1. News Brief
– Does not sacrifice accuracy for the sake of timeliness
– Sharp, attention-getting lead that underscores news story importance
– Uses inverted pyramid
– Emphasizes news elements, i.e. timeliness, nearness, impact, and prominence
– Avoids opinion unless properly attributed
– Proper diction/grammar; use of third person
2. Breaking News Coverage
– Reports as much of the who, what, where, when, why, and how as possible
– Story is in the form of a short report to get out essential facts as soon as possible
– Does not sacrifice accuracy for the sake of timeliness
– Sharp, attention-getting lead that underscores news story importance
– Uses inverted pyramid
– Emphasizes news elements, i.e. timeliness, nearness, impact, and prominence
– Avoids opinion unless properly attributed
– Proper diction/grammar; use of third person
3. Follow-Up News Coverage
– Expands upon breaking news coverage when more facts are available or a whole proper story can be written
– Clarifies the news elements, i.e. timeliness, nearness, impact and prominence
– Clarifies through research the background necessary to understand current news
– Develops an understanding of the issues/problems through interviews with varied and balanced sources
– Avoids personal opinion unless properly attributed
– Sentences, paragraphs of varied length, written clearly, concisely and vividly
– Effective use of facts/quotes from both primary and secondary sources
– Proper diction/grammar; use of third person
4. Blog
– Clearly takes the form of an analysis or opinion blog
– Clarifies through research the background necessary to understand topic
– Presents evidence/interpretation in logical sequence
– Deals with specific issue: avoids preaching, rhetoric, and cliches
– Shows sufficient thought and research
– Sentences, paragraphs of varied length; written clearly, concisely, and vividly
– Proper diction/grammar
5. Enhanced Story Package
– Helps tell a traditional story using unique, interactive elements
– Serves as a supplement to allow readers to explore data sets or other primary information in creative ways
– While the enhanced elements do not tell the whole story on their own, readers can still understand them independently
6. Podcast (Audio)
Content:
– Is there original content?
– Is there a clear message or purpose?
– Are there common production elements used for continuity?
– Is the delivery and presentation professional and appropriate for the context?
– Is there evidence of creativity in the script or production design?
Production / Audio Quality:
– Is audio clear?
– Does the voiceover compete with ambient sound or music?
– Is the music appropriate for the subject matter?
– Is the volume consistent?
7. Podcast (Video)
Content:
– Is there original content?
– Is there a clear message or purpose?
– Are there common production elements used for continuity?
– Is the delivery and presentation professional and appropriate for the context?
– Is there evidence of creativity in the script or production design?
Production / Video Quality:
– Is there obvious use of a tripod or is the video shaky? If no tripod was used, was it appropriate to shoot handheld?
– Is the color consistent? Have the shots been white-balanced?
– Are there different angles for a variety of shots? Are the shots framed well without cutting out important information?
– Do the shots have good lighting?
– Do shots “cross the line/axis”?
8. Photo Slideshow
– Is there original content?
– Is there a clear message or purpose?
– Does the package stand on its own or add something relevant to a related story?
– Is the delivery and presentation professional and appropriate for the context?
– Are the slides presented in a creative way?
9. Photo Slideshow w/ Audio
Content:
– Is there original content?
– Is there a clear message or purpose?
– Is there a strong relationship between the slides and audio?
– Does the package stand on its own or add something relevant to a related story?
– Is the delivery and presentation professional and appropriate for the context?
– Are the slides presented in a creative way?
Production / Audio Quality:
– Is audio clear?
– Does the voiceover compete with ambient sound or music?
– Is the music appropriate for the subject matter?
– Is the volume consistent?
10. Interactive Graphic
– Helps tell a traditional story using interactive graphics
– Serves as a supplement to allow readers to explore data sets or other primary information in creative ways
– The enhanced graphic may or may not tell the whole story on its own, and readers can still understand it independently