Week 9: Journalism 2001Week 9: Journalism 2001March 31, 2008March 31, 2008

Review of last week’s newsReview of last week’s news

Hard News:Hard News:(murders, city council, government, etc.)(murders, city council, government, etc.)– Major local storiesMajor local stories– Major national/international storiesMajor national/international stories– Major sports storiesMajor sports stories

Soft News:Soft News:(retirements, school programs, human interest)(retirements, school programs, human interest)– Local storiesLocal stories– National/international storiesNational/international stories– Sports storiesSports stories

AnnouncementsAnnouncements

"Newspapers and Public Policy: "Newspapers and Public Policy: What's the New Relationship?"What's the New Relationship?"– Eric Ringham, Commentary editor of the Eric Ringham, Commentary editor of the

Minneapolis Star TribuneMinneapolis Star Tribune– Donald Fraser, former U.S. Representative Donald Fraser, former U.S. Representative

for the 5th District of Minnesota; former for the 5th District of Minnesota; former Minneapolis mayorMinneapolis mayor

– George Latimer, former mayor of St. Paul and George Latimer, former mayor of St. Paul and Professor of Urban Studies at Macalester Professor of Urban Studies at Macalester College.College.

What I learned from What I learned from presentation…presentation…

Not all hopelessNot all hopeless– Jobs available for journalists, just not all the perksJobs available for journalists, just not all the perks

Ad revenue down, not necessarily circulationAd revenue down, not necessarily circulation– ““Ad problem driving content problem”Ad problem driving content problem”

Difference between blogging/newspaperDifference between blogging/newspaper– Terrified of errors in newspaperTerrified of errors in newspaper– Blogs have different standardsBlogs have different standards

Newspapers read/referenced extensively at Newspapers read/referenced extensively at LegislatureLegislature

Trying to make web presence strongerTrying to make web presence stronger

Police Department News Police Department News ReleaseRelease

Good job!Good job! Need attribution, or reads as opinionNeed attribution, or reads as opinion One sentence summary lead still One sentence summary lead still

strongeststrongest Style errors:Style errors:

– NumeralsNumerals– DatesDates– DatelineDateline

Upcoming storiesUpcoming stories

Sports Reporting AssignmentSports Reporting Assignment– Final article due: Today, March 31Final article due: Today, March 31– Next week will review/rewrite in classNext week will review/rewrite in class

Community Journalism reporting Community Journalism reporting assignmentassignment– Final article due: April 14Final article due: April 14

Feature Story Assignment:Feature Story Assignment:– Story pitch due: April 9Story pitch due: April 9– First draft due: April 21First draft due: April 21– Final article due: May 5Final article due: May 5

Which is the correct way to Which is the correct way to punctuate a quote?punctuate a quote?

1.1. ““Blah blah Blah blah blah,” he said.blah,” he said.

2.2. ““Blah blah Blah blah blah”, he said.blah”, he said.

3.3. ““Blah blah Blah blah blah” he said.blah” he said.

Which is the correct Which is the correct dateline?dateline?

1.1. SUPERIOR, WI. -SUPERIOR, WI. -

2.2. Superior, WI -Superior, WI -

3.3. SUPERIOR, Wis. SUPERIOR, Wis. --

The meeting is at _______.The meeting is at _______.

1.1. 7 pm7 pm

2.2. 7 p.m.7 p.m.

3.3. 7 P.M.7 P.M.

The meeting was in Duluth The meeting was in Duluth _____._____.

1.1. City HallCity Hall

2.2. City hallCity hall

3.3. city hallcity hall

The meeting was held The meeting was held _______._______.

1.1. March 29March 29

2.2. Mar. 29Mar. 29

3.3. 29 March29 March

She lives in __________.She lives in __________.

1.1. Cook, MN.Cook, MN.

2.2. Cook, Minn.Cook, Minn.

3.3. Cook, Cook, MinnesotaMinnesota

________ Jane Doe was charged ________ Jane Doe was charged with burglary.with burglary.

1.1. 30-year-old30-year-old

2.2. Thirty-year-Thirty-year-oldold

3.3. 30 year old30 year old

The victory was number ______ The victory was number ______ for the coach.for the coach.

1.1. 400400

2.2. four hundredfour hundred

3.3. four hundred four hundred (300)(300)

The new house is located at The new house is located at _____._____.

