The Prowler Staff Manual: Journalism 1, II, III, IV (2014-2015) 1

The Prowler Staff Manual

Journalism I, II, III, IV

Table of Contents

DescriptionPage Number

Course Objectives2

Journalism I Course Objectives2

Journalism II Course Objectives2

Journalism III and IV Course Objectives2

Class Participation2

General Rules3

Staff Rules3

TheProwler Work Area Rules 3

Basic Staff Requirements4

Overview of Class Assignment Requirements4

Timesheets4

Writing Articles 4

Required Format for ALL Written Assignments 5

Editing of Articles5

Meeting Publications Deadlines6

Interviewing6

Photography 6

Research 6

Layout 6

Portfolio and Student Publication6

Academic Honesty7

Fundraising8

Advertising Sales8

Advertising Dress Code8

Donation Letters8

Staff Management9

Chief Editors9

Staff Positions9

Job Descriptions10

Chief Editors10

News Editors10

SportsEditors10

Culture Editors10

Photo Editors11

Social Media Editors11

Business Editors11

Staff Writers12

Miscellaneous (but still important!)13

Appropriate Attire 13

Time Management13

Instructional Focus13

Leaving Campus13

Use of technology (digital cameras, computers, software, etc.). 14

No CELL PHONE Use14

No Food or Drink14

Admittance to More Advanced Journalism Classes14

Vocabulary15

Exhibits (Sample Forms and Documents)17-34

The ProwlerStaff Manual

Journalism I, II, III, IV

Course Objectives

Journalism I Course Objectives

This course is designed to provide opportunities for students to engage in an in-depth examination of journalism, the history of journalism, and the news writing process. Students will observe and assist in the planning, design, and publication of the school newsmagazine. This production process will involve mastering journalistic style, learning advertising and interviewing skills, writing news story leads and news stories, doing in-depth reporting and handling quotes, and learning to write editorials, features, and sports columns. Fund raising, ad sales, and participation in after-school work sessions will constitute a large portion of the course requirements. Good writing skills and a working knowledge of grammar are required.

Prerequisite: Completion of application required

Journalism II Course Objectives

This course is a more in-depth continuation of Newspaper Journalism I. Students may begin to engage in leadership positions as editors and staff managers which allows students to experience business leadership roles in a classroom environment. As leaders, these students will set deadlines, edit peer work, assist in determining newsmagazine content, and manage a budget. Extra time outside of class may be required to produce a successful newsmagazine. Fund raising and participation in after school hours work sessions will constitute a major portion of the production. Well-developed journalist writing skills and mastery of journalistic style are required.

Prerequisite: Newspaper I (grade of 80/B or higher)

Journalism III and IV Course Objectives

The focus of this course centers on two major components of newsmagazine production: (1) editing for readability and (2) computerized publication layout and design for visual appeal. Students will plan, design, produce and publish the school newsmagazine, and maintain a newsmagazine website. Students will serve as mentors to Journalism I and II students and offer assistance to these students as they work to master the required skills. Journalism III and IV also incorporates advanced work in type design, computer illustration, creative problem solving, budgeting, and print and online newsmagazine production.

Prerequisites: Newspaper I & Newspaper II (grade of 80/B or higher)

Class Participation

Students enrolled in Journalism I, II, III and IV are expected to participate fully during class. More importantly, any time volunteers are requested for any job, Journalism I students especially should make every effort to become involved. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to earn the 800 Timesheet points required each semester. During second semester, students will be observed and offered leadership roles in the class based on participation, behavior, motivation and willingness to pitch in and volunteer for jobs and assignments.

Please note that one day each month, students are asked to stay after school to assist with final publication of the newsmagazine. Students will be notified of this day several weeks in advance. In addition, students are expected to be present and participate in class on copy-editing days. Again, students will be notified of this date several weeks in advance. Students are advised not to schedule personal appointments or any other activity on copy-editing day.

