Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
LAST DAY
LAST DAY - FALL 2012 - JOURN 300
Film review grading criteria: A range – Is clearly written with a clear lead and nutgraph; organized and flows well, includes quotes and detailed descriptions of specific scenes; touches, even if briefly, on important themes in the movie, including that Bias’s death had far-reaching ramifications with respect to U.S. drug laws; does not have many typos and AP style errors B range – Does some of the above but not all C-F range – Poor content, not well organized, hard to read, ungrammatical, full of AP errors
Class grading criteria: Profile (counts for 15 percent of final grade), feature (15 percent), coverage of a speech (10 percent), issue piece (20 percent) and review (10 percent), minor papers, including first drafts (10 percent), blog (10 percent), participation/homework, worksheets and quizzes (10 percent).
Re-CAP of some take-away points:
1) First day LEADS
• Follow the lead rules in the book – must be grammatical, no cliches, don’t start with a quote
• Makes an assertion. Is NOT a classic bad lead. Gets to the HEART of the event. (If you had ONE thing to say about the event, what would it be?)
2) Interview practices (blog posts on another student)
• Establish a relationship; don’t interrupt, be prepared with good questions; get the correct spelling of all names
• Ask open-ended details that allow your interviewee to tell you anecdotes; press for DETAILS
3) Speech paper on artist Henry Hargreaves
• Lead needs to get to the heart of the event
• Research in advance and prepare good questions; interview a lot of people who attended for a more lively piece with greater perspective. Go the extra mile and contact the subject of your paper.
4) Event paper on “It’s Your Call” conference
• Lead must get to the heart of the event. If you interview a lot of people, which you should, and they have similar critiques of an event, definitely mention that
5) Interview with Globe reporter Maria Sacchetti
• Research ahead of time. If it’s a writer, read some of her work. Ask probing questions. Lead should get to the heart of her visit.
Maria’s advice: 1) If you have a goal, go for it first. Then reassess. 2) Do your best to tell the true story.3) Don't assume you know; be humble. 4) Work at your writing -- a foreign language if you're trying to learn one -- every day. 5) Appeal everything. 6) Go to job fairs. Wear a suit. Stand in line. Be nice. They might not hire you (but they might remember you). 7) Embrace math. Math is essential. 8) Always be careful and well-prepared when you travel abroad for a story. You don't want anything bad to happen. "Because then you can't tell the story."9) Do your expenses.10) Have fun. Learn salsa dancing, photography. Keep learning.
6) Profile
• A good interview is key! Ask probing questions. Get concrete details and anecdotes. DESCRIBE
7) Election interviews
• Research the candidates and issues; be informed.
• Use your people skills to get voters to talk to you
8) Feature
• Picking a good topic is KEY. Spotting a trend and writing a story that hasn’t been written before is impressive!
9) Issue
• Picking a good topic is KEY.
• Identify experts and contact them ASAP
• Interviewing sources in-person is much better than by phone or email (BEING THERE is key)
• Experts are the ones who offer opinions/analysis. Your sources talk about their personal experiences
10) Review
• Lead should make it clear if you recommend/don’t recommend the movie and why
• Write as you would speak!
11) Summaries
• Synthesize information. Doesn’t have to be in the same chronological order as what you are summarizing
12) Blogs
• Should be well organized and reader-friendly; AP style and grammar should be correct; photos add a lot
Film review grading criteria: A range – Is clearly written with a clear lead and nutgraph; organized and flows well, includes quotes and detailed descriptions of specific scenes; touches, even if briefly, on important themes in the movie, including that Bias’s death had far-reaching ramifications with respect to U.S. drug laws; does not have many typos and AP style errors B range – Does some of the above but not all C-F range – Poor content, not well organized, hard to read, ungrammatical, full of AP errors
Class grading criteria: Profile (counts for 15 percent of final grade), feature (15 percent), coverage of a speech (10 percent), issue piece (20 percent) and review (10 percent), minor papers, including first drafts (10 percent), blog (10 percent), participation/homework, worksheets and quizzes (10 percent).
Re-CAP of some take-away points:
1) First day LEADS
• Follow the lead rules in the book – must be grammatical, no cliches, don’t start with a quote
• Makes an assertion. Is NOT a classic bad lead. Gets to the HEART of the event. (If you had ONE thing to say about the event, what would it be?)
2) Interview practices (blog posts on another student)
• Establish a relationship; don’t interrupt, be prepared with good questions; get the correct spelling of all names
• Ask open-ended details that allow your interviewee to tell you anecdotes; press for DETAILS
3) Speech paper on artist Henry Hargreaves
• Lead needs to get to the heart of the event
• Research in advance and prepare good questions; interview a lot of people who attended for a more lively piece with greater perspective. Go the extra mile and contact the subject of your paper.
4) Event paper on “It’s Your Call” conference
• Lead must get to the heart of the event. If you interview a lot of people, which you should, and they have similar critiques of an event, definitely mention that
5) Interview with Globe reporter Maria Sacchetti
• Research ahead of time. If it’s a writer, read some of her work. Ask probing questions. Lead should get to the heart of her visit.
Maria’s advice: 1) If you have a goal, go for it first. Then reassess. 2) Do your best to tell the true story.3) Don't assume you know; be humble. 4) Work at your writing -- a foreign language if you're trying to learn one -- every day. 5) Appeal everything. 6) Go to job fairs. Wear a suit. Stand in line. Be nice. They might not hire you (but they might remember you). 7) Embrace math. Math is essential. 8) Always be careful and well-prepared when you travel abroad for a story. You don't want anything bad to happen. "Because then you can't tell the story."9) Do your expenses.10) Have fun. Learn salsa dancing, photography. Keep learning.
6) Profile
• A good interview is key! Ask probing questions. Get concrete details and anecdotes. DESCRIBE
7) Election interviews
• Research the candidates and issues; be informed.
• Use your people skills to get voters to talk to you
8) Feature
• Picking a good topic is KEY. Spotting a trend and writing a story that hasn’t been written before is impressive!
9) Issue
• Picking a good topic is KEY.
• Identify experts and contact them ASAP
• Interviewing sources in-person is much better than by phone or email (BEING THERE is key)
• Experts are the ones who offer opinions/analysis. Your sources talk about their personal experiences
10) Review
• Lead should make it clear if you recommend/don’t recommend the movie and why
• Write as you would speak!
11) Summaries
• Synthesize information. Doesn’t have to be in the same chronological order as what you are summarizing
12) Blogs
• Should be well organized and reader-friendly; AP style and grammar should be correct; photos add a lot
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Reporters and the Law; writing reviews
1) The Lead: Recommend/do not recommend the movie/video for THIS/THESE SPECIFIC REASON(S). Write down the reasons you would recommend the movie and figure out which one (or more) you want to highlight in the lead. In the nutgraph, you can briefly mention some of the other reasons. You will then explain further in the body of your paper, using one or more scenes as example(s).
How to come up with a lead:
• First, sum up the movie/video in a sentence or two. (This will take some thinking!)
• Then, analyze how the various elements of the movie/video worked together to figure out what contributed to your liking/not liking the movie. Some movie elements are: visual qualities, dialogue, characterization (were the characters believable, likeable, unlikeable – or were they just like cartoon/stock figures?), music, story/plot etc. Some video qualities are clarity of story/plot/message and how compelling it was, quality of interviews, the interviewees (similar to the characters; were they believable? Compelling?), visuals, dialogue etc
Example: Would I recommend “Life of Pi” directed by Ang Lee? Yes.
• What it’s about: Based on a children’s book, it’s about a teenager from India’s dangerous, nearly year-long experience trying to survive on a life boat -- alone with a ferocious tiger -- following a ship-wreck.
