1. Week 4: Journalism 2001 September 29, 2008

2. Its, it’s or its’. Which is correct? 1. Its 2. It’s 3. Its’

3. Extra Credit Opportunity Peter Annin, former Newsweek reporter/researcher Peter Annin, former Newsweek reporter/researcher –Did anyone attend? –Wednesday, September 24 –Humanities 480 (Jour 2001 class) –10 extra credit points:  Submit 5 paragraph summary of what you learned that will be posted on the class Web site  DUE: October 1

4. Review of last week’s news

5. Let’s take a quiz!

6. Duluth ___________________may soon take on duties usually reserved for police, such as writing parking tickets, according to a memo from the city’s chief administrative officer obtained by the News Tribune. 1. volunteers 2. park employees 3. firefighters

7. The Minnesota Twins’ playoff hopes are still up in the air. 1. True 2. False

8. ______________, one of Hollywood’s towering stars, died Saturday of cancer. He was 83. 1. Paul Newman 2. Heath Ledger 3. Robert Redford

9. Minnesota adopted new rules Tuesday regulating the release of ________________from cargo ships, jumping to the lead among Greats Lakes states in the battle against invasive species. 1. deck debris 2. Spilled grain 3. ballast water

10. A judge has granted a new trial to a Brainerd woman found liable for more than $200,000 in damages for pirating ______________. 1. music files 2. Youtube videos 3. photographs

11. Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson announced her opposition Friday to Minnesota Power’s proposed increase in ___________________ for residential and small business customers. 1. water rates 2. electrical rates 3. natural gas rates

12. A nationally televised debate was held Friday night between ______________________________. 1. Biden-Palin 2. Coleman-Franken 3. McCain-Obama

13. This UMD building was featured in a photograph on the front page of the Duluth News Tribune on Friday with a story about the Duluth area economy. 1. Swenson Science Building 2. Weber Music Hall 3. Labovitz School of Business and Economics

14. Two black bears have been found dead about 150 yards outside a bear sanctuary near ___________________ in the past week. 1. Grand Marais 2. Orr 3. Duluth

15. The UMD football team lost to the University of Mary on Saturday. 1. True 2. False

16. Review 9/22 summary lead assignment Overall continued progress! Overall continued progress! Best to use one-sentence summary lead Best to use one-sentence summary lead Style errors: Style errors: –Datelines –State abbreviations –Addresses Grammar Grammar –Spelling –Run-on sentences –In-complete sentences –Agreement –That/which

17. Editing marks Let’s review editing marks in Stylebook: Let’s review editing marks in Stylebook: –page 420

18. Skokie fire officials forced their way into a house on Lawler Ave. after 7 p.m. Friday night when neighbors called and reported a fire, caused by an unattended cigarette left by the homeowners. The owner of a house on Lawler Ave. returned home Friday evening to find Skokie firefighters tending to a blazing fire started by a smoldering cigarette. A costly fire broke out last Friday night just after 7 p.m. on Lawler Avenue while the owner was out of the house, as a result of a smoldering cigarette left on a pillow in the bedroom.

19. A winter storm hit at 2am Thurs. in Northern California bringing snow, hail, and torrential rains which caused hundreds of fender bender accidents in the region. Northern California residents experienced icy roads and frigid temperatures when they received a rare winter storm this Thursday morning that affected Mount Hamilton, Oakland, and the Coast Range mountains north and south of San Francisco. There is a promise of dry and sunny weather on Friday in Northern California after a winter storm occurred on Thursday morning that left behind icy roads and frigid temperatures that caused hundreds of fender bender accidents and danger of mudslides.

20. Review: Writing a summary lead Usually a single sentence Usually a single sentence No more than 35 words No more than 35 words Bottom line: Bottom line: –Use a single sentence of no more than 35 words to summarize an event

21. Review: Lucy Kragness interview Overall tough to condense all the info! Overall tough to condense all the info! –Some “untrue” facts! Use spellchecker (how to spell Kragness?), AP Stylebook Use spellchecker (how to spell Kragness?), AP Stylebook Use past tense, third person Use past tense, third person Common style errors: Common style errors: –Titles –Years –Numerals –State names –Degrees: master’s, bachelor’s –Freelance

22. Use last name on second reference Use last name on second reference Watch editorializing Watch editorializing Verify facts Verify facts Paragraph length: 2-3 sentences max Paragraph length: 2-3 sentences max Grammar Grammar –Agreement –Run-on sentences –When to use hyphens Attribution: she said strongest Attribution: she said strongest Wordiness Wordiness Don’t be afraid to use quotes! Don’t be afraid to use quotes!

