Tomorrow is Presidents Day, but students at UF will still be in classes. Why? Many of us experienced Presidents Day holidays off when we were in primary and secondary school, but the university doesn’t recognize the holiday. Alachua County Public Schools will have tomorrow off.
Maybe someone working for the university could shed some light on the reasons behind this decision. It’s likely that the decision was up to the State University System, but someone working for the school may have an opinion. If the state university system is trying to have as many days as possible for class in the spring semester, why did they decide to hold classes on Presidents Day? Was it considered not as important as the other spring holidays? A political science professor could provide an answer. Of course, we should also talk to the Board of Governors.
It would probably be 10 to 15 inches and would have to run on Tuesday. Photos of UF students going to class and empty high schools on Presidents Day would be easy to get. Photos of Presidents Day events would be a little harder to find because there doesn’t seem to be anything particularly exciting lined up for tomorrow.
The online format could feature a timeline showing how the country first made an official holiday for George Washington’s birthday (which is also my birthday). States and communities have celebrated the day in different forms, such as the general Presidents Day, Washington and Lincoln’s Day or even Washington and Jefferson’s Day. Readers could submit their opinions. Do you think of it as the official day to celebrate Washington’s birthday? Is it just for Washington and Lincoln? Is it for all presidents? Do you think everyone should have the day off?
UF’s deadline to apply to be Woman of the Year is March 3. I propose talking to Rachel Ebert of the Women’s Leadership Council to find out what makes a great candidate for the award. Last year’s winner, Adelle Fontanet, would make a great source as well. The story would give the history of the award and would profile a few of the past recipients. Mainly, though, it would be a great guide for UF women who want to apply and think they’re a great candidate. It would also give tips for those top five who go on to the interview portion of the application process. What are the judges really looking for?
The online component would give profiles of winners of the award in recent years, and, depending on the award’s history, from long ago. It would include photos of each recipient, a list of their accomplishments while at UF, and what they’ve been doing since they graduated. If the award has been given only once before, this online component could be equally effective with the one former winner, Adelle Fontanet.
I propose a story for this week about how each Florida school has the same spring break week for the first time in a long time. UF will share its spring break this year with all other Florida public institutions in a sharp contrast with previous years. This will impact a vast amount of students at each school that have friends attending other public institutions in the state or Florida, but will also create some serious issues for the Florida tourism industry and locations.
To first address this story, I would have my reporter take the local angle and focus on UF students and the effect of this change on them. I would first find and speak with UF students who plan to spend spring break with friends from other schools, and find out what they might be doing with this time. I would then speak with the Provost’s office at each major public institution (UF, Florida State, South Florida, Central Florida, University of Miami, etc…) to determine why the switch was made and what logic was behind the switch.
I would then take this story in another direction, and speak with various spring break vacation entities and locations. I would call Club La Vela in Panama City (the largest nightclub in the U.S.) and ask how it was preparing for the onrush of students, and inquire as to whether the manager feels more students will be coming with the change in spring breaks. I would then call Student City, a company that specializes in college-age student spring break trips, and inquire as to whether they have seen an increase in the amount of Florida students signing up for trips through Student City from previous years. If this is the case, I would ask the representative if there seem to be more groups of students from different Florida schools this year. I would then speak with Visit Florida (www.visitFlorida.com) to discuss whether there have been any discussions or rumors about issues stemming from all spring breaks in Florida being at the same time. Finally, I would also speak with Fat Tuesday bar in Miami Beach to inquire as to whether the manager there has thought of or considered the onrush that may be coming to South Beach.
Finally, I would speak with the Panama City Police Department and the Miami-Dade Police Department to inquire whether they are considering increased police forces for spring break week or if there has been any discussion about spring break safety in the wake of the week switch.
This story would be a fun story, and should appear in the weekly features section of the outlet it is to be published in. It would run about 20 inches, but have three or four photos to accompany it. These photos would be pictures of the bars or clubs interviewed, a picture of spring break parties found on AP and a graphic showing alcohol tolerances for each weight group that can be cut out and brought with each reader. This story would also lend itself well to a follow after spring break.
For online production, this story could be even more fun. It might be best served to run as a documentary video placed on an outlet’s Web site. It could be a top story under the features tab, and could feature the documentary window at the top that plays when the browser opens the page, followed by the story below the box. The documentary could have pictures of spring break trips taken and sent in by readers, and then could follow the reporter through the process of writing the story. I envision a Michael Moore-type story where each interview with each student is taped when asked about his/her spring break plans. In addition, the video would tape each phone call the reporter makes and end with a collage of video footage of the outside of each bar contacted for the story (ending with the question of will the rush be manageable?).