• Reasons I liked “Life of Pi”: 1) It was beautiful 2) It reminded me of snorkeling, only the fish and other creatures shown were more colorful ( and there were more than I’ve ever seen snorkeling which lifted the scenes into the realm of fantasy while still being believable – as if were a heightened reality. Plus, I saw it in 3-D and that also heightened the experience.) 3) The story was compelling. It was simple and yet it had a twist at the end that made it that much more moving and thought-provoking as well as sad. 4) There was a gripping shipwreck scene 5) The actor who played the main character was very believable as was the ferocious tiger (which was not actually on the lifeboat with the boy and was, in part, computer-generated.)
Possible lead? “Life of Pi,” about a teenaged Indian boy who survives for months on a life boat with a ferocious tiger, is by turns gripping, beautiful, and sad; but above all it is magical.
2) The Nutgraph: Sum up the elements of the movie/video that made you like/not like it and that you will discuss in the review
Sample NUTGRAPH: Directed by Ang Lee (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Brokeback Mountain,”) “Life of Pi,” makes good use of 3-D effects in portraying underwater scenes that are realistic yet so spectacular that they appear fantastical while telling a simple story about a boy’s determination to live. Though based on a children’s book, the story has a twist at the end (DON’T GIVE IT AWAY AS THAT WOULD BE A “SPOILER,” WHICH YOU SHOULD AVOID) that makes the story that much more thought provoking and compelling.
3) Body of the paper: Expands on all the points you make in the nutgraph by describing one or more specific scenes that exemplify the qualities you praised/criticized
Reporters and the law:
1) What is libel?2) What is slander?
3) True or False: During a period of particularly intense racial tensions in the United States, The New York Times ran an advertisement in 1969 that an all-white jury found to be libelous toward L.B. Sullivan, a Montgomery, Ala. city commissioner responsible for the police department. Sullivan was awarded $500,000 in damages.
But the Supreme Court heard an appeal of the case, The New York Times vs. Sullivan, in 1964 and in its decision took away states' power to award damages in a libel action brought by public officials against critics of their official conduct.
The Supreme Court wrote that a public official must prove the statement was made with "actual malice," whether it was false or not.
4) Did Supreme Court Justice Brennan write that the right to criticize the government is "the central meaning of the First Amendment" guaranteeing freedom of Speech? True or False
5) Explain who qualifies as a "public figure" and why. A) a police officer B) a newspaper columnist C) Brad Pitt 4) The editor of the Collegian
6) What are privileged proceedings? Is a court hearing a privileged proceeding? Is a political rally a privileged proceeding?
___________________________________________________________
Massachusetts Open Meeting Law: Governmental bodies must post a notice to say there will be a meeting 48 hours in advance of it to give the public a chance to attend. A quorum (majority or the number of members present needed to vote) may not get together and discuss SUBSTANTIVE issues outside of the public's view. There are nine exceptions under which a board may hold a closed-door session although it must later make the results of decisions reached available to the public. Exceptions include to consider or discuss: 1) reputation, character etc (vs professional competence) of someone 2) disciplining/firing an employee 3) collective bargaining strategy 4) deployment of security 5) criminal charges 6) real estate purchases 7) grant requirements 8) job applicants 9) mediation
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Polling places in Amherst
From the Town of Amherst website:
Precincts
The Town of Amherst is divided into ten precincts which contain a total of eight polling locations.
You may also go to the State Elections Division website to look up your polling location.
Hours
The polling hours for all elections and all polling places are 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Prohibited Activities
State law prohibits the display of political paraphernalia within 150 feet of the entrance to the polling location. Signs, stickers, and even lapel buttons are not permitted within this restricted zone. State regulations also prohibit political solicitation within the restricted zone.
Voters may take their own personal notes into the polling place as an aid to assist their voting. This information cannot be shared with other voters or left in the polling place.
Precincts
The Town of Amherst is divided into ten precincts which contain a total of eight polling locations.
You may also go to the State Elections Division website to look up your polling location.
Hours
The polling hours for all elections and all polling places are 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Prohibited Activities
State law prohibits the display of political paraphernalia within 150 feet of the entrance to the polling location. Signs, stickers, and even lapel buttons are not permitted within this restricted zone. State regulations also prohibit political solicitation within the restricted zone.
Voters may take their own personal notes into the polling place as an aid to assist their voting. This information cannot be shared with other voters or left in the polling place.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
No Class Monday due to Hurricane Sandy
Hi Everybody -- Take care and let me know if you need anything. Plan to bring in your Feature first drafts (1,000 words, interviews with/quotes from 4 or more sources) Wednesday and we'll do some peer editing.
Here's the schedule for the remainder of the year:
OCT 29-- NO CLASS DUE TO HURRICANE SANDY
OCT 31 FIRST DRAFT FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE. PEER EDIT Discuss issue paper ideas and strategy. Discuss chapters 11 and 14. Next: Issue pitch. Discuss issue ideas, experts.
NOV 5 Issue pitch. Discuss interviewing voters at poll tomorrow/Election Day Nov. 6
TUESDAY, NOV. 6 --Interview voters at polls on Election Day. Write 600 words.
NOV 7 In-class work on Issue papers. Discuss Election Day interviews. NEXT: read Chap 20 on police FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE.
NOV 12 NO CLASS -Veterans Day
NOV 14 FIRST DRAFT ISSUE (with 4 voices, 2 of whom are "experts") due PEER EDIT Discuss Police chapter. In-class work on issue, blog. Next: read Chaps. 26 on Taste in Journalism and 27 on Morality.
NOV 19 Discuss Chapters 26 & 27
NOV 21 NO CLASS- Thanksgiving is NOV 22
NOV 26 END OF SEMESTER QUIZ In-class work on Issue paper. Discuss Chapters 24 and 25,
NOV 28 NEXT: Discuss Chaps. 24 and 25 on Government and Reporters and the Law; review writing. ISSUE (1,000 words INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE Discuss Open Meeting, definitions of slander etc.;
DEC 3 - Watch film and write REVIEW (10 percent of final grade) on deadline, due at end of class.
DEC 5 LAST DAY OF CLASS/RECAP
Here's the schedule for the remainder of the year:
OCT 29-- NO CLASS DUE TO HURRICANE SANDY
OCT 31 FIRST DRAFT FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE. PEER EDIT Discuss issue paper ideas and strategy. Discuss chapters 11 and 14. Next: Issue pitch. Discuss issue ideas, experts.
NOV 5 Issue pitch. Discuss interviewing voters at poll tomorrow/Election Day Nov. 6
TUESDAY, NOV. 6 --Interview voters at polls on Election Day. Write 600 words.
NOV 7 In-class work on Issue papers. Discuss Election Day interviews. NEXT: read Chap 20 on police FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE.
NOV 12 NO CLASS -Veterans Day
NOV 14 FIRST DRAFT ISSUE (with 4 voices, 2 of whom are "experts") due PEER EDIT Discuss Police chapter. In-class work on issue, blog. Next: read Chaps. 26 on Taste in Journalism and 27 on Morality.
NOV 19 Discuss Chapters 26 & 27
NOV 21 NO CLASS- Thanksgiving is NOV 22
NOV 26 END OF SEMESTER QUIZ In-class work on Issue paper. Discuss Chapters 24 and 25,
NOV 28 NEXT: Discuss Chaps. 24 and 25 on Government and Reporters and the Law; review writing. ISSUE (1,000 words INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE Discuss Open Meeting, definitions of slander etc.;
DEC 3 - Watch film and write REVIEW (10 percent of final grade) on deadline, due at end of class.
DEC 5 LAST DAY OF CLASS/RECAP
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Covering the Oct. 16 UMass police chief and dean of students' meeting with neighbors
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| Tom interviews Hwei-ling and Bob Greeney |
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| Nick interviews UMass Police Chief John Horvath |
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
What's coming up...
Feature pitches today.
Remember, a feature is like a profile in that it tries to bring something to life by describing the subject in specific detail and quoting sources talking about the subject in concrete, specific detail. The only difference is the feature is about an event/trend/group/thing etc. vs a person.
