Media

Your Mission

To document the significant events of Youth in Government. This includes but is not necessarily limited to the LAUNCH Training, the Youth in Government session, and other relevant conferences and workshops.

What is the Media?

Four outlets. Each one starts at home, before the conference.

Media Roles

The Media offers a variety of opportunities, the most of any program area in Youth in Government! Your job is to narrow this list down to your top two or three choices and bring those with you to the LAUNCH.

Role assignments

Assignments in Media are appointed by the Media Director and based on experience, your preference, and the need to fully staff each area. If there are more requests from Media delegates for one particular area or role, preference is given to those individuals with prior experience in that role and seniority in the program (i.e., years in Youth in Government).

What happens once you receive your role assignment?

1. This is your PERMANENT assignment for the Youth in Government. You will work for this section of the media during the conference.
   • From time-to-time, certain resources may be pulled from one area, in order to meet deadlines.
   • For example, when an issue has been laid out and the final proof is done, Newspaper members who are not busy at the time may be called upon to help photocopy the paper and deliver to various spots around the conference.
2. If you are a reporter, you will receive an assignment at the beginning or end of the day for the following day's issue.
   • Photographers will typically have a list of shots they are required to shoot each day.
   • Layout editors will have work-in-progress each day, and typically work to that day's scheduled publication deadline.
   • Reporters are to check in at the Press Room every morning, complete his or her assignment during the day (and within deadline), and be sure to attend any staff meetings that are held during the day, as checkpoints for production status.
3. Once you have completed your assignment, you are welcome to submit work for another section of the paper. You could also volunteer for another job assignment, such as reproduction and delivery or classified ad sales.
4. All reporters and classified staff NOT submitting other work are REQUIRED to volunteer as reproduction staff, serve as additional proofing editors, help with paper distribution, or sell classifieds.
5. The Media program demands considerable individual initiative and responsibility. You must be highly motivated and stay on track during the course of each assignment.
6. Since Media roles provide for more freedom of movement throughout the conference during the weekend, it is essential that each Media member who serves in one of these capacities exercises the utmost skill in time management, organization, and punctuality, so other parts of the program are not compromised because of time loss.
7. Regardless of their role, all Media members are required to report in at the beginning of each work session where roll call is taken prior to new assignments.

Role descriptions

The Craft and the Code

The goal of a good story is to provide clear, concise facts to the consumer in an easily understandable manner. You have a unique opportunity to observe and research the activities of the Youth in Government conference and to report your observations and facts to more than 1,600 of your colleagues and advisors, in addition to audiences beyond Youth in Government.

As a member of the Media, you will find yourself in situations where you need to answer challenging questions about what is right or wrong to document and broadcast. Another thing you need to keep in mind throughout your experience is the general ethics of journalism: the moral principles and values that are at the heart of the field.

Journalistic ethics

Modified from the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics

Before You Write

Keep this writing process in mind as it is vital for producing good stories:

Step 1 · Decide on the type of story

This is important because it will drive how you research and write your piece. For your work at Youth in Government, this step may be decided for you depending on what role you are assigned to. For now, however, let's focus on the articles you need to write and submit through your local delegation to apply for the Media. You can write about:

• News
• Features
• Author an Opinion piece
• Entertainment/Sports

Tips on getting started

Before you venture out to work on your story or to do an interview, spend at least 10 minutes thinking about your story and writing down the following things. Your story will come together quicker and will be better written if you are well-organized before you begin. Sometimes it even helps to do this in outline form.

1. Draw the shape of your story on your paper and decide where you want your story to start and how you want it to finish. This seriously affects the nature of questions you ask and what you write.
   • Example: Suppose you are writing a story about Orville Lindquist and his position as the State Program Executive of the YMCA Center for Youth Voice. You may want to start out explaining his background with the program, but you'll really want to finish talking about his goals for Youth in Government, how he thinks the program has changed in his years of participation, his favorite color, food, music, etc. and how they make him unique.
   • These subjects are pretty broad and not necessarily related, so if you don't have focus before you start to work, you'll spend far too much time interviewing, collecting information and writing. In the end, your story may be too long and may not flow well.
2. On your note pad, write down WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY, HOW, WHEN and leave space next to each one so that you can write down the answers when you get them. Even if you are doing a poll, you will need to include an introduction or lead with this information.
3. Write down what you do know about the subject so you can confirm it. Write down what you don't know or would like to know. Again, leave space between and next to each question so that your notes are organized neatly and are easy for you to follow later.
4. Don't forget to get delegation and individual delegate names and double-check spelling of each name.
5. Write a list of all the people you might need to talk to and places you might need to go to research your story. Check your schedule for locations and times when you might be successful in getting the details you need, and make a schedule for yourself before you walk out the door. It will really help, and you will avoid lost time and frustration.
6. After you have completed interviews, glance over your notes for any last minute clarifications. Sit down with your notes and decipher any messy words while your interview is still fresh in your mind.

