ewa's Podcast

EWA Announces New Directions, Search for New Executive Director

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:36:00 GMT

The EWA Board of Directors announced it will shift from a traditional membership organization to an open community, embracing a wider net of people concerned about the quality of education information.

Stimulus Spending in Higher Education

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:09:00 GMT

EWA sponsored an audio conference for reporters on how to track stimulus dollars for higher education. Jennifer Cohen and Jason Delisle from the New America Foundation led the discussion. Justin Pope, national higher education reporter for The Associated Press, served as the moderator.

Stimulus Spending for K-12 School Districts

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:30:00 GMT

EWA sponsored an audio conference for reporters on how to track stimulus dollars for K-12 education. University of Washington professor Marguerite Roza led the discussion and Andrew Brownstein, editor of the Title I Monitor served as moderator.

Higher Ed Summer Story Ideas

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:06:00 GMT

The Education Writers Association sponsored a brainstorming session for higher ed reporters on finding stories when students leave college campuses for the summer.

Jeff Selingo, editor of The Chronicle of Higher Education, moderated this discussion.

From A1 to Amazon: Making Your Book Idea a Reality

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:42:00 GMT

Have you ever finished working on an article and thought: There could be a book here? Are you eager to test your intellectual endurance with a 100,000 word project? The Education Writers Association sponsored an audio conference for reporters to learn about the first steps toward publishing a book. Becky Saletan, editorial director of Riverhead Books, and literary agent Brian DeFiore of New York-based DeFiore and Company discuss how to write a proposal, how to pitch an agent, what types of newspaper projects translate well to books, and the state of the market for books about schools and kids. EWA public editor Linda Perlstein moderated the discussion.

K-12 Summer Story Ideas

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:46:00 GMT

The Education Writers Association sponsored a brainstorming session on finding stories when school is out for the summer for K-12 reporters.

Baltimore Sun reporter/blogger John-John Williams IV moderated this discussion.

Tracking the Stimulus: Will Innovation Disappear in the Budget Shortfall?

Mon, 18 May 2009 19:29:00 GMT

The Ed Department released the first installment of education's $98 billion under the Stimulus in early April and the questions have started. Can states or counties cut back their own spending on education to patch a hole in the budget or avoid a tax increase? With a chunk of the funds allocated for existing programs, how will the Department or reporters know if funds are used for teacher effectiveness, work readiness and college completion, improving data systems and shoring up low-performing schools? Scott Palmer of the EducationCounsel, Michael Casserly of the Council of Great City Schools and Amy Wilkins of Education Trust, assess where funds will end up. USA Today's Greg Toppo moderates the forum.

Degree Quality: What U.S. College Graduates Should Know and Be Able To Do

Fri, 15 May 2009 18:37:00 GMT

Many U.S. universities are second to none, but the U.S. ranks 10th among other countries in the share of the population 25 to 34 year-olds with a college degree. Many students who start college fail to finish. As competition increases from other countries for share of top graduates and for future innovation, business and political leaders want greater productivity from higher education. What are our international rivals doing that we're not? Jamie Merisotis, president of Lumina Foundation for Education and MaryEllen McGuire, education program director of New America Foundation, discuss a new approach for improving quality, transfer rates and completion- the Bologna reforms affecting more than 16 million students in 46 countries.

2009 Martin Buskin Memorial Lecture Paul Tough

Fri, 15 May 2009 16:58:00 GMT

Paul Tough, author of "Whatever It Takes," and a New York Times Magazine editor, will describe the five years of research and interviews that went into the creation of his book, which focuses on Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children's Zone. The book chronicles how Canada started out with social service programs, created the Baby College, and started dreaming big about connecting social services with education. The zone went through some bumpy rides, especially the attempt to create a middle school, but seems on its way to major success.

Thinking Like a Freelancer

Thu, 14 May 2009 21:14:00 GMT

So your newspaper has cut its staff and you're one eof the victims. Or you see cutbacks in the future and want to prepare for the inevitable. Or you have a story to write that nobody's interested in publishing at your day job. So how do you go about freelancing? Experts offered advice on pitching ideas, shaking off newspaper habits to write analytically, and thinking broadly about the types of publications that might be interested in your skills. David McKay Wilson, formerly with the The Journal News in New York, is a successful freelancer; Scholastic editor Dana Truby, Kevin Carey of Education Sector, and Sue De Pasquale, who edits magazines for Johns Hopkins University, and Jane Karr, editor of the New York Times Education Life, all hire freelancers. They'll show you the ropes of what might be an interesting sideline, or your next career. This session was moderated by EWAâs public editor Linda Perlstein.

The Future of U.S. Education

Wed, 13 May 2009 21:03:00 GMT

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan is EWA's featured speaker who described the new administration's education plans for the next four years.

Exploring the Teacher Narrative

Wed, 1 Oct 2008 05:32:00 GMT

EWA's Public Editor Linda Perlstein, the author of two books chronicling a yea r at different schools, moderates this panel that explores how education reporters can enhance their reporting with artful writing. Joining the panel are New Orleans Times-Picayune reporter Sarah Carr, who recently published a series about a special education teacher's first year on the job, and Boston Globe reporter Tracy Jan who followed the principal and several students at English High School, which had one last chance to improve or face being shut down.

The reporters provide practical advice about reconstructing scenes they didn't witness, organizing their notes, writing a series over time and dealing with the potential fallout from sources who don't like the end result.