General Rules

Staff Rules

  1. Students will complete all journalism assignments due before being allowed to work on ANY other assignment.
  2. Students will use all available time in class to work productively on the newspaper, and additional time to complete weekly journalism assignments.
  3. During this semester, students will remain in the classroom unless they are out of the class on official Prowler business. This means that the adviser has written a pass, and you have an ID, and a PRESS PASS. You will receive an office referral if you do not follow this procedure.
  4. Staff members will not leave the classroom without wearing their Press Pass, except for the restroom, which requires a written pass.
  5. Staff members will arrive in class on time and return on time after lunch.
  6. Students will strictly adhere to deadlines assigned by adviser and editors.
  7. Students are expected to learn the language and style of journalism.
  8. Students will publish nothing that is libelous, untrue, profane, obscene, derogatory, nor anything that is defined as unprotected speech by the United States Supreme Court.
  9. Staff members will keep story ideas confidential, and will not leak sources prior to publication.
  10. Photographs taken for the publication will be protected and kept in a safe place.
  11. The Prowler materials and electronics will solely be used and handled by members of the staff.
  12. No food may be eaten in the classroom or in the Prowler work areas without permission of the adviser.
  13. Do not leave your personal items in the Prowler work area; they will be disposed of immediately.
  14. When a staff member signs out of class for any reason, he or she MUST sign back in upon return. If the staff member does not sign back in, or is in a location other than the approved location, the student will receive an office referral and a Timesheet point deduction.
  15. ANY student who receives an office referral for ANY reason will not be permitted to return to Journalism next year.
  16. Student staff members will NEVER bad mouth the staff or class and will encourage and participate in a family atmosphere.

The Prowler Work Area Rules

  1. Absolutely no food or drinks
  2. Clean up after yourself; make sure to SHUT DOWN the computer.
  3. Pick up trash around computers
  4. Do not leave materials from other classes in the Prowler work area
  5. Do not use the Prowler computers for non-Prowler related work
  6. Do not print assignments from other classes on the Prowler computers
  7. Do not allow friends to use the Prowler computers for any reason at all
  8. Be considerate while using computers; do not stay on longer than necessary
  9. Remember deadlines ahead of time. You will not be the only person trying to use the computers on your deadline, and there is no guarantee you will get the chance.
  10. The Prowler work area is not a hangout spot. While you may not have anything to do, other people will and you may be disturbing someone.
  11. If at anytime the adviser feels that staff members are abusing the above privileges, it is her right to restrict usage of the Prowler work area for an indefinite amount of time.

Basic Staff Requirements

Overview of Class Assignment Requirements

Every Journalism II, III, and IV student is expected to fulfill all the job requirements assigned to each job description. In addition, EVERY student students must write and submit a minimum of THREE articles for possible inclusion in EVERY issue of the newsmagazine. Regardless of whether or not student articles are included in the newsmagazine or website, every student must complete three articles for EVERY issue.

The topic of student articles must be developed and presented by each student for approval prior to publication, and both chief editors and the class adviser must approve topics in advance before writing begins. Students are also expected to complete layout, final edit, and send the paper to the printer for printing. Students must also maintain a portfolio (see portfolio assignment handout for details) and have their writing published either in print or online prior to the end of the school year (see publication assignment handout for details).

Timesheets

Grades are earned based on each student’s willingness to participate in class. The duties listed on the Timesheet are the grades that may be earned in this class. It is each student’s responsibility to ensure that enough points have been earned to pass the class.

Each student will complete a timesheet that will be submitted for a grade the last day of each month (September, October, November, December [1st semester] and February, March, April, May [2nd semester]). It is each student’s responsibility to complete a timesheet and keep track of required evidence. If a student performs a duty that does not produce evidence, it is the student’s responsibility to have a co-editor OR the adviser initials the duty on the student’s timesheet WHEN THE DUTY OCCURS.

A total of 800 points is REQUIRED for each semester. Some students may have to look diligently for duties to complete in order to earn necessary points. Other students will easily exceed 800 points.

Writing Articles

Journalism I, II, III, and IV students are required to earn 200 points per month during both first and second semesters (see Timesheet Codes) in September, October, November, December (1st semester) and February, March, April, May (2nd semester).

When regular newspaper production begins (September), all staff writers must be working on a minimum of three (3) articles at any given time. A four hundred (400) word minimumis REQUIRED for EVERY ARTICLE. All three articles must be accompanied by FIVE photo choices.

The co-editors must approve topics and the adviser before any writing begins.

The threeFINAL articles and all FOUR edits per article must be attached to the timesheet as evidence. Briefs and beat articles also require a final draft, FOUR edits, and five photographs.

Articles should display a neutral, journalistic approach, except when deemed appropriate by adviser. If necessary and justified, students may request an approved deadline extension from the co-editors or adviser.

Required Format for ALL Written Assignments

All written assignments must be submitted using the following format. Any paper submitted that is not in the appropriate format will returned for corrections, and the student will receive Timesheet point deductions.

  1. A proper paper heading includes (A) student name (B) title of article (C) day, month, year, and an inserted HEADER that provides students’ LAST NAME and a page number.
  2. Papers must be typed on standard 8.5” x 11” white paper with black ink.
  3. One-inch margins top, bottom, and sides of paper.
  4. CONSISTENTLY double space throughout.
  5. Font must be Times New Roman, size 12.

Editing of Articles

The following steps must be followed EXACTLY when having articles edited.

