Handy Dandy 2012 Staff Manual

Paso Robles HS Journalism

Staff Manual 2012-2013Crimson

2 CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism

C Staff Manual Version 5.0 Created with Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, & Illustrator for the ’12 -’13 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 Assoc. Journalism Education Assoc. of N. California

Jeff Mount, Adviser (805) 434-8967 [email protected]

Rm. 604Paso Robles [email protected]

The Crimson Mission Our print and web journalism is dedicated to our readers above all else. We are committed to reporting worthy local, national, and global news, using our publications to update our community on local and pressing issues. We have made a pledge to “get it right” and to publish what is both true, pertinent, and fair. It is our mission to represent our school, community, and the individuals at PRHS while maintaining the utmost levels of journalistic integrity, passion, and discipline.

—adopted August 2010

“Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it, and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.”

— Joseph Pulitzer

Nico Jolicoeur, Kelly Munns, Sarah Wilson, & Jeff MountStaff Manual 2012-13 Edited & Revised by

Cartoons by Sarah Wilson (2010-2013)& Joe Valdivia (2006-2008)

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

CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism 3Staff 2012-13Homepage: www.crimsonweb.net E-mail: [email protected]

Editor-in-Chief Nico Jolicoeur (12) Managing Editors Kelly Munns (12) Sarah Wilson (12)

Cooper Austin . . . . . . . 12 . . . . 975-7379 . . . . . . cooperdavis13@gmail .comMaddie Berry . . . . . . . . 11 . . . . 712-8736 . . . . . . mmb17@att .netSara Bourgault . . . . . . 12 . . . . 975-7459 . . . . . . saramary .bourgault@gmail .comAnalia Cabello . . . . . . . 11 . . . . 769-7102 . . . . . . adolfo .cabello@sbcglobal .netLaura Callahan . . . . . . 12 . . . . 610-5859 . . . . . . lauracallahan95@hotmail .comMatt Camou . . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . 464-8526 . . . . . . mattcamou@gmail .comCarly Cargill . . . . . . . . . 10 . . . . 602-6404 . . . . . . borntoridecarly@yahoo .comRachel Cole . . . . . . . . . 10 . . . . 975-5245 . . . . . . rachelcole@pobox .comDevin Corea . . . . . . . . . 11 . . . . 286-0304 . . . . . . devincorea@gmail .comClarisse Dart . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . 434-8002 . . . . . . cdilovemyipod@aol .comAidan Farrell . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . 878-3150 . . . . . . aidanfarrell94@gmail .comBrandon Goddard . . . . 12 . . . . 591-0574 . . . . . . b_goddard@ymail .comGarett Hanlon . . . . . . . 12 . . . . 712-6562 . . . . . . garetthanlon@gmail .comAnna Hernandez . . . . . 12 . . . . 835-1594 . . . . . . goose_volley7@charter .netMichaela Iunker . . . . . 12 . . . . 458-4868 . . . . . . michaela1881@gmail .comNico Jolicoeur . . . . . . . 12 . . . . 975-7160 . . . . . . nicojolicoeur@yahoo .comNoah Levine . . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . 223-2604 . . . . . . noah132@aol .comAndrea Lorenzo . . . . . . 12 . . . . 610-4727 . . . . . . little .things .count@gmail .comAngela Lorenzo . . . . . . 11 . . . . 286-7609 . . . . . . might .be .sunny@gmail .comBrigitte Maina . . . . . . . 11 . . . . 835-3621 . . . . . . bmaina27@gmail .comSydney Matteson . . . . 11 . . . . 712-5619 . . . . . . soccerplayer863@yahoo .comSierra Mosely . . . . . . . . 11 . . . . 591-0009 . . . . . . sierramoose@yahoo .comKelly Munns . . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . 296-2593 . . . . . . kimunns@gamil .comOlivia Musial . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . . . . . . . oliviamusial22@yahoo .comJordan Nevosh . . . . . . . 11 . . . . 975-7394 . . . . . . jojonevosh@yahoo .comNikianne Ochoa . . . . . . 11 . . . . 975-7513 . . . . . . nikigrl14@hotmail .comDanae Ontiveros . . . . . 10 . . . . 975-7315 . . . . . . danaeontiveros@yahoo .comJosh Orcutt . . . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . 423-7199 . . . . . . jshortcutt@yahoo .comMaria Petiy . . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . 286-2225 . . . . . . mariapetiy@gmail .comLauren Reed . . . . . . . . 10 . . . . 975-5555 . . . . . . littlebugreed@gmail .comStevie Stark . . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . 975-7030 . . . . . . steviestarky@hotmail .comCourtney Thompson . . 11 . . . . 975-7153 . . . . . . cmthompson3067@yahoo .comMatt Tyra . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 . . . . 423-2647 . . . . . . matthewtyra@me .comSarah Wilson . . . . . . . . . 12 . . . .400-9650 . . . . . . sarahmw94@gmail .comSummer Volle . . . . . . . 12 . . . . 975-2287 . . . . . . summervolle@hotmail .comJenna Wookey . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . 975-7571 . . . . . . wookforce14@hotmail .com

4 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismContents

From the Leaders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7

Section 1: Staff Tips and Policies Course Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Journalove Concept . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12 Code of Conduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 The First Amendment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 48907 Ed Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Copyright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Libel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Boot Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Fundraising Expectations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Selling Subscriptions + Ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21 Ad Contract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Invoicing and Business Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Brielle’s Biz Advice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Print Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Brainstorming + content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Workflow Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Two Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Email = Groupwise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Google Docs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30-31 Monthly Blogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32-33 WDYDFMT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Philosophy of Reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Deadlines + Late Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Editor Behaviors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37-38 Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39-40

Section 2: Writing Crimson Story Rubric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 R1, R2 Minimums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Story Front Ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Newsworthiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Cloudseeding/Blog Ideas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Interviewing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47-49 Reporting w Facebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50-51 Getting Started on a Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

5CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism

Factology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Nepotism as a reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Narrative Reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 News First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Use Lingo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Appositives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Surveys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Posting stories to the website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Number Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Objectivity, Not Subjectivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 AP Style: Nuts and Bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Find the Extraordinary (Gay Talese) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 What You’re Doing Matters (Jimmy Breslin) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Lede Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66-69 Lede Sampler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68-69 The Dirty Dozen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70-71 Nutgraf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 SW2C Summary of What’s to Come . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Story Shapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74-75 Attribution and Quotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Conciseness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 Sportswriting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78-79 Sinead’s Sportsfeature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80-81 Feature Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82-83 Feature Storytelling (Ira Glass) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Opinion Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Review Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86-87

Section 3: Design + Photography Starting Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Crimson Design Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 PhotoShop Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 InDesign Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Camera Commandments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Photography Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95-96 Camera Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Shooting Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Controlling Photo Blunders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

6 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismFrom the Leaders

Obviously a hello is needed here, so hellooooo. First of all, congratulations on officially

being part of the Crimson staff of 2012-2013! Crimson is one of the most award-winning programs on campus and also one of the most prestigious. Being admitted is a big feat and you should be proud of that accomplishment! Journalism can be one of the most rewarding experiences that you will ever happen upon.

In this class, you will learn skills that will stay with you forever. But more importantly, you will make memories that will last a lifetime. You will not only get to spend time with friends you have already made, but you will make friends who will be a major part of your high school life. This class will be, if you make it, one of the highlights of your school year. With your commitment, Crimson can change your life for the better.

For some of you, this may be slightly intimidating at first. But before you know it, this whole program will come so naturally to you that you could do it in your sleep (which you might basically have to do by the end of layout week!) Crimson will become a part of your daily life in no time, but don’t stress out about it! Enjoy every good interview, every stellar picture, and every inside joke; leave the worrying to me and my fellow leaders.

Crimson become one of the best newsmagazines in the nation through staffmembers who would always joke around and nerd out, and that’s what this program is really about. When

you look back on the 2012-2013 year, you will remember all the funny things that happened on late nights, not how many times you cropped a picture down to make it the perfect size, so enjoy Crimson! Make the best of your experience this year, and I promise you that as long as we get our work done, this class will always be fun.

I wish you the best with all of your ventures with Crimson and everything else this year. I will always be here for a good talk, honest advice, or anything else! I’m looking forward to all the late nights, fatty foods, and random moments I will spend with all of you this year. With love,

Nico Jolicoeur Editor-in-Chief


I’m sure you’ve heard your fair share of rumors about this class being weird, wacky, stressful, and crazy.

They’re all true. But it’s also true that Journalism is one of the best experiences and opportunities you’ll have in high school. This room will be the place where you worry about deadlines, grow as a journalist, and make lasting memories. Classmates will become friends, and friends will become family members. You will write stories, create layouts, and attend events…maybe even win an award or two along the way.

I’m so excited to get to know all of you and see what you bring to Crimson. If you put your heart into Journalism, you won’t be disappointed with what you get out of it. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and try new things; you might even surprise yourself with what you can do.

Welcome to the crazy cult of Crimson creepers!

Love, Sarah Wilson

Managing Editor

Hi 2012-13 Crimson Staff! Congrats on getting accepted into the coolest and craziest

class on campus. If you let it, Crimson will influence you in so many ways.

When I first joined journalism, I knew instantly that I was going to change for the better. Crimson will break you out of your comfort zone and test your limits, but if you believe that what we are doing matters, you belong in our family. We will laugh, cry, stress, and go insane together, but it is all worth it in the end. I encourage you to put all your effort into our paper because you will be rewarded in the end. You will leave room 604 with more knowledge, more creativity, and more love for everyone around you.

I promise to help you when you’re in need, support you when you’re down, forgive you when you make mistakes, and lead you when you need guidance. Love yourselves, love each other, and love the paper.

With much Journalove, Kelly Munns

Managing Editor


In Search of

the EICA Facebook event...

Some years we invite gradu-ates from past years to help us interview and objectively discuss candidates. Some years we interview them with just the graduating staff members.

After candidates present--some years we have over six--we share observations in a confidential, Starbuck’d, snacky discussion and decide the 2013-2014 Crimson leadership team.

How they got up there

Crimson leaders are picked officially in May, but they start catching every-one’s attention unofficially at multiple times of the year. All interested leader candidates present to a panel of alumni Crimson staffers, justifying why they are the best for the EIC or ME positions available. The panel chose the final leadership lineup and announced the results in late May.

Interested in being a Crimson leader?we recommend all of the following...

• Serveasasectioneditor

• Meetalldeadlinesalways

• GotoConventiontoGROW

• Pursueadvancedworkin layout, photography, or web mgmt

• Developareputation as a “finisher”

• Domorethanwhatisexpected

• Serveonthecoreteamwho stays to put the issue to bed

C

9

1Section

StaffTIPS

policies

and

10 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismCourse Objectives

> Writing: News/Sports/Feature/Opinion/Review1. write structured, probing, insightful stories2. write newsworthy stories serving campus needs + interests3. learn to satisfy the higher levels of the Crimson Writing rubriC

4. learn the art of telling a fact-dense story well5. compose engaging ledes, headlines, metaphors, & puns6. employ concise, fact-based, & narrative diction

> Design, graphics, + web publishing1. learn Adobe software InDesign, Photoshop, + Illustrator2. learn photography principles and camera handling for many settings and purposes3. design creatively & according to Crimson style4. practice do’s + don’ts of page design5. post print + photography in Wordpress and Facebook for internet journalism

> Reporting & Research1. practice accurate, successful interviewing techniques & avoid pitfalls2. interview & report responsibly & fairly3. develop investigative skills for newsworthy stories4. exercise my free speech rights as a student journalist5. practice ethical journalism avoidingpitfalls of libel/obscenity/copyright violation

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

CCBe ready to learn

the following:

11CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Journalove

The Crimson crew is a family. We care about our work, our school, and each member of our staff.

We must be friendly. We must be encouraging. We must fight cliques that ostracize and hurt feelings. Many don’t want to put effort into a project when they don’t feel important or perceive that they only get noticed for their mistakes.

Journalove is as simple as this: Love your family! Love your editors, writers, adviser—even your perceived enemies. Love the paper! Love your stories! Love the people you’re publicizing! You will be astounded at the results.

Editors, don’t only edit stories & leave critiques, but tell your writers what lines were funny, or phrases were fact-deep.

Everyone, put yourselves in the shoes of others. Have compassion on their story, whether they are a fellow staffer or a stranger you’re about to interview.

Love is the most powerful force in the universe. If our staff operates from love, we will be powerful indeed. If we conduct ourselves as reporters with it, as designers with it, as photographers with it—all roles!—our work will last.

Call it RESPECT if you don’t want to call it LOVE

PEOPLE are always the most impor-tant aspect of any story, not only the 5Ws

Editor-in-Chief ’07-’08 Gina Alessi (CSU Fullerton ‘12 created the term Journalove and first helped her staff achieve it in 2007-2008.

Expressing Journalove1. Say hi as you enter 2. Say bye as you leave. 3. Ask about what projects s/he is doing.4. Try to get to know classmates outside of class on a

more personal basis :)5. Read someone’s R2 even when you don’t have

to and encourage what s/he’s doing right. Care about his/her writing.

6. Talk to EVERYONE on staff not just people in your circle of friends, make sure everyone feels included

7. Celebrate/congratulate/enc?ourage someone when they’ve accomplished something signifi-cant in life/journalism

8. Sit in a new spot in the room for a change. You’ll be more likely to talk to other staffers.

9. Appreciate all ideas during discussions and give each consideration and value.

10. Ask a staffer how s/he is and care about the answer.

11. Bring random baked goods for the class! 12. Slip a nice, short note into a fellow staffmem-

bers box.13. Shout out during our IN-ClASS ThANkS we do

at the end of a print cycle!14. Speak thanks to everyone who helps you.

