Overview
Midterm Project: Local News Story
Local news plays a vital role in keeping our community informed and connected. Whether it's the rise in housing costs, environmental concerns like air quality, or ongoing public safety reforms, local issues directly impact our neighbors' daily lives. By focusing on these events and challenges, local news stories help give voice to community members and facilitate public dialogue.
Reporting on what’s happening locally is crucial because it brings attention to stories that matter most to residents. Unlike national news, local stories provide personal context, fostering greater connection and understanding among neighbors. Furthermore, local journalism holds leaders accountable, informs public decision-making, and ultimately empowers citizens to take part in shaping their community's future. For this midterm project, students will have the opportunity to take on the role of local journalists, exploring and reporting on the issues and events that make Salt Lake City the community it is today.
Assignment Details
Objective: Create a compelling local news story focusing on a current issue or news-worthy event affecting our local community. This project is intended to develop skills in research, interviewing, and writing for a general audience while adhering to ethical journalistic standards.
1. Topic Selection
- Choose a Newsworthy Topic: Select a topic that has a significant impact on our local community or represents a timely issue. Possible topics include:
- Community Policy or Government Change: A new law or policy that affects local schools, transportation, housing, or community safety. (Pro tip: A good start can be directly from the Utah State Legislature > Bills > 2025 Bills to see what is going on in our state).
- Social or Cultural Events: Festivals, protests, charity events, or local celebrations.
- Public Safety or Health Issues: Pollution concerns, a rise in crime rates, or public health campaigns.
- Business Openings or Closures: Impact of new businesses or the closure of significant local establishments.
- Human Interest Stories: An individual or group making a difference in the community, a local hero, or someone with an unusual hobby or achievement.
- Ensure the topic is relevant, timely, and directly affects or interests local readers. Aim for a subject that has enough depth to be explored in detail.
2. Research and References
- Include Credible Sources of Information: Gather detailed information to understand the broader context of the issue or event. Use at least three credible sources, such as:
- Government Reports: Official statistics, public records, and municipal announcements.
- Credible News Outlets: Reports from established, trusted local or national news organizations.
- Expert Opinions: Statements from experts, such as university professors, community leaders, or industry specialists, relevant to the chosen topic.
- Source Credibility: Evaluate the credibility of each source, ensuring it is authoritative, unbiased, and up-to-date. Cite your sources properly.
3. Interviews
- Conduct at least one interview for your story: Your news story must include direct quotes and perspectives from at least one interviewee:
- Interview can be with a stakeholder, witness, expert, or representative. Speak with someone directly affected by or involved in the story. This could be a resident experiencing the effects of a policy change, an attendee at a community event, or a small business owner impacted by economic shifts. Or speak with someone with in-depth knowledge who can provide context, such as an academic, local government official, policy analyst, or community organizer. Interview Preparation: Develop a list of 5-10 open-ended questions that allow interviewees to express their thoughts and provide detailed insights. Make sure to:
- Ask open-ended questions like “How has this issue affected you?” instead of “Has this affected you?” to encourage detailed responses.
- Take notes carefully or record the interviews (with permission) for accuracy in quoting.
- Cite your interview sources accordingly.
4. Story Requirements
- Length
- Minimum 1,500 words
- Format
- Times New Roman typeface
- 12-point font size
- 1" margins
- Double-spaced
- Structure:
- Headline: Write a concise headline that grabs attention and summarizes the core of the story in 10-15 words.
- Lead Paragraph: Include the “5 W’s” (Who, What, When, Where, Why) in the opening paragraph to quickly inform the reader about the essential details. The lead should hook the audience, encouraging them to read more.
- Body: Provide context and expand upon the story’s key points. Use:
- Quotes from Interviews: Incorporate quotes that add depth and personality to your story.
- Supporting Information: Include relevant statistics, background data, and additional perspectives from your research to help readers understand the significance of the story.
- Multiple Perspectives: Ensure balance by presenting multiple viewpoints, particularly if your topic is controversial.
- Conclusion: Summarize the broader significance of the story. Indicate any potential future developments or what the community might expect next. Tie back to why this issue is important to readers.
5. References
- Include a separate page designated for the sources you used in the story. The Associated Press style advises journalists to cite sources directly into the story (i.e. "...according to the Salt Lake City Police Department..."). In the separate citations page, simply note the source of the information you are referring in your story and paste a hyperlink to its landing page.
6. Ethical Considerations
- Accuracy: Verify all factual information and quotes for correctness. Misrepresentation or factual errors will significantly affect your grade.
- Interview Consent: Clearly communicate to your interview subjects how their words and identity will be used. Obtain explicit consent, particularly if discussing sensitive topics.
- Balanced Reporting: Strive to provide a fair and balanced representation of the topic, especially if there are opposing viewpoints. Avoid inserting personal opinions and ensure the story remains objective.
Grading Rubric:
- Story Selection (10%): Relevance, newsworthiness, and potential community impact of the chosen topic.
- Research and Sourcing (20%): Quality, credibility, and effective integration of sources.
- Interview Quality (20%): Thoughtfulness of questions, relevance of interviewees, and integration of interview content.
- Content (30%): Clarity, presentation, narrative flow, engagement, and journalistic tone.
- Ethics and Accuracy (10%): Fair representation, accuracy in reporting, and consent from interviewees.
- Structure and Format (10%): Adherence to news article format, including compelling headline, engaging lead, cohesive body, and effective conclusion.