Crimson
PRHS Journalism
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Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
The Crimson Mission Our print and web journalism is dedicated to our readers above all else. We are committed to reporting worthy local, national, and global news, using our publications to update our community on local and pressing issues. We have made a pledge to “get it right” and to publish what is both true, pertinent, and fair. It is our mission to represent our school, community, and the individuals at PRHS while maintaining the utmost levels of journalistic integrity, passion, and discipline. —adopted August 2010
“Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it, and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.” — Joseph Pulitzer
Staff Manual 2011-12 Edited & Revised by Katie Wingfield Amanda Hutchinson Shanna Dowling Megan Rodrigues Nico Jolicoeur Emily Cone Sarah Wilson
Cartoons by Sarah Wilson (2010-2013) & Joe Valdivia (2006-2008)
Original HDN written by Sara Callahan, Rebecca Horne, Kelsey Garman, & Max Vermy (Class of 2008)
C Staff Manual Version 4.0
Created with Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, & Illustrator for the ’11 -’12 Journalism 2 Class. Crimson is an independently funded, monthly newsmagazine publication & weekly online portal produced by the Journalism 2 class of Paso Robles HS. Both are designated open forums intended for the exchange of ideas. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of scholastic journalism.
member:
National Scholastic Press Association
Jeff Mount, Adviser (805) 434-8967
Journalism Education Assoc. of N. California
jmount@pasoschools.org
Rm. P14 Paso Robles HS
Staff 2012-13 3
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
Homepage: www.crimsonnews.com Co-Editors-in-Chief
E-mail: prhsjournalism@pasoschools.org
Megan Rodrigues (12)
Kathryn Wingfield (12)
Managing Editors Shanna Dowling (11)—News Emily Cone (12)—Photography Amanda Hutchinson (12)—Web Nico Jolicoeur (11)—Staff
Andrus, Camille. . . . . . . Boswell, Kim. . . . . . . . . Bourgault, Sara. . . . . . . Butz, Meredith . . . . . . . Cabello, Analia . . . . . . . Callahan, Laura. . . . . . . Cleland, Dakota. . . . . . . Cone, Emily . . . . . . . . . . Dart, Clarisse. . . . . . . . . Dowling, Shanna. . . . . . Ford, William. . . . . . . . . Grandoli, Emily. . . . . . . Gurney, Ken. . . . . . . . . . Hipp, Daniel. . . . . . . . . . Hutchinson, Amanda. . Jolicoeur, Nicolette. . . . Kisch, Jonathan. . . . . . . Luth, Megan . . . . . . . . . Matteson, Sydney. . . . . McCall, Carly . . . . . . . . . Munns, Kelly . . . . . . . . . Musial, Olivia. . . . . . . . . Nelson, Camille. . . . . . . O’Brien, Shannon. . . . . Orcutt, Josh. . . . . . . . . . Petiy, Maria. . . . . . . . . . Reed, Lindsay . . . . . . . . Rodrigues, Megan. . . . . Schouten, Sinead . . . . . Silletti, Brielle. . . . . . . . Thompson, Courtney . . Volle, Summer. . . . . . . . Wilson, Sarah . . . . . . . . Wingfield, Katie . . . . . . Wookey, Jenna . . . . . . .
11. . . . . 423-7135 . . . . . . . camille.andrus@yahoo.com 12. . . . . 591-9908 . . . . . . . kimberly.fullcanvas@hotmail.com 11. . . . . 975-7459 . . . . . . . saramary.bourgault@gmail.com 10. . . . . 769-7102 . . . . . . . MereEmma@aol.com 10. . . . . 712-7672 . . . . . . . adolfo.cabello@sbcglobal.net 11. . . . . 610-5859 . . . . . . . lauracallahan95@hotmail.com 12. . . . . 400-7977 . . . . . . . hbkfan_94@yahoo.com 12. . . . . 712-5309 . . . . . . . emmy_grace_42@hotmail.com 11. . . . . 434-8002 . . . . . . . cdilovemyipod@aol.com 11. . . . . 423-0625 . . . . . . . ostrichmagic@yahoo.com 11. . . . . 227-4491 (h) . . . . willford16@yahoo.com 12. . . . . 975-7340 . . . . . . . emiliaa37@hotmail.com 12. . . . . 712-8114 . . . . . . . kennygurney@sbcglobal.net 11. . . . . 951-616-9824 . . . dhipp@ymail.com 12. . . . . 540-1059 . . . . . . . amanduhh-mae@live.com 11. . . . . 975-7160 . . . . . . . nicojolicoeur@yahoo.com 11. . . . . 712-8483 . . . . . . . Africanjon@hotmail.com 11. . . . . 835-5194 . . . . . . . meganluth@hotmail.com 10. . . . . 712-5619 . . . . . . . soccerplayer863@yahoo.com 11. . . . . 610-6815 . . . . . . . carlymccall17@hotmail.com 11. . . . . 296-2593 . . . . . . . kimunns@gmail.com 11. . . . . 239-4531 (h) . . . . oliviamusial22@yahoo.com 12. . . . . 423-2796 . . . . . . . triplep@hotmail.com 12. . . . . 709-3864 . . . . . . . lilcshell711@yahoo.com 11. . . . . 423-7199 . . . . . . . josh.orcutt.18@gmail.com 11. . . . . 286-2225 . . . . . . . mariapetiy@gmail.com 12. . . . . 610-9744 . . . . . . . lindsay.reed.music@gmail.com 12. . . . . 610-7353 . . . . . . . megrod22@gmail.com 12. . . . . 712-4576 . . . . . . . summer_schout@yahoo.com 12. . . . . 201-560-8290 . . . brielleshea@aol.com 10. . . . . 975-7153 . . . . . . . cmthompson3067@yahoo.com 11. . . . . 975-2287 . . . . . . . summervolle@hotmail.com 11. . . . . 400-9650 . . . . . . . sarahmw94@gmail.com 12. . . . . 712-4158 . . . . . . . Diane4mail@charter.net 11. . . . . 975-7571 . . . . . . . wookforce14@hotmail.com
4 Contents From the Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Section 1: Staff Tips and Policies Journalove Concept. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12 The First Amendment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Behavior + Legal Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15 Copyright Standards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Libel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Course Objectives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Fundraising Expectations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Selling Subscriptions + Ads. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21 Ad Contract. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Invoicing and Business Tasks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Print Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Print Cycle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Brainstorming + content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Email = Groupwise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 NetStorage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-29 Monthly Blogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Posting Stories on www.crimsonnews.org . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Deadlines + Late Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Editor Behaviors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33-34 Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35-36
Section 2: Writing Philosophy of Reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Crimson Story Rubric. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 The Drafting Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 R1, R2, FD Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Story Front Ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Newsworthiness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Cloudseeding Ideas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Interviewing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46-48 Reporting w Facebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49-50 Researching Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Getting Started on a Story. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
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Factology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Surveys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54-55 Appositives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Number Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Objectivity, Not Subjectivity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 AP Style: Nuts and Bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Find the Extraordinary (Gay Talese) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 What You’re Doing Matters (Jimmy Breslin). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Lede Writing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62-63 Lede Sampler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64-65 The Dirty Dozen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66-67 Nutgraf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Summary of What’s to Come SW2C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Story Shapes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70-71 Attribution and Quotation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Conciseness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..73 Sportswriting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74-75 Feature Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76-78 How to Tell a Story (Ira Glass) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Opinion Structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Review Writing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Blog Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Story Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Section 3: Design + Photography
Starting Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Crimson Design Style. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 PhotoShop Basics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 InDesign Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86-87 Camera Commandments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Photography Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89-90 Camera Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Shooting Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Common Photo Blunders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
5
6 From the Editors
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
HELLOOO CRIMSONITES!!!!
Hey Crimsoners! You’ve been chosen out of all of PRHS to be a part of Crimson Newsmagazine, so let me take a minute to say congrats and hello friend! Though journalism is a class you spend 70 minutes in every day, you’ll soon learn that Crimson is more than just a class, we are a crazy, loud, opinionated FAMILY that is bursting with journalove. Journalove is a word us Crimson lovas use to describe our love for reporting, layouting, photography, and more importantly, our love for Crimson and each other. Taking this class has personally influenced my life dramatically; I know that similar to my experience, Crimson will change your life for the better. If you ever have any questions or problems, talk to me, my ears are always open! I’m here for each and every one of you guys. So welcome gorgeous (and handsome) to the best class in the entire world!!! Lotsa love, Megan Rodrigues Co-Editor-in-Chief
Welcome to the one group on campus that’s home to the smartest, the tech-savviest, and the most attractive students around! Let me reinforce what a marvelous commitment you have made, how much it’s about to transform you, and, most importantly, how stoked I am that you’re part of our family! Our job as Crimsonites is to love: love each other, love what we do, and love every story we tell. That’s really what makes our job as journalists so empowering. Look a little closer as you go through life and you’ll start to see every occurrence as a plotline, every person as a remarkable character. We have the power to put the pieces together and give the world its voice, give the story its life, through love. As Mr. Mount always says, the right words in the right places can accomplish anything. I hope this advice guides you throughout the year as you embrace your gift and discover its value more and more with every word. If you need ANYTHING, I’m yours. Seriously. :) Love, Wing Co-Editor-in-Chief
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Crimson staff 2011-2012, What is up?! First of all, welcome to this crazy family. We will laugh, cry, eat, stress, dance, and work together. Most importantly, we’ll practice Journalove. And yes, this concept seemed awkward to me at first too! But loving your fellow staff members as well as your publication will be your lifestyle before you know it. Crimson pushes you to your limits at some points, but seeing a stranger reading your article, admiring your layout, and holding the Crimson with excitement, is by far one of the best rewards you will ever receive. As your staff managing editor, I will always be here when you need someone to vent to, a friend to talk to when you need one, a motherly figure when you need to be taken care of(trust me, it happens), and a guide whenever you need help. Words cannot express my excitement to see what this staff does. With Love, Nicolette Jolicoeur Managing Editor: Staff
Hey Staff! Last year was one of the best years overall that Crimson journalism has yet encountered. This year will be even better because of you. Each one of you is pivotal to this program, and together your individual potential will be unstoppable. The skills you have will be refined, and you will learn of skills you never thought you had. Journalism is full of fun, food, friends, and family. Without Crimson I would not have recognized my potential in web, and I would not be the person I am in dealing with relationships, business, or even myself. This is the place to be the best version of yourself. I’m so excited to get to know each and every one of you. I will always be here ready to help or listen. Above all remember this: Love each other, love the paper, and everything else will fall into place. With love, Amanda Hutchinson Managing Editor: Web
8 From the Editors
Dear Crimson friends, Welcome aboard! The Crimson family is indeed a crazy one, and I am so glad to have you all as a part of it this year and to see all of the unique ideas and experiences you’ll bring to the table. You’ll soon discover that journalism is much more than a mere elective class and a monthly paper, it’s endless latenight laughter, a creative melting pot, meaningful friendships, a home away from home, and an amazing journey that will grow you in ways you can’t imagine if you choose to let it, and I sincerely hope you do. Also know that I am here to help with any problems, projects, or worries you may have— print or otherwise, so don’t hesitate to ask, I promise I’m not as weird as I seem! I can’t wait to meet and collaborate with each and every one you! With love, Shanna Dowling Managing Editor: Magazine
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How they got there 9
Crimson leaders are picked officially in May. They start catching our attention unofficially at multiple times of the year. But in May all interested candidates present to a panel of alumni Crimson staffers, justifying why they are the best for the EIC or ME positions available. The panel chooses the final leadership lineup and announces the results the following week.
In Search of the EIC A Facebook event...
Interested? If you want to eventually serve in a leadership position, we recommend all of the following...
• Serve as a section editor • Meet all deadlines always • Pursue advanced work in layout, photography, or web mgmt • Develop a reputation as a “finisher” • Do more than what is expected • Serve on the core team who stays to put the issue to bed
Calling all beloved PRHS journalist graduates! Come to the second annual selection panel to sit as a VIP who will listen to current student candidates pitch their case to become next year’s Crimson leader--even the Editor-inChief. After candidates present--this year we have around six--we share observations in a confidential, Starbuck’d, snacky discussion and decide the 2011-2012 Crimson leadership team. Last year we sat graduates from 2007 through 2010, including: Emma Kelley ‘07, Gina Alessi ‘08, Cory Brooks ‘08, Kelsey Garman ‘08, Joe Valdivia ‘08, Jane Teixeira ‘08, Amanda Bean ‘09, Zach Burggraf ‘09, Chynna Rowe ‘09, Jessica Madrid ‘09, Karlee Anderson ‘10, Mae Bradley ‘10 Who can come? Please RSVP and we’ll watch the list grow. And please forward this invitation to any Chronicle staff you are in touch with.
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Journalove 11 Call it RESPECT if you don’t want to call it LOVE PEOPLE are always the most important aspect of any story, not only the 5Ws
The Crimson crew is a family. We care about our work, our school, and each member of our staff. We must be friendly. We must be encouraging. We must fight cliques that ostracize and hurt feelings. Many don’t want to put effort into a project when they don’t feel important or perceive that they only get noticed for their mistakes. Journalove is as simple as this: Love your family! Love your editors, writers, adviser—even your perceived enemies. Love the paper! Love your stories! Love the people you’re publicizing! You will be astounded at the results. Editors, don’t only edit stories & leave critiques, but tell your writers what lines were funny, or phrases were fact-deep. Everyone, put yourselves in the shoes of others. Have compassion on their story, whether they are a fellow staffer or a stranger you’re about to interview. Love is the most powerful force in the universe. If our staff operates from love, we will be powerful indeed. If we conduct ourselves as reporters with it, as designers with it, as photographers with it—all roles!—our work will last.
Expressing Journalove
1. Say hi as you enter 2. Say bye as you leave. 3. Ask about what projects s/he is doing. 4. Try to get to know classmates outside of class on a more personal basis :) 5. Read someone’s R2 even when you don’t have to and encourage what s/he’s doing right. Care about his/her writing. 6. Talk to EVERYONE on staff not just people in your circle of friends, make sure everyone feels included 7. Celebrate/congratulate/enc?ourage someone when they’ve accomplished something significant in life/journalism 8. Sit in a new spot in the room for a change. You’ll be more likely to talk to other staffers. 9. Appreciate all ideas during discussions and give each consideration and value. 10. Ask a staffer how s/he is and care about the answer. 11. Bring random baked goods for the class! 12. Slip a nice, short note into a fellow staffmembers box. 13. Shout out during our in-class thanks we do at the end of a print cycle! 14. Speak thanks to everyone who helps you. Editor-in-Chief ’07-’08 Gina Alessi (CSU Fullerton ‘12 created the term Journalove and first helped her staff achieve it in 2007-2008.
