Today, in Room C-24 at Wall High School (N.J.), Patti Martin, Staff Writer at the Asbury Park Press, was a guest speaker for my Print Journalism class. Ms. Martin, who grew up as an editor of her school newspaper in Manasquan, N.J., spoke about her experiences as a journalist, gave tips on how to become a better journalist, and gave advice to the Print Journalism students about their options for the future.
Ms. Martin explained that newspapers are slowly, but surely, becoming extinct and the world's current economic recession is only helping to decrease their livelihood. She cautioned the Print Journalism students not to major in Journalism while attending college but rather in a subject like English, and then perhaps work toward receiving a Master's Degree in Journalism afterward while attending graduate school. As print journalism continues to make its descent, blogging on soical networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter is overtaking its role to become the future dominant form of journalism.
"You need to do it [post blog entries] often to gain a readership," Ms. Martin said about blogging. She explained that, as a blogger, a journalist does not always have to post full-length stories though. "You make yourself the 'go-to' person by providing content no one has or by showing it in a different way," she described.
"Newspapers that will survive are ones providing local content," Ms. Martin further explained. With that in mind, The Crimson Courier still appears to be in good shape despite how the journalism front, as a whole, continues to dwindle in these times of economic hardships. By providing local content about Wall High School and its surrounding community activities, The Crimson Courier continues to attract buyers and subscribers for its eight issues released during the course of each school year. The students in my Print Journalism class are always working toward writing new story ideas that readers will enjoy, and the next issue is expected to be scheduled for release in mid-to-late April.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Human Relations Club Sets Up Teams
Wall High School's Human Relations Club held a meeting, Wed., Feb. 25, in Room C-16. The club only began holding meetings after the first semester of the school year ended. Yet, despite the club's tardy start, the room was swiftly crammed with students on a first-come, first-served basis, which left no empty seats for any last incoming students and caused several of them to opt for the only available and feasible choice of standing. In total, the club featured more than 30 members, calling to attention its popularity.
The members of the Human Relations Club are eager to be involved in Relay For Life, which is an event aimed at fundrasing money for the American Cancer Society and cancer patients. The event flourishes with many new and old student participants becoming involved each year. Mathematics teacher, Ms. Power, is the brand new advisor of the Human Relations Club and is more than obliged to help students feel welcomed to the club.
“There’s just raising awareness of culture, race, gender, equality -- but our main thing is Relay for Life -- that’s really a unity, togetherness thing for the cure for cancer” said Ms. Power about the Human Relations Club.
Wall High School seniors Deanna Lapp and Mary Ragan are both the presidents of the club, appearing as they did beforehand when they represented high schoolers at the Relay for Life town meeting in the Wall Township Public Library on Wed., Feb. 18. As papers detailing the circumstances of Relay for Life were passed onto students, Lapp and Ragan stood at the front of the classroom and spoke about the required duties of this year's event to inform all participants. Responsibility is a major factor involved into the planning of the event.
The students are to create teams of up to 10 dedicated members, which will be chaperoned by a Wall High School teacher or other adult that is over the age of 29. Also, the students are to pledge to raise money and awareness about cancer. Individually, students must raise $125.00 and pay $10.00 for registration and as an additional donation. Means of raising money range from selling items and soliciting donations from local businesses to canning and receiving donations from family, friends, and neighbors.
Another commitment that the Human Relations Club is invovled with is Locks of Love, which is described as "a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis," according to http://www.locksoflove.org.
"[Locks of Love involves] donating your hair for cancer kids -- it’s not just an HRC [Human Relations Club] thing -- but we have quite a few [members] participating," Ms. Power described in her own terms.
The Human Relations Club remains open all the time. “We would never turn somebody away," Ms. Power stated. However, if a student is interested in being involved in Relay for Life, he or she must become a member of a team soon. For the next Human Relations Club meeting, students are required to have saved a word document file of a typed list of each team's members under the HRC [Human Relations Club] folder on the shared drive. Students are also required to have paid and registered on the Wall High School team list on the Relay website, http://www.relayforlife.org/wallnj. So, if any student wants to become involved in this event, he or she is advised to make a quick decision before it's too late.
The members of the Human Relations Club are eager to be involved in Relay For Life, which is an event aimed at fundrasing money for the American Cancer Society and cancer patients. The event flourishes with many new and old student participants becoming involved each year. Mathematics teacher, Ms. Power, is the brand new advisor of the Human Relations Club and is more than obliged to help students feel welcomed to the club.
“There’s just raising awareness of culture, race, gender, equality -- but our main thing is Relay for Life -- that’s really a unity, togetherness thing for the cure for cancer” said Ms. Power about the Human Relations Club.
Wall High School seniors Deanna Lapp and Mary Ragan are both the presidents of the club, appearing as they did beforehand when they represented high schoolers at the Relay for Life town meeting in the Wall Township Public Library on Wed., Feb. 18. As papers detailing the circumstances of Relay for Life were passed onto students, Lapp and Ragan stood at the front of the classroom and spoke about the required duties of this year's event to inform all participants. Responsibility is a major factor involved into the planning of the event.
The students are to create teams of up to 10 dedicated members, which will be chaperoned by a Wall High School teacher or other adult that is over the age of 29. Also, the students are to pledge to raise money and awareness about cancer. Individually, students must raise $125.00 and pay $10.00 for registration and as an additional donation. Means of raising money range from selling items and soliciting donations from local businesses to canning and receiving donations from family, friends, and neighbors.
Another commitment that the Human Relations Club is invovled with is Locks of Love, which is described as "a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis," according to http://www.locksoflove.org.
"[Locks of Love involves] donating your hair for cancer kids -- it’s not just an HRC [Human Relations Club] thing -- but we have quite a few [members] participating," Ms. Power described in her own terms.
The Human Relations Club remains open all the time. “We would never turn somebody away," Ms. Power stated. However, if a student is interested in being involved in Relay for Life, he or she must become a member of a team soon. For the next Human Relations Club meeting, students are required to have saved a word document file of a typed list of each team's members under the HRC [Human Relations Club] folder on the shared drive. Students are also required to have paid and registered on the Wall High School team list on the Relay website, http://www.relayforlife.org/wallnj. So, if any student wants to become involved in this event, he or she is advised to make a quick decision before it's too late.
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