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