Week 7: Journalism 2001 March 5, 2007

Announcements Congratulations, Rachel! Congratulations, Rachel! –Letter to the Editor published in Statesman Journalism and Writing Internships and Jobs Workshop: Journalism and Writing Internships and Jobs Workshop: –Thursday, 3/8 at 11 a.m. in Kirby Plaza 309 –Andrea Novel Buck, managing editor, Duluth News- Tribune –Marty Sozansky, Internship Coordinator –Extra credit opportunity: 15 points – if interested

Extra Credit: WDIO tour WDIO-TV Tour: WDIO-TV Tour: –Wednesday, 3/7: 4:30 p.m. –Tour, watch 5 p.m. broadcast –15 extra credit points

WDIO-TV Directions WDIO-TV is located at 10 Observation Road between Arlington and Skyline Drive. WDIO-TV is located at 10 Observation Road between Arlington and Skyline Drive. –From UMD, take College Street north to Kenwood. –Turn right on Kenwood to Arrowhead. –Take a left on Arrowhead to Arlington (second stoplight). –Take a left on Arlington and go a few miles to Observation Road, which is about a mile past Central Entrance. –Take a left on Observation Road and go about a mile to WDIO, which is on the left in the shadow of the towers.

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

Two stories to follow… Par Ridder named Star Tribune publisher Par Ridder named Star Tribune publisher – 11.html 11.htmlhttp:// 11.html Judge asks Libby jury to clarify question about 'reasonable doubt' Judge asks Libby jury to clarify question about 'reasonable doubt' – 87.html 87.htmlhttp:// 87.html

Oops!

Review of last week’s summary leads assignment Overall excellent job! Overall excellent job! Watch wordiness Watch wordiness –Condense areas of the country Run-on sentence, comma splice Run-on sentence, comma splice Style errors Style errors –City name –State name –Addresses –Spelling errors

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A woman, 71, was not seriously injured after being shot in the back Sunday afternoon for refusing to give her purse to two men in the Skyway Plaza parking lot. There were no serious injuries Sunday afternoon when a 72-year-old woman was shot after refusing to hand over her purse to 2 men near the parking lot of Skyway Plaza. A 71-year-old woman was shot in the lower back Sunday afternoon by two men who tried to rob her in the Skyway Plaza parking lot, but she was not seriously injured. In a parking lot in the Skyway Plaza on Sunday, a 71- year-old woman suffered only minor injuries after two men attempted to steal her purse and then shot her in the back as she went to find help.

Rain poured over the Midwest, Southwest, and West coast on Tuesday, and is expected to cover the Mississippi Valley, Central Plains, Rockies and Northern Main area Wednesday. Yesterday’s rain and thunderstorms that brought large amounts of precipitation to the Western and Midwestern states, will move further east today bringing rain to the Central plains, Mississippi and the Northeast coast. The Midwest and Southwest regions of the U.S. experienced rain and thunderstorms Tuesday while it stayed ward for the eastern half of the nation with 15 cities setting record highs, the rain is expected to continue throughout Wednesday. Rain fell on the western half of the country on Tuesday and will continue in the Midwest; while on the eastern half of the nation 15 cities set record highs.

Hard News 1 Reporting Stories Interesting meetings! Interesting meetings! A lot of red marks: Next story will be easier… A lot of red marks: Next story will be easier… –Hopefully constructive criticism that will help you write your next story Watch style errors Watch style errors –Dates, titles, numerals, percents Many used quotes effectively Many used quotes effectively –High up in story, direct and indirect Need first names of sources! Need first names of sources! One sentence summary lead the strongest One sentence summary lead the strongest Need attribution or reads as fact/opinion Need attribution or reads as fact/opinion Punctuation inside quote marks Punctuation inside quote marks –“Blah blah blah,” she said.

Deliberations came to an end Thursday afternoon when Duluth’s city council accepted the newly proposed contract for local firefighters. The city council meeting Thursday was an accomplished session, mainly highlighting a new health care plan proposal for the fire department that could help rid the department’s reputation as the most expensive per capita. Duluth, MN – Last night the Duluth City Council held a special meeting session to discuss many key issues, the most pressing being the issues of the Duluth City Fire Department Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Duluth City Council approved the resolution for a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Duluth and local 101 International Association of Firefighters on Thursday, February 22 nd. The Duluth City Council voted 7-1 on Thursday night in a special meeting approving of a new three-year contact with the fire fighter union.

