MA Voice

Profile Edition Ideas

2012-02-08T13:24:00.001-08:00

Ideas from class are HERE!

Headlines & Captions Edition 4

2011-11-16T07:59:00.001-08:00

Please make it clear about which article you are posting. But this is the place to post your headline ideas and your caption (if applicable) ideas. Be creative, appropriate and active with those verbs.

November articles to read

2011-11-09T10:42:00.000-08:00

Airy macarons: I have a crush on this writer and her style, and this article is proof of her awesomeness. Maybe we need to include some more food writing in The Voice. Any takers? And what are your thoughts on this piece. Is there an MA story in here?

Why Science Majors Change Their Minds: An interesting article similar to the one below. Now is the time when science, technology, engineering and math majors are needed more than ever. But -- those majors are tricky, especially at the college level. What are you thoughts on this topic? Is there an MA angle in here?

Students Pick Easier Majors: Similar questions to the article above. If you read both, which one do you prefer?

High School Hazing: Yikes! An interesting piece on a part of high school culture. At times this seems every public school to me; at other times, I know hazing does go on an MA. What are your thoughts on this article and the topic in general? Is there an MA angle in here?

Edition 4 Article Ideas

2011-10-25T17:45:00.001-07:00

Same rules as the last time. Publication date will be early December. Please keep that in mind when coming up with ideas.

Please post 6-7 ideas for the fourth edition of the year. You must have at least one article idea for each section (News, Sports, A&E, Features, Op/Ed, Center Spread). Be sure to read the other ideas BEFORE you post your own. You can elaborate on another person's post (with a citation, of course). Include an article idea for each section. Be specific and format each idea as such:
Article Idea: Must interviews (be specific ... "students" is fairly obvious and somewhat lame): Why will people want to read this:

Staff Work

2011-10-23T21:07:00.000-07:00

Making your newspaper: you have your stories selected, now you need to create a newspaper. Your newspaper will have stories, graphics, headlines, by-lines, a flag (newspaper title), captions, photo credit, everything from a regular newspaper.

Newspaper size: standard letter (8/5" x 11")
Margins: Standard (.5" all around)
Body text size: Time new Roman, 10 pt
Headlines: No smaller than 25 pt
Caption size: 8 pt
Photo credit size: 7 pt

Here are some tutorials to help you get started. Remember to look at The Voice to see how the little things are formatted. Good luck!

InDesign Palettes & tools
Making a new document
Importing Graphics/Text
Sizing Text to Fit Into a Frame/Box
How to do a drop cap
How to Text Wrap

Ron Elving

2011-10-18T09:08:00.001-07:00

For Thursday's class, please read/listen to TWO pieces by Ron Elving and come to class with 3-5 questions pertaining either directly to the pieces you listened to or for Ron Elving in general. Make sure you know who he is, what he does, and what he covers. He'll be joining our class at 830am.

We'll be in the Annex.

Weeks 11 & 12: lots of good stuff

2011-10-16T21:26:00.000-07:00

The Old Solider Who Didn't Fade Away: A great profile piece on a dedicated man. What do you think of the style of the piece? The format? Is this a successful profile?

Birth of a Salesman: Do you remember life before Amazon? Probably not because it was started when you were wee little lads and lasses. This is a solid profile piece on the CEO: Jeff Bezos. What do you think of the style of this piece? The format? Is this a successful profile?

Mazda5: Yes, I am secretly in love with this writer. He writes car reviews, but my how amazing they are! Really. Truly. Then again, maybe you don't agree. Is this a successful car review? What makes it a good/bad review?

Coming out to the World on the Web: A great piece on the newest (and maybe riskiest) way to come out: youtube! Is there an MA story in here? What do you think of this practice?

Headline & Captions: Edition 3

2011-10-13T10:55:00.001-07:00

Week 10: Some serious stuff

2011-10-11T16:07:00.000-07:00

In this Rape Center, the patient was 3: A disturbing piece but one that is well written and clearly articulated. What are your thoughts on this topic? Is there a way to get the MA community aware of this topic? What do you think of the structure of this piece?

Steve Jobs: The Secular Prophet — Lots of news about Steve Jobs' death, but this was especially poignant in how it addressed his impact. What are your thoughts? How about the structure? Overall ideas presented? Do you agree?

Week 9: Satire!

2011-10-02T20:32:00.000-07:00

Driving the Rich into the Sea: A great example of satire, this piece offers an interesting idea regarding taxes and the rich. What makes this a successful satirical piece? What kind of MA issues would be perfect for satire? Remember -- this is more than mockery; this is about presenting something so ridiculous the actual issue becomes ridiculous.

Better Ideas Through Failure: Clearly this is a hot topic right now. If you read the NYT piece, how is this one different? If you didn't read the other piece, what are your thoughts on this issue? How does failure play into life at MA? If you life? Why does failure have such a bad rap?

Week 8: Failure as an option

2011-09-26T11:54:00.001-07:00

What if the secret to success is failure?: A fabulous final post for the month of September. This is a longer piece, so if you comment on this it will count as two. Even if you already posted, go on and read this one. I promise it's good. There's surely an MA angle in this story ... where and what is it? What do you think of the idea of failure and how it isn't really present at MA? Is that a good thing? A bad thing? How might this relate to our mission statement of Think, Question & Create?

Week 6 & 7: Pizza and SATs and Homework

2011-09-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

Real Original Ray's: A phenomenal opening sentence and a great profile on a New York staple. Where's the MA story in here?

SAT Scores Slip: An interesting read about your favorite test. Thoughts? MA angle?

The Trouble with Homework: This has been all over the educational blogosphere. The old topic of homework is addressed yet again. What are your thoughts on the author's opinion? And where the MA story in here? Maybe a school-wide survey about nightly homework? How much time students really spend on work versus procrastination and homework?

Edition 3: Article Ideas

2011-09-21T07:58:00.000-07:00

Same rules as the last time. Publication date will be late-October. Please keep that in mind when coming up with ideas.
Please post 6-7 ideas for the second edition of the year. You must have at least one article idea for each section (News, Sports, A&E, Features, Op/Ed, Center Spread). Be sure to read the other ideas BEFORE you post your own. You can elaborate on another person's post (with a citation, of course). Include an article idea for each section. Be specific and format each idea as such:
Article Idea: Must interviews (be specific ... "students" is fairly obvious and somewhat lame): Why will people want to read this:

Layout work for staffers

2011-09-12T10:50:00.000-07:00

Check out the assignment!

You have three class periods to complete the assignment. Want to work on it for homework, ok. But I think you can get it done during class time. Questions, just ask.

Week 5: Sept 11

2011-09-11T21:53:00.000-07:00

I could not ignore the coverage of Sept. 11. It was compelling, mournful, abundant. I offer up a few articles:

1. On a Haunted Shore, a Struggle to Let Go: This is an outstanding feature piece. Often times we do not dig deep enough or focus the scope of our features enough to really profile a slice of life. What can we learn from this piece? What makes it compelling? How does the author focus the piece yet make it relatable and accessible?

