December 19 - Readings you need to do asap (30 pts formative)

You need to make a report on the following. Write up your observations and submitted to newfrontierinbox.gmail. This is a 30 point formative grade. You cannot learn to be a good writer or reporter without paying attention to other reporting/reporters.

Readings:

Look at this link on reviews done by an amazing group of young journalists.

Look at this on how to do a student media news package.

Look at this list of Crown Winners from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. These are the best online newspapers in the country done by high school students.

The Clarion

Staples High School here.

Southwest High School here.

Annandale High School's reading is here.

Staples High School is here.

Lovejoy High School is here.

This is due New Year's Day. Repeat. New Year's Day in the inbox. Make sure you really analyze these sites, including the review page of the Paly paper.

Ms. Greer

Silver Spring, Md.

Dec. 12 - Important dates for you

1. You will have a test on current events and on the Nelson Mandela tape tomorrow.

2. You have a new story due next Tuesday. Fill out the paperwork and turn into me today.

3. Quiz coming on this. You need to read this series of articles in The New York Times. Click here for this series.

You will see that it is ongoing and full of amazing detail. This is the kind of writing you should aspire to. You should be a reporter upon which no detail is wasted . . . and then artfully and thoughtfully edited.

These articles are going to win some prizes. PLUS, change some of the policies in New York City's treatment of the homeless, and especially homeless children. That is the role and function of a journalist: to shed a light on things that need to be fixed or to right wrongs.

I am going to quiz you on this series. You need to read in order to write well.

So THREE things going on and they are all big. Check Gradebook for their values.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

December 11 -- Assignments and points for your grades

Most of you are missing parts of your stories. Either media is missing OR you did not write the article.

But we need to move on. Last day for these very tardy articles to be completed is this Friday.

PLUS -- You have another story due by next Tuesday for 25 points summative.

Clear your story with me today. Sign up is worth ten (10) points.

This is so that it can be edited and site updated.

You will also have a current events with the Nelson Mandela test on Friday. Remember the Radio Diaries piece on Mandela? See the link here.

If you want to get some bonus points, you may get to the certificate level on the HOUR of Code site today. See here.

Many news agencies are requiring their reporters to know code, so this can help you start to think like that. I just need to see that you are working on it and that you got the certificate to give you the points.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Good writers learn good vocabulary (25 pts formative)

Objective: SWBAT learn a new word by explaining it via video scenario. This will help you with writing with more clarity and help you navigate the different media types that makeup backpack journalism.

The New York Times is running a contest on vocab word definitions.

Here is the mission.

Here are some examples.

Very quickly, break into your groups to make a plan.

You will chose one of these words from the pdf link below:

Here is a link to the entire list.

Your group needs to act this word definition out.

15 seconds is the total length of the video.

We will shoot when we return from Thanksgiving.

Formative (25 pts)

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Opinion/Editorial Writing Assignment (20 pts formative) - Due Tuesday/Wednesday (Hand-in folder)

I don't know if you have to do this in your English classes, but I want you to write a short editorial about gratitude. What are you grateful for OR what are you NOT grateful for?

This assignment can be funny, ironic, whatever . . . it just needs to be in your voice. No fakery here. Also, this is for print. For the site. We will put up the best ones.

Surely, you are grateful for some crazy things.

Let the world know.

Do I have your article/media for the other assignment?

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

November 19 - Audio piece and article ( Summative 30 pts.)

This Cavalier was found in a folder in the Media Center that was related to the beginning of our school.

So . . . here it is. For today and block day and Friday (deadline is Friday), you need to come up with an article that is enhanced with some other media. It can be a photo slide show OR an audio piece OR a video.

Our mission is to provide news articles for our readers. This will build their visits to our paper and it will help you hone your skills. Learning to write clearly (and concisely) is one of the skills most in demand by employers. See this article that Mr. Howard sent to the English Department yesterday.

Here are some stories that need to be written:

Diabetes Day
Blood Drive

Winter sports reports (talk to each coach and the players about the season)
9th Grade Make a Difference Project

SGA (what are they working on now?)
Winter Fashion at JFK

Poms Competition

Anything Science OR Forensics

Profile a teacher or character around school

Vegetarians here at school

New breakthroughs in science

Anime Club and what they You could also skirt around in the NY Times or the Washington Post and see if there are any articles your are interested in localizing.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md

November 15 -- Journalism Homework (Due Thursday for 20 pts.) --You are going to work on audio like a radio reporter

Listen to the audio you see in this link. Then you need to transcribe 10 minutes of it. When you do this you will be able to see how it is assembled. Narrator speaks and then you hear their soundbites. Look at the way it is assembled. Type up the sound. Exactly as you hear them.

