Week 9: Journalism 2001

Week 9: Journalism 2001March 26, 2007

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AnnouncementsFeels like spring today!


Review of last weeks newsHard News:(murders, city council, government, etc.)Major local storiesMajor national/international storiesMajor sports storiesSoft News:(retirements, school programs, human interest)Local storiesNational/international storiesSports stories


Upcoming storiesSports Reporting AssignmentFinal article due: March 26Speech/news conference/multicultural reporting assignmentFinal article due: April 9Feature Story AssignmentStory pitch due: April 4First draft due: April 16Final article due: April 23


Review of Hard News 2Overall good job!Good use of quotesAvoid opinionNeed names of sources, attributionBeware of chronological storiesFocus on The News: What happened in leadAttribution strongest after quoteStyle errors:Dates, months, toward, City of Duluth, numerals, spelling errors, City Hall


St. Louis County Board of Commissioners voted to research ways to ensure a future train connecting Duluth to the Twin Cities would be both comfortable and time-efficient for the public.

The Waconia board of education voted 5-2 on Monday night in a meeting to approve a two-year contract extension with Supt. Jerry Kjergaard.

The St. Louis County Board decided Tuesday to table the proposed smoking ordinance back to the committee stage to correct language and set dates for several public hearings to follow.

The Duluth Commission on Disabilities met Wednesday for their monthly session with a new face at the table to discuss nomination requests, accessibility issues and committee reports.


Which is the correct way to punctuate a quote?Blah blah blah, he said.Blah blah blah, he said.Blah blah blah he said.


Which is the correct dateline?SUPERIOR, WI. -Superior, WI -SUPERIOR, Wis. -


The meeting is at _______.7 pm7 p.m.7 P.M.


The meeting was in Duluth _____.City HallCity hallcity hall


The meeting was held _______.Mar. 30March 3030 March


She lives in __________.Cook, MN.Cook, Minn.Cook, Minnesota


________ Jane Doe was charged with burglary.30-year-oldThirty-year-old30 year old


The victory was number ______ for the coach.400four hundredfour hundred (300)


The new house is located at _____.505 N. Eighth Ave. W.505 N. 8th Ave. W.505 North 8th Avenue West


Chapter 9: FeaturesHard news vs. soft newsHard news: breaking storiesSoft news: looking at people, places and things that shape the world, nation, communityFeature stories often soft newsNo firm line between news story/feature storyMany news events featurized


What are feature stories?Profile people who made the newsExplain events that moved or shook the newsAnalyze what is happening in the world, nation or communityTeach an audience how to do somethingSuggest better ways to live in a complicated worldExamine trends in constantly changing societiesTake people someplace or let them see something newEntertain or humor an audience


Watch out for Jell-O JournalismSome editors decry emphasis on soft writingIf news story, give it a summary leadDont make reader work to get to the news


Types of feature storiesPersonality profilesBring audience closer to a personPaint vivid picture of the personInterviews, observations, creative writingOne of the most popular featuresBuckHuman interest storyShow a subjects oddity, or its practical, emotional or entertainment valueTravel writing


Trend storiesExamines people, things or organizations that are having an impact on societyIn-depth storiesDetailed account beyond a basic news story or featureLengthy news featureInvestigative storyBackgrounder/analysis pieceAdds meaning to current issues in the news by providing more explanation


Feature story examplesDartball a big hitWhitewater rafting on the St. Louis RiverHigher education in Duluth SuperiorUMD Alumni StoryBuck profileSundays Duluth News-TribuneSam Cook articles on Global Warming 101 Expedition


Lets brainstorm some ideas!


Organizing a feature storyChoose the themeDo research, organize story around themeEach section beginning, body, end revolve around themeNarrow your themeHas the story been done before?The audienceHolding powerWorthiness


Write the leadUsually avoid summary leadsTough to summarize feature in opening paragraphLead possibilities endless:Narrative, contract, staccato, direct address, etc.Lead block: two or more paragraphsWrite the bodyVital information while educating, entertaining and emotionally tying reader to the subjectProvide background information


Use a threadCan be single person, event or thing that highlights theme of the storyUse transitionsTransitions hold paragraphs together and helps writers move from one person or area to the nextCommon transition words: meanwhile, therefore, sometimes, also, and, but, meantime, nevertheless, however


Use dialogueKeeps readers attached to a storys key playersHelps to introduce sourcesUse voiceSubjective expression of writerWriters signature or personal styleMore license to reveal opinions, personalityWrite the endingCan trail off, or end with a climaxOften ends where the lead startedEnd with a quote


Rewriting and collaborationFirst draft rarely makes it into printEditor, reporter brainstorm ideasDevelop clear, narrow angleImpact sources:Real people who bring stories to life


Checklist for effective featuresKnow how to write newsDo your homeworkUse observationUse a tape recorderDo not be afraid to ask questionsMaintain a relationship with every sourceTranscribe handwritten notes as soon as possible


Write a rough outline firstDo not overwriteUse lots of quotes!Polish the storyTake criticism from an editor


Feature story assignmentStory Pitch Due: April 4No more than three paragraphs, 200 wordsInclude 5Ws and HPossible sourcesStory angleEmail to: [email protected] draft due: April 16Final story due: April 23


Out-of-Class AssignmentsDue today:Computer Assisted Reporting AssignmentDue April 2:News Release rewrites


Tonights assignmentCity Council MeetingWere going to watch the Duluth City Council meeting from last Monday nightComplete an article in class:email by end of class to [email protected] words maxOK to use computer to take notesRelax! All start with 10 pointsStyle errors will be deducted!Whos on the City Council:http://www.ci.duluth.mn.us/city/council/ccmembers.html


PortfolioStore academic information on your Electronic Portfolio. Each student has 100 mb of storage.Access Electronic Portfolio at: https://portfolio.umn.edu/portfolio/index.jsp


EgradebookDoublecheck assignments correct in egradebook:http://www.d.umn.edu/egradebook

Late Assignments:If you havent made arrangements to complete late assignments, you receive no points.


Documents

Week 9: Journalism 2001