Journalism: The Class

Course MissionCourse MissionMcQueen Excalibur is dedicated to providing a quality newspaper that is geared toward the needs and interests of McQueen’s students, faculty, administration, parents and community. Excalibur intends to be a forum for student expression and creativity while maintaining the goals of truth, objectivity, and accuracy.

Course GoalsAs journalists, the staff is committed to learning the techniques of journalistic writing, specifically AP Style, in order to effectively circulate information. Moreover, the staff is dedicated to learning all of the facets of what it takes to produce a newspaper, which include layout techniques, design, photography, desktop publishing, ad sales, business management, and, of course, writing.

GradingThe Excalibur Staff will be graded on each issue which is worth 400 points for staff writers and 500 points for Section Editors, Managing Editors, Copy Editors, Production Crew, and Editor(s)-in-Chief. In addition to this, staff members will also be graded quarterly for ad sales, which will be worth an additional 100 points. At the end of each semester, the adviser will determine those students who have gone above and beyond their required job specifications and allocate up to 100 additional points. Students who wish to earn extra points will have to submit a form and written response to receive any extra credit. Please see the Forms section of this manual to view grading rubrics an other materials associated with grading.

String BookAfter each issue, every student is required to complete an End-of-Issue String Book which will compile his/her achievements and work habits for the issue. Staff members are required to evaluate themselves while also comparing the printed story with their edited versions. The String Book is required for any grade to be issued and must be completed by the Friday after the paper is distributed. The String Book must be a 2” binder (kept in the classroom) with eight dividers (one for each issue). See the Forms section for additional String Book requirements.

Story IdeasEvery staff member must submit a completed Story Ideas form by the Monday after production week. This should be a “working” document which means students should be filling this out as they think of ideas, not just in one sitting to rush to get it done (this is generally when bad ideas emerge). This is an individual assignment, which means that working together and copying is not permitted. If students copy, credit will not be given to the “copier” or the “copied.”

Ad Sales1

Excalibur is self-supporting which means that if ads aren’t sold, then a paper can’t be produced. Every year, Excalibur must raise approximately $15,000 to ensure continued operation. As such, it is essential that every staff member is committed to selling ads to make the newspaper financially solvent. With the economic climate, it is understandable that some students will struggle in meeting the quota, which is $100 in ad sales each quarter ($400 per year). Students who try to sell ads but who are unsuccessful can earn partial credit. For more information please see the Ads section of this manual.

Production AttendanceAnyone on the Excalibur Staff who holds an Editor position is required to attend all or some part of production. This is part of their grade. However, for staff writers and photographers, the production of the paper is something that must be marginally understood and greatly appreciated. The time and effort required to prepare the newspaper for production is extensive and time consuming. As such, writers and photographers will be required to attend and after-school or weekend production for two hours each quarter. Attendance will be worth 50 points each quarter.

Lessons and ProjectsNon-editorial staff is required to complete a journalism related assignment each quarter which is worth 50 points. The assignments will vary and are expected to be thorough and complete. Moreover, students are expected to use time in Journalism for journalism purposes only. If the adviser determines that non-editorial students are not effectively participating then an alternative assignment will be given. This assignment is different than the quarterly journalism assignment.

Current EventsJournalism students should possess an innate interest in news. As such, students are expected to stay abreast the happenings of our community, state, nation, and world. We will usually watch “This Day in History” during the staff meeting at the beginning of each class, but in addition to this, the Monday after publication we will have a Current Events Discussion which every staff member is expected to participate; this means coming prepared with an issue and something to say about it. To stay current, students should regularly read up on the news either through credible websites, newspapers, or news magazines.

Maintenance of Staff Room & EquipmentThere are many factors of stress that exist by the very nature of this class. Cleanliness should not become a stress producer. It is each student’s responsibility to maintain a neat working area by preventing messes in the first place, and also by being a good steward by cleaning up a mess when it’s noticed. The room must be neat and tidy EVERY DAY by the end of class. Please, be respectful of this space at all times. The equipment in this room is a privilege, not a right.

