Official blog of Clark's Blogging for Journalists class, Mass Communication department

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Deadlines

2-25: Contact with blogger
2-25: First paragraph of essay due
3-1: No class
3-8: choose presentation dates
3-10: Essay due
3-22--Presentations start

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Intersession classes

Clark May intersession:
Twitter for Media--2 weeks, 9:30-2
Clark August Intersession:
The Press in Movies--10 days, 9:30-3

Fall classes
Feature Writing...Dr. Sherri Johnson
History of Journalism...Dr. Terry Clark

Today's assignment

15 minutes: Find one blog you are interested in, that applies to your blog.
25 minutes: Post on your blog by the end of today--
Evaluate it:
1. Quality of Writing
2. Effectiveness of typography
3. Attractiveness of layout
4. Use of visuals
5. Overall strengths and weaknesses
6. Why do you like it or dislike it


Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Blog terms to know

  1. guest blogging
  2. header
  3. hit
  4. home page
  5. html
  6. hyperlink
  7. keyword
  8. imbed
  9. link
  10. link bait
  11. lurker
  12. microblogging
  13. multiuser blog
  14. newbie
  15. niche
  16. page view
  17. permalink
  18. podcast
  19. post
  20. profile

What should you gain from a university?

Read this New York Times column today, from David Brooks, The Big University.

What is your reaction? Do you get that here at UCO? Should you? Comment below by 5 pm Wednesday.

Tools for your blog


Browse this link today for ideas.


Post below one you're interested in, and why. No obligation to do so.

Grading your posts

Each of your blog posts are evaluated based on the following criteria:
1. Minimum of 15 for a C
2. Consistency--at least one or two a week (up to 20 points each)
3. Original content, not just cut and paste (60 percent)
4. Writing quality(10 percent)
5. Length--just a few words and or photos and minimum effort are not sufficient (25 percent)
6. Timeliness (5 percent)

Thursday, February 11, 2016

When blogging becomes a slog

Read this New York Times article

Comment below by 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15.

1. What did you learn about blogging from this article?
2. What is the importance of passion and love in blogging?
3. Your suggestions on how could the problem be avoided? 

Blog adoption guidelines

This assignment is not related to the blog essay. 100 points, 10 percent of your grade.
1. Presentation to be 15 minutes long
2. 1 page outline to every member of class
3. 3 page paper, handed in day of presentation to professor
4. Post your paper on your blog, with screenshot of blog
5. One or two items from each presentation will be discussed for final text questions. Your outline is your study guide.   

“We want a sense of what makes this blog effective, and to learn from the blogger’s experience.”


Presentations will start March 22 --we set presentation schedule March 8.

  • You must show the blog visually in your presentation, scroll through it and discuss.
  • You must interview the blogger, by email or on the phone. I recommend you contact them soon to make sure they know what you're doing. Last minute, "they did not respond" doesn't cut it
  • If you cannot make contact, you will need to choose a different blog.
  • One page outline of main points handed to every member of class and professor (25 total) while discussing it:
  • List the Name and url of the blog.

1.     History of the blog—

a.     How long blogging?

b.     Who is the blogger? (Age, profession, etc.)

c.      Purpose?

d.     Geographic location?

e.     Number of followers?

f.      Does it make money?

g.  Why do they blog?

2.     What makes this blog unique?

3.     What are its strengths?

4.     What are its weaknesses?

5.     What is the advice of the blogger?

6.     What do you like and dislike?, and why

7.     What did you gain that influences you and your blog?

  • You will post your presentation outline on your blog, with a screenshot of the blog.

Today's assignment, and deadlines

By the end of today:
Comments below:
1. What are three possible links for your blog essay. Post the Urls.
2. Blog adoption candidates, if you haven't done them already, with urls

Deadlines
1. Blog adoption chosen, Tuesday, Feb. 16.
2. First paragraph of blog essay (including thesis statement), handed in at 12:30, Thursday Feb. 25, on paper, typed, first of class.
3.  Contact made  with blog adoption, checked in class Thursday, Feb. 25.
3. Choosing presentation dates, Tuesday, March 8
4.  Blog essay due, on paper,  Thursday, March 10 (100 points, 10 percent of grade)
5. Blog presentations start Tuesday, March 22, (right after spring break)

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Blogger to follow

By 5 p.m. Wednesday--
  • Comment below, two professional bloggers to "adopt", follow and present on second half of semester. 
  • Name of blog, and url
  • For Thursday discussion,

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Color is important


Read this What color says
What do the colors on your blog say? Comment below, by 5 pm Monday, Feb. 8.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

What have you learned so far?

Comment below, by 9 am Feb. 4, what is the most valuable thing you've learned about blogging so far?

Blog essay deadlines

Feb. 4: Complete this sentence, to hand in first of class, on paper: This is an essay about (Subject) and it is interesting because ____________________. My thesis (the main point of the paper that I'm supporting with my sources) is__________________________. 

Feb. 11:--List three probable links as sources and be ready to explain them in class.

Feb. 25: Introductory paragraph, handed in first of class, on paper.

Potential organization (outline) :
1. Introductory paragraph, what the subject, problem, focus is. ending with your thesis statement.
(Example: "Blogging has changed the way newspapers have covered the news.")
2. Two or three paragraphs, citing sources to back up your thesis. 
3. A short concluding paragraph
4. List of links for your sources

Essay will be due  March 7, at first of class 100 points (10 %of grade)

Blog terms to know-1

To be a blogger, you have to speak the language.
Do you know about Webopedia?
Here are the first of several terms you need to know (testable). Look them up.
  1. Archive
  2. Attribution
  3. Blog
  4. Blog carnival
  5. Blog host
  6. Blog post
  7. Blog statistics
  8. Blogger
  9. Blogging software
  10. Blogosphere
  11. Browser
  12. Blogroll
  13. Comment moderation
  14. Comment policy
  15. Dashboard
  16. Domain Name
  17. Feed
  18. Feed reader
  19. Footer
  20. Forum