The short Labor Day weekend got the best of me, so here’s a double – yet somehow still abbreviated – Alma Matters for your week!
You’ve probably noticed a surge in reporting on coercive high school and college journalism: the suspension of a California high school counselor, a nosy Missouri politician, and a sad closure in Nebraska. CJR had a thoughtful morning newsletter summarizing the issues but some highlights:
Must read! “We need to educate journalism students about workplace harassment” (Poynter)
I love Caitlin Dickerson’s journalism. This piece hit like a bomb. Here’s a Q&A with her on The Objective, where she talks a little bit about how she got started – but the whole thing is interesting.
It looks like Oberlin’s long battle is over, with a result that fails to excite college or First Amendment advocates.
Meanwhile, Carnegie Mellon has a first change/academic freedom situation on its hands.
Damn yes! “Federal Judge Stops Arizona’s Ban on Filming Cops Within 8 Feet”
For your students who know they want a career in social media but also love serious journalism, “Planet Money’s Jack Corbett explains his TikTok strategy.”
First-of-its-kind newscast from Berkeley: “The state funds Berkeley Journalism $25 million to boost local reporting in California.”
As a Joshua Johnson fan, I love this from NBCU Academy: “Start Your Podcast”
This is encouraging for those of us who wish we could have more transparency regarding university endowments: “Judge party with newspaper in KSU Foundation Open Records Appeal.”
Here’s a great resource for your classroom to teach about when and where to film the police from our friends at First Amendment Watch at NYU: Teacher’s and Citizen’s Guides: Recording Police Officer Video and Audio. (This resource requires you to fill out a quick registration, but it’s worth the extra few seconds.)
Wow. “How Murdered Journalist Jeff German’s Colleagues Tracked Down His Alleged Killer.” If you’re interested in that story, CJR has plenty of background and context from his daily newsletter and this article. Here is the coverage of the German newspaper.
Is this happening where you are? “A university asked for volunteer staff and teachers in the canteens. The union said no.”
Good win for Boston University: “Brian McGrory resigns as Globe editor” (Boston Globe)
Two Poynter opportunities for interested professors:
- If you or your students live near Tampa Bay, Poynter invites Associated Press Editor-in-Chief Julie Pace for a behind-the-scenes talk on Tuesday, October 11. Get tickets here – maybe your department would pay for this event?
- Who likes free stuff? (Who doesn’t?!) Courtesy of YouTube, we have 100 free tickets for educators and students to attend Poynter and PolitiFact’s second annual United Facts of America, September 27-29 virtually. These three fact-packed days will feature insightful discussions with some of our country’s top experts in media, politics, technology and counterintelligence. Get context and clarity on America’s most pressing issues leading up to the midterm elections, such as inflation, privacy, climate change, misinformation and more. Click here to get your ticket – use code FREEUFA100 at checkout. And when they’re gone, there’s still a 50% discount with the code EDUCATION. Tickets are usually $50, so that’s a great deal. (And again, could your department pay for it?)
In this new and improved presentation, I am adding case studies as fast as they are added to my newsfeed. The Latest: Getting emotional while reporting is not a new phenomenon, but two recent examples give us an opportunity to talk about what journalists can do when emotions are overwhelming them at work.
I recently looked at the subscribers to this product and I am so flattered and happy that so many of you are investing in this resource. If you haven’t already, sign up here, and if you have any feedback, please know I’d absolutely love to hear it!
As someone who has made a career of advising younger generations, I’m a little obsessed with this song.
