College Media Association • Hall of Fame portfolio
Ron Johnson Director of Student Media Indiana University IU Student Media Ernie Pyle Hall 940 E. Seventh St. Bloomington, IN 47405
812-855-9576 office 812-855-8009 fax ronejohn@indiana.edu @ronjohn77
Director of student media, Indiana University, 2008-present. Assistant professor of journalism, Kansas State University, 2005-08. Director of student publications, K-State, 1989-2005. Director of journalism and publications adviser, Fort Hays State University (Kan.), 1985-89. Special-projects editor, Wichita Eagle-Beacon (Kan.), 1984-85. English teacher, Valley Center High School (Kan.), 1982-84. M.S., journalism, University of Kansas, 1982. B.A., English and journalism, FHSU, 1981. Editor, University Leader newspaper, FHSU, 1979. Editor, Reveille yearbook, FHSU, 1979.
College Media Advisers / College Media Association President: 1993-95 Vice president: 1991-93 Immediate past president: 1995-97 Distinguished four-year newspaper adviser: 1993 Presenter at fall and conventions: multiple sessions annually since 1986. Presenter at adviser workshops: 1991-95. Committee chair and committee member: non-daily newspaper, daily newspaper and design. Creator and coordinator of Society for News Design Quick Courses preceding CMA fall and spring conventions since the mid-1990s. Editor of “Journey Toward Freedom,” CMA’s 40th-anniversary history book, with the late Louis Ingelhart, 1995. Webmaster for CMA’s first site, 1995-99. Liaison to the Society for News Design and Kansas Associated Collegiate Press. Articles for the CMA Newsletter and College Media Review. Representative to the Council of Presidents of National Journalism Organizations, 1994. Coordinator, Ron Spielberger’s retirement celebrations, Orlando, 2011.
Service to journalism President, Western Association of University Publications Managers, 2011-12. President, Kansas Associated Collegiate Press, 1989-91. Gold Key, Columbia Scholastic Press Association, 1992. Board member, Student Press Law Center, 1993-95. Board of directors, Society for News Design, 1998-2008. Kansas Scholastic Press Association legislative coordinator in the successful lobbying effort for the Kansas Student Publications Act, restoring First Amendment rights to high-school journalists after the Hazelwood decision, 1992. Principle participant in Lane v. Simon, the suit challenging my 2008 reassignment at Kansas State University in federal district court and federal appeals court. Long-time presenter at the Associated Collegiate Press West Coast conventions and August workshops. Invited speaker, Canadian University Press annual conferences, 2003-11. Regular presenter at state collegiate and scholastic press associations, including Kansas Associated Collegiate Press, Kansas Scholastic Press Association, Indiana Collegiate Press Association and Indiana High School Press Association. Coordinator of 14 on-site regional journalism contests for KSPA. Presenter at summer scholastic journalism workshops for Indiana University, Kansas State University and Northwest Missouri State University. Judge for scholastic, collegiate and commercial competitions of national and state journalism associations. Creator of a one-day regional yearbook workshop with Eastern Illinois and Western Kentucky universities, 2011. Six-time editor of The Best of Newspaper Design, editions 24-29, the 272‑page awards annual of the Society for News Design’s international competition. Consultant in newsroom management, content, coverage, design, visuals and typography. Chairman, SND’s international education committee, 2001-02. Adviser, SND student chapters at K-State and IU, 1998-2010. President’s award for distinguished service, SND. Karl and Dorothy Gaston Outstanding Mentor Award, Kansas Press Association, 2008.
Student awards
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
Five ACP Pacemakers: Kansas State Collegian newspaper, 1989-2008. Five Pacemakers: Indiana Daily Student newspaper, Arbutus yearbook and Inside magazine, 2008 to present.
