1. What’s a Good Idea?

2. A good idea is:
Targeted to your particular publication. It must be something your reader wants.
Must have a news angle.

3. For ideas, ask yourself
What does my reader want? Why do my readers, viewers, listeners CARE about this topic? What’s in it for them?
Why this idea at this time?

4. “Give ideas away. Under every idea there's a new idea waiting to be born.” --Diana Vreeland

5. Rule Number One for Ideas
KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE and WHAT IT WANTS!

6. WE ARE THE SPIRIT OF BLACK WOMEN
ESSENCE inspires Black women of all shades and shapes to lead bold, fulfilling lives. We encourage their passions and dreams and celebrate their community. As a trusted friend, we reflect their best selves and motivate them to live without limits.

7. The SI franchise is anchored by Sports Illustrated, the most respected voice in sports journalism which reaches a weekly audience of nearly 21 million adults, and SI.com, the magazine's 24/7 sports news website that delivers more than 150 original stories to its users each week. 

8. Our mission is to produce fair-minded, enterprising, well-crafted journalism that helps readers to understand their world. From markets and business to the political, economic and cultural forces that shape our age, we tell readers much more than what happened yesterday – we tell them what it means and what’s likely to come next.

9. The more you know about your reader—the better to pitch article ideas!
What’s the audience? Who is the reader?
What do these readers want?

10. The Reader City College students are young (mostly), diverse, smart, savvy, ambitious and hard-working. Most are commuters, strapped for time and cash. They want to know what’s going on on campus, in the community of Harlem, in the CUNY system and sometimes in the world, and most importantly, how it affects them and their education. They are interested in the most efficient, cost-effective ways to do well in school, have good relationships, feel good, and have fun—and be successful after graduation.

11. The Mission To provide the most up-to-date news, information and service to City College students about their campus and community. It is bi-weekly now, but we hope to move to weekly—complemented by a newsy daily website driven by listings and activities. Our goal is to be a smart, cutting-edge, relevant attractive, entertaining publication—both online and in print. We vow to always know what our reader wants, desires, expects and enjoys.

12. A website for a new uptown community
A website for a new uptown community. What do the readers of this site want?

13. Rule Two Rule for Ideas: News value
Choose ideas that are timely, news, topical. Ask yourself—why this topic at this time?

14. So what’s a good idea? News + Audience =
A newsy topic that your audience cares about

15. What stories does our audience want from us?...

16. Hurricane Sandy Batters the East Coast
This is the news. What’s The Campus story?

17. MTA Hikes Fare; Another Increase May Be on the Way

18. Earthquake Shatters Nepal Killing 1,000s

19. A new report shows stress at all-time high

20. New Report: growing numbers of Hispanic students attend college

21. How to add a news angle to your stories. Tie it to:
The season
Something that happened very recently--news
An anniversary
A trend
An event

22. Seasonal stories/related to time period
Spring runway report
10 tips for graduates
Get in shape for summer
It’s allergy season: How to stay healthy!

23. How to find ideas:
Read the news—local, national, international. Think of how a current news story might be “spun” for our audience.
Look at ccny.cuny.edu and cuny.edu websites for news ideas.
Keep your ear to the ground. Listen to what other students and professors are talking about.
Think about how something’s changed. Best to prove it with stats. Use City Facts!
Consider what’s important to students RIGHT NOW.

24. Assignment due Thursday 4/30/2015
Come up with 3 article ideas for THE CAMPUS Newsmagazine, Harlem Focus or another local publication .
You must explain why each of them:
Is of interest to the readership of City College students, Harlem Focus or the other publication.
Is new/has news value. How is it tied to a larger news story or a trend or season?
Must be do-able. An interview with Mayor Bill de Blasio may not be within reach.
Write out your ideas in 2 or 3 sentences. You will share with the class