AU Professor passes her knowledge to next generation
Auburn University Professor Nan Fairley gave high school journalists tips and techniques to improve their own student publications on Wednesday, June 22.
Fairley addressed many problems that arise in a high school publication. Fairley said that she has discovered that many problems are there because there are no set goals for the students. She stresses that all newspapers should have a mission statement and include it in their paper. All members should write and agree to the mission statement.
“Get together and find out what your paper is going to be all about” Fairley said.
Fairley adds that all newspapers should have a staff manual. This is important to the staff members so each member knows who does what and the rules and rights they have in a high school setting.
Fairley gives many tips to help better student articles. She said to “Invite controversy and most of all promote teamwork.” She said she recommends the maestroconcept to improve student stories.
“The maestro concept will make any paper you are writing better,” said Fairley.
The class was very conversational; each student was asked how many people are on staff and how many pages and times the paper is published. She made sure to answer most of the problems students run into, such as getting people to work, deadlines, and getting students to care about their school paper.
The Auburn professor gave students several websites to take back to their newspaper for help, such as hsj.org and newsu.org. She also recommends Tim Harrower's book Inside Reporting.
“I made a list from her class of specific information that I could take back to my newspaper,” said Mackenzie Grant, a high school journalist from Florida.
Fairley addressed many problems that arise in a high school publication. Fairley said that she has discovered that many problems are there because there are no set goals for the students. She stresses that all newspapers should have a mission statement and include it in their paper. All members should write and agree to the mission statement.
“Get together and find out what your paper is going to be all about” Fairley said.
Fairley adds that all newspapers should have a staff manual. This is important to the staff members so each member knows who does what and the rules and rights they have in a high school setting.
Fairley gives many tips to help better student articles. She said to “Invite controversy and most of all promote teamwork.” She said she recommends the maestroconcept to improve student stories.
“The maestro concept will make any paper you are writing better,” said Fairley.
The class was very conversational; each student was asked how many people are on staff and how many pages and times the paper is published. She made sure to answer most of the problems students run into, such as getting people to work, deadlines, and getting students to care about their school paper.
The Auburn professor gave students several websites to take back to their newspaper for help, such as hsj.org and newsu.org. She also recommends Tim Harrower's book Inside Reporting.
“I made a list from her class of specific information that I could take back to my newspaper,” said Mackenzie Grant, a high school journalist from Florida.