Indiana University
RON JOHNSON
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
Eleven CSPA Gold Crowns: K-State Collegian, 1989-2008. Eleven Gold Crowns: IDS, Arbutus and Inside, 2008-12. Four CSPA Silver Crowns: Arbutus and Inside, 2008-12. Two CMA Best of Show Awards: K-State Collegian, 1989-2008. Three first-place Best of Show Awards from CMA and ACP: Indiana Daily Student newspaper, Arbutus yearbook and Inside magazine, 2008-12. First place, Hearst Intercollegiate Writing Contest, Indiana University, 2010 and 2011. Second place, Hearst writing, IU, 2012. Two-time best collegiate news site, Editor & Publisher, idsnews.com. Launch of kstatecollegian.com, the nation’s third collegiate news site, 1994. Newspaper of the year, IDS, College Newspaper Business and Advertising Managers, 2010. Publication-of-the-year sweep in newspaper, magazine, yearbook, news site and advertising, Indiana Collegiate Press Association, 2012. In the 2011-12 year, 117 individual student awards (including 38 first places) in writing, photo and design from these organizations — College Media Association Hearst Intercollegiate Writing Contest Associated Collegiate Press Columbia Scholastic Press Association Society of Professional Journalists Hoosier State Press Association Indiana Collegiate Press Association Roy W. Howard National College Reporting Competition McClatchy Tribune Comics Contest
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
PHILOSOPHY I can’t recall the occasion that prompted me to write this in 1992. Perhaps it was for a CMA Newsletter or a workshop. But when I look at it today, I’m pleased with how it has stood the test of time.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
SERVICE TO COLLEGIATE MEDIA The standing quip among us is that journalists are bad at math. Thus I’ll use that excuse not to count the many sessions I’ve led for student journalists and their advisers. I started soon after I began collegiate advising in 1985. A couple conventions per year. Plus a couple conferences. Plus a couple workshops. Plus the SND QuickCourses we started before CMA conventions in the mid-1990s. Take that times multiple sessions.
hollywood media +
27th Annual Associated Collegiate Press
National College Journalism Convention March 3-6, 2011 Renaissance Hollywood • @acpress #acpla
www.snd.org
QUICK COURSE College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
the 68th annual meeting of the Western Association of University Publications Managers
Mint juleps and good design. It’s a close
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
SERVICE TO COLLEGIATE MEDIA CMA in NYC • March 2012
The complete package 1. Content comes first.
When you attend a Ron Johnson session at a CMA convention, you’ll see his devotion to lists — and to advice.
2. Tell the story the best way: brevity & depth. Seattle 2012 Associated Collegiate Press
Color Illustrations Infographics
3. Put your best foot forward: lead packages. 4. Simplify typography. Stick to the grid. 5. Take risks: dominance & white space.
Ron Johnson Indiana University
fundamentals & tips
Working with typography
RON’S TOP 10 1. CONTENT 2. PACKAGING 3. PHOTOS 4. SPACE 5. TEXT TYPE 6. DISPLAY TYPE 7. COLOR
Ron Johnson
Content is first. Design is silent. Centerpieces. Package related content. Dominance. Contrast. Angles. Tight crops. Grids. White space. Internal margins. Font/s. Indentions. Hyphenations. Width. Display & condensed fonts. Play to strengths. Shun weaknesses.
8. NAVIGATION
Simple flag. Common-sense folios inside.
9. ALIGNMENT
Simple margins. Rectangular text. Unity.
10. GRAPHICS
Consistent specs & grids. Never as fillers.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
SERVICE TO COMMERCIAL MEDIA I edited six editions of The Best of Newspaper Design, the 272-page competition annual of the international Society for News Design. Each was a challenge, but the process gave my students access to trendsetting designs from across the globe.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
TRAIN ‘EM AND TRUST ‘EM Many of my design sessions begin with what I call a “humility slide,” a design that needs improvement. I often contrast this 1989 Collegian page (we thought we were so cool!) with a much-improved page from 2003. The lesson also reminds me how far my students propelled the Collegian during my time at K-State.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
TRAIN ‘EM AND TRUST ‘EM I’ve heard that this conference handout is posted on more than a few collegiate newsrooms. It’s my all-purpose, ever-changing list on all-things newspaper design.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
How you can thrive at the Daily Student
REPORTERS
DESIGNERS
Do your homework before the interview. Don’t ask the source to explain background that you can get elsewhere.
Be a planner. As you help plan stories, stick up for readers.
1. Be nimble. Tell the story the best way.
Don’t cheer the home team as you report the game.
2. Be resourceful. Create components to execute a simple idea. 3. Be bold. Build centerpieces and package related content. 4. Be polished. Crisp text. Compelling photos. Spacious margins. 5. Be innovative. Don’t settle for the same thing. 6. Be quick. Nobody — nobody — should beat us with IU news. 7. Be local. Take a story from afar and bring it home. 8. Be smart. Stick to our values and play to our strengths.
Look professional. Wear neutral clothing to the interview or the game.
