Revised Fall 2014
SECTION REPORTER GUIDELINES
FOR OUTSTANDING SECTION REPORTER APPLICATION
Along with this guideline, you will find an application for Outstanding Section Reporter, sponsored by the Illinois
Agri-News. Five Outstanding Section Reporters will be selected for recognition at the State FFA Convention and
will serve on the Convention Press Corps. The application and samples of your work during your term of office
must be received at the Illinois Association FFA Office by May 1st. In completing the application, be as thorough as
possible. If something is unusual or exceptional add a short explanation. NOTE: You may duplicate pages of this
application if you need more space. Your application will be returned to you.
Supportive Information
You may attach no more than twelve (12) items of supportive information (photos, news articles, newsletters, CD,
screenshots of a website page, Facebook page, or any other internet outlets, etc.) to this application. Descriptive
captions are limited to 50 words or less.
 Each photo will count as one item.
 Each sample news release will count as one item.
 Each news article and/or picture with caption from a newspaper will count as one item.
 Each audio and/or videotape will count as one item.
 Each CD will count as one item
 Each newsletter or other promotional pieces such as a section award winners booklet or section fair report
count as one item.
 Scrapbooks will not be accepted as supportive information and should not be sent with your application.
The Selection Committee is looking for:
-
Thoroughness and completeness of the reporting effort. Reporters should have reported a variety and large
number of FFA events and activities.
-
Evidence to back up your numbers. Numbers look good, but can you support them?
-
Articles and reporting efforts that are done by you.
-
Coverage that is accessible to you. Radio and TV coverage are important IF you have reasonable access to
stations.
-
The reporters who did the best job of reporting the section FFA news.
Refer to the following definitions for the chart on page 3.
Before the event- An article written before an event, including promotional articles or advertisements for a fundraiser or other event.
After the event- This article will usually convey results of a contest or other section event. Usually most news
articles are of this type.
Feature- An article written featuring a member, chapter or a unique part of your section. Included here could be an
editorial, officer highlight or historical information.
1 | Page
Revised Fall 2014
Outstanding Section FFA Reporter Application
2014
Fill in the appropriate information (use the tab key to go from one area to another) and submit the completed
report, along with samples of your work to; Illinois FFA Center, 3221 Northfield Drive, Springfield, IL 62702. The
report and samples must be in the Illinois FFA Center by May 1.
Name
Parent’s
Address
Town
Zip
Chapter
Section 1
Email address:
Facebook - url:
Section website address:
Advisor (s)
Your Age 14
Select your year in school
Freshman
1. Do you have a list of the chapter reporters in your section and their addresses?
a.
Yes
No
2. Did you attend the STAR Conference?
Yes
No
3. Did you attend the Communications Summit this year?
Yes
No
4. Did you meet with the chapter reporters in your section at the section Leadership Training School?
a.
Yes
No
5. Did you meet with the chapter reporters in your section at any time other than the section
Leadership Training School?
a.
Yes
No
If so, please explain.
6. Do you have an up-to-date list of all contacts at local radio and television stations and newspapers?
a.
Yes
No
7. How many newspapers did you submit news releases to?
8. How many radio spots did you do this year?
9. How many Public Service Announcements did you submit to TV/Radio stations this year?
10. How many section newsletters did you publish/post?
(submit a copy of each issue)
Distribution List:
State FFA Office/Officers
Media Friends
Internet
Section FFA members
Friends of FFA
Other:
11. How many times did you send newsletters or news releases to the Illinois FFA Center for the New
Horizons magazine?
12. Did you put together a section scrapbook?
Yes
No
2 | Page
Revised Fall 2014
MEDIA COVERAGE
Include all material submitted/posted.
Date




Topic
(List all that apply)
BE = Before Event
AE = After the Event
F = Feature article
All = All of the above
Type of Media
(List all that apply)
 N= Newsletter
 P= Print
 PC = Photo Contest
 R = Radio
 S = Social
 TV = Television
 All = All of the above







Audience
(List all that apply)
A= Alumni
F = Foundation
Donors
GP = General Public
M= Members
P= Parents
T= Teachers
All – All of the above
Example*
BE, AE - National FFA Week *
N, P, S*
GP, M*
Example*
AE = Section 16 Soils CDE*
P, S*
GP, M, T *
3 | Page
Revised Fall 2014
MEDIA COVERAGE
Include all material submitted/posted.
Date




Topic
(List all that apply)
BE = Before Event
AE = After the Event
F = Feature article
All = All of the above
Type of Media
(List all that apply)
 N= Newsletter
 P= Print
 PC = Photo Contest
 R = Radio
 S = Social
 TV = Television
 All = All of the above







Audience
(List all that apply)
A= Alumni
F = Foundation
Donors
GP = General Public
M= Members
P= Parents
T= Teachers
All – All of the above
Example*
BE, AE - National FFA Week *
N, P, S*
GP, M*
Example*
AE = Section 16 Soils CDE*
P, S*
GP, M, T *
4 | Page
Revised Fall 2014
Describe your social media efforts to promote FFA in your Section.
Click here to enter text.
What form or type of media did you use this year that you thought was most important in
your Section reporting efforts? Why?
Click here to enter text.
What did you gain from the experience of being Section Reporter?
Click here to enter text.
5 | Page