Katherine Poythress

learning a lot

2010-07-02T22:02:00.003-04:00

I've been drinking from the fire hydrant again. Too many lessons learned to summarize all here, but a couple of highlights I don't want to forget:

Submit records requests for correspondence to ALL parties involved in the exchanges. That will help keep everybody honest and ensure nobody's burying the inconvenient parts of the conversation.
E-mail people — in advance, as follow-up, or just to plain get their attention if they're not returning your calls. I know they told us in J-school not to do this, but it helps prepare your sources for your phone calls. They're better prepared with answers for your questions, and it makes for higher-quality conversations almost every single time. Also, an e-mail, unlike a voicemail, continues sitting there as a reminder that they need to respond.
BE. TEACHABLE. I don't know even half of everything. Every suggestion or critique is an opportunity to learn.
Don't be afraid of people questioning you.
Be tenacious. Follow up, follow up, follow up, and get people's cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses.
Sit down face-to-face with key sources. Have lunch or coffee. Get to know them, let them get to know you and just talk story. It's better to establish solid relationships before you need something from them. They'll be more likely to help you later on. And you can get tons of story ideas from this practice.

OK, got lots to do today still — 4:10 p.m. on a Friday before a four-day weekend. Oy.

Ft. Benning

2010-03-10T23:50:00.002-05:00

Celebrating #Seussday

2010-03-02T12:31:00.002-05:00

Dear friends out in cyberland,

Today is the day we celebrate Dr. Seuss' birth, and for that occasion, of rhymes there should be no dearth. Horton may have heard a Who, but today readers across America want to hear from YOU.

So pick up your writing utensils, from keyboards to hand-crafted pencils; take a little time to craft a short rhyme. Channel the spirit of Dr. Seuss and your writing brain will surely come loose. Today is the day for procrastination as we recognize great books across the nation! So come join us please, on Blogger, Facebook or Twitter. Choose your own venue, but don't fail to remember great literature.

Confessions & Honor to the Profession

2010-02-16T21:45:00.009-05:00

OK, I admit it: I have been keeping an anonymous blog elsewhere, where I am able to be more...free, I suppose, with my thoughts. I update it much more frequently than I do this one. I am struggling to find the right balance for expressing my thoughts and observations without getting caught up in sharing my opinions.

I think it's too easy for journalists to compromise their integrity if they don't guard themselves against slugging in the cyber-streets with the outspoken factions of the online community. Sharing too freely also inevitably compromises (real or perceived) credibility — i.e. others' perception of a reporter's ability to impart information with an even and balanced hand. Doesn't it?

At any rate. My readers over "there" know what my profession is, although my name is in no way associated with the blog (and it's going to remain that way until I am comfortable making a complete and permanent move over here).

After a particularly engaging discussion in my comments section with an outspoken health care reform opponent this week, I received accolades from other bloggers I hadn't realized were reading my posts — much less the comments on them.

I have to share this, because it makes me happy. A private message from one of my more critical readers:

You did a very nice job defending your position on Universal Health care against ************s opposing views.

More often than not, I find her argument style to be too casually dismissive without backing up her position with any discernible specific details. She also has a habit of bringing up the words "The Constitution" as if the words alone support her argument over her opponents without "bothering" to name any details on how it supports her case.

Bravo to you for actually bringing the challenge to her by citing specific references of the Constitution and the founding fathers that would support Federal involvement in health care. Debating with someone where you are the only one doing the heavy lifting of citing references and supporting links can be tedious, time consuming, and require patience, but the fruit is showing your argument to be the stronger one. While it may not have swayed ************'s position on the matter, those who read the exchange will hopefully be led out of the darkness of misinformation and deceptive/biased talking heads and their MSM focal point.

Your non-biased sensible point of view is refreshing, and you give honor to your profession with that mindset/attitude. =)

I've had discussions with her, and found the task to be quite trying with her sporting a condescending attitude even when proven factually wrong in nearly all the points she was trying to make- and she usually starts arguing against alternate points which I never made....as I see she was attempting to do with you. That's one of the reasons why I liked reading your exchange- you kept the discussion on track and didn't let it veer off.

I'm continually shocked by some articles that people attempt to pass as professional journalism. I see so much biased/straw-man reporting that it depresses me at times as to where the future of journalism is headed, as it seems that the masses can be more easily sucked in by the pretty lie than the uncomfortable truth.

Seeing reporters like yourself gives me hope that the future in news need not be as bleak as I sometimes think.

G

I am sharing this not because I wish to gloat about those kind words directed at me, but because the feedback encourages me that I may not necessarily have to be so guarded in public places. And I want to start opening this blog up more for authentic discussion and learning; not despite the possibility of compromising me and my fellow journalists, but because I want to help reinstate the public's trust in professional journalism and those who commit it.

iWant

2010-02-16T13:19:00.010-05:00

I am a child of the digital age, and I warmly embrace this fact. I also live and breathe journalism.

That said, my birthday is coming up, and I have some work-related wants. Make a note of it.*

Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 lens

Olympus digital voice recorder with USB interface. There are several models. I'm not picky, as long as sound quality is good.

What's not to love about alphabet ice?

Newspaper wallet. To go with the newspaper tote bag @sharongracepjs gave me for my 24th birthday.

Some of the items inspired by this wish list for journalists.

Also, I hear we can make directories of our wants at wishtracker.net.

*I'm kidding. I don't expect anyone to buy these things for me. I'll probably beat you to it.

Homelessness Project | Images

2010-01-23T13:50:00.004-05:00

*Note: If you are interested in reading all the stories in their entirety, check out the Web edition here. All the stories and photo galleries should be linked to one another.

Now. As for the print edition...

A1 teasers for the week leading up to the special section's publication. I only saved three of the papers from that week, evidently.

Rack card, which went in our newsstands for the week leading up to publication.

A1 the day of publication. With an explanatory column about why and how we did the project.

D1: A special presentation by...

D2-D3

D5

D6

The greatest lessons...

2010-01-05T17:49:00.006-05:00

aren't the ones we expect we'll learn. They are unexpected, hiding in the shadows of all the great things we try to accomplish.

From October through December 2009, I tackled what grew into the largest and most ambitious project of my young journalism career.

It all sprang from a seemingly small idea: to write a profile of a homeless person. The profile would give a little more meaning to some statistical data released by the Homelessness Coalition in our coverage area.

Then I learned a close friend of mine from college had ended up living on the streets of Minneapolis for a while. Although she retained her job, she couldn't afford to make rent for several weeks.

