Today’s journalism students are entering an industry that’s facing a crossroads. These days, newspapers and media in general are adapting and growing at a rapid pace, and it’s essential that students keep up, or they’ll be left in the dust. By reading these blogs, you can keep an ear to the ground on the latest developments that matter the most to journalism students.

General

These blogs offer general information to journalism students.

1. PoynterOnline: Read news and tips about writing, reporting, and more.
2. Common Sense Journalism: Doug Fisher’s blog offers a view of common sense journalism in new and old media.
3. The Editorialiste: Andrew Nusca offers his writing about media issues.
4. Lost Remote: Lost Remote discusses the future of TV and the business of journalism.
5. Institute for Analytic Journalism: This institute researches and develops non-traditional analytic methods and tools for journalism.
6. Innovation Journalism: Read this blog to learn about journalism, information, public affairs, and more on Innovation Journalism.
7. JOUR M02 Writing and Reporting for the Media: This class blog will help you learn about interviewing, gathering information, and more for writing and reporting.
8. Tony’s Journalism Blog: Read Tony’s blog to see the latest news stories in journalism.

Educators

Read these blogs to hear from journalism professors and other educators.

9. The Innovation Journalism Blog: David Nordfors leads the Innovation Journalism program at Stanford.
10. Bob Stepno: Read Bob Stepno’s to find explorations of personal and community journalism.
11. PressThink: Jay Rosen teaches journalism at NYU and writes the PressThink blog.
12. Columbia Journalism Review: This blog supports strong press and strong democracy.
13. Teaching Online Journalism: Read this blog to learn about teaching and learning online journalism.
14. Neiman Journalism Lab: The Neiman Journalism Lab is a blog about quality journalism in the Internet age from Harvard University.
15. Public Journalism Network: Leonard Witt is the Robert D. Fowler Distinguished Chair in Communication at Kennesaw State University.
16. Campfire Journalism: Campfire Journalism shares tutorials and knowledge for teaching interactive storytelling.
17. Andy Dickinson: Read what Andy Dickinson has to say about online journalism, newspaper, video, and digital media.
18. JACC Blog: JACC Blog offers a discussion from the Journalism Association of Community Colleges.
19. WJEA Blog: The WJEA blog is a tool of the Washington Journalism Education Association.

Students

Check out these blogs to read the thoughts of other journalism students.

20. The Spectrum: This blog from NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute Urban Journalism Workshop shares views from urban teems.
21. Journo Student: Thoughts and Exploits: Find a discussion of magazines and more in this journalism student’s blog.
22. Online Journalism Lab: This blog is written by students at Whitworth University studying the changing world of online journalism.
23. Innovation in College Media: Read this blog for a group discussion on the future of social media.
24. Online Journalism Review: Read this blog, the work of OJR readers and journalism students from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Journalism.
25. Jschool Student Blog: This blog is maintained by journalism students at Jschool: Journalism Education & Training, Australia.

New Media

Many blogs that are important to journalism students today reflect what’s happening in new media.

