ThreeSixty Journalism Volunteer Handbook

Table of Contents

Page 2 Introduction to Staff Members Page 3 Mission, Vision and Value Statements Page 4 Letter from the Executive Director Page 5 Letter from the Dean; Board of Advisors Page 6 Overview of Programming Page 7 Volunteer Position Descriptions Page 8 Frequently Asked Questions Page 9 Expectations, Policies and Procedures Page 10 Resources and Support for Volunteers

VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK

Journalism

http://www.threesixtyjournalism.org 2

Lynda McDonnell , Executiv e Director , has been a journalist in Minnesota for more than 30 years, covering everything from politics to poverty, labor unions to honey queens. She spent 20 years as a reporter and editor for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, most recently as the political editor. Before that, she was a reporter for the Minneapolis Tribune. Lynda has been with ThreeSixty Journalism since 2002.

[email protected]; 651-962-5282

Annie Nelson, Y outh Pub licat io ns E dito r, is a Minnesota native and journalism graduate of the University of Missouri. She worked for two and a half years as a reporter for the Columbia Daily Tribune in Columbia, Mo. She is fluent in Spanish and reported during college for the nation’s only bilingual Spanish English student newspaper, Adelante! She has traveled to Latin America multiple times, including a semester spent studying abroad in Havana, Cuba.


Andrea S ala za r, AmeriCorp s V IST A Market ing C oordina tor , received her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2008. Prior to joining ThreeSixty Journalism, she worked as a marketing production intern for a year with the Walt Disney Company at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. A native-born Mexican, Andrea moved to the United States at 8 years old. This sparked an interest in learning about other cultures and the benefits of diversity. She is excited to be part of a team that gives unrepresented voices the chance to be heard. [email protected]; 651-962-5225

651-962-5225

La ur a L inder-S choler, AmeriC orps VIS T A Vo lunteer Coo rdinator, graduated from St. Olaf College with a degree in English in 2011. A native of St. Paul, Laura first worked as a staff writer and editor for her high school newspaper, then as a tutor and teacher’s assistant for the English Department at St. Olaf College and a second grade classroom in Northfield, MN. Laura enjoys reading, writing and working with the great Twin Cities volunteers who are dedicated to literacy and education.


T H R E E S I X T Y J O U R N A L I S M S T A F F M E M B E R S

Briana G ruenew ald, AmeriCorp s V IST A V olunteer C oordina to r, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2011 with a degree in journalism. At UWEC Briana was a copy-editor for the college newspaper, Chair of the Relay for Life and Vice President of the Communication and Journalism Organization. Briana has also served for one year as a Pre-K Literacy Tutor for Minnesota Reading Corps, an AmeriCorps program. After helping 4 year olds learn the building blocks of literacy, she is thrilled to be a part of an organization that supports the talents and enthusiasm of young journalists.


T H R E E S I X T Y J O U R N A L I S M M I S S I O N S T A T E M E N T ThreeSixty Journalism, a program of the University of St. Thomas, brings diverse voices into journalism and related professions by using intense, personal instruction in the practice and principles of journalism. We strengthen the civic literacy, writing skills and college-readiness of Minnesota teens.

M I S S I O N S T A T E M E N T

Our volunteer program aims to provide students with able and engaged volunteers who will support the journalistic process and serve as positive role models. We also aim to utilize the skills and interests of volunteers in order to meet the organizational needs and build the capacity of ThreeSixty Journalism programming.

V I S I O N S T A T E M E N T

ThreeSixty Journalism will have the capacity to recruit, mobilize and support all interested volunteers who seek to further the mission of the organization. Volunteers will be matched with assignments that are appropriate to the needs of the organization and sensitive to the skills and interests of the volunteer.