12 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismJournalove

love can take the form of WORDS:

what you write for our publicationwhat thanks you verbalizehow you encourage othershow you interview

love can take the form of ACTIONS:

writing a thank you cardgoing extra milesacrificing timehelping others

love can take the form of TIME:

the time you pour into researchthe time you spend at nightthe time you take to find one more interviewthe time you pour into your design/layout

love can take the form of GIFTS:

each issue of Crimson is a gifteach added item to the website is a giftwait til you see our staff holiday partieseach bithday/baked good

love can take the form of TOUCH:

hugshake a handthrow an arm around their neckfriendly arm wrestling match

Adapted from Gary Chapman, The Five Love Languages

For your fellow

staff

Journalove exists for

For your school

+ its info

For your storyitself + its

facts

For Crimson as a program

For the persons

in your story

Reflect on how well you love others

13CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Code of ConductWe require an agreement between you, your parents, & Mount so that we can trust you to:

• Travelon&offcampusduringschoolhoursforjournalismbusiness• Usecellphones&devicesatallclasstimesin604• UsethePRHSnetwork,software,&webaccess• UseCrimson/PRHScameras&laptopsaroundschool&athome• Selladvertisementsaroundtown&servicelocalaccounts

The Crimson CodeYour signed agreement to this document is kept on file:

1. I agree to meet deadlines assigned to me for writing, photography, layouts, and projects. I understand missed deadlines may cause changes in my staff job or class grade.

2. I agree to work after school, evenings, & weekends to complete journalism responsibilities assigned to me.

3. I agree to learn and adhere to ethical journalism standards in my reporting in areas of libel, obscenity, disruption of school program, and copyright.

4. I will refrain from malicious, damaging words or behavior towards anyone, especially Crimson staff, but including PRHS students, and adult staff.

5. I will use of my cell phone, Facebook, & other websites for Crimson business while in Rm. 604.

6. I agree to follow equipment check out procedures listed in the staff manual (example on back) and to ensure prompt return and sensible care of this equipment.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. I agree to abide by the PRHS Acceptable Use Policy as I use the PRHS network, software, and internet in class and at home.

10. 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•

Your signed agreement to this code will be kept on file. Maintain this code to maintain your enrollment in the class. X______________________________________________

14 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismFirst Amendment

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 TINKER CASETinker vs. Des Moine (1968):

Students do not shed their constitutional rights “at the school house gate.”

High school journalism scored its most historic legal victory when the 1968 Supreme Court wrote the above opinion, which establishes that adults cannot strip students of unalienable rights such as their First Amendment free speech.

Specifically, Mary Beth and John Tinker (pictured above) sued their Iowa high school when it suspended them for expressing their opinion with armbands about the Vietnam War.

The Tinker case contributed predominantly in the CA Ed Code written soon after that guarantes California students their free speech rights. See right.

15CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism CA Legal

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

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 .

16 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismCopyright

Your journalism must prepare you for the real, copyrighted world where no longer is it acceptable legally to copy-paste graphics willy-nilly into your work.

Publishing a photo or graphic that was copy-pasted from the internet without permission violates copyright even when we state the URL.

GETTING PERMISSION is easy.Write an email in Groupwise to the source, stating who we are, what we are using the photo for, and when it will run . If you gain permission, write the author’s name and “Used with permission” in the photo credit .

Copyright RulesWe use the photo/graphic When:

1. We took the pic ourselves .

2 . We designed the graphic ourselves .

3 . We received permission because we asked the owner .

4 . We used a Creative Commons license (permission!)

5 . We faithfully credit photographers .

EXAMPLE: You’re

doing a story on

over-the-counter

prego tests. Or

a story on Mitch Romney.

YES to any of these:1. Shoot a photo yourself of the

products at Walmart.2. Order a sketch from a cartoonist.3. Create a photo-illustration that

collages MANY graphics and photos.

4. Search FlikR for a Creative Commons approval of a Romney photo.

NO to all of these:1. Copy-paste a photo of prego test/

Romney from internet and write the URL below it.

2. Skip any photo/graphic because it’s too much extra work to get one—then Crimson excellence suffers.

3. Copy-paste a clip-art cartoon as decoration.


Libel:

LibelYou must understand libel principles since libel is probably the most dangerous mess your writing can create.

Crimson has printed a libelous fact if the sentence is:

Case studies: Are these libelous acts?

Your First Amendment freedom of speech as a writer becomes unprotected when you cross the libel line .

Yes, Crimson can be sued in a court of law for libel printed on our pages .

The best defense when a reporter is accused of libel and/or untrue printed material?

—A printed retraction .

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.

1. Student newspaper prints headline + story:

Police Nab Drug Dealer “In a sweep across campus yesterday, police ar-rested several students, charging them with dealing drugs. Arrested were Bill Jones, sophomore and a student from community college: John Renshaw.”

2. Crimson Chronicle prints headline + story:

PRHS shocked by suicide“Junior Amanda Cota ended her own life Mar. 8, 2009 at approximately 3 p.m. It was revealed that Cota shot herself while wearing her prom dress and holding notes pertaining to a recent relation-ship.”

We enter contests that scrutinize our copyright and libel control—and downgrade for violations. Answers:

1. Yes 2. Yes


Skill Deadline Passing Level HDN page

1Summer Reading ArticleReview your summer novel following posted example

Posted, Score of 3

2 AP usage testReview

Written, Score of 85% 70

3

Partner FeatureInterview an assignmed partner and write a proper feature article on the most newsworthy angle

Score of 3, on time 66

4News BlogResearch, interview, write and post a brief update about a newsworthy campus fact.

Score of 3, on time 30

5Photoshop skills testComplete 3 basic PS tasks: artwork using type, photo cutout, and photo touch-up.

Pass / Fail 77

6

In-Design skills test Complete 5 basic InDesign tasks: text handling, headlining, photo handling, table building, textwrap.

Pass / Fail 78

7

Photography skills testShoot and crop two showcase photos: one portrait and one event using proper ISO, white balance, shutter speed, and f-stop.

Pass / Fail 79

Getting you readyBasic Training required to advance to your job

position

Boot Camp!

19CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Fundraising

Most of the above are paid through income we receive from sold advertisements & subscriptions. The business team spends all year pursuing advertisements, often paying for the month’s paper from the ads sold.

We need 200 addresses minimum to qualify for BulkMail rates at the post office. We cannot afford to mail the paper at standard rates.

The Crimson budget exceeds $12,000 per year. A basic breakdown:(1) printing costs +

supplies

(2) Nat’l Convention

(3) NSPA membership & contests

(4) feeding + reward-ing 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 Octobe’s deadline, which balances the months ahead when ad income from the business team does not match print costs:

Fundraising MinimumsSee Mount to negotiate solutions to these if you have trouble fulfilling them

1 . Three subscriptions, or $60, whichever is easier . See next page .

2 . One sold advertisement in the paper (due in 2nd issue of your first semester)

3 . Participation in fundraisers (carwashes, etc .)

4 . $30 “Club Fee” ($15 per semester)

20 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismSubscriptions

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.

1. Selling subscriptions is pretty much one of the easiest things to do. Just like ads, the income from subscriptions helps cover the $900/issue print costs of our issues.

However, unlike ads, we generally sell all our subscriptions at the very beginning of the year & then forget about them—except for the Circulation Manager.

2. You are required to sell at least three subscriptions, but they can be to whoever you want. The usual targets are extended family & family friends.

3. Try your best to sell the higher level (more expen-sive) subscriptions, they’ll bring in more money when we need it most. All of the addresses of the subscribers & their level of donation are saved in a database which we use to insure they receive their free ad next June if they are entitled to one.

PLEASE MARK YOUR SUBSCRIPTION CHOICE ABOVE & MAIL WITH PAYMENT TO:

Circulation ManagerCrimson Newsmagazine

Paso Robles HS801 Niblick Rd.Paso Robles, CA 93447

769-1500 ext. [email protected]

�e monthly student news magazine of Paso Robles High School

SUBSCRIPTIONS 2012-2013

MAIL MY SUBSCRIPTION TO:

NAME _______________________________________

STREET ______________________________________

CITY, ST, ZIP __________________________________

PHONE ______________________________________

Dear parents and business owners,We on the Crimson sta� invite you to accompany us this school year in our insightful coverage of PRHS news and faces. Let us deliver keen, nationally-awarded teen journalism to your doorstep or business! A Crimson subscription keeps you informed about PRHS and its students and promotes quality journalism education. Please subscribe!

Nicolette Jolicoeur, seniorEditor-in-Chief

Je� Mount Adviser

Subscriber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $19.00 All 7 issues delivered monthly to your home by U.S. Mail

Patron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40.00 7 issues above, with recognition in the paper AND free congratulatory advertising to a graduating senior. Especially appropriate for senior households next June! Ad size = business card.

Donor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60.00 7 issues above with recognition in the paper, one month free advertising for your business or graduation advertising for a favorite senior (represents a $35 discount from regular advertising rates!). Ad size = 1/4 page.

Sponsor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100.00 7 issues above with recognition in the paper, free advertising for two months for your business, and/or graduation advertising for a favorite senior (represents a $80 discount from regular ad rates!). Ad size = 1/2 page.

21CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Selling Ads

If you don’t manage ads

properly1 . 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-

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’m Brielle Siletti & I’m with Crimson newsmagazine for Paso Robles High School. Our newsmagazine circulates to 2000 students each month & hundreds on the internet at crimsonweb.net. I’d like to give your business the opportunity to advertise to these thousands for the lowest price in town. (Show them the ad contract).

3 . Recontact the business within 4 days as follow up . Businesses like to feel cared for and managed .

4 . Contact repeating advertisers before every issue to verify their participation and details . Good chance to catch mistakes and appear profesh .

5 . Write clear, dated, specific invoices on time .

6 . Give advertiser addresses to the Circulation Manager .

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.

22 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismAd Contract

Crimson Advertising ContractThe student newspaper of Paso Robles High School www.crimsonnews.org www.facebook.com/crimsonnewsmagazine

801 Niblick Road. Paso Robles, CA 93446. (805) 769-1500 ext. 50033 [email protected]

FirstCircle the ad size and price you would like.

The more often you advertise,the more you save!

SecondNext, circle the best dates

in our publication schedule.

Finished!Read the contract, give usyour personal information,

and sign on the dotted line!

We prefer payment up front,but are happy to bill you

after your ad has beenpublished.

You are now finished!

Thank you for purchasingadvertising with

Crimson.

Oct. 10 Feb. 13

Nov. 14 Mar. 20* Pre-Prom!

Dec. 19 May 29

Biz Card $35size = 3.5” W x 2”

Web Ads crimsonnews.org

$65 1-month size = 300x200

$100 2-months Inserts* $150

1/8 Page $65size = 5” W x 2.75” H

Half Page $150size = 10” W x 5.5” H

1/4 Page $95size = 5” W x 5.5” H

Full Page $250size = 10” W x 11” H

Agreement This contract constitutes an agreement between the client named below and Crimson, a non-profit organization, to provide advertising according to the above specifications. Proof of publication will be sent with billing. Advertise-ment 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 604, or mailed to the address printed below.

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

Name of Business:

Contact Person:

Address:

Phone:

Email:

Signature:

Date:

Records + CommunicationUsethefollowingdocumenttodiscussadvertisingoptionswithpotential advertisers. We need a completed contract for every advertiser to reach them, invoice, and follow up.

23CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Business Tasks

I. When you have sold an ad and it will run in upcoming publication:

1. Record it and its size on the ad white board for the editors and Mount to remember. Decide the deadline for when an ad proof must reach the business owner and when we must have ad in hand.

2. Add the above dimensions into Ad Thumbnails doc so we can make it a part of the pagination...and know if your ad fits.

3. Record the ad information in the cashbook for later invoicing.

4. Verify that a contract exists for the ad in our files 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. Maintain the current month’s INCOME TOTAL on the white board

1. We all need to know if you are AFFORDING the current issue.

Iv. Maintain the current month’s INCOME TOTAL on the white board

1. We

Business ToolsCONTRACTRecords 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 THUMBNAILS on InDesignShows editors & Mount visual footprint of the ads across the publication.

USE Crimson billing history to get ideas for ads Look at all the success of your predecessors! Renew old accounts or find the new PR equivalent of an old biz .


Mount asked me to put together some advice for you!Here are my suggestions.

Planning your advertising reach1. Contact past advertisers before every print cycle to

remind them of the upcoming issue, and if they would like to advertise again, or if they have 25% off of their next ad.

They like knowing what and when Crimson is doing with their company image.

2. Brainstorm other companies who MUST reach high school students or parents in order for their businesses to thrive (Senior pic photographers,

driving schools, tutors, any place that gives student discounts, etc.). 3. Go through past Crimsons to get ideas, or PRHS Journalism email. 4. Family and friends might recommend a person to sell ad space to, even the business you work at

could be interested. 5. Always keep an open-mind about potential customers.6. Before each print cycle, set a date for businesses when all ad artwork will be due.7. You can never contact businesses too often once they are on contract. They respect good

communication.

What to say when making pitch:1. Always ask for a Manager, or “whoever is in charge of advertising”.2. Introduce yourself and explain Crimson would like to help them reach students and parents.3. If the Manager isn’t there, “sell” the idea to an employee. (They can push an ad, too, or at least

remind Manager about it).4. Present ad pages in a past issue so they know what they’re getting, and present ad contract with

prices.5. While they’re looking at the paper, tell them the paper reaches 2,000+ students, over 1000

through Facebook, and 200 subscribers in Paso Robles.6. Tell them the due date of ad artwork (people must know a date to push them), and that a signed

ad contract will reserve their spot.7. Make sure it is okay with them if you’re not able to “guarantee” a color ad.8. Obtain their contact information to call and follow up if they have not already made a decision

about purchasing an ad, or if you have not yet received artwork. Managers need reminders… they forget sometimes just like us.

