Comments on: Skills needed by today’s journalists http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2009/skills-needed-by-todays-journalists/ Notes from the classroom and observations about professional practices for sharing the news on digital platforms. Thu, 24 May 2012 00:37:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lo que un periodista digital debe saber « Ciberperiodismo http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2009/skills-needed-by-todays-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-23104 Lo que un periodista digital debe saber « Ciberperiodismo Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:02:08 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/?p=2328#comment-23104 [...] Skills needed by today’s journalists [...] [...] Skills needed by today’s journalists [...]

]]> By: Tomorrow's News, Tomorrow's Journalists » Blog Archive » Sniffing out a unique story http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2009/skills-needed-by-todays-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-23085 Tomorrow's News, Tomorrow's Journalists » Blog Archive » Sniffing out a unique story Mon, 06 Sep 2010 02:47:35 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/?p=2328#comment-23085 [...] discussion topic, but I figured it would be useful to post it anyway. I’ve just come across this June post by Mindy McAdams of Teaching Online Journalism, in which she discusses what skills today’s journalists need. Like what we appear to have [...] [...] discussion topic, but I figured it would be useful to post it anyway. I’ve just come across this June post by Mindy McAdams of Teaching Online Journalism, in which she discusses what skills today’s journalists need. Like what we appear to have [...]

]]> By: Multimedia jobs are for robots | retoNet http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2009/skills-needed-by-todays-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-22883 Multimedia jobs are for robots | retoNet Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:34:40 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/?p=2328#comment-22883 [...] Mindy McAdams: Skills needed by today’s journalists [...] [...] Mindy McAdams: Skills needed by today’s journalists [...]

]]> By: El trabajo multimedia es para robots | retoNet http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2009/skills-needed-by-todays-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-22882 El trabajo multimedia es para robots | retoNet Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:33:28 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/?p=2328#comment-22882 [...] Mindy McAdams: Skills needed by today’s journalists [...] [...] Mindy McAdams: Skills needed by today’s journalists [...]

]]> By: Teaching Online Journalism » A fresh look at reporting skills http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2009/skills-needed-by-todays-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-22666 Teaching Online Journalism » A fresh look at reporting skills Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:37:12 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/?p=2328#comment-22666 [...] June I posted a ranked list of skills needed by today’s journalists. In reviewing it today, I wondered whether it would be different if instead of saying journalist we [...] [...] June I posted a ranked list of skills needed by today’s journalists. In reviewing it today, I wondered whether it would be different if instead of saying journalist we [...]

]]> By: O que é que um jornalista precisa de saber? : Ponto Media http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2009/skills-needed-by-todays-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-21217 O que é que um jornalista precisa de saber? : Ponto Media Mon, 24 May 2010 08:32:49 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/?p=2328#comment-21217 [...] [dica de Teaching Online Journalism] [...] [...] [dica de Teaching Online Journalism] [...]

]]> By: Rob Wells | LSJ off(line) on ’net news http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2009/skills-needed-by-todays-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-20627 Rob Wells | LSJ off(line) on ’net news Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:35:37 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/?p=2328#comment-20627 [...] Here’s a comment from Mindy McAdams, whom I agree with on the topic. A brief excerpt: [...] [...] Here’s a comment from Mindy McAdams, whom I agree with on the topic. A brief excerpt: [...]

]]> By: Mindy McAdams http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2009/skills-needed-by-todays-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-18296 Mindy McAdams Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:05:46 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/?p=2328#comment-18296 @Renee Barnes - I think these are two separate points: (1) use of a CMS; (2) CSS and HTML. You can choose to include one, both, or none. I like to use a free blogging tool (today it's WordPress.com) to introduce the concepts of a CMS. It's not going to be exactly the same as any newsroom system, but the students can gain experience with most of the common CMS functions by keeping individual blogs on WordPress. In my opinion, CSS must be taught with XHTML. You can't leave out the CSS even though it drives the kids crazy -- it's an industry standard. But the <em>amount</em> of either one that journalism students need to know is really quite small. I think we should aim more for exposure and basic comprehension -- certainly not mastery -- in a first online-j course or class. I do think that most kids in journalism classes should not be burdened with heavy programming, scripting, or code. But those who want to work as journalists would be well served by a brief introduction to "here is how Web content operates." Kind of like teaching kids in health class what DNA is. @Renee Barnes – I think these are two separate points: (1) use of a CMS; (2) CSS and HTML. You can choose to include one, both, or none.

I like to use a free blogging tool (today it’s WordPress.com) to introduce the concepts of a CMS. It’s not going to be exactly the same as any newsroom system, but the students can gain experience with most of the common CMS functions by keeping individual blogs on WordPress.

In my opinion, CSS must be taught with XHTML. You can’t leave out the CSS even though it drives the kids crazy — it’s an industry standard. But the amount of either one that journalism students need to know is really quite small. I think we should aim more for exposure and basic comprehension — certainly not mastery — in a first online-j course or class.

I do think that most kids in journalism classes should not be burdened with heavy programming, scripting, or code. But those who want to work as journalists would be well served by a brief introduction to “here is how Web content operates.” Kind of like teaching kids in health class what DNA is.

]]> By: Links for today | Links para hoje « O Lago | The Lake http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2009/skills-needed-by-todays-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-18295 Links for today | Links para hoje « O Lago | The Lake Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:49:25 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/?p=2328#comment-18295 [...] Skills needed by today’s journalists, Mindy MacAdams [...] [...] Skills needed by today’s journalists, Mindy MacAdams [...]

]]> By: Renee Barnes http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2009/skills-needed-by-todays-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-18289 Renee Barnes Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:02:10 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/?p=2328#comment-18289 I am glad to see the debate my post has generated. The course I am restructuring is an introductory online journalism course - so I have made some assumptions about the 'standard' journalism skills such as reporting, writing,fact checking and interviewing. Although I try to reinforce these skills in the criteria for assessments. An understanding of web production is an interesting skill to add. This is something that is generally picked up in my advanced course. It can be hard to teach I find though, as each organisation will have a different CMS. What do you suggest - CSS, XHTML? I find that I have a lot of resistance to these from students - who don't want to be bogged down in 'programmer' skills. My other problem is that I have limited time. We only have 12 week semesters and I only have two online courses. I am glad to see the debate my post has generated. The course I am restructuring is an introductory online journalism course – so I have made some assumptions about the ‘standard’ journalism skills such as reporting, writing,fact checking and interviewing. Although I try to reinforce these skills in the criteria for assessments. An understanding of web production is an interesting skill to add. This is something that is generally picked up in my advanced course. It can be hard to teach I find though, as each organisation will have a different CMS. What do you suggest – CSS, XHTML? I find that I have a lot of resistance to these from students – who don’t want to be bogged down in ‘programmer’ skills. My other problem is that I have limited time. We only have 12 week semesters and I only have two online courses.

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