For every year I have been at UF, I have wondered: “Why exactly do we have school on President’s Day?” This holiday is a federal holiday, observed by many institutions in the country, including banks. The day is in existence to honor the births of the two best-known leaders of America: Washington and Lincoln. In an institution that prides itself on educating the future of America, including possible presidents, is it disrespectful to continue to hold classes on this nation’s holiday? I would like to write a story concerning the university’s decision to remain open on this day. How did they come about this decision? How do they feel it shows respect on this holiday? Do they have much backlash from the community, students or faculty each year when they make the decision to remain open? What exactly to they take into account when they make this decision? Do they worry about how it will make them look to some who find it disrespectful? Usually a bank closing is a sign that it is a pretty significant holiday. Additionally, other services in the area, such as RTS and curbside garbage and recycling collection, remain on schedule as if this were a normal day. It makes sense for RTS to remain open as there is a need to shuffle students to campus who have classes. But, I want to understand the logic of the garbage companies. I would like to talk to UF officials such as Provost Janie Fouke and others who are in charge of creating the school year schedule. I would probably contact Steve Orlando for information regarding who to contact about this question. I would also like to talk to students and faculty to gauge their reaction to being open on the federal holiday. Additionally, I would like to interview a bank branch to understand the process for choosing to close and whether the decision is made individually or nationally. Also, I would like to interview officials from schools who decide to close on Presidents Day (perhaps an Alachua County school board member or an official from another university). I think it would be neat to have a sidebar or online interactive about the progression of Presidents Day: when it was founded, why, how it has been observed over the years, etc.), bringing us to present day and how the university feels it is justified in remaining open. Of course, as always, people like to put faces with names, and video interviews to post online would be ideal. Photo opportunities could include snapping pictures of various activities around Gainesville meant to commemorate the day, and if none are scheduled, than perhaps it would be fitting to take a picture of “life as usual” to portray the day as any other.
Recent research has shown that carbohydrates can actually help a person trying to lose weight. Many carbohydrates contain resistant starch, which is a kind of fiber that resists digestion in the body. Leslie Bonci, of the American Dietetic Association, predicts that resistant starches will be the “next hot nutrition trend.”
More than 160 studies have shown that resistant starches have many weight-loss benefits, including increasing the burning of calories and shutting down hunger hormones. They may also fight diabetes and heart disease, as well as boost the immune system.
Things to cover in the story:
– How do nutritionists feel about the new findings?
– How do dieters who originally cut out carbohydrates from their diets feel about the new study? Are they going to change their eating habits? Do they think the study is credible?
– How do the findings compare to previous thoughts regarding carbohydrates?
Sources:
– MSNBC.com – Health section (where original article came from)
o http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23189188/
– Ryanne Deitch – UF student who does not eat carbohydrates, as part of her diet plan
o Contact information: rmd910@ufl.edu
o Ask her if she would be more inclined to add carbohydrates to her diet?
o Why does she refuse to eat carbohydrates?
– Karin Kratina, Ph.D. – registered nutritionist at UF Student Health Care Center
o Contact information: 392-1161 ext. 4281
o Ask her about her opinions regarding carbohydrates and their purpose in a healthy diet.
o Also, ask about the recently discovered benefits of resistant starches and if she will relay the information to her patients.
o Other questions to ask:
What are some common views on carbohydrates?
How have carbohydrates been viewed in the weight-loss industry?
Why are carbohydrates necessary in a diet?
How can students incorporate good carbohydrates, such as resistant starches, in an effort to prevent gaining weight in college?
Other resources:
– GatorWell Health Promotion Services Web site: http://shcc.ufl.edu/gatorwell/nutrition/nresources.shtml
For the online version of the story, have links to online resources, such as those included above. Also, include the resistant starch Web site, http://www.resistantstarch.com so that readers who are interested in recipes or information can explore the new information. A sound file of the interview with the registered nutritionist might supplement the story for a better multimedia effect.
After Student Government spent so much money on campus recycling bins, and after the university created an Office of Sustainability, I propose following the efforts of those programs. I would go to the recycling plant – I bet no one knows where it is in the county. I would interview workers at the plant and ask about where they pick up the most recyclable products. I would also talk to the plant director and ask about the process of recycling.
