June 24, 2000

The Hunstvlle Times

I blog about The Huntsville Times in:



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June 18, 2000

Writing about jobs for journalists

Sometimes, the hardest part of finding a job is figuring out what you can do with what you know. Here are some posts I've written that might inspire those who have worked as journalists:


A job for you, a job for me: Suggestions flying in Aug. 7, 2009
New jobs: Building on skills, interests leads to non-media jobs Aug. 5, 2009
Fascination with journalists, jobs leads to suggestions for reading July 31, 2009
Facebook quiz leads to post-journalism jobs March 25, 2009
Resume-building sites, blogging advice can help you be JWJ (journalist with job) March 21, 2009
Blogging 'kvetch"' Tough noogies and self help for journalists March 20, 2009
Jobs for journalists via RSS Feb. 24, 2009
Talent will outlast jobs, careers Feb. 11, 2009
It hurts to laugh; it helps to prepare Jan. 8, 2009
Beyond the buyout, beyond the byline Aug. 5, 2008
Journalists not the first to start over Aug. 1, 2008
Buyout journalists, remember this March 17, 2008
What every good journalist needs to do, but won't Dec. 27, 208

I want to know why more folks don't let you know the job isn't yours

Some sites to use:
Wired Journalists

Some places to search for jobs:
JournalismJobs.com
I Want Media
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Writing about The Star-Ledger

Here are some of the Inside Out posts that mention the New Jersey Star-Ledger:
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June 16, 2000

Writing about The Oregonian

Here are some of my posts about the Oregonian:

Watchers of media release forbidden words March 30, 2010

Oregonian now Stickel-less Jan. 6, 2010


New editor at the Oregonian Dec. 7, 2009


Oregonian editor: Not enough taking buyout; 70 must go Nov. 5, 2009


One year later: Journalist to lobbyist Nov. 3, 2009


Anderson named publisher at Oregonian Oct. 26, 2009


Four Advance publications get printing awards Oct. 19,2009

Oregonian editor tells newsroom new arrangments, new journalists needed Oct. 9, 2009

Oregonian public radio station focuses on future of journalism Oct 9, 2009

Oregonian employees weighing new buyout offer Sept. 28, 2009

Always more to say: Following up on Stickel Sept. 19, 2009

Oregonian employee sues, says Advance Publications wrong to deny buyout Sept. 18, 2009

Two more publishers leaving Advance Publications Sept. 16, 2009

Oregonian's breast cancer series finalist with wired in online news contest Aug. 31, 2009

Blogger: Advertising wraps front page of Oregonian Aug. 16, 2009

Advance opinions: Open eyes, dignified hats, virtual running Aug. 13, 2009

Is Google cartoon correct? Aug. 12, 2009

Talking about Advance from Oregon to New Jersey - pain, envy, honors Aug. 6, 2009

Wikipedia for journalists and other advice coming at Digital Media Camp July 28,2009

Month brings new price for Oregonian July 2, 2009

Advance editors weigh in on fate of newspapers April 27, 2009

Why May for Advance pension changes and other musings March 24, 2009

Oregonian blogger: Enjoy weekend March 21, 2009

Blogger unhappy with shrinking Oregonian March 13, 2009
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June 11, 2000

I am a Girl Scout

I blog about Girl Scouts
I bleed green - that's what it says on my Facebook profile. It is because I graduated from Michigan State University - its school colors are green and white.

But mostly I bleed green because I am a Girl Scout.

I became a Girl Scout in the fourth grade, two years later then I wanted to because there was no room for me in the Brownie Girl Scout troop at my school.

Once in, I stayed. I'm now as a lifetime member who facilitates, blogs and operates WAGGGS-L, an email list that predates the Yahoo groups and most other online Girl Scout resources.

I even earned the highest award - First Class - before graduating from high school. Then, I was part of the Detroit Metro Girl Scout Council.

While attending Michigan State University and studying journalism, I helped with a Girl Scout troop in the hometown of a roommate. That troop was in Fair Winds Girl Scout Council.

After college, I moved to the city where I helped with that troop. But, I didn't hook back up with the Girl Scouts right away.

Daughter joins

When my daughter was old enough, I volunteered first as a parent, then co-leader, then leader, advisor, and trainer. There were a few neighborhood/service unit positions in there somewhere too.

Fair Winds Girl Scout Council, now part of Girl Scouts South East Michigan gave me the Thanks Award for creating the first online presence - first as a gopher site, then on the World Wide Web. That was back in the mid 1990s.

Even after my daughter graduated from high school and Girl Scouts, I stayed on.


'Career' higlights

I was a council delegate at the 48th National Girl Scout Convention.

