News and Notes: 3.31.11

It's Opening Day! That means it's time for Journalism Baseball!

First they came for the journalists...

   Overland High School recently lost their student newspaper. The principal shut it down because he didn't like a story the newspaper was going to publish. Read more about the case here. The students have the backing of the ACLU and the Student Press Law Center. Despite the powerful backers, this type of situation could happen anywhere.

   If you are moved to sign the petition to support the students and their paper, please feel free to do so. Use the school's address for your petition.

April 6: After school journalism meeting. Attend for Professional Development credit. We will begin at 4 pm. The topic will be online journalism.

Worknight is April 8. Please plan to attend if you are an editor (including editors for 2011-2012), layout editor or if your work isn't finished.

News and Notes: 3.30.11

Thursday is Opening Day of baseball season. In honor of that and the arrival of Spring, we will be playing a team game. We will call it Journalism Baseball. You will go against each other in a Word Choice Championship.

April 6: After school journalism meeting. Attend for Professional Development credit. We will begin at 4 pm. The topic will be online journalism.

Worknight is April 8. Please plan to attend if you are an editor (including editors for 2011-2012), layout editor or if your work isn't finished.

News and Notes: 3.29.11

Thursday is Opening Day of baseball season. In honor of that and the arrival of Spring, we will be playing a team game. We will call it Journalism Baseball.

April 6: After school journalism meeting. Attend for Professional Development credit. We will begin at 4 pm. The topic will be online journalism.

Worknight is April 8. Please plan to attend if you are an editor (including editors for 2011-2012), layout editor or if your work isn't finished.

News and Notes: 3.28.11

Work night is Friday, April 8. You are expected to be here unless your story is finished.

Fourth quarter starts today. Don't forget you have professional development due by Friday, May 27. The first opportunity is an after school meeting April 9. The topic is still to be determined.

The room is CLOSED this week at lunch unless you are working on your stories or layouts.

News and Notes: 3.25.11

Assignment: Now that third quarter is finished and we're in between issues of the paper, it is time to reflect. Write a ONE page reflection (not more than 500 words) using a GoogleDoc about your experience in newspaper thus far. Focus on the skills that you have developed as well as the things you do well and the areas that still need work. I am more concerned about the seeing an honest reflection than a claim that you have no strengths or weaknesses. Share the document with Wojo when you have finished. This is a formal writing assignment, so please use formal language and structure. This assignment is due at the end of the period.

Quarter 3 ends today. Make this assignment count.

News and Notes: 3.24.11

The rules for journalists were great! Watch for a compilation of your suggestions.

Most drafts are due today. Make sure you are on top of your story.

Watch for upcoming Professional Development opportunities for fourth quarter.

News and Notes: 3.23.11

Get those stories in. Make sure your draft gets to your editor in a timely manner. If you don't have a story, email Chris and Chloe.

Thanks to Fiona, Chloe and Yueming for working on CCSpin.

Get a half sheet of paper from the black table. Put your name on it. Title the page Top 3 Rules for Journalists. Below, list your top 3 rules and your reasoning for those top three rules. You have 15 minutes from the tardy bell to complete this assignment and put it on Wojo's desk.

News and Notes: 3.22.11

For the most part, your drafts are due to editors this week. Get those stories completed.

Wojo will be talking to you today if you did not complete your professional development for 3rd quarter.

News and Notes: 3.21.11

Your opinion on "Ditch the Grading" OR your review of "Ruined" is due to Wojo TODAY.

Quarter ends on Friday. Tomorrow, the announcements will contain a list of people who have no professional development for the quarter. The purpose is NOT to give you a final chance to complete it, but to make sure Wojo didn't miss your email with your course report.


Summer Opportunity for Journalists:

J Camp is a program that gives young people the opportunity to develop their written, speaking, communication and leadership skills, while learning about diversity through a program that allows them to meet with top journalists in the country.

AAJA's J Camp is a national multicultural journalism program for high school students, held each before AAJA's national conventions J Camp 2011 will be held at MSU in East Lansing, MI from August 6-11, 2011.

For more information about the program, please download the brochure and submit an application by visiting the link. Deadline April 1, 2011.
http://www.aaja.org/programs/for_students/journalism_trainings/j_camp <http://www.aaja.org/programs/for_students/journalism_trainings/j_camp>

News and Notes: 3.18.11

It's Distribution Day! A period help organize the papers for distribution second period.

