2011-12 Handy Dandy Staff Manual

Crimson PRHS Journalism

2 CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism

C Staff Manual Version 4.0Created with Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, & Illustrator for the ’11 -’12 Journalism 2 Class.Crimson is an independently funded, monthly newsmagazine publication & weekly online portal produced by the Journalism 2 class of Paso Robles HS. Both are designated open forums intended for the exchange of ideas. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of scholastic journalism.

member: National Scholastic Press Association Journalism Education Assoc. of N. California

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

Rm. P14Paso Robles HS

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

Katie WingfieldMegan RodriguesEmily Cone

Amanda Hutchinson Nico JolicoeurSarah Wilson

Staff Manual 2011-12 Edited & Revised byShanna Dowling 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)

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

Andrus, Camille . . . . . . 11 . . . . 423-7135 . . . . . . camille .andrus@yahoo .comBoswell, Kim . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . 591-9908 . . . . . . kimberly .fullcanvas@hotmail .comBourgault, Sara . . . . . . 11 . . . . 975-7459 . . . . . . saramary .bourgault@gmail .comButz, Meredith . . . . . . 10 . . . . 769-7102 . . . . . . MereEmma@aol .comCabello, Analia . . . . . . 10 . . . . 712-7672 . . . . . . adolfo .cabello@sbcglobal .netCallahan, Laura . . . . . . 11 . . . . 610-5859 . . . . . . lauracallahan95@hotmail .comCleland, Dakota . . . . . . 12 . . . . 400-7977 . . . . . . hbkfan_94@yahoo .comCone, Emily . . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . 712-5309 . . . . . . emmy_grace_42@hotmail .comDart, Clarisse . . . . . . . . 11 . . . . 434-8002 . . . . . . cdilovemyipod@aol .comDowling, Shanna . . . . . 11 . . . . 423-0625 . . . . . . ostrichmagic@yahoo .comFord, William . . . . . . . . 11 . . . . 227-4491 (h) . . . willford16@yahoo .comGrandoli, Emily . . . . . . 12 . . . . 975-7340 . . . . . . emiliaa37@hotmail .comGurney, Ken . . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . 712-8114 . . . . . . kennygurney@sbcglobal .netHipp, Daniel . . . . . . . . . 11 . . . . 951-616-9824 . . dhipp@ymail .comHutchinson, Amanda . 12 . . . . 540-1059 . . . . . . amanduhh-mae@live .comJolicoeur, Nicolette . . . 11 . . . . 975-7160 . . . . . . nicojolicoeur@yahoo .comKisch, Jonathan . . . . . . 11 . . . . 712-8483 . . . . . . Africanjon@hotmail .comLuth, Megan . . . . . . . . 11 . . . . 835-5194 . . . . . . meganluth@hotmail .comMatteson, Sydney . . . . 10 . . . . 712-5619 . . . . . . soccerplayer863@yahoo .comMcCall, Carly . . . . . . . . 11 . . . . 610-6815 . . . . . . carlymccall17@hotmail .comMunns, Kelly . . . . . . . . 11 . . . . 296-2593 . . . . . . kimunns@gmail .comMusial, Olivia . . . . . . . . 11 . . . . 239-4531 (h) . . . oliviamusial22@yahoo .comNelson, Camille . . . . . . 12 . . . . 423-2796 . . . . . . triplep@hotmail .comO’Brien, Shannon . . . . 12 . . . . 709-3864 . . . . . . lilcshell711@yahoo .comOrcutt, Josh . . . . . . . . . 11 . . . . 423-7199 . . . . . . josh .orcutt .18@gmail .comPetiy, Maria . . . . . . . . . 11 . . . . 286-2225 . . . . . . mariapetiy@gmail .comReed, Lindsay . . . . . . . 12 . . . . 610-9744 . . . . . . lindsay .reed .music@gmail .c omRodrigues, Megan . . . . 12 . . . . 610-7353 . . . . . . megrod22@gmail .comSchouten, Sinead . . . . 12 . . . . 712-4576 . . . . . . summer_schout@yahoo .comSilletti, Brielle . . . . . . . 12 . . . . 201-560-8290 . . brielleshea@aol .comThompson, Courtney . 10 . . . . 975-7153 . . . . . . cmthompson3067@yahoo .comVolle, Summer . . . . . . . 11 . . . . 975-2287 . . . . . . summervolle@hotmail .comWilson, Sarah . . . . . . . 11 . . . . 400-9650 . . . . . . sarahmw94@gmail .comWingfield, Katie . . . . . 12 . . . . 712-4158 . . . . . . Diane4mail@charter .netWookey, Jenna . . . . . . 11 . . . . 975-7571 . . . . . . wookforce14@hotmail .com

Co-Editors-in-Chief Megan Rodrigues (12) Kathryn Wingfield (12)

Managing Editors Shanna Dowling (11)—News Emily Cone (12)—Photography Amanda Hutchinson (12)—Web Nico Jolicoeur (11)—Staff

4 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismContents

From the Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8

Section 1: Staff Tips and Policies Journalove Concept . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12 The First Amendment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Behavior + Legal Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15 Copyright Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Libel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Course Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Fundraising Expectations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Selling Subscriptions + Ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21 Ad Contract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Invoicing and Business Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Print Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Print Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Brainstorming + content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Email = Groupwise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 NetStorage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-29 Monthly Blogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Posting Stories on www.crimsonnews.org . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Deadlines + Late Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Editor Behaviors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33-34 Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35-36

Section 2: Writing Philosophy of Reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Crimson Story Rubric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 The Drafting Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 R1, R2, FD Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Story Front Ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Newsworthiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Cloudseeding Ideas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Interviewing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46-48 Reporting w Facebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49-50 Researching Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Getting Started on a Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

5CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism

Factology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Surveys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54-55 Appositives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Number Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Objectivity, Not Subjectivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 AP Style: Nuts and Bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Find the Extraordinary (Gay Talese) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 What You’re Doing Matters (Jimmy Breslin) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Lede Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62-63 Lede Sampler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64-65 The Dirty Dozen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66-67 Nutgraf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Summary of What’s to Come SW2C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Story Shapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70-71 Attribution and Quotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Conciseness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..73 Sportswriting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74-75 Feature Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76-78 How to Tell a Story (Ira Glass) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Opinion Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Review Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Blog Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Story Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Section 3: Design + Photography Starting Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Crimson Design Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 PhotoShop Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 InDesign Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86-87 Camera Commandments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Photography Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89-90 Camera Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Shooting Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Common Photo Blunders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

6 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismFrom the Editors

Hey Crimsoners!