Standards of Conduct

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Journalism class extends many privileges to the students. However, with the privileges come many more responsibilities. Students are required to follow the following standards of conduct to maintain a good class grade and also to produce a high quality school newspaper.

Students must be on time to class every day. Students are subject to the tardy policy which will result in a lowered citizenship grade (10% per tardy). After 3 tardies, students will then be referred to the SRO for further disciplinary action.

Students may NOT allow Journalism duties to affect other class work, nor may students use Journalism as an excuse to get out of any other class work.

Journalism students will not disturb other classes or school programs while carrying out newspaper duties. When students deliver passes, they must be respectful of the teacher. If a teacher declines a request, Journalism students are not permitted to argue with the teacher…EVER! Any issue must be taken to the adviser.

When off campus on newspaper business, Journalism students are to conduct themselves in a professional manner that brings credit to Excalibur and McQueen High School.

When leaving the classroom, Journalism students must first seek permission from the adviser or whomever she has appointed, must sign out (and back in), and must wear their press pass. No exceptions. Failure to comply with one or all of these guidelines will result in the student’s loss of the privilege to leave the classroom. Students may only leave the classroom for Journalism purposes.

Students are expected to maintain the highest level of integrity in this class. Failure to adhere to the Standards of Conduct can result in a student’s removal from participation in the paper to full removal from the course itself. In addition, students who violate the climate of trust, who consistently miss deadlines, who are quarrelsome, uncooperative, negative, or difficult, who plagiarize or use false information or quotes in a story, or who consistently fail to turn in quality work are also jeopardizing their position on the Excalibur staff.

CamerasStudents may bring their own cameras to class, but these should be labeled and kept locked up. Students who choose to use their own equipment are responsible for its safekeeping. Students who damage or lose the Journalism cameras are responsible for paying for the damage or loss, which includes theft! All camera equipment must be checked out and in.

Deadlines Deadlines are the bread and butter of this class. Every student will be given a calendar which will have production, printing, and distribution dates. Before each issue, the editorial

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staff and adviser will determine the deadlines for stories and photos for each section. Failing to meet deadlines can result in a failing grade in the class. Reliability and commitment are two traits required of all staff members at all times.

EditingEvery story and photograph must go through an extensive editing process before it can be published. This process exists to ensure that the newspaper being produced is of the highest quality and accuracy. Deadlines exist in correlation to editing. Below outlines the basic editing process for Excalibur.

Story Editing ProcessDeadline #1: Section Editor*Deadline #2: Managing EditorDeadline #3: Editor(s)-in-ChiefDeadline #4: Adviser* Photos for individual stories must be submitted by the Section Editor deadline unless an extension is approved, in writing, by the adviser or EIC(s).

Saving Stories Although many students choose to save their stories to a flash drive, when a deadline arrives all stories for that section must be saved to a classroom computer and appropriately marked before the beginning of class on the day of the deadline. All “story” computers have an attached sheet that shows how to save stories. Failure to follow the outlined procedure on the sheet can result in a reduction of points due to a missed deadline. Ample training will be given in the saving stories to the computers, but remember:

WHEN IN DOUBT…ASK FOR HELP!!!

Excalibur: The PaperExcalibur is produced by the McQueen High School Journalism class. The entire student body, the primary audience, receives the paper free of charge to encourage readership and to ensure the showcasing of student journalistic work. The secondary audience for the paper is the faculty, staff, parents, and administration. Additional audiences include members of the local community and other school journalism programs throughout the country and organizations that promote the development of scholastic journalism.

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Reporting Practices:“If your mother says she loves you, check it out!”

Editorial and opinion articles will be clearly distinguished from news reports, which must be free from editorializing.

Reporters should check and substantiate facts – especially vital ones – two times with two independent sources.

Reporters will confirm ALL quotations with their sources during an interview. Vital or controversial quotations must be rechecked later.

Reporters will not falsify information, invent quotes, quote out of context, or deceive people in their purpose as a reporter.

