1. Week 5: Journalism 2001 October 9, 2006

2. Find the misspellings…… 1. Bayfeild 2. Strawberrys 3. Both!

3. Review of last week’s news Hard News: Hard News: (murders, city council, government, etc.) –Major local stories –Major national/international stories –Major sports stories Soft News: Soft News: (retirements, school programs, human interest) –Local stories –National/international stories –Sports stories

4. Review of last week’s assignments Watch wordiness! Watch wordiness! –Avoid full name in lead unless prominent person –Attempted robbery, not assailant demanded money or refused to give up his wallet –Shot by a revolver: just shot –Were let out of school: classes dismissed Antiquities dealer, not antique dealer Antiquities dealer, not antique dealer Sentenced to jail, fined $6,000 Sentenced to jail, fined $6,000 Style errors Style errors –Datelines –Numerals –Dollars: $6,000 not $6000 –Correct names –24-year-old: ages –Disc jockey, not disk jockey –States –Time: a.m., p.m.

5. Mark Dickenson a 24 year-old student at Stockton State College is in intensive care waiting to undergo surgery after being shot by a man demanding money shortly after 1 a.m. at the local radio station where he worked as a disc jockey. 24-year-old Stockton State College student Mark Dickson was shot and wounded early today while working at WKQV-FM in an apparent robbery by an armed assailant. Mark Dickson, a 24 year old disk jockey for WKQV-FM, was shot in the arm at the station early today after refusing to give up his wallet to a gunned man demanding money. Mark Dickson, a 24 year-old disc jockey was shot in the left arm around 1 a.m. at the WKQV-FM radio station after he refused to give up his wallet.

6. CHICAGO, Ill. – Students at the Farragut Career Academy were sent home early on Friday when scuffles in the lunchroom led to gang fights throughout the building. On Friday at the Farragut Academy High School several gang- related fistfights broke out resulting in 20 students being arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. Twenty students were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct on Friday, after a series of gang related fights broke out at Farragut Career Academy High School. A scuffle in the lunch room at Farragut Career Academy High School in Chicago led to an eruption of gang fights on Friday leading to three students being treated at a local hospital, 20 arrests, and school closing early. 20 students from Farragut Career Academy High School in Chicago were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct on Friday due to several gang-related fistfights.

7. Meryl Pinsoff Platt – an antiquities dealer – was fined and sentenced for her role in the sale of two sacred masks, stolen from the Hopi Indian tribe in November. Meryl Pinsoff Platt, a local antiquities dealer, pleaded guilty of interstate transportation of stolen property in November, and was fined $6,000 and 20 days in federal jail in connection with the theft of two sacred masks that were stolen from the Hopi Indian Tribe. Meryl Pinsoff Platt was fined $6,000 and sentenced to 30 days in the federal jail for her aid in the illegal sale of two sacred Hopi Native American masks valued for more than $7,000 a piece. Chicago, Ill. – An antique dealer from Wilmette, Ill. was sentenced to 30 days in dail and fined $6,000 for her role in the sale of two sacred masks that were stolen form the Hopi Indian tribe and are valued at over $7,000 each. CHICAGO – Mary Pinsoff Platt, an antiquities dealer, was fined $6,000 and sentenced to 30 days in federal jail today for her involvement in the theft of two sacred masks form the Hopi Indian Tribe, valued at more than $7,000 a piece.

8. Review: Lucy Kragness interview Overall tough to condense all the info! Overall tough to condense all the info! –Some “untrue” facts! Use spellchecker, AP Stylebook Use spellchecker, AP Stylebook Common style errors: Common style errors: –Titles –Years –Numerals –State names –Degrees: master’s, bachelor’s, Ph.D. –Freelance

9. Use last name on second reference Use last name on second reference Watch editorializing Watch editorializing Verify facts Verify facts Paragraph length Paragraph length 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!

10. 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

11. Let’s rewrite the leads!

13. Statesman Guide to Writing

14. Chapter 15: Weather & Disasters Covering weather Covering weather –USA Today: Sets standard  Colorful, comprehensive –How does it affect the readers? –Explaining technical information –Weather forecasting services  National Weather Service  AccuWeather

15. Types of weather stories Forecasts Forecasts –State, local forecasts –Long-term Same as hard news stories Same as hard news stories –Select appropriate lead –Structure concise, easy-to-understand first sentence –Quotations from authorities near top of story –Tell readers what they want to know: how weather will affect them

16. Travel conditions, closings Travel conditions, closings –Road conditions –School closings Record-breaking weather Record-breaking weather –Storm records Unusual weather Unusual weather –Tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis Seasonal, year-end stories Seasonal, year-end stories –Go beyond statistics

17. Weather terms: AP Style Weather terms section Weather terms section –Comprehensive section based on National Weather Service 2004 Stylebook: A term often used incorrectly for seismic sea wave. Scientists call them tsunamis, a term that is not widely used and should be explained if used. 2005, 2006 Stylebook: Use tsunami, but explain the term.

