2010-11 Handy Dandy Staff Manual

VisionCrimson Newsmagazine

Paso Robles HS Journalism

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CC Staff Manual Version 3.0Created with Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, & Illustrator for the ’10 -’11 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

Original HDN written by Sara Callahan, Rebecca Horne, Kelsey Garman, & Max Vermy (Class of 2008)

Jeff Mount, Adviser

Rm. 601Paso Robles HS

The Crimson Mission Crimson is dedicated to our readers above all else. Our staff is committed to reporting worthy local, national, and global news, using our magazine and website to update our community on local and pressing issues. We have made a pledge to “get it right” and to only publish what is both true 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 appre-ciate it, picturesquely so they will re-member it, and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.”

— Joseph Pulitzer

(805) 237-3315 ext 5601 (805) 434-8967 (c)

Monica PatelEthan BaiettiAlicia Canales

Emily ConeAryn FieldsAustin Ehrhardt

Staff Manual 2010-11 Edited & Revised byPaul ClelandKatie WingfieldKellie Kennan

[email protected]

Cartoons by Joe Valdivia (Staff 2006-2008)

Homepage: www.crimsonchronicle.com E-mail: [email protected]

Staff ContactsCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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Baietti, Ethan . . . . . . . 12 . . . . (c) 423-5839 . . . . (h) 239-9129 . . . . [email protected], Kim . . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . (c) 610-2817 . . . . (h) 237-0730 . . . . [email protected], Kim . . . . . . . . 11 . . . . (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . (h) 239-0691 . . . . [email protected], Madison . . . . . . . 12 . . . . (c) 423-2387 . . . . (h) 227-6957 . . . . [email protected], Laura . . . . . . 10 . . . . (c) 610-5859 . . . . (h) 237-9806 . . . . [email protected], Alicia . . . . . . . 12 . . . . (c) 835-2604 . . . (h) . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected], Andrew . . . . . . 11 . . . . (c) 712-1719 . . . . (h) 239-1481 . . . . [email protected], Dakota . . . . . . 11 . . . . (c) 400-7977 . . . . (h) 226-2058 . . . . [email protected], Paul . . . . . . . 12 . . . (c) 610-6852 . . . .(h) 226-2058 . . . [email protected], Emily . . . . . . . . . 11 . . . . (c) 712-5309 . . . . (h) 238-6654 . . . . [email protected], Sheridan . . . . . .12 . . . (c)975-7262 . . . .(h) 226-0882 . . . . [email protected], Maddison . . . . . 12 . . . . (c) 591-9758 . . . . (h) 238-1974 . . . . [email protected], Caitlin . . . . . . . 12 . . . . (c) 216-870-8032 (h) 238-5272 . . . . [email protected], Clarisse . . . . . . . . 10 . . . . (c) 434-8002 . . . . (h) 239-4184 . . . . [email protected], Shanna . . . . . 10 . . . . (c) 423-0625 . . . . . (h) 239-7489 . . . . [email protected], Austin . . . . . 12 . . . . (c) 610-3563 . . . . (h) 239-9517 . . . . [email protected], Forest . . . . . . . . 12 . . . (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . (h) 226-8000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Evenson, Nicole . . . . . . 12 . . . (c) 610-0920 . . . . (h) 227-6841 . . . . . [email protected], Chelsea . . . . . . . 10 . . . . (c) 835-5913 . . . . (h) 239-1874 . . . . [email protected] Fields, Aryn . . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . (c) 286-2005 . . . . (h) 227-0141 . . . . [email protected], Daniel . . . . . . . . . 10 . . . . (c) 951-616 . . . . . (h) 227-0654 . . . . [email protected], Amanda . .11 . . . .(c) 540-1059 . . . . (h) 237-1113 . . . . [email protected], Nicolette . . . 10 . . . . .(c) 975-7160 . . . . .(h) 239-0725 . . . . [email protected], Serina . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . .(c) 591-9348 . . . . .(h) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected], Michael . . . . . 12 . . . . (c) 423-2720 . . . . (h) 239-1099 . . . . [email protected], Olivia . . . . . . . . 10 . . . . (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . (h) 239-4531 . . . . . [email protected], Reilly . . . . . . 12 . . . . (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . (h) 237-8611 . . . . [email protected], Josh . . . . . . . . . . 10 . . . . .(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . (h) 226-8036 . . . . . [email protected], Monica . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . (c) 286-0223 . . . . (h) 239-3030 . . . . [email protected], Maria . . . . . . . . . 10 . . . . (c) 286-2225 . . . . (h) 238-7340 . . . . [email protected], C .J . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . (c) 674-6613 . . . . (h) 226-8250 . . . . [email protected], Megan . . . . 11 . . . . (c) 610- 7353 . . . (h) 226-0820 . . . . [email protected], Zoe (Jordan) . . . . . .11 . . . . (c) 610-2015 . . . . (h)239-0618 . . . . . [email protected], Sinead . . . . . 11 . . . . (c) 712-4576 . . . . (h)238-3769 . . . . . [email protected] Wiggeren, Nick . . 12 . . . . (c) 674-9594 . . . . (h) 238-3408 . . . . [email protected], Jessica . . . . . . 11 . . . . (c) 610-4707 . . . . (h) 239-8611 . . . . [email protected], Sarah . . . . . . . 10 . . . . (c) 400-9650 . . . . (h) 237-7510 . . . . [email protected], Kathryn . . . 11 . . . . (c) 712-4158 . . . . (h) 239-5674 . . . . [email protected], Torey . . . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . (c) 296-0211 . . . . (h) 238-9070 . . . . [email protected], Jenna . . . . . . 10 . . . . (c) 975-7571 . . . . . (h)237-0511 . . . [email protected]

Editor-in-Chief Monica Patel ’11

Managing Editors Ethan Baietti ’11 Alicia Canales ’11 Maddison Coons ’11

Web Master Nick Van Wiggeren ’11Art Director Reilly Newman ’11

> From the Editors..........................................................................5> From the Editors..........................................................................6

> Section 1: Staff Tips and Policies.............................................7

> Journalove Concept ....................................................................8> The First Amendment .................................................................9> Legal Rules ...............................................................................10> Copyright Standards .................................................................11> Libel ..........................................................................................12> Behavior Contract .....................................................................13> Course Objectives .....................................................................14> Fundraising Expectations .........................................................15> Selling Subscriptions ................................................................16> Selling Ads................................................................................17> Ad Contract ...............................................................................18> Invoicing and Business Records ...............................................19> Staff Organization .....................................................................20> Print Calendar ...........................................................................21> Production Process ...................................................................22> The Editorial Board and Teams ................................................23> Groupwise.................................................................................24> NetStorage ................................................................................25> NetStorage ................................................................................26> SurveyMonkey .........................................................................27> No Evil Lateness.......................................................................28> Posting Stories on CC.COM.....................................................29> Web Production Process ...........................................................30> The Editor-Writer Relationship ................................................31> How to Survive and Love Editorship .......................................32> Notes .........................................................................................33> Awards ......................................................................................34

> Section 2: Writing ..................................................................35

> Crimson Story Rubric ...............................................................36> Writing Process .........................................................................37> Writing Standards .....................................................................38> Story Front Ends .......................................................................39> Newsworthiness....................................................................... 40> Interviewing ..............................................................................41> Interviewing ..............................................................................42> Interviewing ..............................................................................43

ContentsCrimson Newsmagazine


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> Interview via Facebook ............................................................44> 60 Questions..............................................................................45> Researching Tips.......................................................................46> Fact Finding and Digging.........................................................47> Factology ..................................................................................48> Appositives ............. .................................................................49> How to Tell a Story ...................................................................50> Find the Extraordinary ..............................................................51> What You’re Doing Matters .....................................................52> Lede Writing................................................. ............................53> Tristan’s Ledes.................................................................... ......54> Lede Sampler ............................................................................55> Lede Sampler............. ...............................................................56> Nutgraf ......................................................................................57> Shaping Your Story ...................................................................58> The Dirty Dozen .......................................................................59> The Dirty Dozen.................................................................... ...60> Attribution and Quotation.................................................... .....61> Conciseness ..............................................................................62> Sports Journalism ....................................................................63> Sports Journalism .....................................................................64> Feature Writing .........................................................................65> Opinion Structure .....................................................................66> Review Writing.........................................................................67> Blog Writing ............................................................................68> Objectivity, Not Subjectivity ....................................................69> AP Style: Nuts and Bolts .........................................................70> Notes .........................................................................................71> Notes .........................................................................................72> Notes .........................................................................................73

> Section 3: Design .....................................................................74