For online packages, I would create a map that shows where the recycling plant is and I would label the spots where the most recycling is done. I would include video of inside the recycling plant and a photo slideshow of the plant.
I would also interview Dedee Dulongpre, director of the Office of Sustainability. I would want to know if the office has had to cut back on sustainability programs due to university budget cuts. Recycling or using sustainable products might cost a lot and might have suffered cuts from the budget. I would ask her how much, on average, it takes to uphold the office and the sustainability projects.
Fidel Castro stepped down from power this morning. This is a major event for Cubans, and the majority of Cubans who immigrated to the U.S. are now in Florida.
Most likely, almost all Cuban-American students at UF are second-generation and so don’t know what it’s like to have lived in Cuba, but I bet many of there parents do. I would like to interview members of CASA, the SG-sponsored Cuban-American Student Association, to find out what this news means to them, to their family in the U.S., and to any family they might have still in Cuba.
It wouldn’t hurt to also talk to people of other Latino nationalities to get their reactions, too. I’m willing to bet either CASA or a general group of Latino students are planning some kind of celebration or event to mark this occasion.
I would interview the president of CASA, CASA members whose parents came to Florida from Cuba, and Cuban-American students from Miami who can tell me about what is going on in Miami to celebrate. I would request photos from the event they’re planning and include a timeline in a sidebar to depict major dates in Castro’s rule.
The Society of Women Engineers is hosting an all-day event called “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” on Wednesday, Feb. 20 in the Reitz Union. According to the event ad on Facebook, more than 100 middle school students will be able to participate in hands-on science activities, engineering lab tours and a panel discussion. I think this would make a good preview story so that parents reading the story have time to get their child involved if interested.
I would start out by talking to the event creator, Cherona Levy. I’d like to find out why she and the Society of Women Engineers wanted to put on this event. I’d also like to talk to some of the other members of the club and find out how they first became interested in engineering, what or who influenced them and why they think girls should become interested.
I would also like to find out the statistics on the number of women in the University of Florida’s College of Engineering and the ratio of females to males in the college.
I’d also like to consult a professor in the Center for women’s studies and gender research about the event, why women have previously not been prevalent in the world of science, and if the professor sees any indication of more women entering the trade.
This story would probably work best to start out from the point of view of a member of the Society of Women Engineers with the most compelling story of how she became interested in engineering. I’d also like to talk to some of the girls who will be participating, a teacher from a participating school and the parents of a participant.
In the print version, I would include a box with the key information on the event, as well as contact information of the event coordinator. If there has been a past event similar to this one, I would include a picture from the past event. The story should run at 25-30 inches. In the online version, I would compile an attractive video of interviews with the members, parents, teachers, and the women’s studies professor.
In the movie “All the President’s Men,” editor Ben Bradlee delivers the line that sums it all up when he says to Bernstein and Woodward, “I can’t do the reporting for my reporters, which means I have to trust them. And I hate trusting anybody.” Bradlee’s inherent mistrust exemplifies the editorial values that we have been discussing in class. Bradlee is suspicious of all of Bernstein and Woodward’s information, and because of their extensive use of anonymous sources, he requires them to check and re-check their facts until they have exhausted all information outlets. Bradlee is aware that he has not only his own reputation as editor to uphold, but also the reputations of Woodward, Bernstein, and most importantly, The Washington Post itself. Although the two reporters are visibly frustrated by Bradlee’s constant hesitation to run stories or utilize sources, they trust his judgment and are ultimately rewarded with accurately uncovering one of the biggest political scandals of the century.
Oops, I accidentally posted my case study and I don’t know how to delete it…here’s my story idea:
Story idea: What is the reasoning behind UF’s new spring admission policy for incoming freshmen?
Some high school seniors who applied to UF for the 2008 school year were denied admission for fall but offered admission starting in spring 2009. What prompted this change? In the past students were offered admission beginning in the fall, offered fall admission with the stipulation that they would first complete a summer session, or denied admission altogether.
For this story, I would talk to Zina Evans, director of admissions and chairwoman of the admissions committee. Why did the UF admissions committee decide to make this change? How do they think this will affect the quality of the incoming freshman class? Do spring admissions factor into the GPA/SAT statistics used in determining a school’s national ranking? If not, was the decision to initiate spring admissions made in an attempt to boost rankings by admitting a much smaller class comprised of top applicants in the fall while holding the less impressive applicants until spring? How many students were offered admission in the fall, and how many were offered admission in the spring?