12 Journalove
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Love can take the form of TIME:
Love can take the form of GIFTS:
Love can take the form of TOUCH:
the time you pour into research the time you spend at night the time you take to find one more interview the time you pour into your design/ layout Each issue of Crimson is a gift Each added item to the website is a gift Wait til you see our staff holiday parties Hug Shake a hand Throw an arm around their neck
For your school + its info
For your story itself + its facts
For Crimson as a program
For the persons in your story
r
Love can take the form of ACTIONS:
what you write for our pubs what facts you articulate how you encourage others how you interview writing a thank you card going extra mile sacrificing time
love exist rna For your fellow staff
s fo
Love can take the form of words:
J ou
what you give to others
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First Amendment 13
As established by Tinker vs. Des Moine (1968): Students do not shed their constitutional rights “at the school house gate.�
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, & to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
14 Code of Conduct
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We require an agreement between you, your parents, & Mount so that we can trust you to: • • • • •
Travel on & off campus during school hours for journalism business Use cell phones & devices under special arrangement with the Principal Use the PRHS network, software, & www access Use Crimson/PRHS laptops & cameras around school & at home Sell advertisements around town & service local accounts
The Bottom Line: Act professionally at all times as a Crimson staff member. Then you protect: • our reputation w/ readers, adults, & advertisers • your reputation • our campus privileges • your campus privileges • your job on staff • your parents’ pocketbook and
The Crimson Code
Your signed agreement to these is kept on file:
1. I understand the importance of meeting deadlines. I understand missed deadlines may cause changes in my staff job or class grade. 2. I will preserve my privilege to leave campus for Crimson business (without supervision) by adhering to the California Vehicle Code, conducting myself professionally, fulfilling strictly Crimson business, and not departing from city limits. I will not run personal errands. 3. I will limit use of my cell phone & other electronic devices to Room 601. I recognize & respect that PRHS students face a ban on these devices. 4. I agree to pay for the repair or replacement of any PRHS equipment damaged at school or off-campus from my actions. This item includes, but is not limited to, computer & camera equipment. 5. I agree to abide by the PRHS Acceptable Use Policy as I use the PRHS network, software, and internet in class and at home. 6. I will refrain from malicious, damaging words or behavior towards anyone, especially Crimson staff, but including PRHS students, and adult staff. 7. I agree to learn and adhere to ethical journalism standards in my reporting in areas of libel, fairness, honesty, and intent.
8. I will fulfill the responsibilities assigned to me, working after school & weekends to complete them. I understand that the above standards must be fulfilled to stay enrolled in the class & use its privileges. I accept the loss of travel privileges, job reassignment, removal from the class, and/or administrative discipline if I violate any of these standards.
X______________________________________________
CA Legal 15
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CA Ed Code
48907 Students of the public schools shall have the right to exercise freedom of speech & of the press including the distribution of printed materials or petitions, whether or not such publications are supported financially by the school or by use of school facilities. But... Crimson expression shall be prohibited which is: 1. obscene 2. libelous or slanderous 3. inciting students to commit: a. unlawful acts b. violation of lawful school regulations c. disruption of the operation of school operation
There shall be no prior restraint of material prepared for official school publications except insofar as it violates this section.
This page is GOOD NEWS
If we play by the above rules, there will be NO PRIOR RESTRAINT. 40+ other states provide no such protection of free speech.
CA Ed Code
48950 School districts shall not make or enforce any rule subjecting any high school pupil to disciplinary sanctions solely on the basis of conduct that is speech.
Good news
You cannot be punished for your free speech-if it’s ruled to be free speech Any pupil enrolled in a school that has made or enforced any rule in violation of this section may commence a civil action. Nothing in this section prohibits the imposition of discipline for harassment, threats, or intimidation unless constitutionally protected. Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede or otherwise limit or modify the provisions of Section 48907.
16 Copyright
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Crimson prepares you for the real, copyrighted world where no longer is it acceptable legally to copy-paste graphics willy-nilly into your work. Publishing a photo or graphic in Crimson that was copy-pasted from the internet without permission violates copyright even when we state the URL.
Copyright Rules We use the photo/ graphic when: 1. We took the pic
ourselves.
2. We designed the graphic ourselves. 3. We received permission because we asked the author. 4. We faithfully credit photographers.
Creating our own graphics avoids copyright infringement and provides huge satisfaction: “Hey, I did that ALL myself—even when it would’ve been easier to misuse someone else’s.” Plus, original photo/graphic work tells the story your way, instead of letting someone else tell it for you in their artwork. EXAMPLE: You’re doing a story on over-thecounter prego tests
YES to any of these: 1. Shoot a photo yourself of the products at Walmart. 2. Order a sketch from a cartoonist. 3. Create a photo-illustration that collages MANY graphics and photos. NO toall of these: 1. Copy-paste a photo of prego test from internet and write the URL below it. 2. Skip a photo/graphic because it’s too much extra work. 3. Copy-paste a clip-art cartoon as decoration.
GETTING PERMISSION is easy. Write an email in Groupwise to the source, stating who we are, what we are using the photo for, and when it will run. If you gain permission, write the author’s name and “Used with permission” in the photo credit. We enter contests that scrutinize our use of photos and graphical material—and downgrade for violations.
Libel 17
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
You must understand libel principles since libel is probably the most dangerous mess your writing can create. Crimson has printed a libelous fact if the sentence is:
1) Untrue 2) Malicious intent 3) Reflects reckless reporting Courts have ruled in favor of libel claims when two or more of the above conditions have been met.
An example: Student newspaper prints headline:
“Police Nab Drug Dealer” Story:
“In a sweep across campus yesterday, police arrested several students, charging them with dealing drugs. Arrested were Bill Jones, sophomore and a student from community college: John Renshaw.”
Is this LIBEL?
Your First Amendment freedom of speech as a writer becomes unprotected when you cross the libel line. Yes, Crimson can be sued in a court of law for libel printed on our pages.
The best defense when a reporter is accused of libel and/or untrue printed material? —A printed retraction.
Yes.
18 Objectives
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
C a m t o p! o B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Skill Summer Reading Blog AP usage test Partner Feature Beat report Live interview Photoshop skills test In-Design skills test Photography skills test
Basic Training required to advance to your job position
Required Level Posted, Score of 3 Written, Score of 85% On time /Netstorage / Score of 3 On time /Netstorage / Score of 3 Observed / Score of 3 Computer task / Pass Computer task / Pass Computer task / Pass
General Objectives > Writing: News/Sports/Feature/Opinion/Review
1. I will write structured, probing, insightful stories 2. I will write newsworthy stories serving campus needs + interests 3. I will learn to satisfy the higher levels of the Crimson Writing Rubric 4. I will learn the art of telling a fact-dense story well 5. I will compose engaging leads, headlines, & kickers 6. I will improve my writing to be concise, fact-based, & purposeful
> Desktop publishing & graphics
1. I will learn Adobe software InDesign CS3 & Photoshop CS3 2. I will learn photography principles 3. I will design creatively & according to Crimson style 4. I will practice do’s + don’ts of page design
> Reporting & Research
1. I will practice accurate interviewing techniques & avoid pitfalls 2. I will interview & report responsibly & fairly 3. I will develop investigative skills for newsworthy stories 4. I will exercise my free speech rights as a student journalist 5. I will void the pitfalls of libel/obscenity/invasion
> People & Leadership Skills
1. I will develop my skills as a team player & project manager 2. I will meet deadlines set by other staff members 3. I will earn & give trust, respect, encouragement, & leadership 4. I will practice marketing, fundraising, & business principles 5. I will form deep bonds with classmates
HDN page 70 66 68 41-43 77 78 79
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
Fundraising 19
Crimson staff contributes to business team efforts by bringing in the following by October 8, which balances the months ahead when ad income from the business team does not match print costs:
Fundraising Minimums See Mount to negotiate solutions to these if you have trouble fulfilling them
1. Three subscriptions, or $60, whichever is easier. See next page. 2. One sold advertisement in the paper (due in 2nd issue of your 1st trimester)
3. Participation in fundraisers (carwashes, etc.) 4. $30 “Club Fee”
Most of the above are paid through income we receive from sold advertisements & subscriptions. The business team spends all year pursuing advertisements, often paying for the month’s paper from the ads sold. We need 200 addresses minimum to qualify for BulkMail rates at the post office. We cannot afford to mail the paper at standard rates.
The Crimson budget exceeds $12,000 per year. A basic breakdown: (1) printing costs + supplies
(2) Nat’l Convention (3) NSPA membership & contests (4) feeding + rewarding the staff (5) equipment repair/ replacement
Crimson opportunity
Several staffers paid for their trip to the Nat’l Convention by mining the richness of SERIOUS subscription & advertising effort
20 Subscriptions
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
1. Selling subscriptions is pretty much one of the easiest things to do. Just like ads, the income from subscriptions helps cover the $900/issue print costs of our issues. However, unlike ads, we generally sell all our subscriptions at the very beginning of the year & then forget about them—except for the Circulation Manager.
2. You are required to sell at least three subscriptions, but they can be to whoever you want. The usual targets are extended family & family friends.
3. Try your best to sell the higher level (more expensive) subscriptions, they’ll bring in more money when we need it most. All of the addresses of the subscribers & their level of donation are saved in a database which we use to insure they receive their free ad next June if they are entitled to one.
The monthly student news magazine of Paso Robles High School
Crimson Policy
Every staff member brings in 3 ads or $60 worth of them by the end of September.
Readers!
Think how thrilled grandma will be to see your stories each month... & Auntie & Uncley & on & on.
SUBSCRIPTIONS 2011-2012 Presorted Standard
Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit #56
Paso Robles, CA
/ Issue 2 Volume 71 / 11.10.10
The Student Newsmagazine
of Paso Robles High School
801 Niblick Rd. Paso Robles,
California
Bearcat polo sinks AGHS dynasty
Arroyo Grande with a triumphant victory against They became celebrated their senior night along the Eagles in more than 15 years. The boys varsity water polo team first time the Bearcats have destroyed team and girls varsity volleyball also defeated High School on Oct. 27. This is the with water polo, the varsity football third in league from this win. Along Vinson; three by with four goals by senior Chris the Eagles this fall season. the boys 0-4, but they came back Zane Harvey, junior The first quarter started out with and one by seniors Will Hix and Silva; two by senior Austin McCall; Duane McRoy into the senior and team captain Spencer excitement by throwing coach Nicklas. Bearcats showed their Marco Gut, and sophomore Devon do their job, and And we depended on everyone to pool. and good things were happening. “They pulled themselves together article. Press Robles Sports Co-Editor Paso to a —Josh Orcutt, they sure did,” McRoy said, according Photo by Carly McCall
In-Depth 8-9 >> Oxycotin Investigation
Feature 13 >> Blind Date is back
Dear parents and business owners, We on the Crimson staff invite you to accompany us this school year in our insightful coverage of PRHS news and faces. Let us deliver keen, nationally-awarded teen journalism to your doorstep or business! A Crimson subscription keeps you informed about PRHS and its students and promotes quality journalism education. Please subscribe! Megan Rodriques, senior Co-Editor-in-Chief
Katie Wingfield, senior Co-Editor-in-Chief World 20-21 >> Sustainable cities
Jeff Mount Adviser
Subscriber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $18.00
All 7 issues delivered monthly to your home by U.S. Mail
Patron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25.00
7 issues above, with recognition in the paper AND free congratulatory advertising to a graduating senior. Especially appropriate for senior households next June! Ad size = business card.
Donor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50.00
7 issues above with recognition in the paper, one month free advertising for your business, and/or graduation advertising for a favorite senior. Ad size = 1/8 page.
Sponsor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100.00
7 issues above with recognition in the paper, free advertising for two months for your business, and/or graduation advertising for a favorite senior. Ad size = 1/8 page.
PLEASE MARK YOUR SUBSCRIPTION CHOICE ABOVE & MAIL WITH PAYMENT TO:
MAIL MY SUBSCRIPTION TO:
Circulation Manager
NAME _______________________________________
Crimson Newsmagazine Paso Robles HS 801 Niblick Rd. Paso Robles, CA 93447 237-3315 ext. 5601 prhsjournalism@pasoschools.org
STREET ______________________________________ CITY, ST, ZIP __________________________________ PHONE ______________________________________
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
Selling Ads 21
Why, how, & what not to do We can’t have a program if we don’t sell ads. Therefore, you must help us sell the ads. And you must do it right. GOOD PRACTICES 1. Take with you (1) advertising contract (2) copy of our paper and (3) strategic thinking for how this is a WIN for the business. 2. Introduce yourself & pitch so that it’s a WIN for them. Ex: Hello, I’m C.J. Prusi & I’m with Crimson newsmagazine for Paso Robles High School. Our newsmagazine circulates to 2000 students each month & hundreds on the internet at crimsonchronicle.com. I’d like to give your business the opportunity to advertise to these thousands for the lowest price in town. (Show them the ad contract).
3. Recontact the business within 4 days as follow up. Businesses like to feel cared for and managed. 4. Contact repeating advertisers before every issue to verify their participation and details. Good chance to catch mistakes and appear profesh. 5. Write clear, dated, specific invoices on time. 6. Give advertiser addresses to the Circulation Manager. BAD PRACTICES
1. 2. 3. 4.
Assuming the business is happy w/ its ad. CHECK. Failing to follow up after a visit. CALL. Being lazy or thick about selling ads. THINK. Selling only 1-2 days per cycle. ACT.
If you don’t do it right 1. We may charge a business twice. 2. We may not charge a business at all. 3. We may bugger their ad, info, & reputation. 4. Crimson loses $$$ that it needs to operate. 5. You may burn the bridge with the business/individual indefinitely.
22 Ad Contract
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
Records + Communication
Use the following document to discuss advertising options with potential advertisers. We need a completed contract for every advertiser to reach them, invoice, and follow up.
Crimson Advertising Contract The student newspaper of Paso Robles High School 801 Niblick Road. Paso Robles, CA 93446.
www.crimsonnews.org
(805) 237-3315 ext. 5601
First
Biz Card
Circle the ad size and price you would like.
Inserts*
The more often you advertise, the more you save!
1/8 Page 1/4 Page
prhsjournalism@pasoschools.org
$35 Web Ads crimsonnews.org $35 2-months size = 300x200 $150 $65 2-months size = 400x300
size = 3.5” W x 2”
$65 Half Page
size = 5” W x 2.75” H
$95 Full Page
size = 5” W x 5.5” H
$150
size = 10” W x 5.5” H
$250
size = 10” W x 11” H
25% discount off the third purchased ad
Inserts must be photocopied (count = 2000) and delieved to PRHS.
Second
Oct. 10
Feb. 13
Next, circle the best dates in our publication schedule.
Nov. 14
Mar. 20* Pre-Prom!
Dec. 19
May 29
Finished! Read the contract, give us your personal information, and sign on the dotted line! We prefer payment up front, but are happy to bill you after your ad has been published. You are now finished!
Agreement This contract constitutes an agreement between the client named below and Crimson, a non-profit organization, to provide advertising according to the above specifications. Proof of publication will be sent with billing. Advertisement copy must be received a week (7 days) before publication. Advertisements created by the Crimson staff as a service will be subject to customer pre-approval only if this contract precedes publication by 5 business days. Contracts and ad copy may be delivered in person to the Paso Robles High School, room 601, or mailed to the address printed below. Name of Business: ______________________________________ Contact Person: ________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________ Phone: __________________ Email: ________________________ Signature: __________________________________________________
Thank you for purchasing advertising with Crimson.