T H E V O L U N T E E R P R O G R A M W I L L :

∗ Build itself upon the foundation of positive relationships between staff, volunteers and teens. ∗ Use the personal stories and eager minds of teens as motivation to encourage, sustain and

increase the participation of committed and proactive volunteers. ∗ Recruit volunteers with diverse abilities to support students and also organizational growth. ∗ Encourage and appropriately acclaim every approved volunteer, regardless of race, gender,

ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic standing or professional background. ∗ Create varied, flexible and compelling volunteer opportunities that take into consideration

the time constraints, service expectations and situational needs of potential volunteers. ∗ Manage potential risks and liabilities in order to create a safe environment that prioritizes the

safety and development of students, staff, volunteers and the organization. ∗ Commit to maintaining open communication between volunteers and staff, so that both

parties can rely on clear expectations, opportunities for feedback and continual support. ∗ Foster relationships with committed individuals and seek out new connections with a variety

of community organizations, agencies and programs. ∗ Recognize the immense value of volunteers and regularly show appreciation for the services

that they provide in supporting the mission and programming of ThreeSixty Journalism.

M I S S I O N , V I S I O N & V A L U E S

V O L U N T E E R P R O G R A M

S T A T E M E N T O F V A L U E S


L E T T E R F R O M T H E D I R E C T O R

Dear ThreeSixty Journalism supporter, ThreeSixty Journalism is a one-of-a-kind, inclusive and rigorous youth journalism program that is relevant and real for students. Our office is located in Saint Paul, MN on the beautiful campus of the University of St. Thomas. St. Thomas has been an incredible support for ThreeSixty Journalism, in providing faculty and staff involvement and expertise, office and classroom space, materials, equipment, and a generous fiscal sponsorship. Their sponsorship has made it possible for us to function as a nonprofit organization, which grants us the ability to write funding requests, grant proposals, fundraise and recruit a talented and dedicated team of volunteers. We pride ourselves in offering a professional experience for students through a stimulating curriculum and providing educational and human resources to help students complete their course by producing their own publication-ready article. This is merely one component of ThreeSixty Journalism. We produce and distribute a quarterly print magazine that reaches over 200 high schools and libraries, free of charge. We hold an annual fundraising event that has been attended by some distinguished Minnesotans such as Don Shelby (former WCCO news broadcaster), Sen. Amy Klobuchar, former senator Norm Coleman, Sen. Al Franken and the world explorer Ann Bancroft. We also work to maintain a significant presence in social media networks such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Amidst these efforts, we continually strive to reach out to the vast and growing ethnic and socioeconomically diverse populations of teens. ThreeSixty Journalism was originally founded as an intense two-week journalism camp, staffed solely by volunteers who were dedicated to teaching young people about the power of news. Originally known as the Urban Journalism Workshop, the two-week camp was designed to nurture future journalists, especially teens of color. Annually, volunteers rallied around the UJW campers to try to ignite a spark for journalism. Their primary purpose was to foster ethnically diverse future journalists, so that the future image of the newsroom would reflect the current and future demographics of the state. Today, the former Urban Journalism Workshop (now ThreeSixty Journalism) is a year-around program with two full time staff and two AmeriCorps VISTA staff. Providing quality programming year-round and reaching thousands of young people would be an impossible feat without the generous support of diverse and dedicated volunteers. We could not fulfill our mission to its extent without you. Though we were founded with the purpose to diversify the newsroom, today we are driven by a more expansive cause: to help Minnesota’s young people discover the power of their voice. We tell our students that the best resource in reaching young people is, in fact, young people. We are proud to be a reliable news source that is aimed at teens, and also written by teens. On behalf of the staff, students and alumni whose lives have been enhanced by the power of the teen voice, I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude. Whether you are new to ThreeSixty Journalism or have worked with us in the past, thank you for joining us in the exciting journey of helping teens find the power of their voice. Many, many thanks. I am eager to work with you. In service, Lynda McDonnell

Lynda McDonnell is Executive Director

of ThreeSixty Journalism and has been a journalist in

Minnesota for more than 30 years


0

L E T T E R F R O M T H E D E A N

Dear ThreeSixty Journalism volunteer, In 2001, the Urban Journalism Workshop underwent a significant transition when programming moved from the University of Minnesota campus to the University of St. Thomas. The program, founded in 1971, was a two-week residential camp that primarily involved volunteers in managing every aspect of the annual event. When the UJW decided to relocate in 2001, we opened our doors to the program in full confidence that a diverse, educational program for teens was a valuable investment in our campus community.