2. Why Ground Zero Is Perfect Just as it is Now: What stood out in this piece for me was the sentence structure. Anderson is crafty and so adept at using a variety of sentence patterns to really draw attention to the content he trying to convey. Pick out a favorite sentence or two and tell me why they matter?

3. Can We Forgive: A great piece on forgiveness. Also a stellar example of a commentary that uses an anecdote to tell the story, along with some opinion. What are your thoughts on the content? Is there an MA story in here somewhere?

Headlines & Captions: Edition 2

2011-09-08T20:18:00.001-07:00

Week 4: Font geeks & Facebook & More

2011-09-06T08:16:00.000-07:00

For the Love of Fonts: A great essay on a subject I hold near and dear: typography. Yes the subject might be a little geeky, but it is a solid read. What are your thoughts?

If I'm on Facebook, It Must Be Over: Another great opinion piece, but this one is from the NYTimes. An author discusses her recent joining of Facebook. Do you agree that Facebook is beginning its demise? What do you think of Sittenfeld's style of writing? Is there an MA angle in here?

California Dreaming: One of the three editorials from this Sunday's Times. 1. What are you thoughts on the content? 2. How does the form/style match and complement that content? Is this a successful editorial? Remember, an editorial is the voice of the newspaper, an unsigned opinion written by the Editor-in-Chief.

Week 3: Little League & Gender Roles

2011-08-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

Was Your Little League This Good: A fantastic piece from the Wall Street Journal. The tone is casual, but the topic is quite poignant for the present state of professional athletics. What are your thoughts on the piece? Successful? Did you laugh? Is there an MA angle we can dive into?

After Class, Skimpy Equality: From the NYTimes. A powerful read on gender roles on college campuses in America. I know there's an MA story in here. Any ideas?

Share your thoughts, opinions, ideas, and more.

Would you rather?

2011-08-30T08:17:00.000-07:00

Here is the place to post your ideas for the "Would You Rather" section of The Voice. Please keep this appropriate.

Have fun!

Article Ideas

2011-08-23T17:44:00.001-07:00

Same rules as the last time. Publication date will be late-September. Please keep that in mind when coming up with ideas.

Please post 6-7 ideas for the second edition of the year. You must have at least one article idea for each section (News, Sports, A&E, Features, Op/Ed, Center Spread). Be sure to read the other ideas BEFORE you post your own. You can elaborate on another person's post (with a citation, of course). Include an article idea for each section. Be specific and format each idea as such:

Article Idea:
Must interviews (be specific ... "students" is fairly obvious and somewhat lame):
Why will people want to read this:

Week 16: May is winding down

2011-05-16T21:21:00.000-07:00

Fast-tracking to Kindergarten: And I thought some high school students were obsessed with college placement and grades. Ha! Check out these little ones. What are your thoughts on this latest and greatest school-prep service? Is there an MA angle in this piece?

Your So-Called Education: And what's the point of all that test prep when college isn't that grueling? Where's the MA angle in this piece? Any response to this article?

Final Project

2011-05-09T18:14:00.000-07:00

Here's the scoop on the final design project.

Week 15: May continues

2011-05-09T18:12:00.000-07:00

1. You know I love This American Life, and no better topic than .... PROM! Such an eclectic mix of stories from disaster to interesting. What are you thoughts on the many different ways people relive and experience prom. Listen to the entire podcast, and this counts as TWO posts.

2. Reluctant Role Model: This is the story of Chaz Bono. He is the son, formerly a daughter, of Sonny and Cher. It's a great profile piece, and it ran on the cover of the Sunday Styles section this past weekend. What are your thoughts on the topic? On giving this topic such prominent coverage? Is there an MA angle in this piece?

May! May! May!

2011-05-02T12:49:00.000-07:00

Walking the Border: This article is super awesome. Yes, it's from Esquire, but no, it's not written by our friend Tom Chiarella. This is all about one man's journey to walk the Mexico/US border. Any MA angle in here? What do you think of the merits of this as an article? What did you learn from this?
If you read and post about this article, it will count as two posts.

Tuesday's computer lab work

2011-04-26T08:18:00.000-07:00

1. If you have not printed your Letter in Nature project, please do so. If you need to finish it up, get 'er done.
2. If you have printed your Letters in Nature, here's your task at hand: create and design a simple business card for yourself.

Guidelines:
*3 3/4" x 2 1/4"
*Double sided (one side with a graphic/pattern/something classy & fun & personal; and one side with pertinent information such as name, address, phone number, email, website, blog, twitter account, whatever else you think is important)
*Color or black & white
*follow the principles of good design (Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, Proximity)
*all work is done in InDesign

Due at the end of class. Please PDF your work (command + E), and save to the folder on the Voice server.

Week 13: Farewell April!

2011-04-24T21:47:00.000-07:00

An amazing story from the SF Chronicle brought to me attention by Ella Storey. Thanks, Ella! What are your thoughts on this piece and what, if any, is the MA angle?

How Little Sleep Can you Get Away With? Great question!! And the NYTimes has an answer. There is surely lots to learn in this piece and some way to make this an MA piece. Do go beyond the little sleep slot in the planner, and think about some real way to bring this often repeated yet so important topic to the community.

Share, share, and share some more before May 1.

Week 12: April Showers?

2011-04-17T22:23:00.000-07:00

Price of Perception: a great read from the NYTimes about the cost/price of college tuition. Where's the MA angle in this story?

Keep Your Thumbs Still When I'm Talking to You: Another gem from the NYTimes. Does this ever happen to you or friends? Where's the MA angle in this story?

One more post this month and then we're in the final month!

Article Ideas

2011-04-17T13:53:00.000-07:00

Same rules as the last time. Publication date will be late-May. Please keep that in mind when coming up with ideas.

Please post 6-7 ideas for the second edition of the year. You must have at least one article idea for each section (News, Sports, A&E, Features, Op/Ed, Center Spread). Be sure to read the other ideas BEFORE you post your own. You can elaborate on another person's post (with a citation, of course). Include an article idea for each section. Be specific and format each idea as such:

Article Idea:
Must interviews (be specific ... "students" is fairly obvious and somewhat lame):
Why will people want to read this:

Edition 8: Staff work

2011-04-10T19:41:00.001-07:00

Here's all the information you need to know about our first two layout days.

Week 11: April arrives

2011-04-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

1. From Newsweek: The Great College Road Trip. And you thought you were the only one obsessed with this topic. Nope. It's gone mainstream. What are your thoughts on this profile? Does the Holland family represent a broad spectrum of people or does this play to privileged folks (keep in mind the soaring costs of such an adventure)? Where's the MA angle in this (and move beyond the copy cat idea).

2. From the Wall Street Journal: How to Get a Real Education at College. Another great piece of satire from Scott Adams. What are your thoughts on this thoughts? What's his thesis? And is there an MA angle in this piece?

Week 10: The Last March Post

2011-03-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

1. A great read from the NYTimes, suggested by Charlotte Lobdell. What are your thoughts on this topic? How about the structure ... is this well written and reasoned?

2. The Hunter Becomes the Hunted: A phenomenal piece about a terrorist hunter in Iraq. This is another solid profile piece that gives a great perspective on a nation at war and a man trying to fix things. How is this a compelling a story? How does the author made the mundane exciting?