> All Good Design Starts Here ....................................................75> Crimson Design Style ...............................................................76> PhotoShop Basics .....................................................................77> InDesign Basics ........................................................................78> Photography ..............................................................................79> What to Cover ...........................................................................80> Notes ........................................................................................81> Notes .........................................................................................82

ContentsCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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From the EditorsCrimson Newsmagazine


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Dear Crimson Staff, Last year was an amazing year. But what’s ahead this year will surely shine brighter. We have a talented staff that will steer Crimson in all the right directions. And you’re a part of it. But trust me, what we will accomplish won’t come easy. Reading this nifty little booklet front and back will just take us another step closer. Room 601 is full of laughter, tears, everything. So how does it go? Pretty simple if you ask me… we work hard, we play hard. The closer we are to deadlines and the publication of the newsmagazine you’ll find yourself wishing there was some kind of “pause” button you could hit to make life a little easier. But the show does go on, and you will find it incredibly rewarding to know that all the hard work you’ve put into the paper pays off when you’re holding a fresh Crimson in your precious hands…or better yet, in another’s hands. It’s not always so intense though! From birthdays, late nights, reward parties to convention… you’ll create great memories with your journalism family. Journalove! One of the most vital words (yes it’s a word in our dictionary) you will familiarize yourself with in this class, with many meanings. To me, it’s doing what you love along with your fellow journalists. You weren’t just chosen to be in this class strictly because of work, we’re here to get to know one another on deeper levels and enjoy each other’s company. That’s what makes 601: us, not the paper. If you ever need anyone to talk to about anything, I’m always here. Don’t be shy! So I hope you’re as ready and excited as I am to start this adventure together—it’ll be an unforgettable one.

With Love,Monica PatelEditor-In-Chief

Hello friends!Congratulations on joining the coolest class on campus. I can’t wait to meet all of you and see all the cool stuff your capable of. We old fogies are relying on your inspiration and new ideas to push our paper to a new level. Don’t be afraid by the large amount of work, you will enjoy every minute of it. You joined a winning team. It’s your turn to take over and make this paper the best it’s ever been. Lets have a good time!! Peace! Sorry in advance for my loud profane mouth.

Love,Ethan BaiettiManaging Editor

From the EditorsCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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Hey, Hey Staff 2010-2011! It is kind of unnecessary to call you “staff” when really I already see you as a family I haven't gotten to know yet. We will share experiences from hard work to the excitement of holding a finished product you helped create. I will always be here to help or merely to talk to. I experienced my first year as part of the Crimson family where I was grateful to be part of a successful year for Crimson. If anything, take what the Crimson environment provides for you and learn and grow from it. Yes, it might sound cliché, but the more you contribute to the staff and paper inside and out of room 601 the more knowledge, experience, and passion you will walk out with. Don’t be afraid of messing up be-cause it will only keep you from reach-ing your greatest ability and therefore Crimson’s potential. I hope that you come to 601 this year with a willing-ness to learn and determination to create something extraordinary. Though at times the process can become stressful I look forward to it all with you: the great food, laughs, and an award winning newsmagazine we will share with each other.

Love,Maddi CoonsManaging Editor

Hey Crimson Staff, Congratulations! You are now a part of the amazing news production that is Crimson—which means you’re in the most entertaining/interesting/awesome class at PRHS! I’m so looking forward to working with you this year to make Crimson even more incredible. Be prepared for a lot of work and tons of fun. You’ll laugh, cry, stress, and go insane all at once in this class, especially when Late Night is coming up, but you’ll love every moment of it! (Maybe not at the time, but in retrospect for sure.) Room 601 will definitely become your second home, and we are one crazy family. We all love each other—Journalove that is. We care about one another, and we’re always there for each other. Literally. A Crimson member will always be in 601 at some point of the time. I know we’re going to have a fantastic year so let’s get started!

Love,Alicia CanalesManaging Editor

Crimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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The Crimson crew is a team. No, it’s a family. A great journalism program must have a terrific team that cares about our work and cares about each member.

We must be friends—or at least 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.

Editor-in-Chief ’07-’08 Gina Alessi (2008 Journalist of the Year) came up with a concept to achieve this goal: Journalove.

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! All of it is an amazing opportunity to work closely with smart, talented, worthwhile people. This class is more than students, desks, & work.

Editors, make sure that you not only edit stories & leave critiques, but tell your writers what you like! It never hurts to tell them how much you enjoy the article, which lines were funny, or phrases were fact deep. Don’t forget this! It will help you create a closer bond with your writer.

Everyone, when you read an article or see a project that you enjoy, don’t hold it in! Compliments go to waste lying in your head: tell them! Journalove. The simplest act of kindness can brighten someone’s day.

Once we, as a team, apply this concept to our work, atmosphere, & jobs, we will create great friendships, an unforgettable class, & one amazing journalism program!

Journalove ConceptCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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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.

The First AmendmentCrimson Newsmagazine


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As established by Tinker vs. Des Moine (1968):Students do not shed their constitutional rights

“at the school house gate.”

Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede or otherwise limit or modify the provisions of Section 48907.

Legal RulesCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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CA Ed Code

48907CA Ed Code

48950Students 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.

1 . obscene2 . libelous or slanderous3 . inciting students to commit: a . unlawful acts b . violation of lawful school

regulations c . disruption of the operation of

school operation

But...Crimson expression shall be prohibited which is:

There shall be no prior restraint of material prepared for official school publications except insofar as it violates this

section.

This page is GOOD NEWSIf we play by the above rules, there will be NO PRIOR

RESTRAINT.40+ other states provide no such protection of free

speech.

Good newsYou cannot be punished

for your free speech-if it’s ruled to be free speech

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.

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 intimi-dation unless constitutionally protected.

Copyright StandardsCrimson Newsmagazine


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CrimsonCopyright

RULES

don’t use the photo/graphic unless:

We shot it ourselves.

We designed it ourselves.

We received permission.

We also faithfully credit our Crimson

photographers.

If we want credit for producing Crimson—and we do since it rocks:

1. We create our graphics using our own photographers & own designers. OR...

2. We use internet sources (below) that give us copyright permission

Some of the safest graphics sources:

A. Government sites (public property) Example: usa.gov, blm.gov, etc.

B. District subscription to AP Images1. www.pasoschools.org > MyPrps >

SLOCOE2. CampusLogin > Reference/Data tab >

AP Images

Crimson must prepare you for the real, copyrighted world. We enter contests that scrutinize our use of photos

and graphical material—and downgrade for violations. Therefore, publishing a photo or graphic copy-pasted from the internet without permission is a no-no, even when you

credit the source.

LibelCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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It’s LIBEL if:

An example:

Yes.

You must understand libel principles since libel is probably

the most dangerous mess your writing can

create.

Your 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.

1) Untrue2) Malicious intent3) Reflects reckless reporting

Courts have ruled in favor of libel claims

when two or more of the above conditions

have been met.

Student newspaper prints headline:

Story:

“Police Nab Drug Dealer”

“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?

We require an agreement between you, your parents, & Mount so that we can trust you to:• Travelon&offcampusduringschoolhoursforjournalismbusiness• Usecellphones&devicesunderspecialarrangementwiththePrincipal• UsethePRHSnetwork,software,&wwwaccess• UseCrimson/PRHSlaptops&camerasaroundschool&athome• Selladvertisementsaroundtown&servicelocalaccounts

Crimson Behavior StandardsYour 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 busi-ness (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 equip-ment 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.

9. I will maintain a C or better in all my core classes and will not let journalism supplant my academic responsibilities.

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

your happiness•

Behavior ContractCrimson Newsmagazine


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Iunderstandthattheabovestandardsmustbefulfilledtostayenrolledintheclass&useitsprivileges.Iacceptthelossoftravelprivileges,jobreassignment,removalfrom

theclass,and/oradministrativedisciplineifIviolateanyofthesestandards.

X______________________________________________

Basic Training required to advance to your job position

Skill Required Level HDN page1 Summer Reading Blog Posted, Score of 32 AP usage test Written, Score of 85% 703 Partner Feature On time /Netstorage / Score of 3 664 Beat report On time /Netstorage / Score of 3 685 Live interview Observed / Score of 3 41-436 Photoshop skills test Computer task / Pass 777 In-Design skills test Computer task / Pass 78

8 Photography skills test Computer task / Pass 79

Boot Camp!

