Monday, September 25, 2017

Notes from Kate Fagan's Sept. 21 talk at UMass

    Kate Fagan, signing copies of her book "What Made Maddy Run."

Some notes from Kate Fagan's talk:

Ask questions! When she was a beat reporter for the Philadelphia 76ers, they would have press conferences and she never asked asked questions.

Rather than show the video about Madison Holleran, which Fagan now has criticisms of,  she summed up the story it tells about Holleran a star athlete who took her own life. The headlines were along the lines of "Star Athlete Jumps to Death Over Grades," but Fagan feels there were other angles that were not fully explored, including the transition from high school to college and the conflict over quitting.

Fagan  said she wanted to convey three points, especially, during her talk: 1) The transition to college can be difficult  "It's like going to camp for the first time," she said. To a freshman, it can look like everybody else is doing much better than you are. At UPenn, where Holleran went to college, students speak of "Penn face," a kind of poker face that suggests to other people that "It's all coming easy." 
Looking at other people's carefully selected Instagram and Facebook photos can exacerbate this feeling that other people are doing much better. "I still feel left out when I look at Instagram," Fagan said.

2) Holleran's text messages did not provide much insight, because Holleran apparently deliberately tried to undercut any messages that she was struggling with emoji that seemed to say "re-interpret this message." Fagan had saved the text messages to last when she was looking at Holleran's computer, which Holleran's parents had allowed her to have access to for a weekend. But, "what struck" me, Fagan said, "was the lack of insight" she got from the messages. "The lack of insight was insightful."

3) We don't know how to talk about mental health in this country. The person who wakes up generally happy is lucky, but "In this country there's an attitude that some people struggle with mental health and some people are great." This isn't the case, Fagan said. Most people will probably have a mental health struggle sometime in his/her life. 
College can be more like climbing a tree than a ladder,  if you're not sure of the direction you want to go. This can be confusing, and if a student has an issue with anxiety or depression, as Holleran did, it can trigger a struggle.  "It's been pretty eye-opening how lucky I am that when I first wake up I'm pretty happy," Fagan said. 

Other points:


Quitting: Holleran was talked out of quitting the track team, and at the heart of her letter about wanting to quit, "was clearly the idea that she would would be a failure" if she did. Fagan said.
Fagan had wanted to quit playing basketball when she was in college but was similarly talked out of it. What ultimately helped Fagan, she said, was to tell her coach that she did not like the style of coaching that made Fagan the focus of criticisms aimed at the team, in general. Fagan explained to the coach that she responded best to praise and liked to be the "unsung hero."

Perfectionism: Fagan cited a quote "Notice how close perfection ia to despair." "That resonates with me," Fagan said. 

The hardest part about writing the book: "I never met Madison Holleran and and trying to feel authoritative about someone you built as a hologram -- I don't know if I'm right." How can Fagan ever really know what went on in Holleran's mind? While writing the book, Fagan had a recurring dream that she would see Holleran at a coffee shop, but when Fagan tried to approach her, she would disappear out a back door. 

There are rules about writing about suicide and once Fagan found out what they were she didn't like them. (There's a chapter in her book about them.) 
Now, Fagan wishes she had written more about the tension when talking about suicide between A) speaking of it as thought it is either predetermined that a person who wants to commit suicide will, and B) finding that someone is to blame or that "someone missed something."

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Thursday, September 14, 2017

Interviews Fall 2017

Interviewing tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmHjXA8QtfY
Mini-profile example: https://journ300.blogspot.com/2017/02/mini-profile-example.html
Blog post about Kate Fagan 2015 visit to UMass: https://journ300.blogspot.com/2015/10/espns-kate-fagan-at-umass.html

Parker's group:




Kaitlin and Lyndsey:  https://youtu.be/f3mJ5g5qg1o

Tyler and Kaitlyn: https://youtu.be/iPN1DlO2gM8


____________________

What's coming up:

SEPT 14  - Analyze interviewing videos, discuss elements of a good mini-profile NEXT:Write a mini-profile of a classmate based on interview and follow-up questions. Include a photo that adds value to your story, for example more information, details or illustration. SEE MINI-PROFILE TIPS BELOW

