UNL College of Journalism

INTSORMIL project status reportCarolyn Johnsen

July 26, 2010, Lincoln, NE

Two kinds of stories

• Long-form stories that include profiles of INTSORMIL P.I.s and descriptions of projects.

• Short-form stories that explain concepts and processes that non-expert readers may have questions about.

Long-form examples

• Profiles of Bonnie Pendleton, Charles Wortmann, Bruce Hamaker, Gebisa Ejeta.

• Project and INTSORMIL theme stories about integrated crop management at KSU, the UNZA study on adoption, collaboration and mentorships.

• History of INTSORMIL, “What Does INTSORMIL Mean to You?

• Country comparisons.• INTSORMIL collaborates with

governments and NGOs.

10-12 total

Short-form stories15-18

• Food security• Hybridization• Traditional breeding

methods• How striga infests a grain

crop• Germplasm• Biotic and abiotic stress• Drought tolerance

Explain concepts or processes important to the INTSORMIL objectives.

Time frame

• April 30, 2010, science-writing students finish three short-form and two long-form stories.

• May 5 – 24, 2010, three students and C. Johnsen travel to Zambia, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso for “field trips” and interviews with scientists and farmers.

• Summer: Students on Africa trip polish two features each; C. Johnsen edits.

Time frame, cont’d

• Fall, 2010. C. Johnsen finishes edits, including fact checks, and hands stories and photos over to A. Struthers.

• Fall, 2010. A. Struthers’ advertising campaigns class plans report and campaign design.

• Spring, 2010. Campaigns class continues planning, and, with managing editor, finalizes report design. Report printed by end of May, 2010.