Western Kentucky University TopSCHOLAR® WKU Archives Records WKU Archives 6-1983 UA68/13/4 Shoptalk WKU Journalism Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_ua_records Part of the Journalism Studies Commons, Mass Communication Commons, and the Public Relations and Advertising Commons Recommended Citation WKU Journalism, "UA68/13/4 Shoptalk" (1983). WKU Archives Records. Paper 3368. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_ua_records/3368 This Newsletter is brought to you for free and open access by TopSCHOLAR®. It has been accepted for inclusion in WKU Archives Records by an authorized administrator of TopSCHOLAR®. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 2 Shoptalk June, 1983 Speakers shed new light on piIblications By MARGIE CULBERTSON Madisonville-North Hopkins " Oear Utinking equals clear writing. Know what it is you're trying to say," said Jim Ausenbaugh, an associate professor of journalism at Western. According to Ausenbaugh, newswriting and interviewing take a lot of planning and S( [ N[ clear Utinking. " In newswriting, the first part is your in­ fonnation," Ausenbaugh said. He read several examples of faulty reporting, in­ cluding some newspaper stories. Calling himself an "evangelist of the written word," Ausenbaugh went on to say that " clutter is a disease of writing. Take out all those extra words. Think about it." He also talked about accuracy and " how to hide the dull stuff." Ausenbaugh explained what to look for in an interview and how to prepare ques­ tions ahead of time through research. "He made some good points and kept my attention," said Jim Pence from Grayson County. • •• Graphic design is extremely important because it affects our daily lives," Steve Sebree, art director for The Courier­ Journal Magazine told workshop students Wednesday. He talked about different aspects of layout and design, including the use of symbols and art. Sebree showed slides of the pages he has designed. He illustrated the use of typography and design by drawing the word "fat" in thick, heavy lettering. " The slide show was interesting and gave me new ideas for yearbook design," said Sara Manion from Lyon County High School. ••• " Every photographer should have a compassion and feeling of what pictures he should take and what he should not. " This is the philosophy of Keith Williams, a photographer at The Courier-Journal and Louisville Times. Pboto by Tony Grimsley Williams, who works with 25 other Steve Sebree, art director for The Courier-Journal Magazine, is photographers at the newspapers, said pic­ tures are important because they show silhouetted by a slide of one of his designs for the "Scene" section readers the story. "We relate to you what of the Louisville Times. those stories mean." "I think his experience really showed, " published in his newspaper. A native of Henderson, Williams has commented John Shwnake III, an Urban The reporter spoke to workshoppers been a photographer for 10 years. " I learn­ workshopper. " He truly is a great about the Klan stories during a Thursday ed through working on the newspaper," photographer." session. Williams said about his education in the ••• Thompson said he was chosen by Ten­ fi eld. " I've never been so scared in all my nessean publisher and editor John Seigen­ He spoke to workshoppers about his life," said Jerry Thompson, investigative thaler to do the stories because Thompson career and life in general. " It's not the reporter for thl': Tennessean. had the experience and the guts. clothes you wear or the camera you Thompson was referring to his 18-month "Besides," Thompson quoted Seigen­ carry," he said. " It's what you do with undercover investigation and subsequent thaler as saying, " I think you look like a them." series of stories about the Ku Klux Klan redneck." Modern Klan organizations proclaimed themselves to be non-violent groups, Thompson said; yet, the editors believed Jim Ausenbaugh, the Klan should be investigated. Thompson said he prepared carefully associate professor of prior to beginning, studying in detail the journalism at Western, Klan's history and breaking old habits. "I demonstrates a point had to learn how to say the word nigger during his speech on and kike without flinching," he said. But Thompson learned quickly and in writing techniques. the fall of 1(179 he went to a small town out­ side Binningham, Ala., under an asswned I name and fictitious background. Going into careful detail, Thompson I described his life undercover. He told I workshoppers he was always careful and always scared. Davidson County Sheriff Fate Thomas and two of his deputies accompanied the reporter back to Alabama for the meeting to protect him in case anything went wrong. Thompson was afraid Klan members had discovered what he was ' doing; however, there