General Objectives> Writing: News/Sports/Feature/Opinion/Review

1. I will write structured, probing, insightful stories2. I will write newsworthy stories serving campus needs + interests3. 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 well5. I will compose engaging leads, headlines, & kickers6. I will improve my writing to be concise, fact-based, & purposeful

> Desktop publishing & graphics1. I will learn Adobe software InDesign CS3 & Photoshop CS32. I will learn photography principles3. I will design creatively & according to Crimson style4. I will practice do’s + don’ts of page design

> Reporting & Research1. I will practice accurate interviewing techniques & avoid pitfalls2. I will interview & report responsibly & fairly3. I will develop investigative skills for newsworthy stories4. I will exercise my free speech rights as a student journalist5. I will void the pitfalls of libel/obscenity/invasion

> People & Leadership Skills1. I will develop my skills as a team player & project manager2. I will meet deadlines set by other staff members3. I will earn & give trust, respect, encouragement, & leadership4. I will practice marketing, fundraising, & business principles5. I will form deep bonds with classmates

Course ObjectivesCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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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 $15,000 per

year & can be catego-rized as:

(1) printing costs + sup-plies

(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

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:

1. Three subscriptions, or $60, whichever is easier

2. One sold advertisement in the paper (due December)

3. Participation in fundraisers (carwashes, etc.)

4. $30 “Club Fee”

Fundraising ExpectationsCrimson Newsmagazine


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Crimson PolicyEvery 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.

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.

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.

Try your best to sell the higher level (more expensive) subscrip-tions, 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.

Selling SubscriptionsCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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Selling Ads Crimson Newsmagazine


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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/indi-vidual indefinitely.

BAD PRACTICES

Assuming the business is happy w/ its ad. CHECK.1. Failing to follow up after a visit. CALL.2. Being lazy or thick about selling ads. THINK.3. Selling only 1-2 days per cycle. ACT.4.

GOOD PRACTICES1. 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’mC.J.Prusi&I’mwithCrimsonnewsmagazineforPasoRoblesHighSchool.Ournewsmagazinecirculatesto2000studentseachmonth&hundredsontheinternetatcrimsonchronicle.com.I’dliketogiveyourbusinesstheopportunitytoadvertisetothesethousandsforthelowestpriceintown.(Showthemtheadcontract).

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.

Why, how, & what not to doWe 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.

Ad ContractCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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First

Circle the ad size and price you would like.

The more often you advertise,

the more you save!

*Free month of web advertising!

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!

Thank you for purchasing advertising with

Crimson.

SecondNext, circle the best dates

in our publication schedule.

Crimson Advertising ContractThe student newspaper of Paso Robles High School www.crimsonchronicle.com

801 Niblick Road. Paso Robles, CA 93446. (805) 237-3315 ext. 5601 [email protected]

Biz Card ............ $35 Inserts* ............. $150 size = 3.5” W x 2”

1/8 Page ........... $65 Half Page* .......... $150 size = 5” W x 2.75” H size = 10” W x 5.5” H

1/4 Page* .......... $95 Full Page* .............. $250 size = 5” W x 5.5” H size = 10” W x 11” H

25% discount off the third purchased adInserts must be photocopied (count = 2000) and delivered to PRHS.

Agreement This contract constitutes an agreement between the client named below and the Crimson Chronicle, 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: ______________________________________

Date: ______________

Oct. 6 Back to School Issue! Mar. 9

Nov. 10 April 13

Dec. 15 June 8

Feb. 2

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 ads1. 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.

Business Tools

CONTRACTRecords the deal & contact information for our records.

CASHBOOKQuick reference of the publication income & ad sizes & PAID’s.

ACCORDIONField folder to contain contracts & business cards. Take it with you when you sell.

AD BOARDVisual reminder of the publication’s ads & sizes & YES-WE-HAVE-IT’s.

INVOICE FOLDERShows all billings for the given publication.

AD THUMBNAILSon InDesignShows editors & Mount visual footprint of the ads across the publication.

Invoicing and Business RecordsCrimson Newsmagazine


19

Staff OrganizationCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

20

Alicia, Managing EdMaddi, Managing Ed Ethan, Managing Ed

Austin, Editor

Sport WebEditor/Designer

Sport Web Editor/Designer

Sport Web Editor/Designer




News WebEditor/Designer

News Web Editor/Designer

News Web Editor/Designer

News WebEditor/Designer

Front Page Editor

News Editor

Opinion Editors

Photo SAEditors

FoodEditors

Editorial Editors

Sci-TechEditors

People Editor

Center Editor

Sports Editor

In-depthEditor

A+E Editor

CultureEditor

F&GEditor

Health Editor

World Editor

Reporter/ Photographer



Ethan, Managing Ed Business Team Member

Business Team Member



MountAdviser

Circulat’n Manager

Nick, Web Czar

Monica Editor-In-Chief

Print:

Web:

Business:

Team A Team B Team CTeam Leaders Monica Ethan Alicia/Maddi

Editors X X X X X X

Writers X X X X X X

Web Board XX XX XX

Photographer X X X

Business X X X

Graphics X -- X

Sections represented

3-4 3-4 3-4

Team Size 8 8 8

Team O

rganization

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 Publication Calendar

Publication Date Newsmgazine distributed to campus

Production Deadline @ Atascadero News

Print Ad Deadline Ad copy received+approved

1 . October 6 Wed Oct . 1 Fri . Sept . 24 Fri .

2 . November 10 Wed Nov . 5 Fri . Oct . 29 Fri .

3 . December 15 Wed Dec . 10 Fri . Dec . 3 Fri .

4 . February 2 Wed Jan . 28 Fri . Jan . 21 Fri .

5 . March 9 Wed Mar . 4 Fri . Feb . 25 Fri .

6 . April 13 Wed Apr . 8 Fri . Apr . 1 Fri .

7 . May 10 Tue (Zeal) May 7 Fri . Apr . 30 Fri .

8 . June 8 Wed (Sr . Issue) June 3 Fri . May 27 Fri .

Crimson // www.crimsonchronicle .comStudent journalism at Paso Robles High School

Rm. 601, 801 Niblick Rd., Paso Robles, CA 93446 237-3315 ext. 5601 [email protected]

Jeff Mount, Adviser [email protected]

Other Important Dates National Journalism Convention =11/11/10 - 11/14/10

Student art + poetry deadline for Zeal 2011=3/18/11

Deadline for Senior Issue 2011 baby photos =5/13/11

PRHS Christmas Break 12/20/10 –12/31/10

PRHS Spring Break 4/18/11 – 4/29/11

PRHS Prom May 28, 2011

The monthly campus newsmagazine Paso Robles High School

Our web portal, www.crimsonchronicle.

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 of the

newsmagazine (and its advertising) is mailed with monthly statement.

Advertisers must fill out the Crimson ad contract to confirm date(s) and mailing

info.

Print CalendarCrimson Newsmagazine


21

1 Pitch to your team Your team (having multiple perspectives)helps you with your reporting ideas.

PL

AN

> 2 Editors determine Story BUDGETS for

sectionUsing 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 of theirwriters

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!

RE

PO

RT...IN

TE

RV

IEW

...PH

OT

OG

RA

PH

...AS

K >

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 digitally 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 digitally in color Which is your last chance for written input before final drafts (FD’s) are due.

16 All photos & advertisements are due Photo Manager must be on top of this deadline: Who has taken what? Business team: Who is advertising & how big?

17 Web team edits cc.com R2’s Stories go live once Webbies hit “approve”

18 FD’s uploaded [Netstorage] by final deadline Now it’s done!

19 FD’s uploaded to cc.com Now it’s digital done!

20 Web team edits cc.com FD’s Thank your web editors for fixing your mistakes!

21 Layout begins in InDesign: 3-5 day phase Significant time required to complete your layout.

DE

SIG

N +

FIN

ISH

>

Late Night Editors that are not done w/ layout ONLY. Don’t waste time. Painfully fun. Food is involved.

22 Copy Editing Weekend Copy editing team perfects content and design.

23 Post produce: Process InDesign files to PDF To lock layout/fonts/levels for print processing.

24 FTP upload files to Atascadero News Over the internet.

25 Pick up 2000 copies by car in A-Town Nice lunch activity for drivers w/ parent permission.

26 Distribute Crimson to campus Per. 2 on Wednesdays

The whole point. Circulation Manager is now more important than EIC.

27 Mail, invoice, eat, celebrate, tear-up Maybe play some Mafia.

Production ProcessCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

22

Cloudseeding

The strategy of seeding clouds (with

silver iodide or dry ice) so that they are more likely to rain and storm. That is,

BRAINSTORM.

Choosing the ContentTeams, The Pitch, & Brainstorming

YouObserving, thinking,

asking, pitching Your TeamListening, Thinking,

Asking, Participating

GREEN!

Section Editor Planning coverage +

assigning writersEditorial Board Trying to see all issues at hand

Purpose for Editorial Board

To deepen coverage

To protect against mediocrity

To suggest adjustments/

modifications to section projects

To evaluate newsworthiness of

a budget

To solve redundancies

Brainstorming ideas for the paper & website must be swift. Weak staffs let it

drag on for days. So we break down into three teams to develop newsworthy ideas

& eliminate stale, predictable projects.Process:

Use our Cloudseeding form to plan clever, original project 1. ideas. Read, ask, think, & be creative. Fill out the form passionately.

