Homework Posting

DUE: Friday, February 12

(1) Look-up RSS, and explain what it is, and how it is used.

(2) Visit oaklandtribune.com, and answer the following questions:
a] What does the website offer that is different than the printed newspaper?
b] How is the web site's layout similar to the printed newspaper?
c] How is the web site's layout different than the printed newspaper?

(3) Ask your parents to place the following in order of their usefulness as news sources (most important to least important):
[a] Internet news (have them give you the sites they visit)
[b] local newspaper (NAME: _____________________________)
[c] local television news (STATION: ____________________)
[d] monthly or weekly news magazines (NAME: ___________________________)
[e] cable news (STATION: ______________________________)

Homework - Headline Writing

HEADLINE WRITING
=================================
Using the Jan 29 issue of the Oakland Tribune, rewrite the headline of the articles listed below.

DUE DATE: Friday, Feb 6

(1) House OKs Obama stimulus package (p. A1)
-1st headline must be 9 words
-2nd headline must be 4 words
RESTRICTIONS: can't use the phrase "stimulus package"

(2) Reports suggest police cover-up (p. A1)
-1st headline must be 9-10 words
-2nd headline must be 3 words
RESTRICTIONS: can't use "cover-up" or "suggest"

(3) Crew unearths human bones (p. A3)
-1st headline must be 9-10 words
-2nd headline must be 3 words
RESTRICTIONS: can't use "unearth" or "crew"

Looking for computer technology?

For the Computer Technology class click here.

Designing a Newsletter

There are several elements to a typical newsletter. Take a look at this website for details on designing a newsletter. You will need to incorporate these ideas into your next newsletter.

HOMEWORK
Due: Thursday, December 18
(1) List the elements in a newsletter that were included in your first newsletter, and the elements that were not included.
(2) Do a mock sketch (sheet of paper with pencil) of a new design that would include these missing elements.
(3) Review "Freedom's Journal", click here for the issue we're reading; report on the following:
a) Provide a brief summary of two articles - these are difficult to read, so you will need to focus on 2-3 paragraphs and REALLy spend time to understand them
b) List the newspapers moto, and publication date
c) Does the paper use a running header?
d) (Page 4, last column) What is the publication's frequency and cost? How can a person (agent) receive a copy for free?

First Newsletter Assignment

DUE: Wednesday, December 17
GOAL: Have all 4 articles completed by Monday morning

Create a 2 page newsletter. The newsletter should include the following:
1) A creative header, with title, date, and issue
2) 3-column format
3) A minimum of four articles (see below)
4) An accompanying graphic or picture with each article

Articles
------------------
The four articles must fall into the following categories:
1) Sports or other recent activity that you were involved in (remember the news should be timely)
2) An interview with an adult. Ask and publish an article with 4-6 questions (similar to the sample I showed in class). The questions should focus around a single topic.
3) An article from the pregnancy survey with at least one graph.
4) A review, either book, movie, or even a comic book.

The newsletter will receive two grades, they include:
1) Computer Technology: use of Word - formatting, column layout, inclusion of images, etc.
2) Journalism: quality of layout, selection of topics, interest level of articles, etc.
3) Writing: content and grammar of each article

List of African magazines

Below you'll find a list of magazines focusing on the interest/needs of African-Americans. I also assembled (just for fun) a list on amazon.com (check it out), you can actually do this for any type of list (how about a birthday gift list :)

American Legacy
Black Hair
Crisis
Ebony
Black Enterprise
Essence
Heart and Soul
Jet
Kitu Kizuri
Today's Black Woman
Mimi
Upscale
XXL
Vibe

Founding Black Magazines

Assignment:
Read the biography on John H. Johnson. This link contains several articles, just read the first one (about 3 pages), it ends at the first listing of sources. Also read a shorter article on the newspaper created by Marcus Garvey for the UNIA (United Negro Improvement Association).

After reading the article think about the following:
1) Why did these men create publications for African people?
2) Was their purpose in creating the publications the same?
3) Certainly each paper's audience was Africans, but was there a difference?
4) What were some of the struggles that Johnson faced in creating his magazines? (Think of trying to convince white-owned companies to pay for advertisements or creating ways to get the newspaper out, called distribution)
5) Why do you think Johnson was able to create such long term success?