Midterm Grades

We spent two class periods discussing the midterm. If you don't know how you did on the midterm, it is a result of your absence and lack of immediate follow up.

In-class writing on Oct. 27th

You will receive a handout with initial filing of two parents against a school system. The system has not yet responded.

You should assume the case was filed in Oct. 27th and your 6-8 paragraph story will run on the 28th.

The story is due at the end of class and should be put in Manning Pynn’s mailbox. If the mailroom isn’t open, just ask someone at the front desk.

Manning has now taken over the class as I am on leave effective immediately. He is aware of the pitches that have been approved at denied. His email is mpynn@earthlink.net

I will be evaluating grades at the end of the semester and will be teaching PAR again in the spring.

Covering civil courts

Here is an article about civil courts with some good definitions.

Here is a link about Small Claims Courts in Florida.

Midterm reminder

Just a reminder that the midterm is today, October 15th. Good luck! There are no rescheduled exams.

On a positive note, you have a little more time before your next beat story is due.

Timelines

I recommend Dipity for making timelines. It's free and rather easy to learn. Here is a link.

Final PAR project

Final Reporting & Multi-Media Project (including multi-media)

(1) Report and write a final beat story from your community. You may use any of the P.A.R. areas: city government, schools, police, courts or budget. Your story must have at least three sources and be 600-700 words.

(2) In addition to your print story, include at least two additional story-telling elements: pictures, poll, graph, audio/video, a map, or a timeline. We will go over several of these elements in class; tutorials are also available. These additional elements should add to the storytelling and be handed in through a blog that we will developed in class. You will be evaluated on how well multi-media added to the storytelling.

Deadline: Dec. 3rd in class at the conclusion of the presentation.

An example of previous P.A.R. multi-media projects will be available through the class website.

Mapping

Maps obviously work well for stories where location is important. We went over the basics of Google maps in class. Here is a link to an overview of Google maps. Here is more help for Google maps.

Here is a link to a crime map from the Baltimore Sun.

Here is a link to a crime map from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

More Florida Criminal Justice resources

Here is a link to the Florida Association of Medical Examiners.

Here is a link to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Midterm Review

MIDTERM REVIEW
Please review readings, class handouts and lecture notes about the following topics presented in class. Remember that the PowerPoint presentations and other entries with the exact terms are on this website (http://ucfpar09.blogspot.com/), as well as references to Florida-specific concepts. The assigned readings (chapters are on the syllabus) include additional terms and PAR examples. About half of the exam is drawn from readings and half from class lectures. There will be multiple-choice and fill in the blank questions. Go over the following example questions:

• Basics of journalism and the governmental process: Which positions are appointed and which are elected? How is local government/education funded? What is the chain of command? How does one develop a neighborhood approach to a PAR beat?
• Basics of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): What is covered? What isn’t covered?
• Open Meeting laws/ Sunshine Laws: What is covered? What isn’t covered?
• Covering meetings terms and concepts: For example, how do you determine the most significant information/action? What information lacks news values?
• Covering education terms: What is Title IX? How do we measure the strength of schools? What is the difference between tenure track and non-tenure track?
• Covering local government terms: Who is in charge of local roads? Who is in charge of stoplights? What are common committees?
• Covering police terms: How are police departments organized? Who is in charge of patrols? What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony?
• Covering courts terms: What is the standard of evidence in a civil trial and a criminal trial? Who has the burden of proof in a case? What is the judicial structure in Florida?

Crime coverage review/Ch. 9

Here is Orange County Courts.

Here is Seminole County Courts.

Milwaukee J-S Court Coverage

Here's a strong in-depth look at the Milwaukee Courthouse - with some multi-media.

Court coverage (criminal focus)

Here is the link to PACER. It is explained on page 264.

More police coverage

Police beat & person of interest

To follow up on our discussion from last class, here is an article about the ethical concerns of using the term "person of interest."

Beat story 2 due

Hello. Just a reminder that beat story 2 is due today - turn in something! We have an in-class writing (police) today.

Covering Police

Here is information on the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Here is information on the Seminole County Sheriff's Department.

Here is information on the Florida Highway Patrol.

Chapter 4

Reminder for Sept. 24th

• Read Chapter 4 in your textbook

Here is information on meetings laws in Florida.

Here is information on Florida courts.

Here is information on Florida judicial records.

Here is a link on Florida's Office of Open Government.

• Register with Google – this is free.

