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January Academy
Emmanuel Alexandre Jr.
January Academy is a series of enrichment classes unique to the master’s degree programs of the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York.
Offered every January between the fall and spring semesters, the program is paid for through student fees. Current students, applicants, and select CUNY undergraduates (juniors and seniors only) may take classes at no charge. They are also available at a nominal price to alumni and members of the public, who can register through this link.
Photo above: Broadcast Coach Emmanuel “Mano” Alexandre Jr. teaches a remote workshop on how to use the C100 camera.
JANUARY ACADEMY 2023 SCHEDULE
J-School Alumni and members of the public may register here at a cost of $32 for any class.
How the Ukraine War has Changed International Economics (NEW), with Greg David
Jan. 4 and 5, 5:30-8:30 p.m. EST (Remote)
This two-night, six-hour class will provide a crash course in international economics (globalization/currencies) and delve into how the Ukraine war has already changed many assumptions and its effects on Europe and China in particular. Course will primarily be in person but those interested can request to attend virtually. Greg David is director of the Business and Economics Reporting Program at the Newmark J-School.
Before It’s News: Using Research to Automate the Flow of Story Ideas, with Barbara Gray
Jan. 5, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., EST (Remote)
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. Newmark J-School Chief Librarian Barbara Gray will moderate.
Social Newsgathering, with Rima Abdelkader
Jan. 7, 9:30-11:30 a.m., EST (Remote)
This course will provide students with an exposure to online resources to verify and confirm breaking news and information. It will explore and investigate misinformation online and identify ways to debunk it through traditional and more modern methods. This course requires students to come prepared with examples to workshop in the class. Rima Abdelkader, a 2009 graduate of the Newmark J-School, is part of a diverse team of reporters at NBC News and MSNBC that discover, verify, and report breaking news stories and enterprise pieces globally. As a digital media literacy instructor, Abdelkader teaches team courses at NBC on data verification and the use of social media in human-interest storytelling.
3-Day News Photography Workshop, with James Estrin
Jan. 9, 10, 17, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. EST (In person)
This three-day workshop led by New York Times staff photographer 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, politics, intimate photo essays, and international conflicts. We 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. There will be an assignment between Days 2 and 3.
Non-Fiction Book Writing, with Glenn Lewis
Jan. 9, 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. EST (In person, Room 442)
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 Professor Glenn Lewis’ experiences as a book packager, agent, writer, and book proposal doctor. Students should bring 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. Professor Lewis was director of the journalism program at York College and a consortial faculty member at the Newmark J-School. His narrative nonfiction book SPARRIN’ WITH SMOKIN’ JOE was published in 2021.
Freelancing Workshop, with Ellen Walterscheid and Fred Kaufman
Jan. 9 and 10, 1-4:30 p.m. EST (In person)
This course runs on two consecutive afternoons. 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 Newmark 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. Ellen Walterscheid, the Newmark 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 Newmark J-School’s international students.
On the second day, Jonathan Lyons, a founding partner of Lyons & Salky Law LLP, will discuss such issues as copyright and how to read a freelance contract. Luke Mitchell, a story editor for The New York Times Magazine, and Patia Braithwaite, senior staff editor for Well at The New York Times, will critique student pitches.
Note: Once you sign up for the workshop, you’ll receive an email with further instructions. Focus is on the magazine/web market.
How to Run a Podcast, with Mia Lobel
Jan. 10, 2-5 p.m. EST (Remote)
You’ve come up with a brilliant podcast idea, and now you need to execute. How do you do it? Pushkin Executive Producer Mia Lobel covers how to pull together a brilliant and efficient production team, how to make a budget, and how to create a production plan that doesn’t break that budget or burn out your team. The class will be taught with a combination of lecture/presentation slides and hands-on exercises.
Video Editing in Adobe Premiere: Basic, with Kayle Hope
Jan. 10 and 11, 4-7 p.m. EST (Remote)
Brush up on your video editing skills in this workshop taught by Kayle Hope, ’14. Over the course of two days, this class will cover the basics of video editing in Adobe Premiere. Students will learn how to edit in premiere from setting up a project to organizing footage, selecting clips, editing sequences, working with stills and audio, applying motion to still images, exporting and mastering the overall video editing workflow. The class will also cover editing theory and offer tips and tricks for building your story in the edit.
Kayle Hope is a video producer and editor based in Vermont. Currently she is a producer for Vermont Public, the state’s unified platform for all PBS and NPR programming. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CBS, Retro Report, and Quartz, among others. Kayle is also the video editor for the annual New Yorker Festival, and she teaches video storytelling and editing at the Newmark J-School. You can see Kayle’s work at www.kaylehope.com.
