Does content create itself?
A week ago the labor writer and activist Jonathan Tasini filed a $105-million lawsuit in United States District Court, in New York’s Southern District, against HuffPost’s new owner AOL Inc., and HuffPost co-founders Arianna Huffington and Kenneth Lerer, seeking to “vindicate the fundamental principle that creators of value deserve to be compensated.” The Daily Rumpus has more on the story here.
Where Great Ideas Take Off
A look at how technology is changing the American news-scape and more
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Finals Checklist
Your final grade in the course will be based on the following criteria:
* Quality and consistency of your blog (Is your concept unique and interesting? Is it working? Has the blog developed and improved over the term? Do you update regularly? Is the writing good? Is the information presented accurate and useful? Do you show a clear sense of audience? Are you working to develop your own voice? Do you regularly incorporate visual/audio components into your blog?)
* Quality and consistency of your interaction with your blog community (Do you regularly comment on the blogs in your community? Do you respond to comments? Do you work to develop a dialogue through your blog? Do you show a genuine desire to reach out to others?)
* Attendance and participation (More than two unexcused absences in the course may drop your grade by one letter for each additional absence. Presence in the class does not necessarily count as participation. If you've spent the semester Googling or typing entries for your own blog instead of paying attention to lectures and presentations, this will count against your participation grade.)
* Quality of your in-class presentation. (Was it thorough? Was the information presented accurate and useful? Was the presentation professional? Did you make useful connections between the blog you studied and your own blog?)
* Quality of your final paper.
Details:
The paper should be 4-7 pages long -- double-spaced, standard margins. It should include the highlights from your in-class presentation.
Topics covered should include: the history of the blog you studied; the demographics of the blog (audience, etc.); a thoughtful and informed analysis of the quality of the writing and information on the blog; a thoughtful and informed analysis of the design of the blog; and a discussion of what you learned from studying the blog. Please be sure to cover: elements you can incorporate into your own blog and your own new-media writing; what you admire about the blog you studied and how you might imitate it; what you'd do differently. Please discuss whether or not you'll continue to follow this particular blog and why.
Grammar counts. Use Associated Press style. Notate as needed. No bibliography necessary, but be sure to cite within the text itself.
The paper is due on Thursday, April 28 by 5 p.m. There will be a drop-box outside of my office. No e-copies please. (I know. The irony!)
* Quality and consistency of your blog (Is your concept unique and interesting? Is it working? Has the blog developed and improved over the term? Do you update regularly? Is the writing good? Is the information presented accurate and useful? Do you show a clear sense of audience? Are you working to develop your own voice? Do you regularly incorporate visual/audio components into your blog?)
* Quality and consistency of your interaction with your blog community (Do you regularly comment on the blogs in your community? Do you respond to comments? Do you work to develop a dialogue through your blog? Do you show a genuine desire to reach out to others?)
* Attendance and participation (More than two unexcused absences in the course may drop your grade by one letter for each additional absence. Presence in the class does not necessarily count as participation. If you've spent the semester Googling or typing entries for your own blog instead of paying attention to lectures and presentations, this will count against your participation grade.)
* Quality of your in-class presentation. (Was it thorough? Was the information presented accurate and useful? Was the presentation professional? Did you make useful connections between the blog you studied and your own blog?)
* Quality of your final paper.
Details:
The paper should be 4-7 pages long -- double-spaced, standard margins. It should include the highlights from your in-class presentation.
Topics covered should include: the history of the blog you studied; the demographics of the blog (audience, etc.); a thoughtful and informed analysis of the quality of the writing and information on the blog; a thoughtful and informed analysis of the design of the blog; and a discussion of what you learned from studying the blog. Please be sure to cover: elements you can incorporate into your own blog and your own new-media writing; what you admire about the blog you studied and how you might imitate it; what you'd do differently. Please discuss whether or not you'll continue to follow this particular blog and why.
Grammar counts. Use Associated Press style. Notate as needed. No bibliography necessary, but be sure to cite within the text itself.
The paper is due on Thursday, April 28 by 5 p.m. There will be a drop-box outside of my office. No e-copies please. (I know. The irony!)
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Stephen Elliott's Tips for Writing a Perfect Book
At this year's Associated Writing Programs conference in Washington, D.C., Stephen Elliott said that there are three things any writer needs to write a perfect book. Here they are:
1. Perfect sentences.
2. Tension.
3. Honesty.
What do you think?
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Ligonier Valley Writers Conference July 16
If the promise of spring is amping up your creative juices, now’s the time to write. Start your novel, play, or other work today and you’ll have enough material to workshop at the Ligonier Valley Writers’ Conference.
The 24th annual conference will take place on Saturday, July 16, at the Rogers Center at St. Vincent College in Latrobe (back by popular demand). If you’d like a hardcopy of the conference brochure or have any questions, contact Judith Gallagher at jgallagher@LHTOT.com or (724) 593-7294.
Exceptional faculty members stand ready to help you grow your writing. Peter Oresick is teaching poetry, Scott Mastro fiction, Rebecca Godfrey nonfiction, and F. J. Hartland playwriting. F. J. will also be delivering the Thoburn Lecture.
If you register by June 10, you can enjoy early-bird pricing ($95 for LVW members; $110 for nonmembers for the full day). From June 10-July 1, the price is $105 for LVW members and $120 for nonmembers. Once again, LVW members will be able to sell their books at our book room during the conference. And to celebrate LVW’s 25th anniversary, we’ve reduced the price of a full-year membership, which includes not just discounts to most events but also our information-packed quarterly newsletter, to just $25.
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, six scholarships are available for adult writers. The only criteria for the Ligonier Valley Writers’ Conference Scholarships are writing talent and financial need. Regarding need, let your conscience be your guide. Regarding writing ability, we ask that you submit a sample of your writing. Writers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome to apply.