3. An excellent commentary from Grant Hill about a recent incident that's been all over the news and March Madness. Share your thoughts on his response. It's a pretty hot topic

Week 9: more of March

2011-03-13T21:32:00.000-07:00

Do you know this guy? I think so. What are your thoughts on this piece as a profile and story? Does the tone match the content?

Is this argument a good one? Some would say the wealth disparity in this country is the cause of the troubles mentioned. Level out the amount of money a family takes home, and things will get better.

Share your thoughts and insights!

Overheard

2011-03-11T08:21:00.000-08:00

Share the funny yet appropriate things you hear around campus. Please do not include attribution.

Week 8: The ides of March (almost)

2011-03-06T21:07:00.000-08:00

1. College the Easy Way: Pretty provocative ideas, especially as you all are students at a college prep school. Thoughts?

2. Liam Neeson Interview: Yeowzers this is a great profile! And Tom Chiarella is an amazing writer. What are your thoughts on the overall structure of this piece? Is it effective? Does this piece make Neeson a more compelling personality?

Article Ideas

2011-02-21T20:20:00.000-08:00

Same rules as the last time. Publication date will be late-April. Please keep that in mind when coming up with ideas.

Please post 5-7 ideas for the second edition of the year. You must have at least one article idea for each section (News, Sports, A&E, Features, Op/Ed, Center Spread). Be sure to read the other ideas BEFORE you post your own. You can elaborate on another person's post (with a citation, of course). Include an article idea for each section. Be specific and format each idea as such:

Article Idea:
Must interviews (be specific ... "students" is fairly obvious and somewhat lame):
Why will people want to read this:

Week 7: A good listen & read (and final Feb post)

2011-02-21T19:31:00.000-08:00

From This American Life.

Episode 427: Original recipe: this most recent episode of TAL has caused quite a stir in the soft drink world. It's such a great piece to listen to as it embodies great story-telling and solid research. What are your thoughts on the organization of the piece? What was the highlight? The part the piece could have done without? Is this topic really worth all this hype?

No More Mr. (or Ms.) Nice Guy: The Wall Street Journal is taking a bold step into present day: no more courtesy titles. Amazing. What are you thoughts on how this might impact the sports section, the newspaper, and the world. What do you think of those pesky courtesy titles? Should they still be in use anywhere? And surely comment on Jason Gay's tone in this piece. How would you describe it?

Happy minicourse ... in a week.

Edition 7: Editor Goals

2011-02-15T20:28:00.000-08:00

Please post three goals you have for your section. Reflect on the last edition of last semester, areas where you have the most to improve and areas where you're doing great work. These goals can be design related, deadline related, or anything else. BUT, make sure these are measurable, outcome goals.

General goals for everyone:

1. MAKE THE EDITS THE COPY EDITORS SUGGEST.

2. Visible difference in headline size (heads should be larger than 30 but no smaller than 30)

3. Photos anchored to headline (no floating graphics/photos)

4. Make sure exported PDF is high resolution

5. After you copy edit a page, make sure all elements/storylines are still on the page

Week 6: Love & Belief

2011-02-13T19:53:00.000-08:00

Two pieces from the Wall Street Journal:

1. I Just Called to Say, Ahem, I Love You: This article looks at those three words and what they really mean. How might MA community members struggle with the opposite effect of what the author writes about? Is there an article idea we can take from this article and bring to The Voice?

2. God at the Grammys: The Chosen Ones: An interesting article on the role belief plays in the role of famous people. What are your thoughts on what this author claims? In what ways does the author see belief and success intersecting? Is there an article idea we can take from this article and bring to The Voice?

Week 5: Super Bowl Sunday!

2011-02-06T20:44:00.000-08:00

1. Escalating Arms Race for Top Colleges: An essay from a parent's perspective. What are your thoughts on the topic? Do you think the cycle is created by the colleges or the parents? What about the execution of her ideas. Do you think this is well written? Well argued?

2. Teenagers, Friends & Bad Decisions: This is all about you! Comment on the content (do you agree or disagree) and then comment on the execution (is this well written, clearly presented, well balanced).

Week 4: February Begins!

2011-02-01T08:01:00.000-08:00

1. Why Not Regulate Guns as Seriously as Toys: An interesting reasoning behind gun control. What are your thoughts on Krugman's suggestions? Does he make accurate claims? What do you think of the overall style of the piece?

2. The Genius Dilemma: An interesting read on leadership and how it influences a company (both good and bad). What are your thoughts on the ideas presented? Structure-wise, what are your thoughts on the flow and pacing of the piece. Was this an interesting read is that I'm getting at. Why? Why not?

Article Ideas: Edition 7

2011-01-28T11:00:00.000-08:00

Same rules as the last time. Publication date will be early March. Please keep that in mind when coming up with ideas.

Please post 5-7 ideas for the second edition of the year. Be sure to read the other ideas BEFORE you post your own. You can elaborate on another person's post (with a citation, of course). Include an article idea for each section. Be specific and format each idea as such:

Article Idea:
Must interviews:
Why will people want to read this:

Edition 6: Staff Work

2011-01-25T07:49:00.000-08:00

Returning staff members:
More layout practice!!! The final project of last semester was to work on a single page design. You're going to rework that design and add ONE more story to the page. So, if you had a single story page, you need two. If you went with two stories on the page, you go to three. All that you need is here.

New staff members:
The goal is to complete all of these lessons by the end of our three layout class periods.

1. First Amendment Rights
Once you have finished this module, pleas review the press rights powerpoints on the blog. After you have done that, please answer this question as a comment to this post: What press case do you think is the most important for high school journalists and why?

2. Cleaning Your Copy: Everyone's got some weaknesses in the writing department, and this module will help you focus on making your writing better. Once you have finished this lesson, please answer this question as a comment to this post: Looking back at your first article, what were three mistakes you made? And, what three mistakes do you vow to never make again?

3. The Writer's Workbench: A good supply of hot tips for writing. Sure you've heard of some of these before, but think about these tips through the lens of a journalist. Once you have finished this module, post an comment in answer to this: Looking back at your first edition with The Voice, what ten rules do you have to share with the staff? These should be writing rules, but maybe one or two can be related to other aspects of the newspaper.

4. Typography for News Design: There is lots of learn about how a page is put together. There are rules and guidelines and good practices. Hopefully this module will help you start thinking about how a newspaper is put together and why designers do what they do. After you've completed this module, you need to find an amazing example of typographic design from the real world (newspaper/magazine not website) and bring it to class. Along with the newspaper you need to write a brief paragraph explaining what is so awesome about the page and what elements of type design the page is employing.

Week 3: A pair of readings

2011-01-23T15:03:00.000-08:00

Does helping the planet hurt the poor? This question is answer by two writers with differing perspectives. Read both of these pieces, and comment on which side you prefer. Do you think the two writers have presented their arguments well? Do they make logical claims? Use sweeping generalizations? Is this topic something you've ever thought about?

