New 3-year journalism degree program rolls out at Cornerstone University

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/03/cornerstone_university_plans_f.html#more

Click on link above to read article from Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press about Cornerstone’s new 3-year journalism degree program.

Beauty in the Mundane

Walking back from an assignment in downtown Grand Rapids, I came across this leaf holding on to its’ color in a small puddle of oil in the Grand Rapids Press Parking lot. This photo reminds me that as journalists and photojournalists, we should always be looking for that something special amidst the ordinary

Summer Highlights

As I feel the cold weather approaching (okay it’s here), I would like to take the oppurtunity to blog about my favorite summer features from 2008. Summertime is the best time to drive around in your car and look for “wild art,” for your paper. People are outside jumping rope, playing the sprinklers and grilling. I miss it!  *These photos are copyright to the Grand Rapids Perss and are not for sale.

This was shot at the Waterfront Film festival in Saugatuck in early June on opening day. I always enjoy myself when I go to this cottage-like town on the water. One of the films that was premiering in the festival was called “Double Dutch,” a documentary on a jump roping team. In honor of the film’s debut, a local jump roping team came to the town and gave a performance at dusk. This was the image I came away with. 

 

 

John Feenstra, 94, and his wife Joyce, 90, have been selling asparagus out of their garage in Allendale since 1954. This season was their last, but the legacy of asparagus farming will be carried on by their two sons, Bernard and Dave, who own and operate Feenstra Brothers farms. I loved meeting this couple. The photo, as suggested by Tom Rademacher, is a portrait that is supposed to be reminiscent of the gothic man holding his pitch fork farmer shot

 

 This was a fun assignment covering a tea and garden party for our Your Life section at a little girls’ home in Cascade. The parents (who were behind the whole thing), were determined the girls were going to pot plants, change into dresses and sip tea. The day ended up as a mess of spilled dirt, sticky pink cupcake fingers and jumping on the host girls’ bed. I loved it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julie Johnson, 68, of Grand Rapids was summoned out of retirement by Verne Barry Place where she has worked on and off since 1996. Johnson has been helping the former Dwelling Place Inn organize and fill new residential space for the homeless. I really enjoyed meeting Julie and taking her portrait. She was the poster child for a story we did on people who have to return to work after retirement. This was shot on her first day back at Dwelling place and it almost has a back-to-school feel about it. 

I shot this photograph at a very fun assignment. The event was called a Wine and Art Open house, and it was pretty much realtors getting creative in trying to sell their homes by throwing parties with wine, cheese and art as part of a standard open house. Although I did not have any wine, I did munch on some fabulous artichoke and spinach dip and sip some yummy rosemary lemonade. I was outside, it was beautiful, and there were lots of graphic pretty things to photograph (such as this vase). It was one of those assignments where I had to stop, shake my head and marvel “I am getting paid for this right now.” 

Kudos to Cornerstone’s student newspaper staff on award wins

GENERAL EXCELLENCE – DIVISION II

1^st place – for entire Herald staff (a sweepstakes type award)

Credit goes to whole Herald staff led by Laurie Hekman (CU-08) & Sarah Heth (CU-08)

Judge’s comments: Looks and reads like a professional nonstudent publication. Head and shoulders above others in this category. Very appealing font choices, typography.

 

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

2^nd place – by Laurie Hekman, “Campus Security Uses Ebay”

Judge’s comments: Reporter digs into question of how and comes up with some interesting and entertaining answers that show just how sophisticated college cops can be.

 

OVERALL NEWSPAPER DESIGN

1^st place – by Herald editors

Judge’s comments: Fonts work well together to draw the eye in Good organization with strong art integrated into packages. A good deal of effort/planning went into getting good art and displaying it well. Very professional!

 

NEWS PAGE DESIGN

1^st place – by Herald editors

Judge’s comments: Strong, logical layout. Good use of available art. Very professional looking.

 

FEATURE PAGE DESIGN

1^st place – by various Herald editors

Judge’s comments: Good use of art and differing fonts to set off stories. Overlie, head, breakout lede and information box dresses up main piece nicely and help guide reader. Heades, pics descend in size logically down page. Very professional appearance.

 

SPORTS NEWS

3^rd place – by Tim Devaney, “Athletes express remorse for infractions”

Judge’s comments: The writer did a thorough job of exploring a difficult topic. Explanation of the policy and the thought that went into the punishment was good. Good quotes throughout. Well-written. Would have liked to have known the names and status of other two players.

HM – by Katherine Wisen, “Athletes’ drinking policy will be stricter”

Judge’s comments: The writer explained the policy and the reason behind it well. Well written. Did anyone oppose this change?