 NEXT: Read Chapter 4 on Quotations and Attributions

SEPT 19: Continue to analyze  interviewing videos, if not finished.  Discuss chapters, how to write a speech story. If time, start blogs.
  • TURN IN HARD COPY OF FIRST ASSIGNMENT: 400-500 word written piece with photo based on your interview of a classmate. (5 percent of final grade) 
  • NEXT: READ: Chapter 14 on Speeches, News Conferences and Meetings
  • NEXT: Write a brief profile pitch to present in class Thursday Sept. 26. Tell us who you plan to write about, what the angle likely will be, who else you can interview about your subject. It should be about a local person and NOT a family member or friend.)
SEPT 21 ******update: ATTEND Kate Fagan event************ 4-6 p.m., Massachusetts Room, Mullins Center


SEPT 26 SPEECH PAPER on Kate Fagan event DUE (10 percent of grade) See Speech Paper Essentials below
  • Present PROFILE PITCH
  • NEXT:  Bring in to peer edit next class a 500-word, written “pre-first draft” profile with lead, nutgraph and quote(s). 
  • Discuss feature stories. 
SEPT 28   *****update: 
  • PEER EDIT hard copies of profile  pre-first drafts.
  • NEXT: Read Chap. 9 on Writing to be Read
( POSTPONED until OCT 5: In-class, deadline writing assignment: In your groups, interview 2-4 people EACH on campus on subject TBA; write 500 word story on-deadline with quotes from each of your sources. (5 percent of total grade)

OCT 5 -  FIRST DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) 
In-class, deadline writing assignment: In pairs, interview 4 people on campus on subject TBA; write 500 word story on-deadline with quotes from each of your sources. (5 percent of total grade)
  • NEXT: Read Chapter 10 on Alternatives to the Inverted Pyramid
  • NEXT: Write Feature Pitch for next class. 

OCT 10: NO CLASS/FOLLOW MONDAY SCHEDULE

___________________________

Mini-profile assignment (500 words with photo(s))

  • The lead should make a POINT about your subject. (She LOVES fashion/ Being an EMT wasn't always rewarding/ She was always nervous about traveling but realized it was just as life-changing as people told her it would be when she went to Paris.) 
  • Nutgraph should sum up the points you'll make in the piece. (He had enough negative experiences to learn what the apparently inevitable drawbacks of the job are, but the positive experiences were unforgettable.) 
  • Step back high in the story and give us some facts about your subject. Where he or she is from, some family details, how or why he/she came to UMass. Then "unpack" the points you made in the nutgraph by explaining in greater details, using examples and quote from your subject. Pay attention to your topic sentences/transitions. 
  • Don't forget to include a photo(s)!



Some profile tips:

 The reader wants to know what makes your subject unique or interesting.  SHOW vs TELL us that he or she is unique.

 For instance, the UMass "omelet lady," who students have written about, is unique, because she 1) interacts with the students so closely, 2) keeps up a steady stream of banter, which not all DC employees do and 3) conveys a strong sense of pride in her job. 

· Provide examples that illustrate/SHOW the qualities you think make your subject interesting. 

So, for example, SHOW the omelet lady talking to a particular student at a particular time about a particular subject. Don’t just sum up what she USUALLY talks about, or if you do ALSO add a PARTICULAR example. How do you show she is proud of her job? Ask her why she is. Mention that she has a Facebook page. (It turns out her husband started the FB page; interview him! Ask him if she has always been so invested in all of her jobs. Have them met a lot of people through her job? What does she say about it to him? Has she told him of any particularly memorable things that happened on the job? )

· Once you’ve established that this person is unique or otherwise interesting, ask questions about his or her background to discover things that LED to him/her being the interesting person he/she is. 

For instance, a basketball player SC is shown in his room amid a LOT of clothes, but it is apparent he keeps all his clothes well organized and that he takes care of them. *Ask him WHY he thinks he is neat? *Were his parents neat? *What did they do? *What kind of a house did he grow up in? *Does he value orderliness? If so, does he think it is because the value of it was ingrained in his childhood? Or is he neat because his childhood was kind of chaotic, for instance? *Ask him who has been a big influence in his life and why? *Can he remember any particular instances of this person helping or guiding him or any particular advice this person offered him? You don’t have to go on at great length about his in the piece. Just a couple of sentences would help us “picture” the subject and where he came from.

· Paint a multi-dimensional picture of your subject that goes beyond the main thing you’re concentrating on in the piece/the "angle."

