tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76077908210436453302024-03-12T21:53:48.146-07:00Jo ReporterKeeping an eye on the landscape of journalism and cultureUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-57846935446180183242020-10-14T22:41:00.005-07:002020-10-14T22:41:54.277-07:00Writing: Friends on the ShelfNo matter how many writers like to claim theirs is a solitary vocation, I just don't buy it. None of us really writes on our own, and any writer or reporter worth her salt learns from instructors she probably hasn't even met. Specifically, it's those published writers, alive or dead, with a single book or a dozen, who inspire us with sentences that sing, paragraphs that leave us breathless Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-21050287497339468462020-10-06T20:34:00.004-07:002020-10-06T20:43:21.023-07:00From the Book Shelf: How a classic story still resonates for these times "[I]n a year marked with the challenges of isolation and grief, Bridge to Terabithia is a worthy and much-needed companion."Though you might not be able to find it on a map, Terabithia is as real a place as Narnia, Planet Uriel, or the Shire. It is a land, in fact, of equal force, where reluctant boys confront their fears and lonely girls become regal, a place where imagination isUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-67896912742941447822020-09-15T17:36:00.016-07:002020-09-15T18:24:23.746-07:00Copy That: 4 Writing Clues for Catching (and Keeping) Readers Whether it’s a novel or a tweet, a script or an op ed, all writing deserves our best thinking and words. All the time. Sure, it’s hard work. But the pay off of catching—and keeping— readers is worth it. Here are four writing clues to make your writing as compelling as it can be: Clue #1. Be Clear: Writers start with an idea Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-28063668656734284352020-08-20T04:58:00.025-07:002020-09-30T05:24:55.283-07:00So I've Still been WritingYes, I'm still writing and keeping track of recent freelance work so far from 2020-2016. Book reviews, features and other links here:SIGHT Magazine:Book reviews: The Cost of Compassion: When Suffering With others becomes personal—and trickyMiss Benson's Beetle: A Wild Ride of grief, vocation and friendship Mining the friendship field of Christian women and menA vision for a disrupted Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-35272880556436553352015-06-10T22:32:00.004-07:002023-06-22T18:05:01.035-07:00Moving Up—and Down(under)
Our old website, LampPost Media has some dated issues. So right now it's hiding somewhere on the Internet.No matter. Here I am in the land down under, living near in-laws and enjoying sunny, coat-less days, and journalism looks slightly different here. People who report the news here aren't reporters; they're "Journos". As expected, their coverage is full of the things that matter to Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-8513754332650584482015-04-14T19:04:00.001-07:002015-04-14T21:54:31.395-07:00When Does A Blog Become An Archive?
This is an easy question: when I haven't posted in a year. And probably am not likely to soon because my journalism assignments in the U.S. have gone on a bit of a hiatus. (Alas, I've spent the past twelve months writing a bunch of stuff for cool organizations who now, um, kind of own those stories. That's okay too.)
So please forgive me, anyone who might have glanced at these pages; I'll beUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-36756097873365165502014-03-20T19:55:00.001-07:002014-03-20T19:56:51.275-07:00Oh, The Places a Poem Can Go!Who says writing is always hard? Sometimes a story is simply a delight . . . to write. (That rhymed.)
This was one of those. Because it was about this heroic woman who lives—I learned—on the next block over but started this cool grass roots movement-thing to bring poetry into, well, whatever places that inspire her, making it a community celebration. And making the world undoubtedly a better Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-25888088933332069002014-03-12T12:04:00.002-07:002014-03-12T12:07:49.259-07:00Stories at the Corner ShopI've always loved local businesses, the stories, the creativity, the heroism. And I don't mind saying so—in fact, in my local newspaper last month:
February 18, 2014 Column: Confessions of a small-business fanatic
Jo Kadlecek
The Salem News
It started with flowers. Roses really, the color of cherry tomatoes, delivered fresh from the truck to living rooms or offices throughout my Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-65451674398216742014-01-27T09:56:00.000-08:002014-01-27T09:57:31.393-08:00Super Bowl Crankiness
I love sports. But this big one is getting to me. Here's what I mean:
Millions of Americans will gather in their living rooms this coming Sunday to watch grown men hammer each other so hard they get concussions that can lead to brain damage or dementia or lots of other long term health problems.
