Week 6: Journalism 2001 October 16, 2006

Its Its Its’ Its’ Or it’s? Or it’s? Bottom line: Use it’s when mean it is, it was, it has – its’ is not a word!

Announcements Microsoft Word available for $5 through the UMD Computer Corner Microsoft Word available for $5 through the UMD Computer Corner

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

Let’s look at a story from last week Headline: Explosion kills one, closes plant Subhead: A 24-year-old worker dies at the Forbes plant, which is shut down for an unknown time. Fatalities at Iron Range taconite plants during the past 17 years have been few and far between. However, when an accident does occur within the heavy- equipment, high-voltage industry, the consequences can be tragic. A 24-year-old employee of United Taconite died Thursday afternoon when two electrical explosions rocked a motor control room at the facility’s concentrator and main substation near Forbes. The male employee died at the scene, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department.

North Dakota Proposal!

Review of last week’s assignment Wordiness, attribution, allegedly –Retrieved the money: recovered –Avoid full name, full address in lead –Editorializing: thanks to excellent work –Exhibiting suspicious behavior: acting suspiciously –Attribution –Looking through the windows of parked cars lined along the street: Looking in parked cars –Wall kicked in and an illegal entry had been made: Wall kicked in –Was found with: had

Style errors: Style errors: –States –Ages –Addresses –Numerals Run-on sentences Run-on sentences Recovered all of the approximately $741.10: recovered the $ Recovered all of the approximately $741.10: recovered the $ Made contact: talked Made contact: talked Pockets overfilled with money: full pockets Pockets overfilled with money: full pockets Admitted Admitted Had stolen: is charged with Had stolen: is charged with

TEMPE, Ariz. – A 20-year-old man was charged with third-degree burglary and felony theft on Monday after police, suspicious of the man seen peaking into parked cars, made contact and found that he had his pockets stuffed with money. TEMPE, Ari. – A 20-year-old former employee of Panhandler’s Pizza was arrested and charged with third-degree burglary and felony theft after entering and stealing approximately $740 from his former place of employment. A Tempe Arizona man held on a $6,850 bail was arrested last night after he allegedly robbed a local pizza parlor. After trailing a suspicious person the Tempe Police Department arrested suspect John Q. Smyth, 20, of Tempe early Monday on charges of third-degree burglary and felony theft of Panhandler’s Pizza. TEMPE, Ariz. – John Q. Smith, 20, was arrested Monday on accounts of a burglary after robbing $ from Panhandler’s Pizza on 106 E. University.

Let’s rewrite a few graphs!

What’s misspelled? 1. Croisant 2. Breakfast

Chapter 14: Speeches, news conferences

Covering a speech Preparation: Preparation: –Research subject, speaker –Prepare questions –Catch the speaker early –Advance texts  Research easier, but speakers often wander from text –Tape recorder  Use for backup of quotes

Steps to follow during the speech Take copious notes Take copious notes –Quotations: mark notes Make observations Make observations –Clothing, mannerisms Listen for news Listen for news –What makes this speech special? Listen for summaries Listen for summaries Follow-up questions Follow-up questions

Writing the speech story Questions to answer: Questions to answer: –What is the key point? –What are the other major points? –Which quotes are the best? –Is any of this news? –When is the deadline?

Organizing the information Organizing the information –Inverted-pyramid news stories  Summary lead: –35 words, usually one sentence  Second paragraph: –Back up lead with strong quote, paraphrase  Third paragraph: –Continue developing lead, or write transitional paragraph (possibly bullets)  Fourth paragraph or after the bullets: –Continue developing lead, or developing bulleted items  Balance of the story: –Quotations, paraphrases  Final paragraph: –Try to end with direct quotation –Never: “he/she concluded”

News Conferences Gang interview Gang interview –All reporters get same information Why call a news conference? Why call a news conference? –After a crisis –Explain controversy –Make an announcement –Can control what’s given to reporters

Covering a news conference Do your homework! Do your homework! –Read news releases –Research old stories –Research speaker –Talk to editors –Talk to other reporters  What will not be covered