This panel was part of EWA's regional seminar on teacher quality, "Teaching to a New Nation," held Sept. 19-20 at Chicago Public Radio. About 35 reporters from across the country attended the seminar.

Teaching to a New Nation - Patricia Gandara

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:40:00 GMT

Patricia Gandara, co-director of UCLA's Civil Rights Project, spoke about the challenges in educating English language learners and immigrant students and important it is they succeed to the country's future.

She was the final speaker of the highlight session of "Teaching to a New Nation," EWA's regional seminar on teacher quality held Sept. 19-20 at Chicago Public Radio.

NPR's Claudio Sanchez moderated the panel which also included professor and author Gloria Ladson-Billings of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Sherrie Gahn, principal of Whitney Elementary in Las Vegas.

Teaching to a New Nation - Gloria Ladson-Billings

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:07:00 GMT

Gloria Ladson-Billings is a professor of education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an author of many works and an expert on the education of low-income and minority students.

She was the second speaker of the highlight session of "Teaching to a New Nation," EWA's regional seminar on teacher quality held Sept. 19-20 at Chicago Public Radio.

NPR's Claudio Sanchez moderated the panel which also included Patricia Gandara, co-director of the Civil Rights Project at UCLA, and Sherrie Gahn, principal of Whitney Elementary in Las Vegas.

Teaching to a New Nation - Sherrie Gahn

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:59:00 GMT

Sherrie Gahn, principal of Whitney Elementary School in Las Vegas, discussed the extreme measure she and teachers take to compensate for their students' troubled backgrounds and to help them learn.

Her school was recently featured in a story in the Las Vegas Sun.

She was the first speaker of the highlight session of "Teaching to a New Nation," EWA's regional seminar on teacher quality held Sept. 19-20 at Chicago Public Radio.

NPR's Claudio Sanchez moderated the panel which also included Patricia Gandara, co-director of the Civil Rights Project at UCLA, and professor and author Gloria Ladson-Billings of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Breaking the Mold: New Models in Teacher Prep

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:42:00 GMT

Author Donna Foote, whose most recent book "Relentless Pursuit" chronicled the professional lives of four Teach for America teachers at Locke High School in L.A., moderates this panel focused on the education of teachers. Thomas Lasley, dean of the University of Dayton's education school, and Michael Whitmore, representing Chicago's teacher residency program, round out the panel.

About 35 reporters from across the country attended the session, which was part of EWA's regional seminar "Teaching to a New Nation" held Sept. 19-20 at Chicago Public Radio.

How We Did the Story - Immigrant Students Struggle to graduate.

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 04:37:00 GMT

Dallas Morning News reporter Gary Jacobson and Adamson High School teacher Marcia Niemann discuss the paper's series, which chronicled the struggles of immigrant students to adjust to American high school, as part of EWA's regional seminar at Chicago Public Radio held Sept. 19-20. Claudio Sanchez from NPR moderated the panel, which was attended by about 35 journalists from across the country.

Merit Pay

mdadigan@ewa.org — Tue, 6 May 2008 14:51:00 GMT

Youâre hearing more advocacy of âpay for performanceâ for teachers. Others advocate merit pay. The panel will look at the nuances of the issue. Sabrina Laine, executive director of the National Comprehensive Center on Teacher Quality at Learning Point Associates, will offer an overview on the research and policymaking. Arne Duncan will describe Chicagoâs new efforts on that front. Randi Weingarten will discuss New York Cityâs foray, as well as the teacher union perspective. Margaret Bobb, a Denver Public Schools teacher, will give the in-the-trenches perspective about the Denver experience, both good and bad.

This panel was recorded during the Education Writers Association's annual meeting in Chicago April 24-26. Dallas Morning News Reporter Kent Fischer moderates.

Under-reported Stories in Higher Ed

Tue, 6 May 2008 13:04:00 GMT

Scott Jaschik, editor of Inside Higher Ed, and Travis Reindl of Jobs for the Future discuss unearthed story gems for reporters in the areas of accountability, the student debt and college costs.

This was recorded during the Education Writers Association's annual meeting in Chicago April 24-26.

College Sports: Boom or Bust for Higher Ed

mdadigan@ewa.org — Mon, 5 May 2008 22:53:00 GMT

Murray Sperber, professor emeritus from Indiana University; Kent Harnds of Benedictine College (Rock Island, IL); Fraidy Reiss, a reporter with the Asbury Park Press and Wallace Renfro, spokesman for the NCAA, discuss the negative and positive effects of athletics on higher education.

This panel was recorded as part of the Education Writers Association's annual meeting in Chicago April 24-26.

Hidden Costs of College

Mon, 5 May 2008 22:25:00 GMT

Economist Sandy Baum of Skidmore College, Luke Swarthout of US PIRG and David Baime of the American Association of Community Colleges discuss the many non-tuition costs, such as textbooks and housing, that drive students into debt and sometimes out of school.

This panel was recorded during the Education Writers Association's annual meeting in Chicago April 24-26.

Michelle Rhee

Mon, 5 May 2008 21:35:00 GMT

Michelle Rhee, Chancellor of the DC Public Schools, sat down with John Merrow to discuss her work revamping one of the nation's most troubled districts during the Education Writers Association's annual meeting in Chicago April 25.