Don’t wait until tomorrow to write your story. Do it while the notes are fresh. Learn the stylebook, and edit yourself. Why should students care about your story? Tell us in your lead.
Run lead photos large. Show them off. Prioritize the news with headline size and shape. It’s design maturity to use grids and maintain consistent internal margins, both horizontal and vertical. Become adept at building graphics on the fly. Watch stories for lists, numbers and event information. They’re better presented on the side.
Don’t put a news lead on a feature story. Instead, lead a feature with a person in a narrative.
Pull a quote only when it’s worth it.
Spill the beans in the first graf. Then give us a couple sentences of background. Don’t presume everyone knows all that you do about the story.
Putting type on art could ruin both.
Direct quotes are the precise words of sources. If you’re sticking a parenthetical in that direct quote, it makes the source look stupid. Instead, write a better transition before the direct quote. Don’t quote friends, family or colleagues. Don’t settle for shallow quotes.
Appreciate the beauty of type contrast. Consult before you crop a photo or cut a story. Put type on a photo only in consultation with the photographer. Appreciate the beauty of creativity — and the thrill of consistency.
The best packages have two or three photos, including a detail. In a photo package, select each photo to tell a different part of the story. If you didn’t earn a full photo page, lobby for a partial page.
Show. Don’t tell.
Enliven a routine assignment with a different angle — a bird’s eye view or a worm’s eye view.
If you think you might be preaching, you are.
ILLUSTRATORS Read before you illustrate. Try different media. Pens. Pencils. Construction paper. Sponges. Go for it. Try illustrating A&E, features and profiles. Put white space to work for you.
Know the repro. Know what works and what doesn’t.
PHOTOGRAPHERS
This may be your rare chance to report an in-depth story. Don’t miss it.
Without names in your caption, your photo dies on the vine. And in a yearbook, it shortchanges history.
Save that first byline.
Talk to the reporter. Work to match the photo with the lead. Wear neutral clothing to the game, and don’t cheer the home team. Take charge of your crops. Don’t be afraid to get close.
You’re our last hope for our credibility. No pressure.
Marry photos with infographics and illustrations.
Kiss your design. (Keep it simple, stupid.) Design your page, and then drop an element. And another. And maybe another.
Capture a lead photo worthy of dominance.
Don’t allow mistakes to consume the story’s focus.
COLUMNISTS & EDITORIAL WRITERS
Collaborate. Add infographics and photos.
Have the courage to condense your story, even to a brief.
If you’re frustrated with catching the same errors time and again, edit the story with the reporter and editor at your side.
With cutouts, know when to say when.
Enlarge and crop line art and illustrations.
Space once after periods.
Appreciate the thrill of monotony.
Appreciate the beauty of portraiture.
Watch magazines and sites for inspiration.
Punt clichés and vague words.
Is a story the best way to tell the story? Try a graphic with a Q&A, or list the key numbers and/or names.
Ron Johnson Indiana University ronejohn@indiana.edu
Watch for ways to unify coverage with a single package. Make it easy on readers.
Consider a dramatic photo shape — horizontal or vertical.
COPY EDITORS Do the work once. Mumble. Quietly read to yourself as you edit. You’ll spot problems more easily. Verify or duck. Either verify the information, or adapt the info to make it accurate. Triple read — once to scan, once to edit and once to edit yourself. Edit for style. Then edit for content. Expect errors in cutlines, graphics and headlines.
TRAIN ‘EM AND TRUST ‘EM Here’s another handout upon which I rely, this one with advice across the newsroom.
Use first person sparingly.
If you haven’t shared your point of view in a few paragraphs, the readers are gone. Paint with a small brush. Don’t condemn a group on the basis of one or a few. Hit the return key. Don’t bury your insight in mammoth paragraphs. What works on a term paper won’t work in a newspaper column. Learn the power of the short sentence and the short paragraph. Do some research. Then pick your battles. Strong columns are like good stories and features, with background and direct quotes, all attributed to solid sources. Punt the typographical gimmicks, including italics, all caps and exclamation points. Focus on someone who illustrates the point. Neglect a viewpoint, and you’ll lose the argument. Stay ahead of the news, and consume other commentary. Don’t lift someone else’s work. If you plagiarize, you’re destined for dismissal.
