The Talon Staff Handbook

& AP Style ManualHandbook for The Talon 2015-16

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Writing Style FORMATTING:• ALWAYSuseonespacebetweensentences.• In a series of 3 or more, do not use a comma before the “and.”• Contractions are ONLY OK to use in Feature pieces, sometimes in Opinion pieces, NEVER in News pieces.• Do not center justify, it ruins the one space between sentences and words. • Never use Bold Type or ALL CAPS, if you want to emphasize a word or sentence, use italics.• Remain consistent with all types of formatting throughout your articles, including point-of-view.

• Generally, unless it’s a column or review, stick to use 3rd person POV. Always use 3rd person POV for news articles, and remain unbiased in news articles, presenting both sides, and names of people on opposing sides with equal respect.

• Use complete titles. Only capitalize titles that precede a name.

• Books: Titles in Italics, Essay, articles, or short story titles in “quotes.” Movies: Film titles always in italics. Music: Album titles in Italics, song titles in quotes.

QUOTING: NEVER interview or quote a member of the newspaper staff. Unless pertinent to issue (Get cleared first.) Always spell names correctly (whether quoting or otherwise.)Use full names on first reference; use ONLY last names after that.New Quote = New ParagraphQuotes are mandatory for ALL NEWS ARTICLES, and should be present in most Opinion and Feature articles.

Quotation - General Rules: • Quoting works is a great way to provide evidence for any argument you may wish to make. If you are going to argue something, evidence MUST BE presented in your favor, whether it is from quotes or statistics. Quotes which simply relate information are generally useless: “Then on Wednesday, we started the new classes,” said Nayeli

Chavez.

• It’s been stated but it bears repeating: REMAIN UNBIASED IN NEWS ARTICLES. It can be hard to keep your own personal opinions out of what is making news, but do try as having a bias makes the paper look extremely unprofessional and juvenile. If you feel you must mention how terrible an idea is, find someone else and report their feelings accurately—but never insert your own in a news story.

• Spell out all numbers from one to nine; use figures for anything larger.Try not to begin a sentence with a numeric. Not “1976 was the year when...” but rather “In the year 1976...”

• Spell out all acronyms on first reference. ALWAYS. In some cases in first usage spell out acronym followed by acronym in parenthesis.

• When sending your articles to us via email, ALWAYS include title and author and section so we can tell which editor it goes to: news, features, opinion.

• If you plan on attacking the school or anything that you feel is wrong or stupid, you must present suggestions for improvement, or how to right whatever you are arguing against.

PLAGIARISM This has become a national plague and endangers not only the student’s future in the school, but could results in lawsuits against the paper. There are four types: 1. You simply copy and paste without quote marks or citing sources--that is you are trying to steal another’s work and claim it as your own. This is thievery, dishonest, and intolerable. 2. You use quote marks but do not cite the source of the quoted material. This may be less intentional than number 1, but it is still plagiarism. 3. You cite specific facts without a source. Very general facts, widely known (9/11, 1492) may be used without sources, but any specific facts, “the 212 men who landed on a Caribbean island in

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October of 1492” must tell us where you got the specifics. Since a newspaper does not use standard MLA in-text citations, sometimes writers think they do not have to cite sources. They must include something like “According to the A.P news report . . . ” or (aju.edu) in parenthesis following the facts, or in some way indicate source. Wikipedia is not an authorized source. You can find it there, but verify it somewhere else and cite the source from the somewhere else, usually called out in their footnotes. Look up the original source. 4. Paraphrasing facts and arguments too closely, even if you cite the source, is plagiarism. That is, if you want to follow the original source, simply quote it accurately in quote marks. Better, write down your notes, change the wording and order of the logic, and rephrase entirely in your own words. Changing an occasional “and” or “of” is not paraphrasing; it is plagiarism. If you have questions about any issues or your deadline, ask your immediate editor first, the editor in chief second, the advisor third. Follow this protocol.

Editorial Staff\Positions Editor-in-Chief:

The editor-in-chief is responsible for the entire editorial content of the paper and or/online publication. She or he functions as the CEO, running meetings and managing the staff. The editor-in-chief has both the power of and the responsibility for the paper. All assignments go through the chief, who assists other staff members and adviser as needed.

This position also operates as primary Copy Editor. The copy editor ensures consistency throughout the paper with both AP and our own style. The copy editor proofreads the paper in its entirety once it has been laid out to check for spelling and grammar errors, and also any problems in the layout.

