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Sharing My 9/11 With #loweclass

9/11/2014

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I have enjoyed seeing my journalism students engage this week with the 13th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. I posted this in the #loweclass group on Facebook on Sept. 4:
This email came this summer from Dr. Karen Slattery: "I am wondering if you would be available to speak to both sections of my DJ 1500 classes on Monday, Sept. 8. That day, we will be talking about interviewing victims of trauma. It occurred to me that your work on 9/11 would be right on topic and would give the students the chance to hear about what it was like to be part of that tragic event from the perspective of a journalist."

I could not say no to my faculty colleague. So since JOUR 2100 meets the same time as her morning class, we will meet together. Both classes are expected to read my "9/11 Chronicle" in advance of the session and pepper me with good questions about my experience. Check out the accompanying links that are still active, too. Your interviewing skills will be tested. So will your reporting skills. That means you should do other research on your own about journalists covering tragedy and mayhem.

This joint session should last about an hour. ‪#‎loweclass‬ will then write a related blog post during the second part of our class -- with a full-fledged profile assignment to follow for Wednesday's class. So you will need quotes and a sense of the room, etc. Again, interviewing and reporting. There should not be questions like, "What newspaper were you working for on 9/11?" Don't let JOUR 1550 show up JOUR 2100. Please.

Make no mistake, both classes – nearly 30 students total – asked great questions as I sat before them for about an hour Monday in Johnston Hall, home of the Diederich College of Communication at Marquette University. Students entering colleges and universities as freshmen this year were in kindergarten in 2001. These ones firing questions at me as if it were a news conference were in elementary school. They all can either remember what they were doing that morning or how people around them acted. One was living in Manhattan.

Slattery's class all had digital recorders in front of me as I spoke. Their assignment afterward included creating a news report suitable for radio or the Web. She had me do the same exercise for her afternoon class. Thankfully, it asked some different questions, so that hour of time was equally enjoyable. It also helped that Marjorie Valbrun, another journalist spending the year at Marquette as an O'Brien Fellow, chimed in with her experiences as a journalist on 9/11.

My students returned to our classroom after the morning session, had a quick newsroom meeting about what had just transpired – and then had 25 minutes to write a blog post offering their immediate perspective (for online). They then had 48 hours to write a news profile about the guest speaker and his 9/11 experience (for the next day's paper).

Is it weird having your students write about you? Yes. But I learned a lot about each one of them via their blog posts. As I look forward to reading their profiles this weekend, I am happy to report that they also used my and their 9/11 experiences to create Storifys, thus learning how to curate social media. They did so within a day. No sense waiting until Monday to write about something that everyone is focusing on today, I told them. Eager to read those, too. Many thanks to my colleague for enabling me to share the most momentous day of my career with our students.

With the coming 13th 9/11 anniversary, it was to incredible to hear an account from a journalist on that day from @herbertlowe #loweclass

— Henry (@HenryGreening) September 8, 2014

"Some incredible journalism happened that day. It gave reporters a chance to rise to the best of their ambitions and abilities." #loweclass

— Maddy Kennedy (@HeyMaddyK) September 8, 2014

He was a grenade of wisdom and passion. With each interview question, the students pulled the pin. #loweclass #favoritesentence @herbertlowe

— Jenna Ebbers (@jenna_ebbers) September 10, 2014

I'm finding it difficult to describe how I feel about today's #loweclass. Very emotional hearing @herbertlowe talk about his 9/11 experience

— Tom Conroy (@TomConroyIsMe) September 9, 2014
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#loweclass Seeks Grammar Glory

8/27/2014

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"It's so easy not to pay attention to grammar sometimes and we all do it, even if we like to think otherwise. After all, we are only human," Kia Garriques writes in a blog post, "How to Start the New Year: Get Serious About Grammar!"

With a new semester beginning this week at Marquette University, and me once again teaching Digital Journalism III (JOUR 2100) in the Diederich College of Communication, I want my 14 students to focus on grammar all the time. Hence my Facebook message last night:

A ‪#‎loweclass‬ rite of passage will happen tomorrow morning. The much-appreciated, nowhere-else duplicated, 50-question grammar, spelling and punctuation quiz is locked and loaded in D2L. It is set to begin at 10 and end at 10:25. As stated Monday, 50 extra-credit points to each student who answers at least 40 questions correctly. Only two students -- Alec Brooks and Rob Gebelhoff -- have earned such glory in five prior semesters.
The post earned three dozen Facebook "likes" and engendered boldness among my friends and family, not to mention well wishes and thoughts of cats from former students of #loweclass – which, by the way, is the Twitter hashtag to follow what my students are doing. A cousin asked why 25 minutes for 50 questions? One doesn't need more than two minutes per grammar question. Three people asked to take the quiz. How cute. I really don't think they are ready.

