Nov. 30: Mandatory portfolio work day

Nov. 30 class: In-class workshop for your portfolio sites. I will come around to take a look at your progress and offer feedback.

• Attendance is mandatory

Due Nov. 30: Two completed pages for your site: Home and About

• Completed=content only. You don’t have to add color til you’re done designing all of your pages

Dec. 2 class: Last in-class work day for your portfolio sites. I’ll come around to check out your pages, content & design.

• Attendance is mandatory

Due Dec. 2: Two more completed pages: Resume and Contact

Nov. 23: Starting your digital portfolio

Nov. 23 class: You’ll begin creating your personal portfolio sites. Read the folders Examples of digital portfolios and Examples of previous MPJ student portfolios, and decide which portfolio platform you want to use. (I prefer Wix or Weebly.)

Due Nov. 23: Bring the raw materials you’ll need to begin designing your site. These materials include:

• An updated PDF resume (contact info should include only a non-SLU email address and maybe your cell number — no address)
• Internship & class projects that show your best work
• At least one professional-looking photo of you

Check out this Storify from a conference session titled “Creating a Killer Portfolio” for additional tips!

Nov. 25: Thanksgiving break – No class! Safe travels!

Nov. 30 class: In-class workshop for your portfolio sites. I will come around to take a look at your progress and offer feedback.

• Attendance is mandatory

Due Nov. 30: Two completed pages for your site: Home and About

• Completed=content only. You don’t have to add color til you’re done designing all of your pages

 

Free dinner & thoughtful conversation

MPJ’s own Alex Hanel invites you to join the SLU Political Round Table for dinner and discussion Thursday night as some of St. Louis’ experts in media, law, education, economics, and government come together to reflect on how the events of Ferguson have changed the city.

• The State of St. Louis is 5-7 p.m. Thursday in the Sinquefield Stateroom in DuBourg Hall.
• The event will include two journalists from the Post-Dispatch.

Nov. 18: Web design basics

Nov. 18 class: More website material. This time, we’re focusing more on design. Read the materials in the Web design basics folder before the start of class.

Due Nov. 18: Blog post 8, which is a content analysis of three websites you like (based on their design & content). For your content analysis, choose:

• 1 digital portfolio of someone working in your field (not one already used in class as an example; must be a person, not an organization)
• 1 nontraditional news site
• 1 site with content you like (examples for me include Understanding Race, Nieman Journalism Lab, and Products of Slavery)

Include in your analysis:

• Description of each website
• Description of info on each page (keywords, topics) on the websites
• Notes on the content of each page on the websites
• Description of the overall design of each website (what makes it appealing, effective, etc.?)
• Notes on the font(s) and color(s) used on each page (readability, fit with design)
• Description of video/photo/visuals/music on each page (how do they enhance the design & content?)

Your blog post should:

• Be at least 300 words
• Be organized well (bulletpoints, headings, etc.)
• Include links to each website
• Use a headline that entices people to read your analysis

 

Nov. 23 class: You’ll begin creating your personal portfolio sites. Read the folder Examples of previous MPJ student portfolios, and decide which portfolio platform you want to use. (I prefer Wix or Weebly.)

Due Nov. 23: Bring the raw materials you’ll need to begin designing your site. These materials include:

• An updated PDF resume (contact info should include only a non-SLU email address and maybe your cell number — no address)
• Internship & class projects that show your best work
• At least one professional-looking photo of you

Nov. 16: Content-driven websites

Nov. 16 class: We’re starting the last unit of our class! Welcome to web design. We’ll begin the final project of the semester–your digital portfolios!

• You’ll sketch out a rough draft of what you want to include in your digital portfolio and how it might be arranged.
• Bring a pencil and paper!

Due Nov. 16: Read the materials in the Content-Driven Websites folder.

Extra credit reminder

Come meet Ada Calhoun, who is a New York City-based journalist and author, on Monday.

• Her talk is at 10 a.m. Monday in Xavier Hall 332
• Earn 3 pts. extra credit for tweeting advice/tips you learn from her visit AND posting a pic
• Use her Twitter handle @adacalhoun and #mpj2015

She also is doing a free reading of her book at 2 p.m. Sunday (today!) at Christ Church Cathedral, 1210 Locust St.

• You can earn an additional 3 pts. extra credit for tweeting from this event (post a pic & interesting info)
• Use her Twitter handle @adacalhounand #mpj2015

Nov. 18 class: More website material. This time, we’re focusing more on design. Read the materials in the Web design basics folder before the start of class.

