Week 4: Journalism 2001 October 5, 2009

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

Let’s take a quiz!

A request by owners of a controversial new house on _________________ to close a nearby scenic overlook at night was resoundingly rejected by the Duluth City Council on Monday night. 1. Park Point 2. Brighton Beach 3. Skyline Parkway

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

Residents of ___________________ are being asked to boil their water after the city discovered coliform bacteria in its water supply during routine tests last week. 1. Bayfield 2. Spooner 3. Superior

The city of Duluth filed suit in federal court Tuesday asking that the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa be forced to resume sharing its _______________ with the city. 1. Deer population 2. Forested lands 3. Casino revenue

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court set the stage for a historic ruling on ____________ and the Second Amendment by agreeing Wednesday to hear a challenge to Chicago's ban on handguns. 1. Gun rights 2. Abortion rights 3. Free speech rights

The Twin Ports and Iron Range lost the second-most _________________________________ jobs in the past year of any metropolitan area in the U.S., according to a report released Wednesday. 1. Education, real estate and marketing 2. Construction, mining and logging 3. Computer, engineering and accounting

A photograph in Saturday's Duluth News-Tribune showed a man who was hit by pellets from a ___________________ Friday afternoon near Sixth Avenue East and Sixth Street. 1. shotgun 2. BB gun 3. Paintball gun

A University of Minnesota study is looking into the high rate of ___________ in taconite workers on the Iron Range. 1. Eye disease 2. Staph infections 3. Lung disease

The Cook County Sheriff's Department has released additional information about a suspect who robbed the Grand Portage Trading Post at gunpoint Thursday night, as well as a _______________________. 1. timeline 2. surveillance photo 3. name of the suspect

The UMD football team lost 76-7 to the Minnesota-State Moorhead team on Saturday. 1. True 2. False

Review 9/28 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

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

A Lawler Avenue resident returned home on Friday night to a fire that caused approximately $50,000 of damage before firefighters could douse the flames. Firefighters forced their way into a burning Lawler Avenue building after 7 p.m. Friday night, where a cigarette-ignited fire had caused an estimated $50,000 in damage. Fire fighters were called Friday night when an unattended cigarette caused a house fire that resulted in an estimated $50,000 in damages but no injuries or death.

Winter storms brought snow, hail, frigid temperatures and torrential rain to Northern California Thursday morning causing hundreds of fender-bender accidents and increasing the risk of landslides in the state. A dangerous winter storm struck Northern California on Thursday morning, causing hundreds of traffic accidents and a chance of mudslides, according to officials. Snow fell on the Bay Area on Wednesday night and into Thursday morning causing hundreds of minor car crashes, but San Francisco should be seeing a dry, sunny Friday. Another winter storm has hit Northern California Thursday morning leaving icy roads and frigid temperatures leading to hundreds of fender-bender accidents and potential mudslides.

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

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

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!

Throughout her long journalism career Lucy Kragness has always had passion for reporting, but is just recently returning to teaching following a nearly 10-year hiatus to instruct students at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD). A Duluth, Minn., professor, Lucy Kragness, decided to return to teaching at the University of Minnesota Duluth campus simply for the love of the job. Lucy Kragness returns to teaching journalism yet another semester at the University of Minnesota Duluth campus with high expectations of her students. After an 11-year teaching hiatus Lucy Kragness, a self- proclaimed “product of Watergate” and investigative journalism is back on the job teaching the basics of journalism at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD).

Hard News 1 Story Assignment How are interviews going? How are interviews going? Interview a member of the Duluth area media to learn more about what it’s like to work as a journalist Interview a member of the Duluth area media to learn more about what it’s like to work as a journalist Story due: Thursday, October 15 Story due: Thursday, October 15 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

Sports Story Pitch Due: Wednesday, October 7 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 12 Complete article due: November 12

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.

Next week Practice City Council meeting Practice City Council meeting –Tape of a previous meeting October 26 We will attend City Council meeting. We will attend City Council meeting.

Assignment: Due 10/12 Enroll in the News University course, “The Interview.” Access the course at: Enroll in the News University course, “The Interview.” Access the course at: When you finish the course, send me a Course Report, which is the last item on the left hand column when you are in the course. Send the report to: When you finish the course, send me a Course Report, which is the last item on the left hand column when you are in the course. Send the report to: You must complete the course by Monday, October 12 at 11:59 p.m. You must complete the course by Monday, October 12 at 11:59 p.m. Happy interviewing! Happy interviewing!

