HARLAND HETTIE

NCTJ R57 Question 1

Question 1a

120 – 140 word story for the website and five SEO terms

Marks equally divided• Content and accuracy • Intro and structure

To obtain top marks for CONTENT AND ACCURACY

All key facts included. No ambiguities or inaccuracies. Any facts omitted do not alter the story. No inaccuracies. At least five relevant SEO keywords.

To obtain top marks for INTRO and STRUCTURE

• Compelling angle• Tightly written• Impact through choice of words and phrasing• Copy flows from beginning to end• Writing is clear, direct and aids

understanding• Excellent use of language

KEY POINTS

Female hen harrier has returned to Forest of Harland, Brindleton

‘Harland Hettie’ was raised there last year Sighted by RSPB staff three times last week RSPB hoping she will breed at the site One of only four chicks born in England in 2014 – all

at this site Satellite tracked for months Male hen harrier performing skydance courtship

display Forest is stronghold for hen harriers in England Hen harrier is England’s most threatened bird of prey

Impact through choice of words and phrasing

• Delight• Harland Hettie• Skydancers• Bird of prey• Satellite tag• Stronghold• Most threatened

POSSIBLE ANGLES

• Delight at hen harrier Harland Hettie’s return• Come home to where she was born and

raised• Sighted three times last week • Hopes that she will breed• Most threatened bird

HEADLINE – top marks

• Accurate, strong impact• Excellent wording• Relevant SEO keywords (15 – 20 words)

TWEET – top marks

• Accurate, strong impact.• Excellent use of searchable/recognisable

words• Sell-on – links and relevant hashtags (Twitter recommend max of 3)

Young Hettie has flown home to the Forest of Harland - and she may be looking for love. Hettie was one of four hen harrier chicks born in the Brindleton forest last year.

They were the only ones born in England where hen harriers are the most threatened bird of prey.  Royal Society for the Protection of Birds officers tracked Hettie’s homecoming by satellite and volunteers spotted her three times last week. They hope she's back to have her own chicks in the forest that is a stronghold for hen harriers. She may get lucky. At least one male harrier has been performing the "skydance" courtship ritual.   “We’re delighted to see her back,” said RSPB project manager Judith Cane.  If the skydancers get together it will be the third year running hen harriers have bred in the forest. 138

SEO terms: hen harrier, Brindleton, Forest of Harland, RSPB, bird of prey

1b, headline

WELCOME HOME HETTIE – RSPB DELIGHT AS THEATENED HEN HARRIER RETURNS TO BRINDLETON’S HARLAND FOREST WHERE A SKYDANCER MATE IS WAITING (20) 1c,#Henharrier Hettie flies home to Harland Forest, Callanshire, and #RSPB hopes she will have a much-needed family. Link to story. (129)

Question 1d 290 – 310 words for tomorrow’s paper

IDENTIFY NEW KEY POINTSCHOOSE IMPACT WORDS AND PHRASES

TO OBTAIN TOP MARKS FOR QUOTES

• Strong mix of reported and direct quotes• High degree of accuracy• Correctly attributed• Must be well chosen and used effectively.• Minor variations tolerated

Question 1d 290 – 310 words for tomorrow’s paper

NEW KEY POINTS

• Harland Hettie shot dead • Found by dog walker yesterday on moorland near

Calderburn Reservoir, Forest of Harland, Brindleton • Lead shot in body • Reward for information leading to conviction • Concern raised when no movement on satellite

tracking• Effect of illegal killing on numbers • Body will be sent for post mortem examination

Impact through choice of words and phrasing

• Hope• Concern• Sadness/

devastated• No movement• Found dead• Shot• Police investigating• Post-mortem

• Significant blow• Peppered with lead

shot• Beggars belief• Brink of extinction• Sickening• Reward• Tragic and disturbing• Illegal killing

1a KEY POINTS – still relevant

Female hen harrier’s return to Forest of Harland, Brindleton

‘Harland Hettie’ raised there last year RSPB had hoped she would breed at the site One of only four chicks born in England in 2014 – all

at this site Satellite tracked for months Male hen harrier performing skydance courtship

display Forest of Harland stronghold for hen harriers in

England England’s most threatened bird of prey

QUOTES

• Strong mix of reported and direct quotes• High degree of accuracy• Correctly attributed• Minor variations allowed if meaning is unchanged• Must be well chosen and used effectively.

POSSIBLE ANGLES

• Illegal shooting of Harland Hettie, an endangered bird of prey / hen harrier

• £1,000 reward

Possible intros …

A £1,000 reward was offered today to help catch the person who shot a rare bird of prey in a Brindleton forest.

or …

The gunning down of a rare bird of prey in a Brindleton forest provoked a furious reaction from bird lovers today.

running on …

The body of the hen harrier, known to the RSPB as Harland Hettie, was peppered with lead shot.

A dog walker found the bird yesterday on moorland near Calderburn reservoir in the Forest of Harland where Hettie was born last year.  Hen harriers are the most threatened birds of prey in England.

One more intro on the next slide …

A lonely hen harrier performed a poignant skydance above the Forest of Harland today – after a gunman blasted his girl friend out of the sky.