July 2012
16 posts
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Newsroom training ideas: Brew creativity with TED...
Here’s an email I sent to the Roanoke Times / roanoke.com newsroom today:
Thanks for taking the training poll I sent out a couple of weeks ago.
The clear winner was “How to be more creative,” which I’m really excited about, as it’s my favorite topic to research and discuss.
Creativity is way too big to tackle in one brown bag, so I thought we could take the entire month of August to...
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Metaphors to explain my 'engagement' job:...
Like finding a “lucky charm,” I zeroed in on this lovely metaphor in the wonderful “News, Improved” (required reading for anyone interested in staying excited about their journalism job … and transforming their newsrooms).
The quote is from Dana Robbins, editor of the The Hamilton Spectator (Ontario, Canada), which has pulled off some creative...
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On the scene of a breaking news event? Don't...
I’ve never actually caught fire before, but ever since kindergarten I know exactly what to do if that should happen.
Stop, drop and roll, right?
I played off this wise advice for our newsroom in my mobile gladiator workshops.
After analyzing our breaking news successes, I realized teamwork and clear communication was KEY to how quickly and comprehensively we could report.
My goal was...
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From Poynter: How journalism educators can teach... →
My favorite lesson: “Good reporters research each assignment in advance. The same goes for live tweeting. Students should know before arriving all related hashtags and who among the event’s organizers and key participants have Twitter handles.” Roanoke Times reporting intern (and master tweeter) @JordanFifer compiled a specific Twitter list before live tweeting Barack Obama’s...
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Metaphors to explain my social media job: Hunt for...
Besides my Cruise Ship Director metaphor, I’ve also used Lucky Charms to help explain how I do my job as social media / engagement editor for The Roanoke Times / roanoke.com.
Let me explain.
In college, I was thrilled I could fill a bowl with Lucky Charms from the grand cereal buffet …. and just pick out the tasty marshmallows.
Nobody (mom) was there to stop me.
Wasteful, yes....
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Metaphors to explain my social media job: Cruise...
Where did I get my Cruise Ship Director metaphor? I was inspired by a 2008 Caribbean cruise on the Grandeur of the Seas (pictured).
I’m sort of addicted to metaphors, similes and analogies.
They help me conceptualize my own work — and they help explain it to others.
When I was named “Dayside Delivery Editor” in 2009, I thought of myself as a cowgirl — trying to...
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Marissa Mayer's 9 Principles of Innovation →
Especially love her emphasis on users …. and employees sharing so much information within Google.
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Why is Pixar so creative / successful? Teamwork... →
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Want to reconnect with creative flashpoints in...
I never realized how I’ve *always* been an “engagement editor.” That’s me as a senior at George Mason University in 1999, marketing the student newspaper. Read on for details.
This week, I learned one of my favorite bands — Orbital — had reunited, released a new album (“Wonky” … listen here) and have announced UK and US tour dates. Yippee!...
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My top 5 take-aways from Poynter's community...
I was really energized by Joy Mayer, Director of Community Outreach for the Columbia Missourian (and professor at Missouri School of Journalism). Her enthusiasm for serving readers is contagious. Here are my top take-aways from her June 28 Poynter/NewsU webinar.
1. Listen, don’t just talk. Turn content into conversations — and go find where people are already talking about the story you...
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4 lessons in creativity from John Cleese, via Fast... →
Found these creative lessons illuminating, especially the discussion of getting in touch with our “tortoise mind,” which is more unconscious / childlike / playful than our hare brain, which depends on logic / reason / clarity / purpose — and wants more impulsive action. According to the article, the language of the unconscious is images, which reminds me of how important visuals...
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