deconstructing the story

DECONSTRUCTING A STORYJim Streisel, MJE, Carmel (IN) High School

www.slideshare.net/CarmelJim

Sunday, September 30, 12

The old days…1937 1944 1971 1982

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…are gone.

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Storytelling has changed, too.

You need to change with it.Sunday, September 30, 12

Three easy steps

1.Lay the foundation.

2.Consider the story.

3.Blend methods together.

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STEP 1: LAY THE FOUNDATION

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It’s time to rethink what you do and how you do it.

Are you a NewsPAPER or a newsMAGAZINE?

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Are you truly a newspaper?Do you publish every day? Every other day? Weekly?

Do you have traditional ‘sections’ — News, features, sports, etc.?

Are you ‘shaped’ like a newspaper (broadsheet)?

Can you publish breaking news? Developing stories?

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If not, consider being a newsmagazine.

Publish less frequently.

Tackle larger, in-depth stories.

Graphic cover, teasers to inside coverage, table of contents, coverage of special topics in a centerspread, as featured on the cover.*

*per NSPA Guidebook guidelines

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Then, get a website.Breaking news

Audio and visual storytelling

Updates

Interactive elements

Social media

Basically, a place for information to ‘live’

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STEP 2: CONSIDER THE STORY

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How is each story best told?

Audio/visual stories need audio/visual outlets.

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How is each story best told?

Audio/visual stories need audio/visual outlets.

Breaking stories need breaking news outlets.

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How is each story best told?

Audio/visual stories need audio/visual outlets.

Breaking stories need breaking news outlets.

Some stories are told best in photos.

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How is each story best told?Audio/visual stories need audio/visual outlets.

Breaking stories need breaking news outlets.

Some stories are told best in photos.

And some stories—compelling ones—still need to be written.

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STEP 3: BLEND METHODS TOGETHER

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Case Study Number 1:

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Case Study Number 2:

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YOU NEED TO PLAN

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Brainstorm topic: 2012 election

When does your print issue come out? Before Nov. 6?

What can you tell readers that they don’t already know? What do they need to know?

What tools (print and online) can you use to tell the story?

How can you get readers involved?

What’s something new that you can provide?

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How we’re covering it:Print

•Acumen election issue

Web

•Mini-site (hilite.org/election)

•Polls/surveys

•Social media (hashtag?)

•Links to election tools

•Blogs/election night ‘chat’

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To recap…

1.Lay the foundation.

2.Consider the story.

3.Blend methods together.

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Thank you.

Jim Streisel, MJE, Carmel (IN) High School

jstreise@ccs.k12.in.us

www.slideshare.net/CarmelJim

Sunday, September 30, 12