You’ve been chosen out of all of PRHS to be a part of Crimson News-magazine, so let me take a minute to say congrats and hello friend! Though journalism is a class you spend 70 minutes in every day, you’ll soon learn that Crimson is more than just a class, we are a crazy, loud, opinionated FAMILY that is bursting with journalove. Journalove is a word us Crimson lovas use to describe our love for reporting, layouting, photogra-phy, and more importantly, our love for Crimson and each other. Taking this class has person-ally influenced my life dramatically; I know that similar to my experience, Crimson will change your life for the better. If you ever have any ques-tions or problems, talk to me, my ears are always open! I’m here for each and every one of you guys.So welcome gorgeous (and handsome) to the best class in the entire world!!!

Lotsa love,Megan RodriguesCo-Editor-in-Chief

HELLOOO CRIMSONITES!!!!

Welcome to the one group on cam-pus that’s home to the smartest, the tech-savviest, and the most attractive students around! Let me reinforce what a marvelous commitment you have made, how much it’s about to transform you, and, most importantly, how stoked I am that you’re part of our family! Our job as Crimsonites is to love: love each other, love what we do, and love every story we tell. That’s really what makes our job as journalists so empowering. Look a little closer as you go through life and you’ll start to see every occurrence as a plotline, every person as a remarkable character. We have the power to put the pieces together and give the world its voice, give the story its life, through love.As Mr. Mount always says, the right words in the right places can ac-complish anything. I hope this advice guides you throughout the year as you embrace your gift and discover its value more and more with every word. If you need ANYTHING, I’m yours. Seriously. :)

Love, WingCo-Editor-in-Chief


Hey Staff!Last year was one of the best years overall that Crimson journalism has yet encountered. This year will be even better because of you. Each one of you is pivotal to this program, and together your individual potential will be unstoppable. The skills you have will be refined, and you will learn of skills you never thought you had.Journalism is full of fun, food, friends, and family. Without Crimson I would not have recognized my potential in web, and I would not be the person I am in dealing with relationships, busi-ness, or even myself.This is the place to be the best version of yourself. I’m so excited to get to know each and every one of you. I will always be here ready to help or listen.Above all remember this: Love each other, love the paper, and everything else will fall into place.

With love,Amanda HutchinsonManaging Editor: Web

Crimson staff 2011-2012, What is up?!

First of all, welcome to this crazy family. We will laugh, cry, eat, stress, dance, and work together. Most importantly, we’ll practice Journalove. And yes, this con-cept seemed awkward to me at first too! But loving your fellow staff members as well as your publication will be your lifestyle before you know it. Crimson pushes you to your limits at some points, but seeing a stranger reading your article, admiring your layout, and holding the Crimson with excitement, is by far one of the best rewards you will ever receive. As your staff managing editor, I will always be here when you need someone to vent to, a friend to talk to when you need one, a motherly figure when you need to be taken care of(trust me, it happens), and a guide whenever you need help. Words cannot express my excitement to see what this staff does.

With Love,Nicolette JolicoeurManaging Editor: Staff

8 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismFrom the Editors

Dear Crimson friends,

Welcome aboard! The Crimson family is indeed a crazy one, and I am so glad to have you all as a part of it this year and to see all of the unique ideas and experiences you’ll bring to the table. You’ll soon discover that journalism is much more than a mere elective class and a monthly paper, it’s endless late-night laughter, a creative melting pot, meaningful friendships, a home away from home, and an amazing journey that will grow you in ways you can’t imagine if you choose to let it, and I sincerely hope you do. Also know that I am here to help with any problems, projects, or worries you may have—print or otherwise, so don’t hesitate to ask, I promise I’m not as weird as I seem! I can’t wait to meet and collabo-rate with each and every one you!

With love,

Shanna DowlingManaging Editor: Magazine

9CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism How they got thereCrimson leaders are picked officially in May. They start catching our attention un-officially at multiple times of the year. But in May all interested candidates present to a panel of alumni Crimson staffers, justifying why they are the best for the EIC or ME positions available. The panel chooses the final leadership lineup and announces the results the following week.

In Search of the EIC

A Facebook event...

Calling all beloved PRHS journalist graduates! Come to the second annual selection panel to sit as a VIP who will listen to current student candidates pitch their case to become next year’s Crimson leader--even the Editor-in-Chief.

After candidates present--this year we have around six--we share observations in a confidential, Starbuck’d, snacky discussion and decide the 2011-2012 Crimson leadership team.

Last year we sat graduates from 2007 through 2010, including:

Emma Kelley ‘07, Gina Alessi ‘08, Cory Brooks ‘08, Kelsey Garman ‘08, Joe Valdivia ‘08, Jane Teixeira ‘08, Amanda Bean ‘09, Zach Burggraf ‘09, Chynna Rowe ‘09, Jessica Madrid ‘09, Karlee Anderson ‘10, Mae Bradley ‘10

Who can come? Please RSVP and we’ll watch the list grow. And please forward this invitation to any Chronicle staff you are in touch with.

Interested?If you want to eventually serve in a leadership position, we recommend all of the following...

• Serveasasection editor

• Meetalldeadlines always

• Pursueadvancedwork in layout, photography, or web mgmt

• Developareputation as a “finisher”

• Domorethanwhat is expected

• Serveonthecore team who stays to put the issue to bed

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

what you give to othersLove can take the form of WORDS:

what you write for our pubswhat facts you articulatehow you encourage othershow you interview

Love can take the form of ACTIONS:

writing a thank you cardgoing extra milesacrificing time

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 parties

Love can take the form of TOUCH:

HugShake a handThrow an arm around their neck

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

13CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism First 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.

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

“at the school house gate.”

14 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismCode of Conduct

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

The Crimson CodeYour signed agreement to these is kept on file:

1. I understand the importance of meeting deadlines. I understand missed deadlines may cause changes in my staff job or class grade.

2. I will preserve my privilege to leave campus for Crimson busi-ness (without supervision) by adhering to the California Vehicle Code, conducting myself professionally, fulfilling strictly Crimson business, and not departing from city limits. I will not run personal errands.

3. I will limit use of my cell phone & other electronic devices to Room 601. I recognize & respect that PRHS students face a ban on these devices.

4. I agree to pay for the repair or replacement of any PRHS equip-ment damaged at school or off-campus from my actions. This item includes, but is not limited to, computer & camera equipment.

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

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

7. I agree to learn and adhere to ethical journalism standards in my reporting in areas of libel, fairness, honesty, and intent.

8. I will fulfill the responsibilities assigned to me, working after school & weekends to com-plete them.

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

I understand that the above standards must be fulfilled to stay enrolled in the class & use its privileges. I accept the loss of travel privileges, job reassignment, removal from the class,

and/or administrative discipline if I violate any of these standards.

