“More than Marshmallow Fluff”

Advisers Institute

What have we missed?It’s not necessarily a bad thing to print or broadcast lighthearted, fluffy stories, BUT if that’s all your students suggest when signing up for the next publication’s topics, they may need some suggestions on why and how to cover stories that make a difference. Our goal is to show you how you can help your students so they can and will report on issues that can change your school and your community for the better.

The goal:Show how your students, through coverage, can help make a change in your school community.It can be as simple as looking at a national issue and helping your students think through the possibilities— and finding the best format for their work.

Reasons … • The role of journalism is more than just presenting facts from the 5 W’s and H• The role of journalism is more than just listen, copy and regurgitate …• The role of journalism is more than answering the why questions• The role is growing: authenticator, sense maker, investigator, witness bearer, empowerer, smart aggregator, forum organizer and role model. • All are still rooted in objective journalism, done thoroughly with a belief in social responsibility.

What we’ll do … We will go through a few examples, showing the thought process along the way, and then let you work through another topic.

Lakota Spark looks at localHeroin issues

● Exceptional range of sources

● Background used to clarify

● Infographic and link use for supporting information

● Timely topic with a wide range of expert sources

● Still could use more students, attribution and solutions approach

● How to enhance content and impact if used online?

Sources used for Heroin story• Students Alex and Chris Wallace (changed names)…about use of heroin• CDC source for national abuse• CDC source for state abuse• Butler County addiction expert• Ohio Department of Health Overdose Report• BCMHARS Julie Payton• BCMHARS exec director Scott Rasmus• Lakota East poll of 408 students (although should be cited in story)• Ohio Dept. of Mental Health and Addiction Services Eric Wamderseben• West Chester Pain Center physician Dr. Frank Lee• Ohio Governor’s Cabinet Opiate Action Team Dep. Director Andrea Boxill• West Chester Police Special Investigations Unit Det. Jason Flick• Beckett Spring Intensive Outpatient Therapist Will Beaver• Dr. Clifford Cabansag• Lakota school board member Ray Murray• Social worker and counselor Faye Barron

More sources• Recovering addict Mary Allen• Several sources without first names (design flaw?),• Dr. Jolomi Ikomi• Ohio State University College of Social Work Assoc. Dean for Research Dr. John Clapp• Parent Sandy Tate• Hopewell Junior Personal Health teacher Lori Jones• Schools superintendent Karen Mantia

Background presented• CDC info• Tie to national opioid epidemic, state issues, county (perspective)• New Hampshire study• Contributing factors to the issues (visual)-sourced• Heroin’s effects on the body(visual)-sourced• Local information on dealers and crime regarding addiction and drugs• Signs of addition – CDC report• Difficulty of recovery and difficulties of addiction• Link to paper website for more stories• 2014 National Survey on Drug Abuse and Health• Group helping babies addicted to opiates• HB 367, signed into law, requires teaching of opiate abuse• Lakota Curriculum• Ohio efforts to assist those impacted by opiates

Unanswered question/issues• How and why did Alex know his brother was on heroin?• Check with medical source about effects of such an injury?• Cite poll as source of East stats• How to tell if poll is reliable?• Statement of opinion/value judgment as fact by reporter; reporter presenting factual information that is non commonly known• No source called it an epidemic….the author did• Not enough addicts/impacted sources early in the story• Misuse of “according to” instead of using said• Specific recommendations for those who face opiate issues on how to deal with them• Hard to read reversed text

Temporary staff arrested• Worked to answer student, staff questions on safety• Obtained arrest record, previous arrest records• Multiple perspectives: principal, school spokesperson, grade level coordinator, students• Writers updated web coverage • Staffers wanted to answer reader questions and robustly cover story.

● Again a wide range of sources -- EPA, Sheppard T. Powell Associates LLC Labs, WHO, Jim Roenick, water treatment contractor at Georgetown University, Brian Mullikin, head of public schools maintenance

● Gathered and tested actual water

● Let experts explain results

● School started flushing system

● Follow-up testing ● Follow-up reporting

plus commendation from a state senator

8 questions to sharpen a story idea (Poynter)● Why are we doing this story, and why will the

reader care?● Knowing that the premise will evolve during the

reporting, what do you think this story could be about?

● What are our expectations of the story? We’ll be flexible about the story’s scope, depending on what we find out, but let’s start talking about story length and the amount of time for reporting.

● What are some of the key questions to address in the story?

Questions continued◦ What sources should we consider? Who are the

stakeholders? If applicable, whom might you tell the story through?

◦ Does the story, at least as we understand it now, represent a larger trend? What background do we need to understand this trend?

◦ How do we address issues of ethics and diversity?◦ Are there any previously published stories from

newspapers, books or magazines that I can share that will inspire the reporter?

Last, we offer how to report it, which is also an important point; use platforms, approaches, etc.

How do you take this back for your staff?• Empower them to cover stories• Model how to go through getting the topic and examining how to localize the content. (Take them through a practice)• Remember, there’s nothing wrong with suggesting coverage. There IS something wrong with mandating it.• Use the coaching model.

Time to practiceLet’s look at how we might cover concussions.

What’s the first step?

Can you figure out using S-V-O what your story might be. Why does it matter?

Time to practice in pairsConsider one of these possible topics or come up with your own:◦Be able to explain the topic/focus in 25 words or fewer

◦Why would you suggest this to your staff? What difference could it make?

◦Where would you suggest they go for sources?

◦What potential problems might they find? How could you help them solve those?

8 questions to sharpen a story idea (Poynter)● Why are we doing this story, and why will the

reader care?● Knowing that the premise will evolve during the

reporting, what do you think this story could be about?

● What are our expectations of the story? We’ll be flexible about the story’s scope, depending on what we find out, but let’s start talking about story length and the amount of time for reporting.

● What are some of the key questions to address in the story?

Questions continued◦ What sources should we consider? Who are the

stakeholders? If applicable, whom might you tell the story through?

◦ Does the story, at least as we understand it now, represent a larger trend? What background do we need to understand this trend?

◦ How do we address issues of ethics and diversity?◦ Are there any previously published stories from

newspapers, books or magazines that I can share that will inspire the reporter?

Last, we offer how to report it, which is also an important point; use platforms, approaches, etc.

Your assignment:Take this back to your staff.

We’d love to see what you do with this. Please send what your students produce! keekley@gmail.com, cbowen@kent.edu and jabowen@kent.edu.