Newswrap

The handwriting on the wall

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:52:00 -0500

I’ve been fascinated lately with the debate about whether schools should continue the teaching of handwriting.

The latest tidbit I read discussed the mental benefits of writing in cursive versus typing.

It’s an interesting issue on its own — but I’ve been trying to ferret out the repercussions for journalists, should most schools go the way of Indiana and ditch it.

First off — and most important — is note-taking, which seems to be a lost art for many journalism students anyway. I was once interviewed by a journalism student who barely put pen to notebook, yet produced a story full of facts and direct quotes. As you might expect, most of the facts were wrong and the quotes inaccurate. So I tell my students copious note-taking — and developing a unique short-hand style — is imperative if they want to be a good reporter.

During an interview, it’s less intrusive to be taking notes on a skinny reporter’s notebook than a clunky laptop. And it’s easier and quicker to take notes using cursive rather than printing individual letters.

And then there’s the aspect of deciphering handwriting. If you don’t learn cursive, you won’t be able to read it either — as the article in the link discusses. So how will we be able to expect reporters to translate old hand-written letters or documents?

I hate to sound like a Luddite, but this is one case where the old way shouldn’t be forsaken.

A good point

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:35:08 -0500

A good point:

futurejournalismproject:

“I sure wish we could get rid of that word “content” to refer to writing, photography, drawing, and design online. The very word breathes indifference — why would one bother about the quality of work when it’s referred to as “content”? I’m sorry to respond to your good question with a cranky diatribe, but this word has crept from New Media over to Radio Broadcasting where I live in my little cave and now my Show has become Content and is sent around to stations in a nice digital package that squashes the sound. Public radio, which holds itself up as a believer in quality, is cutting corners on all sides and I see this perfidious word “content” as part of the downward slide. I loathe the word. It’s like referring to Omaha [Beach] as a development.”

—

Garrison Keillor, host of NPR’s A Prairie Home Companion, answering a question about how he creates content for his show.

British Journal of Photography, Photography as “Content”.

I agree — I prefer the term “story,” which covers all the bases and has a rich meaning.

Oh, to be a journalism student again!

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 13:48:59 -0500

Around the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, we have a habit of saying “I wish I was a student again.” That’s because we think there are so many amazing learning opportunities for students these days. Whether it’s a class that focuses on doing journalism abroad or one that develops a journalism app. So many cool options. Here’s another example of a class I’d love to take: Communications Technologies, taught by Henry Jenkins at USC. The reading list alone is priceless. Maybe it will show up on iTunes some day?