Our council even paid for me and three girl Girl Scouts (also delegates) to go a day early so we could tour Kansas City before the business of the convention. We also went to a WAGGGS-L gathering at a Girl Scout camp.

Convention Talk

I was thrilled when I got to start Convention Talk, a discussion board for the national Girl Scouts organzation in October 2008.

But that's nothing compared to what I gained by being a part of the StoryWeavers and Conversations That Matter initiative at the 2008 Girl Scout convention, even though I left Indianapolis before the opening ceremony.

As a longtime journalist, I know the importance of story, openness, and community.

I always knew I wanted to return to a Girl Scout convention. I decided to treat myself to the 51st convention during my first year as a bought-out journalist. I planned to go as a visitor, but in July 2008 I saw a plea for volunteers for the StoryWeaving project.

For the next three months, the national Girl Scout convention was my main focus in life I learned about Open Space, Appreciative Inquiry, wikis, and a whole lot more as part of the planning committee. Oh, and how could I forget texting.
51st girl scout convention patch

As a mother, I know that what my daughter learned in and as a result of Girl Scouts is why she is alive today.

I am who I am because of Girl Scouts. I want other girls to discover, connect and take action in Girl Scouts too.

Find me online:

My Girl Scout Twittering is done as mcwgs

There is a FriendFeed group, Girl-Scouts.
Learn about WAGGGS=L
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Writing about AnnArbor.com, Ann Arbor News

AnnArbor.com is the new news company that will replace The Ann Arbor News, one of the newspapers owned by the Newhouse family through its purchase of the Booth Newspapers in Michigan in the 1970s.

Here are some posts where I mention the new site:


AnnArbor.com on itself:

Ann Arbor News covers the change

The Ann Arbor News has covered the launch of the new site. Here are links to some of those stories:

PaperTiger No More

Jim Carty, a former sportswriter for the Ann Arbor News, interviewed Dearing and shared other news about AnnArbor.com in his blog Paper Tiger No More.
Free From Editors

What other links should I add here? Leave your suggestions in a comment or email me


I wiped out the contents of this post on Sept. 30, 2009, and reverted to an earlier version.
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Writing about Twitter

I've been on Twitter as @mcwflint since August 2007 and been writing about my experiences ever since. Here are some of the posts:
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Writing about Girl Scouts

As a lifetime Girl Scout, I often mention Girl Scouts while blogging. Here are some posts that are mainly about Girl Scouts in Inside Out:
2013



2009

2008


I also wrote quite a few posts on Convention Talk on the national Girl Scout site. Some link to stories and posts written by others.


Find me online:

I am a Girl Scout

My Girl Scout Twittering is done as mcwgs

There a FriendFeed group, Girl-Scouts, where I pull in mentions of Girl Scouts on Twitter and blogs.
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Posts about Jim Hopkins or the Gannett Blog

Jim Hopkins started the Gannett Blog on Sept. 11, 2007, after ending his 20-year career through a buyout.

Here are some posts where I talk about his blog:
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Posts mentioning Jim Carty or Paper Tiger No More

Jim Carty is a long-time journalist who left the field to become a lawyer. He's in law school now but frequently blogs in Paper Tiger No More. His former job with the Ann Arbor News and connections with Advance Publications people often leads to post about the media in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Here are some of my posts where I mention Jim or his blog:
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Daughter's cancer

On Oct. 30, 2008, my daughter learned she had breast cancer. She was 24, living 575 miles from home and just promoted to general manager of a pizza place.

Within weeks of diagnosis, my husband and I encouraged my daughter and her boyfriend to leave their jobs in Tennessee and move in with us. That would let her concentrate on battling late stage three cancer.

We were sure he would quickly find a job, not knowing how much further Michigan's economy would sink. We were grateful for support of family and friends. We were grateful I could become a first time, stay-at-home mom as I had just accepted a buyout from the news organization where I worked for almost 30 years.

My father died of cancer the day my daughter's care plan was finalized. Six months later, a niece was diagnosed with cancer, caught in a very early stage and her treatment is done. A good friend has started her cancer fight. Make that two friends. Both now in the countdown to five  years cancer free.

Until my daughter's diagnosis, I was like many who did not realize how many twenty-somethings face cancer. Resources like the Young Survival Coalition, with a Detroit-area chapter, the Everything Changes book and blog and Mothers Supporting Daughters with Breast Cancer help. So have the Girl Scouts.

Girl Scouts is why my daughter's cancer was found. She was a Junior Girl Scout when her troop went to the health fair and learned to feel for breast lumps on fake breasts they got to take home. They were told to perform checks monthly.

My daughter listened and in July 2008 she discovered a lump in her left breast.

Doctor knows best

Her doctor sent her home with vitamins and the advice to watch it. She watched it grow as she grew more tired. She figured the fatigue came from the pressures of learning her new job as general manager of a pizza store.