You can do this by asking "evergreen questions." For instance, AM is a lacrosse coach at UMass where she once was a player. She is well-respected by her players for her strong work ethic. Ask what else she does besides lacrosse? Does she bring this strong work ethic to everything she does, would she say? (Maybe she’ll say she’s got a dog, but she’s totally undisciplined when it comes to training her dog and she lets the dog run all over the house and knock things over, for instance.) Where does she think she got this strong work ethic she brings to coaching lacrosse? When did she first start playing lacrosse? Was it her first choice of a sport to play? Did someone encourage her? How? 
____________________________________

SPEECH PAPER ESSENTIALS (750 words)


1) The lead should get to the heart of the event -- NOT just say it occurred.

2) Include in the first few sentences of the story A)what the occasion was, B)who sponsored it, C) where it was held and –D) how many attended. Include the title if there is one. It’s not necessarily to cram in every detail, such as what time it was held.

3) Nutgraph: This takes the reader beyond the lead and sums up in a few sentences the major points the speaker made or the basic gist of his/her argument/case/presentation. It’s a roadmap to the rest of the story. Can be combined with the paragraph that includes the title, name of occasion etc.

4) Body of story: Take the reader through the points that the speaker made in support of his or her case/main point/argument/presentation. Each paragraph should have a strong topic sentence. Provide specific examples and direct quotes.

5) Interview 3-4 people who attended for their reaction/thoughts. Don’t forget to include this at the end of your paper!

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Thursday, September 7, 2017

News Story Standards and Revising the News Feature


These are some standards used in evaluating your work: quality of the lead and nutgraph, solid information and sources, appropriate tone, grammar, AP style, "quote worthy" quotes with proper attribution and clarity. Click on photos below to enlarge. 

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Friday, September 1, 2017

Fall 2017 Syllabus

FALL  2017 
JOURN 300/CAREY — Tuesday/Thursday 4 – 6 p.m. - Integrative Learning Center S413
Open to sophomore, junior and senior journalism majors. Required for major. Fulfills junior year writing requirement.

Description and Learning objectives: Journalism 300 is a hands-on, nuts-and-bolts news writing and reporting class. Upon completion, you should be able to:
• Determine what is news
• Identify and pitch a good story
• Report and conduct interviews
• Use the news story "formula," especially leads and nutgraphs
• Have an understanding of the kinds of stories there are and how to tell them
• Write original, logically organized narratives free from clichés, euphemisms and unexamined assumptions
• Edit your peers’ pieces according to news writing standards
• Uphold journalistic principles of fairness, accuracy, telling the truth and serving the public good

Email me anytime at maryelizacarey@gmail.com, 413-588-4274 (cell)

Syllabus, schedule and assignments are posted on the class blog: Journ300.blogspot.com

REQUIRED TEXT: News Reporting and Writing, The Missouri Group 12th Edition - Bedford/St. Martin's
AP Stylebook

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED READING
AP Style Guide online, assigned readings TBA and daily newspapers and news magazines. Try to scan online and/or in print at least one of the local newspapers including the Collegian, Daily Hampshire Gazette or Springfield Republican every day. Each class, one or more students will bring in a newspaper article and comment on news coverage, structure, style, choice of stories or contrast between coverage.Being conversant with what is in the news is essential to writing it.

GRADES
Grades are based on timely and thoughtful completion of in-class and out-of-class writing assignments and quizzes, multi-media blog, attendance and in-class participation. Writing criteria include news judgment, clarity of writing, grammar, accuracy, organization, spelling, conciseness, use of AP style, and meeting deadlines. Although the big picture things like news judgment and solid reporting are important, misspelling names and other seemingly minor shortcomings can ruin a story and your reputation, so they will count. Numerical equivalent of grades: A=95, A-=92, A-/B+ =90, B+88 etc.  Explanation of how grades are calculated is in the course schedule/calendar.

ATTENDANCE
Not making appointments or missing the action will also undermine your career and the class. You MUST tell me BEFORE class if you are going to be absent for a legitimate reason. (I read my e-mail regularly and you can call my cell anytime.) Otherwise you will receive zeroes for the day’s assignments. Please do not be late or leave early. More than three absences and/or repeatedly being late or leaving early will result in a significantly lowered final grade, with the grade being lowered by a full half grade for each absence over three. CELL PHONE RINGERS MUST BE TURNED OFF. NO TAPING WITHOUT ASKING FIRST. NO READING ONLINE DURING CLASS!