Add design & photo details to your best ideas. Plan a 2. package.

Pitch3. your ideas to your team on Brainstorm/Team day —and even on other days. Believe in your ideas.

If the team likes your pitch, the team leader sends your idea 4. to the section editor, who you hope will add it to his/her section budget sheet.

Section editors compile all winning pitches from teams and 5. finalize their section budget.

Section budgets go to the Editorial Board, who approves 6. or adjusts the projects that night and during lunch the next day.

Section budgets return to the section editors, who assign 7. their stories to the pitcher or a fellow staffer. All staff members are welcome at EB meetings.

The Editorial Board and TeamsCrimson Newsmagazine


23

Groupwise LOG IN:1. www.pasoschools.org2. Quickfind: MyEmail3. 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’sanassignmentforyouthat’sconvenientformeandcreatesWORKforyou.”

2. Simultaneously, some adults prefer email interaction...

Therefore a good reporter would set up the interview saying, “IwouldliketotalktoyoubeforeWednesday—orIcanemailyousomequestionsifyouprefer.”

Please utilize Groupwise to increase

your productivity, communication, &

storage!

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.

GroupwiseCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

24

NetstorageCrimson Newsmagazine


25

BACK-UP PLANWhether you can—or can’t—upload your story to NetStorage, you must still bring in a USB copy and/or email your story to [email protected] for the next day’s class.

We do not accept the excuse “NetStorage didn’t work so I don’t have my story.”

6. >DriveQ@JOURNALISM MOTHER >Journalism Mother >[Month] Issue >Section >Stories

NetStoragepermits 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. Go to “Quickfind” in the lower left corner, & click on “My Files.”

3. You can also select My PRHS on the left, above the Quickfind, then select NetStorage.

4. Next, the window below will appear. 5. User name =

Password =

Lastnamelongnumber.students.prhs.highschools.prps

Ex: Patel710394.students.prhs.highschools.prps

Shortnumberfirstname

Ex: 6452monica

Hint: Hard to remember the order for your User name? Think of it like Google Earth! You have to narrow the field down to you, starting from the right. It first finds the school district (prps), then which type of schools in Paso Robles Public Schools (highschools) then which highschool (prhs), then which body in that school (students), & finally you! Just put it in reverse.

>> continue

7. Navigate to the folder of the section you are writing for.

8. Select FILE > UPLOAD or FILE > DOWNLOAD depending on what you need to do. (You have to allow popups for this particular page.)

9. Be sure your file you are uploading is compatible with school computers.

10. Use clear filenaming: Lastname.section.story

Ex: patel.center.plasticsurgery

Use the same filename throughout the production pro-cess. Do not change the name to reflect a newer version of the story.

11. If you have trouble logging in, make sure:

> Periods between each word, EXCEPT your last name & long number > No spaces > No period after prps> highschools (not highschool) > Spell your name right> Call your editor if you cannot log in

12. Log in to Groupwise and send your story as an attachment to [email protected]

13. Put your story on a USB and bring it to school tomorrow.

14. Yes. Still find a way. (Print it out!)

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

NO: patel.center.plastic_r2.docNO: patel.center.plastic_finalFINALdoneYEA.docYES: patel.center.plasticsurgery

NetstorageCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

26

SurveyMonkeyCrimson Newsmagazine


27

No Evil LatenessCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

28

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 deadLines1. “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 produc-

tion cycle so you will know the exact date. If NetStorage is down when you are trying

to upload your story from home, you must come into

601 BEFORE school starts to upload it w/ a USB or open it on Groupwise. Transfer your

story into Journalism Mother. It is not our responsibility

to check Groupwise for your story, it’s yours. 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.

Reward if you have ALL of your stories in on

time... Consequences if you don’t.

extensions on r2’s may be granted by mount and eiC (not editors) when a key event must

stiLL transpire (a performanCe/game/interview) or if you may have a different

vaLid reason.

|1.

|2.

|3.

|4.

|5.

|6.

|7.

Go to http://crimsonchronicle.com/wp-admin

Your username is the first letter of your first name and then your last name, with no spaces. Ex. Ian Dingler = idinglerAsk your team 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.”

Now you’ll be on the new post screen. Copy and paste the article’s headline into the box at the top labeled “Title.” Copy and paste the entire story into the story box. 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–a teaser, so to speak.

On the left, find and select the section that the story was published in (or would have been published).Ex. Opinion

Under “Gazette Custom Settings” click “Browse,” find an image to go with the article and click “Save.” *An image is required to go with the story.

Click “Publish.” The story and image should be visible on http://crimsonchronicle.com/.

Posting Stories on CC.COMCrimson Newsmagazine


29

Web Production ProcessCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

30

Web Team Meeting on Monday

Pitch your news bullet for the week to the team. Sports writers report what games they are going to that week.

Tuesday: WriteFollow up on your story and write your bullet.

Wednesday: R1 to Netstorage

Your story is to be uploaded to Netstorage, not the web, by midnight on Wednesday.

Thursday: Comments Back/Revise

After being edited Thursday morning by an editor, the writer is expected to do edits by end

of Period 2.

Friday: Post Revised Version/Story Share.

Send the story via email or Facebook to sources for fact accuarcy.

R1Twenty-four hours after the

event/game a rough draft is due.

PostPost revised version with

graphic and/or photo. Send the story via email or Facebook to

sources for fact accuarcy.

Topic Blog Event Blog

The Editor-Writer RelationshipCrimson Newsmagazine


31

Here is the fundamental, time-hallowed relationship crucial to meaningful journalism. This relationship is NOT to remain a written-only or silent understanding.

Editor behaviors1. I can hand out thorough slugs: that is, I clarify the key

points & questions I want in the story.

2. I edit R1s & R2s for my section on time.

3. I am not disconnected or unaware of my writers’ progress. I help find interviewees, answers, websites, or new angles.

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.

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.

The Bottom LineA great writer & editor

relationship?communication

Editors, ask

How’s your story?

What is giving you trouble? Joy?

Let ‘s read your current version together.

Your leadershipas an editor who sees

yourself as a MANAGER can be the best

contribution you can offer this program.

How to Survive and Love EditorshipCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

32

Speak to your writers THE NEXT DAY about your 1. section’s deadlines. Show you care about the deadline. If you don’t show you care, why should your writers?

SLUGS: Be specific so you know what your 2. writers are doing—and they know what they are doing.

Communication is CRUCIAL – writers will know 3. what you want and also see that their work matters to you—so say Hi, Goodbye, Howzit, and have full conversations with them.

Make story comments in red in their stories that 4. are meaningful and LONG. Do not generalize briefly with “good job!” etc.

Empower your writers: Be confident in them. 5. Show them you trust and anticipate and care about their success.

Understand writers’ lives outside of journalism. 6. Know what other deadlines and issues they are facing.

Always notify a writer if you have to make a 7. change AFTER the FD has come in. Courtesy!

Choose something you can contribute to a 8. writer’s assignment (a list, a phone#, the sidebar, etc.).

Lead by example by making all of your deadlines 9. (your editor deadlines and your own story deadlines).

Be available and approachable to work with your 10. writers during class.

If you don’t like something, tell the writer WHY. 11. Unexplained NO is a put-off.

Help Mount & leaders recognize the outstanding 12. work of your writers with a quick heads-up.

JOURNALOVEis tested daily

between editors and writers. How can

you contribute to a healthy vibe?

RememberYou get a lot further

with sugar than vinegar.

5 Most Overused Phrases by an Editor to their

writer:YesNo

Why?Thank you

I’ll do it myself

Not about you,Not about me,

it’s about what’s BEST FOR THE PUBLICATION .

NotesCrimson Newsmagazine


33

AwardsCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

34


35

Goal Areas

1 Unacceptable

2 Printable

3 Strong

4 Outstanding

C- / C / C+ 70-79

B- / B / B+80-89

A-90-92

A / A+93-100

1. Headline / Deck Misleading / Noun labels /

Try again

Reflects story generally / Less catchy

Reflects story well

Reflects storywell & catchy

2. Lead Flat. See manual pages for cleverness,

zip, & idea /Lede #2 missing

Somewhat inspiring /Adequately 5W / Lede #2 missing

Good! Reader likely to read on:

Cleverness / 5W’s creativity are strong

Especially captivating; original or fact dense; flows effectively into

story

3. Descriptive Skills

No description included of persons,

incidents, etc.