26. Journalism 2.0: Mark Briggs’ blog writes about journalism in the digital age.
27. Journalistopia: This blog is written for online journalists.
28. Contentious: Contentious shares Amy Gahran’s discussion on communication in the online age.
29. Mashable: Mashable offers a readable guide to social media.
30. Socialmedia.biz: Get social strategies and social news from this blog.
31. Online Journalism Blog: Read the Online Journalism Blog to get a look into the future of journalism.
32. MediaShift: MediaShift is a guide to the digital media revolution.
33. Ricochet: Here you’ll find a home for ideas on online news.
34. paidContent: This blog writes about the economic evolution of digital content.
35. New Media Bytes: Read New Media Bytes to learn about online journalism, web production, and more.
36. Publishing 2.0: Publishing 2.0 covers the revolution of media.
37. Reportr: Reportr offers a blog to help make sense of how media, society, and technology work together.
38. BeatBlogging: BeatBlogging works to push the practice of beat reporting.
39. Online Journalism Review: Online Journalism Review works to support good journalism and help journalists thrive in the Digital Now.
40. Technolo-J: With Technolo-J, you can get in touch with your technical side.
41. Eat Sleep Publish: Read thoughts on publishing’s future on Eat Sleep Publish.
42. Journerdism: Journerdism discusses online journalism, multimedia, social media, and more.
43. E-Media Tidbits: In this group blog, you’ll learn about the intersection of news and technology.
44. MediaMemo: Find news, analysis, and opinion about the digital revolution in this blog.
45. 10,000 Words: 10,000 Words is a blog at the intersection of journalism and technology.
46. Center for Citizen Media: This blog encourages grassroots and citizen journalism.
47. Advancing the Story: Advancing the Story examines broadcast journalism as it relates to the multimedia world.
48. MediaShift Idea Lab: Read Idea Lab to learn about community news for the digital age.
49. CyberJournalist: Follow this blog for tips, news and commentary on using the Internet as a reporting tool.
50. The Journalism Iconoclast: The Journalism Iconoclast discusses new media journalism.
51. Interactive Narratives: Interactive Narratives showcases some of the best in multimedia journalism and storytelling.
52. MediaFile: MediaFile is a blog that shares the meeting of media and technology.

News

Check out these blogs that cover the news of covering the news.

53. Mediabistro: Mediabistro offers news, career, and community for media professionals.
54. A Capital Idea: Nicole Stockdale writes this copy editing blog about grammar and newspapers.
55. Journalism.org: This website will help you better understand news in the information age.
56. Editor & Publisher: Editor & Publisher is America’s oldest journal covering the newspaper industry.
57. Rhetorica: Read Rhetorica to find analysis and commentary about journalism, politics, and more.
58. Sans Serif: Get news, views, and more about the printing industry from Sans Serif.
59. Media Matters for America: Stay up to date on happenings in the media from Media Matters.
60. The Newspaper Guild: If you’re a communication worker, be sure to check out this blog.
61. Media Guardian: Find media news, commentary, and analysis from the UK on Media Guardian.
62. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press: This nonprofit shares developments in freedom of the press on this blog.
63. Mediaweek: Mediaweek is an official media news magazine.
64. Newspaper Death Watch: Newspaper Death Watch will keep you up to date on the decline of newspapers.
65. Topix Journalism: Topix updates journalism news from thousands of online sources.
66. Romenesko: Follow Jim Romenesko’s blog to get a daily dose of media industry news, commentary, and more.
67. Evolving Newsroom: This blog shares links and observations on news and journalism.
68. I Want Media: Find media news and resources from I Want Media.

Journalists

Get your news straight from the journalists on these blogs.

69. Howard Owens: Here you can read the personal blog of Howard Owens.
70. Mediascaper: Anthony Salveggi is a Tampa Bay area journalist who is interested in online communication and press issues.
71. Invisible Inkling: Ryan Sholin writes about work as a Director of News Innovation, and how the news business is changing.
72. Buzz Machine: Jeff Jarvis, associate professor and director of interactive journalism at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, and author of What Would Google Do?, writes this blog about media and news.
73. Rob Curley: This Internet newsman writes about local news and the evolution of traditional media.
74. Abbey Anne: Abbey Anne’s blog discusses news, reviews, travels, and food.
75. DigiDave: DigiDave approaches journalism as a process, not a product.
76. Kelly Roche: Kelly Roche’s blog offers a look into the life of a journalist and producer.
77. Reflections of a Newsosaur: Read Alan Mutter’s blog to read the musings and warnings of a veteran media executive.
78. Steve Outing: Steve Outing shares musings on news in the Internet era.
79. One Man and His Blog: Adam Tinworth writes about bloggers, journalists, and "other media reptiles."
80. yelvington: On this blog, Steve Yelvington is a lifelong journalist and media company strategist.
81. Adrian Monck: Adrian Monck writes this blog about how we inform ourselves and why we do it.
82. Lucas Grindley: Lucas Grindley’s blog explores the new way for journalism.
83. The Linchpen: Greg Linch shares his thoughts about online journalism and journalism education.
84. Jon Slattery: Jon Slattery is a freelance journalist from London, England.
85. Charlie Beckett: POLIS director Charlie Beckett offers comments on international journalism, media, and society on this blog.
86. Mastering Multimedia: Read musings from Colin Mulvany, a multimedia producer on this blog.
87. Meranda Writes: Meranda Watling is a young reporter who writes about K-12 education.
88. John Welsh’s These Digital Times: John Welsh’s blog helps explain digital media times.
89. Martin Stabe: Martin Stabe takes a UK-centric look at new media and online journalism.
90. Mathew Ingram: Mathew Ingram’s blog shares the intersection of media, technology, business, and the web.
91. Sean Blanda: Sean Blanda’s blog is all about what it’s like to be a young journalist, discussing all kinds of media.