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 – assignment, written in Microsoft Word, as an attachment to

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

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’

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

Let’s review… Interviewing Interviewing –How to gather information Quotes Quotes –Direct, paraphrase, partial

Taking notes –Tape recorder Pros and cons Disadvantages Replaying and transcribing takes time Machine can fail If you don’t save tapes, not lasting record Advantages Highest accuracy Actual proof of what was said Can post interview on paper’s Web site

Taking notes –Notebook Pros and cons Disadvantages People talk faster than you can write Standing still to write restricts movement Won’t be able to read all your own handwriting Advantages Nothing to break, no batteries Easy to access and transcribe Becomes permanent record

Taking notes –Typing Pros and cons Disadvantages People talk fast; quotes may be inaccurate Computers can destroy or delete files Stuck sitting in one place staring at a screen Advantages Fastest way to go from notes to story Most efficient way to get data on deadline Can conduct interview using chat or

Interviewing –Phone interviews Interview pros and cons Disadvantages Impersonal Difficult (and sometimes illegal) to record More likely to mishear or misquote someone Advantages Fast and efficient Less intimidating Cell phones allow interviews to take place anywhere at any time

Interviewing – interviews Interview pros and cons Disadvantages No personal interaction Lagtime between questions and answers Takes longer; are you sure the person is who he/she claims to be? Advantages Gives interviewees time to construct responses Offers the most flexibility Typed responses easy to copy and paste; provide record of what was said

Interviewing –In-person interviews Interview pros and cons Disadvantages Wastes time traveling and waiting Distractions can interrupt interview If you are uncomfortable, it becomes obvious Advantages Best way to build rapport Physical surroundings can provide useful data People take you more seriously when you are in front of them

Closed-ended questions Closed-ended questions –Asked to get precise answer –Useful when already know the answer, need confirmation –Used when source is comfortable –Don’t be hostile! Open-ended questions Open-ended questions –Useful when have more time –Often learn unexpected information –Gets source’s opinions, feelings –Anything else to add? Anything I’m forgetting?

Who was Deep Throat? 30-year mystery: Mark Felt 30-year mystery: Mark Felt –

Interviewing –Many interviewers, one interviewee –Many interviewers, many interviewees One-on-one is not the only option –One interviewer, many interviewees

Most important rule Never make up quotations or paraphrases Never make up quotations or paraphrases –Shattered Glass: Stephen Glass Story  CBS 60 Minutes story CBS 60 Minutes story CBS 60 Minutes story  Stephen Glass index Stephen Glass index Stephen Glass index

What about grammar errors? 2006 AP Stylebook: 2006 AP Stylebook: –“Never alter quotations even to correct minor grammatical errors or word usage. Casual minor tongue slips may be removed by using ellipses but even that should be done with extreme caution. If there is a question about a quote, either don’t use it or ask the speaker to clarify.”

Pitfalls to avoid in quoting Inaccuracies from source Inaccuracies from source Rambling on and on Rambling on and on Hard-to-understand quotations Hard-to-understand quotations Ungrammatical: If it doesn’t make sense, don’t use it Ungrammatical: If it doesn’t make sense, don’t use it Use good taste Use good taste Watch out for offensive language Watch out for offensive language Be certain when using dialect: Be certain when using dialect: –North Country, Fargo

Use objective verbs of attribution Straight news stories Straight news stories –Use neutral verbs: said, added “Said” isn’t boring – readers expect it “Said” isn’t boring – readers expect it No need to be creative No need to be creative –Avoid asserted, bellowed, contended, cried, declared, demanded, emphasized, harangued, hinted, maintained, opined, stammered, stated, stressed

Placement of attributions Usually follows the quotation Usually follows the quotation Normally follows first sentence in multiple sentence quote Normally follows first sentence in multiple sentence quote When sources change, new attribution needed When sources change, new attribution needed Use attribution once in a quotation Use attribution once in a quotation Use attribution between complete, partial quotes Use attribution between complete, partial quotes

Where the quote marks go Useful guidelines: p Jones said, “We will be there tomorrow.” 2. Jones said that he would be there Wednesday. 3. He will be there Wednesday, Jones said. 4. “All our transcontinental flights are full,” she said. 5. Coach Jones said that it was his “dumbest mistake”: deciding to start an untested freshman at quarterback. 6. Coach Jones asked his team, “Can we win this game?” 7. “Johnson’s plea to ‘win this game for the community’ really fired us up,” Smith said.

8. “We’re so enthusiastic about this project that we can’t stop thinking about it,” Jones said. 9. “We’re so enthusiastic about this project that we can’t stop thinking about it,” Jones said. “We look forward to getting council approval. “We hope that will come at the next meeting.” 10. Get in there now,” the coach said, “before I make you run extra laps.” 11. “I think it is wise to lengthen the school year,” Smith said. It would be ludicrous to do so,” Johnson said.

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