Publication rubrics

How I will be assessing your assigned stories:

 

Ethics and fairness:

• Did you consult enough sources to get a balanced understanding of the story?
• Did you describe people and use their quotes fairly and appropriately?
• Is there any evidence that you misused, fabricated, or appropriated information?
• Did you use good judgment to tell the best story you could tell?

The basics:

• Does the story meet the technical requirements (length, number/type of sources, inclusion of research document) of the assignment?
• Is it formatted correctly (hed, byline, story, subheds and breaker heds optional)
• Does the story conform to AP style?
• Is it free from grammatical errors?

Reporting:

• Are facts and quotes attributed correctly?
• Is it clear where you found the information you report?
• Is your reporting comprehensive enough for the subject at hand?

Writing:

• Is the lede appropriate for the subject?
• Is there a clear nut graf or nut section that explains what the story is about and sets up the body of the story?
• Is the structure of the body of the story appropriate for the subject?
• Are quotes used, set up, and attributed effectively?
• Is the conclusion appropriate for the subject?
• Appropriate is a tricky word. It’s really tough to define because it’s different in every story, and I don’t want you to turn out cookie-cutter material. Ultimately, your duty is to tell a story that enlightens and entertains your audience, that gives them something to make them think while not forcing them to work too hard to follow your structure and logic. Ultimately, the question is, do each of these components “work” for your audience?

Multimedia

 

Photography

• Is the file formatted correctly (title, hed, caption, author)?
• How well does it tell the story?
• Can the reader tell the scale of what’s depicted in the photo?
• Remember captions and names?
• Is the background controlled? Are there any extraneous details in it?
• Is the frame full–that is, does the photo have all of the people or objects and nothing else?
• Does the photo show some kind of action? This is loose–could it be showing people what is to come?
• Cropping: Post production control of frame and background
• Tone: Do the colors look realistic, and are details captured in focus?

Audio Slideshow

• How well are photos composed (see above)?
• How well does narration work?
• Is the audio clean and comprehensible?
• Is natural sound used well?

Podcasts

• Is the sound quality adequate?
• Is the discussion interesting and lively?
• Do contributors make good points?
• Is outside audio used well?

Video

• Are there two examples of B-roll?
• Is there at least one example of a graphic (caption or title)?
• Is audio quality acceptable?
• Are transitions appropriate?
• Are there jump cuts?
• Is the structure and flow of the piece comprehensible?
• Does the piece tell a story?

Infographics

• Are variables used appropriately?
• Is the form of the graphic the best one for the subject matter?
• Are legends, axes, and the graphic itself labeled appropriately?
• Is the scale appropriate for the information, or does it distort?
• Does the chatter help explain the graphic and/or link it to an accompanying story?

Intangibles:

• Is there evidence that you thought critically about how to structure the story?
• How vivid was your storytelling?
• How concise was your storytelling?
• Did you stretch yourself to find the BEST way to tell the story? 

  1. Title of the file  2. The photo
    1. How well does it tell the story?    2. Can the reader tell the scale of what’s depicted in the photo?    3. Remember captions and names?
    4. Is the background controlled? Are there any extraneous details in it?    5. Is the frame full–that is, does the photo have all of the people or objects and nothing else?    6. Does the photo show some kind of action? This is loose–could it be showing people what is to come?  3. Cropping: Post production control of frame and background  4. Tone: Do the colors look realistic, and are details captured in focus?