Some Details About How to Do Final Project Proposals

As I mentioned in my last e-mail, it's time to start thinking about final projects. By Oct 9, you'll be required to post to the blog a proposal, following the guidelines below. Think of it as a pitch to an editor. You can always change your plan later (with professor approval), but the earlier you devise a pitch, the better your final project will turn out.

Again, we'll talk about this more in class this week.

Here are the guidelines:

Story Proposal Checklist

A story proposal is a document that establishes your intentions for covering a story, outlines your methods, and estimates what kind of project you will be able to publish or air when finished. its purpose is to sell you story to your editors and to others editors where you work. It will also help you to look at the story from an objective perspective.

1. Is typed and is neatly presented. It has been spell-checked, uses proper grammar, has a tone that is appropriate to a business setting. Have someone proof-read it for you. Keep a copy.
2. Includes a working headline as well as your name and today's date.
3. States the topic of the story concisely and limits the topic to a manageable scope.
4. Covers whey your readers/ viewers would be interested in the topic and the people you will be photographing.
5. Uses supporting research to give a basis for the story and give it relevance in your community. This research is attributed to reliable sources. This research includes discussing previous coverage on the story topic or related topics, and how this story will fit in with what the audience has seen already.
6. Estimates the types of visual images and situations that will comprise your finished story.
7. Names the people and the kind of people who will be in the story.
8. Covers where the story will occur and where the story will be photographed.
9. Describes any access issues that have been addressed and/or need to be addressed.
10. Indicates which audience would be interested in this story.
11. Discusses how much time you will need to work on the project. This includes: When do pertinent events begin and end? How many days will you need to research and cover this story completely, as well as to process, caption, and edit.
12. Covers when the story should be published or aired, and whether that is linked to a date or event.
13. Considers Cost. travel expenses? Over time expenses? Will you need special equipment? Will someone need to fill in for you while you work on this story? Will anyone need to help you with this story in any way?
14. Discuss whether a word reporter will need to cover the story as well. If a work reporter has shown interest in the story already, name him/her.
15. Tells what media will be used and why.

(Elizabeth Kerbs (formerly) of the St. Petersburg Times compiled this checklist for News Photographer Magazine.)