January Academy 2017

Welcome to the January Academy 2017 web page. Please note that this series of enrichment workshops, which will run from Jan. 5-27, 2017, is open to CUNY J-School students, alumni, applicants, select CUNY undergraduates (juniors and seniors only), Macaulay Honors College students, and invited guests.

Registration for Class of 2016 and 2017 students begins Nov. 21, 2016. Students will be emailed an Eventbrite registration link. The costs for the program have been factored into the regular student fees so current students pay nothing extra to sign up.

Alumni can start registering on Dec. 5, 2016 and get a discount on all classes. Alumni can email Jennifer Dale, jennifer.dale@journalism.cuny.edu, for the Eventbrite link to the courses and the special discount code.

Applicants and CUNY undergrads must register through the CUNY J-School Office of Admissions. Contact Admissions Director Colleen Leigh at 646-758-7852, colleen.leigh@journalism.cuny.edu.; or Associate Director of Admissions Maximo Patiño at 646-758-7704, maximo.patino@journalism.cuny.edu.

Please note that current students may sign up for a maximum of five courses each initially. Later in December, students may exceed that limit if there is space left in any course.

We reserve the right to cancel any course that does not have a minimum of eight registrants. Courses that don’t have specified caps on the number of students are limited only by the number of seats in the room.

THE COURSES

Thurs.-Fri.-Fri., Jan. 5, 6, 13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
News Photography – James Estrin – Room 438 (14 students max per section)
This workshop led by New York Times senior staff photographer and Lens Blog editor James Estrin will help you improve your photographic skills for use in all media. We will cover the technical and conceptual aspects of basic camera usage, composition, visual vocabulary, photo editing, lighting, and Photoshop. The workshop will concentrate on practical tools and problem solving. We will learn how to handle portraits, news conferences, politics, intimate photo essays, and international conflicts. We will also learn how to photograph while recording audio, shooting video,or reporting for print. An afternoon session will concentrate on producing audio slide shows and cross-platform storytelling. Whether you are a beginner or intermediate photographer, you will learn the tricks of the trade that professional photojournalists use. There will be assignments between Days 2 and 3. Students interested in taking the Photojournalism course in the spring are strongly encouraged to sign up for this workshop.
Not open to applicants.

Friday, Jan. 6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Photo Walkabout in the Bronx – Angel Franco – Students will meet at a location TBA in the Bronx – 15 students max
Learn the art of of street photography from Pulitzer Prize winner Angel Franco as he takes you on a photo tour of his native Bronx.
Not open to applicants.

Mon., Jan. 9, 10-11 a.m. for the orientation meeting
Intern with the NYCity News Service – Jere Hester – Newsroom

Pick up some clips in January, working with one of our award-winning news website. Interns will be required to attend a weekly news meeting as well as turn out at least one story a week (at least four pieces). You can bring in stories from the last semester that you’d like to further develop and/or pitch new pieces. Stories can be in any media; one of the things we’ll be working on is how to best package/present pieces. While there will be only one meeting a week, the day and time of which may vary depending on people’s schedules, reporters will be expected to keep in frequent contact with Hester on progress and contribute daily to an ideas Google Doc.
Not open to applicants.

Mon., Jan. 9, 10-11 a.m. for the orientation meeting – Contact the editors
Intern with Voices of NY or the Mott Haven Herald

These two multimedia news outlets are seeking students willing to commit to at least two weeks of reporting during the January break. Students would still be able to attend some January Academy sessions. It’s a great way to get some good clips and work with two strong editors. Those interested in interning at Voices should contact Editor Karen Pennar to discuss (Karen.pennar@journalism.cuny.edu) or visit her in Room 446. Those interested in interning at the Mott Haven Herald should be in touch with editor Joe Hirsch (joe.hirsch@journalism.cuny.edu).
Not open to applicants.

Mon., Jan. 9, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Writing a Television Script – Susan Farkas — Room 442

Writing words to video is a special skill.  In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn about story structure and the conventions of television news scriptwriting.  Taught by Emmy-award winning Professor Susan Farkas who wrote and oversaw the writing of hundreds of scripts in her time as a Senior and Executive Producer at NBC News and at the United Nations’ Radio and Television Service.
Not open to applicants.