It shifted the angle of my homelessness project from just a profile to a project geared toward addressing the stereotypes we have of those who end up homeless: are the stereotypes true, and if not, how are they wrong?

I knew grappling with a subject that big and involved would take more than one story. It would take a series. Or, as my editors later advised, a special section.

So began my journey to the shelters, alleyways, vacant homes and hand-built camp sites where I learned the personal stories of countless displaced individuals. Getting them to talk frankly was never the challenge; getting them to go on record was the difficult part.

Photos, video and audio were also a sensitive issue with many. One subject demanded her entire story be removed from the special section, because she feared her photo being published.

With a team of seven from our newsroom — two reporters, two photographers, a Web producer, a graphic designer and an associate editor — we completed a six-page special section: "When Homelessness Hits Home."

I learned countless things in the process of producing my first special section, but here are some highlights:

When embarking on a large project, first pitch it thoroughly to all your colleagues and superiors. Test their receptivity and interest.
Find out who is on your team before you begin.
Ask questions, and keep your managers/editors in the loop.
If you need a bodyguard, don't be afraid to ask.
Be specific when delegating responsibilities. Who needs to do what when?
Give yourself plenty of time to complete the task. Don't rush it, and don't rush your sources. If you want to get to know them, spend time with them while they're going about their daily tasks.
Give yourself and your team early incremental deadlines. Be flexible with them, but don't ignore them or you will regret it.
Multi-task. If you're a reporter and you have a camera, keep it with you in case you get the rare chance to capture those moments that are so hard to recreate.
Have meetings. Everyone hates meetings, but a well-run meeting can keep everybody running in the same direction and relieve a lot of stress for you as project manager.
If possible, have the project put together well in advance of its publication date, to give you time to decompress before seeing it in print.
Promote it!

Public Records: Use Them

2010-01-02T22:48:00.002-05:00

Cross-check names against public records. Not just names, but everything. Document-based journalism is the context we need for meaningful stories. News without context is just noise, as one of my mentors pointed out.

In Series...

2009-10-31T18:36:00.005-04:00

A few things I'm learning as I work on an ambitious series to run at the end of the year:

Plan, plan, plan. Try to map out ahead of time what stories you will have and in what order; when you want to run them and how.
If you are working with someone else, be sure to delegate and let the other people pull their own weight.
Communicate. Bring the other reporters, photographers, editors and Web producers inside your head so they can know where the project is going and can offer help in their areas of expertise.
Make and meet self-imposed deadlines. Any series is going to require a lot of interview and writing time, so be sure to do interviews early and keep up with your notes and transcriptions. Give yourself early deadlines for each story so you don't try to cram all your information through a bottleneck of time near the publication date.
Pace yourself. Don't do all your interviews in one night. Try to seize on your free moments in the regular workday to make progress, instead of waiting to block off an entire day to work on the project.
Don't overdo it. It might sound awesome to have photos, graphics, video AND audio slideshows to go with all your text stories, but sometimes attempts at complementing can turn into redundancy. Determine the most effective way to tell each element of the story, and don't overtell it.
ASK for help when you need it. If you're beginning to feel in over your head, remember there are others in the newsroom who might enjoy a piece of your action.
Have fun. Remember why on earth you decided to take on this project in the first place, and love every minute of it.

Grand juries: what they didn't teach me in civics

2009-10-01T18:04:00.006-04:00

Nothing will show you how much you don't know about government and the justice system as effectively as splashing into local news coverage as a cub reporter.

You will find yourself asking what the difference is between a regular jury and a grand jury, the difference between civil and criminal lawsuits, what role the municipal councils have with relation to the county commission, why there are county schools in cities that have school systems and so forth.

And you will learn the hard way. The answers to some of these questions will depend on where you work. Each city, county and state has its own unique operational characteristics.

The answer to the grand jury question, by the way, is here, from uscourts.gov:

''A grand jury decides if there is a probable cause to indict (accuse) individuals or corporations on criminal charges based upon the evidence presented. Grand jury sessions are held in a private room with only the grand jury, which consists of 23 individuals, government lawyers, court reporters, an interpreter if needed, and the witnesses to be heard, all under oath."

The U.S. Constitution's Fifth Amendment requires a grand jury indictment for federal criminal charges. According to the American Bar Association, every federal jurisdiction has one, and it usually sits for about five or six consecutive days per month. Some states don't use them, however; other states in the subset that do use them require their indictment for only certain crimes.

In leaving: reflecting on what my readers and sources taught me

2009-08-24T11:18:00.003-04:00

Aug. 7, 2009

When I started work here a year ago, I never suspected leaving my post at the southern bureau of this local paper would be so bittersweet.

If I have learned nothing else in the last 13 months, it is that the news – good and bad – never ends. There will always be new projects to work on and old projects to plug away at, and no matter what time you choose to move on, there will always be loose ends. In the last several weeks, I have learned to accept that some things get left unfinished. I hope, though, I am not merely leaving, but instead leaving my successor(s) with some things to carry forward – like some of these stories I wish I could have seen through before my departure:

The opening of the new Mexican restaurant in this city. In a county hit so hard by the economic recession, good news is now even better news.
The passage of a telecommunications ordinance that would allow construction of cellular towers that would improve mobile phone service for residents.
The case of a shooting involving a member of the police force. The shooting happened 10 months ago and I have written more than a dozen stories on its various aspects, but its late placement on the grand jury docket means my colleague will take the torch from here.
The new school year. A year of hope and countless stories within stories about children I have met, children of people I have met, and children I never got the opportunity to meet.
An examination into why this county has no drug court, and what having one might mean for the citizens here.
The completion of new garden homes in a nearby tiny town, and what it will mean for their local economy as well as the economy in nearby cities.
The construction of a new independent-living facility for the seniors in this city.
Resolution and conclusion of the citizens' law suit against a nearby waste management company.

I don’t flatter myself that my work has done wonders for the south end of this county -- after all, I was following in legendary footsteps – but I know the cities I covered have done wonders for me.

Each article I reported deepened the realization that every story has more than one, or even two sides. Most have many sides, and all deserve to be told.

The people of this coverage area, in a hundred ways in hundreds of days, have taught me something of even more importance when I think about my future: the vitality of the local newspaper. By vitality, I mean two things: the local newspaper’s ability to thrive during the hard times, and as an extension of that, its utter, incalculable importance and value to the community.