Poll takers will gather scientifically fair, adequate, and accurate sampling and will print, with their poll results, how many persons were surveyed, the date of the survey, and any other appropriate information regarding the method of collecting poll data.

Reporters will strive to get all sides of an issue, no matter how difficult, even if the issue is controversial, and even if they have to go off campus to fully cover a story.

Reporters will do whatever is necessary to get a story right, even if it means revising it more times than they want to, or interviewing someone they don’t know, or making phone calls during the evening or weekend.

Reporters must recognize that their articles may be cut, changed, corrected, or even eliminated due to size limitations or editorial needs. Whenever possible, we will attempt the contact the writer, but in the event that the writer is unavailable or time prohibits our making contact, changes can occur.

PhotographsPhotographs should give an accurate picture of an event. Whenever possible, photos should portray action rather than posed shots. Photographs will not be altered electronically or through traditional means except to improve the clarity of the image. Photo illustrations can be used for effect but are so labeled. Whenever possible, photos should reflect the diversity of the McQueen student body. Communication between reporters and photographers is vital to ensuring the photograph reflects the story. All photos uploaded and given to Excalibur become Excalibur property.

Photo CreditPhoto credit must always be given to the photographer or source.

SourcesReporters will NOT quote their friends unless they are essential sources for a story, and even then, reporters must receive permission from the EIC(s) or the adviser. Essential means that no one else has as much expertise on the matter. Reporters will not quote Excalibur staff members unless they are essential sources for a story. Reporters will strive to quote those who have never been quoted. To assist in this, a Black List will be maintained in the classroom. Once a student is blacklisted, he or she may not be used in another story unless approved by the adviser. Excalibur reporters will strive to use sources that reflect the diversity of the McQueen student body.

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QuotationsQuotations will be attributed to specific sources. Because the attribution of information with identifiable sources is vitally important to the reputation and credibility of the newspaper, information in the paper should always have a named source. News sources who insist on anonymity can be quoted if and only if the issue is potentially embarrassing to the speaker; nevertheless, the reporter should not give up on finding someone who is willing to be named. In the event that an anonymous source is the only option, the writer and the adviser should know the identity of the source so that it is assured that the source is genuine. Quotations deriving from anonymous surveys may, at the discretion of the editors, be printed without identification, but the readers must be informed of the nature of the survey and the respondent.

External SourcesAny reporter who uses an external source such as a book, the web, or an article must identify these sources in their articles with an exact reference to the publication, its date, and its author.

Failing to give credit is plagiarism and not only violates journalism ethics but is an academic crime.

Conflicts of InterestJournalists should accept nothing of value from news sources. Gifts, special treatment or privileges, or using the position on the newspaper for personal gain (outside of standard press pass privileges) compromises the integrity of staff members and the newspaper. If a press pass does not admit a reporter covering an assigned event, the paper’s budget will reimburse reporters for the amount of their receipt or $7, whichever is smaller. Receipts must be submitted and the review must be published to qualify for reimbursement. Movie reviewers, however, will not be reimbursed.

Business or advertising interests of the newspaper shall not be allowed to influence news content. Journalists should not allow loyalties to conflict with reporting the facts honestly and fairly and in accordance with the newspaper’s editorial policy. However, if an outside interest, activity, or personal relationship could affect or appear to affect the handling of an assignment, the work may be reassigned.

Staff EditorialsStaff editorials will appear regularly in the school newspaper and must correlate with the front page story. Positions on the front page story taken in the staff editorial will represent the opinion of the Editorial Board and will not be bylined. The adviser may have input into the position taken. Staff editorials will be written by a writer designated by the Editorial Board. All other articles receive a byline. Other opinion pieces, including those differing with the editorial, will be handled through counterpoint columns, other columns, letters, student forums, and entertainment reviews.

Free-Lancers

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All submissions to this section must be approved by the Editorial Board before it can be printed. Derogatory, obscene, or any content determined to be unsuitable will not be published. The adviser may override any decision made by the Editorial Board.

CorrectionsIf the staff discovers, from any source, that a mistake was made, a correction of major errors will be printed upon request in the next issue in the section in which the mistake appeared.