Unique: Her quote (yes, type up everything she says)

Narrator: Write up the words of the narrator exactly

Music or NAT (natural sound): Note these when you hear them and check the times -- how long did these run/

I want you to pay particular attention to the way the narrator weaves the quotes together. It is conversational but always leads into the next quote.

WHY Do we do this? So that you can start internalizing how these stories are constructed. You will be doing plenty of your own stories. Learn from the masters . . . no need to reinvent the wheel.

I also want you to listen to this. Last year I took students to hear these guys in downtown DC. They win tons of awards.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

November 12 - Read and comment (10 pts)

Read this from The New York Times

PBS would like us to comment on examples from our lives that showed our private life becoming too public in social media. Do you have a story like that?

For 10 pts formative, comment and give examples of how social media might violate your life or someone else you know.

Meanwhile, check out your Washington zip code in this really cool article from The Washington Post. I was shocked at the difference between where I grew up and where I live now. It explains a lot about the politics differences. What suprised you about your zip code? What did not? Write that up as the end of your comments. Thanks.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Nov. 7 - Press Conference Today

We have a press conference today on Macbeth. Please look up the play online so that you can ask some reasonable questions. Kennedy's Drama Club opens the show this weekend and we will have some of the actors and Mr. Utterback here for statements and questions.

You will be expected to write a 300 word piece on this for a formative grade of 30 pts. Make sure that you consult the "Quotes and using them correctly" sheet that I have handed out.

Nov. 5 - Don't WHINE that you cannot think of a story!

Today we are going to look at a reporter who does television news, yes, but he has compiled many awards and accolades. He also gets the last slot on Friday's CBS News, typically a feel-good, upbeat slot. Click here for an example.

But the most important thing about this reporter is that he believes that everyone has a story and he set out to prove it.

His process? He throws a dart at the map and then travels to the place the dart hit. THEN he randomly picks a name out of the local phone book to find his subject. So, then what happens?

Check the following out:

Click here for a lady who still makes me smile after I have seen this so many times.

Click here for the kid.

Click here for the pulling teeth kind of interview.

Click here for the the cop in LA.

SOOOOO . . . . what are some key components of getting the story? How does he do this in your expert opinion? What does Harman do when he meets these people? Write up your thoughts and turn in today. (10 pts formative) Ms. Greer

Silver Spring, Md.

Nov. 4 - Today's assignment (15 pts. formative)

Read this. Written by a student. This is an example of very good use of detail. What works in this story? Write that up for 15 pts. formative TODAY.

Also, check out these posts just for your own information.

Click here for the Smithsonian competition.

Click here for an interesting story on photos and narrative.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

October 29 -- Today's work -- Read and write for 15 pts formative

You need to read the following and then write a paragraph on three of them. That is THREE paragraphs. What did you learn from this?

Why Apple wants to bust your phone

Warily, Schools Watch Students on the Internet

New Jersey School District Cancels Testing After Exams Are Leaked on the Internet

A Bid to Keep Youths Out of Adult Prisons

Now, a Kiss Isn’t Just a Kiss ("Why do we lock lips in romantic relationships? It’s complicated...")

The International Fate of ‘12 Years’ ("The movie industry is waiting to see if “12 Years a Slave,” a story focusing on an African-American, can garner a global audience.")

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

October 24 -- Today's assignment

There are stories everywhere. This one was written by a student about a squirrel problem on the high school's campus in California. There was MUCH revision. The adviser made the reporter find experts on squirrel behavior. This is a very successful story in that it brings information to the reader that they did not have. The reporter stuck to it and doggedly dug up the facts to make this a worthwhile reading investment for their school.

THAT IS YOUR JOB. FIND. DIG. REPORT.

Also note that the photo was particularly good with this story. The photographer took the time to get down to the squirrel's level. Can't you imagine all the mundane and boring shots you could have from above of a bunch of squirrels? This photos invites you to really look at this little guy and then might have you think about the world from his perspective. He wants to get ready for the winter in spite of living on a high school campus.