23. After a near 10 year absence from teaching, Lucy Kragnes will be resuming her career as an educator at UMD with the start of the new semester and the reinstitution of the journalism minor. Earlier this week writing professor Lucy Kragnes announced that she will be returning to UMD to teach Journalism. When the University of Minnesota Duluth decided to add journalism as a minor again, Lucy Kragness, executive Assistant to Chancellor Martin, returned to teaching after a 10 year break from teaching a journalism course.

24. Hard News 1 Story Assignment How are interviews going? How are interviews going? Work in teams to interview Duluth citizens Work in teams to interview Duluth citizens Each reporter writes own story Each reporter writes own story Final story due: Thursday, October 9 Final story due: Thursday, October 9 Interview 8-10 Duluthians Interview 8-10 Duluthians –Might not use all sources in story –List all sources, with contact info, at end of story Stories will be posted on class Web site: Stories will be posted on class Web site: –Fall Jour 2001 Web site Fall Jour 2001 Web siteFall Jour 2001 Web site

25. Assignment due tonight Summary lead exercises Summary lead exercises –Steps to help you:  Identify the five Ws and H  What’s the focal point? –Determine what’s the most important to include –Reminder: Summary lead contains no more than 35 words –Email assignment, written in Microsoft Word, as an attachment to lkragnes@d.umn.edu lkragnes@d.umn.edu

26. Let’s rewrite Statesman story

27. Another its, its’ or it’s? 1. It’s 2. Its’ 3. Its

28. Bottom line on it’s or its Use it’s: when mean it is, it has Use it’s: when mean it is, it has All other uses: its All other uses: its No such word as its’

29. Useful websites Grammar, writing Grammar, writing –Purdue’s OWL (Online Writing Lab) Purdue’s OWL (Online Writing Lab)Purdue’s OWL (Online Writing Lab) –Guide to Grammar and Writing, Capital Community College Foundation Guide to Grammar and Writing, Capital Community College FoundationGuide to Grammar and Writing, Capital Community College Foundation –Guide to Grammar and Style, Jack Lynch Guide to Grammar and Style, Jack LynchGuide to Grammar and Style, Jack Lynch Journalism Journalism –Beginning Reporter Resources Beginning Reporter ResourcesBeginning Reporter Resources –Power Reporting Power ReportingPower Reporting

30. Let’s look at run-on sentences Go to link on my homepage: Go to link on my homepage: –http://www.d.umn.edu/~lkragnes http://www.d.umn.edu/~lkragnes

32. What are typical reporting beats? 1. Police & fire 2. Courts 3. Education 4. Government 5. All of the above

33. Chapter 20: Local Government and Public Meetings Municipal government systems Municipal government systems –Mayor-council  Strong: Mayor forms budget, administers policy  Weak: Managerial functions divided among others –Council-manager  City manager oversees city operations; hired by council –Commission  Committee of city leaders assume executive, legislative functions

34. Typical city government beat No typical day! No typical day! City council meetings City council meetings –Check agenda –Advance story –Meeting story City budget process City budget process Administrative reports Administrative reports Other committee, task force meetings Other committee, task force meetings –Vikings proposal Vikings proposalVikings proposal

35. Duluth has a weak mayor, strong council form of government. 1. True 2. False

36. What’s in Duluth? Strong mayor-council Strong mayor-council –City of Duluth City of DuluthCity of Duluth What’s in St. Louis County? Strong administrator-commission Strong administrator-commission –St. Louis County Information St. Louis County InformationSt. Louis County Information

37. How to cover a council meeting Check Agenda Check AgendaAgenda Check meeting Action Check meeting ActionAction Don’t be afraid to ask questions after the meeting Don’t be afraid to ask questions after the meeting Stay to the end: Other business can be hot news! Stay to the end: Other business can be hot news! Take lots of notes Take lots of notes

38. Local government budget process Cover the steps in the process Cover the steps in the process Develop sources of information Develop sources of information Different types of budgets Different types of budgets –Capital budgets –Operating budgets

39. Writing the budget story Bottom line – the total budget Bottom line – the total budget Last year’s budget Last year’s budget Percentage increase or decrease Percentage increase or decrease Breakdown of expenses Breakdown of expenses Reasons for increase or decrease Reasons for increase or decrease Breakdown of budget revenues Breakdown of budget revenues Details on impact of tax increases or decreases Details on impact of tax increases or decreases

40. Public Information Officers Blessing and a curse Blessing and a curse Good source of information Good source of information Develop relationship Develop relationship Establish “call-back” rules Establish “call-back” rules Remember their role Remember their role Be skeptical, but remember they’re great resources Be skeptical, but remember they’re great resources

41. Checklist for covering city government Learn the system Learn the system Get to know the personalities Get to know the personalities Develop reliable sources Develop reliable sources Be persistent Be persistent Never let friendship interfere with the job Never let friendship interfere with the job Always be prepared; ask for copies of handouts Always be prepared; ask for copies of handouts Make note of story possibilities Make note of story possibilities Read other coverage Read other coverage Write to inform, not to impress: Inverted pyramid Write to inform, not to impress: Inverted pyramid Use your brain Use your brain Ask questions! Ask questions!

