We start off our writing with research week, using Google Scholar we’re able to search refined studies and information about anything we’re seeking for our stories. Through a lot of refining and searching we then find what we consider to be a reputable source - reputable sources can be defined as anything with concrete provable data. This in turn solidifies or modifies our angle and we are able to tackle sources.
We start off our writing with research week, using Google Scholar we’re able to search refined studies and information about anything we’re seeking for our stories. Through a lot of refining and searching we then find what we consider to be a reputable source - reputable sources can be defined as anything with concrete provable data. This in turn solidifies or modifies our angle and we are able to tackle sources.
We start off our writing with research week, using Google Scholar we’re able to search refined studies and information about anything we’re seeking for our stories. Through a lot of refining and searching we then find what we consider to be a reputable source - reputable sources can be defined as anything with concrete provable data. This in turn solidifies or modifies our angle and we are able to tackle sources.
05 EDITING
Every semester we get new staffers and veteran staffers. As an Editor-In-Chief, it is my job to get them well versed in the ways of AP style, interviewing etiquette, design, and photography. We spend the first couple of weeks of the new semester going through writing, and assign the new staffers a first round of beats to get them accustomed to the world of journalism. My goal with editing is to give staff proper platform to tell stories, will revising for length, clarity, and accuracy. The goal of the Clarion is to establish facts, promote free thought and open discussion, so naturally, our editing reflects that.
Interview Questions
We start off our story-writing process with research, following that is our interview week. Staff should be creating questions that answer the who, what, when, where, why & how while also tapping into their sources background and experiences.
The questions process goes as follows:
1. Questions 1-7, Name grade, background
2. Questions 8-13, Mid-level questions entailing precursors into the heart of the interview
3. Questions 14-20, Hard-level questions, source should be comfortable with opening up, this is where you get your most impactful and truthful quotes.
4. Question 21-22, Ask them if they want to add anything else, thank them.
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Before a staff member interviews a source, they run them by us, the EICs, and we edit them before signing off on an interview pass.
Rough Drafts
When the rough draft due date hits on a given Friday, the Co-Editor-In-Chiefs (my partner and I, EICs), adviser, and copy editors all meet during the weekend where we split up and sort through google docs, transcriptions and questions. As EICs, we are given the hefty task of sorting through stories for content based editing. Though well-versed in the realm of AP-style, our Copy Editors are freshly prepared and ready. We follow our rubric for grading, with comments on specific things, let them know if they need to set up a meeting, and we sign off on our edits. From there students set up conferences with us, and we sort through any questions or concerns they have about the content or changes made to their stories.
Final Drafts
Following rough draft submissions, staffers are given a two-week period to edit and revise their stories. This is when conferences are held for staffers to address any questions or concerns. By this point, all research and interviews are expected to be done, and stories pieced together well. As a staff, we created this editing process because it puts a lot of accountability on our writers to make work they’re proud of in a relatively short period of time. The whole writing process, research, interviews, rough drafts, and final drafts, is about a two month process. As a Magazine that publishes about 3 months apart, it is our most crucial time to create and execute our issue’s theme proactively.
Beat Writing
Every Thursday we assign a given family, A-D, a beat story to be written within the following week. As Editor-In-Chief, I am emailed at least one beat a morning to be edited and published before the end of the day. This is where AP-style comes heavily into play. Beats are news-briefs, but typically our group challenges that threshold and often we end up with 400-800 word stories. Since we are a Google School, most of that editing is done through suggestion mode on Google Docs, where students can ask any questions and editors can answer them. A thorough job is done by our editing team, the Copy Editors, advisers, and EICs, and then our Online Editor creates and publishes the online story which is then shared on our Instagram, @lincolnsoutheasths.
Building the Foundations
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As a writer, I'm very critical of the editing I make to my own stories. Before I begin writing - I make sure I cover all sides of my angle, the initial problems I may encounter, as well as making sure there are no holes that can be accessed and used against me to debase the claims either my sources or I made. This is a page from the packets I usually make for myself that may include venn-diagrams, mental-maps, or timelines. I usually go over this packet with the editors it pertains to and check with my adviser one last time before beginning. When I start writing I want to make sure I know what information I need and how the best way to get it will be. I usually share these packets with my staff and they often make packets of their own. It has proven to be very effective in nailing down an angle.