May 30 - Assignment (20 pts formative)

Watch and respond to questions on these short videos.

Video 1 is here.

What do you think of this issue? Legit or not?
What additional information would you need to dig out to write a well-rounded, legit story?
Write this up in a well-written paragraph.

Video 2 is here.

This video sets a location and a community. What do you notice? Track how it changes if it does. Write that up in a well-written paragraph. Include your take-away opinion of this situation.

Turn in to Mr. Brewer.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

May 29 - Assignment (20 pts. formative) Write up what you think of this list. What do we do or not do? What do we need to change?

So today you will respond to several articles and situations.

1. The tragedy in Santa Barbara has raised issues about how the student press covered it.

Check out one school's policy on emergencies and how they cover them below:

In an emergency…

A fire, a shooting, an unexpected death… these are all stories that we hope we don’t ever have to cover. But some high schools and colleges have faced these crises, and have provided their communities with the information that is especially needed in troubling times.

Student reporters have a unique position in the midst of a breaking story:

o We are teenagers who may be close to those who are most affected.
o We are sons and daughters who need to take into account the concerns of our families.
o We are students who must follow school rules.
o We are journalists who have an obligation to provide information to our readers.

To resolve these sometimes conflicting roles, The HUB has the following policy:
o In an emergency, safety comes first. Follow all instructions from school officials and go where they direct you. Never put yourself in danger!
o If you are personally affected by a crisis, do not feel like you need to put on your reporter hat. Take care of yourself; others who are less affected can take over.
o When able, take notes on all aspects of the crisis that you can personally observe. Interview people about the crisis, even while waiting. Don’t wait for an assignment: report!
o Remember to take photographs, with cell phones, if necessary.
o If you can do so without interfering with their work, interview officials at the scene who can provide context and information (wear a press pass).
o Connect with an editor-in-chief or adviser as soon as possible to see how you can help with the story. Come to the classroom if allowed. If not, the editor-in-chief will designate a meeting place, which could be at a staffer home or the Davis Enterprise [our local paper]. Call an editor-in-chief to find out where the meeting place is.

To make sure we are always prepared for an emergency that may keep us out of the our classroom, we:

o Keep the cell phone numbers of the editors-in-chief, photo editor, adviser, and Student Press Law Center (at a minimum) stored on our own cell phones.
o Keep laptops up-to-date with programs and templates.
o Keep press passes and notebooks with us.
o Photographers keep at least a point-and-shoot camera with them at all times to capture breaking stories.

Our goal is to:

o Keep our community informed by posting confirmed facts (not speculation) on our web site by the end of the day.If warranted, write, layout, and distribute a special issue that provides context and information to our community.

REMEMBER, THE ABOVE IS THE POLICY OF THE OTHER SCHOOL. YOU ARE TO RESPOND TO IT IN WRITING. PUT IN JFKNEWFRONTIERINBOX@gmail.com. Due: At end of class today.

May 15 - Assignment (due Monday, formative, 25 pts.)

This is a drain near my mother's house in Greenbrier County, W. Va., a place riddled with caves.

Go to this link and read the following article.

When I was about 13 years old, I earned a Girl Scout badge in caving. It was probably the coolest experience I have ever had. One cave we went in, Organ Cave, had a secret entrance. We came out the paid entrance six hours later, extremely dirty and everyone was like "where did they come from?" Coolest moment ever.

I was always struck by how beautiful the crystal rocks looked underground. Like diamonds. When you brought them to the surface, they just looked like rocks. One other cool things about that cave. Someone had a New Years Eve party down there and a lot of the decorations were there from 40 years before. In another one we explored, they had tended to injured soldiers during the Civil War. Some of that stuff was still there, too. The entrance to that cave has been sealed since we were in there.

Read the article. I want you to write a short essay on what your reaction to this article and this kind of exploration. Show thought. What struck you as interesting about it?

ALSO, what 10 new words did you see and what did they mean (look them up AND WRITE THEM UP). Turn in the words and your well-developed paper on this article to me on our scheduled exam day next week.

May 13 - Response to Media Assignment (Formative 20 pts.) Due Thursday, May 15

Read the following and comment on how to localize these stories.

Click here for a video on the definition of "Asian." What are your responses to this? Write them up in a paragraph. What is your experience with the term "Asiam?"

Watch the following science piece and think about how much females have to endure in Africa. You also know this latest piece on the young girls who were abducted in Nigeria, right? WRITE UP A RESPONSE TO YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE STATE OF BEING A FEMALE IN AFRICA.

Probably the most important story in the paper today is this one. What are the implications for you and your children with this story? Write a paragraph where you explain what you think the environmental state will be. Don't just tell me that sea levels will rise 10 feet.

Graduations are all around and that means commencement speakers. Look at this article. What advice do you want to hear? What do you think they should say to you?

Five points per paragraph. Not that hard. Don't bore. Show thought.

Type up. Turn in.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.