While the game plays out, pimps will sell their sex slaves during the highest trafficking event Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-20372914613982958852013-12-20T08:38:00.000-08:002014-01-27T09:09:56.744-08:00Why My Christmas List Included Boycotting Amazon
For this year's Christmas gifts (and every one before), I didn't buy many things online. I tried to buy original stuff from people who actually made it or from small local businesses. And I've made a list of my top five reasons I'll never buy from or support Amazon (that means even going to their web site), regardless of the season:
5. It used to sell only books (remember that?) at such Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-5724904796873726502013-10-16T18:11:00.001-07:002013-10-16T18:12:50.742-07:00When the Leaves Tell the StoryIn the region where I live, there have been more than a few offices closed by the government shutdown. The recession has still meant folks I know are struggling to find meaningful work, and bills are just plain hard to pay. It's easy to miss the forest through the trees and lose perspective. Or something like that.
The leaves around me, though, are vibrant reminders of, well, more. They Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-80869228877768818012013-09-11T08:46:00.010-07:002023-09-12T03:22:27.969-07:00The End of the World (Trade Center)It's hard to believe I wrote this 12 years ago, that morning and the next day. Still vivid. I'm grateful that the CT editor 'let' me report, reflect and process:
Dispatches from out of the dust
By Jo Kadlecek
9/11/01 11:30 am
Our city is bleeding. My phone has not stopped ringing. The
news reports are horrifying. This is my backyard and I have to go, to try to
get my head around it, to Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-54662444318667783932013-07-16T13:35:00.003-07:002016-01-27T17:51:11.703-08:00In Honor of Tweets, Mrs. Ridley & All Coaches
According to FT writer Gillian Tett, this is
a team of future CEO's!
I've learned a lot since I started Tweeting. It's a reporter's digital form of breaking news. And the folks you follow really do lead you to some interesting stuff. Like this story on the lack of women sources in the New York Times front page stories. (Good work by two women journalism students!)
Or like this article I read Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-38470309096820134102013-07-09T10:05:00.002-07:002013-07-09T10:08:41.192-07:00Bicycles, Birds, and Beliefs
I'm not sure there's anything sadder than a bike stuck in snow, days long gone, with no birds to watch or roads to explore. So I reckon that's where believing can certainly help to get you through such a big disappointment, or even tougher, more real issues.
In fact, here's my latest story in the July issue of New England Psychologist, "Study: Belief in God Aids Treatment."
From there, itUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-32227297715548821152013-06-25T16:18:00.002-07:002013-06-25T16:18:54.024-07:00Stirring the Creative Juices
Some wise soul probably said once that distance from routine can aid the creative process. I agree. And am realizing that simple things—like a change of scenery or a different room in your house—can help your writing. So I'm on a couch now in Denver, having just come back from a walk in a park with big glorious trees waving under the Colorado sun. Last month I was in two places Downunder,Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-52192709765499214352013-05-31T12:27:00.000-07:002013-06-13T12:51:40.935-07:00Adventure Down Under
No postings for May means I was traveling—far. To Tasmania, Australia, first, then to Queensland. Words aren't as good as photos in this case so I'll let them speak instead:
Koonya, Tasmania, home of my dad and his wife, at sunset.
The view from their porch.
Black swans off of their beach.
Pelicans in Brisbane.
