2008 Woodie Awards
The Editor's Scoop: Getting Coverage
Christopher Barrett
Issue date: 2/20/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion
02/20/08 - As the student newspaper here at the University of Rhode Island, we're more than happy to cover events organized by students, that feature students or faculty or that otherwise involve the Kingston campus. However, we are not omnipotent and need your help, as well as your willingness to follow a few simple guidelines.
Notice
All too often people walk into the Cigar office asking that we cover their event - that night. The Cigar staff is composed entirely of students. We have classes, commitments and other stories and cannot drop everything to cover something occurring in fewer than 24 hours. For that reason we need at least a week's notice of your event.
You can give us notice by e-mailing cigar@etal.uri.edu, calling me personally at 874-4325 or stopping by Memorial Union Room 125 and asking for a "Request for Coverage" form.
Contact Info
I like to think I am very good at returning voicemails promptly. However, when people tell me about their event but leave no return phone number or other way of contacting them it is impossible for me to return their phone call or gather more information. Please, leave a way for us to return your call.
Relevance
Despite its small size, there are dozens of events occurring each day in the Ocean State. However, we're limited by staff and paper size and cannot cover everything in the state. As such, we give priority to those events or issues involving URI students, faculty or staff. We particularly like it when we can speak personally with those involved.
Previews
We don't write previews. I have at least one person everyday - Saturdays and Sundays included - ask me if I can assign a reporter to write an advance story about some event hosted by him or a friend or a group. I cannot count how many times I have heard, "But my event is different."
While I fully support student groups and wish them the best of luck with all their events, we simply do not have the staff to write previews. If we wrote previews we would spend all of our time writing essentially free advertising and none of our time covering the actual events or issues.
In addition, writing such stories could lead to a loss of advertising, which funds the production of the paper. Without advertising revenue there would be no paper to carry previews or event coverage.
Advertising rates for on-campus groups and departments are very inexpensive. In addition, almost every Student Senate recognized group receives an advertising budget they can apply toward advertising in the Cigar. You can find out more by visiting our advertising department that is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thank you for continuing to read the Cigar and providing us with story ideas. Again, we welcome your ideas and simply ask you give us the time and tools we need to craft a great story.
Notice
All too often people walk into the Cigar office asking that we cover their event - that night. The Cigar staff is composed entirely of students. We have classes, commitments and other stories and cannot drop everything to cover something occurring in fewer than 24 hours. For that reason we need at least a week's notice of your event.
You can give us notice by e-mailing cigar@etal.uri.edu, calling me personally at 874-4325 or stopping by Memorial Union Room 125 and asking for a "Request for Coverage" form.
Contact Info
I like to think I am very good at returning voicemails promptly. However, when people tell me about their event but leave no return phone number or other way of contacting them it is impossible for me to return their phone call or gather more information. Please, leave a way for us to return your call.
Relevance
Despite its small size, there are dozens of events occurring each day in the Ocean State. However, we're limited by staff and paper size and cannot cover everything in the state. As such, we give priority to those events or issues involving URI students, faculty or staff. We particularly like it when we can speak personally with those involved.
Previews
We don't write previews. I have at least one person everyday - Saturdays and Sundays included - ask me if I can assign a reporter to write an advance story about some event hosted by him or a friend or a group. I cannot count how many times I have heard, "But my event is different."
While I fully support student groups and wish them the best of luck with all their events, we simply do not have the staff to write previews. If we wrote previews we would spend all of our time writing essentially free advertising and none of our time covering the actual events or issues.
In addition, writing such stories could lead to a loss of advertising, which funds the production of the paper. Without advertising revenue there would be no paper to carry previews or event coverage.
Advertising rates for on-campus groups and departments are very inexpensive. In addition, almost every Student Senate recognized group receives an advertising budget they can apply toward advertising in the Cigar. You can find out more by visiting our advertising department that is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thank you for continuing to read the Cigar and providing us with story ideas. Again, we welcome your ideas and simply ask you give us the time and tools we need to craft a great story.