Advance story Advance story –Brief story announcing event –Often only coverage of event Questions and answers Questions and answers –Television reporters often have the edge  Speakers wants to be seen as well as heard –Arrive early for a good seat

News conference as media event Presidential news conference Presidential news conference –Began with Theodore Roosevelt –Today major news event  Reporters also want to be seen and heard  Draws 300 reporters, usually lasts 30 minutes

Online speech sources Great American Speeches: PBS Great American Speeches: PBS – The History Channel The History Channel – infoUSA infoUSA – m mhttp://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/speeches.ht m

An awfully long day…

Chapter 18: News Releases What is a news release? What is a news release? –Announcements  New line of products  Events  Promotions  Public service announcements –Cause-promoting  Fundraising  Volunteers –Image-building  Politicians  Corporations

Evaluating news releases Does it have news value? Does it have news value? –Local, regional or national Is it trying to gain free publicity? Is it trying to gain free publicity? Is it worth following up? Is it worth following up? –Story and/or photograph Can it be trusted? Can it be trusted?

What is Public Relations? Promoting an organization, institution or corporation Promoting an organization, institution or corporation UMD Communicators Council UMD Communicators Council UMD Communicators Council UMD Communicators Council –University Relations University RelationsUniversity Relations –Natural Resources Research Institute Natural Resources Research InstituteNatural Resources Research Institute –Minnesota Sea Grant Minnesota Sea GrantMinnesota Sea Grant

Which releases will be used? No set formula No set formula –Interests of reporters, editors –How many people affected Usually rewritten Usually rewritten –Eliminate “fluff:” self-serving, promotional info –Embarrassing if two media use exact same wording –Often raise additional questions

ed releases –How to write a press release How to write a press releaseHow to write a press release  Concise  Well-written  Factual  Honest  Timely

Using news releases Boiling down a handout Boiling down a handout –Determine 5Ws and H –Find the lead –Eliminate fluff –Avoid free ads –Determining local news value

How to write a news release Avoiding hype Avoiding hype Avoiding jargon Avoiding jargon Structure of a release Structure of a release  Contact information  For Immediate Release  Dateline  Headline  Lead, inverted pyramid style copy  Quotes  Boilerplate paragraph

Handouts Wise Words from PR Week Career Guide Wise Words from PR Week Career Guide Women in Sports Journalism Women in Sports Journalism –Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sports

Another wayward sign! What’s the correct spelling? 1. Souvenirs! 2. Souvanirs

Chapter 19: Multicultural Reporting NY Times: How Race is lived in America NY Times: How Race is lived in America –One year project –Published in June, July of 2000 –15 installments –Teams of reporters, editors

Rodney King beating Footage of the Rodney King beating Footage of the Rodney King beating – kingbeating- qt,1, quicktime?ctrack=2&cset=true kingbeating- qt,1, quicktime?ctrack=2&cset=truehttp:// kingbeating- qt,1, quicktime?ctrack=2&cset=true Ten years after the LA Riots: Ten years after the LA Riots: – poll-470pa2an,1, story poll-470pa2an,1, storyhttp:// poll-470pa2an,1, story

Trends in multicultural coverage Cultural sensitivity training Cultural sensitivity training Diversification of media staffs Diversification of media staffs –13.42 percent in 2004 Overall newsroom staffing tumbling Overall newsroom staffing tumbling –4 percent decline overall Diversification of coverage Diversification of coverage –Inner cities: Minorities are the majorities

Approaches to multicultural coverage Guidelines for media and reporters Guidelines for media and reporters –Provide consistent, daily coverage –Get to know the communities you cover –Develop multicultural links and friendships –Expand coverage beyond the “problem people” perspective –Mainstream sources for all stories –Periodically assess the representativeness of sources –Don’t “overcredential” sources –Recognize that there is diversity within cultures –Bring your own perspective to the newsroom