Brielle Silletti ‘12 made thousands of dollars for Crimson through hard work, organization, and a commitment to succeed . She is

majoring in business at Babson College in Boston .

For in-person pitch, bring:1 . Past Crimson issues

2 . Ad contracts

3 . Business Cards for your contact info

4 . Call before so you catch the manager .

5 . Smile and cheerfulness

Are we designing the ad?If so, leave enough time to email the ad to the business for them to proof ad and respond if

there are any additional changes before it goes to print. They do not like being surprised how their ad looked and often will not pay as a result.

25CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Print calendar

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 .

Plan your calendar with the above dates

Crimson Publication Calendar

OUR WEB PORTALS:

We update daily with content from campus, sports, and nation.

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

Advertisers must �ll out our Ad Contract to con�rm date(s) and mailing info.

Publication Date Newspaper distributed to campus

Production Deadline @ Register-Pajaronian

Print Ad Deadline Ad copy received+approved

1. Sept. 5 Wed Aug. 27 Fri --

2. Oct. 10 Wed Oct. 5 Fri Oct. 3 Wed

3. November 14 Wed Nov. 9 Fri Nov. 7 Wed

4. December 19 Wed Dec .14 Fri Dec . 12 Wed

5. February 20 Wed Feb. 15 Fri Feb. 13 Wed

6. March 27 Wed Mar. 22 Fri March 20 Wed

7. May 22 Senior Issue May 17 Fri May 15 Wed

Other Important Dates NSPA Nat’l Journalism Conv’n San Francisco 4/25-28/13

Baby photos for Senior Issue 2013 May 17, 2013 Fri

PRHS Day 1: 8/27/12

PRHS Last Day: 5/31/13

PRHS Winter Break: 12/11 - 1/4/13

PRHS Spring Break: 4/1/13 – 4/5/13

PRHS Prom: May TBA 2013

Crimson Newsmagazine // www.crimsonweb.netStudent journalism at Paso Robles High School

Rm. 604, 801 Niblick Rd., Paso Robles, CA 93446 769-1500 ext. 53003 [email protected]� Mount, Adviser [email protected]

Your monthly campus newsmagazine Paso Robles High School

2012-2013

CloudseedingThe strategy of seeding clouds (w silver iodide or dry ice) so that they are more likely to rain.

YouObserving, think-

ing, asking, pitchingYour Team

Listening, Thinking,

Asking, Participating Section Editor

Planning coverage +

assigning writers Editorial

BoardTrying to see all issues at hand

The Editorial Board is comprised of EICs, MEs, section editors, and all interested staff members.

PURPOSE: To deepen coverage, protect against mediocrity, suggest adjustments to projects, solve redundancies

Process: Use our 1 . CLOUDSEEDING FORM to record original , intelligent, edifying project ideas . Consider Journalove for your community as you plan: What do they need to know? Read, ask, think, & be creative . Fill out the form passionately .

Add 2 . DESIGN & PHOTO DETAILS to your best ideas . Plan a packaged layout, web story, or photo shoot, envisioning the final product NOW . View inspiring publications that will deepen your ideas .

PITCH3. your ideas to your team . Believe in your ideas .

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

Section editors compile all good ideas from teams and finalize 5 . their section budgets

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

ALL UNADOPTED PRINT STORIES WILL BE POSTED 7. ON WEB! Section editors will be expected to write all non-print ideas onto the web board in their section . Writers with one heavy story will likely pick on of these web stories to complete their 2-task workload for the week . See next ag

Section budgets return to the section editors, who will write 8 . down all print stories under the pagination section of the board and will encourage other staffers to take the stories of their section .

GREEN!

Stories can be constantly pitched to the web by writing down the story idea under the appropriate section on the web part of the board .

Brainstorming + The Editorial Board26

Bring us awesome ideas . Be creative . Be informed .Brainstorming ideas for the paper & website must be incredible . They are the secret to success . We break up into THREE TEAMS to develop newsworthy ideas & eliminate stale, predictable projects . Keep informed .

27CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism The Workflow Cycle

1

Start of Issue

Pitch to your team. Discuss story ideas w/ them .

Submit team ideas + story slips to S-Ed’s .

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

2 Editors determine BUDGETS for section Using Budget sheet.

3 Editorial Board approves budgets; EIC paginates issue .

EB checks for overlapping, misjudgments, and weaknesses.

4 Editors design DUMMY of layout to anticipate design + sizes

Using Dummy form that portrays the length of each story & the photo/graphic needs, so assignments can be specific.

5

Monday.....

Editors ASSIGN no more than 2 stories to each staffer & complete SLUG forms to eachwriter . Unassigned stories go to ToDo board .

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.

6 All staffers post at least 2 Tasks they will accomplish this week on Workflow Board .

Tasks to choose: Write an assigned story.. Photograph an event... Write your blog (if it’s due)... Layout a print page... Produce a podcast... Complete a special project...

7

Tuesday.....

Reporters interview, dig, & research for stories in a 2-day sequence

Use your HDN! Work & communicate with your editor(s) and with leadership!

8 Editors guide & manage their reporters You are not alone on your story. Get help.

9 R1 drafts uploaded to Google Docs by Tues . midnight

Tuesday is always a deadline night.

10

Wed.....

Editors/Mount edit R1’s in color by Wed . 3 p .m . Reporters must continue fact-gathering even while waiting for edits.

11 Reporters revise, re-interview, dig to address R1 comments

Rewrite stories above existing draft & color comments. Include bar between R1 & R2.

12

Thurs..

R2 drafts uploaded to Google Docs by Thurs . midnight

Don’t be late! Chief checks whether you are on time!

13 Story Shares sent to interviewees To invite them to read and to help us check accuracy.

14 Editors/Mount edit R2’s in color Which is your last chance for written input before final drafts (FD’s) are due.

15 If story/project is complete, choose a new task + name it on Workflow Board . Unfinished stories

continue into next week .

Everyone always has at least 2 Tasks going at all times.

16

Final week of cycle...

Layout begins on 4th week of above cycle in InDesign: 3-5 day phase

Late Night = Mondays. Deadline for issue completion = Fridays.

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

18 Post produce: Export InDesign files to PDF To lock layout/fonts/levels for print processing. Section editors are responsible for this “after-layout” step.

19 FTP upload files to Vikki @ Register-Pajaronian Handled by leaders

20 Delivery of 2000 copies to 604 Nice lunch activity for drivers w/ parent permission.

23 Distribute Crimson to campus Per . 2 on Wednesdays

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

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

28 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismYour Weekly 2 Tasks

+

1. Investigate/write an ASSIGNED STORY for a section You volunteer or are given a story from a section editor . We try to give you the story

you pitched . You try to finish the story in R1 (Tues) and R2 (Thurs)—by Friday . If this is too quick, you can repeat the assignment into the next week . We discourage co-writing stories unless they are complex .

2. Investigate/write a Weekly BLOG If your team is up . See BLOG pages .

3. PHOTOGRAPH an event/game/time-frame Learn the time, check out/reserve a camera, and attend . Apply photo principles taught

in this manual . After the shoot, upload to Mother, and process the photos as described in this manual, which can take several hours . See pages 85+ .

4. LAYOUT a page for print This task becomes mandatory as we near the end of the print cycle, when write less

and design for hours . Anyone can choose LAYOUT even if not a section editor—but would like to help on a project .

5. Produce a MEDIA PACKAGE:

These are multi-step but EXCITING projects that come with experience and experimentation . You’ll train under our staff leader in each of these above departments . The process changes too often to describe here .

Declare your 2 TASKS on the Workflow white board at all times, and maintain their status across the week so leaders are aware , too.

We call it the 2-Do list to make clear that you must complete at least 2 projects per week, each one fulfilling the Tuesday and Thursday deadlines

29CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Email = Groupwise

Groupwise LOG IN:1. www.pasoschools.org2. Click icon at bottom of above page3. Select EMAIL - GROUPWISE4. User: prhsjournalism

4. Ask Mount or a fellow staffer for password

Beneficial because Groupwise enables you to:

1 . SEND BACKUPS of your stories on deadline nights (NetStorage is not enough) as attachments . These can be accessed at school the next morning .

2 . CONTACT TEACHERS/ADMINISTRATORS to set up appointments, ask followup questions, etc. Most PRHS adults LIKE EMAIL so use it during the school day .

3 . SEND THE STORY SHARE (OUR FEEDBACK MEMO) to interviewees once the story is in its final drafting stages and is nearly ready for print & web . Story Share is CRUCIAL .

Groupwise and Interviewing

1. Generally, AVOID using Groupwise to interview.

You look lazy as a reporter when you send an email that in effect says, “Here’s an assignment for you that’s convenient for me and creates WORK for you.”

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

Therefore a good reporter would set up the interview saying, “I would like to talk to you before Wednesday—or I can email you some questions if you prefer.”

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, Hot-mail, etc. is blocked.

28 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismGoogle Drive for R1

We use our Crimson Google account to hold, organize, edit, and paste into Crimson journalism. Stories are therefore available to all staffmembers on any computer at all times. Reporters paste their work into Google Docs—even if they write in Word or Pages, etc.—then editors comment on these drafts, and reporters revise and improve them as our workflow moves through the week.

1. Login: Go to www.gmail.com and SIGN IN . We all use the same account to do Crimson work, even though many of us also use GMAIL for personal use.

Username:

crimsonnewsmagazine@gmail .comPassword: (the usual)

2. Inside Google Drive, follow these steps 1 . Click the DRIVE tab at the top of page .

2 . On the left-hand side of the page, select the folder your document belongs in . BE SURE to put your file in a folder and not just anywhere.

3 . Click CREATE > DOCUMENT or UPLOAD > FILE depending on what you prefer . You may always write in your preferred word processing application and paste into Google once you’re done .

4 . TITLE your story for us Lastname.section.story by clicking “Untitled Document” and replacing with a correct file name:

Ex: munns.center.plasticsurgery

5 . Write the FRONT END items into your story (see p . 43) .

6 . Use the same filename above throughout the production process . Do not change the name to reflect a newer version of the story .

YES: munns.center.plasticsurgery NO: munns.center.plastic_2 NO: munns.center.plastic.finaldoneYAY

6 . Logout .

If you complete the above steps by your deadline, you will not be marked LATE. Editors, Leaders, and Mount can see when you

last worked on your story.

The R1 created at left now goes through these steps:1. LOGIN: Editors Login at www.gmail.com The section’s stories are now collecting in a Google Docs folder as reporters write.

2. EDITING: Editors use the text color shown at right to edit and remark on the reporter’s work in a ALL AMERICAN way.

All-American Editing standards:

1 . Use of Crimson Rubric (see p . 39) 4 . STAIRS and next steps

2 . LOTS of remarks (not minimal “good jobs”) 5 . TYPOS and AP Style corrections (see p . 59)

3 . STARS and celebrations

3. EDITING DEADLINE: If the editor completes the above quality editing by deadline, s/he will not be marked LATE.

4. R2 BEGINS: Following the Editing Deadline above, the writer HONORS the comments received and gets back to work writing and fact-gathering: new interviews, more research, better lede, etc.

5. R2 DETAILS: The reporter completes (4.) and writes the R2 into the same file by following these steps:

a. Open the R1 in GoogleDocs.

b. Create a line above your R1 by hitting “- - -”

c. Paste/write your R2 above the line. Everyone can now see the original R1 and the editor remarks for it.

d. Write another updated Front End (p. 43) for the R2, including Writer’s Note.

6. R2 DEADLINE: If the reporter completes the above quality R2 by deadline, s/he will not be marked LATE.

29CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Google Drive: Edits + R2

Your story = your responsibility If Google Docs is not working for you, you must :(1) Come into the journalism room BEFORE school starts touploaditw/aUSBortoopenitonGroupwise.(2)TransferyourstoryintoGoogleDocs.It is not our responsibility to check email for your story.

The editor may need to make last minute changes in your story once it’s pasted into InDesign/Wordpress/FBook. S/he should always tell you if changes have been made. If they do not communicate on this, let Mount know. It can lead to dysfunction on the staff.

Editing ColorsWriter - BLACKEditor - REDManaging Editors - GREENChief - PINKMount - BLUE

We do not accept the excuse “my internet wasn’t working so I don’t have my story .”

32 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismYour monthly blog

MondayFind a current topic, mainly a NEWS 5W or a SPORTS 5W you’ll investigate further. See next page for ideas.

Tuesday Deadline: R1WriteandposttoGoogleDocs by midnight

Wednesday EditsYour team leader edits your

bloginGoogleDocs.

Thursday R2New information from

Wed + Thur, plus revise for comments.

Friday Postto website and to Facebook.

News editor also selects best Blogs to run in eventual

print issue

Fact gather + InterviewAsk,interview,learn.Getat least 2 fishing poles out, not one.

Writing your blog

Attend the event .• It will help you with description, information, and it will get you better sources and pictures.

Topics:• Starters appear at right. See Mount for additional ideas.

Sources .• You must have at least one interview to be precise. Talk to the person in charge, a participant, or both.

Picture .• If you can get a picture, DO SO. Pictures draw interest to stories—web site especially.

Fact density .• In 200 words or less, pack in as many facts as possible. What happened, who you saw, who was there, why it happened, etc.

