Journalism 133: Prof. Craig: Final Project
Final Project
The final project assignment involves writing and editing a 1000-word (or more) main story and 500-word (or more) sidebar story about the general topic your group has been assigned below. It's up to you and your group partner to narrow the subject down to story and sidebar topics that will be effective.
It is due on the last day of the semester (Monday, May 15) and will count for 25 percent of your class grade. The last official meeting date for this class is Thursday the 11th, but I'm giving you the extra weekend to get it done. Just email it to me by the end of the day on the 15th.
You have been randomly paired off into groups, and should use the remaining class time today to determine what subject you want to write about and possible subtopics for the sidebar story.
Within your group, please put together a story plan you can collectively discuss in class next time. This should include:
- The central idea of the story
- Who you believe would be the story's main audience (not just SJSU students but particular types, maybe alumni, etc.)
- The angles you would use in approaching the story
- The types of people (or specific individuals) you would try to talk to for the story
- Basic questions you would like to see answered by the story
- Potential secondary story ideas related to the topic, one of which could become your sidebar topic
You and your group partner will report on this story, with a minimum of four interviews (with actual people, not quoted from websites or otherwise secondhand) across the story and sidebar. You will edit each other's written material so the finished product has had input from both of you.
There is no assigned writer or editor for the final project -- you should aim to divide up tasks and put your initial story material together several days before the due date, then exchange material for editing. You are responsible for working with your group partner to edit and polish the project before submitting it.
When done, you will fill out the Group Activities Form to let me know what tasks each group member performed.
| Group No. | Name | General Topic |
| 1 | Nathan Canilao | SJSU and public transit |
| Kennedy Mayo | ||
| 2 | Irene Milanez | Campus faculty/staff labor issues |
| Alina Ta | ||
| 3 | Dylan Newman | Students' opinions of professors |
| Titus Wilkinson | ||
| 4 | Melany Gutierrez | Campus organizations |
| Matthew Gonzalez | ||
| 5 | Vanessa Tran | Students and jobs |
| Oscar Frias Rivera | ||
| 6 | Marie Aquino | Life in the Bay Area |
| Sarah Mosteller | ||
| 7 | Navin Krishnan | University budget |
| Hailey Fargo |