Goode story ideas

#1  Story Idea:

Schools modify traditions, clubs and sports to allow for more gender inclusion.

Story Mission and Need:

The NAIS Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism revealed that we have too many activities/events/groups which are not gender inclusive. (Cheer only for girls, wrestling for boys, homecoming king/queen, etc.) Our school is supposed to address the problems identified by the AIM survey. 

Why report it now?

The AIM report came out, and students are starting to resent the boundaries currently in place regarding gender. Trans students are also challenging uniform policy. (It is easier for trans girls, but trans boys are not allowed to wear the uniform skirts)

Essential questions:

How have schools modified traditions to allow for more gender inclusion?

Sources to use, live and non-live (expert, authoritative, knowledgeable, bozo):

Diversity director for NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools, GSA adviser (Genders and Sexualities Alliance), affected current and former students (former boy who wanted and was qualified to be a football cheerleader but wasn’t allowed to join the squad), coaches and advisers of activities that would be impacted, principal, athletic director

Potential issues with sources and how to solve them?

Some trans students have parents who are not supportive and would object to their child being included in the story

Some administrators do not want to “stir the pot” and want things to stay as they are, and some coaches/advisers are adamantly opposed to any changes relating to gender.

Medium/media to best tell the story? Why this or these choices?

Longform article in the newsmagazine because you need the space to fully flesh out the current problem, student/adult desires and concerns, and full examination of other schools who have initiated more gender inclusive policies

Depending on the media used, what visuals would you suggest?

We have some things which have become more gender inclusive (girl on 4th grade intramural wrestling team, boy on basketball cheer squad) which could be pictured; chart with icons representing all groups which are not gender inclusive; infographic of survey results

Range of story angles, supporting materials

Opinion piece on each side of the issue (fine with things as is, someone who wants things changed); sidebar of famous people who have participated in activities for the opposite gender

How will the various information pieces be visually, alternatively presented?

Infographic, sidebar, Q&A, survey results

From info gathering to presentation, what legal, ethical and social responsibility questions might you face and what are some ways they might be handled?

Privacy of students and their families re: gender identity and sexuality – communication with SPLC and administration; written permission from students and parents to use their stories 

#2 Story Idea:

Lessons learned from service learning activities can be used to design future service learning opportunities.

Story Mission and Need:

We’ve tried different things to get more real participation in service learning, but some new opportunities seem to attract more “lazy” participation which is what we’re trying to avoid.

Why report it now?

New rules for service hours started last year and a new app for keeping record of student participation. We’ve just finished our full year under these new regulations.

Essential questions

Has the service app and hour requirements helped make service learning more meaningful?

Sources to use, live and non-live (expert, authoritative, knowledgeable, bozo)

Two faculty heads of service learning, student leaders of Service Leadership Board, students who used app to count service hours, students who volunteered at Horizons and witnessed a poor use of volunteer hours, leaders of area non-profits who make use of student volunteers, faculty directors of service learning programs at other schools

Potential issues with sources and how to solve them?

Student may not want to be honest about their hours, especially if they were dishonest or didn’t really participate in volunteering. We could run an anonymous survey and share those results. We could also used the data summaries from the app as official record and see if the survey results are corroborated or not.

Medium/media to best tell the story? Why this or these choices?

Long form news magazine story will allow for the full examination of other service learning programs and source stories.

Depending on the media used, what visuals would you suggest?

Photos of app data, pictures of students volunteering, infographic comparing survey to service app data

Range of story angles, supporting materials

Is the app effective in driving more authentic participation? Are students still lying or scamming their hours? Are some programs offering “easy” hours and not making use of volunteers? How does our service learning program compare to those of other schools? Is there a good way to measure service learning?

How will the various information pieces be visually, alternatively presented?

Infographic, photos, Q&A

From info gathering to presentation, what legal, ethical and social responsibility questions might you face and what are some ways they might be handled?

We are not legally allowed to use any photos of children who do not go to our school, so students being helped by volunteers may only be shown from the back.

#3 Story Idea:

Students GO BIG on homecoming.

Story Mission and Need:

Our homecoming coverage has focused on the game and the parade, but there are many other pieces which aren’t normally covered.

Why report it now?

By going big, we will cover more of what is going on and increase our coverage.

Essential questions

How did you “go big” during homecoming? What are the different ways students/the school go big?

Sources to use, live and non-live (expert, authoritative, knowledgeable, bozo)

Club, team, and service leaders, students who participate in build day, costume days, the principal, the deans

Potential issues with sources and how to solve them?

Identifying the best costumes not the most popular students, for example

Medium/media to best tell the story? Why this or these choices?

Social media: Use a hashtag #gobighoco to track photo submissions, IG story polls to vote on best costumes, use Twitter and IG to showcase various ways students go big

Depending on the media used, what visuals would you suggest?

Selfies, polls, surveys

Range of story angles, supporting materials

Crowdsourced pictures, posts, videos

How will the various information pieces be visually, alternatively presented?

Video, stills, GIFs

From info gathering to presentation, what legal, ethical and social responsibility questions might you face and what are some ways they might be handled?

Mindful selection of an inclusive group of students doing a wide range of activities