A virtual tour of the Poynter Institute

You don't have to work in journalism very long before you hear the words "Poynter Institute." For nearly 25 years, it's been one of the best schools in the country for working reporters, editors and just everyone associated with journalism.

I attended a Poynter seminar on editorial writing in St. Petersburg, Fla., last year, and I'd heartily recommend its courses to anyone who has the opportunity. The Poynter's sessions are well-organized and feature some of the top names in journalism as lecturers and instructors.

The institute was created in 1975 by Nelson Poynter, publisher of the St. Petersburg Times http://www.sptimes.com/ and Congressional Quarterly http://www.cq.com/. Prior to his death in 1978, he willed the controlling stock in his company to the institute.

The institute serves working professionals, journalism teachers and students. Seminars are offered year-round on a wide variety of subjects.

But you don't have to wrangle a boondoggle from your bosses or your school in order to get a taste of the Poynter experience. You'll find it at the Poynter's Web site at http://www.poynter.org.

In addition to information about upcoming seminars, you'll find stories about journalism-related issues in the news. One current link, for instance, takes you to a discussion of the coverage of John F. Kennedy Jr.'s fatal crash.

You'll also find valuable tip sheets on numerous subjects, including photojournalism, broadcast journalism, and ethical decision-making.

Another must-visit part of the site is the Poynter's extensive list of journalism links at http://www.poynter.org/links/ I've found it to be a handy resource on countless occasions. (You'll also find it in my list of links elsewhere in the journalism site at Suite101.com.)

Whatever your level of interest in journalism, I'd encourage you to pay a visit to the Poynter site. I'd also like to hear from folks who've discovered similar sites that are especially useful. Please send me an e-mail message or post a comment in the discussion area, and I'll mention your suggestion in a future column.

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