Some adjectives & sentences help paint a

picture at one point

Descriptive writing en-hances 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, apposi-tives, & fact density

Exceptionally fact dense…exceeds re-search expectations

5. Nutgraf & Newsworth (N-9)

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

Masterful, intelligent nutgraffing + sense of what makes the story

newsworthy

6. Sources + Pursuit

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

7. Quote Quality 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 be-tween quotes/ideas

Structure & order of paragraphs makes

proper sense

Structure is notice-able, 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 withobjectivity, consision,

style, & diction

10. Grammar, Punctuation, + Spelling

More than 9 errors Fewer than 6 Fewer than 3 None

Crimson Story RubricCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

36

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:

Open the R1.1.

Highlight and copy your R1, including comments from editors/leaders.2.

Create a line above your R1 by hitting “- - -” & then hit “enter.” (3. A line appears across the page.)

Paste your R1 above the line. You now have two copies separated by one line.4.

Revise and improve the UPPER story, now the R2. Save your revisions with the same 5. filename. No edits should be in your R2.

Upload this R2 by deadline to Journalism Mother into the same folder.6.

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

These are the writing steps you will do every month. Read and learn them. You will soon have them memorized without realizing it.

Writing ProcessCrimson Newsmagazine


37

Editing ColorsWriter - BLACK

Editor - REDManaging Editors - GREEN

Chief - PINKMount - BLUE

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 Mount.

Writing StandardsCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

38

WRITERS: If you don’t meet these requirements, you will be LATE even if your story is on Journalism Mother! There will be consequences.

EDITORS: Hold your writers accountable!

R1minimum standards:ONE INTERVIEW 1. & QUOTES ONE2. LEDENUTGRAF3. 5W BASIC FACTS4. about the topic: Who-What-When-Where-Why

SURVEYS/SIDEBARS 5. (described at bottom with sample questions)

R2 minimum standards:THREE1. INTERVIEWS (Quotes from two. Third interview can be for confirmation.)TWO2. LEDES (one alternate lead at the bottom)NUTGRAF3. FACT DENSITY4. to the hilt!SURVEYS/SIDEBARS 5. (near completion)REVISIONS6. reflecting comments from editor/leadership

FD Standard:

DONE & READY TO PRINT!

Story Front EndsCrimson Newsmagazine


39

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 announc-es 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 CC Rubric.

Always include these seven items in the front text of your story (in every draft) when you upload your stories onto Journalism Mother.

Remember your DOCUMENT FILENAME DOES NOT CHANGE from R1 to FD.

>>

>>

NewsworthinessCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

40

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 topics that never fail:

Hard News Values1. Conflict Is the story a struggle between two opposing sides? Student vs. student?

Administration vs. students? A cop vs. a criminal? Political struggles?

2. Progress Will the story cover something that has been improved? Campus construction?

3. Disaster Will the story cover something that happened out of our control? Car accident? Fire?

Earthquake? Death? Exploding chemistry labs? City clock towers collapsing?

4. Consequence Does the story cover an issue that affects many people or a few people very

deeply? Food prices raised? Immigration issues? Student Services being cut?

Soft News Values5. Human interest/emotional factors Does it pull on our heartstrings? Is it “Titanic” status? Will it make us angry,

happy, sad?

6. Prominence 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?

InterviewingCrimson Newsmagazine


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Before the Interview1. 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 Interview2. 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.

Choosing the person1. 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 a participant. Someone else can write it.3. Don’t print inside staff jokes. What happens in 601, stays in 601.4. DO reach underrepresented groups and topics. Let their voices be heard too!

These steps reflect a professional, trained interviewer . Payoffs

for the story, the interviewee, & Crimson reputation .

InterviewingCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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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.

7. Be FLEXIBLE. Be ready to change your line of questioning if you can get more interesting information.

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 Interview13. 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).

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Feature & Sports Interviews1. 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.

What to bring to an interview:

>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.

Talk PAST the “no comment” or the banal remark. Try “Can you 1. confirm _______?” even after the person has dug his heels in.

Stoke their ego with additional questions that refer to their 2. position, achievement, power. You’re greasing the wheel.

Start a new vein because the old one isn’t going anywhere.3.

Seek out the CONFLICT the person understands/faces. Try to 4. understand their understanding of the conflict at hand.

Ask “What would you love to see printed in this story? What 5. would you hate to see printed?”

According to crunchgear.com, the average teenager spends approximately 31 hours a day online. Even in everyone’s 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!

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!

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 other-wise unavailable, not because you don’t feel like interviewing face-to-face!

These tips will help you with a time efficient, effective interview through cyber space!

Other uses for Facebook

Interview via FacebookCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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1. Should schools give seniors birth control information?

2. What are three things you are good at?

3. Do you practice a religion?

4. When was the last time you lost your temper? Why?

5. Should marijuana be legalized? Abortion?

6. What stresses you out?

7. How do you feel about kissing on the first date?

8. If you could have a super power, what would it be?

9. Do you think it is possible for teens to fall in love?

10. Complete this sentence: It bugs me when….

11. Are you superstitious?

12. Do you have a job?

13. Complete this statement: Most high school boys...

14. Complete this statement: Most high school girls are…

15. Describe one of your more embarrassing moments.

16. Opinion on the 1 year driving prohibation?

17. What was your favorite toy as a child?

18. Which is better: Taco Bell or In & Out?

19. Where is the most unusual place that you’ve slept?

20. Have you ever traveled out of the state or the country?

21. Who is your favorite Disney character?

22. Would you ever be a minister, pastor, or priest?

23. Would you ever consider being a politician?

24. What was the worst physical injury you have incured?

25. What was the worst punishment you have ever received? What did you do?

26. Have you ever cheated on a test? What test? Did you get caught?

27. If you could change one thing about your self what would it be & why?

28. Have you ever been in a fight?

29. How are you most like your parents?

30. What are your views towards pre-marital sex?

31. What is the most difficult aspect of being a teen today?

32. What is an accomplishment that you are proud of the most?

33. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be?

34. Name 3 people that you love.

35. Who was the last person you said “I love you” too?

36. What do you fear the most?

37. What do you think happens to us when we die?

38. Can you tell your parents your personal problems?

39. What do you look forward to upon graduation?

40. Would you describe yourself as a hero, victim, or fool?

41. Do you have to like a teacher in order to learn from them ?

42. Why do you think people began to smoke?

43. What would you change in history, if you could?

44. If we opened your freezer, what would we find?

45. What did you miss the most about elementary school?

46. What Olympic Sport would you partake, if you could?

47. On a scale of 1 to 10, where would you rank yourself with regard to your appearance? Personality? Brains?

48. What 3 things are you good at?

49. What do you see yourself doing in 5 years? 10 years?

50. What advice would you give to parents if you had the opportunity to speak to a gathering of adults?

51. If you had $10,000 what would you do with it?

52. What is the scariest movie you have ever seen? Funniest?

53. When was the last time you told a lie?

54. What is your most prized possession?

55. Is there someone in school that you have a crush on? Do they know?

56. What are your views toward abortion?

57. What are your views toward human clothing?

58. What are your views toward the death penalty?

59. What are your views toward the rising divorce rate?

60. What is the most unusual food that you have eaten?

60 QuestionsCrimson Newsmagazine


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...when an interview stalls

Journalism is all about digging, research-ing or “finding the vein.” It’s all about get-ting the facts and getting them straight. Journalism is about making stories inter-esting 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 rest will fall into place.

Research enough to be “buried” in it!

Researching TipsCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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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/administrator. Drop by their prep peri-od, send an email, do the Teacher Memo, etc. Get an interview scheduled!

Check their schedule on the teacher board.

2. Make an appointment with a student. 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.

Make it for lunch, peri-ods 1 & 3-5, whenever they’re available.

3. Interview during 2nd period. Use call slips with Mount’s signature and write “when convenient.”

Don’t rely on just 2nd period! We’re busy with other agenda too.

4. Interview during periods 1 & 3-5 in 601. Neither of you goes to your as-signed classes. Mount writes a re-admit once you’re done.

You’ll probably need to meet them at the door of their class to remind them.

5. Interview whenever you can! Before/after school, nutrition, lunch, etc. Students are just eating or hanging out. They aren’t busy. Interview them!

Remember we want 2-3 sources per story.

6. Get phone numbers from the Magical Green Binder/ “The Green Bible.” Call students or teachers when you’re at home—at a reasonable time.

Be sure to say you’re from Crimson. Otherwise you’ll just sound like a stalker.

7. Research on the Internet. Make sure to use authoritative sources, no wikipedia. Also CALL a live person from the site if you can. We aren’t a “quote-the-homep-age” organization.

Actual quotes from a person is always better than an “according to www” fact.

