ACN, or OM, or Oregon Monthly, is a fictitious issue-oriented magazine distributed free across the Pacific Northwest, OM is an Oregon-focused publication with four distinct departments:
(Environment
(Social Issues
(Economics/Politics
(Urban Growth.
As a contributor to OM, your editor has assigned you to write a 1,500-word feature story on an issues-oriented, controversial topic of your choice for ONE of the four departments.
In the Environment section, subjects in Oregon might include: the debate over logging roads, coastal issues, the breaching of dams, people pressures on the state parks, endangered species protection.
In the Social Issues section, topics could range from the debate over whether condoms should be distributed in high schools to Oregon programs for the homeless.
In the Economics/Politics section, topics could range from the amount of revenue companies such as Hyundai generate in the local economy to sexual harassment allegations against Oregon Sen. Bob Packwood.
In the Urban Growth section, the topic could range from what city planners are doing to manage uncontrolled growth in Eugene and who pays for it to how the demographics are changing in Oregon as more out-of-state residents come to work in high-tech fields.
A common mistake with this assignment is to bite off more than you can chew. Narrow your topic to fit the word limit, and focus, focus, focus.
Directions:
1: Select a topic that would fit in one of OMÕs four departments.
2: Write a proposal that includes a clear idea of what the story is and how you plan to tell it, who your principal sources are, how youÕll conduct research, why you want to write this piece, and who would care about it. The proposal must state which of the four departments you are pitching the story to.
3: Friday, April 23, in lab, submit a one-page proposal/outline to GTF for approval [include a working headline]. You will get these back in class Wed., April 28. Space in each department is limited, and GTFÕs will approve the best stories for each section. Those rejected must resubmit for an available department of the magazine.
4: After approval, conduct your research and interview(s).
5: Submit a headline, lead, and establishing section (250 words) due in class Fri., May 21.
6: Write the story, proofread, and fact check.
You have obligations regarding your story, yet flexibility in how you tell it.
Obligations: You must interview three people, at least one of them in person. Because you're covering something controversial, you'll want to interview, authoritative sources representing major opposing viewpoints. Your interviewees will be quoted in your article, but your conversation will not appear in a Q&A (question/answer) format.
Any opinions in the story must be attributed to a credible, legitimate source.
Do not pick sides or take a stand. This is not a piece of persuasive writing or an editorial. Instead, your assignment is to explain the controversy - its context, history in brief, opposing sides, ramifications and significance. Report the facts through research and interviews and let them speak for themselves.
We will be looking for an article that reflects the material covered in class and labs:
This is not just a term paper. This is not a newsburst, either - no inverted pyramid, please. This is a feature article. We will explore features later in the course, but for now, pick a topic and begin formulating your strategy, lining up your interviews and fashioning your outline.
A reminder from the syllabus: No first person (except when quoting someone, of course).
At the end of the paper, include a list of interviewees. For each person, list [1] his or her name, [2] position or title, [3] phone number, and [4] the date of your interview(s). Do not include this material in your word count.
Again, late work will be downgraded. Do not shoot yourself in the foot by procrastination. Plan ahead. Regarding format, double-check the syllabus. We will be looking for an engaging lead and a thoughtfully structured, coherent article built with techniques explored in early lectures. Thus your paper should demonstrate your efforts to choose precisely the right words, and the right sequences of words, phrases, sentences and paragraphs. You'll be expected to maintain a consistent tone that reveals a familiarity with your readership, and to follow all rules of punctuation, grammar, and syntax. We'll be looking for PACE - Precision, Accuracy, Clarity, Economy.
You've got plenty of time; we hope you make good use of it. Start now.
Questions? See your GTF.
Good luck.