Kennedy High School has a ton of stories in it. I constantly hear that there aren't any. Then I see copy that has really boring quotes. The secret to reporting is this. TALK TO PEOPLE AND REALLY LISTEN. Then follow-up, follow-up, follow-up. There are so many things we do not know that are interesting. REPORT THEM!

Today: We are building our brand with the parade. We are having a team-building activity. This is a grade.

October 21 - First Amendment Game and Assignment for today

Click here for the First amendment game.

Play this game so you understand the First Amendment and how it applies to you, the student journalist.

WRITE A couple of paragraphs explaining what you learned from this game for 10 pts. Turn in at end of period.

Click here for the link to the Student Press Law Center. They help student journalists when they get in trouble with press freedoms, etc.

Ms. Greer

Silver Spring, Md.

October 7 - Ethical Guidelines for our Newspaper (15 pts formative)

You read chapter 22 in the textbook.

Now you need to write up with a partner what you think our ethics policy should be for our newspaper. We will need to combine this and refine it and add to our website.

You have Mr. Kirk's article to turn in.

You have this ethics piece to do.

You have a news article to do in a Maestro group (which I will assign).

The paper is seriously coming together.

We need a story on open mic (Vicky) and the football game over Wheaton. Today> Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

October 3, 2013 - Work and Homework

Today we are going to have a mini-press conference. We will mike the interviewee and you will have access to the audio through the Buffalo server (like we did with Mr. Rubens).

Additionally, you will receive a Scholastic Journalism book and you are responsible for Chapter 22 (page 365) on ethics for student journalists.

After some work on different scenarios and review, we will have a quiz on this chapter. Any words you don't know, look up. That is good practice for reading in college (or anywhere, for that matter).

Read this article on how journalism has failed democracy in America. What are the issues they raise?

What is the role of a journalist? Have you thought about that? What is your role here in the school as a student journalist?

Think about this as you read the chapter in our textbook.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Sept 30 - Find three stories that you can localize (15 pts.)

First up, this goes in the hand-in folder.

Find three national stories and give me the link to it.

For each story write up how you would localize it.

What four people would you interview here at school on that issue?

What are three important questions for each story?

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

September 26 - Watch this and comment (10 pts formative) Due 9/27/13

Before you watch this video, I want you to think about how hard it was to get such personal footage.

This is very brave of the student, the parents, the teacher, and the school.

Write up your reactions to this and turn it in tomorrow. I expect two paragraphs with interesting observations about what you saw and what you think this might mean for race relations in this country.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Sept 24 - Photo Caption Work - Formative grade - 9 pts)

Now I want you to write captions for the following pictures.

Study the way captions look in the newspaper.
**A photograph captures a moment in time. Whenever possible, use present tense. This will create a sense of immediacy and impact.
**Always identify the main people in the photograph.
**Avoid making judgments. "An unhappy citizen watches the protest" in a sentence for example. Can you be sure he is unhappy? If you must make a judgment, be sure you seek the truth.
**Subject- Verb- Object. That is the order of your text in a caption. For example, "Senior Billy Smith, left, puts his hat on the school statue." Bill is the subject, puts is the verb, and school statue is the object.

Ms. Greer

Silver Spring, Md.

September 20 - Work today

Today: It is Friday, so . . . . Current Events Quiz.

After you do that, you can pitch your story idea to me. You need to cover a story on your own. Examples: Blood Drive, face-painting at the game tonight, new teacher profile, bees are a problem at this time of year, what does the "K" mean to you, and on and on . . .

This is a really special multi-media piece. Click here to check this out. This is a wonderful site made by the NY Times that features extraordinary ordinary New Yorkers. You are going to conduct an interview similar to this in the near future. You will get 20 images. You will get audio of this person talking about their subject/life/whatever. We will not ever ever ever hear your voice. So put that on the back burner of your brain for now.

NO JOURNALIST WOULD EVER WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE SAY THEY DIDN'T REPORT THE TRUTH OR ACCURATELY. That is your currency.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

September 16 - Assignment - 20 points formative - Due Friday.

Look at the following web sites for student newspapers. Look at the layout. Look at what they are covering. Read at least two articles per site. How are they using quotes? Take notes on what you think about these web sites. Have data: give examples.

Click here for Ladue Today.

Click here for the Foothills Dragon Press.

Click here for The Paley Voice.

