Pitches

My pitches are a little mixed. The first one was chosen to fit under the category I will be covering for my newscast group, the second is a separate idea which could still fit under the umbrella idea for the newscast.

1. Follow two roommates, one Chinese and one Caucasian, around for a day and see how similar or different they are.

The goal  of our newscast is to look at perceptions of different groups on campus, and see if these are perhaps misperceptions. As for the Chinese students on campus, we want to see how they interact throughout the day and how it may be similar or different to a "normal" (please excuse that word) OU student. I would find roommates who fit this description and follow each one (separately) around for a day to see their interactions. The video would be edited to go in between the two to show similarities or differences. After the project, we would see if there is more similarities or differences between the two cultures, as well as the perspective of the Chinese student. 

2. Show the inside view of how those who are homeless are treated through the eyes of a man who chose to be homeless. 

Good Works is an organization in Athens which provides shelter for those who are homeless. The man who created this shelter knows first-hand what it is like to be homeless because he has chosen to be homeless on ten different occasions in ten different cities. His time spent being homeless has helped him to better the shelters and treatment provided here in Athens. As for the video, I would want video of him working at the shelters here, people living in the shelters here, and video of a few of the cities he was homeless in, if possible. I would also include a voice-over of the "anchors" as well as his. 

Jon's First Pitch

Romney V.S. Obama: Who will win the vote of the militiamen?

It is evident that both Governor Romney and President Obama are extremely interested in spending additional money on the country’s military. During one point in Monday night’s debate, the two candidates were actually competing about who could spend more. As far as military involvement goes, expect more cuts to be made if President Obama is re-elected. He has always been heavily persistent in pulling troops out of the War in Iraq from the start of his presidency, and has been moving troops to the Afghanistan and Iranian border. Obama has always publicly opposed wars and intervention but has recently admitted to expanding Afghan conflict into Pakistan. In coincide to that, Governor Romney is working diligently on being granted the chance to take his own initiative on military involvement. He agrees to consult with lawyers on legality when dealing with intervention but believes the President has the right to do whatever it is that will make the country safer.  The governor had said before that keeping the U.S. in Iraq is the best option for minimizing casualties and maintaining a democratic government in Iraq.

With that being said, I would like to conduct interviews with members of Ohio University’s R.O.T.C. program and perhaps, maybe even current members of the military residing in the city of Athens. It will be interesting to see the perspectives of these young adults on the presidential election, and how the newly elected commander in chief will deal with foreign policies within the next four years. 

Pitches

All of my story ideas are town-gown issue based because that is the story subject I'm covering. Here are my ideas:

1) Follow a custodian, who is enmeshed in the lives of OU students from the "at-home life" perspective, then returns home to a local township.

By following a custodian, I want to catch what his perspective of OU students is. He sees how students actually act in their living space (polite? spoiled? messy? rude? etc). Then there could be a comparison as to how he is actually living at home, whether he tries to ignore his day at OU or comes home & tells stories.  (Bear with me through the tech stuff, because I don't quite understand it yet). From a technical perspective, I imagine this as a documentary style, where said custodian is leading the audience through his day, with mainly his comments voiced into the footage. Maybe it could be introduced with a few shots of his family/at home hobbies, then switch into "this is a janitor who cleans up your dorm bathroom!" I think the idea itself is kind of different because students kind of forget that the blue collar workers around here actually have lives other than picking up their trash, and it will emphasize that the workers have a perspective if we make it from the custodian perspective.

2) Intertwine a night at a campus bar and a townie bar.

I think it might be cool visually (& also make a good transition,  Greek to Townie) if we get some footage of activity at a campus bar, and then somehow fade it into the activity of a townie bar in Athens or something. We will either show the audience that a bar is just a bar, and the students are a lot like the townies now, or we'll get the perspective that Athenians respect their town a lot more than the students do. During this one it might also work to get some shots of Court Street vs. a street with bars on it in Athens. I think it would really be an effective shot if we could find a way to fade the two together, but that's coming from no tech knowledge whatsoever.

Bonus!: The perspectives of Athens High School seniors on choosing a college: pro or con OU.

From what I hear, students at AHS either love or hate OU. So we should get their opinions on why they're applying where they are, and thoughts on students at OU and how they feel about transitioning from townie to student. This is crucial because THEY are the ones who have the clearest perspective of both sides. It also might be cool to find an OU senior who lived in Athens all through life, and ask whether he preferred being a townie or student, ideas on that. 

Kaitlyn Marshall Pitches

Focus-Townies:

1.      Why Athens?

Focus on Townies that live in Athens and have no connection to Ohio University. Most people assume that the Townies here at OU are professors, or custodians, or are somehow related to OU. However, there are some people who live here in Athens and don’t really have a relation to OU I’d like to hear from them.

Leads: My friend Luca is from Athens and he said that he knows a few people who live in Athens and they don’t go to OU and they don’t work at OU so hopefully I’ll get to talk to a few of them

Possible visuals: shots of the areas outside of OU and in the Athens county. Other shops and businesses outside of OU’s spectrum

2.     From Townies to Students: Making the switch?

Since so many Athens High School students come to OU, how do they adjust? Do they have an easy time making new friends, or do they stick to their old friends they’ve known forever. Do they choose to live at home and commute to save money or do they live on campus to meet new people. I’ve talked to a few people from around town and they’ve even said that they had a hard time making new friends so that might contribute to the divide between the OU students and the Townies even as students on campus.

Leads: Rob Hammer, and Seirra Cell, both from Athens

Possible visuals: shots of AHS, students walking around on campus, areas outside of OU.

3.     Townies: Who are they?

Most OU students think townies are just Hippies or “flowerchildren”, so it’d be really fun to do an in-depth look at a few Townies. The ones who’ve lived here forever and work at the university, the ones with no relation to OU and the teenage kids who live around here will all be looked into.