• Create a list of schools in your beat community. Be sure to include the complete addresses of the buildings and the names of the principals of each school. Bring the list to class.

In-class Writing #2

Hello. Today is the second in-class writing. You will get handouts on the Georgia graduation rate in class today. Here is a link to information on the Adequate Yearly progress or AYP.

You will have one hour to write the brief.

Meeting Reminder

Hello. Just a reminder about your meeting brief - due by the midterm. Below is information from the class handout given out three weeks ago:

Meeting Preview/Brief:
You are expected to cover at least one school board or city council meeting. (It is in your best interest to attend both.)

For the meeting for which you are responsible, you will file a brief due by email me at voss.kimberly@gmail.com as a Microsoft Word file attachment within two hours of the end of the meeting. Clearly identify yourself in the email and the subject line. Name stories appropriately in the subject line (e.g., “Winter Park City Council Brief”). The time stamp on the email will verify that you met your deadline.

Your meeting brief (up to 6 paragraphs on the most important action/decision) should be detailed and complete. Be sure to include the full names of council or commission members and citizens who speak at meetings. Remember, your coverage of the meeting will not always end when the meeting adjourns. You may have to ask council members or speakers questions after the meeting or gather additional information. Turn in the agenda during the next class period.

Covering education

First beat story & source sheet

** Just a reminder that you need a source sheet (name/phone/email) for each of your stories so verification of sources can be made. Please staple it to your story that is due tomorrow - Thursday.

First beat story reminder

Hello. Just a reminder that your first beat story is due this Thursday. Following the reporting suggestions in your textbook and from class lectures will help you develop good story ideas. Remember that pitches need specific information (review the handout on pitches) and must be approved in advance.

Some suggestions from your readings & class:


Have you followed the reporting suggestions in the book? How much time have you spent reporting in the community? Have you met with the city manager? Have you met with the council members? Looked at the condition of the infrastructure? Looked at ADA applications? Attended meetings? Checked out city meeting minutes for the past year? Looked at the committee meetings minutes?

Education Reporting Resources

Here is a link to great organization: Education Writers Association. The page includes links to education data.

Here is a link to the Florida PTA.

Here is a link to the Florida School Board organization.

Here is the Florida Department of Education. Here is information on FCAT - including school and district scores.

Here is information on Florida chater schools.

First in-class writing

Today is our first in-class writing: meetings. You will also get the reading for next Tuesday on covering education - there is little in your textbook about the topic.

Chapter 6: City Government

Forms of City Government

There are three basic forms of local government - these are covered in chapter six.

1) Mayor-council
2) City manager-council

Here's more on a council-manager structure in Florida.

Here's a chart comparing/contrasting the two forms.

3) Commission - rarely used

Here's a link to one of the few cities that uses this form of government, Portland.

Helpful City Beat Tips

Below is some background on PAR issues that will help you understand your beat communities.

Here is a link to state-level public documents.

Here is a link to Seminole County's website.

Here's a link to Orange County's website.

Here is information on home rule in Florida. Both Orange County and Seminole County operate under home rule.

Here's a website about property taxes.

Here's a link to the Florida City and County Management Association. It's a professional organization not a governmental agency.

Here's a website to check on professional licenses in your community.

Here's tips to writing about budgets.

Neighborhood Approach to Reporting

FOIA Introduction

Major Assignments

Here is a link to description of your major assignments. We'll discuss them in class and you will get a hard copy. The deadlines are on your syllabus.

Your Beats

Winter Park

Andrew Kennedy
Jason Crook
Jessica Sunday

Edgewood
Jennifer Rios
Justine Griffin

Sanford
Molly Hays
William Richards


Oviedo
Natalie Richards
Jeff Weiner
Robyn Sidersky

Winter Garden
Joseph Aughtman
Mary Cristobal


Winter Springs
Bianca Fortis
Megan Garard
Mark Schaub

Your beat materials

Here is a good handout on beat reporting.

Here is another good handout.

Chapter 2: Your Beat

Chapter 1

Welcome!

Welcome to Public Affairs Reporting. Here is a link to the syllabus given out in class.

Over the next few class periods, you will receive your beat community - a self-governing city in Orange or Seminole County. You will cover this community for the rest of semester and pitch story ideas about what is happening. You will be competing with two classmates on these pitches. We will go over examples in class.

Your goal is to put public affairs reporting into practice. I am available for any questions along the way - up until late October.