Date: ___________________
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
Business Tasks 23
Business Tools CONTRACT
Records the deal & contact information for our records.
CASHBOOK
Quick reference of the publication income & ad sizes & PAID’s.
ACCORDION
Field folder to contain contracts & business cards. Take it with you when you sell.
AD BOARD
Visual reminder of the publication’s ads & sizes & YES-WE-HAVE-IT’s.
INVOICE FOLDER Shows all billings for the given publication.
AD THUMBNAILS on InDesign
Shows editors & Mount visual footprint of the ads across the publication.
I. When you have sold an ad and it will run in the upcoming publication: 1. Record it and its size on the ad white board for the editors and Mount to remember. Create a deadline if necessary for when the ad proof must reach the business owner. 2. Create it in the ad thumbnails document so we can make it a part of the layout plan. 3. Record the ad information in the cashbook for later invoicing. 4. Verify that a contract exists for the ad in our accordion showing contact and mailing information.
II. Invoice the business to collect $$$ after publication 1. Open an existing invoice found in Ads&Business/Invoices. 2. Enter mailing and billing information. 3. Save as a new name: business_amount due into that month’s folder. The amount due in the filename helps us locate old invoices after the fact. 4. Print it, sign it, envelope it, stamp it. Mount has these supplies. 5. The Invoice Folder containing these docs should only show THAT MONTH’s INVOICES. Already-Paid’s do not need to be recorded here.
III. Use Crimson billing history to get ideas for ads 1. Look at all the success of your predecessors! These records are valuable ways to inform our current effort. While the contact info may be old, the concept is actionable.
24 Print calendar
Crimson
Publication Calendar Publication Date
Production Deadline
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
Paso Robles High School
The monthly campus newsmagazine
2011-2012
Print Ad Deadline
Newspaper distributed to campus
@ Register-Pajaronian
1. October 10 Wed
Oct 5 Fri
Sept 28 Fri
2. November 14 Wed
Nov 9 Fri
Nov 2 Fri
3. December 19 Wed
Dec 14 Fri
Dec 7 Fri
4. February 13 Wed
Feb 8 Fri
Feb 1 Fri
5. March 20 Wed
March 15 Fri
6. May 29 Senior Issue May 24 Fri PRHS Christmas Break 12/22/11 - 1/6/12 PRHS Spring Break 3/23/11 – 4/7/12 PRHS Prom May 25 2012
Our web portal, www.
Ad copy received+approved
crimsonnews.com, is updated weekly with content actively gathered for the print dates shown at left. Advertising is available
in 30-day increments on these webpages. Ad analytics (visitors, click-throughs) are reported with monthly statement.
Print advertisements reach an estimated 1500 campus readers during the school day on these posted dates. A copy
March 8 Fri May 17 Fri
of the newspaper (and its advertising) is mailed with monthly statement.
Other Important Dates
Advertisers must fill out the C ad contract to confirm date(s) and mailing info.
National Journalism Convention Seattle, WA April 11-14, 2012 Baby photos for Senior Issue 2012 May 17, 2012 Fri
The Crimson // www.crimsonnews .com Student journalism at Paso Robles High School
Rm. 601, 801 Niblick Rd., Paso Robles, CA 93446 Jeff Mount, Adviser
237-3315 ext. 5601
prhsjournalism@pasoschools.org
jmount@pasoschools.org
Plan your calendar with the above dates Don’t be absent during the critical weeks. Show advertisers the print dates. Plan your time according to these dates. Balance your personal life with your journalism life.
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
The Print Cycle 25
2
Editors determine Story BUDGETS for section
Using Budget sheet.
3
Editors submit budgets to Editorial Board
EB checks for overlapping, misjudgments, and weaknesses.
4
Editorial Board approves/adjusts issue content
At home and at lunch meeting next day; decision must be ready for 2nd period.
5
Editors design DUMMY layout to determine content and design
Using Dummy form that portrays the length of each story & the photo/graphic needs, so assignments can be specific.
6
Editors ASSIGN stories to staffers & complete SLUG forms to each writer
Section Editors summarizes budgets for the class; pitcher usually gets the story; volunteers also accepted; slug form is the written assignment from the editor to the writer which includes specifics.
7
Reporters interview, dig, & research for stories
Use your HDN! Work & communicate with your editor(s) and with leadership!
8
Editors guide & manage their reporters
You are not alone on your story. Get help.
9
R1 drafts uploaded [Netstorage] by deadline
And bring back-up on USB or Groupwise attachment.
10
Editors/Mount edit R1’s in color
Download over Netstorage > edit in color > reupload
11
Reporters download, revise, re-interview, dig to address R1 comments
Rewrite stories above existing draft & color comments. Include bar between R1 & R2.
12
R2 drafts uploaded [Netstorage] by deadline
Don’t be late! Chief checks whether you are on time!
13
R2 drafts uploaded to cc.com
Logging in and uploading story is crucial.
14
Story Shares emailed to interviewees
To invite them to read and to help us check accuracy.
15
Editors/Mount edit R2’s in color
Which is your last chance for written input before final drafts (FD’s) are due.
16
All photos & advertisements due
Photo Manager must be on top of this deadline: Who has taken what? Business team: Who is advertising & how big?
17
FD’s uploaded [Netstorage] by deadline
Now the story is done!
18
Layout begins in InDesign: 3-5 day phase
Search for layout inspiration
LATE NIGHT
Editors that are not done w/ layout ONLY. Don’t waste time. Painfully fun. Food is involved.
19
Copy Editing Weekend
Copy editing team perfects content and design.
20
Post produce: Process InDesign files to PDF
To lock layout/fonts/levels for print processing. Section editors are responsible for this “after-layout” step.
21
FTP upload files to Register-Pajaronian
Handled by leaders
22
Pick up 2000 copies by car in A-Town
Nice lunch activity for drivers w/ parent permission.
23
Distribute Crimson to campus Per. 2 on Wednesdays
The whole point. Circulation Manager is now more important than EIC.
24
Mail, invoice, eat, celebrate, tear-up
Maybe play some Mafia.
DESIGN + FINISH >
Your team (having multiple perspectives) helps you with your reporting ideas.
R E P O R T. . . I N T E RV I E W. . . P H OTO G R A P H . . . A S K >
Pitch to your team
PLAN >
1
26 Brainstorming
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
Swift, smart, informed
Brainstorming ideas for the paper & website must be swift. Weak staffs let it drag on for days. We break up into three teams to develop newsworthy ideas & eliminate stale, predictable projects. You need to keep yourself informed as a Crimson staffer, particularly about topics related to your section.
Process: 1.
Use our Cloudseeding form to record original , intelligent, edifying project ideas. Consider Journalove for your community as you plan: What do they need to know? Read, ask, think, & be creative. Fill out the form passionately.
2.
Add design & photo details to your best ideas. Plan a packaged layout, envisioning the final product NOW. View inspiring publications that will deepen your ideas.
3. Pitch your ideas to your team on Brainstorm/Team dayÂ
comprised of EICs, MEs, section editors, and all interested staff members. PURPOSE:
To deepen coverage
—and even on other days. Believe in your ideas.
4.
The Editorial Board is
If the team likes your pitch, the team leader sends your idea to the section editor, who you hope will add it to his/her section budget sheet.
To protect against mediocrity
5.
Section editors compile all winning pitches from teams and finalize their section budgets.
To suggest adjustments/ modifications to section projects
6.
Section budgets go to the Editorial Board, who approves or adjusts the projects that night and during lunch the next day.
To evaluate newsworthiness of a budget
7.
Section budgets return to the section editors, who assign their stories to the pitcher or a fellow staffer. All staff members are welcome at EB meetings.
To solve redundancies
u
Yo inking, th Observ , pitching ing sk a , g in
eam
Your T, Thinking, g Listenin articipating ,P Asking
r n Edito Sectiog coverage + Plannin ing writers assign
ial Editor d Boar
Trying
to see
and
es at h
all issu
!
GREEN
Cloudseeding
The strategy of seeding clouds (with silver iodide or dry ice) so that they are more likely to rain and
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
Email = Groupwise 27 Groupwise is the school district’s web-based e-mail network, permitting you to have e-mail at school even when your GMail, Hotmail, etc. is blocked. Please utilize Groupwise to increase your productivity, communication, & storage!
Groupwise LOG IN: 1. www.pasoschools.org 2. Click icon at bottom of above page 3. Select EMAIL - GROUPWISE 4. User: prhsjournalism 4. Ask Mount or a fellow staffer for password
Beneficial because Groupwise enables you to: 1. Send BACKUPS of your stories on deadline nights (NetStorage is not enough) as attachments. These can be accessed at school the next morning. 2. Contact teachers/administrators to set up appointments, ask followup questions, etc. Most PRHS adults LIKE EMAIL so use it during the school day. 3. SEND THE STORY SHARE (our feedback memo) to interviewees once the story is in its final drafting stages and is nearly ready for print & web. Story Share is CRUCIAL.
Groupwise and Interviewing 1. Generally, AVOID using Groupwise to interview. You look lazy as a reporter when you send an email that in effect says, “Here’s an assignment for you that’s convenient for me and creates WORK for you.”
2. Simultaneously, some adults prefer email interaction... Therefore a good reporter would set up the interview saying, “I would like to talk to you before Wednesday—or I can email you some questions if you prefer.”
28 Netstorage
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
NetStorage permits you to save your work to our
server over the internet FROM HOME. It permits editors to download, comment in, and resave your story for your next draft FROM THEIR HOME. 1. Go to “www.pasoschools.org” 2. Click TREE icon at bottom of above page. 3. Select MY FILES - NETSTORAGE 4. Next, the window below will appear.
User name = longstudentnumber Ex: 710394
Password = yourbirthdayMMDDYY Ex: 032497
When you upload a story to Mother over Netstorage, locate it correctly in our folders so that you won’t be marked late by your ME or EIC
> Mother > Month Issue >Section >Stories
BACK-UP PLAN
Whether you can—or can’t—upload your story to NetStorage, you must still bring in a USB copy and/or email your story to prhsjournalism@pasoschools.org for the next day’s class. We do not accept the excuse “NetStorage didn’t work so I don’t have my story.” >> continue
Netstorage#2 29
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
Inside Netstorage, follow these steps 1. Navigate to the folder of the section you are writing for. 2. Select FILE > UPLOAD or FILE > DOWNLOAD depending on what you need to do. (You have to allow popups for this particular page.) 3. Be sure your file you are uploading is compatible with school computers. YES: files created with extensions: .doc .rtf .txt *If you have Microsoft Windows 2007 you must “Save Type As:” “97-2003.” NO: files created with extensions: .docx .wpd
4. Use clear filenaming: Lastname.section.story
Ex: rodrigues.center.plasticsurgery
Use the same filename throughout the production process. Do not change the name to reflect a newer version of the story. NO: rodrigues.center.plastic_r2.doc NO: rodrigues.center.plastic_finalFINALdoneYEA.doc YES: rodrigues.center.plasticsurgery
5. Log in to Groupwise and send your story as an attachment to prhsjournalism@ pasoschools.org 6. Put your story on a USB and bring it to school tomorrow. 7. Print your story to hand to Mount or EIC tomorrow.
Your story = your responsibility It is not our responsibility to check Groupwise for your story, it’s yours. If NetStorage is not working for you, you must : (1) Come into the journalism room BEFORE school starts to upload it w/ a USB or to open it on Groupwise. (2) Transfer your story into Journalism Mother.
30 Your monthly blog
Blog Writing “Blog” (for us) means report factually and post within 5 days. It’s a sprint report, sometimes called a BEAT REPORT.
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
You will write 1 blog during 1 of the weeks of a print cycle, separate from your other assigned stories. With this system, Crimson cranks out fast stories-ofthe-week for readers. They will trust a website that’s CURRENT. The BEST blogs run in the print issue that month.
Writing your blog Monday
Find a current topic, mainly a NEWS 5W or a SPORTS 5W you’ll investigate further.
During the week
Ask, interview, learn. Write at least once before Friday. Story must meet R1 Standards p 38. Shoot some photos, if the story warrants it.
Reminders •
Attend the event. It will help you with description, information, and it will get you better sources and pictures.
•
Topics: Blog about a sports game, school events, community events, and what’s happening this week at PRHS. Mount always has story ideas.
•
Sources. You must have at least one interview to be precise. Talk to the person in charge, a participant, or both.
•
Picture. If you can get a picture, DO SO. Pictures draw interest to stories—web site especially.
•
Fact density. In 200 words or less, pack in as many facts as possible. What happened, who you saw, who was there, why it happened, etc.
Friday
Write FD of blog by Fri @ end of lunch, 200 - 300 words. Upload to the issue’s Blog folder > Team Folder
Publishing Saturday
Your team leader edits your blog and resaves to Blog folder > Team Folder.
Sunday
You make necessary edits and upload to web by midnight.
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
1 2 3 4 5
6
Posting stories to web 31
Go to crimsonnews.org/wp-admin, log into Staff. Your username is the first letter of your first name and your last name. Ex: Amanda Hutchinson = ahutchinson Ask a leader or Mount for your password. Now that you’re logged in, you should see a tab called the “Dashboard” at the top left of the screen. Click on “Posts” underneath it and then “Add New.” Copy and paste the headline into the box labeled “Title.” Then go to the most recent layout of your story in Journalism Mother and copy the story from there, because it will have the maximum edits. Break up the story into the correct paragraphs. Bold names of students and staff of PRHS. Where it says “Excerpt” put the first part of your lede (no more than one sentence). This is the portion of the story that will be displayed on the front page. On the right, find and select the section that the story would have been (or was) published in. If the section isn’t there, pick the closest to it. Ex: Feature HOW TO POST A PHOTO/GRAPHIC ONLINE
To upload a picture: Find a picture in the Photos folder that was not printed in the issue. But carousel In Photoshop, change the image size to: web photos are 6 in wide a. width of less than 4 inches (Image>Image Size) b. Resolution to 150 ppi c. Make it an RGB (Image>Mode>RGB) d. JPEG, saved to Web folder (Journalism Mother>Web>Web Photos) To upload a graphic: Find the Graphic in the layout section folder and follow same steps OR... If the graphic is compiled on layout in InDesign open the page PDF Go to tools>Select & Zoom>Snapshot Tool Select the area you need for the web Paste into Photoshop and follow the photo steps above Click “Publish.” The story and image should now be visible on the front page of crimsonnews.org! Double check bold names and paragraph spacing.
32 Deadlines/Late work
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
Don’t procrastinate during any phase of your reporting. Be productive during class; do not squander precious minutes socializing when you know you have a deadline. This also applies to editors who must edit stories after deadlines. Late stories are cancer. Evil. Unacceptable. This isn’t your math class doing textbook problems; you are making a real thing, costing real dollars ($900/issue), with real people who need written things from you by a real date. We cannot edit your story, check facts, design with enough time—we cannot be professional when you do not meet your deadline. Therefore, all late jobs—rough drafts, finals, photos, etc.—receive a deduction from the Issue Grade you should have received.