The Business of Freelancing, with Lynn Brown
Jan. 10, 5-7 p.m. EST (Remote)
The only way to make money in the business of writing is to treat it like an actual business, rather than a hobby. Longtime freelancer Lynn Brown offers tips, tricks and inspiration on various aspects of running a freelance writing business: how to find the best outlets for your work, how to market yourself, negotiating contracts, record-keeping, taxes (and deductions) and more. The class will also talk about what to do to get the most out of every story, from the small piece that (hopefully) goes viral overnight, to the book project that will take years to complete.
Portrait Photography, Lighting & Post-Production Editing, with Jennifer S. Altman
Jan. 11 and 12, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. EST (In person)
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, flashes and continuous light sources and learn 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 in a studio session.
Part 2 is devoted to post-production photo editing skills and additional shooting techniques for portraiture utilizing other light sources. Students will photograph each other in class and on location. We will delve into portraiture in multimedia as well. 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. Newmark J-School students can check out gear from the equipment room or bring their own gear. They must have their own computers already loaded with Adobe Photoshop and a sorting system (such as Adobe Bridge, iPhoto, or Photo Mechanic) to do hands-on editing.
On Camera: Like It or Not, with Susan Farkas and Fred Kaufman
Jan. 11, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. EST (In person in the 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 participants, followed by analysis shared with all. Taught by video journalism instructor Susan Farkas and Professor Frederick Kaufman.
Fun with Animated GIFs, with John Smock
Jan. 11, 1-3 p.m. EST (Remote)
This workshop taught by John Smock, director of the Newmark J-School Photojournalism Program, will cover using Adobe Photoshop as a design tool with a special focus on GIF animations. News 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.
Advanced Photoshop, with John Smock
Jan. 12, 2-4 p.m. EST (Remote)
Photoshop is much more than just a tool for editing photographs. It is also a powerful design platform. This workshop, taught by the J-School’s photojournalism director, will show you how to create compelling graphics that combine text, multiple images and other design elements to be used in multimedia stories and your portfolio site. The workshop assumes an introductory knowledge of Photoshop.
10 Useful Tools for Journalists, with Jeremy Caplan
Jan. 12, 12:30-2 p.m. EST (Remote)
Discover useful new tools to save you time and boost the impact and efficiency of your work. See what the tools do and how they’re useful. Open to digital novices as well as pros curious about new tools. We’ll look at Arc, Craft, Coda, Canva‘s new features, Datawrapper, Tilda, and some surprises. Walk away with a short, curated list of sites and resources you can use right away. Jeremy Caplan is director of teaching and learning at the Newmark J-School.
History of the News through the Lens of Race (NEW), with Susan Smith Richardson
Jan. 12, 2-5 p.m. EST (Remote)
The murder of George Floyd in 2020 sparked a new racial reckoning in newsrooms across the United States. Several newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, wrote apologies for ignoring, stereotyping and criminalizing communities of color. What do these apologies tell us about the history of American journalism? This three-hour course will provide students with a historical overview of news through the lens of race, focusing on who decides what is news, what audiences matter and the role of objectivity and verification. Students will also discuss major journalism initiatives, past and present, that seek to make news more accurate, authoritative and reflective of U.S. society as a whole.
Susan Smith Richardson is managing editor of the Guardian US and former CEO of the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit investigative newsroom in Washington, D.C. She is interested in the intersection of journalism, race and power. @Susaneudora1
Writing and Editing Celebrity Profiles (NEW), with Samantha Rollins
Jan. 12, 6-8 p.m. EST (In person)
Interviewing celebrities is exciting, but profiling them in an age of social media oversharing and more competition than ever before means it takes skill and ingenuity for your profile to stand out. This three-hour workshop will cover the basics of what makes an effective celebrity profile, from how to find a fresh angle on a much-covered celebrity, to interviewing tips, to key tropes to avoid in profile writing and editing. This will be a combination of discussion and presentation, and participants should come ready to discuss the three profiles linked here.
Samantha Rollins is the deputy entertainment editor at Bustle, where she’s written and edited many celebrity profiles. She previously worked at Vulture, The Week, and The New York Times, and is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. samantha.rollins@bustle.com
News Photography Workshop for Applicants, with John Smock
Jan. 13, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. EST (Remote)
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.
NOTE: NEWMARK J-SCHOOL STUDENTS SHOULD NOT REGISTER FOR THIS CLASS.
Breaking into Broadcasting, with Walter Smith Randolph
Jan. 13, 1-3 p.m. EST (Remote)
Whether it’s TV or radio news, in this workshop you’ll learn what skills you need to break into the world of broadcasting. We’ll go over making a resume tape, how to initiate the job search, and the tips and tricks to make it in the broadcast world. You’ll also hear from on-air reporters, producers and hiring managers from radio and television stations to learn more about their journeys and what they’ve learned along the way.
