A defining decision

Each year, representatives of The Associated Press Stylebook announce updates at the national conference of ACES: The Society for Editing. It's typically one of the most-attended sessions at the conference. I had planned to attend this year's gathering in San Diego, but obligations at UNC-Chapel Hill kept me home. So I followed the fun on …

Great guests

The 2023-24 academic year is in the home stretch. The last day of class at UNC-Chapel Hill is April 30, followed by exam week and commencement. This year, I have been fortunate to have several visitors speak in person and via Zoom with students in my courses. As I've written before, I use a question-answer …

How I spent spring break

Normally a hub of student activity, the Pit at UNC-Chapel Hill is quiet during spring break. UNC-Chapel Hill's spring break is wrapping up. Here's how I spent my week: graded midterm exams for an introductory writing course; prepared presentations and assignments for classes; reviewed applications for an online master’s program in digital communication; read a graduate student's …

Q&A with Justin Smith, editor and publisher of The News Reporter

Justin Smith is editor and publisher of The News Reporter in Whiteville, North Carolina. The newspaper, founded in 1896, shared a Pulitzer Prize in 1953 for its courageous reporting on Ku Klux Klan activity in southeastern North Carolina. In this interview, conducted by email, Smith discusses his roles at The News Reporter and the importance …

Hey there, Mr. Blue

Last week, Twitter notified me that I had reached my 15th anniversary on the platform. I had long been an enthusiastic user of Twitter, but that changed after its new ownership made numerous bad decisions. I've been looking at alternatives to Twitter (now known as X) for some time. I'm on Mastodon, and I've had …

See you in San Diego for ACES 2024

The 28th national conference of ACES: The Society for Editing will take place April 4-6 in San Diego, California. I’ll be there. The conference’s theme is “Unleashing Creativity,” and the gathering will have sessions that will appeal to editors across disciplines. We’ll learn who won the Robinson Prize, enjoy a spelling bee and silent auction, …

Q&A with Layna Hong, digital producer at WFAE

Layna Hong is a digital producer at WFAE, a public radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is a 2022 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill's journalism school. In this interview, conducted by email, Hong discusses her role at WFAE's digital team, and she offers advice to students interested in journalism careers. Q. Describe your job at …

What I am teaching this semester

The spring 2024 semester at UNC-Chapel Hill begins on Wednesday, Jan. 10. Here's what I am teaching this term: MEJO 153, Writing and Reporting. In this course, students learn the essentials of writing and information gathering for journalism and public relations. The class meets in person twice a week and has 20 students. MEJO 557, …

Winter break

The fall semester at UNC-Chapel Hill is almost over. I have posted grades for my courses, and after several meetings and a thesis defense this week, I will be off for winter break. This site will be on a break for a few weeks too. Thanks for reading, and see you again in 2024.

Q&A with Jordan Thomas of the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association

Jordan Thomas is communications and outreach coordinator at the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association in Durham, North Carolina. In this interview, conducted by email, Thomas discusses ECWA's purpose and goals, and how she connects to website readers, social media followers, newsletter subscribers and supporters of the organization. Q. What is ECWA, and what is your role …