What makes the public pay attention?

Taken from English Journal, May 1979. There seem to be five principal elements which make the public pay attention. These forces work together and against each other to provide the excitement and satisfaction we find in interesting news.

• INFORMATION. The audience hungers for specific information. The more concrete and detailed the information, the more it will interest the public who delight in facts, statistics and brief quotations. Precise descriptions satisfy the public's curiosity, give the impression of authority, and provide the public with information they can pass on to someone else. The media must satisfy the public's appetite for specifics, while at the same time be responsible to make sure the specifics are accurate and used in an appropriate context.
• SIGNIFICANCE. The audience wants to know the meaning of the information they receive and how it affects them. They are particularly interested when the media reveals surprising connections between pieces of information. These connections make the biggest impact when the public recognizes the significance of a connection they felt but had not articulated themselves.
• PEOPLE. Audiences want to see people, hear them talk, watch them in dramatic action and reaction with other people. They like to see anecdotes, the little scenes in which people reveal both themselves and the subject. Audiences want to meet people with whom they can identify and often they become, for a few moments, the person on the news and so extend their experiences by living another life. Audiences also enjoy a strong sense of place and time; they like to see the people they hear about in their world, to be shown as well as told.
• ORDER. Audiences enjoy writing which has a firmly built structure and provides them with a sense of order. Writing gives shape to experience. Readers want writing to have resolution, a sense of completion. Above all, an audience's questions must be anticipated and answered in a well-made piece of writing.
• VOICE. People respond to the voice of media: one individual speaking to another individual. Audiences pay attention to a voice which has authority, concern and energy.

Step 2 · Choose your topic

One of the most significant challenges to the student journalist is deciding what to write or report about. Below are several topics covered in previous Youth in Government media stories. Some stories have appeared consistently over the years, while others were good ideas that only made it once. This list is not even close to exhaustive. Don't let this limit your creativity.

Step 3 · Do your research

Now that you have the beginnings of an idea, you need to do some looking around to be able to develop it more fully. Your research will be different depending on the type of article you are writing. Some things that might help you develop your article idea:

• Media sources: Time, Newsweek, Internet, nightly news, radio, etc.
• Thinking of things that have personally affected you or someone you know.
• Discussions with local leaders, teachers, family and friends.

Once you've checked these sources, you need to move onto the research. You'll need to collect as many facts as you can about your subject. Try places like:

• Library, Internet, books, magazines
• Associations and organizations that affect the subject of your article
• Professionals, attorneys, educators

You should have some statistics, some facts, and even some informed testimonies by people who know what they're talking about. The more facts you can find now, the better your article will be. The best articles are written by people who have done their work! Here are some questions to guide your research:

• WHO IS THE AUDIENCE? Determine the audience, which will in turn determine the subject of the story, what points it covers, and how it is written.
• WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE STORY? Is it to inform the readers, challenge the sources, give a preview, review the course of events? This will determine how it is written and how the information is used.
• WHO WILL BE YOUR SOURCES? Information has to come from people or documents, not just "what everyone knows" or what you think. Who will be the best source of information for the subject of the story? Who will be most knowledgeable and credible? What documents are available to back up what the sources say?
• ASK YOURSELF "WHY IS THIS PERSON LYING TO ME?" While no one may deliberately lie to you, they may be telling you only part of the truth. They also may be giving you the truth from their perspective because they have a particular idea that they want to get across or an agenda that they want to put forward.
• THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS NEWS. Long before the newspaper hits the street, or your story hits the 6:00 news, people will already know the facts. What will your story add to the discussion? Will it be an analysis piece? Will it put the subject in an historical context? Will it provide commentary from the people affected by the subject?

Interviewing tips

You will also be conducting interviews for your articles, whether or not the interviewee is the focus of the article. Be sure you have a good set of questions prior to the interview. Here are a few tips that may make your interview go more smoothly:

Decide your purpose and develop questions

• To report the facts, OR
• To write a feature.

