Week 4: Journalism 2001 February 13, 2006

Its, it’s or its’. Which is correct? 1. Its 2. It’s 3. Its’

Announcements UMD Networking Night 2006 UMD Networking Night 2006 –Wednesday, February 15 –5-6:30 p.m. –Technology Village Lobby, 11 E. Superior St. –To register: or call UM Job Fair UM Job Fair –Monday, February 20 –Bus leaves UMD at 7:30 a.m., returning at 5:30 p.m. –To register: Career Services at 21 Solon Campus Center, or call

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

Derelictions in “housekeeping” helped drive the combined number of federal safety citations last year at Northeastern Minnesota taconite operations to the highest level in 26 years. 1. True 2. False

1. True 2. False The number of people visiting many of Duluth’s traditional tourist attractions has slowly eroded since 2000.

Duluth is not ready to take another shot at hosting the Minnesota Vikings training camp. 1. True 2. False

Which Northeastern Minnesota company recently celebrated its 100 th year in business: 1. St. Mary’s Duluth Clinic 2. Minnesota Power 3. University of Minnesota Duluth

Review 2/6 summary lead assignment Overall continued progress! Overall continued progress! Best to use one-sentence summary lead Best to use one-sentence summary lead Style errors: Style errors: –Datelines –State abbreviations –Dollars –Addresses –Titles Grammar Grammar –Spelling –Run-on sentences –In-complete sentences –Agreement –That/which

Another winter storm slammed into Northern California Thursday morning bringing snow to Mount Hamilton and the Coast Range mountain areas along with hail and torrential rains to already saturated roadways. A winter storm brought intense weather conditions throughout California Thursday morning that caused numerous car accidents and an increased risk of mudslides. A smoldering cigarette was blamed for a house fire on Lawler Avenue that caused $50,000 in damages. The Skokie Fire Department responded Friday night to a cigarette- started house fire on Lawler Avenue which caused $50,000 in damage, but no injuries.

Review: Writing a summary lead Usually a single sentence Usually a single sentence No more than 35 words No more than 35 words Bottom line: Bottom line: –Use a single sentence of no more than 35 words to summarize an event

Let’s rewrite the leads!

Review: Lucy Kragness interview Overall tough to condense all the info! Overall tough to condense all the info! –Some “untrue” facts! Use spellchecker, AP Stylebook Use spellchecker, AP Stylebook Common style errors: Common style errors: –Titles –Years –Numerals –State names –Degrees: master’s, bachelor’s, Ph.D. –Freelance –Tornados or tornadoes –The Associated Press

Use last name on second reference Use last name on second reference Watch editorializing Watch editorializing Verify facts Verify facts Paragraph length Paragraph length Grammar Grammar –Agreement –Run-on sentences –When to use hyphens Attribution: she said strongest Attribution: she said strongest Wordiness Wordiness Don’t be afraid to use quotes! Don’t be afraid to use quotes!

Editing marks Let’s review editing marks in Stylebook: Let’s review editing marks in Stylebook: –page 410

Lucy Kragness was glad when the journalism minor returned to UMD in the 2005 spring semester. It meant that the longtime freelance writer and photographer could return to a job she enjoys: teaching. For the first time in ten years, journalist veteran Lucy Kragness has returned to teach at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. “I enjoy teaching,” Kragness said. “It’s fun to watch the light bulb go off.” She’s back. After UMD cut the journalism program ten years ago, Lucy Kragness, a journalism teacher here at UMD and volunteer adviser to the Statesman, was forced to find a new job. She said the class was cut simply due to a budget cut and the subsequent retirement of department head. After a ten year break Lucy Kragness will return to the University of Minnesota Duluth bringing with her real world news experience and a rejuvenated desire to teach. The Watergate scandal shaped America’s political landscape. It also inspired student Lucy Kragness to pursue a career in journalism. Thirty years later, she returns to the classroom to share her experiences and knowledge with this generation’s aspiring journalists.

Another its, its’ or it’s? 1. It’s 2. Its’ 3. Its

Bottom line on it’s or its Use it’s: when mean it is, it has Use it’s: when mean it is, it has All other uses: its All other uses: its No such word as its’

Useful websites Grammar, writing Grammar, writing –Purdue’s OWL (Online Writing Lab) Purdue’s OWL (Online Writing Lab)Purdue’s OWL (Online Writing Lab) –Guide to Grammar and Writing, Capital Community College Foundation Guide to Grammar and Writing, Capital Community College FoundationGuide to Grammar and Writing, Capital Community College Foundation –Guide to Grammar and Style, Jack Lynch Guide to Grammar and Style, Jack LynchGuide to Grammar and Style, Jack Lynch Journalism Journalism –Beginning Reporter Resources Beginning Reporter ResourcesBeginning Reporter Resources –Power Reporting Power ReportingPower Reporting

Let’s look at run-on sentences Go to this link: Go to this link: –

What are typical reporting beats? 1. Police & fire 2. Courts 3. Education 4. Government 5. All of the above

Chapter 19: City Government Municipal government systems Municipal government systems –Mayor-council  Strong: Mayor forms budget, administers policy  Weak: Managerial functions divided among others –Council-manager  City manager oversees city operations; hired by council –Commission  Committee of city leaders assume executive, legislative functions

Story pitch: Hard News Assignment due 2/13 Length of story pitch: three paragraphs, about 200 words Length of story pitch: three paragraphs, about 200 words Include the 5Ws and H: what makes this story newsworthy Include the 5Ws and H: what makes this story newsworthy Challenges with story pitch?