We have since committed to help the workshop move from an annual summer opportunity to a year-around program with a paid, full-time director. For the past ten years, the University of St. Thomas and ThreeSixty Journalism have collaborated to continually bolster programming and community involvement. Every year, approximately 200 students from the metro and Greater Minnesota regions have applied and been accepted to participate in ThreeSixty Journalism classes on the University of St. Thomas campus. Historically, ThreeSixty Journalism students have represented diverse ethnic and socioeconomic communities. Some have even been in the process of practicing their English language skills for the first time while learning journalism basics. The program is a safe place for all teens to find their voice and to tell important and relevant stories. Classes are held in university classrooms, where students interact with our talented faculty, and some students stay over night in St. Thomas housing during the summer in a two-week residential camp. Many of the teen reporters that make their way through the UST arches have not previously set foot on a college campus, so this may be their first impression of higher education. I am keenly aware that we can influence students’ decisions about their own future in higher education, so it is of the highest importance that we at St. Thomas warmly welcome each aspiring journalist. High school senior teen reporters who have been involved with ThreeSixty Journalism are eligible to apply for a full tuition scholarship to study communications and journalism as an undergraduate student at the University of St. Thomas. ThreeSixty Journalism Scholars are an asset to the University, as they bring valuable skills and perspectives to their classes, community and the campus culture. As a faculty member who has worked with ThreeSixty students and seen a teen’s transformation into a journalist, I know that skilled, individual instruction is integral for this process. Additionally, I have seen ample improvement when the teaching is relational, rather than simply informational. We can only support this unique approach with the commitment of volunteers. You are invaluable! I have sincere hopes that, while working with us, you will receive the rewards of helping a teen to find his or her voice through the power of the pen. You are an exceptional gift to ThreeSixty Journalism, and thus, a member of our UST family. On behalf of the University of St. Thomas and ThreeSixty Journalism, I sincerely thank you for giving your time and sharing your skills in order to empower teens and promote their voice. Warmly, Kris Bunton

Duchesne Drew �� Managing Editor for Operations, Star Tribune �� Brian Bellmont �� President, Bellmont Partners Dr. Kristie Bunton �� Associate Dean, College of Arts & Sciences; Professor, Department of Communication and Journalism, UST Sue Campbell �� Director of Custom Editorial, MSP Communications

Scott Libin ��Vice President, Internet Broadcasting

Dennis McGrath Owner, McGrath-Buckley Communications Counseling Lida Poletz ��Vice President, Weber Shandwick

Dr. Dina Gavri los ��Assistant Professor, Department of Communication and Journalism, UST Amy Hang ��Alumna; Consultant, WGH Holdings

Doug Hennes ��Vice President for University and Government Relations, UST Denise Johnson-Oliver

��Editorial Writer, Star Tribune

B O A R D O F A D V I S O R S

Dr. Kristie Bunton is

Associate Dean of the University of St. Thomas’ College of Arts and Sciences,

and Professor of Communication and

Journalism


T H R E E S I X T Y J O U R N A L I S M P R O G R A M M I N G

S U M M E R C A M P S

Intermediate Camp is intended for students who already have previous journalism experience from a class in school, work with a local community news source, or participation in an earlier ThreeSixty Journalism class or camp. During this two-week long residential camp, students work on the St. Paul campus of the University of St. Thomas and stay in the campus residence halls. There is a camp tuition, which covers room, board, meals, nighttime activities, equipment and additional expenses. Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch can receive a full tuition scholarship, and additional need-based scholarships are available. In the Intermediate Camp, students work with professional journalists and photographers to gain marketable communications and journalism skills. Each camper will practice reporting, write an article and have their story published on the ThreeSixty Journalism website and featured in our print magazine. In addition, students’ stories will be published in both the Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press soon after camp.

