Walk Like a Journalist- Workshop 1

Objectives: Students will be able to...

1. Analyze photographs from the Out of Eden Walk and articulate why they gravitate to certain photos

2. Explain the Out of Eden Walk

3. Explain what slow journalism is and how it is being used by Paul Salopek as part of the Out of Eden Walk

4. Explain the roles and responsibilities of a journalist

5. Articulate the goals of the "walk like a journalist" project

6. Brainstorm a list of questions for a journalist

Warm up:

1. Raise your hand if…

   
   

   1. You take photographs (what of?)

   2. You like to write

   3. You like to tell stories (made up or real)

There are people whose jobs it is to tell stories through writing and photography. Journalists! Journalists provide the news. Why do you think that is important?

2. Raise your hand if you get your news in the following ways:

   
   

   1. Magazines/newspapers

   2. Social media and internet

   3. People you know
      
       

3. The Pulitzer Center in an organization that supports journalists that report in all of the ways that are described above, but our focus is to specifically focus on supporting journalists that report on important issues around the world.
   
    

4. Investigating photos from the Out of Eden Walk, a Pulitzer Center-supported project:

   
   

   1. Look at the photos and note things you see.

   2. Consider:

      
      

      1. What do you think is happening in this photo?

      2. Where could this photo have been taken?

      3. Why do you think the journalist that took this photo thought this moment was important?

   3. Generate questions you have about the photos
      
       

5. Pick a favorite photo and look on the back to find out more information about it.

   
   

   1. A few volunteers will share what they find out from their photos.
      
       

6. Note the date on the back of the photo, and the place. Work as a class to place the photos in order by date. Look at the photos together. These photos were actually all taken by the same journalist as part of one project.

   
   

   1. Predict: Why would one journalist be taking all of these photos?

   2. Brainstorm: What questions do you have about this journalist and his project?

Introducing the Out of Eden Walk:

1. Meet Paul Salopek

   
   

   1. Watch the attached "Meet the Journalist" video from Paul and answer the questions attached. Here is a link to the video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mzDhqvQPqg

   2. Questions to consider as you watch the video:

1. What is the Out of Eden Walk?

2. What is slow journalism and how is Paul Salopek using it as part of this project?

2. Introducing Paul's milestones

   
   

   • Read the milestone description: http://www.outofedenwalk.com/milestones/ and then read the following milestones, noting how Paul engages all senses to notice a place slowly. Use the descriptions to identify connections Paul makes between what he sees and larger issues in the world. Be prepared to share why you think Paul included each of the following milestones:

   • Milestone 1 Herto Bouri:http://www.outofedenwalk.com/gallery/2013/01/milestone-1-herto-bouri/

   • Milestone 13 Bedouin Country:http://www.outofedenwalk.com/gallery/2013/09/milestone-13-bedouin-country/

   • Milestone 15 Shoreline:http://www.outofedenwalk.com/gallery/2013/10/milestone-15-shoreline/

   • Milestone 18 Displaced:http://www.outofedenwalk.com/gallery/2014/01/milestone-18-displaced/

   • Milestone 25 "Flocks": http://www.outofedenwalk.com/gallery/2014/10/milestone-25-flocks/

   • Milestone 29 "Crossroads":http://www.outofedenwalk.com/gallery/2015/10/milestone-29-crossroads/(Watch this video for a more detailed report on this milestone from PBS Newshour:http://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/journalist-goes-walk-around-world-find-story-humanity​

3. Introducing the project and the milestones

   
   

   1. Raise your hand if…

      
      

      1. You have reported before

      2. You have interviewed someone before

      3. You have been to Dupont Circle in Washington D.C.

      4. You have met a professional journalist before

2. You will be doing all of these things in preparation for your project this week. And tomorrow, the professional journalist you will meet is Allison Shelley
    

3. Review Allison's biography: http://pulitzercenter.org/people/allison-shelley

   
   

   1. Note her projects and the places she has been

   2. Example of Allison's work: http://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/caribbean-haiti-photos-earthquake-rebuilding-five-years-reconstruction

4. With a partner, brainstorm a list of questions for Allison. What could you ask that would help you with your project?

5. Share your list of questions with the class.

The two lessons that accompany this project will be made available soon. The project was created as part of a partnership with Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School. Click here to read more about the students' experience.