8. Conduct a survey. See what the trends are in the topic you’re covering. What do PRHS students think?

Survery during lunch, nutrition, before/after school, in class (with teacher permission).

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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 everyone else,” teammate senior Kenny Romero said.

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.

You now live & die on your facts. If you have them,

you may have a good story.

If you don’t, youcan’tfakeit.

ABC’s to a good fact

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.

C Opposite of fact? Opinion

InterpretationRumor

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!

FactologyCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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AppositivesCrimson Newsmagazine


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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.

We want an appositive almost always with the attribution.

WEAK FACT DENSITYAlthough they were victorious in this *fact opportu-nity game, the *fact opportunity Varsity team has had some struggles during the *fact opportunity record season.

BETTERAlthough 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.

BESTAPPOSITIVES 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-mem-ber varsity team has had some struggles during the record season, which boasts eight more wins than last year.

How to tell a storyCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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Ira Glass’s story telling tips

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 .

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.”

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.

visit NPR for free iPod downloads where you can listen to award winning features.

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.

“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?

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.

Find the ExtraordinaryCrimson Newsmagazine


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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.

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.

What You're Doing MattersCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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“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.”—JimmyBreslin

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 matterThese15orsoprizeseveryyear,awardedbyColumbiaUarethehighesthonorforprofessionaljournalisminthenation.

“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.”

Readthisyear’swinnersandtheirworksatwww.pulitzer.org.

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.

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.

Lede WritingCrimson Newsmagazine


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Tristan Aird served on the CC three years, culminating as Chief & Journal-ist 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.

The best lede writer CC ever met

Paso Robles High crowned homecoming •kings & queens last week, but it was the San Luis Obispo Tigers who held onto their throne Friday night.

The Paso Robles Bearcats expected a •slugfest Friday night, but instead feasted on the sluggish Santa Monica Vikings.

The wrestling team has been pulling its •weight with class this season.

Who needs stunt men? (Cheerleading •story)

Katherine Suderman made herself the •center of attention last Tuesday. (Basket-ball story)

Drug testing in sports may not be as •dope as you think.

Do some individuals find themselves •guilty by association, or do they associate themselves with guilt?

The marriage of gang presence & law •enforcement is older than crime itself, but the threat posed at the present is a bold one.

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

.At the end of a timeless season, the Paso •Robles Bearcats simply ran out of time

.The Atascadero Greyhounds played to •the finish Friday night, but it was the Paso Robles Bearcats who finished them off.

Tristan Ledes ‘02 ‘03Top Ledes ‘09 ‘10

Quinceañera ball gown: $487. Lavish •three-story cake: $580. Three-inch high heels: $184. Memories of a gorgeous day to last a lifetime: priceless – Serina Lewis (Quinceañera story)

The sun slowly set across Templeton •High School’s field Dec. 1. The 55 degree weather nipped junior Daniel Fuerte as he stood away from the goal, intently watching his teammates fight the other players for the ball. – Alicia Canales (Soccer story)

A four letter word that starts with an “F” •can be rather shocking to the majority of people, especially when it arrives on their report card. – Reilly Newman (Tutoring story)

Darth Vader may have made it seem like •entering the dark side was a bad thing, but when it comes to chocolate, the dark side is the way to go. – Natasha Wright (Star food of the month- dark chocolate story)

Nothing you can do will stop it: when it’s •least expected it hits you. Doctors say you can inherit it, and once you have it you can’t suppress, halt or get rid of it. – Aryn Fields (Type 1 Diabetes story)

Though singing and dancing is regularly •classified under fine arts at PRHS, it’s not the dance team or choir that captures the attention of students at lunchtime. – C.J. Prusi (Margie story)

Watch Him Work1. Pun 2. Plays-on-words3. Alliteration

4. Metaphor5. Allusion6. Descriptiveness

7. Who-What-Where-When8. Setting9. Irony

Tristan's LedesCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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1 Put a Face on the Situation

Last year’s star goalie, senior Juan Sanchez, isn’t eli-gible to play this year. He was born too early. Sanchez can’t play because of the University Interscholastic League policy…(HillcrestHurricane,HillcrestHS,Dallas,TX)

On Thursday, senior Matt Chang seemed to be his nor-mal 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.(TheChurchillObserver,WinstonChurchillHS,Potomac,MD)

2 Could-Be-Important Lede

Two possible changes in state legislation currently under discussion in Springfield could have an impact on teens who drink & drive.(XRay,St.CharlesHS,St.Charles,IL)

3 Give ‘em the Stats Lede

Defying conformity, over 65 percent of 46 teachers indicated on a recent survey that they don’t follow the attendance policy all the time. (Maroon,StephenF.Austin,Austin,TX)

4 Who’s-the-Conflict Lede

Coach Jeff Jones is back coaching football this fall even though a parent/citizen group fought to get him removed during the summer.(Arlingtonian,UpperArlingtonHS,UpperArlington,OH)

5 “Then & Now” Lede

Many children long to become fire-fighters but only a few 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,RenoHS,Reno,NV)

6 Using-the-Colloquials Lede

Meetings held recently indicate that soon students “making a run for the border” at lunch won’t have to run very far. In 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,GreshamHS,Gresham,OR)

7 “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’sRoar,GahannaLincolnHS,Gahanna,OH)

Lede SamplerCrimson Newsmagazine


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8 Challenge-the-Assumption

Lede

The land of the midnight sun can be yours this summer for a lot less than you may think.(XRay, St. Charles HS, St. Charles, IL)

9 “Surprising Question” Lede

Would you consider murder a public service? Most people would not, but Abbey & Martha Brewster are not like most people. They are characters from Joseph Kesselring’s “Arsenic & Old Lace,” which…(LittleHawk,CityHS,IowaCity,IA)

10 “Noise” Lede Squeak. Squeak. The student store is being forced to pack up & move out due, in part, to a problem with sweet-toothed mice. (TheAcademyTimes,CharlesWrightAcademy,Seattle,WA)

11 “Storytelling” Lede

Creaking to a stop outside the University of Illinois at 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, every-one 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-HighMidway,UniversityHighSchool,Chicago,IL)

12 “Then-and-Now-Update” Lede

Protesting students brought DISD to a near standstill last year after the district cut hundreds of teaching positions. Now, with students back in class & teachers rehired, many people wonder what has been learned from last year’s chaos.(HillcrestHurricane,HillcrestHS,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. (TheTrojanier,RigbyHS,IdahoFalls,ID

16 Common Quote Lede

“If you’re having sex, use a condom.” These words have 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-HighMid-way,UniversityHighSchool,Chicago,IL)

Lede SamplerCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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Explanation of why this story matters in a nutshell-integrated into a paragraph .

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

NUTshell...paraGRAF...explains HOW THIS STORY IS NEWSWORTHY

CRIMSON POLICY:Every Crimson

writer provides a nutgraf in each

story printed in the paper & web.

The Crimson publishes relevant information; this

graf helps readers see the relevance.

“The writer must share with the

reader: ‘Here’s what the story means.

Here’s what it says to all of us.’”

—Ira Glass

NutgrafCrimson Newsmagazine


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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 worksCombine 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.

Shaping Your StoryCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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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 Dirty DozenCrimson Newsmagazine


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1. The LEDEMake 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.

3. Best QuoteMake sure it relates to the lede &

the second sentence.

4. The NUTGRAFWHY DOES THIS STORY MATTER? The

NUTGRAF steps back from the immedi-ate details to provide context/perspec-

tive. 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 would be barred from driving while using cellphones of any kind--even if fitted with hands-free equipment--under legis-lation that passed the state Assembly today.

The bill would also prohibit driv-ers younger than 18 from using text-messaging devices, laptop computers or pagers. If signed by the governor, the bill will take effect in July. Vio-lators would be fined $20 for a first offense; repeat offenders could be punished with a $50 fine.

“A new law is necessary,” said au-thor of the legislation, state Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto)

Car accidents are the No. 1 cause of death among teenagers. & an estimat-ed 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 Infor-mation Network of California, an or-ganization that represents about 70% of property & casualty insurers in California, supports the legislation.

“I think it’s definitely a step in the right direction as far as trying to

>> continued...

2. Second sentence/more factsHere’s where you put the other details

needed to understand the lede. We put them here to avoid overloading the lede.

The first 5 of 12 are: Teen drivers may be blocked from using cell phones

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 PastIs 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 FutureWind 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.

12. The KickerUsually a short, high-impact sentence. It may be a poignant or telling quote. It may also be a surprising bit of infor-mation that works better at the end than at the beginning.

