All Observers Invited To Writer's Workshop - Tonight!

[Jim O'Bryan]

Lakewood Observers are invited to the Westlake/Bay Village Observer Writer's Workshop.
Bay Library
Wednesday, March 3, at 7 p.m..

The program, “You Too Can Write the News,” will present useful information to make the writing process easier – for first-timers and experienced community writers alike.

We hope to see you there!!

Tara
Editor
Westlake/Bay Village Observer, Inc.

Brief program description
The main barrier to covering community news is that most would-be
citizen journalists simply don’t know how to start.

Community reporting doesn’t need to be difficult. It’s a discipline that, like any other,
gets easier as you do it. All it takes is knowledge of a specific set of skills and activities
that can easily be mastered by just about anyone.

This nuts-and-bolts workshop is designed for anyone who wants a clear and simple
process for writing as a citizen correspondent. Attendees should expect to leave with a
step-by-step structure that will allow them to find, report and write a news story,
providing useful coverage of the goings on in their community.

Outline of the presentation:

What is news
Types of stories
How to discover them

Reporting
How to report a story fully, accurately and efficiently
Who, what, when, where, why, how
Fairness and balance
Sourcing

Writing
The magic formula that makes newswriting easy
Writing the lead
Prioritizing facts
The all-important ‘nut-graph’
Quotes and attribution
The rest of the story


This is being offered through Observer, Inc. and will feature Bob Rosenbaum from
the Heights Observer that has a series of lessons that will be offered by all Observers
throughout the year.

Bob is well versed in civic journalism, and was one of the vice presidents of Penton
Publishing for years.


.

[Bret Callentine]

sounds a lot better than the workshop I offer : "How to speak your mind, even after you've lost it."

which was actually a follow up course to : "How to win arguments with your Rice Crispies"

[Heather Ramsey]

Thanks for the advance notice...

[Jim O'Bryan]

Thanks for the advance notice...

Heather

Sorry last minute "Let's do it"

Bob Rosenbaum of the Heights Observer, and a professional publisher, editor, and journalist
has been working with AGS, and the Heights Observer for a couple years now. He is
constructing a series of classes and workshops to help with the new media called "Civic
Journalism."

This was the first test outside of the Heights, and it went very well. The cover "News Reporting," "Editing," "Civic Journalism," "Blogging," "The Art of Forum Discussion," "How
Non-Profits Need Civic Journalism," "Photo Journalism," even "Being a Publisher."

It was a nice turn out, consider the 48 hour notice. It is really catching on in Westlake/Bay
Village where a couple retired famous name reporters have joined the project, along with
many of the school kids.

This program was actually put on by the Cuyahoga County Library, and Friends of
Cuyhagoa County Library put this on. They have signed up for the entire series.


A good turn out considering the short notice!


Bob Rosenbaum explains how to build a good story based on facts.

All in all it was a very nice night.

.