No: Peter Singer
Yes: Bjorn Lomborg

Edition 6: Editor Goals

2011-01-18T21:39:00.000-08:00

General goals for everyone:

1. MAKE THE EDITS THE COPY EDITORS SUGGEST.

2. Visible difference in headline size (heads should be larger than 30 but no smaller than 30)

3. Photos anchored to headline (no floating graphics/photos)

4. Make sure exported PDF is high resolution (we had some issues with this last edition)

5. After you copy edit a page, make sure all elements/storylines are still on the page

Wed January 19 class

2011-01-18T21:36:00.000-08:00

Even the pros make mistakes

Obama Tucson speech

Week 2: Read away ....

2011-01-17T21:33:00.000-08:00

1. Can Your Camera Phone Turn You Into A Pirate?: A great piece pertaining to copyright issues and new technology. What are your thoughts on the topic? Have you been a pirate? Is there a solution? A change coming to the copyright law? Maybe a change to Fair Use?

2. Too Much Information: In this piece, a professor comments on putting grades on-line. And she's not talking about an on-line gradebook for current student access, rather grade distributions for future students. What are your thoughts on this practice? On the idea that it promotes grade inflation? Is Course Rank abusing the Freedom of Information Act just to make a buck or millions?

Week 1: Spring semester begins

2011-01-09T19:27:00.000-08:00

1. A great read from the Education Life supplement in the NYTimes. For some of you, this topic is near and dear to the heart. For others, it's not even on your radar. Regardless, what are your thoughts on the issues raised? Do you think there's a way to improve the disconnect between applicant and college? Do you think it's fair how much emphasis is placed on the essay?

2. The Commuter Congress, from Newsweek, looks at the effects of Senators living their lives not in Washington D.C., but in their home states. Gone are the days of bipartisan family gatherings. Senators no longer know each other outside of work, so why would they want to reach across party lines to make legislation happen. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you think Washington needs to be a community in order for our government to work? Can you imagine trying to collaborate with someone you 1. hardly know and 2. never see?

Week 16: The final post option

2010-12-05T17:59:00.000-08:00

Parents Struggle with Cyberbullying: An awesome, in-depth piece on cyberbullying and how parents respond. Do you think the parents in this piece are being reasonable? Is there a better/different way to monitor internet usage at a time when students are susceptible to bullying and harassment? How is Facebook (according to the article) to blame for much of this? Is this fair to blame Facebook?

A footstep then an explosion: A brief yet amazing story of a photographer in Afghanistan. Look at the photos he's taken. Do you think reporters should be embedded with troops? Is this the only way to ensure a fair and somewhat accurate portrayal of the war in the media?

Too good to check: A great opinion piece about correcting an outrageous statement instead of repeating it. My questions are: 1. What do you think of the overall style of this piece (is it well written, etc)? and 2. Why is the media so reluctant to do the research needed to debunk statements? More often media sources are willing to perpetuate false statements.

This is the final post for the semester. You have until December 31, 2010 at 11:59.59 PST to post. Good luck.

Week 15: It's December!! CLOSED

2010-12-01T10:22:00.000-08:00

Sports for little ones: And I thought year-round dedication to one sport was a lot. Check out this article. Apparently it's never too early to start. What do you think about this new wave of sport?

Angry Birds: Apparently Bananagrams isn't the only game out there people can't stop playing. Angry Birds is all the rage. I enjoyed this piece not only for the content but also for the informative graphics. What are your thoughts on this gaming craze? Any idea why, all of a sudden, people are returning to simple games to pass the time? Is Angry Games an app on your phone?

Week 14: All about you CLOSED

2010-11-21T21:06:00.000-08:00

This will be the final post for November. On Dec 1 there will be a new set of articles.

Growing up Digital: Wired for Distraction: A great piece on the influence technology will have on your generation. What do you think? Do you see this as an issue in your life? In the lives of your friends? Could this be a good article for The Voice to cover?

Teaching for America: An excellent opinion piece about the state of education (particularly teachers) in the US. The hottest opinion in this piece has to do with teacher pay and recruiting. What are your thoughts? What do you think of Friedman's opinions?

Can't Pick a College Major? Create One: Another great piece on the state of education at the college level. Have any of you thought about tailoring your college major? Is this the way of the future? Are the days of a standard liberal arts degree over? Share your thoughts?

Edition 4 article ideas

2010-11-16T07:10:00.000-08:00

Same rules as the last time. Publication date will early January. Please keep that in mind when coming up with ideas.

Please post 5-7 ideas for the second edition of the year. Be sure to read the other ideas BEFORE you post your own. You can elaborate on another person's post (with a citation, of course). Be specific and try to format each idea as such:

Article Idea:
Must interviews:
Why will people want to read this:

Week 13: More fall fun CLOSED

2010-11-14T22:10:00.000-08:00

The Defiant Ones: Here's a great review of a new book from this weekend WSJ. Thing is, this review is also a bit of a bio on the writer. What is your take on this combo review/profile? Does it work? Do the two stories naturally align themselves?

What the Internet Knows About You: A fascinating piece from Newsweek a few weeks back. It's all about what personal information you can find on the web and how, in the future, it might be used against you. Yikes. Do you think this fascination with internet information is a passing trend or do you think this is really the way things will go in the future?

Edition 3: In-class work for staff

2010-11-10T22:50:00.000-08:00

Folks

Here is the assignment. We will go over this together as I know there will be questions.

Remember: this is about learning InDesign. You will struggle, but you'll learn as you go. The first hot key you need to learn is command + D. That's how you place text and graphics.

Edition 3: Editor Goals

2010-11-08T13:29:00.000-08:00

Please post three goals you have for your section. Reflect on the last edition of last year, areas where you have the most to improve and areas where you're doing great work. These goals can be design related, deadline related, or anything else. BUT, make sure these are measurable, outcome goals.

General goals for everyone:
1. Visible difference in headline size (heads should be larger than 30 but no smaller than 30)
2. Photos anchored to headline (no floating graphics/photos)
3. Make sure exported PDF is high resolution (we had some issues with this last edition)
4. After you copy edit a page, make sure all elements/storylines are still on the page

Week 12: Fall has arrived! CLOSED

2010-11-07T21:31:00.000-08:00

1. Every holiday season the NYT runs profile pieces called The Neediest Cases. These profiles are about New Yorkers in need. Here's the first one of the 2010 season. What are your thoughts on this profile? What does the writer do to present a full picture of the person?

2. Another piece from the NYT about efforts to end bullying and how some community sees these efforts as an agenda to push homosexual beliefs. Might this issue become a First Amendment fight? Can you make a school or office safe for everyone without a common vocabulary or belief system?

LOVE the over-heards going up. They're hysterical. Nice work!!

Week 11: Welcome November CLOSED

2010-11-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

1. Here's a good piece from Neha. Here's what she said, "We make it to the world series and suddenly everyones a die hard Giants fan! Also the lead and closing have some nice style elements to them." Agree. What are your thoughts not only on the topic but also the style of the article? And who is this mighty Casey mentioned at the end? (yes, I know the answer, but do you?)