• Ask questions, don't make statements.
• Keep questions simple, but avoid questions that can be answered simply with a yes or a no.
• Remain neutral.
• Ask only one question at a time.
• If working on a pro/con piece, ask pro questions first.
• Develop questions that require some thought.
• Ask more than you think necessary.
• Ask questions in a logical order: fact to opinion, general to specific, easy to difficult.

Schedule it and run the interview

• Identify yourself.
• Decide on appropriate place and time.
• Be prompt and polite.

• Note reactions of person you are interviewing.
• Note surroundings (if interesting or important).
• Notice direction of interview: keep on track or go where it takes you.
• Don't be nervous or uncomfortable.
• Take accurate notes: ask to make certain you understand; the cardinal sin of reporting is misquoting people, so quotes must be verbatim; check numbers, names, titles and spellings.

Six ways to ask questions

• Compare and contrast: ask for similarities or differences.
• Example/illustration: ask for a description.
• Criticism: ask about positive first, then be tactful.
• Discussion: ask for detailed explanation.
• Definition: ask for definition.
• Observation: ask for thoughts, feelings, beliefs.

Special considerations: beware!

In running a student media, we have the ability to reach large numbers of the community. Delegates and advisors trust that the information we provide is accurate, true and complete. When it is not, whether it is a misspelled name or an absolute misrepresentation of the facts, as a program we are held responsible in any law suits (and hate mail) that ensues. It is the policy to make a retraction in the following issue/broadcast for any substantial misrepresentation, as well as to handle disgruntled readers in a polite, firm and courteous manner.

Write Your First Draft

Step 4 · Write your first draft

It is recommended that you prepare a draft of your media piece in order to make it easier to get feedback from peers and leaders. Compose your article in your word processing program of choice, referencing the template at the end of this section. Once you have completed your first draft, pass it along to some peers, your Delegation Director, and/or your advisors. Ask them to edit it and give you feedback. The more people who can read your Status Report and give you suggestions, the clearer it will be for Youth in Government!

The following tips are based on general information you need to know to write your broadcast piece. There are also a few more specific tip sheets on writing different types of newspaper articles.

What makes news writing different?

Writing journalistic stories differs from writing essays or term papers in very specific ways, and you must keep this in mind when you begin:

• For newspaper articles, because columns are so narrow and can be hard to read if they are very long, paragraphs tend to be short: no more than 50 words.
• Because paragraphs are so short, whole ideas are not developed in each paragraph as they may be in a conventional school essay or term paper.
• Quotes are typically put in a separate paragraph to help them stand out and make them easier to read.
• All journalistic writing is very active (explained later).
• Writers must work especially hard to "get to the point" because there is far less space/time to do it in.
• Instead of having a title paragraph and thesis, the two are combined in what is known as a "lead."

Basic writing rules

1. Remember the 5 Ws and H (who, what, when, where, why, how). If you don't have all the answers to these questions, then you aren't ready to start writing your story (see "Step 1: Decide What Type of Story You Want to Write" earlier in this packet and "Tips for Writing News Stories").
2. Always be clear and concise in your writing. If you confuse the reader with long, complicated excessive wordiness and illogical ordering of information, you have defeated your goal of trying to convey information and/or opinion.
3. Always write active sentences. This is sometimes a little tricky. In other words, always try to write as if something is happening now, not yesterday, not two weeks ago. And always write as if the object of your sentence is performing some action, not having some action performed on it. For example:
   • "The carton was delivered by United Postal Service." (passive)
   • "UPS delivered the carton." (active)
   BUT a sentence becomes even better if it can be worded more actively, as if the action is presently occurring:
   • "The weather watch plane reported a hurricane." (active, but boring)
   • "Reporting hurricane conditions, weather watch planes continue to keep an eye open." (more active, better)
4. Always write short, direct sentences. Long sentences look even longer and confusing when they are typeset in small type and narrow columns. They are distracting to the reader.
5. Always write short paragraphs. If the sentences are short (10 words), short paragraphs will follow. Each paragraph should be a complete thought.
6. Always write in 3rd person. This is a common fault of many beginning writers. Never use "I," "me," or "you" in a news story. "He," "she," "it," and "they" are the appropriate pronouns. You should never refer to yourself in a news story and RARELY in a features story unless it is creative writing or a special interview. (Note: in many entertainment magazines the reporter will refer to his or her surroundings and experiences as s/he interviews a celebrity.)
   • Special consideration: You would not follow this guideline if you are writing an opinions article or a review that requires your personal statement!
7. Use neutral terms when possible. A good reporter knows that simply using certain verbs and adjectives that have certain negative or positive connotations can change the tone of the story and express an opinion without coming right out and stating it. Consider the following:
   • "Lecturing to a full hall, the professor explained the ramifications of not studying." (neutral, okay)
   • "Lecturing to a full hall, the professor droned on about the ramification of..." (negative, BAD)
8. Use good grammar and appropriate language. Slang terms are only useful in stories about slang. Sexually suggestive language or terms are NEVER appropriate. Words, nicknames, or adjectives meant to embarrass or hurt another person are NEVER appropriate.
9. Read through your story before you turn it in! Make sure it makes sense to you, because if it doesn't it will NEVER make sense to anyone else. AND, when you type a story into the computer, read through it before you consider yourself finished and make sure it is right.
10. Refer to your tips on getting started before you begin to write (listed in "Step 1").