The local paper’s vitality is evident when at a 9 a.m. city council meeting, the only people present are the council members, reporters from the local news outlets, and a handful of civic leaders. The actions taken by the council are no less weighty by having only five people present instead of 50, and it is up to your local newspaper to report those actions to those who can’t be there themselves.

A 7 a.m. school board meeting draws even fewer attendees, but your local newspaper will have someone there to hold your elected officials accountable for your tax dollars.

When others stop caring, your reporter will care – about the big stories and the small ones. Not just because it’s our job and we have to, but because it’s our life.

We work long hours to put information in your hands that will empower you to remain involved in this democratic government that allows its citizens to help shape policies.

I didn’t come to this conclusion alone. The readers and residents in my coverage areas taught me, as some demonstrated what could be done, and others resigned themselves, thinking they could do nothing.

Regardless of your agreement or disagreement with perceived positions in a newspaper or on a television station, remember it is dedicated to preserving your freedoms by giving you information. It is up to you what to do with it, but we would fail miserably at our jobs if we did not at least supply it.

“Knowledge is power,” the cliché goes, but I think John Peter Zenger, a father of the American free press, phrased it more eloquently when he said, "No nation, ancient or modern, ever lost the liberty of speaking freely, writing, or publishing their sentiments, but forthwith lost their liberty in general and became slaves.”

Salary Cuts: The Least Unsavory Option

2009-06-04T15:56:00.006-04:00

Yesterday, our company's board of directors announced they would be cutting salaries by 10 percent across the board, effective next month. The news was sad, but given the employee-generated speculations about possible bureau closings or layoffs, most of us were relieved to receive the cuts instead.

"Everybody still has a job," our managing editor said as a preface to the bad news.

As a small paper committed to hyper-local coverage (for us, this is not just a buzz word; it's what we do), we were disappointed that, along with countless papers and news publications across the country, we had lost enough advertising revenue to make such dramatic measures necessary. Because of the nature of our business, it can sometimes take a little longer for us to feel the impact of a recessed economy, but we finally did. Many business closings in the area have had a direct effect on our advertising sales, and as the remaining ones cinch their belts, so do we.

The news came as a blow to me, who as a fresh-out-of-college cub reporter has nearly every dollar budgeted for specific and necessary purposes. Reporters don't make that much. Cub reporters make less. Cub reporters in an ailing economy make even less.

That said, I applaud my company for choosing salary cuts rather than layoffs. It would be at best difficult to manage on a staff any smaller than the one we already have. Although everyone here is bummed about smaller paychecks, we still feel like a team who can and will pull through this tough time together, instead of a decimated staff whose members pick up the slack for those laid off and wonder, "am I next?"

Of all the options a company could choose to mitigate lost revenue, I think a salary cut is the least unsavory. After all, we could have each taken five weeks of furlough, or been out a job entirely.

Follow-Through on Developing Stories

2009-06-04T15:07:00.003-04:00

In my 11 months here, perhaps one of the most valuable lessons I've learned is that of the importance to follow through on ongoing, developing stories.

Even in a small town, most events signify a series of smaller events leading up to them. For example, a community-wide Thanksgiving dinner is not just a dinner; it's supported by weeks and even months of planning, fundraising, advertising, organizing and volunteering. Each of those aspects can represent its own story -- or stories.

In my coverage area, the arrival of a new Veterans Administration community-based outpatient clinic was newsworthy enough to garner months of attention in the form of stories on the negotiating and construction processes. The day the clinic opened was only one news story among a long series of them leading up to its ribbon-cutting. Three reporters cycled through that beat between the planning stage and the clinic's completion, but we all recognized the imperative to continue covering its progress. And now I plan to follow up with more pieces outlining the impact it has on the veterans community, new employees and local area.

Another story on my beat that has required proactive and consistent follow-through has been the Tony Martin Jr. shooting, which occurred in October. Since then, I have written no fewer than 12 stories about the investigation process, public officials withholding documents pertaining to the case, attorneys' statements and plans, case filings and court hearings.

The benefit to following these stories through is not only that you as a reporter will produce more (and more interesting) copy, but that each story will be placed in a wide context, giving readers a deeper and broader perspective on their community and the persons in it.

Furthermore, this practice gives you an opportunity to develop a sweet rapport with your sources, who will begin calling you with new information before you have to ask.

late blossoms

2009-05-29T12:47:00.003-04:00

red all over

2009-04-21T00:58:00.002-04:00

Now is as good a time as any to admit I've been branching out a little bit into photojournalism. Unlike many who pick up a camera in order to make themselves more marketable in the new media world, I picked up my Canon Rebel XT because I have always loved photography and the stories pictures can tell.

I haven't quite figured out the relationship between my writing and my photography yet (I'm discouraged from taking my own photos for my stories, so I am mostly a hobby photographer at the moment), but I do enjoy both and can only hope one day they will be inextricable from one another and from my identity as a journalist.

They say about newspapers that they're black and white and re(a)d all over. The building behind our bureau is red all over, and I thought this somewhat fitting to the newspaper theme.

And so it goes: Another one bites the dust

2009-03-16T18:41:00.002-04:00

Instead of growing more apathetic and desensitized to the demise of my fellow newspapers all over the country, each paper fold cuts my heart more deeply to the core. Today Hearst announced the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (P-I, as we call it in the journo world and in the NW region) is putting its last paper to bed tonight.

Thankfully, unlike the Rocky, the P-I will be staying in business in a fully-digital format.

What that means for the staff: reduction from 150+ employees to around 20. I can't help wondering what it would feel like to be one of the 20. I'd be relieved, but I imagine the object of much envy and bitterness. It would suck.

My Seattle Courant contact wrote about it from the unique perspective of an already online-exclusive news source in the same city.

Tweeted:

“Seattlepi.com isn't a newspaper online—it’s an effort to craft a...dig biz w/a robust, comm. news & inf. Web site at its core.” --Swartz.

RT @moniguzman Mng. Ed. McCumber at last P-I budget meeting: "We're gonna put out a great @$#% newspaper today. Any questions?"

It is not the end of the world as we know it, but it makes a lot of us wonder where we're heading and how long we'll have jobs. The bread-and-butter of newspapering is disappearing, and so those of us trained in the great news reporting tradition feel our skills becoming obsolete.

Oddly, in the midst of all this horror, the local community newspaper seems to be doing well in comparison with the corporate-owned larger city and national newspapers. But how long will that last? Do enough citizens out there care anymore that their most effective mediator to the government is being slain? And not in the dark of the night, but in front of their very eyes in the broadest of daylight?