If the chief desires, he or she may write copy, and if we have few experienced editors, he or she will design the front page and possible center spread, acting as Center Spread section editor.

Production Manager: (if staff does not have enough experienced personnel, this falls to the editor-in-chief): The production manager develops protocols to move both art and stories through the system on a timely basis, ensuring quality and

consistency. He or she also keeps track of deadlines and works with the editor-in-chief and advisor to determine students’ final grades. This person also oversees the business manager and financial issues.

Business Manager: The business manager oversees ad sales, creates ads, collects revenue and writes receipts with the oversight of the adviser. Ad design is his or her responsibility, but it can be delegated. The business manager keeps records of contacts, contracts, and design instructions.

Section Editors: Section editors work with the editor-in-chief in editing stories and providing feedback to reporters. The senior editors also have a say in editorial decisions and work to improve the quality and content of the overall paper. The senior editors work closely with individuals to improve their writing skills. They edit using AP style rules and journalistic standards and ethics in mind.Section editors are in charge of:•assignments for their pages (stories, art, photographs, polls, surveys)•design, including writing headlines (an if needed, cutlines),•copy editing their section’s copy.

Op/Ed Editor: assigns stories, art (cartoon), edits all copy, designs and lays out the pages. Get staff to vote on which should be staff opinion (Editoral as opposed to Opinion). This is where the staff offers leadership and makes suggestions to improve the school, community, or world.

News Editor: assigns beats, news stories and photos, (infographics if needed), edits all copy, designs and lays out the pages.

Features : assigns stories, art, photos, infographics, edits all copy, designs and lays out the pages.

Sports Editor: assigns stories, art, photos, infographics, edits all copy, designs and lays out the pages. Coverage should focus on upcoming events, match-ups, etc. with photos of past events to go with the sport. Sports features or columns add interest. We should have both a boy and girl High Flyer each issue, and the players should be nominated by their coaches.

Center Spread: assigns stories, art, photos, infographics, edits all copy, designs and lays out the pages. Front page and

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Centerspread (features with a theme) go together. A large visual element to copy ratio is expected. Art Director (if we have enough experienced students): The art director in charge of infographics and cartoonists, and supervises and assists with assignments. This position also may assist section editors with the layout and design of the paper. Photography editor: This position may not exist every year. He or she is in charge of equipment inventory, organization, sign outs, and organizing, data collection, editing and preparing photos for each issue. This editor should master (as much as possible) Photoshop and Lightroom, and may teach photographers how to best edit photos, prepare for publication with correct PPI/DPI, make sure cutline info is with each photo. A critical part of this job is archiving work so that we keep only the BEST photos, and all are easily to locate in an organized fashion on the Z drive. The photography editor should work closely with section editors regard cropping and sizing photos for best results. All photographers report to the Photography editor first regarding the uploading of images, saving, and any editing and reporting/cutline info.Reporters/Writers: The writers suggest articles, complete interviews and research and write original articles for each issue of the paper, including, proofing grammar and spelling, checking and verifying facts and accurate quotes, and editing before final draft is submitted. All articles are expected to be revised at least once. Interview appointments and professional behavior will be expected. Online Editor: The online editor and staff work to make online editions of the paper a reality, including working out technical issues, links to the site, coordinating with Business manager to design ads and all other related issues to the online publication. Cartoonist:/ Illustrator: Those with skills can do illustrations or political cartoons to be published in the paper. Infographics may require art as well, and frequently, we may need icons or logos designed for the paper.---------------GRADING will be based on a formula:

1. In class learning assignments and quizzes.

2. Individual effort and time on task. (Weekly work sheets with EVIDENCE of work.)

3. Assignments/projects for The Talon.4. Meeting deadlines. Submit in Google Classroom and

submit hard copy to editor on time.

