Final Project Check List

Below is a checklist that each of you should read as you think about your final project for class. Tentative ideas are due by October 9th. You can either post them to the blog or e-mail your ideas to me. Jeff, Meagan, Nina and myself will help to steer you in the right direction and give you advice on how to approach your topic.
Tim
Story Proposal Checklist

A story proposal is a document that establishes your intentions for covering a story, outlines your methods, and estimates what kind of project you will be able to publish or air when finished. its purpose is to sell you story to your editors and to others editors where you work. It will also help you to look at the story from an objective perspective.

Is typed and is neatly presented. It has been spell-checked, uses proper grammar, has a tone that is appropriate to a business setting. Have someone proof-read it for you. Keep a copy.
Includes a working headline as well as your name and today's date.
States the topic of the story concisely and limits the topic to a manageable scope.
Covers whey your readers/ viewers would be interested in the topic and the people you will be photographing.
Uses supporting research to give a basis for the story and give it relevance in your community. This research is attributed to reliable sources. This research includes discussing previous coverage on the story topic or related topics, and how this story will fit in with what the audience has seen already.
Estimates the types of visual images and situations that will comprise your finished story.
Names the people and the kind of people who will be in the story.
Covers where the story will occur and where the story will be photographed.
Describes any access issues that have been addressed and/or need to be addressed.
Indicates which audience would be interested in this story.
Discusses how much time you will need to work on the project. This includes: When do pertinent events begin and end? How many days will you need to research and cover this story completely, as well as to process, caption, and edit.
Covers when the story should be published or aired, and whether that is linked to a date or event.
Considers Cost. travel expenses? Over time expenses? Will you need special equipment? Will someone need to fill in for you while you work on this story? Will anyone need to help you with this story in any way?
Discuss whether a word reporter will need to cover the story as well. If a work reporter has shown interest in the story already, name him/her.
Tells what media will be used and why.

Sam Nassau--Assignment 3

Mawine Diggs works for the North Hill community at the University of Maryland. Community offices are found in Queen Anne's Hall. (U of M photo/Sam Nassau)














Mawine Diggs began her job as a Resident Director for the University of Maryland this Fall. Resident Directors oversee various Residence Hall communities across campus. (U of M photo/Sam Nassau)














Mawine Diggs works with the office that sorts packages for Maryland's North Hill community every day. The community has nearly 1,200 residents. (U of M photo/Sam Nassau)

Michaelle Bond- Assignment 3

Rebecca Ehring, a biology major, rests in the comfort of her bed instead of studying Friday, Sept. 25, 2009. Both her quest to be a pediatrician and her job as a community assistant work together to tire her out. (U of M Photo/Michaelle Bond)

















Rebecca Ehring helps her classmate with their biology homework Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009. This is one of her more productive days. (U of M Photo/Michaelle Bond)

















Rebecca Ehring works as a community assistant at the front desk of LaPlata Hall Friday, Sept. 25, 2009. Her duties include checking in packages, loaning out room keys and putting mail in residents' boxes. (U of M Photo/Michaelle Bond)













Despite having to be at the front desk at 3 a.m., Rebecca Ehring is all smiles as she works as a community assistant Friday, Sept. 25 2009. The money she earns will be saved to pay for the years of schooling she needs to become a doctor. (U of M Photo/Michaelle Bond)

Dan Leaderman - Assignment 3

Tina Irgang, 25, in her apartment in Hyattsville Tuesday, September 22, 2009. A journalist by trade, Irgang is also a fan of classic cinema. (U of M Photo/Daniel Leaderman)

Tina Irgang, 25, in her apartment in Hyattsville Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. Since moving in with her boyfriend, Irgang often buys flowers at a local supermarket. (U of M Photo/Daniel Leaderman)

Tina Irgang, 25, enjoys a book in her apartment after returning from work Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. Despite her hectic work schedule, Irgang is an avid reader and always makes time for books. (U of M Photo/Daniel Leaderman)

Peter Tartaglione-Assignment 3

Chris Colaitis scowls after being woken up from a nap. Colaitis is known for his lengthy midday naps. (U of M photos/Peter Tartaglione)