Lame rationalizations about deadlines 1. “The event I’m covering doesn’t happen until after my deadline.” You must still submit R1 and R2 Minimums (see next page) that show you have investigated, learned from sources, and fact-gathered. No story is only contained in one incident.
2. “I haven’t interviewed anyone yet, so I can’t turn it in.” Although your draft may not be stellar without quotes, you can still submit the narrative/fact portions of the story & insert brackets where your quotes will be (with explanations of who they’ll be coming from & why you haven’t interviewed them yet).
3. “Netstorage is down.” You are always to USB or Groupwise e-mail a backup to us. You can always print your story (oh wow) and bring us a hard copy to prove you met the deadline. We have pens to edit your work, you know.
3. “I know I will be late on this deadline, but I don’t want to admit it to anyone...” Have courage—and a backbone! Healthy communication lets Mount & editors know. Journalove and courtesy towards us would want us to know what to expect. WE RESPECT COURAGE. WE DISAPPROVE OF COWARDICE & HIDING.
All deadlines are @ midnight of a given night (usually Tuesdays). You will have a calendar for each production cycle so you will know the exact date. If your story is not on Journalism Mother by the time school starts you will be marked LATE. The EIC and Managing Eds will be CHECKING OFF who has their stories in on time & who doesn’t the morning after deadline.
Extensions on R2’s
may be granted by Mount and EIC (NOT EDITORS) when a key event must still transpire (a performance/game/interview). You should always fact-gather and write a draft even if you are waiting for another development
Reward if you have ALL of your stories in on time... Consequences if you don’t.
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Editor Basics 33
Here is the fundamental, time-hallowed relationship crucial to meaningful journalism. This relationship is NOT to remain a written-only or silent understanding.
Editor behaviors 1. I can hand out thorough slugs: that is, I clarify the key points & questions I want in the story.
The Bottom Line
A great writer & editor relationship? communication
Editors, ask
2. I edit R1s & R2s for my section on time.
How’s your story?
3. I am not disconnected or unaware of my writers’ progress. I help find interviewees, answers, websites, or new angles.
What is giving you trouble? Joy?
4. I know whether my writers have completed their Story Share procedures and manage the missing ones. 5. I am an encouraging editor grateful for my writers’ efforts. I thank them for their work. I praise them. I don’t just point out what needs to change; I also tell them what I loved. 6. I understand that the stories are what make the page! I make sure they’re better than great.
Let ‘s read your current version together.
Your leadership
as an editor who sees yourself as a MANAGER can be the best contribution you can offer this program.
Writer behaviors 1. If I know I am going to be late, I tell the editor and/or Mount. I understand they need to know. 2. I explain conflicts & changes I am experiencing with the assignment— worries, dead ends, changes, disappointments. 3. I respect & address edits to my work. I change most things suggested by editors & Mount. I do not have to change all things. 4. I send Story Shares over email to my interviewees and related parties. I communicate this step to my editor.
34 Editor Tips 1. Speak to your writers THE NEXT DAY about your section’s deadlines. Show you care about the deadline. If you don’t show you care, why should your writers? 2. SLUGS: Be specific so you know what your writers are doing—and they know what they are doing. 3. Communication is CRUCIAL – writers will know what you want and also see that their work matters to you—so say Hi, Goodbye, Howzit, and have full conversations with them. 4. Make story comments in red in their stories that are meaningful and LONG. Do not generalize briefly with “good job!” etc. 5. Empower your writers: Be confident in them. Show them you trust and anticipate and care about their success. 6. Understand writers’ lives outside of journalism. Know what other deadlines and issues they are facing. 7. Always notify a writer if you have to make a change AFTER the FD has come in. Courtesy!
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JOURNALOVE
is tested daily between editors and writers. How can you contribute to a healthy vibe?
Remember
You get a lot further with sugar than vinegar.
5 Most Overused Phrases by an Editor to their writer: Yes No Why? Thank you I’ll do it myself These are simplistic. : (
8. Choose something you can contribute to a writer’s assignment (a list, a phone#, the sidebar, etc.). 9. Lead by example by making all of your deadlines (your editor deadlines and your own story deadlines). 10. Be available and approachable to work with your writers during class. 11. If you don’t like something, tell the writer WHY. Unexplained NO is a put-off. 12. Help Mount & leaders recognize the outstanding work of your writers with a quick heads-up.
Not about you, Not about me, it’s about what’s
BEST FOR THE PUBLICATION.
Awards - Contests 35
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Competing, comparing, and winning keeps us sharp and builds program pride. Below are recent results so that you can both join in our program goals and see where you can one day earn distinctions yourself. C Journalist of the Year
C Reporters of the Year
2011: Monica Patel Alicia Canales
2011: Alicia Canales 2010: Alicia Canales
2010: Karlee Anderson
NSPA Program Ranking 2011: 2010: First Class (1350)
NSPA Nat'l Best of Shows
2009: Rebecca Horne Kelsey Garman
2011, Spring: Best of Show Newsmag = 6th
2008: Gina Alessi Ryah Cooley
2009, Fall: Best of Show 17p+ NPs = 6th
w 3 Marks of Distinction
2009: First Class (1200)
2008, Fall: Best of Show 16p NPs = 9th
w Marks of Distinctn
2009: Karlee Anderson 2008: Jane Teixeira 2007: Hannah Huff
2007: Emma Kelley
2006: Emma Kelley
2006: Ryan Hagen
2005: Ryan Hagen
2005: Courtney Meznarich
2004: Julian Hein 2003: Julia Bluff
2004: Kylee Kenyon
2008: First Class (1250)
2002: Tristan Aird
w Marks of Distinctn
2003: Tristan Aird
2004: Second Class (900)
2002: Chelsea Watts
2001: Vanessa Rivers
2001: Chelsea Watts
NSPA Nat'l Convention Individual Awards
2011
2009
2008
Superior Katie Wingfield, Editorial Writing
--
Rebecca Horne, Newswriting
Excellent Paul Cleland, Headlining
--
--
Madison Butz, Review Writing
--
Monica Patel, Layout
Honorable Sinead Schouten, Sports Writing Mention
JEANC (NorCal) State Individual Awards 2011
1st Place Last year was our first year participating
Monica Patel, Maddi Coons, Centerspread
Honorable Katie Wingfield, Feature Writing Mention Shanna Dowling, Infographic Monica Patel, Newswriting
Dakota Cleland, Review Writing Alicia Canales, Nameplate
36 Staff Awards + Rewards
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Monthly Storeos Mount’s Picks for Best Stories of the Issue
Monthly Issue Honors
Staff Votes for Best of Issue in 15+ areas
Christmas Party Secret Santas
Holiday laughs + joy as we celebrate the close of the Dec issue and the advent of break
End-of-Year Affirmations
Special tributes + awards from your staff mates
Wedding Vows
Sanctifying your new job on staff
Birthdays
We’ll call off business + sing to you. Just bring us sweets to motivate us.
End-ofIssue Thnks Hearing how you’ve made a difference
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37
38 Philosophy of coverage
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
Thanks, Jack! Jack Kennedy, one of the most beloved journalism teachers in the country, compiled this piece and shared it with us at a recent convention
Story Scoring Rubric 39
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
Goal Areas
1 Unacceptable
2 Printable
3 Strong
4 Outstanding
C- / C / C+ 70-79
B- / B / B+ 80-89
A90-92
A / A+ 93-100
Misleading / Noun labels / Try again
Reflects story generally / Less catchy
Reflects story well
Reflects story well & catchy
Flat. See manual pages for cleverness, zip, & idea / Lede #2 missing
Somewhat inspiring / Adequately 5W / Lede #2 missing
3. Descriptive Skills
No description included of persons, incidents, etc.
Some adjectives & sentences help paint a picture at one point
Descriptive writing enhances story & shows the topic / person meaningfully
Exceptionally so… reflects a talented writer
4. Fact Density / Newsworth
Vague, factless sentences exist / Few #-facts / Reader will have ?’s /
Basic 5W’s included; Needs research / Fewer # facts or Appositives
Generally informative & researched. Good # facts, appositives, & fact density
Exceptionally fact dense…exceeds research expectations
Missing: Check your choices in manual / No evidence of N-9
Attempted & needs work / Some hints about N-9
Effective nutgraf / Clear N-9 explanations
Only 1 source used (or none) / More digging required.
Still fewer sources & perspectives than the story deserves. Sources seem nonauthoritative.
Sources in story seem authoritative, complete, & diverse
Exceptionally complete reporting effort with proper, diverse, & effective sources
Quotes seem missing. Key voices need to be found.
Quotes are present but predictable or shallow
Quotes are relevant & interesting; they add flavor & voice to the story
Exceptionally so… reflects a perceptive interviewer
8. Organization + Transitioning
Need recommended story structure still… Need transitions between quotes/ ideas
Structure & order of paragraphs makes proper sense
Structure is noticeable, proper, & helps reader’s search for meaning
Exceptionally so… exceeds expectations
9. Style + Diction
Unacceptable editorializing / Ordinary (dull) diction / Wordy
Occasional bias / More work with Concision / WordCH / Sophisticat’n
Mostly concise / Shows flair + wit / Shows objectivity
Exceptional skill with objectivity, consision, style, & diction
More than 9 errors
Fewer than 6
Fewer than 3
None
1. Headline / Deck 2. Lead
5. Nutgraf & Newsworth (N-9) 6. Sources + Pursuit
7. Quote Quality
10. Grammar, Punctuation, + Spelling
Good! Reader likely to read on: Cleverness / 5W’s creativity are strong
Especially captivating; original or fact dense; flows effectively into story
Masterful, intelligent nutgraffing + sense of what makes the story newsworthy
Our drafting process 41
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These are the writing steps you will do every month. Read and learn them. You will soon have them memorized without realizing it. Editing Colors
Writer - BLACK Editor - RED Managing Editors - GREEN Chief - PINK Mount - BLUE 1. Investigate, interview, and write a rough draft (R1) of your story. Save it as “Lastname_ Section_Topic.” 2. By the R1 deadline, upload your story (with the same filename) to Q: Journalism Mother over the network, NetStorage, Groupwise, or USB. Save it in the correct issue and section folder. 3. Section editors, higher ups, and/or Mount will edit and make suggestions in their colors (shown above) in your story. 4. Read the comments you receive. Return to the toil of reporting (new interviews, more research, better lead, etc.). HONOR THE COMMENTS from your editors and address them by the next deadline. 5. Write the R2 into the same file: 1.
Open the R1.
2.
Highlight and copy your R1, including comments from editors/leaders.
3.
Create a line above your R1 by hitting “- - -” & then hit “enter.” (A line appears across the
4.
Paste your R1 above the line. You now have two copies separated by one line.
5.
Revise and improve the UPPER story, now the R2. Save your revisions with the same filename. No edits should be in your R2.
6.
Upload this R2 by deadline to Journalism Mother into the same folder.
page.)
7. Editors, Leaders, Chief and/or Mount will edit again in color, expecting to see R1 comments addressed. 8. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for your final draft (FD). At the end, post it to Journalism Mother and to www.crimsonchronicle.com
The editor may need to make last minute changes in your story once it’s pasted into InDesign for design purposes. S/he should always tell you if changes have been made. If they do not communicate on this, talk to them or talk to the Chief or
42 Draft Minimums WRITERS: If you don’t meet these requirements, you will be LATE even if your story is on Journalism Mother! EDITORS: Hold your writers accountable!
R1Minimum Standards:
1. One interview & quotes 2. ONE lede 3. Nutgraf 4. 5W basic facts about the topic: Who-What-When-Where-Why
5. Surveys/sidebars (described at bottom with sample questions)
R2 Minimum Standards:
1. Three interviews (Quotes from two. Third interview can be for confirmation.) 2. Two ledes (one alternate lead at the bottom)
3. Nutgraf 4. Fact density to the hilt! 5. Surveys/sidebars (near completion) 6. Revisions reflecting comments from editor/ leadership
FD: PERFECT + READY FOR PUBLISHING
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The Front End 43
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>>
Your R1, R2, and FD must include these seven items in the front text of your story when you upload your stories onto Journalism Mother.
>>
Remember your document filename DOES NOT CHANGE from R1 to FD.
1. Headline Yes: Juniors protest parking fees No: Griping about dough. No: Parking Protest
Run your catchy or cute one as headline (not deck) to grab the reader. Readers should know angle of story from your headline wording: work it until it’s clear. The only word that should capitalized is the first word or a proper noun. No periods at the end of the headline.
2. Deck
Write a subheadline for the above that announces further facts. The deck should further explain the headline. This one also is a sentence with verb, this time more summarizing, more 5W, less cutesy. NEVER NOUN LABELS IN DECKS.
3. Byline
Include “by MYNAME” under the headlines above. We’ll use this item in the layout process. The “b” in “by” is not captalized. Following your name, you must write your staff title (i.e. by Paul Cleland, Reporter).
4. Word count assigned
Write out the number of words assigned by your editor.
5. Word count actual
Write out how many words your story contains, not counting these front end items.
6. Alternate lede
At the end of your story, write another lede that you could use for your story. Please refer to LEDE pages in this manual for inspiration on both ledes.
7. Writer’s note
At the end of the draft, tell us editors what you think of your story, what changes lie ahead, what strengths/weaknesses. If you say it down here, we know we don’t have to nail you in our comments.
Remember to check your story against the C Rubric.
44 Newsworthiness
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
Crimson has to ask itself what is worthy of being printed from the many choices we nominate each month. Are we writing what people want to
read? Are we covering the most newsworthy stories? A story is always “intensified” by how local and current it is! Here are nine areas that never fail:
Hard News Themes 1. Conflict
Is the story a struggle between two opposing sides? Student vs. student? Administration vs. students? A cop vs. a
2. Progress
Will the story cover something that has been improved?
Localizing
Connect your reporting to our PRHS community to establish newsworth. For instance:
1. Compare your topic to a similar event locally
3. Disaster
2. Get a local voice to comment about your topic
4. Consequence
3. Conduct a survey showing local opinion about your topic.
Will the story cover something that happened out of our control? Car accident? Fire? Earthquake? Death? ExplodDoes the story cover an issue that affects many people or a few people very deeply? Food prices raised? Immigration
Soft News Themes 5. Human interest/emotional factors
Does it pull on our heartstrings? Is it “Titanic” status? Will it make us angry, happy, sad?
6. Prominence
4. Find + interview a student who has had a simlar experience. 5. Find + interview a teacher or administrator for perspective
Is the story about a popular/prominent student, teacher or celebrity? Did a student/teacher win an award?
7. Novelty
Is the story about something unusual? A wrestler with no legs? A girl with a walking disability in a marching band?
8. Romance and relationships
Humans find interest in these topics. Did a teacher get married? Blind date is a perfect example.