Multicultural websites Asian American Journalists Association Asian American Journalists Association Asian American Journalists Association Asian American Journalists Association Maynard Institute Maynard Institute Maynard Institute Maynard Institute National Association of Black Journalists National Association of Black Journalists National Association of Black Journalists National Association of Black Journalists –Minnesota Spokesman Recorder Minnesota Spokesman RecorderMinnesota Spokesman Recorder National Association of Hispanic Journalists National Association of Hispanic Journalists National Association of Hispanic Journalists National Association of Hispanic Journalists National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Native American Journalists Association Native American Journalists Association Native American Journalists Association Native American Journalists Association The Center for an Accessible Society The Center for an Accessible Society The Center for an Accessible Society The Center for an Accessible Society Disability Resources on the Internet Disability Resources on the Internet Disability Resources on the Internet Disability Resources on the Internet Disability Data Disability Data Disability Data Disability Data

Checklist for improving coverage Have I covered the story with sensitivity, accuracy, fairness and balance regarding all of the people involved? Have I covered the story with sensitivity, accuracy, fairness and balance regarding all of the people involved? What are the likely consequences of publication? Who will be hurt and who will be helped? What are the likely consequences of publication? Who will be hurt and who will be helped? Have I sought a diversity of sources? Have I sought a diversity of sources? Am I seeking true diversity or using tokenism by allowing one minority person to represent a community or point of view? Am I seeking true diversity or using tokenism by allowing one minority person to represent a community or point of view? Have I allowed preconceived ideas to limit my efforts to include diversity? Have I allowed preconceived ideas to limit my efforts to include diversity?

Am I flexible about the possibility that the focus of the story may change when different sources are added? Am I flexible about the possibility that the focus of the story may change when different sources are added? Have I thought about using quotations from minority experts in non-traditional field? Have I thought about using quotations from minority experts in non-traditional field? Have I spent time in minority communities and with residents to find out what people are thinking and to learn more about lifestyles, perspectives, customs, etc.? Have I spent time in minority communities and with residents to find out what people are thinking and to learn more about lifestyles, perspectives, customs, etc.? Have I written about achievements on their own merits, rather than as “stereotype breakers?” Have I written about achievements on their own merits, rather than as “stereotype breakers?” Have I guarded against allowing place names to become code words for crime? Have I guarded against allowing place names to become code words for crime? As I seek diversity, am I being true to my other goals as a journalist? As I seek diversity, am I being true to my other goals as a journalist? Will I be able to explain my decision clearly and honestly to anyone who challenges it – and not to rationalize? Will I be able to explain my decision clearly and honestly to anyone who challenges it – and not to rationalize?

Speech/News Conference/Multicultural Reporting Assignment Story Pitch Due: 10/23 Story Pitch Due: 10/23 –No more than three paragraphs, 200 words –Include 5Ws and H –Review Chapters 15, 18 – to: Final story due: 11/20 Final story due: 11/20

Hard News 1 Assignment: Due 10/16 Any problems? Any problems? Tips: Tips: –Just use said: he said, she said –Keep paragraphs short: no more than two sentences, three absolute max –Story length: 8-10 paragraphs, words –Write strong summary lead of one sentence, no more than 35 words –Need attribution from sources –Review text –Review class lecture notes at:  Write story in Microsoft Word, doublespaced, and as an attachment to: Write story in Microsoft Word, doublespaced, and as an attachment to:

Sports Reporting Assignment Story pitch due 10/9: Story pitch due 10/9: –Length of story pitch: no more than three paragraphs, or 200 words –Include the 5Ws and H: what makes this story newsworthy –Detailed information at:  Final story due 11/6 Final story due 11/6

Out of Class Assignment for 10/23 Meet the Press Senate Debate Meet the Press Senate Debate Write a short story ( words) on the Meet the Press debate on October 15 between U.S. Senate candidates Mark Kennedy and Amy Klobuchar Write a short story ( words) on the Meet the Press debate on October 15 between U.S. Senate candidates Mark Kennedy and Amy Klobuchar Netcast at: Netcast at: story to: story to:

Egradebook Doublecheck assignments correct in egradebook: Doublecheck assignments correct in egradebook: – Mid-term alerts to students with Ds, Fs Mid-term alerts to students with Ds, Fs If grading today: –A: –B: –C: –D: –F: 0-39

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