Leads: Professors and friends from around campus

Erin's Pitches

Story #1 - Kony 2012 (Part 2)

In March, the video Kony 2012 went viral, then faded. The makers (Invisible Children) are revitalizing their mission with the new video Move

The 30 minute YouTube movie Kony 2012 went viral after it's debut in March and put the non-profit organization behind the video, Invisible Children, in the spotlight. There was a whole movement to take down Joseph Kony and his army in Africa. However, when the Invisible Children website crashed and one of Invisible Children's co-founders, Jason Russell had a public (not to mention nude) meltdown from stress, Kony 2012 and Invisible Children became highly criticized and mocked. Now, they're back with the new YouTube movie Move. It explains all the ups and downs following Kony 2012 and introduces it's new campaign Move: DC. 

Because of the popularity and huge fallout from Kony 2012, this new movement is very prominent for a story. The story would involve showing clips of the YouTube videos and report on the new Move campaign which culminates on November 17. Public opinion would also be calculated by asking students on campus what they think about it. I would also find people who are participating in the new Nov. 17 campaign which is taking place in Washington, D.C. Not only is it interesting to our OU audience, this story is also important because of the seriously terrible acts of Joseph Kony. The public made a mockery of an actually terrible global issue and the story could help but the movement back on track in a small way.


Story #2 - Litter on Campus

OU has a beautiful and historic campus, but the beauty is hidden and marred by litter and gives it a very run-down look.

When my mom visited me a few weeks ago, we were walking around and she commented on how shocked she was that our campus isn't kept up very well. For example, we were walking around my dorm building and there was just litter everywhere. My sister goes to Miami and my mom noted that though both campuses are pretty, Miami's is kept up better; it's cleaner than OU.

The story would visually show the trash covering our beautiful campus and call to action a change. I would look into any student organizations focused on keeping the campus clean (if there are any) and present ways to make our school cleaner, prettier, and nicer because that's what it should be.


Story #3 - Two Can Mans, One Campus

Can Man goes around Athens on weekends and collects cans for money. However, word of a 2nd Can Man is stirring talk of a rivalry.

Can Man Scott is quite the character. Collecting cans from parties for money, he interacts with people at the houses and never turns down the opportunity to talk about his belief in God and his grandmother who raised him. He says there is another Can Man but he is the better Can Man because he believes in God and the other man does not.

For the story, I would shadow him for a night and ask him about his life as a Can Man. I would also find the 2nd Can Man and present his side of the story. I would get statistics about how much each can is worth and such.

Maren's Pitches

Theme: Greek-Life

1) Myths VS. Facts: The dangers facing OU students when partying with fraternities/sororities.

Delving deeper into what really happens at a typical frat party. I would want to research more about the types of incidences that take place at most parties across the nation, with drugging, sexual harassment, violence, and relate that to what stories we get here. Maybe get a few interviews with some of the members of the frats and a couple of girls to get their take on a party, maybe find out who is rumored to throw the best party on campus. Than hear a single girls story of what she went through. Possibly get an interview with the board and see what their experience is with the parties usually held by frats. 

2) The stereotypes and what you wouldn’t expect of Greek Life.

Everyone knows the stereotypical sorority sister with her bleach blonde hair, ‘Love Pink’ yoga pants, and that valley girl accent with ‘like, um’ in between every other word, and the fraternity brother with the popped Polo collar, keg stand record, and inability to be comfortable with his own sexuality. But with 33 social Greek-letter organizations there has to be a little more to these people. I would want to get interviews with a lot of the different frats and sororities, look at what each sorority is know for here: “the ugly sorority, the hot sorority, the best party, etc.”

3) The academic affects of participating in Greek Life.  

Greek life is commonly thought to foster a party now, work later/never attitude, often resulting in poor grades and even worse IQs. I would want to look at the average GPA of participants as well as their majors and involvement in outside activities. I would want to see if the organizations have anything to help make sure partying doesn’t become a problem. Maybe get interviews with some of their professors. 

Idea Number 1: Lunch Room Laxatives

Students investigate rumors that cafeteria food contain laxatives.

The rumors of food from the cafeteria containing laxatives is an OU legend that runs rampant in student conversations. People claim their biology teacher had tld them it was true. People claim that the laxatives are put into the food so that people cannot sue the food company if they receive food poisoning. People claim that they get sick after every meal because of it. What is the truth, though? Does our cafeteria really want their students to be that regular? 

I think this is a good story because every student has heard these myths. Many are very concerned. For example, a girl in my dorm only eats the salads- with no dressing- because she is so freaked out by the idea. I think this story would hold interest and appeal to our target audience.

Idea Number 2: 250 vs. 25

OU behind on nutritional information

While OU prides itself on being a healthy campus, we do fall short of many campuses on one subject. OU does not publish the nutritional facts for their food next to the serving line. This service, done in many campuses including The University of Pittsburgh and Penn State, and helps students make healthier choices. When faced with the choice of a decadent chocolate chip cookie, or a nice bunch of grapes, many college student fall into the deliciously chocolate trap. However if the 250 calories vs. the 25 calorie difference were displayed, students would be more apt to make a better health choice.

I think this a good story because it is a call to action that promotes health in our school.

Idea Number 3: The Price of Planned Parenthood Cuts

Students showcase the affects of Planned Parenthood cuts

This piece would examine how the loss of funding to planned parenthood would affect the university. We could gather stats about how many girls utilize the different services. For example, say 400 girls are utilizing testing for STDs at the Planned Parenthood a semester. Out of those 400, say 200 are found positive. How will those 200 unknown positives affect the sexual health of the campus? If PP is closed, where will students go to deal with pregnancy?

to be coupled with Jon’s piece