Week 9: Journalism 2001

1. Week 9: Journalism 2001 March 31, 2008

2. Review of last week’s news • Hard News: (murders, city council, government, etc.) • Major local stories • Major national/international stories • Major sports stories • Soft News: (retirements, school programs, human interest) • Local stories • National/international stories • Sports stories

3. Announcements • "Newspapers and Public Policy: What's the New Relationship?" • Eric Ringham, Commentary editor of the Minneapolis Star Tribune • Donald Fraser, former U.S. Representative for the 5th District of Minnesota; former Minneapolis mayor • George Latimer, former mayor of St. Paul and Professor of Urban Studies at Macalester College.

4. What I learned from presentation… • Not all hopeless • Jobs available for journalists, just not all the perks • Ad revenue down, not necessarily circulation • “Ad problem driving content problem” • Difference between blogging/newspaper • Terrified of errors in newspaper • Blogs have different standards • Newspapers read/referenced extensively at Legislature • Trying to make web presence stronger

5. Police Department News Release • Good job! • Need attribution, or reads as opinion • One sentence summary lead still strongest • Style errors: • Numerals • Dates • Dateline

6. Upcoming stories • Sports Reporting Assignment • Final article due: Today, March 31 • Next week will review/rewrite in class • Community Journalism reporting assignment • Final article due: April 14 • Feature Story Assignment: • Story pitch due: April 9 • First draft due: April 21 • Final article due: May 5

7. Which is the correct way to punctuate a quote? • “Blah blah blah,” he said. • “Blah blah blah”, he said. • “Blah blah blah” he said.

8. Which is the correct dateline? • SUPERIOR, WI. - • Superior, WI - • SUPERIOR, Wis. -

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

10. The meeting was in Duluth _____. • City Hall • City hall • city hall

11. The meeting was held _______. • March 29 • Mar. 29 • 29 March

12. She lives in __________. • Cook, MN. • Cook, Minn. • Cook, Minnesota

13. ________ Jane Doe was charged with burglary. • 30-year-old • Thirty-year-old • 30 year old

14. The victory was number ______ for the coach. • 400 • four hundred • four hundred (300)

15. The new house is located at _____. • 505 N. Eighth Ave. W. • 505 N. 8th Ave. W. • 505 North 8th Avenue West

16. Journalism Ethics • When a story just isn’t worth it • Holding information to protect a good source • http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources/ethics/handling-sources/when-a-story-just-isnt-worth-it/

18. Chapter 9: Features • 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 • No firm line between news story/feature story • Many news events “featurized”

19. What are feature stories? • Profile people who made the news • Explain events that moved or shook the news • Analyze what is happening in the world, nation or community • Teach an audience how to do something • Suggest better ways to live in a complicated world • Examine trends in constantly changing societies • Take people someplace or let them see something new • Entertain or humor an audience

20. Watch out for “Jell-O Journalism” • Some editors decry emphasis on soft writing • If news story, give it a summary lead • Don’t make reader work to get to the news

21. Types of feature stories • 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 • Show a subject’s oddity, or its practical, emotional or entertainment value • Travel writing

22. Trend stories • Examines people, things or organizations that are having an impact on society • In-depth stories • Detailed account beyond a basic news story or feature • Lengthy news feature • Investigative story • Backgrounder/analysis piece • Adds meaning to current issues in the news by providing more explanation

23. Feature story examples • Dartball a big hit • Whitewater rafting on the St. Louis River • Higher education in Duluth Superior • UMD Alumni Story • Buck profile • Duluth News-Tribune • Article on timekeeper

24. Let’s brainstorm some ideas! • End of year: Where students will live in summer, types of jobs • Proposed North Shore Scenic Railroad extension from Two Harbors to Biwabik • Spring hiking trails in area • UMD athlete profile • Impact of tuition increase • Summer grilling/food • Plays, cultural activities • Study abroad programs

25. Organizing a feature story • 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

26. 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 • Vital information while educating, entertaining and emotionally tying reader to the subject • Provide background information

27. Use a thread • Can be single person, event or thing that highlights theme of the story • 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

28. Use dialogue • Keeps readers attached to a story’s key players • Helps to introduce sources • Use voice • Subjective expression of writer • Writer’s signature or personal style • More license to reveal opinions, personality • Write the ending • Can trail off, or end with a climax • Often ends where the lead started • End with a quote

29. Rewriting and collaboration • First draft rarely makes it into print • Editor, reporter brainstorm ideas • Develop clear, narrow angle • Impact sources: • Real people who bring stories to life

30. Checklist for effective features • Know how to write news • Do your homework • Use observation • Use a tape recorder • Do not be afraid to ask questions • Maintain a relationship with every source • Transcribe handwritten notes as soon as possible

31. Write a rough outline first • Do not overwrite • Use lots of quotes! • Polish the story • Take criticism from an editor

32. Feature Story Reporting Assignment • Story Pitch Due: April 9 • No more than three paragraphs, 200 words • Include 5Ws and H • Email to: lkragnes@d.umn.edu • First draft due: April 21 • Final story due: May 5

34. Freedom of Information • Society of Professional Journalists presentation

35. Out-of-Class Assignments • Due today: • Computer Assisted Reporting Assignment • Due April 7: • News Release rewrites

36. Tonight’s assignment • Join NewsU • http://www.newsu.org/ • AP Editing Assignment

37. Portfolio • Store academic information on your Electronic Portfolio. Each student has 100 mb of storage. • Access Electronic Portfolio at: https://portfolio.umn.edu/portfolio/index.jsp

38. Egradebook • Doublecheck assignments correct in egradebook: • http://www.d.umn.edu/egradebook Late Assignments: If you haven’t made arrangements to complete late assignments, you receive no points.