Click here for the Odyssey Online.

GUESS WHICH OF THESE HAVE WON PACEMAKER AWARDS (THEY ARE THE TOP AWARDS YOU CAN WIN IN HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM)?

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

September 12 - Press Conference/Current Events Quiz Friday

Principal Rubens is coming to our class either today or very soon for a press conference.

He will have a brief statement and then open the floor for questions.

We will audiotape the interview so that you will have access to the verbatim account.

IF HE DOES NOT COME TODAY, WE WILL INTERVIEW MS. GREER FOR PRACTICE. YOU ARE TO WRITE THE STORY THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THE SUBJECT AND TRY TO FIND FOUR REALLY GOOD QOUTES.

300 words. 20 PTS FORMATIVE

BTW, CURRENT EVENTS IS A POINT FOR EVERY QUESTION. I WILL DROP YOUR LOWEST GRADE.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Sept 10 - Grading Policy Discussed Today

We need to discuss jobs here on the paper. Usually these position are applied for and they look very good on your college application.

We need two Editors-in chief.

We need a Social/Media editor.

We need a Business Manager to monitor fundraising and ad selling.

Applications for these positions will be in class tomorrow. Think about your readiness for one of these position.

Everyone on staff is a photographer. Everyone is a reporter. These are skills you will take to any job you ever have. Employers want people who can write clearly, people who can think for themselves, people who can see the big picture AND drill down for the little picture that means so much.

Everyone must pay attention to details.

This is your newspaper. This is the year to make it great.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Sept. 9 -- Do a story on Imani

Click here for the link to Imani's quotes

Sept 6 - Work today

Write your reaction to the following media pieces. Turn in to the sub. 15 pts formative.

You need to pay attention to this landscape.

Click here for the link to PBS Student Reporting Labs. THEN, look around at some of the stories produced by the other labs. You guys will have the opportunity to step up and be on the Reporting Lab team. Familiarize yourself with what they want.

The Washington Post has been sold. Click here for the info on this.Are the reporters happy about it? What is going to change in the business model? What do you think about the future of journalism and why does it matter?

Ms. Greer

Silver Spring, Md.

Sept. 4 - Interviewing and Writing

Today we are going to start thinking about writing news articles. It is best to get a good interview first. That is key.

Last summer, Mia Manning and I attended journalism camp at Washington and Lee University. The students were to do a story on the farmers market. They knew no one and did not know what to expect. Click here for audio of that piece. You will see that most students dread approaching people to get the interview. But honestly, that is where the work is AND the fun. You have a license as a journalist to approach anyone pretty much and you learn so much.

You are going to start your reporting career now.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

August 27 -- Today's lesson

1. Today, you are going to interview a classmate. The subject is on whether the country has learned anything from Dr. King's I have a Dream speech almost 50 years ago tomorrow. Ask about instances they know of where either racism is better or worse. Try to get answers that are not one word answers.

2. Copy what they say exactly on a piece of paper. Note-taking is something you will get better at (and often you will have a tape recorder or use your phone). Reporters might have to show their notes to their editor (especially if what they report becomes controversial OR the person disputes what you report.)

3. After we are finished, you are going to write your three best quotes on a sheet of paper.

I am going to show you how to turn that into a quick story. Trust me. You will like this.

We are going to take a quick photo of your subject, too. We will be posting this on the newspaper site when we think the stories are ready.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Aug. 26 - Journalism

For Ira Glass on Storytelling Part 1, click here.

Making Local stories global click here

Click here for pitching a story (from the Associated Press)

Joanna Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

May 7 - Assignment (20 pts.)

Look over the breaking news. Check out The New York Times or The Washington Post today.

Write up at least three ideas of national news stories that could have local news applicability.

For example:

Cricket "My First Gun" story about the five-year-old shooting his two-year-old sibling. What are the attitudes of your peers at JFK about teaching children about guns? Is it in their training? Do they have rural cousins who have guns? Is it a good thing or bad thing to learn about guns? Clearly, the example of the five-year-old is extreme, but it does give you a beginning to ask around and develop a story.

So that is what I mean. Look for three national stories and think of what story angle you could do with it.

Write these three things up for me in well-developed paragraphs (one for each story). Defend your choices.

Reminder: Tomorrow, PBS will be here.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

April 22 -- New projects due

Near Richwood, West Virginia, on Saturday while collecting audio for a story on ramps, a wild leek.

