Recommended journalism sites
for programs without textbooks
General teaching information/multiple purpose topics
• Center for Scholastic Journalism
While it currently emphasizes legal information, it also has links to all the major scholastic journalism organizations. It also links to schools that operate their student media as forums for student expression. It is developing a section on best reporting practices of scholastic media and a scholastic news network.
http://jmc.kent.edu/csj
• The Poynter Institute
Poynter has been described as a journalist’s thinktank. From dialy discussions of how to report issues to sharing information about legal and ethical issues to the latest in convergence, it is here.
http://poynter.org
•ASNE/High School Journalism.org
From lesson plans to school Web sites, this site has it all. Information exists for students, teachers, parents and administrators.
http://hsj.org
• Reporter’s Committee for Freedom of the Press
This site has a myriad of information on legal issues and how to deal with them, but also on how to gather information – basic legal and reporting issues all reporters need to know.
http://rcfp.org
• National Scholastic Press Association
Besides contest and convention information, this site offers various teaching materials and activities as well as examples of good journalism, including links to Best of Scholastic Media and Best of Show winners.
http://studentpress.org
• Journalism Education Association
Materials available from this site include Scholastic Journalism Week teaching materials, curriculum commission materials ranging from writing and editing to technology and press rights commission materials mentioned below.
Legal and ethical issues:
• The Student Press Law Center
The SPLC is the site to go to for legal information for scholastic media. It also has strong teaching materials for all areas of media law and up-to-date information about legal issues across the country.
http://splc.org
•Journalism Education Association’s Scholastic Press Rights Commission
Recently updated, this site has a wealth of legal and ethical information for scholastic media as well as lesson plans, teaching materials and classroom-usable articles.
http://jeapressrights.org
• The Freedom Forum
Although this site has plenty of national news items for commercial journalists, it also has a strong core program of journalism education. It also has a link to its updated Newseum.
http://www.freedomforum.org/
Reporting, writing and information gathering (includes news, features, sports, depth, etc)
• NewsU
For an extensive set of coursework in all areas of journalism, this site cannot be beat. Most of the coursework is free. It is primarily deisgned for commercial journalists, but is also excellent for scholastic media practioners.
http://newsu.org
• Journalism Education Association’s Scholastic Press Rights Commission (For reporting and designing sensitive and controversial issues)
Recently developed, this section of the press rights site focuses on how free student expression can and should follow responsible journalism standards. The site gives extensive definition to what is journalistically responsible and how to develop that in student publications.
http://www.jea.org/resources/pressrights/2008documents/2008ResponsibleJ/index.html
• No Train, No Gain
From the basics of news reporting and writing to alternative story telling, this site provides links, exercises and resources on many journalism skills.
http://www.notrain-nogain.org
• Committee of Concerned Journalists
Besides many current topics, like how to report the elections and war, this site says it has collected some of “journalism’s best ideas” for citizens, students, teachers and commercial journalists. Topics range from ethics to visual reporting.
http://www.concernedjournalists.org/
• Newsroom 101
This site provides a plethora of style and grammar exercises for all levels of journalism.
http://newsroom101.com
• Bob Baker’s Newsthinking
This site consists of columns on many levels of reporting, writing and editing from a 35-year newspaperman and writing coach. Baker says on the site that each file on the site is an attempt to take readers inside a successful story and explain the process.
http://www.newsthinking.com
• The Power of Words
An extensive compilation of stories and reporter’s narratives behind those stories. Exceptional for helping students learn how to report, to gather information and to present it. Topics range from story ideas to handling obituaries.
http://www.projo.com/words/past.htm
Visual reporting (includes photography, design, infographics, Web site development, etc)
• NewsU
For an extensive set of coursework in all areas of journalism, this site cannot be beat. Most of the coursework is free. It is primarily designed for commercial journalists, but is also excellent for scholastic media practioners.
http://newsu.org
• Tim Harrower’s Web site
The author of the widely-used design text for scholastic media has an intriguing and informative Web site in which he brings his ideas to a new level.
http://timharrower.com
• News Page Designer
In addition to seeing some beautiful commercial designs, you can see what a large number of newspaper designers from around the world are creating daily. An invaluable resource.
http://www.newspagedesigner.com/
• Ron Reason guide to newspaper design
This site covers a wide range of topics, all designed to offer good design suggestions.
http://www.ronreason.com/asne/
• A series of tips for design
This site sports advice from different designers about what can make effective design. It is part of the News Page Designer
http://www.newspagedesigner.com/tips.html
• Kodak education – lesson plans
This site lists lesson plans for photography on everything from understanding film to celestial photography.
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/education/lessonPlans/indices/photography.shtml
• Teach photography
This site starts with photography (aimed of course at using their products) but includes links to web design and video, and how to use their products.
http://www.adobe.com/education/instruction/subject/photography.html
• Teaching online journalism
This site by Mindy McAdams addresses all aspects of online journalism, writing to visualization, with many links blogs from others specializing in online journalism.
http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/best-information-graphics/