Journ 300: A UMass Journalism Newswriting and Reporting blog: December 2014

JOURN 300/FALL 2014 - Some Takeaways

Sept. 16 talks by Kevin Riley and Alpinist editor Katie Ives:

You can take reporting and writing skills in vastly different directions – toward literary fiction that is supported through readers’ subscriptions or in the service of providing multimedia content for websites/live presentations and events.
Follow your passion. If you write really well (or take photos, videos etc) about a subject you are passionate about, people will notice. Readers liked Alpinist's content so much that when the magazine went out of business, they successfully agitated to bring it back

Articles/AP tips

News stories engage readers and have an impact for different reasons, including:
Timeliness (incidents at UMass),
Widespread impact (the recent record-breaking snowstorm),
Prominence of the subject (Jeter's new website),
Emotional or geographical proximity (the father who runs the marathon with his disabled son),
Conflict (Islamic State stories),
The unusual or quirky (surprise births at the zoo, aggressive hedgehog),
Currency and necessity (stories about domestic violence, sexual assault, racism, injustice)

Blog and video interviews

Speech story

Sums up for the reader the speaker's most important points, getting to the "heart"/major theme of the presentation in the lead.
Interviewing other people for their reactions adds perspective

Deadline assignment

Think about your subject in advance and come up with questions that will elicit responses with concrete, specific information.
Sometimes, it's easier to start a conversation when you are speaking with a group of people.
Photos add a lot

Obituaries

They're closely read! Precision and accuracy is key. What to include is a matter of good judgment. Reporters don't use euphemisms, although a family member writing an obituary might.

Profile

The reader should feel he or she has gotten an understanding of what makes your subject "tick." Include a brief physical description, family, occupation, education, hobbies etc
Don't write a hagiography!

Feature

Issue

Film Analysis

Weave analysis and your reaction with a summary
Analyze how the video narrative was "constructed." How does the sequence of events in which is the story is told, choice of interviewees, videography, lighting, music etc advance the filmmaker's message/themes?

"Judging Jewell"

The press must exert the highest standards for accuracy, objectivity and and attribution. Thoroughly fact-check. The stakes are high!
Beware of stereotyping!

"Reporter"

If the press doesn't "bear witness" to and expose injustices in the world, who will?
The Rokia Principle: A detailed, believable story of one person has more impact upon readers and viewers than the story of something that affects a million people, because the latter is difficult to fully comprehend

ADA Townsend visit

How the press covers a criminal case can be a factor in the resolution of a case. For one example, if coverage of a case has been "sensational," a judge can move the venue of a trial to another jurisdiction so that prospective jurors are not considered to be potentially "biased" as a result of having been exposed to the media reports.
Prosecutors are prohibited from saying anything to the press or public outside the courtroom that could potentially compromise a defendant's right to a fair trial.

Channel 40 reporter/anchor Shakala Alvaranga visit

To be successful: work hard and "go the extra mile," be a team player, resist the temptation to complain. Be prepared!

Amherst PD Det. Reardon

Police are required to release public information to the press, but some information cannot be released if it would violate a victim's or juvenile's privacy or could compromise an ongoing case.
Members of the public have the right to videotape police -- as long as they don't interfere with the officer doing his or her job.

Journ 300: A UMass Journalism Newswriting and Reporting blog