(The story, for example, by Maria Sacchetti about the two brothers who are Chilean consuls is a mini-feature. It starts with a descriptive scene of their headquarters, introduces the 76-year-old brothers and then describes how they are representative of other sometimes quirky mom-and-pop type consulates throughout the United States.)
You must include quotes from a minimum of FOUR SOURCES in the feature.
As with the profile, we'll do 1) a 200-300 word "pre-first draft," which we'll peer edit next Monday, Oct. 15; 2) a 1,000-word first draft, due Oct 29 and final draft, due Nov. 7.
Today, besides the feature, we'll briefly go over the chapters on accidents and obituaries and if we have time, we can do some work on the blogs. Ideally, you should have created your blogs by now. Don't forget to send me the addresses so I can post them on the class blog!
I'm looking forward to reading your 500-word pieces, due today, on Maria Sacchetti's visit.
Wednesday, Oct. 10 -- Feature pitch, Discuss accidents/disasters and obituaries chapters. Five hundred words on Maria Sacchetti visit due.
NEXT: Read Chapter 21 on Courts. Bring in written 250 words pre-first draft feature with potential lead, nutgraph and direct quotes.
Back to original schedule:
OCT 15 Peer edit pre-first draft Feature drafts. (lead, nutgraph and direct quotes.)
OCT 17 In-class work on feature and blog, discuss Chap. 21 on Courts FINAL DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) In-class work on feature drafts Discuss Issue paper requirements, including interviews with 2-3 "experts."
OCT 22 NEXT: read Chaps. 11 on layered reporting. and 14 on sources.
OCT 24 MID-TERM QUIZ (on terms, concepts and AP tips discussed in class as well as Chapters 2,3, 7, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21) Discuss Chap. 11 and 14 and covering elections.
OCT 29 FIRST DRAFT FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE. PEER EDIT Discuss issue paper ideas and strategy. Next: Issue pitch.
OCT 31 Discuss issue ideas, experts. In-class work on blogs. NEXT: Issue pitch
NOV 5 Issue pitch. (Interview voters at polls on Election Day. Write 600 words.)
NOV 7 In-class work on Issue papers. Discuss Election Day interviews. NEXT: read Chap 20 on police FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE.
NOV 12 NO CLASS -Veterans Day
NOV 14 FIRST DRAFT ISSUE (with 4 voices, 2 of whom are "experts") due PEER EDIT Discuss Police chapter. In-class work on issue, blog. Next: read Chaps. 26 on Taste in Journalism and 27 on Morality.
NOV 19 Discuss Chapters 26 & 27
NOV 21 NO CLASS- Thanksgiving is NOV 22
NOV 26 END OF SEMESTER QUIZ In-class work on Issue paper. Discuss Chapters 24 and 25,
NOV 28 NEXT: Discuss Chaps. 24 and 25 on Government and Reporters and the Law; review writing. ISSUE (1,000 words INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE Discuss Open Meeting, definitions of slander etc.;
DEC 3 - Watch film and write REVIEW (10 percent of final grade) on deadline, due at end of class.
DEC 5 - LAST DAY OF CLASS/RECAP
Remember, a feature is like a profile in that it tries to bring something to life by describing the subject in specific detail and quoting sources talking about the subject in concrete, specific detail. The only difference is the feature is about an event/trend/group/thing etc. vs a person.
(The story, for example, by Maria Sacchetti about the two brothers who are Chilean consuls is a mini-feature. It starts with a descriptive scene of their headquarters, introduces the 76-year-old brothers and then describes how they are representative of other sometimes quirky mom-and-pop type consulates throughout the United States.)
You must include quotes from a minimum of FOUR SOURCES in the feature.
As with the profile, we'll do 1) a 200-300 word "pre-first draft," which we'll peer edit next Monday, Oct. 15; 2) a 1,000-word first draft, due Oct 29 and final draft, due Nov. 7.
Today, besides the feature, we'll briefly go over the chapters on accidents and obituaries and if we have time, we can do some work on the blogs. Ideally, you should have created your blogs by now. Don't forget to send me the addresses so I can post them on the class blog!
I'm looking forward to reading your 500-word pieces, due today, on Maria Sacchetti's visit.
Wednesday, Oct. 10 -- Feature pitch, Discuss accidents/disasters and obituaries chapters. Five hundred words on Maria Sacchetti visit due.
NEXT: Read Chapter 21 on Courts. Bring in written 250 words pre-first draft feature with potential lead, nutgraph and direct quotes.
Back to original schedule:
OCT 15 Peer edit pre-first draft Feature drafts. (lead, nutgraph and direct quotes.)
OCT 17 In-class work on feature and blog, discuss Chap. 21 on Courts FINAL DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) In-class work on feature drafts Discuss Issue paper requirements, including interviews with 2-3 "experts."
OCT 22 NEXT: read Chaps. 11 on layered reporting. and 14 on sources.
OCT 24 MID-TERM QUIZ (on terms, concepts and AP tips discussed in class as well as Chapters 2,3, 7, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21) Discuss Chap. 11 and 14 and covering elections.
OCT 29 FIRST DRAFT FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE. PEER EDIT Discuss issue paper ideas and strategy. Next: Issue pitch.
OCT 31 Discuss issue ideas, experts. In-class work on blogs. NEXT: Issue pitch
NOV 5 Issue pitch. (Interview voters at polls on Election Day. Write 600 words.)
NOV 7 In-class work on Issue papers. Discuss Election Day interviews. NEXT: read Chap 20 on police FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE.
NOV 12 NO CLASS -Veterans Day
NOV 14 FIRST DRAFT ISSUE (with 4 voices, 2 of whom are "experts") due PEER EDIT Discuss Police chapter. In-class work on issue, blog. Next: read Chaps. 26 on Taste in Journalism and 27 on Morality.
NOV 19 Discuss Chapters 26 & 27
NOV 21 NO CLASS- Thanksgiving is NOV 22
NOV 26 END OF SEMESTER QUIZ In-class work on Issue paper. Discuss Chapters 24 and 25,
NOV 28 NEXT: Discuss Chaps. 24 and 25 on Government and Reporters and the Law; review writing. ISSUE (1,000 words INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE Discuss Open Meeting, definitions of slander etc.;
DEC 3 - Watch film and write REVIEW (10 percent of final grade) on deadline, due at end of class.
DEC 5 - LAST DAY OF CLASS/RECAP
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
10 suggestions from Maria:
1) If you have a goal, go for it first. Then reassess.2) Do your best to tell the true story.
3) Don't assume you know; be humble.
4) Work at your writing -- a foreign language if you're trying to learn one -- every day.
5) Appeal everything.
6) Go to job fairs. Wear a suit. Stand in line. Be nice. They might not hire you (but they might remember you).
7) Embrace math. Math is essential.
8) Always be careful and well-prepared when you travel abroad for a story. You don't want anything bad to happen. "Because then you can't tell the story."
9) Do your expenses.
10) Have fun. Learn salsa dancing, photography. Keep learning.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Updated class schedule
Updated class schedule, beginning with today's class (Notice the deadline to turn in the profile final draft has been moved up to OCT. 17):
Monday, Oct. 1 FIRST DRAFT PROFILE DUE (INCLUDE WORD COUNT) Peer edit. Discuss feature stories, Chapter 7 and SHOW (vs. tell) examples. Discuss Maria Sacchetti stories; generate questions for her. Feature pitch postponed till OCT 10.
Wednesday, Oct. 3 -- Class visitor Maria Sacchetti, a UMass alumna and immigration reporter for the Boston Globe. Take notes and write 500 words about her visit. Due Wednesday, Oct. 10.
NEXT: Read Chapter 18 on Accidents and Disasters and Chapter 19 on Obituaries.