Do they realize that when the newspaper as such is gone, so is their freedom of speech and their ability to participate in democracy? Who will inform them, when this bloodbath is finished?

What does your local newspaper mean to you and your community?
Does it effectively fill its role as a public watchdog?
Does it seem to be surviving?
Are you reading it?
How could it better meet your community's needs?

Please share thoughts. I particularly want to hear from the readers.

Final salute to The Rocky Mountain News

2009-02-26T14:23:00.009-05:00

The Rocky Mountain News announced today it is printing its final edition Friday (tomorrow) -- two weeks shy of its would-have-been 150th anniversary.

This is a sad day for newspapers everywhere.

"It's strange to cover your own funeral," the RMN Twitterfeed read a few minutes ago.

And earlier, I shuddered at this: "Temple tells reporters that a lot of stories they've been working on will not see the light of day."

My grief is especially acute over this newspaper fold, over all other folds and staff cuts announced in the last year. I am not sure exactly why, but maybe because of the examples used in my journalism classes from that paper. It was a model for doing many things the right way. I grew attached to it early in my journalism career, before I was even a full-fledged cub reporter.

A lump formed in my throat as these Tweets came through:

"In news meeting, puffy-eyed Managing Editor is handing out assignments. The conference room is quiet but everyone is engaged."

"People are worried about their futures but the focus is still on the paper and web site."

"Newsroom atmosphere: Designers are huddled around white boards, looking at story assignments. Editors are huddled with reporters."

In honor of the paper's last day, and in memory of its longstanding status as Colorado's oldest newspaper, I share with you one of my favorite special reports, ever. And it just happened to be published at The Rocky Mountain News.

Apropos of this occasion, the special report is entited "Final Salute." Pull out your hankie, and enjoy.

RIP, Rocky

Uncover hidden racial biases

2009-02-26T01:00:00.000-05:00

So, there's been a lot of talk about racism this Black History Month. Aside from the New York Post snafu, it's been a pretty good one, says opinionator Charles Blow at the NYTimes.

He wrote a column you should read.

As encouragement to have more frank dialogue about the still-not-dead racism in America, he suggests readers take this Implicit racial bias test for themselves, to see what, if any subconscious racial biases they might have. It's rather cool, and only takes about 10 minutes of your time. Prepare to be surprised, and don't get offended. Read Blow's column first, to understand the importance of uncovering these hidden prejudices.

The Race ('Black - White' IAT) is the one everybody's been taking. Including me.

In defense of Twitter

2009-02-12T16:42:00.003-05:00

It's high time I put forth an official endorsement for Twitter.

WHY

Before you stop reading, and before you hurl assumptions at me about it being "just another facebook-like status update forum," please pause and consider the following:

The dirty secret to using Twitter successfully is NOT to answer the question, "What are you doing?"
It has a number of uses, depending on your communication style and your purpose in using it: Journalists, entrepeneurs, public relations specialists, marketing directors, family members, bartenders and techies alike join in the conversation and enjoy it.
Its 140-character posting limits require conciseness heretofore foreign to the blogging world.
You can easily find and follow people in your career field, sharing tips and information.
It's a great networking tool, especially for job seekers.
It's all about who you follow. Sure, if you follow mostly your friends, it's likely not going to be all that enlightening or exciting. I recommend sticking with only your closest friends, and following mostly those in your field who rock at what they do. They've got the winning tips for you.
Own a business? Work for one? Two words: viral marketing.
Lots and lots of supporting apps: everything from Twitterific to your cell phone's text messaging feature to TweetDeck. You can Tweet from just about anywhere in the world.
Sharing. information. in its truest form, sans accompaniment of long-winded third-party opinions.

So learn stuff.

Widen your network.

Listen in on the thoughts of experts. Interact and converse with them.

Spread the word. Share the love. Pass on information. Start a buzz. Stay in the loop.

HOW

A number of blogs list the unspoken rules of Twitter, and I've found Jeff Blankenburg's most helpful for new users of all types.

My personal experience with Twitter has definitely been a journey. I started in late summer last year just following a few people I knew, and quickly grew bored with it (since I could read their statuses on Facebook if I was really that interested).

I honestly don't remember what drew me back in, but it was probably all the encouragement from Poynter and the Society of Professional Journalists, since most journos are doing a lot of their communicating via Twitter -- even live Tweetcasts from, say, WH press conferences (loved reading those).

I got lucky and stumbled on a couple of high-energy journalists who enthusiastically kept recommending and "retweeting" (taking a Tweet from another Tweeter and passing it along, with credit, to your "followers," who are the ones reading your Tweets) other leading names in the field who in turn posted helpful links, thoughts and advice. Ever since, I've begun increasing the number and quality of people I follow, discovering masters of my field I had never even heard of. I have thus ended up reading far more interesting, varied and in-depth coverage of both headline and off-beat news, as well as insider news and analysis.

(My favorites to follow, for the record, are @jayrosen_NYU, @problogger, @suzanneyada, @jemimakiss, @Poynter, @jiconoclast.and @jeffjarvis.)

I took the leap this week in unlocking my Twitter feed, which has increased my following exponentially. Leading journos from all over the world are now reading my feed, and mostly just because I'm following awesome people and sharing the love; the educational value of the information we're all passing along through our network is priceless.

The key, I have found, is in finding the people worth following, and doing just that. Don't join Twitter just to broadcast your daily activities and thoughts or rants. Read. Listen. Think. Share.

Twitter, for me, is like a many-faceted newsfeed, almost like watching stories stream in on the AP wire. Only it's more diverse, it's more personal, it's more tailorable and it's quicker.

It has made me a faster reader, a better sharer; it's opened my eyes to trends and encouraged me in my professionalism and continuing education; it's given me a plethora of news reporting resources I never would have heard of otherwise. It has finally, but not least of all, connected me with people who can help me do anything from getting driving directions; to landing a new job; to discovering keyboard shortcuts for a task I want to do more quickly; to finding a helpful article about any topic I can dream up.

Stephen Baker at BusinessWeek wrote more than nine months ago in awe of the Twitter phenomenon:

"Businesses such as H&R Block (HRB) and Zappos are now using Twitter to respond to customer queries. Market researchers look to it to scope out minute-by-minute trends. Media groups are focusing on Twitterers as first-to-the-scene reporters. (They were on top of the May 12 China earthquake within minutes.) Loads of new applications and services are growing around the Twitter platform, leading some to suggest that the microblogging service could become a powerhouse in social media."

It is a powerhouse now.