Several of the questions relate to what's in the Associated Press Stylebook, the "journalist's bible" in newsrooms across America. I insist that my students know AP Style because it helps to teach how to write with clarity, consistency, accuracy and authority. There will be more AP Style quizzes soon as well as the ever popular "AP Style Bowl" that's designed to make it fun to learn.

So, how did the class do with today's quiz? Regretfully, no one scored the requisite 80 for the 50 extra-credit points. Two students were two correct answers shy of the magic number, with both earning a 72. As in past semesters, I will give the quiz -- and another chance at the extra credit -- again near the term's end. Hopefully, then someone else will earn grammar glory.

That moment when you doubt all the grammar lessons you've had: the first of many #loweclass @APStylebook quizzes @MUCollegeofComm

— Estefania Elizondo (@Ely4Estefania) August 27, 2014

50 questions of second guessing myself #APStyle quiz #loweclass

— Elizabeth Baker (@eebaker1231) August 27, 2014

I hope the #APStyleQuiz at the end of the semester will turn out better. #LoweClass

— Brittany Carloni (@CarloniBrittany) August 27, 2014
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Though No Expert, OK with SI & James

7/22/2014

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A screenshot from the Cleveland.com webpage focusing on the coverage of SI's reporting James' decision.
"Sports Illustrated broke the biggest sports news of the summer July 11 when it posted a 950-word piece by LeBron James as told to Lee Jenkins, announcing James' decision to leave the Miami Heat and return to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers," Bob Wolfley begins a recent column, "Sports Illustrated Catches Flak for LeBron James Piece, for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Wolfley asks "four experts in the field of journalism if what Sports Illustrated did here with the James story was good journalism." Yours truly is among his sources, though no one should consider me an expert. Here's an excerpt from the column:
"I absolutely want to use this article in a way to teach my journalism students how it is you can develop sources, why it's important to develop sources, why it's important to develop trust, not only with your sources but with your editors," Lowe said.

Lowe was unequivocal in his praise for the manner in which SI and Jenkins handled James' news: "Journalism is telling stories about people who matter to lots of people and providing an audience with news that is compelling and factual. This is all of that in abundance."

Wolfley noted in an earlier version that I also said no one questioned SI allowing a first-person approach when NBA player Jason Collins revealed he is gay last year; Collins bylined that essay whereas Jenkins interviewed James and then crafted it as James telling it to him. Wolfley also wrote in his earlier version that I had once used the same approach as a young reporter.

I was working at The Virginian-Pilot in the early '90s and profiling a commonwealth's attorney becoming a judge. Upon seeing that I had written it in the form of a letter from the very public official to his absent father, my editor made me call the attorney and read it to him word for word. The attorney stopped me after a few paragraphs. He said he trusted me. He would be fine reading it the next day in the newspaper at the same time that everyone else did.

Not all my colleagues at the time supported the first-person approach. Certainly, not everyone else agrees with SI's decision to essentially allow James the chance to tell his own story -- and very much so better than the basketball great did with "The Decision" on ESPN fours years ago.  The other three "experts" cited in Wolfley's column are definitely not unequivocal with praise for SI's decision making, so much so I seem like a cheerleader by comparison. Be that as it may, here's more good reading on the matter from Sports Illustrated itself as well as The Wall Street Journal, Advertising Age, Deadspin and The Plain Dealer in Cleveland. As I told Wolfley, this will all make for great classroom discussion and teachable moments for me and my students.
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Time to Amend NABJ for the Better

7/10/2014

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For the past year, I have had the pleasure of serving as co-chair of the NABJ Constitutional Commission. This blog post is an excerpt of what the NABJ Digital Task Force posted on its blog today. The task force will host a TweetChat the commission's recommendations from 8 to 9 p.m. (EST), July 14. Online voting begins that same day and ends on August 1.

The National Association of Black Journalists' primary governing document needs refreshing. We all know how much our industry has changed since 44 men and women founded our now 3,100-member association in 1975. We are approaching our 40th anniversary. Our constitution no longer serves us well. It’s outdated. It’s too constricting. NABJ cannot even change its logo without a constitutional amendment. It needs a new constitution that reinforces its mission, identity and principals without limiting progress.

