DENVER VOICE INTERN MANUAL

DENVER VOICE: FOR EVERYONE WHO CALLS DENVER HOME.

Copyright © 2017 Denver VOICE

3

Table of Contents

Introduction —Welcome to the Denver VOICE! ................................................. 4Office Culture and Intern Expectations ............................................................. 5Interview Techniques ......................................................................................... 7Denver VOICE Contributor Guidelines ................................................................ 9Orientation to Denver and Homelessness ......................................................... 10

4

Introduction—Welcome to the Denver VOICE!

Our missionOur mission is to facilitate a dialogue addressing the roots of homelessness by telling stories of people whose lives are impacted by poverty and homelessness and to offer economic, educational, and empowerment opportu-nities for the impoverished community.

Our work:The Denver VOICE is a monthly street newspaper that provides economic opportunities for people experienc-ing homelessness and poverty in the Denver metro area. Since 2007, we have employed more than 4,000 people through our vendor program. The Denver VOICE, first published in 1996, began as a grassroots newspaper created by homeless people for homeless people. During its ten-year run, the paper went through numerous transformations and reincarna-tions. In the spring of 2006 it temporarily ceased publication. In December 2006 Denver businessman and philanthropist Rick Barnes resurrected the Denver VOICE. Inspired by the International Network of Street Papers, he hired a team of professional journalists to create a new Denver VOICE. The first issue of the new paper was published in August 2007, and we have been publishing monthly since then. The Denver VOICE now reaches a much broader audience than the original paper, which was primari-ly published for the homeless population. The new paper is designed to be of interest to everyone who lives or works in the Denver area. We cover homelessness and social justice issues, and we strive to publish stories and points of view that are underreported and that offer insight into diverse communities in the Denver area. The vendor program is a critical component of the Denver VOICE. When the paper re-launched in 2007, it did so with a formal program to empower people by providing a source of income. Since 2007, we have em-ployed more than 4,000 men and women as Denver VOICE vendors. The Denver VOICE is an award-winning publication, a member of the International Network of Street Papers and the Colorado Press Association. We abide by the Society of Professional Journalists code of ethics.

The vendor program:The vendor program is designed to give individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, or those in need of an immediate income the opportunity to work. Our program provides homeless and/or impoverished individuals with a chance to take their first steps towards a more stable life. The issues that often underlie homelessness tend to make it very difficult for someone experiencing homelessness to obtain and keep a regular job. The combi-nation of income-earning opportunities, job-flexibility, and job-training offered by our vendor program give a struggling individual the chance to work a flexible schedule, learn (or re-learn) workplace expectations, and earn sufficient income to move off the street. Each new Denver VOICE vendor gets a temporary ID badge and ten free papers. After vendors sell those first ten papers, they purchase additional newspapers from the Denver VOICE for 50 cents each—essentially investing in their own micro businesses. The money the Denver VOICE takes in from vendors goes toward a portion of our production costs. Vendors sell their papers for a suggested donation of $2. Any donations vendors collect in exchange for newspapers—including any amount over the suggested $2 donation—is theirs to keep. Vendors can buy as many papers as they want, and they set their own hours. This possibility for flexible hours is important. Oftentimes more traditional employment can be difficult to maintain for someone trying to navigate appointments at various social services.

5

Office Culture and Intern Expectations

Office ConductThe Denver VOICE strives to provide a welcoming, quiet, and productive environment where people can work. However, the office can get noisy at times due to vendors and staff coming in and going in close quarters. Interns are welcome to use headphones to listen to music or to help focus.

The Denver VOICE welcomes a diverse environment and aims to create a safe space for anyone. Staff, interns, volunteers, and vendors come from all walks of life. Please be courteous and mindful of the people around you.

HarassmentIf you feel discriminated against or harassed by a staff member or any other person at the Denver VOICE, bring that concern to a staff member you feel most comfortable with talking to immediately.

It is best to address a hurtful or offensive comment or action personally and in the moment. The Denver VOICE encourages you to stop that person and explain how what they said or did hurt you, if you feel comfortable.

Dress CodeYour dress may change depending on the day. You may be reporting on a story that requires you to be outside on a cold or hot day; you may be attending a hearing or City Council meeting; or you may remain in the office.

In general, the Denver VOICE allows casual dress in the office. Jean and T-shirts are acceptable attire for staff and volunteers.