Photojournalism

Read these blogs to see the unique perspective of photojournalists.

92. Multimedia Evangelist: In this blog, you’ll learn about changes in photography and photojournalism today.
93. Multimedia and Video Journalism: Find out what Robb Montgomery has to say about video journalism and multimedia.
94. Multimedia Shooter: Multimedia Shooter keeps track of important news for photojournalists so you don’t have to.
95. VideoJournalism: Cyndy Green’s blog asks you to think visually.
96. Photojournalism From a Student’s Eye: Learn about photojournalism by reading the blog of this photojournalism student.

Investigative Journalism

These blogs focus on investigative journalism.

97. The Centre for Investigative Journalism News Blog: Get the latest in investigative journalism from this blog.
98. Depth Reporting: Mark Schaver writes about computer-assisted and investigative reporting on Depth Reporting.
99. The Scoop: In The Scoop, you’ll learn about investigative and computer-assisted reporting from Derek Willis.
100. Help Me Investigate: Follow this blog to learn more about investigative journalism.

Posted in Learning Tools -- No Comments

The Washington Post recently featured an article on how community colleges and the more inexpensive public four-year colleges are experiencing significant increases in enrollment during the current economic downturn. The article indicates that college enrollment peaks during times of economic instability. But why are so many people going back to school?

The obvious reason is that these individuals want to be a cut above the rest, so to speak, when they apply for jobs—especially younger students who are looking to launch a solid career in a saturated job market. They want that competitive edge over their peers. And the ability to compete for a job has never been more important than now, as the nationwide jobless rate sits at 9.9 percent.

Another reason college enrollment is up is because older individuals who are dealing with mid-career layoffs are going back to college to get equipped with new skills for new industries as they discover jobs in their line of work have dried up and may never return. For example, many who were laid off in the manufacturing industry have had to accept that outsourcing has claimed one too many of their jobs and have decided to prepare themselves for a different industry entirely.

These individuals know that employers tend to prefer—and sometimes even require—employees to be prepared at the bachelor’s level. Employers prefer job candidates with bachelor’s degrees for two reasons: one, because it shows that an individual has the dedication it takes to complete what they start, and two, because it gives employers slightly more confidence that a job candidate has received additional training in problem-solving, writing and communication above the high school level.

While a bachelor’s degree doesn’t guarantee employment, it certainly helps your chances. In fact, some employers don’t even care what type of bachelor’s degree a job candidate has, just so long as they have a degree. Other times, a specific job position may not necessarily require a degree, but an employer will choose a candidate with a degree over one who does not because he or she perceives the degreed candidate as being more qualified.

Finally, people are earning a bachelor’s degree so they can earn more money. Those who hold bachelor’s degrees have higher salaries on average and lower rates of unemployment on average than those who do not, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Taking all of these reasons into consideration, it’s no surprise that college is looking more appealing than ever to us during these troubled economic times.

Posted in Uncategorized -- No Comments

It is common for many college students to become homesick at different points during their college careers. Sometimes it is the prospect of missing a big event like a wedding or a birthday party or being close a loved one who is ill. Other times, students grow homesick when they are just leafing through old photographs or talking with a friend from home on the telephone. Whatever the reason for this strong, nostalgic feeling, it is a bridge you will most likely cross at one point or another. The basic solution is to be proactive. Do not allow these feelings to consume you to the point of distraction.

