Citizen journalism workshop

8/14/2019 Citizen journalism workshop

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Learn how to contributeto The Oakland Press


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How will this help you Have you ever wondered how to get information in the newspaper? Are you a business owner, public relations professional or volunteer

who wants to get events/business information featured in the

newspaper?

Do you regularly come across things you think are newsworthy andthen, never see it in the paper?

Do you have a son or daughter who has accomplished something inschool, won an award or is in an organization, such as Boy Scouts or

Girl Scouts, that you wish would be recognized in the paper?

Do you ever passed by a car accident and wondered whathappened?

Are you looking to get into the journalism field and want experience?

This workshop will teach you what to do!


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How this helps us

We need youto be the eyes andears of Michigan

After a focus group, we learned that severalreaders wish there was more "happy news"in the paper. When you hear of story ideas in

your community, tell us!

We do not have enough staff here to give alllocal communities the coverage they

deserve.


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How to submit a calendar

item

Who: Pontiac Kiwanis Club

What: Chicken barbecue

Where: Pontiac Lake ParkWhen: 5 p.m. June 26

Why: Fundraiser

Example:

The Pontiac Kiwanis Club will hold a chicken

barbecue fundraiser 5 p.m. June 26 at Pontiac

Lake Park, 7800 Gale Road, in Waterford. Call

248-666-1020.


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Online calendar

submission

Visit http://events.heritage.com,

http://events.theoaklandpress.c

om,

http://events.macombdaily.com

,http://events.themorningsun.co

m,

http://events.dailytribune.com

Add your event
http://events.heritage.com/http://events.theoaklandpress.com/http://events.theoaklandpress.com/http://events.macombdaily.com/http://events.themorningsun.com/http://events.themorningsun.com/http://events.dailytribune.com/http://events.dailytribune.com/http://events.themorningsun.com/http://events.themorningsun.com/http://events.macombdaily.com/http://events.theoaklandpress.com/http://events.theoaklandpress.com/http://events.heritage.com/


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Events home page


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Event detail page


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Print calendar submission

Email print submissions to

[email protected] two weeks in

advance of event. Items are not

guaranteed to get printed due to space

constraints, so make sure to submit online,

as well.


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How to submit a press

release or story If your press release is written like a newspaper

article, it is more likely to be printed.

Do not give your opinion in the press release. And donot say how "wonderful" your organization

is...unless, of course, you are using a quote.

Also NEVER send a press release in a pdf. Editorsand reporters hate this.o With pdfs, we can't copy and paste a story. And,

when we have other press releases ready to

print as it is, we are more likely to use those.

After sending a press release, call the editor orreporter to follow-up.

o I have about 2,000 emails in my inbox. So, when

I get a call about a press release, I won't

overlook it.

Send a photograph with your press release if

possible. And MAKE SURE to include the names ofthe people who are in the picture


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Examples of community

contributed stories


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Writing a lede

Lede = the first sentence of your story

Lede should be direct, to the point

Use short sentences in story and eliminateunnecessary words (no flowery language,

this is not a novel).


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Summary ledes

Who, what, where and why Tells or summarizes the facts of the story; the most

important information Used most often with stories written in inverted

pyramid style

Create interest and indicate importance of story

Give information quickly Helpful to audience who skims


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Why is the lede so

important?

Readers have a short

attention span. If your

first sentence isn'tinteresting, they won't

continue reading.

Put MOSTIMPORTANT early on.

Readers should not

have to hunt for the


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What information is most

important?

Police chief John Jones discussed the citys crime

problem with interested townspeople at a meeting

Monday night.

Jones agreed to meet with residents who have

grown increasingly concerned about the safety of

their neighborhoods.

The chief said more serious crimes were reportedhere in the last 12 months than during any year in

the citys history.


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Try to write a summary

lede

Utica Boosters Club gave annual awards atbanquet Friday night

Jose Flores, president of club, presided Charles Becker, former mayor, named Man of the

Year

For work with the clubs youth program

Sam Smith, owner of Smiths Grocery at 1100 S.Main, received Best Booster award for attendingall meetings of the year


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Possible ledes

The Utica Boosters Club named former mayorCharles Becker its Man of the Year at its annual

awards dinner on Friday.

The Utica Boosters Club honored former MayorCharles Becker as its Man of the Year for his work

with the clubs youth during its awards dinner on

Friday.


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ALWAYS USE THIRD

PERSON

NEVER EVER USE FIRST

PERSON!

Incorrect:Larry Norman, vice president for enrollment services,

said enrollment at our school increased in 2005.

Correct:Larry Norman, vice president for enrollment services,

said enrollment at Rochester College increased in

2005.