The ThreeSixty Journalism News Team is a free after-school journalism program held on the St. Paul campus of the University of St. Thomas. Students meet weekly over 8-10 weeks and work on journalism skills with Annie Nelson, ThreeSixty Journalism’s Youth Editor. By the end of the course, each student produces at least one story that will be published on our website: www.threesixtyjournalism.org. Bus cards are provided, and the campus is easily accessible by public transportation.

Editorial Board is a team of students who have previously completed a ThreeSixty Journalism summer camp or after-school class. This free group meets monthly during the school year to brainstorm story topics and work with Youth Editor Annie Nelson. These students commit to writing articles and personal essays regularly for ThreeSixty Journalism.

Special programming is offered when possible, in various locations around the Twin Cities. Some activities that have been offered in past years include: weekend workshops, lessons on networking, opportunities to shadow journalism professionals in the newsroom, and journalism skill classes taught in local high schools, libraries and community centers.

Introduction to Journalism camp is intended for students who are interested in journalism but do not have any previous experience. This four-week long camp is held in June, on the St. Paul campus of the University of St. Thomas. Classes are taught four days a week (Monday through Thursday) from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There is a camp tuition—which covers equipment, lunch and bus cards for transportation to and from camp—but no student is ever turned away for financial reasons. In the Introduction to Journalism camp, students learn about the journalistic process and acquire basic photojournalism skills, in order to produce a news story along with photographs. Each camper’s work will be published on the ThreeSixty Journalism website and also potentially featured in our quarterly print magazine. After finishing the Introduction camp, students are eligible to participate as a member of the News Team or Editorial Board, where they will have the opportunity to write articles and receive help from an editor during the following school year.

I N T R O D U C T I O N C A M P I N T E R M E D I A T E C A M P

N E WS T E A M

EDITORIAL BOARD

S P E C I A L

P R OGR A M M I N G


T H R E E S I X T Y J O U R N A L I S M V O L U N T E E R P O S I T I O N S

GU E ST SP E AK E R Visit a high school classroom or community

organization and give a short guest presentation. Past topics have included interviewing, writing

leads, brainstorming story ideas and networking.

M E N TOR

Commit to working one-on-one with a teen reporter on their article, blog or personal essay. Help with all aspects of the journalistic process,

from advising students on writing and interviewing to enforcing deadlines and editing drafts.

P R OOF R E AD E R Work with ThreeSixty Journalism staff in

proofreading student-generated articles and blogs, or staff-generated documents such as funding

proposals or newsletters. Can be done remotely.

YOU RTU RN E SSAY CONTEST RE ADER

Help ThreeSixty Journalism staff work through the short essays (500 words or less) that Minnesota teens submit to our quarterly YourTurn writing contest. Read 10-15 essays, pick your top two favorites and write a few brief sentences explaining why these particular essays stood out to you.

P R OM OTE R Visit high school classrooms, career fairs and

community organizations on behalf of ThreeSixty Journalism, to promote the organization and recruit

for News Team and summer camps.

SPECIAL EVENTS

AND P ROJ E CTS

Volunteer your time and energy at fundraising and social events, or use your networking skills to solicit donations and support. Assist with administrative tasks, or take on social networking via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and our website. We are open to all kinds of creative ideas and service commitments!


F R E Q U E N T L Y A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S

What does the nam e

ThreeSix ty Journalism mean?

In 2006, the program’s name changed from the Urban Journalism Workshop

to Thr eeSixty Jour nal ism to reflect programmatic and geographic growth. Our mission is to tell stories from different perspectives and from all parts of our community, using a

variety of media tools.

