Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Post-Gazette Races to Publish Rachel's "Shoes"`
Great news! The Post-Gazette's "In Person" column will soon feature our very own Rachel Kuskie's piece about her lucky racing shoes. You'll remember this terrific piece from our class assignment a few weeks back. Huge congrats to Rachel! Those shoes might be lucky, but I think it's pure talent that took this one over the finish line. Burn it up, girl! (O.k. The racing puns will stop now. Stop! Ha!)
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Patch.com Hiring
Patch.com -- Aol's new and growing local news organization -- is looking for reporters, photographers, videographers and columnists to cover Moon, Pa. Contributors will be paid per contribution and have the opportunity to cover a variety of stories, including news, features, sports and commentary.
Candidates should reside in Greater Pittsburgh and have a familiarity with news reporting. Photographers and videographers should have their own equipment.
Please send resumes to Local Editor Jenna Staul.
* Location: Moon, Pennsylvania
* Compensation: $50-350 per assignment
* This is a part-time job.
* OK to highlight this job opening for persons with disabilities
* Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
* Please, no phone calls about this job!
* Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial
interests.
*****************
Patch.com is coming soon to Cranberry. Its mission: To be a hub of news, information and commentary for the community ... and we need you!
Owned by AOL, Cranberry Patch (cranberry.patch.com) will launch live in early December and will be devoted to everything about Cranberry including news, features, opinion, sports, school, arts & entertainment and government/politics. The online site will be updated frequently and we are looking for a variety of freelancers, including a sports reporter/editor to cover the Seneca Valley School District. Qualified freelancers will be given regular assigments and weekly columns (subject is your choice) also are available to interested freelancers.
Here's what we need:
Creative, dependable writers who are familiar with the communities and bring experience and quality journalism to the site.
Photography and videography skills.
Adherence to deadlines.
Reliable transportation.
If this is you, send your resume and 2-3 writing samples with the subject "Cranberry Freelancer Application" in the subject.
* Location: Cranberry Twp.
* Compensation: $25-$300 depending on story length/detail.
* Telecommuting is ok.
Candidates should reside in Greater Pittsburgh and have a familiarity with news reporting. Photographers and videographers should have their own equipment.
Please send resumes to Local Editor Jenna Staul.
* Location: Moon, Pennsylvania
* Compensation: $50-350 per assignment
* This is a part-time job.
* OK to highlight this job opening for persons with disabilities
* Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
* Please, no phone calls about this job!
* Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial
interests.
*****************
Patch.com is coming soon to Cranberry. Its mission: To be a hub of news, information and commentary for the community ... and we need you!
Owned by AOL, Cranberry Patch (cranberry.patch.com) will launch live in early December and will be devoted to everything about Cranberry including news, features, opinion, sports, school, arts & entertainment and government/politics. The online site will be updated frequently and we are looking for a variety of freelancers, including a sports reporter/editor to cover the Seneca Valley School District. Qualified freelancers will be given regular assigments and weekly columns (subject is your choice) also are available to interested freelancers.
Here's what we need:
Creative, dependable writers who are familiar with the communities and bring experience and quality journalism to the site.
Photography and videography skills.
Adherence to deadlines.
Reliable transportation.
If this is you, send your resume and 2-3 writing samples with the subject "Cranberry Freelancer Application" in the subject.
* Location: Cranberry Twp.
* Compensation: $25-$300 depending on story length/detail.
* Telecommuting is ok.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Query Letter Essentials (lecture re-cap)
Queries allow an editor to determine, quickly, whether you:
• Can write effectively
• Have a coherent, well-thought-out idea that fits the publication's content
• Have a basic grasp of grammar and spelling
• Have read the publication
• Have the credentials or expertise to write the article
• Are professional in your approach to writing
Queries save you time by ensuring that you don't invest time and energy into writing an article that won't be accepted. They can also be gateways to other assignments.
Five Components of a Query Letter
• The hook (first paragraph – attention-getter; problem/solution, question, etc.)
• The pitch (what you’re offering – how long the piece is, what your angle is, etc.)
• The body (details about the article – interview sources, structure, etc.)
• The credentials (your writing background)
• The close (say thank you)
• Can write effectively
• Have a coherent, well-thought-out idea that fits the publication's content
• Have a basic grasp of grammar and spelling
• Have read the publication
• Have the credentials or expertise to write the article
• Are professional in your approach to writing
Queries save you time by ensuring that you don't invest time and energy into writing an article that won't be accepted. They can also be gateways to other assignments.
Five Components of a Query Letter
• The hook (first paragraph – attention-getter; problem/solution, question, etc.)
• The pitch (what you’re offering – how long the piece is, what your angle is, etc.)
• The body (details about the article – interview sources, structure, etc.)
• The credentials (your writing background)
• The close (say thank you)
Schedule for Long Pieces
Today we'll be going over how to write a query for your long piece. At this point, you should have much of your basic research well underway. You should have a good idea of your angle and your story's hook. You should know which magazine(s) you'll be pitching to and what audience you're writing for, and you should know how your piece will fit into the commercial landscape/market.
****
Schedule
Tuesday, Nov. 16 -- Query letter due (hard and e- copies to class)
Tuesday, Nov. 23 -- Sidebar to long piece due (hard and e- copies)
Tuesday, Nov. 30 -- First draft of full piece due in class (hard and e- copies)
Tuesday, Dec. 7 and Thursday, Dec. 9 -- Workshop of second drafts (hard and e-copies)
Final pieces due by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 16
Your long pieces will be heavily weighted in your grade for the course. I'll be looking for the following things, among others:
* Technical proficiency
* Good sense of audience/demographic
* Evidence of knowledge of the marketplace (hook, comparison pieces, etc.)
* Good background research
* Effective and thorough use of sources
* Fresh angle
* Basic AP Style
****
Schedule
Tuesday, Nov. 16 -- Query letter due (hard and e- copies to class)
Tuesday, Nov. 23 -- Sidebar to long piece due (hard and e- copies)
Tuesday, Nov. 30 -- First draft of full piece due in class (hard and e- copies)
Tuesday, Dec. 7 and Thursday, Dec. 9 -- Workshop of second drafts (hard and e-copies)
Final pieces due by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 16
Your long pieces will be heavily weighted in your grade for the course. I'll be looking for the following things, among others:
* Technical proficiency
* Good sense of audience/demographic
* Evidence of knowledge of the marketplace (hook, comparison pieces, etc.)
* Good background research
* Effective and thorough use of sources
* Fresh angle
* Basic AP Style
Thursday, October 28, 2010
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