Noosa National Park (Queensland) where in-laws live&Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-8945336157036725422013-04-12T07:22:00.003-07:002020-08-27T22:47:53.217-07:00Justice, Mental Health and Following
Ah, the writing life. Working on stories for different publications means, well, you're working. Reporting, interviewing, writing, editing, it's all part of the process of telling the story. Which can mean, of course, neglecting to post those stories on your blog once you're sent them on to the editors and they've tweaked and published them.
So just to keep semi-current, here's a recent Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-65098213704517819482013-03-01T14:17:00.000-08:002013-03-01T14:17:32.611-08:00Watching Generation Next Get the Story
Yes, I've been missing from blog posts. But not missing in reporter action. In fact, since late January I've been walking alongside a few reporters from the next generation as they write interesting stories for the Gordon College News Service, an internship program where aspiring journalists partner with local newspapers to cover the community. Since January 2010, the GCNS has been sending Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-8851294592772828652012-12-26T10:29:00.001-08:002012-12-26T10:29:50.831-08:00Walking Past the Future, One Story at a TimeSo I was walking my dog in the neighborhood a few weeks ago, past a cool and hip office on a street a few blocks away. As we walked by and I glanced in, I couldn't help but wonder what those folks were working on. A few days later, I was meeting with a friend for breakfast, talking about cool and hip office spaces. We literally got up from the table and hurried around the corner to that first Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-90194935784282307272012-11-26T09:51:00.001-08:002012-11-26T09:52:28.352-08:00When the Parade Comes Marching InOf all the things that make a small town into a community, a parade tops the list. You see your neighbors, hear their kids' music and learn more about the small businesses that make up downtown. Yesterday, I covered my town's holiday parade for the local paper and discovered more of the spirit of the place. This is the fun stuff of local journalism!
November 26, 2012
'The spirit of Christmas'
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-32828374763794439572012-10-22T12:23:00.000-07:002012-11-02T12:28:27.903-07:00Hope in the Hard StuffEvery so often an assignment comes along that at first you don't want to take; it'll be too too emotional, too challenging. But you say yes and when you do, you experience inspiration, courage and service. That's what this story was like for me. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, this story is one of many the local newspaper ran. And I'm glad they did.
Jill Moriello
OctoberUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-59939782765359677882012-10-17T17:10:00.000-07:002012-10-29T17:20:32.303-07:00Finding Courage to Enter the Political Discussion
As it happened, I'd been thinking about the presidential election a lot. Chewing. Brooding. Wondering how I could contribute, knowing if I did I could be opening a can of worms with friends and strangers a like. Then I read about Malala Yousufzai, the Pakistani girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban as a result. Her courage far surpassed mine, but it certainly nudged me Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-49984073231526437912012-10-13T12:56:00.000-07:002012-11-02T12:58:29.744-07:00Good Coffee For Business and Community I've long admired the efforts of small business women, those who work ridiculously hard every day to live out what has become their professional dream. And because everyone loves a good cup of coffee, this was a story with spark, with wisdom, with, well, Gusto. And it landed in the business section of the local paper, helping, I hope, inspire other small business women and men with big dreams Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-9570331818890791182012-09-24T16:49:00.000-07:002012-10-29T17:19:15.546-07:00Happy Birthday Via the Newspaper
Mary Burke
In one of my prouder moments of speaking through the local newspaper, I had the opportunity to wish my 95-year old neighbor a happy birthday through this column in the local newspaper, which came out on her birthday. As friends dropped by to greet her throughout the day, she proudly displayed the newspaper. And even now she says she's heard from people she hadn't talked to in years Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607790821043645330.post-7302374745591196292012-09-24T13:40:00.001-07:002012-11-02T12:59:21.290-07:00When English is a GiftThis summer, I learned first hand what it meant to be in a culture where I didn't know the language. When I went to Honduras in July, my junior high Spanish just wasn't enough.
So kudos to those folks like Gina Frey, director of adult education at North Shore Community Action Programs in Peabody, MA, for her leadership with ESOL classes. Frey is pictured here with Sander Juste, an immigrant fromUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0