Last year in Orlando, the membership established a 15-member commission to review the constitution – and propose changes to better position NABJ and its members to succeed and flourish. Its efforts have resulted in a comprehensive overall that affects matters ranging from vision and goals to governance and membership to chapters and regions. Following last year’s convention, NABJ President Bob Butler appointed five members from the Council of Presidents, five from the Founders Task Force and five at large to the commission. The group includes two NABJ founders (Joe Davidson and Allison Davis) and three past presidents (Barbara Ciara, Bryan Monroe and myself). Butler tapped Davis and me to serve as co-chairs.

The commission focused on ensuring that our members, our communities and journalism are best served in the years to come. Wanting an inclusive and thorough process, the commission also sought input from the membership (via webinars and surveys), national office and board of directors, and reviewed mission statements and governing structures of comparable journalism organizations. The board accepted the recommendations in April.

I urge all NABJ members to review the current constitution and proposed constitution. Also review the extensive overview and answers to frequently asked questions offered on NABJ’s website. The proposals are not perfect. They surely will not please everyone. But the commission kept at the forefront that for every member who votes no, two other members must vote yes for the changes to take effect. Hence my mandate: Only put forward that which seven out of 10 members would supported. The webinars and surveys helped with this immensely.

In my opinion, the most vital changes relate to membership. They would, among other things:
  • Create an overarching dynamic that embraces anyone who is creating, producing or supervising the creation of journalism, whether one works for traditional or legacy media companies, or as an independent journalist or media entrepreneur.
  • Enhance membership opportunities for journalists, journalism educators, those former journalists who have served NABJ and the industry significantly, and those new in the business but who are not yet able to afford the costs of professional membership.
  • Remove the “class” concept that certain members are “full” and others are not, particularly with respect to voting on the association’s leaders and initiatives, by creating, for example, such categories as “professional” and “emerging professional.”

Elected leadership is another key concern. The membership’s input made it clear that 1) the board of directors should retain its current size – 14 members – and 2) representation should be based on where we live as much as on what we do. That meant ensuring spots for regional directors and academic and media-related representatives. It also led to a position for vice president-digital. Some may say only one vice president is necessary. Again, the input signaled that not enough members agree. It did, though, stress that digital matters, particularly with start-ups sprouting and more and more members working in digital-only jobs in legacy newsrooms.

The new constitution would also lead to greater continuity of leadership. Beginning in 2017, members could choose to re-elect NABJ’s president to a second two-year term. This change recognizes the learning curve for whoever assumes the presidency. In addition, staggered terms would begin in 2015 so that only half of the board is up for election each year.

The commission also focused on NABJ’s chapters. However, only minor changes are proposed, to more accurately reflect that they are separately incorporated 501(c)(3) organizations. The commission accepts that a proper constitution cannot solve every problem based on day-to-day competencies and capacities. Some matters are better left for NABJ’s operating procedures, which the board can amend at any time.

That’s all for now. Remember, the current constitution and operating procedures provide that only full members as of June 30 may vote on the proposed changes. Online voting begins Monday and ends August 1. The results will be announced at the 2014 NABJ convention in Boston. Please vote to adopt the proposed NABJ constitution – and then continue to hold the association and its elected leadership accountable.

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'Ready to Kill This Presentation'

5/7/2014

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Click the image to be taken to another page on this website where you can watch a video recording of my thesis defense.
Brooke Miller, my trusted student assistant, sent me a text message about 30 minutes before the big event on April 8, hoping I was "ready to kill this presentation." My reaction: I just hoped this presentation didn't kill me – or at least have me embarrass myself, her or anyone else.

More than three dozen people – including a honors research methods class from another college at Marquette – came to a large conference room in Johnston Hall to watch me defend my master's degree thesis, "Journalism and Community: A Case Study of the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service." I had witnessed about five or six thesis defenses in the Diederich College of Communication since entering graduate school in fall 2010. But I was beyond nervous or anxious. The outcome would mark my biggest watershed day in about 11 years.

Sure, the only three people I really had to worry about were my thesis committee: John Pauly, Ph.D., the chairman; Ana Garner, Ph.D. and Erik Ugland, Ph.D., who was listening via speakerphone given he is in the Czech Republic on a prestigious Fulbright Fellowship. But my wife was also taking it in telephonically from Atlanta – and Editor-in-Chief Sharon McGowan and several others invested in the news service were in the room. Otherwise, no pressure at all.