Duluth has a weak mayor, strong council form of government. 1. True 2. False

What’s in Duluth? Strong mayor-council Strong mayor-council –City of Duluth organizational chart City of Duluth organizational chartCity of Duluth organizational chart What’s in St. Louis County? Strong administrator-commission Strong administrator-commission –St. Louis County Information St. Louis County InformationSt. Louis County Information

Typical city government beat No typical day! No typical day! City council meetings City council meetings –Check agenda –Advance story –Meeting story City budget process City budget process Administrative reports Administrative reports Other committee, task force meetings Other committee, task force meetings –Vikings proposal Vikings proposalVikings proposal

How to cover a council meeting Check Agenda Check AgendaAgenda Check meeting Action Check meeting ActionAction Don’t be afraid to ask questions after the meeting Don’t be afraid to ask questions after the meeting Stay to the end: Other business can be hot news! Stay to the end: Other business can be hot news! Take lots of notes Take lots of notes

Checklist for covering city government Learn the system Learn the system Get to know the personalities Get to know the personalities Develop reliable sources Develop reliable sources Be persistent Be persistent Never let friendship interfere with the job Never let friendship interfere with the job Always be prepared Always be prepared Make note of story possibilities Make note of story possibilities Read other coverage Read other coverage Write to inform, not to impress Write to inform, not to impress Use your brain Use your brain Ask questions! Ask questions!

Chapter 20: Police and Fire Organizational structures Organizational structures –Duluth Police Department Duluth Police DepartmentDuluth Police Department –St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department St. Louis County Sheriff’s DepartmentSt. Louis County Sheriff’s Department –Duluth Fire Department Duluth Fire DepartmentDuluth Fire Department

Covering police, fire beats Making the rounds: develop sources Making the rounds: develop sources –Each city, county different –Billings, Sheridan examples Departmental records Departmental records –Police log, reports –Fire reports

Checklist for police, fire beats Develop, cultivate sources Develop, cultivate sources Learn how to handle hostile sources Learn how to handle hostile sources Know the job responsibilities of sources Know the job responsibilities of sources Don’t deceive sources Don’t deceive sources If a big story comes along, go after it If a big story comes along, go after it Know the territory Know the territory Learn the terminology Learn the terminology Double-check spellings Double-check spellings Check with hospital, morgue, to update information Check with hospital, morgue, to update information Be careful when reporting arrests Be careful when reporting arrests Don’t confuse an arrest with filing of a charge Don’t confuse an arrest with filing of a charge Know policy on using minors’ names Know policy on using minors’ names

Chapter 22: Sports Evolution of sports writing Evolution of sports writing –Flowery prose: Grantland Rice, Nashville Daily News, 1901 –Stanley Woodward, New York Herald Tribune  Still cliches – strive for middle ground  WWII put sports into better perspective: 5Ws & H –1970s and 1980s: More balanced approach – Best sports writing: Includes statistics, essential ingredients (5Ws & H), more analytical

High School Sports Coverage Terry Henion, Omaha World-Herald Terry Henion, Omaha World-Herald –“Kids playing kids’ games” Reporters must keep stats Reporters must keep stats –No sports information directors Not really covering, more documenting Not really covering, more documenting Stringers: College students covering high school sports Stringers: College students covering high school sports Quotes from losing, winning coaches & players Quotes from losing, winning coaches & players

College sports coverage Working with statistics Working with statistics –Box scores –Team statistics –Individual statistics –Beware of becoming “statistic junkie” –Review statistics for trends: play-by-play charts

Going beyond statistics Going beyond statistics –Watch coaches on sidelines, nervous parents in stands –Policies for post-game interviews  Cool-down time –Talk to coaches –Talk to players –Talk to trainers

Writing a sports story Morning newspapers Morning newspapers –Tight deadlines, usually straightforward account –Summary leads, stories Afternoon newspapers Afternoon newspapers –More time to write comprehensive stories Weekly newspapers Weekly newspapers –More time for analysis, what results mean

Checklist for sportswriters Go with a summary lead if warranted, but more room to be creative. Go with a summary lead if warranted, but more room to be creative. Avoid chronological approaches Avoid chronological approaches Blend facts, turning points, quotations, statistics, analysis Blend facts, turning points, quotations, statistics, analysis Avoid cliches: cliffhangers, take it to Avoid cliches: cliffhangers, take it to 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 Double-check spellings Double-check spellings Do your homework Do your homework

Online sports sources National Collegiate Athletic Association: National Collegiate Athletic Association: –www2.ncaa.org www2.ncaa.org National Basketball Association: National Basketball Association: National Football League: National Football League: Major League Baseball: Major League Baseball: ESPN: ESPN:

Due 2/20: Sports Story Reporting Assignment Pitch Length of story pitch: three paragraphs, about 200 words Length of story pitch: three paragraphs, about 200 words Include the 5Ws and H: what makes this story newsworthy Include the 5Ws and H: what makes this story newsworthy UMD sports schedules UMD sports schedules –Detailed information at: 

Assignment: Due 2/20 From information provided from a Tempe Police Department activity log, write an inverted-pyramid news story based on all the information available. From information provided from a Tempe Police Department activity log, write an inverted-pyramid news story based on all the information available. Write your story in Microsoft Word, and a copy of the story as an attachment to: lkragnes Write your story in Microsoft Word, and a copy of the story as an attachment to: lkragnes Make sure to copy yourself on the Make sure to copy yourself on the

In-class assignment for 2/13 Summary lead exercise Summary lead exercise – –Steps to help you: – –Identify the five Ws and H – –Determine which is the most important to include. – –A summary lead should contain no more than 35 words. – –One sentence strongest summary lead. Complete your assignment in Microsoft Word. the file as an attachment to: Make sure to keep a copy of the file for yourself.

Egradebook Doublecheck assignments correct in egradebook: Doublecheck assignments correct in egradebook: –

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