Week 6: Journalism 2001 October 19, 2009

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

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: 90+ –B: –C: –D: –F: 0-44

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

North Dakota Proposal!

Balloon Hoax? Was media manipulated? Was media manipulated? ticle/ALeqM5iC6jwbmzuVUF4YLJVJo5CPNt OLxQD9BE3E380 ticle/ALeqM5iC6jwbmzuVUF4YLJVJo5CPNt OLxQD9BE3E380 ticle/ALeqM5iC6jwbmzuVUF4YLJVJo5CPNt OLxQD9BE3E380 ticle/ALeqM5iC6jwbmzuVUF4YLJVJo5CPNt OLxQD9BE3E380

Review of police beat assignment Pizza Burglary: 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

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City Council Forum Story Review Tough to write under deadline! Tough to write under deadline! –Reinforces why reporters come prepared to meetings with agendas, background info Difficult story to write Difficult story to write –What’s the news? Style errors Style errors –Titles –City Council or city council? List first name on first reference List first name on first reference Use councilor – not counselor! Use councilor – not counselor!

What’s misspelled? 1. Croisant 2. Breakfast

Covering crime Crime writing style and structure Kicker Inverted-pyramid lead Chronology

Covering the crime beat –Get to know everyone. –Find what information is available. –Get familiar with police procedures. –Use a scanner.

Covering the crime beat –Be prepared for anything. –Think trends. –Convey the human drama. –Remember teachers, coaches, ministers and public officials are big news.

What you should withhold –Names of minors –Names of victims of sensitive crimes –Names of endangered victims –Labeling people as suspects –Stereotypes

Homicide or assault checklist Victim’s name Victim’s name Extent of injuries/cause of death Extent of injuries/cause of death Location Location Time Time Circumstances Circumstances Description of suspect Description of suspect Name and identification of anyone arrested Name and identification of anyone arrested Comments Comments Unusual factors Unusual factors

Theft story checklist Type, value of items taken Type, value of items taken Victim Victim Location Location Time Time Circumstances Circumstances Description of suspect Description of suspect Name and identification of anyone arrested Name and identification of anyone arrested Comments Comments Unusual factors Unusual factors

Covering Courts Federal Judicial System Federal Judicial System Federal Judicial System Federal Judicial System –Supreme Court –U.S. Court of Appeals –U.S. District Courts –U.S. Bankruptcy Court Minnesota Judicial System Minnesota Judicial System Minnesota Judicial System Minnesota Judicial System –Supreme Court –Court of Appeals –District Courts

Covering courts Most trials aren’t newsworthy, except: –Murder cases. –Celebrity trials. –Important legal rulings. –Human-interest stories.

Criminal, civil court procedures –Misdemeanors – minor offenses –Felonies – serious crimes –Civil suits – resolve disputes, recover right or obtain compensation

What’s a famous criminal case ultimately decided in civil court?

Types of court cases Criminal Cases Criminal Cases –Enforcement of criminal statutes –Brought by state or federal government against a person for committing a crime such as murder, armed robbery Civil cases Civil cases –Legal disputes between individuals, businesses, state or local governments, government agencies –Commonly include suits for damages from auto accidents, breach of contract, libel

Criminal Cases Basic criminal process: Basic criminal process: –Indictment/information filed: Criminal charge Criminal chargeCriminal charge –Warrant issued for arrest –Arraignment: Criminal charge is read to accused –Preliminary hearing/Grand jury: Probable cause –Second arraignment: Plea entered  Plea bargaining, jury date set –Trial by judge or jury –Jury reaches verdict

Civil cases Basic civil process Basic civil process –Plaintiff files a complaint –Defendant served with a summons –Defendant files pleading –Depositions taken –Appearances before judge  Settlement often reached –Trial scheduled: Either jury or judge –Verdict

Checklist for covering courts Learn the judicial system Learn the judicial system Learn the record-keeping system Learn the record-keeping system Provide sufficient background for the reader Provide sufficient background for the reader Double-check facts Double-check facts Use complete names, addresses or occupations Use complete names, addresses or occupations –Johnson story example

By the Numbers Journalists often dread using “math skills” Journalists often dread using “math skills” Numbers can help illustrate a story, make comparisons Numbers can help illustrate a story, make comparisons

Math for journalists –Percentages –Mean & median –Polls & surveys –Use graphics  Pie charts  Line charts  Bar charts  Fast facts Understand the figures that matter Idea file  Simplify.  Use understandable values.  Round off.  Put budget numbers into context.  Be accurate.

Basic math skills Percentages: Percentages: –10 percent, 40 percent –Budget increase/decrease:  (Year 2 – Year 1)/Year 1 –Percentage of a whole  (subgroup/entire group) –Percent or percentage points  (1 percent difference/5 percent base =.20 or a 20 percent increase)

Math for journalists –Percentages  Increases  Decreases  Increases of 100 percent or more Understand the figures that matter –Mean and median  Mean is arithmetic average.  Median is the halfway point.

Information charts and graphs –Pie chart  Shows different parts that make up the whole. –Line chart  Measures changing quantities over time. –Bar chart  Compares two or more items. –Fast facts  Highlights most important data.

Ask for help Journalists often have big egos! Journalists often have big egos! –OK to ask for help Where to turn online: Where to turn online: –Robert Niles’ Journalism Help:  –Math test for journalists:  –Looking for a calculator? 

Working with polls & surveys –The source  Was data collected by objective researchers? –The sample size  The larger the sample, the more accurate the survey. –The questions  Kill any pole that uses leading, biased questions. –Other variables  Is survey demographically representative?  Is it current?