Mon.-Tues., Jan. 9-10, 1-5 p.m.
Freelancing Workshop: How to Find and Sell Your Magazine Idea – Prof. Frederick Kaufman and Ellen Walterscheid – Room 308

We’ll cover such topics as generating ideas, understanding the market, getting to the right editor, pitching the story, revising the pitch, understanding the contract, negotiating a good price, and working with editors. Prof. Frederick Kaufman is a faculty member at the CUNY J-School and CUNY’s College of Staten Island and a veteran freelancer who has published work in Harper’s, The New York Times Magazine, Foreign Policy, Gourmet, Saveur, GQ, New York, Interview, Allure, Spin, Spy, Salon, Slate, Vice, Men’s Health, Scientific American, Popular Science, Nature, The New Yorker, and Wired, among many others. Walterscheid, the CUNY J-School’s founding career services director, has written for or edited publications including The Sciences, AARP The Magazine, and National Geographic World. She has also taught feature writing at New York University and served as writing coach for the CUNY J-School’s international students. Guests will include a legal expert (who will discuss such issues as copyright and how to read a freelance contract) and a panel of top editors from New York magazine, The New York Times Magazine, and Family Circle, who will critique student pitches. Note: Your pitch can be for one of those publications but doesn’t have to be. Once you sign up for the workshop, you’ll receive an email with further instructions. Focus is on the magazine/web market.

Section 1: Tues., Jan. 10; Wed., Jan. 11, 2:30-5:30 p.m.
(Section 2: Tues. Jan. 24; Wed. Jan. 25, 2:30-5:30 p.m.)
Voice Coaching Workshop – Michael Lysak – Room 330 (15 students max per section)

The workshop begins with a classroom lecture on the basics of broadcast announcing using audio samples to demonstrate concepts. Topics covered include diaphragmatic breathing, considering the audience, listener distractions, radio versus TV, reporting versus anchoring, differing styles, pacing, and sounding conversational. Practical exercises are taught and demonstrated. The second part of the workshop involves a hands-on voice coaching session in the radio studio. A professional radio newscast is played and analyzed. Students then read newscast scripts. After receiving immediate feedback and critique, students get the opportunity to try again, implementing the skills they have learned. Michael Lysak oversees operations for Bloomberg Radio’s national network and podcasts. Previously, he has been a news anchor and reporter at WCBS, WOR, WNEW and WRKS (Kiss-FM), all in New York City.
Not open to applicants.

Tues., Jan 10 and 17, 6-9 p.m.
Food Criticism — Ryan Sutton — Room 430

This two-session course will focus on criticism and commentary in modern food writing. During the first session we’ll analyze three of the most common kinds of food-related reviews: the restaurant review, the cookbook review, and gastronomic awards. In the second session, the instructor and class will critique the 500-word reviews each student will write on a restaurant, cookbook, or rankings list. Ryan Sutton is the chief food critic for Eater.com and the founding editor of The Price Hike and Big Deal blogs. He previously wrote about food for Bloomberg News.

Wed., Jan. 11, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Web Security – Prof. Sandeep Junnarkar – Room 436 (14 students max)

With the ongoing revelations of NSA snooping, we explore ways journalists can try to secure their digital files and communications. The process of fortifying your web and communications defenses is not simple. If a source asks you to take extra measures to protect his or her identity and you don’t already know how, it would take you far too long on the spot to figure it out. Workshop attendees must bring their laptops. Sandeep Junnarkar is head of the interactive journalism program at the CUNY J-School.
Not open to applicants.

Wednesday, Jan. 11, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
On Camera: Like It or Not – Susan Farkas and Fred Kaufman – Room 330 and Broadcast Studio

More and more reporters are being asked by their news organizations to speak on camera about the story they’re covering. Get the basics of how to do this without embarrassing yourself. The workshop will include on-camera work with some participants, followed by analysis shared with all.
Not open to applicants.

Wed., Jan. 11, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Covering the NYC Elections — Errol Louis — Room 308

Errol Louis, director of the Urban Reporting Program and host of Inside City Hall on NY1, brings his years of experience as a political reporter to a discussion of how to cover the 2017 election issues.