LVW also invites students who will be high school seniors in the fall or who are graduating this year to apply for the Tina Thoburn Memorial Scholarship. Application forms for both LVWC and Thoburn scholarships are at www.LVWonline.org. The deadline for both is June 6.
Publication Party: Ligonier Valley Writers is kicking off the conference Friday night with a publication party for the 2011 edition of its literary magazine, The Loyalhanna Review. The party will be on July 15, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Latrobe Art Center on 819 Ligonier St. in Latrobe. Loyalhanna Review authors will read from their work. Beautiful paintings and photos (some of them reproduced in the magazine) will be on display in beautiful surroundings. Guests will have a chance to talk with the authors and artists whose work is featured in the magazine. The Loyalhanna Review has been published continuously since 1992.
For more information about any LVW events, workshops, publications, writing contests, and submission guidelines, please visit LVWonline.org.
The 24th annual conference will take place on Saturday, July 16, at the Rogers Center at St. Vincent College in Latrobe (back by popular demand). If you’d like a hardcopy of the conference brochure or have any questions, contact Judith Gallagher at jgallagher@LHTOT.com or (724) 593-7294.
Exceptional faculty members stand ready to help you grow your writing. Peter Oresick is teaching poetry, Scott Mastro fiction, Rebecca Godfrey nonfiction, and F. J. Hartland playwriting. F. J. will also be delivering the Thoburn Lecture.
If you register by June 10, you can enjoy early-bird pricing ($95 for LVW members; $110 for nonmembers for the full day). From June 10-July 1, the price is $105 for LVW members and $120 for nonmembers. Once again, LVW members will be able to sell their books at our book room during the conference. And to celebrate LVW’s 25th anniversary, we’ve reduced the price of a full-year membership, which includes not just discounts to most events but also our information-packed quarterly newsletter, to just $25.
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, six scholarships are available for adult writers. The only criteria for the Ligonier Valley Writers’ Conference Scholarships are writing talent and financial need. Regarding need, let your conscience be your guide. Regarding writing ability, we ask that you submit a sample of your writing. Writers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome to apply.
LVW also invites students who will be high school seniors in the fall or who are graduating this year to apply for the Tina Thoburn Memorial Scholarship. Application forms for both LVWC and Thoburn scholarships are at www.LVWonline.org. The deadline for both is June 6.
Publication Party: Ligonier Valley Writers is kicking off the conference Friday night with a publication party for the 2011 edition of its literary magazine, The Loyalhanna Review. The party will be on July 15, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Latrobe Art Center on 819 Ligonier St. in Latrobe. Loyalhanna Review authors will read from their work. Beautiful paintings and photos (some of them reproduced in the magazine) will be on display in beautiful surroundings. Guests will have a chance to talk with the authors and artists whose work is featured in the magazine. The Loyalhanna Review has been published continuously since 1992.
For more information about any LVW events, workshops, publications, writing contests, and submission guidelines, please visit LVWonline.org.
Written/Spoken Series to Celebrate Soon-to-Be Graduating Writers Tuesday, April 5
Come on out to the coffeehouse on Tuesday, April 5 at 7 p.m. to support your fellow bloggers -- and soon-to-be graduating seniors -- Rachel Kuskie, Rin Little, Natalie Strohm, Janelle Sheetz and Katie Mustovich (who's not in our class, but who maintains a nice blog called LitBurgh). They'll all read from their English Writing Capstone projects, and answer any questions you have about being a senior and maintaining a nice work-life balance.
Copies of the Capstone anthology will be available. A reception will follow the readings. The official press release for the event appears below:
***********
Five soon-to-be graduating writers will headline the April Written/Spoken series reading on Tuesday, April 5 at Pitt-Greensburg. The reading will begin at 7 p.m. in the Village Hall coffeehouse on campus and is free and open to the public.
The line-up will include:
* Rachel Kuskie, a senior English Writing major who specializes in creative nonfiction. Kuskie will be reading from a collection of essays that deal with her experiences as a race-car driver and, especially, her father’s daughter. Kuskie’s work has appeared or is forthcoming in Pendulum magazine, the Pitt-Greensburg Insider, and in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, as well as on her blog – http://www.girlsagearhead.blogspot.com
Kuskie is also the winner of this year’s Ida B. Wells Prize, the annual Pitt-Greensburg award for the best in student nonfiction and journalism.
* Rin Little, a senior English Writing major and poet. Little will be reading a poetry sequence dealing with the subjects of mental illness and family. A member of the Sigma Tau Delta literary honor society, Little has published work in Pendulum magazine and elsewhere. She also blogs about her experiences with alternative cultures at http://www.thealternativeandtheunderground.blogspot.com.
* Katie Mustovich, a senior English Writing major with an emphasis in creative nonfiction, will read excerpts from her memoir/essay collection, “I Still Hide Behind My Mother.” Mustovich’s work has been published in Pendulum, and she maintains the literary blogsite, LitBurgh (http://www.litburgh.blogspot.com).
* Janelle Sheetz, the winner of the 2011 Joan Didion Creative Nonfiction Award at Pitt-Greensburg and a senior English Writing major. Sheetz will read from her essay collection, “Fayettenam,” a series of place-based pieces based on Sheetz’ Fayette County home. Sheetz writes more about Fayette County daily on her blog, http://www.fayettepa.blogspot.com.
* Natalie Strohm, a senior English Writing major, journalist and creative nonfiction writer. Strohm is currently at work on a manuscript based on the reportage of oral historian and journalistic pioneer Studs Terkel. Strohm will read from her project, “Serving,” a series of interviews with people who serve others.
Strohm, a runner-up for the 2011 Joan Didion Creative Nonfiction award, writes about her other passion, the TV show “Glee,” at http://www.gleekergirl.blogspot.com.