9. Animals
It’s simple. Humans love animals! Shark fin soup? Endangered tigers? Bald eagles off the endangered list?
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
Current Issues
How prepared is PRHS for... Energy consumption by... Gun control/ assault weapons Terrorism & Preparedness Achievement Gap in schools based on race/econ/region/ etc. USA vs other countries in the area of .. Environmental protection laws Advertising brainwash Materialism Apathy Community Service Success Stories Homeless./ hunger in America Waste disposal Lottery & gambling Welfare reform Health Care Reform Media censorship/1st Amendment studies Presidential races Animal testing & animal rights; dissection of animals in science labs College-university Trends Trace a career Whatever happened to (person) Recent legislation from DC/ Sacramento Pollution Gas / energy topics Calamities College admissions Internet issues/scams/trends/ impact
Teachers & Students
Lack of skills in an important subject Math scores down? Reading? What makes intelligence? School success? Tracking students Overtesting How teachers show the do/don’t care for students Teacher profile Recent fascinating lessons What did Leadership do recently? Club report/club studies
Ethnicity
Racism found today Inequalities Affirmative action & quotas Prejudice/discrimination Supremacy movements Interracial dating
Cloudseeding ideas 45 Gang warfare
School Culture
Math/science gender gap Test mania PSAT bias against girls Grade inflation Cussing, insults, abusive speech The ‘glass ceiling’: inequitable treatment of girls in schools Discipline + Punishment PRHS Drop outs, At Risk Students Illiteracy: functional illiteracy & adult illiteracy Cheating by students Teacher absenteeism Race preferences & college scholarships Home schooling issues Dress code debates/school uniforms Taking courses for college credit What did the Board decide recently? What did the superintendent decide recently? The principal decide recently? Block Scheduling Alternatives Single-gender schools Year round schools What’s next for PRPS/PRHS PRHS secrets Four-day school week? Steroids & athletics
Health Issues
Tanning salons/Sun burning Obesity Anorexia/bulimia The Brain AIDS Substance Abuse Illegal drug use by junior high & high school students Illegal IDs Teen hotlines Peer counseling Teen courts Hunger Suicide Nutritional value of ... (school food?)
Crime
School violence: family disintegration & portrayals of violence in the media are the two leading causes of an “epidemic” of violence in public schools, school district leaders say. Gang Update PR crime trends Safety during the school day Safety at after-school activities,
Remember:
If you think there’s nothing going on, you are not reading nor talking to people enough. especially sports Shoplifting U Rape/Date Rape Vandalism/Graffiti Theft of school property by school employees
Economy
Loss of Income by parents(s) Job availability/ part time work Shortage of jobs for teenagers Dangerous jobs for teenagers Job openings What would it be like to work at...(Job for a Day)
Teen Issues
Curfews Party Scene Report Depression/Anxiety Male - female issues Dating Drop outs Driving topics
Society/Culture
Poverty Our violent culture Our materialistic culture Cars Animated movies Music Technology Religion
46 Interviewing
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
Choosing the person 1. NO NEPOTISM! (Favoritism shown to relatives or friends) It undermines our credibility as a professional, detached, fair source of information. Crimson is not our private affair! 2. Don’t write the story if you’re involved as
These steps reflect a professional, trained interviewer. a participant. Someone else can write it. Payoffs 3. Don’t print inside staff jokes. What for the story, the happens in 601, stays in 601. interviewee, & 4. DO reach underrepresented groups and topics. Let Crimson reputation. their voices be heard too!
Before the Interview
1. Be PREPARED. Find out all you can about the person/event. >>Have at least 10 questions already planned. >>DON’T ASK QUESTIONS THAT COULD’VE BEEN LEARNED BEFOREHAND. >>Gather statements ahead of time the person can comment on. (“Some have said ‘____.’ Do you have a comment about that?”)
During the Interview
2. Be ON TIME. Most people have other things to do, so the worst thing you can do is arrive late. 3. EXPLAIN your story and purpose. Don’t start questioning without giving the person the big picture. 4. ASK PERMISSION TO RECORD the interview. >>Also record a statement that protects us legally: “Please state your name. Do you know you are being recorded for this interview?” 5. Start EASY. Be ready with your prepared questions. Save the hardest/probing questions after a warm-up period. 6. Be PATIENT and QUIET. Pause after an answer to make sure the person has nothing more to add. Sometimes silence leads to better answers. >>Frame your questions in a way that will let him/her tell the story in his/her own words.
Interviewing 47
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7. Be FLEXIBLE. Be ready to change your line of questioning if you can get more interesting information.
8. FIND THE VEIN!
>Listen for the point where the conversation reveals the LIFEBLOOD to the person, to the issue at hand. This is the point where you hear the story within the story.
9. ASK FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS to dig deeper into the vein. 10. Be POLITE. No matter how rude somone may be to you, keep your cool. You are representing Crimson: our reputation is based on your actions. Always say “thank you” when you finish interviewing. 11. GET CONTACT INFO, so you can Story Share. 12. SAY THANK YOU! Thank the person for their time and let them know when the issue comes out.
After the Interview
13. WRITE A DRAFT of your story ASAP. Details fade away as time passes & inaccuracies creep in (DANGER!). 14. Once it’s done, STORY SHARE over email and/or deliver it to their box. 15. RELAX! (Only for a little bit).
48 Interviewing
h W
i r n b g o t t a
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>Recording devices are HIGHLY recommended! >Notepad & Pencil! Your recorder may give out in the middle of an interview so jot down important information.
>A Smile! People tend to feel more comfortable if they see you are not going to rip off their heads.
t i p t s r e p Ex
1. ATTEND: Go to the game/practice/performance before the interview—or it will be a dull conversation. 2. THE NOD AND WAIT: When the cliche, dull answer occurs, just nod and wait. You are making clear you want more. The person will gradually form the words. Fill the silence yourself and you’re stuck with the lame answer. 3. DRAMA IS THE VEIN: Peck around until you have discovered it. The fear, the challenge, the irony, the revenge, etc. Drama makes good features and good sports. 4. BE AN ORIGINAL REPORTER: Don’t interview so you can write the obvious story. Interview so you can tell the story that hasn’t been told.
Got a Tough INTERVIEW? 1. Talk PAST the “no comment” or the banal remark. Try “Can you confirm _______?” even after the person has dug his heels 2. Stoke their ego with additional questions that refer to position, achievement, power. You’re greasing the wheel.
in. their
3. Start a new vein because the old one isn’t going anywhere. 4. Seek out the CONFLICT the person understands/faces. Try to understand their understanding of the conflict at hand. 5. Ask “What would you love to see printed in this story? What would you hate to see printed?”
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
Facebook for the reporter 49 You can get a lot out of reporting material out of your nightly social hijinx.
According to crunchgear.com, the average teenager spends approximately 31 hours a week online. Even with busy lives, people make time for their Facebook fix. Interviewing via Facebook can be a simple and convenient way to add sources to an article. However, don’t be lazy! Facebook interviews are for when an interviewee is otherwise unavailable, not because you don’t feel like interviewing face-to-face!
Some important things to remember: 1. Use Facebook to schedule a face-to-face interview. Face-to-face interviews are not only the most professional, they make finding the vein easier. 2. Make your questions require specific answers. You will not be there to ask a follow up question, so be sure your questions “find the vein.” 3. Be complete, but not overbearing, your questions might not get answered at all if they see a mountain of text. 4. Always thank the interviewee, even over Facebook. 5. Again, don’t be lazy! Facebook interviews are for when an interviewee is otherwise unavailable, not because you don’t feel like interviewing face-to-face!
Other uses for Facebook 1. Storyshare on Facebook! It’s effective and convenient for most students. 2. Send mass surveys over Facebook using SurveyMonkey to your friends. Either send the link to the survey to your friends and students in a message or just simply set it is as your status! 3. Start a “GROUP” for your story idea and invite NONfriends to join it. Include a note with the invitation: “Welcome to a discussion group for Crimson to discuss __(story idea)___. For the next 10 days I will be posting questions...” 4. Use “events” to your benefit...if everyone is rsvp-ing to a school dance/game then it should be covered somehow in that issue. 5. FB stalk people to see what PRHS students are talking about/ interested in...if our students are talking about it then we gotta cover it.
50 Using Facebook GROUPS
Pastein coming...
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
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Researching 51
Journalism is all about digging, researching or “finding the vein.” It’s all about getting the facts and getting them straight. Journalism is about making stories interesting to read, but factual as well. 1. Interview, interview, INTERVIEW! The easiest way to get a fact is to get it from someone involved. A quote from a person is preferable to a quote from a website, which are not always reliable. You can get facts from anyone related to your story. IE: Need to know what the score of the last volleyball game was? Ask the coach. 2. Search the web. Yes, websites are a quick and easy way to get information, but be wary. Not all websites are 100 percent accurate all the time, so if you’re looking for a fast fact cross reference some sites. Also e-mail is a beautiful thing, whether it’s simply e-mailing a teacher for a quick reference, or interviewing the CEO of a company, you never know who will respond to your e-mails. 3. Other publications. Other written publications are great for story ideas or facts on a similar topic. Check out local newspapers and New York Times. 4. Just do it! Getting facts is hard work but the more you have the deeper and better your story will be. If you work hard on the base of your story, the facts, the
Research enough to be “buried” in it!
52 Getting a story started
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
Don’t just sit there and chat during 2nd period! Your stories need to explode with facts and quotes! Here are some ways to get those interviews done.
1. Make an appointment with a teacher/
Check their schedule on the teacher board.
2. Make an appointment with a student.
Make it for lunch, periods 1 & 3-5, whenever they’re available.
3. Interview during 2nd period. Use call
Don’t rely on just 2nd period! We’re busy with other agenda too.
4. Interview during periods 1 & 3-5 in
You’ll probably need to meet them at the door of their class to remind them.
5. Interview whenever you can! Before/
Remember we want 2-3 sources per story.
6. Get phone numbers from the Magical
Be sure to say you’re from Crimson. Otherwise you’ll just sound like a stalker.
7. Research on the Internet. Make sure to
Actual quotes from a person is always better than an “according to www” fact.
8. Conduct a survey. See what the trends
Survery during lunch, nutrition, before/after school, in class (with teacher permission).
administrator. Drop by their prep period, send an email, do the Teacher Memo, etc. Get an interview scheduled! Ask ahead of time when they’re available so they can think about what to say. Plus it’s annoying to walk into their room to find out they’re absent. slips with Mount’s signature and write “when convenient.”
601. Neither of you goes to your assigned classes. Mount writes a re-admit once you’re done. after school, nutrition, lunch, etc. Students are just eating or hanging out. They aren’t busy. Interview them! Green Binder/ “The Green Bible.” Call students or teachers when you’re at home—at a reasonable time.
use authoritative sources, no wikipedia. Also CALL a live person from the site if you can. We aren’t a “quote-the-homepage” organization. are in the topic you’re covering. What do PRHS students think?
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What is a fact? 1. It’s a fact if it’s one of the 5 Ws.
WHO - WHAT - WHEN - WHERE - WHY ie. Margie Lambie passed away on March 13, 2010 due to bacterial brain infection.
2. It’s a fact if it’s a quote a person actually said. ie. “Wes is by far the best player on our team. He is the most consistent and truely tries harder then
Factology 53 ABC’s to a good A
Fact Density
The saturation of facts that you provide as the writer. We should be able to find 75% of each sentence to be factual.
B Specifics, please Exactly WHO? Exactly WHEN? Exactly WHERE? etc.
everyone else,” teammate senior Kenny Romero said.
C Opposite of fact?
3. It’s a fact if it’s a number. ie. Wookey’s pitched to 128 opponents as of May 5, and her ERA (Earned Run Average) is .205.
Opinion Interpretation Rumor Assumption
D Get the quote RIGHT! Print the quote wrong & obviously it stops being a fact.
If you filled your story with #1, #2, & #3, you’ll be set!
You now live & die on your facts. If you have them, you may have a good story. If you don’t, you can’t fake it.
54 Online surveying
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Increase your story’s FACT DENSITY by
1. Go to: www.surveymonkey.com 2. Sign In: [Username: prhsjournalism, Password: deadtrees] 3. Top right in green box: click on “+ Create Survey”
using this method or a simple “clipboard survey” during your week. Ask a veterans for how they have handled surveys before.
4. Title the survey 5. Click on “+ Add Question” to begin adding questions to your survey 6. Click “Add Question” and select the type of question you would like to ask your survey takers. Every question on your survey DOES NOT have to be the same type.
*Your survey is only able to have a maximum of 10 questions – If you have more questions to add, create a “Part II” for your survey.
7. Finished making your survey? Scroll up and click on the second tab “Collect Responses.” 8. The easiest option to pick is the “Share your survey on Facebook” which will post it on your Facebook wall. You should also create a FACEBOOK Group or Event into which you paste the survey link. A GROUP can be extended to non-friends, which is better journalism. Ask survey participants to forward the survey to at least five other persons, too. 9. When you want to check how many people have taken your survey or see their responses, sign in to Survey Monkey and click on the graphic of the pie chart under “Analyze” that corresponds to the correct survey. 10. Here, you will receive your “Reponses Summary.” You will be able to see the response count, the amount of answered and skipped questions, and of course, the responses themselves. 11. Need MORE participants? Continue to push it out via GROUP invitations over Facebook.
Validity? Hmm:
SurveyMonkey does not let a computer station take a survey more than once. But it cannot stop a person from taking your survey on his laptop AND, say, on his phone...
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
Campus surveying 55
56 Appositives: Use 'em
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
Find the parts of your sentence where you can infuse FACTS and 5Ws! The APPOSITIVE is your friend here. Appositives are the inserted information that follow your nouns (usually), mini add-ins of information and reporting. They are PLATFORMS on which to place additional facts. We want an appositive almost always with the attribution.
WEAK FACT DENSITY
C-
Although they were victorious in this *fact opportunity game, the *fact opportunity Varsity team has had some struggles during the *fact opportunity record season.
BETTER
B
Although they were victorious in Wednesday’s 55-degree game, the 12-member Varsity team has had some struggles during the record season of 14 wins and one loss.
BEST
A
APPOSITIVES in italics offer more facts about the circled nouns on the sentence
Although they were victorious, pulling out the win in the final two minutes in Wednesday’s 55-degree weather, the 12-member varsity team has had some struggles during the record season, which boasts eight more wins than last year.
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
Number facts 57
58 Objectivity, please
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
Example 1. Strongly avoid first person 2. Remove words that suggest your opinion as the writer. 3. Choose objective, factual words free from added meaning/connotation. 4. Often clarify your wording with “s/he said” so readers understand the origin. 5. Shorten your sentence counts—shorter is less biased.
Feature on Will Venturini, Dancer YES: Objective
Page communicates FACTS about his skills, what OTHERS SAY, and what WILL says. It’s accurate.
NO: Subjective
Page communicates what the writer thinks, offers opinion (positive or negative) about his skills, or generalizes without evidence.
