‘Dutch’ Van Kirk

1. ‘Dutch’ Van Kirk

2. Terrific phrasing • “What took only 45 seconds to fall out of a B-29 air plane [sic], would change the world forever...”

3. Terrific phrasing • “What took only 45 seconds to fall out of a B-29 air plane [sic], would change the world forever...” • [sic] Use to indicate that the error is the original writer’s, not the current author who is merely quoting it exactly

4. Terrific phrasing • “What took only 45 seconds to fall out of a B-29 air plane [sic], would change the world forever...” • “He is now a frail old man who spend his days battling health problems and playing the game Scrabble.”

5. Terrific phrasing • “What took only 45 seconds to fall out of a B-29 air plane [sic], would change the world forever.” • “He is now a frail old man who spend his days battling health problems and playing the game Scrabble.” • “Happiness overcame Van Kirk at that moment when he realized that the bomb had completed its job.”

6. More terrific wordsmithing • “The air has just rippled like a pebble being dropped into a pool of water.”

7. More terrific wordsmithing • “The air has just rippled like a pebble being dropped into a pool of water.” • “Years later as Van Kirk sits in a big arm chair in his small, bright inviting house, retelling and reliving that fateful day...”

9. Giving readers what they want...Or is it pandering?

10. Giving readers what they want...Or is it pandering? • Some news hacks insist that only they know what’s best for readers: • “This business of giving people what they want is a dope pusher’s argument. News is something people don’t know they interested in until they hear about it...” Reuven Frank, former prez of NBC news

11. How’s that attitude working out? • “By the most tangible and financially significant measure — total viewership – the story of 2010 was familiar: the audience for network news programs overall continued its quarter-century decline.” • Network news has lost roughly one million viewers/year for 20 years: Pew Research Center for Excellence in Journalism

12. So what do readers want?

13. So what do readers want? • They’re in a big hurry

14. So what do readers want? • They’re in a big hurry • They have short attention spans

15. So what do readers want? • They’re in a big hurry • They have short attention spans • They want stories that personally connect... craft stories that focus on the reader rather than on the newsmakers: what does it mean to ME?

16. So what do readers want? • They’re in a big hurry • They have short attention spans • They want stories that personally connect... craft stories that focus on the reader rather than on the newsmakers: what does it mean to ME? • But they also want stories: real narrative dramas starring real people

17. So what do readers want? • They’re in a big hurry • They have short attention spans • They want stories that personally connect... craft stories that focus on the reader rather than on the newsmakers: what does it mean to ME? • But they also want stories: real narrative dramas starring real people • “Innovate or die.” Richard Curtis, ex- USA Today

19. The hierarchy: Sarasota Herald-Tribune • Owner: New York Times Company, a New York Stock Exchange listed public company. Bought the Sarasota paper in 1982

20. The hierarchy: Sarasota Herald-Tribune • Owner: New York Times Company, a New York Stock Exchange listed public company. Bought the Sarasota paper in 1982 • Publisher: Diane McFarlin, el quesogrande

21. The hierarchy: Sarasota Herald-Tribune • Owner: New York Times Company, a New York Stock Exchange listed public company. Bought the Sarasota paper in 1982 • Publisher: Diane McFarlin, el quesogrande • Executive editor: Mike Connelly, chief news executive

22. The hierarchy: Sarasota Herald-Tribune • Owner: New York Times Company, a New York Stock Exchange listed public company. Bought the Sarasota paper in 1982 • Publisher: Diane McFarlin, el quesogrande • Executive editor: Mike Connelly, chief news executive • Assistant Managing Editor, Kyle Booth

23. The hierarchy: Sarasota Herald-Tribune • Owner: New York Times Company, a New York Stock Exchange listed public company. Bought the Sarasota paper in 1982 • Publisher: Diane McFarlin, el quesogrande • Executive editor: Mike Connelly, chief news executive • Assistant Managing Editor: Kyle Booth • City Editor: Bart Pfankuch, assigns and edits most of the local hard news

24. The hierarchy: Sarasota Herald-Tribune • Also has sports editor, national/foreign editor, community news editor, state/regional editor, real estate editor, editorial page editor

25. The hierarchy: Sarasota Herald-Tribune • Also has sports editor, national/foreign editor, community news editor, state/regional editor, real estate editor, editorial page editor • In addition to news side, also has executives running circulation

26. The hierarchy: Sarasota Herald-Tribune • Also has sports editor, national/foreign editor, community news editor, state/regional editor, real estate editor, editorial page editor • In addition to news side, also has executives running circulation, advertising

27. The hierarchy: Sarasota Herald-Tribune • Also has sports editor, national/foreign editor, community news editor, state/regional editor, real estate editor, editorial page editor • In addition to news side, also has executives running circulation, advertising, and production

29. Jargon: news slang you gotta know • Broadsheet: Sarasota Herald-Tribune size newspaper

32. Jargon: news slang you gotta know • Broadsheet: Sarasota Herald-Tribune size newspaper • Tabloid: smaller newspaper, e.g., The Sarasota Observer and Pelican Press.

35. Jargon: news slang you gotta know • Broadsheet: Sarasota Herald-Tribune size newspaper • Tabloid: smaller newspaper, e.g., The Sarasota Observer and Pelican Press. Also a pejorative for sleazy/yellow journalism

36. Terms, terms, terms • By-line: Reporter’s name and title

38. Terms, terms, terms • By-line: Reporter’s name and title • Headline: Big type, almost always written by copy editors

41. Terms, terms, terms • By-line: Reporter’s name and title • Headline: Big type, almost always written by copy editors • Dateline

42. Terms, terms, terms • By-line: Reporter’s name and title • Headline: Big type, almost always written by copy editors • Dateline • Pull quote/lift-out quote: a juicy quote from story that’s given special graphic emphasis

43. Terms, terms, terms • By-line: Reporter’s name and title • Headline: Big type, almost always written by copy editors • Dateline • Pull quote/lift-out quote: a juicy quote from story that’s given special graphic emphasis • Cutline: the copy underneath a photo that explains what’s going on

45. Newser aptitude test:Can you be an ink-stained wretch? • Take test on page 29:

46. Assignment for Nov. 29 • Remember: no class next week 11/22

47. Assignment for Nov. 29 • Remember: no class next week 11/22 • Research the Sarasota-Herald Tribune via its website and Wikipedia, etc.

48. Assignment for Nov. 29 • Remember: no class next week 11/22 • Research the Sarasota-Herald Tribune via its website and Wikipedia, etc. • Research Bart Pfankuch, City Editor

50. Assignment for Nov. 29 • Remember: no class next week 11/22 • Research the Sarasota-Herald Tribune via its website and Wikipedia, etc. • Research Bart Pfankuch, City Editor • On 11/29, we’re visiting the H-T for a tour and session with Pfankuch