This post is very hard for me to write. Quite honestly, JOMC 711 is a great course – the best course I’ve taken in the certificate program. I’m having a hard time thinking how the course could be improved or enhanced, but I suppose there’s always room for improvement in anything.

One thing that comes to mind is technical issues. I believe I mentioned this on the discussion board near mid-term. A few times during the semester, it would have been nice to have had a bit of instant support WordPress support from UNC, but I was able to get an email back in a day or so.

Also, as I stated on the discussion board, I would have liked to have heard a bit more about the instructor’s experiences.

Which readings were most useful, and which were least useful?

Most of the readings were relevant and informative. I particularly liked the Eye Track study readings, because they helped me understand how people scan online. I also liked the Rebecca Blood article telling me about the history of blogs, because I knew nothing about how blogs started, much less how big of a role they are playing in today’s media. I liked the Kurt Vonnegut reading from week 1 because Vonnegut emphasizes writing about the things we care most about while keeping it simple and concise.

The least relevant, and in my opinion, most boring, reading was the Jay David Bolter article on studies in new media theory. I had a hard time getting very much out of the reading, but I did try. I realize graduate level courses require some theory in their content, but I tend to be a more practical person.

What could the instructor do to better facilitate maximum learning?

While I valued the prompt grading and feedback on assignments, I would have appreciated a bit more feedback on my discussion participation. I recall getting an email earlier in the semester saying that I was doing a good job on the discussion board. At other times in the semester, however, I would see an announcement saying that some people weren’t participating very much and wondered if the instructor was talking about me! When I saw those announcements, I did make an honest effort to go back to the board and make sure I was participating.

While the discussion board was great in many ways, I think the conversation sometimes started leaning a little too much toward people’s particular work experiences, (especially those who work in newsrooms). Since I’m not currently employed in a newsroom, I would have little to say during these discussions.

I came into this course with a strong background in traditional newspaper journalism and a small amount of public relations experience, so I had a lot to learn. Since taking the course, I’ve learned new ways of formatting and writing for an online audience, while continuing to develop “traditional” writing skills, such as clarity, conciseness and credibility.

Perhaps the most important element of online writing I have learned is “the three-second rule.” People tend to scan, rather than read, online. Therefore, it is important to immediately get their attention. The headline revision exercises really helped me to understand just how important it is to concisely summarize what the article is about.

Another important concept I learned is the importance of knowing your audience. The weeks 9 and 10 assignments forced me to really sit down and consider the members of my audience – their age, their race, their geographic location, their expectations of an online publication, etc.

Proper formatting is also important when writing for an online audience. Before this class, I noticed many online articles containing subheads and bullets, but I never thought one way or the other about why they were used. Now, I know why. When I try to read a long piece online that isn’t formatted, I have a hard time and tend to lose interest.

Anticipating the audience’s questions is another important part of online writing. While I have read the frequently asked questions on many websites, I had never stopped to think about how they were developed until I had to develop my own. This exercise required that I give critical thought to anticipating my audience’s questions.

Finally, the course has reinforced the need for clear, concise, credible and grammatically correct writing. It doesn’t matter if one is writing for a print or online publication – these characteristics never go out of style. I think the writer’s workshop early in the course was very helpful in this regard.

What have you learned that will be most useful going forward?

As for my next steps, I’m hoping the Catamount Communicator e-newsletter for the Department of Communication at WCU will become reality, rather than just a class project. I’ve thought about continuing to write a blog, although I’m not sure at this point what the content will be. Maybe I’ll set up a new blog and write about some regional political issues – I’ll try to dig deeper than the local newspapers do.

My long-term goal is to complete the certificate program next fall and hopefully re-enter the work force using my new skills in online writing, web design and web research. The skills and concepts I’ve learned in this course will be very useful in a new job.

What unanswered questions remain for you?

Like some of my classmates, I wonder just how transparent online writers should be. While I’m glad that online writing allows me to be more transparent, I wonder just how far I should go or how far a particular publication should go? Either way, the writer or publication risks gaining readers or losing readers. I’m hoping I’ll eventually find a good answer to this question.