There are a few things that are not acceptable for staff or volunteers to wear in the office. The Denver VOICE “respects individual styles and fashion trends. However, certain attire is not suitable when conducting business because it distracts from orderliness, is threatening or is contrary to the civility and dignity of the culture we strive to create. Inappropriate attire includes, but is not limited to: exposed undergarments; clothing with words, depictions, or messages that are intimidating or obscene, including gang insignia; clothing with sexual or drug references; and sheer, see-through or provocative clothing.” (adopted from the D.C. Superior Court dress code, DCCourts.gov)

HoursYour schedule can be relatively flexible and work around your class schedule and other commitments. The hours and days you will work as an intern should be determined before your first day and your schedule should be sub-mitted and approved by both your university (if necessary) and Sarah Harvey. The ideal intern schedule would include a 20-hour week.

AbsencesAny planned absences should be made note of and emailed to Sarah Harvey at least one week in advance. For any unplanned absences, let Sarah know as soon as possible via email. If it is the morning of your absence, call or text Sarah.

6

Inclement Weather and Federal HolidaysThe Denver VOICE observes most federal holidays. Additionally, for inclement weather, call Sarah to see if the office will stay open (be advised that we rarely close for inclement weather).

SPJ Code of EthicsThe Denver VOICE abides by the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics. This code is a list of princi-ples that journalist should follow and take responsibility for. It is a guide of how journalist should seek the truth and report it, minimize harm, and act independently.

7

Interview Techniques

Types of InterviewsIn-Person: This is the preferred method of interviewing a source. When you engage with someone face-to-face, you are able to pick up on non-verbal cues, get a sense for their emotions, and observe their surroundings. It is easier to develop a rapport with your source and have more of a conversation.

Phone: When speaking on the phone, it is important to speak clearly. It can also be helpful to record a phone interview. Although in Colorado it is not the law to notify and get permission from your source to record the interview, many journalists feel it is unethical to record a source without permission.

Skype: This is used less-frequently, but a good alternative if you want that face-to-face interaction but your source is far away.

E-mail: Sending your questions and receiving responses via email should be a last resort. In this scenario, ensure that your questions are really tailored to what information you need out of the source and be open-ended to get complete answers. This should only be used as a last-minute, absolutely necessary interview method.

Before an InterviewDepending on the story, you may know ahead of time who your sources will be for interviews. For example, you may actively seek a source if you are doing a profile, getting background information, or following up on another news story. In order to have the best interview possible, research your source. Use Google to find out any rele-vant information you can about them, the topic, or the information they will be providing to you. The more you know going into the interview, the more information you will be able to get from your source and understand. When you have solid background knowledge, you can easily dive into a more engaging and useful conversation. Develop and prepare questions. It helps to have a list of must-have questions you need answered in order to write and effective story.

Taking NotesAs an interviewer, it is important to fully listen to what your source is saying. If you are trying to write or type what they are saying verbatim during the entire interview, you may miss some great opportunities to dig deeper into a topic or think of a great follow-up question. Make sure you are actively listening to what your source is saying. You can type or take notes, bullet the key points and jot down some great quotes, but it will also help if you record the interview.

RecordingIt is best to ask your source if they feel comfortable with you recording the interview. If you are conducting an in-person interview, your “voice memo” app on your iPhone will work just fine. Pro tip: make sure your phone is in airplane mode while recording, because if you get a phone call while it is recording, you’ll lose the recording. For a phone interview, you can use “Call Recorder Free,” which is downloadable on the Apple or Android app stores. For this app, be sure to set the setting to record opponent’s voice. You can also use “Tape-A-Tock” to re-cord an interview, or freeconferencecall.com if you ever need to meet with multiple sources at once.

8

Identify Yourself as a ReporterWhen you are in the field covering a story, always identify yourself as a reporter to sources. It is unethical to use someone’s quote or information if they did not know that it was going to be published.

Interviewing Quick-Tips• If possible, have some questions written down or in your head beforehand. Think about what information you need in order to write a comprehensive story. • Build trust; develop a sense of comfort between you and the source. It can help to share some of your own background or why the story is important. • Make eye-contact and use body language that shows that you are engaged (nodding, etc.). • Take notes that you can reference later for easy writing. • Make sure you get the full name of the source and the correct spelling of their name at the beginning of the interview, as well as their official job title.