Professor Lori Jakiela will host the Capstone readings. Jakiela, an associate professor of English and widely-published author, teaches the English Writing senior capstone course each spring.
A reception follows the readings. Free copies of the Capstone anthology featuring work by all the readers will be available.
The Written/Spoken series is sponsored by the Academic Villages, The Pitt-Greensburg Writing Program, Pendulum, and the office of Academic Affairs. For more information about the series, or about the writing program at Pitt-Greensburg, call 724-836-7481.
Copies of the Capstone anthology will be available. A reception will follow the readings. The official press release for the event appears below:
***********
Five soon-to-be graduating writers will headline the April Written/Spoken series reading on Tuesday, April 5 at Pitt-Greensburg. The reading will begin at 7 p.m. in the Village Hall coffeehouse on campus and is free and open to the public.
The line-up will include:
* Rachel Kuskie, a senior English Writing major who specializes in creative nonfiction. Kuskie will be reading from a collection of essays that deal with her experiences as a race-car driver and, especially, her father’s daughter. Kuskie’s work has appeared or is forthcoming in Pendulum magazine, the Pitt-Greensburg Insider, and in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, as well as on her blog – http://www.girlsagearhead.blogspot.com
Kuskie is also the winner of this year’s Ida B. Wells Prize, the annual Pitt-Greensburg award for the best in student nonfiction and journalism.
* Rin Little, a senior English Writing major and poet. Little will be reading a poetry sequence dealing with the subjects of mental illness and family. A member of the Sigma Tau Delta literary honor society, Little has published work in Pendulum magazine and elsewhere. She also blogs about her experiences with alternative cultures at http://www.thealternativeandtheunderground.blogspot.com.
* Katie Mustovich, a senior English Writing major with an emphasis in creative nonfiction, will read excerpts from her memoir/essay collection, “I Still Hide Behind My Mother.” Mustovich’s work has been published in Pendulum, and she maintains the literary blogsite, LitBurgh (http://www.litburgh.blogspot.com).
* Janelle Sheetz, the winner of the 2011 Joan Didion Creative Nonfiction Award at Pitt-Greensburg and a senior English Writing major. Sheetz will read from her essay collection, “Fayettenam,” a series of place-based pieces based on Sheetz’ Fayette County home. Sheetz writes more about Fayette County daily on her blog, http://www.fayettepa.blogspot.com.
* Natalie Strohm, a senior English Writing major, journalist and creative nonfiction writer. Strohm is currently at work on a manuscript based on the reportage of oral historian and journalistic pioneer Studs Terkel. Strohm will read from her project, “Serving,” a series of interviews with people who serve others.
Strohm, a runner-up for the 2011 Joan Didion Creative Nonfiction award, writes about her other passion, the TV show “Glee,” at http://www.gleekergirl.blogspot.com.
Professor Lori Jakiela will host the Capstone readings. Jakiela, an associate professor of English and widely-published author, teaches the English Writing senior capstone course each spring.
A reception follows the readings. Free copies of the Capstone anthology featuring work by all the readers will be available.
The Written/Spoken series is sponsored by the Academic Villages, The Pitt-Greensburg Writing Program, Pendulum, and the office of Academic Affairs. For more information about the series, or about the writing program at Pitt-Greensburg, call 724-836-7481.
Jason Mosley Rescheduled for Next Week
Barring tornadoes, we'll see each other soon. Jason Mosley, however, won't be in
class tonight. He has breaking news from Denny's test kitchen and has to do a
live web show. (We'll tune in.) He will be doing a webcast for
us next week, though, so please have your questions ready to send him in a live
chat.
Those of you who were scheduled to do your presentations tonight: we'll go
ahead with these. Please let me know if this panics you in any way.
class tonight. He has breaking news from Denny's test kitchen and has to do a
live web show. (We'll tune in.) He will be doing a webcast for
us next week, though, so please have your questions ready to send him in a live
chat.
Those of you who were scheduled to do your presentations tonight: we'll go
ahead with these. Please let me know if this panics you in any way.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
That's Church and the Backstory of Pitt Girl
For tonight's class, we'll become That's Church! experts. Please read and be ready to comment on the blog.
And here's a bit of background on Pitt Girl (the previous blog-carnation of Virginia Montanez). Read the Pop City take here.
And here's a bit of background on Pitt Girl (the previous blog-carnation of Virginia Montanez). Read the Pop City take here.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The role of social media in Libya
Wisconsin Governor Punked by Journalist Pretending to be David Koch
Journalist Ian Murphy of the Buffalo Beast (an alt publication founded by Matt Taibbi) punked Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and got the inside story on union-busting plans. Here's the whole story over at the HuffPost, complete with audio made possible by Skype.
And to break it down even further, here's HuffPost's take on the six top revelations that came from the punking.
And to break it down even further, here's HuffPost's take on the six top revelations that came from the punking.
The role of social media in the Wisconsin protests
Facebook, Twitter, and more -- watch #weunion here.
Writers, Poets, Publishers and More Headline Pitt-Greensburg’s Writers’ Festival March 14-18
The Pitt-Greensburg Writer’s Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary Monday, March 14 through Friday, March 18 in the Village Hall coffeehouse on campus.
West Coast poets and writers Joan Jobe Smith and Fred Voss, bestselling mystery novelist Kathleen George, poet John Repp, “That’s Church!” blogger Virginia Montanez, singer/songwriter Bill Deasy, and UPG faculty, alumni and students will be among the featured speakers.
Editors and publishers from New York’s Spuyten Duyvil press and the internationally-acclaimed Caketrain literary magazine will also be on hand to offer their insights into breaking into print. Receptions and booksignings will be ongoing throughout the festival.
All events are free and open to the public. Each day a craft talk will begin at 4 p.m. and a reading will follow at 7 p.m. Authors’ books will be available for purchase.