Department of Communication

Assignment: Develop an interactive page of frequently asked questions for the organization that we created online content for in weeks 9 and 10

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Why should I read the Catamount Communicator?

Reading the Catamount Communicator keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and events of the Department of Communication – news that may dramatically affect your academic success or that may enable you to learn something new about the department and what we have to offer.   You may also learn about part-time jobs and internship opportunities. Additionally, you’ll be able to learn more about faculty members and fellow students through the newsletter’s feature articles.

• If I have an idea for a newsletter article or announcement, who do I send it to?

We would love to have reader contributions. Send your idea to Betty Dishman at bdishman@email.wcu.edu or Don Connelly at dconnelly@email.wcu.edu

• What kinds of internships do WCU’s communication majors have access to? What procedures do I follow to get an internship?

Our majors have interned at a variety of companies and organizations in the industry, including CNN, Fox News and local and regional TV and radio stations, magazines and companies. Consult your adviser about possible places to intern. While advisers can point you in a certain direction, it is your responsibility to follow through and make contact with the company or organization.  Once you have been accepted as an intern, you must sign up for CMCR 483-Internship in Communication to receive proper credit.  You must also obtain the appropriate forms and keep a daily journal of your activities to obtain full credit for the internship.

• Do students receive payment for their internship?

Payment for an internship is up to the company or organization for which you will be working.

• Why has the Department of Communication recently changed its admission requirements?

The Department of Communication wants to cultivate the highest quality graduates for tomorrow’s ever-changing, demanding workplace. The department believes that by requiring a minimum 2.5 grade point average, students will be better able to learn the necessary skills that will enable them to better compete in the job market upon graduation. Students who don’t have the 2.5 GPA but who show academic promise may complete a probationary status contract to remain in the program provided they raise their grades by the next semester. You’ll find additional information on our website. Feel free to consult with your adviser regarding the requirements.

• Does the department offer a minor in communication?

Yes, the Department of Communication does offer a minor in communication. The minor requires 21 credit hours. Please note that the minor is not available to communication majors.

• What can I do with a degree in communication?

Many of our majors have become writers and editors, as well as production managers, public relations practitioners and broadcast salespersons. You can find a listing of some of our graduates’ first jobs on our website.

• What kinds of clubs and organizations do communication majors participate in?

Communication majors may participate in a variety of organizations, including Power 90.05-WWCU-FM, Jackson County‘s only FM radio station, the WCU chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, and Catamount Communications, an organization that produces advertising and PR support for students. Additional opportunities include TV 62, a student-run cable television station, and the Western Carolinian, a student-produced campus newspaper.

• Does the Department of Communication offer scholarships?

Yes, the department offers two scholarships - one for those pursuing radio or television studies, and one for students studying speech. Currently, there are no departmental scholarships for students studying print media and broadcast sales. More information about university-wide financial aid can be found by contacting Student Financial Aid.

• Where can I learn more about Department of Communication faculty?

You can learn basic information about our faculty on our website. The faculty listing contains names, office locations and phone numbers. Some of our faculty also have a link to their personal website. The Catamount Communicator plans to publish feature stories about each faculty member.

• Will the Department of Communication offer a convergence journalism program in the future?

Yes, the department does plan to offer a convergence journalism program if the university will provide the necessary funds. A departmental committee is currently exploring the necessary elements of such a program.

• If I don’t read my WCU email, can I receive the Catamount Communicator through a personal email address?

No, the WCU email is the university’s official means of communication, so you are urged to check this email account for updates. Also, the department does not have the necessary staff to keep up with personal email addresses. In the future, we may publish the e-newsletter through Facebook.