Wed., Jan. 11; Thurs., Jan. 12; Fri. Jan. 13, 12-3 p.m.
Documentary Story Structure – Sabrina S. Gordon – Room 430 (15 students max)

In this class, we will examine the step-by-step process of long-form story telling. We will focus on the use of the narrative three-act storytelling technique and explore different styles, such as cinema verite, investigative, and hybrid genres. We will also compare this to the process of producing short-form news pieces. Students will be assigned documentaries to watch, and they should come to the class with an idea they want to develop into a long-form piece. Motivated students are encouraged to bring in footage, assemblies, or rough cuts to be reviewed in class. Sabrina Schmidt Gordon is an award-winning documentary producer and editor based in NYC.  Her films include BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez about the poet, activist and pioneer of the Black Arts Movement, and “DOCUMENTED,” the story of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas’ life as an undocumented American and his fight for immigration reform.  Her other credits include producing and editing the acclaimed documentaries, “Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes” and “Mrs. Goundo’s Daughter,” and she is a contributing editor of “The New Black,” a documentary about marriage equality and the black church, directed by faculty member Yoruba Richen. She co-teaches Video Documentary at the CUNY J-School, and has guest lectured at Brooklyn College, New York University, the Independent Filmmaker Project, and the Jacob Burns Film Center.  She is an advisor to the Yale Visual Law Project and serves on many media panels and juries.
Not open to applicants.

Wed., Jan. 11, 2-5 p.m.
Organizing a Community Engagement Project — Adam Glenn — Room 430 

Want to enhance your journalism by working hand-in-hand with the community you cover? To gather sensor-based data with citizen scientists? To tell stories built on the narratives of local residents? To brainstorm solutions to neighborhood problems in collaboration with stakeholders? This workshop will help you put into action all those innovations and more, based on the principles of the exciting new field of social journalism. We’ll use as a case study the Harlem Heat Project, a summer-long project that explored the public health risks of urban heat waves. Workshop leader A. Adam Glenn, long-time environmental journalist and CUNY J School adjunct faculty member, coordinated the project with partners WNYC Radio, community-based organization WE ACT for Environmental Justice, scientists at City College, the developers of digital community weather journaling app ISeeChange and his own climate news site at AdaptNY. Get a step-by-step guide to the principles and practice of a successful community engagement project. And bring your own ideas for workshopping during our session.

Wed., Jan. 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
News Photography Workshop for Applicants and CUNY Undergrads – John Smock – Room 438 -14 students max
This workshop led by veteran photojournalist John Smock will help you improve your photographic skills for use in all media. We will cover the technical and conceptual aspects of basic camera usage, composition, visual vocabulary, photo editing, lighting, and Photoshop. You will learn how to handle portraits, news conferences, politics, intimate photo essays, and international conflicts. You will also learn how to photograph while recording audio, shooting video, or reporting for print. Whether you are a beginner or intermediate photographer, you will learn the tricks of the trade that professional photojournalists use. Students are encouraged to bring their own cameras, though the school has cameras available for them to use if needed.

Thurs., Jan. 12, 9 a.m.- 12 p.m.
Data Scraping – Prof. Sandeep Junnarkar – Room 436 (14 students max)
Automate the capture of information (data, images, URLS, etc) from websites to build your own datasets. This is an introduction to scraping for journalists and requires NO coding, but the basic ability to recognize HTML is helpful. Sandeep Junnarkar is head of the interactive journalism program at the CUNY J-School.
Not open to applicants.

Thurs., Jan. 12, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Politics, Power, & Money – Tom Robbins – Room 442 (25 students max)

The CUNY J-School’s investigative journalist in residence, Tom Robbins, explains how to use public databases to analyze the impact of campaign donors and lobbyists on local elected officials.Tom Robbins has been investigative journalist in residence at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism since February 2011, and  he manages the school’s Urban Reporting Grants Program.His series on violence in New York prisons, produced in collaboration with the Marshall Project and The New York Times, was named a 2016 Pulitzer Prize finalist for Investigative Reporting and won the 2016 Hillman Prize for Newspaper Journalism. The series included stories by Times reporters Michael Winerip and Michael Schwirtz. Robbins has been a columnist and staff writer at the Village Voice, the New York Daily News, and The New York Observer.

