Staff Manual 2007-2008
Journalism Beats 2007-2008
Beat Contact Reporter
English Honor Society Mr. Thompson Breanca P.
DECA Mr. Killingsworth Meg Giles
National Art Honor Society Mr. Dyer Saramia A.
JROTC Mr. Johnson, Mrs. McCree Markita W.
Diamond Dolls Mrs. Rogers Barrett P.
FFA Mr. Ritchburg Elijah M.
A-Club Coach Crum Justin S.
Cheerleading Ms. Starr Kobi A.
Science Club Mr. Arington Kelley M.
Anchor Club ??? Ashley S.
STUCO Mr. Tindell Sarah A.
FBLA Mrs. Marshall Markita W.
FCA Coach Cimo Caroline D.
German Club Herr Martin Mary Liz P.
BEST Mr. Arington John P.
Junior Civitan Mr. Pennisi Lizzy S.
AP/IB Program Mrs. Perry Samantha T.
Band Dr. Logan Aaren F.
Chorus Mr. Smith Caress C.
Math Team Mrs. Crouse, Mrs. Garcia Aubrey S.
Drama Mrs. Mock Alex C.
French Honor Society Madame Oks Haley T.
French Club Madame Oks Mandy R.
Spanish Honor Society Mrs. Gimenez Mery M.
Spanish Club Mrs. Gimenez Neishia C.
Yearbook Mrs. Crouse, Miss Strickland Shaila A.
SOC Mrs. McGuire, Mrs. Williams Brian P.
National Honor Society Mrs. Donaldson, Mrs. Perry, Mrs. Hall Devon K.
Counseling Department Dr. Fairley Caitlyn G.
Administration Mrs. Hosemann, Mr. McCall, Mr. Jeter Marlye P.
FCCLA Ms. Brunson Ashley J.
Science Olympiad Mrs. Steltenpohl, Mrs. Dalrymple, Dr. Donald Jordan S.
Youth in Government Mr. Callahan, Mr. Busbin Caitlyn G.
Mu Alpha Theta Ms. Deason, Mrs. Paleologos Sophie S.
Multicultural Club Mrs. Veale, Mrs. Garcia Shuaibu A.
Film Appreciation Society Mr. Martin Ben Scar
Sports Coach Furlow Tag M.
Environmental Club Mr. Norton Sterling C.
Anime Society Ms. Wymes, Mr. Hosemann Mark H.
HOSA Ms. Osbourne Olivia C.
The Sheet Mr. Thompson Lizz G.
Culinary Arts Ms. Brunson Kelley M.
FTA Mrs. Bradford Jessica K.
Key Club Ms. Shaw, Mr. Busbin, Mr. Patrick Abby T.
Debate Club Miss Strickland Amy M.
Instructional Technology Ms. Hayes Mary Liz P.
Technology Ms. Smith, Mrs. Donaldson Aubrey S.
Cafeteria Ms. Ogburn Shuaibu A.
Senior Class News Kobi Ankumah (or any officer) Joyce S.
Junior Class News Patrick Scarbrough (or any officer) Russ P.
Sophomore Class News Chrissie Brown (or any officer) Kristin K.
Math Cluster Mrs. Garcia Jordan S.
English Cluster Mr. Thompson Mishawna C.
Social Studies Cluster Mr. Callahan Erin W.
Humanities Cluster Mr. Martin Tyler B.
Career/Tech Cluster Mr. Williams Haley T.
Science Cluster Mrs. Stehltenpohl Sophie S.
Tiger
TV Mrs.
Antoine
Dani R.
|Story Guidelines
- Have at least three sources named in each story. (Named, not quoted. “According to” is fine.)
- Make the lead effective. This the most important part of your story!
- Follow inverted pyramid style for all news and sports stories.
- Remember to keep paragraphs short and simple throughout your story.
- Check spelling of names. Get Mr. Pennisi or editors to look up names on the computer if needed.