Online content for Catamount Communicator, the e-newsletter of the Department of Communication, Western Carolina University, as described in weeks 8 and 9

Article about departmental split/reorganization-Communication Department splits from Theatre & Dance

Article about faculty member Padraig Acheson-Acheson spent nearly 30 years working with major television networks

Article about Russian student Larisa Zhukova-Student finds a warm welcome at WCU

Departmental Photos-Departmental picnic and National Association of Broadcasters Conference

Important Dates and Announcements -Upcoming fellowship opportunities and schedules

Department of Communication
Western Carolina University
Old Student Union 109
Cullowhee, NC 28723

Contact: Betty Dishman
(828)227-3846
(828)227-7647-Fax
bdishman@email.wcu.edu
Don Connelly
(828)227-3851
(828)227-7647(Fax)
dconnelly@email.wcu.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Emmy Award -Winning News Photographer to Teach in WCU’s Department of Communication

CULLOWHEE, N.C.-Two-time regional Emmy-winning news photographer, Leighton Grant, will teach a television production class for the Department of Communication at Western Carolina University, beginning January 2008.

Grant, who currently works at WLOS News 13, the ABC affiliate in Asheville, N.C., won a “Best Feature” Southeast region Emmy this year for the package, “Magic Man.”
“Magic Man” is a story about Ricky D. Boone, a magician in Weaverville who was born with a rare bone disease and has been in a wheelchair his whole life.

Grant’s second Emmy, which was also awarded this year, was for his coverage of the funeral of Mitch Carver, a U.S. Army pilot killed when his reconnaissance helicopter crashed near Mosul, Iraq.

A 2003 graduate of the Department of Communication, Grant has also won three Associated Press Awards – “Best Photography in North Carolina,” “Best Feature,” and “Honorable Mention Spot News.” He was also recently awarded the N.C. Photographer of the Year Award from the Radio Television News Directors Association of the Carolinas.

“I am excited,” Grant said. “When I was at Western, I always thought how much fun it would be to come back and teach what I learned.”

Don Connelly, head of the Department of Communication, said he is looking forward to having Grant on board.

“We are thrilled that such a successful graduate is going to take time from a very full career to give back to our students. It’s not often you can have a multiple Emmy winner teach one of your classes,” Connelly said.

Although he’s always been interested in television photography, Grant said he decided to go into news photography following the Sept. 11 tragedies.

“Watching the coverage of 9/11 made me realize I wanted to go into news,” Grant said. “It made me realize how powerful news can be.”

Prior to working for WLOS, Grant worked as a news photojournalist for WBTV, a CBS affiliate in Charlotte.

###

Choosing an event was hard for me because my job doesn’t entail going to conferences and seminars. Since I’m busy working full-time and parenting my son, I’m pretty much limited to what is going on in the local area. One event in Asheville that I had considered was canceled at the last minute! Fortunately, several suitable events did end up taking place, so I finally settled on the pottery festival because I love pottery and have always wanted to learn how to do it.

Some of the things I enjoyed about the assignment:

• I didn’t mind having a tight deadline. Having spent several years in the newspaper industry, I got used to daily deadlines. Even though I haven’t worked at a newspaper in several years, I still thrive on last-minute rushes and tend to write better when I’ve only got a short amount of time.
• I enjoyed being in a crowd of people and interacting with strangers. While it was nice to see people I already know, I’m not shy about talking to strangers or asking them questions.
• Live blogging the pottery festival allowed me to give readers a more descriptive view of the event that the local newspaper article did. I could go from booth to booth and describe in detail what I was seeing.
• Live blogging this particular event allowed me to learn more about an interest I already have. If I live blog in the future, I may be able to learn about a subject that I had no prior knowledge of.
• Knowing that I was going to be writing about the festival gave me the opportunity to make more in-depth observations about what I was seeing than I would have if I hadn’t been blogging.

Now, for the things I didn’t like about the assignment:

• Walking around at a festival with a notepad, taking notes. One guy asked me if I was taking notes for my book report! I would have felt even more strange if I had been carrying a notebook computer. Luckily, I live close enough to the event to run home, type some notes and come back.
• Having to ask permission to take photographs. No one objected, and I know it’s necessary in order to prevent problems. I’m just not comfortable doing so.
• My only digital camera is my cell phone. This camera worked out just fine during the morning hours. As I said earlier, I don’t live too far away, so I could easily email them and have them on my computer right away. However, when I left the festival mid-day to run errands, I ended up losing my cell phone and had no means of taking afternoon photographs! (As of this writing, I’m still looking for my phone and praying that it will turn up).

