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Comm2315.wordpress.com Email: axela7@gmail.com or ahinoj34@epcc.edu. Announcements. Data Sources. Real quick CDC Census EP County Jail Public Records Example: Land, Marriage, Civil Court Cases, etc. The art of the Feature story. Personal.
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Comm2315.wordpress.com Email: axela7@gmail.com or ahinoj34@epcc.edu Announcements
Data Sources • Real quick • CDC • Census • EP County Jail Public Records • Example: Land, Marriage, Civil Court Cases, etc.
The art of the Feature story • Personal. • Your source must have a great story or a tragic story or a unique story. • As in Julia
The Feature Interview Pay attention to: What they are wearing How they react (do they smile, laugh, cry, get defensive?) Listen to what they say and how they say it. Their surroundings. example: Todd Bischoff, Parkinson’s patient who surrounds his walls with his hero – Mohamed Ali.
Feature Sources • You must spend a good deal of time with them. • Stay in touch during the story process in case you have questions. • DO NOT let them read the story, unless circumstances call for it. In those cases ask that you read the story to them.
To Data or not to Data? • In cases of some feature stories very little data is needed. Especially if it’s a profile piece. • But if you can find a tie to something relevant – example: Actor Todd Bischoff has Parkinson’s disease and it took him three years to find out. About 75 percent of all Parkinson's patients are misdiagnosed within the first two years according to the University of California’s School of Medicine.
What makes a good story in general • Ok so you’ve met this great person. • Now what? • Do you think you’re the only one that is interested? • Would others be interested? And why? • Why should readers care? • Who should you write this for – yourself? A select few? Or the masses?
How to pitch the story • Be confident • Be ready to fight if you think it’s really worth it. • Make sure you have researched and have some data to back it up. • Be ready to answer: So? What makes this story any different than x,y,z? • What’s the story’s relevance? Timeliness? Importance?
How to pitch • Major sentence you need to finish in two sentences or less: This story is about… • Who does this story impact? • What sort of graphics can it have? • Possible follow? • Research. (Already have your contact peeps).
For Thursday • Think of two story ideas you would like to work on (Plan A and a Plan B) and fill them out on the story pitch form. • Story pitches due Thursday. • We will discuss them in class.