It's viral.

It's Twitter.

How news outlets can survive: dispelling myths about newspaper revenue

2009-01-15T13:25:00.003-05:00

This is the part where I explain that people are wrong when they look at me enviously and say, "You're so lucky, working in news, because you know your job is safe."

Nuh-uh. I am not safe.

Gannett's approximately 40,000 reporters, editors, techies and other news support employees nationwide have been ordered to participate in a companywide weeklong furlough.

Story here.

I know several Gannett employees, and this is kind of lame for them, but it's a reasonable short-term solution to the pinch all of us news outlets are feeling due to the archaic business model our publishing companies cling to so tenaciously. Anyway, a furlough is better than a permanent layoff, any day.

Inside my company, we have faced a salary freeze, and our Christmas bonuses were reduced from previous years.

These are not acceptable long-term solutions, however. Long-term solutions will be far more revolutionary, and will require a better understanding of where our revenue comes from.

Most people assume these penny-pinching moves mean fewer people are reading the news, because they believe news outlets make money from circulation and subscriptions. This is absolutely not true -- if it were, how would you explain, say, network news' income?

Another common myth is that newspaper subscriptions ought naturally to increase during times of recession, because "people are looking for job listings, right?" Wrong.

First of all, it's a lot easier to look for and apply for jobs online, these days, than to read the Classifieds.

Second, news outlets make money in advertising -- not subscriptions. Approximately 10 percent of our revenue comes from subscriptions. The other 90 percent? You guessed it: our advertisers.

So, naturally, when the economy is in a recession and businesses are closing and cutting expenses, newspapers suffer. We have fewer advertisers, and the ones we are able to retain purchase smaller and fewer ads. The number of our pages is reduced, therefore the need for copy is reduced, so the need to employ as many people to produce, edit and print the copy is also reduced. You see?

That does not, however, mean fewer people are reading the news. They ARE reading the news, just in a more convenient and cheaper format: the Internet.

A good way to respond to our hurting economy is to make ads cheaper, so more businesses are able to afford them. The best way to do this is to reduce overhead, and we could do that by transitioning to the Internet and reducing paper/ink use.

A great way to make those ads even more appealing is to ensure they will have a larger audience. We can do THAT by offering more and better content on the Internet, augmenting what we have in print. Continuous updates throughout the day, multimedia packaging (slide shows, video, audio, etc), blogs, etc.

There are a lot of ongoing discussions here among paper editors about utilizing the Internet more effectively (we could use it, for sure). Our ads people are the biggest opponents, ironically.

Wish they realized, if they don't jump on board and make this new model work, there won't BE a news outlet anymore, much less ads to sell for it.

Sorry to say it, but our aging population in this area will soon be gone, and at that point, we will be contending for the attention of two generations who rely almost exclusively on the Internet for their news, shopping and networking (among countless other things). They will not be reading the paper, and our advertisers will not be willing to pay for ads in a paper nobody reads.

This sounds fatalistic, but I firmly believe this situation can be improved by letting go of the traditional media business model and leaping into the 21st Century with the rest of the world. Reporters and news outlets are not a dying breed, their job descriptions are merely changing. Their bosses just need to accept this and accommodate it.

Photos

2009-01-05T17:45:00.004-05:00

My Flickr Stream

Sets & Galleries

In response to the "grammar NAZIS" accusation...

2008-12-08T14:04:00.005-05:00

[In case you haven't already, you really ought to go read Jonathan's post in which he rather forcefully denounces "grammar NAZIS." I then invite you -- no -- implore you to come back and read my response, below.]

Dear Jonathan,

I understand some of your frustration, and I try to maintain an attitude of understanding and lenience toward some misuses and abuses of the English language in this era -- because, as you said, language is constantly evolving.

I am most forgiving in the texting realm; less so in the blogging realm, because people who blog generally have access to full keyboards, complete with a handy backspace option. You will notice, however, that I nearly always refrain from correcting and thereby making enemies of my fellow bloggers. I simply endure, and try to make heads or tails of some brilliant ideas buried underneath piles of misplaced apostrophes, run-on sentences and atrocious to/too/two confusion. The paucity of semicolons I will reserve for another post later on.

Notwithstanding my and anybody else's endurance of grammatical errors galore, the evolution of language does not excuse those who abuse the communication tool. People who speak and write in the language (and want to make a contribution to the already-BEYOND-overwhelming mass of published work -- much of it grammatically sound) really don't have a good excuse for not knowing its (not it's) proper uses.

Plenty of grammarians break language rules all the time, but they do it with precise intention, and for a useful purpose. And you can tell the difference between their intellectual rebellion and the outright ignorance so prevalent among bloggers and other writers of this brave new writing world.

For example, the evolution of a word like "text" from a noun into a verb is an intelligent, useful linguistic development. It demonstrates not only technological and societal acumen, but a keen sense of style as well. The blurring of the apostrophe's proper place and function does neither.

All language abuses, misuses and other developments should be justifiable for the sake of clarity and better communication. Blogging world, take note.

Writing "your" when you really mean to say "you're" only places me under the mistaken impression that you are referring to a <noun> in my possession; how on earth am I to know you intended to address me directly if you do not say so? Confusion of possession/plurality/direct address is a serious grammatical crime.

All that said, I understand your frustration with people who comment on your posts only to criticize your grammar. My suggestion would be to a) make the suggested changes to your posts (heck, I have to proof and edit mine numerous times before I get them right) and b) to retaliate and criticize theirs in turn. This will be good practice for you, and it qualifies as community service, as you're helping to make the blogosphere a better place to communicate.

Incidentally, you claim you do not criticize people for trigonometric ineptitude; however, if they were attempting to communicate a trigonometric concept to you, you would find it offensive if they did not do their homework and understand the concept in full before trying to teach it or use it for an analogy. Otherwise, they're just wasting your time. People who purport to be good writers of things they want others to read ought to at least demonstrate a better-than-average grasp on the language in which they are trying to communicate; otherwise, they should lay (not lie) the pen down or step away from the keyboard.

I chose to post this on my own blog instead of in your comments section, in hopes you might be more likely to read it; and also, because you instructed grammarians not to comment if they only wanted to disagree with you.