A few of my friends have younger siblings who have been given the option of enrolling in the spring, and I would talk to them. What will the students who have been offered spring admission do? Will they choose to go to other schools (especially in-state schools like FSU and UCF) rather than wait a semester before enrolling in college? If they do choose to wait for UF, what will they do during the fall semester? Will they attend community college, take the semester off or get jobs?
I would also talk to admissions officers at other public schools in Florida to find out if this is a new policy at other schools or if UF is the only school doing spring admissions.
This story would run at about 20 inches, but could be longer depending on how much information Zina Evans would give. The online story could include links to UF’s admission information Web site, as well as other relevant articles about recent efforts to improve UF’s national ranking and state budget cuts. There could also be a message board or blog where students affected by this decision could react and share their opinions.
The writer’s strike is finally over. To some, this may come as welcome news others it may not make much of a difference. Sure, we’ve seen the many news reports and demonstrations on TV. We endured a sterile “presentation” of the Golden Globes and the shortening or cancellation of some of our favorite shows (for me, that means no 24 this year) because of this. I think it is a testament to the power of the Writer’s Guild at how much it has disrupted the glitz, glamour and production of Hollywood. Despite all of this, what does this really mean?
What does it matter to the average college student? Do most students even watch TV? Had they kept up with the strike? What will actually change? Did students even notice? Does this make any difference in student schedules?
What about local affiliate stations? Will advertisers bring more money in now that, presumably, more people will be tuning in?
Sources would include a large student response, representatives from local affiliate stations, such as WCJB-TV 20 (ABC) or WOGX-TV 51 (Fox), professors in the Telecom department or the film studies program.
Length of story would be fairly brief, around 5-10 inches and could include a celebrity mug or picture from the one of the WGA protests.
For the online component, I think something could be done with an interactive chart that would display current shows that are airing new episodes, shows that have been canceled, shows that had their runs cut short and the like (I saw something similar in a Entertainment Weekly article). By hovering or clicking on a particular show, the reader could be given more information about the show, including links or video.
I recently read an article, “Flu takes its toll on campus,” by Chris Brennan on Gainesville.com, the online version of the Gainesville Sun. According to this story, the Web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that “44 states reported widespread influenza activity last week, with official notifications of nine pediatric deaths so far this year.” The site also says that “last week, the proportion of deaths in the United States attributed to pneumonia and influenza was above the “epidemic” threshold for the fifth consecutive week.” This article gave me a great idea for a story. In my opinion, college students run a high risk of contracting the flu, perhaps more so than the general public. Many of these students exhibit poor sleeping and eating habits, a higher rate of alcohol consumption, and a high level of stress. All of these factors can lead to a weaker immune system, rendering many defenseless against the fast-spreading flu. Because the virus spreads through the air when anyone who has it coughs, sneezes or speaks, and because college students are exposed to thousands of other people on a daily basis while on campus, it stands to reason that the flu might spread like wildfire once a few people contract the virus. The story I am pitching would focus on what college students can do to avoid getting the flu, what they should do if they do contract the virus, and where they can go to get it treated.
Obviously, there is a great deal of information about the flu, its symptoms, and other general information on this virus already on the Web. My story would tailor this information to teens and college-age individuals. Not all of us can get a full seven to eight hours of sleep a night, or eat three well-balanced, nutritious meals a day. For those of us who can’t, I would want to know what other ways there are of boosting one’s immune system. I would also look into what other things a person might do to try to avoid the flu, such as getting a flu shot. I would talk to the UF Student Health Center, my local physician, anyone at Shands that may be willing to discuss the epidemic, students who have contracted the flu recently (once they get better), as well as students who managed to avoid getting sick, to see if they have any other suggestions on how to stay healthy.
The main story would focus on the increased risk a college student has of catching the flu, and contain quotes from students and professional medical sources. In an online format, however, there is much more information that could be included in this package. I would provide a list of symptoms in a sidebar, a brief on the importance of rest and drinking fluids when one does have the flu, and possibly a map diagramming which areas have seen the most widespread contractions of influenza statewide (this would take a lot of research though). Additionally, I would include links to sites with further information on the flu, as well as a link to WebMD, an online medical symptom checker. Finally, I would provide a listing of local physicians, clinics and health centers, along with contact information for each, as it is inevitable that a fair amount of students will get the flu at some point in time.
