Journalism 2001Week 2: September 20, 2010

Let’s take a quiz!

Review of last week’s news Hard News:

(murder, City Council, government, etc.)– Major local stories– Major national/international stories– Major sports stories

Soft News:(retirements, school programs, human interest)– Local stories– National/International stories– Sports stories

Statesman Today’s Front Pages

Announcements

Who you are– Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors– English, Communication Sciences and

Disorders, Criminology, International Relations, Writing Studies, Computer Science, Communication, Environmental, Studies, undecided majors

– Aspiring speech-language pathologists, columnists, lawyers, broadcast journalists, reporters, travel writers, Foreign Service, National Geographic photographer/writer, authors, many unsure!

– All curious and interested in improving writing!

Extra Credit Opportunities

Laurie Hertzel Presentation– Anyone attend?– 5 paragraph summary due September

24– Will be posted on class website

Marty Weintraub/Manny Rivas Presentation– Anyone attend?– 5 paragraph summary due September

24– Will be posted on class website

Let’s turn in Duluth News-Tribune Analysis

What did you learn???? Using the Thursday, September 16

Duluth News-Tribune, list the stories on the front page, local section and the sports pages. Keep evaluations brief: no more than three sentences each.

In-Class Assignments

Check egradebook:– www.d.umn.edu/egradebook– Remember that lowest score dropped!

Tonight’s assignment:– Summary lead exercise– AP Stylebook exercise

Words matter!

Chapter 3: Newswriting Basics

Summary lead literally sums up the story in the lead, giving the reader the most important information first

Developed in Civil War when stories sent by telegraph

Continued into the 1970s with wire service telegraph machines

Just the facts

– Good reporters respect integrity of facts.

– Facts tell the story.

– Readers draw their own conclusions.

You must try to be objective. Truthful. Fair.

Where do opinions belong in a newspaper?

Most newspaper stories can be placed on a continuum.

Ranges from rigidly objective (breaking news) to rabidly opinionated (movie reviews).

The 5 Ws and H!

Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?Focal point determines emphasis in

lead

The WHO– Readers love

stories that focus on people.

– WHO keeps it real. Who’s involved? Who’s affected? Who’s going to

benefit? Who’s getting

screwed?

The WHAT– WHAT gives news

its substance. Stories become dry

and dull if they focus too much on WHAT.

Need WHO.

The WHEN– Timeliness essential

to every story. When events

happened or will happen.

How long they lasted or will last.

The WHERE– The closer the

event, the more relevant it is for readers.

– Many stories require supplements. Map Diagram Photo

The WHY– Finding

explanations difficult.

– The WHY is what makes news meaningful.

The HOW– Often requires

detailed explanation.

– Sometimes omitted to save space.

– Readers love “how-to” stories.

Inverted pyramid

Put the most important news first Organize the rest of the paragraphs in

descending order of importance Why? Lets readers quickly scan a

newspaper story and decide whether to continue reading it

Different from short stories, novels, most feature stories

Easy to cut stories as needed to fit news hole

The inverted pyramid

Newswriting format summarizes most important facts at story’s start

This is the lead, which summarizes the story’s most important facts

This paragraph adds more details or background

This paragraph adds even more details

This adds more details

More details

Writing basic news leads

– Collect all your facts. Lead should

summarize. The more you

know, the easier it is to summarize.

How to write an effective news lead– Sum it up. Boil it

down. List who, what,

when, where, why of story.

Writing basic news leads

– Prioritize the five W’s. Lead contains the

most important facts.

Which of the key facts deserves to start the first sentence?

How to write an effective news lead– Rethink. Revise.

Rewrite. Is it clear? Is it active? Is it wordy? Is it compelling?

Writing basic news leads

– Writing leads often a process of trial and error. Try different

approaches.

How to write an effective news lead– Create different

leads using the… Who. What. When. Where. Why.

Beyond the basic news lead

Be accurate. Remember what

day it is. Don’t name

names. Use strong verbs.

Story checklistAsk “Why should I

care?”Sell the story.Don’t get hung up.Move attributions to

the end of the sentences.

Leads that succeed

– Basic news leads– Anecdotal/

narrative leads– Scene-setter

leads– Blind leads– Roundup leads

A roundup of commonly used options– Direct address leads– The startling

statement– Wordplay leads

Leads that succeed

–Basic news leads Summary lead

– Combines five W’s into one sentence.