Colaitis, just arriving home from a game, prides him self on his wicked basketball skills. (U of M photos/Peter Tartaglione)



Colaitis cares for his pet fish as if they were his babies. Here he is pointing out his exotic Lion Fish. (U of M photo/Peter Tartaglione)

Zettler Clay - Assignment 3

Portrait shot of Tahira Lindsay, graduate student at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism. She is currently studying broadcast journalism. (U of M Photo/Zettler Clay)




Lindsay exercising with her dog, JoJo, on a breezy day in Prince George's County. "He is my life," she says. (U of M Photo/Zettler Clay)



Lindsay reading for a class assignment. When she isn't tending to JoJo, she is often found studying in solitude. Driven, assertive and straightforward are three adjectives she uses to describe herself. (U of M Photo/Zettler Clay)

Tiffany March

James Koebel, 25, at the Catholic University of America on September 21, 2009. Koebel is a third-year student the Columbus School of Law. Law firms in the Washington, D.C.-metropolitan area have had to lay off many attorneys and other staff because of the recession, so recent law school graduates are competing with more experienced lawyers for the same jobs.
(U of M Photo/Tiffany March)

Koebel studies for a law class at the Catholic University of America, September 21, 2009. To help his resume stand out in a crowded market, Koebel is specializing in securities law, is an editor of the school's law review journal, and serves as treasurer of the moot court association.
(U of M Photo/Tiffany March)

Koebel, with best friend Justin Hackley, 29, is a professional beer judge in his spare time. He attends local beer festivals and events on the weekends, including Oktoberfest in Newark, DE, on September 18, 2009.
(U of M Photo/Tiffany March)

Eric Villard - Assignment 3

Ray Villard standing next to a scale model of the Hubble Space Telescope at the Hubble Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore. Villard is the news director at the institute. (U of M photo/Eric Villard)

Ray Villard, news director of the Hubble Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), checks on the progress of STScI graphic artist Zoltan Levay's Photoshop edit of a Hubble Space Telescope deep field shot. The picture Levay is editing is mankind's furthest look into the universe. (U of M photo/Eric Villard)

After a day of work in the office Ray Villard, news director of the Hubble Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), heads to Loyola University College to teach his Astronomy 101 class. He also teaches part time at Towson University. (U of M photo/Eric Villard)

Ben Giles

Violet Ikonomova works at her desk in the Washington Examiner newsroom. Ikonomova works at the Examiner through an Emerson College internship program (Ben Giles/U of M Photo)

Ikonomova walks outside the Examiner office building on 15th and K Street. The Examiner competes with The Washington Post, located a few blocks away, for local news coverage (Ben Giles/U of M Photo)

Ikonomova awaits the Metro to take her home. Waiting for the Metro is a part of daily life for an employee in the District (Ben Giles/U of M Photo)

Wynne Anderson- Assignment 3

University of Maryland sophomore Kyle Flynn, 18, sips his drink with caution while attending a house party as alcohol regulations are taken very seriously in on campus resdencies. (U of M Photo/ Wynne Anderson)

University of Maryland sophomore Kyle Flynn, 18, puts on his game face for Terrapin football despite their dismal performances this season. (U of M Photo/Wynne Anderson)

Flynn, 18, partakes in a bouldering session at the University of Maryland's Outdoor Recreation Center, where many students come to rock climb and socialize. (U of M Photo/Wynne Anderson)

Alexis Gutter- Assignment 3

Back in Ohio to observe Rosh Hashanah on September 19, Boston University Student Addie Chomsky, 20, enjoys a mid-afternoon nap. Chomsky takes advantage of her comfortable bed when she comes home from school for weekends. (U of M photo/ Alexis Gutter)

Getting excited for her upcoming 20th birthday, Boston University Student Addie Chomsky dons a crown at 11:30 p.m. on September 19. Chomsky prepares a midnight snack of macaroni and cheese to ring in her big day. (U of M photo/ Alexis Gutter)