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Never put in your opinion

A journalist's job is togive people all the facts

and every side of the

story, and let people

decide for themselves!

Journalists needs to be

in the middle!


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Use "said"

Use quotes whenever you want to use opinionATTRIBUTE to someone within your organization

"Said" is a neutral word use repeatedly

Never write, "she exclaimed," "he cried," "shewhispered"

Can say "he said with tears in his eyes" Put quotes when writing word-for-word what someone

said.


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Who to contact

To get a press release in the paper or to submit a newstip, contact:

o [email protected]

o [email protected] [email protected]

o [email protected]

o [email protected]

o [email protected] [email protected]

o [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Contributing commentary

We welcome letters to the editor and guest

columns.

Keep a letter under 250 words.Guest editorials should be under 650 words with

an accompanying mug shot of the writer.

Submit onhttp://www.heritagenews.com/lettertoeditor/
http://www.heritagenews.com/lettertoeditor/http://www.heritagenews.com/lettertoeditor/


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Letters and guest opinions should offer commentary on issues in the

news whether they be local or national; an exception is when an

organization reaches out to raise awareness of a cause or event that

has a substantial impact on the community. Letters can be written from

the heart while lengthier guest opinions are typically more fact-based.


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To send breaking news

If you see an accident while driving, you pass by a fire, you hearabout a theft, etc. call our news tip line at 734-429-7380

Add this phone number into your contacts


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Examples of breaking news

Car accident Fire Theft (or anything police

related) School evacuations Missing person Missing animal


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Take a photo

Rule #1: Be safe. Don't

take a photo while

driving.

If you see an accidentor fire and your phoneis on you, snap a

photo

If there are people inthe picture, make sure

to include their names

and the communitywhere they reside

Include your name sowe can give you credit

for the picture


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Join us on Tout

15-second videos

120-character limit

Youre your caption like a Tweet with @mentions and #hashtags (add

@TheOaklandPress at end of each Tout)Film in landscape mode

Record in the field or from your desktop

Promote your event, share breaking news or slice of life

Retout, share on Twitter, share on Facebook, via text or email.

http://www.tout.com/u/idealabheritage
http://www.tout.com/u/idealabheritagehttp://www.tout.com/u/idealabheritagehttp://www.tout.com/u/idealabheritage


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Easy to get started


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YouTube

Create a video, upload it to your YouTube channel and share the

embed code or link with us. A video can complement your preview

story of an event or complement your coverage or ours.

E l f th bl


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Example of another blog

from YouTube

For example, you may have a celebrity gossip blog and you can visually

enhance it with videos from YouTube.


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Livestreaming video

Its easy to livestream video of a presentation, organizations meeting,

government meeting, interview or event. All you need is an Internet

connection and a webcam. On uStream, your video can be recorded after

the livestream and archived on your channel. You can share the embed

code or video URL with us.

C it M di L b


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Community Media Lab on

uStream

Community Media Labs uStream channel:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/heritage-community-media-lab
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/heritage-community-media-labhttp://www.ustream.tv/channel/heritage-community-media-labhttp://www.ustream.tv/channel/heritage-community-media-labhttp://www.ustream.tv/channel/heritage-community-media-labhttp://www.ustream.tv/channel/heritage-community-media-labhttp://www.ustream.tv/channel/heritage-community-media-labhttp://www.ustream.tv/channel/heritage-community-media-labhttp://www.ustream.tv/channel/heritage-community-media-labhttp://www.ustream.tv/channel/heritage-community-media-lab


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Check us out on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAnETPm4XRM&feature=share&list=PLDFh

EC8gy4bu5wfsvHTSJb5sTDaplP3xX
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAnETPm4XRM&feature=share&list=PLDFhEC8gy4bu5wfsvHTSJb5sTDaplP3xXhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAnETPm4XRM&feature=share&list=PLDFhEC8gy4bu5wfsvHTSJb5sTDaplP3xXhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAnETPm4XRM&feature=share&list=PLDFhEC8gy4bu5wfsvHTSJb5sTDaplP3xXhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAnETPm4XRM&feature=share&list=PLDFhEC8gy4bu5wfsvHTSJb5sTDaplP3xXhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAnETPm4XRM&feature=share&list=PLDFhEC8gy4bu5wfsvHTSJb5sTDaplP3xX


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For more information

Contact Michelle RogersDirector of Community Engagement and Editorial Training

Twitter: @DigitalJRN

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 267-229-6037

Contact Monica DrakeOakland Press Community Engagement Editor

Twitter: @monica_adele

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 248-996-2824

Citizen journalism workshop

Documents

Transcript of Citizen journalism workshop