COURSE POLICIES: 1. Once we are in production, Mrs. Swann must be notified by email before any absence occurs! No sounds and ringers on any electronic devices, and we will follow school rules regarding phones UNLESS you are recording an interview, conducting an interview or ad sale, and you have permission. Text your editor of you are off campus and need assistance. 2. Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. For editing purposes, you must have hard copies of each article brought to class on specified date. STANDARDS OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Under the Honor Code, students have a two-fold obligation: individually, they must not violate the code, and as a community, they are responsible to see that suspected violations are reported. Academic Dishonesty includes, but is not limited, to the following definitions: A. Assessment (Quiz/Test) Behavior: Unless expressly permitted by the instructor, the use of external assistance during an exam shall be considered academically dishonest. Inappropriate exam behavior includes but is not limited to: (1) communicating with anyone in any way during an exam, (2) copying material from another student’s exam, (3) allowing a student to copy from one’s exam, (4) using unauthorized notes, calculators, or other sources of unauthorized assistance. B. Fabrication: Any intentional falsification, invention of data, or citation in an academic exercise will be considered to be academic dishonesty. Fabrication involves but is not limited to: (1) inventing or altering data or sources (2) plagiarism.C. Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the appropriation and subsequent passing off of another’s ideas or words as one’s own. If the words or ideas of another are used, acknowledgement of the original source must be made through recognized referencing practices. Use of another’s ideas or words must be properly acknowledged as follows:

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(1) Direct Quotation: Any use of direct quotation must be acknowledged by quotation marks. All sources must be correctly cited and identified.(2) Paraphrase: If another’s ideas are borrowed in whole or in part and are merely recast in the student’s own words, proper acknowledgement must, nonetheless, be made. All sources must be correctly cited and identified.D. Other Types of Academic Dishonesty: Other forms of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to: (1) Submitting a paper written by or obtained from another person.(2) Fictionalizing in any story. It damages not only your reputation, but also that of The Talon staff, and all journalists, professional and those who are students. WITH FREEDOM COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.

ELECTRONIC FILING: Stories1. To ensure we have the most recently revised version, make sure the correct DATE is listed with your byline and slug info. 2. Save the story by name with slug and date: ie. Principal Q&A 9.22.153. Save in google docs, then submit to Google Classroom. Editors will download to Word for typesetting and layout only when the chief and adviser have okay’d the final changes.Art/Infographics1. To ensure we have the most recently revised version, make sure the correct DATE is listed with your byline and slug info. Save the story as a word document: Slug section writer’s last nameie. Soccer Sports Smith 2. Save in the section folder for the issue:Zdrive—000 Newspaper 2017-19—Issue#--Section the story will appear in (ie. Features folder)

PhotosYou have four goals when submitting images for publication:

1. Prepare your images as optimally as possible so editors can easily place them on the newspaper or Web page. Photography editor will assist.

2. Submit accurate and complete information so that editors can write cutlines that help readers better understand your images and the people in them.

3. Submit all your content, properly slugged and in the proper computer file, so that editors can find it. Include photo credit.

4. Do all the above by deadline.

Preparing Images Adjust orientation and make sure you are saving images

properly as verticals or horizontals, depending on the shot. Adjust contrast and color. Bring out detail in faces, if needed. Remove spots and other imperfections, but do not alter

the actual image. Prepare your image for print (the photo editor will adjust it

for the web). Your camera should be preset, but check to make sure you

are saving in 4” x 6” format, at least 300 dpi. Filing Images

Use the Z drive only.1. Go to Newspaper 2015-16 folder.2. Navigate to:

Photography folder 3. Navigate to the issue (WEB or PRINT) Issue 1

Create a new folder, and name it the same as your assignment slug. Save in the Photography/Graphics folder.

4. Move/Save all your images into this folder. 5. Pick your Top 2-4, and rename them and number them,

again with the assignment slug. Remember that you are choosing shots with vertical and horizontal orientations, as well as establishing shots, smedium range and a close up for each assigned photo.

6. Do not put other images in the folder, but you can save the shots you want in YOUR personal folder. Make another folder in your personal folder for PORTFOLIO.

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CutlinesYour goal is to provide page editors with enough information for any shot he or she may choose — without you (the photographer) knowing the choice. Second, you should be submitting accurate information. If in doubt, leave it out, even if leaving it out earns you an editor’s wrath.

1. Cutline requirements are: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How, and at least one interesting detail that is not obvious in the photo – the context before/after works usually. Don’t worry about the writing because it can be revised by an editor. Do worry about accuracy.

2. Create a Word file, name it the same as your assignment slug with “cutline” added, and save it using the same steps as you did with your images. SlugYourInitials#

3. In list form, write complete cutline information for each of your top shots. Remember to lead off each cutline with the slug of the photo.