Writing news articles and stories

A news story is not about opinion or conjecture, it is about facts: WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY, WHEN, and HOW of a subject. Stories should be constructed using the 5 Ws and H. News writing shows no bias; it should only present the facts on a given subject. Facts may be provided in a variety of highly innovative ways and angles, but the story should still strive to present the basic five Ws accurately and economically. Long descriptions of scenery or poetic verbiage are not the goals of a news story.

The most important part of any news story is the LEAD, or introductory paragraph. Leads should:

• Attract people's attention.
• Be 28-32 words (in 1 to 3 sentences). NO MORE!
• Include answers to the five Ws and H (Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How).
• Be a quick round-up of major facts of story.

Six types of leads and their uses

1. Summary of "5 Ws": use when creating news. Who, what, where, when, why. Don't forget "how," important for any analysis. List most important facts.
2. Quotation: use when creating feature news. Interesting attention-grabber.
3. Punch or astonisher: use when reporting tragedies or disasters. Shocking statement or fact.
4. Contrast: use in pure analysis (seldom used). Link two seemingly separate events or ideas.
5. Question: use in feature news creation. Ask question that makes audience want to find answer.
6. Descriptive or narrative: use in feature news creation. Describe background of an event.

The lead should allow your story to be constructed in a specific shape, the INVERTED PYRAMID. Place the answers to the questions Who, What, Where, When, Why and How at the top, and the details underneath. The body of your story should support the information provided briefly in the lead, fully describing and exploring the subject. News stories deal in the PRESENT. They are event-related and should be written to inform the reader.

Writing editorial articles and stories

Opinions and editorials can be one of the most enjoyable story formats in which to express your ideas and creativity. These features and stories are statements that give personal views or try to persuade the audience. In Youth in Government, we encourage you to be controversial and innovative, but we also ask you to remember the spirit of the program and keep in mind the Y's four core values (Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility).

How to write your editorial

1. Lead with an objective explanation of the issue/controversy. Include the five Ws and H, pull in quotes from available sources, and do additional research if needed.
2. Present your argument first. Express the viewpoints that you, as a writer, disagree with. Identify the people or groups that specifically oppose you and use FACTS and QUOTES to objectively state their opinions.
3. Directly refute your opposition. Pull in other facts and quotes from people that support your viewpoint and concede a valid point of the opposition which will make yours appear rational.
4. Give other original arguments in defense of your position.
5. Conclude your editorial with some PUNCH. Give solutions to the problem.

• The introduction should begin with a general statement and narrow to a thesis.
• You could also begin with a concession. For example, "Admittedly it is true that . . ." and then counter the concession with, "...but..." or "...however."
• Your first argument should be your weakest pro argument, followed by a stronger pro argument, followed by your strongest pro argument.
• Your conclusion should end as it begins, with a general statement followed by a restatement of the thesis.

Features writing

This type of journalism is created in the style of short fiction and can be a tremendous amount of fun. These articles and stories are often longer than other types and should be written to entertain and explain. They are idea-related, meaning they center on a topic, person, or concept. They should include very colorful language and LOTS of QUOTES.

This type of writing can combine elements of news writing and editorial writing in a forum of very specific subject areas. For example, an entertainment story can be:

• A news story, if the reporter is simply giving information on a specific event.
• A feature story, if the reporter chooses to add adjectives to create a specific tone and profile in the story.
• Or even an editorial, if the reporter chooses to take a very clear positive or negative opinion toward the subject matter.