ObituariesShould a current student or staff member die during the current coverage period, the staff will treat the death in a tasteful manner. A short obituary, with the individual’s name, school activities, date of birth, date of death, manner of death (if appropriate), and any other pertinent information shall appear in the news section. This treatment will provide an adequate memory of the individual for those closely associated while not overemphasizing it for other readers.

Staff LeadershipThe Editorial Board is the decision-making body. Members include the Adviser (Miss La Pointe), the Editors-in-Chief (Jackie Tran & Douglas Yan), the Managing Editors, Production Coordinator, and Section Editors. Editorial Board meetings will take place monthly at a time designated by the EICs and the Adviser. Unscheduled meetings may be called if special problems or issues arise. Attendance is mandatory for all Editorial Board members. Other staff members who have items for the Editorial Board to discuss must provide the issue in writing to an EIC or the Adviser. Board members who fail to fulfill their duties will be considered for removal by the Editorial Board. The Board may dismiss a member with a majority vote, but the EICs and the Adviser may also choose to dismiss an editor without the approval of the Editorial Board. The Board is responsible for recommending a replacement for a vacated position and the Adviser must approve the replacement. The EICs are responsible for the scheduling and confirming the meeting with the members of the Board as well as providing a written agenda at each meeting. Moreover, a Board secretary will be established at the first meeting who will be responsible for taking meeting minutes.

Sections of the PaperNews: Pages 1-6How To: Page 7

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Lancer Life: Pages 8-10Focus: Page 11In-Depth Feature (Center Spread): Pages 12-13It’s Your World: Page 14Entertainment: Page 15Viewpoints: Pages 17-19Sports: Pages 20-23Extra Extra (Back Page): Page 24

Excalibur Leadership Tree

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Miss La PointeAdviser Jackie Tran &

Douglas YanEditors-in-Chief

Cydney ReidManaging Editor Lancer Life Focus Profiles Entertainment

Lena FigueroaManaging Editor

Sports Back Page

Kay GoManaging Editor View Points Features How-To It’s Your World

Mariah CaseyManaging Editor

News Back Page

Nicole MartinSection Editor

Excalibur Job Descriptions

All editors shall… Be leaders in spirit, writing, design, and production and will set a good example for

new staffers. Attend all production sessions required for their section and/or job. Understand and be willing to learn the Mac system and key programs used for the

newspaper. Attend all Editorial Board meetings. Contribute to all policy decisions and day-to-day operations of the paper (including

room maintenance). Put all communications, agreements, and arrangements in writing. Stay updated on current issues on a local and national level. Contribute to each issue (writing, art, design, photos). Sell ads. Be responsible each issue for evaluating the work of other staff members. Save and back-up data; maintain and protect computer systems. Assist with distribution and mailing of the paper. Never override the authority of someone in a higher position. Communicate concerns in a professional manner.

Editor(s)-in-Chief9

Nicole MartinSection Editor

In general… Assumes responsibility for the publication, its staff, and its content. Represents the staff to outside organizations and to the adviser. Performs duties of other staff members, as needed, to ensure the timely and

accurate production of the newspaper. Serves as head cheerleader and morale officer for the staff.

Specifically… Chairs the Editorial Board and oversees the entire operation of the newspaper. Leads the staff in discussion of the editorial stand for each issue. Facilitates the staff meeting at the beginning of every class. Helps ensure deadlines are being met and communicates with the adviser if there is

a problem. Assists Section Editors & Managing Editors in all aspects concerning content and

appearance, including design and production. Supervises layout and design of entire newspaper. Ensures that all classroom policies and procedures are being followed and respected.

Copy EditorIn general…

Assumes responsibility for correctness and accuracy in all sections. Performs duties of other staff members, as needed, to ensure the timely and

accurate production of the newspaper.Specifically…

Is proficient in AP style. Is assistant for the Editor(s)-in-Chief and Managing Editors. Oversees copy as it appears on the final pages. Helps to lead the staff in discussion. Works with writers and Managing Editors to ensure adherence to AP style and to

check accuracy.