X______________________________________________

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

Creating our own graphics avoids copyright infringement and provides huge satisfaction: “Hey, I did that ALL myself—even when it would’ve been easier to misuse someone else’s.”

Plus, original photo/graphic work tellsthestoryyourway, instead of letting someone else tell it for you in their artwork.

Crimson prepares you for the real, copyrighted world where nolongerisitacceptablelegallytocopy-pastegraphicswilly-nillyintoyourwork.

Publishing a photo or graphic in Crimson 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.

We enter contests that scrutinize our use of photos and graphical material—and downgrade for violations.

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 author.

4. We faithfully credit photographers.

EXAMPLE: You’re doing a story on over-the-counter prego tests

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.

NO toall of these:1. Copy-paste a photo of prego test

from internet and write the URL below it.

2. Skip a photo/graphic because it’s too much extra work.

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

17CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism 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:

An example:

Yes.

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) Untrue 2) Malicious intent3) Reflects reckless reporting

Courts have ruled in favor of libel claims when two or more of the above condi-tions have been met.

Student newspaper prints headline:

Story:

“Police Nab Drug Dealer”

“In a sweep across campus yesterday, police arrested several students, charging them with dealing drugs. Arrested were Bill Jones, sophomore and a student from community college: John Renshaw.”

Is this LIBEL?

18 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismObjectives

Basic Training required to advance to your job position

Skill Required Level HDN page1 Summer Reading Blog Posted, Score of 32 AP usage test Written, Score of 85% 703 Partner Feature On time /Netstorage / Score of 3 664 Beat report On time /Netstorage / Score of 3 685 Live interview Observed / Score of 3 41-436 Photoshop skills test Computer task / Pass 777 In-Design skills test Computer task / Pass 788 Photography skills test Computer task / Pass 79

Boot Camp!

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

1. I will write structured, probing, insightful stories2. I will write newsworthy stories serving campus needs + interests3. I will learn to satisfy the higher levels of the Crimson Writing rubriC

4. I will learn the art of telling a fact-dense story well5. I will compose engaging leads, headlines, & kickers6. I will improve my writing to be concise, fact-based, & purposeful

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

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

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

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 October 8, 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 1st trimester)

3 . Participation in fundraisers (carwashes, etc .)

4 . $30 “Club Fee”

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 Circu-lation 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.

Presorted Standard

Non-Profit OrgU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit #56

Paso Robles, CA

In-Depth 8-9 >> Oxycotin Investigation Feature 13 >> Blind Date is back World 20-21 >> Sustainable cities

The boys varsity water polo team celebrated their senior night along with a triumphant victory against Arroyo Grande

High School on Oct. 27. This is the first time the Bearcats have destroyed the Eagles in more than 15 years. They became

third in league from this win. Along with water polo, the varsity football team and girls varsity volleyball also defeated

the Eagles this fall season.The first quarter started out with the boys 0-4, but they came back with four goals by senior Chris Vinson; three by

senior and team captain Spencer Silva; two by senior Austin McCall; and one by seniors Will Hix and Zane Harvey, junior

Marco Gut, and sophomore Devon Nicklas. Bearcats showed their excitement by throwing coach Duane McRoy into the

pool.“They pulled themselves together and good things were happening. And we depended on everyone to do their job, and

they sure did,” McRoy said, according to a Paso Robles Press article.—Josh Orcutt, Sports Co-Editor

Bearcat polo sinks AGHS dynasty

Volume 71 / 11.10.10 / Issue 2 The Student Newsmagazine of Paso Robles High School 801 Niblick Rd. Paso Robles, California

Photo by Carly McCall

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

Circulation ManagerCrimson Newsmagazine

Paso Robles HS801 Niblick Rd.Paso Robles, CA 93447

237-3315 ext. [email protected]

The monthly student news magazine of Paso Robles High School

SUBSCRIPTIONS 2011-2012

MAIL MY SUBSCRIPTION TO:

NAME _______________________________________

STREET ______________________________________

CITY, ST, ZIP __________________________________

PHONE ______________________________________

Dear parents and business owners,We on the Crimson staff 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!

Megan Rodriques, seniorCo-Editor-in-Chief

Katie Wingfield, senior Co-Editor-in-Chief

Jeff Mount Adviser

Subscriber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $18.00 All 7 issues delivered monthly to your home by U.S. Mail

Patron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25.00 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50.00 7 issues above with recognition in the paper, one month free advertising for your business, and/or graduation advertising for a favorite senior. Ad size = 1/8 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. Ad size = 1/8 page.

21CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Selling Ads

If you don’t do it right

1. We may charge a business twice.

2. We may not charge a business at all.

3. We may bugger their ad, info, & reputation.

4. Crimson loses $$$ that it needs to operate.

5. You may burn the bridge with the business/indi-vidual indefinitely.

BAD PRACTICES

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

GOOD PRACTICES1. Take with you (1) advertising contract (2) copy of our paper and (3) strategic thinking for how this is a WIN for the business.

2. Introduce yourself & pitch so that it’s a WIN for them.Ex: Hello, I’m C.J. Prusi & I’m with Crimson newsmagazine for Paso Robles High School. Our newsmagazine circulates to 2000 students each month & hundreds on the internet at crimsonchronicle.com. 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

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

$35 2-months size = 300x200

$65 2-months size = 400x300Inserts* $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 601, or mailed to the address printed below.

Name of Business: ______________________________________

Contact Person: ________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________

Phone: __________________ Email: ________________________

Signature: __________________________________________________

Date: ___________________

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

Records + CommunicationUse the following document to discuss advertising options with potential 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 the upcoming publication:

1. Record it and its size on the ad white board for the editors and Mount to remember. Create a deadline if necessary for when the ad proof must reach the business owner.

2. Create it in the ad thumbnails document so we can make it a part of the layout plan.

3. Record the ad information in the cashbook for later invoic-ing.

4. Verify that a contract exists for the ad in our accordion showing contact and mailing information.

II. InvoIce the business to collect $$$ after publication

1. Open an existing invoice found in Ads&Business/Invoices.

2. Enter mailing and billing information.

3. Save as a new name: business_amount due into that month’s folder. The amount due in the filename helps us locate old invoices after the fact.

4. Print it, sign it, envelope it, stamp it. Mount has these supplies.

5. The Invoice Folder containing these docs should only show THAT MONTH’s INVOICES. Already-Paid’s do not need to be recorded here.

III. Use crimson billing history to get ideas for ads

1. Look at all the success of your predecessors! These records are valuable ways to inform our current effort. While the contact info may be old, the con-cept is actionable.

