Towerlight Photo Editor wins recognition for his work
May 20, 2008
Towerlight Photo Editor Patrick Smith has had a photo picked as a 2007 Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Award National Finalist. It’s the second honor for Patrick this year; in addition, a portfolio of work placed first in The Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2008 Collegiate Gold Circle awards. We asked Patrick for this thoughts about his latest award and the photo that brought him the honor. His thoughts:
Snow dumped onto campus Dec. 5 as I stood on the roof of the University Union in khakis and a light coat shooting a snowy weather feature.
When I had left for morning classes I expected another chilly winter day. But after I walked out of class at noon I realized forecasters called for 2 to 4 inches to be dropped on Towson throughout the day.While the cover image of The Towerlight had already been shot, I knew this surprise snowfall image would dominate the cover. However, I didn’t realize that this photo would later go on to be a 2007 Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Award National Finalist.
It’s very rewarding to get recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists again this year. Last year, I won five SPJ awards, although I thought my entries this year were a lot stronger.
Conversely, winning awards isn’t everything. While it’s a good morale booster and erases the bad assignments and long hours worked, in the end it’s only a piece of paper. Awards are always subjective; it’s never known what the judges had in their minds when making final decisions.
These awards won’t change my attitude, shooting or ego. Tomorrow is the same as the rest and in the end it’s about making telling photographs that inform the reader.
Washington, D.C. City Paper seeking copy editor
May 19, 2008
The Washington City Paper seeks a journalist with excellent copy skills to join our award-winning alt-weekly. The copy editor edits the whole book for grammar, clarity, and style, fact-checks arts copy, reads and corrects proofs, and is heavily involved in the paper’s weekly production. There are writing and assigning responsibilities with this job, but your primary task will be producing an error-free paper weekly. You’re an ideal candidate if you’re organized, diligent, work quickly, know AP style, and cough involuntarily when you spot a dangling modifier. Send cover letter, résumé, and clips (if any) to Andrew Beaujon, Managing Editor, Washington City Paper, 2390 Champlain St. NW, Washington, DC 20009; Email: abeaujon@washcp.com.
Ad expires June 20, 2008.
Job listing courtesy of JournalismJobs.com
Carroll County Times has opening for education reporter
May 19, 2008
The Carroll County Times, a 27,000 circulation daily newspaper located in Westminster, Md., is seeking an ambitious, innovative education reporter to join the news staff.
The education reporter is responsible for covering issues related to the Carroll County Board of Education, 37 elementary, middle and high schools as well as five specialized schools in the public school system and two colleges in Carroll County.
The successful candidate will possess excellent writing skills and experience in beat coverage. Candidate should thrive in team-based environment and be willing to step in and assist other beat reporters when necessary. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent related journalism experience required.
As a member of the reporting team, the education reporter will be responsible for: — meeting deadlines with copy that is clean of spelling and grammatical errors; — spotting trends and uncovering and writing stories about school system concerns, including where tax dollars are being spent and how they could be spent better; — unearthing, investigating and executing original story ideas in consultation with the city editor; — contributing as an active member of the reporting team, which includes at least one night per week covering the police beat and spot news; — writing enterprise stories; — placing the highest emphasis on accuracy; — working a five-day, 40-hour week; — other stories as assigned.
The education reporter is also responsible for contributing online content to the Times’ Web site, carrollcountytimes.com. This includes news updates for the Web and shooting and producing online video.
The education reporter reports to the City Editor.
Interested applicants should send resumes and at least three writing samples to: S. Wayne Carter, City Editor, Carroll County Times; 201 Railroad Ave.; Westminster, MD 21157 or apply by e-mail to: wayne.carter@carrollcountytimes.com with the subject line: Education Reporter. No phone calls please.
The deadline for application is: May 30, 2008
Carroll County, with a population of 170,000, is located 35 minutes from downtown Baltimore and 80 minutes from Washington, D.C.
Job listing courtesy of JournalismJobs.com
Carroll County Times seeks multi-media producer
May 19, 2008
The Carroll County Times in Westminster, Md., is seeking a Multi-media Producer.
The Multi-media Producer will plan, shoot, edit, convert and upload the daily Web cast, working with the Carroll County Times newsroom multi-media team. The candidate will also work with the New Media Director in executing on video advertising strategies and will provide mentoring to video interns (when available).
