Can journalism be Christian? In The Jesus Newspaper, Michael Ray Smith explores this idea in a case study where a clergyman took over a mainstream newspaper for one week and produced what he considered was the kind of news Jesus would print, if he were an editor. The newspaper was a sensation, but Smith reveals the danger in neglecting story telling in news.

The Jesus Newspaper: The Christian Experiment of 1900 and Its Lessons for Today

Politics & Social Sciences

Smith, Michael Ray

Philosophy

University Press of America

wral.com/lifestyles/travel/video/9430091/#/vid9430091smith@featurewriting.net Writer. Professor. Speaker. Michael Ray Smith is leading the new media charge at Campbell University with his work with online and multimedia using the Web. World Journalism Institute, Manhattan, named him the John McCandlish Phillips Scholar for 2011. Philips was the internationally-known reporter for The New York Times in the 1960s. The New Yorker has called McCandlish Phillips "legendary," "brilliant," and "more interested in the truth and texture of a story than in scoring a scoop."   His "FeatureWriting.Net" is used by colleges across the nation as multimedia guide.

Featurewriting.net

Social Sciences

Epistelogic

A Free Press in FreeHand: The Spirit of American Blogging in the Handwritten Newspapers of John McLean Harrington 1858-1869

This is the astonishing story of North Carolinian John McLean Harrington, a maverick journalist who in the years leading up to and during the Civil War handwrote up to one hundred copies of each issue of his own weekly and monthly newspapers. Harrington sought to &ldquo;sketch the world&rdquo; for the citizens of Harnett County, site of one of the last major Civil War battles. While cultural and military battle lines were drawn across the South, Harrington as postmaster (his messaging hub) &ldquo;blogged&rdquo; personally in longhand about everything from the plight of slaves to unrequited love, and from international relations to technology--all without the benefit of a printing press and free of editorial oversight. Harrington thereby became an outspoken dilettante journalist, a defender of freedom of the press, and arguably the first but certainly one of the most productive American bloggers long before the Internet. Includes illustrative maps, photos, newspaper transcripts, and an analysis of Harrington's handwriting by a master graphologist.

Edenridge Press

This is the astonishing story of North Carolinian John McLean Harrington, a maverick journalist who before and during the Civil War handwrote up to a hundred copies of each issue of his own various newspapers. As cultural and military battle lines were drawn across the South, Harrington, while postmaster in Harnett County, "blogged" in longhand about everything from the plight of slaves to unrequited love, international relations, and technology. He became an outspoken dilettante journalist, a defender of press freedom, and one of the nation's most productive longhand journalists. Includes photos and accompanying transcriptions of two complete issues of Harrington's papers. 
THE AUTHORS 
Michael Ray Smith, Ph.D., is an award-winning journalist, photographer, and author of many articles and five books, including "FeatureWriting.Net." He has been quoted in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, and Editor &amp; Publisher. He teaches at Campbell University -- a few miles from the book's setting. Roy Alden Atwood (Introduction) is president and senior fellow of New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, Idaho. Quentin J. Schultze (Preface) is the Arthur H. DeKruyter chair and professor of communication at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 
ENDORSEMENTS 
"Smith has unearthed a gem of media history." -- Dr. Stephen Perry, editor of "Mass Communication and Society" and Professor of Communication, Illinois State U 
"Thoroughly analyzes the context within which journalism's version of 'John Henry' was played out with nary a witness. Harrington's character is revealed humanly with neither romanticism nor cynicism." -- Dr. Richard K. Olsen, Chair, Communication Studies, U of North Carolina, Wilmington 
"A well-researched and well-written story of a little-known but compelling aspect of the history of journalism, an ode to handwriting as a unique form of communication and a fascinating case study." -- Dr. Elliot King, Professor of Communication, Loyola U Maryland 
"Smith explores Harrington the reporter, poet, political commentator, and wit, illuminating a corner of Civil War era North Carolina that few have visited." -- Dr. John P. Ferre', Associate Dean of Arts &amp; Sciences, U of Louisville 
"Smith's careful reading of North Carolina's freehand publisher extends our understanding of how the news got out in a time of unparalleled national peril." -- Dr. Bruce J. Evensen, Director, MA in Journalism Program, DePaul U 
"This wonderfully written story captures Harrington as a citizen journalist, aggregator, poet, politico, and scribe. It will be of lively interest to historians of communication, newspapers, the Civil War, and Southern culture." -- Dr. James T. Hamilton, Charles S. Sydnor Professor of Public Policy, and Director, DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy, Duke U 
"A fascinating and comprehensively documented discussion of North Carolina newspapers handwritten by a maverick, Civil War era journalist. Smith perceptively analyzes the underappreciated value of print journalism without a printing press." -- Dr. Douglas S. Campbell, Lock Haven U of PA, author "The Supreme Court and the Mass Media" and "Free Press v. Fair Trial" 
"Highly readable and reveals a part of American journalism that needs to come to light. Harrington's free press shows the spirit of a vibrant medium with the power to shape America's future." -- Dr. Dennis E. Hensley, Director, Professional Writing Division, Taylor U 
"The book shows that Harrington's papers are an early form of blogging and New Journalism which involved the readers in bridging the oral and literary traditions in the two-year prelude to the Civil War." -- Dr. Paul Alfred "Alf" Pratte, Emeritus Professor of Journalism, Brigham Young U

