Archive for the ‘Welcome’ Category

Hey, y’all. “Research Party Central” is back in the building!

January 20th, 2018 by Jack

Welcome to “The Craft of Research,” the official research blog for the Spring 2018 Craft class of Susan Farkas and Kayle Hope. It’s the spot for research lessons, handouts, news, tips and whatever else comes up during the semester, including links to your work.

My name is Jack Styczynski and I’m a researcher at NBC News. I previously taught at the J-school from 2008 to 2013 before leaving to serve two years as a Tulane VISTA at Youth Rebuilding New Orleans. Along with AmeriCorps and the Big Easy, I love basketball (both playing and writing about) and hitting the dance floor, so if you want to get on my good side, you know what topics to raise. ?

Here’s to a great spring semester!

Enjoying beautiful flora at the front desk of Youth Rebuilding New Orleans.

Enjoying beautiful flora at the front desk of Youth Rebuilding New Orleans.

Bonjour, broadcast crafters

January 27th, 2013 by Jack

Welcome (and for some, welcome back) to “The Craft of Research,” the official research blog for the Spring 2013 Broadcast Craft class of Susan Farkas.  It’s the spot for research lessons, handouts, news, tips and whatever else comes up during the semester, including links to your work.

For example, I know Anna Teregulova, Mathilde Hamel and (especially) Aine Pennello were busy during the break.

My name is Jack Styczynski and I’m completing my fifth year as a research adjunct at the J-school.  My full professional story is here.  Outside of work, I’m obsessed with Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Katrina (yes, still) relief and recovery.  In fact, I love everything New Orleans and just attended a Big Easy band’s blowout Friday night at Stage 48 here in Manhattan.

Who dat!  (Research it if y’all don’t know.)

With Project Homecoming's Team Chatham last month before a RARE Saints shutout.

With Project Homecoming's Team Chatham last month before a RARE Saints shutout.

Hello, newcomers…this is research party central!

August 25th, 2012 by Jack

Welcome to “The Craft of Research,” the official research blog for the Fall 2012 Craft I class of David Lewis and Ellen Tumposky. It’s the spot for research lessons, handouts, assignments, news, tips and whatever else comes up during the semester.

My name is Jack Styczynski and this is my fifth year as a research adjunct at the J-school. If you desire a full résumé, click here.

Outside of work, I’m a huge college hoop-head and unabashed New Orleans Saints fan.  (Bounty system?  Too bad it didn’t work.  Saints defense couldn’t kill an ant.)

In fact, I love everything New Orleans, from the Saints to the food to the music.

I’m also more than happy to groove to gospel, disco or classic soul.

Now get ready for a barrel of fun! In short order, you’ll begin to grasp the vast power of research.

Laugh track: I often joke that I’m “a Little House on the Prairie kind of guy stuck in a Sex and the City world,” and here I am sporting my 19th century finest…

With former J-school research adjunct Barbara Oliver at Party Like It's 1899 in May.

With former J-school research adjunct Barbara Oliver at Party Like It's 1899 in May.

Greetings and salutations

January 30th, 2012 by Jack

Welcome (and for some, welcome back) to “The Craft of Research,” the official research blog for the Spring 2012 Broadcast Craft class of Marc Kusnetz and Susan Farkas. It’s the spot for research lessons, handouts, news, tips and whatever else comes up during the semester, including links to your work.

For example, I know Evan Buxbaum, Sarah Pizon, Martin Burch and (especially) Minty Grover have been busy during the past month.

My name is Jack Styczynski, and this is my eighth semester teaching at the J-school. When I’m not here, I’m a researcher at NBC and the New York Times. My full professional story is here. Personally, I love college hoops, everything New Orleans, gospel (disco!) music and the spring semester…because there are no beat memos!

Let’s get back to work!

On duty in Studio 3A at NBC, home of MSNBC dayside programming.

On duty in Studio 3A at NBC, home of MSNBC dayside programming.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

August 26th, 2011 by Jack

Welcome to “The Craft of Research,” the official research blog for the Fall 2011 Craft I class of David Lewis and Ellen Tumposky.  It’s the spot for research lessons, handouts, assignments, news, tips and whatever else comes up during the semester.

My name is Jack Styczynski and this is my fourth year here as a research adjunct.  If you need to know all my bona fides, click here.

Otherwise, get ready for a ton of fun!  In short order, you’ll begin to grasp the vast power of research.

Now for a bit of what’s been going on in my domain since I last posted… (more…)

Greetings, intro, etc.

January 31st, 2011 by Jack

Welcome (and for some, welcome back) to “The Craft of Research,” the official research blog for the Spring 2011 Broadcast Craft class of John Schiumo and Marc Kusnetz.  It’s the spot for research lessons, handouts, news, tips and whatever else comes up during the semester.

My name is Jack Styczynski, and while this marks my sixth semester teaching research at the J-school, it’s my first in Broadcast Craft.  I couldn’t be more excited about the new assignment!

