Marshall story ideas

Story Idea #1- Something that needs to be covered
Student Mental Health/Anxiety

Story Mission and need (exigence):
More students seem to be struggling with anxiety and/or depression.

Why report it now? (news value):
Teacher are not equipped how to support them and students should be advocating for themselves or getting assistance

Essential Questions (what must be answered?):

What does anxiety feel like?

How much has it increased?

Is it impacting a student’s grades/attendance?

How do we currently support students?

What are the signs?

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

Social workers

Past students or current students

County Mental Health Board

Local therapists

INK Foundation

Potential issues with sources and how to solve them?:

Students might not be comfortable providing identities

The actual number of students would be difficult to get

Medium/media to best tell the story? Why this or these choices?:
An article with maybe an illustration or audio story that could depict what it feels like to be anxious in school

Depending on the media used, what visuals would you suggest?:
Maybe a photo illustration of anxiety with thought bubbles around a silhouette.

Range of story angles, supporting materials:
Students coping, social workers treating, resources

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

Maybe illustrate the increase in students with anxiety with a chart or graph

List of causes or concerns that make student anxious

Coping strategies

Triggers

Checklists, charts, graphs

List of resources

From info gathering to presentation, what legal, ethical, and social responsibility questions might you face and what are some ways they might be handled?:
HIPPA, student privacy, possibly trivializing an issue, creating a bullying opportunity, insensitive comments – be aware of word choice, use of subjects, informed consent for interviews and details.

Other questions, points, approaches or media:
Could an audio piece that dramatizes an internal dialogue enhance the story for readers? Will people be willing to share stories and go on the record?

 

Story Idea #2- Something we wanted to do
Path to US Citizenship

Story Mission and need (exigence):
Students are ignorant about the immigration process.

Why report it now? (news value):
It is an issue that is dividing the country. Students have strong opinions and make inappropriate jokes.

Essential Questions (what must be answered?):

How long does it take to become a citizen?

What is a green card?

What types of restrictions do you have when waiting for a green card?

What are the requirements for citizenship?

Does it matter what country you are from?

Has the process changed in the last few years?

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

Research the path for citizenship

Find families who have applied for citizenship

County immigration resources

Immigration judge

Potential issues with sources and how to solve them?:

Needs to be more than one story.  Kids might be more accepting of Polish immigration as opposed to a Mexican immigration story

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

Online with video/audio to help connect to the subject.

It will be more than one story.

First focus on the actual process and use infographics

Then add profiles with personal stories

Depending on the media used, what visuals would you suggest?:
Timeline for the process, family photos, chart of requirements, sample citizenships questions or an interactive quiz with questions – Could you pass?

Range of story angles, supporting materials:
Feature, informative, interviews

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

An interactive timeline, online quiz, charts

From info gathering to presentation, what legal, ethical, and social responsibility questions might you face and what are some ways they might be handled?:
Make sure subjects have a visa or green card. Be sure to have informed consent.

Other questions, points, approaches or media:
How can I put faces to the issues?

Story Idea #3- Social media only

Walkabout Wednesdays on Instagram

Story Mission and need (exigence):
Highlight interesting students/activities/events in the building or ask a question of the day

Why report it now? (news value):
Add more student voices and perspectives to our coverage

Essential Questions (what must be answered?):

What is the goal of this feature?

How do you find subjects to feature?

Sources to use, live and non-live (expert, authoritative, knowledgeable, bozo):
Members of the student body

Potential issues with sources and how to solve them?:
A student may not want to be featured.  Have alternate or backup stories/subjects.

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

Instagram, it needs to be a quick turn around and that is where our program gets the most views

Depending on the media used, what visuals would you suggest?:
We might create a filter for the feature

Range of story angles, supporting materials:
Maybe ask students for suggestions or nominations

How will the various information pieces be visually, alternatively presented?:
Photo of subject

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 will disable comments for these personality features so they don’t get trolled.  We had an issue last year where we had to delete comments.

Other questions, points, approaches or media:
Could we include sound bytes or multiple images/collage in a post?

 

Story Idea #4- Institutional idea
New teacher feature

Story Mission and need (exigence):
Students want to know about the background of new faculty members.

Why report it now? (news value):
We have a favorite Health teacher who left the district and students are worried about who is replacing him.

Essential Questions (what must be answered?):

Where did you teach before?

Why did you want to teach here?

Where did you go to college?

What are some expectations or questions about the school or students?

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

Potential issues with sources and how to solve them?:
They might have nothing to share, what are some more interesting questions you could ask them?  Try to come up with questions that connect to their content area.  Give teachers the questions beforehand so they can be prepared for the interview.

Medium/media to best tell the story? Why this or these choices?:
Online story for the first post of the school year.

Depending on the media used, what visuals would you suggest?:
If there are multiple teachers, we can create a special photo treatment and possible design for the feature.

Range of story angles, supporting materials:
After we do the new teachers, maybe we can continue coverage including other support staff that usually don’t get attention.

How will the various information pieces be visually, alternatively presented?:
Fast Facts, Bio sidebars, Q&As or pull quotes

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

Be sure to ask appropriate questions of staff and faculty

Provide questions beforehand

Other questions, points, approaches or media:
Possible audio recordings, collection or highlights