Reminders

“Blog” (for us) means report factually and post within 5 days. It’s a sprint report, sometimes called a BEAT REPORT.

You will write 1 blog during 1 of the weeks of a print cycle, separate from your other assigned stories. Your blog can be ONE of your TWO weekly tasks if it is your team’s turn to blog that week. With this system, Crimson cranks out fast stories-of-the-week for readers. They will trust awebsiteandmagazinethatareCURRENT.TheBEST blogs run in the print issue that month.

BLOG


FridayKeepthecampusinformed.Excellence—andjudges—expectsCrimsontobeasteadysourceofCAMPUSNEWS.

School Clubs BCASE•KeyClub•CSF•International•SkillsUSARepublican’sClub•BSU•FridayNightLIVE•12thFanClub

Sports Teams FALL=Football•Tennis•XCWaterpolo•GirlsGolfJV team top performances

WINTER=Wrestling•BoysBasketball•GirlsBasketball

BoysSoccer•GirlsSoccer•GirlsPoloJV team top performances

SPRING=Track•Swimming•BoysTennisBaseball•Softball•BoysGolfJV team top performances

ACADEMICS ENGLISH•ELL•AP•SCIENCE•MATH•SOCSCI•AG•FOREIGNLANG•ELECTIVES

Testing Results•Dates•Comparisons

HomeworkElectivesPerforming ARTVisual . drama .

ceramics . BANd . choir

FFA Awards - Calendar - VIPs

AWARD WINNERS Vapa . academic . sports, endeavor .

CulturesHispanic . . . African American . . .Asian

Discipline . campus crimeCounselors’ announcements

Principal’s announcements Principal=RandyNelson•AsstPrincipal=TomHarringtonAsstPrincipal=ChrisJones•

College announcements/deadlinesGuest speakersAssembliesLeadership events/projectsCampus constructionCampus facilities

Student health . nurse

RELIGIOUS GROUPS

Christian . mormon . jW . muslim . atheism . etc

BLOGtopics

NewsworthinessCrimson has to ask itself what is worthy of being printed from the many

choices we nominate each month . Are we writing what people want to

read? Are we covering the most newsworthy stories? A story is always

“intensified” by how local and current it is! Here are nine areas that never fail:Hard News Themes1. Conflict Is the story a struggle between two opposing sides? Student vs. student? Administration vs. students? A 2. Progress Will the story cover something that has been improved? 3. Disaster Will the story cover something that happened out of

our control? Car accident? Fire? Earthquake? Death? 4. Consequence Does the story cover an issue that affects many people or a few people very deeply? Food prices raised?

Soft News Themes5. 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?

LocalizingConnect your reporting to our PRhS community to establish NEWSWORTH.

For instance:1 . Compare your topic to a similar event locally

2 . Get a local voice to comment about your topic3 . Conduct a survey showing local

opinion about your topic .

4 . Find + interview a student who has had a simlar experience .

5 . Find + interview a teacher or administrator for perspective

46

Always ask what news value you’re supplying for the reader

34 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismWe shoot for daily

1. When we post photos especially...

<here>

the Facebook audience

responds, reads, likes, shares, comments...

<here>

...and they learn to TRUST Crimson

2. When don’t post...

<here>

the Facebook audience dies off...

<here>

...and they learn NOT to trust Crimson.

A steady stream

of photos particularly, and stories

steadily, keeps our audience close and large. Help

Crimson produce this steady stream

by hitting your deadlines with the 2-Task choices you make every week.

Crimson leaders and the web team post on FB for

the staff. We don’t post individually.

What

Did

You

Do

For

me

today?

Hey, Crimson, WDYDFMT?

These dots mean we posted story/photo on Crimson’s Facebook page

35CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Philosophy of coverage

Thanks, Jack!Jack kennedy, one of the most beloved journalism teachers in the country, compiled this piece and shared it with us at a recent convention


All deadlines are @ midnight of a given

night (usually Tuesdays). You will have a calen-dar for each production cycle so you will know the exact date. If your story is not on Journal-ism 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.

Deadlines/Late work

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 .

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.

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.

Reward if you have ALL of your stories in on time . . . Con-sequences 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) .YOU SHOULD ALWAYS FACT-GATHER AND WRITE A DRAFT EVEN IF YOU ARE WAITING FOR ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT

37CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Editor Basics

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 .

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 .

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 .

38 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismEditor Tips

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:YesNoWhy?Thank youI’ll do it myself

These are simplistic . : (

Not about you,Not about me,it’s about what’s BEST FOR THE PUBLICATION .

39CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Awards - Contests

C Reporters of the Year

2012: Shanna Dowling2011: Alicia Canales

2010: Alicia Canales

2009: karlee Anderson

2008: Jane Teixeira

2007: hannah huff

2006: Emma kelley

2005: Ryan hagen

2004: Julian hein

C Journalist of the Year

2012: Megan Rodrigues katie Wingfield

2011: Monica Patel Alicia Canales

2010: karlee Anderson

2009: Rebecca horne KelseyGarman

2008:GinaAlessi Ryah Cooley

2007: Emma kelley

2006: Ryan hagen

NSPA Nat'l Convention Individual Awards

2012 Seattle 2011 Anaheim 2009 St . Louis 2008 Wash DC

Superior Amanda hutchinson, layout katie Wingfield, EditorialMonica Patel, layout

-- Rebecca horne, Newswriting

Excellent Paul Cleland, headlining -- --

H- Mention Sydney Matteson, Infographic Sinead Schouten, Sports Madison Butz, Review Writing --

JEANC (NorCal) State Individual Awards

2012 2011

1st Place Morrison, Ads + Infographic Wilson, NewsphotoMusial/Munns/Wilson, News Wingfield, IllustrnBoswell, Nameplate Schouten, Sports

Patel, Coons, Centerspread

2nd Place Matteson, Infogr Dowling, Editorialhutchinson, Spread Orcutt, Sportsphoto

3rd + H- Mention

Boswell, Page1 Rodrigues, IllustrnDowling, Featurehutchinson, Infographic

Wingfield, Feature Cleland, ReviewDowling, Infographic Canales, NameplatePatel, Newswriting

NSPA Program Ranking

2012: All-American (2650) w 4 Marks of Distinction

2011: All-American (2850) w 4 Marks of Distinction

2010: First Class (1350) w 3 Marks of Distinction

2009: First Class (1200) w Marks of Distinctn

2008: First Class (1250) w Marks of Distinctn

2004: Second Class (900)

NSPA Nat'l Best of Shows

2012, Spring (Seattle): Best of Show Newsmag = 6th

2011, Spring (Anaheim): Best of Show Newsmag = 6th

2009, Fall (St. louis, MO) Best of Show 17p+ NPs = 6th

2008, Fall (Washington DC): Best of Show 16p NPs = 9th

Competing, comparing, and winning keeps us sharp + builds program pride. Join in our program goals + see where you can one day earn distinctions yourself.

40 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismStaff Awards + Rewards

Monthly StudMuffinsMount’s Picks for Best Stories of the Issue

Monthly Issue HonorsStaff Votes for Best of Issue in 15+ areas

Christmas Party Secret Santasholiday laughs + joy as we celebrate the close of the Dec issue and the advent of break

End-of-YearAffirmationsSpecial tributes + awards from your staff mates

Birthdays We’ll call off business + sing to you. Just bring us sweets to motivate us.

End-of- Issue Thnks hearing how you’ve made a difference

Wedding Vows Sanctifying your new job on staff

41

2Section

Writing

crimson

for


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 enhances story &

shows the topic / per-son 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 nonau-thoritative .

Sources in story seem authoritative, com-

plete, & diverse

Exceptionally com-plete reporting effort

with proper, diverse, & effective sources

7. Quote Quality Quotes seem miss-ing . Key voices need

to be found .

Quotes are present but predictable or

shallow

Quotes are relevant & interesting; they

add flavor & voice to the story

Exceptionally so…reflects a perceptive

interviewer

8. Organization + Transitioning

Need recommended story structure still…

Need transitions between quotes/

ideas

Structure & order of paragraphs makes

proper sense

Structure is 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

Story Scoring Rubric

43CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Draft Minimums

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

EDITORS: Hold your writers ac-

countable! If you are not seeing

these standards met, meet with

the writer and develop a plan

R1Minimum Standards TUESDAY NIGHTFRONT END1. (see NexT page)

ONE INTERvIEW 2. & qUOTES ONE3. LEDENUTGRAF4. 5W BASIC FACTS5. about the topic: Who-What-When-Where-Why

SURvEYS/SIDEBARS 6. described with questions done and included.

R2 Minimum Standards THURSDAY NIGHTWRITE YOUR R2 ABOVE the text of your R1

FRONT END #2 1. (see NexT page)

TWO2. INTERvIEWSTWO3. LEDES (alternate lede at the bottom)NUTGRAF4. FACT DENSITY5. improved from R1SURvEYS/SIDEBARS6. (showing SOME results)REvISIONS7. reflecting comments from editor/leadership

FD: PERFECT + READY FOR PUBLISHING

44 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismThe Front End

1. Headline

Yes: Juniors protest parking fees

No: Griping about dough .No: Parking Protest

Run your catchy or cute one as headline (not deck) to grab the reader. Readers should know angle of story from your headline wording: work it until it’s clear. The only word that should capitalized is the first word or a proper noun. No periods at the end of the headline.

2. Deck Write a subheadline for the above that announces further facts. The deck should further explain the headline. This one also is a sentence with verb, this time more summariz-ing, 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 count-ing these front end items.

6. Alternate lede At the end of your story, write another lede that you could use for your story. Please refer to LEDE pages in this manual for inspiration on both ledes.

7. Writer’s note At the end of the draft, tell us editors what you think of your story, what changes lie ahead, what strengths/weaknesses. If you say it down here, we know we don’t have to nail you in our comments.

Remember to check your story against the C Rubric.

Remember your document filename DOES NOT CHANGE from R1 to FD .

Your R1, R2, and FD must include these seven items in the front text of your story when you upload your stories onto Journalism Mother .

45CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism NewsworthinessCrimson has to ask itself what is worthy of being printed from the many choices we nominate each month . Are we writing what people want to

read? Are we covering the most newsworthy stories? A story is always “intensified” by how local and current it is!

Here are nine areas that never fail:

Hard News Themes1. Conflict Is the story a struggle between two opposing sides? Stu-

dent vs. student? Administration vs. students? A cop vs. a

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

3. Disaster Will the story cover something that happened out of our

control? Car accident? Fire? Earthquake? Death? Explod-

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

few people very deeply? Food prices raised? Immigration

Soft News Themes5. 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?

LocalizingConnect your reporting to our PRhS community to establish NEWSWORTH.

For instance:

1 . Compare your topic to a similar event locally

2 . Get a local voice to comment about your topic

3 . Conduct a survey showing local opinion about your topic .

4 . Find + interview a student who has had a simlar experience .

5 . Find + interview a teacher or administrator for perspective

46 Ideas for Cloudseeding+ Blogs

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

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

especially 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)

Teen IssuesCurfewsParty Scene ReportDepression/AnxietyMale - female issuesDatingDrop outsDriving topics

Society/CulturePoverty / Poverty Among UsOur violent cultureOur materialistic cultureCarsAnimated moviesMusicTechnologyReligion

Affirmative action & quotasPrejudice/discriminationSupremacy movementsInterracial dating Gang warfare

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

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

illiteracyCheating 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 &

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;

dissection of animals in science labs

College-university TrendsTrace a careerWhatever happened to (person)Recent legislation from DC/Sacra-

mentoPollutionGas / energy topicsCollege 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 studentsTeacher profileRecent fascinating lessonsWhat did Leadership do recently?Club report/club studies

EthnicityRacism found todayInequalities

“There’s nothing happening this month .” If you think there’s nothing going on, you are not reading nor talking to people enough .

47CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Interviewing Steps

Before the Interview1 . Be PREPARED . Find out all you can about the person/event .

A . Have at least 10 questions already planned .

B . DON’T ASK QUESTIONS THAT COULD’VE BEEN LEARNED BEFOREHAND .

C . 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 .

48 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismInterviewing, cont'd

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 .

8 . 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 .

9 . GET CONTACT INFO, so you can Story Share .

10 . SAY THANK YOU! Thank the person for their time and let them know when the issue comes out .

After the Interview11 . WRITE A DRAFT of your story ASAP . Details fade away as time passes &

inaccuracies creep in (DANGER!) .

12 . Once it’s done, STORY SHARE over email and/or deliver it to their box .

13 . RELAX! (Only for a little bit) .

What to bring

49CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Interviewing Tips

>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 .

What to bring

1. ATTEND: Go to the game/practice/performance before the interview—or it will be a dull conversation .

2. THE NOD AND WAIT: When the cliche, dull answer occurs, just nod and wait . You are making clear you want more . The person will gradually form the words . Fill the silence yourself and you’re stuck with the lame answer .

3. DRAMA IS THE vEIN: Peck around until you have discovered it . The fear, the challenge, the irony, the revenge, etc . Drama makes good features and good sports .

4. BE AN ORIGINAL REPORTER: Don’t interview so you can write the obvious story . Interview so you can tell the story that hasn’t been told .

Expert tips

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 2. their 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 understand 4. their understanding of the conflict at hand.

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

Got a touGh INtERVIEW?

50 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismFacebook for the reporter

According to crunchgear.com, the average teenager spends approximately 31 hours a week online. Even with busy lives, people

make time for their Facebook fix. Interviewing via Facebook can be a simple and convenient way to add sources to an article.

however, don’t be lazy! Facebook interviews are for when an interviewee is otherwise unavailable, not because you don’t feel like

interviewing face-to-face!