- Remember that the rough draft is a 100-point grade and the final draft is a 100-point grade. Do a good job! In most cases, you will only have 1 story per issue, so work hard.
- If you start working on your story early, Mr. Pennisi or the editors will be happy to help you.
- Turn in stories on time; they are always due at the beginning of the class. Five minutes late is late. In journalism, we must keep all deadlines. If you need an extension, see Mr. Pennisi or the editors as soon as possible, not on deadline day. If your story is late, you’ll lose 50 points. If you choose not to do a story, you’ll receive a zero for all work for that issue (usually 400 points).
- Don’t procrastinate. Start working on your story as soon as you get the assignment. Some sources aren’t always available for an interview, so you might run out of time if you don’t begin right away.
- Do not pull a student out of class without getting permission from Mr. Pennisi. As a general rule, we try to avoid doing this.
Grades Per Issue
Brainstorming and Checking with Beat - 100 points
Rough Draft - 100 points
Second Rough Draft, when needed - 100 points
Final Draft - 100 points
Any Other Assignments - 10-100 points
***You will be responsible for all work covered in class. Our week-by-week schedule is posted on the bulletin board. It is also listed online at www.auburnschools.org/ahs/jpennisi/journalismdeadlines.htm
Writing the News Story
The news story is told three times:
1) Headline
2) Lead
3) Body
Inverted Pyramid Style (2 reasons)
Paragraphs: 1-2 sentences, 30-40 words
Tips:
1) Keep paragraphs—especially the lead—
short
2) Keep sentences simple (KISS)
3) Alternate between long and short
paragraphs
4) Alternate between info and quotes
5) Begin with significant words—catch the
reader’s eye
No: There will be a meeting tonight for the chess club.
Yes: The chess club will meet tonight.
6) Avoid 1st-person for news stories.
7) Assume your reader knows nothing
(Principal Dr. Cathy Long…)
Style and Format:
AHS. Always say AHS, not Auburn High School. Note, however, that this can be
eliminated in most cases since AHS is assumed: the Drama Club, not the AHS Drama Club.
Club Names. Capitalize the names of all clubs and organizations: Junior Civitan,
Honors Band.
Listing. Note format for listing students and titles. Punctuate exactly as below, or
see editor for help!
New officers for Junior Civitan are Sophomore John Smith, president; Senior Larry McReynolds, vice president; Junior Steven Bell, secretary; and Senior Earl Fool, treasurer.
Names. Put class before student names. (Sophomore Ellen Jones) On second mention, use just the first name: Ellen.)
Teacher names: 1st mention: English Teacher Mr. John Pennisi
Principal Dr. Cathy Long
2nd mention: Mr. Pennisi
Dr. Long
** Note that titles before names are always capitalized.
Quoting. When quoting, use “said” in almost every case. (Avoid says, exclaimed,
screamed, commented, etc.) Also, note punctuation:
This is going to be a great year,” said Senior Bob Smith.
Senior Bob Smith said, “This is going to be a great year.”
Format for Rough Drafts
Always use Microsoft Word.
Make sure Microsoft Word default has standard margins and formatting.
Times New Roman, 10-point font. Always use 10-point, not 12 point!
Make sure your quotations and apostrophes are bent. “ ” ‘ ’ If not, fix them on a school
computer.
Double space (spacing = 2).
“Tab” for indent at beginning of paragraph, not space bar.
Headline and name at top of first page: Students Rule at AHS
By Jeff Smith
Staff Writer
Handwrite somewhere at top of first page your grade and student login: 12 jmpennisi
Spell Check!
Save on your P-Drive with a name that will be easy to identify in a folder labeled “Free
Press”
Print hard copy
** Note that Mr. Pennisi and the editors will have access to all files in your P-Drive! **
Format for Final Drafts
Make necessary changes; ask if you have any questions.
Single space (spacing = 1).
Resave to P=drive.
Print hard copy.
