Summer 2013
Dear Advanced Journalism Students,
I am so excited to have you join the AJNP staff this fall, and I hope you will find this summer’s project an interesting way to
get ready for next year. This summer’s project will help you do just that! This summer you will write an article – perhaps
inspired by something you read in a daily paper or perhaps covering a newsworthy event at school or in town – that we will
use for our first issue of the year or be able to keep on file for use throughout the semester.
Also, please take note of the following mandatory dates. We will be meeting as a whole staff at these times to prepare us
for our upcoming year. Please check your email throughout the summer for further information.
August 15 (10am – 3pm) –Back To School workshops (*editors, please meet at 9am)
August 16 (9am – 3pm) – continuation of workshops and planning for September issue
Finally, if you are interested in traveling with the staff for the annual National Scholastic Press Association’s fall
convention, you may want to start your financial planning. This year’s convention is in Boston (November 14-17). Mrs.
Stanton and Mrs. Boyas, yearbook advisers, and I will announce more information regarding participation and exact costs
when classes resume this fall, however, similar trips have cost about $550-750, in case you want to begin saving. Each
staff is limited to 7 participants, and we will discuss the requirements once the staff is together again in the fall.
If you have any questions or concerns about your summer project, feel free to contact me. I will check email regularly this
summer, or you can call/ text me if you have a pressing issue or concern. You can also contact your section editor, your
Editor-in-Chief, Sara Pardej, or your Managing Editor, Kat Pauli.
I hope you enjoy this preparation for your AJNP experience and you have a wonderful and safe summer!
Sincerely,
Ms. Wagner
carolyn.wagner@lz95.org
Article Requirements
*Follow the requirements of a standard Features Rubric
A featurized story idea “soft” enough to be run any time during first semester
At least 3 quality sources, one of which must be an expert; only use print or online sources for backgrounding
Conversational quotes that demonstrate in-depth interviews; quotes from primary source should appear frequently
At least one quality sidebar that complements the story and does not merely repeat information
Contact information for all sources, including phone numbers and email addresses (Since we do not know when we
will be publishing these stories, we need to easily be able to contact sources to verify information prior to publication.)
Summer Project Instructions
Choose a featurized story idea that is “soft” enough that it can be run any time during first semester; don’t choose
anything too narrow or time-sensitive. You may write for any section you choose, although I encourage you to write for
“your” section for practice.
Follow these important steps and deadlines to guarantee good results and a successful grade.
(over)
1. Choose your story idea before leaving for summer break.
 Talk with your editor, the EIC, or the ME to discuss your planned article and “brainstorm” angles and
sources if you’re unsure how to begin.
 Log your idea on the sign-up sheet in the journalism lab. Provide details about your topic, angle, and
intended sources.
 You will be able to see what everyone else has chosen to write about, so do not duplicate articles or
topics.
2. Contact sources and set up interviews. Conduct live, person-to-person interviews. Please do not merely email/
facebook/ IM/ text your sources; remember what you have learned about having conversations. Because it may
be hard to contact teachers or coaches during the summer, you may contact them via email to introduce yourself
and set up a time to conduct the interview. If necessary, you may do phone interviews. Please use integrity and
common sense – use live, qualified sources and have quality conversations!
3. Write and upload your D1 – due August 2. When you complete D1, upload it to your Google Docs and make
sure to share it with your editor, the ME, the EIC, and Wagner. If you do not share the document, we cannot see it
or give you crucial feedback and revision input. Your section editor will provide feedback on your D1 by August 6.
4. Revise and upload your D2 – due August 9. Upload your D2 to Google Docs and make sure to share it with
your editor, the ME, the EIC, and Wagner. The ME and EIC will provide feedback on your D2 by August 13.
5. Revise, revise, revise. Get your article ‘publication ready.’ Please have an editor or a peer read your article a
third time if you feel you need the feedback.
6. Bring your final, revised, polished article to BTS – August 15. Bring a digital copy of the article and a hard
copy of your article. Attach the appropriate rubric and turn in your article at the start of BTS. Your article will be
graded during BTS and will be returned to you for final revisions before it can run in Bear Facts.
Plan to take photos to accompany your story! (Remember, you need a minimum of 50 photographs for any photo
assignment. Talk to your section editor, the EIC, the ME, or Wagner if you need ideas for what to photograph.)
Remember, you must complete this project and hit the assigned deadlines. Failure to do so may result in a zero for
your first assignment of the year and may jeopardize your continuation in AJ this fall. As you know, articles and the
accompanying drafts / deadlines are worth significant points; the summer project is no exception. Typically the summer
project is worth 150 points.