Week 9: Journalism 2001 March 31, 2008

Review of last week’s news Hard News: Hard News: (murders, city council, government, etc.) –Major local stories –Major national/international stories –Major sports stories Soft News: Soft News: (retirements, school programs, human interest) –Local stories –National/international stories –Sports stories

Announcements "Newspapers and Public Policy: What's the New Relationship?" "Newspapers and Public Policy: What's the New Relationship?" –Eric Ringham, Commentary editor of the Minneapolis Star Tribune –Donald Fraser, former U.S. Representative for the 5th District of Minnesota; former Minneapolis mayor –George Latimer, former mayor of St. Paul and Professor of Urban Studies at Macalester College.

What I learned from presentation… Not all hopeless Not all hopeless –Jobs available for journalists, just not all the perks Ad revenue down, not necessarily circulation Ad revenue down, not necessarily circulation –“Ad problem driving content problem” Difference between blogging/newspaper Difference between blogging/newspaper –Terrified of errors in newspaper –Blogs have different standards Newspapers read/referenced extensively at Legislature Newspapers read/referenced extensively at Legislature Trying to make web presence stronger Trying to make web presence stronger

Police Department News Release Good job! Good job! Need attribution, or reads as opinion Need attribution, or reads as opinion One sentence summary lead still strongest One sentence summary lead still strongest Style errors: Style errors: –Numerals –Dates –Dateline

Upcoming stories Sports Reporting Assignment Sports Reporting Assignment –Final article due: Today, March 31 –Next week will review/rewrite in class Community Journalism reporting assignment Community Journalism reporting assignment –Final article due: April 14 Feature Story Assignment: Feature Story Assignment: –Story pitch due: April 9 –First draft due: April 21 –Final article due: May 5

Which is the correct way to punctuate a quote? 1. “Blah blah blah,” he said. 2. “Blah blah blah”, he said. 3. “Blah blah blah” he said.

Which is the correct dateline? 1. SUPERIOR, WI Superior, WI - 3. SUPERIOR, Wis. -

The meeting is at _______ pm 2. 7 p.m P.M.

The meeting was in Duluth _____. 1. City Hall 2. City hall 3. city hall

The meeting was held _______. 1. March Mar March

She lives in __________. 1. Cook, MN. 2. Cook, Minn. 3. Cook, Minnesota

________ Jane Doe was charged with burglary year-old 2. Thirty-year-old year old

The victory was number ______ for the coach four hundred 3. four hundred (300)

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

Journalism Ethics When a story just isn’t worth it When a story just isn’t worth it When a story just isn’t worth it When a story just isn’t worth it –Holding information to protect a good source Holding information to protect a good sourceHolding information to protect a good source – s/ethics/handling-sources/when-a- story-just-isnt-worth-it/

Chapter 9: Features Hard news vs. soft news Hard news vs. soft news –Hard news: breaking stories –Soft news: looking at people, places and things that shape the world, nation, community Feature stories often soft news Feature stories often soft news No firm line between news story/feature story No firm line between news story/feature story –Many news events “featurized”

What are feature stories? Profile people who made the news Profile people who made the news Explain events that moved or shook the news Explain events that moved or shook the news Analyze what is happening in the world, nation or community Analyze what is happening in the world, nation or community Teach an audience how to do something Teach an audience how to do something Suggest better ways to live in a complicated world Suggest better ways to live in a complicated world Examine trends in constantly changing societies Examine trends in constantly changing societies Take people someplace or let them see something new Take people someplace or let them see something new Entertain or humor an audience Entertain or humor an audience

Watch out for “Jell-O Journalism” Some editors decry emphasis on soft writing Some editors decry emphasis on soft writing If news story, give it a summary lead If news story, give it a summary lead –Don’t make reader work to get to the news

Types of feature stories Personality profiles Personality profiles –Bring audience closer to a person –Paint vivid picture of the person  Interviews, observations, creative writing –One of the most popular features –Buck Human interest story Human interest story –Show a subject’s oddity, or its practical, emotional or entertainment value –Travel writing

