Job hunting

Final project reminder

Hello. This is the same as the earlier post on the final project:
Final project
Public Affairs Reporting

Final Reporting & Multi-Media Project (including multi-media)

You have two options for your final project:
(1) take one of your earlier 100-point stories and make a significant revision and
add a sidebar. Additional reporting should be done. Turn in the original story if you choose this option.

(2) Report and write up a new PAR, 100-point-style story that includes at least three sources.

In addition to your print story, include at least two additional story-telling elements: pictures, poll, graph, audio, video, a map, or a timeline. We will go over these elements in class. These additional elements should add to the storytelling and be handed in through a blog that we will develop in class. You will be evaluated on how well multi-media add to the storytelling.

Deadline: April 23rd in class at the conclusion of the in-class presentation.

Charts

There are many different ways to make charts. One possibility is Google.docs. Here are a few different templates. There are several others if you use the search function.

Here's a tutorial if you use Abode Illustrator.

April 16th

Hello. Just a reminder that today's PAR class is a work session for your final multi-media projects.

I am leaving on a research trip this afternoon to go through the papers of journalist Molly Ivins at the University of Texas, Austin and will return on Sunday. I will check my email irregularly during this time period. I will respond on lengthy questions on Monday.

Remember that you can earn up to 20 extra credit points by attending J-Day this Saturday. (You can earn 10 points per workshop attended. Be sure to sign in.)

CAR data

Hello. Here are the resources we'll be using in class.

The city payroll.

Florida drugs

The city budget.

Extra-credit points

Hello. You can earn up to 20 extra credit points by attending J-Day this Saturday. (You can earn 10 points per workshop attended. Be sure to sign in.)

Computer-Assisted Reporting

Hello. Just a reminder that we will have a guest speaker on computer-assisted reporting in class today. Lance Speere has gone through IRE bootcamp on CAR at the University of Missouri. He is also national past-president of College Media Advisers.

Class on March 9

Hello. You will get your 100-point beat stories back at the beginning of class today. The rest of the class time is devoted to working on your final multi-media projects.

PAR and the Law

Final Project

Final project
Public Affairs Reporting

Final Reporting & Multi-Media Project (including multi-media)

You have two options for your final project:
(1) take one of your earlier 100-point stories and make a significant revision and
add a sidebar. Additional reporting should be done. Turn in the original story if you choose this option.

(2) Report and write up a new PAR, 100-point-style story that includes at least three sources.

In addition to your print story, include at least two additional story-telling elements: pictures, poll, graph, audio, video, a map, or a timeline. We will go over these elements in class. These additional elements should add to the storytelling and be handed in through a blog that we will develop in class. You will be evaluated on how well multi-media add to the storytelling.

Deadline: April 23rd in class at the conclusion of the presentation.

Here is an example of a previous P.A.R. multi-media project.

Budgets

Today's class

In today's class, we'll begin discussing budgets. It's a good idea to review pages 171-179 about budgets in your book.

Also, we'll begin discussing the state of the industry and getting a job in journalism. It's a topic we'll also discuss at the end of the semester, too.

Lastly, I have checked in with NewsU and given 20 extra credit points for those who took the assigned NewsU class last week.

NewsU Assignment

Just a reminder that you need to complete a NewsU course before 4:30 p.m. today.

Any one of the free classes at NewU is an option. Here is a link.

I need a report to verify your coursework. Thanks!

Class on March 17th

Hello,

As noted in the syllabus, we will not have class on March 17 as I am at a conference in New York City.

Instead, please take any one of the free classes at NewU. Here is a link.

Have a good Spring Break!

This week's office hours

Hello. Below are my office hours for this week. There are two changes.

Monday 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (This is a special time for this week.)

Tuesday 9:30-11:30 a.m. (I am taking part in a focus group in the afternoon prior to our class.)

Wednesday 5-5:45 p.m.

Thursday 9:30-11:30; 2-4 p.m.

Dr. Voss

Midterm Study Guide

PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORTING MIDTERM REVIEW

Please review readings, class handouts and lecture notes about the following topics. Remember that the PowerPoint presentations with the exact terms are on this website.

• Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA)
• Open Meeting laws/ Sunshine Laws
• Covering Meetings terms and concepts: For example, how do you determine the most significant information/action?
• Covering School terms: For example, what is Title IX? How do we measure the strength of schools?
• Covering Local Government terms: For example, which positions are appointed and elected? Who is in charge of infrastructure?
• Covering Police terms: For example, how are police departments organized?
• Covering Courts terms: For example, what is the standard of evidence in a civil trial and a criminal trial?
• Criminal Justice terms: For example, what is a misdemeanor and a felony?

In-class writing assignment

Hello. Your in-class writing assignment has TWO parts, based on the handout given in class.

(1) The first part is a short story based on the accident report and the additional information - found on page 4. Let's say the accident happened yesterday in your beat community.

(2) The second part of the assignment is a follow-up brief about driver Anthony Gould's first court appearance, two weeks after the accident. This information is on page 4 and 5. Do not assume that readers saw the original article.

There is no length requirement. You have the entire class to write the two pieces. Please email me your articles when completed. Good luck.

Your midterm study guide will be posted soon.