Surveys Conducting a survey Conducting a survey –Formulating the questions –Usually closed-end question: yes or no, one of two choices –Open-ended questions: tough to tabulate –Testing the questions –Developing the sample  Identifying respondents  Selecting a random sample  Determining the sampling error

Gathering data Gathering data –Face-to-face interviews –Mailed questionnaires –Telephone interviews Analyzing the data Analyzing the data –Hand-tabulate –Computer programs Writing the story Writing the story –Don’t overstate results in the lead –Must explain survey methodology

When are surveys used? Election campaigns Election campaigns –Harris poll –Media polls  –Political party polls Local issues: Local issues: –Price of gasoline, price of beer Pew Research Center: Pew Research Center: –

Survey rules and guidelines Analyze the data carefully Analyze the data carefully Carefully interpret statistics correctly Carefully interpret statistics correctly Lead with survey’s most significant findings Lead with survey’s most significant findings Strive to humanize the statistics Strive to humanize the statistics Organize the story to help readers Organize the story to help readers –Use bullets for key statistics Make comparisons among subgroups Make comparisons among subgroups –Gender, sex, age Consider using charts for statistics Consider using charts for statistics Don’t forget to explain survey methodology Don’t forget to explain survey methodology

Covering speeches Speeches: Before, during … –Before  Research the speaker.  Request an advance copy of speech.  Ask if picture- taking will be allowed. –During  Get a good seat.  Estimate the size of the audience.  Monitor the mood of the crowd.  Take along a tape recorder.

Covering speeches … and after –After  Create a compelling lead.  Avoid topic leads.  Include minimal background/ biographical data.  Highlight speaker’s key points.  Convey tone of speech.  Beware of false or libelous comments.

Speech story checklist Speaker’s name Speaker’s name Relevant credentials Relevant credentials Reason for speech Reason for speech Time, day and location Time, day and location Description of audience Description of audience Quotes Quotes Comments Comments Responses Responses Speaker’s fee Speaker’s fee

Hard News 2: Attend City Council Meeting next Monday, October 26 Story Due: Story Due: –Thursday, October 29

Covering meetings Explain issues, how decisions are made, and what it means –Start with research. –Clarify. Condense. Concentrate. –Encourage readers to attend meetings. –Go early. –Dress appropriately.

Covering meetings Explain issues, how decisions are made, and what it means –Stick around after the meeting. –Distill meandering malarkey into meaningful news. –Remember, meetings are not always news.

Covering meetings Meeting story checklist Group/agency name Group/agency name Location and length of meeting Location and length of meeting Important decisions Important decisions Quotes Quotes Reactions Reactions Crowd size Crowd size Atmosphere Atmosphere Graphics Graphics Unusual events Unusual events What happens next? What happens next?

Covering meetings Personalizing meetings –Write about real people. –Write about real issues. –Look for ways to involve your readers.

Where to find info about next week’s meeting? Duluth City Council Agenda: Duluth City Council Agenda: –

Covering politics Covering campaigns and elections –Prioritize. –Get to know the candidates. –Do your homework. –Use reliable experts. –Decide what matters. –Brainstorm story ideas. –Spread onto the Web.

Covering politics Keeping tabs of governmental policies and players –Decision making –The election process –Money Getting the facts  Meetings  Speeches  News releases  News conferences  Network of sources  Documents

Unfortunate truths about covering politics –Politicians lie. –Politicians will schmooze you so they can use you. –People don’t want to read about government process. 5 –Everybody believes your stories are biased. –You must peel away layer after layer to get to the truth.

An awfully long day…

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

Sports Reporting Assignment Final story due: November 12 Final story due: November 12 Any challenges? Any challenges?

Out-of-Class Assignment: Due October 26 From information provided the University of North Carolina, write a short story about a survey the students completed. From information provided the University of North Carolina, write a short story about a survey the students completed. Write your story in Microsoft Word, doublespaced, and a copy of the story as an attachment to: lkragnes Write your story in Microsoft Word, doublespaced, 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

Hard News 1 Stories Interesting stories! Interesting stories! A lot of red marks: Next story will be easier… A lot of red marks: Next story will be easier… –Constructive criticism that will help you write your next story Stick to third person, past tense Stick to third person, past tense Watch style errors Watch style errors –Dates, titles, numerals, spelling Remember the 5Ws and H! Remember the 5Ws and H!

Avoid restating question Avoid restating question Many used quotes effectively Many used quotes effectively –High up in story, direct and indirect Need demographic information to give reader perspective: Need demographic information to give reader perspective: –What’s that?  Age, where from, where went to college, One sentence summary lead the strongest One sentence summary lead the strongest Punctuation inside quote marks Punctuation inside quote marks –“Blah blah blah,” she said.

John Hyduke is a business man, a president, and a past hockey player with a lot of experience in multiple fields. Long time media guru and Executive Editor of the Duluth News Tribune Rob Karwath always knew he wanted to be a journalist. Susan Latto, UMD Public Relations Director, is always on the go. Barbara Reyelts, investigative reporter and head of KBJR was born to uncover and spread the truth.

In-class Assignment: Due today Editing classmate story Editing classmate story –Make changes, give to reporter –Editing form returned to me: Worth 5 points Rewrite Hard News 1 journalist interview stories Rewrite Hard News 1 journalist interview stories –Using all of the editing suggestions, rewrite/edit your story –You MUST make style changes – or no points! – final copy of story to:  Worth 5 points –Stories will be posted on class Web site

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