In conclusion, I’ll probably live blog in the future, but I’ll come prepared with a back-up camera. If I decide to live blog some distance from home, I’ll have to think about getting a notebook computer and wireless internet access.

Why I Linked What I Did:

Sylva and Dillsboro: Because they are small towns. Despite the fact that both towns are growing, a lot of readers might not know where they are located. Also, both towns offer other attractions and shopping experiences that those attending a pottery festival might be interested in.
Brasstown and John C. Campbell Folk School: Same reasons as above, but I also made this link because the Campbell Folk School is very unique. The school offers classes in traditional crafts and folk arts, ranging from blacksmithing and pottery to contemporary dance and photography.

Ikebana: Because a lot of readers may not be familiar with this form of Japanese flower arranging. I wasn’t familiar with it until I attended a presentation on it two weeks ago. Also, I didn’t want to distract the reader from the pottery festival by having to do an in-depth explanation of ikebana.

Otto, N.C., – A small village near Franklin, N.C. Some readers, even in other parts of Western North Carolina, might not know where Otto is.

Western Carolina University – A lot of visitors to the area are also interested in WCU. A link to the website will give them more information about the university and what it has to offer.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Western North Carolina Pottery Festival

Dillsboro, N.C.

4 p.m. – I stop by the t-shirt booth as the last raffle ticket is drawn, hoping I’ll win a piece of pottery. Darn it! Guess I’m not supposed to win any pottery today. Oh well, it was still an enjoyable day. I chat with friends and tell them that I don’t ever recall seeing such a variety of pottery, especially when I realize that it all starts out as a single glob of clay.

If you’re looking for a festival that includes a variety of crafts and activities, as well as food booths, you’ll be disappointed. But if you really like pottery, then you’re sure to find some interesting pieces.

3:43 p.m. – The festival is beginning to wind down, and the crowd is thinning out. I ask potter Michael LaLone of Murphy, N.C., if he’s had a good day. Yes, he replies. One of his former professors, Perry Kelly, from Western Carolina University, paid him the ultimate compliment, by buying several of his pieces. He’s busy boxing them for Perry.

3:28 p.m. I stop by Katherine Owen’s booth. Katherine, who is from Easley, S.C., has named her business “Wild, Extravagant Livers of Life.” I’ve never seen pottery like hers – it’s much more modern than most of what I’ve seen today. Crosses, cups and plates in bright reds, yellows and blues with messages such as Peace, Love, Thanks and Faith line the shelves. I think it would be fine for the right person in the right house, but that person isn’t me.

3:15 p.m. – I stop by the Four Winds Pottery booth. Lots of blues, corals and pinks are displayed. These colors are my favorites. The shapes range from the usual bowls and vases to containers with a large gemstone embedded into the top. I asked a dark-haired woman at the booth how on earth she got the stone in the pottery. She says she glued it in after the pottery was created, but had to measure everything to make sure it fit perfectly. I admire her patience.

I strike up a conversation with this woman, who is named Marie Hrivarn. Marie says her sales have been really good today. She tells me that she walked up and down the street this morning, admiring the works of other potters and feeling like her own creations were inferior. How often I feel that way in regards to many things I do, including writing for this class.

I ask Marie if she’s a full-time potter. No, she home schools three of her four children, so there’s no way she can devote all her energies to her business, which is located in nearby Otto, N.C. I’m amazed that she can do anything since she’s home schooling that many kids. Our talks turns away from pottery when she tells me she put her 11-year-old boy in a school because he’s very social and was fighting with her every time she tried to school him. As the mother of an active 11-year-old boy, I can relate.