The obvious solution is to go home. If you live within four hours of home, plan to go home one weekend a month. Keep in mind that you do not want to grow accustomed to going home constantly. Part of the college experience is to develop your independent spirit. If you are heading back home every weekend, you will lose out on that key aspect of your personal growth. When you do go home, make sure that you stay active and don’t just lie on the couch the whole time. If you are lazy when you go home, then you will begin to develop that into your routine and you will look to your parents’ house as a safety net. When you’re home, go out with friends and family and come back to school rejuvenated.

Many people become homesick because they are not meeting enough new friends. Making friends can be difficult and stressful. Look around campus for events that pique your interest. If you like playing basketball, go to the gym and join in a pickup game. If you are into singing, find out if there are any campus groups that you can join. The key is to go places where people with similar interests are congregating. You are not going to meet people by staying in your dorm room and sitting on the computer all day and night. Get out there and put yourself in uncomfortable situations where you can interact with other students.

Participating in your classes will help make you feel more comfortable in the college environment. If you just sit in the back of the classroom and keep your mouth shut, your classmates will never know how you feel about the material and they will never get a glimpse of the person you really are. Your classes are a perfect place to make friends. You will find that discussions that begin in class will carry over once class is over.

Posted in Uncategorized -- No Comments

When most people think about online classes the idea of flexibility and freedom come to mind. While the advantages of online courses may lead someone to believe they are easy, not everyone is cut out for learning online. When it comes to good online students, they are independent learners, effective communicators, and do well with technology.

A good online student is an independent learner. Since courses are conducted on the Internet rather than a classroom, it is important that you enjoy working independently. Unless you know someone else who is enrolled in the course, most of your study time will be spent alone and you will first be expected to learn material on your own then come to the instructor with any questions. Instructors of online courses do not lecture students, but guide them throughout the course and give them instruction when necessary. Independent learners are able to follow directions well, figure things out on their own, and efficiently complete tasks they are given to them.

A good online student is able to communicate effectively. Online courses typically include a lot of written communication, mainly with the instructor. Rather than seeing him after class or visiting his office hours, students will communicate by e-mail or instant message. Good students know to contact their instructors often with any important questions or comments they might have. Consistent communication will ensure that you understand expectations as well as give the instructor a chance to get to know you a little better. Online students also must be good at interactively communicating with other students. They can do this through e-mail or class chat rooms which allow students to get to know each other and compare notes. Course discussion boards are also useful ways to exchange ideas or discuss course material.

 

A good online student does well with technology. Since online courses consist of learning in a virtual classroom rather than a physical on, students will obviously have to use technology. These types of courses are usually instructed through online management systems, where class instructors post learning material, discussion topics, assignments, and grades. Through these course portals students participate in group discussions, submit their assignments, read class material, complete tutorials, watch videos, and even take quizzes. If a student is not being able to use technology in the right way, it could end up affecting their grade. Therefore, it is important that you are comfortable using technology, such as the Internet, in order to navigate through the system and complete assignments.

Posted in Uncategorized -- No Comments

Online degree programs are becoming increasingly popular within the distance learning community and have therefore expanded to meet needs which were never previously considered.  Online web design degrees, for example, are one such degree which has become more popular as a result of the expansion of the online community.  Online degree sites themselves need to employ web designers, so it is no wonder that they now offer programs to train such individuals.

While some online schools offer Associates Degrees in web design, many others offer a Bachelor of Science in Web Design.  American Sentinel University in particular offers many choices to students wishing to pursue this type of degree.  This program is specifically catered to the web design field and teaches students the many nuances of this type of career, as well as the ability to evolve with technology. The courses additionally focus on the technical aspect of the job, thus allowing students to become familiar with the process and preparing them for the future.  While web design may seem to be a fun foray into the art industry, this program in particular teaches students that it involves a great deal of work, as you will be constantly learning with this degree.  Technology is always changing and the look of web pages never stays static for long, which is why this course teaches students how to look for subtle changes within the industry and develop key ideas which can draw focus and revenue to your website. 