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
In-class writing assignments usually won’t be longer than 2-3 typewritten pages. Most major assignments are 1,000 words or 4 pages. First drafts must be in turned in on-time for credit. Not turning in a first draft or turning in an insufficiently complete first draft will result in a zero for the first draft and a significantly lower final draft grade. Among your assignments are a profile, feature, coverage of a speech, issue piece, deadline assignments, blog, minor assignments, quizzes.

HONESTY

Any instance of plagiarism or any other form of cheating is cause for course failure.

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Fall 2017 Schedule

FALL  2017 Schedule *****updated*****

JOURN 300/CAREY — Tuesday/Thursday 4 – 6 p.m. - Integrative Learning Center S413
This is a tentative schedule of topics, assignments and assignment deadlines subject to revision to accommodate the news, campus goings-on that we’ll attend and classroom visitors. Check Moodle and the blog (Journ300.blogspot.com) for updates and changes. Note: Each day two or more students will bring in an article to discuss and share an AP Style tip. One person will also bring in a news quiz. We’ll develop a schedule for these. Note that at the end of this schedule is a list of assignments and percentage of final grade each is worth. 

SEPT 5 - Introduction - discuss leads, effective interviewing, AP Style and (briefly) the nutgraph. Email to me
at maryelizacarey@gmail.com TONIGHT 500 words about the first day of class. Should have a good lead and at least one direct quotation.
FOR NEXT CLASS: To hand in next class, a WRITTEN list of three potential speeches/presentations we can visit on campus, ASAP in the next couple of weeks preferably during class time. (We will be writing the 650-word SPEECH paper about whichever speech we attend.) In the written list that you bring into class on Thursday, include 1) who is giving the speech and 2) the topic, where/when it is being held, a brief couple of sentences of background information about the speaker and, if possible, the topic. We’ll pick one of the speeches you’ve identified to attend. NEXT: Read Chapter 8 on the Inverted Pyramid (and the LEAD)
SEPT 7 - The Lead and the Nutgraph Review leads, chapters, determine where and when we can go to a speech; determine which classmate you will interview on what subject and prepare questions. NEXT: Read Chapter 3 on interviewing

SEPT 12 - The Interview: In groups of 3-4, one student will interview another on a subject of his/her choice while a third student videotapes it using a phone or camera. Keep it around 3 minutes or under. We’ll upload them to YouTube and analyze them. (Here are some interviewing tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmHjXA8QtfY)

SEPT 14  - Analyze interviewing videos, discuss elements of a good mini-profile NEXT:Write a mini-profile of a classmate based on interview and follow-up questions. Include a photo that adds value to your story, for example more information, details or illustration. NEXT: Read Chapter 4 on Quotations and Attributions

SEPT 19: Continue to analyze  interviewing videos, if not finished.  Discuss chapters, how to write a speech story. If time, start blogs.
  • TURN IN HARD COPY OF FIRST ASSIGNMENT: 400-500 written piece with photo based on your interview of a classmate. (5 percent of final grade) 
  • NEXT: READ: Chapter 14 on Speeches, News Conferences and Meetings
  • NEXT: Write a brief profile pitch to present in class Thursday Sept. 26. Tell us who you plan to write about, what the angle likely will be, who else you can interview about your subject. It should be about a local person and NOT a family member or friend.)
SEPT 21 ******update: ATTEND Kate Fagan event************ 4-6 p.m., Massachusetts Room, Mullins Center


 SEPT 26 SPEECH PAPER on Kate Fagan event DUE (10 percent of grade)
  • Present PROFILE PITCH
  • NEXT:  Bring in to peer edit next class a 500-word, written “pre-first draft” profile with lead, nutgraph and quote(s). 
  • Discuss feature stories. 
SEPT 28   *****update: 
  • PEER EDIT hard copies of profile  pre-first drafts.
  • NEXT: Read Chap. 9 on Writing to be Read
OCT 3: ****update**** In-class, deadline writing assignment: In your groups, interview 2-4 people EACH on campus on subject TBA; write 500 word story on-deadline with quotes from each of your sources and photos with cutlines. (5 percent of total grade)

OCT 5 -  FIRST DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) Peer edit, work on blogs.
  • NEXT: Read Chapter 10 on Alternatives to the Inverted Pyramid
  • NEXT: Write Feature Pitch for next class. 