Monday, Oct. 8-- No class (Get ready to do feature pitch on Wednesday)
Wednesday, Oct. 10 -- Feature pitch, Discuss accidents/disasters and obituaries chapters. NEXT: Read Chapter 21 on Courts. Bring in written 250 words pre-first draft feature with potential lead, nutgraph and direct quotes. Five hundred words on Maria Sacchetti visit due.
Back to original schedule:
OCT 15 Peer edit pre-first draft Feature drafts. (lead, nutgraph and direct quotes.)
OCT 17 In-class work on feature and blog, discuss Chap. 21 on CourtsFINAL DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) In-class work on feature drafts Discuss Issue paper requirements, including interviews with 2-3 "experts."
OCT 22 NEXT: read Chaps. 11 on layered reporting. and 14 on sources.
OCT 24 MID-TERM QUIZ (on terms, concepts and AP tips discussed in class as well as Chapters 2,3, 7, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21) Discuss Chap. 11 and 14 and covering elections.
OCT 29 FIRST DRAFT FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE. PEER EDIT Discuss issue paper ideas and strategy. Next: Issue pitch.
OCT 31 Discuss issue ideas, experts. In-class work on blogs. NEXT: Issue pitch
NOV 5 Issue pitch. (Interview voters at polls on Election Day. Write 600 words.)
NOV 7 In-class work on Issue papers. Discuss Election Day interviews. NEXT: read Chap 20 on police FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE.
NOV 12 NO CLASS -Veterans Day
NOV 14 FIRST DRAFT ISSUE (with 4 voices, 2 of whom are "experts") due PEER EDIT Discuss Police chapter. In-class work on issue, blog. Next: read Chaps. 26 on Taste in Journalism and 27 on Morality.
NOV 19 Discuss Chapters 26 & 27
NOV 21 NO CLASS- Thanksgiving is NOV 22
NOV 26 END OF SEMESTER QUIZ In-class work on Issue paper. Discuss Chapters 24 and 25,
NOV 28 NEXT: Discuss Chaps. 24 and 25 on Government and Reporters and the Law; review writing. ISSUE (1,000 words INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE Discuss Open Meeting, definitions of slander etc.;
DEC 3 - Watch film and write REVIEW (10 percent of final grade) on deadline, due at end of class.
DEC 5 - LAST DAY OF CLASS/RECAP
Monday, Oct. 1 FIRST DRAFT PROFILE DUE (INCLUDE WORD COUNT) Peer edit. Discuss feature stories, Chapter 7 and SHOW (vs. tell) examples. Discuss Maria Sacchetti stories; generate questions for her. Feature pitch postponed till OCT 10.
Wednesday, Oct. 3 -- Class visitor Maria Sacchetti, a UMass alumna and immigration reporter for the Boston Globe. Take notes and write 500 words about her visit. Due Wednesday, Oct. 10.
NEXT: Read Chapter 18 on Accidents and Disasters and Chapter 19 on Obituaries.
Monday, Oct. 8-- No class (Get ready to do feature pitch on Wednesday)
Wednesday, Oct. 10 -- Feature pitch, Discuss accidents/disasters and obituaries chapters. NEXT: Read Chapter 21 on Courts. Bring in written 250 words pre-first draft feature with potential lead, nutgraph and direct quotes. Five hundred words on Maria Sacchetti visit due.
Back to original schedule:
OCT 15 Peer edit pre-first draft Feature drafts. (lead, nutgraph and direct quotes.)
OCT 17 In-class work on feature and blog, discuss Chap. 21 on CourtsFINAL DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) In-class work on feature drafts Discuss Issue paper requirements, including interviews with 2-3 "experts."
OCT 22 NEXT: read Chaps. 11 on layered reporting. and 14 on sources.
OCT 24 MID-TERM QUIZ (on terms, concepts and AP tips discussed in class as well as Chapters 2,3, 7, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21) Discuss Chap. 11 and 14 and covering elections.
OCT 29 FIRST DRAFT FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE. PEER EDIT Discuss issue paper ideas and strategy. Next: Issue pitch.
OCT 31 Discuss issue ideas, experts. In-class work on blogs. NEXT: Issue pitch
NOV 5 Issue pitch. (Interview voters at polls on Election Day. Write 600 words.)
NOV 7 In-class work on Issue papers. Discuss Election Day interviews. NEXT: read Chap 20 on police FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE.
NOV 12 NO CLASS -Veterans Day
NOV 14 FIRST DRAFT ISSUE (with 4 voices, 2 of whom are "experts") due PEER EDIT Discuss Police chapter. In-class work on issue, blog. Next: read Chaps. 26 on Taste in Journalism and 27 on Morality.
NOV 19 Discuss Chapters 26 & 27
NOV 21 NO CLASS- Thanksgiving is NOV 22
NOV 26 END OF SEMESTER QUIZ In-class work on Issue paper. Discuss Chapters 24 and 25,
NOV 28 NEXT: Discuss Chaps. 24 and 25 on Government and Reporters and the Law; review writing. ISSUE (1,000 words INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE Discuss Open Meeting, definitions of slander etc.;
DEC 3 - Watch film and write REVIEW (10 percent of final grade) on deadline, due at end of class.
DEC 5 - LAST DAY OF CLASS/RECAP
Monday, September 17, 2012
Chapters 2 & 3 worksheet (Be able to answer all these questions by class on Sept. 24)
Chapters 2 & 3 worksheet
1) What's most important: A) accuracy B) getting both sides on the record C) a lively writing style?
2) Which is the better description and why: A) She was unusually tall. B) She was an inch over 6 feet tall.
3) Give of examples of A) a firsthand account B) secondhand account C) thirdhand account
4) Should the reporter make it clear in the story whether an account is firsthand, second or third? Is there a scenario in which you would not need to attribute information?
5) Explain A) on the record B) on background C) on deep background D) off the record
6) Which sentence would you pick to follow this one: The temperature reached an all-time high yesterday at noon. A) The air conditioning failed at UMass. B) The mercury hit 102 degrees, breaking the April 10, 1968 record of 98 degrees. C) Dogs howled and cats slunk under bushes looking for shade.
7) True or False: Objective journalism is the reporting of the visible and verifiable.
CHAPTER 3: WHAT IS NEWS?
1) Who said this in 1883: "Always fight for progress and reform, never tolerate injustice or corruption, always fight demagogues of all parties, never belong to any party, always oppose privileged classes and public plunderers, never lack sympathy with the poor, always remain devoted to the public welfare, never be satisfied with merely printing news, always be drastically indpendent, never be afriad to attack wrong, whether by predatory plutocracy or predatory poverty."
2) Describe a news story that fits each of the following criteria for what is news: A) Information about a break from the normal flow of events, an interruption in the expected, deviation from the norm B) INformation people can use to help them make sound decisions about their lives.
3) Give a example of a news story that exemplifies each the following criteria (for a total of 9 stories):
A) Timely
B) Impact
C)Prominence
D) Emotional proximity
E) Geographical proximity
F) Conflict
G) The Unusual
H) Currency
I) Necessity
4) What are some other factors that play into the selection of news published?
In-class interviewing assignment - Sept. 17
In-class blog assignment: JOURN 300/Interviewing for information, meaningful content and quoteworthy quotes EVERYONE IN THE CLASS SHOULD WRITE ONE AND POST IT ON THis CLASS BLOG ON THE CLASS PROFILES PAGE. You may choose to post them on your joint blogs too.
Assignment: Interview a classmate about his or her home town. Get a basic feel for the city/town. For instance, how big approximately? Urban or rural? What is it known for? How do people there describe it? How is it described by outsiders? It's about your subject's town but also about how growing up in that city/town helped shape your subject.
Make it personal. Ask your subject to recall a moment he or she may recall when he/she reflected on the nature of the town. Did he or she always want to leave there? Does he/she want to go back?
Identify some QUOTEWORTHY quotes. Don’t just throw the quotes in. INTRODUCE them. Look for specific, concrete, colorful details. AVOID clichés. Think about every word. Think about the tone etc.