Westwood College is another online university which offers a Bachelors of Science in Web Design and Development, reminding us that these degrees are a product of the 21st century and a reminder that the internet has become a major part of business transactions.  Thinking of a world without internet is unheard of now.  This degree program expands on the web development aspect and teaches students the many different programming languages, such as HTML, Java, Actionscript, and many others.  Learning computer programming is an important part of web design and web development because it teaches students more technical aspects of the field, rather than simply teaching them how to manipulate web pages. 

Associate Degrees are also helpful within the web design field, as many online universities offer such degrees to their students so they can gain a useful degree in a less amount of time.  DeVry University is a popular online university which offers an Associates Degree in Web Graphic Design.  This program teaches more software applications to their students which they will be able to use in manipulating web sites, as well as the key aspects of web design in general.  Many of these online schools recognize the need for such degrees within the online community.  The prevalence of these degrees has thus grown around the internet, as more websites and companies recognize their need for a revamp of their web site’s design. It is helpful when you have a person who knows the exact methods in which to manipulate the site, which is why the field has grown exponentially over the years.  Online web design degrees are simply the next step in online education and will continue to be a prominent degree for years to come. 

Posted in Uncategorized -- No Comments

You can find just about anyone on Twitter, and leaders are no exception. Whether you’re looking for motivational speakers, authors, social media experts, or politicians, you can find quite a few interesting personalities. Read on to learn about 100 leaders on Twitter that you can learn from.

Speakers

These speakers and experts offer inspiration and learning.

1. @johncmaxwell: John Maxwell is a bestselling author and speaker on leadership.
2. @RickM: Check out Rick Myers, founder and CEO of Talent Zoo.
3. @angiechaplin: Angie is a leadership presenter, practitioner and professor.
4. @MachenMacDonald: Follow Machen to learn from a #1 bestselling author, coach, and speaker.
5. @AndrewWindham: This professional speaker and entrepreneur can help coach you in your business.
6. @tonyrobbins: Tony Robbins offers loads of inspiration.
7. @KevinEikenberry: Kevin is a leadership expert, speaker, consultant, and more.

Business & Entrepreneurship

Learn about business from these entrepreneurs and other business experts on Twitter.

8. @raedsam: @raedsam is a businessman, leader, and humanitarian.
9. @cpoizat: @cpoizat is the Founder and President of International Network of Social Entrepreneurs.
10. @ramit: Follow Ramit Sethi to find loads of entrepreneurial knowledge.
11. @SDEntrepreneur: Follow James Hickey, an entrepreneur in Internet marketing and direct marketing.
12. @guykawasaki: You can learn about business and venture capital from Guy Kawasaki.
13. @StartupGuru: Follow Brian Tsuchiya to find loads of information about startups.
14. @mariaandros: Maria A. Andros empowers and teaches passionate entrepreneurs around the world.
15. @darrenmonroe: Darren Monroe can teach you about leadership and web marketing.
16. @EntMagazineAmy: Follow Amy Cosper, the editor in chief of Entrepreneur Magazine.
17. @LIW3: LIW3 is a global leadership consultancy supporting leaders around the world.
18. @el_maloush: Stephan Krause is a young entrepreneur, marketing expert, and opinion leader.
19. @JohnChow: Follow John Chow to learn about making money online.
20. @kevincottrell: Kevin Cottrell is a real estate media and economic expert who likes to share news and information about real estate and markets.
21. @charleneli: Charlene is the co-author of Groundswell and a thought leader on emerging technologies.

Religion

Learn from these religious leaders on Twitter.

22. @millerisms56: Here you can follow the founder of Godtube.
23. @TerryStorch: Follow Terry Storch to learn from a digerati pastor.
24. @bradpowell: Brad is a leader at NorthRidge Church.

Social Media

These leaders can help teach you about social media.

