Journalism’s Next Generation: Working with Millennials
By Jake Batsell
Landing a plum newsroom job straight out of college has never been an easy feat. But this year’s journalism graduates face a double-barreled challenge: an unusually stingy job market and a growing perception that their generation has a “lax work ethic,” as a Washington Post headline declared last week.
The Post’s story was pegged to the Pew Research Center’s new project on millennials. If you spend time sorting through the Pew research, you’ll find that it even-handedly portrays millennials as “confident,” “connected” and “open to change.”
Still, the “spoiled” tag persists. Having spent my 20s trying to defy the Gen X slacker stereotype as I worked to prove myself in metro newsrooms, I can relate to millennials who feel frustrated by pop-culture labels.
I’ve worked with millennials for the past two years teaching digital journalism at Southern Methodist University and advising the SMU Daily Mustang. Newsroom bosses, listen up – here are some things you need to know about your latest crop of entry-level hires:
They respond well to clear expectations.
“Got it.” Those are my two favorite words in the millennial lexicon. When you offer clear instruction to a young journalist and hear those two magic words, you can take it to the bank that they’ll follow through. This is not a rebellious generation. Pew’s research shows that they respect their elders. But if you fail to communicate your expectations clearly and assume they already know things that you take for granted, you could be in for a long day.
They’re creative and adaptable.
It’s a myth that all millennials are technical whizzes – every semester in my digital journalism class, there are a handful of self-proclaimed technophobes. Sure, they live on Facebook, but that doesn’t mean they all know how to write a tag in HTML. That said, these “digital natives” are quick studies who love to try new things. This week, I was delighted to discover that two of my students took the initiative to post an instant video report from spring football practice from an iPhone, using free Qik software.
They’re expressive – and they crave feedback.
Anyone who has taught millennials has their favorite doozy of an excuse for missing class. (My favorite was a student who breezily divulged an embarrassing medical condition that I wouldn’t have dared to tell my own professors.) They’ve been raised to freely express themselves, which they do constantly in person and on social networks. And when they work for you, they want your feedback. The strong, silent approach to management is not a great strategy to get the most out of your millennial employees. Let them know where they stand, and how they can improve.
They seek balance.
When discussing the recent Washington Post story with my students, they largely accepted the Pew study’s premise that millennials have a different work ethic than previous generations. After years of watching their parents put work before family, they aren’t so keen to become workaholics themselves. That doesn’t mean this generation is lazy. It’s all about work-life balance.
Earlier this semester, a student apologized in advance for having to leave my class early so she could tutor refugee kids. And because millennials have grown up using technology to stay interconnected, they consider it second nature to work in spurts while away from the office. As one 26-year-old activist told the Post, ”It’s not about being at a desk from 9 to 5. I work part of every hour I am awake.”
They want to make a difference.
Today’s j-school students have endured a steady parade of guest speakers — Baby Boomers and Gen Xers — bemoaning the state of the news business. The best young journalists are undaunted by this sense of pessimism. They want to use their multi-platform storytelling skills to do some good.
Two recent SMU grads spent part of last summer reporting and blogging from Romanian orphanages. This week, students at campuses around the country went barefoot for a day to raise awareness of kids around the world who don’t have any shoes. One of our recent alums helped start an orphanage in Uganda. Millennials are altruistic and want to give back, and they see journalism as a great way to do that.
Jake Batsell is an assistant professor in journalism at Southern Methodist University and faculty adviser to the Daily Mustang. You can read more from Jake on his blog and follow him on Twitter at @jbatsell.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
AP Finally OKs "website" for Stylebook
From World Magazine's blog:
Finally, AP Stylebook OKs “website”
by Angela LuApril
For all you journalists, writers and loyal AP Style followers: today AP has finally freed us from using the antiquated spelling of “Web site” (”Web” being capitalized as it is short for the “World Wide Web”). In a tweet from earlier today, APStylebook says:
Responding to reader input, we are changing Web site to website. This appears on Stylebook Online today and in the 2010 book next month.
Finally, AP Stylebook OKs “website”
by Angela LuApril
For all you journalists, writers and loyal AP Style followers: today AP has finally freed us from using the antiquated spelling of “Web site” (”Web” being capitalized as it is short for the “World Wide Web”). In a tweet from earlier today, APStylebook says:
Responding to reader input, we are changing Web site to website. This appears on Stylebook Online today and in the 2010 book next month.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Mickey D's is 55
Interview a local manager?