Delayed identification lead– Withholds the name

of the person in question until the second paragraph

Immediate identification lead

– Uses a public figure or celebrity in the sentence.

Leads that succeed

– Anecdotal/ narrative leads Have a beginning,

middle and end. Will be mini-story

with symbolic resonance for bigger story.

–Scene-setter leads Lack urgency of hard-

news leads. Borrowed from fiction.

–Blind leads Extreme delayed

information lead.– Deliberately teases

reader.

Leads that succeed

– Roundup leads Rather than focus

on one person, place or thing, impress reader with longer list.

– Direct address leads Use second-

person voice.

– The startling statement Also called a

“zinger” or a “Hey, Martha.”

– Wordplay leads Encompass wide

range of amusing leads.

Leads that succeed

– Topic leads Convey no actual news.

– Question leads Are irritating stalls.

– Quote leads Don’t fairly summarize

the story.

…and three lazy leads you should usually reconsider

After the lead…what next?

– Know how long the story should be.

Add another paragraph

Write the nut graf

– Paragraph that condenses the story idea into nutshell.

Briefs and brites:

Brief – written using the inverted pyramid.

Brite – written with more personality than a brief.

The lead

Key facts in inverted- pyramid form

Chronology of events

Kicker

Story structure

– The martini glass Use for:

– Crimes.– Disasters.– Dramatic

stories.

Giving an overall shape to writing

Story structure

– The kabob Also called Wall Street

Journal formula or the Circle.

Use for:– Trends.– Events where you want

to show actual people.

Giving an overall shape to writing

Anecdote

Nut graf

Meat

Meat

Meat

Anecdote

Story structure

– Modern journalist’s job basically boils down to Teaching. Storytelling.

Keeping readers from getting bored – Use narratives

when you can.– Think like a

teacher.

Story structure

– Keep paragraphs short.

– Write one idea per paragraph.

– Add transitions.

Writing tips as you move from paragraph to paragraph

Alternatives to long, gray news stories

Bullet itemsSidebarsSubheadsOther storytelling alternatives

Story structure

– Good writers agonize over the kicker as much as the lead. Plan ahead. Don’t end with a

summary. Avoid clichés. End with a bang.

The big finish

Rewriting

– Writing is rewriting. Make things a little

better. Few stories arrive fully

formed and perfectly phrased.

Most require rethinking, restructuring and rewording.

Good story. Now make it better.

Rewriting

– Passive verbs Start sentences

with their subjects.

Replace to be with stronger verbs.

– Redundancy Avoid

unnecessary modifiers.

Reasons to hit the delete key5– Wordy sentences– Jargon &

journalese Filter out jargon

and officialese.– Clichés

Lower the IQ of your writing.

Active voice

Write in active/rather than passive voice

What’s the difference?– In active voice, the subject performs the

action expressed in the verb; the subject acts

– In passive voice, the subject receives the action expressed in the verb; the subject is acted upon

Active voice doesn’t mean present tense

Huh?

Active voice: Subject acts– The dog bit the boy.– Mary will present her research at the

conference.– Scientists tested the hypothesis by conducting

experiments. Passive voice: Subject acted upon

– The boy was bitten by the dog.– Research will be presented by Mary at the

conference.– Experiments have been conducted to test the

hypothesis.

Rewriting

– Find typical example.

– Average number of words per sentence.

– Number of “hard” words with 3 or more syllables (no proper names).

The Fog Index – a readability gauge– Add average

number of words to number of “hard” words.

– Multiply the sumby 0.4.

Rewriting

– Most Americans read at or about 9th-grade level. Aim for Fog Index

of 7 to 8. Bible, Mark Twain,

TV Guide have Fog Index around 6.

The Fog Index – a readability gauge

Editing

– Before you write Assigning story. Planning angle. Estimating scope. Anticipating

packaging.

The role editors play in your stories – While you write

Adding details. Monitoring speed. Fine-tuning. Layout changes.

Editing

– After you write Editing content. Copy editing. Cutting or padding. Assigning follow-up

stories.

The role editors play in your stories

Newswriting style

– Every news outlet customizes guidelines.

