Day 21: Briefs due & infographics

1. Briefs due! Are they uploaded before class and ready to go?
2. Editors edit briefs.
3. Staffers work on making an infographic.

A decade ago no one talked about infographics. There were charts, graphs, and pictures, but it's only been more recently when designers have combined all elements of design to convey information in a new and alternative way. Hence, the birth of the infographic! And now you're going to make one of your very own. So fun.

First step: dailyinfographic.com. Look around. Get inspired. See how others have presented data and information in fun and exciting ways. What makes one infographic better than another? What kinds of information is being represented?

Step two: gather some information. I don't care what you report on. Maybe it's how many people like dogs more than cats. Maybe how many hotdogs are consumed during the MLB season. Maybe it's some information you've already gathered for a past article. It's doesn't matter. What matters is that you have some fun information to represent visually. You do have to make sure that all of your sources are cited within the infographic.

Step three: make the infographic. Here are some free and fun places to make infographics

http://www.easel.ly/
http://piktochart.com/ (login: themavoice@gmail.com -- password: ilovetomakegraphics)
http://infogr.am/ (login: themavoice2014 -- password:same as piktochart )
https://venngage.com/ (login is same as piktochart)

There are more sources out there, but this is just a start.

Step four: get inspired by one of your own .... Morgan's take on college info. 

Please save your infographic either to your own desktop. Make sure you have a hardcopy for our next class.

Day 16 maybe 20: First drafts due

1. First drafts due: rubrics? shared with gmail? Questions? Comments? Concerns? Graphics ideas?

2. Read this.

3. Then read this.

4. When you're done, we'll discuss. Lots of interesting issues at play here. Some related to journalism. Some related to being human.

5. As time permits .... another good read.

Day #15: Articles due, new articles ideas & assigning.

1. Articles uploaded and graphics ready to go. Editors edit!

2. Staffers -- article ideas for next cycle. Please work on this document to come up with one article idea for every section (News, Sports, A&E, Features, Opinion). This article will be posted after spring break, so there's some time. But please remember that we're looking for angles that present some new information or new perspective on a given topic.

3. On Thursday we will be reviewing that in-class reporting work you did. Make sure you have access to that on Thursday.

Day #14: Second drafts, check-ins, and finishing those articles

1. Second drafts due. Rubrics? What needs attention? Graphics? What are you doing?
2. Continue check-ins with remaining students (Claire, Sofia, & editors)
3. Briefs due next class. Questions, comments, concerns?
4. Friday is going to be a full assault work period. Time to work, finalize interviews, create graphics, etc for your final draft of this cycle.
5. Finish up that practice reporting ... let's review and check leads and overall format.

Day #13: Article drafts and more media law

1. Article 2, draft 1: rubric? shared with google doc?
2. Senior speech/senior arts recording schedule.
3. Briefs for Thursday. Questions, comments, concerns?
4. Let's learn more about media law cases.

Editors: lunch time meeting post-minicourse? Editing most recent senior speeches.

Day #12: Briefs due, review articles, media law!!

1. Briefs due .... did everyone get them in on time?
2. How are people feeling about their articles? Questions, comments, concerns for Draft 1?
3. Move to the lecture hall to review what we did well and what we need to do more of the next time
4. Media Law and you

What's coming up ...
Friday = Lit Fest in BBLC Lecture Hall
Wednesday = First draft of articles due

Day #11: Articles due, article ideas, writing practice

1. Articles uploaded and ready to go. Graphics all there?

2. Senior speech schedule check-in

3. Article ideas for the next cycle
Please use the comment section of this post for article ideas for the next cycle. Those article will come out on March 11. Yikes. Long way away, but there's minicourse in-between. Check the school calendar and the world calendar and see what's going on.
**Please post one article idea per section (news, A&E, sports, Features, Opinion)
** With each idea, please make it clear what the MA connection is.
** Please post 3-5 must-get sources for the article

4. As time permits ... some writing practice

You will present your media law cases on Wednesday. Friday we're going to LitFest!

Some article ideas ... maybe
Narcissist’s Dream: Selfie-Friendly Phone
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/06/technology/personaltech/making-the-case-for-a-more-selfie-friendly-smartphone.html
 
Michelle Obama Urges Students to Apply for College Aid
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/06/us/first-lady-urges-students-to-apply-for-college-aid.html
 
CVS Vows to Quit Selling Tobacco Products
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/06/business/cvs-plans-to-end-sales-of-tobacco-products-by-october.html
 
Taking Tobacco Off the Shelves (Editorial)
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/07/opinion/taking-tobacco-off-the-shelves.html
 
It’s Time for the N.F.L. to Welcome a Gay Player
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/10/sports/its-time-for-the-nfl-to-welcome-a-gay-player.html
 
Anne Heyman, Rwanda Rescuer, Is Dead at 52
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/09/world/africa/anne-heyman-rwanda-rescuer-is-dead-at-52.html
 
Bill Keller, Former Editor of The Times, Is Leaving for News Nonprofit
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/10/business/media/bill-keller-former-editor-of-the-times-is-leaving-for-news-nonprofit.html

CVS Plans to End Sales of Tobacco Products by Oct. 1
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/06/business/cvs-plans-to-end-sales-of-tobacco-products-by-october.html

Retailers Ask: Where Did Teenagers Go? 
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/01/business/retailers-ask-where-did-teenagers-go.html
 
In Texting Era, Crisis Hotlines Put Help at Youths’ Fingertips
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/05/us/in-texting-era-crisis-hotlines-put-help-at-youths-fingertips.html
 
CVS Plans to End Sales of Tobacco Products by Oct. 1
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/06/business/cvs-plans-to-end-sales-of-tobacco-products-by-october.html
 
Dalton School Apologizes for Screening Slavery Satire
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/31/nyregion/dalton-school-apologizes-for-screening-slavery-satire.html
 
The Road Back: Frost’s Letters Could Soften a Battered Image
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/05/books/volume-of-robert-frosts-letters-renews-debate-about-his-character.html
 
As Peanut Allergies Rise, Trying to Determine a Cause
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/03/as-peanut-allergies-rise-trying-to-determine-a-cause
 
Firearms’ Toll Among the Young (NYT Editorial)
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/04/opinion/firearms-toll-among-the-young.html
 
The Gun Report, 1 Year Later
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/04/opinion/nocera-the-gun-report-1-year-later.html