Staple final copy on top of rough draft.
Remember:
** Never format anything into columns! Don’t change the Microsoft Word default
settings!
** Don’t be offended if your headline gets changed! It might need to be changed to fill the column width.
** Turn everything in on time! The story must be printed and saved on your P-Drive as soon as class starts.
General Classroom Policies
- No food or drinks. Sorry!
- You must sign out anytime you leave the room! See Mr. Pennisi for a Journalism Hall Pass. Sign out in the journalism folder, which will always be on my lectern. When you return, sign back in. If you know you’re going to be called to the office, don’t leave the room.
- You need to tell Mr. Pennisi if you’re going to the Media Center; a maximum of five students are allowed in the Media Center. Sign up in advance on the calendar on the bulletin board. You may only sign up once per week.
- Computers in the back of the classroom are for schoolwork only. Journalism work takes precedent over other work. You must ask Mr. Pennisi to use the internet. When you’re done, log off. If no one is waiting to use the computer, shut down. If you print, you’ll be using the laser printer in the teachers’ workroom. Mr. Pennisi will fetch your handouts at the end of the period.
- Please don’t rummage around my desk and read student work that’s on my desk. It’s my pet peeve.
- Remember that journalism work always comes first. When we’re done, you’ll have free time. Please respect the journalism time by being attentive. Journalism II students: If you’re excused from an assignment, please don’t talk or distract others.
- Don’t forget your deadlines! They’re always posted on the board, on the J&M calendar by the door, and on the school web site: http://www.auburnschools.org/ahs/jpennisi/journalismdeadlines.htm
- If you’re absent for a deadline, please make every effort to get your story to me anyway. Send it with another student or email me at jpennisi@auburnschools.org. If your absence is unexcused and I don’t get your story, you missed your deadline.
Interviewing
- Prepare. Prepare. Prepare.
- Write down key questions before the interview.
- Be polite and on time.
- It’s easier for a source to hang up a telephone than slam a door in your face.
- Avoid ambush interviews.
- Don’t antagonize your source.
- Start by asking easy questions and get tougher as you go.
- Ask open-ended questions. Avoid yes/no responses!
- Remain in control of the interview.
- Don’t talk too much.
- Let the source fill the awkward moments.
- Make eye contact. Nod, smile and look interested.
- Observe the surroundings. Look for details that set a mood, reveal personality. [The Sally Friend Rule]
- At the end of the interview, check your list of questions to ensure you asked them.
- Ask: “Is there anyone else I should talk to?”
- Ask for clarification if you do not understand something.
- Ask the interviewee if he/she has anything to add.
- Thank the interviewee.
Ethical and Legal Responsibilities of the Press
Roles of Journalists:
Being the watchdog of government
Pointing out societal problems
Providing a place where ideas can be exchanged
Influencing what people think and talk about
Journalists strive to be objective. They try to be fair, honest, and neutral.
Libel: False defamation (the written form of slander)
Invasion of Privacy
Intrusion (gaining information by going where you’re not allowed)
False Light (taking an innocent situation and making it look non-innocent)
Disclosure of embarrassing private facts
Appropriation (using another person’s name or likeness for commercial gain)
Obscenity
Hazelwood School District vs. Kuhlmeier
Ad Contract:
The AHS Free Press is the official school newspaper of Auburn High School. We publish approximately 7 issues per year, and we have a circulation of 700 copies that are distributed to our 1050 students. We also publish on the school website at www.auburnschools.org/ahs. Advertising is purchased on a per-issue basis. All advertisements are billed after the issue is printed and circulated. We print on 11x17” paper that is folded to make a newsletter-style publication with 8½x11” pages. Ads will not be “buried” under other ads.
The content of all ads must meet approval of the AHS FREE PRESS STAFF MANUAL and the Editorial Board. The staff advisor is John Pennisi (jpennisi@auburnschools.org).