42. Chapter 21: Police and Fire Organizational structures Organizational structures –Duluth Police Department Duluth Police DepartmentDuluth Police Department –St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department St. Louis County Sheriff’s DepartmentSt. Louis County Sheriff’s Department –Duluth Fire Department Duluth Fire DepartmentDuluth Fire Department

43. Covering police, fire beats Making the rounds: develop sources Making the rounds: develop sources –Each city, county different –Billings, Sheridan examples Departmental records Departmental records –Police log, reports –Fire reports

44. Using departmental records Accident forms, coverage of accidents Accident forms, coverage of accidents –Injured, severely injured, fatalities –Time, location –Names –Results of chemical tests –Ambulance service –Diagrams –Driver statements –Other details: road conditions, seat belts

45. Offense reports, crime coverage Limited access to forms recording crimes Limited access to forms recording crimes A rape story A rape story –Offense report –Talk to officers involved –Check if other rapes reported –Telephone hospital for victim’s condition

46. A day on the beat Assignments Assignments On-the-scene coverage On-the-scene coverage Making the rounds Making the rounds Writing the stories Writing the stories –Developing the lead: Deaths go first –Constructing the story –Attribution –Describe the scene –Using vivid details

47. Checklist for police, fire beats Develop, cultivate sources Develop, cultivate sources Learn how to handle hostile sources Learn how to handle hostile sources Know the job responsibilities of sources Know the job responsibilities of sources Don’t deceive sources Don’t deceive sources If a big story comes along, go after it If a big story comes along, go after it Know the territory Know the territory Learn the terminology Learn the terminology Double-check spellings Double-check spellings Check with hospital, morgue, to update information Check with hospital, morgue, to update information Be careful when reporting arrests Be careful when reporting arrests Don’t confuse an arrest with filing of a charge Don’t confuse an arrest with filing of a charge Know policy on using minors’ names Know policy on using minors’ names

48. Journalism Case Studies Today: Today: –Rob Karwath Column  At 75 cents, paper’s still a bargain, chock full of local news At 75 cents, paper’s still a bargain, chock full of local news At 75 cents, paper’s still a bargain, chock full of local news

50. Sports Story Story Pitch Due: Wednesday, October 1 Select a UMD or prep sporting event to cover Select a UMD or prep sporting event to cover Length of story pitch: no more than three paragraphs, about 200 words Length of story pitch: no more than three paragraphs, about 200 words Include the 5 Ws and H: what makes this story newsworthy Include the 5 Ws and H: what makes this story newsworthy Complete article due: November 6 Complete article due: November 6

51. Sample sports story pitch The sporting event that I am going to cover is a upcoming high school prep football game between the varsity squads of Duluth Denfeld and Hibbing high school. The game is scheduled for Friday, October 13th at 5:15 PM. I am expecting a large home crowd, and some theatrics from fans considering this is the end of Duluth Denfeld's homecoming week.

52. Next week Practice City Council meeting Practice City Council meeting –Tape of meeting from last year October 13 We will attend City Council meeting. We will attend City Council meeting.

53. Assignment: Due 10/6 From information provided from a Tempe Police Department activity log, write an inverted-pyramid news story based on all the information available. From information provided from a Tempe Police Department activity log, write an inverted-pyramid news story based on all the information available. Write your story in Microsoft Word, doublespaced, and email a copy of the story as an attachment to: lkragnes Write your story in Microsoft Word, doublespaced, and email a copy of the story as an attachment to: lkragnes Make sure to copy yourself on the email Make sure to copy yourself on the email

54. In-class assignment for tonight More editing practice! More editing practice!

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

56. Portfolio Store academic information in your Electronic Portfolio. Each student has 100 mb of storage. Store academic information in your Electronic Portfolio. Each student has 100 mb of storage. Access Electronic Portfolio at: https://portfolio.umn.edu/portfolio/index.j sp Access Electronic Portfolio at: https://portfolio.umn.edu/portfolio/index.j sp https://portfolio.umn.edu/portfolio/index.j sp https://portfolio.umn.edu/portfolio/index.j sp