Public Affairs Reporting

Fall 2010

EXAM 1 REVIEW
Please review readings, class handouts and lecture notes about the following topics presented in class. Remember that the PowerPoint presentations and other entries with the exact terms are on this website (http://ucfparfall2010.blogspot.com/), as well as references to Florida-specific concepts. The assigned readings (chapters are on the syllabus) include additional terms and PAR examples. About half of the exam is drawn from readings and half from class lectures. There will be multiple-choice and short answer questions. Go over the following example questions: 

•  Basics of journalism and the governmental process: Which positions are appointed and which are elected? How is local government/education funded? What is the chain of command? How does one develop a neighborhood approach to a PAR beat?
• Basics of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)/ Privacy Laws: What is covered? What isn’t covered? 
• Open Meeting laws/ Sunshine Laws: What is covered? What isn’t covered?
• Covering meetings terms and concepts: For example, how do you determine the most significant information/action? What information lacks news values? What is insignificant?
• Covering local government terms: Who is in charge of local roads? Who is in charge of stoplights? What are common committees? 
• Covering legislation concepts and terms: What information is necessary? What sources are important to tell the story?
• Covering elections: What information is necessary? What sources are important to tell the story?
• Legal issues: What stories are the most dangerous? How can you protect yourself from libel lawsuits?