When I’m not here, I’m a researcher at NBC and the New York Times.  If you’re interested in more career details, click here.  One thing you’ll probably notice is that I’m a big college hoop-head.

Despite the fact I make a living as an online searcher, you may also notice past readings posted here and even my humorous Christmas post demonstrate a concern for the effects computers are having on us.  Matt Richtel of the Times often makes me feel old and feeds my fear.  For example, he shows why I worry about our brains on computers and why I don’t own a mobile phone.

Speaking of my concern with computers and stuff I’ve read in recent months, should we now fret about technology making some journalists obsolete? Or will Patch save us all?

This is tech! On my bike at the train station. No cell? No car since '95 either.

This is tech! On my bike at the train station. No cell? No car since '95 either.

Anyway, enough about me and my technology nightmares. I note that a few of you were busy during the break. Nathan Frandino had a story in the Daily News about Coptic Christians in Queens mourning a loss. Laura Shin had several bylines for OurTownNY. And Annais Morales had New York Post stories here, here, here, here, here, here and here, continuing her quest to be known as the hardest working woman in the biz. Either that or she’s addicted to getting love on this blog.

Research bonus: The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey now includes the first ever 5-year estimates from 2005-2009, and the New York Times has made some nice use of them.  On the subject of demographics, Social Explorer now has an excellent database of religion statistics right down to the PUMA level. We will be digging into Census and demographic numbers this semester.

Bookmark this site!

August 26th, 2010 by Jack

Welcome to “The Craft of Research,” the official research blog for the Fall 2010 Craft I class of Steve Strasser and Prue Clarke.  It’s the spot for research lessons, handouts, assignments, news, tips and whatever else comes up during the semester.  In short order, you’ll begin to grasp the vast power of research. 

My name is Jack Styczynski, and this is my third year at the J-school, my 16th as a news researcher and my 25th collecting paychecks from the media.  Although I usually stick to business, in my spare time I enjoy rebuilding New Orleans (photo below), Cajun cookin’ and rooting for the Super Bowl champion Saints.  I’m also an unrepentant college hoop-head and I still haven’t retired from playing ball either.

See you soon!

Working on the home of Polly Waring in Mid-City New Orleans.

Working on the home of Polly Waring in Mid-City New Orleans.

Welcome to Craft II–The Research Wing

January 28th, 2010 by Jack

My name is Jack Styczynski and this is my fourth semester teaching research in Craft classes–my second with Rebecca Leung and first with David Lewis.  If you’re interested in my professional background, click here.  Personally, I’m a big New Orleans Saints fan (WHO DAT!) and a huge college hoop-head.

The primary purpose of this blog is to give you online access to my lesson material from class.  But you’ll also want to check in frequently for posts on my most recent research discoveries, such as the All Things Census blog, Databases and E-Journals from the New York State Library and the Listorious directory of Twitter accounts.

You’ll also see me spreading the love for some of your latest published work, such as that by Liza Eckert and Andrea Swalec this month, and Vishal PersaudJordan Shakeshaft and Erica Soto in December.

Welcome back, and see you soon!

Welcome to “The Craft of Research”

August 29th, 2009 by Jack

This is the official research blog for Rebecca Leung’s Fall 2009 section of Craft I.  You’ll also find posts from the past when it served the same function for Craft sections taught by Steve Strasser and Tim Harper.  It’s the spot for research handouts, assignments, news, tips and whatever else comes up during the semester.

My name is Jack Styczynski and this is my second year as a Research Adjunct at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.  Pretty much everything you’d want to know about my career in the news media biz can be found here.

Personally, I love basketball, New Orleans and gospel music, both classic and contemporary. If you still need to know more, you can peep last year’s welcome message.

Check in often.  And welcome to the J-school!  Talk soon.

Some interesting stuff I read between semesters

January 23rd, 2009 by Jack

Welcome to the official research blog for Steve Strasser’s section of Craft II, everyone.  (And for a couple of you, welcome back.)  I thought you might be interested in some stuff I read between semesters.

Poynter Online had a couple of good stories this week on journalists’ Facebook pages and developing ethics guidelines for journalists using social networking tools.  This is worthwhile follow-up material to some of the related readings I posted last semester.

There’s also some news about the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.  The New York Times stories here and here explain it pretty well.  The upshot is, now you can get recent Census bureau stats for more and smaller communities (as small as 20,000 people) rather than having to go back to the year 2000 numbers.  We’ll talk more about it during a Census research lesson this semester.

Speaking of the New York Times, did you see this story in New York magazine?  With all the bad news about the journalism profession these days, it’s nice to have a little good news, at least for cybergeeks.

Oh yeah, about me?  As my colleagues at the Times and NBC will attest, I’m a bit of a geek myself.  And a hoop-head.  For more, here’s my welcome message from last semester.

Talk soon.