Business Tools

CONTRACTRecords the deal & contact information for our records.

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

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

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

INVOICE FOLDERShows all billings for the given publication.

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

24 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismPrint 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 portal, www.crimsonnews.com, is updated weekly with content actively gathered for the print dates shown at left. Advertising is available in 30-day increments on these webpages. Ad analytics (visitors, click-throughs) are reported with monthly statement.

Print advertisements reach an estimated 1500 campus readers during the school day on these posted dates. A copy of the newspaper (and its advertising) is mailed with monthly statement.

Advertisers must fill out the C ad contract to confirm date(s) and mailing info.

Publication Date Newspaper distributed to campus

Production Deadline @ Register-Pajaronian

Print Ad Deadline Ad copy received+approved

1. October 10 Wed Oct 5 Fri Sept 28 Fri

2. November 14 Wed Nov 9 Fri Nov 2 Fri

3. December 19 Wed Dec 14 Fri Dec 7 Fri

4. February 13 Wed Feb 8 Fri Feb 1 Fri

5. March 20 Wed March 15 Fri March 8 Fri

6. May 29 Senior Issue May 24 Fri May 17 Fri

Other Important Dates National Journalism Convention Seattle, WA April 11-14, 2012

Baby photos for Senior Issue 2012 May 17, 2012 Fri

PRHS Christmas Break 12/22/11 - 1/6/12

PRHS Spring Break 3/23/11 – 4/7/12

PRHS Prom May 25 2012

The Crimson // www.crimsonnews .comStudent journalism at Paso Robles High School

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

The monthly campus newsmagazine Paso Robles High School

2011-2012

25CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism The Print Cycle

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

PL

AN

> 2 Editors determine Story BUDGETS for

sectionUsing Budget sheet.

3 Editors submit budgets to Editorial Board EB checks for overlapping, misjudgments, and weaknesses.

4 Editorial Board approves/adjusts issue content

At home and at lunch meeting next day; decision must be ready for 2nd period.

5 Editors design DUMMY layout to determine content and design

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

6 Editors ASSIGN stories to staffers & complete SLUG forms to eachwriter

Section Editors summarizes budgets for the class; pitcher usually gets the story; volunteers also accepted; slug form is the written assignment from the editor to the writer which includes specifics.

7 Reporters interview, dig, & research for stories

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

RE

PO

RT...IN

TE

RV

IEW

...PH

OT

OG

RA

PH

...AS

K >

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

9 R1 drafts uploaded [Netstorage] by deadline And bring back-up on USB or Groupwise attachment.

10 Editors/Mount edit R1’s in color Download over Netstorage > edit in color > reupload

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

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

12 R2 drafts uploaded [Netstorage] by deadline Don’t be late! Chief checks whether you are on time!

13 R2 drafts uploaded to cc.com Logging in and uploading story is crucial.

14 Story Shares emailed to interviewees To invite them to read and to help us check accuracy.

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

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

17 FD’s uploaded [Netstorage] by deadline Now the story is done!

18 Layout begins in InDesign: 3-5 day phase Search for layout inspiration

DE

SIG

N +

FIN

ISH

>

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

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

20 Post produce: Process InDesign files to PDF

To lock layout/fonts/levels for print processing. Section editors are responsible for this “after-layout” step.

21 FTP upload files to Register-Pajaronian Handled by leaders

22 Pick up 2000 copies by car in A-Town 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.


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

Brainstorming

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

To protect against mediocrity

To suggest adjustments/modifications to section projects

To evaluate newsworthiness of a budget

To 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, envisioning the final product NOW. View inspiring publications that will deepen your ideas.

PITCH3. your ideas to your team on Brainstorm/Team day —and even on other days. Believe in your ideas.

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

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

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

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

Swift, smart, informedBrainstorming ideas for the paper & website must be swift. Weak staffs let it drag on for days. We break up into three teams to develop newsworthy ideas & eliminate stale, predictable projects. You need to keep yourself informed as a Crimson staffer, particularly about topics related to your section.

GREEN!

27CrimsonPaso 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 JournalismNetstorage

When you upload a story to Mother over Net-storage, locate it correctly in our folders so that you won’t be marked late by your ME or EIC

NetStorage permits you to save your work TO OUR SERvER over the internet FROM HOME. It permits editors to download, comment in, and resave your story for your next draft FROM THEIR HOME.

1. Go to “www.pasoschools.org”

2. Click TREE icon at bottom of above page.

3. Select MY FILES - NETSTORAGE

4. Next, the window below will appear.

User name =longstudentnumber

Ex: 710394

Password = yourbirthdayMMDDYY

Ex: 032497

>> continue

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

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

> Mother > Month Issue >Section >Stories

29CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Netstorage#2

Inside Netstorage, follow these steps 1. Navigate to the folder of the section you are writing for.

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

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

4. Use clear filenaming: Lastname.section.story

Ex: rodrigues.center.plasticsurgery

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

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

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

7. Print your story to hand to Mount or EIC tomorrow.

YES: files created with extensions: .doc .rtf .txt*If you have Microsoft Windows 2007 you must “Save Type As:” “97-2003.”NO: files created with extensions: .docx .wpd

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

Your story = your responsibilityIt is not our responsibility to check Groupwise for your story, it’s yours. If NetStorage is not working for you, you must :(1) Come into the journalism room BEFORE school starts to upload it w/ a USB or to open it on Groupwise. (2) Transfer your story into Journalism Mother.

30 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismYour monthly blog

MondayFind a current topic, mainly a NEWS 5W or a SPORTS 5W you’ll investigate further.

FridayWrite FD of blog by Fri @ end of lunch, 200 - 300 words. Upload to the issue’s Blog folder > Team Folder

SaturdayYour team leader edits

your blog and resaves to Blog folder > Team Folder.

SundayYou make necessary edits

and upload to web by midnight.

During the weekAsk, interview, learn. Write at least once before Friday.Story must meet R1 Standards p 38. Shoot some photos, if the story warrants it.

Publishing

Writing your blog

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

Topics:• Blog about a sports game, school events, community events, and what’s happening this week at PRHS. Mount always has story 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 Writing“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.

With this system, Crimson cranks out fast stories-of-the-week for readers. They will trust a website that’s CURRENT.

The BEST blogs run in the print issue that month.


1

54

32

Go to crimsonnews.org/wp-admin, log into Staff. Your username is the first letter of your first name and your last name. Ex: Amanda Hutchinson = ahutchinson 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 ONLINETo 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. Make it an RGB (Image>Mode>RGB) d. JPEG, saved to Web folder (Journalism Mother>Web>Web Photos)

To upload a graphic:Find the Graphic in the layout section folder

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

InDesign open the page PDFGo to tools>Select & Zoom>Snapshot ToolSelect 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 web


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

33CrimsonPaso 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.