1. Storyshare on Facebook! It’s effective and convenient for most students.

2. Send mass surveys over Facebook using SurveyMonkey to your friends. Either send the link to the survey to your friends and students in a message or just simply set it is as your status!

3. Start a “GROUP” for your story idea and invite NONfriends to join it. Include a note with the invitation: “Welcome to a discussion group for Crimson to discuss __(story idea)___. For the next 10 days I will be posting questions...”

4. Use “events” to your benefit...if everyone is rsvp-ing to a school dance/game then it should be covered somehow in that issue.

5. FB stalk people to see what PRHS students are talking about/ interested in...if our students are talking about it then we gotta cover it.

Some important things to remember:1.UseFacebooktoscheduleaface-to-faceinterview.Face-to-faceinterviewsarenot 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!

You can get a lot out of reporting material out of your

nightly social hijinx.

Other uses for Facebook

51CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism FB Tips

Don’t Hide Behind social mediaWhen you see your facebook interviewee in person, don’t act like you have no idea who they are! Walk up to them, tell them who you are, let them know how the story is going, and ask if they wanted to add anything else . This is important for keeping Crimson’s rep as friendly people who want to get the story right . This is also applied to e-mail interviews with teachers and faculty .

Don’t Overplay It, DudeDon’t do every interview over facebook! You will be known as the person who takes the easy way out all the time . You might possibly even lose your keen edge in face-to-face interviews!

Live is better than FBFacebook interviews often don’t produce the same quality results as a face-to-face . Don’t be afraid to ask deeper questions over Facebook, especially for feature stories .

You can even follow up your face-to-face interview with some facebook

questions messaged to your interviewee!

If your facebook interviewee gave you lame, one sentence answers where you needed paragraph long responses, don’t be afraid to tell them that you need an in-person interview . You can even say your EIC wants you to do only in person interviews if you don’t want them to think you are being rude .

Strategy for the Facebook InterviewAsk the person you need to interview if an in-person interview would 1. be better or an over Facebook interview. If they say in-person, schedule the interview for whenever is best for the two of you.

If they say over Facebook, start by saying ‘thank you for taking time 2. out of your day to answer these questions’, ask the questions you need answered, let them know when Crimson photographers will be taking their pictures (if applicable), and tell them you will follow up with more questions in the near future.

Collect their responses and write your story. Either you will see what 3. else you need to ask them, or your editor, ME’s, EIC and Mount will.

Ask the other questions that need to be asked and let them know that 4. you will send them the finished product as soon as possible.

Don’t forget to storyshare.5.

52 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismStarting a story

Don’t just sit there and chat during 2nd period! Your stories need to explode with facts, quotes, and storytelling authority! Here are some ways to get those interviews done .

1 . Read other journalism about your topic. You’ll learn facts, raise questions, + develop information to bring to interviews with persons.

Best stories bring us info we DID NOT know beforehand.

2 . Make an appointment with a teacher/administrator. Learn their prep period on the TEAChER lOCATOR, send an email, etc. Late interviews mean late stories.

Check their schedule on the teacher board.

3 . Make an appointment with a student. Text or call or intercept him/her ahead of time so they can think about what to say. Intercept him/her outside class if you can’t reach them otherwise. But choose students who aren’t nepostistically your friends

Make it for lunch, peri-ods 1 & 3-5, whenever they’re available. Even a heads up that you’ll reach them on FB is good communication.

4 . Interview during 2nd period or Advise-ment. Use yellow call slips with Mount’s signature and write “when convenient.” Interviews can only hap-pen after free time begins and official biz is over.

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

5 . Interview during periods 1 & 3-5 in 604. Neither of you goes to your assigned classes. Mount writes a re-admit once you’re done. Arrange this in advance with the student.

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

6 . Interview during nutrition/lunch/ Students are just eating or hanging out. They aren’t busy. Interview them! Arrange this ahead of time so you know where to meet.

Remember we want 2-3 sources per story.

7 . Get phone numbers from the Magical Green Binder/ “The Green Bible.” Then you’ll be ready when you get home.

Say you’re from Crimson. Otherwise you’ll just sound like a stalker—oh, wait...

8 . Go watch the event/performance/game. You will write authoritatively when you have seen it with your own eyes. Learn the game schedule, the practice time—even attend the person’s class.

We always want narrative, descriptive details in your reporting, which come from such observational journalism.

53CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Factology

What is a fact? You need to know what you’re looking for as you investigate, interview, and write.

1. It’s a fact if it’s one of the 5 Ws. WhO - WhAT - WhEN - WhERE - WhY

Margie Lambie, who formerly coached drama students in over six campus performances, 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.

He’s 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, who has known Jones since they played Little League in 2004.

3. It’s a fact if it’s a number.Wookey has 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, you can’t fake it .

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? OpinionInterpretationRumorAssumption

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!

ABC’s of FACT SUCCESS

54 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismNepotism: not our friend

nep·o·tism nounpatronage or favoritism shown on the basis of family or friendship in business and politics:

She was accused of nepotism when she made her nephew an officer of the firm.

Crimson definition

nep·o·tism nounpatronage or favoritism shown in interviewing, story budgeting, or bylining in which the reporter covers stories, quotes persons, and functions as a self-centered journalist who produces work pertaining to his/her own interests in the PRHS community.

She was accused of nepotism when she wrote the editorial about mistreatment of cheerleders and interviewed her friends for the story—being on the squad herself.

YES: Avoids nepotism NO: Guilty of nepotism1 Editor budgets a story about the volleyball

team—which has her best friend on the team—because they are second in league so far.

Same editor writes the story. But s/he can edit the story and discuss facts with the reporter who gets the assignment.

2 Reporter asks her friends who she should take to for a story about, say, thift shop-ping.

Reporter quotes her friend and her friend’s friend in the story.

3 Reporter uses FACEBOOK to message friends she is not friends with to gather infor-mation for a story about, say, dating.

Reporter uses FACEBOOK to chat and message within her friends list to get infor-mation about a story about dating.

How professional is it to merely cover our own affairs?

How objective is that?

How ethical?

55CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Narrative reporting

56 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismWrite like a reporter

NOOn May 2nd, swimmers from Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, Righetti, St. Joseph, Pioneer Valley, and Paso Robles PAC-7, competed in the Arroyo Grande Pool. There were 13 CIF qualifying times, compared to 2 last year. Sophomore Ryan Springer broke a league record in the 100 meter freestyle, with a time of 54.28, even though she placed second in the event.

*never lede with WHEN

YESThirteen Bearcat swimmers qualified for CIF Wed., May 2 at PAC-7 Finals, eclipsing last year’s two, as sophomore Ryan Springer swam a blistering 54.28 to set the PRHS 100 yd. record. It was Springer’s second meet of the year, and the final meet for over 30? other Bearcat swimmers. Collin Moore’s 53.65 100 yd butterfly shone as the top boys performance of the meet.

*relocated from later in story

Looks like this:

Do you want your story to sound like essay or journalism?

It comes down often to your ORDER OF DICTION, meaning your order of words in the sentence itself.

Put the most important news FIRST in the sentence, not last in the sentence.

WR

NF !ssTei

This draft is a very slow, delayed workaround to the better news at the end that--GEEZ!--a school record was set! That’s the news that must come earlier. It is NOT news that the usual schools in PAC-7 swam in AG’s pool.

Put news first, literally in the wording of the sentence. The reporter weighs what matters most and wisely words these facts earlier than before:

• 13 swimmers not 2• school record, event, time,

swimmer name• best boys performance• etc.

57CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Write like a reporter

NOThe football team played...The band performed...The crowd cheered...The choir sang...

etc.

YESThe football team roasted in the 3rd down huddle as temperatures cooked both the evening air and their October adoption of the option.

Her ad lib in the second act dazzled her castmates, who worried offstage if she’d remember the unbelievable 300 lines her antonist role required.

Looks like this:

Learn and use the LINGO of your topic.Create PUNS using the vocabulary.Choose VERBS that match the topic

Clever DICTION entertains the reader and shows you have learned about your topic expertly. Weak reporters do not know the language of their topic.)

usethe

LINGO

This concept is closey related to the fact that predictable, common word choice and verbs are unacceptable. Learn as a reporter about the surprising, electric, spot-on diction that makes you sound like an expert

about your topic/event.

See http://www .gamerisms .com/ for lingo pertaining to your sport . . .or google “lingo for ____ . . .”

This reporter sounds foolish, uninformed, naive...

This reporter sounds informed, authoritative, detail-oriented...

58 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismWrite like a reporter

Love the appositive

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.

B

A

Find the parts of your sentence where you can infuse FACTS and 5Ws! The

APPOSITIVE is your friend here.

Appositives are the inserted information that follow your nouns (usually), mini

add-ins of information and reporting. They are PLATFORMS on which to

place additional facts.

We want an appositive almost always with the attribution.

“We were definitely surprised,” said Nelson, who has supervised

over 11 Prom events in his career.

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 .

Uses adjectives rather than appositives...

C-

CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism

Uses adjectives rather than appositives...

Other ways to survey:

1 . PERIOD 2 Take printed versions of your survey to classrooms. In the past, this has

been the surest way to receive the highest amount of survey-takers (some-times hundreds of students!)

OR 2 . CLIPBOARD SURVEY Grab a pen, paper, and clipboard during lunch or nutrition and ask stu-

dents your questions directly. Remember to avoid nepotism and talk to people you don’t know. This is a great way to get opinions of people who have never been in the paper.

59Campus surveying

1.Goto:www.surveymonkey.com

2. Sign In: Username: prhsjournalism, Password: (the usual)

3. Top right in green box: click on “+ Create Survey”

4. Title the survey and click “Add Question” and select the type of question you would like to ask your survey takers. Every ques-tion on your survey DOES NOT have to be the same type.

*Your survey is only able to have a maximum of 10 questions – If you have more questions to add, create a “Part II” for your survey.

5. Finished making your survey? Scroll up and click on the second tab “Collect Responses.”

6. Pick the “Share your survey on Facebook” to post it on your Facebook wall.

7. how many people have taken your survey? Their responses? Click the pie chart under “Analyze” tab.

Increase your story’s FACT DENSITY by using this method or a simple “clipboard survey” during your week. Ask a veterans for how they have handled surveys before.

Validity? Hmm: SurveyMonkey does not let a computer station take a survey more than once. But it cannot stop a person from taking your survey on his laptop AND, say, on his phone...

1

54

32

Gotocrimsonweb.net/wp-admin. Your username is the first letter of your first name and your last name. ex: Sarah Wilson = swilson Ask a leader or Mount for your password.

Now that you’re logged in, you should see a tab called the “Dashboard” at the top left of the screen. Click on “Posts” underneath it and then “Add New.”

Copy and paste the headline into the box labeled “Title.” Then go to the most recent layout of your story in Journalism Mother and copy the story from there, because it will have the maximum edits. Break up the story into the correct paragraphs. Bold names of students and staff of PRhS. Where it says “Excerpt” put the first part of your lede (no more than one sentence). This is the portion of the story that will be displayed on the front page.

On the right, find and select the section that the story would have been (or was) published in. If the section isn’t there, pick the closest to it. ex: Feature

HOW TO POST A PHOTO/GRAPHIC for your postTo upload a picture:

Find a picture in the Photos folder that was not printed in the issue.In Photoshop, change the image size to: a. width of less than 4 inches (Image>Image Size) b. Resolution to 150 ppi c.MakeitanRGB(Image>Mode>RGB) d.JPEG,savedtoWebfolder(JournalismMother>Web>WebPhotos)

To upload a graphic:FindtheGraphicinthelayoutsectionfolder

and follow same steps OR... If the graphic is compiled on layout in

InDesign open the page PDFGototools>Select&Zoom>SnapshotToolSelect the area you need for the webPaste into Photoshop and follow the photo

steps above

6 Click “Publish.” The story and image should now be visible on the front page of crimsonnews.org! Double check bold names and paragraph spacing.

But CARoUSEl web photos

are 6 in wide

Posting stories to website/Wordpress60

61CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Number facts

62 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismObjectivity, please

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 person

2. Remove words that suggest your opinion as the writer.

3. Choose objective, factual words free from added meaning/connotation.

4. Often clarify your wording with “s/he said” so readers understand the origin.

5. Shorten your sentence counts—shorter is less biased.

6. Do not write fictionalized scenarios.

Example

YES NO1 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.

63CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism AP Style

RIGHT WRONG

Names 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)UsethelASTNAMEofthepersonafterwards.

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 .

Mrs . Conte stated . . .

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.

Usenumbersfortheday.

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

Usenumerals/hyphensforsportsscores

Usenumeralsforages,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 %

64 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismFind the EXTRAordinary

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 .

GayTalese(bornFebruary7,1932)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 ProgramattheUniversityofSouthern 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.

65CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism What you're doing matters

“A job on a newspaper is a special thing . Every day you can take something you just found out about, & you put it down & soon

it becomes a product . Not just a product like a can or something . It is a personal

product that people—a lot of people—take the time to sit down & read .”

—Jimmy Breslin

Breslin’s accomplished pen:

“Speaks cheerful English & in the past has written this language with a paintbrush that talks . “

“Media, the plural of mediocrity . “

“Rage is the only quality which has kept me, or anybody I have ever studied, writing columns for

newspapers . “

“The first funeral for Andrew Goodman was at night & it was a lot of work . To begin with they had to kill

him . “

“The number one rule of thieves is that nothing is too small to steal . “

Jimmy Breslin, “New York’s Columnist,” won the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary.