 

SPORTS FEATURE

2^nd place – by Amena Anderson, “The faithful team manager”

Judge’s comments: While other sports writers focused on player features, Amena Anderson looked beyond the point scorers to the unglamorous position of team manager. Great details, good quotes throughout.”

 

SPORTS COLUMN

1^st place – by Tim Devaney, Impending summer makes for difficult decisions”

Judge’s comments:The best pieces in this category were either personal reporting efforts or kept the college’s audience squarely in mind. Tim’s take on a big decision would have felt right in any section, but gave “sports” much depth.

2^nd place – by Lisa Heasley, “Facebook photos”

Judge’s comments: Good job at pulling apart a controversy. Arguments can be made on either side after reading this. It might be useful to include your own paper’s policy here.

 

SPORTS PHOTO

2^nd place – by Helen Andrews, “The woman behind the team”

Judge’s comments: A well thought out sports feature photo. Good idea.

3^rd place – by Tim Devaney, “Men’s Soccer”

Judge’s comments: A nice soccer action photo.

 

FEATURE PHOTO

2^nd place – by Tamara Jackson, “Home away from Kenya”

Judge’s comments: Photographer took the time and thought out the shot before it was made to make a meaningful image.

 

COLUMNS

1^st place – by Steven Lister, “A Christian article”

Judge’s comments: Written in a very engaging voice. Writer challenges readers to think critically. Structure of column is different, making it a particularly interesting read.

 

 

 

Did Rick Warren assume role of journalist interviewing Obama, McCain Aug. 16?

See blog by Daniel Pulliam (http://www.getreligion.org/?p=3821) on recent forum featuring Rick Warren with both presidential candidates.

I was fascinated by how the format seemed to deny each candidate easy opportunity to play off of, focus on his opponent … it seemed like it put the candidates in a vacuum where they had to answer more directly than they would have if they had been on stage together with the moderator. I’ve never seen a format like that before.
 
I would have liked to have seen Warren ask a more probing question to each candidate about his faith foundation … a friend remarked he was disturbed by Warren describing each man as a Christian, lending to each an air of credibility that may or may not be accurate … of course, Christians and nonChristians alike could argue all day about what does the term “Christian” mean?

For a good book on definition of Christian, read the book “UnChristian” by the president of the Barna Group, David Kinnaman, published this year by Baker Books.

Alan D. Blanchard
Associate Professor of Journalism, Cornerstone University
www.cornerstone.edu/journlaism

Cornerstone Journalism Institute a success in Grand Rapids, MI

The 2008 Cornerstone Journalism Institute just completed its 6th annual summer high school journalism/photojournalism last week. It was a great success.

Next year’s CJI will be held July 26-31, 2009 … for more details go to: www.cornerstone.edu/journalism

Alan Blanchard, Associate Professor of Journalism

Cornerstone University

alan_blanchard@cornerstone.edu

Journalism camp teaches basics

By Alan Blanchard

If you’re still in high school and would like to experience the life of a reporter for one week, check out this weeklong, residential journalism experience.

www.cornerstone.edu/events/cji

 

Big, Blue Backgrounds

 By Emily Zoladz, Photojournalist

I love blue skies in pictures. Big, fluffy clouds are nice, but as long as the sky is blue and clean (no power lines or scraggly branches), I am happy to use the sky as my backdrop. In both of these photos, I chose to shoot with the sun behind my subjects. In the flag photo, it creates a rim light or halo effect that outlines the subject’s hair and face. This technique separates the subject from the background. 

Internships, jobs for CU students, grads

Cornerstone University’s Journalism program is proud of all of its students who have worked hard this past year on the student newspaper, as well as on landing internships and first professional jobs. Just to highlight a few of their accomplishments:

Laurie Hekman, CU Class of 2008

1. Won Michigan Press Assn $1,000 journalism scholarship Feb. 1, 2008

2. Has accepted a f-t reporting position with Advance Newspapers in Jenison, Mich.

3. Has won a national college student newspaper writing award

http://www.christiancollegemedia.org/media_contest

Rachel Watson, CU Class of 2009

1. Has been selected to do a paid summer copy editor internship at The Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press

Luke Stier, CU Class of 2007

1. Has been hired as a producer for WOOD TV-8 news in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Asking the right question — responsibly

By Dave Murray

It was ancient history to my Journalism 2 students, but I was a new reporter right out of J-school when a reporter asked presidential Gary Hart The Question That Changed Reporting.

Hart, you remember, was suspected having female friends who were not his wife and challenged reporters to trail him.

They did, and when confronting Hart, one asked the question, “Have you ever committed adultery?”

I told students about the outrage at the time over the question, not the answer. That has certainly changed.