Week 9: Journalism 2001 March 26, 2007

Announcements Feels like spring today! Feels like spring today!

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

Upcoming stories Sports Reporting Assignment Sports Reporting Assignment –Final article due: March 26 Speech/news conference/multicultural reporting assignment Speech/news conference/multicultural reporting assignment –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

Review of Hard News 2 Overall good job! Overall good job! Good use of quotes Good use of quotes Avoid opinion Avoid opinion Need names of sources, attribution Need names of sources, attribution Beware of chronological stories Beware of chronological stories –Focus on The News: What happened in lead Attribution strongest after quote Attribution strongest after quote Style errors: Style errors: –Dates, months, toward, City of Duluth, numerals, spelling errors, City Hall

St. Louis County Board of Commissioners voted to research ways to ensure a future train connecting Duluth to the Twin Cities would be both comfortable and time- efficient for the public. The Waconia board of education voted 5-2 on Monday night in a meeting to approve a two-year contract extension with Supt. Jerry Kjergaard. The St. Louis County Board decided Tuesday to table the proposed smoking ordinance back to the committee stage to correct language and set dates for several public hearings to follow. The Duluth Commission on Disabilities met Wednesday for their monthly session with a new face at the table to discuss nomination requests, accessibility issues and committee reports.

Which is the correct way to punctuate a quote? 1. “Blah blah blah,” he said. 2. “Blah blah blah”, he said. 3. “Blah blah blah” he said.

Which is the correct dateline? 1. SUPERIOR, WI Superior, WI - 3. SUPERIOR, Wis. -

The meeting is at _______ pm 2. 7 p.m P.M.

The meeting was in Duluth _____. 1. City Hall 2. City hall 3. city hall

The meeting was held _______. 1. Mar March March

She lives in __________. 1. Cook, MN. 2. Cook, Minn. 3. Cook, Minnesota

________ Jane Doe was charged with burglary year-old 2. Thirty-year-old year old

The victory was number ______ for the coach four hundred 3. four hundred (300)

The new house is located at _____ N. Eighth Ave. W N. 8th Ave. W North 8th Avenue West

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 –Sam Cook articles on Global Warming 101 Expedition

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: April 4 Story Pitch Due: April 4 –No more than three paragraphs, 200 words –Include 5Ws and H –Possible sources –Story angle – to: First draft due: April 16 First draft due: April 16 Final story due: April 23 Final story due: April 23

Out-of-Class Assignments Due today: Due today: –Computer Assisted Reporting Assignment Due April 2: Due April 2: –News Release rewrites

Tonight’s assignment City Council Meeting City Council Meeting –We’re going to watch the Duluth City Council meeting from last Monday night –Complete an article in class:  by end of class to  words max –OK to use computer to take notes –Relax! All start with 10 points  Style errors will be deducted! –Who’s on the City Council:

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

Egradebook Doublecheck assignments correct in egradebook: Doublecheck assignments correct in egradebook: – Late Assignments: If you haven’t made arrangements to complete late assignments, you receive no points.