2. A powerful piece from the NYTimes about undocumented students at UCLA. This article delves into the Dream Act a bit, but it's really a profile piece on some young people and the struggles they face as a result of their undocumented status. What are your thoughts on the style of the piece? Does the journalist present a clear and unbiased picture of the situation?

Edition 3 Overheard

2010-10-25T21:36:00.000-07:00

Ok, folks, post away! Share the wild and wacky things you hear. Thanks to Julia for the suggestion of using the blog for this.

Week 10: The end of October CLOSED

2010-10-24T11:25:00.000-07:00

1. Helmet Safety Unchanged: A solid piece from the NYTimes about helmets and head safety. Lots of data is used. This is a good time to look at how newspapers and courses use date to support their claims. What are your thoughts on the data provided? Be specific as you answer the following: does the use of data bolster the validity of the claims?

2. Coaches stress helmet safety: A similar piece to the one mentioned above, but a smaller audience, a more local focus. Compare this article to the one above. Does it cover the material as well? Go as in-depth? Convey the same message?

3. Death of a Fulton Fish Market Fixture: A great feature piece on a mysterious woman. In death, her mystery was revealed. This is just a great example of clean and concise writing that tells not only a story of a woman but also an institution in New York City. What do you think?

Thursday's class

2010-10-21T07:16:00.000-07:00

1. Take the news quiz. Kick yourself for not knowing more. Congratulate yourself for being awesome.

2. Get to work on the InDesign tutorial. Annie and Alex have finished the tutorial, so they can help. Please know you should be finished with this by the end of class. While I think helping each other solidifies your skill set, you should be able to complete most of this work alone. You need to make sure you save this document so we can review it at a later date.

3. If you finish the tutorial early, here are some work options: A. Complete this handout — here's where you can find the October edition of The Voice; B. Read the blog and comment on the October articles; C. add a few more article ideas to the blog.

Edition 3 Article ideas

2010-10-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

Same rules as the last time. Publication date will either be November 29 or December 3. Please keep that in mind when coming up with ideas.

Please post 5-7 ideas for the second edition of the year. Be sure to read the other ideas BEFORE you post your own. You can elaborate on another person's post (with a citation, of course). Be specific and try to format each idea as such:

Article Idea:
Must interviews:
Why will people want to read this:

Week 9: Max maxes out the articles! CLOSED

2010-10-18T13:26:00.000-07:00

Here's a regular forum from the NYT. Room for Debate is fabulous on-line discussion pertaining to a hot topic. This RFD is all about how college freshman have changed over the years. What are your thoughts? There are seven perspectives to read, so comment on three or four. They are short but quite interesting. I know I was most intrigued by Babcock's insights.

And some awesome reads from Max.
These are both from ESPN. Still, the first one--which is a Simmon's article--is very relevant in terms of how "reporting" is done nowadays with Twitter. Also, he's always an entertaining read.

The second article is just very well written and a fascinating profile of a huge referring blunder.

This is another article like the last one, and it's pretty old, but I stumbled across it recently and it is one of the best pieces of sports writing that I've read.

Edition 2 headline ideas

2010-10-13T19:59:00.001-07:00

Please post your article headlines here. Make it clear what your article is & what section it belongs in. Please post options ranging from 30-50 characters in length. Remember, spaces count as characters, and all headlines should have verbs!

Edition 2: Editor goals

2010-10-12T08:03:00.001-07:00

Week 8: Olivia Opines! CLOSED

2010-10-11T14:03:00.000-07:00

1. The first is from the New York Times about new google cars that can drive themselves. The writing isn't amazing, but I just thought it is a little scary, but at the same time incredible that we are now creating cars that drive themselves. People aren't going to need to use their brains anymore I swear. But maybe these cars are the way to go, there are some horrible drivers out there.

2. Here's an article on the legalization of pot. It's timely considering our center spread on the issue and it's funny. This is a good way to relate a current event to fun pop culture. and there's even a delayed lead too!

Week 7: Marshaling in some news CLOSED!

2010-10-03T19:10:00.000-07:00

1. From CNN: A piece on Ochocino. And this is why we copy edit. And fact check.

2. Another from CNN: This is a great opinion piece about the suicide of the Rutgers student. I'd love to see this issue addressed in one of our editions. OK, hopefully not suicide, but the acceptance of members of the LGBTQQ community.

Week 6: Andrew Enlightens CLOSED!

2010-09-26T21:27:00.001-07:00

This piece contains some commentary coupled with the wisdom of Jon Stewart
regarding our current political system, why it's broken, and what he is
doing to point out its ridiculous nature. I love the way the piece
addresses the absurdity of the state of politics today. Even though the
nature is only semiserious I felt like it was a perspective to good to
ignore.

---

I decided it was time for an Onion piece once I decided on the Stewart
piece. It is a perfect example of what Stewart says, and half the comedy
of the piece comes from its proximity to the truth. If you think of it as
absurdist commentary on American politics, it turns out to be pretty
on-target and informative.

Edition 2 Article Ideas

2010-09-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

Same rules as the last time:

Please post 5-7 ideas for the second edition of the year. Be sure to read the other ideas BEFORE you post your own. You can elaborate on another person's post (with a citation, of course). Be specific and try to format each idea as such:

Article Idea:
Must interviews:
Why will people want to read this:

Week 5: Riley Reads! CLOSED

2010-09-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

1. "Clive Thompson on the Death of the Phone Call"
Summary: This Wired opinion piece raises some interesting points about the
changing culture surrounding phone use. Specifically, the author notices
how short our voice calls are becoming, if they are even made at all. But
his tone is not nostalgic and critical of the change, rather he sees logic
in this emerging trend.

2. "How New Orleans is Cleaning Up Its Big Sleazy Reputation"
Summary: In commemoration of the 5 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina,
Time magazine did a series of articles looking back on the event and
assessing the progress made since then. I chose this article because I
thought it did a good job of mixing journalism with a bit of history when
reflecting on the recent condition of New Orleans.

Share your thoughts insights and ideas about the content and structure of these pieces.

Edition 1: Staff work

2010-09-14T21:08:00.000-07:00

Please read these instructions carefully so as to understand what you are expected to do in class during these layout days.

NEW STAFFERS
Welcome to chaos, magic and the computer lab. During these next four class periods (usually it will only be three) we will be here, in the lab, working on putting the newspaper together. Yes, this is where the magic happens and where all the hard work gets turned into the awesome thing called The Marin Academy Voice. For you, your work is done. You have written articles, taken photos, pulled together the content for the newspaper. Now you get to work on some skills and otherwise become even more awesome than you currently are.

Please complete the following work as directed. Check the syllabus for nightly homework.

Wednesday: First Amendment for the high school journalist — This will be your first introduction to NewsU and to the courses you will take. You will need to create a log-in account and register for the course. Once you've done that, you can get going. Send a course report to me once you've complete this course.

Friday: The Interview — As one former staffer said, "I feel like my MA diploma should have an asterisk that says NewU graduate."

Tuesday: Building Blocks of News — It's amazing how much smarter you are after today's class.

Thursday: CHANGE IN PLANS! Two stories, 40 minutes. It's go time.