34 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 .

35CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Awards - Contests

C Reporters of the Year

2011: Alicia Canales

2010: Alicia Canales

2009: Karlee Anderson

2008: Jane Teixeira

2007: Hannah Huff

2006: Emma Kelley

2005: Ryan Hagen

2004: Julian Hein

2003: Julia Bluff

2002: Tristan Aird

2001: Vanessa Rivers

C Journalist of the Year

2011: Monica Patel Alicia Canales

2010: Karlee Anderson

2009: Rebecca Horne Kelsey Garman

2008: Gina Alessi Ryah Cooley

2007: Emma Kelley

2006: Ryan Hagen

2005: Courtney Meznarich

2004: Kylee Kenyon

2003: Tristan Aird

2002: Chelsea Watts

2001: Chelsea Watts

NSPA Nat'l Convention Individual Awards

2011 2009 2008Superior Katie Wingfield, Editorial Writing

Monica Patel, Layout-- Rebecca Horne, Newswriting

Excellent Paul Cleland, Headlining -- --

Honorable Mention

Sinead Schouten, Sports Writing Madison Butz, Review Writing --

JEANC (NorCal) State Individual Awards

2011

1st Place Monica Patel, Maddi Coons, Centerspread

Honorable Mention

Katie Wingfield, Feature Writing Dakota Cleland, Review WritingShanna Dowling, Infographic Alicia Canales, NameplateMonica Patel, Newswriting

NSPA Program Ranking

2011:

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

2011, Spring: Best of Show Newsmag = 6th

2009, Fall: Best of Show 17p+ NPs = 6th

2008, Fall: Best of Show 16p NPs = 9th

Competing, comparing, and winning keeps us sharp and builds program pride. Below are recent results so that you can both join in our program goals and see where you can one day earn distinctions yourself.

Last year was our first year participating

36 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismStaff Awards + Rewards

Monthly StoreosMount’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

38 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismPhilosophy 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


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

41CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Our drafting process

1. Investigate, interview, and write a rough draft (R1) of your story. Save it as “Lastname_Section_Topic.”

2. By the R1 deadline, upload your story (with the same filename) to Q: Journalism Mother over the network, NetStorage, Groupwise, or USB. Save it in the correct issue and section folder.

3. Section editors, higher ups, and/or Mount will edit and make suggestions in their colors (shown above) in your story.

4. Read the comments you receive. Return to the toil of reporting (new interviews, more research, better lead, etc.). HONOR THE COMMENTS from your editors and address them by the next deadline.

5. Write the R2 into the same file:

Open the R1.1.

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

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

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

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

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

7. Editors, Leaders, Chief and/or Mount will edit again in color, expecting to see R1 comments addressed.

8. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for your final draft (FD). At the end, post it to Journalism Mother and to www.crimsonchronicle.com

Thesearethewritingstepsyouwilldoeverymonth.Readandlearnthem.Youwillsoonhavethemmemorizedwithoutrealizingit.

Editing ColorsWriter - BLACK

Editor - REDManaging Editors - GREEN

Chief - PINKMount - BLUE

The editor may need to make last minute changes in your story once it’s pasted into InDesign for design purposes. S/he should always tell you if changes have been made. If they do not communicate on this, talk to them or talk to the Chief or

42 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismDraft Minimums

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

EDITORS: Hold your writers ac-countable!

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

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

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

FD: PERFECT + READY FOR PUBLISHING

43CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism The 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 announc-es further facts. The deck should further explain the headline. This one also is a sentence with verb, this time more summarizing, more 5W, less cutesy. NEVER NOUN LABELS IN DECKS.

3. Byline Include “by MYNAME” under the headlines above. We’ll use this item in the layout process. The “b” in “by” is not captalized. Following your name, you must write your staff title (i.e. by Paul Cleland, Reporter).

4. Word count assigned Write out the number of words assigned by your editor.

5. Word count actual Write out how many words your story contains, not counting these front end items.

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

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

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.

44 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismNewsworthiness

Crimson has to ask itself what is worthy of being printed from the many choices we nominate each month. Are we writing what people want to

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

Here are nine areas that never fail:

Hard News Themes

1. 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 Themes

5. 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

45CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Cloudseeding ideas

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 teenag-

ersDangerous jobs for teenag-

ersJob openingsWhat would it be like to

work at...(Job for a Day)

Teen IssuesCurfewsParty Scene ReportDepression/AnxietyMale - female issuesDatingDrop outsDriving topics

Society/CulturePovertyOur violent cultureOur materialistic cultureCarsAnimated moviesMusicTechnologyReligion

Gang warfare School Culture

Math/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 schol-

arshipsHome 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 disintegra-

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

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

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 Amend-

ment studiesPresidential racesAnimal testing & animal rights;

dissection of animals in sci-ence labs

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

SacramentoPollutionGas / energy topicsCalamitiesCollege admissions Internet issues/scams/trends/

impact

Teachers & StudentsLack of skills in an important

subjectMath scores down? Reading?What makes intelligence? School

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

care for students

Teacher profileRecent fascinating lessonsWhat did Leadership do re-

cently?Club report/club studies

EthnicityRacism found todayInequalitiesAffirmative action & quotasPrejudice/discriminationSupremacy movementsInterracial dating

Remember:If you think there’s nothing going on, you are not reading nor talking to people enough .

46 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismInterviewing

Before the Interview1. Be PREPARED. Find out all you can about the person/event. >>Have at least 10 questions already planned. >>DON’T ASK QUESTIONS THAT COULD’VE BEEN LEARNED BEFOREHAND. >>Gather statements ahead of time the person can comment on. (“Some have said ‘____.’ Do you have a comment about that?”)

During the Interview2. Be ON TIME. Most people have other things to do, so the worst thing you can do is arrive late.

3. EXPLAIN your story and purpose. Don’t start questioning without giving the person the big picture.

4. ASK PERMISSION TO RECORD the interview. >>Also record a statement that protects us legally: “Please state your name. Do you know you are being recorded for this interview?”

5. Start EASY. Be ready with your prepared questions. Save the hardest/probing questions after a warm-up period.

6. Be PATIENT and QUIET. Pause after an answer to make sure the person has nothing more to add. Sometimes silence leads to better answers. >>Frame your questions in a way that will let him/her tell the story in his/her own words.

