Heading to Siberia soon to talk about C3 and learn about a distant land

For much of my life, Siberia was this cold, distant land where the Soviet Union sent its dissidents to work in gulags. And I presume Russians, if they thought of Iowa at all, thought of our state as a flat place where we grow lots of corn (Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev visited the Roswell Garst [...]

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Los Angeles Times shows its fear of social media

I can’t keep blogging every time a major newspaper releases fear-driven social media guidelines. But once again, I can’t resist.
The Los Angeles Times is the latest major news organization to apparently tell its staff to beware the dangers of social media. I don’t have time to critique this in the same detail that I did [...]

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Curriculum advice for journalism schools

I haven’t spent this much time talking to journalism professors and students since I graduated from Texas Christian University (let’s just say some time ago).
I visited TCU last week to present seminars on the Complete Community Connection and journalism ethics in the digital age. And since I was sticking around for some memory-lane time, the [...]

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Is my new theme easier to read?

Martin Langeveld tweeted that my previous theme was difficult to read, so I changed themes. If you have problems reading this one, please let me know. I explained my choice of the Bryce Canyon photo earlier.

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News organizations need mobile-first strategy

News organizations are belatedly, reluctantly and often awkwardly pursuing “web-first” strategies. As we fight these web battles, I am increasingly coming to believe that “web first” is what the military would call fighting the last war. News organizations need a mobile-first strategy.

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Katharine Hansen joins conversation on digital storytelling

I have blogged three times recently about the questions about whether and how storytelling will survive and thrive as journalism grows more digital (I say yes).
Katharine Hansen has joined that conversation with an interesting take (linking to one of my earlier posts on the topic) that I call to your attention:
Blogs … are wonderful venues [...]

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Follow the liveblog of my ethics seminar at TCU today

Andrew Chavez will be liveblogging again today during my ethics seminar, Upholding and Updating Ethical Standards, at Texas Christian University.
The American Press Institute seminar is supported by a grant from the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation. We will have four 90 minute sessions, starting at 10 a.m., addressing ethics in social networks, breaking news, [...]

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Follow my C3 seminar at TCU today

Andrew Chavez will be liveblogging my seminar on the Complete Community connection today at Texas Christian University, my alma mater. Follow along if you’re interested. Or check out the slides.

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What do you like best about your favorite mobile applications

I hope you can help me with a course I am team-teaching next semester at the University of Iowa on creating iPhone applications.
Before I ask for your help, I should note that I know nothing about the technical side of the class. Jim Cremer, chair of the Computer Science Department, will handle that aspect of [...]

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Interesting reading on Fort Hood coverage, mobile revenue, rural journalism, staff cuts

I was unable last week to watch the unfolding coverage through Twitter and media web sites of the Fort Hood shooting.
I was traveling Thursday and teaching Friday, and simply couldn’t follow all the developments as the “facts” of the story kept changing. While I’d love to comment on the story and the coverage, I don’t like writing [...]

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Alex Howard presents storytelling as a feast

Alex Howard has weighed in on the storytelling discussion that I recounted here yesterday.
He likens tweets to amuse-bouche, blog posts to appetizers (which, he notes, can be light or heavy), long-form narrative to the entree and links to dessert. Dan Conover suggested video or comments as side dishes. I added that an interactive database might [...]

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