1.1. 505 N. Eighth Ave. W.505 N. Eighth Ave. W.

2.2. 505 N. 8th Ave. W.505 N. 8th Ave. W.

3.3. 505 North 8th 505 North 8th Avenue WestAvenue West

Journalism EthicsJournalism Ethics

When a story just isn’t worth itWhen a story just isn’t worth it– Holding information to protect a good soHolding information to protect a good so

urceurce– http://journalism.indiana.edu/http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources/ethics/handling-resources/ethics/handling-sources/when-a-story-just-isnt-sources/when-a-story-just-isnt-worth-it/worth-it/

Chapter 9: FeaturesChapter 9: Features

Hard news vs. soft newsHard news vs. soft news– Hard news: breaking storiesHard news: breaking stories– Soft news: looking at people, places and Soft news: looking at people, places and

things that shape the world, nation, things that shape the world, nation, communitycommunity

Feature stories often soft newsFeature stories often soft news No firm line between news No firm line between news

story/feature storystory/feature story– Many news events “featurized”Many news events “featurized”

What are feature stories?What are feature stories? Profile people who made the newsProfile people who made the news Explain events that moved or shook the newsExplain events that moved or shook the news Analyze what is happening in the world, Analyze what is happening in the world,

nation or communitynation or community Teach an audience how to do somethingTeach an audience how to do something Suggest better ways to live in a complicated Suggest better ways to live in a complicated

worldworld Examine trends in constantly changing Examine trends in constantly changing

societiessocieties Take people someplace or let them see Take people someplace or let them see

something newsomething new Entertain or humor an audienceEntertain or humor an audience

Watch out for “Jell-O Watch out for “Jell-O Journalism”Journalism”

Some editors decry emphasis on soft Some editors decry emphasis on soft writingwriting

If news story, give it a summary leadIf news story, give it a summary lead– Don’t make reader work to get to the Don’t make reader work to get to the

newsnews

Types of feature storiesTypes of feature stories

Personality profilesPersonality profiles– Bring audience closer to a personBring audience closer to a person– Paint vivid picture of the personPaint vivid picture of the person

Interviews, observations, creative writingInterviews, observations, creative writing

– One of the most popular featuresOne of the most popular features– BuckBuck

Human interest storyHuman interest story– Show a subject’s oddity, or its practical, Show a subject’s oddity, or its practical,

emotional or entertainment valueemotional or entertainment value– Travel writingTravel writing

Trend storiesTrend stories– Examines people, things or Examines people, things or

organizations that are having an impact organizations that are having an impact on societyon society

In-depth storiesIn-depth stories– Detailed account beyond a basic news Detailed account beyond a basic news

story or featurestory or feature– Lengthy news featureLengthy news feature– Investigative storyInvestigative story

Backgrounder/analysis pieceBackgrounder/analysis piece– Adds meaning to current issues in the Adds meaning to current issues in the

news by providing more explanationnews by providing more explanation

Feature story examplesFeature story examples

Dartball a big hitDartball a big hit Whitewater rafting on the St. Louis Whitewater rafting on the St. Louis

RiverRiver Higher education in Duluth SuperiorHigher education in Duluth Superior UMD Alumni StoryUMD Alumni Story Buck profileBuck profile Duluth News-TribuneDuluth News-Tribune

– Article on timekeeperArticle on timekeeper

Let’s brainstorm some Let’s brainstorm some ideas!ideas!

End of year: Where students will live in End of year: Where students will live in summer, types of jobssummer, types of jobs

Proposed North Shore Scenic Railroad Proposed North Shore Scenic Railroad extension from Two Harbors to Biwabikextension from Two Harbors to Biwabik

Spring hiking trails in areaSpring hiking trails in area UMD athlete profileUMD athlete profile Impact of tuition increaseImpact of tuition increase Summer grilling/foodSummer grilling/food Plays, cultural activitiesPlays, cultural activities Study abroad programsStudy abroad programs

Organizing a feature storyOrganizing a feature story

Choose the themeChoose the theme– Do research, organize story around Do research, organize story around

themetheme– Each section – beginning, body, end – Each section – beginning, body, end –

revolve around themerevolve around theme– Narrow your themeNarrow your theme

Has the story been done before?Has the story been done before? The audienceThe audience Holding powerHolding power WorthinessWorthiness

Write the leadWrite the lead– Usually avoid summary leadsUsually avoid summary leads

Tough to summarize feature in opening Tough to summarize feature in opening paragraphparagraph

– Lead possibilities endless:Lead possibilities endless: Narrative, contract, staccato, direct address, etc.Narrative, contract, staccato, direct address, etc.

