Week 9: Journalism 2001Week 9: Journalism 2001November 5, 2007November 5, 2007

AnnouncementsAnnouncements Feels like winter today!Feels like winter today! Election CoverageElection Coverage

– If second time, need short email If second time, need short email summary of what you did, reactions to summary of what you did, reactions to experienceexperience

– Forward me an email from the station Forward me an email from the station showing that you are participatingshowing that you are participating

Class website of stories:Class website of stories:– http://blog.lib.umn.edu/lkragnes/jour2001fallhttp://blog.lib.umn.edu/lkragnes/jour2001fall

2007/2007/– Excellent editing of stories!Excellent editing of stories!

Upcoming storiesUpcoming stories

Sports Reporting AssignmentSports Reporting Assignment– Final article due: November 5Final article due: November 5– Next week: Edit stories in class, put up on Next week: Edit stories in class, put up on

websitewebsite Community Journalism reporting assignmentCommunity Journalism reporting assignment

– Story pitch due: October 31Story pitch due: October 31– Final article due: November 19Final article due: November 19

Feature Story Assignment:Feature Story Assignment:– Story pitch due: November 14Story pitch due: November 14– First draft due: November 26First draft due: November 26– Final article due: December 10Final article due: December 10

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!

New mayor interviewNew mayor interview UMD volleyball playerUMD volleyball player New women basketball coachesNew women basketball coaches Best woman hockey player in nationBest woman hockey player in nation Snowboarding/terrain park at Spirit Snowboarding/terrain park at Spirit

MtnMtn Major business ownerMajor business owner Karen DiverKaren Diver Football coach reflectionFootball coach reflection

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: November 14Story Pitch Due: November 14– 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: November 26First draft due: November 26 Final story due: December 10Final story due: December 10

Out-of-Class AssignmentsOut-of-Class Assignments

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

AssignmentAssignment Due November 12:Due November 12:

– News Release rewritesNews Release rewrites

Tonight’s assignmentTonight’s assignment

Karen Diver LectureKaren Diver Lecture– We’re going to attend the lecture by We’re going to attend the lecture by

Karen Diver at 7 p.m. in the Kirby Karen Diver at 7 p.m. in the Kirby BallroomBallroom

– Complete your article by Wednesday, Complete your article by Wednesday, November 7:November 7: email to lkragnes@d.umn.eduemail to lkragnes@d.umn.edu 350-400 words max350-400 words max

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.