6. Supporting quotesThis quote should support the last point of view summarized in the previous graf.

7. Transitions between quotesQuotes 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.

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‘Teen drivers’ cont’d . . ....increase the safety on the road-

ways for not only the teen drivers who are driving while using their cell-phones 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 rea-son, 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 think-ing about before this, & it’s not that important.”

But Teresa Martinez, of Reseda, la-ments the possibilities for her phone use as a driver.

“My performance at work is im-proved 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 over for good.

Quotations are the bread-n-butter of journalism. Avoid buggering them.

1. Punctuate & capitalize correctlyWRONG: “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 toreplacelong,boringsectionsofaquotethatwouldbebetterifsummarized.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” astheverbinyourattribution.Don’tgetnarrativeonuswithdistractingverbssuchas“muttered,”“mused,”“observed,”etc.unlessitisessentialforthenarrativewritingyou’reintentionallycreatingforeffect.

4. Use normal sUBJecT-veRB order intheattribution.WRONG: “The club was not satisfied with the proposal,” said Principal

Randy Nelson. (Youwouldn’tsay“saidhe”...)

RIGHT: “The club was not satisfied with the proposal,” Principal Randy Nelson said.

4. Attributions go strictly at the end ofthequotation.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.

ATTRIBUTION means the places

in your story where you attributed

a quotation to a speaker.

Attribution and QuotationCrimson Newsmagazine


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... simple is best

In journalism, you must only use clear, direct, factual lan-guage. Choose the perfect word. Your sentences & phrasing must be crisp. Active, visual verbs are essential.

Crimson 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

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…

NOThere are 23 students going on the field trip Tuesday Oct. 28. If there were no laws in society, crime would flourish.

Crimson Conciseness Standards1. Take off your Essay Writer hat when you walk into 601. 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-be-been-being.

6. Make the suggested changes from your editors.

7. Be ready to practice Conciseness Drills monthly.

8. Read a lot.

9. Use a thesaurus to find better words.

ConcisenessCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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Sports JournalismCrimson Newsmagazine


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WHAT WE WANT 1. DESCRIPTION/COLOR: Sports writing is so cool because you can be creative,

humorous, subjective, & COLORFUL. It varies from weather, sensory detail, action, meta-phors, 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 stories. Max-preps.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)!

WHAT WE DON’T WANT1. 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

overpoweroverwhelmpound prevail pummel punish quash ravish raze rout shatter stamp out subdue

annihilateabandonbeat blastblitzbowl overbutchercrushcut defame demolishdespoildesolate

destroy down drill enslave extinguishfailflatten forsake maimmaraud marrmutilatenumb

subjugate subvert succeedsuffer terminatethrash trounce upset vanquishwallopwhip

“WIN/LOSE” = Typical . . . DO BETTER!Remember: Verbs are the secret

Sports JournalismCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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Find an angle beyond a “game summary:” what’s the 1. story within the story? A problem? A record? A new offense? The player on fire?

Have a good system for keeping notes: keep stats, 2. use abbreviations, circle the big plays, and use differ-ent colored pens so you know the differences.

Play by play: put the KEY plays in the story, not all of 3. them. Start a story with one of the LAST plays.

Focus on a trend, i.e. poor tackling. Focus on it by 4. getting the plays for proof and quotes.

Get quotes from the OPPOSING team. Get both sides. 5. Talk to the opposing team’s coach and get their views on the game, etc.

Ask the coach specific questions so you can get good 6. info. Don’t interview coaches for quotes that often. Readers want the JUICE… not lame quotes from the coach.

Get stats, but don’t OVERDO it. Don’t just throw them 7. in there. The stats should help prove a point.

Don’t write game stories on the sports pages. Turn 8. it into trends or feature stories (sneak in key plays though).

Plan a fact box in the final package to showcase 9. something.

Sports columns: features with a little bit of an opin-10. ion.

Teams that are struggling: write WHY.11.

Go the team’s practices. Find time to sit down with 12. 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.

Try looking at sports outside of school.13.

No one cares about wins/losses… Write FEATURES 14. instead!

Focus on an individual.15.

SPORTS MATTERS

“Sports do not build character. They reveal it.”

—Haywood Hale Broun

“What counts in sports is not the victory, but the magnificence of

the struggle.” —Joe Paterno

“Players win games, teams win championships.”

—Bill Taylor

“It’s all about chemistry. Talent alone won’t get it

done. “—Brett Favre

Make it better than a sports game story

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Assess: Does your story merely skim the surface 1. 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•At least 2 MAJOR paragraph-length quotes by the 2. person? Future plans—as detailed as possible?3. Another perspective on the person’s life & times? 4. (Friend, teacher, parent, coach, etc…)Connect reader’s senses S-S-S-T-T to the person: 5. the person’s voice, hair, colors, dance moves, nose, etc.NUTGRAF: Needs to answer the following. (Could 6. 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?•

HELP! We get a 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.

The bottom lineNewsworthy standards should guide

your feature writing angle. Give THE NINE a review.

Story Element What it would sound like

1. SITUATION Start your story giving back-

ground. 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 MAT-

TER? a sense of NUTGRAF belongs here…

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 sopho-mores what they looked for in a “romantic partner.”

Of course, multiple parents & teachers have since protested the 2006 CAHSEE writing prompt, calling the writing ques-tion too unprofessional, opinionated, or inappropriate…

2. STATE YOUR OPINION 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) 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.

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 sug-

gest students need a carrot, as well. From 2001 through last April, results were…

4. COUNTERPOINT Talk a little about what the other side

says. Give some facts & quotes that sup-port 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 prohib-its 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.

5. CONCLUSION Return to your opinion & reinforce

it. End with clipped finality. Or a clever ironic observation. Or an

echo from the first ¶.

But in the end, only the best topics are worth writing about. So the prompts like 2006’s should remain.

It’s hard to believe we should argue for a test. But if we consider the nonsense around this test issue, it’s one worth sticking up for. Even when we don’t want to take it.

Now please excuse me. I’m going out--with my girlfriend.

Opinion StructureCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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Opinion still requires digging for facts, numbers, authorities. EDUCATE your readers about the facts that support your opinion.

Key Principle:

“ 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 genre2 . INTENSE OBSERVATION and recording of details3 . REFLECTION about the meaning of the experience4 . STYLE! You should delight us with your writing

1. KnowledgeYou 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 performancesWhat other critics have said about itWhat other attendees/readers/listeners are saying

2. ObservationSpecific examples should appear so we get a taste of the performance:Quote lyrics, lines, titles, passagesDescribe the character, singer, or actorRarely let criticism stand without an examplePack in the adjectives! We want you to color this picture for us.

3. ReflectionThis 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. StyleIrony, 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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>>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 minimumYou 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 ledeEven though the short length will draw eyes, you still need a catchy lede to hook the reader in.

>>PicturesPhotos 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.

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

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Objectivity, Not SubjectivityCrimson Newsmagazine


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You must limit and often strip your writing of its subjective

words as a journalist.

Feature on Will venturini,

Dancer

YES: ObjectivePage communi-cates FACTS about his skills, what OTHERS SAY, and what WILL says. It’s accurate.

NO: SubjectivePage communicates what THE WRITER THINKS, offers OPINION (positive or negative) about his skills, or GEN-ERALIzES WITHOUT EvIDENCE.

1 . Strongly avoid first person2 . 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 .6 . Do not write fictionalized scenarios .

Example

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 noncha-lantly 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.

RIGHT WRONGNames

a) First time you use a person’s name, give his/her TITLE +

FIRST + LAST NAME

Principal Randal Nelson

sophomore Forest Erwin

Mr. NelsonForest Erwin

b) Use the LAST NAME of the person afterwards.

c.) Always LOWERCASE student titles unless it’s the

beginning of the sentence.

Leadership teacher Denise Conte agrees. “It’s the best in the West,” Conte said.

Denise stated Leadership...

Senior Todd Dylan...

After the game, junior Teyvon Brooks..

The award went to Sophomore Brittany Klavin.

Time of Day 11 a.m. 2:30 p.m.

11 this morning, 2:30 PM, 2:30 pm

DateAbbreviate month always; never

day. Use numbers for the day.Monday Jan. 5Saturday, Feb. 14,

Mon., Jan. 5Monday, January fifthJan. 5th

Composition TitlesPut quotation marks around

books, movies, etc. except for the Bible and reference books.

“Hey Soul Sister” is very catchy.

PRHS AP seniors will read “The Brothers Karamozov.”

The band played Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

Quotationsa.) Put periods and commas

INSIDE the quotation!

b.) Name, then said. ALWAYS said.

“I like Taco Bell,” senior Ethan Baietti said.

“Blah,” junior Bob Taylor said.

Orwell stated it was “the best food they’ve ever made”.

“Whatever,” says/said freshman Lucy Blake.