Thurs., Jan. 12, 2-5 p.m
How to Make Investigative Stories Sing Visually – Simon Surowicz – Room 330 (25 students max)

Learn how to turn investigative stories into compelling visual narratives. Investigative journalism delves beneath the surface to uncover the ugly truth about corruption and fraud, unsafe workplaces, abuse of power, sinister scams, and the abrogation of human rights. In this workshop, you will learn how to turn complicated investigations, borne out of solid reporting, into gripping visual stories that have the power to change the status quo. Simon Surowicz is an award-winning investigative producer with more than 20 years of experience in broadcast news. He has worked at NBC News, 60 Minutes, and ABC’s Investigative Unit where he launched and managed ABC’s Investigative website “The Blotter.” For the last four years, he has served as an adviser for the Columbia Documentary Project and now the Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism.

Fri., Jan. 13, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Fun with Animated GIFs – John Smock – Room 436 – 22 students max

This workshop taught by John Smock, director of the CUNYJ Photojournalism Program, will cover using Adobe Photoshop as a design tool with a special focus on GIF animations. New organizations today are experimenting with media content that combines elements of still photography with graphic design and video to tell stories in new and interesting ways. GIFs are a basic building block of this frontier.

Friday, Jan. 13, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Before It’s News: Automate the Flow of Story Ideas– Barbara Gray – Room 434 – 25 students max

Information Guru Gary Price of InfoDocket will show you the latest and best search and alerting tools and techniques to automate a constant flow of story ideas to your mobile device. Barbara Gray will moderate.

Friday, Jan. 13, 1-4 p.m.

Social Media Reporting on the Go – Melissa Noel & Mikhael Simmond — Room TK

Do you know how to pivot when breaking news changes your story? How about going live or providing social media updates as a story happens? This course – for multimedia journalists who report from the field – focuses on planning great social media engagement while on assignment and how to best to adapt stories when things don’t go as planned. Students must bring a smart phone; it doesn’t matter whether it’s Android or Apple. Melissa Noel is an award-winning multimedia journalist and 2012 alum of the CUNY J-School. She covers culture, business and the Caribbean, both domestically and internationally, for NBCnews.com, Voices of NY and Caribbean Beat Magazine. She is also a reporter and host for several Caribbean-based television networks. Mikhael Simmonds is a full-time NYC reporter and a 2013 alum who uses photography, videography, audio and print to tell compelling stories. He now runs the Harlem Focus media lab at the City College of New York, works with the 106-year-old Amsterdam News and reports internationally for various outlets. 

 Tues., Jan. 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Advanced Photoshop — John Smock — Room 438

Photoshop is much more than just a tool for editing photographs. It is also a powerful design platform. This workshop will show you how to created compelling graphics that combine text, multiple images and other design elements to be used in multimedia stories and your portfolio site. The workshops assumes an introductory knowledge of Photoshop.

Tues.-Wed., Jan. 17-18, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Not open to applicants.

Video Storytelling Intensive – Bob Sacha – Room 436 (14 students max)

Web video is hot: Video accounts for 50% of all Internet traffic and mobile video is set to explode. When you think of how easy it is to watch video on a smart phone or how beautiful video looks on an iPad, it’s no wonder that everyone wants more visual content on their screens. As a multiplatform journalist, it helps your job prospects if you know how to tell a story in more than one medium. This two-day workshop concentrates on video storytelling for the web, focusing on non-narrated stories of compelling characters and short, sharply focused pieces targeted for online viewing. We’ll talk about what type of stories work best for web video, finding strong characters, structuring stories, how to film and conduct an interview for a non-narrated piece, how to capture compelling visual sequences and finally, how to assemble a short video using Adobe Premiere. The mantra for the class will be “Show, don’t Tell!” This advanced class will be hands on, so you’ll need to be up to speed with Premiere and a professional video camera. You can see Bob Sacha’s work at www.bobsacha.com.
Not open to applicants.