In October, the doctor reluctantly sent her for an ultrasound as he did not see the value of a mammogram for a woman her age. Within hours of the ultrasound, my daughter underwent a needle biopsy "just to be safe."

Five days later, her doctor reluctantly delivered the news no one is prepared to hear: "You have cancer." Later, we would learn it was at least late stage three.

No need for mom

My daughter called me while I was helping girls learn to edit video in preparation for the 51st national Girl Scout convention.

She's a lifelong Girl Scout who earned the highest honor, the Gold Award, and been a convention delegate. She knew how excited I was to be a part of the Storyweaving project and the discovery of what is essential to the success of the Girl Scout movement by the members, for the members, through the members.

My daughter said I should stay through the convention, then drive to her place in time for her first appointment with a breast cancer specialist. The doctor who delayed the diagnosis for four months pulled hard to get her into the specialist so quickly.

I had honored her first wish, not being there for the biopsy report. This time, I listened to my heart and left the next morning, driving miles to get to her place on Juliette Low's birthday. Juliette Low, the founder of Girl Scouts, the woman who died of breast cancer.

She writes, I write

She blogs over on myspace as CrazyKatFaygo. She said I could share the address.


Here are some of my posts about her cancer journey:

October 2008
November 2008

December 2008


January 2009
February 2009 March 2009


April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
August 2009
September 2009
October 2009

March 2010
August 2010

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Writing about the Cleveland Plain Dealer

It's hard to write about Advance Publications without also writing about The Cleveland Plain Dealer in neighboring Ohio.

The Cleveland, Ohio, newspaper can trace its roots to 1842. In 1967, The Cleveland Plain Dealer was purchased by Newhouse Publications for $54.2 million.

Here are some of the posts where I talk about the Advance Publication news organization:
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Writing about The Grand Rapids Press

The Grand Rapids Press is the largest Michigan newspaper in the Advance Publications umbrella.

Here are some posts about the Grand Rapids Press:
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Writing about The Birmingham News

Here are some of my posts about The Birmingham News, an Advance Publications newspaper in Alabama:

Two more publishers leaving Advance Publications Sept. 16, 2009

Moving is today's theme at Advance Publications' Alabama properties Aug. 29, 2009

Advance Publications grabbing headlines today Aug. 17, 2009

Talking about Advance from Oregon to New Jersey - pain, envy, honors Aug. 6, 2009

Publisher blasts 'Birmingham Noose' July 14, 2009

Birmingham weekly says daily making cuts June 4, 2009

Birmingham News cuts salaries June3, 2009
 Advance execs share outlook on TV
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June 9, 2000

About WAGGGS-L

WAGGGS-L is an international electronic mailing list for adult Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world. Most of the members are GG/GS leaders but we also have trainers, staff people, Campus Scouts and even some older girls as members.

Individuals subscribe to the List and any post made from the members gets redistributed to all the members. It can not be read by those who have not subscribed.

WAGGGS-L was formed in June 1996 after another list, Scout-Girls-L, had outgrown the software and server being used to run it. The list changed names as it changed hosts; its name is the acronym of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. The list is not officially sponsored by WAGGGS, but with its new name, the list grew progressively more international, with members all over the world.

Things change and so has the list as other lists have been created. There are now lists catering to every level of Girl Scouts and numberous Girl Guides lists too. Many are web based, unlike WAGGGS-L which uses listserv software.


To subscribe to the list, send only the following command in the body of your email to: listserv@jupui.edu

subscribe wagggs-l yourfirstname yourlastname

Once on the list:
* To send a message to everyone, write to: WAGGGS-L@listserv.iupui.edu

* To send a message to the computer, write to: listserv@iupui.edu (drop all quotes ")

  • To find old postings, send this: "search prominent-keywords-you're-searching-for in WAGGGS-L"
  • To get help commands, send "get WAGGGS-L help"
  • To unsubscribe, send this "unsubscribe wagggs-l your name"
* Problems or Questions & need a human? Write to: WAGGGS-L-request@listserv.iupui.edu


Some WAGGGS-L resources created by list members:

Cyber Cookbook
WAGGGS-L Favorite URLS


The Focus of WAGGGS-L

This list exists to promote discussion about Girl Scouting and Girl Guiding. The topics of discussion vary from day to day, but commonly discussed items include ceremonies, songs, recipes, and traditions; other messages discuss dealing with difficult issues such as over- or under-involved parents, behavior problems, helping older girls stay involved, etc. Any issue relating to Scouting/Guiding is possible.

It is not appropriate to post to WAGGGS-L about non-Scouting or Guiding topics. Furthermore, it is never appropriate to post a chain letter (even a friendly, pass-this-poem-to-20-people chain letter) to WAGGGS-L.