Current Rates, per issue:
Business Card $10
Quarter Page $15
Half Page $25
Full Page $45 ($50 if placed on back cover)
Inserts $45 (advertiser provides 600 inserts, no bigger than 8½x11”
Next issue Publication Date: _________________
Next Issue Ad Deadline: _________________
CONTRACT
Name of Advertiser/Business: ______________________________
Contact Person: ______________________________
Free Press Representative: ______________________________
Ad Size ______________________________
Number of Issues to Run ______________________________
Total Price ______________________________
AHS FREE PRESS CODE OF ETHICS
(Adapted from the Pennsylvania School Press Association and the Scholastic Internation Press Association.)
Purposes of student media
Scholastic media serve a dual purpose. They are both means of expression for students and others, and they are tools which help students learn various intellectual skills such as the arts of public speaking, composition and logic.
Media production programs at the scholastic level should be developed primarily as teaching tools.
Scholastic publications should also serve the general welfare by:
(1) Informing its audience (students, faculty, administration, parents, alumni and taxpayers) of events of public importance and interest.
(2) Interpreting events and issues and reporting the real and possible consequences of those events or issues.
(3) Commenting on events of public importance and interest.
(4) Serving as a public forum for the free expression of ideas.
(5) Serving as a constructive critic of all segments of the school and community.
(6) Upholding the rights to free speech and freedom of the press.
In performing the above mentioned functions, all student media should be responsible, fair, accurate, independent and decent.
Accuracy
The student press should guard against carelessness and inaccuracies.
Every effort should be made to assure student media content is free from bias and that all sides of an issue or event are presented fairly.
All facts should be checked by the reporter and editor.
All direct quotes should be verified by the reporter with the individual quoted.
Retouching or manipulating photographs in such a manner that significantly alters the reality of the photographs should not be done.
Editorials and columns should be held to the same standards of accuracy as with all other types of reporting and writing.
Responsibility
Student media should meet the needs of its local audience. The student press should seek access to and report on all news affecting the lives of its readers.
Controversial, unpopular issues and events which touch the lives of scholastic press readers should be covered, but often with discretion.
No issue or event should ever be covered because of its sensationalistic value.
Scholastic media should strive to report the successes associated with the educational system but should not ignore the system's failures and weaknesses.
Student media should not be considered a public relations tool of school administrators.
Scholastic media should respect an individual's right to privacy.
Unlike the professional press where cooperation with police is generally forbidden, student journalists may find it necessary to consult with school and police officials if they come upon information about a potentially harmful situation.
News sources should be identified unless there is clear reason not to do so. Such reasons should be explained in the article.
Fairness
Student journalists should at all times show respect for the dignity, privacy, rights and well-being of people encountered in the course of gathering and presenting material.
Editorials and other expressions of opinion should be clearly marked as such.
Objectivity -- keeping personal opinions and thoughts out of reporting and writing - is an important goal for all student journalists.
Unattributed subjective words and/or statements should be absent from all news coverage.
Press releases should not be printed verbatim without additional research and editing.
Scholastic journalists should not communicate charges affecting a person's reputation without giving the accused person a chance to reply to the charges made against him.
Any article or item that leans towards criticism of any individual or group should be carefully written and should always present both sides of the issue.
The student press should not give favored treatment to advertisers or special interest groups in the school or community.
The student press should report matters regarding itself or its membership in the same manner it would use for any other group or individual.
Student journalists should guard against bias or distortion through either unfair emphasis or omission of details when covering a story.
Student journalists should admit all errors and correct them promptly and prominently.
Independence
Integrity is essential for student media to maintain the public trust.
Student media, their staffs and advisers, should avoid possible conflicts of interest by being free of obligations to news sources or special interests.
Whenever possible, student media should strive to be self-supporting through advertising and subscription sales.
Stories should never be written or edited for the primary purpose of winning an award or prize.
Decency
Student journalists should respect taste and decency, understanding that society's concept of taste and decency are constantly changing.
