Minority Science Writers Internship

The Minority Science Writers Internship, run by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, is open to undergrads from underrepresented minority groups who are interested in journalism as a career and want to learn about science writing.

The internship takes place each summer at the Washington, D.C., headquarters of AAAS's Science magazine, the largest interdisciplinary journal in the world. Interns spend 10 weeks at Science under the guidance of award-winning reporters and editors, and have a chance to experience what science writers do for a living. Interns are expected to contribute to the weekly news section, including bylined articles in the print and electronic news service.

The paid internship includes travel costs to and from the internship site in Washington, D.C. Living accommodations and expenses are the responsibility of the intern. The internship runs from June to mid-August.

The 2012 summer program application deadline is March 1, 2012. Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate academic program when they submit their application.

Download an application, which includes instructions on submission, at  http://www.aaas.org/careercenter/internships/MSWI_images/MSWI_Application.pdf.

English 524 Journalism in the Movies and Print offered Spring 2012

When Cal McCaffrey, the news reporter in the movie “State of Play,” refuses to pass on to his paper information harmful to a friend of his, is he turning his back on his responsibility to his readers? When reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein pressure reluctant sources to talk about the Watergate break-in in the movie “All the President’s Men,”  are they going too far? When a newspaper editor in “The Paper” ignores information that negates the front page story she’s just OK’d, who is going to hold her responsible for her actions?

Why, in real life, does the U.S. media get such specific protection in the First Amendment to the Constitution?  And if, as Matthew C. Erlich says in Journalism in the Movies, movies “can be read as a culture thinking out loud to itself,” what do these movie portrayals tell us about our culture?

These are the sorts of questions we’ll discuss in this course as we explore the ways journalists are portrayed in films and how those depictions reflect society’s hope for as well as concerns about the role of the media in a democracy.

For student travel writers and photographers

The Glimpse Correspondents Program is an opportunity for students,
volunteers, teachers, and travelers who have been abroad for part
of 2011 or 2012 to get their stories and photography published
at high-profile publications--and get paid for it.

Powered by Matador, and supported in part by the National Geographic
Society, the Glimpse Correspondents Program provides selected
writers and photographers with a $600 stipend and one on one
editorial training and support in building their portfolio of
published work.

Anyone over 18 is eligible, and writers and photographers of all
skill and experience levels are encouraged to apply. Selections
are made not only on candidates' talents in writing or photography,
but also their vision for engaging communities and finding unique
stories while abroad, as well as their commitment to developing
these stories into polished long-form narratives over the course
of the program.

Visit http://glimpse.org/the-correspondents-program/ or
find the application directly at: http://glimpse.org/application/.
Deadline is Nov.20

Right to Know?

Strong Right to Know laws are an important tool to protecting the public's access to information and a journalist's ability to do the job. Some information on New Hampshire's Right to Know laws can be found here. But for a broader look at how such laws are faring around the world, check out this recent video report from the Associated Press. Thanks to Sandy Marsters for sharing.

Can social media help you find a job?

A big Hamilton Smith Hall thanks to John Herman for taking the time to give #UNH journalism students a good look at how they can use social media in their work. On the heels of that, I wanted to share this post from Sree Sreenivasan, prof and dean at Columbia School of Journalism, about using social media to find a job.

Reminder: Social Media strategy for journalism majors tonight!

A reminder to join fellow journalism majors tonight at 6 p.m. in 103 Ham Smith for free pizza and a fun, informative talk from social media master John Herman. Details in this poster. Questions: Tom Haines at tom.haines@unh.edu, or @twhaines.

Want to write for the New Yorker? GQ? Publish lengthy narratives in Byliner and the Atavist?

For those of you eager to expand your writing skills and tell true stories with voice and detail and drama, consider taking English 722/ Feature Writing in Spring 2012. This course will build on your reporting and writing skills, asking you to immerse yourself in subjects to acquire the content needed to create a compelling narrative that reads like fiction. We'll read inspiring stories and write some of our own. By semester's end, if you've pitched in the effort, you should have a portfolio of pieces that could help you land some future freelance assignments for print and online publications.

If you have questions about the course, please contact me at susan.hertz@unh.edu.

UNH journalism alum to be featured on Animal Planet

UNH journalism grad Brittany Murray, Class of 2010, will be featured in an upcoming Animal Planet episode.

You can find the trailer here.


She first told her story at UNH in this Multimedia class project:

#UNH multimedia students go digital @BostonGlobe

UNH multimedia storytelling students journeyed into Boston last Friday to get a glimpse of the future at the Boston Globe media lab.

The Globe launched a new website in September. As part of that initiative, the Globe has created a media lab onsite to innovate technology and journalism. You can follow the Globe's media lab on Twitter @globelab.

Michael Manning, product developer, Chris Marstall, creative technologist, and Damon Kiesow, senior product manager, offered a look at specific applications - from adapting The Big Picture for GoogleTV to crowdsourcing Instagram photos onto a city map.

UNH students look on as Chris Marstall of the Boston Globe media lab, at right, demonstrates an application that crowdsources Instagram photos. Pictured, from left: Sam Ueda, Julia Miller, Bri Hand, Nick Reid, Merhawi Wells-Bogues, Eliza Mackintosh, Ellen Stuart, Kristen Phelps, and Alexia Tsagaris. (Photo by Essdras M Suarez).

Go here for a short video of Chris Marstall talking about Instagram that I took onsite and Tweeted during his talk using Qik Video.

After a glimpse of the not-so-distant future, Pulitzer-prize winning photog Essdras Suarez talked about the importance of finding a unique way to frame photographs that capture emotion. Here he is, via Qik video, talking about getting close with the camera.

Last but not least, Angela Nelson, boston.com news editor, described the challenges of editing the flow of daily news at one of the nation's most-visited news sites. She emphasized the importance of young journalists learning the latest multimedia tools, from audio to video, to deepen their street reporting. But, she said, one skill is most necessary: Journalists need to know how to write, even in a digital world.

Thanks to Michael, Chris, Damon, Essdras, Angela, and Boston Globe Editor Marty Baron for the gracious hospitality they showed to UNH journalism students.

News from the digital frontier: Writing! Writing! Writing!

Last week, UNH multimedia students visited the cutting edge of digital news at Bostonglobe.com and boston.com. More on that in an upcoming post.

For now, one key thing learned along the way. In talking with Angela Nelson, boston.com news editor, students learned a lot about how digital technology is changing the way journalists do their jobs day in and day out. What, then, is the biggest single skill that Nelson thinks young journalists should have?

"They need to know how to write," Nelson said.

On that note, journalist and writing coach Steve Buttry last week shared copious tips about writing ledes at his blog. It's true: No matter how experienced a journalist is, there's no end to getting started.

Go here to read Buttry's advice.

Free pizza and social media talk

Calling all journalism majors: Special event Tuesday, Nov. 15, 6 p.m., Hamilton Smith 103!

Ever wonder: What will future editors find when they Google me?

Then catch John Herman, social media master, as he talks about using Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and more to promote your journalism online. Join fellow students and journalism faculty for this important presentation and casual conversation about all things social media.
Oh yeah: pizza served.

Please RSVP to Tom Haines by Friday at noon, tom.haines@unh.edu, so we know how much pizza to order.