— continued on the back
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
TRAIN ‘EM AND TRUST ‘EM For many years, my K-State newspaper editors passed along a legacy book — a copy of Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, The Places You Will Go.” Each editor took a few moments to share advice and insight for succeeding editors.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
TRAIN ‘EM AND TRUST ‘EM My training materials have taken many forms through the years, from quickand-dirty photocopies to spiral-bound handbooks. The desktoppublishing sheet at the upper left probably harped about taking care of the new Apple Macintoshes and that 20 MG hard drive — back in August 1985. Much more current, on the next slide, are recruiting brochures for our IU publications.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
TRAIN ‘EM AND TRUST ‘EM
Jan. 15, 2010
Alternative story forms
WHAT WE COVER
APPROACHES
TACTICS
ESSENTIALS
Performances & events
Packages of related content.
Key numbers: three or five points.
Big news & not-so-big news.
Speeches, meeting & panels
Common themes among items.
Lists
Breaking news
Q&As
One size does not fit all. Adapt & trim for each story.
IDS Workshops Spring 2011
People & places
Who? Key players
Photo packages Mugs
Crisp intros. Quick but adequate background.
Illustrations
Simple sentences.
Teasers
Short grafs.
Standing features & departments “No stupid questions” “Surviving IU” “Deadlines” People behind the scenes. Crappy jobs.
Tight crops. Leads with captions.
Trends
What? Agenda, outcome
HOW WE COVER THEM
When? Sequence of key moments
Precedes & followups Profiles & features Commentary & reviews
Why? Reasons > effects
DIGESTIBLE PARCELS
How? Advice & how-to’s
Main head Deck/s Lead
Ron Johnson ronejohn@indiana.edu Jan. 5, 2011
Where? Location, atmosphere & environment
Sitting outside my office is the oak roll-top desk of Ernie Pyle, World War II correspondent, Pulitzer Prize winner and Daily Student alumnus. That desk symbolizes IU’s rich heritage in storytelling. While we’re blessed with some great longer narratives, I also challenge my students to produce alternative story forms.
Consistent typography & spacing. Content, not labels. (Reach beyond “By the Numbers.”)
Visuals Photos & illustrations (with labels, captions & extended captions). Text Succinct, well-paragraphed briefs.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
Usage Our references, in order — (1) Associated Press Stylebook, 2008. (2) A reliable dictionary, such as Webster’s II New Riverside University Dictionary. (3) Reliable resources on usage — “Words on Words,” John Bremner, 1980. “Working with Words,” Brian Brooks, James Pinson and Jean Gaddy Wilson, 2006.
abbreviation, acronym, anagram An abbreviation isn’t an acronym, formed from the first letter or letters in a series of words, as in laser and radar. An anagram is a word or phrase formed by rearranging letters of another word or phrase. Parliament is an anagram of partial men. about, approximately Stick with about. It’s shorter and less likely to be misspelled. And use approximate numbers. No: About 33 people attended. Yes: About 30 people attended. accept, except Accept = to receive. Except = to exclude. She could not accept the gift because her friends were excepted. adopt, approve, enact, pass Amendments, ordinances, resolutions and rules are adopted or approved. Bills are passed. Laws are enacted.
adverse, averse Adverse = unfavorable. Adverse weather slowed the game. Averse = reluctant or opposed. She isn’t averse to working long hours. affect, effect Make affect the verb and effect the noun. The bill affects everyone. Its effect is sure.
agenda, criteria, data, media Criteria, data and media are plural. But break with Latin and make agenda singular. The meeting’s agenda is two pages long. The criteria were carefully considered. The economic data show a downturn. The news media were at the meeting. Notice the news before media. Media include signs, white boards, computers, televisions and projectors. all ready, already All ready means everyone is ready. They were all ready for the dance. Already means by or before a time. They had already heard the news. And allready is always wrong. allude, refer To allude to is to mention indirectly. To refer to is to mention directly. If a story uses allude, raise a red flag. There’s a high risk of misunderstanding between reporter and source. alternative, option An alternative is a single option. Plural possibilities are options. alumna, alumnae, alumni, alumnus Alumna = one woman. Alumnus = one man. Alumnae = women. Alumni = men, or women and men. among, between Between links two items. Among links more than two. annual An event is annual only if it’s happened more than once. There’s no such thing as first annual. Instead, it’s the first event. anticipate, expect You expect anything, whether it’s planned or unplanned. You anticipate only something expected or planned. Anticipating rain, she took an umbrella.
as, as if, like As is a subordinating conjunction. Following it is a subject and verb in a dependent clause. He listened to music as he studied algebra. Same for as if. Live as if it’s your last day. Like is a preposition. Following it is a noun or pronoun (the preposition’s object). The new house is built like a mansion.
attorney general The plural is attorneys general. average, mean, median, mode The average is the mean. In a series, the median is the middle number or item. The mode is the most frequent number in the series. awhile, a while Is for before it? Then two words — a while. He plans to stay awhile. He plans to stay for a while.
