Week 9: Journalism 2001Week 9: Journalism 2001November 6, 2006November 6, 2006

AnnouncementsAnnouncements

Election Coverage: November 7Election Coverage: November 7– Worth 15 extra credit pointsWorth 15 extra credit points

Review of last week’s newsReview of last week’s news

Hard News:Hard News:(murders, city council, government, etc.)(murders, city council, government, etc.)– Major local storiesMajor local stories– Major national/international storiesMajor national/international stories– Major sports storiesMajor sports stories

Soft News:Soft News:(retirements, school programs, human interest)(retirements, school programs, human interest)– Local storiesLocal stories– National/international storiesNational/international stories– Sports storiesSports stories

Saddam Hussein was Saddam Hussein was sentenced by an Iraqi court to:sentenced by an Iraqi court to:

Life in

pris

on

Death

by

hangin

g

Comm

unity

ser

vice

33% 33%33%1.1. Life in prisonLife in prison

2.2. Death by Death by hanginghanging

3.3. Community Community serviceservice

The UMD men’s and women’s hockey teams The UMD men’s and women’s hockey teams swept the Gophers last weekend.swept the Gophers last weekend.

True

False

50%50%1.1. TrueTrue

2.2. FalseFalse

The Democratic gubernatorial ticket had a The Democratic gubernatorial ticket had a bad week. First, Lt. Governor Candidate Judi bad week. First, Lt. Governor Candidate Judi Dutcher asked in a television interview,Dutcher asked in a television interview,

What

is ta

conite

?

Wha

t is

E-85?

Wher

e’s

the

Iron R

ange?

33% 33%33%1.1. What is What is taconite?taconite?

2.2. What is E-85?What is E-85?

3.3. Where’s the Where’s the Iron Range?Iron Range?

And Mike Hatch, when asked about the And Mike Hatch, when asked about the Dutcher interview, is accused of calling a Dutcher interview, is accused of calling a Forum Communications reporter a:Forum Communications reporter a:

Republic

an w

hore

Muck

rack

er

Blubbe

ring

idio

t

33% 33%33%

1.1. Republican Republican whorewhore

2.2. MuckrackerMuckracker

3.3. Blubbering idiotBlubbering idiot

Let’s watch the election Let’s watch the election coverage…coverage…

Get your remotes ready for Tuesday Get your remotes ready for Tuesday night!night!

We’ll discuss next week who did We’ll discuss next week who did what bestwhat best

Upcoming storiesUpcoming stories

Sports Reporting AssignmentSports Reporting Assignment– Final article due: November 6Final article due: November 6

Speech/news conference/multicultural Speech/news conference/multicultural reporting assignmentreporting assignment– Final article due: November 20Final article due: November 20

Feature Story AssignmentFeature Story Assignment– Story pitch due: November 13Story pitch due: November 13– First draft due: November 27First draft due: November 27– Final article due: December 11Final article due: December 11

Review of Hard News 2Review of Hard News 2

Overall good job!Overall good job! Good use of quotesGood use of quotes Beware of chronological storiesBeware of chronological stories

– Focus on The NewsFocus on The News Attribution strongest after quoteAttribution strongest after quote Style errors:Style errors:

– Dates, months, toward, City of Duluth, Dates, months, toward, City of Duluth, numerals, spelling errors, City Hallnumerals, spelling errors, City Hall

At a public hearing held on Wednesday at the Duluth At a public hearing held on Wednesday at the Duluth City Hall, the City Planning Commission approved the City Hall, the City Planning Commission approved the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for the Duluth Historic District Renaissance Project by a vote Duluth Historic District Renaissance Project by a vote of eight to two.of eight to two.

The City of Duluth Planning Commission voted in The City of Duluth Planning Commission voted in favor of A&L Properties to attain an environmental favor of A&L Properties to attain an environmental impact statement in their Duluth Historic impact statement in their Duluth Historic Renaissance Project.Renaissance Project.

The Spirit Mountain Recreation Authority met on The Spirit Mountain Recreation Authority met on October 18October 18thth to discuss new signs, safety finances, to discuss new signs, safety finances, and season pass sales.and season pass sales.

A couple from Duluth spoke before the Commission A couple from Duluth spoke before the Commission on Disabilities Members at City Hall on Tuesday on Disabilities Members at City Hall on Tuesday afternoon to speak about accessible handicap afternoon to speak about accessible handicap parking.parking.

Let’s rewrite some leads!Let’s rewrite some leads!

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 Sunday’s Duluth News-TribuneSunday’s Duluth News-Tribune

Let’s brainstorm some Let’s brainstorm some ideas!ideas!

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 assignmentFeature story assignment

Story Pitch Due: 11/13Story Pitch Due: 11/13– No more than three paragraphs, 200 wordsNo more than three paragraphs, 200 words– Include 5Ws and HInclude 5Ws and H– Possible sourcesPossible sources– Story angleStory angle– Email to: Email to: lkragnes@d.umn.edulkragnes@d.umn.edu

First draft due: 11/27First draft due: 11/27 Final story due: 12/11Final story due: 12/11

Out-of-Class AssignmentsOut-of-Class Assignments

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

AssignmentAssignment Due November 13:Due November 13:

– News Release rewritesNews Release rewrites

Tonight’s assignmentTonight’s assignment Cheryl Reitan Guest Speaker: 11/6Cheryl Reitan Guest Speaker: 11/6

– 350-400 word story due: 11/8350-400 word story due: 11/8– Cheryl Reitan Complete Bio at: Cheryl Reitan Complete Bio at: www.cherylreitan.comwww.cherylreitan.com

Publications Director Publications Director • 1996-present, UMD• 1996-present, UMD

• • 1987-96, College of St. Scholastica1987-96, College of St. Scholastica

Education Education • Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota B.A. 1975• Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota B.A. 1975• University of Minnesota, M.A. English, 1997• University of Minnesota, M.A. English, 1997• University of Minnesota, M.L.S. 2003• University of Minnesota, M.L.S. 2003

Fiction writer/novelistFiction writer/novelist

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.