4. Write general cutline information for the rest of your shots.

A SHORT GUIDE TO PHOTO JOURNALISM Cutliness ample Cutline : soccerAG1: After a disappointing loss to Fort Mill in the girls’ state championship, Falcon Coach Morris Hodges consoles fullback Maria James (’15). The Falcons played their final match Tuesday night in the Sports Pavilion at FMHS. James scored every point in the match, but she also made several errors. The score was 5-3.

H ere ’ s another format you can use so that the cutline can be written later : soccerAG2:Who: Soccer player Maria James and her coach, Morris HodgesWhat: She cries in disappointment after the Falcon’s 5-3 championship loss to the Fort Mill. When: Tuesday nightWhere: The FMHS Sports PavilionDetail: James scored every point in the match, but also made some of the worst errors.

soccerAT3: Goalie Laura Prescott (’16) blocks a shot from Fort Mill’s Janine Parker (’15) with 30 seconds left to play in the state championship Tuesday at FMHS Sports Pavillion. Parker was named most valuable player for the conference.

Every photo must be accompanied by a cutline. A mug shot takes simple identification of name and title. For more complex photos, the cutline must be at least one

complete sentence and up to three. Writing is factual and to the point, and sentences should be short. Avoid fancy prose.

Cutlines must identify all recognizable people by name. Crowds and people in the background can be identified more generally.

All faces must be at least the size of a dime when published.

The first sentence of cutline must describe the action in the photo. The sentence must contain a present tense, active verb.

The rest of the sentences can provide background or more information about the story or photo.

Avoid cliches such as “shown here” or “pictured above.” Better to just identify the subject and provide a piece of information about the story. Do not state the obvious.

PHOTOJOURNALISTIC ShotsStrive to capture three types of shots for each major assignment: the establishing shot (also called the overall shot), the medium shot, and the close-up. Also, a variety of vertical and horizontal shots give us a lot to work with.Establishing shot: Taken from a distance with context If readers themselves were at a news event, they would stand in the crowd and move their eyes side to side to survey the entire panorama. A good establishing shot allows viewers to orient themselves to the scene, whether it be a street, a city block, a hillside on campus, or a room. Note: Generally requires a high or a wider angle. Climb a ladder or stairs, get on your car roof, or say yes to a helicopter ride. Rule #1: BE CAREFUL.

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Medium shot Adds drama and tells the story. Shoot close enough to see the participants’ actions, yet far enough way to show their relationship to one another and the environment.

Close-up Places the reader eyeball-to-eyeball with the subject. A close-up should isolate and emphasize one element, which is most often a face but can also be the hands of an aging pianist or the child’s doll, mired in the mud of a flash flood.

Mugshot Head and shoulders. Subject looking directly at the camera or slightly off to the

side. No emphasis on background, little thought to creativity or

content. Consistency among subjects is key if more than one. Eyes are important. Always have subjects removed

sunglasses and caps.

Watch the background to see that a tree branch or pole doesn’t appear to stick through the head. Watch for bright sun or too much flash causing a reflection on glasses and for bright sun causing a squint or dark shadows beneath the eyes. The latter can be filled in with flash, or turn the subject’s back to the sun or stand in the shade & shoot with balanced flash, then add a touch of warmth in Photoshop.

As in all photos also be aware of the color of the background in relation to the subject. White hair against a white wall will be lost. Likewise, dark hair against a dark wall requires some separation. In such situations, also be careful to meter off the face so the large, single color background does not throw the light meter out.

Environmental portrait Capturing the subject in his or her natural environment. Required when one wants to both show a person’s face

and say something about what they do or are involved in.

The background is thus as important as the subject & should say something about the person, or correlate to the article in a direct manner.

Note: Props directly related to the subject or news article may immediately contribute to a good photo. Ask questions – get a good feel for the subject and their activity or profession. Are they linked to a product or activity? If you get a first impression – check or ask that it is accurate, then try to depict that to readers.

Secondly, think how you can make good use of light. Use window light, fill in with flash. If an industrial or lab type setting, use a gel on a background light or flash for effect – red & blue always works well here. Attempt to make the photo look as candid as possible, even if posed.

story telling Real people doing real things. The subject, action or happening is shown as a moment in

time in a particular environment. No propping or posing.

spot news Emphasis is on content first.