TRAIN ‘EM AND TRUST ‘EM For 19 years at K-State, I taught a full-time load while I directed student publications. (In other words, the former English teacher needed an outlet.) Thus I continue to be the keeper of the students’ stylebook, working with student editors on updating it and then using it in my editing classes.
bad, badly Bad is an adjective. If he felt bad, he’s ill. Badly is an adverb. If he feels badly, he’s a bad groper. also see — believe, feel, say, think because, since Because denotes a cause-effect relationship. She left because she was angry. Since is acceptable in a causal sense or with a time element. They went to the game since they’d received free tickets. He’s been sick since Tuesday. because of, due to Because of is adverbial, modifying a verb, adjective or another adverb. His grades were low because of his study habits. (Because of modifies the adjective low. Why were they low? Because of.) Due to is adjectival, modifying a noun. His low grades were due to his study habits. (Due to modifies the noun grades.)
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
TRAIN ‘EM AND TRUST ‘EM
Members of Alphi Chi Omega, Delta Chi and Theta Chi celebrate following their win at IU Sing Saturday, Feb. 22 at IU Auditorium. Photograph by Brandon Foltz
yearbook copy & style
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Yearbook copy is journalistic copy. It has many similarities to stories in newspapers and magazines. Yet because yearbook copy is written for history, targeting readers years and decades ahead, it requires a few different approaches.
Yearbook has its own approaches to content, with an eye on history. Thus we stress longevity and expanded background in all copy. And — most importantly — get the names in those captions.
accuracy Get it right. It may not seem like it at the time, but your yearbook copy must stand the test of time. Check the facts carefully. 2011: pages 52-53
Jimmy’s addiction
T
SENIOR FROM INDONESIA REVEALS DISNEY PASSION
Story by Adrienne Kaplan
There was a Mickey Mouse doormat welcoming all guests. But the mouse mat was just the beginning: From floor to ceiling there were hundreds of stacked boxes and displays of various Disney pictures, Snow White princess globes, Beauty and the Beast sculptures, Aladdin swords, Hercules dolls and Fantasia plates – and this was just what couldn’t fit into the Disney display rooms throughout the large one-person apartment. Jimmy Soehartanto, a senior from Indonesia, was truly devoted to Disney. “I want to be surrounded by this,” he said. “I believe that if you truly love something, then you should be surrounded by it.” Soehartanto became devoted to Disney at a young age. In Indonesia, boys are supposed to be strong and athletic. But being sick and unable to exert energy, Soehartanto could not be like all of the other boys his age. “I was born with bad health,” he said. “I had a low self-esteem, I couldn’t do sports. ... I felt defective, but Disney movies and fairy tales have always been there to cheer me up.” Disney made Soehartanto believe that he could still achieve his dreams and be like everyone else. After this realization, the collection began. “I started collecting 10 years ago, but it got out of control when I got to IU,” he said. In America it is much easier to access Disney merchandise than in Indonesia. So it was not hard for Soehartanto to be so far away from a home that he was unable to visit more than once every year or two. Soehartanto bought most of his Disney stuff online at either Disneystore.com or eBay – where he maintained a 100 percent customer satisfaction rating after having done almost 2,000 transactions. The sales ranged in price and could reach $700 for an
item, such as a Beauty and the Beast sculpture or a Nightmare before Christmas sculpture wherein the hero Jack is riding a wooden horse. With an apartment full of all Disney stuff and more of it at his house in Indonesia, Soehartanto said he needed a way to pay for his hobby. It was all about eBay. Five months after arriving at IU, Soehartanto began buying and selling Barbie dolls. “I saw this princess of India doll, and I bought about 26 of them,” he said. “I began selling them right away.” Per month, Soehartanto made anywhere between $1,500 to $2,000 on the dolls. The money then went right to his Disney collection, and to buying clothes and shoes, another passion of his. He continued to sell the dolls because the Disney collectables were like Soehartanto’s anti-drug. “When I have a bad day, I go to my room and look at my collection and feel better,” he said. “It’s my addiction, a much better one than the drugs and alcohol that many people latch onto in college.” Out of his massive collection taking up every inch of his apartment, Soehartanto’s favorite item was the Sleeping Beauty sword – a long shiny sword displayed on a table among other swords, being looked at by many Disney character sculptures standing up against the wall. His favorite movie – Soehartanto also possessed hundreds of Disney movies – was “Beauty and the Beast.” “I love the story,” he said. “You learn not to judge a book by its cover.” Even with an expensive hobby, Soehartanto would not have it any other way. “Their value to me is much more than any monetary value given to them,” he said. “I would rather have them here with me making me happy whenever I look at them.”