Walter Smith Randolph ’10 is the investigative editor at CT Public Broadcasting where he leads The Accountability Project, producing and reporting in-depth stories for CT Public’s NPR and PBS stations. Previously, Walter spent a decade at local TV affiliates in Elmira, NY, Flint, MI, Kalamazoo, MI and Cincinnati. He also serves as national Treasurer of the National Association of Black Journalists and is a member of the Newmark J-School Alumni Board.
Politics, Power & Money, with Tom Robbins
Jan. 17, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. EST (In person and remote)
The Newmark 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. Robbins has been investigative-journalist-in-residence since 2011. He often writes on political and criminal justice issues for The New Yorker’s online edition, The New York Times, and the Marshall Project and has been a staff writer and columnist at the Village Voice, the New York Daily News, and The New York Observer.
How to Write an Op-Ed (NEW), with Jen Balderama and Andrew Goins
Jan. 17, 2-4 p.m. EST (Remote)
In this workshop, Washington Post op-ed editors Jen Balderama and Andrew Goins share tips for writing powerful opinion articles that draw on your experience and expertise. We’ll cover how to strengthen your argument, structure your work and tell a compelling story. Ahead of the workshop, each student will submit an op-ed draft; we will draw on these for hands-on critique. Jen Balderama is an associate editor in the Opinions section of The Washington Post. Andrew Goins is an assistant editor in the Opinions section.
Video Editing in Adobe Premiere: Advanced, with Kayle Hope
Jan. 17 and 18, 4-7 p.m. EST (Remote)
Learn some new tools and tricks in this advanced video editing workshop taught by Kayle Hope, ’14. Over the course of two days, this class will introduce students to some advanced tools and techniques used in Adobe Premiere. We will look at improving audio, color correction, multi camera editing, nesting and working with multiple tracks, creating captions, and working with effects, keyframes and motion graphics templates. This class is designed for people who are comfortable with basic video editing, but want to take their skills to the next level. Basic understanding of editing in premiere is a prerequisite for this class.
Kayle Hope is a video producer and editor based in Vermont. Currently she is a producer for Vermont Public, the state’s unified platform for all PBS and NPR programming. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CBS, Retro Report, and Quartz, among others. Kayle is also the video editor for the annual New Yorker Festival, and she teaches video storytelling and editing at the Newmark J-School. You can see Kayle’s work at www.kaylehope.com.
Transferring ProTools Skills to Reaper (NEW), with Chad Bernhard
Jan. 17, 6-9 p.m. EST (In person)
Reaper is a powerful and low-cost alternative to Pro Tools that can, when set up properly, duplicate a great many functions of Pro Tools and in some ways exceed them. In this class, we will set up Reaper with some of my custom settings made especially for this class, translate the Pro Tools skills you have learned onto this new platform, and go over the basic principles of using Reaper for your editing and mixing. Prior to this class, I will send everyone files to install and some instructions to follow so we can make the most of our class time.
Writing to Video (NEW), with Susan Farkas
Jan. 18, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. EST (Remote)
Writing is at the heart of all good journalism but writing a video story is very different from radio or print. This three-hour workshop will cover the basics of effective video writing, including tips for shooting and structuring your story and picking the sound bites that will improve your story. We’ll screen examples of good writing. Then you’ll learn the rules and apply them to a short news script you will write in class.
ProTools 101: Back to Basics, with Chad Bernhard
Jan. 18, 6-8 p.m. EST (In person)
This class is ideal for students continuing on with radio classes who feel behind on basic audio mixing skills: problems with recording, basic Pro Tools use, organization. Students should come with plenty of questions! Chad Bernhard is senior audio engineer at the Newmark J-School.
2-day Voice Coaching Workshop, with Michael Lysak
Jan. 18 and 19, 2:30-5:30 p.m. EST (In person in the radio studio)
The workshop begins with a discussion on the basics of broadcast announcing, using audio samples to demonstrate concepts. Micro-videos are employed as well. 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 day 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 is head of Global Radio and TV Syndication at Bloomberg and oversees operations for Bloomberg Radio’s national network. Previously, he has been a news anchor and reporter at WCBS, WOR, WNEW, and WRKS (Kiss-FM), all in New York City.
Digital Portfolio and Website Building Workshop (NEW), with Jennifer S. Altman
Jan.19, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. EST (In person)
The online portfolio is the calling card of the journalist. Every journalist – especially those working in video, photo, and broadcast – should work to build an impactful online presence for effective job hunting and overall career development. Join award-winning photojournalist and Newmark J-School adjunct professor Jennifer S. Altman as she shares the secrets to creating an effective portfolio.
