D. Colwell

29/04/2025

As a university writing instructor, it niggles me when my students say they don't read. In my latest post, I examine how we focus less when reading digital text, and why I still see writing as relevant. All comments welcome--I'm curious what you think! Read more: https://wix.to/lLTQxJI hashtag hashtag

I teach journalistic writing at university, and if I’m honest, I feel slightly depressed. Because writing seems increasingly old school. Of course, people still read. But just not for long. We scan headlines, posts, captions, glib advertisements and maybe, just maybe, read half a paragraph before ...

19/03/2025

This week, my media students at the University of Groningen are learning to express their opinions, which has made me think about the often-blurred lines of facts in media. Discover some of my musings here and let me know what you think: https://wix.to/hlMouRR hashtag hashtag

This week, my students at the University of Groningen are writing an opinion piece, a fun assignment that lets them voice their views openly, but with evidence, like joining a debate team. No longer restricted by stiff academic writing, they are being encouraged to share their perspective and stimul...

06/03/2025

Aletta Jacobs, a pivotal figure in the feminist movement, continues to inspire modern-day activists. Discover her contributions to women's rights in my latest post, in honor of March 8, International Women's Day: https://wix.to/seOvIHM hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag 'sday hashtag

On busy days in Groningen, it’s easy to walk past the small bust of Aletta Jacobs facing the Harmonie building on the Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat. Several times a year, dozens of flowers lay at its foot, dedicated to a woman who achieved a string of firsts: Jacobs was the first Dutch woman to attend...

11/02/2025

My latest blog post for those interested:

Constructive Journalism's Great Potential: Discover how positive reporting can reshape the way news is perceived and consumed in our digital age. Read the full article: https://wix.to/CLKZCAJ hashtag hashtag

Everyone knows the internet and social media have continually impacted journalism, which struggles to capture the public’s attention. Like the loud tribal voices online that usurp more reasoned debate, the news has also sped up, increased in volume, and become increasingly sensationalist. But when...

13/12/2024

When was the last time you really listened to someone?

This is a key question New York Times contributor Kate Murphy asks in her book “You're Not Listening,” which strives to understand why we struggle to listen—and why it matters. Considering the global epidemic of not listening (both online and off) Murphy’s question is worth contemplating.

Check out my blog post on the Art of Listening. https://wix.to/Tz9g4hu

When was the last time you really listened to someone?This is a key question New York Times contributor Kate Murphy asks in her book “You're Not Listening,” which strives to understand why we struggle to listen—and why it matters. Considering the global epidemic of not listening (both online a...

21/11/2024

Today, I'll be joining entrepreneurs Sonja Wekema & Matthias Schramm at Kasteel de Wittenburg for a networking event inspired by their book: "Leading in a Wicked World." The book, an unconventional guide to effective leadership in today's rapidly changing world, can be found on Amazon: https://lnkd.in/eDJHJvRU
I helped edit the book, which gave me great insights into the mindset we need to go forward.

04/05/2024

Excited to share this new book: Leading in a Wicked World, about leadership skills in the ever-changing 21st century, a time marked by constant and rapid upheaval. Sonja Wekema and Matthias Schramm wrote it, and I helped edit. The book helps you learn how to make sense of organisations. It's thought-provoking, straight-forward, creative and just a good read. Please check out their book here: https://sonjawekema.com/writing/books/leadinginawickedworld/

hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag

22/03/2023

Online, the loudest voices often get the most attention, drowning out more nuanced arguments, and worse, blurring the lines between fact and opinion. That's why I think teaching op-eds is so important. -eds

This week I am teaching students at the University of Groningen about writing an op-ed, which is a short, newsy opinion piece. It’s a great assignment for several reasons: first, the opinion pages are usually one of the best-read sections of any publication and second, op-eds are based on personal...

09/02/2023

My latest blog, a pre-Valentine's take on love. The heart of More Love Letters has always been to give people a chance to make a difference in real life. Curious what you think, it's a cause worth supporting, especially if you're a writer.

February is the month of love—one of the most important yet hackneyed words in the English language. For millennia, writers, poets, and mystics have tried to capture the right words to encompass its multiple textures, yet they fail because love is so tied to action—love is a living, moving, thri...

12/01/2023

While hard news darts in and out, slamming the door behind it, news features indulge readers to pull up a seat and linger. Here, in my latest blog post, I consider why students struggle with reading longer feature articles.

A large part of teaching writing is encouraging students to read more, opening their eyes to engaging stories so they can eventually craft their own. Non-fiction features are an invitation to go deep, giving the reader front row seats to a charged courtroom scene, or access to a free diver’s thoug...

23/12/2022

AI has been hitting the mainstream as virtual assistants, chatbots and algorithms become commonplace—and then there’s journalism. Here's my latest blog post about AI in news reporting: do algorithms mix with the human touch?

Read here: shorturl.at/nov05

Journalism increasingly uses AI to gather news, begging the question: does mingling algorithms with a human touch lead to trustworthy news? Here’s my exploration. Trustworthy news is the foundation of journalism. During the class I am teaching at The University of Groningen, we’ve discussed how ...

19/12/2022

Observation is an underrated journalistic skill. Here's my take on how taking the time to absorb details leads to richness in writing.

https://www.daracolwell.com/post/journalism-and-observation-the-art-of-lingering