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Journalistic Writing

Journalistic Writing. Agricultural Communications. Comma Rules. If a sentences is divided by a conjunction a comma should be considered; when there is a subject and a verb on both sides of the conjunction then a comma is needed.

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Journalistic Writing

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  1. Journalistic Writing Agricultural Communications

  2. Comma Rules • If a sentences is divided by a conjunction a comma should be considered; when there is a subject and a verb on both sides of the conjunction then a comma is needed. 1 3 1 7 1 3 • Example: Mary plays piccolo, and Jamie crochets.  1 3 8 4 1 7 1 • Example: Mary is in honor band and FFA. • Lists: items in a list should be divided by a comma. • I like apples, oranges, grapefruit and bananas. • Note: the comma between “grapefruit” and “and” is optional but is discouraged for conciseness in business writing. Objective: Use Associated Press (AP) Style to write a news story.

  3. Comma Rules • Prepositional phrases that begin a sentence and contain four or more words should be separated by a comma. 8 2 4 1 1 3 3 1 • For example – For a long time, I have felt sad. 8 4 1 3 2 1 • Through this tunnel is a waterfall.

  4. Comma Rules • Participle phrases are set off by commas. • Example – Running around track, she screamed wildly. • Adjective, adjective should be separated by a comma. 2 4 4 1 • For example - the big, red house. • Note: Gerunds and infinitives acting as nouns are NEVER separated from the verb by a comma. Think: P,IG

  5. Hyphens • Hyphens when two adjectives have to occur together to properly describe something. • 1 2 4 • Hillary was red-faced. • Hillary is neither red, nor faced, but red-faced.

  6. Semi-colon ; • The “fat” comma, does the job of a conjunction and a comma. • Should only be used when there are two distinct, but related ideas. • She was happy to hear the news, and her husband blogged about the achievement. • She was happy to hear the news; her husband blogged about the achievement.

  7. Information Objective: Research and gather information for a news story using appropriate methods. • Stories and information are determined by your audience. • Consider who you are writing for

  8. News Components • News Components are what connects information to your audience. • Conflict – struggles faced by people • Unusual – anything out of the ordinary • Progress – self explanatory, moving forward in a pursuit • Human Interest – connect emotionally with the reader or listener

  9. Source Quality – See Video • Not all information is the same! • Someone’s opinion should not be taken as fact. • Cross reference facts. • But with a critical and careful approach the Internet can be a powerful tool.

  10. The Interview • News stories should have 2+ interview sources. • When selecting interviewees, determine several possible choices. • Choose experts in the field and eyewitness when possible. Also people who are impacted make good interviewees. Objective: Interview sources for a news story using appropriate methods.

  11. Interview • To find contacts you may need to be creative. “One story came to the newspaper where I was working. The person said he had heard about this amazing bag pipe player and that this musician had received some unique invitations and awards. He thought the musicians name was Eric. Internet and Facebook searches were fruitless. So, I called the local symphonic band. The director knew who I was looking for and gave me a cell phone number!” – Jacie Pressett, former reporter for Utah State Statesman

  12. Interview - Introductions • Establish a rapport. Apprehension about being misrepresented and interviewing can be major roadblocks to a successful investigation. • Clearly establish who you are and your purpose! • Courtesy is a must! Work at the interviewee’s convenience but within your deadline.

  13. The Interview • Your prepared questions should serve as a guide to the interview, but active listening should garner more questions. • Take notes. • When the respondent says something powerful, write it in direct quotes. Clarify direct quotes.

  14. Writing You have completed your investigation! • Now it’s time to write. • Writers block can be combated! Put words on paper, take it step by step, even paragraph by paragraph if you need. • Objective: Use Associated Press (AP) style to write a news story.

  15. A Accuracy – Tell the truth! Your job is to inform, make sure you are fair to your readers by ensuring accuracy. Check and double check your facts. BBrevity- direct and concise Get point across as soon as possible for those who are just glancing to find information; don’t waste the reader’s time C Clarity- makes senseCan the reader understand the ideas you are attempting to communicate? Writing - ABC’s of Journalism

  16. Writing • Headline – Creative, catchy. • Headline from Sun Advocate April 2011 Chicken farming in ECC runs 'afowl' of ordinance • Only first word and proper nouns are capitalized.

  17. 5Ws + H = The Basics • Who? is involved, the subject of the story, those people important to the story • Whathappened to make this a story? • Wheredid the story take place? • Whendid the story take place? • Whydid this happen? • Howdid this happen?

  18. Writing – In the Beginning . . . • First two paragraphs should contain 5 Ws+ H Using the paragraph below, identify the 5 Ws& H. They can provide fresh eggs, a source of food for families and help do the littlest things like eating bugs. Chickens have played an important role in the lives of some residents in East Carbon City. But now some folks may be scrambling to find a solution with the city now enforcing a zoning code that does not allow for chickens within the residential zoning area. – Source: Sun Advocate

  19. Inverted Pyramid • Presents all vital information in the opening so that readers can decide for themselves if they want to read the whole article • Following paragraphs present supporting in-depth information • Information flows well Handout

  20. Writing - With Quotes • All punctuation for the quote should be inside the quotation marks • e.g. “Put punctuation inside the quotation marks,” said the professor. • Each quote from a new speaker gets a new paragraph • e.g. “Why do I have to add a new paragraph?” asked James. • “Because there is a new speaker,” answered Mike.

  21. Writing -Using Quotes • Don’t attribute a single quote more than once • e.g. “A single quote should not be attributed more than once,” Lindsay Monahan said. “Attributing it twice would be incorrect.” • When continuing a quote from one speaker into another paragraph, don’t use closing quotation marks after the first paragraph. • e.g. “Don’t close the quotations,” she said, “when the quote continues into a new paragraph. • “It is a new paragraph because it is a new subject, but still one quote.” Monahan said.

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