Include a photo, unless your subject is opposed to it. Be sure to credit the person who took the photo or mention where it came from.
Write for a general audience of readers who may not be familiar with some of the places or expressions you use.
Write in third person. Keep the reporter out of the story.
Spell check. Proofread. Post it!
Example from a past class:
Moving from the Bronx to White Plains, NY at age 5, Shamique White was surprised at how small her new town was. (DOESN’T JUST SAY THE SUBJECT IS FROM WHATEVER CITY/TOWN BUT ESTABLISHES THE THEME OF THE PIECE, WHICH IS ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE OF MOVING FROM A BIG CITY TO A MORE SUBURBAN COMMUNITY/INTRODUCES THE FOLLOWING QUOTE.)
"I called it a ghost town," she said.(KEEP PARAGRAPHS SHORT FOR READABILITY AND IMPACT.
When she was young, White would spend her summer days playing at the park down the street from her home with other kids from her neighborhood when she was in White Plains. (CONCRETE IMAGE)
But on most weekends, sometimes for weeks at a time, White would go to the Bronx to go to church with her grandmother. (CONCRETE IMAGE)
"I went to school in White Plains, but I didn't hang out in White Plains," White says of her younger years. (MEANINGFUL QUOTE)
As she entered into middle school and then on to high school, White Plains began to grow more metropolitan. Lots of people moved from the city to her town and commuted to work in New York City, only a half hour south. Businesses also began to flourish in a downtown section that had a city-like feel. But the town still maintained some of its rural charm in certain neighborhoods. (GOOD DEMOGRAPHIC INFO PUTS THE SUBJECT’S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE INTO CONTEXT.)
The kids of White Plains joined into one public high school after being in five different elementary schools and two middle schools. White made close friends in high school, where the arts and basketball and track were popular activities for students.
Even though White went back and forth between the Bronx and White Plains at first, she still calls White Plains home. (NICE ENDING, BRINGS US BACK TO THE THEME. THE PIECE HAS A NARRATIVE “ARC.”)
Assignment: Interview a classmate about his or her home town. Get a basic feel for the city/town. For instance, how big approximately? Urban or rural? What is it known for? How do people there describe it? How is it described by outsiders? It's about your subject's town but also about how growing up in that city/town helped shape your subject.
Make it personal. Ask your subject to recall a moment he or she may recall when he/she reflected on the nature of the town. Did he or she always want to leave there? Does he/she want to go back?
Identify some QUOTEWORTHY quotes. Don’t just throw the quotes in. INTRODUCE them. Look for specific, concrete, colorful details. AVOID clichés. Think about every word. Think about the tone etc.
Include a photo, unless your subject is opposed to it. Be sure to credit the person who took the photo or mention where it came from.
Write for a general audience of readers who may not be familiar with some of the places or expressions you use.
Write in third person. Keep the reporter out of the story.
Spell check. Proofread. Post it!
Example from a past class:
Moving from the Bronx to White Plains, NY at age 5, Shamique White was surprised at how small her new town was. (DOESN’T JUST SAY THE SUBJECT IS FROM WHATEVER CITY/TOWN BUT ESTABLISHES THE THEME OF THE PIECE, WHICH IS ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE OF MOVING FROM A BIG CITY TO A MORE SUBURBAN COMMUNITY/INTRODUCES THE FOLLOWING QUOTE.)
"I called it a ghost town," she said.(KEEP PARAGRAPHS SHORT FOR READABILITY AND IMPACT.
When she was young, White would spend her summer days playing at the park down the street from her home with other kids from her neighborhood when she was in White Plains. (CONCRETE IMAGE)
But on most weekends, sometimes for weeks at a time, White would go to the Bronx to go to church with her grandmother. (CONCRETE IMAGE)
"I went to school in White Plains, but I didn't hang out in White Plains," White says of her younger years. (MEANINGFUL QUOTE)
As she entered into middle school and then on to high school, White Plains began to grow more metropolitan. Lots of people moved from the city to her town and commuted to work in New York City, only a half hour south. Businesses also began to flourish in a downtown section that had a city-like feel. But the town still maintained some of its rural charm in certain neighborhoods. (GOOD DEMOGRAPHIC INFO PUTS THE SUBJECT’S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE INTO CONTEXT.)
The kids of White Plains joined into one public high school after being in five different elementary schools and two middle schools. White made close friends in high school, where the arts and basketball and track were popular activities for students.
Even though White went back and forth between the Bronx and White Plains at first, she still calls White Plains home. (NICE ENDING, BRINGS US BACK TO THE THEME. THE PIECE HAS A NARRATIVE “ARC.”)
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Various tips for review writing
1) Don't waste the lead. It should make an assertion about the film. It may sum up in a sentence WHY, specifically, you recommend/don't recommend this video/movie.
2) There should be a nutgraph that gives the reader a clear idea of where you are going in the review. It is the road map to the rest of the review.
3) In the body of the paper, describe some scenes and include a couple of pithy quotes.
4) Sum up the most important points in the movie/video. Write as if for readers who have NOT seen it.
5) A review is NOT a chronological plot summary, although you may briefly sum it up in a sentence or two.
6) As with any article, it should flow well, have well organized paragraphs with strong topic sentences/transitions and a clear, resonant ending.
1) Don't waste the lead. It should make an assertion about the film. It may sum up in a sentence WHY, specifically, you recommend/don't recommend this video/movie.
2) There should be a nutgraph that gives the reader a clear idea of where you are going in the review. It is the road map to the rest of the review.
3) In the body of the paper, describe some scenes and include a couple of pithy quotes.
4) Sum up the most important points in the movie/video. Write as if for readers who have NOT seen it.
5) A review is NOT a chronological plot summary, although you may briefly sum it up in a sentence or two.
6) As with any article, it should flow well, have well organized paragraphs with strong topic sentences/transitions and a clear, resonant ending.
Tips for writing movie reviews, for online publication, video game reviews and a few sample leads from movie reviews I wrote a few years ago.
How to Write a Movie Review: Tips from the University of Chicago
From the BBC
From eopinions.com
Here are some leads from movie reviews I have written:
**How much you like "Happy-Go-Lucky," a British comedy directed by Mike Leigh, depends on how taken you are with Sally Hawkins, the star. As Poppy, she's a kind-hearted single girl living i... more
**So this is how some people live in very big shabby-chic houses in suburban Connecticut. That was what I was thinking as I watched the utterly absorbing and moving "Rachel Getting Married."... more...
** "Pride and Glory" is a fairly predictable entry in the cops-gone-bad genre. While the violence is over the top, the acting is first-rate and it's got enough goo... more...
**"Appaloosa" is a stylish, old fashioned western with a little contemporary humor and an interesting female character. That would be Renée Zellweger's Allie French, a shrewd, not-so-delicate miss w... more...
**With Spike Lee movies, you always know you are in for ambitious, sometimes provocative and yet old-fashioned productions, with sophisticated musical scores, lush cinematography, archetypal characte...
**An "Odyssey" for this age with an unusual heroine, "Trouble the Water" has some of the most dramatic footage of Hurricane Katrina's impact on New Orleans ever recorded. Kimberly... more...
**"American Teen" is packed with so many touching, awkward moments and it's so deftly edited, viewers could be excused for thinking it's a work of fiction - not a documentary. In fact, revi... more...
**Slow-going at first, "Man on Wire" all comes together at the end, when the French adventurer Philippe Petit realizes his dream of walking on a high-wire 1,350 feet above the ground betwee... more... <
**"X-Files: I Want to Believe," a blast-from-the-past of a film based on the long-running, drama-sci fi hybrid TV series, doesn't live up to either the TV show or its earlier big screen inc... more...
**"The Edge of Heaven" gets under the skin like an anxiety nightmare in which the dreamer is trying to make contact with someone but is never quite able to for reasons that seem surmountabl... more...