25. @DannyBrown: Check out Danny Brown, who provides business branding and social media consultancy services.
26. @problogger: Darren Rowse is a goldmine of information for bloggers.
27. @skydiver: Follow Peter Shakman, a social media CEO adventurist and founder of Help A Reporter Out.
28. @ScottAllen: Follow Scott Allen for insight into social media and entrepreneurship.
29. @JasonCalcanis: Jason Calcanis can teach you about social media, online entrepreneurship, and more.
30. @copyblogger: Follow Brian Clark to learn about new media.
31. @wbaustin: Bill Austin is a social media expert.
32. @leeodden: Lee Odden is an SEO and social media marketer as well as a CEO of an Internet marketing agency.
33. @chrisbrogan: Check out Chris Brogan, a social media icon.

Politicians

Learn from senators, representatives and more.

34. @BarackObama: He’s the President of the United States.
35. SenJohnMcCain: Follow former presidential candidate and senator John McCain.
36. @GOPLeader: John Boehner is the Republican Leader of the US House of Representatives.
37. @MarkWarner: Follow @MarkWarner from the US Senator and his staff.
38. @timryan: Tim Ryan serves Ohio’s 17th District in Congress.
39. @Schwarzenegger: Arnold Schwarzenegger is California’s Governor.
40. @DrRandPaul: Dr. Paul is a Senate hopeful and the son of former presidential candidate Dr. Ron Paul.
41. @TomCoburn: Tom Coburn is a Senator from Oklahoma.
42. @ChiefDeputyWhip: Kevin McCarthy serves as the US House of Representatives Chief Deputy Republican Whip.
43. @ChuckGrassley: Chuck Grassley is a US Senator from New Hartford, Iowa.
44. @SenChrisDodd: Follow the Senate office of Senator Chris Dodd.
45. @RepMaryFallin: Mary Fallin represents the Fifth District of Oklahoma.
46. @SenBillNelson: Bill Nelson is the senior Senator from Florida.
47. @jaredpolis: Jared Polis is a member of Congress from Colorado’s 2nd District.
48. @keithellison: Follow Rep. Keith Ellison from Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District.

CEOs

Here you’ll find lots of CEOs on Twitter.

49. @ev: Evan Williams is best known as the CEO of Twitter.
50. @timoreilly: Tim O’Reilly is the founder and CEO of O’Reilly media, supporting alpha geeks everywhere.
51. @randfish: Follow Rand Fishkin to learn about search optimization and Internet marketing.
52. @LIVESTRONGCEO: Doug Ulman is the President and CEO of the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
53. @zappos: Tony Hseih sets the standard for customer service everywhere.
54. @richardbranson: Richard Branson is a highly successful entrepreneur.
55. @tonyhawk: Tony Hawk is a professional skateboarder, CEO, and doting dad.
56. @kmesiab: Follow Kevin, the CEO of Mesiab Labs that is a voracious consumer of information.
57. @RickM: Rick Myers is the founder and CEO of Talent Zoo and Offset Media.
58. @kevinrose: Kevin Rose is the founder of Digg.
59. @sorenmacbeth: Follow this co-founder and CEO of Stocktwits to learn about currency markets and hedge funds.

Authors

You can learn from these authors on Twitter.

60. @neilhimself: Check out Neil Gaiman, a very popular author.
61. @penelopetrunk: This author can help you with your career.
62. @missrogue: Tara Hunt is the author of The Whuffie Factor and supporter of good karma.
63. @tferriss: Get inspired by Tim Ferris, author of The 4-Hour Work Week.
64. @shoemoney: Jeremy Schoemaker is an author, blogger, and managing partner of ShoeMoney Capital.
65. @stevenbjohnson: Steven Johnson is a writer of six books including Invention of Air.
66. @Ann_Sieg: Ann Sieg is the author of The Renegade Network Marketer.
67. @paulocoelho: Paulo Coelho is a writer and warrior of light.

Journalists & Reporters

Check out these journalists and reporters you can learn from on Twitter.

