Next 12 weeks
It’s that time of the year again,when a bunch of the best and brightest college students invade our newsroom for three months of work and learning. As I’ve said in previous posts, this is one of the true pleasures of the job, helping smart and ambitious college journalists advance in their careers. Many of our interns have gone on to big-time journalism jobs, and I’d like to think that some small part of their success was based on their 12 weeks at our paper.
Our four newsroom interns are Erik Spencer Hill, Winston-Salem State University; Liz DeOrnellas, UNC Chapel Hill; Maura O’Keefe, University of Virginia, and Jamie Chevillet, University of Ohio (she graduates next month).
So, you will likely see some unfamiliar bylines during the next few months. Give them encouragement and let them know what you think.
One of my favorite sites is something called The Rural Blog. It’s really a collection of news about rural America, but the folks who run it do a good job of culling stories and packaging. The most recent installment has an interesting debate about Obama and Appalachia. One thing that caught my eye in the included map is the boundary of Appalachia, as defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission. Winston-Salem is in the region, but curiously enough, Roanoke, Va. isn’t. Will have to look into that.
Other views: It’s been a while, but about two years ago, I posted a bit about what to call people who aren’t in the country illegally. It’s an issue at newspapers across the country. Here’s what Ted Vaden, the ombudsman at the News & Observer of Raleigh has to say about the issue.
Your host is Ken Otterbourg, the managing editor at the Winston-Salem Journal. It's a forum to discuss the media, from
How about Visitors Who’ve Overstayed Their Welcome?
All kidding aside, I blogged this, but I wanted to make sure you knew that this past Sunday’s paper was the best I’ve seen in a long time. It really was outstanding.
While newspaper editors are debating and seemingly worrying about semantics, this emotional issue is tearing at us and continuing to divide us. Classic symbolism over substance is what it smells like some will say. I honestly don’t know where I stand but I don’t really care what its called. Here’s an idea. Let the interns decide.
Good idea, tongue in cheek or not. But I have to disagree. Words matter. Names matter. They create a context and framework for discussion and debate. It’s the whole freedom fighters vs. terrorists, pro life/pro choice etc. I think the confusion and lack of certainty of what to call people who are not here legally speaks to the heart of the matter, and the conflicting actions of compassion and toughness that define our national response.
The idea was not at all intended to be tongue and cheek. This generation will certainly have to face and possibly find solutions to people here without documentation. I understand you point of contention with what I wrote. You guys decide and I’ll live with it but it still is not of great concern to me what name its given. I’m much more interested in a fair solution for all concerned.
I have a questions that is unrelated to this topic. I noticed in todays paper on page A3 a full page add for a air purifier. I’ve seen several of these type adds in the past and was wondering does the Journal vet the companies for relialibity or its business practices. At the bottom in fine print there is a website but when I tried it it didn’t work.I am always suspicious of adds like this.
Fair enough. I’m not the ad guy,but let me see what I can find out about that ad and those like it.
Here’s the response of Mike Baskin, our VP of sales & marketing: Ken, we do not vet these companies...they are screened through a third party placement service, and generally no issues occur. If we do receive reader feedback to the contrary, we cease publication of the
ad(s) until the problem is resolved.
Thanks for the prompt response Ken & Mike. Sorry if I used this space incorrectly to address it.
No. You didn’t. I am not the person to answer questions about the business side of our operations, but I don’t mind trying to find answers for legitimate questions.
Maura O’Keefe is fabulous...although I’m sure Maura O’Rourke would also be good.
Got it. Fixed it. Thnx for the headsup. Got my names garbled, as I have a friend named Maureen O’Rourke…
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