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Guidelines for SNN mentors
Your role is to offer criticism and suggestions for improving
a story. It may include helping them focus and refine a story
idea and come up with potential sources for their story. It could
also include advise on using radio and television clips in their
online pieces -- if that's your area of expertise -- or using
photos.
- You can start by discussing the story idea and the form the
story should take. Does the topic lend itself to an editorial
that features the student's opinion? Or should it be a news story
with quotes from interviews? It's important for the student reporters
to understand what kind of story they're doing and have a focus
for their piece before they start.
- When it comes to writing, you may want to point out spots
where the writing could be improved and even offer a suggested
revision. Or you could simply advise the students on how to make
the changes themselves. When possible, explain why you want make
a change.
- Keep in mind the age and grade of the student as you read
their work. Elementary school students will be concentrating
on basic writing skills. Junior high students may have a grasp
of what makes news. And some high school students have a sophisticated
understanding of the media. Gear your comments to the student's
age and capabilities.
- SNN will use the Canadian Press Style Guide to help establish
a consistent style throughout the Web site. We've chosen the
CP guide because it's familiar to most of our mentors and widely
available to our student journalists across the country. But
don't worry about fine editing or points of style -- that's the
job of the SNN coordinator.
- You are not expected to help students research their stories
or do interviews. You can point them in the right direction by
suggesting Web pages, library resources or potential sources
to interview. But it's up to the student to find the material
they need.
- Feel free to share your own experiences whenever you think
it may help the student with their reporting or writing. They
have signed up for a mentor because they're eager to learn more
about journalism -- and who better to ask than someone who's
doing the job!
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