3 p.m. – I walk over to the center of the festival, where I see two men demonstrating firing. Of course it’s hot in this area. I missed the early part of the demonstration, so I can’t tell readers exactly how all this works. I see two or three pieces as the men pull them out of the kiln with long tongs and gloved hands. They quickly put the pottery under a metal can, explaining that this process helps cool the piece and solidifies the colors. Two or three pieces come out in shades of copper and blue – very pretty.

2:17 pm. – I walk over to the t-shirt booth to see if my ticket number has been drawn for a free piece of pottery. No luck this time, but there are drawings at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

I look across the street and see another demonstration. A gentleman from Creative Industries sits at his wheel, with a large glob of clay in front of him. He tells the crowd gathered around him that throwing pots is very therapeutic and that you really have to focus. Boy, do I need something that helps me to do that. There’s no time right now with this certificate program, a full-time job and single parenting an active boy. Maybe some day, I tell myself.

The potter describes how he uses his arm as lever to center the large mound of clay in front of him. As the wheel turns, he tells everyone that he compresses the clay with his fingers to keep it from cracking. I watch for the second time today, as the clay slowly evolves into a round, bowl-like shape and gets taller and taller.

“Anybody can make pots,” he says. “You just have to put the time and effort into it.” Sure, I thought. He makes it look so easy.

Potter Leon Nichols fits two parts of his pots together to make a large vase.

2:06 p.m. – The sun is out and it’s about 65 degrees. Front Street is lined with people – probably about 200 or so. By this time, Leon Nichols has painted the large vase he was working on late morning, when I left. The vase is various shades of tan and brown.

1:50 p.m. – I board the shuttle to return to the festival. Several people are being dropped off. Judging by their large shopping bags, the potters must be making some money.

11:42 a.m. I go back up to Leon Nichols’ booth. Now, he’s got four large globs of clay in front of him and is telling the crowd that he’s going to be making the tops for his vases. I watch as he works the clay through his hands, almost like kneading bread dough. He then starts the throwing process again. It looks so easy, but if I tried to do it, it probably wouldn’t be that easy.

Unlike many festivals, the only food at this festival is in the local restaurants. Since I’ve got to start transferring some notes to my computer and run some errands, and Donna has other plans for the afternoon, we leave the festival. The sun is out in full force and more folks are arriving.

Potter Leon Nichols of Charlotte demonstrates pottery making at the Western N.C. Pottery Festival

11:15 a.m. The sun is beginning to poke through the clouds. While there’s still a chill in the air, it’s not as intense as when I first arrived.

We walk over to Marion Schlauch’s booth. Marion, who is from Walland, Tenn., is showing a variety of pottery in various shades of green, blue and maroon. Marion has even made a piece of pottery into the shape of a large lamp base, and has added the light fixtures and lamp shade, making it ready for someone’s home. I continue to be amazed at the many shapes and sizes of pottery I’m seeing today. Donna and I walk on by several other booths. We notice two booths that feature vases with flowers in them and signs saying ikebana. This reminds me of a seminar I attended two weeks ago, in which a Japanese visiting scholar at WCU demonstrated the art of ikebana, which focuses on arranging flowers in ways that represent balance, harmony, energy, etc.

10:45 a.m. We walk to a pottery demonstration by Leon Nichols of Charlotte. Leon places a large mound of brown clay on his pottery wheel and begins turning it. I could watch this all day. As the wheel turns, the clay slowing turns into a large, round shape, and suddenly begins to get taller and taller. Leon explains that he makes the large vases like these in three different pieces – a base, a middle section and the top.

I glance at the price tag on the large vases he displays – $1,500 to $1,800. It seems like a high price, but there’s a lot of work that goes into making these.

10:30 a.m. – We walk out of Bradley’s General Store and find a variety of pottery in a variety of shapes and sizes. Small coffee cups and bowls sell anywhere from $12 to $25, while the larger pieces range from $45 to hundreds and thousands of dollars.