RETURNING STAFFERS
Your work during these days is a bit different, a but more fun (I hope). I would love you to make either some InDesign or Photoshop tutorials for the class. Think about the lessons you learned over the last year or what cool thing you figured out. Or you could do some of the basics: how to adjust color on a photo, how to change the color of a text box or text, etc. There are lots of options, and hopefully you'll find something you enjoy to work on and teach others. You could also do something about the elements of a good news piece or feature piece and find examples. Think of this as expanding on the MUSTS already on the blog. If you have any questions, let's chat.

Week 4: on my own CLOSED!

2010-09-12T21:23:00.000-07:00

1. The NFL: What you need to know —This is a priceless piece on the upcoming NFL season. It's not cutting edge news; it's all about the really important stuff. The tone is fabulous: a little cheeky yet quite knowledgeable. What do you think? Do you have to be an NFL follower to find the humor in the piece?

2. Ramadan means midnight practice — There were plenty of stories about Ramadan and its effects on some players' preseason schedules, but this piece focuses on a high school team in Michigan. A timely piece considering our center spread. What are your thoughts on the style and the content? Could you see an MA team ever making this kind of change for its players, regardless of the religion?

Edition 1: Editor goals

2010-09-12T14:42:00.000-07:00

Edition 1 headline ideas

2010-09-08T11:06:00.001-07:00

Please post your article headlines here. Make it clear what your article is & what section it belongs in. Please post 3-4 options ranging from 30-50 characters in length. Profile pieces should be on the shorter side. Remember, spaces count as characters, and all headlines should have verbs!

Week 3: Lauren shines! CLOSED!

2010-09-06T17:42:00.000-07:00

1. How the E-book will change the way we read and write: Agree, disagree, thoughts?

2. Facebook Stalker Button: Is this the final step in on-line voyeurism? While this may seem somewhat over-the-top, if you had this magic button, would you be enticed to follow a friend .... all the time?

Share your thoughts, ideas, and feedback.

Week 2: Katie Rocks! CLOSED

2010-08-29T21:25:00.000-07:00

1. An opinion piece from the New York Times about the mosque and general
racism/religious prejudices in America. I think it starts with an
interesting story as its hook. Also, it relates to our next edition which
is an added bonus.

2. A piece from Washington Post about women's rights and progress but also
fall backs. Balances interesting information and pleasurable read very
nicely.

Bonus pieces:
From Olivia and the NYT: Your brain on Computers.

From Marshall (great piece to read if you're working on the center spread) and CNN: Teens becoming fake Christians.

Edition 1 Article Ideas

2010-08-23T21:58:00.001-07:00

Please post your ideas for the first edition of the year. Be sure to read the other ideas BEFORE you post your own. You can elaborate on another person's post (with a citation, of course). Be specific and try to format each idea as such:

Article Idea:
Must interviews:
Why will people want to read this:

Remember the off-limits topics: new teachers and sports previews.

Here we go!
mc

Week 1: CLOSED!

2010-08-23T21:56:00.000-07:00

1. What fact checking means online: This is a great piece from this Sunday's NYT Magazine. What are your thoughts on fact checking in the internet age? How can we, as a newspaper, do a better job of fact checking? What do you think about the writer's final thought?

2. How I almost saved the earth: This is awesome. And I don't use that word lightly. What a great example of factual satire. And what a great read for the eco-conscious Bay Area inhabitants. Is this an effective essay? Why or why not?

Share your thoughts and brilliance!

Week 16

2010-05-17T09:04:00.001-07:00

What Makes Marion Jones Run? This is a fabulous piece on Marion Jones' life and her return to the sporting arena. Once a decorated track star, she now has a prison sentence on her resume. But with outstanding athleticism and a desire to get back into a game, any game, Jones is now a member of the WNBA. What do you think of this profile piece? How does the author keep you engaged?

No Tackling, but a girls' sport take some hits: An interesting story on the rise of girls' varsity flag football. Why are people conflicted about this sport? Why are some pro-girls sports boosters worried this isn't a meritorious sport? Isn't staying active the #1 goal of athletics? Is there an MA hook in here?

Year-end project

2010-05-12T11:59:00.000-07:00

Here is the assignment.

If you have questions, just ask. This is the focus of our work for the remainder of our time together.

News Literacy Project

2010-05-11T08:02:00.000-07:00

What do you think of these five questions we think teens should ask themselves about new information:
• Who said this?
• Is it verified by reliable sources?
• Does the giver have a bias, and should I look for other sources?
• Do I have a bias on this subject?
• Where can I discuss this with others or find more information to form my opinion?

We need some real-life examples of UNTRUE information (no names will be used) of what students are reading and sending. We would love some text messages, Facebook entries, emails, website pages, whatever. Just remember it must be untrue.

Have you ever read something in a text message, on Facebook, or on a Web site, e-mail, Twitter — and, even though they knew it probably wasn’t true, passed it on to others? No one’s being critical here, but we’re looking for some examples. If they have some bad information they are willing to share, please do.

Week 15

2010-05-09T20:48:00.000-07:00

Another two pieces that work well together. The target is clearly you.

1. The Tell-all Generation Learns When Not To: The trickle down effect is especially present in on-line behavior. A few years back, Facebook was for college kids and MySpace was for high schoolers. Now, Facebook is ubiquitous. Older Gen-Y folks, though, are now starting to feel the repercussions of putting everything on-line. What are your thoughts? How about your habits? What are your thoughts on privacy?

2. How Does Technology Affect Kids' Friendship: As Gen-Y pushes the technology limits -- think younger and younger people acquiring cell phones and using social networking sites to engage in relationships -- people are starting to wonder about the long-term effects of such habits. What do you think about some of the worries stated in this article? From your perspective, is there any validity to this argument?

Week 14: Howdy, May

2010-05-02T18:07:00.000-07:00

Here we are in our final month of the school year. Kind of exciting! So we'll get this month started off with two pretty different readings. I was hoping to post a piece about free throws in the NBA and the local Dipsea race, but neither story are available for free. But, if you head down to the MA library, be sure to check them out. The former is in the May 3 edition of ESPN mag; the latter, in the June 2010 Runner's World.

1. The Man the White House wakes up to: (NYT) This is the story of Politico's Mike Allen and his might political playbook. He is, for all intent and purposes, the go-to man on White House information. This piece delves into the life of a political reporter but also the life of Allen himself. What do you think about the piece? Is Allen's role in the White House the more important element of this story? Or is this a well developed profile? How does the writer manage the balance between personal history and present day influence?

2. The Texas Curriculum Controversy: (from Newsweek) An interesting read on the influence (or maybe lack therefof) Texas has on national curriculum. Texas has been in the news lately for its passionate dislike of current political policy, but this bit of dislike is more interesting than most because it has to do with educating millions of students at a very young age. What are your thoughts?

3. Braking Away: (NYT) A simple opinion piece about stopping for red lights while bicycling in New York City. Is this monumental? No. Is this exciting? Nope. But it's a great read on such a simple act. What do you think are those simple acts around MA we need to explore a bit more?