Interview people who have worked at one?
Anyone around who worked at the first one?
Some ideas for an almanac article . . . .
McDonald's will celebrate its 55th birthday April 15 by offering 55-cent hamburgers (limit five) at restaurants in northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan. Ray Croc opened the first McDonald's in Des Plaines, Ill., on that day in 1955, according to a press release. Today the world's largest chain has more than 32,000 restaurants, including 89 in this area.
Interview people who have worked at one?
Anyone around who worked at the first one?
Some ideas for an almanac article . . . .
McDonald's will celebrate its 55th birthday April 15 by offering 55-cent hamburgers (limit five) at restaurants in northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan. Ray Croc opened the first McDonald's in Des Plaines, Ill., on that day in 1955, according to a press release. Today the world's largest chain has more than 32,000 restaurants, including 89 in this area.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
An Idea from Liz . . .
Here might be some ideas for your students. What about a story about WL for an airline that serves SB or FW airports?
L
-----
Liz Cutler Gates
Executive Director, Brethren Missionary Herald Company
Editor, FGBC World
fgbcworld fgbcworld-blog.com bmhbooks.com
Box 544
1104A Kings Highway
Winona Lake, IN 46590
574-268-1122 (office)
574-527-4522 (cell)
-----Original Message-----
From: 20214@priorityoneemail.com [mailto:20214@priorityoneemail.com] On Behalf Of Joan Stewart
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 3:05 PM
To: Liz
Subject: 5 topics in-flight magazines love
Hi Liz,
If your target market includes business travelers
and tourists, in-flight magazines are the perfect
publicity venue.
Here are 5 topics inflight magazine editors love:
--Management and leadership tips from authors,
speakers and consultants.
--Calendar listings for things like museum exhibits,
festivals and sporting events.
--"Best kept secrets" in a community or region, from
restaurants to quaint shopping areas--but only in
the city or region the airline serves.
--Techie gadgets and new products for business people
or travelers, for the New Products section.
--Profiles of successful local authors, artists and
community leaders--but only those who live or work
in the region an airline serves.
Where do you find the names of editors, reporters,
freelancers and correspondents who write for these
magazines?
In the 2010 update of my special report "Fly High
with Publicity in the In-flight Magazines." It even
includes links to blogs and profiles on social media
sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn for many
of the journalists in our report, so you can connect
with them there.
You'll also get the MP3 link and electronic transcript
of an interview I did with the editorial director of
30 magazines included in the report.
His killer tips about how to pitch his editors will
put you miles above everybody else who's vying for
their attention.
The report will be ready on Friday, April 2, and you
have until midnight tonight to save $25 off the cover
price.
Learn more at http://ow.ly/1t36W and then start
pitching.
--------------------------------
Joan Stewart
The Publicity Hound
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI 53074
Phone: 262-284-7451 Fax: 262-284-1737
http://www.PublicityHound.com
L
-----
Liz Cutler Gates
Executive Director, Brethren Missionary Herald Company
Editor, FGBC World
fgbcworld fgbcworld-blog.com bmhbooks.com
Box 544
1104A Kings Highway
Winona Lake, IN 46590
574-268-1122 (office)
574-527-4522 (cell)
-----Original Message-----
From: 20214@priorityoneemail.com [mailto:20214@priorityoneemail.com] On Behalf Of Joan Stewart
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 3:05 PM
To: Liz
Subject: 5 topics in-flight magazines love
Hi Liz,
If your target market includes business travelers
and tourists, in-flight magazines are the perfect
publicity venue.
Here are 5 topics inflight magazine editors love:
--Management and leadership tips from authors,
speakers and consultants.
--Calendar listings for things like museum exhibits,
festivals and sporting events.
--"Best kept secrets" in a community or region, from
restaurants to quaint shopping areas--but only in
the city or region the airline serves.
--Techie gadgets and new products for business people
or travelers, for the New Products section.
--Profiles of successful local authors, artists and
community leaders--but only those who live or work
in the region an airline serves.
Where do you find the names of editors, reporters,
freelancers and correspondents who write for these
magazines?
In the 2010 update of my special report "Fly High
with Publicity in the In-flight Magazines." It even
includes links to blogs and profiles on social media
sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn for many
of the journalists in our report, so you can connect
with them there.
