EWA Webinar: Back to School Dave Breitenstein (The News-Press; Fort Myers, Fla.) Milestone Moments of Life ∙ Birth ∙ First day of kindergarten ∙ Senior.

EWA Webinar: Back to SchoolDave Breitenstein (The News-Press; Fort Myers, Fla.)

Milestone Moments of Life

∙ Birth∙ First day of kindergarten∙ Senior prom∙ High school graduation∙ Move-in day at college∙ Wedding(4 of 6 are education-related)

K-12: Pre-Back to School Coverage

What’s new this year?

∙ Demographics∙ Academic programs∙ School facilities∙ Teachers∙ Lunch items∙ State requirements∙ Dress codes/uniforms∙ Attendance boundary changes

K-12: Last Year’s Problems, This Year’s Stories

What went wrong last year?∙ Busing woes∙ Security (fights, drugs)∙ Teacher misconduct∙ Financial audits∙ Testing protocol

K-12: This year’s trends, this year’s stories

Hot topics in education∙ Testing: How many standardized tests will students take this year?∙ Homework: What is the standard number of minutes of homework each night?∙ Finances: How is money being spent to improve

education? What non-essential items are in the budget, and why?

∙ Charter schools: Are they better, or just different?∙ Parental involvement: Why are open house nights often

the last time teachers see some parents?

Higher Ed: Look at Incoming Freshmen

Sobering Stats∙ One in four freshmen won’t return as sophomores∙ Half will not graduate∙ The average student graduates with $25,250 debt

Then use that data for a story on programs the college is launching to ensure academic success: freshmen-only residence halls, hiring extra tutors, scholarships for first-time college students or endowment strength.

Higher Ed: Freshmen Roundup

Move-in day is a goldmine for finding that perfect freshman to tell a story

∙ From a rural area (look at license plates)∙ Flying solo (no friends on campus)∙ Has not selected a major∙ Never left home before∙ First-generation student∙ Low-income student attending a pricey college

Higher Ed: Sketch It

Use a statistic, sketch a graphic and build a storyExample: The annual back-to-school textbook rush∙ Step 1: Identify an interesting statistic – where does textbook money go?∙ Step 2: Sketch a visual∙ Step 3: Hit the bookstore for interviews and photos∙ Step 4: Write a back-to-school story about textbook costs

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Dave BreitensteinHigher Education ReporterThe News-Press2442 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.Fort Myers, FL 33901(239) [email protected]