Frank LoMonte on Student Press Law

Frank LoMonte, executive director of the Student Press Law Center gave an energetic presentation on Tuesday morning for the Reynolds Institute fellows.

Topics discussed included court rulings, copyright law, student rights, First Amendment overview, fair use and more.

"Uncensored journalism is the best way for students to learn about their community and government," LoMonte said.

Kerri Wosek

West Senior High

Traverse City, MI

Steve Elliott on Ethics

Steve Elliott shared his vision of ethics in student journalism with Reynolds Institute fellows on Thursday morning at the Walter Cronkite School. "Ethical decision-making is a skill and a craft that can be learned," he said.

Kerri Wosek

West Senior High

Traverse City, MI

Aaron Manfull and the power of the "beat"

On Monday, June 20th Aaron Manfull shared his 10-step process for getting a school newspaper online. His breakdown of the different steps was clear and concise.

Some of his best advise was how to navigate the technical landscape. "Choose a platform, as you get to different levels, you are going to get different options, " he said.

On overcoming the intimidation factor, "Start small, building slowly...just start it because it will evolve over time."

The web is the perfect publishing format for establishing "beats." The recent economic trend of reduction of news staff size won't be necessary for building a website. Beats allow advisers to keep each student engaged; a specific focus, a specific project. All together it equals a wide variety of content on a school's news website.

Kerri Wosek

West Senior High

Traverse City, MI

Steve Doig on how the Brits do it!

Arizona State University Professor Steve Doig shares a story about citizen involvement in watchdog journalism. Reynolds Institute fellows and Professor Steve Elliot of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Media engaged the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist in an intimate Q&A on topics ranging from: Hurricane Andrew, British Parliament, citizen journalists, downsizing of the media, and his son's recent Pulitzer at a Florida newspaper.

Kerri Wosek

West Senior High

Traverse City, Michigan