Pottery by Tom Seelos of Marietta, Ga., Tom said he used a knife to cut the pots into various shapes

10:14 a.m. – Since it’s so cold, Donna and I walk into Bradley’s General Store for some hot chocolate. Sitting at the old-fashioned soda fountain and sipping the hot chocolate, owner David Bradley tells me the festival is in it’s third year. It was developed by three local potters – Brant Barnes, Joe Frank McKee and Travis Berning.

David went on to explain that the festival is limited to 38 potters, because the show is juried.

10:04a.m. – My friend Donna and I have paid the $2.00 admission and receive our raffle tickets. Each hour, a ticket will be drawn and the winner gets a free piece of pottery! Festival organizers give us a brochure listing each potter and where they are from. There are several local and regional potters, as well as some from Ohio and Illinois.

At the first booth, we talk to Rob Withrow, of Brasstown, N.C, home of the John C. Campbell Folk School. Withrow says he lives in an art colony about a mile from the school. He has created a pottery piece in the shape of a large piggy bank, as well as a large vase with imprints of snakes on the outside. Since I don’t like snakes, I can’t say that this piece is my favorite, but different strokes for different folks.

9:49 a.m. – I’m boarding a shuttle bus between my home in Sylva, N.C., and Dillsboro, N.C., headed to the Western N.C. Pottery Festival in Dillsboro. Shuttles are used because parking in Dillsboro is very limited. According to an article in this week’s Sylva Herald, the festival is the only all pottery festival in Western North Carolina.

Lead Article:

The lead article will be a press release/news article regarding the new Communication Department. The article will focus on the recent split from the old Communication, Theatre & Dance Department, as well as a few sentences about goals and aspirations of new department head, Don Connelly.

Feature Stories:

The Catamount Communicator will also contain feature stories about current students and faculty. For purposes of this class assignment, I will have one story about a faculty member and one story about a student. If this newsletter becomes a reality outside of this class, I will continue to feature faculty members and students as much as possible in subsequent publications.

The particular faculty member I am thinking of interviewing spent a number of years in New York as a producer for the CBS, NBC and ABC networks. He now teaches digital television production in a state-of-the art digital TV studio. By featuring such faculty members, both current and prospective students will learn more about the level of expertise of faculty members. Current faculty might learn something they don’t already know about one of their colleagues.

As for a student feature story, I am thinking of interviewing one of our Communication majors who is from Siberia and speaks three languages. If this student isn’t willing to be interviewed, there are many others who have high goals for the future and who would make interesting interview subjects. We also have a number of “non-traditional” students from all walks of life who might be willing to be interviewed.

Announcements and Updates:

This section will consist of briefs, mostly pertaining to advising, registration for spring and summer 2008 classes, upcoming faculty meetings, and future events, such as holiday parties.

Photos:

• A photo of our new location, the Old Student Union, along with a map of its location. This building is in the older part of campus. Some people have had trouble finding us, so maybe a photo and map will help.
• Photos of the featured faculty and student.
• Several currently available photos from September’s Communication majors picnic. Current students and faculty will see reminders of the fun they had. Prospective students may view these photos and decided they would like to be a better of this group.
• A few photos, if space permits, of last spring’s trip to the National Association of Broadcasters Conference in Las Vegas. There may be information in the announcements section regarding the conference next spring.

Conclusion:

It is my hope that this e-newsletter will keep students, faculty and staff better informed about happenings in the Department of Communication, and that prospective students will develop an interest in what the department is doing.

The departmental website has some news and announcements, but they are limited and are not always up-to-date. The only other means of communication are classroom announcements, meeting announcements and short emails. Our department has been called the “Department of Miscommunication,” and the “Department of No Communication.” While a newsletter won’t totally solve this problem, it might at least lessen it.

Audience:

The audience consists of the following:

• Two groups of current and prospective students – ages 16 to 24 and ages 34 to 65.
• Current faculty and staff, and prospective faculty and staff, ranging in age from 30 to 65.

