Teachers gain wisdom from professional journalists

One of the features of the ASNE Reynolds Institute is the opportunity to work with professional journalists on stories based on various topics. Even though my group's overall topic area was ethics, my topic changed to feature information more about "news you can use" about what high school journalism teachers should teach to get started teaching students about technology and the online/video storytelling.

Josh Coddington, special sections editor, from Arizona Capitol Times served as our mentor and provided excellent guidance on story angles, editing for conciseness and AP Style, as well as gave us advice on how to further our story after the rough draft stage. With Coddington's expertise and the helpful edits from other group members, this has served to be one of my favorite assignments thus far in the institute.

Since it has been several years since I have served as a reporter, I gained new insights that will help me to empathize with my students as they are "freaking" out about deadlines, stressing about contacts not calling them back, or simply the sheer dread of the editing process.


Josh Coddington, special sections editor of the Arizona Capitol Times, helps coach Chris Braun on his story for the ASNE publication. (photo by Tracey Ward)


To contact Josh Coddington, email him at josh.coddington@azcapitoltimes.com

Tracey B. Ward
Olentangy Liberty High School
Powell, Ohio