Fall 2016 Calendar

F2016 RPP Calendar (tentative as of Aug. 28)

Week 1 —
Monday, Aug. 29 — Cover syllabus and course requirements; discussion of teams and editors; introduction to web site,. Discussion of using Camayak and Ban.jo in class and with teams. Recommend Slack to teams. Brainstorm discussion about what is public policy and possible coverage areas. Teams will pick top three areas of interest before the end of class.

Wednesday, Aug. 31 — First hour: Adrienne Garvey will guest in class — she is a candidate for the student media advising position and will present to the class about the presidential election and the press’ role in covering it.

Team topics are assigned. Talk about using outside resources (photos/videos/linking to outside media)  Sourcing/story proposal forms in class. Work on picking first story ideas; Pitch story in class for discussion. Homework (in-class if time allows) on sources your team can contact and five story ideas/proposals in your content areas. E-mail the list to the instructors.

Week 2 —
Monday, Sept. 5 — Labor Day holiday: no class

Wednesday, Sept. 7 —

Teams will present sources to contact and five story ideas/proposals in your content areas. Shared with the instructors.

The elements we expect in your stories — we’ll go over the story rubrics and show some examples of top-notch RPP stories. Using Camayak (Nick and newsroom editors) and WordPress;

Internet tool options and story packaging best practices; simple data visualizations (Sue)

Week 3 —
Monday, Sept. 12–

Portage County Courthouse visit in Judge Becky Doherty’s court (we may stay and have lunch with the Judge. We’ll keep you posted — food (pizza) will be provided if this works out.

You’ll each live tweet about the visit to #JMCRPP.

Wednesday, Sept. 14 —

Internet Tools practice in class — Sue will provide some data/information for you to work with.

Homework in BB: Critique of ProPublica worker’s compensation project.

Story #1 due at 4 p.m. Wednesday;
Week 4 —
Monday, Sept. 19 — Covering elections, polling; Social media reporting best practices

Wednesday, Sept. 21 — Story # 2 proposals due in class for discussion with instructors — work day otherwise.

Critique of ProPublica worker’s compensation project homework due in BB by 4 p.m..

Week 5 —
Monday, Sept. 26 — Nick Glunt guests — reporting on heroin. “Peeling the onion” as a reporter.

Basic Data Reporting Skills; data homework assignment

Wednesday, Sept. 28 — Work Day;

Week 6 —
Monday, Oct. 3 — Public Records Requests and homework, Sunshine Laws; Mobile tools for reporting.

Wednesday, Oct. 5 — Work Day; Story #2 due at 4 p.m. Wednesday

Week 7 —
Monday, Oct. 10 —

Tent.: Tim Smith on Cops and Courts; accessing the Portage Co. Clerk’s website
Data Reporting Homework is due by the end of class in BB

Cops and courts exercise in class. Follow the defendant.

Wednesday, Oct. 12 — Work Day;

Week 8 —
Monday, Oct. 17 — Go over data homework; Public Records survey is due in Google Docs: Discussion of results. Discussion of group project teams: Possible story ideas: Story requirements for projects;

Wednesday, Oct. 19 — Work Day

Week 9 —

Monday, Oct. 24 — Meet with instructors, work on group project proposals and planning outline, assignments for each team member

Wednesday, Oct. 26 — Work Day; Story #3 (mobile only) due at 4 p.m. Wednesday; There will be more specific directions with this assignment about the mobile requirements.

Week 10 —

Monday, Oct. 31 — Work on Group Projects in class; individual meetings with instructors; finalizing a reporting and presentation plan.

Wednesday, Nov. 2 — Work day;

Week 11 —

Monday, Nov. 7 — Public works and infrastructure; Reimagining a city. (Sarah);

Wednesday, Nov. 9 — Work Day

Week 12 —

Monday, Nov. 14 — Finding information on the Portage County Auditor’s website (homework in class); Using government websites for information. The Ohio Online Checkbook.

Live news exercise from Gary and WKBN. What can you report?

Wednesday, Nov. 16 — Word day

Week 13 —   

Monday, Nov. 21 — Work on Group Projects in class;  Group Projects due Wed., Nov 23 at noon.

Wednesday, Nov. 23 — No Class; Thanksgiving Holiday.
Week 14 —

Monday, Nov. 28 — Education in Ohio; Homework due in BB by Dec. 5 at 4p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 30 — Work Day

Week 15 —
Monday, Dec. 5– We’ll go over your education homework and talk about what it means.

Wednesday, Dec. 7 —  Final Work Day

Finals week: —

Story #4 due Wed., Dec. 14 at 4 p.m.