You'll also get the MP3 link and electronic transcript
of an interview I did with the editorial director of
30 magazines included in the report.
His killer tips about how to pitch his editors will
put you miles above everybody else who's vying for
their attention.
The report will be ready on Friday, April 2, and you
have until midnight tonight to save $25 off the cover
price.
Learn more at http://ow.ly/1t36W and then start
pitching.
--------------------------------
Joan Stewart
The Publicity Hound
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI 53074
Phone: 262-284-7451 Fax: 262-284-1737
http://www.PublicityHound.com
Another Almanac/Anniversary Opportunity
Awana to Celebrate 60 Years of Ministry at National Youth Event
60th celebration opens Summit 2010 April 12 in suburban Chicago
ST. CHARLES, Ill., March 31 /Christian Newswire/ -- Since its founding in 1950, Awana has developed partnerships with churches in 100 countries that collectively reach one million children and youth in a given week. On Monday, April 12, Awana begins celebrating 60 years of God's faithfulness in impacting young lives worldwide.
The special 60th celebration takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Pheasant Run Resort Mega Center in St. Charles, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The event kicks off Summit 2010, an annual gathering of high-school students from 24-7 Ministries, the youth ministry of Awana. The celebration features guest speakers, musical artists, special giveaways, a tribute to Awana Co-Founder Art Rorheim and a message from Awana President/CEO Jack Eggar. Dignitaries, friends and associates of Awana will join students and Awana staff at the event.
The celebration's theme, "Celebrating Generation after Generation of Lasting Faith in Christ," reflects the strategy of Awana to spiritually train kids across their formative years. At a time when many teens are abandoning the church, Summit is symbolic of the Awana commitment to youth.
A recent national survey found that most grown-ups who participated in Awana as youth for at least six years are still active in their faith, communities and churches. In fact, 92.7 percent of the alumni still attend church at least weekly as adults. The study concluded that consistent, long-term participation in Awana, combined with spiritual leadership by parents, produces lasting faith and character in Christ.
Full survey results are found at www.awana.org/alumnistudy.
About the celebration
The keynote speaker for the celebration is Shawn Thornton. He is senior pastor of Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, California, which operates a thriving Awana ministry. The musical artist for the event is Christian musical recording artist Aaron Niequist. Aaron is currently a weekend worship leader at Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago. He joined Willow Creek after serving as worship leader at Mars Hill Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The ceremony also will feature video and personal tributes to Art Rorheim for founding and leading Awana from 1950 to 1990. Under Rorheim's direction, Awana grew from a fledgling organization in Chicago into an international ministry. At age 91, Rorheim continues serving Awana as co-founder/president emeritus. Most recently he represented Awana in March at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.
In addition to Summit, Awana will hold two other 60th celebration events and conferences in 2010. Awana hosts its first Awana® Ministry Conference National Simulcast on September 11 to celebrate 60 years of ministry. Churches will participate in the conference via satellite sites in their own regions of the country. My Church & Awana Month(tm) is a nationwide event for local churches to celebrate the impact of their Awana ministries. In 2010, My Church & Awana Month focuses on 60 years of God's faithfulness in the Awana ministry.
About Awana
Awana equips churches and parents to work together in developing children and youth who faithfully follow Jesus Christ. In 2010 Awana rejoices over 60 years of partnerships with churches and parents that produce a lasting biblical faith. Each week, one million children and youth participate in weekly programs at nearly 20,000 churches representing 100 Christian denominations.
Awana helps churches and parents raise children and youth to know, love and serve Christ using:
· Fully integrated programs for ages 2 to 18
· Evangelism tools to reach children, youth and families
· Teaching that builds an enduring biblical faith
· Resources that unite churches and parents to disciple the next generation
· Initial and ongoing volunteer training
· Healthy mentor and peer relationships
· A fun, faith-building approach that influences generations of kids to actively follow Christ.
About Summit
Summit is a yearly national gathering of Awana youth ministry students. Summit features a college and ministry fair, competition in Bible quizzing, athletics and fine arts and a ceremony honoring recipients of the Citation Award, the highest achievement in Awana.
Contact Awana
For more information on the 60th celebration, Awana or Summit or to set up interviews, contact Media Relations Manager David Bunker at (630) 540-4695 or mediarelations@awana.org.
