spj - 10,000 Words

How To Survive The Summer News Drought: 5 Places To Find Story Ideas Online

Meranda Watling — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 15:30:09 +0000

Summer is notoriously slow for news. Sure, breaking news and summer festivals will eat up some of the local newshole. But schools are out. Sources (and colleagues) are on vacation. Elections are still months away. And you can only write so much about the weather before you and your readers give up caring or tracking how little rain or how much sunshine your has community received.

Even though important work still takes place and is worth reporting as it happens in the summer months, it’s a good idea to have some story ideas in your back pocket to get you through the news drought. Think of it as insurance against being the reporter handed the next weather story. The editor will hesitate if you can say, “Oh, well actually I was working on (or planning to work on) that story about X-awesome-idea…”

So as you craft your summer story budget, here are five places to watch for tips and good story examples that may inspire your own pieces:
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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Who Should Journalists Follow On Twitter?

Meranda Watling — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:00:20 +0000

When I was in college, we didn’t have Twitter*. But if I had, there are plenty of accounts I would have followed closely — and they would have extended far beyond my own social circle. I’d have included all of the accounts USA Today picked for its round-up of Nine Twitter accounts every journalism student should follow and hundreds more.

Their list is a round-up of journo-talking heads, news organizations and organizations devoted to journalism. The paper’s quick-hit list notes, “The folks below… may not be ‘masters’ of the craft, but they do have their fingers on the pulse of modern journalism. Following them should help you raise your Twitter game significantly.” Among those who made their cut:

The Critic: NYU professor and blogger Jay Rosen
The Maven: NPR social media guru Andy Carvin
The ‘Bible’: The keepers of writing style everywhere, AP Stylebook
The News: At least, according to the New York Times mix of bloggers, The Lede
And several more, related to jobs, industry news and more. Check out the full list (and contributor suggestions) at USA Today.

Instead of focusing on specific accounts, I wanted to outline the TYPES of accounts journalists (students, professionals and aspiring professionals) should be following.

They include:

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Deadline Nears For SPJ Reporters Institute For Young Journalists

Meranda Watling — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 06:00:08 +0000

If I were still in the first three years of my professional journalism career, I’d be applying for this opportunity with the Society of Professional Journalists. If you do fall within years 1 and 3 of your post-college career and you want to advance your skills in reporting and new media, then you have until Thursday (March 15) to get your application in for the SPJ Reporters Institute this summer.

This program, which runs three days in June at The Poynter Institute in Florida, costs $300 plus travel. For that, you’ll meet some top journalists/instructors (and network with other young peers). The sessions will cover all of the following topics (and more): continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.