1. Breaking News!!
The News

2. What is News?
News is: newly received or noteworthy information, especially about recent or important events.
Where do you get your news from? 
TV News broadcast?
Radio?
Social Media?
Satirical news?
How do you know it is accurate?

3. Components of a newsworthy story:
To get their attention, your story should be current, timely, and fresh.
It is a late-breaking development, something happening right now, a steaming hot entrée—not reheated leftovers.
Like a brand new development on your campaign or new report.

4. Components of a newsworthy story:
2. Local
It should tie into what is going on in that particular community.
People are more interested in news that has a direct impact on them!

5. Components of a newsworthy story:
3. Human Interest Angle
Try to put a human face on your story, such as a local child who suffers asthma attacks on bad smog days, a former Ford employee, etc.

6. Components of a newsworthy story:
4. Conflict
A story with a hard-fought conflict makes news.
Describe to reporters who the good guys and bad guys are.
Examples: Our campaign to support the Grassy Narrows First Nation community’s struggle to stop industrial logging was covered as Weyerhaeuser v Native Community.

7. Components of a newsworthy story:
5. Controversy
Anything controversial is more likely to get news coverage.
Civil disobedience pretty much always gets media.

8. Components of a newsworthy story:
6. Visuals/ Colorful quotes and images.
Dramatic images:
an oil spill on a beach, a huge STOP sign that says “STOP POLLUTION,” Blown-up photos of the place that is being put at risk.
Creative and fun images:
Eye catching and interesting photos i.e. birds eye view
Event visuals:
Dozens of people marching backwards to protest a “backwards” policy, big banner hangs on the side of buildings.

9. Components of a newsworthy story:
7. Timely
Can your story be linked to an upcoming holiday or season?
Examples would include:
Using Independence Day to talk about how America needs to declare independence from oil
or April Fools Day to talk about “Fossil Fools.”

10. What is REAL News?
Satire: the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.
Rob Ford - Crack smoking Mayor of Toronto - Jon Stewart (6:24mins):
BBC News- Rob Ford fights council move to remove powers (2:50mins):
Toronto Mayor is like crack to comedians (2:37mins):
Mocking the Mayor (5:38mins):
Can Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Still Get Re-elected? (Allan Bonner on CHCH) (1:53mins):
Jimmy Talks to Toronto Mayor Rob Ford About Crack Scandal (4:13mins):
Podcast Radio – Rob & Doug Ford – News talk1010:

11. Newspaper article
Majority of Toronto residents think Rob Ford should resign: Poll
By: Tim Alamenciak News reporter, Published on Fri May
Almost two-thirds of Toronto residents think Rob Ford should resign, according to a poll taken in the hours after the mayor announced he is taking a leave of absence to seek help for alcohol abuse.
Almost two-thirds of Toronto residents think Rob Ford should resign, according to a poll taken in the hours after the mayor announced he is taking a leave of absence to seek help for alcohol abuse.
The percentage of people who would vote for him in the upcoming municipal election dropped to 22 per cent in a five-way race from 27 per cent, according to the Forum Research poll conducted Thursday evening.
The poll has Ford dropping to third place and candidate John Tory moving up to second place, behind frontrunner Olivia Chow.
See full article: ign_poll.html

12. Write your own news story!
Using the images in the following slides (or find your own), write your own news report.