Week 13: So long, April

2010-04-25T22:30:00.000-07:00

1. This American Life: Nummi — Ok, this is a long, long episode of This American Life, but it's well worth the listen. Not only does this story touch on the state of the economy today, but it's local. The Nummi plant was located in Freemont, and closed only a few weeks back. Give a listen. What do you think of the story telling? Did this change your opinion of GM? American workers? Unions?

2. Hate: This is a piece from Newsweek that addresses the increase in militia like movements in the country. What do you think of the use of historical information in this piece? How about the statistics? Is the main issue with the rise in hatred and militia-like forces a product of a dwindling white majority? Or are we Americans generally more hateful these days? What are you thoughts?

3. The Economy of the NFL Draft: One of life's biggest events happened recently, and if you didn't watch it you must be crazy. The NFL draft is a fascinating process of player selection, all in an attempt to bring up the losers and temper the winners. But according to this piece, that's not happening with the current draft format. What do you think of the tone of this piece? It's serious, but there's something slightly ridiculous when it comes to tinkering with a process that is now broadcast 24/7 and more popular than any other sport's selection process.

Week 12

2010-04-18T21:19:00.001-07:00

Firstly, check out the very thoughtful responses to last week's posts. The three ladies did an excellent job, but pay particular attention to Elizabeth's. Well done, ladies!

Two pieces from the Wall Street Journal.

1. An Homage to Hummer by Penn Jillette: That's right, Penn of Penn & Teller, laments about the loss of the Hummer. If GM doesn't find a buyer by May 1, the Hummer will be no longer. In an interesting and slightly unexpected essay, Penn ties the Hummer to a loss of freedom. hhhhmmm. He's a bit fast and loose with his sentence structure, but what do you think of his message? How does his form complement his purpose?

2. Altered States — U.S. Secession Efforts: Part U.S. history, part fantastical story-telling, this piece was on the front page of the Weekend Journal. Why? That's what I'd like you to comment on. Is this timely? Relevant to issues coming up today? And did you learn anything new from this piece?

Week 11: April Already

2010-04-12T11:11:00.000-07:00

Two good pieces that complement each other quite well. Lots of talk about the Catholic church and the happenings of some abusive priests.

A Woman's Place is in the Church: Some folks think bringing more women into the inner circles of the church will help with some of the current dilemmas. What do you think? What do you think about the presentation of this argument?

What Went Wrong: Don't Blame Scandal on Celibacy: Some folks think celibacy has nothing to do with the issues facing the church. The church needs to reclaim more of its former conservative ways, clean house a bit, and then move forward. Any thoughts from you? A shorter piece than the first. Is this one more effective in presenting its argument?

Week 10: Final March post

2010-03-21T21:39:00.001-07:00

1. Pelosi's Power of Persuasion: A great read from Time Magazine and Alec. An interesting look on Pelosi's life as Speaker of the House. What do you think of the style of the piece? There's a mixture of personal and professional information. Why would the writer choose to do this? Might this be a format for a profile of an MA person? If so, what person might be great for this style of profile?

2. Pushing Back at Stereotypes: An awesome piece from the NYTimes sports section. There's been a lot of press about the aggressive nature of women's college athletics, but is it something that has always been around or something that's on the rise? Can this be seen in MA's sports programs? Is there an MA hook in here? Is MA doing anything to educate players about managing anger during the game? Is there a time when it's ok to get angry and a time when it's not?

Article Ideas — Edition 7

2010-03-15T19:21:00.000-07:00

Please post your ideas for the second edition of the year. Be sure to read the other ideas BEFORE you post your own. You can elaborate on another person's post (with a citation, of course). You MUST format your post in the following format:

Article Idea:
Must interviews:
Why will people want to read this:

This edition will come out in early May.

Week 9

2010-03-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

1. Do the Right Thing: From ESPN magazine and Nish. This post is full of insight and questioning about journalism and the media's doings as of late. There's the Kornheiser/Hannah Storm controversy, tape-delayed coverage of the Olympics, Tiger Woods, and more. ESPN's Ombudsman looks at some of the major issues coming up for not only ESPN but all of the media. What are you thoughts? Do any of these issues (specifics being different, of course) resonate at MA?

2. The Millenial Generation is getting Clobbered: From Newsweek, this is the world you have to face as the growing deficit and slumping job market make themselves more permanent fixtures in America. While your generation is more open, more socially aware, you will be faced with an aging population that relies on you for help. There's also that pesky sense of entitlement mentioned; that can't be helpful. What is your generation to do? Is there an MA hook in here?

Layout Work for Staffers

2010-03-09T17:28:00.001-08:00

Folks

Here are two courses I'd like you to complete during our layout days. My expectation is that you will work on these courses during class and for homework (you can access the website from any computer), and then take some of the practices and principles from these courses and apply them to a design project.

1. Color in News Design
2. Typography for News Design

Once you are done with the courses, here's the next step:

http://www.greek-islands.us/traditional-greek-products/kimolos/Honey.jpg

Create a label for the MA Honey. That's right, the honeybee folks have harvested a bunch of tasty, delicious honey and now the jars need some art. Fun. I know.

Size/Shape: Oval 2.5" long by 1.5" high for front. 2" x 2" square for back of jar.
Copy: Marin Academy, Honey, Harvested March 2010 from the MA apiary by Club, Apiary is managed and by the MA Beekeeping Club, Raw (unheated), Local (from nearby wildflowers and the MA garden),
Graphics and design: up to you. Maybe a wildcat-honeybee? Sunflower? Honeycomb? Go wild. Just remember copyright laws .... we can't steal images.
Keep in mind: How are you going to split up the information from front to back? How are you going to prioritize the information? Create an information hierarchy; the most important info goes at the top.

You can create the designs on one InDesign document, just make sure each element fits the required size. Good luck. Have fun!

Edition 6 Headline Ideas

2010-03-08T08:05:00.001-08:00

Please post your article headlines here. Make it clear what your article is & what section it belongs in. Please post 3-4 options ranging from 30-50 characters in length. Remember, spaces count as characters, and all headlines should have verbs!

Marshall and Jacob have gotten us off to a strong start.

Editor Goals — Edition 6

2010-03-08T08:04:00.001-08:00

Please post 3 goals you have for your section. Reflect on the last edition, areas where you have the most to improve and areas where you're doing great work. These goals can be design related, deadline related, or anything else. BUT, make sure these are measurable, outcome goals.

Week 8

2010-03-07T21:41:00.000-08:00

An overwhelming amount of goodness in the news this week and last:

Government is not the problem: From Newsweek, an interesting take on why the government isn't doing so well. As you'll see from this story, it's not the government, it's the people. What do you think of this theory on the United States' recent troubles? Can you see any of this mentality in the MA community? Is there an MA angle in here?

Schools New Math: the Four-Day Week: From the Wall Street Journal, this piece looks at the abysmal state of American education. With huge budget short falls and states in a pinch for every extra dollar, education is an easy place to cut. What are your thoughts? On one hand, a 3-day weekend would be nice, but at what cost? What are your thoughts on this situation? What would happen to the MA community if cuts knocked out some school days? classes? after-school programs?