**A Pixar production, "WALL-E" has all the special computer-generated effects that fans of the animation studio's "Toy Story," "The Incredibles," "Cars" and &q... more...
**Who would have thought that anabolic steroids aren't the Frankensteinish, rage-inducing poison they are usually represented to be? I, for one, assumed that "Bigger, Stronger, Faster," a d... more...
**The audience at Cinemark in Hadley, Friday night, started clapping as soon as the opening notes of the "Sex and the City" theme song sounded. But the song, so beloved by many, quickly cha... more...
**"The Visitor" is nothing like the feel-good movie suggested by the previews, although it's understandable that you might expect a light-hearted film: It tells the story of an aging white ... more...
**"Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" is like a vintage merry-go-round - a whirl of pastel, pretty images and upbeat music, sweet as cotton candy and just as insubstantial. Set in 1939 London,... more...
**Heartbreaking and beautiful, director Julian Schnabel's "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" ("Le Scaphandre et le Papillon") is the ultimate life-affirming movie, and it's a tru... more...
It could be that the enigmatic and quirky "Romance & Cigarettes" - a musical for goodness sake - is best described as director John Turturro's intensely personal vision. So raunchy in... more...
**In medieval morality plays, the bad guy is none other than the devil himself. This also seems to be the case in the jarring, atmospheric "No Country for Old Men." It's far from the most s... more...
How to Write a Movie Review: Tips from the University of Chicago
Five Parts (Paragraphs) of a Movie Review
Opening: Catch the Reader's Attention
Think about how advertisements sell movies: "trailers" show you a few seconds of the movie to get you interested.
When you begin your movie review, make your own "trailer." If you liked the movie, then your trailer should make people want to see it; but if you didn't like it, the trailer should be something that shows why you didn't like it. Don't explain why you liked it or didn't like it; make the reader like or not like the movie by what you describe. Begin your review by retelling an incident or moment from the movie which you think captures the spirit of the movie as you understood it.
Alternative: Begin your review with another kind of story or interesting fact--about one of the star actors, or about the making of the movie, or about the director.
Second Paragraph: Take Care of Business
Near the beginning of the review, you have to tell the reader all the obligatory stuff--the title of the movie, the director, the studio, the main actors, the year it was made (if you watched it on video), the rating. This paragraph tells the reader the things they have to know about the movie. Also, in one sentence or two, you should explain very simply what the movie is all about--not necessarily what happens, but that might work, too, if you can say it in one two sentences.
Third Paragraph: Character and plot summary
What happens in the movie? You shouldn't tell everything that happens--and especially not the ending. But you want to summarize the basic plot of the movie, in more detail than you do in the paragraph above.
One way to do this might be to write a sentence about each main character.
Fourth Paragraph: A Key Moment or Idea
In this paragraph, go into detail about something important that interested you about the movie. If it was a musical, you should say something about the songs. Or if the soundtrack was good, talk about that. Or write more about one character who was really intriguing. Or retell another big moment from the movie and explain why it is important. If you think the "idea" behind a movie was really interesting, explain that idea and talk about it a little bit. In this paragraph, you must go into depth about the movie.
Fifth Paragraph: Evaluate the Movie
Do you recommend it or not? Who will like it (kids or adults)? The most important thing here is that you must also explain why you are making your recommendation.
You must justify your opinion--and that opinion should grow out of what you write in the rest of the review. Give at least two reasons why you liked or didn't like the movie.
From the BBC
The internet is a very different publishing medium from standard print. Less time is spent reading on the web and people have no patience to pause and re-read your work. This means that you must make reviews short, simple and clear.
Web design gurus reckon you should write 50% less for the web and we think that means a normal review should be about 300 words.
Some key points
Use simple sentences (One subject and one verb).
Make it concise.
Try to make each paragraph one short chunk of information.
Avoid drop intros and complex writing structures (keep it linear).
Use strong verbs like "decide" as apposed to "make a decision".
Don't use clever words that might make people pause.
Also think about the layout. Can you break up the text with bullets, quote boxes or subheadings?
Use active sentences
Passive: Thirty three pigs were tested for foot and mouth by vets from the ministry of agriculture. (This is passive because the subject comes first)
Active: Ministry of Agriculture vets tested 33 pigs for food and mouth.
The trick to good writing on the web is to be clever in the text without being clever with the style.
From eopinions.com
How To Write A Video Game Review
Jan 04 '06
The Bottom Line Write like the reader has never heard of the game before.
I’ve been an Advisor in the Games section for nearly a year, and since earning that title I have tried to rate just about ever new video game review. After all this time rating and leaving comments, I thought it would be a good idea to publish my criteria for a Very Helpful review. Consider this my public service announcement to the Gaming community.
Video games are unique in that they provide an interactive experience that differentiates them from watching movies or listening to music. Games require the active participation of the user and you can’t do much else while playing. That creates a level of intimacy between the game and the player. Once you’ve spent enough time playing a particular game, you should have enough experience to write a compelling review of it.
Regardless of the game genre, there are several key elements that you must touch on in the review in order for it to be considered complete. Without the right amount of detail to cover these key things, you most likely will not earn a Very Helpful overall rating.
The key elements of any video game review must cover genre, story, gameplay, graphics, sound, and controls. Often the gameplay and controls go hand in hand. Not all games have a story. Some games incorporate several different genres. The amount of detail you put into your review will differ depending on the type of game. Here’s a breakdown:
Genre
Simply ask yourself, “What kind of game is this?” Is it a sports or racing game? Is it a role playing game? If so, is it turn-based or real time? Is it a first person shooter? Is it a strategy game? There are many different types of games out there, and you should categorize the one you are reviewing. This will help serve as an introduction to the review. Many people browsing reviews may stumble across a game on Ebay and not know anything about it other than a title. If you don’t properly introduce the game, the reader won’t be informed.
Story
Most video games, with the exception of sports of racing titles, have some kind of story. Role playing games often rely on a good story to keep the player interested. Knights of the Old Republic is a good example of this. Often the plot description is enough to tell the reader whether or not the game is serious or childish enough for them. Video games aren’t just for kids.
Gameplay and Controls
How is the game played? This is where you describe the basic way in which you play and whether or not it is any fun. Many games within the same genre have unique playing styles that differentiate them from the competition. For example, both Half-Life and Unreal Tournament are first person shooters, but their gameplay is completely different. Should the player use a mouse and keyboard or the joystick? Did the game have a learning curve? This section is, in my opinion, the most important part of the review.
Graphics and Sound
Your review should address the audio/visual quality of the game. It helps to provide a couple of examples or comparisons to other games, so long as you don’t rely entirely on those comparisons. Is the animation smooth and the colors bright? Did you notice any graphical bugs? A big thing with PC games is to mention how well it runs and briefly describe your computer hardware. Sound effects and music are a big deal in games now, especially with some titles using digital surround sound. I can tell you from personal experience that the Call of Duty games have some of the best sound around. If the game features voice acting, you should tell if it is convincing or cheesy. Many well known actors are lending their voices to games, and you should mention them, if possible.
Conclusion
The best way to write a good review is to consider yourself a prospective gamer who has never seen or heard of the title before. If you were going to buy this game, what would you want to know about it before making the purchase? If you keep that in mind while you write, your review should contain enough detail to properly inform the potential buyer or player if they should invest their money or not bother.
Also remember that it is very important for you to mention whether or not the game is any fun. You can go on and on with technical details of the game and never admit to enjoying it. Sometimes even the dumbest story, lamest graphics, or poor sound can still lead to a very fun game. If you think a game is great or not, tell why. After all, it is a game, and games are supposed to be fun.
Keep playing and writing!
Here are some leads from movie reviews I have written:
**How much you like "Happy-Go-Lucky," a British comedy directed by Mike Leigh, depends on how taken you are with Sally Hawkins, the star. As Poppy, she's a kind-hearted single girl living i... more
**So this is how some people live in very big shabby-chic houses in suburban Connecticut. That was what I was thinking as I watched the utterly absorbing and moving "Rachel Getting Married."... more...
