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.