Affectionately,

A faithful reader

Recommended reading:

For the mechanics of grammar:

"Working With Words" by Brian S. Brooks, James L. Pinson, and Jean Gaddy Wilson
"The Elements of Style" by William Strunk and E.B. White
"The Classic Guide to Writing Well" by Rudolph Flesch
[more to come later when I have had a chance to peruse my bookcase at home]

For style:

"Spunk & Bite: A Writer's Guide to Bold, Contemporary Style" by Arthur Plotnik
"Best Newspaper Writing" (any year, any editors. My personal favorite is the 2007 edition) -- this is a FABULOUS catalogue of exemplary writing in all styles.
"Writing With Style" by John R. Trimble
[again, more once I've had a chance to look through my library]

Why it's irrelevant what ring the president-elect MIGHT HAVE bought his wife

2008-12-02T13:56:00.001-05:00

There are several criteria for newsworthiness that journalists use ALL THE TIME to determine whether and how to pitch a story to their editors:

Timing: Is it a new event or development? We're going to skip over analysis of this one, since the "story" doesn't fit the other criteria and it therefore doesn't matter how timely it is.

Significance: Usually we measure this in number of people affected by the story. This affects, at most, five people. Obama, Michelle, their kids, and the alleged jeweler. None of us are affected by his personal decision, and this is a pretty darn good reason not to care. If the reporter thinks there's a good reason we should care, he/she should share that with us. Give impact to your story. Rule No. 1 in any good story: IMPACT.

Proximity: The U.K. is not really that close to the U.S., so they really have no business digging into the personal lives of our president-elect without significant cause to do so. For the sake of giving The Daily Mail the benefit of the doubt, geographical distance is not the only thing implied in proximity. It can also mean that a person/organization's situation is very similar to, you know, a lot of people's, and is therefore a microcosm of a larger trend/threat/what-have-you. A story that demonstrates good use of the proximity factor would be one people read and go, "Oh wow, I should keep that in mind," or "That could have been me." I don't really know of anyone doing that.

Prominence: This is the only newsworthiness criterion the ring fib fits. Because Obama is famous. If, say, Joe The Plumber bought a ring for his wife, we wouldn't -- wait, no, bad example. If your hubby bought you a new ring, I promise you it would not make the headlines. Because Obama is a prominent figure, anything and everything he does is automatically a candidate for at least the inside pages of your nearest newspaper.

Human Interest: Human interest stories can break a lot of the other rules of newsworthiness, because they're tearjerkers, inspirational pieces, amusing ones, etc. Their purpose is to evoke emotion. They often don't age quickly and are relatively timeless. The ring fib neither inspired, amused nor provoked weeping. Also, even for the two people who care today, who is going to care, say, next month?

From Bloody Sunday to our first black president

2008-11-08T12:58:00.001-05:00

One of the unique privileges to living and working in Alabama at a time like this, is there are a LOT of civil rights leaders who were participants in the most historic events in the movement to get equal voting rights (Selma, Montgomery); now, they have a black president. Following is a glimpse of what it took to get from there to where we are today.

A journey of 2 civil rights leaders:

While it evoked dancing in America’s streets and a new national holiday in Kenya, President-elect Barack Obama’s acceptance speech Tuesday night was met with a quieter joy by two civil rights leaders in Talladega County. Forty years ago they actively fought for the right of black people to vote, and they remember Bloody Sunday as a dark blot in the pages of America’s history book.
“I’ve been like everybody else: trying to savor the moment, trying to understand it, trying to define it; trying to explain it even to myself,” said an overwhelmed Horace L. Patterson Sr. of Talladega.
“It is a dream come true,” said Charles Woods of Childersburg. “I think it is a great day for America. We have truly shown that we are a country; that we’re united, and we have truly lived the dream of the Constitution.”
Patterson and Woods not only journeyed the road that led to the election of the first black man to the highest office in America; they helped to pave it, with their decades of involvement in civil rights activism. It was the same kind of hard work that President-elect Obama called upon Tuesday night for the purpose of remaking the nation, but this time as equals: “block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.” (more here)

bad journalism?

2008-09-25T23:25:00.002-04:00

My brother knows I'm always on the prowl for examples of bad journalism. Well, not on the prowl, exactly, but I appreciate having examples for demonstration purposes when I'm trying to explain the importance of GOOD journalism.

So Alex sent me this, knowing I would appreciate it: Xinhua publishes story about spaceship launch before event occurs.

I could jump on a soapbox aboout Chinese journalistic "ethics," but I'll simply leave the issue after mentioning other recent missteps:

-Broadcasting footage of a fireworks show during the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, that was not actually of the show taking place at the opening ceremony. It was pre-recorded, "because weather conditions might render the images blurry at the actual event" or some other such fiddle-faddle.

-Failing to point out that the little girl singing at the opening ceremony was in fact lip-synching, because somebody thought "the voice" girl wasn't pretty enough to, you know, be seen in public. Her name is Yang Peiyi, by the way, and she was "crushed," according to her teacher.

"When the deception was revealed and the controversy erupted, the Chinese media insisted that the two girls were quite content and “satisfied” with the switcheroo. But now comes evidence to the contrary." (Globe and Mail's Geoffrey York, Aug. 27, 2008)

Gadsden Times Archive

2008-08-24T11:25:00.023-04:00

Sidebar: Mayor recalls his club days

Homeless in Gadsden | The homeless: Our neighbors*

'Homeless, not helpless'

'The least of these'

From riches to rags

The 'new homeless': Homelessness by any other name...

Sidebar: Survivor made tough choices

*Katherine took the photos accompanying this story
**Katherine managed this project

Daily Home Archive

2008-07-24T22:52:00.025-04:00

NOTE: I am aware these links are now defunct. The new archiving system this publication uses makes them inaccessible now, so I will likely have to break these links and upload some PDFs of the clips at some point. Please bear with me.