Due Nov. 18: Blog post 8, which is a content analysis of three websites you like (based on their design & content). For your content analysis, choose:

• 1 digital portfolio of someone working in your field (not one already used in class as an example; must be a person, not an organization)
• 1 nontraditional news site
• 1 site with content you like (examples for me include Understanding Race, Nieman Journalism Lab, and Products of Slavery)

Include in your analysis:

• Description of each website
• Description of info on each page (keywords, topics) on the websites
• Notes on the content of each page on the websites
• Description of the overall design of each website (what makes it appealing, effective, etc.?)
• Notes on the font(s) and color(s) used on each page (readability, fit with design)
• Description of video/photo/visuals/music on each page (how do they enhance the design & content?)

Your blog post should:

• Be at least 300 words
• Be organized well (bulletpoints, headings, etc.)
• Include links to each website
• Use a headline that entices people to read your analysis

And here’s a good summary of web design tips…

Extra credit: Tweet about visit from journalist/writer

Are you curious what life is like as a freelance journalist, or as a book author and ghostwriter?

Come meet Ada Calhoun, who is a New York City-based journalist and author, next week.

• Her talk is at 10 a.m. Monday (Nov. 16) in Xavier Hall 332
• Earn 3 pts. extra credit for tweeting advice/tips you learn from her visit AND posting a pic
• Use her Twitter handle @adacalhoun and #mpj2015

Calhoun has written for The New York Times, The New Republic and Time magazine. She also has been a crime reporter and a best-selling ghostwriter.

Calhoun’s latest book is “St. Marks Is Dead: The Many Lives of America’s Hippest Street.” The book details the history of three Manhattan blocks that were the epicenter of artistic and cultural movements spawned by personalities such as Andy Warhol and Leon Trotsky.

• She also is doing a free reading of her book at 2 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 15) at Christ Church Cathedral, 1210 Locust St.
  • You can earn an additional 3 pts. extra credit for tweeting from this event (post a pic & interesting info)
  • Use her Twitter handle @adacalhoun and #mpj2015

Nov. 11: Premiere party for Project 1

Nov. 11 class: Premiere party for Project 1! We’ll watch & discuss everyone’s projects.

Due Nov. 11: ALL of your materials for Project must be posted on your blog by the start of class.

• You also need to tweet a link to your project and post to Instagram about it!

Nov. 16 class: We’re starting the last unit of our class! Welcome to web design. We’ll begin the final project of the semester–your digital portfolios! You’ll sketch out a rough draft of what you want to include in your digital portfolio and how it might be arranged. Bring a pencil and paper!

Due Nov. 16: Read the materials in the Content-Driven Websites folder.

Nov. 9: Last in-class work day for Project 1

Nov. 9 class: Last in-class work day for Project 1!

Due Nov. 9: Rough cut of Project 1. I’ll come around to take a look at your progress and offer feedback.

Nov. 11 class: Premiere party for Project 1! We’ll watch & discuss everyone’s projects.

Due Nov. 11: ALL of your materials for Project must be posted on your blog by the start of class.

• You also need to tweet a link to your project and post to Instagram about it!

Extra credit: Journalism-related film screenings

The STL International Film Festival is underway and it includes several journalism-related films.

You have the opportunity to earn up to 10 points extra credit by attending one of the screenings and writing a review of the film. Your review can be first-person but it must follow these guidelines:

• Review should present a thoughtful reflection of the film. If you summarize the film, the summary should be no more than 75 words (about two sentences.)
• Clearly integrate a discussion of journalism elements that we have covered in class this semester. You should connect the dots between content in the film and what you’ve learned in class.
• You also can include material you have covered in other journalism/media classes.
• Include link to the film if it has its own website and link to the festival’s website.
• Review should be at least 350 words and posted to your blog within seven days of the screening.
• Email me when the review is posted to your blog.

Check out the PDF list Media films for free film screenings—two are this weekend and two are next weekend:

• If you peruse the entire list of films and want to attend one of the paid screenings, you must clear it with me first to be sure the film has an appropriate focus on journalism/media in its content.
• For this extra credit, the film must be focused on journalism/media.

Not sure how to go about writing a film review? Here are some helpful tips/sources:

• 28 tips for writing theater/movie reviews
• 7 tips for writing a film review

Networking event Nov. 21: PR, marketing, etc.

The St. Louis professional chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) has invited SLU students to a networking event at 10 a.m. Nov. 21. (Use the link to register.)

If you’re interested in public relations, corporate communication, digital media and nonprofits, I encourage you to go. SLU alums will be there!

Details from their site:

Our business communicators cover the gamut – from internal communications, marketing, and digital media, to writing and public relations, investor relations and more. Connect with people and hear firsthand what it’s like to work at agencies vs. a corporation vs. a non-profit organization, all of varying sizes and specialties.

Coffee with us can be your ticket to a rewarding career! We’re here to help you:

• Network
• Learn about available IABC resources that can help you land a job
• Explore the discounts and benefits we offer students
• Ask questions and get answers
• Oh, and enjoy coffee – on us!

Join us Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015

10 – 11: 15 a.m.
St. Louis Bread Co. (Panera)
10336 Clayton Rd, St. Louis, MO 63131