Note: In most cases you get the best you can from the best angle possible. Then when you have the bread & butter shot in the bank, look to improving it with more creative angle or lighting, or give attention to a good story telling shot. Emphasis is on capturing a key moment. (The fired Professor’s fist pumping the air in indifferent light with a cluttered background is more important than a beautifully lit image of the President announcing the dismissal in a garden setting.)

sports Action Use the sports setting to get moments of action.s ports R eaction Watch the bench, the team, the coach and the stands when a match point is about to be played, or a penalty kicked or thrown etc, or the final whistle is about to blow.

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Reaction tells the story of a game as much as the winning move.

COMMONLY USED ASSOCIATED PRESS STYLE RULES

ABBREVIATIONSAbbreviate titles and courtesy titles before names: Gov. Ted Kulongoski, Dr. Jonas Salk. Mr.

Crimson Tide.

Days of the week: Spell out except when used in tabular form.

Months: Spell out those with five or fewer letters, abbreviate all others.

Spell out: association, department, detective, fort, mount, point or port: History Department, Fort

Lewis, Mount St. Helens.

Organizations: Spell out on first reference unless commonly recognized (such as DECA, NHA, ROTC.

Then abbreviate on second reference: Oregon Journalism Education Association, then OJEA.

Academic degrees: Bachelor of arts degree (B.A.), bachelor of science degree (B.S.), bachelor’s degree, master’s degree (M.A., M.S.), doctorate (Ph.D.). Capitalize abbre-viations of college degrees, and put no space between letters: B.A., M.S., Ph.D., LL.D.

Ages: Use figures in reporting the ages of people and animals: 17-year-old Sarah Martin or Sarah Martin, 17. Use no hyphens with this form: Sarah Martin, who is 17 years old …

Advanced Placement: AP, AP tests, Advanced Placement English, Pre-AP

CAPITALIZATION

Buildings: Capitalize the proper names of buildings and official areas within the school and city: Room B2, Little Theatre, Ben Petrick Field.

Classes: Capitalize official class names, but use lowercase to identify individuals: junior, Junior Class, senior Kari Steinbock, Class of 2010.

Clubs and organizations: Capitalize the names of clubs and organizations: Speech Team, French Club, Varsity Baseball, JV Volleyball, Boys Choir. Do not capitalize when referring generically to “the varsity team”

Committees: Capitalize official titles of school committees: Prom Committee.

Course titles: Capitalize only the proper name for a class: English II, sophomore English, Geometry, Algebra II, algebra class.

Dates: The date is always given in figures: Nov. 4, Jan. 17. Never use ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.). The current year is not included in a date. The game was Oct. 2.

Months: Spell out months of five or fewer letters. Abbreviate the others: May 17, September 4.

Year: Dates in the current year are assumed so are never followed by the year. When referring to dates in years other than the current one, use the date and year, except when referring to classes, teams or decades: July 4, 1776; Jan. 1, 2000, Class of ’09, Disco was popular in the ’70s.

Decades: Use Arabic figures to indicate a decade, an apostrophe in place of numerals that are left out, and add the letter s to form a plural: the 1980s, the ’20s, the Roaring ’20s, the mid1970s.

Centuries: Use an ordinal figure to name a century. Capitalize the word century when it is preceded by ordinal figures: 2nd Century, 21st Century.

Directions: In general, lowercase north, south, east and west when they indicate 8

compass directions. Capitalize these words when they designate regions: Pacific Northwest,

Snow fell in the Northeast, east, south. Departments: Capitalize formal names of high school departments (do not abbreviate the word “department”): English Department, Science Department, Fine Arts Department.

Languages: Always capitalize: Spanish, French, English, Japanese, Arabic.

PUNCTUATION and WORD USAGE

Money: Use the dollar and decimals for amounts larger than one dollar. Spell out the word cents,

using numerals for amounts less than a dollar: $1.01, $2.50, $4, 45 cents (not $.45 or forty-five cents).

Months: Abbreviate names of months of more than five letters only when followed by the date. Jan.

10, Feb. 14, Aug. 1, Sept. 3, Oct. 31, Nov. 28, Dec. 25; Thanksgiving falls on the last Thursday of November; Feb. 2, 1987, and April 10–12, 1987. — After using the correct form for the month, the date is always given in figures. Never use ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) with the date: November 3, April 1.

