Welcome to Accent

Agenda
•Play w/ balloons
•Learns lots of stuff Please inflate your balloon
•Eat
 Balloon Rules
• Bounce them - don’t catch or hold
• Keep them in the air until the music stops
• If one lands on the ground, leave it there
 Balloon Rules
• Bounce them, don’t catch or hold
• Keep them in the air until the music stops
• If one lands on the ground, leave it there

• Let’s kick it up a notch

What’s the meaning of all this?

Time
Energy
Commitment
Flexibility
 Meet your editors
(AKA Mean Balloon Throwers)

• Karissa Rodriguez: Editor-in-Chief

• Sarah Vasquez: Assistant Editor
• Joey Gidseg: Photo Editor
• Hilary Shepherd: News Editor
• Natalee Blanchat: Campus Editor
• Elizabeth Brown: Layout Editor
• Chris Scott: Web Editor
 How to get an “assignment”
Best Way Good Way Might Work
Don’t get assigned. Get to know your editors; Sit around and wait for
Writing Pitch an idea at the check the list of homeless desperate editors to
story meetings. stories posted on the web contact you. This works
after meeting; contact your better if the editor knows
editors. who you are.
Come to the story Get to know your editors; Sit around and wait for
Photos meetings and either check the list of homeless desperate editors to
pitch an idea, or team shoots posted on the web contact you. This works
up with a writer. after meetings; contact better if the editor knows
your editors. who you are.

Come to story meetings Get to know your editors; Sit around and wait for
Art / and pitch infographics check the list of homeless desperate editors to
Graphics for packages, or make a
running graphic
graphics posted on the web
after meetings; contact
contact you. This works
better if the editor knows
coverage element. your editors. who you are.
 The story meeting
• All editors met every two weeks when the
previous issue is released to begin planning
for the next issue
• All staff are encouraged to attend
• All staff can pitch, brainstorm, or volunteer
– Pitch - You have thought through the basic angle
of coverage that YOU want to write / shoot /
design
– Brainstorm - Throw out ideas that you think
someone should cover
– Volunteer - An idea is on the board, and you
want to cover it.
 The Pitch
• The best way to work on issues you are
passionate about is to prepare and suggest.
• Include the following:
– BRIEF summary of the idea / Angle
– BRIEF summary of the info you have found
already
– Explanation of how you will research it
(Sources)
 What will be approved?
• Editors (not me) decide what goes in the issue at
the budget meeting immediately following the
story meeting. They will consider the following:
– Newsworthiness (Timely, Important, Entertaining)
– Audience appeal (Is this story right for Accent readers?
Are we the right ones to cover this?)
– Space
– Visual possibilities
• Editors may decide to run content as print and web
or web only content
 The Process
• You promise an editor that you will do something
– At the story meeting, over the phone, via e-mail, etc.
• You do it ASAP
– There are only five days between the story meeting and
deadline for most pieces
– You are encouraged to get feedback from editors before
deadline
– You may work in the field or in the office
• You get notes and revise
– Editors will have feedback for you ASAP.
– It’s a good idea to make yourself available the Monday
after deadline
• Finalized, approved content goes into production
Will all content that goes through
the process be published?

YES
In print, on the web, or both
Q:What can I do?

A: Written content,
Photos, Art
•
Written Content
The big story - This is what you traditionally think of when you think
of a newspaper story
– 250 words or more
– Based on SOLID (shoe leather) research
• Quote / fact based if objective
• Fact based if subjective
– Usually packaged w/ photo and graphics
– Has impact
• Short coverage - This is what you probably actually read in the
newspaper
– Less than 100 words
– Based on SOLID (shoe leather) research
• Quote based if objective
• Fact based if subjective
– Can accompany big stories or stand alone
– Often part of a graphic element
 Writing- The Big Story
• Research
– Form relationships with sources so they want to talk to you
– Be there
– Interview The Feature
– Research More Big News
• Inform and inspire
– Celebrate the good
– Cast light on the bad
– Important changes in readers and communities start with
big stories
Writing - short coverage
 Photos
• Photojournalism - Event coverage
– Visually tell a story in a fraction of a second
– Fill in the story with a well written, fact-rich caption
– Get candid shots, fill the frame, capture action and emotion
• Photojournalism - Environmental Portraits
– If the story focuses on a person, we need a portrait of the person
in their natural environment
– Can be candid or posed
– Capture the essence of the person
– Should have beautiful lighting
• Photo Illustrations
– Can be staged, altered, composite, or made into art
– Illustrate a concept
– Usually part of a package
Photojournalism - Events
Photojournalism - Environmental
Portraits
Photojournalism -
Photo Illustrations
 Art
• Infographics - Information presented visually
is almost always read
– Charts, maps, graphs, diagrams, lists, timelines etc.
– Should be VERY visually appealing and loaded
with facts
• Illustrations - Accompany written content
– Can be in any medium
– Should illustrate, not decorate
• Stand alone content - Editorial cartoons,
comics (single cell or strips)
 Art -Infographics
Present facts and numbers visually
Art - Illustrations
Tell the story visually
Art - Stand alone content
Use cartoons to make a point or entertain
 Multimedia
• Video
– Supports written product
– Full Package
– Ongoing podcast / vodcast
• Photo Slideshows
– Photos set to audio track
• Interactive Infographics
What do I get for doing all this work?
• That warm, mushy feeling you get when you
see someone picking up your work and
enjoying / learning from it
• Pieces for your portfolio
• A small “Thank You” payment each
semester
• Experience toward future staff positions
• Free travel!
 The portfolio based break check
• Once per semester, contributing staff members will
meet with me to review their portfolios of published
work.

– Two pieces published -$20.00

– Three pieces published - $30.00
– Four pieces published - $48.00 (20% bonus)
– Five pieces published - $60.00 (20% bonus)
– Six pieces published - $90.00 (50% bonus)
– Over six pieces - $10.00 / piece (plus bonus)

– Plus - $5.00 / piece raise after the first semester .

 Join us in Fort Worth
March 31 – April 2, 2011
• TIPA
Convention
• 20 people
who
contribute
to the first
three issues
and apply
go free!
 Important Dates
• Jan. 18 - Noon- Pitch e-mail due
• Jan. 21 - Noon – First Drafts Due to Editors
• Jan. 24 – Noon – Final Drafts Due to Editors
• Jan. 31 – First Issue hits the stands, story
meeting ????
 The assignment Karissa Rodriguez
[email protected]
-News coverage, column and
• E-mail the editors. Give them a opinion ideas, general
reason to remember you and give coverage etc.
you work. Joey Gidseg
• Include all of your contact [email protected]
-Photo ideas and assignments
information.
Chris Scott
• Pitch a great idea for something you [email protected]
want to produce. -Multimedia ideas

• Volunteer to shoot or create Have you filled out a

graphics as needed. staff application?
• Include links to or examples of
previous work. Go to theaccent.org
• Be professional but not boring. Click on “CONTACT
US > GET
INVOLVED”
 What now?
• A message from your editor
• Eat and mingle with editors
• Write your e-mail to the editor over the
weekend
• You will be contacted
• Check the website!