Old Beat Assignment We May Revisit

San Francisco Bay Area highlighted in red on a map of California (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Beat overview:

* Briefly describe an issue on your beat that is national. That is, an issue that - if written about - would run in a publication with nationwide circulation. It might run in a Bay Area publication without being localized or (less likely) in the Foghorn, but the rationale for its having been written is its national appeal.

* Briefly describe an issue on your beat that is local. That is, an issue that - if written about - would run in a Bay Area publication. It might run in the Foghorn without campus sources being added or (less likely) in a national publication, but the rationale for its having been written is its Bay Area appeal.

*Briefly describe an issue on your beat that is USF constrained. That is, an issue that - if written about - would run in the Foghorn. It might run in a Bay Area publication or (less likely) in a national publication, but the rationale for its having been written is its campus appeal.


You will draw on your sources, including the news sites and the Twitter feeds you follow, to provide this overview.

Your First Beat Report is Due Friday, September 25

Weekly Beat Report J2

First Beat Report Due Friday, September 25

List sources identified as useful for your beat. List surces contacted this week. Date of contact. Length of contact. Mode of contact (face-to-face, phone, email). Brief summary of what was discussed, including: general beat background; stories in progress; new story ideas; referrals to other sources of information.

List secondary sources consulted this week, i.e., W, Sports Illustrated, Politico. Cite particular stories read and what insights they provided for current or future stories.

List of stories in progress: stories currently being worked on and story ideas under development. Mark each story one-star, two-star or three-star based on their value to your audience. Since your final beat report will be a resource for those who follow you on this beat, also mention any stories that you do not have time or resources to pursue but – somewhere down the line – might be undertaken. In each case, include the rationale – remember our news values – for pursuing each story.

Story presentation: For stories currently being worked on, discuss multimedia possibilities. That is, what could add value to the basic print story: photos, slideshow, podcast, video? You have been assigned to multimedia workgroups and should now begin discussion of what your group project should be. (Given the variety of beats you are pursuing, your group project will not in some instances concern your specific beat.) What resources do you need in terms of training or equipment to create an extra multimedia dimension for individual stories or for group project?

Beat Report Form

Weekly Beat Report J2 Beats
Due Every Wednesday starting October 8


List sources contacted this week. Date of contact. Length of contact. Mode of contact (face-to-face, phone, email). Brief summary of what was discussed, including: general beat background; stories in progress; new story ideas; referrals to other sources of information.

List secondary sources consulted this week, i.e., W, Sports Illustrated, Politico. Cite particular stories read and what insights they provided for current or future stories.

List of stories in progress: stories currently being worked on and story ideas under development. Mark each story one-star, two-star or three-star based on their value to your audience. Since your final beat report will be a resource for those who follow you on this beat, also mention any stories that you do not have time or resources to pursue but – somewhere down the line – might be undertaken. In each case, include the rationale – remember our news values – for pursuing each story.

Story presentation: For stories currently being worked on, discuss multimedia possibilities. That is, what could add value to the basic print story: photos, slideshow, podcast, video? You have been assigned to multimedia workgroups and should now begin discussion of what your group project should be. (Given the variety of beats you are pursuing, your group project will not in some instances concern your specific beat.) What resources do you need in terms of training or equipment to create an extra multimedia dimension for individual stories or for group project?


Multimedia groups:

• Shelby, Ingrid and Hayden
• Siana, Ashley and Mia
• Stephanie, Andrew and Victor

Each group will meet with me this Friday for a half hour.