Tuesday-Thursday, Jan. 17, 18, 19, 5-8:30 p.m.
The Crash Course on Covering Economics, Finance, and Business – Greg David – Jan. 17, Room 330; Jan. 18 and 19, Room 442

The United States is approaching the lowest jobless rate in almost a decade, the Federal Reserve Rate is mired in a quagmire over whether to raise interest rates, Republicans want to cut taxes for the rich and Democrats want to do something about inequality in the country. Meanwhile, the stock markets plunges and recovers, and companies like Apple see their profits soar and their stocks follow suit while an upstart called Uber is worth more than $40 billion or more than any established airline in the country. This three-night course for non-business students will cover the basics of of covering the economy, markets and companies while probing the most important issues of the day. The instructor is Greg David, director of the Business & Economics Reporting Program at the CUNY J-School. Some reading will be required.

Tues., Jan 17, 6-9 p.m.
How to Turn a Topic into a Story Idea — Andrew Marantz — Room 434 (25 students max)

The answer to the perennial “Where do you find your ideas?” question is this: Perfect ideas are not sitting in nature, waiting to be discovered. What actually happens is that you notice something — a bit of news, or maybe something more inchoate — and you start thinking about it. You turn it over in your mind, sharpen it, find some grain in it; you decide how you actually feel about it, figure out what drew you to it in the first place; you make some phone calls, draw up a list of people to talk to…until eventually, it’s not just a topic, not just an intriguing factoid, but a viable story idea. Now that all journalists essentially have access to the same information, the ability to hone ideas is more important than ever. There’s only so much of a competitive edge you can get by having a perfectly curated Twitter or RSS feed. Students should come to the class prepared to pitch three ideas, and we will work together to make them sharper. Andrew Marantz is an editor and writer at The New Yorker.

Wed., Jan 18th- 9am-12pm

Email newsletters: From idea to distribution- Priya Ganapati – Room 434

Email newsletters are becoming popular because they are easy to create and great for building a personal relationship with readers. Newsletters are also a good way to build your own media brand. We’ll cover topics such as best practices in newsletter design, writing for newsletters, growth and distribution strategies, revenue model, and technology platforms available for newsletters. Students will get an opportunity to come up with an idea for a newsletter based on their interests, design it and send it out to a list of subscribers. 

Thurs., Jan. 19, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Intro to Adobe Premiere – Bob Sacha – Room 436 (14 students max)

There’s a saying that films are made twice: once when they’re written and once when they’re edited. A fair number of news organizations, including The New York Times, use Adobe Premiere Pro as their primary video editing software. In this all day workshop taught by Bob Sacha, CUNY J-School’s Video Storytelling for the Web guru, you’ll get a basic introduction to the software. By the end of this hands-on session, you’ll have imported video and stills, created a basic edit and sound mix, title, and video story from the assets we provide.
Not open to applicants.

Thursday, Jan. 19, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Non-Fiction Book Writing – Prof. Glenn Lewis – Room 442 (22 students max)

Take this one-day crash course on the essentials of conceptualizing, researching, organizing, and writing a professional-level non-fiction book proposal. The seminar also focuses on techniques for reporting and writing non-fiction books. Students are given insights into negotiating book contracts as well. The session draws on Prof. Glenn Lewis’ experiences as a book packager, agent, writer, and book proposal doctor. Students should bring to the class a one-paragraph pitch for either one or two nonfiction books they might want to write. Guest speaker Stephen Morrow, executive editor of Dutton, will help evaluate pitches. Prof. Lewis is director of the journalism program at York College and is a consortial faculty member at the CUNY J-School.

Fri., Jan. 20, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Here Comes Virtual Reality — Bob Sacha — Room 332 (15 students max)

Virtual Reality storytelling is on the cusp of going mainstream. News organizations around the country are experimenting with how to transport viewers right onto the scene through immersive experiences. In this one-day, hands-on workshop, CUNYJ’s Tow Professor Bob Sacha will show you the ideal video shooting and editing techniques required to produce virtual environments. You’ll have an opportunity to be part of the production of a short 360 video piece during this workshop.

