Today is lab day

Hello. Just a reminder that today is an optional lab day.

Past converged projects

Converged examples:
One student focused on photos and charts.

This student focused on a chart and a map.

Another student focused on maps and charts.

Budgets

Class Today

Public Affairs Reporting will not be held
on Tuesday, April 13th.

I will be available by email if you have not yet pitched your story idea.

Use the time to work on your final beat story.

Budget Resources

* Dave Herzog's "Twenty tips for covering and writing about budgets": http://www.projo.com/words/tip408.htm
* Dave Herzog's "Writing Better Budget Stories": http://www.projo.com/words/tip415.htm
beat and check out the "government info" links): http://www.powerreporting.com
* Robert Niles' "Statistics Every Writer Should Know": http://www.robertniles.com/stats/
* George Landau's percent-change calculator: http://www.newsengin.com (click on "free tools")
* Guidestar's "Donor's guide to the charitable universe": http://www.guidestar.org/index.html
* "The Spreadsheet Page": http://www.j-walk.com/ss/index.html
* Census Bureau information on state and local government finances, school spending, etc.: http://www.census.gov/econ/www/go0200.html
* National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting: http://www.nicar.org

Exam II

Hello. Just a reminder that your second exam in PAR is tomorrow, Thursday. Review your notes and the readers.

There are no make-up exams. Good luck!

Open lab day

Hello. Just a reminder that today is an optional open lab day to work on your multi-media final project.

Civil Courts

Here are the records for Seminole County foreclosures. Here is foreclosure process.

Here is Orange County foreclosure information.

Here is information about purchasing Orange County Court records.

Final Project

Take one of your previous beat stories and add two additional story-telling elements: pictures, graph, audio, video, a map, or a timeline. We will go over these elements in class.

These additional elements should add to the storytelling and be handed in through a blog that we will develop in class.

You will be evaluated on how well multi-media add to the storytelling.

It is due on Thurs., April 22nd. Be ready to present it to the class.

Multi-media and PAR

I recommend Dipity for making timelines. It's free and rather easy to learn. Here is a link. It is helpful in tracking a crime case through the criminal justice system or showing crime stats throughout a decade.

Maps obviously work well for stories where location is important. We went over the basics of Google maps in class. Here is a link to an overview of Google maps. Here is more help for Google maps.

Here is a link to a crime map from the Baltimore Sun.

Here is a link to a crime map from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Milwaukee J-S Court Coverage

Here's a strong in-depth look at the Milwaukee Courthouse - with some multi-media.

Covering Courts

Covering Courts

Here is a chart of the Florida court system.

Here is an overview of the Florida circuit court system.

Here is information about the Ninth Circuit Court. Here is basic information about the docket. Here are some past annual reports.

Here is information about the Eighteenth Circuit Court. Here is docket information - not every judge posts his/her schedule.

Here is an overview of county courts.

Here is information about the Seminole County Clerk of Courts.

Here is information about the Orange County Clerk of Courts.

Here is information about the Fifth District Court of Appeals. Here are some recent opinions.

Here is information about the Florida Supreme Court.

Here is information about selection judges in Florida.

Here is a good resource for legal terms.

UCF SPJ Conference

Here is a great posting from an Alabama professor about the regional SPJ conference held at UCF.

Beat 3 story

Just a reminder that your third beat story is due today. Remember that all beat stories must be approved by pitch in advance to get full credit.

More Public Safety

Cleary Act

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (20 USC § 1092(f)) is the landmark federal law, originally known as the Campus Security Act, that requires colleges and universities across the United States to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses.

Because the law is tied to participation in federal student financial aid programs it applies to most institutions of higher education both public and private. It is enforced by the U.S. Department of Education.

The "Clery Act" is named in memory of 19 year old university freshman Jeanne Ann Clery (pictured above) who was raped and murdered while asleep in her residence hall room on April 5, 1986.

Jeanne's parents, Connie and Howard, discovered that students hadn't been told about 38 violent crimes on their daughter's campus in the three years before her murder. They joined with other campus crime victims and persuaded Congress to enact this law, which was originally known as the "Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990."

Here is more information about the Cleary Act.

Here is how UCF complies with the Act.

Covering Cops

Covering the police beat

Here is a link to Florida law enforcement.

Here is arrest data by county.

Here is information on the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Here is information on the Seminole County Sheriff's Department.