The full schedule includes:
Monday, March 14 -- Poet/memoirist Joan Jobe Smith -- craft talk at 4 p.m.; reading
at 7 p.m. with reception and book-signing to follow
Tuesday, March 15 -- Poet Fred Voss -- craft talk at 4 p.m.; reading at 7 p.m. with
reception and book-signing to follow
Wednesday, March 16 – Editors and publishers from Caketrain, Spuyten Duyvil and more discuss the literary life at 4 p.m.; Faculty/Alumni reading at 7 p.m. with reception and
book-signing to follow
Thursday, March 17 – Bestselling mystery novelist Kathleen George -- reading and talk at 4 p.m. with reception and book-signing to follow; Poet John Repp -- reading at 7 p.m. with
reception and book-signing to follow
Friday, March 18 -- One Book Event with Kathleen George at noon (this event is sponsored by the Pitt-Greensburg Friends of the Library and will be in the campus’ Millstein Library); The Art and Craft of New Media: a panel presentation featuring UPG bloggers and professional guest blogger Virginia Montanez at 4 p.m. in the Coffeehouse; Singer/Songwriter Bill Deasy -- talk on songwriting, followed by a performance and book-signing, 7 p.m.
The Pitt-Greensburg Writers Festival is sponsored by the university’s Writing Program, Academic Villages, Student Government Association, Pendulum, Academic Affairs, and The Friends of the Library.
For more information about the festival, or about the writing program at Pitt-Greensburg, call 724-836-7481 or e-mail loj@pitt.edu.
West Coast poets and writers Joan Jobe Smith and Fred Voss, bestselling mystery novelist Kathleen George, poet John Repp, “That’s Church!” blogger Virginia Montanez, singer/songwriter Bill Deasy, and UPG faculty, alumni and students will be among the featured speakers.
Editors and publishers from New York’s Spuyten Duyvil press and the internationally-acclaimed Caketrain literary magazine will also be on hand to offer their insights into breaking into print. Receptions and booksignings will be ongoing throughout the festival.
All events are free and open to the public. Each day a craft talk will begin at 4 p.m. and a reading will follow at 7 p.m. Authors’ books will be available for purchase.
The full schedule includes:
Monday, March 14 -- Poet/memoirist Joan Jobe Smith -- craft talk at 4 p.m.; reading
at 7 p.m. with reception and book-signing to follow
Tuesday, March 15 -- Poet Fred Voss -- craft talk at 4 p.m.; reading at 7 p.m. with
reception and book-signing to follow
Wednesday, March 16 – Editors and publishers from Caketrain, Spuyten Duyvil and more discuss the literary life at 4 p.m.; Faculty/Alumni reading at 7 p.m. with reception and
book-signing to follow
Thursday, March 17 – Bestselling mystery novelist Kathleen George -- reading and talk at 4 p.m. with reception and book-signing to follow; Poet John Repp -- reading at 7 p.m. with
reception and book-signing to follow
Friday, March 18 -- One Book Event with Kathleen George at noon (this event is sponsored by the Pitt-Greensburg Friends of the Library and will be in the campus’ Millstein Library); The Art and Craft of New Media: a panel presentation featuring UPG bloggers and professional guest blogger Virginia Montanez at 4 p.m. in the Coffeehouse; Singer/Songwriter Bill Deasy -- talk on songwriting, followed by a performance and book-signing, 7 p.m.
The Pitt-Greensburg Writers Festival is sponsored by the university’s Writing Program, Academic Villages, Student Government Association, Pendulum, Academic Affairs, and The Friends of the Library.
For more information about the festival, or about the writing program at Pitt-Greensburg, call 724-836-7481 or e-mail loj@pitt.edu.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Updated Presentation Schedule
Thanks to Janelle and Rachel for such a great start to presentation season!
Here's the updated schedule:
Wednesday, Feb. 23: BoingBoing/Rin
Wednesday, Feb. 30: Grist.Org/Justin, The Onion/C.J. and Physorg.com/Lauren
Wednesday, March 2: Bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/Montana; Obscuresound.com/Dave
March 14-18 -- Writers Festival; Presentations on Friday, March 18 from 4-6 p.m. with special guest blogger Virginia Montanez of Pittsburgh's That's Church! blog.
Wednesday, March 23: Visit from Special Guest Blogger Jason Mosley (Mr. Baconpants, Start Up Pittsburgh and more)
Wednesday, March 30: Vulture/Natalie; TMZ/Jenna and PerezHilton/Kaylie
Here's the updated schedule:
Wednesday, Feb. 23: BoingBoing/Rin
Wednesday, Feb. 30: Grist.Org/Justin, The Onion/C.J. and Physorg.com/Lauren
Wednesday, March 2: Bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/Montana; Obscuresound.com/Dave
March 14-18 -- Writers Festival; Presentations on Friday, March 18 from 4-6 p.m. with special guest blogger Virginia Montanez of Pittsburgh's That's Church! blog.
Wednesday, March 23: Visit from Special Guest Blogger Jason Mosley (Mr. Baconpants, Start Up Pittsburgh and more)
Wednesday, March 30: Vulture/Natalie; TMZ/Jenna and PerezHilton/Kaylie
Who Needs to be Added to the Presentation Schedule?
I know a few of you didn't sign up for presentations the first round and need to be added to the schedule. Can you please remind me who you are and which blog you'd like to do? Comment here and I'll get you scheduled. Thanks!
Writers Festival Tentative Schedule (and your role in it)
Here's the tentative schedule for this year's Writers Festival.