72 percent of ThreeSixty Journalism funding comes from corporate sponsors

and foundations. The remainder is made up of

in-kind support from sponsors, and from the generous contributions

of individual donors.

How is ThreeSix ty Journalism

funded?

Teens about to enter or currently enrolled in

high school can get involved with programming either by applying for a summer camp (applications are available in the final three months of the school year), or by applying for News Team (applications are available during August, and once again in late November). Additionally, Minnesota teens in grades 7-12 can participate in a quarterly “YourTurn” essay contest, where student writing is submitted electronically. Program applications and further contest information can be found on our website.

Who is el igible to

participate in ThreeSixty Journalism

programming?

ThreeSixty Journalism can be found on the St. Paul campus of the University of St. Thomas: at 2115 Summit Avenue, St. Paul MN 55105.

Our office is housed in the basement of the O’Shaughnessey Frey Library. Call (651) 962-5282 for specific directions within the building.

Where is ThreeSix ty Journalism located?

Urban Journalism Workshop was originally founded as part of a nationwide effort to increase the presence of minorities in newsrooms, to better reflect and serve increasingly diverse communities. From the beginning, the program has worked collaboratively with the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Star Tribune and Twin Cities television stations, all of whom have provided funding, volunteers and unique publishing opportunities for student work. Since moving to the University of St. Thomas in 2001, ThreeSixty Journalism has expanded to provide year-round programming and outreach, and the number of students served each year has increased from 15 to 150. Today, more than 11,500 copies of our quarterly student publication are distributed to schools, public libraries and youth organizations around the Twin Cities metro and surrounding areas. Many alumni work for media newsrooms and communications firms around the country, and those who became teachers, engineers and grad students tell us that ThreeSixty Journalism helped them write more clearly, think more critically and care more deeply about what’s happening in their communities.

How has the work of ThreeSixty

Journalism impacted the community?

Who can I

contact about volunteering?

ThreeSixty Journalism Volunteer Coordinator Laura Linder-Scholer would love to hear from you and can be reached at (651) 962-8225 or [email protected].

C an I still volunteer if I don’t work in

journalism?

Absolutely! We often need help with proofreading and editing, event planning, fundraising, social media, organizational projects and more. We appreciate any time, energy, and talent you that you have to contribute.

Where is ThreeSix ty Journalism student

work published?

We share student articles, essays, blogs and reviews on our website, as well as in a quarterly print magazine that is distributed to over 200 schools, public libraries and youth organizations around Minnesota.


E X P E C T A T I O N S & R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S

u Uphold and promote a positive image of the organization, staff, students and other program volunteers. u Use ThreeSixty Journalism space and property with respect and care. u Be punctual, and communicate with the Volunteer Coordinator in the case of an absence or unavailability. u Adhere to the policies and procedures outlined in this handbook. u Keep track of and then relay service hours to the Volunteer Coordinator, who records ongoing volunteer participation.

VOLUNTEERS ARE EXPECTED TO:

THE FOLLOWING ARE PROHIBITED:

u Unlawful possession, distribution or use of alcohol or illegal drugs while serving in a capacity associated with the program. u Possession of firearms or other weapons while serving in a volunteer capacity. u Verbal, physical or emotional intimidation through the threat of force or violence towards another’s body or possessions. u Verbal assaults, racial epithets or jokes that demean or degrade any person due to their race, color, gender, culture, national origin, sexual orientation, age, ability, language competency, religion or economic status.