Here is information on the Florida Highway Patrol.

Here's a good Poynter article about covering cops.

Here's another good resource.

And one more on covering cops.

Higher Education

Education Stories

Here is an example of the tension between school boards and teachers' unions.

Here is a story about the current status of NCLB.

Here is a story about charter schools.

Here is an assessment story.

Here is a school safety story.

The Chronicle of Higher Education is a good resource to find studies and trends about higher education.

Beat 2 story & NewsU

Just a reminder that your second beat story is due today. And, you need to complete your NewsU class by 4:30 p.m. today.

Covering Education

Education Resources

Here is a link to great organization: Education Writers Association. The page includes links to education data.

Here is a link to the Florida PTA.

Here is a link to the Florida School Board organization.

Here is the Florida Department of Education. Here is information on FCAT - including school and district scores.

Here is information on Florida chater schools.

Here are guidelines for free/reduced lunches. Here is some Florida data.

Here are the school report cards for Florida.

NewsU assignment

In place of class on Thursday, please take a self-directed NewsU course. Take any one of the free courses. Here is the link to NewsU.

After you complete the course, enter my email address (voss.kimberly@gmail.com) so I have a record.

This is due before class next Tuesday.

I will be away at a conference and will have little access to email.

Exam 1 Reminder

Just a reminder that Exam 1 is today. A study guide was handed out on Thursday. There are no make-up exams.

Covering elections

Covering elections

Here is a good resource for covering elections.

Here is another.

Here is a good resource for campaign finance questions.

Here is Orange County election information.

Here is Seminole County election information.

Story 1 Reminder

Hello. Just a reminder that you first beat story is due on Tuesday. The story guidelines can be found in your syllabus.I have also listed them below:

Guidelines for written work:
• ALL PAPERS MUST BE TYPED AND STAPLED.
• LATE PAPERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
• You must have three human sources per story. Documents and reports should also be used as sources where appropriate, but they will not count against the three-source minimum. Your relatives, friends and classmates are NOT acceptable sources. Random citizens make poor sources.
• Make sure you submit a source list with each story assignment.
• Do not plagiarize, fabricate, or submit work you have done for another class. Your story should not have a UCF connection.
• Stories must be typed, double-spaced, in correct form and style and should contain your name, the date, and the slug in the upper left-hand corner.
• Proofread and correctly copy edit your copy! All spelling, punctuation, grammar, AP style, and factual errors will cause you to lose points.
• You may not quote another newspaper or television or other media source.
• All stories must be approved in advance – by a minimum of 12 hours. An email pitch must be sent and it must include an explanation of why the story is newsworthy and a list of 3 sources. If it is not approved in advance by email, the highest grade you may receive is 70 points.

Covering legislation

Another city council story possibility is looking at legislation that the council has approved.

Here is a link to all local laws/ordinances in Florida.

Here is a good explanation of how a law is approved at the state level. (Although it is not actually Florida, most state approval works the same way.)

Here is another good resource.

First beat story reminder

Hello. Just a reminder that your first beat story is due Feb.9th. Following the reporting suggestions in your textbook and from class lectures will help you develop good story ideas. Remember that pitches need specific information (review the handout on pitches) and must be approved in advance.

Some suggestions from your readings & class:


Have you followed the reporting suggestions in the book? How much time have you spent reporting in the community? Have you met with the city manager? Have you met with the council members? Looked at the condition of the infrastructure? Looked at ADA applications? Attended meetings? Checked out city meeting minutes for the past year? Looked at the committee meetings minutes?

Forms of City Government

There are three basic forms of local government - these are covered in chapter six.

1) Mayor-council
2) City manager-council

Here's more on a council-manager structure in Florida.

Here's a chart comparing/contrasting the two forms.

3) Commission - rarely used

Here's a link to one of the few cities that uses this form of government, Portland.

Chapter 6

More PAR story examples

Here is a city council story.

Here is a Public Works/City Council story. Here is another.

Here is an ordinance story.

Here is a zoning story.

A civics reminder: How a bill becomes a law

Helpful Beat Resources

Below is some background on PAR issues that will help you understand your beat communities.

Here is a link to state-level public documents.

Here is a link to Seminole County's website.

Here's a link to Orange County's website.

Here is information on home rule in Florida. Both Orange County and Seminole County operate under home rule.

