MMC 2100 Writing for Mass Communications

Instructor: Mr. Marino Class Time: TH, 10 th -11 th periods Room: Turlington, L011 Mr. Marino’s Office: Marston Science Library study area (3:30-5, TH) Sundays, p.m., Sakai (chat)

MMC 2100 Syllabus review Course blog mmc2100ufclass.wordpress.com Sakai

MMC 2100 WRITING ASSIGNMENTS (10) **(ALL in lab) News story Internet/online story Personality profile Editorial Broadcast script PR release (2) Blog Advertisement/sound slide Media law response report

MMC 2100 Chapter 1: “Sit Down and Write” What ONE WORD would you use to describe writing?

MMC 2100 Remember: You are writing for a large audience Mostly, people don’t care what you think or your opinion Be open to criticism Grammar/spelling/computer proficient Know your subject – what are you writing about? If you don’t understand your subject, your reader won’t Concentration & perseverance Importance of revision

Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright ©2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Know the language Know the subject Write it down Edit and rewrite

MMC 2100 Techniques for good writing: Clarity & simplicity Use simple words Use fewer words & sentences & vary sentence length Shorten things up Say what you mean Eliminate jargons & cliché’s Use active verbs – avoid adjectives Good transitions

MMC 2100 How media writing differs from other writing Subject – versatility Purpose Inform Entertain Persuade Audience -- large Circumstances Versatility – ability to write across different mediums

Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright ©2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Sentences Sentence fragments Parts of speech

Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright ©2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Simple John ran to the store. Complex John ran to the store after the rain had stopped. Compound John ran to the store, but he walked back. Compound-complex John ran to the story after the rain had stopped, but he walked back.

Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright ©2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Commas used to set off items Commas used to separate items Commas used conventionally

Writing for the Mass Media (8th edition) Copyright ©2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Do use spell chek Remember, spell chek programs reed but don’t understand

MMC 2100 Prior to Lab 3 Complete course report and e- mail to lab instructor (spend minimum 90 minutes) Grammar Punctuation Spelling

MMC 2100 Getting ready for Lab 2 Bring personality profile memo to lab Sample memo on course blog One area of your life you comfortable speaking w/ partner One additional source (friend, classmate, professor, boss, family member) who could speak about you Begin writing news/police brief

MMC 2100 Writing a police/news brief KEEP IT SHORT …

Inverted Pyramid Every media form uses this Definition: story info arranged w/ most important info first to least important in descending order based on: Relevance Usefulness Interest Set up w/ most important info first because: Time: reader gets to main point quicker Space: Editors can make story shorter easier w/o changing angle

LEADS Definition: sentence telling you what story about usually by first/second paragraph News (summary) lead Includes 5Ws & H up high – pick most important and focus on that Between words/sentence – NO LONGER Ask yourself: “What does this mean to reader?”

MMC 2100 Developing the story – the nut graph Lead – most important/relevant info Second paragraph – any important/relevant info you could not get in lead Nut graph – one paragraph (can be lead) telling what story is about Should be within first 3-4 paragraphs – for Lab 2 should be first paragraph Like thesis statement

MMC 2100 Blind summary lead WHAT HAPPENED most important WHO identified in 2 nd paragraph or later

MMC 2100 Attribution Most of major facts in a story should be attributed (remember: you didn’t witness them) Said – when quoting a person Most neutral Keep in active voice when possible: Smith said. According to – when quoting a report

MMC 2100 For Lab 2 Write practice news story and bring to lab Course blog Sakai