The State Hornet

Journalism 197a & 197b

General Syllabus | Journalism 197a | Journalism 197b
Staff Handbook | State Hornet Charter

Journalism 197b Syllabus for State Hornet Editors & Managers

This syllabus specifies additional requirements for editors & managers beyond the General Staff Syllabus for Journalism 197.

Grading and Evaluation

The grading and evaluation of editors and managers will be based upon:

• Meeting all deadlines
• Maintaining a high quality product & professional journalistic standards
• Demonstrating editing skills & effective staff management
• Representing your section consistently and professionally in all meetings
• Working effectively as a member of an editorial and management team
• Maintaining accurate records of staff members’ performance
• Maintaining a professional demeanor, in and out of the newsroom.
• Checking section voicemail often and relaying messages to appropriate staff.

Print edition

• Editorial budget for each section due at 2:30 on Friday at Editors meeting.
• Graphics/Photo requests due noon Tuesday unless breaking news.
• 1st Page proofs due Monday at noon.
• Final page proofs are due 5 p.m. on Monday.
• Print stories submitted to online by 5 p.m. Tuesday.
• The Advertising Manager will submit the ad layout by noon on Friday to the editor in chief for approval of number of pages and ad layout.
• Photography Editor must have the photographs available and dropped into section editors’ folders by Sunday at 5 p.m., for photos taken during the week and over the weekend.
• The Ad Designer must have all ads ready for placement by 5 p.m. on Monday. The Graphic Designer must complete any graphic requests by 5 p.m. on Sunday, unless requested earlier.

Online Edition

• Section editors are responsible for supplying ample copy for the daily online. Reporters should be assigned stories early and urged to cover breaking news as they come across it during their time on campus. Online edition should be updated every day.
• Copy must be relevant, well written, accurate and focused, follow AP style.
• Photographs should be taken daily that capture campus life, illustrate stories, and keep the community informed and entertained.
• Content must be uploaded to the site in a consistent and timely manner.
• Online site must have an integral system of feedback and interactivity incorporated into the website.
• Online editor must submit promotional information to managing editor for inclusion in the print edition.
• Editors should relay feedback about the online to the Editor in Chief because of the newness of the venture.

Exceptions to deadlines must be approved by editor in chief, including all breaking stories.

Staff management

• Provide the faculty adviser with a weekly written evaluation for each staff member.
• Follow personnel procedures of the State Hornet as outlined in the State Hornet Policy Manual.
• Offer assistance and support for staff
• Encourage development and growth of staffManagement and class meetings
• Keep attendance records and signed evaluations for staff members for a final report, submitted in a binder to the Faculty Adviser by noon on December 12.
• Keep track of whether deadlines were met for all staff members they supervise.
• Be an advocate for the section or area represented in all meetings.
• Stay in touch, attend staff meetings, keep regular office hours, check your mailbox, voicemail, and your email often.

Overall Quality of section/area

Editors will be given feedback on the overall quality of their work. Assignments, copy editing, layout and design, headlines, photos and ads will be critiqued and evaluated following publication of each issue. Mistakes are not acceptable.

Goals and self-evaluations

By the first issue, each editor or manager should draw up a list of goals for the semester for their section or area and discuss it with the editor in chief and faculty adviser.

By Week 6, each editor or manager should meet with the editor in chief and faculty adviser for a self-evaluation.

A final summation of their section or responsibilities should be included in the final portfolio, including recommendations for improvement for the next semester. They must provide the weekly, signed evaluations for each staff member, with a grade recommendation and a justification for that grade.

DO NOT share your grade recommendation or make any promises about grades, however, since the final grade for each staff member is ultimately up to the Faculty Adviser. Your final portfolio and grade recommendations are due at by noon on the last Friday of instruction, and must be personally turned in to the Faculty Adviser.