Numbers

The AP Stylebook entry for numerals is deceptively short. A close look reveals that there are plenty of rules hiding among the many cross-references. The most common are:

In general, spell out numbers one through nine and use figures for numbers 10 on up. There are many exceptions that always take figures, however. Most, but not all, involve units of measurement. Common exceptions include: Addresses: 7 Park Place. Ages, but not for inanimate objects: The 4-year-old cat, the four-

year-old car. Cents: 8 cents.

Dollars: $3. Notice that AP style does not include a period and two zeroes when referring to an even dollar figure.

Dates: March 4. Notice that dates take cardinal numbers, not ordinal numbers (don’t use 4th).

Dimensions: 5 foot 2, 5-by-9 cell. Highways: Route 7. Millions, billions: 6 billion people. Percentages: 1 percent. Notice that percent is one word. Speed: 8 mph. Temperatures: 2 degrees. Times: 4 p.m. Notice that AP style does not include a colon and two

zeroes when referring to an even hour. Spell out numbers used at the beginning of a sentence: “Ten thousand

people marched on the capital.” Exception: Never spell out years: “1999 was a terrible year for technology companies.”

Use commas to set off each group of three digits in numerals higher than 999 (except for years and addresses): 12,650.

Use decimals (up to two places) for amounts in the millions and billions that do not require a precise figure: $3.74 billion.

Add an s but no apostrophe to a number to make it plural: “She kept rolling 7s.” The same rule applies to decades: the 1980s. Use an apostrophe on a decade only if cutting off the initial figures: the ’80s.

Names of students: Use student’s full name and class on first reference and last name only in subsequent references (unless staff’s style is to use first name only on second and subsequent references). When there are two students with the same first name in the same story, then use the full name on first reference and then identify them by first name subsequently. Verify the spelling of all names with the school’s directory. In general, people are entitled to be known in a manner preferable to them, as long as their identities are clear.

Names of adults: For adults, use title, first and last name on first reference, and last name in subsequent references. Yearbook adviser Chris Becerra. Principal Cherie Stroud.

When initials are used in place of the first name, a space should not appear between the initials:

H.L. Mencken, J.R.R. Tolkien, J.D. McIntire.

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For two persons with the same first name in a story, use full names. Avoid duplication by using pronouns, if they are of different sexes, or by grade if they differ, or some other designation.

Numerals: In general, spell out numerals one through nine and use figures for 10 (ten) and above: nine students; 10 football players; three tests; $21.5 million; eight cows, 11th place.

Spell out numerals when they begin sentences: Twelve hundred students attended Fall Press Day Oct. 18 at Oregon State University.

In a series where both words and figures should be used, use the simplest parallel form: They had four 4-room houses, ten 3-room houses and twelve 10-room houses.

Use commas in figures above 1,000: 1,980 horses; 23,528 votes; $1,700. When using fractions, spell out amounts less than 1, using hyphens

between the numerals: one-third, three-eighths, five-sixteenths. Capitalize words when they are used with a figure: Page 2, Room 220. Spell out ordinal numbers first through ninth when they indicate sequence

in time or location, such as street names. Beginning with 10th, use figures: 2125 Second Ave., 102nd and Division, second base, First Amendment, the team finished 11th.

Organizations: The proper name of an organization is always written out on first reference, unless it is universally recognized. The title of such an organization may be abbreviated, without periods, on second reference, and thereafter, if it will be clearly understood by readers. (Examples: National Honor Society and then, NHS; Future Farmers of America, and then, FFA.

All words in an organization’s name are capitalized except the articles a, an and the and prepositions of less than five letters.

Punctuation: Follow standard English rules. The following are specific to journalistic style:

-Comma: Use no comma preceding “and” in a series: red, white and blue.-Ellipsis: Indicates omission of one or more words in a quotation. It includes three periods with one space on each side. ( … ) A fourth period is needed when

the ellipsis ends a sentence.-Em-dash: Use the long dash to indicate a long pause or break in thought:She was determined to finish the marathon – no matter how long it took.

Note: a space goes on each side of the em-dash.-Hyphen: The hyphen is used when compound modifiers – two or more words – express a single concept:

fourth-quarter touchdown, better-qualified coach, full-time job,second-rate performance, up-and-coming star, 2-year-old boy.

-Italics: Do not italicize titles of books, movies, plays, poems, songs, TV programs. Instead, capitalize the principal words and place quotations around the titles, except the Bible and reference works such as dictionaries.

Quotation marks: Place quotation marks outside all other punctuation:“I can’t believe it,” she said.“What was the reason for the change in policy?” he asked.