Mon., Jan. 23, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Smart Photos with Smart Phones – Jennifer A. Altman – Room 442 (20 students max per session)

Smart phones have created a new realm of photographic possibility for both professional and citizen journalists. Images produced with today’s smart phones now have sufficient quality to be published on all media platforms from digital to print. This course, led by photojournalist Jennifer S. Altman, will concentrate on making better pictures with your smart phone. We’ll discuss the history of the technology in today’s world of photojournalism and media, composition, exposure, how to capture decisive moments, as well as conceptualizing and developing an approach. We’ll examine the use of some popular apps and the controversial journalistic and ethical issues relating to post-production. The session will include time for students to make pictures while on assignment. The workshop will conclude with presentation and critique of participant work. Students must bring their iPhone or similar android device. Students are advised to bring their own computers as well. This will be a valuable and insightful experience for an amateur to a more advanced level of photographer.

Mon. Jan. 23, 2-6 p.m.
Photo 360 – John Smock – Room 438

VR/360 imagery is one of the fastest growing areas in visual journalism. From simple panoramas to full-on 360-degree photos, news organizations are using VR/360 still to illustrate important stories in new and innovative ways. This workshop will show you a variety of tools and techniques to compose, shoot and post compelling 360 degree still images.

Mon. Jan 23rd, Tues. Jan. 24th, Wed. Jan. 25th. 2-5pm
Before Publishing in Spanish – Alvaro Enrigue – Room 440

This workshop is designed to clear the way to intelligent and effective writing and self-editing in Spanish. We will wipe out the myths that link good non-fiction writing with an esoteric knowledge of how language works, using a wide array of tools that will trigger the participants’ ability to identify the morphologic and semantic weaknesses that divide what gets published of what is not.

 El taller está diseñado para aprender a producir una prosa inteligente y clara en español. Durante el curso vamos a distanciarnos de los mitos que asocian la escritura eficaz con un conocimiento esotérico del lenguaje, utilizando una serie de herramientas y estrategias que le permitirán a los estudiantes identificar las debilidades gramaticales que dividen lo que se publica de lo que no.

Mon., Jan. 23, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
The Business of Freelancing – Tim Harper – Room 442

If you don’t conduct your freelance career like a business, it’s not. It’s a hobby. Longtime freelancer Tim Harper, a J-School Craft professor and writing coach, offers tips and explanations — and inspiration — on various aspects of running a freelance writing business: marketing yourself and your work, negotiating contracts, record-keeping, taxes (and deductions) and more. He’ll talk about what to do to get the most out every story, including the small piece that goes viral overnight to the big book that will take years.

Tues.-Wed., Jan. 24-25, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Portrait Photography and Post-Production Photo Editing – Jennifer S. Altman, with Skyler Reid –Room 442 (15 students max)

In Part 1 of this two-session class led by photojournalist Jennifer S. Altman, we will cover a brief history of portraiture through various photographic genres and discuss the elements of basic portrait techniques. Students will be introduced to lighting equipment through strobes or flashes and continuous light sources and learn the how to use stands, backdrops, reflectors, gels, and essential accessories. We will address location scouting and how different lighting techniques are applied in practice. We will learn tips and tricks of professionals, such as making the subject feel comfortable and solving lighting problems. Participants will photograph each other. Part 2 is devoted to post-production photo editing skills. Participants will identify and retouch up to three selected images with supervision from the instructors. The workshop will conclude with presentation and critique of participant work. Students can bring their own cameras or check out gear from the school equipment room. They must have their own computers already loaded with with Adobe Photoshop and a sorting system (such as Adobe Bridge, iPhoto, or Photo Mechanic) to do hands-on editing. This will be a valuable and insightful experience for an amateur to a more advanced level of photographer.
Not open to applicants.

Tues., Jan. 24, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Travel Writing – Roslyn Bernstein – Room 434 (25 students max)

Who doesn’t like to travel? We all do, especially journalists who are curious about the world and who often feel compelled to tell the stories of people living in other cities: What is life like now in Pittsburgh, PA, where Google and Uber have replaced U.S. Steel; and why do thousands of tourists travel to Hoi An, Vietnam, where tailors make custom clothing. This workshop aims to prepare travel writers, whether full-time or merely those writing on vacations, with all of the skills they need to write compelling pieces: how to find and focus a story; how to pitch a story to an editor; how to set up contacts in advance; and how to report the piece. The workshop will include a discussion of popular and off-the-radar travel stories and students are encouraged to come to class with ideas for their own travel pieces since part of the session will involve their pitching a story. Roslyn Bernstein has reported from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Central America and the Far East.