The purpose of ThreeSixty Journalism’s risk management policy is to create and maintain a safe and legal environment for ThreeSixty Journalism staff, students and volunteers. In the spirit of our mission statement, we want our volunteers to support and engage students while respecting their vulnerability and specific needs as low-income, minority adolescents. ThreeSixty Journalism upholds a policy of conducting background checks only for individuals who will be working with minors on a consistent or unsupervised basis. Our organization follows University of St. Thomas procedures, and uses a third party vendor to conduct all background screenings. Beyond the University of St. Thomas Human Resources department and ThreeSixty Journalism staff, all screening results will remain protected and confidential. Before ThreeSixty Journalism can authorize background screenings, potential volunteers must complete and sign a Background Disclosure, Authorization and Release form. By signing this form, the individual authorizes ThreeSixty Journalism to conduct a background screening. Failure to complete this form will preclude the individual from further consideration for volunteer status or participation. On occasion, a ThreeSixty Journalism student may require transportation (to and from programming, special events or an interview, etc.) and the purpose of the ThreeSixty Journalism transportation policy is to protect the safety, rights and liability of all parties involved. Volunteers willing to provide transportation for a student must agree to a Motor Vehicle Record Screening , conducted through the University of St. Thomas’ Human Relations department. In order to complete this screening, a volunteer must have a valid driver’s license, registered personal vehicle and personal insurance on that vehicle. The volunteer must complete and sign a Liabil ity Waiver and Consent Form . Once the volunteer has completed the necessary procedures, we are able to reimburse mileage and transportation costs for driving a student.

If volunteer behavior or performance does not meet expectations, the Volunteer Coordinator will address the volunteer. The Volunteer Coordinator also holds the right to refer back to this handbook and to reassign or dismiss any volunteer.

P O L I C I E S & P R O C E D U R E S

POLICY FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF STUDE NT S


R E S O U R C E S & S U P P O R T

A primary goal of ThreeSixty Journalism is to utilize the skills, talents and interests of community volunteers, in order to meet the needs of the organization and enrich the experiences of our students. Volunteers are an invaluable resource to ThreeSixty Journalism staff, students and supporters, and we are incredibly grateful that our volunteers can help us to:

• Improve the quality, content and reach of our services • Expand access to diverse populations and communities • Promote and advocate for our mission and programming • Encourage grassroots support and community engagement • Utilize and then teach specialized skills and information • Maximize the value of our limited and fluctuating budget • Innovate and work creatively, collaboratively and effectively • Reinvest in our communities and future generations

While our organization relies heavily on the work of volunteers, we also want our volunteers to have engaging, fulfilling and positive volunteer experiences with ThreeSixty Journalism. We work to match volunteers with assignments that utilize and respect their interests, skills and life-experiences, and this requires input from volunteers. At all stages of a volunteer’s involvement, ThreeSixty Journalism prioritizes ongoing communication. The Volunteer Coordinator will assess volunteer performance through regular check-ins (via email, phone or in person) and by using an experience evaluation. We encourage feedback, complaints, grievances or suggestions at any time, and you can get ahold of the Volunteer Coordinator or Executive Director using their contact information listed in the Staff Directory (page 2).

THANK Y OU!

BE DEPEN DA BLE. Do what you say you

are going to do.

SPEND TIM E TA LKING

WITH U S. A sk open-ended questions and build the

conversation.

LOOK A T U S.

M ake eye

contact.

SH OW U S THA T Y OU ’RE

INTERESTED. A ttend our events, and ask us to show

you what we can do.

A SK US TO HELP Y OU . A sk

for our ideas and

share your own, too.

SH OW A PPREC IA TION F OR WH A T WE

DO. Give us complem ents, and

show that you’re glad to spend time

with us.

LA UG H WITH U S (A ND A T

Y OU RSELF ). Laugh at our

jokes and show us your

sense of humor.

LISTEN. Pay attention. Don’t multi-task or get distracted when you’re with us. Respond to our

messages and questions.

C HA L LENG E US. Teach us what you know.

Push us to do our best.

REL A X . Don’t

feel like you have to be on

guard.

A list of ten t ips, from teens to adults,

compiled from a 2010 Teen Voice report. We think it’s great advice for

volunteers working with teens!

Documents

ThreeSixty Journalism Volunteer Handbook