Business & Marketing EditorIn general…

Responsible for business and marketing related matters concerning the newspaper.Specifically…

Maintains accurate and up-t0-date records of ad sales and the staff members who sold them.

Is responsible for mailing copies of Excalibur to businesses that purchase ads and other high schools.

Assists staff members in finding leads for ad sales. Ensures that invoices are mailed to businesses who have not paid.

Managing EditorIn general…

Assumes responsibility for the publication, its staff, and content of assigned sections. 10

Represents the staff to outside organizations and to the adviser. Performs duties of other staff members, as needed, to ensure the timely and

accurate production of the newspaper. Serves as cheerleader and morale officer for the staff.

Specifically… Is an assistant to the Editor(s)-in-Chief and oversees the entire operation of his/her

assigned section(s) of the newspaper. Attends all Editorial Board meetings. Checks with staff writers on progress each day. Helps ensure all deadlines for his/her section(s) are met. Advises Section Editors in all aspects concerning content and appearance, including

design and production. Supervises layout and design of his/her section(s).

Section EditorIn general…

Assumes responsibility for his/her section, its staff, and its content. Performs duties of other staff members, as needed, to ensure the timely and

accurate production of the newspaper. Writes and edits stories.

Specifically… Works with staff and individual sources in proposing content to fill assigned pages. Assigns stories, columns, briefs, photos, and artwork to staff members with specific

instructions about content, possibilities, length, and deadline. Regularly checks with reporters and photographers about the status of individual

assignments. Edits all assignments, including photos and artwork, before allowing work to be

submitted through the chain of command. Takes responsibility for completing the pages in the section. This includes, if

necessary, staying after hours to complete work. Completes evaluations for each story in his/her section and discusses the story with

the reporter/writer. Completes design and layout of section. Meets daily with Managing Editor to go over progress of section. Attends all Editorial Board meetings. Ensures his/her section and all stories are completed before layout begins. This

means… Stories have been spell checked with a hard copy turned it. A dummy of the section has been completed. Stories are placed on the pages. The lead story is identified. All photos are taken and edited (cut outs, etc.) and are identified with cutlines

written.

Writer and ReporterIn general…

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Writes stories, conducts interviews, and performs all necessary functions to ensure a quality paper.

Specifically… Generates and accepts story ideas or assignments. Follows through on the assigned task until completion. This includes researching,

interviewing, writing, editing, re-writing, saving, and ensuring photo/artwork has been taken or drawn.

Meets all deadlines with a story containing a head and byline. Works after school or during lunch when needed to help ensure all work is

completed. Assists other staff members and finds productive, newspaper related, work at all

times.Production Coordinator

In general… Takes responsibility for the smooth operation of all aspects of newspaper production. Coordinates and maintains all files and record keeping systems connected with the

production of the paper, including photo files.Specifically…

Works closely with the Business & Marketing Editor to ensure all advertisements are edited/created and included in the issue.

Ensures Section Editors have communicated photo assignments to photographers and maintains a record keeping system to track assignments.

Ensures Section Editors have communicated illustration and/or photo assignments in writing.

Works with staff illustrators, photo editor, and photographers to ensure that art and photography is completed by the due dates.

Makes sure art and photography are put in the correct location and that it is safely returned to its owner.

Leads production crew to ensure all elements of the page (stories, artwork, photos, ads, graphics) are placed correctly.

Makes sure subjects in photos are identified and cutlines are written. Attends layout and design of the newspaper.

Production CrewIn general…

Checks with each Managing and Section Editor for his/her assigned pages to go over layout schedule and design ideas.

Works between issues on preparing pages for layout and helping editors create dummies.

Specifically… Brings copy, photos, and art to all pages in a timely fashion. Creates attractive and eye-catching pages. Stays throughout production sessions to complete pages ready to be printed.

Photographer & Illustrator

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In general… Works with production coordinator to ensure that all Section Editors have

communicated their photo/art needs in writing. Establishes a high standard of excellence in photography and artwork.

