Ms. Leaphart, 2015-16
Room 112, 324-2533
NEWSPAPER: THE CAPITAL HIGH PAW PRINT
Welcome to the Capital High Paw Print. Get ready to uncover breaking news, capture stories on camera, express yourself in a regular column (or blog), design attention-grabbing front pages (or tweets or websites!), and interview local sports and arts superstars. As Paw Print staff members, you’ll take on every aspect of newspaper production from the reporting, to the photography, to the selling of advertisements and the layout.
You will be required to spend time outside of class, (including weekends and evenings), chasing stories, snapping photos and pushing deadlines. The class will explore both print and online methods of investigating and publishing the news. I’m looking forward to a great year of making the headlines!
The Paw Print is unlike other classes in that you will be involved in the day-to-day tasks of running a publication. You’ll gain hands-on experience working for the Paw Print, and in most cases you’ll choose your own assignments. The look and content of the paper will depend on who we have on staff, their interests and talents. Much of the early portion of the year will be spent trying to decide what kind of paper you want to print. Start looking around at other publications that you like (or dislike) and coming up with some ideas.
Materials:
Notebook and writing utensils: You will use a notebook and writing utensil in the newsroom each day to take notes and brainstorm for stories. As reporters outside of school, you’ll want to have both on hand for all interviews, events or meetings.
School Equipment: The Paw Print has a variety of tools that will be available to you for use in creating the paper. Over the course of the year, you may check out equipment for reporting or layout. You must keep these tools in your possession at all times, care for them appropriately and check them back into the newsroom immediately after use.
Expectations at the Paw Print:
Above all else, be respectful. I expect open-minded, kind, and tasteful behavior in classand in print.
Grades: Your quarter grade will be based on your success at meeting each week’s deadlines (either for a draft of a story, posting of stories/photos, selling of advertisements and laying out pages). Earning an A in this class will require you to be a punctual, detail-oriented reporter and a collaborative, dependable team player. You’ll have to step outside your comfort zone, be ready to learn new things and conquer your fear of talking with strangers!
Besides meeting deadlines, your other responsibility is to do first-hand reporting on your assignments!This will push you to look locally for your stories, and think creatively when reporting on issues that are statewide, national, or global in scope.
Come to class prepared: You will need to bring your notebook and a writing utensil to the newsroom every day. Depending on the day you will need to have copies of assigned handouts and drafts of articles in order to participate in class. Arriving to class without the proper materials will lower your grade.
Homework: Over thecourse of the year you will work on a variety of assignments that relate directly to publishing the Paw Print. Tasks will range from reporting on school events, to blogging, to updating a calendar, to taking photos, selling ads and laying out a newspaper page. A successful school newspaper depends on all of you completing your assigned interviews, ad sales, reporting, graphic design and layout on time. If you have questions or concerns about completing an assignment on time, please talk with me in advance.
In addition, I will sometimes assign you to read and respond to outside pieces of journalism. These readings will help you to learn the styles, techniques and structures of great journalistic writing.
Absences: Publication deadlines will not change due to individual absences, so you’ll have to keep up with your assigned articles even when you’re not in class. Be in close communication with me and with fellow Paw Print staff members when you are away.
Tardies: When the first bell rings you need to be in the room and ready to roll. Otherwise, you’re tardy.
Food and Drink: Drinking water from a container with a secure lid is acceptable.No food or drinks near the Paw Print computers and keyboards!
Inquiry: The most important rule of the Paw Print is to be curious about your surroundings; Open your eyes and ears and you will find stories everywhere!