School media should avoid the use of profanities unless a story's meaning would be dramatically altered without their use.
Events, issues and personalities covered by the scholastic press should not glorify actions or behaviors deemed socially unacceptable or illegal.
The student press should not pander to the morbid curiosity of some regarding the details of a crime or accident.
Advertising in student media should be neither offensive, indecent, misleading nor should it advocate the violation of any local, state or federal law - especially laws relating to minors.
Advisors
School administrators should, whenever possible, hire well-trained, knowledgeable personnel to direct scholastic media programs.
School administrators should encourage additional training of scholastic media advisers by providing time and funds for conferences, workshops and seminars in the same manner they do for classroom teachers and athletic coaches.
Academically accredited courses should be offered, whenever possible, to teach in a classroom setting the basics of sound journalism.
As a professional, an advisor should not give out privileged information but guide student staff members to other possible sources for such information.
Conclusion
No set of guidelines can prejudge every possible situation. Common sense and good judgment are required in applying ethical principles to student media realities. Striving to follow such a set of guidelines is intended to build a bond of mutual trust and respect between student journalists and the public.
Student journalists and advisors should actively censure and try to prevent violations of these standards and should encourage the observance of the guidelines by all members of the scholastic press.
Ethical and Legal Responsibilities of the Press #2
Guarding Against Libel
The answer to the following questions must all be yes to protect yourself from a libel lawsuit!
- Is the statement true?
- Can it be proven true in court?
- Is it free of malice?
- If it is concerned with privileged material (public records), is it reported accurately?
- If it is concerned with fair-comment material (public events, entertainment, people in the public spotlight), are the criticisms responsible?
- If it deals with someone in public life, does it avoid exposing that person’s private life to hatred, contempt, or ridicule?
Was the
writer thorough in checking the source of the statement?
The Vocabulary of Journalism
30: A designation used to mark the end of a newspaper story. The symbol # is an alternate designation, as is ###.
actual malice: Reckless disregard of the truth. It is a condition in libel cases.
ad: An advertisement.
advance: A report dealing with the subjects and issues to be dealt with in an upcoming meeting or event; also called a future
advertising department: The department of the newspaper responsible for advertisements. Most advertising departments have classified and display ad sections.
angle: The focus of, or approach to, a story. The latest development in a continuing controversy, the key play in a football game, or the tragedy of a particular death in a mass disaster may serve as an angle.
AP: The Associated Press, a worldwide news-gathering cooperative owned by its subscribers. Similar to UPI and Reuters.
ASNE: American Society of Newspaper Editors, an organization of directing editors of daily newspapers throughout the Americas.
beat: A reporter's assigned area of responsibility. A beat may be an institution, such as the courthouse; a geographical area, such as a small town; or a subject, such as science.
bias: An inclination that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation. In journalism, political bias is the most common complaint.
blotter: An old-fashioned term for the arrest sheet that summarizes the bare facts of an arrest. Today this information is almost always kept in a computer.
brightener: A story, usually short, that is humorous or pleasing to the reader. It is also called a bright.
business department: The newspaper department that handles billing, accounting and related functions.
byline: A line identifying the author of a story.
Chain: Two or more newspapers owned by a single person or corporation; also known as a group. The American chain owning the most newspapers is Gannett.
circulation department: The department responsible for distribution of the newspaper.
closed-ended question: A direct question designed to draw a specific response; for example, “Will you be a candidate?”
copy: What reporters write. A story is a piece of copy.
copy desk: The desk at which final editing of stories is done, headlines are written and pages are designed.
cover: To keep abreast of significant developments on a beat or to report on a specific event. The reporter covering the police beat may be assigned to cover a murder.
cub: A beginning reporter.
cut: A photograph in a newspaper or magazine. The term dates from the days when photos were reproduced with etched zinc plates, called cuts.
cutline: The caption that accompanies a newspaper or magazine photograph.