Monday, March 14 -- Poet/memoirist Joan Jobe Smith -- craft talk at 4 p.m.; reading at 7 p.m. with reception and book-signing to follow
Tuesday, March 15 -- Poet Fred Voss -- craft talk at 4 p.m.; reading at 7 p.m. with reception and book-signing
Wednesday, March 16 -- Faculty/Alumni reading at 7 p.m. with reception and book-signing to follow
Thursday, March 17 -- Novelist Kathleen George -- reading and talk at 4 p.m. with reception and book-signing to follow; Poet John Repp -- reading at 7 p.m. with reception and book-signing to follow
Friday, March 18 -- The Art and Craft of New Media: a panel presentation featuring UPG bloggers and a professional guest blogger (TBA; hoping to confirm Virginia Montanez from Pittsburgh's popular blog, "That's Church!"), 4 p.m. with reception to follow; Bill Deasy -- talk on songwriting, followed by a performance and book-signing, 7 p.m.
Please let me know if you will be able to participate in the panel on Friday. I'd like each of you to present your blogs, talk about why you created them (other than "because Jakiela made me do it" :) ), and say a little something about your blogosphere/s and new media. Each presentation should be about 5 minutes (more if we have fewer folks). We'll project your blogs, of course, but feel free to be uber-creative. You can bring in props, use other media, whatever might tell your story best.
We won't have regular class during the festival week. I hope you'll be able to attend all the events, especially ours.
Monday, March 14 -- Poet/memoirist Joan Jobe Smith -- craft talk at 4 p.m.; reading at 7 p.m. with reception and book-signing to follow
Tuesday, March 15 -- Poet Fred Voss -- craft talk at 4 p.m.; reading at 7 p.m. with reception and book-signing
Wednesday, March 16 -- Faculty/Alumni reading at 7 p.m. with reception and book-signing to follow
Thursday, March 17 -- Novelist Kathleen George -- reading and talk at 4 p.m. with reception and book-signing to follow; Poet John Repp -- reading at 7 p.m. with reception and book-signing to follow
Friday, March 18 -- The Art and Craft of New Media: a panel presentation featuring UPG bloggers and a professional guest blogger (TBA; hoping to confirm Virginia Montanez from Pittsburgh's popular blog, "That's Church!"), 4 p.m. with reception to follow; Bill Deasy -- talk on songwriting, followed by a performance and book-signing, 7 p.m.
Please let me know if you will be able to participate in the panel on Friday. I'd like each of you to present your blogs, talk about why you created them (other than "because Jakiela made me do it" :) ), and say a little something about your blogosphere/s and new media. Each presentation should be about 5 minutes (more if we have fewer folks). We'll project your blogs, of course, but feel free to be uber-creative. You can bring in props, use other media, whatever might tell your story best.
We won't have regular class during the festival week. I hope you'll be able to attend all the events, especially ours.
Friday, February 11, 2011
New Media's Coverage of Egypt
Post your analysis of new media's coverage of -- and role in -- the Egyptian uprising in the comments section below.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The Role of New and Old Media in Egypt's Uprising
Listen as Adel Iskandar, an instructor at Georgetown University's Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, speaks to NPR host Michele Norris about the protests in Egypt and the role of social media.
AOL "Will Not Become a Leftie Blog" And Other News
Arianna Huffington and Tim Armstrong discuss the AOL/HuffPost venture here.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Arianna and Tim Discuss The Merger of AOL and HuffPost
"AOL is the only partner that would work for HuffPost." Watch the two media leaders talk it over on CNN here.
New Yorker Magazine's Ken Auletta Talks Saving AOL
Ken Auletta recently profiled AOL CEO Tim Armstrong, the mastermind behind AOL Patch, the deal to buy the HuffPost, and more. Here Auletta talks with Blake Eskin about AOL's future as a content producer.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Write for USAToday.com, LIVESTRONG.com, E-How and More
Freelance writing jobs available at Demand Media. Check them here.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Blog Presentation Assignments and Schedule
Here goes so far:
Wednesday, Feb. 16: Autoblog/Rachel and Markreads.net/Janelle
Wednesday, Feb. 23: BoingBoing/Rin
Wednesday, Feb. 30: Grist.Org/Justin and Physorg.com/Lauren
Wednesday, March 2: Bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/Montana
Wednesday, March 23: Vulture/Natalie
Wednesday, March 30: TMZ/Jenna and PerezHilton/Kaylie
If you haven't requested your blog, please do so right away and I'll add you to the schedule. Presentations should be between 15 and 20 minutes (more is fine). Use a multi-media approach. Presentations should include information about the history of the blog, the demographic for the blog, the range and quality and sources of the blog's content, the blog's place in its own blogosphere, etc. We'll cover more details on Wednesday, Feb. 9.
Wednesday, Feb. 16: Autoblog/Rachel and Markreads.net/Janelle
Wednesday, Feb. 23: BoingBoing/Rin
Wednesday, Feb. 30: Grist.Org/Justin and Physorg.com/Lauren
Wednesday, March 2: Bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/Montana
Wednesday, March 23: Vulture/Natalie
Wednesday, March 30: TMZ/Jenna and PerezHilton/Kaylie
If you haven't requested your blog, please do so right away and I'll add you to the schedule. Presentations should be between 15 and 20 minutes (more is fine). Use a multi-media approach. Presentations should include information about the history of the blog, the demographic for the blog, the range and quality and sources of the blog's content, the blog's place in its own blogosphere, etc. We'll cover more details on Wednesday, Feb. 9.
The Story of One Immigrant
Listen to Arianna talk about her beginnings in this interview from One Dream.
Tonight's Class Canceled Due to Weather
Due to severe weather advisories, tonight's class (Wednesday, Feb. 25) is canceled. Please check your e-mail for more information.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Journalism/PR Internships of the Week: Financial Aid Blogging, Sports Blogging and (Montana, this one's for you) Bike Blogging
Blog for Go Financial Aid -- and get college credit, a $500 bonus, and web-writing experience. More info here.