Movie theater opening
Second try in 10 years to improve cellular coverage
Getting burned out
Kicking butt: Why and how to stop smoking
Planning commission to hold hearing on cell towers
4 injured in 2-car wreck on U.S. 280
Bicycling for books pays off
Community comes together
Residents request expedited hearing in REEF lawsuit
A letter to Dad on his special day
Childersburg Termites
Meeting over ballpark resolves some issues
Board approves request for bids
New beer legislation will be good for business, local vendors say
Fayetteville home to international ministry
Eight new businesses in Oak Grove since new year
(Newspaper wins 23 APME. APA awards)
How to deal with bullying in a positive manner
Ms. Rose is retiring after 40 years
He turned the town around
World War II veterans take honor flight
Board appoints search committee to find new director
More documents withheld from newspaper
Contract doesn't meet state standards
Lowered dropout rate garners city award
Missing person's body found in the river
Newspaper's request for contract denied
Contract executed without board's approval
Chemical disposal workers keep neighbors safe
Childersburg shooting case to go to grand jury
Company files for bankruptcy protection
Data: Need for workers to exceed number available by 2016
Storm causes power outages, damage
Hearing set on motion to compel in shooting suit
Council approves $1 per month garbage rate increase
Childersburg magazine is on hold for now
Coosa Pines paper mill still operational
Ricks arrested for grand larceny
Irregularities lead to Ricks' dismissal in NY
Indian-born and in pursuit of the American dream
The 'luckiest man on the face of the earth'
Company makes big investment; wants to give back to the community
13-year-old driver killed in accident
Italian eatery expands seating, menu
Lawyer: officer may remain silent
Safeguard breaks ground for new, bigger location
Indian-born and pursuing the American dream
Family demands answers
Grant committee tours city, begins assessment
Childersburg City Council appoints new police chief
Vote for Hall of Fame nominees
Female pilot feels 'close to heaven' when flying
Young volunteers warm aging hearts
Council supports board's decision
Board had deficit before received budget cuts
VA clinic opens doors
Non-hazardous solution being treated at local facility
Security breach affects local bank customers
Church burns
Sylacauga man dies in fire
Young hero honored
New arts academy to minister to community
City's first steps in improving downtown
Former Avondale employee volunteers time at the chamber
Ribbon cutting for VA clinic next month
Coming together for others: Press conference calls community members to action
Area students share in historic occasion
Radon Month reminder about radioactive gas
Art club spreads good will around
Pilot captured in Florida
Pilot jumps from plane, goes missing
'Overwhelming' turnout for job fair
Committee initiates relief efforts for unemployed
City asserts self-defense in shooting lawsuit
New Year's resolutions no longer a big deal
For BRIDGES, every student is a special case
What the spirit of Christmas means
Childersburg on financially solid ground
Catching the spirit of Christmas with a cop
24-year-old makes an impact in her community
Local libraries receive Web cams for military families
VA clinic only weeks away from opening
Paper plant institutes production cutbacks
Family files suit against city for wrongful death
Local printing plant closes its doors
Safety 'No. 1 priority' at AIB
Chateau Toots: 'A house full of friends'
A Christian response to an MTV generation
Council passes general operating budget
Cashier's jaw is broken in service station robbery
Giving thanks
Thanksgiving
Seniors receive -- and give -- during holidays
Food for holidays provided by area charities
Officer's attorney speaks out
Legal action filed in police shooting case: $10 million in damages claimed against city
City denies request for public document
Birthday at the shelter -- 10-year-old plans to help animals
One day's sales to go for Thanksgiving baskets
Childersburg will complete paving projects
Museum kicks off holiday season
Honoring those who served their country
'Tis the season to give to veterans
A journey of two civil rights leaders
Gas prices playing 'leapfrog' in area
New councils hold organizational meetings Monday
Family attorney alleges 'no just cause' in shooting
Construction on VA clinic is moving along
Brooks switching roles with his son at Boys Club
2 instead of 3 council members to serve on board
Old woes resurface over property, protocol
Their tax plans and you
Key Club walk helps raise money for Kiwanis park
ARF loses nearly $12,000 due to forged checks
Public hearing draws protests to proposed closing of road
Lakeside Hospice brings on the blues
Teen dies after being shot Sunday
Talladega County cities hold runoff elections
Grist Mill nears match for grant funds
The Temporary City: What it takes to put on race week
'Remember Masie' -- T-shirt sales benefit those struggling with cancer
Officer injured in routine traffic stop after being dragged alongside a car
Finding a home to suit the patient
When your loved one has Alzheimer's
AIDB celebrates 150 years of 'Ties That Bind'
The state of labor in Talladega, St. Clair counties
Allie is tiniest little worker for God, her mother says
New life for old buildings
Students learning how to save
Summer 2008 continues 3-year drought
Area ACT scores steadily creeping up
Local lenders say no need to be pessimistic about mortgage market
New Salter principal has been at school 16 years
How to get more insurance for your dollar through the bank
Copper thefts costing building owners a pretty penny
Everyday items used as drug paraphernalia
Things to consider before you take to two wheels
Many switching to more fuel-efficient vehicles
Junior volunteers cheer nursing home residents
After IndyMac: How safe is your money?

Follow-up

2008-06-27T18:03:00.003-04:00

Nothing feels better than getting a phone call or an e-mail from a source I used for a story today or last week or even last semester, thanking me for a fair and balanced story, or simply for "a job well done." Of course one is doing something wrong if that is all one receives in response to their articles (isn't it part of our job to point out controversy?), but every now and then it feels nice. On the opposite side of the same coin, it's good to know when I have missed the mark on a story—gotten a fact wrong, missed a key source, lost the reader on analysis, didn't get the answer to an important question—so I appreciate critical feedback as well.

On my own end, I hereby resolve to do a better job following up on stories by informing my sources when the articles are completed and published, so they may have the opportunity to see the finished product. This will naturally result in developing a relationship of trust between my sources and me, they will see how their involvement affects the larger picture, and it will drive traffic to the publications for which I write.

Everybody wins when follow-up is involved.

getting grown up (and published)

2008-06-27T17:57:00.002-04:00

This whole job hunt adventure is at least diversifying my portfolio a bit. Check out my latest byline at the Anniston Star today. Just sign up for the free 24-hour subscription to view the article, if you actually want to read it. If you don't, I guess you'll just have to take my word for it, until I figure out how to convert it to some file type I can upload here.

St. Clair Times Archive

2008-06-08T13:14:00.001-04:00

Employment rates remain high in St. Clair and its neighbor

Collegian Archive

2008-02-11T19:38:00.014-05:00

Movie Reviews

CNS Archive

2008-02-11T18:32:00.002-05:00

Contributions

Resumé

2008-02-10T17:02:00.015-05:00

Katherine Poythress
katherine(dot)poythress(at)gmail(dot)com

EMPLOYMENT:

Reporter-Host: Honolulu Civil Beat, civilbeat.com, Honolulu, Hawaii; March 2010-Present

Reporter/Staff Writer: The Gadsden Times, gadsdentimes.com, Gadsden, Ala.; Aug. 2009-March 2010

Actively sought opportunities to use multimedia like slideshows, audio and video to enhance stories
Proactively produced enterprise story ideas and worked to realize them
Consistently localized relevant news stories, bringing impact of national news home to readers

Bureau Reporter: The Daily Home, dailyhome.com, Talladega, Ala.; July 2008-Aug. 2009

