JRN 300: Some Story-Filing Instructions

Just some things to keep in mind when filing your weekly stories:

• You will write and file your stories in WordPress
• Be sure to write in the text mode and NOT the visual mode (in the tab on the upper right corner of the writing screen). Visual mode is good for reviewing copy and tweaking visual elements, but if you write in visual you will add a bunch of distracting coding to the text mode, making it hard for me to edit your work.
• No need for a byline; one will be automatically generated from your profile.
• Make sure you have a strong range of sources, as noted in earlier blog posts. That should include people affected by what you're writing about, people in charge of the issue you're writing about, and neutral experts.
• Sourcing rules count regardless of medium. Videos, podcasts and ASFs must have quoted and attributed sources fitting the necessary range.
• Neutral experts can be from anywhere; they do NOT need to be from MSU. They just need to be expert in your subject, have no stake in the outcome and be able to helpfully contextualize the info you found.
• EVERY story MUST have pictures taken by you and some sort of chart/graphic/fact box created by you. The latter could be as simple as a locator map, so don't necessarily overthink it.
• Photos, charts and graphic should be uploaded to the media library, and then added from the media library to your story. Be sure to include credit lines (photo by .... information provided by .... ) and captions. Those should be added via the media library page.
• In visual mode, you can position and resize photos using the tabs on the page.
• Videos should be uploaded to YouTube or another hosting site and then embedded in a WordPress file. In WordPress include a 100-200 word text synopsis of the video and a screen grab from your video as your image.
• When finished, go to the pulldown menu on the upper right side of the page, go to the "status" tab and set it as "send to Omar." Then SAVE (or it won't send) and close the file. "Send to Omar" means it I finished and ready for me to edit, grade and post.
• Also when finished, send me an email with the first and last names, phone numbers and email addresses for all your sources. I will be randomly contacting sources for proof of accuracy and that you actually spoke with them. ALL sources MUST provide this info or they may not be used. No anonymous sources.
• Make sure your sources understand this is NOT just for a class; what they say can and may be posted to a public news Web site run by MSU that will be seen by anyone, anywhere and can be found by Google and can be seen forever.
• Questions? Let me know. And good luck!