Here's a website about property taxes.

Here's a link to the Florida City and County Management Association. It's a professional organization not a governmental agency.

Here's a website to check on professional licenses in your community.

Here's tips to writing about budgets.

Story Pitches

Remember that you need to have beat story pitches approved. Here are tips for story pitches:

* Pitch ideas not topics
* Do initial reporting
* Explain is this newsworthy
* Explain why this is important now

Another meeting example

Here's an offbeat meeting story. It's an example of how sometimes the real news has nothing to do with the agenda.

Your meeting brief

You are expected to cover at least one school board or city council meeting. (It is in your best interest to attend both.) Focus on ONE issue or action - don't summarize the entire meeting.

You should have completed the meeting assignment by the first exam. Contact me if you cannot make a committee or official meeting of the city council or school board so we can find an appropriate meeting.

If you have issue/problems/questions, contact me. Don't leave things to the last minute.

For the meeting for which you are responsible, you will file a brief due by email me at voss.kimberly@gmail.com as a Microsoft Word file attachment within two hours of the end of the meeting. Clearly identify yourself in the email and the subject line. Name stories appropriately in the subject line (e.g., “Winter Park City Council Brief”). The time stamp on the email will verify that you met your deadline.

Your meeting brief (up to 6 paragraphs on the most important action/decision) should be detailed and complete. Be sure to include the full names of council or commission members and citizens who speak at meetings. Remember, your coverage of the meeting will not always end when the meeting adjourns. You may have to ask council members or speakers questions after the meeting or gather additional information. Turn in the agenda during the next class period.

Open Government Information

Here is a link to Sunshine Laws, or open meeting requirements, state-by-state.

Here is a link to state and federal FOIA laws. It includes a letter generator.

Here is information on meetings laws in Florida.

Here is information on Florida courts.

Here is information on Florida judicial records.

Here is a link on Florida's Office of Open Government.

Tips for Covering Meetings

Remember that you need to cover an official meeting in your beat community. Here are some tips on meeting coverage.

Chapter 4

Investigative Reporters and Editors

Census Data

Get to know your beat community through Census data.

What story ideas come to mind?

Does anything surprise you?

How might this information impact your list of sources?

Community Beats

Oviedo
Goretti Duncker
Lauren Paulauskas
Jeff Riley

Sanford
Lea Anne Crittenden
Courtney Gilmartin
Amanda Welch

Winter Park
Andrew Kennedy
Rachel Murphy

Winter Springs
William Goss
Brandon Hamilton
Caleb Johnson

Edgewood
Megan Donoghue
Brendan Sonnone

Winter Garden
Raisa Camargo
Jennifer Rios

Castleberry
Lyndsay Fogarty
Jillian Krotki

In place of class today

Subject: Forum - "News Media in Transition: Trends and Future Prospects"
Sent by: Helen Donegan, Vice President Community Relations for UCF Global
Perspectives

A group of prominent writers, editors, columnists, broadcasters and bloggers
will share their thoughts on prospects for the news media during a public forum
Thursday, January 21, at the University of Central Florida.

"News Media in Transition: Trends and Future Prospects" will be held Thursday,
January 21, 2010, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., in the Cape Florida Ballroom of
the Student Union on UCF's main campus.

There will be an opening keynote address on the evolving role of electronic
media by Suzanne Seggerman, President and Co-Founder, Games for Change, and a
former documentary film producer for PBS.

Others presenting at this forum include Sara R. Brady, Sara Brady Public
Relations (formerly with Bright House Networks); Ruben Funes, Editor-in-Chief,
La Prensa; Charlotte Hall, Editor, the Orlando Sentinel; James S. Hill,
Managing Editor, The Washington Post Writers Group; Jamie McIntyre, former CNN
Senior Pentagon Correspondent, blogger and consultant; Amitabh Pal, Co-Editor,
The Progressive Media Project.

This forum is free and open to the public.

Chapter 2: Your Beat

Orange & Seminole counties

Hello. On Tuesday, you will receive your beat community - a self-governing city in Orange or Seminole County. You will cover this community for the rest of semester and pitch story ideas about what is happening. You will be competing with two classmates on these pitches. We will go over examples in class.

Neighborhood Approach

IRE membership

The PAR class includes an IRE membership. Here is information about joining. Your reading for today came from the IRE website. We'll discuss IRE throughout the semester.