Phoebe Zerwick - Teachers Make a Difference - Dick Blood

The transcript recounts the impactful teaching of Dick Blood, a journalism professor at Columbia University. Known for his demanding style, Blood emphasized the importance of human stories in journalism. The narrator shares a personal experience covering a case about Rikers Island, where Blood's feedback led to a deeper understanding of storytelling. The lesson learned was to capture the human element, even in stories about prominent figures. Blood's teachings, including the importance of going the extra mile, have left a lasting impression on the narrator's journalism career.

What was the significance of headlines in the Daily News according to Dick Blood?

• They were used to attract a working-class audience.

• They were meant to confuse readers.

• They were irrelevant to the newspaper's success.

• They were only important for online articles.

How did Dick Blood's teaching style reflect his experience as a city editor?

• He ran the class like a newsroom.

• He focused on theoretical knowledge.

• He emphasized digital journalism.

• He avoided giving practical assignments.

What was the main issue with the narrator's initial profile assignment?

• It was too short.

• It lacked a human story.

• It focused too much on the judge's personal life.

• It was full of grammatical errors.

What did Dick Blood suggest the narrator do to improve their profile assignment?

• Focus on the legal aspects of the case.

• Rewrite the entire assignment.

• Interview the judge's wife or barber.

• Interview the judge's colleagues.

What did the narrator learn from interviewing Judge Lasker's wife?

• The judge's career achievements.

• The judge's political views.

• The judge's personal challenges and human side.

• The judge's favorite hobbies.

What lesson did Dick Blood emphasize about journalism?

• Avoid personal interviews.

• Focus on sensational stories.

• Tell human stories about people.

• Always meet deadlines.

How did Dick Blood's teachings influence the narrator's career?

• They avoided human interest stories.

• They ignored deadlines.

• They focused on digital journalism.

• They consistently went the extra mile in reporting.