Specifically… Helps to maintain the photo/art file, works with and trains other photographers, and

writes cutlines.Reporter’s Handbook

(Taken and adapted from The Adviser’s Companion [Greenman, 1991] and notes from John Kupetz, Charles Whitaker, and Linda Jones, Northwestern University)

This handbook is foundational in purpose. It will only cover the bare minimum of what you will need to know as a journalist about newswriting and reporting.

NewsgatheringIt is impossible to get the news without talking to people. Therefore, interviews are a necessity. Here are some hints for successful interviewing:

Get used to the idea that you will have to talk to strangers. Don’t interview your friends. Don’t interview other staff members unless it’s an article about Excalibur or is

essential to the story. It is preferable to interview students outside of class time. However, if this is not

possible, use an Excalibur pass form. If you cannot interview outside of school hours, try to utilize LLT so you’re not

interrupting a student’s learning in another course. When interviewing school staff members or other adults, give them plenty of lead

time to make an appointment. Sometimes it is possible to email questions to the interviewee, especially if he/she is

busy or unresponsive. However, only use this as a last resort because it denies you an opportunity to ask follow-up questions and learn how to take good notes.

Prepare your questions beforehand, if possible. Unless you are covering spot news, prepared questions are assumed by the interviewee and your editor.

When requesting an interview, give the source a time frame (“it will take about 15 minutes”) and advise them of the subject matter (what the interview’s about). Try to avoid asking for an interview. Instead, say something like, “I’d like your help,” or, “I need your input…”

Learn something about the person you will be interviewing in advance, if possible. You’ll get a much better response when the interviewee sees that you were interested enough to do research.

Dress appropriately. If you look like a slob, then you’ll be treated like one. Before you begin your interview, introduce yourself and tell them you’re with the

McQueen newspaper. Be courteous. This does not mean that you can’t be persistent when you are looking

for a straight answer. Remember, though, that a negative attitude on your part may damage future contacts with someone.

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Do not interrupt. If you think of something you’d like to ask while your interviewee is speaking, write it down and wait.

Make sure the interviewee does most of the talking, not you. Stay on topic, unless the interviewee digresses and you see a more interesting or

important story materializing. Remember, stories are not set in stone. If you think something might make a better story, don’t be afraid to pursue it. Just remember that there is a hierarchy and you should seek permission before going too far.

Don’t allow yourself to be the one who starts answering the questions. In other words, you control the interview – within reason.

Vary your questions, and DON’T begin with the most important questions. Mixed closed questions (“What is your birthday?”) with open questions (“How do you feel about teenage drinking?”).

o Closed questions are speedy and establish common ground.o Open questions are slower, but you can establish a rapport with the

interviewee. Establish rapport to make the interviewee feel comfortable. You can do this by

spending a very short amount of time complimenting a person or finding something in common, showing a genuine interest in the surroundings, or asking a question of great personal interest.

After you’ve developed some rapport and asked a few less-essential question, it’s time to get to the really important questions. Remember, you may get interrupted, so balancing out rapport with the meat an potatoes is an important skill to have.

However, save the bomb questions (“Did you take the money?”) for the end of the interview.

When asking tough questions, separate yourself from the person and the person’s opponents. You can say such things as, “Our readers will want to know that…,” “Maybe you can keep this from happening to someone else…,” “I noticed you haven’t talked about…why?”

Be prepared to ask follow-up questions. Remember, you’re not boxed in to your original purpose. If the person says something worth pursuing, then pursue it! Don’t just stick to your prepared questions.

Listen actively and act interested! Research shows that even well-timed grunts and murmurs increase an interviewee’s response by 20%.

Be aware of more than just what’s being said. Body language, such as facial expressions, mannerisms, and gestures can lead your interview down very interesting paths…but only if you remain alert and see the signals! Observe your surroundings. Observe your interviewee’s silences as well as his or her talkative moments. Write down any of these things that might be useful to your story.

Start writing immediately and be visible about taking notes so the interviewee can see that you’re writing down what s/he says.