"This a bigger group than we usually have for thesis defenses," Dr. Pauly told the audience just before introducing me, "and this is in part because this is a community-based project. And so as the university looks ahead to more forms of community engagement, I think this is an interesting example for us of some things that we're probably going to be thinking about in the future, perhaps, (and we) wanted to give a chance to people who were touched by this project or involved in it one or another to be here and to hear a little bit about it."

Dr. Pauly set the ground rules: My initial presentation was to be about 15 to 20 minutes, with up to 20 more for questions of me from the audience. He would then ask the visitors to leave the room so the committee could continue the thesis examination with me alone. Well, my presentation lasted a bit longer than 20 minutes, but everyone seemed to enjoy it. I appreciated the audience's thoughtful and caring questions about the thesis and, more importantly, the news service's outcomes and future. One in particular, from Tim Cigelske, the university's director of social media, asked to what extent others not present would get to see my research. (Thanks to the video skills of another student, Arthur Jones, my defense is here in its entirety.) 

"My chairman and I come from different places on this," I said. "No we don't," Dr. Pauly interjected, to everyone's amusement. He insisted the only difference is "the thesis comes first" – that is, abiding by time-honored rituals associated with earning a master's degree. Yes, sir, I replied, but as I told those assembled, while appreciating the opportunities for having my work published in academic journals – see this blog post, "Moving Closer to the Academic Light" – my hope is to transform my thesis from a PDF to an eBook that can be accessed via iTunes.

Truly supportive of my post-thesis ambitions, Dr. Pauly told Cigelske that with respect to "what we (in academe) do with theses and dissertations, I think there are pieces of those projects that we could make more visible to other people, so maybe this would be a good test case."

Time will surely tell about all of that. In a text afterward, Brooke assured me that I did not embarrass her. For my part, I woke up the next morning ready to defend my thesis again.
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My Graduate Thesis Is DONE!

4/17/2014

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This email this morning from Sherri Lex, assistant director for student records for Marquette University's Graduate School, delighted me very much:
Dear Herbert Lowe, 

Congratulations. Your submission, 10772 has cleared all of the necessary checks and will soon be delivered to ProQuest/UMI for publishing.

Translation: My graduate school thesis is DONE! Finally. After 16 months – DONE! No more getting out of bed at 3 a.m. to work on "Journalism and Community: A Case Study of the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service (NNS)." Hallelujah! 

Much more on this website about my never-ending staircase into the depths of research and scholarship, including full acknowledgments and the penultimate hurdle – my thesis defense last week – soon. For now, John Pauly, Ph.D., my thesis committee chairman, will always have my deepest gratitude. The final result is much more than I ever thought it could be. Hopefully, it is close to what Dr. Pauly believes it should be. Thanks also to the my other committee members: Ana Garner, Ph.D. (“Scribble! Scribble! Scribble!”) and Erik Ugland, Ph.D. Their guidance, support, patience and understanding during this long process means a lot to me.

Thanks also to my thesis informants: NNS Editor-in-Chief Sharon McGowan; NNS reporters Edgar Mendez and Andrea Waxman; Karen Slattery, Ph.D., chairwoman of the college’s journalism and media studies department; and former NNS intern Heather Ronaldson, already one of my favorite former students. And to Lori Bergen, Ph.D., whose foresight as the Diederich College dean helped bring both me and the news service to Marquette; my other journalism and media studies faculty colleagues for their support; and my wife, Mira, whose editing and love knows no bounds, even when tested by the likes of this new scholar.

Have become accustomed to soaking it in during these many months, I asked Dr. Pauly if he had any wisdom for me now that this glorious day has come. Here's his reply:

Wisdom. Hmmm. Take time to savor this moment and enjoy it. Once that’s done, don’t treat the thesis as a requirement that you checked off or something to put on the shelf; rather consider it a life accomplishment on which you can build in the months and years ahead.

Also, think about what you learned about being a student from doing this project. How might your experience of completing a thesis be helpful to you in your own work with students? How are you going to inspire students to take on a big challenge and work much harder than they thought themselves capable of? That’s all I got for now. Campus is dead, which means it’s just me and my notes and my book manuscript. Fantastic!