IDS
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Lotus Fest
their own sonic slice of culture. Once outside, a brisk walk east to the Fourth Street tent landed you at the stage of Lotus-newcomer and musical entrepreneur Mike Silverman, better know as That 1 Guy. “This is a beautiful festival and an equally beautiful town,” Silverman said. His homemade string instrument, dubbed “The Magic Pipe,” looked something like Mary Shelley’s idea of wayward plumbing. But when That 1 Guy played, his funky bass riffs atop psychedelic melodies and thumping, ragtime rhythms captivated audiences. “He actually made his instrument. He’s so brilliant,” said senior Oriane Robison after That 1 Guy’s first performance. “I’ve never been so excited for Lotus Fest. He’s a genius.” At the corner of Kirkwood and Washington streets, street performer Laura Wanner was packing up her concertina, an instrument similar to a small accordion. “I’ve gotten a really supportive sense of community,” Wanner said, munching on an apple. “Some guy just bought me a ticket so I could get in.” Each night buzzed with excitement as the sounds of belly dancers’ finger cymbals, string ensembles and drum circles flooded the downtown streets. Crowd participation was both encouraged and expected. Sahar Pastel-Daneshgar, daughter of Shahyar Daneshgar, IU professor and Lotus Festival cofounder, said the anything but ordinary atmosphere was the whole point of Lotus Fest. “He loves sharing musical culture from all over the world. It’s what he does,” she said. “This is one of his main passions in life.” According to Pastel-Daneshgar, it was that passion that inspired her father to start Lotus Fest. “We have one of the largest language programs, along with the Jacobs School of Music. He just wanted to combine the two to create an experience that everyone can enjoy,” Sahar said. “He really wanted to bring world music to Bloomington.”
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B LO O M I N G TO N ’ S A N N UA L LOT U S F E S T I VA L C E L E B R AT E S C U LT U R A L T R A D I T I O N S F R O M A R O U N D T H E G LO B E
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Jimmy V of the EE Marching band plays during the band’s Saturday show. The band was scheduled to be in the Saturday parade, which was canceled due to weather. PHOTO BY COLINE SPERLING
Story by Rick Iorio
or three drizzly nights in late September 2009, all you had to do was follow the resonating sound of drums downtown to find a torrent of color, voice and song. Processions of people marched up and down Kirkwood Avenue waving flags to the horns and percussive pulse of the Jefferson Street Parade Band. Old women danced in the streets, and their grandchildren followed suit. This was where Bloomington came to show its colors. This was the 16th annual Lotus World Music and Arts Festival. Lotus Fest began in 1994 as the brainchild of three Bloomington locals: Shahyar Daneshgar, James Combs and Lee Williams, who currently serves as Lotus Fest’s executive and artistic director. Since then, it grew from meager beginnings to being host to about 30 artists hailing from around the world, performing for more than 10,000 fans each fall. The 2009 festival was made up of seven venues that branched out from downtown Kirkwood Avenue, which was temporarily renamed Väsen Street by “mayoral decree” in honor of the Swedish folk group that kicked off the festivities at the BuskirkChumley Theater. “Everywhere we go – it doesn’t matter where we are in the world – we always end up mentioning this town,” said Olov Johansson, founding member of Väsen, between songs. “And there’s always at least one person in the back that yells, ‘Woo, Bloomington!’” Despite the rain, Friday, Sept. 25 and Saturday, Sept. 26 came alive when bands like Los de Abajo, natives of Mexico City whose music mixes a healthy repertoire of traditional Latin styles with ska and punk, delivered energized, hearty performances that had spectators cheering and smiling. And if they were not smiling, they were dancing. Traditional folk artists such as Cara Dillon of Ireland and the Zolfonoon Ensemble of Iran charmed audiences in First United Methodist Church with
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captions They may be the only text read on a page. Get some meat into them — most importantly, the names. A nameless photo in a yearbook cheats more than the source. It cheats history. attribution & identification Use present tense in the first sentence. Use Use said, not says. past tense in additional sentences. Use Smith said, not said Smith, unless a Give each caption a couple sentences. long title or identification follows the name. If it’s a competition, tell the outcome. Save according to for documents. Never On spreads with multiple photos, give according to Smith. the outcome just once, logically in the Quotations are important, but quote only first caption. Expand other captions with sources with relevance. Avoid random information specific to that photo. sources just to boost quotes. Likewise Use consistent capitalization on navigation, IndIana daIly Student maintain your ethics and avoid quoting newSpaper such as Top, Bottom, Top Left and friends, family and fellow journalism Bottom Right. students. Want a quick primer on captions? Then tell readers quickly why a source was Read a National Geographic. Its captions quoted. Identify the source immediately or match its superb photos. very soon after you use it.