If you'd rather yell "Go Steelers," maybe SportsJury is the right blog for you. They're looking for interns. More here.
Or roll on over to Different Spokes and blog about bicycling. The compensation is 50% off bike repairs. Plus you get experience. And clips. N'at. More here.
If you'd rather yell "Go Steelers," maybe SportsJury is the right blog for you. They're looking for interns. More here.
Or roll on over to Different Spokes and blog about bicycling. The compensation is 50% off bike repairs. Plus you get experience. And clips. N'at. More here.
Assignments -- January 19
In class: Lecture/Review -- Community in Blogging
Workshop of blogs and discussion of community
Assignment:
* Actively participate in your blog community all week. Work to keep conversations going.
* Write/create three new blog posts.
* Find two new blogosphere friends and add them to the list of blogs you follow.
* Read Chapter 6 in Huffington and read The Huff Post throughout the week.
* Choose the blog you'd like to research and report on. Post your blog request in the comments section of this post.
The World's Most Dangerous Blog
Visit the new issue of Sampsonia Way for an interview with journalist Judith Torrea, author of the blog Juarez en la Sombra del Narcotrafico (Juarez Under the Shadow of Drug Trafficking). Judith's blog, a finalist for the 2010 Best of Blogs Award in the Reporters Without Borders category, reports on the battles between drug cartels and the Mexican government. "The danger there is to be alive," Torrea, whose life is constantly in danger because of her refusal to be silent, tells Sampsonia Way. Another story on Torrea also recently appeared in Salon.com. Read it here.
Sampsonia Way is the magazine published by Pittsburgh's City of Asylum. CoA provides safe haven for writers and artists whose lives are threatened in their home countries. CoA houses are located on Sampsonia Way in Pittsburgh's North Side. For more information, visit Pittsburgh City of Asylum
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Blogging Class Schedule and Assignments: Wednesday, Jan. 12
In Class -- Quick quiz on readings. Lecture/review of chapters 1-3 using the Huffington Post's coverage of the Tucson shootings as examples. Review and workshop of class blogs.
Assignments:
1. Link to each other's blogs.
2. Choose a partner (or two) from class. This will be your primary reader.
3. Comment on your partner's/partners' posts all week. Your partner/partners will comment on your posts, too. Keep conversations going.
4. Keep your blog active. At least three posts for the week (more is better)
5. Find two other bloggers in your blogosphere (outside of class) who share your interests. Link to their blogs and begin a conversation.
6. Read Chapters 4-5 in Huffington.
Assignments:
1. Link to each other's blogs.
2. Choose a partner (or two) from class. This will be your primary reader.
3. Comment on your partner's/partners' posts all week. Your partner/partners will comment on your posts, too. Keep conversations going.
4. Keep your blog active. At least three posts for the week (more is better)
5. Find two other bloggers in your blogosphere (outside of class) who share your interests. Link to their blogs and begin a conversation.
6. Read Chapters 4-5 in Huffington.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Assignments for Week 1.5+
1. Set up your blog. Use Blogger per class discussion. When you have your blog address, e-mail it to me at lljakiela@gmail.com. I'll compile a list of everyone's blogs and we'll add them to all of your individual blog rolls in class.
2. Write your first one or two or three blog entries. Your first entry should ideally explain what your blog will be about and why you're the person the write it. Something like that.
3. Read Chapters 1-3 in Huffington Guide
4. Become familiar with The Huffington Post and be prepared to discuss in class.
We'll have a quick quiz on the readings, a follow-up lecture and discussion. Then we'll look at each blog and discuss what's working, what could be improved and more.
Happy blogging!
2. Write your first one or two or three blog entries. Your first entry should ideally explain what your blog will be about and why you're the person the write it. Something like that.
3. Read Chapters 1-3 in Huffington Guide
4. Become familiar with The Huffington Post and be prepared to discuss in class.
We'll have a quick quiz on the readings, a follow-up lecture and discussion. Then we'll look at each blog and discuss what's working, what could be improved and more.
Happy blogging!
Meet Tavi. She's 14. Founder of The Style Rookie.
And a fashion force -- all from her blog The Style Rookie.
Here she is at work covering the Rodarte collection for Target.
How To Set Up Your Blog With Blogger
Here's a step-by-step tutorial from the nice folks at Google Blogger.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Top 100 Blogs According to Technorati
This list is updated on Technorati daily. You'll choose one of these blogs for your class presentation. Technorati Top 100
Course Syllabus
Topics in Nonfiction
Writing for the Web/Blog Focus
Professor Jakiela
208 Faculty Office Building
Office #: 724-836-7481
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. – Noon; Wednesdays 3-4 p.m. and by appt.
E-Mail: lljakiela@gmail.com
Course Meets: Tuesdays, 7-9:30, 137 McKenna Hall
Required Texts:
The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging, ed. by Ariana Huffington
Elements of Style, by Strunk & White
Blog UPG (check daily for class news, writing prompts, blog links and more): http://www.blogupg.blogspot.com
The Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com – Be sure to register. It’s free.) and other blogs and new media sites as assigned
About the course:
When it comes to influencing both mainstream media and public opinion, one thing’s certain. The blogosphere has its own gravitational pull.
Some statistics: According to Business Week.com and Technorati, there are over 112 million blogs tracked on the web (not all of these are active blogs, but still).
Thirty three percent of all daily blog posts are in English. Other sites, like the social networks Facebook and MySpace, allow users to post blogs on their pages. As of this month, there are over 500 million active Facebook users – many of whom add their own voices to the blogosphere.
While the growth of new and active blogs seems to be peaking, audiences for blogs continue to grow. Bloggers have affected the outcomes of recent elections. They’ve exposed political scandals. They’ve led calls to action. They entertain and inform. They offer breaking news. And some, like Perez Hilton and Arianna Huffington, pre-pubescent fashionista Tavi Gevinson and WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange have become celebrities themselves.