WAGGGS-L Etiquette

The list relies on members' good will and good "netiquette" to run as smoothly as it does. From time to time the listowners post a list of hints that help make the list a pleasure to all of us. In general, the following principles help make the electronic discussion continue:

Be patient. Electronic mail can be sent in an instant, and it can't be recalled.

If you read something that makes you angry, don't reply immediately. Wait an hour or two, or a day, and then reply.

Use the Girl Scout and Girl Guide Promise and Laws to guide your postings.

Sign your messages. Always put your name, geographic location, and e-mail address at the bottom of your posts.

Explain terms or abbreviations. Please remember that there are representatives of many different scouting or guiding associations on the list, so customs, abbreviations, rules, and laws may differ from country to country.

After you've been on the list for a while, you'll become familiar with some of the basic differences, but remember to explain acronyms or terms that may be unfamiliar.

Use appropriate subject headings. If you receive the list in digest form, you'll need to change the subject heading when you reply to the list. Your subject heading should reflect the topic(s) you discuss in your posting.


Posts to the list vs. posts to individuals

We ask that members think carefully about whether a particular post should go to the whole list, or only to a single participant. If you are reading your mail several days behind, please read through all your mail before responding to the whole list, since you may find that others responding to WAGGGS-L have already posted what you were thinking.

If someone has asked a question that has a single (or limited) answer (such as "Where can I find the book Trefoil Around the World?" or "What's the name of the youngest age level group in Spain?"), or a question that virtually all members can answer (such as "How many years have you been involved in Girl Scouting or Guiding?") post the answer privately.

People who ask these sorts of questions should offer to collect responses off-list and then post a summary for the whole list. When such a question is posted, and you're interested in the answer, instead of sending a message to the list saying "I need that info, too", consider sending it to the person who posted the question to begin with.

Similarly, postings that say "I agree!" or "Me, too!" or "Good idea!" should be sent privately.

If someone has asked a question that can have many answers (such as "Any ideas for a Guide's Own? or environmental wide games?), post the answer to the list.


The format of messages sent to the list

When replying to a message, only include those portions of the message which are absolutely necessary to make your own posting clear.

In general, it's not necessary to quote more than a line or two from a previous posting.

When discussing variations in song lyrics, please don't repost the entire song (after a while it gets repetitious); simply indicate where your lyrics are different.

Send only plain text messages. Learn enough about your own mailing system to be able to send only plain text to the list. Even if your mailer allows you to send hot links, italics, bold-face, underlining, or different colors in your mail, do not send such posts to the list. They will be unreadable in many readers' mailboxes, and they may interfere with an entire day's worth of mail for some people.

It is particularly important that you avoid sending winmail.dat encoded mail to the list; this is something that can be generated by Windows-based mail systems like Microsoft Exchange.

Generally speaking, attachments, unusual characters, graphics, zipped or encoded files, etc. can be difficult for many list members to read. Given the variety of e-mail systems around the world, simplicity is best.

Don't send HTML postings. If you are using a web-based mailing system, please make sure that your messages to the list do not include HTML markup language.

Similarly, please do not send encoded messages to the list, and do not use a single line of hyphens. Many people will not be able to read such messages.

Privacy and Problems

We should all remember that WAGGGS-L is a public discussion, and that e-mail is not always private. Messages sent via e-mail might be shared with others, and posters have no control over the final destinations of their messages.

While the sharing of craft ideas or recipes poses little problem, the sharing of posts about personal experiences or local problems can cause personal difficulties.

We ask list members to be considerate about sharing personal posts without the author's express permission.

We also ask all participants on the list to recognize that the list is a valuable problem-solving resource. There have been a few cases in which list members posted queries about local problems, asking advice or assistance, which in turn caused problems for the posters when others in the local area saw the posts. These readers saw the request for assistance as criticisms of particular individuals, service units, or councils.

We want WAGGGS-L to be a place where people can communicate openly and honestly about problems they are having at all levels of Girl Scouting/Girl Guiding, from the troop to WAGGGS.

In order to make this possible, we ask that all readers bear in mind the pride we all take in our involvement with Girl Scouting/Guiding, the delicate nature of problem-solving, and the creativity that the list discussion brings to bear on hard situations.

Listmembers shouldn't be afraid to ask about difficult issues, although posts about local problems might tactfully delete identifying information about individuals, and sometimes about locations, in order to minimize potential embarrassment. We also ask that listmembers who may be familiar with a problem posed not chastise or reprimand the poster for raising a difficult issue. It is our hope that readers interpret problems discussed not as a reflection on the people involved, but rather as a description of a situation that could happen anywhere.

Welcome aboard!

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