Trend stories Trend stories –Examines people, things or organizations that are having an impact on society In-depth stories In-depth stories –Detailed account beyond a basic news story or feature –Lengthy news feature –Investigative story Backgrounder/analysis piece Backgrounder/analysis piece –Adds meaning to current issues in the news by providing more explanation

Feature story examples Dartball a big hit Dartball a big hit Whitewater rafting on the St. Louis River Whitewater rafting on the St. Louis River Higher education in Duluth Superior Higher education in Duluth Superior UMD Alumni Story UMD Alumni Story Buck profile Buck profile Duluth News-Tribune Duluth News-Tribune –Article on timekeeper

Let’s brainstorm some ideas! End of year: Where students will live in summer, types of jobs End of year: Where students will live in summer, types of jobs Proposed North Shore Scenic Railroad extension from Two Harbors to Biwabik Proposed North Shore Scenic Railroad extension from Two Harbors to Biwabik Spring hiking trails in area Spring hiking trails in area UMD athlete profile UMD athlete profile Impact of tuition increase Impact of tuition increase Summer grilling/food Summer grilling/food Plays, cultural activities Plays, cultural activities Study abroad programs Study abroad programs

Organizing a feature story Choose the theme Choose the theme –Do research, organize story around theme –Each section – beginning, body, end – revolve around theme –Narrow your theme  Has the story been done before?  The audience  Holding power  Worthiness

Write the lead Write the lead –Usually avoid summary leads  Tough to summarize feature in opening paragraph –Lead possibilities endless:  Narrative, contract, staccato, direct address, etc. –Lead block: two or more paragraphs Write the body Write the body –Vital information while educating, entertaining and emotionally tying reader to the subject Provide background information Provide background information

Use a thread Use a thread –Can be single person, event or thing that highlights theme of the story Use transitions Use transitions –Transitions hold paragraphs together and helps writers move from one person or area to the next –Common transition words: meanwhile, therefore, sometimes, also, and, but, meantime, nevertheless, however

Use dialogue Use dialogue –Keeps readers attached to a story’s key players –Helps to introduce sources Use voice Use voice –Subjective expression of writer –Writer’s signature or personal style –More license to reveal opinions, personality Write the ending Write the ending –Can trail off, or end with a climax –Often ends where the lead started –End with a quote

Rewriting and collaboration First draft rarely makes it into print First draft rarely makes it into print Editor, reporter brainstorm ideas Editor, reporter brainstorm ideas Develop clear, narrow angle Develop clear, narrow angle Impact sources: Impact sources: –Real people who bring stories to life

Checklist for effective features Know how to write news Know how to write news Do your homework Do your homework Use observation Use observation Use a tape recorder Use a tape recorder Do not be afraid to ask questions Do not be afraid to ask questions Maintain a relationship with every source Maintain a relationship with every source Transcribe handwritten notes as soon as possible Transcribe handwritten notes as soon as possible

Write a rough outline first Write a rough outline first Do not overwrite Do not overwrite –Use lots of quotes! Polish the story Polish the story Take criticism from an editor Take criticism from an editor

Feature Story Reporting Assignment Story Pitch Due: April 9 Story Pitch Due: April 9 –No more than three paragraphs, 200 words –Include 5Ws and H – to: First draft due: April 21 First draft due: April 21 Final story due: May 5 Final story due: May 5

Freedom of Information Society of Professional Journalists presentation Society of Professional Journalists presentation

Out-of-Class Assignments Due today: Due today: –Computer Assisted Reporting Assignment Due April 7: Due April 7: –News Release rewrites

Tonight’s assignment Join NewsU Join NewsU – AP Editing Assignment AP Editing Assignment

Portfolio Store academic information on your Electronic Portfolio. Each student has 100 mb of storage. Store academic information on your Electronic Portfolio. Each student has 100 mb of storage. Access Electronic Portfolio at: sp Access Electronic Portfolio at: sp sp sp

Egradebook Doublecheck assignments correct in egradebook: Doublecheck assignments correct in egradebook: – Late Assignments: If you haven’t made arrangements to complete late assignments, you receive no points.