68. @JimMacMillan: Jim is a Pulitzer-winning visual journalist, university educator, and new media consultant.
69. @JohnAByrne: John is the Editor-in-Chief of BusinessWeek.com and a digital journalism advocate.
70. @AnnCurry: Ann Curry is most commonly known from her work at NBC.
71. @geoffkeighley: Geoff Keighley is a videogame journalist and host of Spike TV’s GTTV.
72. @Gladwell: Malcolm Gladwell is a bestselling author and journalist.
73. @sarahcuda: Follow Sarah Lacy, a reporter and author in Silicon Valley.
74. @chrishansen: Chris Hansen is a TV journalist and author, known for segments on Dateline NBC.
75. @SuzeOrmanShow: Suze Orman offers a wealth of knowledge about personal finance.
76. @NikkiFinke: Nikki Finke is a showbiz journalist.
77. @rolandslakis: Follow Rolands Lakis, a TV director, producer, photographer, and more.
78. @ambermac: Amber is a Tech TV journalist, web content strategist, and more.
79. @alexismadrigal: Alexis is a Wired.com staff writer in science and energy, and is writing a book about the history of green tech in America.
80. @McCainBlogette: John McCain’s daughter Meghan McCain is a columnist for The Daily Beast.
81. @jdlasica: Follow JD Lasica, an author, blogger, and journalist.

Educators

Check out these educational leaders that you can learn from.

82. @drkent: Dr. Kent is a radio host, composer, writer, musician, and professor.
83. @jmilles: Check out James Milles, a law professor at SUNY.
84. @hermida: Alfred Hermida can teach you a thing or two about digital news.
85. @jayrosen_nyu: Jay Rosen teaches journalism at NYU, writes PressThink, and more.
86. @lauranicosia: Follow Laura Nicosia’s tweets to see the thoughts behind a Director of English Education.
87. @PatrickStrother: Patrick teaches advertising and PR at University of Minnesota.
88. @barbaranixon: Learn about public relations from Barbara Nixon of Georgia Southern University.
89. @rmack: Rebecca MacKinnon is a new media professor, journalist, and blogger.
90. @therefore: Dean Terry is the Director of Emerging Media at UT Dallas.
91. @MarketingProfs Read what Ann Handley has to say about marketing education.
92. @courosa: Alec Couros is a professor of educational technology and media.
93. heyjudeonline: Check out Judy O’Connell, a librarian working to transform education and libraries.
94. @jonbecker: Jonathan Becker is the professor of educational leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University.
95. @mweller: Martin Weller is a professor with Open University.
96. @paulbradshaw: Paul is a senior lecturer in online journalism and web design.
97. @berniedodge: Bernie Dodge can teach you about educational technology.
98. @stevekatz: Steve Kats is a Director of Educational Technology and an author.
99. @billgx: Bill Genereux is a computer and digital media professor.
100. @doctorius: Matthew Gilbert is a business, communication, English, and IT teacher.

Posted in Learning Tools -- No Comments

Most college students are perpetually broke. If you are footing some or all of your tuition, then you know this more so than other students. Unless you are fortunate enough to be independently wealthy, you will find your college years a drain on your bank account. Most students go home for the summer or stay around campus and work. But, this is only for about three or four months. It is nearly impossible to save enough over the summer to last you through the upcoming school year. College students learn to be thrifty and how to stretch every last dime.

Probably the biggest expense for a college student is buying textbooks. Make sure you are exploring all available avenues for buying your books. Go to your school’s bookstore and buy used copies before buying new editions. If they do not have a particular title that has been, then go online and check out the reputable sites that offer used textbooks. Go to your library and see if they have copies of the books you need in stock. Just remember that other students will most likely be looking to use those copies as well. Saving money on textbooks can a long way towards ensuring that you have money to play with the rest of the semester.

Take advantage of your college’s dining facilities. As part of your room and board, you are probably enrolled into a meal plan. Even if your cafeterias do not offer the most appetizing meals, they offer a much cheaper alternative than ordering out or going to restaurants. Make a deal with yourself that you will not go out more than once a week for any meals. Go to the grocery store and stock up on cheap snacks that you can keep in your room to help you fight off the urge to order a pizza.