You must limit and often strip your writing of its
6. Do not write fictionalized subjective words as a journalist. scenarios. YES
NO
1
When Jessica graduates from PRHS, San Fransisco will be gaining one aspiring guitarist.
When Jessica graduates from PRHS, San Fransisco will be gaining one incredibly cool girl.
2
Sam sets weekly expectations for himself hoping to someday write for a magazine.
Sam sets great expectations for himself hoping to someday write for a magazine.
3
See Tiexiera walking by on campus? She says she’ll be glad to talk more.
So if you find yourself standing nonchalantly around during lunch or nutrition, and Ms. Teixeira just happens to walk by, take it upon yourself to approach her and engage in a conversation.
AP Style 59
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
RIGHT
Names
a) First time you use a person’s name, give Principal Randal Nelson his/her TITLE + FIRST + LAST NAME
sophomore Forest Erwin
WRONG Mr. Nelson Forest Erwin
b) Use the LAST NAME of the person Leadership teacher Denise Conte afterwards. agrees. “It’s the best in the West,”
Mrs. Conte stated...
c.) Always LOWERCASE student titles Senior Todd Dylan... unless it’s the beginning of the sentence. After the game, junior Teyvon
The award went to Sophomore Brittany Klavin.
Conte said.
Brooks..
Time of Day
11 a.m. 2:30 p.m.
Date
Abbreviate month always; never day. Monday Jan. 5 Use numbers for the day.
Saturday, Feb. 14,
Composition Titles
Put quotation marks around books, “Hey Soul Sister” is very catchy. movies, etc. except for the Bible and PRHS AP seniors will read “The reference books. Brothers Karamozov.”
Quotations
Mon., Jan. 5 Monday, January fifth Jan. 5th The band played Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
“I like Taco Bell,” senior Ethan Baietti
Orwell stated it was “the best food they’ve ever made”.
“Blah,” junior Bob Taylor said.
“Whatever,” says/said freshman Lucy Blake.
a.) Put periods and commas INSIDE the said. quotation! b.) Name, then said. ALWAYS said.
11 this morning, 2:30 PM, 2:30 pm
School Name
Abbreviate and capitalize school with First time: Atascadero High School no periods unless it’s the first time After: PRHS, AHS, CA they’re mentioned.
Numbers
P.R.H.S., A.H.S., C.A.
Write out all numbers less than 10 Eight students
8 students
Write out all numbers beginning a Fifty-two seniors objected. sentence
52 seniors objected.
Use numerals/hyphens for sports scores The Bearcats won 21-3. Use numerals for ages, times, dates, 1 p.m. and money larger than a dollar 15 years old $1.01
Spell out percentages
57 percent, 1 percent
21 to 3. One o’clock fifteen years old It costs one dollar and fifty cents 68%, anything %
60 Find the EXTRAordinary
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
The best stories are about how the ordinary becomes the extraordinary. —Gay Talese, NYT, USC The school play is this weekend. Girls basketball is second in league. Class elections are next month. There’s the kid in your 3rd period. Oh, an assembly next week. Students don’t like a certain school rule.
—Another month, another newspaper.
Is there anything extrordinary in such mundane events?
Gay Talese (born February 7, 1932) is an American author who wrote for The New York Times in the early 1960s. He helped to define literary journalism or “new nonfiction reportage,” also known as “New Journalism.” His most famous articles are about Joe DiMaggio, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra. Talese is a visiting writer at the Master of Professional Writing Program at the University of Southern California each spring.
The true journalist can find it.
“Well, I tried to interview him, but he is so boring and there is no story there.” Sorry, that’s not the full truth. There are no boring answers. Only boring questions—often asked by journalists.
Yes, you can throw a dart at a map and find a great story. The high impact writer will elevate the story into an artistic masterpiece about the human condition.
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
What you're doing matters 61
“A job on a newspaper is a special thing. Every day you can take something you just found out about, & you put it down & soon it becomes a product. Not just a product like a can or something. It is a personal product that people—a lot of people— take the time to sit down & read.” —Jimmy Breslin
Breslin’s accomplished pen: “Speaks cheerful English & in the past has written this language with a paintbrush that talks. “ “Media, the plural of mediocrity. “ “Rage is the only quality which has kept me, or anybody I have ever studied, writing columns for newspapers. “ “The first funeral for Andrew Goodman was at night & it was a lot of work. To begin with they had to kill him. “ “The number one rule of thieves is that nothing is too small to steal. “
Jimmy Breslin, “New York’s Columnist,” won the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. Perhaps the best known story was published the day after John F. Kennedy’s funeral, focusing on the man who had dug the President’s grave. Breslin often highlighted how major events affect the common man.
Pulitzers matter These 15 or so prizes every year, awarded by Columbia U are the highest honor for professional journalism in the nation. “Every issue of the paper presents an opportunity and a duty to say something courageous and true; to rise above the mediocre and conventional; to say something that will command the respect of the intelligent, the educated, the independent part of the community; to rise above fear of partisanship and fear of popular prejudice.” Read this year’s winners and their works at www.pulitzer.org.
62 Ledes
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
The LEDE is your SHOWCASE. It is one of the most hallowed, scrutinized elements in journalism. Even the most seasoned Crimson veteran must continue to sharpen this skill. They say that if you don’t show any style here, it can correctly be assumed that you haven’t got any.
Crimson lede writing targets 1. Write 2 ledes for every story you submit. Put the 2nd lede at the bottom of your story where we can decide if we like it better than your first. 2. Go for wit, pun, smiles, color. Readers are the bees; your lede is the flower.
3. Thirty (30) words or less in the lede sentence. 4. Ask your editor/team mates about your ledes for feedback. 5. Keep tuning your lede throughout the R1 > R2 > FD process. Don’t work on it 1x-2x and expect readers and us to be impressed.
Great ledes 63
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Tristan Aird: lede writer extraordinaire Tristan served on the CC three years, culminating as Chief & Journalist of the Year in 2003. He majored in journalism at Cal Poly, interned at the SLO Tribune, & now is paid staff with the Las Vegas Review Journal.
Watch Him Work...and try it yourself 1. Pun 2. Plays-on-words 3. Alliteration
4. Metaphor 5. Allusion 6. Descriptiveness
7. Who-What-Where-When 8. Setting 9. Irony
Tristan's Ledes 2003
Top Ledes 2010 - 11
1. Paso Robles High crowned homecoming kings & queens last week, but it was the San Luis Obispo Tigers who held onto their throne Friday night.
1. *A disproportionately large man with a hood and cut off T-shirt, revealing ripped biceps, stands at the edge of a cliff, looking at mountains floating higher and higher into oblivion. He’s also under senior Hunter Gay’s fingers etched into the white paper laying below —Maddi Coons
2. The Paso Robles Bearcats expected a slugfest Friday night, but instead feasted on the sluggish Santa Monica Vikings. 3. The wrestling team has been pulling its weight with class this season. 4. Who needs stunt men? (Cheerleading story) 5. Katherine Suderman made herself the center of attention last Tuesday. (Basketball story) 6. Drug testing in sports may not be as dope as you think. 7. Do some individuals find themselves guilty by association, or do they associate themselves with guilt? 8. The marriage of gang presence & law enforcement is older than crime itself, but the threat posed at the present is a bold one. 9. After the visiting Hanford Bullpups backed out of a non-league preseason scrimmage Nov. 27, the St. Joseph Knights made sure to show up for a season opener against the Paso Robles Bearcats 10. .At the end of a timeless season, the Paso Robles Bearcats simply ran out of time 11. .The Atascadero Greyhounds played to the finish Friday night, but it was the Paso Robles Bearcats who finished them off.
2. *Text “PATRIOT” to 41411 and enter one of the greatest grassroots movements in modern American politics. The Tea Party updates will keep phones—and the press— buzzing. —Sinead Schouten (tea party story) 3. *It’s easy enough to Ctrl+X to cut the “k” in “kangaroo,” and in a “z” in its place. But creating a business at the age of 15 doesn’t have a keyboard shortcut. —Amanda Hutchinson (senior feature) 4. * Glass shattered. It poured into the truck and scattered on the asphalt. It felt like a simple push, she said, but before she knew it, her leg was through the windshield of her father’s truck parked in downtown Paso. —Caitlyn Curran (feature story) 5. *Playing with clay doesn’t have to stop after age six. Senior Desiree Bond has worked and mastered the doughy substance for the past two years. —Alicia Canales (ceramics story) 6. *For Tim McGraw, spending “two point seven seconds ona bull named Fu Man Chu” was an essential bucket-list item achieved whil e he was “living like he was dying.” For sophomore Austin Russel, it’s everyday life. —Katie Wingfield (rodeo story) 7. * Blood, gore, and spine-tingling screams: not exactly what most people want on a first date, but for this month’s blind daters that is exactly what they got. —Sheridan Cook (blind date)
64 Lede sampler 1
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
Put a Face on (1) Last year’s star goalie, senior Juan Sanchez, isn’t eligible the Situation to play this year. He was born too early. Sanchez can’t play because of the University Interscholastic League policy… (Hillcrest Hurricane, Hillcrest HS, Dallas, TX) (2) On Thursday, senior Matt Chang seemed to be his normal self. His quick wit brought laughter from friends & his smile was omnipresent. But by 1 p.m. Friday, Chang had succumbed to meningococcal meningitis at the age of 17. (The Churchill Observer, Winston Churchill HS, Potomac, MD)
2
Could-Be- Two possible changes in state legislation currently under Important Lede discussion in Springfield could have an impact on teens who drink & drive. (XRay, St. Charles HS, St. Charles, IL)
3
Give ‘em the Defying conformity, over 65 percent of 46 teachers indicatStats Lede ed on a recent survey that they don’t follow the attendance policy all the time. (Maroon, Stephen F. Austin, Austin, TX)
4
Who’s-the- Coach Jeff Jones is back coaching football this fall even Conflict Lede though a parent/citizen group fought to get him removed during the summer. (Arlingtonian, Upper Arlington HS, Upper Arlington, OH) “Then & Now” Many children long to become fire-fighters but only a few Lede actually grow up & get the chance to hose down a major blaze. “When they put a five-gallon pump & 40 pounds of equipment on your back & say, ‘Put that out,’ most would probably change their minds,” said senior Jason Stegall, a third year Emergency Fire-Fighter for the Nevada Division of Forestry. (Red & Blue, Reno HS, Reno, NV) Using-the- Meetings held recently indicate that soon students “making Colloquials a run for the border” at lunch won’t have to run very far. In Lede fact, they won’t even have to leave the building, thanks to a new cooperative program between Taco Bell & the school district’s food service. (Argus, Gresham HS, Gresham, OR) “Allusion” Lede It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s Super… Well, no, maybe it was just a bird. In an action-packed beginning of the end series, Superman has died. (Lion’s Roar, Gahanna Lincoln HS, Gahanna,
5
6
7
OH)
Lede sampler 65
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
8
Challenge-the- The land of the midnight sun can be yours this summer for Assumption a lot less than you may think.(XRay, St. Charles HS, St. Charles, Lede IL)
9
“Surprising Would you consider murder a public service? Most people Question” Lede would not, but Abbey & Martha Brewster are not like most people. They are characters from Joseph Kesselring’s “Arsenic & Old Lace,” which…(Little Hawk, City HS, Iowa City, IA) “Noise” Lede Squeak. Squeak. The student store is being forced to pack up & move out due, in part, to a problem with sweettoothed mice. (The Academy Times, Charles Wright Academy,
10
Seattle, WA)
11
“Storytelling” Creaking to a stop outside the University of Illinois at Lede Chicago’s pool building, the old yellow school bus brought U-High’s 6-1 boys swim team to the site of a Jan. 27 meet with St. Ignatius. The wolves’ meets take place at the Circle Campus, across Roosevelt Road in the Near South Side neighborhood, because Ignatius doesn’t have a pool of its own. Leaving the bus, everyone briefly headed back out into the sunny but chilly afternoon, past various broken bottles & empty cans into the huge brick pool building, which looked like a warehouse.(U-High Midway, University High School, Chicago, IL)
12
“Then-and- Protesting students brought DISD to a near standstill last Now-Update” year after the district cut hundreds of teaching positions. Lede Now, with students back in class & teachers rehired, many people wonder what has been learned from last year’s chaos. (Hillcrest Hurricane, Hillcrest HS, Dallas, TX)
15
Dialogue Lede Hey Ashley, this is Michael. How would you like to go out with me tonight? I’d love to Michael; where are we going? Well I was thinking we’d just go see a movie. Click. (The Trojanier, Rigby HS, Idaho Falls, ID
16
Common “If you’re having sex, use a condom.” These words have Quote Lede dropped out of celebrities’, teachers’ & even parents’ mouths to save young people from creating a bomb many fear is just waiting to go off. (U-High Midway, University High School, Chicago, IL)
66 The Dirty Dozen
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
Classic News Story Elements are contained here: Learn them. The Dirty Dozen are 12 elements used by journalists to structure a complete & organized story. The DD are most crucial in the news-oriented stories, but DD elements belong in all stories.
The first 5 of the dozen are: 1. The LEDE
Make the first sentence the NEWS. No delays. News is the newest thing that is known about the given story, presented in a package of the 5 Ws. The lede should be SHORT.
2. Second sentence/more facts
Here’s where you put the other details needed to understand the lede. We put them here to avoid overloading the lede.
3. Best Quote
Make sure it relates to the lede & the second sentence.
4. The NUTGRAF
WHY DOES THIS STORY MATTER? The NUTGRAF steps back from the immediate details to provide context/ perspective. It tells how the current news fits into the larger picture. It tells what’s been happening lately or elsewhere.
5. Summary of what’s to come (SW2C)
Here, the writer lays out the varying points of view, foreshadowing the details of the rest of the story. This summary is key to FAIRNESS: no one’s point of view is paramount.
Teen drivers may be blocked from using cell phones Teen drivers would be barred from driving while using cellphones of any kind--even if fitted with hands-free equipment--under legislation that passed the state Assembly today. The bill would also prohibit drivers younger than 18 from using text-messaging devices, laptop computers or pagers. If signed by the governor, the bill will take effect in July. Violators would be fined $20 for a first offense; repeat offenders could be punished with a $50 fine. “A new law is necessary,” said author of the legislation, state Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) Car accidents are the No. 1 cause of death among teenagers. & an estimated 11 million teens own CA phones. Yet the bill concerns some adult drivers, who feel they may be next, as the teen measure marches through remaining hurdles in Sacramento. Tully Lehman, insurance industry spokesman with the Insurance Information Network of California, an organization that represents about 70% of property & casualty insurers in California, supports the legisla-
DD continued 67
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
‘Teen drivers’ cont’d... 6. Supporting quotes
This quote should support the last point of view summarized in the previous graf.
7. Transitions between quotes
Quotes from two people should never be back to back. A transition is needed as a bridge from one idea to another. Then follow up with the relevant quote.
8. Transition, then final supporting quote
Notice that the supporting quotes go in reverse order from the way they were summarized.