Framing Childhood: From the NY Times, this piece takes an interesting look at how digitizing our lives will impact the next generation. Is this the way of the yearbook? Of the newspaper? Will we all be so consumed with documenting that we forget to live?

What Were They Thinking: Just a fun WSJ read about politicians and their mistakes. While the topic is politicians, you could substitute professional athletes into the story with ease. What is it that makes those in power think they are immune to the consequences of their actions? Maybe politicians and professional athletes are stuck in a perpetual state of adolescence? Thoughts?

Week 7: Hello March!

2010-03-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

1. The topic of this piece struck me as something I often struggle with: choice. The Paralyzing Problem of Too Many Choices is an interesting read from the NYT. What do you think about the stye and structure of this piece? Is there a healthy balance between sources and research? What are your thoughts on this topic? At MA, how might too many choices be a bad thing? In what areas do students have too many choices? too few?

2. The Greatest Moment in Women's Sports: From ESPN magazine and famed writer Rick Reilly, this piece is about exactly what the title claims. But there's one little thing: the greatest moment in women's sport came when a woman beat all the men. Reilly has a solid style and structure, and clearly knows his sport stuff. What do you think of the topic of this piece? What about Reilly's opinion? At MA, is there a greatest moment we've missed reporting on? Some experience, some moment, some something we need to expose?

Week 6

2010-02-14T21:06:00.000-08:00

Fool's Gold: A solid piece from Newsweek about sports and politics. It's a timely piece because of the Olympics and the upcoming World Cup. What are your thoughts on the tone of this piece? What did you learn? Is there an MA or greater San Rafael angle for this story?

The $555,000 Student-Loan Burden: This article made me think -- WHAT?! It's a story becoming more and more common as the cost of college goes up and the amount of financial aid goes down. There is an element of misinformation on the part of the subject of the article, but as college bound students, this is a reality in the coming years, especially as an undergraduate education is just the beginning of your higher education. Is there an MA angle to this piece? What's the cost of an MA education? Tuition, endowment, grounds and maintenance, etc ....

Mixing not plagiarism: hhhhmmm. What do you think? A sticky issue in the publishing world right now. This has also happened in the news industry as recently as last week. Thoughts?

Week 5

2010-02-07T20:09:00.000-08:00

The Time it Takes to Win it All: From the Wall Street Journal, this piece is an interesting look at the time, start to finish, that goes into an NFL football season. The Journal has had amazing statistical coverage of the NFL these last few weeks, and this is the culmination of the work. Where's the MA story in this article? How can we be inspired by this idea and bring it to our community?

Gay Marriage: The Case from the left & The Conservative Case for Gay Marriage: Two complementary pieces that present the Prop 8 issues from a different perspective: the conservative one. Read these two pieces in order as the first is about the writer of the second. Often times we know exactly what someone should think based on his or her party lines, but these articles turn that idea on its head. What do you think of these pieces? Of the arguments made? Any surprises?

Week 4: Welcome February

2010-01-31T09:31:00.000-08:00

Too much to read, so four posts to start off the month:

1. Remembrance of Candy Bars Past: A solid read on the regional candy bars of the US. But, like many small businesses, these local favorites are slowly disappearing. What might be an MA or local San Rafael hook to this story? And I found it quite interesting that when these companies first began they sourced local products in an effort to battle transportation costs. We've now come full circle as more and more companies are again trying to use local products to attract local buyers. Be sure to check out the graphic of the box of chocolate.

2. Masculinity in a Spray Can: An interesting look at the burgeoning life of a tween and teenage boys. Females are no longer the lone buyers of product, now there's just as much targeted at boys and males. How is this, though, affecting the lives of boys? Is this a good thing? Are we headed down a slippery slope of body image problems already plaguing young girls and women? And, surely there's an MA angle in this piece. What is it and how do we go about reporting it?

For the sports lovers:

3. Portrait of Reality as Told by Vick: There's no shortage of reality TV, so why shouldn't Michael Vick get involved? Is this a good thing for television or might Vick and his show fall victim to all the hype and hoopla?

4. Excess Reigns at Super Bowl, and That's No Ballyhoo: It's a week away and it's the commercial blitz of the year. But how many people are watching the Super Bowl for the game? This piece takes a look at the history of the event and what it has become now. The Voice has done stories about different pieces of MA history, but is there an MA Super Bowl so to speak? Or something in the larger community that has taken on a life of its own?

Edition 6 Article Ideas

2010-01-29T09:46:00.000-08:00

Edition 5 — Layout Day

2010-01-25T09:03:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first edition of second semester! So exciting! So thrilling!

Since we have done some work with design and layout, I thought it was time we work with actual text and graphics and .... our newspaper. That's right. I have broken you up into teams, and as a team you will be working to redesign a specific section of the most recent edition of The Voice.

News Team: Charlotte & Katie
A&E Team: Henry & Ruby
Sports Team: Elizabeth & Eric & Jacob
Features Team: Ilana & Lauren
Op/Ed Team: Lena & Hossain
Center Spread Team: Riley & Jackson

Here are the guidelines
1. You must include all of the elements from the original page
2. The page must look COMPLETELY different
3. Be sure to notice the little things: pica spacing, date, page number, photo credit and captions, coy editing, and more.
4. This is not a race. It's about learning and executing good practices.

How to get started

VOICE --> Layout Templates --> Voice_Layout.indt --> double click the file and Indesign begins.
Trusty handout to start:

How to get the files

VOICE --> Old Stuff --> Voice Archive --> 2009-2010 --> Edition 4
While in Indesign, you can use Command+D to place documents.

Questions — just ask. Have fun. Be creative. Good luck.

Editor Goals -- Edition 5

2010-01-24T15:11:00.001-08:00

Week 3 -- Final January Post

2010-01-24T14:39:00.000-08:00

1. The Kids Will be Alright: From the Wall Street Journal, this is an interesting story on birth rates in the US and other countries. Marin is dealing with a birthrate first: the dominant white population is slated to plateau, while the non-white population is booming. For MA, this poses a few issues, namely, how does a while culture school embrace and attract the non-white culture. How might that be a hurdle for MA? As for a localized angle for this story, we might look at the changing or unchanged face of the MA student population. What are you thoughts on bringing this story to campus?

2. Nancy Pelosi Doesn't Care if You Like Her: A solid profile piece from Esquire. Jamie brought this to my attention last week, and when I found out one of my favorite writers wrote the piece, I loved it even more. What are you thoughts on the style? the content? the piece as a whole? Again, how can we take our profile writing up a notch and how can we incorporate such in-depth coverage in The Voice? Might this inspire a bit more pizazz in our Wildcats of the Issue?

Week 2

2010-01-18T08:38:00.001-08:00

1. The Coast of Dystopia: A fabulous opinion about the state of California. Only question to ask is: what are your thoughts?

2. 11 Minutes of Action: That's the total amount of actual play time in an NFL football game. I know I had no idea, and I've been watching a lot of football lately. What do you think of the stats? How about the graphic? Will this deter folks from watching the entire game? Maybe encourage more DVRs? Is there some aspect of MA life that we can analyze like this? Maybe assemblies? How many minutes a day students spend standing around in the BLC? Walking across Mission?