Use public transportation as much as possible. If your budget for a week is a hundred dollars, then avoid taking cabs if you can. Even though taking a bus or train may take longer and you have to abide by someone else’s schedule, you are saving considerable money. If a cab ride costs $20 and the bus costs $1.50, imagine how much more money you will have to spend once you reach your destination. Only take a taxi in dire situations. Before making any plans, think ahead and figure out how you can shave off a little of the inherent cost of whatever it is you are doing. It will add up and will keep you from making that desperate call home for more cash too early in the semester.

Posted in Uncategorized -- No Comments

Your time in college is full of important decisions, and choosing a roommate that’s perfect for you is one of them. Your roommate can impact your college life in an incredible way-whether through fun and friendship or frustration and distraction. Here, we’ll consider how you can find a roommate that works for you.

Know what you want in a roommate. Before looking for a roommate, be sure that you have a clear idea of the person you’re looking for. Do you want them to be male, or female, or does it matter? A smoker? A partier? Be sure that your desires for a roommate match up with the person you’re looking for.

Ask your landlord for help. Your landlord may know of someone who is interested in living in your apartment or neighborhood, so check with them to see if they have any input to offer.

Check your college newspaper. Almost every college has a campus paper. Pick one up and take a look in the classifieds section. You will almost certainly see listings for people who have a room to offer, or who are in search of one.

Take a look at social media. Let your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace know that you’re on the hunt for a roommate. They may be in search of one as well, or know someone who is.

Choose carefully. If you find a roommate through friends or someone you know, like your landlord, do a little pre-qualifying. Ask them about the person before you consider them as a roommate, and be sure you know what you’re getting into.

Ask for references. If you truly do not know this person, ask them to share references from previous roommates and landlords. This will help give you an idea of what it’s like to live with them.

Set expectations early. Before moving in together, talk to your roommate about your shared expectations. Think about how you’ll split costs, deal with common use stuff like milk and detergent, and how you will share big pieces like furniture and appliances.

In addition to financial and property considerations, you also need to discuss what each of you expects for social time. Are you comfortable with having people over at all hours, or would you prefer to keep your home quiet and party elsewhere? Will drugs be allowed? Make sure that you are both on the same page to avoid running into conflicts later.

By paying attention to details in your search, you can ensure that your college roommate experience will be a good one. Use these tips to enjoy the friendship and financial benefits of having a roommate without worry.

Posted in Uncategorized -- No Comments

We’ve all heard the success stories and the statistics that if you go to college, you can earn a million more dollars in a lifetime than you would with just a high school diploma, but are these really accurate facts?  While there are the occasional anomalies – people who became hugely successful without a further degree - they are few and far between when compared to the success that a bachelor’s degree offers to its recipients.

The decision to attend college is set in stone for many recent high school grads, and many do not even imagine a life that doesn’t involve college.  However, college is not a feasible option for many high school graduates: it either gets pushed back a few years or they have resigned themselves to a career that does not require a further education.  However, the amount of jobs that require a bachelor’s degree are exponentially higher than the jobs that require little more than a high school diploma.  Earning a similar salary on this type of job can take decades longer than it would have with a bachelor’s degree. 

While the economy is still currently recovering from the recession, job choices still remain higher for students who have bachelor’s degrees, compared with students who do not.  The fact that it is even difficult for students with bachelor’s degrees to find a job right now is a clear indication that the scale has shifted even more with the economy, meaning that with the increased competitive spots, job seekers with even higher degrees are being considered, especially over job seekers without a degree at all.  However, earning a bachelor’s degree has never been easier, thanks to online education.  Now, recent high school grads can put off college if they want to, or simply enroll in online classes for a fraction of the cost and the added flexibility of learning from home.  Regardless of your current home situation, online colleges can meet many different needs and can offer a better future through the addition of a degree.

While it is pretty much common knowledge that a bachelor’s degree can earn you a more stable career choice in life, there are still many people who do not see the common sense behind earning a degree.  Regardless of the way you put it, a higher education will always be worth it in the long run and will help open many doors that would otherwise remain closed. 

 

Posted in Uncategorized -- No Comments