The time has arrived to begin conducting interviews and research your topic. I want a three-page memo that will be graded on the reporting you have completed. You should list all people interviewed and detail the best information you received from them. Include quotes from each person, focusing on the ones that you think you’ll include in your story. Also include in the memo how you envision focusing the story. What do you think you will use for your lead? In order to get a good grade on this assignment, you have to show me that you have done a significant amount of reporting for the project. You should also summarize any Web research you’ve conducted and include reasons why you think your story is newsworthy. I am grading on the progress that you have made so you should aim to have completed two key interviews. (DO NOT WORRY ABOUT VIDEOTAPING THESE INTERVIEWS. IF YOU PLAN ON INCLUDING ONE OF THESE PEOPLE IN A VIDEO YOU SHOULD LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU WILL WANT TO SCHEDULE A SECOND MEETING IN NOVEMBER). You can do these interviews over the phone or in person. If in person, make sure you get a photo. I realize there will be interviews that you will do in later in November. Include a list of all future interviews you still have to do. (NAMES OF PEOPLE, NOTHING GENERIC).

Also give a detailed description of your plan for the video and second multimedia feature. Again, do not give me generic information. You must show me that you know what you are producing.

The memo should reflect your thoughts on how the pieces of the project will complement each other to better tell your story.

YOU WILL BRING YOUR STORY MEMO TO YOUR ONE-ON-ONE CONFERENCE WITH ME ON OCT. 30 or OCT. 31. I will be passing out a sign-up sheet during class on Wednesday, Oct. 23. Remember that we will NOT have class on Monday, Oct. 28 – that is your reporting day. Please try to schedule an interview that afternoon or evening.