Reviews of the play (if you went to see ruined) and opinion pieces (those are A period staffers) need to go to peer reviewers today and need to be sent to Wojo by class time on Monday.

The following individuals need to give me a PRINTED copy of his/her resume no later than Monday:

• Jennifer D
• Helen
• Yueming
• Jagdeep
• Chris H.
• Chloe 
• Elaine

All professional development is due today! Don't forget.

WASC Visit is April 11-13. Be prepared.

News and Notes: 3.17.11 St. Patrick's Day

Story assignments for April are out. Check the spreadsheet. If you do not have a story, contact the editors ASAP.

TODAY: If you are attending Ruined, your assignment is to write a review of the play. If you are not attending Ruined, you will have an in-class assignment.

Don't forget that professional development is due by Friday, March 18. That's tomorrow.

News and Notes: 3.16.11

Check your story sheet to make sure you have all the necessary information for story pitches. Remember, you won't get credit for a story idea already shared, unless you have a significantly different angle.

All professional development must be completed by Friday, March 18. Don't delay.

News and Notes: 3.15.11 Beware the Ides of March

Story ideas are everywhere, but need to be in our paper. Use the exchange papers we have (on the black table) to look for ideas, think about current events and how those could get a local angle, think about what is happening around campus and/or the city of Hercules.

• write down five story ideas complete with an angle and suggested sources. You will turn this in.
• EXAMPLE: in light of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, we should do a story on earthquake preparedness. People need to know what to do in the event of a major earthquake in Hercules.  We should have a story on what people need to do to be prepared. Sidebars could show earthquake preparedness supply kits (where to get them and costs). What should they do if they are at school? What should they do if they are at home? What goes in an earthquake kit? How prepared is the city of Hercules to take care of us? Sources could include fire department or police officials, county office of emergency services personnel, FEMA website, American Red Cross website (calling local offices would be better), Costco and other retail websites or local stores (there's on in Albany or Berkeley) that sell earthquake preparedness supplies.
• the detail above is sufficient for credit
• You will pitch your stories in class on Wednesday (moved from today).

All professional development must be completed by Friday, March 18.

News and Notes: 3.14.11

Story ideas for April will be pitched tomorrow. Make sure you are ready with at least three ideas. You get points for sharing ideas and contributing to the conversation.

Professional Development is due by Friday, March 18.

This video shows, graphically, what a tsunami does when it enters a town.

News and Notes: 3.11.11

Read yesterday's announcements and do the assignment there.

Work night is tonight. Don't miss it.

Professional Development is due no later than March 18.


News Alert from Hercules PD this morning:

Hi Natalie Wojinski,
Alert Message has been issued by the Hercules Police Department.
Friday March 11, 2011 6:49 AM PST
Tsunami Advisory Warning: 2 to 4 rise in tide is expected along San Pablo Bay (along Hercules coast). Be prepared.
Please be prepared and advised of the Tsunami Advisory Warning for the City of Hercules. A 2 to 4 feet rise in tide is expected along the San Pablo Bay which is along the Hercules coast. For full details, go to https://local.nixle.com/alert/4665059/?sub_id=318847.
Contact Information:
Gaema Obenchain
Hercules Police Department
510-799-8263 gobenchain@ci.hercules.ca.us
To manage your text and email settings, please log into your account at https://local.nixle.com/accounts/login/.
Powered by . © 2011 Nixle, LLC. All rights reserved.

News and Notes: 3.10.11

Work night is tomorrow! We will begin immediately after school and work until 9pm. All editors (current and incoming), page editors (current and incoming), and writers who's stories aren't finished need to attend.

Get a post-it note. Put your name on it. Correct the three sentences above by writing them out correctly and post the note on the door behind Wojo's desk. You may ignore the two sets of parentheses and the words inside of them for this exercise.

Don't forget that professional development is due by next Friday, March 18.

News and Notes: 3.9.11

Please review "Perfect Punctuation" from last week. It is embedded below.

Don't forget worknight is this Friday, March 11 beginning immediately after school.

All professional development for the quarter must be completed by March 18.