were no problems, and the first story in the series was published as he drove back from Alabama to Tennessee. The Associated Press also released his stories, Thompson said, and many reporters have followed him in publishing more stories about the Klan. Since Thompson's stories were printed, Klan membership has decreased greatly. Thompson has received threats by phone and through the mail. The Tennessean pro­ vided him and his family with protection, and the threats have subsided. t' Don't tell my wife, but if I had the chance I'd do it again," Thompson added. Above left, Courier-Journal and Louisville Times photographer Keith Williams discusses the role of pictures in showing news events. During Tennessean reporter Jerry Thompson's speech, Western graduate Kim Kolarik waits for the right m(r ment to photograph the speaker. Advisers gain experience in faculty workshop By SARA MANION given new ideas on layout design, given to photographers and it's good If you Lyon County photography and other important have your own darkroom. elements of the yearbook. They have also Mrs. Smith said she hoped to improve The students participating in the discussed troublesome situations with her book by coming to the workshop. " I Publications Workshop weren't the only Vander Heyden, adviser of the Talisman. came because of Western's reputation in ones who spent time in class this week. Mrs. Richards, in her ninth year as ad­ publications," Mrs. Smith said. This week Two yearbook advisers, Anne Rose viser, said she came to the workshop for she has worked on cropping pictures and Richards from FrankUo-Simpson High her Rank I and to learn to better staff other aspects of the yearbook. School and JoAnne Smith from Hart Coun­ morale. " I'd like to organize my Vander Heyden and Adams expected ty High School, were given new ideas and darkroom," she said. more teachers to attend this workshop, help on old ones by instructors Terry " Photography is a big headache," which was open to both yearbook and Vander Heyden and Bob Adams. Vander Heyden said. During a class they newspaper advisers. Vander Heyden actually left it up to the all agreed photography is the most impor­ Adams said he thought this workshop advisers to choose what they wanted to tant part of a yearbook. According to was valuable to advisers. He said he would work on. During this week, they have been Vander Heyden, encouragement should be like to do it again next year. " Shoptalk June, 1983 Around town Field trips combine fun~ education second set of doors to get inside the War­ Ed Ethcells from Trinity High School in ren County Jail. Louisville said, " It was like going to a Chief Deputy Jailer Jesse Miller zoo." escorted the workshoppers through a It was different on the fourth floor fail large, steel, screen door surrounded with because the cells were separate and had a plastic and then through another that led steel screen added. By LARRY FLEISCHER to a narrow hallway. " I wouJdn't want to live there," said Louisville 81. xavier The first thing they saw was where the Henry Meiman, also from Trinity High. jailers keep the drunks, including people As the students went up the floors, -the As they waited outside, they joked and arrested for driving under the influence, severity of the crimes progressed. It rang­ talked to keep themselves relaxed. But who have to stay in jail for five hours. ed from misdemeanors, such as shoplif­ they couJd hear the prisoners inside, and After that time, they may post bond and ting on the first floor, to severe felonies, in­ they were concerned about getting hurt . leave or remain there until their time in cluding murder, on the fourth floor. when they went inside. court. The prisoners didn't seem to notice the When a deputy jailer brought a prisoner The students were then escorted up nar­ vistors and ignored them other than mak­ out in handcuffs and escorted him to the row staircases to the fi rst floor of ing several remarks to the girls. Warren County Courthouse it made some prisoners. The students continued to move Jill Martin from Madisonville-North students uneasy. The conversation turned through more steel doors and narrow Hopkins said, " I didn't like it and it gave to what would happen if a prisoner tried to hallways unW they reached the fourth me an eerie feeling. They really couldn't escape and how scary it wouJd be to live floor. care less how you felt." near any type of jail. The prisoners on the first floor we re con­ Overall, the workshoppers thought it Then it was time to go in. Everybody tained in a division with four small in­ was a different experience. "It was a jaiL climbed the seven concrete steps to the dividual cells, each with four beds and a What else can you say? said Michelle first set of doors and then went through a small area for them to walk.