In-class writing assignment

Hello. Just a reminder that there will be an in-class writing assignment today.
Dr. Voss

Covering Courts

Criminal justice terms

FOIA FAQ

Here's a link to Frequestly Asked Questions about Florida's Sunshine Laws.

Covering Cops

Florida FOIA Audit

Here are the results of a Florida FOIA audit.

Note the findings on our area:
Orange County
All record requests in Orange County were met, with the exception of the Sheriff's Office. The requesting party was referred to the public-information office, who said the records might not exist, and that they would have to file a written request.

Capt. Angelo Nieves responded by saying the request was vague and that "We did as much as we could based on the circumstances. Obviously, there was an ongoing effort in trying to fulfill the request."[1]

While requests from the Orange County Public Schools office and county administrator's office were fulfilled, confusion still occurred. In both cases officials said that if the requesting party had spoken with the correct person in the correct department, that the records could have been easily provided.

Seminole County
Seminole County saw some confusion, but all three county agencies there met the requests.

Tips for Covering Cops

Here's a good Poynter article about covering cops.

Here's another good resource.

And one more on covering cops.

FOIA

FOIA Resources

U. S. Department of Justice General FOIA Information

U.S. Department of Justice FOIA Reference Guide

U.S. Department of State Document Collections

Florida Government Accountability Report Guide to Florida’s Government

Myflorida.com Portal to the State of Florida

Myflorida.com Department of Management Services

Myfloridacounty.com Official State Records

Insanely Useful Web sites From Sunlight Foundation

Freedom of Information Act

Higher Education

A scene from Albert Brooks' Mother

Covering Education

Education Resources

Here's a link for the Florida Department of Education.

Here's information on public education financing.

Here's information on teacher pay in Florida.

Here's a great resource on journalists and education coverage.

First 100-beat story

Hello. Just a reminder that your first beat story is due at the beginning of class today. Be sure to turn something in. Remember your source sheets.

Covering meeting tips

ASNE Tips on Covering Meetings

Try as it might, no daily newspaper can stay away from covering meetings. If it has to be done, is there a way to do it better? Maybe. Consider passing these ideas, assembled by Dr. Richard D. Hendrickson of Cleveland’s John Carroll University, along to your reporters:

Prepare. Find out as much as you can beforehand. That means reading the clips, getting the agenda and going over it with the officials. It's better to write the story as an advance, telling readers what's up and what might happen.

Take good notes. Number events in your notebook so you won't lose track of any discussion or action.

Clean up questions. If you can't hear something, or don't understand a discussion, mark that spot in your note book and then go up afterwards to quickly flip through it and ask questions.

List and pick. Afterwards, make a short, one-word list (from the numbered items in your notes) of each thing that happened, then circle or rank those that seem to have priority in terms of interest and impact.

Write for readers. Ask yourself, why is this a story for my readers, what's the point of it, then use that information to compose a lead. Try for a future angle, telling readers what is going to happen in the future as a result of the decisions.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation

Preview/meeting examples

Here is a link to a good preview story.

Here's an offbeat meeting story. It's an example of how sometimes the real news has nothing to do with the agenda.

Beat story 1 reminder

Hello. Just a reminder that beat story 1 is due a week from today. Remember that you do not have to do the stories in the same order as the syllabus. Stories must be picthed in advance. Good luck!
Dr. Voss

Good example of explanatory journalism

Here is a link to a good example of explanatory journalism in the Kansas City Star. The journalists did a great job with pictures, too.

A civics reminder: How a bill becomes a law

Chapter 6

Helpful beat information

Below is some background on PAR issues that will help you understand your beat communities.

Here is a link to state-level public documents.

Here is a link to Seminole County's website.

Here's a link to Orange County's website.

Here is information on home rule in Florida. Both Orange County and Seminole County operate under home rule.

Here's a website about property taxes.

Here's a link to the Florida City and County Management Association. It's a professional organization not a governmental agency.

Here's a website to check on professional licenses in your community.

Here's tips to writing about budgets.

Pitch Reminder

Hello all. Just a reminder to bring in three story ideas from your beat to class today for a pitch meeting. Remember that these ideas need to be PAR.
Dr. Voss

The Neighborhood Approach

Beat Communities

Oviedo
Nicole Blake
Stephanie de Sousa
Donald Thomann
Kelsey Hinton
Shawn Gage
Shahdai Richardson

Sanford
Natalie Morera
Lauren Miró
Zach McCann
Jessica Saggio

Winter Park
Lisa Velardi
Megan Garard
Jennifer Ross
Kimmy Barker
Amanda Welch
Jenna Gough
Vanessa Bernstein

Chapter 1

Census data

Get to know your beat community through Census data.

What story ideas come to mind?

Does anything surprise you?

How might this information mean to your list of sources?

Welcome

Welcome to Public Affairs Reporting! I'm looking forward to a great semester. Please let me know if you have questions or concerns.

My email address is: voss.kimberly@gmail.com

Please email me with the following information before next class:
1. Your name and contact info
2. Your career aspirations
3. Your media experience
4. Any concerns about news writing/reporting
5. Something interesting about you
6. What community you would prefer to cover (Oviedo, Sanford or Winter Park are suggested)