Message From EWA's Public Editor 

Looking for a source on superintendent searches? Having trouble getting access to public records – or a public campus? Want to brainstorm about fresh ways to cover familiar education topics? I’m here for you!

Seriously.

As EWA’s public editor, the opportunity to provide one-on-one assistance to reporters is probably the best part of my job. Whether you are on deadline or looking ahead to a long-term project, I’m glad to help.

If I don’t have the answers you’re looking for, I’ll do my best to connect you with the person who does. Keep in mind some of the best resources you can tap are your colleagues, which is why we encourage you to share ideas on Ed Media Commons. If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s easy and free. Click here.

In addition to quick links to EWA research briefs and the latest education news, Ed Media Commons is where you will also find our “Five Questions” series. These are on-the-record conversations with education researchers, newsmakers and journalists. Feel free to use them as a jumping off point for your own reporting. If you come across someone particularly interesting you think we should be talking to, please let me know.

You can follow my daily blog, The Educated Reporter, where I highlight examples of strong reporting, and offer perspective on the ever-changing landscape of the education beat: http://www.educatedreporter.com.  I’m also tweeting @EWAEmily.

For one-on-one help, email me at erichmond@ewa.org, or call (202) 452-9830. I look forward to hearing from you!

With warm regards,

Emily Richmond
EWA Public Editor

Deciding Diversity: The Supreme Court Reconsiders Affirmative Action
Thursday, March 22
1 p.m.
Register

This fall, the U.S. Supreme Court will take on the issue of affirmative action in college admissions for the first time since 2003. The plaintiff in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin argues that her race was the deciding factor when she was denied admission to the school. Regardless of the outcome, this case will have major consequences for schools around the country for years to come.

To examine the impact the ruling might have, EWA's upcoming webinar, Deciding Diversity: The Supreme Court Reconsiders Affirmative Action, will feature two veteran education journalists who will discuss Fisher, the history of affirmative action in higher ed, and the key points of this story education reporters need to understand. Scott Jaschik, editor of Inside Higher Ed, will talk about the case's effect on post-secondary admissions, while Mark Walsh, Ed Week's veteran Supreme Court reporter, will focus on the stories K-12 reporters should think about.

Click here to register!

Check Out What's New on Latino Ed Beat

”I’m not running because I’m undocumented,” said Jose Luis Zelaya, as he campaigned to become student body president of Texas A&M University. “I’m running because I’m an Aggie.” His story and other issues involving the education of Hispanic students are covered every week on Latino Ed Beat.

Blogger Katherine Unmuth, a former Dallas Morning News reporter, has also recently written about expanding dual language programs in Texas, the transfer rates for Latino and black students in California community colleges, and the increasing numbers of Hispanic students in the Chicago suburbs. The website is part of the New Journalism on Latino Children (NJLC) project, which offers fresh viewpoints and evidence on Latino children and their schools. Check it out!

Get Smart on Teacher Issues

If teachers affect student learning more than any other factor in schools, how are we doing at recruiting, training, and retaining the best? How can we tell if teachers are effective? Should they be paid for performance? How much should experience count?

These are just some of the questions explored in the totally revamped teachers section of EWA’s online Resource Center. To help you get smarter on the issues, we’ve assembled reports, news stories, research, and other information under three subtopics: teacher effectiveness, evaluations, and the pipeline into the field. Click here to access all three and get up to speed—fast.

Registration Now OPEN For EWA's 65th National Seminar

Learning From Leaders: What Works for Stories and Schools will take place May 17-19, 2012, in Philadelphia. An estimated 250 reporters, authors, producers, editors, researchers, bloggers, and others will gather for three days of in-depth discussions, site visits, newsmaker speeches, and interactive workshops on education and its coverage. Winners of the National Awards for Education Reporting will be honored at the event, and the winner of the contest's grand prize will be announced. EWA's flagship conference is being co-hosted by the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education and the American Educational Research Association. As ever, the event will be tailored to meet the unique needs and interests of journalists who cover education at all levels.

Click here to register. For sponsorship and advertisement opportunities, please contact Stephanie Cvetetic at scvetetic@ewa.org. We will be unveiling the agenda by March 15.

Catch Up With Past EWA Events!

Did you know we have wrap-ups of every EWA seminar and conference on EWA.org? Stop by our Tips from Past Events section for links to blog items, videos, and relevant news stories drawn from events like our 2011 Teacher Evaluation Seminar and Higher Education Seminar. And be sure to stop by our Webinars page to watch any of our recent online training sessions.