OCT 10: NO CLASS/FOLLOW MONDAY SCHEDULE

OCT 12 ****update: visit from UMass All Star/Greenfield Recorder reporter Aviva Luttrell****
  • FEATURE PITCH 
  • If time, work on blogs. 
  • NEXT: write 500-word feature PRE-first draft to peer edit next class. 

OCT 17  Peer edit PRE-first draft Feature stories. 
OCT 19  In-class deadline assignment/(5 percent of total grade) 

OCT 24  FINAL DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT, 10 percent of total grade)  
  • REVIEW FOR MID-TERM on readings, class presentations and common Ap Style points
  • In-class work on features.
OCT 26 

  • MID-TERM
  • Discuss potential Issue paper topics & interviews with 2-3 "experts." NEXT: Read Chapter 5 on Gathering and Verifying Information

OCT 31 
  • Discuss mid-term answers
  • Work on features and blogs 
NOV 2 Massachusetts Open Meeting Law 
  • FIRST DRAFT FEATURE DUE (1,000) words. 
  • Firm up issue story ideas. 
  • NEXT: Write issue pitch to present next class. 
  • NEXT: Read Chapter 19 on Media Law

NOV 7  Issue pitch. 
  • WRITE: 500-word Issue PRE-First Draft to peer edit next class. 
NOV 9 Peer edit Issue pre-first drafts. 
  • Final FEATURE DUE (1,000 words, 15 percent of total grade)

NOV 14 FIRST DRAFT ISSUE (1,000 words with 4 voices, 2 of whom are "experts") due. 
  • Discuss Massachusetts Open Meeting Law.
  • NEXT: Read Chapter 20 on Media Ethics
NOV 16  Possible In-class deadline assignment

NO CLASS NOV 21 and 23/ THANKSGIVING BREAK

NOV 28 FINAL ISSUE PAPER DUE. (1,000 words 20 percent of total grade) 
  • Review for FINAL QUIZ. 

NOV 30 END OF SEMESTER QUIZ
  • Discuss summary/analysis writing. 

DEC 5 In-class deadline assignment: Watch film and write ANALYSIS (10 percent of final grade) on deadline, due at end of class.
DEC 7 - Wrap-up, finish work on group blogs

DEC 12  LAST DAY OF CLASS/ recap/ Final blogs presentations

**********GRADED ASSIGNMENTS AND FINAL GRADE CALCULATION ***********

Articles/AP tips/worksheets/blogs 5 percent – You will be responsible for all information on the chapter worksheets posted on the blog. Several times a semester you will present an article to the class as well as an AP Tip. A written summary of these is due on the day you present them. Classmates will create blogs in Wordpress. 

Interviews with your classmate (video and written) 5 percent – You will interview a classmate and the class will analyze a videotape of the interview. A short written piece is due using material from the interview and other reporting. 

Speech paper – 10 percent – A well-organized 650-750-word speech story based on a presentation that the class attends, including comments from 2-3 audience members. Must have a strong lead, nutgraph and direct quotes from the speaker. 

Deadline assignment 1– 5 percent – Pairs of classmates will conduct interviews on campus on a topic to be determined and write a 600 word piece with photos on deadline. Due by the end of class. 

Deadline assignment 2– 5 percent – Topic TBA. Due by the end of class.

Profile – 10 percent – A well-researched, multi-voice, 1000-word profile of a local person. Mandatory pre-first draft and first draft in addition to the final draft.

Midterm – 5 percent - Covers chapters and other readings, class discussions and common AP Style points

Feature – 15 percent – A lively 1,000-word piece, most likely with a scenario lead about a place, group, trend or event with four voices minimum and photos. Mandatory pre-first and first draft in addition to the final draft.

Issue – 20 percent - A well-researched 1,000 word piece on an issue of concern to the public. Must have a minimum of four voices, two of whom are “experts” on the subject, for instance a doctor, researcher or professor. 

Film Analysis/deadline assignment – 10 percent – You will watch a short film and write an analysis of in on deadline. Not a simple summary. Due by the end of class.


Final - 10 percent - Covers chapters and other readings, class discussions and common AP Style points

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