Consider also the kind of stories that make good features section pieces:

• Reviews of food, specific restaurants, things to do in and around the Capitol.
• Polls of delegates' favorite movies or music groups to see if tastes vary by delegation.
• Reviews of new music.
• Whatever else your imagination comes up with.

When taking a definite stance on an issue, such as when writing a review, it is important to remember for now that this is a YMCA program. The publication and the page don't have to be dripping with malice for your piece to be an effective review. Since entertainment writing can be any and all of these styles, the next step for you is to review the news writing, features and editorial tips in this manual.

All articles and stories

While we may be stating the obvious, all stories and articles should have a BEGINNING, MIDDLE and END. The beginning and ending part of your story are very important. When you begin writing keep these simple steps in mind:

1. Be simple. You don't want to confuse the reader; you want to captivate. Clear, concise wording is vital.
2. Be relevant. Say you are writing a story on the staff of the hotel and what they endure while Youth in Government is there. However, your lead is all about how the halls of the capitol building reverberate with the shouts and laughter of delegates on their way to session. Although interesting and creative, your lead is not representative of what the story is about.
3. Have focus. With certain exceptions, the example chosen for the lead should illustrate a key section of the story. Because the reader is conditioned by the lead, s/he expects the opening example to relate to an important matter treated fully in the body of the story.

Using all the components mentioned earlier, the body of the story should fully explain the concepts presented in the lead.

Writing your conclusion

With your lead establishing the tone of the story and the body fully fleshing out the subject, it is time to end your piece. Ending a journalistic story can be much different than writing a conclusion paragraph for a paper. Though it may seem strange at first, for news and opinion stories you may just end where you are. No firm conclusion is necessary. For features and entertainment stories however, you may employ one of three techniques to finish off the story:

• Circling back: This kind of ending reminds the reader of the central message or key elements of the story.
• Looking ahead: Sometimes speculating on the future of the subject matter proves interesting to the reader and encourages further thought.
• Spreading out: Even though earlier you were told to keep the focus of your story tight and constantly in mind, giving the reader something to think about at the end of the story by extrapolating makes the story bigger than it was before, something worth remembering. To be effective, though, the reporter must be extremely comfortable with the subject and with the story on the whole.

An approach to style

Modified from The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White

1. Place yourself in the background.
2. Work from a suitable design.
3. Create with nouns and verbs.
4. Revise and rewrite.
5. Do not overwrite.
6. Do not overstate.
7. Avoid the use of qualifiers.
8. Do not affect a breezy manner.
9. Be creative.
10. Do not explain too much.
11. Have fun creating your story.
12. Make sure the audience knows who is "speaking."
13. Avoid fancy words.
14. Do not use dialect unless your ear is good.
15. Be clear.
16. Do not inject opinion (unless the piece is an editorial or OpEd).
17. Use figures of speech sparingly.
18. Do not take shortcuts at the cost of clarity.
19. Avoid foreign languages.
20. Prefer the standard to the offbeat.

Edit and Submit

Step 5 · Edit your article

This is a CRITICAL step in the process! Your article will go through a typical newspaper editing cycle. For the purpose of writing and submitting an article through your delegation, you would follow part one of this step and then turn it in to your Delegation Director. When you are at Youth in Government, you'll follow the other parts to this step.

1. The first step is your editing phase. You will want to read, re-read, and re-read your article again, to find any inconsistencies from spelling to grammar to organization. You can also ask a fellow reporter to read your article. In fact, sometimes it's better to have someone read it that doesn't know anything about your subject. They'll be able to give you honest feedback on the clarity of your story.
2. Once you are satisfied with the article, you are ready to submit it to your section editor. You must submit your article to the specific section editor who is responsible for your particular piece: News, Feature, Opinion, or Entertainment/Sports. Your section editor will give your article a close read, and if there are any changes or corrections to be made, he or she will return the article to you for revision (see Step 6 · Revise and Submit for more information). If your section editor approves the article, it will go through one more read.
3. Once your section editor is satisfied with the piece, he or she will pass the article on to the Copy Editor, who will give the article one last edit/review, prior to it going to the layout editors for placement in the newspaper. The Copy Editors have the final word for what goes into the paper and what does not. They may or may not defer to the opinion of a Media Program Specialist in cases of questionable material.

How to avoid frustrating your editor

Step 6 · Submit your articles

You are all done! After getting feedback on a draft Status Report, you should write your final draft and submit it on Airtable. You have been assigned a template on Airtable. The template will have a text box. Copy the content from your text document and paste it into each corresponding text box.