– Copy desk’s job to standardize style.

– Know AP and your news outlet’s style.

Who’s right?

66 newswriting tips

– Writing leads– The rest of the

story– Editing and style– Rules of grammar

– Word choices Nonsexist,

nonageist, nondiscriminatory

– Punctuation

Let’s grade your quizzes….

No two leads the same

Reporters covering the same story will write different leads

Examples from Duluth News-Tribune and Minneapolis Star Tribune

How to write a summary lead

Usually a single sentence No more than 35 words

Bottom line:– Use a single sentence of no more

than 35 words in a summary lead

Identifying the focal point

Which W or H is the focal point? Let’s practice:

– The search for a new president for the university has been temporarily postponed. Who: What: When: Where: Why: How:Focal point?

Mayor Jane Doe announced today that she will not seek re-election next year.– Who:– What:– When:– Where:– Why:– How:Focal point?

In an effort to increase awareness on campus, the UMD Kirby Program Board has appointed a new coordinator, and she plans to use more advertising to bring about change.– Who:– What:– When:– Where:– Why:– How:Focal point?

What’s the bottom line for a summary lead?

1. Usually a single sentence of no more than 35 words.

2. Usually as long as needed to tell story.

3. Usually two sentences of no more than 35 words.

How I write a lead

When starting to write a story, I often write out all of my notes, including the direct quotes

Lead often becomes clear in the second graph

When leaving a meeting, speech, etc., ask myself: What would I tell my friend, husband, person passing in the street?

What happened? Who cares?

Summary of summary leads

Don’t go with the first lead Avoid unnecessary words Avoid gobbledygook

– Government jargon Write clearly, concisely Use vivid verbs Use colorful words

Journalism Case Studies

Throughout semester we’ll look at ethical dilemmas journalists face on the job– Compiled by University of Indiana

School of Journalism Today: When Journalists Play God

Words matter!

Hard News 1 Story Assignment

Work in teams to interview Duluth citizens

Each reporter writes own story Interview 8-10 Duluth residents

– Might not use all sources in story– List all sources, with contact info, at end

of story Groups of 1 to 2 Stories will be posted on class

website:– Fall Jour 2001 Website

Let’s brainstorm ideas of where Duluth residents gather:

Canal Park DECC Miller Hall Mall Holiday Inn Bus Hub Grocery store Coffee shop Walgreens Bus Hub UMD Kirby Student Center Food Court Solon Campus Center High schools

Ideas from 2008 Greyhound bus station West Duluth Amazing Grace café in Canal Park Fond du Luth Casino/Old Downtown First Street/Cozy Bar/Encounter Gas station Miller Hill Mall bus stop Pizza Luce concert Courthouse Courtyard Public library Canal Park/Lift bridge WalMart Dunn Brothers coffee shop

Ideas from 2007 UMD Dining Center/Kirby Student Center Northland Gaming Center

– Lincoln Park/West End Encounter/Cozy Bar corner (2nd Ave. E. & First St.) Spirit Mountain Miller Hill Mall Community Center DECC: Hockey game Downtown: Superior Street Marshal Performing Arts Center: Play

Hard News 1 Story Pitch Due: September 27

Length of story pitch: three paragraphs, about 200 words

Include the 5 Ws and H: what makes this story newsworthy

Sample story pitch

Michelle Skarp– What’s missing from list of questions?

In-class assignment for 9/27

To help you prepare for interviewing sources, during next week’s class you will be interviewing Lucy Kragness. She will review her background, and each student will ask at least one question.– Assume story assignment for the

Statesman– To prepare, review website, write out

questions in advance. http://www.d.umn.edu/~lkragnes

Out-of-class assignment for 9/27

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

– Email assignment, written in Microsoft Word, as an attachment to lkragnes@d.umn.edu

Be a Reporter and Be an Editor through NewsU

Chapter 4 Quiz

Today’s assignment AP Stylebook editing practice Summary lead exercise

– Steps to help you: Identify the five Ws and H

– Who?– What?– When?– Where?– Why?– How?

What’s the focal point?– Determine what’s the most important to include– Reminder: Summary lead contains no more than 35

words– Email assignment, written in Microsoft Word, as an

attachment to lkragnes@d.umn.edu