Tomorrow is Presidents Day, but students at UF will still be in classes. Why? Many of us experienced Presidents Day holidays off when we were in primary and secondary school, but the university doesn’t recognize the holiday. Alachua County Public Schools will have tomorrow off.
Maybe someone working for the university could shed some light on the reasons behind this decision. It’s likely that the decision was up to the State University System, but someone working for the school may have an opinion. If the state university system is trying to have as many days as possible for class in the spring semester, why did they decide to hold classes on Presidents Day? Was it considered not as important as the other spring holidays? A political science professor could provide an answer. Of course, we should also talk to the Board of Governors.
It would probably be 10 to 15 inches and would have to run on Tuesday. Photos of UF students going to class and empty high schools on Presidents Day would be easy to get. Photos of Presidents Day events would be a little harder to find because there doesn’t seem to be anything particularly exciting lined up for tomorrow.
The online format could feature a timeline showing how the country first made an official holiday for George Washington’s birthday (which is also my birthday). States and communities have celebrated the day in different forms, such as the general Presidents Day, Washington and Lincoln’s Day or even Washington and Jefferson’s Day. Readers could submit their opinions. Do you think of it as the official day to celebrate Washington’s birthday? Is it just for Washington and Lincoln? Is it for all presidents? Do you think everyone should have the day off?
UF’s deadline to apply to be Woman of the Year is March 3. I propose talking to Rachel Ebert of the Women’s Leadership Council to find out what makes a great candidate for the award. Last year’s winner, Adelle Fontanet, would make a great source as well. The story would give the history of the award and would profile a few of the past recipients. Mainly, though, it would be a great guide for UF women who want to apply and think they’re a great candidate. It would also give tips for those top five who go on to the interview portion of the application process. What are the judges really looking for?
The online component would give profiles of winners of the award in recent years, and, depending on the award’s history, from long ago. It would include photos of each recipient, a list of their accomplishments while at UF, and what they’ve been doing since they graduated. If the award has been given only once before, this online component could be equally effective with the one former winner, Adelle Fontanet.
I propose a story for this week about how each Florida school has the same spring break week for the first time in a long time. UF will share its spring break this year with all other Florida public institutions in a sharp contrast with previous years. This will impact a vast amount of students at each school that have friends attending other public institutions in the state or Florida, but will also create some serious issues for the Florida tourism industry and locations.
To first address this story, I would have my reporter take the local angle and focus on UF students and the effect of this change on them. I would first find and speak with UF students who plan to spend spring break with friends from other schools, and find out what they might be doing with this time. I would then speak with the Provost’s office at each major public institution (UF, Florida State, South Florida, Central Florida, University of Miami, etc…) to determine why the switch was made and what logic was behind the switch.
I would then take this story in another direction, and speak with various spring break vacation entities and locations. I would call Club La Vela in Panama City (the largest nightclub in the U.S.) and ask how it was preparing for the onrush of students, and inquire as to whether the manager feels more students will be coming with the change in spring breaks. I would then call Student City, a company that specializes in college-age student spring break trips, and inquire as to whether they have seen an increase in the amount of Florida students signing up for trips through Student City from previous years. If this is the case, I would ask the representative if there seem to be more groups of students from different Florida schools this year. I would then speak with Visit Florida (www.visitFlorida.com) to discuss whether there have been any discussions or rumors about issues stemming from all spring breaks in Florida being at the same time. Finally, I would also speak with Fat Tuesday bar in Miami Beach to inquire as to whether the manager there has thought of or considered the onrush that may be coming to South Beach.
Finally, I would speak with the Panama City Police Department and the Miami-Dade Police Department to inquire whether they are considering increased police forces for spring break week or if there has been any discussion about spring break safety in the wake of the week switch.
This story would be a fun story, and should appear in the weekly features section of the outlet it is to be published in. It would run about 20 inches, but have three or four photos to accompany it. These photos would be pictures of the bars or clubs interviewed, a picture of spring break parties found on AP and a graphic showing alcohol tolerances for each weight group that can be cut out and brought with each reader. This story would also lend itself well to a follow after spring break.
For online production, this story could be even more fun. It might be best served to run as a documentary video placed on an outlet’s Web site. It could be a top story under the features tab, and could feature the documentary window at the top that plays when the browser opens the page, followed by the story below the box. The documentary could have pictures of spring break trips taken and sent in by readers, and then could follow the reporter through the process of writing the story. I envision a Michael Moore-type story where each interview with each student is taped when asked about his/her spring break plans. In addition, the video would tape each phone call the reporter makes and end with a collage of video footage of the outside of each bar contacted for the story (ending with the question of will the rush be manageable?).