Anonymous Sources It is best to always get the full name of a source, or at least their first name. If absolutely necessary, it can be acceptable to use an anonymous source due to some of the sensitive topics you may cover. Some sources may be fearful of retaliation if they speak out about certain issues. Even if you agree to anonymity in the story, still try to get their full name in case you need to verify facts or history at a later date. When using an anonymous source or a pseudonym, include the reason why the name was changed, removed, or partially removed at the end of the article with a brief explanation.

9

Denver VOICE Contributor Guidelines

1. Pitch ideas. You’re more likely to get an assignment if you have ideas to pitch to editorial. Focus on local. Think of an angle that ties the idea back to the homeless/impoverished community or a fringe or maligned community in Denver. Think about timeliness; remember that we’re monthly. Think about local angles for national stories that people are already talking about.

2. When you’re contacting sources for a story that’s been approved by the editor, make sure you identify yourself as a reporter for the Denver VOICE, and make it clear you’re researching a potential story. (If you leave a message that simply says you’re with the VOICE, they may think you’re trying to sell advertising—and they’ll never call you back.) If you haven’t gotten approval for the story idea, make it clear to the source that there’s no guarantee there will be a story.

3. DO NOT make promises to a source about when a story will run, or what you will put in it. DO NOT let the source see the story in advance of publication. (If you want to double check quotes and facts with a source before you submit your draft, that’s fine.) DO keep notes and save transcripts of interviews.

4. Get fresh quotes. It is okay to reference press releases in shorter front-of-book articles, (particularly news briefs), but try to get a fresh quote first. If you use information from a press release, mention it. Avoid first per-son whenever possible. First person makes you the focus of the story; the focus should be the actual subject of the story. (When in doubt, talk to an editor.) 5. Check all of your facts. When you turn in your story, you are guaranteeing all info is correct.As a reporter for the Denver VOICE, you will cover sensitive topics and interact with people from all back-grounds. The Diversity Style Guide is a manual with the appropriate terms, phrases, and names for disabilities, ethnicities, immigration issues, LGBTQ, religions, drug and alcohol, geography, and age/generation. Please reference the Diversity Style Guide if you are ever unsure of an appropriate term.

6. Make your deadline. If you don’t, your story might not get printed. Press deadlines for the VOICE usually fall between the 1st and 15th of every month. Know that your work doesn’t end once you make your deadline. The editor may need to contact you about your story in the weeks leading up to press deadline. If you know you will be unavailable (vacation, work, etc.), let the editor know.

7. Reveal any conflicts: If you know the person you want to write about, have worked/still work for the group you want to write about, or have any other potential conflict (have been fired by the company you want to write about), please reveal it when you send your pitch. If you do not, you will not write for us again. If you do, there may be a way to reveal your conflict that adds depth to the story (or you can trade the idea to another writer who does not have a conflict).

8. If you discover a mistake in something that’s been published, tell the editor.

9. Be careful when you talk about your story or any story that the Denver VOICE is working on before it is pub-lished—especially on social media sites. When in doubt, say nothing, or check with your editor. After stories are published, it is fine to post or tweet mention of your article, but remember to be careful. It’s great to post about an article that you’re proud of with a link, and it’s nice to post instructions on where your friends can find a ven-dor and buy the paper. Be careful, though: if you editorialize too much in your post, readers may see your article and the VOICE through that lens.

10

Orientation to Denver and HomelessnessThe city of Denver has a long history of boom-and-bust economic cycles, and, predictably, has seen multiple crises of homelessness over the past century and a half. For example, after the 1893 silver crash Denver was flooded with out-of-work miners who set up encampments on the outskirts of the city. In the first of many historical at-tempts to get the homeless to move along, city officials gave them lumber, hoping that they would build their own boats and float away down the Platte River.

Colorado 211The Colorado branch of this national service is one of the most comprehensive lists of resources available in the area.

Colorado Coalition for the HomelessThe Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) advocates for and provides a continuum of housing and a vari-ety of services.

Denver Homeless Out LoudDenver Homeless Out Loud (DHOL) is an advocacy group that works for the rights of people experiencing homelessness. DHOL is actively opposed to Denver’s ban on urban camping, and has also worked with local faith groups and service organizations on alternative housing and shelter solutions (such as tiny house communities).

Denver Public Library, Central Branch (CTC, Hard Times, social worker)The Denver Public Library (DPL), like many urban libraries, has become a defacto day center for people experi-encing homelessness. Unlike other library systems, DPL has made huge efforts to expand services for clients ex-periencing homelessness. In 2015, DPL became the fourth library in the country to hire a full-time social worker. The Central branch also hosts classes and workshops (such as writing and meditation groups) specifically for people experiencing homelessness.