Publication Name: Catamount Communicator

Frequency of Publication: The Catamount Communicator will be emailed six times per year – at the beginning and midterm of each semester, end of the spring semester for closure, and mid-summer. In addition to emailing the newsletter in Adobe pdf format, a link to the newsletter will be posted on the departmental website.

Color Scheme: Since the e-newsletter is a publication of an academic department, WCU’s colors – purple, gold and white – will be used. The exact shades of purple and gold can be obtained from the university’s webs services office.

Geography/Demographics:

According to WCU’s Office of Institutional Research & Planning. the largest percentage of students come from the Charlotte, Raleigh and Atlanta metropolitan areas. The second largest percentage come from all parts of Western North Carolina.

A growing number of students from Florida and the Northeast, whose parents have bought second homes in the area, are enrolling at WCU. There is also a growing number of foreign students, mostly from Asian and Hispanic cultures. A small subcultural group from the nearby Cherokee Indian Reservation also attends WCU.

Language:

Since the Catamount Communicator will be a publication of a university academic department, standard English will be used.

Challenges/Response:

Since the e-newsletter will be emailed to current faculty and staff, they will have no problem accessing it. However, some may look upon it “just another email” or “just another thing to have to read.” Official university emails for current students are readily available. The current students, however, tend to prefer personal email accounts and don’t always check their official WCU accounts. Since the university has recently told students that their WCU email will be the official means of communication, this problem may eventually lessen, though it is doubtful if it will disappear. Perhaps some students could be found through Facebook and could receive RSS feeds to access the newsletter.

Obtaining current email addresses for prospective students may be more challenge. The Office of Admissions may be able to assist with contact information for prospective students.

Another challenge will be having the personnel to actually take photographs, collect, write and format the information for the newsletter. This task will more than like fall to me, since I am currently responsible for keeping the departmental website up-to-date. While I welcome the challenge and the opportunity, my being able to carry out the task will depend on the workload. The need for my administrative skills is pretty constant. Since Communication recently split from the old Communication, Theatre & Dance Department, I may have more time to accomplish this task.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Why read the Catamount Communicator?
• If I don’t receive an email containing the newsletter, how can I access it?
• If I prefer a hard copy of the newsletter, can I have it emailed to me instead?
• If I have content or a photograph that I’d like in the next newsletter, who do I submit it to?
• Where can I find more information regarding our alumni?
• What kinds of job opportunities and internships are available to Communication majors?
• Where can I find out more about Department of Communication activities?

Style Guide: The Associated Press Stylebook

Technical Limitations:

Since students, faculty and staff are required to have computers with internet and email access, access to the newsletter should not be a problem. Prospective students and faculty are likely to have computer access. Some students will have access to high-speed internet, but I cannot assume that everyone does. High-speed access has improved in rural areas, but the cost is still prohibitive to some audience members, particularly students. Since the newsletter will mostly contain text, small photos and logos, dial-up users should not have a problem accessing content.

Global Audience:

Since there are a few audience members from other cultures, there will be some need for multi-cultural sensitivity. Most members, however, are regional.

Original Headline: Put money where moths are (Charlotte Observer, Oct. 2)

Problem: Too much of a cliche, like “Put your money where your mouth is,”
vague, is there a moth problem?

Revision: City allocates money for moth control

Headline: The Super Wal-Mart Land Rush (Smoky Mountain News, WNC Travel Guide, week of Sept. 26)

Problem: Starts with “the,” vague, no idea what a “land rush” is, reads too much like a subhead or topic headline, doesn’t draw reader

Revision: Super Wal-Mart boosts land values

Headline: The New Face of Waynesville (Smoky Mountain News)

Problem: Starts with “the,” vague, no idea of what the “new face” really is

Revision: New Bojangles’ design one-of-a kind

Rewrite of Weeks 1-3 Assignment Headline:

Original Headline: A Trip to the “World’s Largest Aquarium”

Revision: Georgia Aquarium offers unique travel experience

Article that could benefit from listing:

Before:

