A Perfect Storm

Lucinda Roy, author of No Right to Remain Silent: The Tragedy at Virginia Tech, believes that education is heading to a perfect storm. Although she said she was warned not to write the book, she did so because “I believe we have to speak openly if we are to prevent these tragedies.”

Roy shared her comments during Virginia Press Women’s fall conference when she was honored as its Newsmaker of the Year.

Roy lists 10 reasons why education is heading to a perfect storm —

1) Shortage of teachers

2) Lack of mental treament facilities for students

3) Accessibility to gun and bomb making information on the Internet

4) Mental illness and suicidal tendencies in students

5) Non-teacherly focus of presidents, deans, who have not taught

6) Pop culture exposure to excessive violence

7) Growing divide that separates youth culture and adult culture

8) Prevalence of bullying in K-12

9) Rise in alcohol, drug abuse

10) Open campuses with littel security

She wrote the book because “We have to speak out,” she said. “We can’t let it happen again.”

VPW’s Newsmaker: Lucinda Roy

Virginia Press Women honored Lucinda Roy as its Newsmaker of the Year during its fall conference. Roy, author of No Right to Remain Silent: The Tragedy at Virginia Tech and herself an alumni distinguished professor at Virginia Tech, said she liked to think of herself as “a cross between Mary Poppins and Tina Turner.”

She moved into creative non-fiction because of the tragedy at Virginia Tech, which she said was not an anomaly. “There are many other disturbed people like him,” Roy said.

Writing the book was difficult. She spoke out before the tragedy and in the aftermath. The result is that some people are angry at her and won’t talk to her. “We have to speak out,” Roy said matter of factly when she accepted the award. “We can’t let it happen again.”

She shared how she contacted everyone from police to counselors to the office of student affairs. “I was worried that the information would remain in a pocket so I contacted everyone,” she said. She believes they tried their best but that they were constrained by policy – that of student privacy.

Roy wrote the book because she believes the tragedy at Virginia Tech could happen again.

Next time: Roy believes education is heading to a perfect storm. Why?

NFPW — A Reason to Be Thankful

I’ve been a member of NFPW now for a bit more than 20 years, which is hard to believe. I’m thankful for that relationship.

As you consider whether to renew your membership, recruit new members or join us, here are some reasons why NFPW is worth it and why I am so thankful for it —

1) Professional development: The national and state conferences and workshops expose me to the latest in communications and put me in touch with some of the best in the business.

2) Networking: As noted above, I’m meeting people from all aspects of the communications field. When I reach out later to them for advice, they’re always happy to help.

3) Friendships: I don’t know of any other professional group where I have developed such close friendships. I look forward to catching up each year at conferences. And now through Facebook, we’re communicating more regularly. How fun!

4) Pre- and post-tours: Each year the NFPW conference is hosted by a different state affiliate. It’s a great way to see the country because the affiliate always offers tours. I enjoy learning about a state as told by someone who knows where to visit.

I could keep going, but I won’t because I’ve got to start cooking for the big day. Just know that I will be saying thanks for NFPW!

Do You Have a Minute?

clockIf only people would ask me that question. Instead, they pop into my office to share ideas, ask for feedback and, sometimes, because they simply want to chat. It’s partly my fault as I have an open door policy, and I have many people reporting to me directly and indirectly.

I have so many interruptions, though, that I am not able to efficiently complete my work, and it’s frustrating me.

I realize I need to manage my time better so I shared with my boss. She provided me with some research she had found on the topic.

The irony? She interrupted me to deliver it! (We did both chuckle about it, but still….)

To manage interruptions, try the following:

1)      Assign specific times for an open-door policy

2)      Require staff that if they have problems, they should also bring proposed solutions

3)      Track interruptions to see if there are patterns

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to work.

Clear Writing Highlights Strong Writing

You know what your messages are, but what can you do to be sure you are writing clearly?

Here are four quick tips:highlighter%20pen%20bmp

1)      Use short sentences and short paragraphs.

2)      Avoid jargon.

3)      Avoid having more than three prepositional phrases in a sentence.

4)      Use active voice.

When I work with writers they often think they are already doing this. Then I make them take out highlighters or colored pens. First, I ask them to highlight any sentence that is longer than one and a half lines. Next, I ask them to count how many sentences are in each paragraph and write that beside the paragraph.

With another highlighter they have to mark the prepositions. Any sentence that has three or more requires a rewrite. Another color is used to highlight every verb and then circle those which are passive. Again, those that are passive require a rewrite.

This exercise is frustrating for many, but once you begin doing it, you’ll find that your writing quickly improves and your editors will love your work.