Prof KRG

A practical resource for student journalists.

How to Recruit When There’s No One on Campus

by Kenna Griffin

College media staffs have been tasked with reporting critical health and safety information since last spring when COVID-19 sent students nationwide to virtual classes. At the same time, student editors found themselves working with smaller staffs as students tried to figure out how to do coursework online and adjust to their altered living … [Read more...]

How to Interview Sources on the Phone

by Kenna Griffin

I had an editor who used to say that a reporter could get any story on the phone that you could get in person. His theory confused me because I had grown up in journalism understanding the importance of shoe leather reporting. I'd always been taught you needed to get out, meet people and observe the news. But my editor's mantra came from … [Read more...]

How to Talk With Students About Race

by Kenna Griffin

As journalism educators, we talk about a lot of uncomfortable subjects with our students. Media law and ethics alone are just packed with lessons that lead us to reevaluate our ways of thinking. And, then there is the news we advise them through covering. I'll never forget when our university president was diagnosed with prostate cancer. We all … [Read more...]

Avoiding Decision Fatigue

by Kenna Griffin

I don't like getting ready for work. You know the process. You shower, fix your hair, put on make-up, get dressed (after finally deciding what to wear), grab your things, then commute. For me, the entire fiasco takes about two hours. Then, once you arrive at work, you have to transition into actually working. Almost three hours later, you're … [Read more...]

My Favorite Books of May

by Kenna Griffin

May was a productive reading month. I read 12 books in May. Of those, I gave six—one fiction and five nonfiction— perfect grades. It seems I remember dropping a lot of books in May, but that's ok if the result was half of the books I read being "must reads." You can read my reviews below. Joy at Work: Organizing Your Professional … [Read more...]