News and Notes: 3.8.11

Don't forget worknight is this Friday. All current and incoming editors must attend. Page editors must attend, writers and/or cartoonists who do not have their stories finished must attend.

Please be prepared for pop quizzes on editing. The focus right now is on ending punctuation (periods only, please), proper capitalization and the evil Oxford comma.

News and Notes: 3.7.11

Gather your team and fly your banner! It's time to get to work!

Don't forget worknight is this Friday, March 11. If your story isn't done, you need to be here.

News and Notes: 3.4.11

On Monday, come to class with a TEAM (your team must be members of your own class period). No more than four students per team. You may NOT work alone. Have a name for your team as well as a flag or banner that identifies your team. Bonus points for a team slogan or tagline that sets you apart from other teams. This is an assignment, so come to class prepared.

Work night is Friday, March 11. Please plan accordingly. All layout editors will need to be here as will department editors, copy editors and EICs. If your story isn't finished, you are expected to attend work night until it is finished. We begin immediately after school.

Can you believe it's March already? That means it's almost the end of the quarter. Don't forget that you need to have professional development done no later than March 18. What can you do? Please review this earlier posting with suggestions. You may do other courses in NewsU if you wish. Do not repeat courses you already did. Your total time should be at least an hour.

Seniors: Your service learning requirement has been taken care of. Do not worry about it. I've sent and email to the counselors as well as Mr. Franz.

News and Notes: 3.3.11

Welcome Mr. Fadelli to class. He will be here today and tomorrow while I am at the California Council for the Social Studies conference. Stories should be finished by tomorrow.

Work night is Friday, March 11. Please plan accordingly. All layout editors will need to be here as will department editors, copy editors and EICs. If your story isn't finished, you are expected to attend work night until it is finished. We begin immediately after school.

Can you believe it's March already? That means it's almost the end of the quarter. Don't forget that you need to have professional development done no later than March 18. What can you do? Please review this earlier posting with suggestions. You may do other courses in NewsU if you wish. Do not repeat courses you already did. Your total time should be at least an hour.

Seniors: Your service learning requirement has been taken care of. Do not worry about it. I've sent and email to the counselors as well as Mr. Franz.

News and Notes: 3.2.11

Write a headline for the following story. Put the headline on a post-it note with your name on it and place it on the door behind Wojo's desk. This is a real story. Headlines must be appropriate, but may be irreverent:

NAPLES, Fla. -- Police say a brawl between roommates over Girl Scout cookies led to assault charges against one of them.

According to the Naples Daily News, the Collier County Sheriff's Office reports that 31-year-old Hersha Howard woke up her roommate early Sunday and accused her of eating her Thin Mints.
They argued and deputies say that it turned physical with Howard chasing her roommate with scissors and hitting her repeatedly with a board and then a sign.
Police say the roommate's husband tried to separate them. The roommate said she gave the cookies to Howard's children.
Howard is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She was released Monday on $10,000 bail.
A telephone listing for Howard could not be immediately found.

Can you believe it's March already? That means it's almost the end of the quarter. Don't forget that you need to have professional development done no later than March 18. What can you do? Please review this earlier posting with suggestions. You may do other courses in NewsU if you wish. Do not repeat courses you already did. Your total time should be at least an hour.

Work night is Friday, March 11. Please plan accordingly. All layout editors will need to be here as will department editors, copy editors and EICs. If your story isn't finished, you are expected to attend work night until it is finished. We begin immediately after school.

Seniors: Your service learning requirement has been taken care of. Do not worry about it. I've sent and email to the counselors as well as Mr. Franz.

News and Notes: 3.1.11

Good job on the gluey lock story. Check out Arkenews.net for the details.The story will be updated as we learn more.

Can you believe it's March already? That means it's almost the end of the quarter. Don't forget that you need to have professional development done no later than March 18. What can you do? Please review this earlier posting with suggestions. You may do other courses in NewsU if you wish. Do not repeat courses you already did. Your total time should be at least an hour.

Work night is Friday, March 11. Please plan accordingly. All layout editors will need to be here as will department editors, copy editors and EICs. If your story isn't finished, you are expected to attend work night until it is finished. We begin immediately after school.

Seniors: Your service learning requirement has been taken care of. Do not worry about it. I've sent and email to the counselors as well as Mr. Franz.