You have a news package due on Friday, April 26. Remember, the original two-week project was April 12th. That means that the two-week deadline is this Friday, the 26th.

TIP: IT IS REALLY EASY TO DO THESE STORIES IF YOU ACTUALLY GO AND TALK TO PEOPLE. TRULY.

Yodit and Lucy: Get the poll ready. Know all the facts so that you are ready to interview Ms. Mader this week. We will be videotaping her. Unfortunately, I locked up the list on Friday. Sorry, guys.

Jeffrey: You need to do a story on JFK's rankings. Why did this happen to us? What is differnt than last year? Ask Ms. Starita and Ms. Wahrman for starters.Also, explain how these rankings work. Are they valid or is it a measure of poverty? If poverty is measure, then how did Wheaton do so much better than we did? Aren't we the same FARM rate? These are intriguing questions that you brought up last week. Follow-up on them.

Michael Cruz: Volleyball and men's lacrosse? Do you have other suggestions? We have been heavy with girls' lacrosse.

B. Tesfaye: Prom from a guy's point of view? How it is like a wedding, perhaps, in that the girls take over and organize the limo crews, etc. Do you have another suggestion?

Adam: So a round-up of clubs. Find out the sponsors. I think it is posted in the faculty mailroom (get one of the aides in the office to help you figure out the list. This story will be an update on what they have done and plan to do.

Everyone else: You need to pitch a story to me. Have a good plan and get started. Friday coming up fast.

Expect a written quiz on all things Boston marathon bombing story on Tuesday. Check out this link about coverage.

Ms. Greer

Silver Spring, Md.

April 12 -- Your news packages are due today (50 pts.)

Look over your work. Do you have photos or art? Do you have any media?

Are your articles approximately 300 words and have interviews with 3-5 people who say things that no one else can (because they are close to the story)?

For example, Mr. Cudd would be an important quote on any rule changes in sports division because he is the athletic director of our school. You would not want some random student answering those kinds of questions or making comments as who cares what that student thinks or why should we trust their opinion. They are not essential to the story. Mr. Cudd would be.

When it is finished, submit to both me at joanna_g_greer@mcpsmd.org (for your grade) and to Lucy at lucyers@gmail.com (for your editing and posting).

You have another story due in two weeks. If you did not turn this in on time, you will get a grade deduction.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

April 4 - Assignments (Which way is the wind blowing?) Go find the facts . . .

Lucy and Yodit -- Learn everyething you can about sleep deprivation in teens. Startschoollater.net is a great place to start. We will interview principal character next week. We need to poll classes. The thrust of the story should be what people think about starting later BEFORE they hear what the issues are. Then polled AFTER they have been told. This will be an article, a graph AND a video. The video needs to go to PBS. Erin Rutter will also work on this. SHe is in LTI and in period three TV Production.

Jessica C., Michael C., Jeffrey G., Asmara H., B. Tesafaye: YOU ARE ALL TO COVER SPORTS. There are tons of games going on. Interview the players. Cover an actual game. Make sure you get pictures. Run your plan through Lucy.

Rohan D., Jessica G. -- you are to cover something about the art department. Start interviewing people and get great tape like you did when you interviewed the bus drivers. Maybe ask questions like "what makes someone an artist?" "Do you consider yourself an artist?" "Why or why not?" See what a lot of different people say. Talk to the art teachers, too. Get photos. Remember, we have video coverage of the art show that can go with your piece.

Rod A. -- what is going on with Anime Club? Interview those guys for the latest trends and what they are thinking about. Talk to sponsor, too.

Arianna R. and Adam M (welcome back) -- You guys are going to cover West Side Story. Talk to the tech crew and see how they are preparing. Also sound and lights. Ms. Girley is running that. Get photos of them. Also talk to the actors. Are the getting it all ready? Take photos of them rehearsing.

Melanie L. -- Day of Silence is coming. But what if you combined that with coverage of National Poetry Month? Is anyone doing anything with poems to talk about the issues at hand? Start exploring what is going to happen and talk to the organizers. Lucy mentioned this yesterday but I don't know if she is doing anything about it. Talk to each other.

Parnell B-K -- You tell me what you would like to cover. I need a big feature piece or some kind of hard news story. Lots of kids have heard about colleges. Don't know if you care about that. You could talk about the year winding down with shows and tests and prom and graduation, etc. Non-fiction reporting piece.