In short, blogs and other forms of social media – including vcasts, podcasts, and social networks – are having an undeniable impact on traditional media. And they’re having an undeniable impact on both the way we think and learn about and respond to the world around us.
This semester, you’ll take an active part in this continually-developing medium. You’ll set up and maintain your own blogs. You’ll develop an online community and participate actively in your classmates’ blogs. You’ll join the conversation on other blogs, too. We’ll study some of the most popular and influential blogs, particularly The Huffington Post. We’ll discuss the effect of blogs on mainstream media and on all of us as consumers of information and news. We’ll learn how the emergence of new technology continually changes the way both traditional and new journalists do business.
And we’ll learn about the ways blogs – and all of us -- can be more useful in the world.
COURSE COMPONENTS
THEORY
We will study the ethics and evolution of blogging and social media. We will look at a variety of blogs – some terrific, some good, some bad, some ugly. We’ll analyze the impact of the blogosphere on traditional reportage. We will also examine the ethics of traditional and social journalism, and discuss blogging ethics and guidelines.
To this end, you will each choose a blog to study. Over the course of the term, you’ll become an expert on that blog. You’ll each do a 10-minute in-class report on your assigned blog, and make informed judgments on the value of the blog, its journalistic impact, its usefulness, and its ethical stance. You’ll complete one 7-10 page research paper on this blog. Your paper will be due at the end of the term. In-class reports will be scattered throughout the term. A sign-up sheet for reports will be available sometime during the first few weeks of class.
YOUR OWN BLOGS
You’ll each set up your own blogs. For consistency, we’ll all use Blogger. You’ll need a Gmail account (it’s free). We’ll start planning the blogs the first day of class.
Once established, all of your classmates’ blogs should appear on your blogroll. You should participate in your blogging community. You’ll be sending comments and links, reading each other’s daily posts, etc.
Each week, one or two blogs will be up for review. During that week, I’ll drop in on your community, check your progress, add my own commentary, evaluate your posts, etc. Guidelines regarding the quality and content of blogs are clearly explained in the HuffPost’s Guide to Blogging.
In addition to being part of your larger blogging community, I’ll pair each of you with a partner to provide you with more focused one-on-one feedback each week.
You should also try to move beyond our class and link to other blogs. Research other bloggers who share your interests and follow them. Link to their blogs. Expand your audience and your information sources. Experiment out there.
SOMETHING NEW
We’re working with a medium that’s constantly evolving. Please plan for this class to be a bit less structured than other classes. You’ll want to come to class and pay attention to be sure you’re on pace. You should also plan to check here at our class website for updates, writing prompts, relevant links, etc.
In addition to completing your assignments, I ask that you:
• Come to class and participate.
• Meet all deadlines.
• Apply excellent grammar and precision. Write well and care deeply. Blog-writing is more open and less formal than other kinds of writing, but good writing is good writing. Quality matters. You’ll be graded on the quality of your posts.
• Maintain ethical standards (tell the truth, no libel, no malice, etc.)
• Commit to your blog and be serious about it. Maintain an active blog – no periods of complete downtime. Update at least three times each week, ideally more.
• Be willing to adapt and be creative
• Be passionate about your subject and write for an audience
• Be a good citizen of both your classroom and blog communities.
Your grade will depend on all of the above.
Core Requirements
• Establish and maintain an active, quality blog
• Participate in your blog community
• Pass quizzes on readings
• Complete one 10-minute in-class presentation on a blog of your choice
• Complete one 7-10 page research paper on a blog of your choice. (Due at the end of the term.)
• Attend class. If you miss more than two classes, your grade will drop by one letter for every additional unexcused absence.
Note About Class Cancellations
I will be in touch with you via e-mail and via our class blog if I ever need to cancel our class for any reason. Please check your Pitt e-mail.
Learning Disabilities
If you have a disability, please see Lou Ann Sears in the Learning Resources Center to file the necessary paperwork. The LRC is located on the first floor of the Faculty Office Building.
Writing for the Web/Blog Focus
Professor Jakiela
208 Faculty Office Building
Office #: 724-836-7481
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. – Noon; Wednesdays 3-4 p.m. and by appt.
E-Mail: lljakiela@gmail.com
Course Meets: Tuesdays, 7-9:30, 137 McKenna Hall
Required Texts:
The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging, ed. by Ariana Huffington
Elements of Style, by Strunk & White
Blog UPG (check daily for class news, writing prompts, blog links and more): http://www.blogupg.blogspot.com
The Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com – Be sure to register. It’s free.) and other blogs and new media sites as assigned
About the course:
When it comes to influencing both mainstream media and public opinion, one thing’s certain. The blogosphere has its own gravitational pull.
Some statistics: According to Business Week.com and Technorati, there are over 112 million blogs tracked on the web (not all of these are active blogs, but still).
Thirty three percent of all daily blog posts are in English. Other sites, like the social networks Facebook and MySpace, allow users to post blogs on their pages. As of this month, there are over 500 million active Facebook users – many of whom add their own voices to the blogosphere.
While the growth of new and active blogs seems to be peaking, audiences for blogs continue to grow. Bloggers have affected the outcomes of recent elections. They’ve exposed political scandals. They’ve led calls to action. They entertain and inform. They offer breaking news. And some, like Perez Hilton and Arianna Huffington, pre-pubescent fashionista Tavi Gevinson and WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange have become celebrities themselves.
In short, blogs and other forms of social media – including vcasts, podcasts, and social networks – are having an undeniable impact on traditional media. And they’re having an undeniable impact on both the way we think and learn about and respond to the world around us.