Investigative reporting into local government, including series that effected resignations and ouster of several board members
Covered every aspect of two city beats, from council meetings to crime
Independently developed and followed through on enterprise story and feature ideas
Crafted monthly features for niche publication Lakeside Magazine
Maintained clear communication with editors, photographers and other reporters

Copy Editor: The Collegian, “Michigan’s Oldest College Newspaper,” Hillsdale, Mich.; Jan.-May 2008

Edited copy for Focus, features and opinions sections for grammar, accuracy and AP style
Mentored reporters through the steps of reporting and writing a story; helped with rewrites
Helped support the launch of a robust, production-ready Web site
Thoroughly covered hard news, sports, features and investigative stories
Produced multimedia coverage of stories and packaged content for the Web
Generated creative, engaging story and packaging ideas

Senior Reporter: Aug. 2007-Jan. 2008
Staff Reporter: Aug. 2006-May 2007
Freelancer: Aug. 2005-May 2006

INTERNSHIPS:
Staff Writer: Cybercast News Service, CNSNews.com, Alexandria, Va.; May-Aug. 2007

Covered hard news and political stories, producing and pursuing my own story ideas
Participated in investigative reporting with database construction and management
Learned to work closely with a partner, dividing labor and sharing ideas

Marketing/Advertising Intern: FSBOzone.com, “The Best Place to Buy or Sell A Home,” Birmingham, Ala.; May-Aug. 2005

Developed and carried out focused marketing campaigns
Wrote concise, energetic text for brochures, flyers, postcards, sales materials and blogs
Managed local and regional sales by building rapport with local press and associates

EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Arts, Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Mich., May 2008
Major/Concentration: English/Journalism
Graduate of the Herbert H. Dow II Journalism Program

Dow Leadership Conference Center: Student Leadership Program, Jan. 2007

Selected by administrators to participate in 58-hour executive leadership education course
Conducted extensive self analysis including individualized consultation
Engaged in team leadership development with projects based on group culture analysis and problem-solving

AWARDS:

First Place News Photography, 2010 SPJ Excellence in Journalism Awards, Hawaii Chapter
Finalist, Photo Essay, 2010 SPJ Excellence in Journalism Awards, Hawaii Chapter
First Place Non-Deadline Reporting in 2009 Alabama Associated Press Managing Editors Contest for "When Homelessness Hits Home"
First Place Best Special Section in 2009 Associated Press of Alabama Better Newspaper Contest for "When Homelessness Hits Home"
Second Place Best News Feature in 2010 Associated Press of Alabama Better Newspaper Contest for "Caution: Dangerous Reading Ahead"
First Place Community Service Journalism 2008, Associated Press of Alabama
First Place Sports News 2007 Michigan Press Association College Editorial Contest

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES:
Pi Beta Phi, Michigan Alpha Chapter:
Vice President of Finance: Jan. 2007-Jan.2008

Served on Executive Committee consisting of 8 other members
Managed a $180,000 budget
Created and enforced budgets for other 8 officers
Participated in weekly officer meetings to plan all-chapter meeting
Responsible for the collective finances of 80 girls
Paid household and other related bills in a timely manner
Created and mailed invoices for membership dues each semester
Educated members on financial obligations and financial etiquette
Assisted in the planning of social and philanthropic events

Awards Committee: Jan.-March 2006

Wrote letters nominating chapter members for regional, national and international awards

Mentor: Big Brothers/Big Sisters; Oct. 2006-present

Met weekly with little brother to hang out, talk and help him with homework
Encouraged good behavior and reinforced polite conduct
Assisted in planning and execution of social events

Participant: Hillsdale College Debate and Forensics; Aug. 2004-May 2007
Asst. Team Manager: Fall 2006

Researched for semester debate topics
Traveled to other colleges for tournaments in parliamentary style debate
Mentored debate students in research, writing cases and debate theory
Competed in extemporaneous and impromptu speech events
Attended week-long World Debate Institute at the University of Vermont, summer 2006

About

2008-02-10T16:40:00.018-05:00

Katherine Poythress is the education reporter-host for Honolulu Civil Beat.

She was formerly a staff writer for The Gadsden Times located in northeastern Alabama, where she earned two first-place awards for an in-depth feature project on homelessness. Her beats included the Rainbow City and Southside municipalities, Gadsden city schools, non-profit organizations, features and any enterprise projects she could squeeze in.

She holds a B.A. in English from Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Mich., where she was an active member of the Herbert H. Dow Journalism Program. She started out at her campus paper, the Hillsdale Collegian, timidly and self-consciously writing movie reviews, and graduated into a full-fledged reporting position after one year and much encouragement from her editors. She subsequently held the titles of senior reporter, copy editor and mentor.

Her career began in earnest when as a college junior she broke an investigative story that rocked the college sports department and garnered an award from the Michigan Press Association.

In summer 2007, Katherine interned as a staff writer for Cybercast News Service in Alexandria, Va. She focused her efforts on investigative journalism, though her hard news pieces were frequently the most-read stories of the week. She received numerous requests to appear on several national network television and radio shows to discuss her investigations.

After her 2008 graduation, she served as a reporter in the Sylacauga, Ala. bureau of The Daily Home, covering Talladega and St. Clair counties in eastern Alabama.

Her most important beat there turned out to be a publicly funded mental health board, after she produced several pieces that exposed deeply rooted local political corruption and resulted in the resignations of a renegade board director and several board members.

She, along with other Daily Home staff, received an award for Community Journalism in the 2008 Associated Press Managing Editors contest for a series on the issues of school dropouts and after-school programs.

Since she began her first journal at the age of 9, Katherine has been an insatiable writer and enjoys applying her skills to reporting and reviewing current events. She has a passion for hyperlocal news coverage and for what many term "watchdog journalism."

She is originally from Birmingham, Ala. and is the second oldest of eight children.

Her favorite hobbies (in no particular order) include reading, writing, running, photography, playing drums and piano, Frisbee, drinking coffee, cooking, browsing the dictionary, analyzing people, Sudoku, playing Scrabble and WordTwist online, collecting T-shirts she never wears, dabbling in interior design, reading children's books, playing with her brothers and (yes) cleaning.

Multimedia

2008-02-09T13:58:00.016-05:00

Teacher of the Year Dawn Beavers, Feb. 2010

Music in Education, Dec. 2009

United Way Flash Mob, Oct. 2009

GCHS Halftime Show, Aug. 2009

Sights and sounds of the student union