The Board of Commissioners of St. Louis County met Tuesday at the courthouse to discuss, among other things, the proposed smoking ordinance and the feasibility study for the passenger rail service. St. Louis Country Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday to review the wording of the country’s smoking ban that is in the process of being passed. They want to ensure that both the public and law enforcement will clearly understand the new ordinance. The St. Louis County Board’s agenda for Feb. 20 included recommending the ordinance that would ban smoking in public places throughout the country to proceed to public hearings. Due to no guidelines being set, the public hearings will have to wait. The St. Louis County Board of Commission met on the morning of February 20, 2007, to discuss a number of proposals, but mainly focused on Ordinance No. 60, Smoking in Public Places.

What would make this lead stronger: St. Louis Country Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday to review the wording of the country’s smoking ban that is in the process of being passed. They want to ensure that both the public and law enforcement will clearly understand the new ordinance. 1. OK as is 2. Combine into 1 sentence 3. Add sentence

Let’s fix a style error: The St. Louis County Board of Commission met on the morning of February 20, 2007, to discuss a number of proposals, but mainly focused on Ordinance No. 60, Smoking in Public Places. 1. February Feb Feb. 20, 2007

Let’s rewrite the leads!

Chapter 16: Broadcast Writing Radio Station Organizational Chart Radio Station Organizational Chart

Television station organizational chart Television station organizational chart

National television networks CNN: CNN: – CBS: CBS: – ABC: ABC: – MSNBC: MSNBC: – Fox: Fox: –

Local television stations KBJR/KDLH KBJR/KDLH – WDIO WDIO – Successful alumni/students - Amy Rutledge Amy RutledgeAmy Rutledge

Dan Rather Dan Rather stepped down as anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News March 2005, 24 years after his first broadcast in that position. His last broadcast as anchor was March 9, 2005, the 24th anniversary of when he assumed the position from Walter Cronkite. Dan Rather stepped down as anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News March 2005, 24 years after his first broadcast in that position. His last broadcast as anchor was March 9, 2005, the 24th anniversary of when he assumed the position from Walter Cronkite.

Rather’s impact on television news

Who replaced Dan Rather as the permanent CBS anchor? 1. Peter Jennings 2. Katie Couric 3. Sam Donaldson

Broadcast Style Numbers Numbers –Simplify complicated numbers: approximately, more than, about, almost –Vary wording to help announcer, listener –Spell out numbers under 12 –Use a hyphenated combination of numerals and words to express thousands –Use round numbers:  $2,001,894.46: slightly more than two million dollars

Broadcast writing websites Newswriting for Radio: Newswriting for Radio: – Writing for Broadcast: Writing for Broadcast: – ast.html ast.htmlhttp:// ast.html National Association of Broadcasters National Association of Broadcasters – Radio-Television News Directors Association & Foundation Radio-Television News Directors Association & Foundation –

Checklist for broadcast writers Write the way you talk Write the way you talk Write simply Write simply Use short words and short sentences Use short words and short sentences Use active verbs and sentences Use active verbs and sentences When in doubt, leave it out When in doubt, leave it out Don’t raise questions you don’t answer Don’t raise questions you don’t answer Put attribution before quote Put attribution before quote

Writing for radio “Wrap” “Wrap” –Reporter wraps words or sentences around one or more major soundbites –Also called a donut, with news story around the “hole” where the story is placed Blind lead-in Blind lead-in  Introduces a taped excerpt from a news source  Does not signal that a soundbite follows Wrap-up Wrap-up –Signals end of story

Writing for Television Getting video and conducting interviews Getting video and conducting interviews – _broadcast.html _broadcast.htmlhttp:// _broadcast.html Harmonizing words and pictures Harmonizing words and pictures

Broadcast journalism checklist Understand technology Understand technology Learn to perform Learn to perform Keep soundbites short and frame them appropriately Keep soundbites short and frame them appropriately Emphasize the last sentence of a story Emphasize the last sentence of a story Approach television as a unique medium Approach television as a unique medium –Learn to think visually –Make sure that the words match the pictures Approach radio as a unique medium Approach radio as a unique medium –Strong appeal to the imagination

Broadcast newswriting characteristics Immediacy Immediacy –Use present tense as much as possible –Avoid yesterday’s story; update yesterday’s story Conversational style Conversational style –Write the way you talk Tight phrasing Tight phrasing –Conversational style without being wordy Clarity Clarity –Write simply, OK to repeat words

