No Face the Nation Visit

Hello class,

I have some bad news, which is that I am canceling the Face the Nation visit for Sunday. I talked with the host, Bob Schieffer, and he said he planned to do his commentary early in the morning so even he would not be in the studio for us. All the guests were pre-taped, which means the whole show is what's called "in the can" - or not live. This was the luck of the draw, so I apologize that it didn't work out. If any of you would like a tour of the CBS studios before you leave for home at the end of the semester, we can talk about doing that.

job possibilities

The Online NewsHour with Jim Lehrer is looking to fill several
entry-level positions in the Washington, D.C., area. May/June
graduates are encouraged to apply, but these positions are filled on a
rotating basis throughout the year. For complete information, go to
our jobs page: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/aboutus/openings.html

Here are the job descriptions:

Desk Assistants - Online

6-month position

A desk assistant is needed to help with the daily production of the
NewsHour's Web site, The Online NewsHour. This entry-level position is
located in Arlington, Va. We are looking for a sharp individual with
editorial skills who is looking to gain experience in online news
production and online news writing.

Duties include:
- Organizing and distributing show transcripts and viewer mail
- Encoding transcripts into HTML
- Updating Web site indexes
- Digitizing audio
- Assisting the editorial and production staff with special projects

Computer skills required. Web production skills desired; however,
training will be provided.

APPLICATION DEADLINE
Rolling

CONTACT
Please fax or e-mail the your application to:
The Online NewsHour
Fax: 703.820.6266
E-mail: lclapman@newshour.org
________________________________________________________

Education Desk Assistant - Online NewsHour Extra for Students

6-month position

A desk assistant is needed to help produce the NewsHour's Web site for
students and teachers, NewsHour Extra.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra

This paid internship-type position is located in Arlington, Va. We are
looking for a sharp individual with editorial skills, who is looking
to gain experience in online journalism and is interested in working
with young people.

Duties include:
- Writing news for a 10th-grade audience
- Using Dreamweaver to produce stories for high school students and
lesson plans for teachers
- Updating story archives
- Processing photos and writing captions in Photoshop
- Help with writing and producing the "Daily Buzz"
- Assisting the editorial and production staff with special projects,
such as Newz Crew, an Online Dialogue about current events
- Web production skills desired; however, training will be provided.

APPLICATION DEADLINE
Rolling

CONTACT
Please fax or e-mail your resume to:
The Online NewsHour
Fax: 703.824.6592
E-mail: lclapman@newshour.org

EOE

I'd be happy to answer any questions about the positions.

Dave Gustafson
Associate Editor, News
Online NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
dgustafson@newshour.org
pbs.org/newshour __._,_.___

Sommer Mathis

Sommer Mathis is editor in chief of www.dcist.com. Her e-mai address is sommer.mathis@gmail.com.

Homework for Thursday, April 17

By next Thursday, I would like all of your final project blogs to have quotes from at least two sources and a rough draft lead for your story. This will help you focus your stories and allow me to give you feedback as you go. This extends the deadline a bit. We're closing in on the end of the semester!
Developments re Face the Nation for Sunday: The high-profile guests will indeed do pre-tapes BUT we may still be able to see Bob Schieffer do a short commentary and we will have more time to tour the bureau. I will e-mail everyone with more details as soon as I get them. This is common, since the show often changes at the last minute, so we'll do the best we can.

Important info on meetings with me, deadlines, etc.!

Important info for this week:
You must schedule a time to meet with me in my office this week. If you were not able to sign up for a time slot in class, please let me know your availability. There is a penalty if you do not set up a time or if you do not show up for our meeting (without letting me know about extenuating circumstances).
Monday in class we went over our papers and writing for broadcast; please review chapters 19 and 20.
Homework due Thursday: A rewrite of your second major reporting story based on my detailed comments on your papers. You do not need to re-do interviews or cover another event but if you need information that you cannot get, you need to provide an annotated rewrite explaining what you would have done had you reached the right person or asked the right question. The rewrite will be graded. Your first draft grade will count but you will be able to drop your lowest grade.
Homework due Monday: Contact two sources for your final project and put the transcripts of the interviews on your blog. (You can record the interviews for podcasts if you have the proper equipment.)
A clarification about the final project:
The final project is technically the LAST PAGE of your blog -- which will include the news feature story that you write and the original visual material. The blog so far is a repository for your research and to meet the incremental assignments as we go.
On Thursday we will have a guest speaker -- Sommer Mathis, editor in chief of www.dcist.com. Please take a look at the site. She will talk to us about the world of online journalism and how it fits into the big picture.
ALSO, we will be sitting in on a taping of Face the Nation on Sunday. Please meet me at 2020 M St. NW at 9:30 am.
-Professor Walker

First Lady of Tanzania

Please join AU's
School of Communication, School of International Service, and the College of Arts & Sciences as we welcome

Her Excellency

Mama Salma Kikwete
First Lady of Tanzania
on Tuesday, April 8, 2008
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Mary Graydon Center Room 3

The First Lady will discuss the next generation of leadership and the importance of investing in education and health for economic empowerment in Africa. She will also discuss how vital the innovations in multimedia are to telling the important stories of development to motivate policy change and positively impact the lives of young African girls.

A five-minute clip of a documentary created by one of AU SOC’s MA students, Anthony Brenneman, for Network for the Improvement of World Health--an organizer of the First Lady's US tour--will also be screened at the event.

Contact Elizabeth Draughon at draughon@american.edu for more information.

“They are raising the ante on what it takes to become a journalist.”

A distinguished journalism professor retires and gives his thoughts on the field:

Here is the link.