Notes For Student Journalists

Once again, Professor David Perlmutter has invited me to talk to his interim session journalism class. To save the students a bit of note taking - which any journalist should appreciate - I've updated my top ten list format of tips for writers.


10. Just. Start. Writing. As much as you can. Everywhere you can. 6 Reasons Writing for the Internet is the Best Job Ever (Cracked)

If you're making money online, it's because you kept at it for zero reward until that happened. Some people want to quit their jobs because they hate them and go write instead, which is the exact wrong attitude for a writer. You write because you love it. You write on top of your regular work, because words might be the true expression of your soul, but your unique spirit doesn't pay the rent.

Also recommended: Making Things (The Oatmeal)

9. Read. Read as much as you can. Read the competition. Read the amateurs (but give us credit). If you have a viewpoint, read the other team. It'll give you stylistic ideas and story ideas, good and bad.

8. Find Your Niche. Figure out what you're good at and play to those strengths. My nice is political process: election number crunching, caucus rules, redistricting - because I'm PART of that.

• Ron Paul Welcomes Democrats... Sometimes: "Here's the catch: A lot of people, after the vote is reported, go home. And it's the people who STAY that choose the delegates, undifferentiated by candidate preference. And the people who stay choose the committee members and write the platform and that's why Ron Paul's supporters are heavily represented on the state central committees -- because Ron Paul supporters are the ones who stay at the meeting."
• Caucus night itself sucks: "The process has grown so big that it has outstripped the size of the biggest rooms and parking lots in the precincts, and the reality of the Magic Minute of alignment was stuffy and unpleasant. At some point, Iowa is vulnerable to an ADA lawsuit."
• Clinton Understood Surface, Not Spirit, Of Caucuses
• District Of The Day

7. You never know when the big one will hit. And invariably it will NOT be the one you worked the hardest on or wrote the most creatively. You'll be in the right/wrong place at the right/wrong time. It may even be something you did ages ago that suddenly becomes more relevant.

• Sebelius: Obama's race 'may be a factor'
• Rudy Giuliani: Asked About HIV, He Answers With 9/11
• Pastor Delivers Odd Invocation at McCain Rally
• Iowa Gunman Was Torn by Academic Challenge

6. There is NO Rule 6.

5. Build your brand. Don't be afraid of personality. Social media is part of the job now and it's a good way to show some personality outside of the copy.

Please drive safe tonight. It's not that I care about you, but I'm working the late newsroom shift and don't want to cover any accidents.
— Adam B Sullivan (@AdamBSullivan)

Fair warning: branding tricks may backfire...

4. Don't be afraid to have an opinion. Admit it, as your reputation may precede you, especially if you wear a red hat. My approach is to acknowledge then proceed. This may not be your editor's model so your immediate mileage may vary.

Number Crunching The Justice Center Part One and Part Two

3. Don't be afraid to be wrong. Get the facts right, of course. But draw your own conclusions and be honest with yourself and your readers when you do. Because if you're afraid to be wrong, you'll never be right.

McCain: Not Dead, but Neither Was Terri Schiavo

Don't forget to laugh at yourself when you are wrong. And you will be.

2. Call your own fouls. If you're coming from a viewpoint, you'll be more credible if you occasionally point out your own side's flaws.

One of the C's is for Counterproductive: "There's absolutely a place for vocal protest, even civil disobedience, in our political culture. But CCI, while presenting themselves as spiritual heirs to the 1960s, doesn't have the dignity of the civil rights movement or the genuine mass support of the anti-war movement. What do we want? To be on the news! When do we want it? Now!"

An Old School Endorsement: "DMReg ed bd punishing BO 4 fumbled 'off record' intvu. See 08 primary endorse of Fallon when Boz skipped debate; they care about that stuff"

Amateurs may need to be careful how hard they bite hands that feed...

1. Enjoy the ride: "Unless there's an unprecedented upset and Duncan Hunter and Mike Gravel win the Iowa caucuses tonight, I've seen the next president speak. And unless it's Rudy Giuliani, I've spoken to her or him in person, however briefly. I've been interviewed live on C-SPAN, Googled by campaigns, shown up on the front page of one of the home town papers, had my headwear praised by Bill Richardson and Chris Dodd, and had hundreds of people a day pay attention to my opinion on the whole thing. And even more incredibly, I've gotten paid to do it."

0. My annual New Years resolution: spellcheck before hitting sedn. Did it again.