OK, as we have been discussing in class, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, you will do another "live" reporting assignment, talking to people after they have voted that day.
You do not have to come to class that morning, so that you can go straight out to a polling place and do your interviews. However, I will be in the classroom if you feel like you need to come in and talk over the assignment further. Or you can call me from the field on my cell phone, (949) 378-3898, which hopefully will have reception in the classroom.
Now, for the details of the assignment, step-by-simple-step:
1) You need to chose your location for voting. Go to either the Los Angeles or Orange County sites we used in class today and use them to find a pollin place near you. I would strongly suggest that you identify a second, nearby site, too, in case your first choice lacks enough voters for you to get enough good interviews. As discussed in class, you may want to pick a location near CSULB so that your odds of finding chatting students, staff and faculty are increased.
2) That accomplished, you need to select a theme for your story so that you can prepare your background material and a strong line of questioning for the assignment. DO NOT try to wing it on election day -- you will not be successful.
3) Your theme or topic can be broad. An example of that kind of topic if you were J-school students, say, in Iraq, might be like this: Asking voters what direction the country will be headed after it's determined whether the Shias, Shiites or Kurds win power in parliament. You would need to know the background of this broad line of questioning -- if the Shias win, what likely will happen, if the Kurds, etc. You will find this background here in California by reading background articles in the databases. And it will be extremely helpful to you at this point in the campaign, if you simply read every election story in the paper every day. As members of the election blog, of course, are doing as we speak.
4) Your theme can be narrow. Again, back in Iraq, you might choose to focus on a single ballot measure, Proposition 007, which says you can shoot anyone who seems kinda jumpy. You would need to know the background on Proposition 007 -- who supports it, who opposes it, its possible impacts on people if it passes or if it fails, etc. Again, this information, as always, is at your fingertips, in the databases, the newspapers and voter information online via the state or county voting offices.
5) Now it is Tuesday, Election Day, and you are at your polling place. Pick a spot on the sidewalk or parking lot, not too close or far from the entrance to the polling place. And wait for people to come out after voting. Use all the skills we have practiced in the interviewing exercises the past few classes -- be polite, friendly, confident, poised, etc. Introduce yourself and explain what you are doing. Start your interview and try to build rapport with the person. Take lots of notes, get lots of quotes. Don't forget the basics: name, age, city, political party, phone numbers or e-mail addresses.
6) If you get shot down, don't sweat it, just wait for the next person. BE PERSISTENT! Talk to at least five people -- but make sure that they are five worthwhile people, not people who blew you off after a yes/no answer -- not that any of you will be asking yes/no questions, though, right?
7) After you feel you have enough info, you can leave the polling place. Or go to another one if you feel this one did not provide enough material. When are finally done with interviewing, as soon as possible, preferrably immediately after you are done, send me a short e-mail with the names of your three best sources and their one best quote. You don't need to dump your entire notebook into the e-mail, just give me a little taste of what you got while it's fresh.
8) Then, as your homework for Thursday, write a story based on your interviews. Be sure to organize it on the particular theme you selected (see above), and use all the proper style and grammar we use. Write a nice, clear lede and use your good quotes while paraphrasing the boring ones. This should be a minimum of one-and-a-half pages double spaced.
9) If you have any questions or confusions about this assignment, DO NOT HESITATE OR WAIT until Tuesday rolls around. E-mail me or call me on the cell phone listed above. Or on Friday and Monday, at my direct work line, 714-796-7787. I am happy to talk you through this so that you have a good time with it and succeed!
10) There is no tenth step, but it seemed a shame to stop at No. 9. Have a great weekend, and do great work!
PL