Take notes on one side of the page only so you can spread your notes out later. Develop your own shorthand. For lengthier interviews, as in profiles, you can use a tape recorder (with the person’s

permission)…but this is NOT a substitute for note taking. Write down all quotes exactly as you hear them and verify them with the interviewee.

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Don’t bury yourself in your notebook so that you have little eye contact with your interviewee, but don’t be afraid to concentrate on your writing either. Also, don’t be afraid to politely ask the interviewee to speak more slowly, to repeat something, or to spell an unfamiliar word.

Get the interviewee’s contact information (phone number, email, etc.) and, if it’s a teacher, write down a room number and prep period in case you have to check a fact or obtain additional information.

Check the spelling of all proper names…this includes the name of your interviewee! Never volunteer to show the interviewee a draft of the story before it is printed. If

he/she asks to see the story before publication, say it is not the paper’s policy to show articles before publication, but offer to read back your notes right then and there so that the interviewee may add or change something if needed.

When the interview has concluded, always thank the interviewee. If you take photos or have photos taken, make notes on what or whom they are of

and keep these notes in sequence. If you are photographing one or two people with whom you are interviewing, it is naturally polite to request their permission. If you are covering a speech or a meeting, however, you need not ask anyone’s permission. Exception: NEVER take photos of younger students without their written permission.

NewswritingThe lead is a clear, concise opening statement that presents the basic facts of the story. The reader should be able to get the general idea of the story from the lead, which is really a summary. It should be one or two sentences – not more than 25 words, if possible! It usually answers two or more of the following questions:

1. Who?2. What?3. Where?4. When?5. Why?6. How?

Generally, the “what” is at the end of the lead. Don’t begin with the day or date. The body of the news story contains the information that expands on the lead and presents everything else you wanted to include in your story. Usually this information answers the questions a reader might have after reading the lead. Material in a news article is arranged in descending order of importance (inverted pyramid). There are two main reasons for this arrangement:

1. Readers can stop where they wish, satisfied that they have gotten the basic information as far as they have read.

2. Editors can cut out part of the article, beginning at the bottom, if it turns out to be too long.

Feature Writing

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Features are a bit more leisurely than news articles, but the same principles of newsgathering apply. The organization of a feature article is usually:

1. Lead – setting the stage, narrative2. “Nutgraf” – giving the significance, the angle3. Amplification – establish the important events or themes4. Background – history5. Events6. Least important material – things that can be cut

Feature writing is somewhat different than that of news articles; it can contain color and detail. Types of features are: profiles, personal narratives, news features (e.g., spousal abuse), slice of life, lifestyle (things going on), mini-dramas (usually found in magazines).

Sports WritingThe goal of Excalibur will be to write about upcoming sports events, not events that have already occurred. Therefore, do not rehash material already used in the Reno Gazette Journal. However, if a sports team wins a championship, then it is perfectly appropriate to write about it after the event. Sports writing is fundamentally like news writing in that it begins with a short lead that answers the important questions:

1. Begin by telling the most important thing that happened in the game.2. Start with a person (but not the same person every time).3. Be sure to tell the score!4. Let the action in the game carry the story (but not all the action, only the best

highlights).5. The end should reflect the beginning. End with a good quote. Never conclude with

an artificial ending or a congratulatory remark to the team.We love the Lancers, but DON’T EDITORIALIZE!

HeadlinesHeadlines draw the reader into the story. A headline is not like a title. Headlines should contain essential information of the story.

Avoid passive voice and “to be” verbs (is, are, was, were); verbs should be active! Verbs should be in present or future tense. Use capitalization rules, just as in a sentence. Do not use articles (a, an, the), adjectives, or adverbs. Use commas instead of “and”; use a semi-colon instead of a period; use single

quotes (‘) instead of double quotes (“).Every story must be submitted with a headline that adheres to the above rules. Writers will lose points for submitting stories without a headline or incorrectly formatted.