Black Ink
Includes Spot Color(s)
Good beginnings
See sources.
Clichés. If the same lead could go on a chronology different story, your lead is lazy. Trim. Most leads are too long. Break any It’s OK to tell a story in chronological order. background long paragraph into digestible grafs. Question leads? Occasionally unless Just use journalistic commonOK, sense. You may be writing about a current event, it’s a vague question or predictable answer. Spill the beans on the outcome early in Delay. theare fivefar W’s H— — butWork your with readers in and the future the story, probably within the first few but don’tsometimes cram all ofdecades them into the lead graf. Descriptions. Stick with specific nouns ahead. paragraphs. To withhold the outcome to the and verbs. Adjectives and adverbs are quick Tighten. tighten you’re They Write won’t your knowlead. whatThen Wednesday end is a rare literary device — very rare in referring They that BMOC to editorialize. the9 phrases. Whatto. can go?won’t Whatknow can wait? journalism because it can annoy or confuse stands for Big Man On Campus on first readers. Many won’t read to the conclusion. Angle. Tell the story with a narrative of reference. They won’t know the purpose of a someoneparticular experiencing it. Then share the HeadLines In sports, for example, you should organization. latest news. Then the background. summarize beforecontain you begin Key word/s. Ifthe theoutcome kicker doesn’t Similarly, if you refer to a business, tell us the chronology. The where beginning. Avoid launching withNick’s a them, get the key word/s in the main it is. For example, describe prepositional phrase. It’s an immediate sign headline. 223
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©2009 Herff Jones, Inc., All Rights Reserved
Process 4-Color (CMYK)
Odd Page
IndIan n
Good b Leads
Trim. Most leads are too long. Break any College Media Association long paragraph into digestible grafs. HallDelay. of Fame portfolio Work with the five W’s and H —
but don’t cram all of them into the lead graf
RON JOHNSON
Tighten. Write your lead. Then tighten Indiana University the phrases. What can go? What can wait? ronejohn@indiana.edu Angle. Tell the story with a narrative of 812-855-9576 office it. Then share the someone experiencing latest news. Then the background.
