Editorial Prompt

This article from Florida is a perfect way to engage your young writers in school issues.  Student editors forget to cover school board meetings, teachers unions and district issues, unless it directly effects their campus.  Have the staff or a beginning journalism class read the article below and write an opinion piece.  then encourage them to seek current issues within their district that need attention or explanation.

Butterfly Article

Yearbook Coverage Idea

A book I viewed recently followed the day in the life of a desk.  The editors selected one desk in an English class and profiled every student assigned to that desk throughout the day.  I'm always telling my reporters that every student has a story.  This is a great way to select random students and challenge your reporters to find the story each one has.

Tweentribune.com

Another contest for your staffs to enter is at tweentribune.com.  The prompt is "How has techonlogy made the world a better place?"  The word limit is 100.  Deadline is January 15, so check it out quickly.   The overall winner after voting receives $500.  Runners up receive $100.

Reynolds Institute

hsj.org/reynolds is the link to learn more about the amazing Reynolds High School Journalism Institute.  The two week program is available for continuing education hours.  Advisers learn about media ethics, 1st Amendment issues, leadership development, critical thinking, etc....  this is the perfect opportunity for new advisers or teachers launching student media at their schools.  Deadline is March 1 for applications.

Check it out!

What If...

What if you, the adviser, never returned from winter break?  What if the editor quit? What if the photographer computer memory was erased?

These worst case scenarios are necessary for staff organization.  Could anyone on your staff, whether yearbook or newspaper, pick up where you left off?  Does each yearbook section editor have an organized computer file system that anyone could locate?  Do the photographers have their most important images backed up on a flash drive?

Forney High School is now living without their adviser.  Joy Wood unexpectedly passed away over the Christmas holiday.  What if your staff had to move forward without you?  Do your yearbook editors know the company rep and how to reach them?  Do the newspaper editors know how to upload files to the printing company or to the online edition?

Use this week to organize or reorganize.  Tragic circumstances can happen at any time to any staff.  Be prepared.  Practice these worst case scenarios and implement a system that maintains the performance level of you staff, no matter who or what is missing.

Prayers and condolences to the Forney High School staffs and the Wood family.