This semester, you’ll take an active part in this continually-developing medium. You’ll set up and maintain your own blogs. You’ll develop an online community and participate actively in your classmates’ blogs. You’ll join the conversation on other blogs, too. We’ll study some of the most popular and influential blogs, particularly The Huffington Post. We’ll discuss the effect of blogs on mainstream media and on all of us as consumers of information and news. We’ll learn how the emergence of new technology continually changes the way both traditional and new journalists do business.
And we’ll learn about the ways blogs – and all of us -- can be more useful in the world.
COURSE COMPONENTS
THEORY
We will study the ethics and evolution of blogging and social media. We will look at a variety of blogs – some terrific, some good, some bad, some ugly. We’ll analyze the impact of the blogosphere on traditional reportage. We will also examine the ethics of traditional and social journalism, and discuss blogging ethics and guidelines.
To this end, you will each choose a blog to study. Over the course of the term, you’ll become an expert on that blog. You’ll each do a 10-minute in-class report on your assigned blog, and make informed judgments on the value of the blog, its journalistic impact, its usefulness, and its ethical stance. You’ll complete one 7-10 page research paper on this blog. Your paper will be due at the end of the term. In-class reports will be scattered throughout the term. A sign-up sheet for reports will be available sometime during the first few weeks of class.
YOUR OWN BLOGS
You’ll each set up your own blogs. For consistency, we’ll all use Blogger. You’ll need a Gmail account (it’s free). We’ll start planning the blogs the first day of class.
Once established, all of your classmates’ blogs should appear on your blogroll. You should participate in your blogging community. You’ll be sending comments and links, reading each other’s daily posts, etc.
Each week, one or two blogs will be up for review. During that week, I’ll drop in on your community, check your progress, add my own commentary, evaluate your posts, etc. Guidelines regarding the quality and content of blogs are clearly explained in the HuffPost’s Guide to Blogging.
In addition to being part of your larger blogging community, I’ll pair each of you with a partner to provide you with more focused one-on-one feedback each week.
You should also try to move beyond our class and link to other blogs. Research other bloggers who share your interests and follow them. Link to their blogs. Expand your audience and your information sources. Experiment out there.
SOMETHING NEW
We’re working with a medium that’s constantly evolving. Please plan for this class to be a bit less structured than other classes. You’ll want to come to class and pay attention to be sure you’re on pace. You should also plan to check here at our class website for updates, writing prompts, relevant links, etc.
In addition to completing your assignments, I ask that you:
• Come to class and participate.
• Meet all deadlines.
• Apply excellent grammar and precision. Write well and care deeply. Blog-writing is more open and less formal than other kinds of writing, but good writing is good writing. Quality matters. You’ll be graded on the quality of your posts.
• Maintain ethical standards (tell the truth, no libel, no malice, etc.)
• Commit to your blog and be serious about it. Maintain an active blog – no periods of complete downtime. Update at least three times each week, ideally more.
• Be willing to adapt and be creative
• Be passionate about your subject and write for an audience
• Be a good citizen of both your classroom and blog communities.
Your grade will depend on all of the above.
Core Requirements
• Establish and maintain an active, quality blog
• Participate in your blog community
• Pass quizzes on readings
• Complete one 10-minute in-class presentation on a blog of your choice
• Complete one 7-10 page research paper on a blog of your choice. (Due at the end of the term.)
• Attend class. If you miss more than two classes, your grade will drop by one letter for every additional unexcused absence.
Note About Class Cancellations
I will be in touch with you via e-mail and via our class blog if I ever need to cancel our class for any reason. Please check your Pitt e-mail.
Learning Disabilities
If you have a disability, please see Lou Ann Sears in the Learning Resources Center to file the necessary paperwork. The LRC is located on the first floor of the Faculty Office Building.
Welcome to Blog U
Think of this course as a full-on journey into the blogosphere.
During the term, you'll create your own blog. The subject will be up to you, but it must be something you're passionate about and something you can get others to be passionate about, too.
There are some great and successful blogs about things like bacon and cupcakes and fashion. There are smart -- seriously! -- about celebrities and fun -- seriously! -- blogs about technology. Your passion can be high brow or low brow or anything in between. Find a subject that matters to you, something you can write about with energy and enthusiasm, and something you won't get sick of any time soon.
If you aren't passionate about anything, you probably want to get off at the next stop. This is definitely not the class for you.
Passion is key here.
So is discipline.
You'll write constantly. You'll be required to self-edit. You'll be required to write often, fast and well. You'll identify and write for a specific audience, and be held accountable to that audience. You'll be part of a blogging community. And you'll develop that wonderful writerly thing called voice.
You'll also become an expert on at least one other blog, and become a fearless explorer of the vast worlds of new media.
In the end, I hope you'll become a better writer, develop some useful skills and have fun along the way.
That's right. Fun. What good's a journey without fun?
Welcome to the world of new media!
During the term, you'll create your own blog. The subject will be up to you, but it must be something you're passionate about and something you can get others to be passionate about, too.
There are some great and successful blogs about things like bacon and cupcakes and fashion. There are smart -- seriously! -- about celebrities and fun -- seriously! -- blogs about technology. Your passion can be high brow or low brow or anything in between. Find a subject that matters to you, something you can write about with energy and enthusiasm, and something you won't get sick of any time soon.
If you aren't passionate about anything, you probably want to get off at the next stop. This is definitely not the class for you.
Passion is key here.
So is discipline.
You'll write constantly. You'll be required to self-edit. You'll be required to write often, fast and well. You'll identify and write for a specific audience, and be held accountable to that audience. You'll be part of a blogging community. And you'll develop that wonderful writerly thing called voice.
You'll also become an expert on at least one other blog, and become a fearless explorer of the vast worlds of new media.
In the end, I hope you'll become a better writer, develop some useful skills and have fun along the way.
That's right. Fun. What good's a journey without fun?
Welcome to the world of new media!
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