Week 9: Journalism 2001 November 6, 2006

Announcements Election Coverage: November 7 Election Coverage: November 7 –Worth 15 extra credit points

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

Saddam Hussein was sentenced by an Iraqi court to: 1. Life in prison 2. Death by hanging 3. Community service

The UMD men’s and women’s hockey teams swept the Gophers last weekend. 1. True 2. False

The Democratic gubernatorial ticket had a bad week. First, Lt. Governor Candidate Judi Dutcher asked in a television interview, 1. What is taconite? 2. What is E-85? 3. Where’s the Iron Range?

And Mike Hatch, when asked about the Dutcher interview, is accused of calling a Forum Communications reporter a: 1. Republican whore 2. Muckracker 3. Blubbering idiot

Let’s watch the election coverage… Get your remotes ready for Tuesday night! Get your remotes ready for Tuesday night! We’ll discuss next week who did what best We’ll discuss next week who did what best

Upcoming stories Sports Reporting Assignment Sports Reporting Assignment –Final article due: November 6 Speech/news conference/multicultural reporting assignment Speech/news conference/multicultural reporting assignment –Final article due: November 20 Feature Story Assignment Feature Story Assignment –Story pitch due: November 13 –First draft due: November 27 –Final article due: December 11

Review of Hard News 2 Overall good job! Overall good job! Good use of quotes Good use of quotes Beware of chronological stories Beware of chronological stories –Focus on The News Attribution strongest after quote Attribution strongest after quote Style errors: Style errors: –Dates, months, toward, City of Duluth, numerals, spelling errors, City Hall

At a public hearing held on Wednesday at the Duluth City Hall, the City Planning Commission approved the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for the Duluth Historic District Renaissance Project by a vote of eight to two. The City of Duluth Planning Commission voted in favor of A&L Properties to attain an environmental impact statement in their Duluth Historic Renaissance Project. The Spirit Mountain Recreation Authority met on October 18 th to discuss new signs, safety finances, and season pass sales. A couple from Duluth spoke before the Commission on Disabilities Members at City Hall on Tuesday afternoon to speak about accessible handicap parking.

Let’s rewrite some leads!

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 Sunday’s Duluth News-Tribune Sunday’s Duluth News-Tribune

Let’s brainstorm some ideas!

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 assignment Story Pitch Due: 11/13 Story Pitch Due: 11/13 –No more than three paragraphs, 200 words –Include 5Ws and H –Possible sources –Story angle – to: First draft due: 11/27 First draft due: 11/27 Final story due: 12/11 Final story due: 12/11

Out-of-Class Assignments Due today: Due today: –Computer Assisted Reporting Assignment Due November 13: Due November 13: –News Release rewrites

Tonight’s assignment Cheryl Reitan Guest Speaker: 11/6 Cheryl Reitan Guest Speaker: 11/6 – word story due: 11/8 –Cheryl Reitan Complete Bio at: Publications Director 1996-present, UMD , College of St. Scholastica , College of St. Scholastica Education Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota B.A University of Minnesota, M.A. English, 1997 University of Minnesota, M.L.S Fiction writer/novelist

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