Video Across Platforms: Reporting on TikTok, IG, and YouTube, with Wonbo Woo
Jan. 19, 3-6 p.m. EST (Remote)
This workshop for students and guests will look at how to best use and manage platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram for journalism. Students will get a good overview of metadata and data analytics, the key building blocks in building audience, look at examples of what works on different platforms and talk about creating platform-specific content. Wonbo Woo is an Emmy Award-winning producer and a recipient of the prestigious Nieman Fellowship at Harvard. A former broadcast-journalist-in-
ProTools 102: Advanced Mixing, with Chad Bernhard
Jan. 19, 6-8 p.m. EST (In person)
This class will cover two of the most important audio processing tools available to you in Pro Tools: compression and equalization. Students should feel very comfortable with Pro Tools and want to push their skill set forward. Basics will not be covered; students requiring that should sign up for Audio Workshop 01: Back to the Basics. Chad Bernhard is senior audio engineer at the Newmark J-School. **Open to Newmark J-School students and alumni only
Introduction to Product Management and Product Thinking, with Anita Zielina
Jan. 20, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. EST (Remote)
Product management is the new, in-demand skill everyone is talking about. This workshop will explain basic concepts of product thinking in news media, guide participants through the stages of the product development and product management process, and introduce core product frameworks that are being used by innovative media organizations all over the world. Anita Zielina was director of strategic initiatives at the Newmark J-School and is board chair of the News Product Alliance, a network of support and practice for news product thinkers. Before joining the school, she worked as a media executive, editor-in-chief, and chief product officer in several European newsrooms.
Context Journalism: Helping Readers Understand the News, with John O’Neil
Jan. 20, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. EST (Remote)
Just reporting the news isn’t enough anymore, when readers face an ever-faster fire hose of facts. Context journalism means giving them the background or analysis they need to turn facts into meaning, whether through well-crafted paragraphs within news stories, standalone explainers or graphic presentations. Every working journalist these days should be ready to handle this kind of assignment. Topics will include figuring out who your audience is and what level of context it requires, how to simplify without distorting, and what to do when you know too little – or too much – about a subject or are facing a tight deadline. The course will be a combination of presentation and workshop; students should come with examples of articles that have left them scratching their head and wishing for more. John O’Neil is an editor on the QuickTake explainer team at Bloomberg News; he previously led a context journalism initiative at The New York Times.
Covering the LGBTQ+ Community, with Wonbo Woo
Jan. 23, 3-6 p.m. EST (Remote)
In this workshop, we will discuss ethical considerations that journalists will face in covering the LGBTQ+ community. We’ll review AP/NYT/GLAAD style and talk about how pronoun usage and naming conventions have evolved, as well as discussing best practices for interviewing minors, outing, respecting privacy and anonymity, and thinking about when additional sources are appropriate in stories. Note: This will be a participatory class — students should come ready to engage in discussions, and will be invited to submit examples, questions and additional topics that they’d like to cover in advance. Guest speakers may be brought in to help address some of these topics.
Sound Design for Narrative Audio, with Ariana Martinez
Jan. 23 and 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m. EST (Remote)
This session will share ways to let sound communicate what an interview or narration alone cannot. We’ll explore some big-picture concepts for developing our distinct creative voices as sound designers, and some technical strategies for giving each thing we touch its own signature sound. We’ll cover the basic mechanics of sourcing and incorporating found sound and music, using our audio software’s built-in tools for manipulating audio, managing complex multi-track digital audio workstation sessions, and the practicalities of applying sound design to both traditional and experimental stories. This course is best suited for students with some knowledge of both recording and audio editing. Course examples will be shown in Pro Tools, but course concepts can be applied to projects in any digital audio workstation. Ariana Martinez is an audio documentarian and multimedia artist working across radio, podcast, and digital storytelling platforms. Their work can be found at arianamartinezstudio.com.
Travel Writing, with Tim Harper
Jan. 24, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. EST (Remote)
We all want to do travel writing, but we don’t know how to get started. This class from longtime freelancer and travel writer Tim Harper, the Newmark J-School’s writing coach, shows you how to turn ideas and experiences into stories, clips and cash — including stories both around the world and across the street. Bring your questions and your story ideas for a class-wide conversation about how to become a travel writer in your spare time.
C100 Skills Intensive, with Emmanuel Alexandre Jr.
Jan. 24, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. EST (In-person)
This workshop will take you through the process of filming and lighting for video using the Canon C100.
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You will learn the basics on how to set up the camera and discover its advanced features.
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Working in pairs, you will gain hands-on practice by filming in different settings.
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You’ll also be introduced to the classic 3-point lighting setup for interviews.
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Lastly, you’ll experiment with key concepts such as exposure, color temperature, depth of field and more.
Emmanuel (Mano) Alexandre Jr. is a cinematographer/producer and student coach on the Newmark J-School’s video production team.
Please note: Below is the January 2022 lineup. See above for 2023 classes.