"Savor the moment and enjoy it." Check and check! As for the rest of his advice? Well, I'm not trying to hear all that right now. (OK, given I also have become accustomed to resisting his advice in the afternoon, only to awake at 3 a.m. and do everything he told me to do, I'm sure I will tend to his questions and inspirations soon enough.) For now, it's time for golf!
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Student Gets 'Surreal' Experience Abroad

6/17/2013

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Just like many millions of other Americans yesterday, before getting out of bed I reached for my iPad to check my email and see who was sharing what on social media. I quickly saw on Facebook an incredible photo (see above) of one of my most go-getting journalism students at Marquette University situated beneath the following status:
Spent the last four days talking to Harley guys from around the world about their rides and Pope Francis. Here's my recap of Harley-Davidson's 110th anniversary celebration in Rome published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:http://bit.ly/11TmK6k
Harley guys? Their rides? The pope? Sarah Hauer, a senior from Plymouth, Minn., published in the Journal-Sentinel? From Rome? Of course, I clicked the weblink and eagerly read this front-page article online: "Hundreds of Harley Riders Revved Up As Pope Francis Blesses Bikes." The byline: By Sarah Hauer, Special to the Journal Sentinel.

Wow! "Look at Sarah – a foreign correspondent," I said to myself while resisting the urge to wake up my wife so she could assure me it wasn't a dream. I went back to sleep. Why? If it wasn't a dream, how was my Sunday going to get any better than this? Anyway, still beaming a few hours later, I returned to Sarah's Facebook page and found another surprise. On Friday, she had posted another pretty picture of her in Rome along with this status:
Felt like I was playing dress up yesterday as a foreign correspondent for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel at Harley-Davidson's 110th anniversary event in Rome. Read my story here: http://bit.ly/10hlDPy
Turns out Sarah from the 'Sota had another article – "Harley-Davidson's 110th bash takes a detour to Rome, Italy" – related to the Milwaukee-based motorcycle manufacturer's international anniversary celebration. That means she now has two published by the Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper while studying in Rome this summer. I also love that Sarah is credited with taking several images within the accompanying photo galleries. Yes, she's a digital journalist.

Many journalism students in the Diederich College of Communication – and at other colleges and universities across the United States, I'm sure – take advantage of study abroad opportunities each summer and semester. Perhaps soon on this blog we can look more closely at how these students can maximize their international experiences, that is, so they don't stray too long or far from pursuing an internship that could later help jumpstart their careers.

For now, I urge all aspiring journalists, particularly those studying abroad, to read Sarah's blog post, "Becoming a Foreign Correspondent in Rome." She shares how forgoing an internship in favor of world experience ended up providing her with valuable journalism experience. "It felt pretty surreal to be a foreign correspondent and to be published by a daily newspaper – one of my longtime goals," she writes. Well done, Sarah from the 'Sota. Well done. 

Acted as a foreign correspondent yesterday for @NewsHub at an anniversary celebration for @harleydavidson in #Rome: http://t.co/9rDsym2kqj

— Sarah Hauer (@SarahHauer) June 14, 2013

#Italy is one of @harleydavidson’s top 5 markets in the world - Check out #HD110 in Rome http://t.co/PlMROcePTM by @MarquetteU’s @SarahHauer

— Embassy of Italy US (@ItalyinUS) June 14, 2013

@SarahHauer Great to see your Harley story from Rome on the front page of the MJS the other day. Hope you're enjoying Italy!

— Greg Borowski (@GregJBorowski) June 19, 2013
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Student Media Ready for New Opportunity

5/3/2013

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The 24 students gathered in a Diederich College of Communication conference room last night – including three Skyped in from overseas – knew they were embarking on something momentous. “We all know it’s going to be a challenge for next year,” said Erin Caughey, a junior journalism major. “But also it’s going to be an opportunity.”

The 75-minute meeting of student media leaders followed months of restructuring to enhance greater collaboration between the Marquette Tribune, Marquette Journal, MUTV, WMUR and interactive and advertising branches. It’s also ushering in a digital-first mindset aimed at better matching the realities expected of professional journalists. 

For decades the student newspaper, magazine, television and radio staffs have operated separately. However, a newly created group of executive editors will coordinate newsgathering and opinion as well as integrate reporters, photographers and copy editors. Caughey will lead the operation tentatively named NewsCenter as general manager.