Boston University Student Addie Chomsky, 20, makes a wish before blowing out her birthday candles. Chomsky's mother spent most of the afternoon on September 20 preparing cheesecake for the event. (U of M photo/ Alexis Gutter)

Tomas Balino, Assigment 3

"Cooking With Mom"


Marta Rios, the eponymous "Mom," watches the news while she cooks. News and noodles: two great tastes that go together. (U of M photo/Tomas Balino)

Stir, stir, stir. (U of M photo/Tomas Balino)


Pad thai is served. (U of M photo/Tomas Balino)

Sam Nassau--Assignment 2

People spent time in groups while they waited to enter the Comcast Center Thursday morning. The line began to form at 5 a.m. (U of M photo/Sam Nassau)


















A student studies while she waits to see the president speak Thursday morning. The line stretched from the Comcast Center to as far back as the North Campus Dining Hall. (U of M photo/Sam Nassau)












At 9 a.m. Thursday, people crowd the bridge on their way to the Comcast Center. President Obama did not speak until 11:45. (U of M photo/Sam Nassau)

Michaelle Bond- Assignment 2

The First Look Fair gives students an opportunity to get more involved on the University of Maryland campus Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009. Hundreds of student organizations, campus departments and community service agencies set up tables at the annual event. (U of M Photo/Michaelle Bond)

















A University of Maryland student watches as her balloon elephant is made at the First Look Fair Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009. Other activities, such as trampoline jumping and rock climbing, were also available to students. (U of M Photo/Michaelle Bond)

















SOS Global, a new student organization, takes advantage of the First Look Fair to recruit members Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009. The nonprofit club raises money for homeless children in Africa and Asia. (U of M Photo/Michaelle Bond)

Tomas Balino Assignment #2

Crowds line up outside Comcast Center as they prepare to go through security check. (U of M photo, Tomas Balino)

Attendees wait for rally to begin, waving to the cameras as their faces appear on the electronic billboard screen. (U of M photo, Tomas Balino)

Onlooker watches stage through binoculars moments before President Obama takes the stage. (U of M photo, Tomas Balino)

Dan Leaderman - Assignment 2

Roland Mayer of Michigan pretends to be killed by the Grim Reaper as a result of President Obama's proposed health care reforms before the president spoke at the University of Maryland on Thursday, September 17, 2009. The skit also depicted Obama, the Grim Reaper, and a doctor gleefully performing an abortion. (U of M Photo/Daniel Leaderman)

Diana Roccograndi of Arlington, VA, takes part in a skit criticizing President Obama's proposed health care reforms just before Obama spoke at the University of Maryland on Thursday, September 17, 2009. The skit depicted Obama, the Grim Reaper, and a doctor gleefully murdering the elderly and performing an abortion. (U of M Photo/Daniel Leaderman)

A prankster offers an ideologically muddled comment on the debate over health care reform outside the Comcast Center after President Obama's speech at the University of Maryland on Thursday, September 17, 2009. The sign spoofs Kanye West's outburst at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, for which Obama was overheard calling West "a jackass." (U of M Photo/Daniel Leaderman)

President Barack Obama addresses a reasonably fired-up crowd at the Comcast Center at the University of Maryland on Thursday, September 17, 2009. Obama spoke about how his proposed health care reforms would benefit students. (U of M Photo/Daniel Leaderman)

Tiffany March

Jewish students at the University of Maryland host an informational fair on Tuesday, September 14, on the Hornbake Library mall. Different tables advertised study abroad trips, charity organizations and activity groups. (U of M Photo/Tiffany March)

Members of the Jewish Student Union at the University of Maryland hand out swag and answer questions about their organization, on Tuesday, September 14, 2009.
(U of M Photo/Tiffany March)

An arrow in front of McKeldin Library at the University of Maryland points the way to the Jewish activity fair on Tuesday, September 14, 2009. (U of M Photo/Tiffany March)

Free sunglasses given out at the Jewish activity fair on Tuesday, September 14, 2009, held on the Hornbake Library mall. The pin says "Maryland" in Hebrew, to be worn by University of Maryland students. (U of M Photo/Tiffany March)