Tuesday through Saturday, she covers events, meetings and other happenings in Franklin County—everything from sexual misconduct allegations to graduations, fires, government meetings and fundraisers. “If it happens, I cover it,” Shelby says. “It’s such a wild ride and I wouldn’t have it any other way!”

On Fridays, Shelby is the Recorder’s night reporter, covering any breaking news and checking the district court for interesting arraignments. Being the only reporter on Saturdays means she ends up writing about fun festivals as well as tragic breaking news. She also writes two articles for the features page each month and especially enjoys when she gets to write about horses.

“This isn’t a 9-to-5 job,” Shelby says.

On election night, Shelby remained at the office from noon to 2 a.m.; she compared the experience to a sleepover—in the newsroom. “Hanging out with all the others, watching the television as the numbers came in, and us all working toward the same mission—it was a great bonding experience for us,” Shelby says.

Shelby interned with Janice in the Spring of 2015 through the University of Massachusetts Amherst, while pursuing a journalism degree. She wrote feature articles for The Daily Hampshire Gazette, developed skills in writing press releases and using WordPress; it all helped get her foot in the door at the newspaper.

Shelby continues to work as an editorial assistant with Janice, writing blogs, helping with select client projects and overseeing the Beetle Press and The Creative newsletters.

Now, as The Recorder’s North County reporter, Shelby covers “anything that happens in Northfield, Leyden, Warwick and Bernardston, as well as the Pioneer Valley Regional School District’s five schools.

Shelby emphasizes the importance of having good time management skills and a handle on her calendar and address book. She acknowledges that it’s hard to just work 40 hours each week and finds herself thinking about her job even when she isn’t there.

Shelby is learning continuously, anything from writing attention-grabbing headlines and leads and reasoning behind certain choices of words and use of detail. She wishes she learned as an undergrad about the resources available to journalists, such as free police scanner apps.

She advises journalism students to develop their listening and note-taking skills rather than relying solely on recordings “because in the real world, there is no way you’re going to have the time to go back later and play back your recording and transcribe it on a 4 p.m. deadline.”

She’s also learned about how editors measure stories by column inches, not word counts, how to adjust the settings on her camera to account for florescent lighting, and that you aren’t ever going to please everyone.

Shelby attributes part of her success to interning with Janice.  “She is such a valuable connection to have, and a beautiful person to know,” Shelby says.

Shelby enjoys covering small town news and sees that part of her work is immersing herself in the community. She says, “It’s an amazing thing to walk into a town meeting and know half the people in the room by name. That’s when you know you’re doing your job right.”

The post Shelby Ashline’s (Other) Dream Job appeared first on Beetle Press.

After interviewing a homeless man some time ago, for instance, Rob clearly saw that the man was a skilled worker, but because he spoke very little English, it was difficult for him to find a job. Rob helped push for the creation of a Spanish-language navigator position in Jamestown, New York, to help those who were primarily Spanish-speaking get connected with different job training assistance programs, temp agencies and other social services.

“It was just one of those things that we worked really hard on, and, in the end, it made an impact and is something that still helps people hundreds of miles away from where I currently am today,” Rob says.

Now, Rob is the assistant managing editor at The Republican, in charge of the photography department and implementing the best digital practices regarding the online news efforts.

Since his hiring in 2010, Rob has also covered crime and politics for the daily paper in Springfield, Massachusetts. He’s met many influential politicians, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren. When the White House asked him to be the press pool reporter for a fundraising event in Springfield for President Obama’s re-election campaign, he also met First Lady Michelle Obama.

Rob receives dozens of press releases every week—including ours—and he agrees with us that press releases are an efficient way to let a newspaper know what is happening in your business or organization.

“Newsrooms are changing and people are looking to do more with fewer people,” he says. “Write your press release like a good piece of journalism, and you’re much more likely to have someone pick it up and do something with it.”

Rob outlined these reasons for sending a press release: A noteworthy hiring, a landmark anniversary, a unique movement that sets a business apart from its competitors and community philanthropy.

When constructing and sending out a press release, Rob offers the following advice:

Make a personal connection. Take the time to connect with the people in the news market that you are trying to reach. This makes your press release more than just a random message from a stranger in the editor’s inbox.

Meaningful subject line. Give the editor a reason to open the email instead of just deleting it. Make it clear why your message matters.

No frilly language. Don’t use over-the-top, self-flattering language about yourself or your company. Instead, be clear and to the point, and your press release will speak for itself on the importance of what you are promoting.

Include critical information. Be sure to include the who, what, when, where, why, and how of your news. Nothing is worse than receiving a press release for an event that doesn’t include a date or location.

Consider the media outlet. Different media outlets have different needs when it comes to press releases. Print and online news organizations plan further out for publications, while television wants to know what is going on that day. It is important to know your audience and how your efforts will best serve them.

Note: In the photo, Rob reports for The Republican and CBS 3 Springfield at a President Obama event in 2013. Photo by Michael S. Gordon/The Republican.

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