Start With Why
Rob Melton, Contributing Editor
August 20, 2015
By Rob Melton Now that you and your staff have put to bed your final issue of the newspaper, yearbook, website, video channel, or podcast, it's time to think ahead to next year. What better way to rethink, rewrite and redesign with your staff than showing Simon Sinek's "Start With Why: How Great Leader...
Fun With Fonts
Rob Melton, Contributing Editor
April 15, 2014
By Rob Melton When you talk about type, beginning with a video such as the one above is a great way to entertain and interest students in the study of typography. Once they are hooked, spending time learning the nuts and bolds is the next step. Minnesota adviser Laurie Hansen at Stillwater (Min...
Navigate your way to great stories and photos with story planners
Rob Melton, Contributing Editor
March 26, 2014
By Rob Melton It's all about the story, whether in words or photos. The trick is learning how to plan, gather and structure a story for your newspaper, yearbook, website or newscast. The purpose of the new Story Navigator planner forms is to lay everything on the table where you can work with it...
The origin of the end mark -30-
February 4, 2014
By Rob Melton What does the traditional symbol -30- mean, and where did it come from? Years ago, The American Press magazine compiled a list of 18 sources that have been cited at one time or another: In the days before typewriters XXX (Roman for 30) on manuscript copy indicated the end of the sto...
Make your own free press passes with this one free website
Rob Melton, Contributing Editor
September 12, 2013
By Rob Melton "You do not need to ask permission from anyone to be a journalist," explains the Periodical Publishers Association. "It is sometimes useful, however, to be able to identify yourself as a journalist when needed." To this end, journalistic agencies issue press cards to their reporters, c...
42 tips, tricks, exercises from the pros on how to write a memorable narrative for your publication
Rob Melton, Contributing Editor
October 2, 2012
By Rob Melton Narrative is structured in the same way whether it is fiction or nonfiction. It uses all the devices of the narrative. Training young journalists in the art of reporting and interviewing for the kinds of details and perspectives needed for nonfiction narrative can be effectively devel...
Follow these simple techniques to write the perfect caption every time to intrigue, inform readers
Rob Melton, Contributing Editor
September 30, 2012
By Rob Melton Notice what you just did? You looked at the featured photo, then you looked under the photo for the words to help you understand what you just viewed. Then you looked back at the photo to fully appreciate what you know now that you didn't know just a few seconds before that. ...
Mob reporting at major school events results in outstanding live coverage, application of social media
September 26, 2012
By Rob Melton Last week journalism teacher Tom Gayda's North Central Publications students (70 of them!) participated in their own reporting mob at their homecoming game. He got the idea after someone posted something on the listserv last spring. His journalism students worked in groups and cover...
How to develop practical strategies for overcoming writing obstacles
Rob Melton, Contributing Editor
August 23, 2012
In Roy Peter Clark's new book, “Help! For Writers” — with its new mobile app — he came up with something quite different to help writers overcome the obstacles they face: Getting Started; Getting Your Act Together; Finding Focus; Looking for Language; Building a Draft; Assessing Your Progres...
Combine a little creativity and your own words to create word and tag clouds and the possibilities are endless
Rob Melton, Contributing Editor
June 9, 2012
By Rob Melton Word clouds have been around for a while now, but recent improvements how to make them are reviving interest in using them more creatively across all media platforms. Originally, word clouds directed blog readers to the most used words or most read blog entries. Recent advancements in ...