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SchoolNet News Network

SNN Agenda for Hook, Line and Net ‘98

The SchoolNet News Network is a national online journalism project, developed by STEM~Net and sponsored by Canada's SchoolNet. Since 1996, SNN and its French counterpart Rιdaction de Rescol have been giving students a chance to share their ideas with an unlimited audience via the Internet.

SNN teaches students how the media works, gets them writing in a journalistic style and lets them publish their work in an emerging media form. The Internet is the only form of publishing that allows a journalist to incorporate everything from text and graphics - to sound and video images, as long as they have the right accessories.

The SNN team will be on site at Hook, Line and Net ‘98, working on the first issue of the new multi-media edition of SNN. The web page was re-designed over the summer to add sound bites and video clips. Now, student journalists can write a story for SNN, take photos to go with it, interview people on audio tape and video tape events for inclusion in SNN.

Before they start writing and reporting for SNN, the student reporters will take part in a number of journalism workshops offered by journalists and educators.

As well, the SNN Board of Directors, made up of teachers, journalists and others from across Canada, will hold its first meeting of the year during Hook, Line and Net ‘98.

Monday, August 17

9:00 - 10:00: Introduction to SNN: Beth Ryan, SNN Coordinator and Larry Danielson, Online Teacher/SNN Board Member

SNN starts a new year with the re-launch of its website. Beth and Larry will explain how SNN works and how student journalists can get involved. Projects for 1998-99 include: an expanded mentorship program for students and journalists, new resources and tools for SNN reporters and audio and video elements on the SNN page.

10:00 - 11:30: What's the Story here?: Ray MacLeod, Auburn Air Student Media Service/SNN Board Member

How do you know when a story is news? What questions need to be asked to make it better news? Why are some stories more newsworthy than others? The answer lies in what veteran journalist and educator Ray MacLeod calls the Eleven Points of Newsworthiness. Ray says knowing them is what makes the difference between playing at journalism and really doing it. He leads you through the hands-on introductory workshop that he uses each year with new students in his award-winning high school program. Bring pen and paper, this one's hands-on!

11:30 - 12:30: The Assignment Desk: Beth Ryan

Beth will lead a planning session for the SNN reporters. Together, they will come up with a list of story ideas for the new issue of SNN and decide who will do each one.

12:30 - 1:30: Lunch

1:30 - 2:30: Interviewing Tips and Tricks — John Gushue, The Evening Telegram

When it comes to interviewing, there are questions that make people talk and those that make them clam up. What's the best way to start an interview? How do you keep it going? What happens when you have to ask the tough questions? John Gushue has done countless interviews for newspaper and television stories. He'll share some of his favorite tips and tricks for successful interviews and give you examples of how even the most famous journalists fool it up.

2:30 - 3:30: What's the hook? — Ray MacLeod

The success of a story depends on its lead -- the opening line. You win or lose your audience with it. Veteran journalist and educator Ray MacLeod takes you through a hands-on workshop on the types of leads, when to use them, and how. Tips that will help you make a difference as a teacher or scholastic journalist! Bring pen and paper.

3:30 - 4:30: The Basics of Good Writing — Beth Ryan

Once you've got the reader's attention, you need to follow through with a story that's well-written and easy to understand. Beth has written for CBC Radio, four daily newspapers and dozens of magazines. She'll give you her top ten tips for good writing.

Tuesday, August 18

9:00 - 10:30: Online newspaper goes multi-media — Ray MacLeod

From one tape recorder and a microphone to an internationally-recognized media service run for students, by students. Feeds to radio, television, and the web....sometimes all at the same time! This is the story of Auburn Air and founder Ray MacLeod's Mediacy Triad approach to scholastic journalism. The full-credit high school program won the 1993 Hilroy Fellowship for outstanding innovation in Canadian classroom education. It's 1997 Realaudio pilot for SchoolNet News took an AMTEC Award of Excellence for Canadian student media.

11:00 - 12:30pm: Keynote speech: David Plant, Silicon Graphics Canada

SNN journalists get their first crack at a news assignment by covering the speech by David Plant. This will be a multi-media project that gives students a chance to write, take photos, and record video and audio. Other members of the team will do "streeters" — interviews with people who attended the keynote speech.

12:30 - 1:30: Lunch

1:30 - onwards: The SNN Newsroom

After the keynote speech, some SNN reporters will head to the newsroom to write news stories, process photos and edit sound and video. Meanwhile, others will be covering events at the conference and working on stories.

Wednesday, August 19

9:00 - onwards: The SNN Newsroom

SNN journalists and coaches will be busy in the newsroom, working on the stories for the new issue of SNN. That includes: reporting, interviewing, writing, editing and designing the pages and sections.

1:30 - 4:30: SNN Board of Directors Meeting

A group of educators, journalists, technology experts and others will get together to discuss the shape that SNN will take in the year to come. Discussion will focus on: adding new student journalists and schools to the team, promotion and publicity, partnerships with other media outlets, the mentorship program, curriculum-related projects for SNN, the multi-media program and other issues.

Thursday, August 20

9:00 - onwards: The SNN Newsroom

SNN journalists and coaches will be busy editing and fine-tuning their stories during the day. They will wrap up their work on SNN by lunch time and be ready to publish the new issue on the World Wide Web before the day ends.

12:30 - 1:30: Lunch

1:30 - 3:30: Closing plenary — Beth Ryan, SNN Coordinator

During the closing session of Hook, Line and Net ‘98, the SNN team of journalists will have a chance to show off the first edition for the new school year — and the first multi-media version. Go back.