9. Real-time color, anecdotes
“Color” means brief descriptions of sights, sounds, & mood. Reporters should use all their senses.
10. The Past
Is there additional history that can help the reader understand more about the subject? Has this sort of thing happened before? How is this different or similar?
11. The Future
Wind up the story by looking toward the future. What is the next step? Or if an anecdote is used up toward the top, a useful technique is to refer back to the beginning, or to the anedote, to look to the future.
...increase the safety on the roadways for not only the teen drivers who are driving while using their cellphones but also for other drivers on the road as well,” she said. Arian Moreh, 19, a third-year law student at UCLA, agrees. “I think it’s better for safety. I think it’s being put out there for a reason, probably I’m one of them, but I haven’t got into an accident. I think I’m OK. You’ve just got to be good at it, you’ve got to be talented. I do text while I drive. I think that it’s just part of a routine. As long as I’m being safe it doesn’t matter. I think there’s a lot more things they should be thinking about before this, & it’s not that important.” But Teresa Martinez, of Reseda, laments the possibilities for her phone use as a driver. “My performance at work is improved when I can make calls & drive,” she said. Martinez received two calls, in fact, while driving during the interview on southbound 101. The legislation marks the five year effort of senator Abel Maldonado to make public roads safer, according to the senator’s webpage. Lawmakers will make their decision April 2007. Teens have four months free before their phones might be pulled
12. The Kicker
Usually a short, high-impact sentence. It may be a poignant or telling quote. It may also be a surprising bit of information that works better at the end than at the beginning.
68 The nutgraf
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
...is a NUTshell... paraGRAF ...that explains HOW THIS STORY IS NEWSWORTHY
You must tell readers why your story matters in a larger context. Any of these choices will work:
1. Why does this event matter? Why is it printed in the paper? 2. How does it compare to past events?
According to an authority?
According to a fact-based analysis of it?
3. How is it likely to affect the future? What’s ahead? 4. What’s the historicity of your story? First ever? Third? Worst? Learn the history. 5. Many are saying that your event is… This majority approach is enough to establish nutgrafism The Crimson publishes relevant information; this graf helps readers see the relevance.
CRIMSON POLICY: Every Crimson writer provides a nutgraf in each story printed in the paper & web.
“The writer must share with the reader: ‘Here’s what the story means. Here’s what it says to all of us.’” —Ira Glass
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The SW2C 69
70 Story shapes
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
PYRAMID: Narrative
Start with the small and build in detail and significance. Develop conflict. Develop setting & character. Time follows chronological order. End with something BIG. This story shape is the STORYTELLING shape, but can become unjournalistic and overwrought.
INVERTED PYRAMID: Journalism classic
Most important details & quotations told first, then the next most important, lessening in significance as story unfolds. Works best with news-oriented topics: “Earthquake kills three.� Quote, transition, quote, transition. Efficient story shape, but can be unimaginative and old fashioned.
HOURGLASS: Award winner, always works
Combine the above, such that the IMPORTANT details (inverted pyramid) serve as a teaser, but the bulk of the story provides STORYTELLING (narrative pyramid). The intersection requires a key transition sentence. This story shape permits journalistic prioritizing of facts combined with the satisfying qualities of storytelling.
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
Shape examples 71
72 Attribution + quotation ATTRIBUTION means the places in your story where you attributed a quotation to a speaker.
Crimson
Paso Robles HS Journalism
Quotations are the bread-nbutter of journalism. Avoid buggering them.
1. Punctuate & capitalize correctly WRONG: “I don’t agree with the school”, one student said. “Because freshmen matter”. RIGHT: “I don’t agree with the school,” one student said, “because freshmen matter.” 2. Use indirect quotation to replace long, boring sections of a quote that would be better if summarized. WRONG: “We welcomed them as soon as they arrived,” Smith said. “We all waited for three hours in the rain for the buses to come. We were excited to see our partners.” RIGHT: “We welcomed them as soon as they arrived,” Smith said, who along with others waited for three hours in the rain for the buses to come. “We were excited to see our partners,” he said. 3. Stricly use “said” as the verb in your attribution. Don’t get narrative on us with distracting verbs such as “muttered,” “mused,” “observed,” etc. unless it is essential for the narrative writing you’re intentionally creating for effect. 4. Use normal SUBJECT-VERB order in the attribution. WRONG: “The club was not satisfied with the proposal,” said Principal Randy Nelson. (You wouldn’t say “said he”...) RIGHT: “The club was not satisfied with the proposal,” Principal Randy Nelson said. 4. Attributions go strictly at the end of the quotation. WRONG: Said Principal Randy Nelson, “The club was not satisfied with the proposal.” WRONG: When asked about the incident, Principal Randy Nelson said, “The club was not satisfied...” RIGHT: “The club was not satisfied with the proposal,” Principal Randy Nelson said.
Conciseness 73
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In journalism, you must use clear, direct, factual language. Choose the perfect word, not ANY word. Your sentences & phrasing must be crisp. Active, visual verbs are essential.
Excellence is weakened by any of the following: A vague words + phrases—not specific
B overstated,
wordiness
C subjective,
unfactual words that “open the gate” to varied meanings
D tell not show writing
E ostentatious
words—you’re trying too hard, honey
... simple is best
Crimson Conciseness Standards 1. Take off your Essay Writer hat when you walk into P14. Lose the flowers. 2. IF YOU CAN SAY IT SHORTER, DO SO. Count your words, therefore. 3. Choose the perfect word. If it’s not perfect, keep working. 4. Don’t be satisfied with the first version of a sentence. 5. Verbs are the secret: Pick lively, exciting, punchy verbs. Avoid passive is-are-was-were-bebeen-being. 6. Make the suggested changes from your editors. 7. Be ready to practice Conciseness Drills monthly. 8. Read a lot.
Do not use “There IS/ARE/WAS/WERE/WILL BE.” It’s a terrible combo of words for a writer whose trying to be sharp. YES
Twenty three students depart Tuesday Oct. 28. If laws did not govern society, crime would… NO
There are 23 students going on the field trip Tuesday Oct. 28. If there were no laws in society, crime would flourish.
74 Sportswriting
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
1. DESCRIPTION/COLOR: Sports writing is so cool because you can be
creative, humorous, subjective, & COLORFUL. It varies from weather, sensory detail, action, metaphors, to alliterations... you name it.
2. ORIGINAL LEDES: Reread Tristan’s Ledes elsewhere in the manual. 3. ANALYSIS: Write about more than just the games: combine games’ results & look for trends. Strong defense? Weak offense? 4. INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES: If you are writing an athlete profile, watch that person in competition & in practice on several occasions. 5. STATS: Keep up with team & individual statistics & use them frequently in sto-
ries. Maxpreps.com is the best! Also know your teams’ ranks in the conference, state, etc. Know team & individual records, best season times, etc. Know historic stats.
6. GAMES: Go to them (and take notes)!
1. LAME ATHLETE QUOTES: “We want to get to CIF.” & “We’re working really hard.”
2. STORIES THAT JUST REPORT SCORES: Look for opportunities to report
on more than games: sports outside of school, different training regimens, the pre-season, benchwarmers, etc.
3. WRITERS WHO DON’T GO TO THEIR GAMES
Synonyms: WON and LOST
Sports writers must be articulate, eloquent, clever. VERBS are the
annihilate abandon beat blast blitz bowl over butcher crush cut defame demolish despoil desolate
destroy down drill enslave extinguish fail flatten forsake maim maraud marr mutilate numb
overpower overwhelm pound prevail pummel punish quash ravish raze rout shatter stamp out subdue
subjugate subvert succeed suffer terminate thrash trounce upset vanquish wallop whip
Sportswriting 75
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Make it better than a game(s) recap 1. Find an angle beyond a “game summary:” what’s the story within the story? A problem? A record? A new offense? The player on fire?
SPORTS are 2. important!
Have a good system for keeping notes: keep stats, use abbreviations, circle the big plays, and use different colored pens so you know the differences.
3. Play by play: put the KEY plays in the story, not all of them. Start a story with one of the LAST plays.
“Sports do not build 4. character. They reveal it.” 5. —Haywood Hale Broun
Focus on a trend, i.e. poor tackling. Focus on it by getting the plays for proof and quotes. Get quotes from the OPPOSING team. Get both sides. Talk to the opposing team’s coach and get their views on the game, etc.
6. Ask the coach specific questions so you can get good info. Don’t interview coaches for quotes that often. Readers want the JUICE… not lame quotes from the coach.
“What counts in sports is not the victory, but the 7. magnificence of the struggle.” 8. —Joe Paterno
“Players win games, teams win championships.” —Bill Taylor
“It’s all about chemistry. Talent alone won’t get it done. “ —Brett Favre
Get stats, but don’t OVERDO it. Don’t just throw them in there. The stats should help prove a point. Don’t write game stories on the sports pages. Turn it into trends or feature stories (sneak in key plays though).
9. Plan a fact box in the final package to showcase something. 10. Sports columns: features with a little bit of an opinion. 11. Teams that are struggling: write WHY. 12. Go the team’s practices. Find time to sit down with the coach or assistant coach to learn about the sport if you don’t know the sport very well. Create a good relationship with them. Do your homework on the sport before the game/match. 13. Try looking at sports outside of school. 14. No one cares about wins/losses… Write FEATURES instead! 15. Focus on an individual.
76 Feature Writing
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1. Assess: Does your story merely skim the surface identity/story? Search for a more surprising angle. • DRAMA? >> (tragedy, comedy, discovery, victory, loss, etc.) • Conflict in their life >> and how it may be overcome? • Award/achievement >> and what it took? • Humor >>theirs or yours? • Little-known facts >> or secrets? • See 9 NEWSWORTHY STANDARDS 2. NUTGRAF: Needs to answer the following. (Could be a reference to any of the above newsworthy items.) • How this person compares to other students in some statistic, achievement, or other fact? • How does this person compare to the past? • How is this person a change from the norm/from other people? • What does this really means if you get behind the facts? 3. At least 2 MAJOR paragraph-length quotes by the person 4. Connect reader’s senses S-S-S-T-T to the person: the person’s voice, hair, colors, dance moves, nose, etc. 5. Another perspective on the person’s life & times? (Friend, teacher, parent, coach, etc…) 6. Future plans—as detailed as possible
The bottom line Newsworthy standards should guide your feature writing angle. Give THE NINE a review.
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Sample Feature 77
This story received Honorable Mention from JEANC in 2011.
1. In three hours she would stand in front of 600 pairs of eyes and ears alongside Michael Nowak, the composer behind “King Kong,” “The Hangover,” and 13 other iconic films. With a 100-year-old violin in hand and 4/4 time on the brain, Matthews would do what she had been studying since fifth grade: pour out her heart.
HELP! We get a
2. Matthews is principal second chair violin in the SLO Youth Symphony, an organization founded in 1965 that she has been a part of since her humble beginning as fifth chair at age 10. A performance with the Damon Castillo band, tours through southern California, appearances in the upcoming documentary “Botso,” and other opportunities have encouraged and inspired Matthews in her life-long pursuit of challenging herself through mastering the “international language” of music.
lot of stories about students that keep matters overly simple: “So-and-so is a nice person who likes to have fun & works really hard.” Don’t make the person look ordinary and bland; such traits are NOT newsworthy.
3/4. “The band is playing and we’re backing them up so you get this really full sound; it’s a really different experience than playing just classical music. It’s rock music! It’s a very unique experience,” Matthews said, who loves the collaboration of two separate musical worlds. “There was a point where I was not very good, but I wanted to believe I was. The conductor had to tell me, ‘That person is better than you.’ It was such a lesson in humility; I realized that if I wanted to be good, I had to make myself good. You can’t not practice and expect to be good. You can’t expect people to just hand things to you.” 5. Fellow symphony members, including co-principal cellist George Major, acknowledge Matthews’ unique contributions to the program. “She’s genuinely an encouraging person. She makes everyone feel welcome,” Major said, who has befriended Matthews through the symphony. 6. “There are lots of people who have a job but are also part of the symphony, and I can see myself on that path. I love music, and my heart is in it, even if it’s not my main source of income,” Matthews said. Matthews plans to continue chasing the rush of performing and the moments where “things just work” well into the future and devote her life to perfecting her own musical language.
78 Feature: Tell a Story
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
Ira Glass’s story telling tips CRIMSON is looking for memorable, remarkable features. Here’s insight from one of America’s best feature writers. They gave him the radio show This American Life because he’s so good.
1. Show a Back Door to a Deep Place “The best stories are a back door into a really deep place within us. We feel we are less alone. We live in a world where things make sense & we are like each other. They make us less crazy. They make the world less crazy.”
2. Explore its meaning “The writer must share with the reader: ‘Here’s what the story means. Here’s what it says to all of us.’” This is the NUTGRAF.
Ira Glass is the host & producer of the radio & television show This American Life. He attended Northwestern University & Brown University. He began as an intern at National Public Radio. He was a reporter & host on several NPR programs, including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, & Talk of the Nation.
3. Surprise & humor, please “If the story is surprising or funny, it sticks in your head.”
4. Use humor to create meaning “The funny part of the story is the most telling part of any story.”
Visit NPR for free iPod downloads where you can listen to award winning features.
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Opinion story structure 79
Key Principle:
Opinion still requires digging for facts, numbers, authorities. EDUCATE your readers about the facts that support your opinion. Story Element
1. SITUATION
Start your story giving background. Fill in the reader: what has happened (the 5 Ws)? What has CAUSED your reaction? It’s factual, objective, & 1-2 ¶s long. Don’t give your opinion before this step. Plus, WHY DOES THIS MATTER? a sense of NUTGRAF belongs here…
2. STATE YOUR OPINION
What it would sound like When sophomore Mike Edwards opened his CA HS Exit Exam last February, he was surprised & a little entertained, he said, to find—finally—a writing prompt a little less blasé than the previous timed essays he’d faced as a student. 2006’s test asked California’s estimated 750,000 sophomores what they looked for in a “romantic partner.” Of course, multiple parents & teachers have since protested the 2006 CAHSEE writing prompt, calling the writing question too unprofessional, opinionated, or inappropriate…
Don’t save it for the climatic conclusion. It probably should enjoy its own ¶. Be sure it’s in a single sentence, much like you’ve learned to write a thesis sentence. >> NO 1st PERSON <<
Yet the thing that seems to have been skipped: students need something interesting to write about. There is therefore nothing wrong with Sacramento’s test. Except of course that we don’t want to take it.
3. SUPPORT (Facts, Authorities, Research)
Writers have told us for years that we must pick something we know about. “If you can’t write about something close to you, don’t pick up the pen,” Mark Twain said. He’s right. And mandated tests are notorious for their dryness. “I barely even try,” one junior said. PRHS test results suggest students need a carrot, as well. From 2001 through last April, results were…
Have figures & quoted authorities support your opinion. Opinion stories in the middle are just like news stories: the reporter still digs for facts & quotes. This section will need several ¶s.