Holt, Balsam Range to play at Bridge Park festival

By Stephanie Salmons

This year’s Bridge Park benefit fund-raiser will feature performances by two Grammy Award winners during a Sunday, Oct. 14, afternoon music festival. Four-time Grammy-winner David Holt, the Asheville-based musician and storyteller who hosts Public Radio International’s popular “Riverwalk” show, will take the stage at 3 p.m. Grammy-winning banjo player Marc Pruett – a Western Carolina University graduate – will open the show at 1 p.m. with his new Haywood County-based band, Balsam Range, which features Tuckasegee native Darren Nicholson on mandolin. Rounding out the day’s musical lineup will be Cooking With Quanta, a Sylva-based rock band that will take the stage at 5 and perform until the event closes at 7 p.m. The festival is free, but organizers are asking that those who attend contribute to the planned Bridge Park.

Holt, a musician, storyteller, historian, television host and entertainer, is dedicated to performing and preserving traditional American music and stories and plays 10 acoustic instruments. He has released numerous recordings of traditional mountain music and southern folktales. Holt is host of public television’s “Folkways,” a North Carolina program that takes the viewer through the Southern mountains visiting traditional craftsmen and musicians. He served as host of The Nashville Network’s “Fire on the Mountain,” “Celebration Express” and “American Music Shop.” He has been a frequent guest on “Hee Haw,” “Nashville Now” and “The Grand Ole Opry,” and appeared as a musician in the feature film, “O Brother Where Art Thou.”

“He’s a pretty big act to be playing in Sylva,” Bridge Park Project coordinator Sarah Graham said.

Holt will appear at the Bridge Park event with his band, the Lightning Bolts. His appearance is sponsored by the Jackson County Arts Council as part of their contribution to the park fund-raising effort, Graham said.

In addition to Pruett and Nicholson, Balsam Range, which has just released its debut CD, “Marching Home,” includes fiddler/vocalist Buddy Melton, another WCU alumnus with deep local roots. His parents are Frank and Ann Melton, the founders of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home, and all of his grandparents lived in Jackson County. Rounding out the band are Tim Surrett and Caleb Smith.

The music festival is free and open to the public, but organizers are asking for donations to the park project.

Revised Article:

Holt, Balsam Range to play at Bridge Park festival

By Stephanie Salmons

(revised by blog editor for assignment)

This year’s Bridge Park benefit fund-raiser will feature performances by two Grammy Award winners during a Sunday, Oct. 14, afternoon music festival.

• Grammy-winning banjo player Marc Pruett – a Western Carolina University graduate – will open the show at 1 p.m. with his new Haywood County-based band, Balsam Range. The band features Tuckasegee native Darren Nicholson on mandolin.

• Four-time Grammy-winner David Holt, the Asheville-based musician and storyteller, and host of Public Radio International’s popular “Riverwalk” show, will take the stage at 3 p.m.

• Rounding out the day’s musical lineup will be Cooking With Quanta, a Sylva-based rock band, that will perform from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• The festival is free, but organizers are asking that those who attend contribute to the planned Bridge Park.

Holt, a musician, storyteller, historian, television host and entertainer, is dedicated to performing and preserving traditional American music and stories and plays 10 acoustic instruments. He has released numerous recordings of traditional mountain music and southern folktales.

Holt ha served as host of The Nashville Network’s “Fire on the Mountain,” “Celebration Express” and “American Music Shop.” He has been a frequent guest on “Hee Haw,” “Nashville Now” and “The Grand Ole Opry.” Holt has also appeared as a musician in the feature film, “O Brother Where Art Thou.”

“He’s a pretty big act to be playing in Sylva,” Bridge Park project coordinator Sarah Graham said.

Holt will appear at the Bridge Park event with his band, the Lightning Bolts. His appearance is sponsored by the Jackson County Arts Council as part of their contribution to the park fund-raising effort, Graham said.

In addition to Pruett and Nicholson, Balsam Range, which has just released its debut CD, “Marching Home,” includes fiddler/vocalist Buddy Melton, another WCU alumnus with deep local roots. Rounding out the band are Tim Surrett and Caleb Smith.

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