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.