My expectation is that ALL of you will talk to a ton of people and they should be able to check your notes and sign off on them if need be. Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy. You are the objective observer. Do not tip your hand about your own feelings. Do not lead the witness. Be Fair and accurate. No cheerleading. Find something interesting in this school. There is so much that is.

Due: End of next week April 12.

50 Summative points

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

March 20 - Work

Turn in outstanding stories to Lucy today. Lucy, email me a list of those reporters who turned in something.

I am out on the field trip.

For story ideas, here goes.

Games need to be covered. Tonight is the winter sports banquet. There are tons of stories that need coverage. Tomorrow the spring sports schedule starts. Open mic and art show. Where are people going on break?

When I get back and we meet tomorrow, have a concrete plan of something you are covering (and have begun) in the next two days that will be up on the site before the end of day on Friday. Email it to me to make sure you turned it in. Go Cavs. No fooling.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Feb 25 _Assignment: Where are the brave journalists?

So look at this on Fair Use. It is the Nascar wreck that Nascar tried to get off of YouTube.

Click here for bravery. This professor is worried that student are sheep, especially journalism students when they get to college. Look at what he says.

For anyone who is afraid to approach a source for an interview, here is some valuable information. I am going to ask for demonstrations of this. Click here What is your reluctance to get your stories? Are you worried about approaching or cold calling people you don't know? What is your role as a journalist? What are we doing when we write stories? Why do it at all?

20 pts. on the paper -- Due Tuesday Ms. Greer Silver Spring, Md.

Feb 20 - Homework for quiz

Please take this quiz. Click here for file on ethics. Expect a short quiz on the issues in this on Friday along with the current events quiz. Ms. Greer Silver Spring, MD

February 20 -- Listen

Something is embedded in this story that directly relates to our newspaper. What could it be? Click here to access the file.

Write up a short paragraph explaining what you just listened to and the historic relationship to our newspaper. You may have to search online for more info, but this is a good start. The clue is embedded in the audio from NPR. (10 pts. Formative)

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Jan 28 - Please listen to this from NPR

Click here for a webinar about writing for the web from NPR.

You will find other journalistic tools at this website, too.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Jan.17 Exam Links

Here are the links:

Here:

Here:

Here:

Best,
Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Jan. 8 - This week project AND next week's FINAL

We are coming into the home stretch this week. Yes, you have a final. But it is a news package that will be relevant, group-sourced, and will go in the paper. More on that on Friday. You can do it without coming to class but getting it into shape to be published will be a huge part of the grade.

Meanwhile, this week, I want to see each of you gather info from sources and write a news story that will be published with a Friday deadline (beginning of class).

Each story:

MUST have art with it (art is either an illustration or a photo);
MUST be 300 words in length;
MUST be pre-approved subject-wise;
MUST have at least five sources that are not in our class and are value-added (someone who has knowledge of the subject and is one of few who can comment on it);
MUST not use anonymous sources;
MUST try to have one thought per sentence (no convoluted English Dept. speak as online wants to provide info quick and easy as a service to the reader);
MUST have an interesting lead (beginning) to hook viewers;
MUST have media that goes along with it (for example, edited sound file, video, photo slide show)

Grade will be broken out like this:

Pitch for pre-approval -- 10 pts formative
First copy edit -- 15 pts formative
Media that goes with project -- 20 pts summative
Final tweaking and ready for publication -- 25 pts summative

You need to get out of the classroom and chase down these stories. Reporting never gets done trolling the internet or sitting in the class. Walk your beat with your feet.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md

Jan. 2, 2013 - Homework and Project

Everyone is talking about the future of media.

But they are also talking about the spectacular story done in the NY Times over the break.

Check this out and see if you like it. Today's assignment is to write up a reaction to this piece after carefully reading it and looking at all of its aspects. 10 pts.Formative

How can we do something like this?

Assignment: Pitch a multimedia story to your group (everyone should have an individual one) for a homework grade. Due: Thursday, January 3. 10 pts homework

THE FOLLOWING GROUP PACKAGE IS GOING TO BE YOUR EXAM GRADE. So start planning now.

Select one of your projects and plan to work on it as a group. For example, a blanket coverage of one of our sports teams or of the special education department at Kennedy would be worthy packages. No, we won't look like the snow article, but we will be close.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.