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