Not everyone welcomed the changes approved by the university’s student media board. Indeed, the Tribune’s final editorial of the year warned they would keep journalism students from becoming specialists. The criticisms were muted, however, as those at the meeting foretold awaiting opportunities and challenges. The opportunities include expanding skill sets and coverage of the university and students; learning to decide which medium – print, broadcast or online – is best to cover a story; greater presence for blogs and opinion, and more resources for breaking news. The challenges include communicating, coordinating, ensuring quality amid change and adapting to learning curves.

All eyes were glued to Greg Borowski as the board’s alumni representative encouraged the leaders. Borowski, an assistant managing editor at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, noted that his and other newsrooms nationally had already gone through such changes and urged the students to be patient with each other, collaborate, keep an open mind and trust the process, share successes and learn from their mistakes. “I'm not all that nervous about it,” he said. “All the challenges that you listed can be anticipated and can be resolved.”

For me, as my few months as interim student publications advisor draws to an end, it was the best 75 minutes since returning to my alma mater as a journalism faculty member seven semesters ago.

Really well done here by the @mutribune folks: http://t.co/xZba3Ls7rw #proudalum

— Michael LoCicero (@michaellocicero) May 2, 2013

My reflection on the year as managing editor of the @mutribune: http://t.co/39RtPL1Jaf

— Maria Tsikalas (@MariaCynthia13) May 3, 2013
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Becoming #Fearless One Tweet at a Time

4/16/2013

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My wife, Mira Lowe, senior editor for features for CNN.com, keynoted the opening session of the 2013 Midwest Journalism Summit that NABJ-MU and the Diederich College of Communication co-hosted this past weekend. 

Mira surprised her audience, which mostly included dozens of journalism students from about a half dozen universities from Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and elsewhere by delivering her keynote, "How to Be a #Fearless Journalist," tweet by tweet. She had created 20 tweets altogether in advance, each with the hashtag #fearless, and revealed them one at a time – along, of course, with plenty of inspiration and encouragement.

I have captured Mira's tweets in a Storify so you can become #fearless, too. You can view "How to Be a #Fearless Journalist" in a Web browser or the slideshow embedded above; click the play button on the left to let it move forward itself, or the arrow to the right of the numbers to soak in each tweet at your own pace. Enjoy.

Updated: Here's another Storify about Mira's presentation, "CNN Digital Editor Teaches Young Journalists to be #Fearless," by NABJ-MU Secretary Monique Collins. She did the Storify as a #loweclass assignment.

Can't get over how awesome @miralowe is. #nabjs13

— Monique Collins (@moniquekcollins) April 12, 2013

@Nabjniu and I at the NABJ Midwest Summit at Marquette University with @miralowe !!! pic.twitter.com/pHXcWFKVuX

— Jarrel Sylvers (@JarrelSylvers) April 14, 2013
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#loweclass Live Blogs From #MissionWeek

2/7/2013

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Those new to my website may not know that my journalism classes in the Diederich College of Communication – otherwise known as #loweclass – have become adept at live tweeting campus events. Last summer, I wrote a lengthy article for Poynter.org that explained how that came to be and shared some tips. (I also have a number of blog posts about live tweeting events and my students success at it at herblowe.com/live-tweeting.html.)

Always looking for a new challenge for #loweclass – and myself – my two classes last fall combined to live blog from polling places on and near Marquette University during the general election on Nov. 6. Afterward, I was generally pleased with the students' efforts, especially since it was their first time using CoveritLive and live blogging and, as I shared before, the experience was eye-opening in terms of their uneasiness in approaching strangers.

Yesterday, my Digital Journalism III (JOUR 2100) class live blogged from a campus event that was part of the university's annual weeklong devotion to the exploration of its Catholic and Jesuit mission. This particular event's title: "Caring for Our Neighbors Locally and Globally: Addressing Health Care Disparities and Community Health Initiatives." It promised to have eight Opus Prize winners and representatives as panelists on stage for 90 minutes.

It was the first live blogging experience for most of the 18 students. I'm still forming my thoughts about the class' performance. However, at first blush it seemed that too many of them forgot about the greater audience witnessing their activity via the official #MissionWeek hashtag, not to mention all those who know about #loweclass ...

More to come ... 
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    Welcome

    My journalism DNA remains strong as I learn and teach new ways to tell and present stories, especially via digital and social media. This blog is where I share what happens in my classroom and my life and, from time to time, offer my views on current events. I appreciate your feedback – either as comments herein or in an email to herbert.lowe [at] marquette [dot] edu.

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