** "Pride and Glory" is a fairly predictable entry in the cops-gone-bad genre. While the violence is over the top, the acting is first-rate and it's got enough goo... more...
**"Appaloosa" is a stylish, old fashioned western with a little contemporary humor and an interesting female character. That would be Renée Zellweger's Allie French, a shrewd, not-so-delicate miss w... more...
**With Spike Lee movies, you always know you are in for ambitious, sometimes provocative and yet old-fashioned productions, with sophisticated musical scores, lush cinematography, archetypal characte...
**An "Odyssey" for this age with an unusual heroine, "Trouble the Water" has some of the most dramatic footage of Hurricane Katrina's impact on New Orleans ever recorded. Kimberly... more...
**"American Teen" is packed with so many touching, awkward moments and it's so deftly edited, viewers could be excused for thinking it's a work of fiction - not a documentary. In fact, revi... more...
**Slow-going at first, "Man on Wire" all comes together at the end, when the French adventurer Philippe Petit realizes his dream of walking on a high-wire 1,350 feet above the ground betwee... more... <
**"X-Files: I Want to Believe," a blast-from-the-past of a film based on the long-running, drama-sci fi hybrid TV series, doesn't live up to either the TV show or its earlier big screen inc... more...
**"The Edge of Heaven" gets under the skin like an anxiety nightmare in which the dreamer is trying to make contact with someone but is never quite able to for reasons that seem surmountabl... more...
**A Pixar production, "WALL-E" has all the special computer-generated effects that fans of the animation studio's "Toy Story," "The Incredibles," "Cars" and &q... more...
**Who would have thought that anabolic steroids aren't the Frankensteinish, rage-inducing poison they are usually represented to be? I, for one, assumed that "Bigger, Stronger, Faster," a d... more...
**The audience at Cinemark in Hadley, Friday night, started clapping as soon as the opening notes of the "Sex and the City" theme song sounded. But the song, so beloved by many, quickly cha... more...
**"The Visitor" is nothing like the feel-good movie suggested by the previews, although it's understandable that you might expect a light-hearted film: It tells the story of an aging white ... more...
**"Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" is like a vintage merry-go-round - a whirl of pastel, pretty images and upbeat music, sweet as cotton candy and just as insubstantial. Set in 1939 London,... more...
**Heartbreaking and beautiful, director Julian Schnabel's "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" ("Le Scaphandre et le Papillon") is the ultimate life-affirming movie, and it's a tru... more...
It could be that the enigmatic and quirky "Romance & Cigarettes" - a musical for goodness sake - is best described as director John Turturro's intensely personal vision. So raunchy in... more...
**In medieval morality plays, the bad guy is none other than the devil himself. This also seems to be the case in the jarring, atmospheric "No Country for Old Men." It's far from the most s... more...
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Worksheet for chapters on accidents, obituaries and courts
Chapter 18 Accidents and Disasters
1) If vehicle A hit vehicle B according the accident report by police, driver A is clearly at fault and the news story should say so. True or False and why?
2) Eyewitness accounts of an airplane accident by people on the ground are notoriously unreliable, according to the book. True or False
3) When do reporters use the word "disaster"?
4) An elderly man crashed a $50,000 Porsche into a $500,000 statue in the center of town, destroying it, and he was killed. What is the most important detail that you should lead the story with?
Chapter 19 Obituaries
5) Should the reporter approach some stories/obituaries with the intention of writing routinely?
6) Which of the following information is required in all obituaries? A) name, age, occupation and address of deceased B) Date and place of death C) Cause of death D) Date of birth and birthplace E) Survivors in the immediate family F) Friends G) Pets H) Memberships, military service I) Awards and achievements J) Height and weight K) funeral arrangements L) Where to send donations in the deceased's honor.
7)Where does the reporter gather material for the obituary?
8) True of False: Obituaries are one of the most if not the most widely read -- and with greater attention to detail -- sections of the newspaper.
9) How does the manner in which the subject died influence how the obituary is written (371)?
10) Does an obituary have a theme?
11) Should embarrassing material be omitted from an obituary?
Chapter 21 Courts
12) True or False: There are two judicial systems: state and federal
13) True or False: Key differences between a criminal and civil trial is that the accused must be found be guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and the verdict must be unanimous in a CRIMINAL l trial but in a CIVIL trial, which involves damages and contracts, the likelihood of the defendant's liability is at issue and only 9 of 12 jurors must agree on the verdict.
14) What's an arraignment?
15) What's an indictment?
16) The lawyers for the prosecution and defense can reject potential jurors based on their sex or race. True or False?
Monday, February 27, 2012
UPDATED schedule - SPRING 2012
FEB 27 FEATURE PITCH.
ATTEND LECTURE --
DUE WED/FEb 29 : 1) EVERYBODY WRITE 350 words about the lecture in the format of a speech paper and post it on your joint blogs.
2) Turn in completed worksheet
3) Have read Chapter 21 on Courts
WED/Feb 29 -- Short class. Discuss lecture and worksheet; work on joint blogs
MAR 5 FINAL DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT)
Visitor to class
Review for QUIZ
DUE WED/MAR 7 : Have read Chaps 11 on layerd reporting and 14 on sources and completed worksheet
Have written 350 words on class visitor (Write it like a short article -- with a good lead!)
MAR 7 MID-TERM QUIZ
Discuss Chap. 11 and 14.
Turn in pieces about class visitor
MAR 12 FIRST DRAFT FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE.
Class to attend lecture by author Joe McGinnis
DUE WED/MARCH 14: 350 words about Joe McGinnis talk
MAR 14 Mid-semester blog presentations
Discuss issue ideas, experts. In-class work on blogs. NEXT: Issue pitch
*************************************NO CLASS week of MARCH 19 – SPRING BREAK ************************************
MAR 26 Issue pitch.
MAR 28 In-class work on Issue papers. NEXT: read Chap 20 on police.
APRIL 2 Discuss Police chapter. In-class work on issue, blog. Next: read Chaps. 26 on Taste in Journalism and 27 on Morality.
APRIL 4 FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE. Discuss Chapters 26 and 27
APRIL 9 . In-class work on Issue paper.
APRIL 11 FIRST DRAFT ISSUE (with four voices, two of whom are "experts") due. PEER EDIT NEXT: Read Chaps. 24 and 25 on Government and Reporters and the Law.
APRIL 16 – NO CLASS
APRIL 18 ISSUE (1,000 words INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE Discuss Open Meeting, definitions of slander etc.;
APRIL 23 Discuss Chapters 24 and 25, review writing. END OF SEMESTER QUIZ
APRIL 25 Watch film and write REVIEW (10 percent of final grade) on deadline, due at end of class.
MAY 1 LAST DAY OF CLASS/RECAP
ATTEND LECTURE --
DUE WED/FEb 29 : 1) EVERYBODY WRITE 350 words about the lecture in the format of a speech paper and post it on your joint blogs.
2) Turn in completed worksheet
3) Have read Chapter 21 on Courts
WED/Feb 29 -- Short class. Discuss lecture and worksheet; work on joint blogs
MAR 5 FINAL DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT)
Visitor to class
Review for QUIZ
DUE WED/MAR 7 : Have read Chaps 11 on layerd reporting and 14 on sources and completed worksheet
Have written 350 words on class visitor (Write it like a short article -- with a good lead!)
MAR 7 MID-TERM QUIZ
Discuss Chap. 11 and 14.
Turn in pieces about class visitor
MAR 12 FIRST DRAFT FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE.
Class to attend lecture by author Joe McGinnis
DUE WED/MARCH 14: 350 words about Joe McGinnis talk
MAR 14 Mid-semester blog presentations
Discuss issue ideas, experts. In-class work on blogs. NEXT: Issue pitch
*************************************NO CLASS week of MARCH 19 – SPRING BREAK ************************************
MAR 26 Issue pitch.
