Comments on: What skills are most important for an online journalist? http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/what-skills-are-most-important-for-an-online-journalist/ Notes and observations of an online media world Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:49:49 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Some discussions for the 17 November lecture… | Mobile Journalism at Concordia http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/what-skills-are-most-important-for-an-online-journalist/#comment-70 Some discussions for the 17 November lecture… | Mobile Journalism at Concordia Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:13:51 +0000 http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/?p=64#comment-70 [...] Skill sets for new journalists, from the ABC’s Renée Barnes’ Blog, NewsFrontier [...] [...] Skill sets for new journalists, from the ABC’s Renée Barnes’ Blog, NewsFrontier [...]

]]> By: Habilidades del periodista online « Diario de hoy http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/what-skills-are-most-important-for-an-online-journalist/#comment-48 Habilidades del periodista online « Diario de hoy Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:57:09 +0000 http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/?p=64#comment-48 [...] No es la primera, ni la última lista de éste tipo que circula por internet, pero me gustó y la traduje. Su autora es la periodista australiana Renee Barnes. [...] [...] No es la primera, ni la última lista de éste tipo que circula por internet, pero me gustó y la traduje. Su autora es la periodista australiana Renee Barnes. [...]

]]> By: Mindy McAdams http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/what-skills-are-most-important-for-an-online-journalist/#comment-28 Mindy McAdams Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:33:53 +0000 http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/?p=64#comment-28 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. 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: Mindy McAdams http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/what-skills-are-most-important-for-an-online-journalist/#comment-27 Mindy McAdams Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:32:35 +0000 http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/?p=64#comment-27 I agree, Andy -- basic tags are very useful to know. I think every journalist should be able to write an A HREF (it's not rocket science). I agree, Andy — basic tags are very useful to know. I think every journalist should be able to write an A HREF (it’s not rocket science).

]]> By: Teaching Online Journalism » Skills needed by today’s journalists http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/what-skills-are-most-important-for-an-online-journalist/#comment-26 Teaching Online Journalism » Skills needed by today’s journalists Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:31:03 +0000 http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/?p=64#comment-26 [...] she also teaches online journalism there. In her blog News Frontier, she recently asked readers to rank eight skills, or skill sets, for new [...] [...] she also teaches online journalism there. In her blog News Frontier, she recently asked readers to rank eight skills, or skill sets, for new [...]

]]> By: Andy http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/what-skills-are-most-important-for-an-online-journalist/#comment-25 Andy Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:49:54 +0000 http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/?p=64#comment-25 Just to respond to the point about CSS etc that you made in a reply to Mindy. I used to teach hand coding of HTML to journos (10 years ago) then dreamweaver and now use a CMS. I still do a very basic html to style pages session. Really simple stuff like heading,b, a href, p, img and br tags that are really useful to strongarm a cms at the page entry level. They are less afraid of cutting and pasting code from places like youtube if they see the mechanics of it , all be it at a low level. Just to respond to the point about CSS etc that you made in a reply to Mindy. I used to teach hand coding of HTML to journos (10 years ago) then dreamweaver and now use a CMS. I still do a very basic html to style pages session. Really simple stuff like heading,b, a href, p, img and br tags that are really useful to strongarm a cms at the page entry level. They are less afraid of cutting and pasting code from places like youtube if they see the mechanics of it , all be it at a low level.

]]> By: Renee Barnes http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/what-skills-are-most-important-for-an-online-journalist/#comment-24 Renee Barnes Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:03:40 +0000 http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/?p=64#comment-24 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.

]]> By: This is what I have been preaching « Newsroom on my Back http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/what-skills-are-most-important-for-an-online-journalist/#comment-23 This is what I have been preaching « Newsroom on my Back Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:55:36 +0000 http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/?p=64#comment-23 [...] a radio journalist in Australia who also teaches online journalism there. Posted on her blog News Frontier) [...] [...] a radio journalist in Australia who also teaches online journalism there. Posted on her blog News Frontier) [...]

]]> By: Medienlinks zum Wochenstart: Selbst schuld an der Krise — CARTA http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/what-skills-are-most-important-for-an-online-journalist/#comment-22 Medienlinks zum Wochenstart: Selbst schuld an der Krise — CARTA Sun, 07 Jun 2009 20:05:36 +0000 http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/?p=64#comment-22 [...] What skills are most important for an online journalist? [...] [...] What skills are most important for an online journalist? [...]

]]> By: Linktipps zum Wochenstart (13) « Medial & Digital http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/what-skills-are-most-important-for-an-online-journalist/#comment-21 Linktipps zum Wochenstart (13) « Medial & Digital Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:47:36 +0000 http://newsfrontier.wordpress.com/?p=64#comment-21 [...] What skills are most important for an online journalist? [...] [...] What skills are most important for an online journalist? [...]

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