– Lead block: two or more paragraphsLead block: two or more paragraphs Write the bodyWrite the body

– Vital information while educating, Vital information while educating, entertaining and emotionally tying reader to entertaining and emotionally tying reader to the subjectthe subject

Provide background informationProvide background information

Use a threadUse a thread– Can be single person, event or thing Can be single person, event or thing

that highlights theme of the storythat highlights theme of the story Use transitionsUse transitions

– Transitions hold paragraphs together Transitions hold paragraphs together and helps writers move from one person and helps writers move from one person or area to the nextor area to the next

– Common transition words: meanwhile, Common transition words: meanwhile, therefore, sometimes, also, and, but, therefore, sometimes, also, and, but, meantime, nevertheless, howevermeantime, nevertheless, however

Use dialogueUse dialogue– Keeps readers attached to a story’s key playersKeeps readers attached to a story’s key players– Helps to introduce sourcesHelps to introduce sources

Use voiceUse voice– Subjective expression of writerSubjective expression of writer– Writer’s signature or personal styleWriter’s signature or personal style– More license to reveal opinions, personalityMore license to reveal opinions, personality

Write the endingWrite the ending– Can trail off, or end with a climaxCan trail off, or end with a climax– Often ends where the lead startedOften ends where the lead started– End with a quoteEnd with a quote

Rewriting and collaborationRewriting and collaboration

First draft rarely makes it into printFirst draft rarely makes it into print Editor, reporter brainstorm ideasEditor, reporter brainstorm ideas Develop clear, narrow angleDevelop clear, narrow angle Impact sources:Impact sources:

– Real people who bring stories to lifeReal people who bring stories to life

Checklist for effective Checklist for effective featuresfeatures

Know how to write newsKnow how to write news Do your homeworkDo your homework Use observationUse observation Use a tape recorderUse a tape recorder Do not be afraid to ask questionsDo not be afraid to ask questions Maintain a relationship with every Maintain a relationship with every

sourcesource Transcribe handwritten notes as soon Transcribe handwritten notes as soon

as possibleas possible

Write a rough outline firstWrite a rough outline first Do not overwriteDo not overwrite

– Use lots of quotes!Use lots of quotes! Polish the storyPolish the story Take criticism from an editorTake criticism from an editor

Feature Story Reporting Feature Story Reporting AssignmentAssignment

Story Pitch Due: April 9Story Pitch Due: April 9– No more than three paragraphs, 200 No more than three paragraphs, 200

wordswords– Include 5Ws and HInclude 5Ws and H– Email to: Email to: lkragnes@d.umn.edulkragnes@d.umn.edu

First draft due: April 21First draft due: April 21 Final story due: May 5Final story due: May 5

Freedom of InformationFreedom of Information

Society of Professional Journalists Society of Professional Journalists presentationpresentation

Out-of-Class AssignmentsOut-of-Class Assignments

Due today:Due today:– Computer Assisted Reporting Computer Assisted Reporting

AssignmentAssignment Due April 7:Due April 7:

– News Release rewritesNews Release rewrites

Tonight’s assignmentTonight’s assignment

Join NewsUJoin NewsU– http://www.newsu.org/http://www.newsu.org/

AP Editing AssignmentAP Editing Assignment

PortfolioPortfolio

Store academic information on your Store academic information on your Electronic Portfolio. Each student has Electronic Portfolio. Each student has 100 mb of storage.100 mb of storage.

Access Electronic Portfolio at: Access Electronic Portfolio at: https://https://portfolio.umn.edu/portfolio/index.jspportfolio.umn.edu/portfolio/index.jsp

EgradebookEgradebook

Doublecheck assignments correct in Doublecheck assignments correct in egradebook:egradebook:– http://www.d.umn.edu/egradebookhttp://www.d.umn.edu/egradebook

Late Assignments:Late Assignments:

If you haven’t made arrangements to If you haven’t made arrangements to complete late assignments, you complete late assignments, you receive no points.receive no points.