Denver’s Road HomeIn 2005, Denver ambitiously declared its intentions to end homelessness by 2015. The plan became know as Denver’s Road Home (DRH), and it has coordinated shelter, outreach, job placement, and training and other services for people who are experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness. Clearly, 2015 came and went, and Denver did not end homelessness. In early 2016 the Denver city auditor released a scathing report about DRH and its $63 million budget. Among other things, the auditor’s re-port criticized DRH for not collecting sufficient data to assess its progress.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)HUD is a federal agency that oversees issues and programs that the Denver VOICE frequently covers. Their “topic areas” include: homelessness, rental assistance, economic development, avoiding foreclosure, and housing help for veterans, senior citizens, and disabled persons.

11

The Gathering PlaceThe Gathering Place is a drop-in day center for women, children, and transgender individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty.

Metro Denver Homeless InitiativeMetro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI) coordinates homeless housing and service programs throughout the seven-county Denver metro area. MDHI is responsible for conducting the annual PIT count in Denver.

Point-in-Time (PIT) CountThe PIT count is a “count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons on a single night in January” (HUD Exhchange). Volunteers head out across Denver and surrounding counties to tally the number of people who are without homes that particular night. HUD requires that cities receiving Continuum of Care funding conduct the count every two years, but it is usually conducted annually. Although it is currently the best method cities have for determining the number of people experiencing homelessness in a given area, many variables affect the accu-racy of the count, including the number of volunteers available, the weather, and inherent difficulty of the task.

St. Francis CenterSt. Francis Center is one of the busiest day centers in Denver, serving an average of 800 men and women on a daily basis. St. Francis offers showers, phones, cell phone charging, storage, and mail services, among other things. St. Francis is also where many people experiencing homelessness register to vote.

Emergency Shelters in DenverDenver has several emergency shelters for men and women, including the Denver Rescue Mission (often referred to as “Jesus Saves” because of its prominent neon sign), Crossroads, and Samaritan House.

Urban PeakUrban Peak serves youth experiencing homelessness (ages 15-24). The organization provides overnight shelter, daytime drop-in center, education and employment programming, and supportive housing.

Criminalization of HomelessnessIn many cities and states across the U.S., there are laws that prohibit many things people experiencing home-lessness must do to survive. If the police find people partaking in these activities, they may be harassed, cited, or even arrested. Some of these laws prohibit:• Begging in public• Loitering• Sitting or lying down in public• Sleeping in cars• Food sharing• Sleeping in public• “Camping” in public

The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty released the report, No Safe Place, which examines this issue of homelessness criminalization in-depth.

12

DefinitionsHUD defines four broad categories of homelessness:

Core definition: An individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, which includes a primary nighttime residence of: Place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (including car, park, abandoned building, bus/train station, airport, or camping ground); Pub-licly or privately operated shelter or transitional housing, including a hotel or motel paid for by government or charitable organizations; In addition, a person is considered homeless if he or she is being discharged from an institution where he or she has been a resident for 90 days or less and the person resided in a shelter (but not transitional housing) or place not meant for human habitation immediately prior to entering that institution.

Imminently Losing Primary Nighttime Residence: Individual or family is being evicted within 14 days from their primary nighttime residence and: no subsequent residence has been identified; and the household lacks the resources or support networks (i.e. family, friends, faith-based or other social networks) needed to obtain other permanent housing.

Persistent Housing Instability: Prior to January 2012, people experiencing persistent housing instability were not considered homeless. The new category applies to people with the following characteristics:1. Unaccompanied youth (less than 25 years of age) or family with children and youth;2. Defined as homeless under other federal statutes (for example the definition used by the Department of Edu-cation) who do not otherwise qualify as homeless under HUD’s definition;3. Has not had a lease, ownership interest, or occupancy agreement in permanent housing in the 60 days prior to applying for assistance;4. Has moved two or more times in the 60 days immediately prior to applying for assistance;5. Has one or more of the following chronic disabilities, chronic physical or mental health conditions substance addiction histories of domestic violence or childhood abuse child with a disability two or more barriers toemployment, which include lack of a high school degree or GED, illiteracy, low English proficiency, history of incarceration or detention for criminal activity, history of unstable employment.

Fleeing Domestic Violence: Any individual or family who is fleeing, or is attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions that relate to violence;has no other residence; and lacks the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing.

13