Current Discussion Topics

Question: In North Carolina the legal age to drop out of high school is 16. How would you change this law, if you would change it at all?

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Question: If you were an employer, for what jobs would you consider hiring someone without a high school diploma?

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Question: Why did you or didn't you drop out of high school?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Journalists approach every news story with the goal of discovering the who, what, when, where, why and how of the story. This collection of most frequently asked questions will help introduce you to the dropout problem in North Carolina.(Updated Feb. 29, 2009)

Latest Blog Posts

How to: Learn to develop your own data-based site with no prior knowledge!

How to design a database Web site with limited or no prior knowledge about databases, programming, or Web design.  (Yes, it's possible!)

So, my friend, you found yourself with a massive amount of information that you think your audience would like to see? Want to show the world all those numbers you got through excellent public records requests? Want to get your audience to pick through a pile of facts so you don't have to? Well, then you're going to need a data-driven Web application! And you're going to have to learn how to make one.

Audio/Video Storytelling - Lessons Learned

 

Audio and Video Storytelling from Afar:  Lessons Learned

 

When working with audio and video elements, planning is critical.  The equipment and very specific tasks involved in shooting video and gathering audio simply require more planning than is necessary when setting out with just a pen and a notepad.  Planning ahead of time becomes even more important when reporting on a story that is not located in your backyard.  Not having the luxury to re-shoot and re-gather audio elements at a moment's (or even day's) notice requires that you do everything possible to be successful the first time around and to build in extra time and appointments with your subject to get the best possible material.

 

What I Learned This Semester...

So as I work on my tutorial, I can't help but look back on what I've learned during my semester in Public Affairs Reporting.

For one thing, I learned how to blog! I might not be good at it yet, but considering I'd never posted so much as a single blog post before in my life, this is a pretty big deal. I've finally begun catching up with the Internets of the late 20th century!

I also learned to live with disappointment. My original plan to interview a success story through Dreams of Wilmington fell through spectacularly. And even my backup plan — to produce a video piece on a mentor and student in Gastonia — hit a few snags (though i did come out in the end with a story and audio of my interview).

The Finish Line

Well, my story on Latinos and the high school dropout rate in North Carolina is up. I'm excited it all came together (despite one tragic microphone malfunction). Not being from this state, this story took a different turn than I expected. In my interviews with educators and my research, I realized that the Latino population here is relatively new to the state, and often to the United States, and so the factors for dropping out of high school reflect those histories. In particular, the issue of undocumented students and their chances for college and certain types of employment kept recurring throughout my research.

Story Posted -- Now on to Lessons Learned

I have posted my story on the site, audio and photos included.  The whole process went rather smoothly for me -- as far as I can tell so far.  I have not written an article all semester, and I must say, it felt good.  After all of my audio and video work this semester, it was very nice to be able to write and tell a story without worrying about any equipment except my laptop.  However, it's also clear to me that the audio and visual elements are key to filling out the story and giving Nikki a voice. 

Interview In Hand, But Audio Problems, Too

So after a change of plans and some last-minute confusion, I've got my first interview done (finally) and recorded (sort of...).

I enjoyed an enlightening interview last night with Margaret McCoy, a 16-year-old high school student from Gastonia. Margaret is a true success story, turning her grades around in school and deciding not to drop out thanks to the help of family, her high school and Y-Pals, a YMCA-affiliated mentoring program I mentioned last week.

Too bad technology got in my way.

Outreach

The semester is quickly coming to an end and our stories for our Web site are about ready to go live.  I'm still trying to get things in place to make sure the reporting for our class will reach stakeholders.  I'm still working to contact high school students about the project as well as getting a blurb such as the one below up on the UNC-Chapel Hill Journalism and Mass Communication Web site.

Participate in new social media project on the state's dropout rate!

Gooooood morning, Carrboro!

The last week of classes, my last week of college.

Dear college,

Please slow down.  Ok, thanks.

Sara

I am in disbelief that:

1) This semester is almost over.

2) I am graduating.

3) I am now a semi-pro at dinner conversations involving the N.C. dropout rate...next to June Atkinson, not to be confused with Lander Atkinson, who would also be a semi-pro too!

Goooood morning, Carrboro!

N.C. Dropout Experts

My story needs more. It needs an expert voice. An anecdotal story is only helpful if it illustrates something about an entire group.

So if Jimmy Lucas is an outlier, that is interesting. But it doesn't tell us about the typical dropout in North Carolina. Here are some agencies I am trying to get in touch with to see what about Jimmy Lucas is typical and what is atypical.

North Carolina Public Schools

North Carolina Association of School Administrators

America's Promise Alliance

At the finish line

Last week, I was figuring out what I wanted to do with all the information that I had. Thankfully, now all of my articles are in their final drafting phases. Take a look at this article. A few experts, on the dropout prevention grants, discuss the future of the grants.

 

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