18. Checklist for weather stories Develop sources with National Weather Service Develop sources with National Weather Service Keep in touch with the: Keep in touch with the: –State Patrol –State Department of Transportation –Local law enforcement agencies –Local agencies responsible for snow removal, storm cleanup –Institutions affected by weather: schools, utilities, airports, National Guard, hospitals, train stations, bus companies, taxi companies, Post Office Interview local residents caught in the weather Interview local residents caught in the weather

19. On-line weather sources “Ask the experts” page on USAToday.com “Ask the experts” page on USAToday.comUSAToday.com CNN.com CNN.com CNN.com National Weather Service: www.NWS.NOOA.gov National Weather Service: www.NWS.NOOA.gov www.NWS.NOOA.gov AccuWeather: AccuWeather.com AccuWeather: AccuWeather.comAccuWeather.com Weather Channel: weather.com Weather Channel: weather.comweather.com UMD home page: www.d.umn.edu UMD home page: www.d.umn.eduwww.d.umn.edu

20. Weather story examples Tornado at coal mine Tornado at coal mine Flash flood in Buffalo Flash flood in Buffalo Blizzard stories Blizzard stories Snowplows hit the skids Snowplows hit the skids

21. Covering disasters Elements of disaster coverage Elements of disaster coverage –The first bulletins –Writethrus: Complete stories, update bulletins  1 st Lead-Writethru, 2 nd Lead-Writethru, etc. –Reporters use instinct: “nose for news” –Including essential information –Coordinating coverage –Getting the latest lead

22. Two problems for reporters A pitfall of instantaneous coverage A pitfall of instantaneous coverage –To beat competition, facts often not doublechecked Interviewing victims’ families Interviewing victims’ families –Research by Karen McCowan, reporter for The Arizona Republic  Many relatives didn’t mind being interviewed after a disaster

23. Covering September 11 First bulletins First bulletins –Radio, TV, Internet When did you learn the news? When did you learn the news?

24. Another wayward sign!

25. What’s misspelled? 1. Additional 2. Availible 3. Restrooms

26. Chapter 23: Sports Evolution of sports writing Evolution of sports writing –Sports pages consistent  Contest coverage, personality profiles, features, columns  Go beyond the game: Vikings scandals –Flowery prose: Grantland Rice, Nashville Daily News, 1901 –Stanley Woodward, New York Herald Tribune  Still cliches – strive for middle ground  WWII put sports into better perspective: 5Ws & H –1970s and 1980s: More balanced approach – Best sports writing: Includes statistics, essential ingredients (5Ws & H), more analytical

27. High School Sports Coverage Terry Henion, Omaha World-Herald Terry Henion, Omaha World-Herald –“Kids playing kids’ games” Reporters must keep stats Reporters must keep stats –No sports information directors Not really covering, more documenting Not really covering, more documenting Stringers: College students covering high school sports Stringers: College students covering high school sports Quotes from losing, winning coaches & players Quotes from losing, winning coaches & players

28. Reporting Sports Working with statistics Working with statistics –Box scores –Team statistics –Individual statistics –Beware of becoming “statistic junkie” –Review statistics for trends: play-by-play charts

29. Going beyond statistics Going beyond statistics –Watch coaches on sidelines, nervous parents in stands –Policies for post-game interviews  Cool-down time –Talk to coaches –Talk to players –Talk to trainers A showcase for good writing A showcase for good writing Beyond the game – contracts, courtrooms, boardrooms Beyond the game – contracts, courtrooms, boardrooms

30. Checklist for sportswriters Go with a summary lead if warranted, but more room to be creative. Go with a summary lead if warranted, but more room to be creative. Avoid chronological approaches Avoid chronological approaches Blend facts, turning points, quotations, statistics, analysis Blend facts, turning points, quotations, statistics, analysis Avoid cliches: cliffhangers, take it to Avoid cliches: cliffhangers, take it to Avoid “ridiculous” direct quotations: we whipped ‘em good Avoid “ridiculous” direct quotations: we whipped ‘em good Use vivid description when appropriate Use vivid description when appropriate Double-check spellings Double-check spellings Do your homework Do your homework

31. Online sports sources National Collegiate Athletic Association: National Collegiate Athletic Association: –www2.ncaa.org www2.ncaa.org National Basketball Association: www.nba.com National Basketball Association: www.nba.com www.nba.com National Football League: http://www.nfl.com National Football League: http://www.nfl.com http://www.nfl.com Major League Baseball: www.mlb.com Major League Baseball: www.mlb.comwww.mlb.com ESPN: www.espn.go.com ESPN: www.espn.go.comwww.espn.go.com

32. Due 10/9: Sports Story Reporting Assignment Pitch Length of story pitch: no more than three paragraphs, or 200 words Length of story pitch: no more than three paragraphs, or 200 words Include the 5Ws and H: what makes this story newsworthy Include the 5Ws and H: what makes this story newsworthy UMD sports schedules UMD sports schedules –Detailed information at:  www.umdbulldogs.com

33. Assignment: Due 10/9 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, and email a copy of the story as an attachment to: lkragnes Write your story in Microsoft Word, 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

34. Hard News I Assignment: Due 10/16 Any problems? Any problems? Tips: Tips: –Just use said: he said, she said –Keep paragraphs short: no more than two sentences, three absolute max –Story length: 8-10 paragraphs, 350-400 words –Write strong summary lead of one sentence, no more than 35 words –Need attribution from sources –Review text –Review class lecture notes at:  www.d.umn.edu/~lkragnes www.d.umn.edu/~lkragnes Write story in Microsoft Word, doublespaced, and email as an attachment to: lkragnes@d.umn.edu Write story in Microsoft Word, doublespaced, and email as an attachment to: lkragnes@d.umn.edu

35. Tonight’s assignment Sports editing worksheet Sports editing worksheet Use the sports section in AP Stylebook Use the sports section in AP Stylebook

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

37. 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