60th celebration opens Summit 2010 April 12 in suburban Chicago
ST. CHARLES, Ill., March 31 /Christian Newswire/ -- Since its founding in 1950, Awana has developed partnerships with churches in 100 countries that collectively reach one million children and youth in a given week. On Monday, April 12, Awana begins celebrating 60 years of God's faithfulness in impacting young lives worldwide.
The special 60th celebration takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Pheasant Run Resort Mega Center in St. Charles, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The event kicks off Summit 2010, an annual gathering of high-school students from 24-7 Ministries, the youth ministry of Awana. The celebration features guest speakers, musical artists, special giveaways, a tribute to Awana Co-Founder Art Rorheim and a message from Awana President/CEO Jack Eggar. Dignitaries, friends and associates of Awana will join students and Awana staff at the event.
The celebration's theme, "Celebrating Generation after Generation of Lasting Faith in Christ," reflects the strategy of Awana to spiritually train kids across their formative years. At a time when many teens are abandoning the church, Summit is symbolic of the Awana commitment to youth.
A recent national survey found that most grown-ups who participated in Awana as youth for at least six years are still active in their faith, communities and churches. In fact, 92.7 percent of the alumni still attend church at least weekly as adults. The study concluded that consistent, long-term participation in Awana, combined with spiritual leadership by parents, produces lasting faith and character in Christ.
Full survey results are found at www.awana.org/alumnistudy.
About the celebration
The keynote speaker for the celebration is Shawn Thornton. He is senior pastor of Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, California, which operates a thriving Awana ministry. The musical artist for the event is Christian musical recording artist Aaron Niequist. Aaron is currently a weekend worship leader at Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago. He joined Willow Creek after serving as worship leader at Mars Hill Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The ceremony also will feature video and personal tributes to Art Rorheim for founding and leading Awana from 1950 to 1990. Under Rorheim's direction, Awana grew from a fledgling organization in Chicago into an international ministry. At age 91, Rorheim continues serving Awana as co-founder/president emeritus. Most recently he represented Awana in March at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.
In addition to Summit, Awana will hold two other 60th celebration events and conferences in 2010. Awana hosts its first Awana® Ministry Conference National Simulcast on September 11 to celebrate 60 years of ministry. Churches will participate in the conference via satellite sites in their own regions of the country. My Church & Awana Month(tm) is a nationwide event for local churches to celebrate the impact of their Awana ministries. In 2010, My Church & Awana Month focuses on 60 years of God's faithfulness in the Awana ministry.
About Awana
Awana equips churches and parents to work together in developing children and youth who faithfully follow Jesus Christ. In 2010 Awana rejoices over 60 years of partnerships with churches and parents that produce a lasting biblical faith. Each week, one million children and youth participate in weekly programs at nearly 20,000 churches representing 100 Christian denominations.
Awana helps churches and parents raise children and youth to know, love and serve Christ using:
· Fully integrated programs for ages 2 to 18
· Evangelism tools to reach children, youth and families
· Teaching that builds an enduring biblical faith
· Resources that unite churches and parents to disciple the next generation
· Initial and ongoing volunteer training
· Healthy mentor and peer relationships
· A fun, faith-building approach that influences generations of kids to actively follow Christ.
About Summit
Summit is a yearly national gathering of Awana youth ministry students. Summit features a college and ministry fair, competition in Bible quizzing, athletics and fine arts and a ceremony honoring recipients of the Citation Award, the highest achievement in Awana.
Contact Awana
For more information on the 60th celebration, Awana or Summit or to set up interviews, contact Media Relations Manager David Bunker at (630) 540-4695 or mediarelations@awana.org.
Here's a Potential Magazine Market
Kyria Encourages Living a Life of Celebration Daily
CAROL STREAM, Ill., March 31 /Christian Newswire/ -- While millions of people across the world celebrate Easter, this month's issue of the Kyria digizine, available today, is encouraging women to live a life of celebration not just reserved for holidays and special occasions.
Editor Ginger Kolbaba says, "This month's issue of the Kyria digizine is on the spiritual discipline of celebration--the practice of rejoicing in the fact that we know our Creator and that he has made this day. We hope to help women recognize that God, who has always blessed and loved us, will continue to seek our good, which will give us deep, everlasting joy."
Featured is an interview with Shauna Niequist, author of Cold Tangerines (Zondervan). Many Christians put seriousness next to godliness because celebration seems silly or frivolous with everything that's wrong with the world. Niequist, however, says that celebration is noticing the good that still exists in the middle of the broken. This is key to knowing the deep gladness of being alive and one of God's children. Her interview describes her own experiences with learning to celebrate when things seem dark, as well as how to enter into others' celebrations.
