Journalism 133: Prof. Craig: Story Ideas Exercise, Part II

Story Ideas Exercise, Part II

1. Regulation of edible goods sold by student organizations - what are the exact rules involving these goods, must they be store-bought or homemade, what kind of goods are allowed to sale, does the university actively enforce these rules

Audience: SJSU students, student organization members

Interviewees/sources: Student Involvement Director Henderson Hill III or anyone within Student Involvement who has expertise on the subject, a student organization president, common students who buy these goods

What reporter would need to know/learn: the exact wording of such rule in the student organization handbook, whether SJSU administration actually checks on tabling organizations on 7th Street Plaza to see if they are complying with rules

Potential secondary story ideas related to topic: has there been any cases of food poisoning or other complaints about the edible goods sold by student organizations, what has school done in response to such cases

2. Popularity of school-branded clothing among students - do SJSU students actually like representing their school through clothing (statistic-based), are there periods throughout the school year when such clothing sales increase (sporting events, graduation, etc.)

Audience: SJSU students, school gear designers/vendors

Interviewees/sources: SJSU bookstore manager Jesse Nelson or any bookstore employee with expertise on the subject, plenty of common SJSU students

What reporter would need to know/learn: determine why students do/do not wear school-branded clothing, when does the bookstore experience increases in clothing sales, how often does the bookstore restock/receive new shipments of clothing

Potential secondary story ideas related to topic: look into companies that make SJSU gear (their history, affiliation, contracts with universities)

3. Relevance of anthropology department - how many people are in the department, what career options exist for anthropology graduates, what is the state of anthropology programs nationwide, how profitable is it for students to major in anthropology programs, how much do students at SJSU know about the major.

Audience: SJSU students, anthropology majors, anthropology department administration

Interviewees/sources: Anthropology students/professors, career center director Catherine Voss Plaxton

What reporter would need to know/learn: What anthropology is, different anthropology areas students can concentrate on, difficulties the department is facing

Potential secondary story ideas related to topic: A "man on the street story" about how students define anthropology and the common stereotypes about it.