The WORD Blog

I had to send the following email to the WORD Special Correspondents who were in Denver August 24-28. They are so hot, like heat seeking missiles, that I got wrapped in the wakes of their planning strategies to try to continue reporting on the election like they did in late August. Uh oh.

I can’t:

From Left to right: Kisha Allison, Jonathan Mena and Jacqueline Fernandez.

I have about 40 students enrolled in three writing classes, two advanced, and I can’t even begin to think about chasing the debates or some of the other events planned in the New York City metro area even though I can feel the heat of the chase. Their plan: Blog, Video blog, publish, publish, publish.

My message was [Subject: The Bunny Says … If It Was Alive …]:

… that you three really don’t need to consult with me anymore. You, perhaps, need me as a consultant or someone to bounce ideas off or someone to help with logistics like how to get press passes or what do you think of this or we need a second camera or a Best Boy or chauffeur [ugh] to you help with this or that, etcetera.

But you are way beyond the point of needing to meet with me to strategize or develop plans.

You will probably need access to my office, yep.

Because classes have started, and I have 35 students I’m not going to be able to keep up with you in terms of strategy sessions and stuff, more like logistical help.

Also, all of you are so hot as a group that you can check out possible funding from the College Auxiliary Board for funding, the application process starts soon and you have faculty and staff contacts in F/M, Black and Latino Studies, Long Distance Learning  (the old name) and Asian American Studies and a whole lot more.

So, go for it. Don’t burn out.

Meanwhile, I will be following up on Manhattan Cable, CUNY-TV, Oni and some other stuff. Two of you are doing Independent Studies with me and one is “in” two of my classes so we can meet once a month or so but you are really way ahead of me.

 

There were times in Denver when I was observing them as if they were taking a final exam. There were times I was observing and wondering where, in the course of our student-teacher relationship, I was successful and unsuccessful, where improvement on my part would have meant improvement on their part.

I would have given them all A-pluses.

 

Tags: Democratic National Convention, Innovative Journalism, Student Journalism, The WORD

This entry was posted on Monday, September 8th, 2008 at 8:39 am and is filed under Journalism, Journalism Education. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.