deadline: The time by which a reporter, editor, or desk must have completed scheduled work.
delayed-identification lead: Opening paragraph of a story in which the "who" is identified by occupation, city, office, or any means other than by name.
desk: A term used by reporters to refer to the city editor's or copy editor's position, as in, “The desk wants this story by noon.”
developing story: One in which newsworthy events occur over several days or weeks. With the growth of internet reporting and live news coverage, these events may develop live.
dig: To question or investigate thoroughly, as in, “Let's do some digging into those campaign reports.”
editorial: An article in a publication expressing the opinion of its editors or publishers. In newspapers, it typically appears on the editorial page and is edited by the editorial page editor.
editorial cartoons: An illustration or comic strip containing a political or social message.
editorial department: The news department of a newspaper, responsible for all content of the newspaper except advertising.
editorial page: The page on which editorials appear.
editorialize: To inject the reporter’s or the newspaper’s opinion into a news story or headline. Most newspapers restrict opinion to analysis stories, columns, and editorials.
entertainment journalism: A type of journalism that focuses on personalities in the motion picture, television and music industries. Some newspapers have special sections dedicated to this.
fair comment and criticism: Opinion delivered on the performance of anyone in the public eye. Such opinion is legally protected if reporters do not misstate any of the facts on which they base their comments or criticism, and it is not malicious.
features: Extended articles or items about events, persons or circumstances that go into more detail than most.
first amendment: Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that guarantees freedom of speech and of the press. It also forbids the establishment of a government religion and guarantees the rights to petition for a redress of grievances and peaceably assemble. It is part of the Bill of Rights.
Freedom of Information Act: A law passed in 1966 to make it easier to obtain information from federal agencies. The law was amended in 1974 to improve access to government records.
futures file: A collection, filed according to date, of newspaper clippings, letters, notes and other information to remind editors of stories to assign.
Graf: A shortened form of paragraph, as in “Give me two grafs on that fire.”
hard lead: A lead that reports a new development or newly discovered fact. See also soft lead.
hard news: Coverage of the actions of government or business; or the reporting of an event, such as a crime, an accident or a speech. The time element often is important.
human-interest story: A piece valued more for its emotional impact or oddity than for its importance.
invasion of privacy: Violation of a person’s right to be left alone.
inverted pyramid: The organization of a news story in which information is arranged in descending order of importance.
investigative reporting: The pursuit of information that has been concealed, such as evidence of wrongdoing.
lead: (1) The first paragraph or first several paragraphs of a newspaper story; (2) the story given the best display on Page One; (3) a tip.
lead story: The major story displayed at the top of page one.
libel: Damage to a person’s reputation caused by a false written statement that brings the person into hatred, contempt or ridicule, or injures his or her business or occupational pursuit.
morgue: The newspaper library, where published stories, photographs and resource material are stored for reference.
news conference: An interview session, also called a press conference, in which someone submits to questions from reporters.
news release: An item, also called a handout or press release, that is sent out by a group or individual seeking publicity.
news room: The place, sometimes called the city room, where reporters and editors work.
news story: A story that emphasizes the facts, often written in inverted pyramid style.
news value: How important or interesting a story is.
obscenity: A word or phrase usually referring to sexual parts or functions in an offensive way.
off the record: Usually means, “Don't quote me.” Some sources and reporters, however, use it to mean, “Don't print this.” Phrases with similar, and equally ambiguous, meanings are “not for attribution” and “for background only.”
op-ed page: The page opposite the editorial page, frequently reserved for columns, letters to the editor and personality profiles.
open-ended question: One that permits the respondent some latitude in the answer; for example, “How did you get involved in politics?”
paraphrase: A paraphrase digests, condenses and clarifies a quotation to convey the meaning more precisely or succinctly than the way in which the speaker's words express it. Quotation marks are eliminated.
payola: Money or gifts given in the expectation of favors from journalists. Of course, this isn’t ethical.
piece: A story.<