  1. Write the first draft of your article. Write according to Standard English and using AP stylebook rules.
  1. Make your own corrections.
  2. Obtain an article editing form and fill it out COMPLETELY—that means all sections: name, assignment name (general, ex: "Girls' Soccer Story").
  3. Ask at least FOUR people to edit your article. Make sure each one signs your cover sheet (so BOTH of you can earn editing credit).
  4. After two people edit your paper, print out a new, corrected copy of your article. Make sure you save the new, corrected version and print a new, corrected, clean copy.
  5. Staple the new clean copy to the back of the cover sheet and first copy (the most recent version should always be the LAST page).
  6. Each time two people edit your paper, repeat steps 5 and 6 so that nothing gets too confusing for the editors.
  7. MAKE CERTAIN that NO corrections were left uncorrected in ANY step of the edit process (loss of Timesheet points).
  8. MAKE CERTAIN that no NEW errors were made during the correction process (loss of Timesheet points).
  9. If your paper requires more editing and needs more signatures than spaces provided on the sheet, fill out the explanation lines.
  10. If your paper requires more than four edits, it is usually an indication that there is a significant problem. After four edits, the editors are just writing your paper for you. You will lose significant points ifMORE than 4 edits were necessary (unless there is a legitimate reason, such as the subject changed, etc.)
  11. Make sure Ms. Hurtte is always the LAST person to edit your paper.
  12. Make the final corrections, print out the FINAL copy, and staple that to the back of your cover sheet and all your previously edited papers. Make sure you save your final, beautiful, gloriously mistake-free version of your article on a flash drive. That way, a messed up version of the article we spent time editing will not end up being put in the paper. That would be annoying for us all.
  13. EMAIL a copy of your FINALARTICLE (NOT THE ONE WITH MISTAKES!) to the articles email. To do this, attach the file to an email. Email it to: . In the subject line, put something like this: PRINT (OR WEB)/YOUR NAME/Column Name. For example: WEB/Katherine Hancock/Running Column. The subject line must include either "print" or "web,” your name, short title.
  14. If you have pictures to go with your story, attach those as well in the same email with everything else. Make sure you have photo credits (that means the name of the person who took the picture OR credit for where you took the picture from).
  15. Staple this entire package (all edits, final, and the cover sheet) to your Timesheet to earn a grade.

Meeting Publication Deadlines

Students are required to meet ALL publication and assignment deadlines—turning in a late assignment usually means the story can't be published, blank space in the newsmagazine, or disappointment from your classmates who were counting on to uphold your responsibility. The newsmagazine cannot and does not wait for you.

If you are absent on a deadline date, your assignment MUST BE SENT VIA EMAIL to the chief editors or adviser. Deadline dates for articles are ALWAYS posted on the board well in advance of the date. Students are required to be aware of and adhere to all deadline dates. In addition, since this class includes IF time, there is simply no excuse for missing a deadline or a late assignment.

Any student who fails to meet an assignment or publication deadline (and who fails to notify the chief editor and adviser) will face serious consequences. If an assignment is turned in late, you must meet with both the adviser and chief editors to discuss the first infraction.

A second missed deadline date will result in serious consequences, loss of assigned editor jobs, removal of your name from the masthead, and failure to return to journalism class in subsequent years. In cases of extreme hardship, acceptance of late assignments is at adviser discretion.

Interviewing

Students are required to conduct interviews in person, via phone, or email. Before each interview, the student must create and submit TEN (10) interview questions and obtain the initials of a co-editor or the adviser PRIOR to the interview (this includes beat AND interviews) in order to add points to the Timesheet.

Interviews must be sound recorded or noted by hand. Handwritten notes must be attached to the timesheet; sound recordings may be presented as evidence and receive a co-editor or adviser signature on the Timesheet.

The documentation of interviewing, in addition to the actual interview process, counts toward your grade. Every student must conduct at least three (3) interviews per semester. Each article you write should have at least three quotes. NEVER interview a close friend or journalism student.

Photography

Every student is responsible for taking and submitting five (5) photographs to accompany every article. Photos must follow the rule of thirds and have been appropriately edited. After-school photo shoots of sporting events or other events earn extra points. Students MUST have 5 photo choices for every shot needed (print or web).

Research

Any research performed online must be documented (print a copy of the article and highlight the text that is quoted or paraphrased). Attribution must be highlighted. Attach research articles to the timesheet. Ensure that appropriate attribution is included in the article.

Layout

Layout of the print and web publications is very important. Every student will be trained to do layout on InDesign CS6. Learning layout and participating in the layout of either print or web publications is an excellent way to earn Timesheet points for any student who displays a talent for layout.