Tues., Jan. 24, 2-5 p.m.
New Forms of Long Form – Tim Harper – Room 442 (30 students max)

This informal, discussion-heavy workshop will review traditional long form – including how to pitch a magazine story or do a book proposal – and move on to look at the way narrative nonfiction is being redefined in terms of reporting, structure, style, and of course, technology. We’ll look at how and why some narratives always work, and how the tried and true structures are being adapted today. We’ll talk about the investments, both time and money, that make up the long-form market for readers, publishers, and writers. If there’s a piece of writing you’d like to discuss, send it in advance to the workshop leader, CUNY J-School Craft professor and writing coach Tim Harper, an editorial/publishing consultant who has done a dozen books of his own and helped dozens of other individuals and institutions produce their manuscripts and get them published.

Wed., Jan. 25, 9-11 a.m.
Audio Workshop 01: Back to the Basics – Chad Bernhard – Room 436 – 14 students max (2 hours)
For students feeling behind on basic audio mixing skills. This would be ideal for people continuing on with radio classes but feel behind on the basic stuff. Problems with recording, problems with basic ProTools use. Problems with organization. Chad Bernhard is senior audio engineer at the CUNY J-School.
Not open to applicants.

Wed., Jan. 25, 2-5 p.m.
Breaking News: You have the Assignment. Now What? — Wonbo Woo – Room 430- 15 students max.

Journalists that regularly cover breaking news stories need to know how to get read in quickly and be resourceful about getting to a location and finding stories. We’ll talk about what you should always have in your go-bag, what you should always do before you go, and how to get started when you parachute into a story.

Thurs., Jan. 26, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Audio Workshop 02: Advanced Mixing – Chad Bernhard – Room 436 – 14 students max (4 hours)
This would cover larger multi-track projects focusing project organization, when and where to use volume automation, compression and equalization. This is for students who feel very comfortable with ProTools and want to push their skill set forward. Basics will not be covered in this and students requiring that should sign up for “Audio Workshop 01: Back to the Basics.” Chad Bernhard is senior audio engineer at the CUNY J-School.
Not open to applicants.

Thurs., Jan. 26, 2-5 p.m.
Copy Editing Before You Publish — Joanna Hernandez — Room 430

Copy editing in an ever-changing media landscape remains core to good journalism. The platform doesn’t lower the bar for editing standards. Copy editing enforces consistency, accuracy and fairness — however increasingly, journalists are expected to post stories directly online that have not been copy edited. And out of necessity, journalists are being asked to peer edit their colleagues’ work. In this three-hour workshop, learn how to self-edit, catch grammar, spelling and style mistakes and produce clear, readable copy for publication. We’ll also go over SEO and how to optimize headlines and content. Joanna Hernandez is Director of Diversity Initiatives at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, where she has taught Craft of Journalism. She has more than 20 years experience of professional editing experience and formerly was a Multiplatform Editor at The Washington Post.

Thurs., Jan. 26, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Getting Your Projects Funded — Lisa Riordan Seville — Room 442 (25 students max)

In a world of shrinking newsrooms, journalists need to get creative about how to bring the stories they care about to light. Grants, fellowships and crowd funding have become one piece of that puzzle. But how to you take a project from conception to funding? This session will be a crash-course on getting started down that road. We’ll talk about creating a beat or an area of expertise, putting together a proposal, and what a budget should look like. Participants should come with specific questions or pitch ideas that we can discuss as a group. Class of 2010 alum Lisa Riordan Seville is an independent investigative journalist based in New York City. She works regularly for the NBC News Investigative Unit, as well as other publications. Her work has been funded by the Open Society Foundation, the Investigative Fund at the Nation Institute, The California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowships and the Proteus Fund. She is currently working on a crowd-funded project called “The Legacy of Mass Incarceration” with her frequent co-reporter Hannah Rappleye.