A suggestion on story ideas

Thanks to those who already have provided story ideas. I'm providing feedback individually, but for the group I want to make two related suggestions that I usually make at this point: 

1. Consider who is likely to look at the institute's online publication.
   
2. Consider what is feasible during your time at the institute.
   

These are related in a fortunate way. I suggest that the most likely readers of the publication are going to be journalism advisers, journalists and journalism students who are interested in what you learn and experience at the institute.

Stories pegged to issues discussed at the institute, people at the institute or things happening around the institute are going to be the most feasible given the time allowed for this exercise and the most interesting given the likely audience for the publication. For example, the ASNE president is going to talk about challenges facing newspapers. A reporter can base a story on that presentation and an interview and broaden it through interviews with other institute speakers and people at The Arizona Republic.

I also recommend stories related to journalism and high school journalism that allow you to tap primary sources who are at the institute. For example, is there a challenge you think many journalism advisers face? If so, you'll have 34 good sources close by to survey.

There's room for features in the community, but the standards for reporting outlined in the syllabus apply to these, including connecting to a larger issue. For example, there's a new 3-acre park across from the Cronkite School featuring a massive sculpture of hanging fabric, and some call it a key to the rebirth of downtown Phoenix. The Cronkite School's new building is an opportunity. So is ASU's growing campus downtown. There's the new light rail line, the heat, the historic Westward Ho hotel next door that's now subsidized housing for the elderly, etc., etc., etc.

The publication traditionally has a section with columns, and I'm sure yours will too. Again, the standards for reporting apply.

The video above does a nice job of summing up the notion of target market. While it applies to business ventures, at the institute I will discuss the importance of target market as it relates to story ideas.