starting a policyoptions bureau - webinar slides 2/18/14
DESCRIPTION
This webinar covers the start-up steps for launching a local PolicyOptions.org bureau.TRANSCRIPT
Starting a Local BureauWebinar on PolicyOptions.org
Agenda
• 7 Steps to Start Up
• Selecting News to Digest
• Assigning Entries
• Adding Content
7 Steps to Start-Up
Start Up Steps1. Add Organizations, their Programs & Key
Staff
2. Set up Feedly.com (RSS reader)
3. Add RSS Feeds to Feedly.com
4. Add Assignments to Basecamp.com
5. Student Role (entering news, orgs, etc.)
6. Faculty/Staff Advisor Role (reviewing)
7. Launch: community partners, students, faculty
Start-Up Overview
Add & Edit !Entries
Add Assignments!to Basecamp
Add RSS Feeds!to feedly.com
Set-up !feedly.com
Add Orgs, !Programs,!
and People
Recruit & Train Student!
Team
1. Add Organizations, their Programs & Key Staff
Start with Local then County then State (if not already added):
• Government Agencies
• Media (esp. online newspapers, etc.)
• Non-Profit Agencies
• service providers
• associations, advocacy, etc.
• foundations
2. Set Up feedly.com
• Set-up Feedly.com account using generic email account
• Create one local folder for all feeds
• Create one state folder for each of the 13 major issue areas
Organizing RSS Feeds
Group RSS feeds
• one folder for each local bureau
• 13 folders for each major issue area
feedly.com
3. Add RSS Feeds to Feedly.com
When adding local and state organizations, identify:
• RSS feeds
• org news pages update regularly
• email newsletters
• twitter feeds
No RSS?
• No problem
- www.page2rss.com - creates RSS on page changes
- www.mmmmail.com - converts emails to RSS
4. Managing Editor Role
• Manages Feedly news sources
• Selects news items to be digested (see step-by-step mini-guide below)
• Assigns entries on Basecamp (see step-by-step mini-guide below)
• Ensure PolicyOptions.org style, format
• 2-4 hours/week
5. Student Roles
• At least two per bureau @ 5-7 hour/wk
• Adds content to PolicyOptions.org (see step-by-step mini-guide below)
• Detail oriented
• Implements PolicyOptions.org style
• Community and campus outreach
Training
• Designate official trainings for PolicyOptions.org staff
• Utilize guides on PolicyOptions Wiki (see step-by-step mini-guide below)
• Emphasize learning by doing
• Convene subsequent trainings
6. Faculty/Staff Advisor Role
• Community engaged
• Knowledgable of local organizations
• Ensures progress
• Student support
• Increases faculty awareness
Ensure Quality ControlSite visitors notice inconsistent formatting, delays in updating.
To ensure quality:
• Hold regular trainings
• Create a process of revision
• Time estimate: ongoing
7. LaunchThree audiences, each of whom can utilize the resource in different ways
• Community Partners
• Students
• Faculty
Community Partners
PolicyOptions.org is a resource to deepen CBO relationships:
• Create and distribute online demos
• Next meeting - show your site!
• Interns at CBO’s can use the resource
Students
PolicyOptions.org news provides:
• Insight on their volunteer work
• A social entrepreneurship tool
• Community connections
• Resources for research papers
FacultyFaculty can use the resources in the classroom
• Current events for classroom discussions/assignments
• Augments service learning courses
• Visit and demonstrate the site!
Selecting News to Digest
News Types• Announcements
• Funding
• Meetings
• Legislation
• Executive Action
• Court Rulings
• Publications
• Assessments
We do NOT Report…
• Opinions and Editorials
• Pending court cases
• Gossip and scandal
• Local crime
• Human interest
• Purely international
Examples• New Jersey Childhood
Obesity Study: Trenton Chartbook
• Study on the Relationship Between Travel Demand and Economic Growth
• Trenton shooting victim collapses in front of downtown pizza shop
• Driver Killed in Moore County Crash
National News
• Obamacare v Romneycare - we don’t report on the political discourse or the horse race
• We report on the policies: facts, figures, local and state assessment and implementation (e.g., policy initiatives undertaken, federal funding, agency reports and analysis, legislation passed, executive actions)
State News
• Gov. Christie’s weight not as important to New Jerseyans as the policies he implements on Sandy Recovery or prisoner re-entry.
• Statistics, policy initiatives, nonprofit activities:
• Reports from state agencies and state specific Federal agencies
• Analysis from policy think tanks and institutes
• Funding opportunities
• Meetings and events: Board of Ed., to Governor Town Halls, to issue based state conferences.
Local News
• The hardest to find because there are the fewest sources (when compared to state and national)
• Social Media is a public sentiment forum, not a platform to grow a knowledge base.
• Non-profit newsletters, local government releases and meetings, your institute’s work.
• Leverage your connections to community partners to aggregate news.
Categorizing News
All News is categorized on PolicyOptions.org as:
• Announcements: all news is an announcement
• Funding: press releases, other announcements on funding opportunities
• Meetings/Calendar Events: conferences, nonprofit meetings, government hearings
• Legislation: analysis, impact, or summary of PASSED legilsation
• Executive Action: President’s/Governors Executive Orders, Appointments
• Court Rulings: finalized court decisions that impact policy and law
• Publications: reports and scholarly work that do not assess efficacy and/or provide policy options.
• Assessments: reports and scholarly work that does assess efficacy and/or provide policy options.
www.Feedly.com
• Navigation
• Viewing
• Mark as Read and Saved for Later
• Adding RSS feeds
• Organizing RSS feeds
Assigning Entries
Basecamp
• Basecamp is an intuitive, online project management tool.
• In a “To Do” List style, individuals can be assigned tasks.
• Our “To Do” list will be labeled News Bureau Entries.
Assign via Basecamp
• www.basecamp.com
• Create News Bureau To Do list via email
• Assign To Do’s to individuals with deadlines
• Receive notification of completion
Enter the news entry assignment
on Basecamp
Format the Assignment
Data Source (USA) National Institute of Justice Enhances Crimesolutions.gov http://www.ojp.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/2013/ojppr102813.pdf
Content Type (Geographic Ownership) Altered Title
Link to Original Source
• Indicate the specific location(s) impacted
• Craft an alternate title that conveys information not advocacy
• Find original sources, not the article that quotes the press releases or summarizes a report.
Assignment Guidance
Adding Content
Series of Online Steps
1. Feedly
2. Basecamp
3. PolicyOptions.org Entry
4. PolicyOptions.org
Feedly - Select News
Create Basecamp Assignment
Create EntryLogin to PolicyOptions.org Admin page
Stylistic Requirements
Editor’s Guide on PolicyOptions Wiki
• NO ALL CAPS
• Proper Quotation
• Unbiased Titles
Entry Requirements
• Original link is the first Source entry
• No more than three paragraphs as description
• Include logo of organizations
• Enter organization
Including Logos
News photos aren’t as important for a digest
• Screen capture: www.skitch.com
• Capture logo
• Enter after completing all other entry requirements