School NameAbbreviate and capitalize school

with no periods unless it’s the first time they’re mentioned.

First time: Atascadero High School

After: PRHS, AHS, CA

P.R.H.S., A.H.S., C.A.

NumbersWrite out all numbers less than 10

Write out all numbers beginning a sentence

Use numerals/hyphens for sports scores

Use numerals for ages, times, dates, and money larger than

a dollar

Eight students

8 students

Fifty-two seniors objected. 52 seniors objected.

The Bearcats won 21-3. 21 to 3.

1 p.m.15 years old$1.01

One o’clockfifteen years oldIt costs one dollar and fifty cents

Spell out percentages 57 percent, 1 percent 68%, anything %

AP Style: Nuts and BoltsCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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71

NotesCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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73


74

I. Check out the Best of High School Press.

II. Ideas surround us whether it’s designs online or in magazines or other pa-pers; 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.

Must have a 1. DOMINANT ITEM: big, use of color, vibrancy, weight, powerful.

Choose your 2. BALANCE: symmetrical balance is formal/normal; asymmetrical is informal/modern/cool.

Watch 3. PROPORTION: how items interact w/ each other (i.e. BIG story = BIG headline).

Where’s the 4. VARIETY? Keep reader interest.

CONTRAST5. : It’s artistic, helps POP!, and prevents things from blending.

Create 6. UNITY among fonts, lines, repeated elements.

7. REPETITION: guides the reader, creates movement, & helps unity.

SIMPLICITY8. : Have restraint! If you don’t need it, don’t use it! Communicate but don’t decorate.

COLOR & VALUE9. : 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.

Suggestions to get you started

Layout Requirements

All Good Design Starts HereCrimson Newsmagazine


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PHO

TOG

RAPH

Y & G

RAPH

ICS

1 Pictures shall be 1 pt. stroke2 Advertisements shall have 1 pt. strokes (keylines)3 Photo/Graphic credit shall be OUTSIDE picture, not on picture4 Picture resolution in PShop shall be 150 ppi (not 72)5 Photo size in PShop shall be approximate to printed size in InDesgn6 Pictures shall be in Tiff format w/ LZW compression7 Grayscale pages shall only place grayscale graphics8 Color pages shall only place CMYK graphics9 All photos/graphics shall be credited to source

10 All stroke lines/box lines shall not have stroke.11 All boxes shall be rounded corner (Object > Corner Options)12 Gray-fills shall be 18%13 Pull-quotes shall use Pull Quote Template (Mother > Templates)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 permis-

sion only. If we did not create it or get OK, we do not use it.G

ENERA

L

1 Photo cutouts shall not occur if background includes important ele-ments/context

2 Points of Entry shall be numerous & tasteful with strong eye-flow3 Pica space (.1 in) shall surround all page elements4 “First person” & “Staff Editorial” shall clarify stories with opinionated

voice5 Lists of text shall offset the numbers/bullets for reading aid6 Page size 10 in. W x 11 in. H7 Center page size 20 in. W x 11 in. H8 Each page shall use 5 column grid architecture9 Crimson page numbers shall appear on “out” side of folio, not in

gutter

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Photoshop BasicsCrimson Newsmagazine


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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 “Se-lect 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!

Cutouts

1. Go to “Image” at the top of the screen, and click mode. Click on “Grayscale” and your pic-ture 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.

3. To make the image the right size, go to “Im-age” then “Image Size” and change the width to 5 inches and height to 8 inches. The resolu-tion 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.

InDesign BasicsCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

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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.

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 yel-low 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!

Find the emotion. Pictures tell a story, show the readers a 1. glimpse of it. Help put a face on it!

Always show the ball in sports photos. Always.2.

Find the lines in pictures. This makes a more interesting photo 3. and gives the reader a new perspective on the object.

Use the rule of thirds. This makes the photo more aesthetically 4. pleasing and draws the reader in.

Use foreground/background. This makes the viewer think 5. about everything that is going on in the picture, not just the focused area.

Anticipate the moment. Good photojournalism tells a story, 6. so anticipate moments of action, emotion, etc.

Photojournalism Basics

Mug Shot Board1. Editors, put the mugs you need under your section.

2. Photographers, when you take a picture, cross the name out and write your initials.

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!

Naming Photo Files1. Name all photos and the file that the photos are placed in: year_month_subject_photographer_

2. Make sure to add an underscore after photogra-pher, this automatically organizes the folders.

3. If photos and files are incorrectly named, you will be punished severely! NAME YOUR PHOTOS AND FILES CORRECTLY. Out of courtesy to your editors, keep the photo folder organized.

Camera Check-Out1. Before using a camera, sign your name and the date under the name of the camera you’re using. When you’ve brought the camera back, check the box that confirms you’ve returned it.

2. If you take a camera home over the weekend, make sure the battery, flash, and any other lenses are returned the following Monday.

3. Once you are done using the camera you must upload your photos IMMEDIATELY and delete ALL photos from the camera. If you do not upload your photos do not place blame on any other person for deleting them.

4. If the camera and any of its parts are missing, you are responsible for their return or for Mount’s reimbursement.

Mug Shot Procedures1. Name your files: year_month_sub-ject_photographer_

2. Place photos in the mug shot folder designated for that month.

3. Only take mug shot pictures from the shoulders up.

4. Don’t always take mugs from straight-on. Get cool angles, mix it up! Make your mugs interesting!

Having Trouble?If you’re having trouble with white balance, shutter speed, lighting, or uploading, talk to the Photography Editor, Mount, or a trusted photographer.

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EthnicityRacism found todayInequalitiesAffirmative action & quotasPrejudice/discriminationSupremacy movementsInterracial datingGang warfare

Teen IssuesCurfewsParty Scene ReportDepression/AnxietyStudent Resource Center

interviewDriver’s licenses & drop outsDriving Trends among teens

Society/CulturePovertyOur violent cultureOur materialistic cultureCarsAnimated moviesMusicTechnologyReligion

Cheating by studentsTeacher absenteeismRace preferences & college scholarshipsHome schooling issuesDress code debates/school uniformsTaking courses for college creditWhat did the Board decide recently?What did the superintendent decide

recently?The principal decide recently?Block Scheduling AlternativesSingle-gender schoolsYear round schoolsWhat’s next for PRPS/PRHSPRHS secretsFour-day school week?Steroids & athletics

Health IssuesTanning salons/Sun burningObesity Anorexia/bulimiaThe BrainAIDSSubstance AbuseIllegal drug use by junior high & high

school students Illegal IDsTeen hotlinesPeer counselingTeen courtsHungerSuicideNutritional value of ... (school food?)

CrimeSchool violence: family disintegration

& portrayals of violence in the media are the two leading causes of an “epi-demic” of violence in public schools, school district leaders say.

Gang UpdatePR crime trendsSafety during the school daySafety at after-school activities, espe-

cially sportsShopliftingU Rape/Date RapeVandalism/GraffitiTheft of school property by school

employees

EconomyLoss of Income by parents(s)Job availability/ part time workShortage of jobs for teenagersDangerous jobs for teenagersJob openingsWhat would it be like to work at...(Job

for a Day)

Current Issues How prepared is PRHS for...Energy consumption by...Gun control/ assault weaponsTerrorism & PreparednessAchievement Gap in schools based on

race/econ/region/etc.USA vs other countries in the area of ..Environmental protection lawsAdvertising brainwashMaterialismApathyCommunity Service Success StoriesHomeless./ hunger in AmericaWaste disposalLottery & gamblingWelfare reformHealth Care ReformMedia censorship/1st Amendment

studiesPresidential racesAnimal testing & animal rights; dissec-

tion of animals in science labsCollege-university TrendsTrace a careerWhatever happened to (person)Recent legislation from DC/Sacra-

mentoPollutionGas crisisCalamitiesCollege admissions Internet issues/scams/trends/impact

Teachers & StudentsLack of skills in an important subjectMath scores down? Reading?What makes intelligence? School

success?Tracking studentsOvertestingHow teachers show the do/don’t care

for students

Teacher profileRecent fascinating lessonsWhat did Leadership do recently?Club report/club studies

School CultureMath/science gender gapTest maniaPSAT bias against girlsGrade inflationCussing, insults, abusive speechThe ‘glass ceiling’: inequitable treat-

ment of girls in schoolsDiscipline + PunishmentPRHS Drop outs, At Risk StudentsIlliteracy: functional illiteracy & adult

illiteracy

If you think there’s nothing going on, you

are not reading enough!

What to CoverCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

80

...when you're stalled



81

NotesCrimson NewsmagazinePaso Robles HS Journalism

82

2010-11 Handy Dandy Staff Manual

Documents

Transcript of 2010-11 Handy Dandy Staff Manual