4. COUNTERPOINT
Talk a little about what the other side says. Give some facts & quotes that support that counter side. This section shows the reader you are fair & understand all the spokes of the wheel.
Now it is true that California’s Ed Code 48950 prohibits surveys of student sexual preferences. And yes, many who attempted the test question don’t have a special someone. As one critical teacher put it, “No one was hurt.” These are valid concerns.
80 Review writing
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
“ A review is a grand total of nothing if it’s not backed up with facts: the color, the textures, the words and gestures and music that came to life on the stage, and which must again come to life in your prose, if the critique is to mean anything.” —Judith Green, San Jose Mercury News In your review, write with... 1. knowledge of the subject and a respect for the genre 2. Intense observation and recording of details 3. reflection about the meaning of the experience 4. style! You should delight us with your writing 1. Knowledge
You should also know something about the following to write a good review and leave the reader feeling educated: The previous work of the band/actor/etc. Trends and styles within the field you’re dealing with...compare this performance with other performances What other critics have said about it What other attendees/readers/listeners are saying
2. Observation Specific examples should appear so we get a taste of the performance: Quote lyrics, lines, titles, passages Describe the character, singer, or actor Rarely let criticism stand without an example Pack in the adjectives! We want you to color this picture for us.
3. Reflection This is the Reviewer’s version of the nutgraf: Why does this performance matter? Where does it fit in to the big picture? You talk first person about how it mattered to you. You could admit what the performance will do for the reader. What other critics have said about it.
4. Style
Irony, humor, sarcasm, cleverness, puns, jokes...these should appear in a good review...and that’s why they’re fun to write.
STYLE!
“I’ll be the first to admit that, frankly, I don’t like female rappers. It’s simply agitating to hear the insane rhymes Missy Elliot comes up with or how promiscuous songs about Foxy Brown and Lil Kim are.”
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Blogging 81 A “blogger” is assumingly a person who complains about life and problems. This is not a Crimson Blogger. We blog about sports games, school assemblies, community events, and what’s happening during lunch and at PRHS, even if it’s not a story for the paper. (By the way, a blog is basically a story but is for web use only.)
The Basics >>ATTEND! You can’t write about what you don’t know. In order to get the facts, sources, pictures, and colorful descriptions, you MUST attend the event! >> One interview minimum You must have a source! Otherwise it may sound like your opinion, even if you’re just reporting. Talk to the person in charge, a participant, or both. The more sources, the better. >>A lede Even though the short length will draw eyes, you still need a catchy lede to hook the reader in. >>Pictures Photos are required on web uploads, so bring a camera with you. Put an image with your words. >>Facts, Facts, FACTS! Another reason you must attend. You must describe what happened, what you saw, who was there, etc. A blog is usually 200 words or less, but those words need to be factual.
82 Story help
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
Study examples
While your HDN gives you tips, you can also: 1. Get into the Crimson Archives cabinet to study last year’s attempts at a _______________.
Play review
2. Read and study professional reporter’s stories about your topic and how s/he went about co vering it.
Question person
Football game Principal interview Blog Opinion story Staff editorial
3. Ask Mount for help or examples. He’s seen your topic covered before. 4. Discuss your story with your editor, team, or J-Buddy.
etc.
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83
84 Starting your layout
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
Suggestions to get you started I. Check out the Best of High School Press. II. Ideas surround us whether it’s designs online or in magazines or other papers; if you saw it and liked it, we can create it. III. Check out the books on the design rack: The Graphic Design Cookbook, Newspaper Designers Handbook, and several other design idea books are available.
Layout Requirements 1. Must have a Dominant Item: big, use of color, vibrancy, weight, powerful. 2. Choose your Balance: symmetrical balance is formal/ normal; asymmetrical is informal/modern/cool. 3. Watch Proportion: how items interact w/ each other (i.e. BIG story = BIG headline). 4. Where’s the Variety? Keep reader interest. 5. Contrast: It’s artistic, helps POP!, and prevents things from blending. 6. Create UNITY among fonts, lines, repeated elements. 7.
Repetition: guides the reader, creates movement, & helps unity.
8. Simplicity: Have restraint! If you don’t need it, don’t use it! Communicate but don’t decorate. 9. Color & VALUE: can add weight. Pick colors/grays that are compatible.
Another important thing to remember is even when you think you’re done, prepare yourself, because you’re just getting started.
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Crimson Standards 85
PHOTOGRAPHY & GRAPHICS GENERAL
1
Photos shall have 1 pt. stroke
2
Advertisements shall have 1 pt. stroke
3
Photo/Graphic credit shall be OUTSIDE picture, not on picture
4
Picture resolution in PShop shall be 300 ppi (not 72)
5
Photo size in PShop shall be approximate to printed size in InDesgn
6
Photo/Grfx shall be in Tiff format w/ LZW compression
7
Grayscale pages shall only place grayscale graphics
8
Color pages shall only place CMYK graphics
9
All photos/graphics shall be credited to source
10
All photos shall be improved in LEVELS (Image > Adjust > Levels)
11
All photos shall be improved in SHARPNESS (FIlter > Sharpen)
12
Gray-fills shall be 18% when text also appears
13
Pull-quotes shall use Pull Quote Template (Mother > Templates-Graphics)
14
Photos shall be resized in proportion—not free hand (shift-ctrl-drag)
15
Photos shall be cropped to maximize content & focus (blackarrow resize)
16
Photos & graphics shall honor copyright and/or be used with permission only. If we did not create it or get OK, we do not use it.
17
Photo cutout of background shall not occur if background includes important elements/context
1
Dominant graphic/photo shall occur on page
2
Points of Entry shall be numerous & tasteful with strong eye-flow
3
Pica space (.1 in) shall surround all page elements
4
“First person” & “Staff Editorial” and other logos shall clarify stories with opinionated voice or special content
5
Lists of text shall “left-offset” the numbers/bullets for reading aid
6
Page size = 10 in. W x 11 in. H
7
Center page size 20 in. W x 11 in. H
8
Text shall not be printed on top of a photo or graphic
9
Crimson page numbers shall appear on “out” side of folio, not in gutter
86 PS and ID tasks
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
Photo Cutouts 1. Select the “Polygon Lasso Tool” and carefully trace the image by clicking to keep an anchor point. 2. Once the image’s outline is blinking right click and click “Select Inverse” then press delete. 3. Once the image is surrounded by the white fill go to “Magic Eraser Tool” and click on the white fill. 4. The little gray checkers means it is transparent—which is good. Save the image as a “TIFF” and a box will pop up and you NEED to check the box that says “Save Transparency.” Then save the image in your proper section folder and you’re done!
Eyedropper!
1. Go to “Image” at the top of the screen, and click mode. Click on “Grayscale” and your picture will become black and white. 2. Right below mode will be “Adjustments” and then “Levels.” Once in levels you can adjust the levels of contrast so that the picture looks appropriate.
Use this tool to quickly re-apply TEXT and PARAGRAPH settings to additional page elements
3. To make the image the right size, go to “Image” then “Image Size” and change the width to 5 inches and height to 8 inches. The resolution must be 150. 4. Finally, go to “File” and click on “Save As” to save the image as a “TIFF” and in the correct folder.
How to place a photo/graphic 1. To place text, make a text box with the “T” tool. Copy and paste the story into the box. (It is important to make separate text boxes for the headline, deck, byline and article). 2. To place a photo/graphic, press Ctrl+D. Pick your specific photo/graphic.
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InDesign tasks 87
1. Fonts for the headline, deck, byline, and article there is a tab named “Character Styles” off to the righthand side where you may find the correct font. 2. Near “Character Styles” locate “Paragraph Styles” and click on “Article.” 3. To adjust the photo to your desired size for the article select the photo with the black arrow tool. Press ctrl+shift then grab the corner of the photo/graphic to adjust. If you dont press ctrl+shift then your photo/graphic will end up either short & chunky or tall & skinny. You don’t want that.
1. On the righthand side of the template go to “Links.” All of your photos and graphics will appear in a list. Double click on the first item. Check the “File Type” which must be “TIFF” and the “Color Space” which must be “Grayscale.” Check all of them by clicking “Next.” 2. Also in “Links” make sure there are zero yellow caution symbols or maroon explanation point symbols beside the name of your photo/graphic. If there is you need to click “go to link” and find it in the server. 3. Once this is complete print out a copy. Make sure your layout has been copy edited multiple times in the final stages. Then call over the Chief or Mount to make a PDF of your wonderful creation!
88 Want a camera?
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
Camera Commandments 1. Thou shalt sign thy name on the holy SIGNOUT clipboard before asking for cameras or equipment. 2. Thou shalt ask an EIC, ME, or Mount for the camera cabinet to be unlocked to obtain thy camera/lens/bag/etc. 3. Thou shalt understand that it is thy financial responsibility to pay for any damage or loss that occurs to the equipment while it is checked out to thee. 4. Thou shalt check that thy equipment is functioning before thy departure from the worthy journalism room (batteries, AF, card, etc.) 5. Thou shalt apply photography principles as thy finger presses the shutter button (see next pages). Thou shalt actively delete photos during thy session that do not fulfill such principles. 6. Thou shalt photograph AND TAKE NOTES on names, event facts, and information that will be needed in captions. 7. Thou shalt return thy camera and equipment the same day or before 1st period the next day. Thy responsibility continues until it is locked up. 8. At check in, thou shalt:
A. Witness its lock-up
B. SIGNOUT on the clipboard
C. Charge the battery for the next person if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s low
8. Thou shalt upload thy images immediately, not vaguely later. Others will shoot on the card and files get needlessly mixed. 9. Thou shalt name photos obediently using either Scanner-Photo-Wizard or Bridge: year_month_event_lastnamephotographer.
Example: 2012_02_lunchgames_wingfield_01
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Get good results 1. Find the emotion in the scene. Pictures tell a story, so show the readers a glimpse of it. Put a face on it. 2. Position yourself and the camera to capture an ORIGINAL perspective on the scene. > BIRD’S EYE: Get the camera looking down on the scene > WORM’S EYE: Get the camera looking up at the scene. 3. Fill the viewfinder with gusto. Zoom in. Stand close. Hold the camera in his/her face. Do not take distant, uncommitted photos. 4. Always show the ball in sports photos. Always. 5. Use lines and patterns that make up the scene. 6. Use the Rule of Thirds: that is, shoot so that the focus lies at the intersection of the “third-lines,” shown at the X’s below.
Photo principles 89
90 Photo principles cont.
Get good results 7. Position the camera to show foreground/background, which shows what else is happening in the scene. To BLUR the background, set Av on the dial and fingerwheel as low as possible (2.8 - 5.6) 8. Anticipate the moment. You can: > Prefocus the lens so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ready for the moment. > Position yourself where the moment will occur. 9. Do not always shoot mugshots with the person looking at the camera. Some shots s/he should be looking away. 10. Pan the camera with the motion of the performance. To BLUR the background but focus on the performer, set Tv on the dial and finger-wheel down to 1/20 through 1/80. 11. Set the WHITE BALANCE WB for the light of the situation (must be on Creative Zone (P, Tv, Av, M)
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Camera settings 91
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
Photo Mode Dial
Creative zone = more control; Basic zone = more automatic
Aperture/f-stop Depth of field factor
Large f-stop# = large depth of field, more is in focus Small f-stop = narrow, limited depth of field is in focus
Shutter speed
shown as fraction of sec. Shorter time (1/1000) = less motion + light exposure
ISO
Lower # (100-200) = richer color, less sensitivity WB WHITE BALANCE to light... High# (1600) = Adjusts the blueness/ better, sensitive results in yellowness/whiteness of darker light the photo. AWB = auto.
MODE SETTINGS P = you set WB, ISO; camera sets shutter
Size of file
L’s are too large for Crimson business
speed + f-stop
Tv = TIME VALUE = you set shutter TIME; camera sets f-stop
Longer time (1/100) = more motion + light exposure
Av = APERTURE VALUE = you set f-stop; camera sets shutter time M = MANUAL = you set both Av and Tv
Mug Shot Board
File Locations for photos
1. Editors, put the mugs you need under your section.
1. Name your files: year_month_subject_photographer_
2. Photographers, when you take a picture, cross the name out and write your initials.
2. Place photos in the correct folder:
3. If someone’s mug has already been taken and it is ordered again, go in the archives and use the old one. Don’t flood the folders!
Example: 2012_02_lunchgames_wingfield_01
Photographs for magazine: copy into the Photos folder for the Issue Month.
Photographs for website: copy a NEW copy into MOTHER > WEB folder and leave the original in the magazine month folder.
3. Delete bad photos at all times, both from the card as you’re shooting AND when you view them on Mother. We have 1000s of bad photos filling up our gigabytes.
92 Sports photos Did you know:
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Paso Robles HS Journalism
Sports are not only the most challenging to shoot, but some of the most important and FUN. With a few rules of thumb, your sportsphotography will be some of the most rewarding.
1. Respect: This means respect the
players, coaches, and officials. If you are asked to stand back or move, do it. Also, remember that being on the field is a privilege. Never abuse your press pass, and remember that you are at the event to shoot pictures, not socialize.
2. Always have the ball in the shot. It gives the picture a sense of action, and a story to tell.
3. Anticipate the moment. Al-
ways aim where the ball is going to be, or else you will always miss the play.
4. Look for emotion. Sports can
easily become emotional: capture those moments of sportsmanship, victory, defeat, and friendship.
5. Don’t be afraid. Get close, fill the frame! If you’re in the way, someone will ask you to move. Don’t be afraid to ask professionals to help, either. If you see someone shooting for the Tribune and you need help with your settings, ask for help! Most likely they will fix your camera’s settings for you, and you’ll have a new friend.
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3
Photo blunders 93
o n m Photo m o C P
roblems
1. Dark Photos: This problem can easily be solved by adjusting two things: ISO and shutter speed.
ISO: The ISO controls the amount of light that your camera takes in. The higher the ISO, the brighter pictures. Be careful, though- in order to keep your pictures correctly lighted but not grainy, you’ll have to adjust your shutter speed. Shutter Speed: The faster the shutter speed, the darker the picture. If you’ve raised your ISO and the pictures are still dark, turn your shutter speed dial counterclock-wise until the pictures are lighter but still in focus. In many cases, if you go to a shutter speed lower than 1/25, the pictures will be blurry, so be careful.
2. Bright Pictures: If your
pictures are washed out or too bright, lower your ISO, (100 is usually fine) and increase your shutter speed. If you have done those things and are still having problems, your white balance may be off. Find the button on your camera that says “WB.” Once there, you will see different options: Tungsten, Florescent, Daylight, Cloudy, etc. Select the option that applies to the setting you are shooting in, and your pictures should start looking better instantly.
3. Blurry Pictures: This means that either your shutter speed is
too slow or that your camera is not focused. If you are getting blurry shots, first make sure the camera is on Auto Focus. If your pictures are still blurry after that, you may consider either switching to a more appropriate setting, such as “Sports,” or increasing your camera’s shutter speed. Remember: it may take some trial and error before your settings are perfect, but don’t give up!