Perhaps the best known story was published the day after John F. kennedy’s funeral, focusing on the man who had dug the President’s grave. Breslin often highlighted how major events affect the common man.

Pulitzers matterThese 15 or so prizes every year, awarded by Columbia U are the highest honor for professional journalism in the nation.

“Every issue of the paper presents an opportunity and a duty to say something courageous and true; to rise above the mediocre and conventional; to say something that will command the respect of the intelligent, the educated, the independent part of the community; to rise above fear of partisanship and fear of popular prejudice.”

Read this year’s winners and their works at www.pulitzer.org.

66 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismLedes

Crimson lede writing targets

1 . Write 2 ledes for every story you sub-mit . 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.

Why “LEDE” not “lead”?A: Newspapers used to be produced using lead (metal) dividers, and it became helpful

among journalists to distinguish between the sentence opener and the metal part

67CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Great ledes

Tristan served on the CC three years, culminating as Chief & Journalist of the Year in 2003 . He majored in journalism at Cal Poly, interned at the SLO Tribune, & now is paid staff with the Las Vegas Review Journal .

Tristan Aird: lede writer extraordinaire

Paso Robles High crowned homecoming 1. 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 2. slugfest Friday night, but instead feasted on the sluggish Santa Monica Vikings.

The wrestling team has been pulling its 3. weight with class this season.

Who needs stunt men? (Cheerleading 4. story)

Katherine Suderman made herself the 5. center of attention last Tuesday. (Basket-ball story)

Drug testing in sports may not be as dope 6. as you think.

Do some individuals find themselves 7. guilty by association, or do they associate themselves with guilt?

The marriage of gang presence & law 8. enforcement is older than crime itself, but the threat posed at the present is a bold one.

After the visiting Hanford Bullpups 9. 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 10. Robles Bearcats simply ran out of time

.The Atascadero Greyhounds played to 11. the finish Friday night, but it was the Paso Robles Bearcats who finished them off.

Tristan's Ledes 2003

1 . Pun 2 . Plays-on-words3 . Alliteration

4 . Metaphor5 . Allusion6 . Descriptiveness

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

*A disproportionately large man with a hood and cut off 1. T-shirt, revealing ripped biceps, stands at the edge of a cliff, looking at mountains floating higher and higher into obliv-ion. He’s also under senior Hunter Gay’s fingers etched into the white paper laying below —Maddi Coons

*Text “PATRIOT” to 41411 and enter one of the greatest 2. grassroots movements in modern American politics. The Tea Party updates will keep phones—and the press—buzzing. —Sinead Schouten (tea party story)

*It’s easy enough to Ctrl+X to cut the “k” in “kangaroo,” and 3. in a “z” in its place. But creating a business at the age of 15 doesn’t have a keyboard shortcut. —Amanda Hutchinson (senior feature)

* Glass shattered. It poured into the truck and scattered on 4. the asphalt. It felt like a simple push, she said, but before she knew it, her leg was through the windshield of her father’s truck parked in downtown Paso. —Caitlyn Curran ( feature story)

*Playing with clay doesn’t have to stop after age six. Senior 5. Desiree Bond has worked and mastered the doughy substance for the past two years. —Alicia Canales (ceramics story)

*For Tim McGraw, spending “two point seven seconds 6. ona bull named Fu Man Chu” was an essential bucket-list item achieved whil e he was “living like he was dying.” For sophomore Austin Russel, it’s everyday life. —Katie Wing field (rodeo story)

* Blood, gore, and spine-tingling screams: not exactly what 7. most people want on a first date, but for this month’s blind daters that is exactly what they got. —Sheridan Cook (blind date)

Watch Him Work...and try it yourself

Top Ledes 2010 - 11

68 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismLede sampler

1 Put a Face on the Situation

(1) Last year’s star goalie, senior Juan Sanchez, isn’t eligible to play this year. He was born too early. Sanchez can’t play because of the University Interscholastic League policy…(Hillcrest Hurricane, Hillcrest HS, Dallas, TX)

(2) On Thursday, senior Matt Chang seemed to be his normal self. His quick wit brought laughter from friends & his smile was omnipresent. But by 1 p.m. Friday, Chang had succumbed to meningococcal meningitis at the age of 17. (The Churchill Observer, Winston Churchill HS, Potomac, MD)

2 Could-Be-Important Lede

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

3 Give ‘em the Stats Lede

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

4 Who’s-the-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, Upper Arlington HS, Upper Arlington, 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, Reno HS, 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, Gresham HS, 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’s Roar, Gahanna Lincoln HS, Gahanna, OH)


1 Put a Face on the Situation

(1) Last year’s star goalie, senior Juan Sanchez, isn’t eligible to play this year. He was born too early. Sanchez can’t play because of the University Interscholastic League policy…(Hillcrest Hurricane, Hillcrest HS, Dallas, TX)

(2) On Thursday, senior Matt Chang seemed to be his normal self. His quick wit brought laughter from friends & his smile was omnipresent. But by 1 p.m. Friday, Chang had succumbed to meningococcal meningitis at the age of 17. (The Churchill Observer, Winston Churchill HS, Potomac, MD)

2 Could-Be-Important Lede

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

3 Give ‘em the Stats Lede

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

4 Who’s-the-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, Upper Arlington HS, Upper Arlington, 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, Reno HS, 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, Gresham HS, 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’s Roar, Gahanna Lincoln HS, Gahanna, OH)

Lede sampler8 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…(Little Hawk, City HS, Iowa City, 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. (The Academy Times, Charles Wright Academy, 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, everyone briefly headed back out into the sunny but chilly afternoon, past various broken bottles & empty cans into the huge brick pool building, which looked like a warehouse.(U-High Midway, University High School, Chicago, IL)

12 “Then-and-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.(Hillcrest Hurricane, Hillcrest HS, Dallas, TX)

15 Dialogue Lede Hey Ashley, this is Michael. How would you like to go out with me tonight? I’d love to Michael; where are we go-ing? Well I was thinking we’d just go see a movie. Click. (The Trojanier, Rigby HS, Idaho Falls, 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-High Midway, University High School, Chicago, IL)

70 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismThe Dirty Dozen

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.

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 immediate details to provide context/

perspective . It tells how the current news fits into the larger picture . It

tells what’s been happening lately or elsewhere .

5. Summary of what’s to come (SW2C)

Here, the writer lays out the varying points of view, foreshadowing the details of the rest of

the story . This summary is key to FAIRNESS: no one’s point of view is paramount .

Teen drivers may be blocked from using cell phones

Teen drivers would be barred from driving while using cell-phones of any kind--even if fitted with hands-free equipment--under legislation that passed the state As-sembly 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 . Violators 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 estimated 11 million teens own CA phones .

Yet the bill concerns some adult drivers, who feel they may be next, as the teen measure marches through remaining hurdles in Sac-ramento .

Tully Lehman, insurance industry spokesman with the Insurance In-formation Network of California, an organization that represents about 70% of property & casualty insurers in California, supports the legisla-

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 the dozen are:

Classic News Story Elements are contained here: Learn them .

71CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism DD continued

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 .

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

ways for not only the teen drivers who are driving while using their cellphones but also for other drivers on the road as well,” she said .

Arian Moreh, 19, a third-year law student at UCLA, agrees .

“I think it’s better for safety . I think it’s being put out there for a 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 thinking about before this, & it’s not that im-portant .”

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 deci-sion April 2007 .

Teens have four months free be-fore their phones might be pulled

72 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismThe nutgraf

You must tell readers why your story matters in a larger context . Any of

these choices will work:

1. Why does this event matter? Why is it printed in the paper?

2. How does it compare to past events? According to an authority?

According to a fact-based analysis of it?

3. How is it likely to affect the future? What’s ahead?

4. What’s the historicity of your story? First ever? Third? Worst? Learn the history.

5. Many are saying that your event is… This majority approach is enough to establish nutgrafism

...is a NUTshell... paraGRAF...that 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

73CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism The SW2C

Readers will bounce if they do not know where a story is heading. Therefore, give them a foreshadowing sentence somewhere in the first 3 grafs that reveals hints of what-comes-later-in-the-story.

HOW:

1. Pick the top 2-5 facts/revelations that your story contains (across the entire story).

2. Compose a separate SW2C sentence: a condensed, hint-oriented summary of the above facts/revelations.

3. Insert your SW2C early in the story—within the first 4 grafs.

Summary of What’s 2 Come...later in your

bouncebounce

Every weekday AP Physics teacher Mark Fairbank arrives in room 302 at 5 a.m. Students walk in first period to see him grading tests and interactive notebooks, checking e-mails, planning each class, and most importantly, helping the 17 students that come in on average to receive help in physics or chemistry. Fairbank is no average teacher, but an awarding winning one.

On Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010, Fairbank had a different kind of morning 20 months after he was nominated for a prestigious award.

He woke up in the Willard Intercontinental

Hotel to begin a four day event honoring recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

JEANC Winner: The above news story by Monica Patel

won a 2011 state award for its reporting

74 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismStory shapes

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.

75CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Shape examples

76 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismAttribution + quotation

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 to replace long, boring sections of a quote that would be better if summarized.

WRONG: “We welcomed them as soon as they arrived,” Smith said . “We all waited for three hours in the rain for the buses to come . We were excited to see our partners .”

RIGHT: “We welcomed them as soon as they arrived,” Smith said, who along with others waited for three hours in the rain for the buses to come . “We were excited to see our partners,” he said .

3 . Stricly use “said” as the verb in your attribution. Don’t get narrative on us with distracting verbs such as “muttered,” “mused,” “observed,” etc. unless it is essential for the narrative writing you’re intentionally creating for effect.

4 . Use normal SUBJECT-vERB order in the attribution.

WRONG: “The club was not satisfied with the proposal,” said Principal Randy Nelson . (You wouldn’t say “said he”...)

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

4 . Attributions go strictly at the end of the quotation.

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

WRONG: When asked about the incident, Principal Randy Nelson said, “The club was not satisfied . . .”

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

ATTRIBUTION means the places

in your story where you attributed

a quotation to a speaker.

Quotations are the bread-n-butter of journalism.

Avoid buggering them.

77CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Conciseness

... simple is bestIn journalism, you must use clear, direct, factual language .

Choose the perfect word, not ANY word . Your sentences & phrasing must be crisp . Active, visual verbs are essential .

Excellence is weakened

by any of the following:

A vague words + phrases—not

specific

B overstated, wordiness

C subjective, unfactual words

that “open the gate” to varied meanings

D tell not show writing

E ostentatious words—you’re trying

too hard, honey

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 P14 . Lose the flowers .

2 . IF YOU CAN SAY IT SHORTER, DO SO . Count your words, therefore .

3 . Choose the perfect word . If it’s not perfect, keep working .

4 . Don’t be satisfied with the first version of a sentence .

5 . Verbs are the secret: Pick lively, exciting, punchy verbs . Avoid passive is-are-was-were-be-been-being .

6 . Make the suggested changes from your editors .

7 . Be ready to practice Conciseness Drills monthly .

8 . Read a lot .


1. DESCRIPTION/COLOR: Sports writing is cool because you can be cre-ative, humorous, subjective, & COLORFUL. It varies from weather, sensory detail, action, metaphors, to alliterations... you name it.

2. ORIGINAL LEDES: Reread Tristan’s Ledes elsewhere in the manual.

3. ANALYSIS: Write about more than just the games: combine games’ results & look for trends. Strong defense? Weak offense? Talk to loyal fans who

have been watching for more than one season and ask them to compare seasons or players.

4. INDIvIDUAL PERFORMANCES: If you are writing an athlete profile, watch that person in competition & in practice on several occasions. Do not only talk to them though, speak with their coaches, teammates, and family.

5. STATS: Keep up with team & individual statistics & use them frequently in stories. Max-preps.com or speaking with the coach 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)!

7. COMMITMENT: Embrace yourself in the sport and follow them throughout the season. Don’t just cover them once for something to do. Learn the lingo, too!

1. LAME ATHLETE qUOTES: “We want to get to CIF.” & “We’re working really hard.” Find the vein! What is the team doing to get there? How are they comparing to other teams? What are they doing to go over the top? Basically, why are they different from every other team?

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, benchwarm-ers, etc.

3. WRITERS WHO DON’T GO TO THEIR GAMES: fulfill your commitment to your story and to your journalism class. Text messages are a LAST RESORT!

Sportswriting

maraud marrmutilatenumboverpoweroverwhelmpound prevail pummel punish quash

annihilateabandonbeat blastblitzbowl overbutchercrushcut defame demolish

despoildesolatedestroy down drill enslave extinguishfailflatten forsake maim

ravish raze rout shatter stamp out subdue subjugate subvert succeedsuffer

Synonyms: WON and LOSTSports writers must be articulate, eloquent, clever. VERBS are the secret.

Cterminatethrash trounce upset vanquishwallopwhip

79CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Sports Tips

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, use 2 . abbreviations, circle the big plays, and use different 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 10 . opinion .

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 are

important!

“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

80

All pistons firing: Sportswriting at its best .Statistics of the athlete’s

performanceCoach perspectivePunsMetaphorsKnows the season progressionUses NutgrafStellar verbsHelpful transitions

Uses lingo of running/track

Not a lot can happen in .26 seconds, but senior Zander Souza found an exception. In this half of a breath, bit of a blink, Souza broke a school record and crowned a 2011 junior track season.

That was only the beginning.1:56.30 became 1:56.04, and

the 800 meter time fell. It was a feat many spend a career dreaming about, but administrators barely had time to fix his name and time into the Gil Asa Gym displays. Only a year later, the mile record was also shattered.