Choosing the person1. NO NEPOTISM! (Favoritism shown to relatives or friends) It undermines our credibility as a professional, detached, fair source of information. Crimson is not our private affair!2. Don’t write the story if you’re involved as a participant. Someone else can write it.3. Don’t print inside staff jokes. What happens in 601, stays in 601.4. DO reach underrepresented groups and topics. Let their voices be heard too!

These steps reflect a professional, trained interviewer . Payoffs

for the story, the interviewee, & Crimson reputation .

47CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Interviewing

8. FIND THE VEIN! >Listen for the point where the conversation reveals the LIFE-BLOOD to the person, to the issue at hand. This is the point where you hear the story within the story.

9. ask Follow uP Questions to dig deeper into the vein.

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

10. Be POLITE. No matter how rude somone may be to you, keep your cool. You are representing Crimson: our reputation is based on your actions. Always say “thank you” when you finish interviewing.

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

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

After the Interview13. WRITE A DRAFT of your story ASAP. Details fade away as time passes & inaccuracies creep in (DANGER!).

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

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

48 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismInterviewing

>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?

49CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Facebook 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. Use Facebook to schedule a face-to-face interview. Face-to-face interviews are not only the most professional, they make finding the vein easier.

2. Make your questions require specific answers. You will not be there to ask a follow up question, so be sure your questions “find the vein.”

3. Be complete, but not overbearing, your questions might not get answered at all if they see a mountain of text.

4. Always thank the interviewee, even over Facebook.

5. Again, don’t be lazy! Facebook interviews are for when an interviewee is other-wise unavailable, not because you don’t feel like interviewing face-to-face!

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

nightly social hijinx.

Other uses for Facebook

50 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismUsing Facebook GROUPS

Pastein coming...

51CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Researching

Journalism is all about digging, re-searching or “finding the vein.” It’s all about getting the facts and getting them straight. Journalism is about making stories interesting to read, but factual as well.

1. Interview, interview, INTERVIEW! The easiest way to get a fact is to get it from someone involved. A quote from a person is preferable to a quote from a website, which are not always reliable. You can get facts from anyone related to your story. IE: Need to know what the score of the last volleyball game was? Ask the coach.

2. Search the web. Yes, websites are a quick and easy way to get information, but be wary. Not all websites are 100 percent accurate all the time, so if you’re looking for a fast fact cross reference some sites. Also e-mail is a beautiful thing, whether it’s simply e-mailing a teacher for a quick reference, or interviewing the CEO of a company, you never know who will respond to your e-mails.

3. Other publications . Other written publications are great for story ideas or facts on a similar topic. Check out local newspapers and New York Times.

4. Just do it! Getting facts is hard work but the more you have the deeper and better your story will be. If you work hard on the base of your story, the facts, the

Research enough to be “buried” in it!

52 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismGetting a story started

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

1. Make an appointment with a teacher/administrator. Drop by their prep peri-od, send an email, do the Teacher Memo, etc. Get an interview scheduled!

Check their schedule on the teacher board.

2. Make an appointment with a student. Ask ahead of time when they’re available so they can think about what to say. Plus it’s annoying to walk into their room to find out they’re absent.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Remember we want 2-3 sources per story.

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

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

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

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

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

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

53CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Factology

What is a fact?1. It’s a fact if it’s one of the 5 Ws.WHO - WHAT - WHEN - WHERE - WHY

ie. Margie Lambie passed away on March 13, 2010 due to bacterial brain infection.

2. It’s a fact if it’s a quote a person actually said.

ie. “Wes is by far the best player on our team. He is the most consistent and truely tries harder then

everyone else,” teammate senior Kenny Romero said.

3. It’s a fact if it’s a number.

ie. Wookey’s pitched to 128 opponents as of May 5, and her ERA (Earned Run Average) is .205.

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

you may have a good story.

If you don’t, you can’t fake it.

ABC’s to a good

A Fact Density The saturation of facts that

you provide as the writer. We should be able to find 75% of each sentence to be factual.

B Specifics, please

Exactly WHO?Exactly WHEN?Exactly WHERE?

etc.

C Opposite of fact? Opinion

InterpretationRumor

Assumption

D Get the quote RIGHT!Print the quote wrong &

obviously it stops being a fact.

If you filled your story with #1, #2, & #3, you’ll be set!

54 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismOnline surveying

1. Go to: www.surveymonkey.com

2. Sign In: [Username: prhsjournalism, Password: deadtrees]

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

4. Title the survey

5. Click on “+ Add Question” to begin adding questions to your survey

6. Click “Add Question” and select the type of question you would like to ask your survey takers. Every question 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.

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

8. The easiest option to pick is the “Share your survey on Facebook” which will post it on your Facebook wall. You SHOULD ALSO CREATE A FACEBOOK GROUP OR EVENT into which you paste the survey link. A GROUP can be extended to non-friends, which is better journal-ism. Ask survey participants to forward the survey to at least five other persons, too.

9. When you want to check how many people have taken your survey or see their responses, sign in to Survey Monkey and click on the graphic of the pie chart under “Analyze” that corresponds to the correct survey.

10. Here, you will receive your “Reponses Summary.” You will be able to see the response count, the amount of answered and skipped questions, and of course, the responses themselves.

11. Need MORE participants? Continue to push it out via GROUP invitations over Facebook.

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...

55CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Campus surveying

CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism

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.

56

B

A

Appositives: Use 'em

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.

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.

C-

57CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Number facts

58 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.

59CrimsonPaso 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) Use the LAST NAME of the person afterwards.

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

sentence.

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

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.

Use numbers for the day.

Monday Jan. 5Saturday, Feb. 14,

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

Composition TitlesPut quotation marks around books,

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

“Hey Soul Sister” is very catchy.

PRHS AP seniors will read “The Brothers Karamozov.”

The band played Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

Quotationsa.) Put periods and commas INSIDE the

quotation!

b.) Name, then said. ALWAYS said.

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

“Blah,” junior Bob Taylor said.

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

“Whatever,” says/said freshman Lucy Blake.

School NameAbbreviate and capitalize school with

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

First time: Atascadero High School

After: PRHS, AHS, CA

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

NumbersWrite out all numbers less than 10

Write out all numbers beginning a sentence

Use numerals/hyphens for sports scores

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

Eight students

8 students

Fifty-two seniors objected. 52 seniors objected.

The Bearcats won 21-3. 21 to 3.

1 p.m.15 years old$1.01

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

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

60 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.

Gay Talese (born February 7, 1932) is an American author who wrote for The New York Times in the early 1960s. He helped to define literary journalism or “new nonfiction reportage,” also known as “New Journalism.”

His most famous articles are about Joe DiMaggio, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra.