Colleen Bennett
For every year I have been at UF, I have wondered: “Why exactly do we have school on President’s Day?” This holiday is a federal holiday, observed by many institutions in the country, including banks. The day is in existence to honor the births of the two best-known leaders of America: Washington and Lincoln. In an institution that prides itself on educating the future of America, including possible presidents, is it disrespectful to continue to hold classes on this nation’s holiday? I would like to write a story concerning the university’s decision to remain open on this day. How did they come about this decision? How do they feel it shows respect on this holiday? Do they have much backlash from the community, students or faculty each year when they make the decision to remain open? What exactly to they take into account when they make this decision? Do they worry about how it will make them look to some who find it disrespectful? Usually a bank closing is a sign that it is a pretty significant holiday. Additionally, other services in the area, such as RTS and curbside garbage and recycling collection, remain on schedule as if this were a normal day. It makes sense for RTS to remain open as there is a need to shuffle students to campus who have classes. But, I want to understand the logic of the garbage companies. I would like to talk to UF officials such as Provost Janie Fouke and others who are in charge of creating the school year schedule. I would probably contact Steve Orlando for information regarding who to contact about this question. I would also like to talk to students and faculty to gauge their reaction to being open on the federal holiday. Additionally, I would like to interview a bank branch to understand the process for choosing to close and whether the decision is made individually or nationally. Also, I would like to interview officials from schools who decide to close on Presidents Day (perhaps an Alachua County school board member or an official from another university). I think it would be neat to have a sidebar or online interactive about the progression of Presidents Day: when it was founded, why, how it has been observed over the years, etc.), bringing us to present day and how the university feels it is justified in remaining open. Of course, as always, people like to put faces with names, and video interviews to post online would be ideal. Photo opportunities could include snapping pictures of various activities around Gainesville meant to commemorate the day, and if none are scheduled, than perhaps it would be fitting to take a picture of “life as usual” to portray the day as any other.
Week 7 Story Idea –
Recent research has shown that carbohydrates can actually help a person trying to lose weight. Many carbohydrates contain resistant starch, which is a kind of fiber that resists digestion in the body. Leslie Bonci, of the American Dietetic Association, predicts that resistant starches will be the “next hot nutrition trend.”
More than 160 studies have shown that resistant starches have many weight-loss benefits, including increasing the burning of calories and shutting down hunger hormones. They may also fight diabetes and heart disease, as well as boost the immune system.
Things to cover in the story:
– How do nutritionists feel about the new findings?
– How do dieters who originally cut out carbohydrates from their diets feel about the new study? Are they going to change their eating habits? Do they think the study is credible?
– How do the findings compare to previous thoughts regarding carbohydrates?
Sources:
– MSNBC.com – Health section (where original article came from)
o http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23189188/
– Ryanne Deitch – UF student who does not eat carbohydrates, as part of her diet plan
o Contact information: rmd910@ufl.edu
o Ask her if she would be more inclined to add carbohydrates to her diet?
o Why does she refuse to eat carbohydrates?
– Karin Kratina, Ph.D. – registered nutritionist at UF Student Health Care Center
o Contact information: 392-1161 ext. 4281
o Ask her about her opinions regarding carbohydrates and their purpose in a healthy diet.
o Also, ask about the recently discovered benefits of resistant starches and if she will relay the information to her patients.
o Other questions to ask:
What are some common views on carbohydrates?
How have carbohydrates been viewed in the weight-loss industry?
Why are carbohydrates necessary in a diet?
How can students incorporate good carbohydrates, such as resistant starches, in an effort to prevent gaining weight in college?
Other resources:
– GatorWell Health Promotion Services Web site: http://shcc.ufl.edu/gatorwell/nutrition/nresources.shtml
For the online version of the story, have links to online resources, such as those included above. Also, include the resistant starch Web site, http://www.resistantstarch.com so that readers who are interested in recipes or information can explore the new information. A sound file of the interview with the registered nutritionist might supplement the story for a better multimedia effect.
After Student Government spent so much money on campus recycling bins, and after the university created an Office of Sustainability, I propose following the efforts of those programs. I would go to the recycling plant – I bet no one knows where it is in the county. I would interview workers at the plant and ask about where they pick up the most recyclable products. I would also talk to the plant director and ask about the process of recycling.
