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Creating SoJo with Appropriate Frames, Sources and Structures

Pro Action Café for the Final Story

Objectives: Deepen understanding of creating SoJo stories; facilitate completion of student stories
Delivery method: Inquiry by station and facilitated discussion
Materials: Flip charts, markers, tape (if needed)
Room setup: stations
Time: One hour or more (depends on numbers)

Activity 1: Holding a pro action café to bring stories to toward completion

  1. Divide class into reporters and editors.
  2. Reporters stand at individual stations around the room.
  3. Editors visits reporters in small groups to listen and offer feedback as reporters ask the following questions:
    – What is the quest of my story?
    – What else do I need to bring this story to completion?
  4. Instructor facilitates each reporter receiving a visit from two groups of reporters before students switch roles. Activity repeats and continues until each student/story team receives feedback. (VIDEO).
  5. Instructor may facilitate whole-group discussion if desired or time allows.
  6. The in-class activity is followed by reflection (in class or online at home) where students answer these questions:
    – What did you learn from hearing about another story project that deepened/challenged/changed/affirmed your understanding of SoJo?
    – What did you learn from giving feedback to another story project that deepened/challenged/changed/affirmed your understanding of SoJo?

Activity Note: Concluding with reflection is critical to broaden students’ understanding of solutions journalism beyond their particular story project and to tie the reporting process to other learning objectives (Discriminate Between SoJo, Advocacy and Soft News and See Themselves As Contributing to the Debate).

Tip: Students can initially be perplexed by the “quest” of the story. Encourage students to provide a high-level overview of the story and what they are trying to accomplish, rather than bogging down their summary with story or reporting process details.

Video Tutorials

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