Talese is a visiting writer at the Master of Professional Writing Program at the University of Southern California each spring.

Yes, you can throw a dart at a map and find a great story. The high

impact writer will elevate the story into an artistic masterpiece about the

human condition.

61CrimsonPaso 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.

62 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismLedes

Crimson lede writing targets

1. Write 2 ledes for every story you submit. Put the 2nd lede at the bottom of your story where we can decide if we like it better than your first.

2. Go for wit, pun, smiles, color. Readers are the bees; your lede is the flower.

3. Thirty (30) words or less in the lede sentence.

4. Ask your editor/team mates about your ledes for feedback.

5. Keep tuning your lede throughout the R1 > R2 > FD

process. Don’t work on it 1x-2x and expect readers and us to be impressed.

The LEDE is your SHOWCASE. It is one of the most hallowed, scrutinized elements in journalism. Even the most seasoned Crimson veteran must continue to sharpen this skill. They say that if you don’t show any style here, it can correctly be assumed that you haven’t got any.

63CrimsonPaso 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

64 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. (TheChurchillObserver,WinstonChurchillHS,Potomac,MD)

2 Could-Be-Important Lede

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

4 Who’s-the-Conflict Lede

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

6 Using-the-Colloquials

Lede

Meetings held recently indicate that soon students “making a run for the border” at lunch won’t have to run very far. In fact, they won’t even have to leave the building, thanks to a new cooperative program between Taco Bell & the school district’s food service. (Argus,GreshamHS,Gresham,OR)

7 “Allusion” Lede It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s Super… Well, no, maybe it was just a bird. In an action-packed beginning of the end series, Superman has died. (Lion’sRoar,GahannaLincolnHS,Gahanna,OH)

65CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Lede 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. (TheChurchillObserver,WinstonChurchillHS,Potomac,MD)

2 Could-Be-Important Lede

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

4 Who’s-the-Conflict Lede

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

6 Using-the-Colloquials

Lede

Meetings held recently indicate that soon students “making a run for the border” at lunch won’t have to run very far. In fact, they won’t even have to leave the building, thanks to a new cooperative program between Taco Bell & the school district’s food service. (Argus,GreshamHS,Gresham,OR)

7 “Allusion” Lede It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s Super… Well, no, maybe it was just a bird. In an action-packed beginning of the end series, Superman has died. (Lion’sRoar,GahannaLincolnHS,Gahanna,OH)

8 Challenge-the-Assumption

Lede

The land of the midnight sun can be yours this summer for a lot less than you may think.(XRay,St.CharlesHS,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.(TheAcademyTimes,CharlesWrightAcademy,Seattle,WA)

11 “Storytelling” Lede

Creaking to a stop outside the University of Illinois at Chicago’s pool building, the old yellow school bus brought U-High’s 6-1 boys swim team to the site of a Jan. 27 meet with St. Ignatius. The wolves’ meets take place at the Circle Campus, across Roosevelt Road in the Near South Side neighborhood, because Ignatius doesn’t have a pool of its own. Leaving the bus, 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-HighMidway,UniversityHighSchool,Chicago,IL)

12 “Then-and-Now-Update”

Lede

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

15 Dialogue Lede Hey Ashley, this is Michael. How would you like to go out with me tonight? I’d love to Michael; where are we go-ing? Well I was thinking we’d just go see a movie. Click. (TheTrojanier,RigbyHS,IdahoFalls,ID

16 Common quote Lede

“If you’re having sex, use a condom.” These words have dropped out of celebrities’, teachers’ & even parents’ mouths to save young people from creating a bomb many fear is just waiting to go off. (U-HighMidway,UniversityHighSchool,Chicago,IL)

66 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 .

67CrimsonPaso 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

68 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

69CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism The SW2C

70 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.

71CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Shape examples

72 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.

73CrimsonPaso 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.

74 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismSportswriting

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

4. INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES: If you are writing an athlete pro-file, watch that person in competition & in practice on several occasions.

5. STATS: Keep up with team & individual statistics & use them frequently in sto-ries. Maxpreps.com is the best! Also know your teams’ ranks in the conference, state, etc. Know team & individual records, best season times, etc. Know historic stats.

6. GAMES: Go to them (and take notes)!

1. LAME ATHLETE qUOTES: “We want to get to CIF.” & “We’re working really hard.”

2. STORIES THAT JUST REPORT SCORES: Look for opportunities to report on more than games: sports outside of school, different training regimens, the pre-season, benchwarmers, etc.

3. WRITERS WHO DON’T GO TO THEIR GAMES

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

annihilateabandonbeat blastblitzbowl overbutchercrushcut defame demolishdespoildesolate

destroy down drill enslave extinguishfailflatten forsake maimmaraud marrmutilatenumb

subjugate subvert succeedsuffer terminatethrash trounce upset vanquishwallopwhip

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

75CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Sportswriting

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

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

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

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

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

Ask the coach specific questions so you can get 6. good 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 7. them in there. The stats should help prove a point.

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

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

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

Teams that are struggling: write WHY.11.

Go the team’s practices. Find time to sit down with 12. the coach or assistant coach to learn about the sport if you don’t know the sport very well. Create a good relationship with them. Do your homework on the sport before the game/match.

Try looking at sports outside of school.13.

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

Focus on an individual.15.

SPORTS 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

Make it better than a game(s) recap

76 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismFeature Writing

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. Assess: Does your story merely skim the surface identity/story? Search for a more surprising angle.

DRAMA? >>• (tragedy, comedy, discovery, victory, loss, etc.)Conflict in their life >> and how it may be overcome?•Award/achievement >> and what it took?•Humor >>theirs or yours?•Little-known facts >> or secrets?•See 9 NEWSWORTHY STANDARDS•

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

77CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Sample Feature

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 per-son look ordinary and bland; such traits are

NOT newsworthy.

The bottom line

This story received Honorable Mention from JEANC in 2011.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3/4. “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.”

6. “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.

5. 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.

78 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.

79CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Opinion story structure

Story Element What it would sound like

1. SITUATION Start your story giving back-

ground. Fill in the reader: what has happened (the 5 Ws)? What

has CAUSED your reaction? It’s factual, objective, & 1-2 ¶s long.

Don’t give your opinion before this step. Plus, WHY DOES THIS MAT-

TER? a sense of NUTGRAF belongs here…

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

2006’s test asked California’s estimated 750,000 sopho-mores what they looked for in a “romantic partner.”

Of course, multiple parents & teachers have since pro-tested the 2006 CAHSEE writing prompt, calling the writing question too unprofessional, opinionated, or inappropri-ate…

2. STATE YOUR OPINION Don’t save it for the climatic

conclusion. It probably should enjoy its own ¶. Be sure it’s in a

single sentence, much like you’ve learned to write a thesis sentence.

