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Incorporate everything you guys have learned into a REAL-WORLD project that will help you
develop your skills AND offer valuable, important, and interesting information to the
community.

         
    
    !

im Double-checking facts. GETTING IT RIGHT is the most important thing you do. It is the
cornerstone of your credibility and your integrity.
im using transparency to tell your readers what you know/don͛t know . Transparency helps
your readers decide what to think.
im using social media to report the story AND to push content. How can you use these new
tools in a way that keeps the core values of journalism intact?
im Good interviewing techniques
im „inding and using data/information
im Good reporting techniquesʹ being a fearless, passionate reporter who isn͛t afraid to ask
the tough questions.
im ÷hotos
im Pideo
im govering a beat; beat blogging

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1.m ë    # „ind an event taking place in Memphis and/or on campus that fits in
with your beat. You Mu T attend this event and have a story, a photo or video, and you
Mu T Tweet at least twice about the event. I will edit the story before it goes on the
blog. There are no length requirements, but it should have two sources.
2.m   
 . You must have one good strong story with three to five sources,
an idea you came up with yourself. You͛ve been thinking about this blog all semester.
What is the BE T story idea you͛ve got for your beat? This story Mu T have some visual
element. I will edit this before it goes on the blog.
3.m g . You Mu T comment on at least one other students͛ blog in our class. ÷lease
note whose blog you commented on and which post in your memo. I will also give extra
points to anybody who GET comments on their blog. ÷lease note the number of
comments you received on your blog in the memo.
 .m   $# In the memo, describe to me what you have done to get the word
out about your blog.
5.m à %     In your memo, list your three best sources of story ideas in
your blog and tell me WHY they are the best sources. The source could be a person, a
publication, a blog, a newsletter, a Twitter account, etc.
6.m •ë•# The memo is PERY IM÷ORTANT. In the memo, you will LI T all of the things
you͛ve done to make your blog the best beat blog possible. Explain to me exactly how
you have fulfilled the requirements spelled out above. Then, THINK gRITIgALLY about
your work. What did you do well? What are you most proud of? How did you display
good journalism values in your work? What might you do better next time? What
challenges did you encounter?

&  

1.m Getting it right ʹ errors are going to cost you a MAJOR grade deduction. I want you to
sweat it.
2.m Effort. Your willingness to go the extra mile and approach the project with a little
passion ʹ e.g. doing a good job not only for your grade, but because you take pride in
doing good work. This is a ÷uBLIg project ʹ other people will be able to read it, not just
me. Therefore I expect you to represent yourself and your school well ʹ and if you have
some kind of problem or concern, to communicate about it rather than just fading off
into the night.
3.m Quality of your reporting ʹ your ability to find stuff out, even if it͛s the kind of stuff that
people would prefer you not know.
.m Good writing and grammar/A÷ style. Always important.

  

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1.m Getting it right ʹ errors are going to seriously cost you a MAJOR grade deduction. I want
you to sweat it.
2.m Effort. Your willingness to go the extra mile and approach the project with a little
passion ʹ e.g. doing a good job not only for your grade, but because you take pride in
doing good work. This is a ÷uBLIg project ʹ other people will be able to read it, not just
me. Therefore I expect you to represent yourself and your school well ʹ and if you have
some kind of problem or concern, to communicate about it rather than just fading off
into the night.
3.m Quality of your reporting ʹ your ability to find stuff out, even if it͛s the kind of stuff that
people would prefer you not know.