MSTD 204 Radford University
News reporting class wiki
BEATS -- Groups with four students each will rotate into a new beat each month on the 15th. You will write two stories per month per beat, except in the first month, where only one is required.
To plan beat coverage --
- Read up on what's been done before. Get an idea of the whole field.
- Find the sources especially the scheduling and records handling people
- Get the schedule of coming events
- Make sure someone from your group can cover all important upcoming events
Story ideas --
| Week |
POLICE |
CITY HALL |
BUSINESS / ENVIRONMENT
|
RU, FACULTY / SGA |
SPORTS |
Jan 14 -
Feb 15 |
Hall *
Burnahm
Parker
|
Lafon
Beisel
Ward
Grosshans
|
Henry
Greenfield
Nailer
Durst
|
Adeniji
Lefler
Deal
Brown
|
Spurlock
Shaver
Taylor
Sperry
|
|
Feb 15 -
March 15
|
Ward
Lefler
Sperry |
|
Burnham
Adjenii
Deal
Brown |
Henry
Nailer |
Grosshans
Lafon
GReenfield
|
| March 15 - end of April |
|
|
|
|
|
Cops: Crime in the city -- Read the latest annual report and develop questions based on it. (EG- detail complaints, detail rise in crime in schools, what positive events led to commendations and awards, etc). Obtain weekly crime reports and map the locations and types of offenses. Then show it to the departments (city and university) and have them discuss the patterns.
City Hall: Budget analysis -- Where is the city of Radford spending more than average, and where less than average. Use the Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts files to point up highlights.
Business & Environment -- Downtown Merchants Association, New River Sierra Club, Radford EIC etc.
How many businesses have opened and closed downtown? Why?
Trains traveling through the Radford rail yard carry what kinds of materials?
Why is there a mountain of RR ties dumped in east Radford? Who is responsible? How dangerous is that?
Faculty/ staff / SGA: Terrorism training was mandatory for RU employees this fall. What was it about?
Housekeeping -- Nobody pays much attention to them, but they are overworked, underpaid state employees
Sports -- Dont just cover games. Cover the big questions too -- How is Radford doing with Title 9 compliance? How much money does womens basketball bring in, compared to men's basketball? (See Va. Auditor of Public Accounts). Check out "hilltopers" -- http://radford.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=515419268803&oid=24180585680
Also check out http://datapoint.apa.virginia.gov/index.cfm
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