It's not as hard as it may seem. With just a little effort on your part, you, too, can be a published reporter. Once you've tackled a topic, talked to some sources and compiled your story, just email the attached copy to compassstaff@hotmail.com
The format they prefer is this:
Slugline: That's the brief topic of your story
Your Name
Your Phone Number
Your email address
The story should be typed and saved in rich text format and double spaced.
Stories that are big stories/ major tend to be about 500-750 words in length. They include at least three sources who have offered direct quotes that appear in the story. If at all possible, be sure to submit a photo or two with a caption for your story. It will have a better chance of being published.
Send it off and see what happens!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Reporting 101
Believe it or not, in the journalism business, what counts most is not your 3.5 gpa, but the number of inches you have published and compiled in your clippings portfolio. While it's a good idea to keep up with the classes, most journalists spend more time at the campus newspaper office than they do in the luxury of their own homes or in their classes, or the library, for that matter.
With that said, you've come to the place to get hints about possible story ideas, contacts on campus and tips that will lead you to those amazing stories that not even Newsday will be aware of. It's true, with just a little hard work and some serious reporting, you'll be scooping Newsday.
Here are few quick tips to get you started.
1. Be a keen observer. Does anything appear to be out of the ordinary or unusual? As I. F. Stone once said, "I look for the loose thread, and give it a yank."
2. Listen to the word on the street. What's the talk on campus? Are professors, classmates, colleagues, staff members buzzing about some recent rumor? Who better to check it out than you?!
3. Don't be afraid to talk to strangers. ( I know it violates a rule you learned as a wee tot, but hey, you're older and wiser!) EVERYONE has a story to tell. It's your job to ask people for their best stories. With more than 350 foreign students on campus, you're bound to find an interesting immigration story. Any single parents in your classes? How about older than average students? What's their story? What are they doing here? Get out there and ask them. Go ahead, talk to a stranger.
4. Check the campus events calendar constantly. What events are occuring that students might not be aware of? It's your job to keep readers informed.
5. Public Affairs is where it's all happening! Did you realize that more than half of all newspaper coverage stems from public affairs reporting? What public issues are of importance to campus readers? Public Safety, Student Government, Faculty Senate, Board of Trustees and Student Service Organizations can provide hundreds of story possiblities. Attend a meeting and find out what the next big issue is!
6. READ, READ, READ! What are other newspapers covering? How do those topics relate to our readers? By reading everything you can get your hands on, you'll gather more and more ideas for interesting story topics of your own.
7. Just do it! You don't have to have any experience to get your stories written. Just do what feels right, and let a student editor at the campus paper help you polish your story. Most students never attempt to get anything published because they fear failure. Just hold your nose and jump in the deep end. Experience can be the best teacher when it comes to reporting. Dont' wait any longer. Get your first story published, already!
With that said, you've come to the place to get hints about possible story ideas, contacts on campus and tips that will lead you to those amazing stories that not even Newsday will be aware of. It's true, with just a little hard work and some serious reporting, you'll be scooping Newsday.
Here are few quick tips to get you started.
1. Be a keen observer. Does anything appear to be out of the ordinary or unusual? As I. F. Stone once said, "I look for the loose thread, and give it a yank."
2. Listen to the word on the street. What's the talk on campus? Are professors, classmates, colleagues, staff members buzzing about some recent rumor? Who better to check it out than you?!
3. Don't be afraid to talk to strangers. ( I know it violates a rule you learned as a wee tot, but hey, you're older and wiser!) EVERYONE has a story to tell. It's your job to ask people for their best stories. With more than 350 foreign students on campus, you're bound to find an interesting immigration story. Any single parents in your classes? How about older than average students? What's their story? What are they doing here? Get out there and ask them. Go ahead, talk to a stranger.
4. Check the campus events calendar constantly. What events are occuring that students might not be aware of? It's your job to keep readers informed.
5. Public Affairs is where it's all happening! Did you realize that more than half of all newspaper coverage stems from public affairs reporting? What public issues are of importance to campus readers? Public Safety, Student Government, Faculty Senate, Board of Trustees and Student Service Organizations can provide hundreds of story possiblities. Attend a meeting and find out what the next big issue is!
6. READ, READ, READ! What are other newspapers covering? How do those topics relate to our readers? By reading everything you can get your hands on, you'll gather more and more ideas for interesting story topics of your own.
7. Just do it! You don't have to have any experience to get your stories written. Just do what feels right, and let a student editor at the campus paper help you polish your story. Most students never attempt to get anything published because they fear failure. Just hold your nose and jump in the deep end. Experience can be the best teacher when it comes to reporting. Dont' wait any longer. Get your first story published, already!
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