The Axle: My story idea is on the rise of sexual misconducts, or Timely Warnings, being reported on campus since the beginning of this school year.
The Riders: The best people to tell this story are the individuals who are victims of sexual violence or who have witnessed it happening to others. While it is sometimes hard for people to come forward and tell their stories, the victims are able to provide first-hand accounts on their experiences, how they have been affected, and how they believe the University is handling the issue of growing sexual misconduct reports. It would also add to the story to interview a representative from Penn State’s Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response (SMPR). This person would be able to talk about what actions Penn State is taking to combat sexual violence and highlight the resources available to those who many need help.
The Spokes: This is a very sensitive and serious topic, so it want the story to be respectful and conscientious of that. For this story to have an impact it would be important to include introductions for each of the individuals who are willing to share their experiences. I want them to appear as an average person who you may see walking down the street or in your classes. Then, I would include sound in which I ask them to describe what they experienced in one word before transitioning into their interviews. The representative from SMPR would offer a perspective of how the University is handling the rise in reported cases and what the University plans to do about the issue moving forward.
The Rim:
- Beginning- I would open the story with shots of a classroom or a residence hall, before transitioning to shots of the individuals I have chosen to interview.
- Middle- The middle of the story would focus on the affects that the victims have experienced and what they hope for when it comes to sexual violence prevention and awareness. The representative from SMPR would be included here to add to the story the ways in which sexual misconduct impacts individuals and communities, and to share resources and support offered by the University
- End- The story would end with a conclusion focused on what others can do to help those who have been affected.