Souza always has been an overachiever on the track, after all.

“You go for that record because it’s a good goal to have. But for me and the other guys on the team, it’s just about bettering your personal times. The two goals just happen to match up,” the varsity veteran said. “It’s still weird to think that I’m the fastest miler, fastest half-miler that Paso High has ever had. The school has been around for about 100 years. It’s pretty crazy.”

Although the years have morphed Souza from a lion-haired freshman to a buzz cut senior, the smile and up-beat attitude remains the same. But there was a time the star wasn’t leading the pack on the track - or even had a spot on the varsity roster, for that matter.

Souza went out for the Bearcat cross country team his freshman year, unaware that the squad practices through summer.

“The first week of school,” Souza recalled, “I came out here with my long hair, wearing pants, and I first met [head coach Ivan] Huff. He said to me, ‘Yeah, you can be

| Crimson 05.30.1246

www.crimsonnews.org

Paso Robles High School

PREVIOUS

SportsAds

ZANDERSOUZA<<

RUNNIN’the pack

Photos by Kim Boswell and Amanda Hutchinson

Not a lot can happen in .26 seconds, but senior Zander Souza

found an exception. In this half of a breath, bit of a blink, Souza broke a

school record and crowned a 2011 junior track season.

�at was only the beginning.

1:56.30 became 1:56.04, and the 800 meter time fell. It was a feat

many spend a career dreaming about, but administrators barely had

time to �x his name and time into the Gil Asa Gym displays. Only a

year later, the mile record was also sha�ered.

Souza always has been an overachiever on the track, a�er all.

“You go for that record because it’s a good goal to have. But for me

and the other guys on the team, it’s just about be�ering your personal

times. �e two goals just happen to match up,” the varsity veteran said.

“It’s still weird to think that I’m the fastest miler, fastest half-miler that

Paso High has ever had. �e school has been around for about 100

years. It’s pre�y crazy.”Although the years have morphed Souza from a lion-haired

freshman to a buzz cut senior, the smile and up-beat a�itude remains

the same. But there was a time the star wasn’t leading the pack on the

track - or even had a spot on the varsity roster, for that ma�er.

Souza went out for the Bearcat cross country team his freshman

year, unaware that the squad practices through summer.

“�e �rst week of school,” Souza recalled, “I came out here with my

long hair, wearing pants, and I �rst met [head coach Ivan] Hu�. He

said to me, ‘Yeah, you can be on the team. Ready to run?’ But I

didn’t have any of my gear with me. I was totally embarrassed

and unprepared.”Running was no longer a social party. By only the second

workout of the season, Souza experienced “the hardest run

of [his] life,” weaving exhaustingly along the river bed and

being forced to take walk breaks. It was a shock to the system

a�er years of 57 second 400s, dominating the middle school

competition. �ings were completely di�erent.

It was a slow climb to the top; countless hours of running

were clocked in. But as every athlete knows, it only takes one

break out night to change everything.

“I was pre�y average all during freshman year,”

Souza said. “And then all of a sudden, at the last

meet, I was on JV and won League. Everyone

looked at me like, ‘What the hell?’ We were all

surprised.”Although his coach begs

to di�er.“From his freshman year

I knew he had some talent.

He ran cross country, did

pre�y well, but it was his

�rst year in track that he had

quite a bit of success,” Hu�

said, who has been a PRHS coach for generations.

“I was looking forward to the next three years, and

they’ve turned out like I actually imagined.”

Souza thrived in the following seasons, 4 PAC-

7 League titles and 6 visits to CIF. An all-around

athlete, he ran everything from the exhausting

3000m to anchor of the 4x100m relay. Quickly becoming a

local standout, it wasn’t long until Souza proved his name was

here to stay. As times fell, so did the records, and a legacy was

created that hadn’t been seen since former Bearcat distance

star Travis Hallanan.“He is very intense, very competitive, doesn’t like to lose.

�at’s a good quality,” Hu� said, who continued to help his

runner rise through the ranks. �ings became more serious

when the recruitment le�ers started coming in. One in

particular stood out: Sac State.

“�ey really knew me because it said, ‘Zander,’” Souza said,

who prefers his middle name to his given one of Jordan. While

by Sinéad Schouten, Sports Co-Editor

SPORTS PLAYED: cross country, basketball, track

REC ORDS BROKEN: 800m (2011) & 1600m (2012)

PR’s: 0:50.6 (400), 1:56.04 (800), 4:18.11 (1600), 8:48 (3000)

he had received le�ers from other interested colleges,

they had all been addressed to generic titles like “Dear

Prospective Athlete” or “Your Son/Daughter.” It was Sac

State that knew his nickname, and that he wasn’t “just

another number out of a whole mass of people.” It was then

the deal was sealed.A�er an o�cial campus visit, including a stop by

the Olympic-quality track facility, Souza met a future

teammate: Arroyo Grande High School runner Emily

Johnson. As the two hit it o� fantastically, he emailed hellos

to roommate DJ Jackson, unaware that introductions were

unnecessary. �e pair had met two years prior at West Coast

Relays during the 800m, where Souza squeaked a win

out of a “dead sprint to the �nish line.”

All the track kids are slated for neighboring rooms

on the third �oor, one big happy family. Everything

was falling into place.�e future Hornet is

currently looking forward

to making the most out

of his freshman year. But

although he has �ve more

years of running ahead -

and hopefully a professional

sponsorship a�erwards -

there will be one crucial person missing trackside.

When Souza describes his friendship with Hu� as

“the best relationship the universe has ever seen,” it

has to be special.“Everyone calls him ‘Hu� Dad,’” Souza explained,

and the license plate of the coach’s truck is the seven-

le�ered nickname. “As me and my teammates got to know

him, I thought Hu� Dad meant that he was an important

coach. Now that I’m going to be graduating and he won’t

be my coach anymore, I know what Hu� Dad means. It’s

literal.” And thanks to Hu� Dad and a natural helping of talent,

the many miles ahead look bright.

“Track is the one thing I want to do,” declared Souza.

“You know how people say things like, ‘What do you do?

Who are you?’ Well, every time I’m lying in bed at night, all

I think about is track.”Now life’s perhaps a dream come true.

He is very intense, very

competitive, doesn't like to lose.

That's a good quality.““

Ivan Hu�, coach

BEARCATHLETES

Sinead Schouten ‘12 is one of the best sports writers in the

history of the school, winning awards nationally (NSPA

Superior) and statewide (First Place) for pieces like these . . She was a double 5 on her

English APs, too .


on the team. Ready to run?’ But I didn’t have any of my gear with me. I was totally embarrassed and unprepared.”

Running was no longer a social party. By only the second workout of the season, Souza experienced “the hardest run of [his] life,” weaving exhaustingly along the river bed and being forced to take walk breaks. It was a shock to the system after years of 57 second 400s, dominating the middle school competition. Things were completely different.

It was a slow climb to the top; countless hours of running were clocked in. But as every athlete knows, it only takes one break out night to change everything.

“I was pretty average all during freshman year,” Souza said. “And then all of a sudden, at the last meet, I was on JV and won League. Everyone looked at me like, ‘What the hell?’ We were all surprised.”

Although his coach begs to differ.“From his freshman year I knew he had some

talent. He ran cross country, did pretty well, but it was his first year in track that he had quite a bit of success,” Huff said, who has been a PRHS coach for generations. “I was looking forward to the next three years, and they’ve turned out like I actually imagined.”

Souza thrived in the following seasons, 4 PAC-7 League titles and 6 visits to CIF. An all-around athlete, he ran everything from the exhausting 3000m to anchor of the 4x100m relay. Quickly becoming a local standout, it wasn’t long until Souza proved his name was here to stay. As times fell, so did the records, and a legacy was created that hadn’t been seen since former Bearcat distance star Travis Hallanan.

“He is very intense, very competitive, doesn’t like to lose. That’s a good quality,” Huff said, who continued to help his runner rise through the ranks. Things became more serious when the recruitment letters started coming in. One in particular stood out: Sac State.

“They really knew me because it said, ‘Zander,’” Souza said, who prefers his middle name to his given one of Jordan. While he had received letters

from other interested colleges, they had all been addressed to generic titles like “Dear Prospective Athlete” or “Your Son/Daughter.” It was Sac State that knew his nickname, and that he wasn’t “just another number out of a whole mass of people.” It was then the deal was sealed.

After an official campus visit, including a stop by the Olympic-quality track facility, Souza met a future teammate: Arroyo Grande High School runner Emily Johnson. As the two hit it off fantastically, he emailed hellos to roommate DJ Jackson, unaware that introductions were unnecessary. The pair had met two years prior at West Coast Relays during the 800m, where Souza squeaked a win out of a “dead sprint to the finish line.”

All the track kids are slated for neighboring rooms on the third floor, one big happy family. Everything was falling into place.

The future Hornet is currently looking forward to making the most out of his freshman year. But although he has five more years of running ahead - and hopefully a professional sponsorship afterwards - there will be one crucial person missing trackside.

When Souza describes his friendship with Huff as “the best relationship the universe has ever seen,” it has to be special.

“Everyone calls him ‘Huff Dad,’” Souza explained, and the license plate of the coach’s truck is the seven-lettered nickname. “As me and my teammates got to know him, I thought Huff Dad meant that he was an important coach. Now that I’m going to be graduating and he won’t be my coach anymore, I know what Huff Dad means. It’s literal.”

And thanks to Huff Dad and a natural helping of talent, the many miles ahead look bright.

“Track is the one thing I want to do,” declared Souza. “You know how people say things like, ‘What do you do? Who are you?’ Well, every time I’m lying in bed at night, all I think about is track.”

Now life’s perhaps a dream come true.

Paso Robles HS Journalism82 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismFeature Writing

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 .

2. NUTGRAF: Needs to answer the following. (Could be a reference to any of the above newsworthy items.)

how this person compares to other students in some statistic, achievement, or other •fact?how does this person compare to the past?•how is this person a change from the norm/from other people?•What does this really means if you get behind the facts?•

3. At least 2 MAJOR paragraph-length quotes by the person

6. Future plans—as detailed as possible

5. Another perspective on the person’s life & times? (Friend, teacher, parent, coach, etc…)

1. ANGLE: Search for a more surprising angle. Never be predictable

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?•

4. Connect reader’s senses S-S-S-T-T to the person: the person’s voice, hair, colors, dance moves, nose, etc. It helps if you

The bottom line

83

In three hours she would stand in front of 600 pairs of eyes and ears

alongside Michael Nowak, the composer behind “King Kong,” “The Hangover,” and 13 other iconic films. With a 100-year-old violin in hand and 4/4 time on the brain, Matthews would do what she had been studying since fifth grade: pour out her heart.

Matthews is principal second chair violin in the SLO Youth Symphony, an organization founded in

1965 that she has been a part of since her humble beginning as fifth chair at age 10. A performance with the Damon Castillo band, tours through southern California, appearances in the upcoming documentary “Botso,” and other opportunities have encouraged and inspired Matthews in her life-long pursuit of challenging herself through mastering the “international language” of music.

“The band is playing and we’re backing them up so you get this really full sound; it’s a really different experience than playing just classical music. It’s rock music! It’s a very unique

experience,” Matthews said, who loves the collaboration of two separate musical worlds. “There was a point where I was not very good, but I wanted to believe I was. The conductor had to tell me, ‘That person is better than you.’ It was such a lesson in humility; I realized that if I wanted to be good, I had to make myself good. You can’t not practice and expect to be good. You can’t expect people to just hand things to you.”

“There are lots of people who have a job but are also part of the symphony, and I can see myself on that path. I love music, and my heart is in it, even if it’s not

my main source of income,” Matthews said. Matthews plans to continue chasing the rush of performing and the moments where “things just work” well into the future and devote her life to perfecting her own musical language.

Fellow symphony members, including co-principal cellist George Major, acknowledge Matthews’ unique contributions to the program.

“She’s genuinely an encouraging person. She makes everyone feel welcome,” Major said, who has befriended Matthews through the symphony.

JEANC WINNERKatie Wingfield won JEANC 3rd Place in

state for this feature on a Bearcat violinist.

1. ANGLE:

2. NUTGRAF:

3. quotes

4. persp.

5. future

84 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismFeature: Tell a Story

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 .

85CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Opinion story structure

Story Element What it would sound like1.SITUATIoN

Start your story giving back-ground. Fill in the reader: what

has happened (the 5 Ws)? What hasCAUSEDyourreaction?It’s

factual, objective, & 1-2 ¶s long. Don’t give your opinion before this step. Plus, WhY DOES ThIS MATTER?asenseofNUTGRAF

belongs here…

When sophomore Mike Edwards opened his CA HS Exit Exam last February, he was surprised & a little en-tertained, he said, to find—finally—a writing prompt a little less blasé than the previous timed essays he’d faced as a student.

2012’s test asked California’s estimated 750,000 soph-omores what they looked for in a “romantic partner.”

Of course, multiple parents & teachers have since protested the 2012 CAHSEE writing prompt, calling the writing question too unprofessional, opinionated, or inappropriate…

2.STATEYoURoPINIoN 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: stu-dents need something interesting to write about. There is therefore nothing wrong with Sacramento’s test. Ex-cept 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 some-thing we know about. “If you can’t write about some-thing 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 re-

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

4.CoUNTERPoINT Talk a little about what the other side says.Givesomefacts&quotesthatsup-

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 prohibits surveys of student sexual preferences.

And yes, many who attempted the test question don’t have a special someone. As one critical teacher put it, “No one was hurt.” These are valid concerns.

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 girl-friend.

Opinion still requires digging for facts, numbers, authorities. EDUCATEyourreadersaboutthefactsthatsupportyouropinion.