For online packages, I would create a map that shows where the recycling plant is and I would label the spots where the most recycling is done. I would include video of inside the recycling plant and a photo slideshow of the plant.
I would also interview Dedee Dulongpre, director of the Office of Sustainability. I would want to know if the office has had to cut back on sustainability programs due to university budget cuts. Recycling or using sustainable products might cost a lot and might have suffered cuts from the budget. I would ask her how much, on average, it takes to uphold the office and the sustainability projects.
Fidel Castro stepped down from power this morning. This is a major event for Cubans, and the majority of Cubans who immigrated to the U.S. are now in Florida.
Most likely, almost all Cuban-American students at UF are second-generation and so don’t know what it’s like to have lived in Cuba, but I bet many of there parents do. I would like to interview members of CASA, the SG-sponsored Cuban-American Student Association, to find out what this news means to them, to their family in the U.S., and to any family they might have still in Cuba.
It wouldn’t hurt to also talk to people of other Latino nationalities to get their reactions, too. I’m willing to bet either CASA or a general group of Latino students are planning some kind of celebration or event to mark this occasion.
I would interview the president of CASA, CASA members whose parents came to Florida from Cuba, and Cuban-American students from Miami who can tell me about what is going on in Miami to celebrate. I would request photos from the event they’re planning and include a timeline in a sidebar to depict major dates in Castro’s rule.
The Society of Women Engineers is hosting an all-day event called “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” on Wednesday, Feb. 20 in the Reitz Union. According to the event ad on Facebook, more than 100 middle school students will be able to participate in hands-on science activities, engineering lab tours and a panel discussion. I think this would make a good preview story so that parents reading the story have time to get their child involved if interested.
I would start out by talking to the event creator, Cherona Levy. I’d like to find out why she and the Society of Women Engineers wanted to put on this event. I’d also like to talk to some of the other members of the club and find out how they first became interested in engineering, what or who influenced them and why they think girls should become interested.
Cherona Levy
954-683-6828
ig2ed.ufl@gmail.com
I would also like to find out the statistics on the number of women in the University of Florida’s College of Engineering and the ratio of females to males in the college.
I’d also like to consult a professor in the Center for women’s studies and gender research about the event, why women have previously not been prevalent in the world of science, and if the professor sees any indication of more women entering the trade.
Milagros Pena, Director
mpena@soc.ufl.edu
This story would probably work best to start out from the point of view of a member of the Society of Women Engineers with the most compelling story of how she became interested in engineering. I’d also like to talk to some of the girls who will be participating, a teacher from a participating school and the parents of a participant.
In the print version, I would include a box with the key information on the event, as well as contact information of the event coordinator. If there has been a past event similar to this one, I would include a picture from the past event. The story should run at 25-30 inches. In the online version, I would compile an attractive video of interviews with the members, parents, teachers, and the women’s studies professor.
In the movie “All the President’s Men,” editor Ben Bradlee delivers the line that sums it all up when he says to Bernstein and Woodward, “I can’t do the reporting for my reporters, which means I have to trust them. And I hate trusting anybody.” Bradlee’s inherent mistrust exemplifies the editorial values that we have been discussing in class. Bradlee is suspicious of all of Bernstein and Woodward’s information, and because of their extensive use of anonymous sources, he requires them to check and re-check their facts until they have exhausted all information outlets. Bradlee is aware that he has not only his own reputation as editor to uphold, but also the reputations of Woodward, Bernstein, and most importantly, The Washington Post itself. Although the two reporters are visibly frustrated by Bradlee’s constant hesitation to run stories or utilize sources, they trust his judgment and are ultimately rewarded with accurately uncovering one of the biggest political scandals of the century.
Oops, I accidentally posted my case study and I don’t know how to delete it…here’s my story idea:
Story idea: What is the reasoning behind UF’s new spring admission policy for incoming freshmen?
Some high school seniors who applied to UF for the 2008 school year were denied admission for fall but offered admission starting in spring 2009. What prompted this change? In the past students were offered admission beginning in the fall, offered fall admission with the stipulation that they would first complete a summer session, or denied admission altogether.
For this story, I would talk to Zina Evans, director of admissions and chairwoman of the admissions committee. Why did the UF admissions committee decide to make this change? How do they think this will affect the quality of the incoming freshman class? Do spring admissions factor into the GPA/SAT statistics used in determining a school’s national ranking? If not, was the decision to initiate spring admissions made in an attempt to boost rankings by admitting a much smaller class comprised of top applicants in the fall while holding the less impressive applicants until spring? How many students were offered admission in the fall, and how many were offered admission in the spring?