Airtable has the capabilities for back-and-forth editing. It is possible for a proposal to be reviewed by your Delegation Director and you may be given additional instructions/conditions to fulfill before the article can be submitted to the State Office for distribution at the conference.

Make sure you get your article submitted before the posted deadline, so your Delegation Director can review and make suggestions for final improvements. You can use this same process for your articles and stories while reporting at Youth in Government! Please be prompt in completing your article so you can be well-prepared for the conference. Plan ahead in case of technical difficulties.

It is strongly encouraged that you bring a printed and digital version of your media article with you to Youth in Government, just in case something goes wrong.

Sample article

Art & Photography

These are the people that will do any type of graphic design for the Media, from photography, to masthead design, to cartoons.

What makes good artwork?

Medium. Because we produce our publication using laser printers and copiers, pen & ink and dark pencil artwork reproduces with the best clarity (i.e., line art on computers). If shading is used, the drawing must still be high contrast. Black and white with no gray tones is really the best.

Content. Be creative! If you receive an assignment for something that you don't think that you can reasonably produce, what can you do? If you can't get exactly the drawing, what can you do that would be dynamic and draw interest to the page? HAVE FUN, but do not plan to do things that will be too time-consuming for you to produce. You may have multiple assignments every day that editors are counting on. Pace yourself and be realistic. You WILL NOT have multiple hours to complete each drawing.

What makes good photography for the Media?

Contrast. Because we produce our publication using laser printers and copiers, photos MUST BE HIGH CONTRAST. Photos with lots of gray simply will muddy up too much when copied, meaning photos in the hotel lobbies, Supreme Court lobby, and hallways of the Capitol building simply will not turn out.

Content. Dynamic! People shots! Close-ups! Try for action shots. Even if you are to shoot a location, try to include one or more delegates in the photo. Use advisors too. They like to see themselves in print also. Try for candid, fun shots because they are overwhelmingly the best and might even be usable elsewhere. If you receive an assignment for something that you don't think that you can reasonably produce, what can you do? If you can't get exactly the shot, what can you do that would be dynamic and draw interest to the page?

Scheduling your time. Plan your day effectively. You will have LOTS of assignments each day. Before you head out, draw yourself a map and figure out everything that you can possibly accomplish in each location so that you aren't constantly running all over the Capitol. And WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES. You will definitely be on the move all day long.

At the Conference

Press operations at Youth in Government

The Media sets up shop close to the action, usually in a specific location in the hotel and changing locations at the Capitol Complex. All Media delegates and advisors are required to work from these locations, with the exception of reporters and photographers who are on assignment in the field gathering information and taking photographs for various articles.

All equipment, including laptops, desktop publishing computers, laser printers and duplicating equipment are installed and working in the appropriate press office before the start of the conference. All assignments for news articles, features, opinions, and photos are assigned from this location.

First meeting

When the Media areas meets for the first time at the conference, the following happens:

• Youth in Government guidelines are reviewed, roll is taken, schedules and deadlines are reviewed, and everyone is then released to start their job.
  • Roles, such as lead editor, layout editor, reporter, and photographer will have already been assigned.
• Deadlines will have already been established, and everyone will know exactly what those deadlines are (The Media members work and meet deadlines based on schedules set by the Media Director and Media advisors.)
  • The Media schedule is based on the YIG conference schedule and tries to highlight the current day's activities.
  • Features, opinions, and classified advertising complement the daily news, to give the most complete newspaper possible for each edition.

Deadlines! Deadlines! Deadlines!

Meeting personal and team deadlines is key to the successful operation of any Media. That means meeting all deadlines for rough draft articles and photos, edited drafts and photos, rough and final draft layouts, and print production and distribution. It is very important to understand that a newspaper that is 90% finished but does not hit the streets on time, is no better than a newspaper that is only 10% finished. The ultimate goal of each edition is to meet the final delivery time. People at the conference will be expecting a newspaper at a given time each day, just like you expect a newspaper on your porch or in your driveway each morning.

Because the primary focus of each issue is on-time delivery, your primary responsibility is to meet your individual deadline. Without a total commitment from each individual, the paper runs the risk of not getting out on time, and a missed delivery schedule is a poor reflection on the entire group.

Next Year

Before you pack up the daily reports and bill tracking forms, you should think about next year and what you might want to do.