Key Principle:

86 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismReview writing

“ 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 performances

What 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 .”

87

A gang of thugs has just looted the Gotham City Stock Exchange and crashed

out through the front doors on motorcycles, hostages in tow, as police pursue them through city streets and into an underground highway. Suddenly, the tunnel goes dark. A familiar vehicle with monster-truck wheels, driven by a man in black cape and cowl, has joined the chase. Batman is back. A veteran cop sees the intervention and says to a rookie, "Boy, you're in for a show tonight, son."The Dark Knight Rises, Christopher Nolan's mesmerizing climax to his trilogy reboot of the DC Comics character, is a show, all right. But not in the way of the standard summer action-fantasy. Although the movie contains elaborate fights, stunts, chases and war toys, and though the director dresses half his characters in outfits suitable for a Comic-Con party, Nolan is a dead-serious artist with a worldview many shades darker than Batman's cave. The year's most eagerly anticipated movie was well worth waiting for.The battle in Nolan's 2008 The Dark Knight was between two solo artists: Batman (Christian Bale) and the Joker (Heath Ledger in the crazy-cunning role that earned him a posthumous Oscar). TDKR posits all-out war: a terrorist attack on Gotham by the League of Shadows, the vigilante band that threatened so much mischief in Nolan's 2005 Batman Begins. Its leader is Bane (Tom Hardy), an immense hulk wearing a respirator that makes him look as if a small creature from the original Alien has been permanently strapped onto his face. Bane intends to liberate--enslave--Gotham by offering its poorest citizens the chance to trash the mansions of the wealthy. His most persuasive motivator: a four-megaton nuclear device that could be detonated at any moment.If only the city had a hero. But Batman,

a.k.a. Bruce Wayne, has lived in morbid seclusion ever since his lifelong love Rachel Dawes was blown to bits in the previous episode. The daring theft of his fingerprints by pretty petty thief Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) rouses Bruce from his torpor. Selina, the Catwoman, leads Bruce to Bane, who thrashes the debilitated hero and consigns him to the hellhole Bane grew up in. This time the masked man who runs the city will be purely evil.Several characters in TDKR--Bruce, Bane, Selina, the idealistic cop John Blake ( Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and the lovely philanthropist Miranda Tate (Marion Cotillard)--are orphans who express or repress their true nature by playing roles, wearing masks. And Nolan? His mask is that of a director of comic-book entertainments, when he's really out to excoriate Americans' greed, laziness and implicit yearning for a demagogue.Hidden in plain sight are allusions to the Patriot Act, the decadelong detention of terrorist suspects in Guantnamo and the Occupy Wall Street movement. Nolan mercilessly details the corruptibility of both class and mass and suggests that the only salvation is in a nearly invincible hero--a rich man with the strength and altruism to save desperate America from itself. (In this allegory, is Mitt Romney Bruce Wayne? Or is he the boss of Bane Capital?) Beneath the pulp fantasy of the infallible fixer is a warning that in the real America, a superhero will never fly out of our dreams and into the night sky.

REvIEW

Batman at His Best by Richard Corliss, Time Magazine

88 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismStory help

Hunt for inspiration and examples!While your hDN gives you tips, you can also:

1.GetintotheCrimsonArchivescabinetto study last year’s attempts at a _______________.

2. Read and study professional reporter’s stories about your topic and how s/he went about co vering it.

3. Ask Mount for help or examples. he’s seen your topic covered before.

4. Discuss your story with your editor, team, or J-Buddy.

Play review

Football game

Principal interview

Question person

Blog

Opinion story

Staff editorial

etc.

89

3Section

DesignTIPS

90 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismStarting your layout

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

91CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Crimson Layout Standards

PHO

TOG

RAPH

Y & G

RAPH

ICS

1 Photos shall have 1 pt . stroke

2 Advertisements shall have 1 pt . stroke

3 Photo/Graphic credit shall be OUTSIDE picture, not on picture

4 Picture resolution in PShop shall be 300 ppi (not 72)

5 Photo size in PShop shall be approximate to printed size in InDesgn

6 Photo/Grfx shall be in Tiff format w/ LZW compression

7 Grayscale pages shall only place grayscale graphics

8 Color pages shall only place CMYK graphics

9 All photos/graphics shall be credited to source

10 All photos shall be improved in LEVELS (Image > Adjust > Levels)

11 All photos shall be improved in SHARPNESS (FIlter > Sharpen)

12 Gray-fills shall be 18% when text also appears

13 Pull-quotes shall use Pull Quote Template (Mother > Templates-Graphics)

14 Photos shall be resized in proportion—not free hand (shift-ctrl-drag)

15 Photos shall be cropped to maximize content & focus (blackarrow resize)

16 Photos & graphics shall honor copyright and/or be used with permission only . If we did not create it or get OK, we do not use it .

17 Photo cutout of background shall not occur if background includes important elements/context

GEN

ERAL

1 Fonts shall maintain Crimson Styles; “spot” fonts may occur within a line

2 Dominant graphic/photo shall occur on page

3 Points of Entry shall be numerous & tasteful with strong eye-flow

4 Pica space ( .1 in) shall surround all page elements

5 “First person” & “Staff Editorial” and other logos shall clarify stories with opin-ionated voice or special content

6 Lists of text shall “left-offset” the numbers/bullets for reading aid

7 Page size = 10 in . W x 11 in . H Center page size 20 in . W x 11 in . H

8 Text shall not be printed on top of a photo or graphic

9 Crimson page numbers shall appear on “out” side of folio, not in gutter

92 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismPS and ID tasks

1. Select the “Polygon lasso Tool” and carefully trace the image by clicking to keep an anchor point.

2. Once the image’s outline is blinking right click and click “Select Inverse” then press delete.

3. Once the image is surrounded by the white fill go to “Magic Eraser Tool” and click on the white fill.

4. The little gray checkers means it is transparent—which is good. Save the image as a “TIFF” and a box will pop up and you NEED to check the box that says “Save Transparency.” Then save the image in your proper section folder and you’re done!

Photo Cutouts

1.Goto“Image”atthetopofthescreen,andclickmode.Clickon“Grayscale”andyourpicturewillbecomeblackandwhite.

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 “Image” then “Image Size” and change the width to 5 inches and height to 8 inches. The resolution must be 150.

4. Finally, go to “File” and click on “Save As” to save the image as a “TIFF” and in the correct folder.

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.

How to place a photo/graphic

Eyedropper!Usethistoolto

quickly re-apply TEXT and PARAGRAPHsettingstoadditional page elements

93CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism InDesign tasks

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” whichmustbe“TIFF”andthe“ColorSpace”whichmustbe“Grayscale.”Checkallof them by clicking “Next.”

2. Also in “links” make sure there are zero yellow caution symbols or maroon explanation point symbols beside the name of your photo/graphic. If there is you need to click “go to link” and find it in the server.

3. Once this is complete print out a copy. Make sure your layout has been copy edited multiple times in the final stages. Then call over the Chief or Mount to make a PDF of your wonderful creation!


1. Thou shalt sign thy name on the holy SIGNOUT clipboard before asking for cameras or equipment.

2. Thou shalt ask an EIC, ME, or Mount for the camera cabinet to be unlocked to obtain thy camera/lens/bag/etc.

3. Thou shalt understand that it is thy financial responsibility to pay for any damage or loss that occurs to the equipment while it is checked out to thee.

4. Thou shalt check that thy equipment is functioning before thy departure from the worthy journalism room (batteries, AF, card, etc.)

5. Thou shalt apply photography principles as thy finger presses the shutter button (see next pages). Thou shalt actively delete photos during thy session that do not fulfill such principles.

6. Thou shalt photograph AND TAKE NOTES on names, event facts, and information that will be needed in captions.

7. Thou shalt return thy camera and equipment the same day or before 1st period the next day. Thy responsibility continues until it is locked up.

8. At check in, thou shalt:

A. Witness its lock-up

B. SIGNOUT on the clipboard

C. Charge the battery for the next person if it’s low

8. Thou shalt upload thy images immediately, not vaguely later. Others will shoot on the card and files get needlessly mixed.

9. Thou shalt name photos obediently using

year_month_event_lastnamephotographer.

Example: 2012_09_lunchgames_orcutt_01

Camera Commandments

Want a camera?

Paso Robles HS Journalism 95CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Photo principles

Find the emotion in the scene . Pic-1 . tures tell a story, so show the readers a glimpse of it . Put a face on it .

Position yourself and the camera to 2 . capture an ORIGINAL perspective on the scene .

>BIRD’SEYE:Getthecameralookingdownonthe scene

>WoRM’SEYE:Getthecameralookingupatthescene.

Fill the viewfinder with gusto . Zoom in . 3 . Stand close . Hold the camera in his/her face . Do not take distant, uncommitted photos .

Always show the ball in sports photos . 4 . Always .

Use lines and patterns that make up the 5 . scene .

Use the Rule of Thirds: that is, shoot so 6 . that the focus lies at the intersection of the “third-lines,” shown at the X’s below .

Get good results

96 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismPhoto principles cont.

Position the camera to show foreground/back-7 . ground, which shows what else is happening in the scene .

ToBlURthebackground,setAvonthedialandfinger-wheel as low as possible (2.8 - 5.6)

Anticipate the moment . You can:8 .

> Prefocus the lens so it’s ready for the moment.

> Position yourself where the moment will occur.

Do not always shoot mugshots with the 9 . person looking at the camera . Some shots s/he should be looking away .

Pan the camera with the motion of the perfor-10 . mance .

ToBlURthebackgroundbutfocusontheperformer,setTv on the dial and finger-wheel down to 1/20 through 1/80.

Set the WHITE BALANCE WB for the light of the 11 . situation (must be on Creative Zone (P, Tv, Av, M)

Get good results

97CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Camera settings

Mug Shot Board 1 . 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!

Size of file l’s are too large for Crimson business

Aperture/f-stopDepth of field factor

lARGEF-SToP# = large depth of field, more is in focus

SMAll F-STOP = narrow, limited depth of field is in focus

Photo Mode Dial Creative zone =more control; Basic zone = more automatic

Shutter speedshown as fraction of sec.

Shorter time (1/1000) = less motion + light exposure

longer time (1/100) = more motion + light exposure

ISO lower#(100-200)=richer color, less sensitivity tolight...High#(1600)=better, sensitive results in darker light

WB WhITE BAlANCE Adjusts the blueness/yellowness/whiteness of the photo. AWB = auto.

MODE SETTINGSP = you set WB, ISO; camera sets shutter

speed + f-stop

Tv=TIMEVAlUE=yousetshutterTIME; camera sets f-stop

Av=APERTUREVAlUE=yousetf-stop; camera sets shutter time

M=MANUAl=yousetbothAvandTv

File Locations for photos1 . Name your files correctly . The editor uses the filename for

the photo credit .

year_month_subject_photographer_# Ex: 2012_09_lunchgames_orcutt_01

NOT: 2012_9_lunch

2 . Place photos in the Mother/PHOTOS folder . Create a folder also named the above .

3 . Delete bad photos at all times, both from the card as you’re shooting AND when you view them on Mother . We have 1000s of bad photos .

4 . Once they’re uploaded, follow Photo processing steps described on next page .

98 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismSports photos

Whatta Blast: Sports are not only the most challenging to shoot, but some of the most important and FUN . With a few rules of thumb, your sports-photography will be some of the most rewarding .

1. Respect: This means respect the players, coaches, and officials. If you are asked to stand back or move, do it. Also, remember that being on the field is a privilege. Never abuse your press pass, and remember that you are at the event to shoot pictures, not socialize.

2. Always have the ball in the shot. It gives the picture a sense of action, and a story to tell.

3. Anticipate the moment. Always aim where the ball is going to be, or else you will always miss the play.

4. Look for emotion. Sports can easily become emotional: capture those moments of sportsmanship, victory, defeat, and friendship.

5. Don’t be afraid. Get close, fill the frame! If you’re in the way, someone will ask you to move. Don’t be afraid to ask professionals to help, either. If you see someone shooting for the Tribune and you need help with your settings, ask for help! Most likely they will fix your camera’s settings for you, and you’ll have a new friend.

JEANC WINNER: Josh Orcutt scored a state 2nd Place state award with this baseball shot.

Well done, sir.

99CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Photo tips

coNtRoLLING Photo Problems

ISO: controls the amount of light the camera takes in. higher ISO = more light = brighter—and maybe washed out. high ISO also can create grainy results. HighISois800andup.MustbeinCreativeZonetocontrol ISO

WHITE BALANCE: controls the WhITE quality and youmustmatchittoSUN,FloRESCENT.etc.UseAWB for Auto White Balance if you are unsure.

SHUTTER SPEED: Faster shutter speed = darker pictureBUTfastercaptureofmovement.Inmanycases, if you go to a shutter speed lower than 1/60, movement will be blurred. Fast shutter = 1/200 and up

Problem 1: underexposed/dark .Dark

Solution: Increase ISO to 800and/orSlow shutter to 1/60

Problem 3: overexposed washed out

Problem 5: Fill frame!

Problem 4: too much sunSolution: Decrease ISO to 200and/orSpeed up shutter to 1/200

This photo is 90% pointless background that does not tell the story.

Solution: Take longer lensand/orPut yourself closer to subjectand/orBird’s Eye, Worm’s Eye, or other original angle

Solution: Shoot in the shade when you can!ISO = 100Speed = 1/500

Prob 2: Blurry actionSolution: Increase ISO to 3200and/orIncrease shutter to faster than 1/60



Documents

Handy Dandy 2012 Staff Manual