[Editors] MIT Editors' Club Minutes, November 2009

[Elizabeth Thomson]

MIT EDITORS' CLUB

*Meeting Notes from November 18, 2009*

I am always energized by these meetings. They cover such a wide range  
of interesting topics and people are so darn knowledgeable. This one  
was no exception. Many of us were surprised when told the hour was  
over.....

*A Bit O' History*

Fifteen Editors attended this meeting, prompting someone to ask how  
many people are in the group overall. Are you sitting down? (If not, I  
guess that would be a little odd.) Anyway, there are currently 191  
members of MIT Editors' Club. All of us are simply interested or  
involved in MIT communications.

No-one's quite sure when the group was originally formed, but it had  
to have been at least 25 years ago. The first chair of the group,  
which was initially quite small, was Beth Harding (then of MIT Sea  
Grant, I believe). Debbie Levey of Civil and Environmental  
Engineering, who is still at MIT in the same department, took over for  
several years, and I volunteered back in '94. Imagine this: Debbie,  
too, wrote minutes for each monthly meeting, but the technology wasn't  
quite there yet so she distributed them by good old-fashioned  
interdepartmental mail. When I took over, I asked if we could somehow  
use "new technology" to cut the time involved. Enter Robyn Fizz of  
IS&T, who told me about this strange thing called a listserv......and  
here we are.

*Reprint Policies?*

The New York Times recently published a story featuring MIT's Lean  
Advancement Initiative. Way cool! Nicolene Hengen, LAI membership and  
communications manager, wanted to post the article on the LAI web  
site, but found that it would cost $1,300 for unlimited downloads over  
six months--a tad too steep for her budget. How, she asked, have other  
Editors shared such articles with their constituents via the web?

Lisa Damtoft of MIT Medical suggested that Nicolene simply post a link  
to the story, if it is freely available. Also: both Lisa and Denise  
Brehm of Civil and Environmental Engineering said that she should try  
contacting the reporter or someone else on the editorial team.  
Sometimes they can get you the same service (e.g., unlimited  
downloads) for free. Lisa, who used to be the webmaster for the News  
Office, said that often media organizations are quite happy to do this  
for places like MIT.

*Inexpensive Video Training*

Judy Daniels of architecture and planning told the group about a "boot  
camp for documentary video" this January that some members might be  
interested in. It is through Mass Art, and costs $515. She suggested  
that you sign up SOON, however, as there are limited openings.

Another cool--and cheap!--way to get video training:public access  
television. Jennifer Schmitt, my colleague here in Resource  
Development,  says that you can join the station in your town for $55,  
and they'll not only let you borrow their video equipment, but also  
train you via a set of free classes.

*Music Policies?*

So you've created a fabulous video on your department. How do you  
incorporate music into it without bumping up against copyright laws?  
For example, said Judy, what if the video includes a clip, provided by  
a student, that includes a Beatles song in the background? Jennifer,  
who used to work for a lawyer's office, says that it should be just  
fine to use the clip. Fair use law covers music that's in the  
background, and is only heard for a short amount of time.

Lisa Damtoft noted that istockphoto now also includes video and sound  
that you can use once you subscribe to the service.

*Second Life*

Earlier this week I attended a conference through the Association of  
Fundraising Professionals. One of the talks involved--and I am not  
kidding you--fundraising in virtual environments, specifically Second  
Life. The old me would have sniffed at the topic. The new me--greatly  
influenced by members of this group--figured, "what the heck? It's new  
media. Why don't I attend?"

It really was pretty interesting. Apparently nonprofits *do* have a  
presence in Second Life and, in fact, are starting to reach out to  
alumni, donors, and others through this virtual world. The American  
Cancer Society actually put out a press release on their fundraising  
efforts with Second Life. See http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MED/content/MED_2_1x_American_Cancer_Society_Relay_For_Life_of_Second_Life_Marks_Milestone_Year_in_Virtual_World.asp?sitearea=MED

Are any of YOUR groups/departments/etc. on Second Life? No-one at this  
meeting was aware of an MIT presence, but I did find what I think is  
an MIT Alumni Association site....Am not sure, however, if it's  
"real"  :)


*THANK YOU*

A big Thank You to Carol Sardo of the Deshpande Center for  
Technological Innovation for booking the room for this meeting. I'll  
be contacting several of you to book rooms for 2010.

*Next Meeting*

The next meeting of MIT Editors' Club is Monday, Dec. 14, in N42-286.  
Many thanks to Robyn Fizz of Information Services and Technology for  
setting this up. Again, meetings are always from 12-1, and please feel  
free to bring a lunch.

Elizabeth

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Elizabeth A. Thomson
Associate Director of Communications
MIT Resource Development
Office of Communications
600 Memorial Dr., W98-300
617-258-5563, 857-756-9457
<thomson at mit.edu>, giving.mit.edu
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