Essential Functions:
– Produce video using digital video camera to produce the daily Web cast
– Edit video, audio, photos and graphics using non-linear editing software
– Convert and schedule videos and create accompanying text materials
– Manage time effectively to meet daily deadlines
– Participate in team-based planning and critique sessions
Basic Qualifications:
– Demonstrated experience in producing and editing video for online use
– Demonstrated experience with HTML, Flash and other Internet formats and programs
– Understanding of current and emerging web standards
– Strong attention to detail and adherence to deadlines
– Firm grasp of keying and 3-point lighting
– Time management, planning and organizational skills
– Good interpersonal and communication skills
Preferred Qualifications:
– Experience with Canon GL2 digital video camera
– Self-starter, positive thinker with persistence and high energy
– Ability to generate innovative ideas for new products, operational efficiency, or quality improvements
The video producer is a member of the New Media Team, responsible for developing and implementing online projects, and reports to the Times Online Presentation Editor.
Send cover letter and resume and clips to Patrick Brannan, Carroll County Times. 201 Railroad Ave., Westminster, MD 21157.
Listing courtesy of JournalismJobs.com
Ad expires June 13, 2008.
MCOM alum runs marathon on Great Wall of China
May 17, 2008
Mike Morris, a 2003 journalism/new media graduate who was a senior editor at The Towerlight, will run in the Great Wall of China marathon May 17. Morris and his wife, Amber, and daughter, Ediza, have been traveling in New Zealand for the past three months visiting llama farms. Amber Morris worked on a llama farm near Sonora, Calif., where Mike worked as a reporter for The Sonora Union Democrat.
The Morris family has a blog about their adventures around the world at The Endless Sky. After their time in China, they plan to travel around Europe.
Former Towerlight Editor in Chief covers Ravens for The Examiner
May 10, 2008
Ron Snyder, a 2000 Mass Comm graduate, has recently been named the primary Ravens beat reporter for The Baltimore Examiner.
After Towson, where he was sports editor, news editor and editor in chief at The Towerlight, Snyder spent six years at The (Annapolis) Capital as a news/sports reporter.
He joined The Examiner in May 2006 and has covered all types of sports there, including high school, colleges and professional. His main beats over the last two years have been Navy football, men’s college lacrosse and Ravens football. He also serves as sports editor when the sports editor is out of the office.
Snyder has been married to Lori (nee Pickle), a 2000 Towson graduate and nursing major, for eight years. They have three children: William, 5, and twin daughters Megan and Marissa, both 1.
A new networking opportunity for students interested in magazine editing careers
May 8, 2008
Jess Blumberg, the associate editor at Baltimore magazine, is organizing Ed2010 networking events in Baltimore. Begun in New York City, Ed2010 is a group of magazine editors and editor-wannabes that hosts networking events, panel discussions and generally offers help to those in the magazine industry. Currently, there are 20 chapters around the country, and Blumberg just started a chapter in Baltimore.
Any student interested in a magazine editing career is welcome to attend the events, which will occur every 2-3 months at a bar or restaurant in town. The purpose will be to get to know others in the local magazine community and let aspiring editors get a chance to network. Anyone interested in being involved should email Jess Blumberg at baltimore@ed2010.com.
The Montgomery Sentinel seeks entry level reporter
May 7, 2008
The Montgomery Sentinel, an award-winning weekly newspaper in Rockville, Md., seeks an entry level reporter. Strong writing skills needed, as well as being a motivated self-starter. Send resume and clips to editor-mc@thesentinel.com. Ad expires June 10.
Job listing courtesy of http://www.journalismjobs.com/index.cfm.
Survey: Journalists will be expected to write for all media within five years
May 6, 2008
From Media Life Magazine:
Ignore some of those pessimistic circulation and layoff headlines. Newspaper editors around the world are optimistic about the future of newspapers, but most no longer see it as a print-only business. Some 85 percent of editors are somewhat or very optimistic about the future of their newspaper, according to a survey of 704 senior editors done for the World Editors Forum and Reuters, perhaps because 86 percent believe that integrated print and online newsrooms will become the norm. Furthermore, 83 percent believe that journalists will be expected to be capable of writing for all types of media within five years. Some 44 percent of the editors surveyed think online will be the most common platform for reading news in the future. That’s up from 41 percent last year. Only 31 percent think print will be, while 12 percent said mobile and 7 percent e-papers. The survey also found that editors increasingly believe that news will be free in the future, 56 percent of editors, up from 48 percent last year.