MAR 28 In-class work on Issue papers. NEXT: read Chap 20 on police.
APRIL 2 Discuss Police chapter. In-class work on issue, blog. Next: read Chaps. 26 on Taste in Journalism and 27 on Morality.
APRIL 4 FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE. Discuss Chapters 26 and 27
APRIL 9 . In-class work on Issue paper.
APRIL 11 FIRST DRAFT ISSUE (with four voices, two of whom are "experts") due. PEER EDIT NEXT: Read Chaps. 24 and 25 on Government and Reporters and the Law.
APRIL 16 – NO CLASS
APRIL 18 ISSUE (1,000 words INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE Discuss Open Meeting, definitions of slander etc.;
APRIL 23 Discuss Chapters 24 and 25, review writing. END OF SEMESTER QUIZ
APRIL 25 Watch film and write REVIEW (10 percent of final grade) on deadline, due at end of class.
MAY 1 LAST DAY OF CLASS/RECAP
Articles and AP Tip Schedule - Spring 2012
FEB 27 --
FEB 29 -- Karissa
MARCH 5 -- (reporter visits)
MARCH 7 -- Ryan
MARCH 12 -- (attend lecture)
MARCH 14 - - Justin
SPRING BREAK
MARCH 26 -- Lizzy
MARCH 28 -- Anjulei
APRIL 2 -- Liza
APRIL 4 -- Samantha
APRIL 9 -- Rachel
APRIL 11 -- Jess
APRIL 16 -- NO CLASS
APRIL 18 - Chris, Steve
APRIL 23 -- Anjulei
APRIL 25 -- Robby
FEB 29 -- Karissa
MARCH 5 -- (reporter visits)
MARCH 7 -- Ryan
MARCH 12 -- (attend lecture)
MARCH 14 - - Justin
SPRING BREAK
MARCH 26 -- Lizzy
MARCH 28 -- Anjulei
APRIL 2 -- Liza
APRIL 4 -- Samantha
APRIL 9 -- Rachel
APRIL 11 -- Jess
APRIL 16 -- NO CLASS
APRIL 18 - Chris, Steve
APRIL 23 -- Anjulei
APRIL 25 -- Robby
Monday, February 13, 2012
Speech paper tips/In-class blog assignment
Speech paper tips:
- Lead should do more than just say the event occurred; should be direct and reader friendly
- Double- and triple-check name spellings! It’s Rachael with an extra A!
- AP style is to NOT capitalize academic subjects and job titles unless the title comes RIGHT before the job holder’s name
- In general, write in past tense
- News stories do NOT have essay-style conclusions
- Keep your opinions/judgments out of the story. Don’t editorialize or make grand claims
In-class blog assignment: JOURN 300/Interviewing for information, meaningful content and quoteworthy quotes
Assignment: Interview a classmate about his or her home town. Get a basic feel for the city/town. For instance, how big approximately? Urban or rural? What is it known for? How do people there describe it? How is it described by outsiders?
Make it personal. Ask your subject to recall a moment he or she may recall when he/she reflected on the nature of the town. Did he or she always want to leave there? Does he/she want to go back?
Identify some QUOTEWORTHY quotes. Don’t just throw the quotes in. INTRODUCE them. Look for specific, concrete, colorful details. AVOID clichés. Think about every word. Think about the tone etc.
Spell check. Proofread. Post it on the class blog.
Example from a past class:
Moving from the Bronx to White Plains, NY at age 5, Shamique White was surprised at how small her new town was. (DOESN’T JUST SAY THE SUBJECT IS FROM WHATEVER CITY/TOWN BUT ESTABLISHES THE THEME OF THE PIECE, WHICH IS ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE OF MOVING FROM A BIG CITY TO A MORE SUBURBAN COMMUNITY/INTRODUCES THE FOLLOWING QUOTE.)
"I called it a ghost town," she said.(KEEP PARAGRAPHS SHORT FOR READABILITY AND IMPACT.
When she was young, White would spend her summer days playing at the park down the street from her home with other kids from her neighborhood when she was in White Plains. (CONCRETE IMAGE)
But on most weekends, sometimes for weeks at a time, White would go to the Bronx to go to church with her grandmother. (CONCRETE IMAGE)
"I went to school in White Plains, but I didn't hang out in White Plains," White says of her younger years. (MEANINGFUL QUOTE)
As she entered into middle school and then on to high school, White Plains began to grow more metropolitan. Lots of people moved from the city to her town and commuted to work in New York City, only a half hour south. Businesses also began to flourish in a downtown section that had a city-like feel. But the town still maintained some of its rural charm in certain neighborhoods. (GOOD DEMOGRAPHIC INFO PUTS THE SUBJECT’S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE INTO CONTEXT.)
The kids of White Plains joined into one public high school after being in five different elementary schools and two middle schools. White made close friends in high school, where the arts and basketball and track were popular activities for students.
Even though White went back and forth between the Bronx and White Plains at first, she still calls White Plains home. (NICE ENDING, BRINGS US BACK TO THE THEME. THE PIECE HAS A NARRATIVE “ARC.”)
- Lead should do more than just say the event occurred; should be direct and reader friendly
- Double- and triple-check name spellings! It’s Rachael with an extra A!
- AP style is to NOT capitalize academic subjects and job titles unless the title comes RIGHT before the job holder’s name
- In general, write in past tense
- News stories do NOT have essay-style conclusions
- Keep your opinions/judgments out of the story. Don’t editorialize or make grand claims
In-class blog assignment: JOURN 300/Interviewing for information, meaningful content and quoteworthy quotes
Assignment: Interview a classmate about his or her home town. Get a basic feel for the city/town. For instance, how big approximately? Urban or rural? What is it known for? How do people there describe it? How is it described by outsiders?
Make it personal. Ask your subject to recall a moment he or she may recall when he/she reflected on the nature of the town. Did he or she always want to leave there? Does he/she want to go back?
Identify some QUOTEWORTHY quotes. Don’t just throw the quotes in. INTRODUCE them. Look for specific, concrete, colorful details. AVOID clichés. Think about every word. Think about the tone etc.
Spell check. Proofread. Post it on the class blog.
Example from a past class:
Moving from the Bronx to White Plains, NY at age 5, Shamique White was surprised at how small her new town was. (DOESN’T JUST SAY THE SUBJECT IS FROM WHATEVER CITY/TOWN BUT ESTABLISHES THE THEME OF THE PIECE, WHICH IS ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE OF MOVING FROM A BIG CITY TO A MORE SUBURBAN COMMUNITY/INTRODUCES THE FOLLOWING QUOTE.)
"I called it a ghost town," she said.(KEEP PARAGRAPHS SHORT FOR READABILITY AND IMPACT.
When she was young, White would spend her summer days playing at the park down the street from her home with other kids from her neighborhood when she was in White Plains. (CONCRETE IMAGE)
But on most weekends, sometimes for weeks at a time, White would go to the Bronx to go to church with her grandmother. (CONCRETE IMAGE)
"I went to school in White Plains, but I didn't hang out in White Plains," White says of her younger years. (MEANINGFUL QUOTE)
As she entered into middle school and then on to high school, White Plains began to grow more metropolitan. Lots of people moved from the city to her town and commuted to work in New York City, only a half hour south. Businesses also began to flourish in a downtown section that had a city-like feel. But the town still maintained some of its rural charm in certain neighborhoods. (GOOD DEMOGRAPHIC INFO PUTS THE SUBJECT’S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE INTO CONTEXT.)
The kids of White Plains joined into one public high school after being in five different elementary schools and two middle schools. White made close friends in high school, where the arts and basketball and track were popular activities for students.
Even though White went back and forth between the Bronx and White Plains at first, she still calls White Plains home. (NICE ENDING, BRINGS US BACK TO THE THEME. THE PIECE HAS A NARRATIVE “ARC.”)
Thursday, February 9, 2012
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