I’ll admit it. I’m addicted to Twitter. Beyond the laughs I get from the wittiness @fakeapstylebook and @menwithpens, I have been drawn to Twitter for information I get in a minute’s notice. I don’t have to weed through RSS feeds or independent sites to get local, national, and international news; instead, I browse 140 characters of briefs that give me the option to read further if I choose to do so. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Category: Teaching
Writing: One Wild Ride
Many people often view writing as a chore – a painful task that invades their peaceful existence or one that is forced upon them in a classroom or work setting. Even as a writer, I sometimes find writing a challenging, heart-wrenching act but in the end, it is what I do again and again. For some, writing is like riding a bike. You work really hard to balance and build momentum – sometimes you take your hands off the handle bars and crash and burn; sometimes you breeze through the streets, storing up the adventure in that little wicker basket on the front end. Whether you crash and burn or master an impressive wheelie, most typically choose to keep on riding, take risks, hop on the two wheels, and continue with the journey. It’s always a wild ride – a different journey each time – a journey, though, that few eagerly attempt or welcome without dread. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
No More Excuses, Whiners
No More Excuses, Whiners We are clearly a society of whiners. We whine when life seems unfair and we whine when things don’t go our way. We whine to get out of tasks we should do and whine when we are forced to do these tasks out of necessity. Even worse, when our whining loses its touch, we resort to excuses. I’m guilty, too. I’ll whine that I’m tired in the morning thus creating an excuse not to go for a run. My whine temporarily makes me feel better and my excuse justifies my lack of motivation. The task at hand loses value and my lazy butt stays in bed for an additional 30 minutes. Ironically, later, I’ll probably whine that I’m putting on a few pounds. While whining breaks down our resistance, our excuses enable us to head down the road to no-where-ville. Although I’ll admit to using excuses, at some point, I have to force myself to get over it, make a choice, look at my priorities, and either do the task or accept that I’m not going to do it. As week 13 of a 16 week semester winds to a close, I’ve expressed the same sentiment to my students. After 13 weeks of reminders, nudges, and blatant pushes to complete assigned essays and writing assignments, we’re past the point of excuses. I’ve heard them all this semester – from court dates, doctor’s appointments, swine flu claims, sick birds (yes, this one was the most unique), and car accidents to broken printers, crashed computers, and jacked-up flash drives – the excuses ran wild. There comes a time, though, when excuses are just that – excuses. We have to make a choice and ask ourselves some tough questions. Did I just plain forget? Did I just not feel like it? Do I even care? Without lying to ourselves, whining to others about it, and making excuses to others, we have to make a choice. Do I need to do this? – or – Is it important to me? If not, be honest, and save yourself some stress and heartbreak. If so, quit whining, challenge yourself, complete the task, and rid yourself of excuses. More than likely, it will take more time conjuring up an excuse involving a sick bird or an Internet virus that struck down the neighborhood computers, than it will to just do what you need to do. - Shannon Philpott Blog Entry: Nov. 23, 2009 © Shannon Philpott, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Shannon Philpott and shannonphilpott.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Scavenger Hunts: Digging for Dirt
Years ago, I put together a scavenger hunt for my friend’s bachelorette party. I couldn’t tell you if she had more fun hunting down the goodies or if I had more fun creating the list of outrageous items she needed to collect throughout the night. I can tell you that it was one of the most exciting adventures we have been on throughout our friendship. I’ll never forget the look on her face every time she found (or begged) for an item on the list from a complete stranger. Scavenger hunts are often reserved for special occasions and themed parties, but in my opinion, scavenger hunts serve a purpose in the newsroom, too. Plain and simple: reporters are on the hunt for stories everyday – little do they know that the clues are practically falling in their laps. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Those Pesky Deadlines
As a reporter, I’m no stranger to working on deadline. A story comes in, I do my research, conduct the interviews, and then write the story – all usually within a day’s time. However, deadlines do not just apply to my freelance work. Deadlines apply to every single aspect of my life. I’m on deadline as a teacher – preparing lesson plans in time for class to start. I’m on deadline as a mom – rushing to get to soccer practices and dance lessons by the time each one starts. I’m on deadline as a home owner – keeping the house clean, the family fed, and the dog away from our valuables. Deadlines are draining and sometimes a royal pain. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Teaching the Teacher
One of the most exciting aspects of teaching is the fact that I don’t always have to teach. I’m not referring to the summer breaks but rather those teaching moments where the students teach the teacher. I specifically chose a career in higher education because I want to be a lifelong learner. I want to learn just as much from my students as they learn from me. It’s a partnership – a coaching relationship – and it’s the best job I’ve ever had. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Retention: Effort = Results
None of us are strangers to the concept of retention. In academia, it is often viewed as a dirty word signaling the profit portion of higher education. But, nonetheless, every college I have ever taught at has focused on the importance of retaining students, and every employer stressed the need to retain quality employees. Personally, we have a natural desire, too, to retain relationships with friends and loved ones. Retention is not easy, though. It’s a pull and play concept. You have to work to pull the person in, work to show the benefits of the institution or relationship, and work to maintain the results. The problem is that most people don’t actively retain; instead, they sit back and hope for the best. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Feature This: Stories With Heart
Feature stories have heart. Feature stories have warmth. Most of all, feature stories force a writer/reporter to evaluate the human side of a community – beyond the facts, beyond the opinions – to find the spirit of the story. I have always favored feature stories (or soft news) as a writer because it gives me the chance to get to know people on a higher level than straight news reporting (hard news) does. Beyond that, it also forces me to work as a reporter with feelings – yes, some reporters have actual feelings :). Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Lucky 7: Seven Websites Student Journalists Should Follow
Ever since I began this whirlwind journey into college media advising, I have been scouring resources to pass on to my students. I’m a slave to social media and have found some of the best sites, blogs, and organizations an immense help in navigating the ever-changing field of journalism. Majority of my students have little to no interest in Twitter, but ironically, majority of the tips and industry updates I receive come from my contacts on Twitter. So, I thought I’d pass these on with the hopes of encouraging my team to follow the trends and the advice from the best of the best. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Has Journalism Been Hit With an Ugly Stick?
Journalists are trained to be objective – trained to report on the good, the bad, and the ugly. However, when it comes to our own profession, we often find it difficult to see anything but the good. The truth is that there are many ugly aspects of the job, and as this industry continues to change rapidly, many ugly trends have evolved. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Shannon Philpott-Sanders 