Radio websites Live radio broadcasts from around the world Live radio broadcasts from around the world – live.com/radionews.html live.com/radionews.htmlhttp:// live.com/radionews.html KDAL KDAL –

Ethics Case Study Strange Bedfellows: Federal agents in a TV newsroom – hics/fedsintv.html hics/fedsintv.htmlhttp:// hics/fedsintv.html

Would you let the federal agents into the news editing room? 1. Yes 2. No

Chapter 17: Multimedia Journalism Storytelling on the Web Storytelling on the Web –Print, broadcast journalists inevitably online journalists –Internet explosion: 7 out of 10 surf in 2005  Established in 1969 by Department of Defense (not Al Gore) –Shovelware: text, photos, audio, video from other sources

What’s the difference from print? Multimedia stories: Multimedia stories: –Linear or nonlinear –Unlimited background, space –Less formal – snappy, conversational, edgy –More active with searchable databases, blogs, games, polls, surveys, quizzes, etc. –Needs to be constantly updated

Multimedia story structure Inverted pyramid Inverted pyramid Linear stories best on scrolling pages Linear stories best on scrolling pages Screen-size chunks for nonlinear stories Screen-size chunks for nonlinear stories –Readers rule: Each chunk independent National Geographic: harbor/ harbor/

To link or not to link To link or not to link –What do you think? Story summaries: a type of link Story summaries: a type of link Sidebars, information boxes Sidebars, information boxes

Slide Shows (Photo Galleries) Take readers behind scenes Take readers behind scenes Washington Post’s Camera Works Washington Post’s Camera Works – srv/photo srv/photohttp:// srv/photo Duluth News-Tribune Duluth News-Tribune – Tips for cutlines: Tips for cutlines: –Good ol’ 5Ws and maybe H

Multimedia Storytelling on the Web Seven steps to success Seven steps to success –Find a fresh idea –Focus your topic –Plan and research –Sketch a storyboard –Report, interview, observe –Edit and revise –Test and troubleshoot

Your future as a Multimedia Journalist The Backpack Journalist The Backpack Journalist –Write, shoot and record What skills do you need? What skills do you need? –Strong writing –Use digital still camera, video camera, audio recorder –Edit photos, videos, html Global, yet personal Global, yet personal –How does it affect your readers? The Bottom Line: Sky’s the limit The Bottom Line: Sky’s the limit –May the force be with you……

Upcoming stories Hard News 2 Reporting Assignment Hard News 2 Reporting Assignment –Final article due: March 19 –Any challenges? Sports Reporting Assignment Sports Reporting Assignment –Final article due: March 26 –Any problems? Speech/news conference/multicultural reporting assignment Speech/news conference/multicultural reporting assignment –Story pitch due: March 7 –Final article due: April 9 Feature Story Assignment Feature Story Assignment –Story pitch due: April 4 –First draft due: April 16 –Final article due: April 23

Checklist for sportswriters Go with a summary lead if warranted, but you are not wedded to it Go with a summary lead if warranted, but you are not wedded to it Avoid chronological approaches Avoid chronological approaches Blend facts, turning points, quotations, statistics, analysis Blend facts, turning points, quotations, statistics, analysis Avoid cliches: cliffhangers Avoid cliches: cliffhangers Avoid “ridiculous” direct quotations: we whipped ‘em good Avoid “ridiculous” direct quotations: we whipped ‘em good Use vivid description when appropriate Use vivid description when appropriate Doublecheck spellings Doublecheck spellings Do your homework Do your homework

Speech/News Conference/Multicultural Reporting Assignment Story Pitch Due: 3/7 Story Pitch Due: 3/7 –No more than three paragraphs, 200 words –Include 5Ws and H – to: Final story due: 4/9 Final story due: 4/9

Feature Story Reporting Assignment Story Pitch Due: 4/4 Story Pitch Due: 4/4 –No more than three paragraphs, 200 words –Include 5Ws and H – to: First draft due: 4/16 First draft due: 4/16 Final story due: 4/23 Final story due: 4/23

Dan Rather Assignment Out of Class Assignment: Due 3/19 Out of Class Assignment: Due 3/19 You will be taking a look at Dan Rather’s background, impact on television news You will be taking a look at Dan Rather’s background, impact on television news

Egradebook Doublecheck assignments correct in egradebook: Doublecheck assignments correct in egradebook: – If grading today: : A : B 75-94: C 55-74: D <55: F

Today’s assignment Associated Press Stylebook Editing Associated Press Stylebook Editing Happy Spring Break!

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