Are there any print newspaper writers left out there?

I've just started on the summer semester, teaching my online course Writing Across Media, for the New School University (New York). Although I'm an avid reader of the printed media, daily (yes, Luddite that I am, I still need my fix of printers ink on paper to feel that my day has been justified. I really appreciated this short article in yesterday's Guardian, which also appeared online in Comment is Free, where the writer (Harriet Sherwood), recently sent to Jerusalem, to be the in situ correspondent, talks about the stresses laden on reporters these days with all the different commitments to meet. There's the many column inches to write, about the unfolding tricky subject to write about (the flotilla to Gaza), as well as demands to be up to date with Twitter, to do audio interviews, take pictures of everyone she interviews, contribute to a blog and make a video. So where, she asks is the time to really focus on the story, go out and meet people, talk to contacts, get the behind-the-scene views, the vox-pop comments?

Read the article in the link attached. It's genuine food for thought and could lead to lots of discussion. As she ends her heartfelt piece: 'Will I be able to stick to my notion of what a foreign correspondent is for, as well as meeting the need to get news out on the web fast and frequently? The next few years will tell.'

http://bit.ly/bhwcqA

Teaching a new online class at the New School

I'm thrilled that this summer's online semester at the NSOU (New School Online University) is including my course again - Writing Across Media. I've been teaching this course, remotely from London, for the past 9 years (or should that be 10, as it started in 2000?). Amazingly online courses thrive and students, not to mention teachers, really enjoy them. As my class is a writing workshop, I think it works better than purely academic courses. Each class member (15+) gets his or her own Writing Portfolio, in which they post their Assignments. I provide lecture materials, which are really more like discussion topics, for students also to respond to. Once everyone gets into the swing of things, discussions are lively and rewarding. I can't tell you how much I've learned from my students - I wouldn't be doing this blog today without the encouragement, if not to say badgering, of the younger class members. Not to mention Twitter, which used to fill me with dread, but now I'm a nervous beginning Twitterer..... find me at @carolwriting (please!).

I'm going to be busy in the next few weeks, as I have English students booked up during the summer months, including one right now, who is all the way from the Oman, who will have been staying with us and studying English for a whole month. That shows a lot of perseverance.... especially as the weather, as usual, ain't that hot! But I'm going to get back to basics with this blog very soon and really expand its topics and scope.

Comments please? Would love to hear from someone out there....

Weddings in the rain - and other great dramas!

I've been absent for a couple of weeks, as life just got too busy and seemed to take me over. My elder daughter, Alice, and her lovely young man Nick, got married over the bank holiday weekend, just last Saturday, in a village near Settle, W Yorkshire. It was the most amazing affair, organised totally by them. I got to play 'mother of the bride' without making any effort (other than worry about what to wear). Fantastic countryside, full of playful spring lambs and beautiful green fields. Only trouble was that sandwiched between two heatwave weekends (like we've just got now), that particular weekend was chilly and wet. The day of the wedding actually managed to rain all day long. In that Yorkshire way, when it drizzles, constantly, soaking everyone through and through. Everyone rallied, spirits were high, feet got wet. The only real downside was trying to get the outdoor photos against the backdrop of hills 'n dales. Poor Alice is now feeling rather gutted that her special day was ruined in that way. But I've said that from even our own photos viewed so far, there could be some iconic shots - her and Nick standing outside in their finery, holding the umbrellas high! I reckon it could become one of those pictures that sells as a greeting card. If no-one else gets the idea, I'll give it a go.

My only other drama was having to give the 'mother of the bride' speech. There are times when it's handy to be a writer. Even, one hopes, a good writer. The speech seemed to go down well. One speech writing tip: focus on anecdotes, from your child's past and the growing romance with her new husband. Keep off the schmaltz, but make it almost hard-edged. Get them laughing and keep their interest. Or they'll just turn off and down more champagne.

More than a couple of people felt I've missed my great calling in life. I should have been a stand-up comic. Hey, I started late as a blogger. There's time yet for stand-up!