacDonald) are finalists in the SEJ (Society of Environmental Journalists) national news writing contest. The winners will be announced at the SEJ conference this week. Good luck Carol and Mairin.

In addition, the Great Lakes Wiki site (www.greatlakeswiki.org) launched and maintained by the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism’s Dave Poulson and his students received won of ten Knight-Batten Awards honoring it “for collecting information as broad and deep as the Great Lakes it covers.” The contest spotlights the creative use of new information ideas and technologies that involve citizens in public issues. The Great Lakes Wiki is among four projects in the new honorable mention category.

Upcoming special events:
Special guest lecturer: Bryan Christie, the 3D artist. His work will be on display in the new 190 CAS gallery.
Tentative dates between Oct. 22-25

Neal Shine Ethics Lecturer: Gene Roberts, former executive editor Philadelphia Inquirer, led his staff to 17 Pulitzers in his 18 years at the paper. From there he moved to U-Maryland and then left there briefly to become managing editor of the NY Times. His book, The Race Beat, co-authored with Hank Klibanoff, was published in September by Random House.
Time and date: 4 p.m., Wednesday, November 14, Big Ten C.

Special guest lecturer: Rania Matar, documentary photographer, has worked extensively in Lebanon with a concentration on the women of Lebanon. Her photographs will be on exhibit in the new 190 gallery area.
Tentative date: November 28 or 29.

Proficiency test dates and special lectures set

With one week under our belt, the term has started out extremely well. Not only are classes going smoothly, but the Spartans won on Saturday and the Wolverines lost!

Freshman and sophomores—mark your calendars and starts studying grammar and AP Style. Two dates are set for the Grammar Proficiency Test. JRN 108 students and others who plan to enroll in JRN 200 need to pass this test. The test will be given twice on both dates in 145 CAS. Bring your student ID and a calculator with you.

The dates are:
Friday, October 5
Test 1: Registration from 2:30-3 p.m., Test from 3-4 p.m.
Test 2: Registration from 4-4:30 p.m., Test from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Friday October 19
Test 1: Registration from 2:30-3 p.m., Test from 3-4 p.m.
Test 2: Registration from 4-4:30 p.m., Test from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Testing dates will also be scheduled early in the Spring 2008 term, but it is best to take an earlier test in the event you need to retake it!!

Four J-School students (Jordan Barnes, Jonathan Oosting, Steve Patterson and Katie Rausch) with their faculty mentor Darcy Greene will be making a presentation of their incubator projects at the annual Online News Association conference in Toronto, October 17-20.

Upcoming special events:

Special guest lecturer: Bryan Christie, the 3D artist. His work will be on display in the new 190 CAS gallery.
Tentative dates between Oct. 22-25

Neal Shine Ethics Lecturer: Gene Roberts, former executive editor Philadelphia Inquirer, led his staff to 17 Pulitzers in his 18 years at the paper. From there he moved to U-Maryland and then left there briefly to become managing editor of the NY Times. His book, The Race Beat, co-authored with Hank Klibanoff, was published in September by Random House.
Time and date: 4 p.m., Wednesday, November 14, Big Ten C.

Special guest lecturer: Rania Matar, documentary photographer, has worked extensively in Lebanon with a concentration on the women of Lebanon. Her photographs will be on exhibit in the new 190 gallery area.
Tentative date: November 28 or 29.