7 Days to a Byline that Pays explains how to tell stories that audiences will read and editors will pay you to write. Delivered In a breezy and compact manner, this book will help you work fast, smart and get paid for your work. 
Take it from Pulitzer winning journalist Manny Garcia: "Smith has successfully culled the best ideas from colleagues and published a book that is essential reading for anyone who wants to succeed in journalism. It's creative, clear, fun and Timeless. He hits all the fundamentals." 
7 Days also includes top ideas from reporters who cover the arts, writers in public relations, web page content creators, religion writers and others who work in both international broadcasting and journalism. Their ideas will take your opus from the valley of despair to the road of royalties and make your words weapons of mass instruction.

7 Days to a Byline That Pays

Straight Street Books

By now, you have tried your hand at writing either as a blogger or a freelance writer or someone who is writing for free just to have the opportunity to earn a byline. You have desire and some natural talent and all you need is encouragement and instruction. As you seek out a mentor or a writing group, consider reading all that you can on writing well. This short guide will help you think through some standard articles that publishers, particularly magazines, would consider if you can provide a novel angle. This beginner’s guide will walk you through some crucial ethical considerations, a formula for writing that works and specific ideas that will give your article flair. Packed with solid advice, interesting examples and useful exercises. Particularly valuable is the huge list of story ideas .. sure to spark an idea in any creative mind. ~ Doug Trouten, journalism professor, Northwestern College, and FORMER director of a 400-magazine association.

The ABC List of Feature Ideas

Reference

Writing, Research & Publishing Guides

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas

This book is your secret weapon to writing articles and blogs that pay. 7 Days to a Byline that Pays explains how to tell stories that audiences will read and editors will pay you to write. Delivered in a breezy and compact manner, this book will help you work fast, smart, and get paid for your work. Find freelance writing success and freelance writing jobs with the tools provided in this book. "I've worked with writers and editors across the country to compress the salient points in an easy-to-grasp approach that you can tackle," says author, Michael Ray Smith. "I'm convinced you can accomplish your goal of writing a salable article in seven days by using the ideas in this book."

7 Days to a Byline that Pays

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Smith, Michael Ray. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Smith, Michael Ray

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Smith, Michael Ray. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Jesus Newspaper: The Christian Experiment of 1900 and Its Lessons for Today

Featurewriting.net

A Free Press in FreeHand: The Spirit of American Blogging in the Handwritten Newspapers of John McLean Harrington 1858-1869

A Free Press in FreeHand: The Spirit of American Blogging in the Handwritten Newspapers of John McLean Harrington 1858-1869

7 Days to a Byline That Pays

The ABC List of Feature Ideas

7 Days to a Byline that Pays