General Notes Proofread your copy before you hand it in. Remember, you will be submitting every

story 4 times to 4 different people. Simply making editor corrections without rereading after doesn’t make any sense. And more often than not, neither does the story…I can always tell!

Save your notes – put them in your String Book for safekeeping.16

Print out a hard copy in case of any computer problems. Do not become over-reliant on technology.

Please understand that copy rarely goes into the paper exactly as written by the reporter. This happens for a multitude of reasons. So, be prepared to see at least some alterations when your story appears in print.

Always remember that your integrity, character, and behavior reflect upon the entire staff of the paper and on the paper itself.

Procedure for Turning in Stories1. The week of publication, story ideas are submitted and assignments are made for the

next issue. The assignment includes word length, story topic, and deadlines for story, photo, art, and graphics.

2. Make sure that you speak with your assigning Section Editor to ensure you fully understand the story assignment.

3. When word processing your story in room 106, use the “blank story’ format and save your document according to the instructions on each computer.

** When typing a story on a PC or in Windows format, save as “text only” so it can imported properly. Make sure you save the story on your flash drive and not on the hard disk of the computer you’re using. Also remember that all stories not saved to the 106 computers must be uploaded onto the 106 computers before the deadline!

4. Be sure to keep the commands in the < > symbols intact. Do not erase them.5. It doesn’t matter what typeface or margins you use because your copy will be

globally formatted later.6. Do NOT hit the tab key for indenting paragraphs…EVER EVER EVER!!!!! This is done

automatically when the story is formatted in InDesign.7. Do NOT use the space bar to format copy…EVER EVER EVER!!!!!8. Turn in your rough copy to your Section Editor by the deadline (you can always

submit early) to receive suggestions for changes. 9. After receiving your signed (by the Section Editor) draft with the feedback, make the

changes on the computer to the story. You may dispute changes, but you cannot simply ignore them. If you disagree with a correction, you must see the Editor(s)-in-Chief or Miss La Pointe.

10.Print out a corrected second draft and attach it to the top of the first draft. Submit the second draft to the Managing Editor who will make corrections, sign the second draft, ensure the corrections from the first draft were made, and return it to your box (or in person if they need to explain something to you).

11.Make the corrections and save to the computer.12.Print out a corrected third draft and attach it to the top of the first and second drafts.

Submit the third draft to the Editor(s)-in-Chief who will make corrections, ensure the corrections from the first draft were made, sign it, and return it to your box (or in person if they need to explain something to you).

13.Make the corrections and save to the computer.17

14.Print out a corrected fourth draft and attach it to the top of the first, second, and third drafts. Submit the fourth draft to the Adviser’s “Story In Box.” Any further corrections by the adviser will be made on the computer.

15.The adviser will save the final draft and upload it to the network to be placed on the page, print out a hard copy, attach it to your previous drafts, and put it into your box.

16.Make the final draft corrections on the printed fourth draft (this is how you will know what corrections the adviser made).

17.Give the entire packet of drafts, with the final draft on top, to the Section Editor. Be sure the story contains heads, kicker, cutline, byline, headline, etc.

Remember that you MUST meet all of your deadlines. Failure to do so could compromise the quality of the paper and will definitely affect your grade. Once the editing process has started, that means it’s crunch time and you are expected to work both accurately and quickly.

You may NEVER work on any outside work in class without my permission. Failure to follow this rule will result in losing points on the issue grade (10% each time you’re seen doing it).

Cell phones, both during class and at production should only be used for journalistic purposes. If you are seen abusing this privilege, you will lose it. During production, you may use your cell phones, but if you are wasting the time of others because you’re texting with friends, you will lose points for the issue grade. You have been warned.

Staff Ground Rules for Successful Teamwork(from School Newspaper Adviser’s Survival Guide by Patricia Osborn)

Avoid interrupting an editor or adviser when he or she is consulting or helping another staff member, unless asked to do so.

Before seeking help, first try to solve problems on your own. An asset for journalists is resourcefulness.

Remember, other people probably think their problems are as important as yours. Interruptions are not only rude, but unfair.

Tolerating rudeness breeds discord and resentment.

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