A few of my friends have younger siblings who have been given the option of enrolling in the spring, and I would talk to them. What will the students who have been offered spring admission do? Will they choose to go to other schools (especially in-state schools like FSU and UCF) rather than wait a semester before enrolling in college? If they do choose to wait for UF, what will they do during the fall semester? Will they attend community college, take the semester off or get jobs?
I would also talk to admissions officers at other public schools in Florida to find out if this is a new policy at other schools or if UF is the only school doing spring admissions.
This story would run at about 20 inches, but could be longer depending on how much information Zina Evans would give. The online story could include links to UF’s admission information Web site, as well as other relevant articles about recent efforts to improve UF’s national ranking and state budget cuts. There could also be a message board or blog where students affected by this decision could react and share their opinions.
The writer’s strike is finally over. To some, this may come as welcome news others it may not make much of a difference. Sure, we’ve seen the many news reports and demonstrations on TV. We endured a sterile “presentation” of the Golden Globes and the shortening or cancellation of some of our favorite shows (for me, that means no 24 this year) because of this. I think it is a testament to the power of the Writer’s Guild at how much it has disrupted the glitz, glamour and production of Hollywood. Despite all of this, what does this really mean?
What does it matter to the average college student? Do most students even watch TV? Had they kept up with the strike? What will actually change? Did students even notice? Does this make any difference in student schedules?
What about local affiliate stations? Will advertisers bring more money in now that, presumably, more people will be tuning in?
Sources would include a large student response, representatives from local affiliate stations, such as WCJB-TV 20 (ABC) or WOGX-TV 51 (Fox), professors in the Telecom department or the film studies program.
Length of story would be fairly brief, around 5-10 inches and could include a celebrity mug or picture from the one of the WGA protests.
For the online component, I think something could be done with an interactive chart that would display current shows that are airing new episodes, shows that have been canceled, shows that had their runs cut short and the like (I saw something similar in a Entertainment Weekly article). By hovering or clicking on a particular show, the reader could be given more information about the show, including links or video.
I recently read an article, “Flu takes its toll on campus,” by Chris Brennan on Gainesville.com, the online version of the Gainesville Sun. According to this story, the Web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that “44 states reported widespread influenza activity last week, with official notifications of nine pediatric deaths so far this year.” The site also says that “last week, the proportion of deaths in the United States attributed to pneumonia and influenza was above the “epidemic” threshold for the fifth consecutive week.” This article gave me a great idea for a story. In my opinion, college students run a high risk of contracting the flu, perhaps more so than the general public. Many of these students exhibit poor sleeping and eating habits, a higher rate of alcohol consumption, and a high level of stress. All of these factors can lead to a weaker immune system, rendering many defenseless against the fast-spreading flu. Because the virus spreads through the air when anyone who has it coughs, sneezes or speaks, and because college students are exposed to thousands of other people on a daily basis while on campus, it stands to reason that the flu might spread like wildfire once a few people contract the virus. The story I am pitching would focus on what college students can do to avoid getting the flu, what they should do if they do contract the virus, and where they can go to get it treated.
Obviously, there is a great deal of information about the flu, its symptoms, and other general information on this virus already on the Web. My story would tailor this information to teens and college-age individuals. Not all of us can get a full seven to eight hours of sleep a night, or eat three well-balanced, nutritious meals a day. For those of us who can’t, I would want to know what other ways there are of boosting one’s immune system. I would also look into what other things a person might do to try to avoid the flu, such as getting a flu shot. I would talk to the UF Student Health Center, my local physician, anyone at Shands that may be willing to discuss the epidemic, students who have contracted the flu recently (once they get better), as well as students who managed to avoid getting sick, to see if they have any other suggestions on how to stay healthy.
The main story would focus on the increased risk a college student has of catching the flu, and contain quotes from students and professional medical sources. In an online format, however, there is much more information that could be included in this package. I would provide a list of symptoms in a sidebar, a brief on the importance of rest and drinking fluids when one does have the flu, and possibly a map diagramming which areas have seen the most widespread contractions of influenza statewide (this would take a lot of research though). Additionally, I would include links to sites with further information on the flu, as well as a link to WebMD, an online medical symptom checker. Finally, I would provide a listing of local physicians, clinics and health centers, along with contact information for each, as it is inevitable that a fair amount of students will get the flu at some point in time.