The April issue of the Kyria digizine is available to members and features the following articles:
Sacred Celebration
Author Shauna Niequist talks about why celebration isn't just about parties and food. It's much deeper, lasting, and ever-present.
Interview by Ginger Kolbaba
How Our Pleasure Pleases God
Sometimes we forget that delight comes from a good God who loves us deeply.
By Gary Thomas
Happiness is Serious Business
We need to adopt a new theology if we're going to celebrate.
By Greg Lafferty
Living in Color
Too often we settle for the cheap imitations of celebration, without really understanding the richness of its meaning.
By Bonnie McMaken
A Renewed Joy
In the presence of God, our joy can move our soul and bring us strength.
By George Rehberg
Celebration . . . Eventually
The Old Testament's Naomi has a lot to teach us about this spiritual discipline.
By Liz Curtis Higgs
The Joy-Driven Life
Death to deadly earnest discipleship!
By Mark Galli
To see the April 2010 issue of the Kyria digizine in its entirety, become a member of Kyria.com here:
http://kyria.com/membership/.
The May 2010 issue will be on the topic of prayer and will feature an interview with Patricia Raybon and articles by Frederica Matthewes-Green, Cindy Crosby, and others.
Christianity Today International (CTI) publishes 9 print magazines and newsletters and operates an award- winning website reaching more than 2.5-million unique visitors monthly. A leading journalistic voice of Evangelicals, CTI equips Christians to renew their minds, serve the church, and transform their cultures.
CAROL STREAM, Ill., March 31 /Christian Newswire/ -- While millions of people across the world celebrate Easter, this month's issue of the Kyria digizine, available today, is encouraging women to live a life of celebration not just reserved for holidays and special occasions.
Editor Ginger Kolbaba says, "This month's issue of the Kyria digizine is on the spiritual discipline of celebration--the practice of rejoicing in the fact that we know our Creator and that he has made this day. We hope to help women recognize that God, who has always blessed and loved us, will continue to seek our good, which will give us deep, everlasting joy."
Featured is an interview with Shauna Niequist, author of Cold Tangerines (Zondervan). Many Christians put seriousness next to godliness because celebration seems silly or frivolous with everything that's wrong with the world. Niequist, however, says that celebration is noticing the good that still exists in the middle of the broken. This is key to knowing the deep gladness of being alive and one of God's children. Her interview describes her own experiences with learning to celebrate when things seem dark, as well as how to enter into others' celebrations.
The April issue of the Kyria digizine is available to members and features the following articles:
Sacred Celebration
Author Shauna Niequist talks about why celebration isn't just about parties and food. It's much deeper, lasting, and ever-present.
Interview by Ginger Kolbaba
How Our Pleasure Pleases God
Sometimes we forget that delight comes from a good God who loves us deeply.
By Gary Thomas
Happiness is Serious Business
We need to adopt a new theology if we're going to celebrate.
By Greg Lafferty
Living in Color
Too often we settle for the cheap imitations of celebration, without really understanding the richness of its meaning.
By Bonnie McMaken
A Renewed Joy
In the presence of God, our joy can move our soul and bring us strength.
By George Rehberg
Celebration . . . Eventually
The Old Testament's Naomi has a lot to teach us about this spiritual discipline.
By Liz Curtis Higgs
The Joy-Driven Life
Death to deadly earnest discipleship!
By Mark Galli
To see the April 2010 issue of the Kyria digizine in its entirety, become a member of Kyria.com here:
http://kyria.com/membership/.
The May 2010 issue will be on the topic of prayer and will feature an interview with Patricia Raybon and articles by Frederica Matthewes-Green, Cindy Crosby, and others.
Christianity Today International (CTI) publishes 9 print magazines and newsletters and operates an award- winning website reaching more than 2.5-million unique visitors monthly. A leading journalistic voice of Evangelicals, CTI equips Christians to renew their minds, serve the church, and transform their cultures.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Bring Second Copy
We will spend the latter part of tonight's class in small critique groups, working on the articles you're turning in this evening.
You may wish to bring a second copy (in addition to the one you turn in to me) so you can mark it with your fellow students' critiques.
You may wish to bring a second copy (in addition to the one you turn in to me) so you can mark it with your fellow students' critiques.
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