SEEK Students’ Newsletter

Fall 2012 SEEK Student Newsletter Officers:

, Student Writer

, Student Writer

, Student Writer

, Student Writer

Grethel Samuel, S. I Advisor

Aneesa Hussain,  S. I. Advisor

Elizabeth Arestyl, S.I Advisor

Marie-Ann Saldanha, Tutor

N. Blackman-Richards, Faculty Advisor

Purpose: The Purpose of  The SEEK Student Newsletter is to disseminate information that will assist students in their search for education, elevation and  knowledge (SEEK).

Club Meeting Dates and Topics for Spring 2013:

 

Writing Rules:

While the newsletter is SEEK based, writers need to also focus on the Queens College campus and the City University of New York as the wider circle to which all SEEK students also belong.

• The SEEK Newsletter is Student-centered and student run. A SEEK Supplemental Instructor serves as an advisor and general editor and the Office of the SEEK Academic Coordinator oversees the project and its collaborations.

•  Writers of our newsletter must be objective! Here are three rules in being an objective writer; these rules are from Deborah Ng’s article: 3 Tips for Being a Truly Objective Freelance Writer:

Keep Your Emotions in Check

(1.) An objective writer has passion but keeps emotion and personal point of view in check. Anyone offering an honest or balanced point of view will always show all sides of a story. An objective report doesn’t have an angry tone, nor is it continuously rosy. A balanced point of view is exactly that, balanced. It’s hard to be fair when you’re mad at a company for a particular reason or if you don’t like one of the people behind the company. It’s also hard to be fair if you’re “objectively” pitching a product or service.

The above applies to past articles as well. For example if you regularly write about Evil Company X and discuss how they’re against everything you stand for and you will never recommend anyone work for them, you can’t turn around and say, “well today I’m going to give an objective point of view about Evil Company X.” That doesn’t fly and your readers won’t buy it. Moreover, if you’re going to write a “balanced” negative piece in a magazine article and then a really one-sided angry piece on your blog about the same topic, you’re playing with your credibility.

Keep Your Agenda in Check

(2.) If you’re selling something, you’re probably not the right person to give a balanced point of view. If you hate something with a passion, you’re probably not the right person to give an objective point of view. Plus, if the only people you quote or interview are the people who share your point of view, your agenda is made obvious. If you stated your displeasure for Evil Topic Y on a regular basis, you can’t come back and say, “but today’s article is different because I’m going to be objective.” How can you possibly show objectivity about a topic you’re so negative about every other time? No one will buy it. Transparency is one thing, but no one can be objective after previously expressing dissatisfaction with a particular company, product, service or person.

Keep Your Bandwagon in the Parking Lot

(3.) Is this you, “Hey…this topic brings in mega-traffic. If I link to this blogger or piggy back on his topic not only will I get the traffic, but I’ll get the comments too. If I give it a really negative slant, we can have a really cool free for all.” Unfortunately, bandwagon traffic is short-lived and those 60 comment posts are few and far between. If you’re only jumping on negative topics for the traffic your community will get bored, especially if it’s not a topic you delve into on a regular basis anyway. Most readers can spot a bandwagon jumper right away. There’s no way you can expect to be fair and objective when your obvious goal is to bring in traffic with negativity.

Bloggers aren’t always known for their objectivity. Most of us make no bones about how we feel and that’s why our community visits us every day. However, if you’re going to claim to be fair and balanced, make sure you don’t leave a breadcrumb trail back to your agenda.

Link: http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2009/11/3-tips-for-being-a-truly-objective-freelance-writer/