The beginning. Avoid launching with a prepositional phrase. It’s an immediate sign
TRAIN ‘EM AND TRUST ‘EM Critiques might be tedious on occasion, but they’re one of the most rewarding ways advisers can connect with students. After all these years, I find myself marking so many of the same things. At those moments, I remind myself — that’s why I’m in this business.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
ADVOCACY It took four years of lobbying the Kansas Legislature to reverse the Hazelwood ruling and restore First Amendment rights to student journalists at Kansas’ public high schools. The 1992 legislation withstood an amendment attempt in 2007, and Kansas remains among a handful of states with student-press laws. I led the state scholastic press association’s legislative committee that coordinated the lobbying.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
ADVOCACY Case Nos. 05-3266 & 05-3284 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT KATIE LANE and SARAH RICE, Appellants/Cross-appellees, v. TODD F. SIMON and STEPHEN E. WHITE, in their official and individual capacities, Appellees/Cross-appellants. Appeal from the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas Case No. 04-CV-04079-JAR-JPO The Honorable Julie A. Robinson BRIEF OF AMICI CURIAE STUDENT PRESS LAW CENTER, THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEWSPAPER EDITORS, THE ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS, COLLEGE MEDIA ADVISERS, COLLEGE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS AND ADVERTISING MANAGERS, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE JOURNALISM ASSOCIATION, THE FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION INC., THE REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS, AND THE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS IN SUPPORT OF APPELLANTS/CROSS-APPELLEES’ REQUEST FOR PARTIAL REVERSAL OF DISTRICT COURT AND IN OPPOSITION TO APPELLEES/CROSS-APPELLANTS’ REQUEST FOR PARTIAL REVERSAL OF DISTRICT COURT
With unfortunate irony, that Kansas press law didn’t cover collegiate journalists and their advisers. After several attempts at removing me as adviser over Kansas State Collegian content, I was reassigned in late spring 2005. My newspaper editors at the time sued to reverse the assignment. We lost our appeal in federal appeals court in 2007. Through the ordeal, I was humbled with the outpouring of generous support — from CMA, SPLC, SPJ, WAUPM and other organizations.
(counsel on reverse) College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
K-STATE YEARS I treasure my 15 years advising the Kansas State Collegian. This sequence epitomizes some of my great students there. Hopeful that K-State would end its 30-year losing streak against Nebraska, we printed “K-State Wins,” a four-page special section three days before the game. The Wildcats won, and fans waved the section on national television. A few weeks later, the national title hopes ended in the conference title game. “The Dream is Dead” design won a national first place, and the photo won a national second.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
K-STATE YEARS My Collegian students broke through the routine with special coverage. The Voters’ Guide in 1996 featured a distinctive illustration, hand-torn from construction paper. We also sent reporter/ photographer teams to Little Rock, Ark., and Austin, Texas, to cover presidential elections in 1996 and 2000.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
NEWS AT IU My Indiana Daily Student staffers also have produced some memorable coverage, from historic events to local issues. Like most newspapers, our format has adjusted to match decreasing budgets. After months of preparation, my students launched a 2011 redesign that sought to preserve IDS traditions — strong narratives, with striking photos, illustrations and graphics.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
FEATURES AT IU Look at a college newspaper — look at our newspaper — and you can see some stale, boring pages disconnected from our youthful readership. These pages are a few exceptions — from a Halloween story on a woman carrying an alien’s baby to the coming zombie apocalypse.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
OPINION AT IU The Daily Student remains fortunate to offer an opinion section front every two weeks. Our better efforts explore provocative topics with dynamic commentary, bold visuals, elegant typography and open space.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
ACROSS PLATFORMS This 2010 Veterans Day presentation demonstrates the reach of our storytelling. In print, we featured the stories of IU student-soldiers through crisp profiles and reader-provided photos. Then, on our magazine’s site, we shared audio interviews and additional photos from our sources.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
SPORTS AT IU My arrival at IU happened to coincide with that of new basketball coach Tom Crean. As Crean began resurrecting a tradition-rich program, our special-section designer took a bold, now-iconic approach to the fall 2008 basketball section front.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
YEARBOOK AT IU It’s a pleasure to be back in yearbooks. In 1977-78, at Fort Hays State, in western Kansas, I started collegiate journalism on the yearbook staff of the late Dave Adams. The next year, I was named editor-in-chief. Now in my fourth year advising the Arbutus yearbook, we’re enhancing our traditional black-andwhite photojournalism with striking color presentations. We’ve worked hard on portraits and book sales, and our yearbook budget remains in the black.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
MAGAZINE AT IU Our magazine, Inside, just completed its sixth year, and I’m pleased with how it has matured. Published twice per semester, Inside provides opportunities for even more sophisticated content and presentation.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
NEW MEDIA AT IU When I started advising, in 1985, who could have imagined how we now connect with readers? Sites. Mobile. Twitter feeds. Facebook. Storify. Multimedia. Soon after I started at IU, in 2008, we also launched live sports blogs in partnership with the local daily newspaper. Readers worldwide now follow Hoosier sports on our site.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office
STUDENT HONORS I’ve been blessed to work with students who have been recognized for their work. My students know, however, that we produce publications not to win awards, but to serve readers. We are appreciative and humbled by the recognition.
College Media Association Hall of Fame portfolio
RON JOHNSON
Indiana University
ronejohn@indiana.edu 812-855-9576 office