Parentheses: In general, avoid sentence structure requiring parentheses in journalistic writing. Parentheses indicate awkward sentence construction. Rewrite the sentence in another way. If a sentence must contain incidental material, surround them with em dashes instead.

Percent: One word: 45 percent (not 45 per cent, never 45%).

Radio and TV stations: Use all capital letters. Use hyphens to separate the type of station from the basic call letters: KBPS-FM, KATU-TV.

Regions: Capitalize names of specific regions: Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Southwest.

Saint: Abbreviate saint in the names of saints, cities and other places: St. Paul, St. Lawrence Seaway, Mount St. Helens.

Seasons: Use lower case except when part of a proper name for an event: spring,

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summer, fall, winter, Winter Formal, Spring Fling. Sports:

Athletic teams: Capitalize: Titans, Grizzlies, Black Tornado.Teams: Capitalize and do not use periods when using junior varsity as a

modifier, as in JV team. Otherwise, spell it out: JV Baseball, JV Volleyball, JV Football. Spell out and

note capitalizations: basketball team, baseball team, Varsity Soccer, JV Soccer. Scores: Use figures exclusively. Place a hyphen if using Microsoft Word but an en dash if using InDesign between the totals of the winning and losing teams. When reporting scores, a parallel form should be used: It was a 5-0 victory. Spartans 10, Lions 3. Glencoe lost 4-8. South Eugene beat McNary 40-36.

Titles: Capitalize titles preceding names, except for player positions. If the title is preceded by a qualifying word, use all lowercase: Coach Ryan Petrick, defensive lineman Jabon Williams.

States: Abbreviate names of states only when used after the names of cities and towns. Do not use postal abbreviations to identify states. Do not abbreviate Alaska, Hawaii or states of four or five letters (Idaho,

Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah).

Use these abbreviations: Ala. (AL) Fla. (FL) Mass. (MA) N.C. (NC) Ariz. (AZ) Ga. (GA) Mich. (MI) N.H. (NH) Ark. (AR) Ill. (IL) Minn. (MN) N.J. (NJ) Calif. (CA) Ind. (IN) Miss. (MS) N.M. (NM) Colo. (CO) Kan. (KS) Mo. (MO) N.Y. (NY) Conn. (CT) Ky. (KY) Mont. (MT) N.D. (ND)Del.(DE) La.(LA) Neb.(NE) Md.(MD)Okla.(OK) Ore. (OR) Pa.(PA) R.I.(RI)S.C.(SC) S.D. (SD) Va. (VA) Vt. (VT) Wash. (WA) W. Va. (WV) Wis. (WI) Wyo. (WY) Tenn. (TN) AK (Alaska), HI (Hawaii), ID (Idaho), IA (Iowa), ME (Maine),

OH (Ohio), Texas (TX) UT (Utah) District of Columbia (DC).

Street addresses: Abbreviate Ave., Blvd., St. only when used with a numbered address. All similar words are always spelled out: Drive, Lane, Road, Terrace, etc. Abbreviate compass points (E., N.W., etc.) only when used with specific street numbers. Spell out and capitalize First through Ninth when used as street names; use figures with two letters for 10th and above, i.e. 2125 Second Ave., 102nd and Division.

Time of day: Abbreviate a.m. and p.m., using lowercase letters and periods. Eliminate unnecessary figures and redundancies. Do not use double zeroes for times on the hour: 11 p.m., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 3–5 p.m. 7 a.m., not 7:00 a.m., 10 at night, not 10 p.m. at night. Do not use the term o’clock.

Titles: Capitalize when the title precedes the name. Lowercase in all other instances. Abbreviate titles that come before a full name: Rep. David Wu, Sen. John Kerry, the Rev. Billy Graham.

Capitalize specific titles preceding and attached to a name, but use lowercase if the title follows a name or stands by itself:

President Barach Obama; but Barach Obama, president Principal Dr. Fred Anderson, but Dr. Fred Anderson, principalAdviser Linda Ballew, but Linda Ballew, adviser.

Lengthy titles of more than three words should be placed after the name. Alonzo Martinez, English department head.

Trademarks: Use the generic description unless the trademark is essential to the story: transparent tape, not

Scotch tape; soft drink, not Coca-Cola, Pepsi, etc.; photocopy, not Xerox; tissue, not Kleenex

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