>> NO 1st PERSON <<

Yet the thing that seems to have been skipped: stu-dents need something interesting to write about. There is therefore nothing wrong with Sacramento’s test. Except of course that we don’t want to take it.

3. SUPPORT (Facts, Authorities, Research) Have figures & quoted authorities

support your opinion. Opinion stories in the middle are just like

news stories: the reporter still digs for facts & quotes. This section will

need several ¶s.

Writers have told us for years that we must pick some-thing we know about. “If you can’t write about something close to you, don’t pick up the pen,” Mark Twain said. He’s right.

And mandated tests are notorious for their dryness. “I barely even try,” one junior said. PRHS test results sug-

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

4. COUNTERPOINT Talk a little about what the other side

says. Give some facts & quotes that sup-port that counter side. This section shows

the reader you are fair & understand all the spokes of the wheel.

Now it is true that California’s Ed Code 48950 prohib-its surveys of student sexual preferences.

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

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

Key Principle:

80 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.”

81CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Blogging

>>ATTEND!You can’t write about what you don’t know. In order to get the facts, sources, pictures, and colorful descriptions, you MUST attend the event!

>> One interview minimumYou must have a source! Otherwise it may sound like your opinion, even if you’re just reporting. Talk to the person in charge, a participant, or both. The more sources, the better.

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

>>PicturesPhotos are required on web uploads, so bring a camera with you. Put an image with your words.

>>Facts, Facts, FACTS!Another reason you must attend. You must describe what happened, what you saw, who was there, etc. A blog is usually 200 words or less, but those words need to be factual.

A “blogger” is assumingly a person who complains about life and problems. This is not a Crimson Blogger. We blog about sports games, school assemblies, community events, and what’s happening during lunch and at PRHS, even if it’s not a story for the paper. (By the way, a blog is basically a story but is for web use only.)

The Basics

82 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismStory help

Study examplesWhile your HDN gives you tips, you can also:

1. Get into the Crimson Archives cabinet to 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.

84 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

85CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Crimson Standards

PH

OTO

GR

AP

HY

& G

RA

PH

ICS

1 Photos shall have 1 pt. stroke2 Advertisements shall have 1 pt. stroke3 Photo/Graphic credit shall be OUTSIDE picture, not on picture4 Picture resolution in PShop shall be 300 ppi (not 72)5 Photo size in PShop shall be approximate to printed size in InDesgn6 Photo/Grfx shall be in Tiff format w/ LZW compression7 Grayscale pages shall only place grayscale graphics8 Color pages shall only place CMYK graphics9 All photos/graphics shall be credited to source

10 All 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 appears13 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 permis-sion 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

ERA

L

1 Dominant graphic/photo shall occur on page2 Points of Entry shall be numerous & tasteful with strong eye-flow3 Pica space (.1 in) shall surround all page elements4 “First person” & “Staff Editorial” and other logos shall clarify stories

with opinionated voice or special content5 Lists of text shall “left-offset” the numbers/bullets for reading aid6 Page size = 10 in. W x 11 in. H7 Center page size 20 in. W x 11 in. H8 Text shall not be printed on top of a photo or graphic9 Crimson page numbers shall appear on “out” side of folio, not in

gutter

86 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. Go to “Image” at the top of the screen, and click mode. Click on “Grayscale” and your picture will become black and white.

2. Right below mode will be “Adjustments” and then “Levels.” Once in levels you can adjust the levels of contrast so that the picture looks appropriate.

3. To make the image the right size, go to “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!Use this tool to

quickly re-apply TEXT and PARAGRAPH settings to additional page elements

87CrimsonPaso 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” which must be “TIFF” and the “Color Space” which must be “Grayscale.” Check all of them by clicking “Next.”

2. Also in “Links” make sure there are zero 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 either Scanner-Photo-Wizard or Bridge: year_month_event_lastnamephotographer.

Example:2012_02_lunchgames_wingfield_01

Camera Commandments

Want a camera?

89CrimsonPaso 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’S EYE: Get the camera looking down on the scene

> WORM’S EYE: Get the camera looking up at the scene.

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

90 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismPhoto principles cont.

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

To BLUR the background, set Av on the dial and finger-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.

To BLUR the background but focus on the performer, set Tv 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

91CrimsonPaso 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

LARGE F-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 to light... 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 = TIME VALUE = you set shutter TIME; camera sets f-stop

Av = APERTURE VALUE = you set f-stop; camera sets shutter time

M = MANUAL = you set both Av and Tv

File Locations for photos1. Name your files: year_month_subject_photogra-

pher_

Example: 2012_02_lunchgames_wingfield_01

2. Place photos in the correct folder:

Photographs for magazine: copy into the Photos folder for the Issue Month.

Photographs for website: copy a NEW copy into MOTHER > WEB folder and leave the original in the magazine month folder.

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 filling up our gigabytes.

92 CrimsonPaso Robles HS JournalismSports photos

Did you know: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. Al-ways 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.

93CrimsonPaso Robles HS Journalism Photo blunders

1. Dark Photos: This problem can easily be solved by adjusting two things: ISO and shutter speed.

ISO: The ISO controls the amount of light that your camera takes in. The higher the ISO, the brighter pictures. Be careful, though- in order to keep your pictures correctly lighted but not grainy, you’ll have to adjust your shutter speed.

Shutter Speed: The faster the shutter speed, the darker the picture. If you’ve raised your ISO and the pictures are still dark, turn your shutter speed dial counterclock-wise until the pictures are lighter but still in focus. In many cases, if you go to a shutter speed lower than 1/25, the pictures will be blurry, so be careful.

2. Bright Pictures: If your pictures are washed out or too bright, lower your ISO, (100 is usually fine) and increase your shutter speed. If you have done those things and are still having problems, your white balance may be off. Find the button on your camera that says “WB.” Once there, you will see different options: Tungsten, Florescent, Daylight, Cloudy, etc. Select the option that applies to the setting you are shooting in, and your pictures should start looking better instantly.

3. Blurry Pictures: This means that either your shutter speed is too slow or that your camera is not focused. If you are getting blurry shots, first make sure the camera is on Auto Focus. If your pictures are still blurry after that, you may consider either switching to a more appropriate setting, such as “Sports,” or increasing your camera’s shutter speed. Remember: it may take some trial and error before your settings are perfect, but don’t give up!

3 Common Photo Problems

2011-12 Handy Dandy Staff Manual

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Transcript of 2011-12 Handy Dandy Staff Manual