01 finding stories
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Finding Stories & AnglesLizabeth A. Walsh, MJE
Stories are everywhereBe interested to create an interesting story.
If you act like you care about people, you will have opportunities to care about them. If you care about them, you will want to tell their stories.
Whole school surveysAssigned beatsFocus groupsRandomly selected studentsSpecifically selected studentsTeacher recommendationsOpen your eyes and earsAsk people about themselves
Video 1http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500617_162-6084880.html
Whole school surveysWhole school surveys Obtain administrative approval
Get teacher buy-in (bribes can work)
Have teachers support your goal
Do it on one day, collect it that day
Sort & read all the surveys as a sponge activity or “bonus time” activity (this can be extra credit, an assigned grade, or a “work night” activity)
Assigned beatsAssigned beats Journalistic approach to coverage
Set up a system for getting and reporting information
Have share time so staffers are made aware of interesting events (overlap coverage)
A regular beat report IS a grade and has academic merit
Video 2Video 2
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=618642n
Focus GroupsFocus Groups Invitations- specific vs. general topics
Scheduled events- organized & prepared
On-the-spot- stop in to a meeting
Surveys- tailor questions to each group
Infiltrate the group- have staffers join
Randomly selected Randomly selected studentsstudents
Throw a dart
Every Nth person
Color of the day
Musical pointing
Video 3Video 3
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=618642n
Specifically selected Specifically selected studentsstudents
Everyone who had only 1 entry last year
Students who are in a given group or demographic designation
Students our staffers know (1 degree)
Students staffers’ friends know (2 degrees)
Students the friends know (3 degrees)
Teacher Teacher recommendationsrecommendations
Emails to teachers
Don’t just ask for “kids who are different”
Counselors also have access to students
Can be standouts or just interesting
Video 4Video 4
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=618642n
Open your eyes & earsOpen your eyes & ears Hallway observations are valuable
Stay IN at lunch
Go OUT at lunch
Come to school extra early
Stay extra late
Make it a contest to find the best story
Ask people about Ask people about themselvesthemselves
Instead of staying in your comfort zone, begin conversations with others
Comment on a piece of clothing, an accessory, a homework assignment, a situation, the weather- whatever
Learn to ask questions and listen more than you talk- the one who leaves with the most information wins, and you want to win.
Angles & ApproachesNEWS VALUESProximityCurrency / TimelinessImpactProminenceConflictEntertainment
Video 5http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6083691n
ProximityProximity How close is the event to your school?
Is the event in your town or surrounding area? (city, county, region, state, country, etc.)
How much is it reported in local news?
If it’s not close, it doesn’t have proximity, but that doesn’t remove it from the list, it just doesn’t get full points for MOST IMPORTANT
Currency / TimelinessCurrency / Timeliness
Since the book comes out in May (or August), it needs to be a story that still matters.
Historical content matters.
Evergreen material matters.
ImpactImpact
How many people were affected?
In what way were they affected?
How significant were the effects?
How many people could relate to this?
ProminenceProminence Important people matter to others.
Famous people anchor the year in their timeliness or popularity
Student Body Officers, Elected Queens & Kings, Teachers & Administrators, etc.
Politicians, School Board members, Superintendent, etc.
ConflictConflict
If it bleeds, it leads (gross!)
Teenagers can relate to drama
We like to hear about a problem- we get emotionally involved
People who overcome tragedy are inspiring
EntertainmentEntertainment
Funny isn’t universal, but it’s close
Bizarre traits or events catch our attention
This is pretty much the excuse for telling a story when it doesn’t have any other news value at all
All materials All materials presented…presented…
Remain the property and copyright of the various owners of the original works.
These yearbook samples were presented at BALFOUR workshops for the benefit of their clients and customers.
Please do not alter these presentations.
Use of these shows is intended only for individual adviser-to-staff classroom teaching, not for publication or reproduction in any form for any type of presentation at a conference, camp, convention, or gathering of multiple schools’ staffs.