Deadline checklist

Before you have anyone look at your story, ask yourself if your story has all of the following:

• Engaging and illustrative photo
  • Uses at least three compositional elements
• A minimum of three sides
  • At least three quoted sources per side (best local sources possible)
  • At least one of these sides contains an expert adult on the topic
• Quotes that aren’t generic
  • Can I go to up to anyone in the school and get a similar quote from them?
• Does your story contain data?
  • Is there at least one numerical statistic that can be tied to your story?
  • If your story has data, where did you get it from? Cite the source.
• Defined conflict and message. Your story should answer these questions:
  • What?
  • So what?
  • Now what?
• Put yourself in the shoes of a typical EHS student. Why should they care about your story?
  • Is it timely?
  • What is the proximity?
  • Is there a decent number of student sources?