SPRING 2017 Schedule

SPRING 2017 Schedule
JOURN 300/CAREY — Tuesday/Thursday 4 – 6 p.m. - Integrative Learning Center S407
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 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 at end is a list of assignments and percentage of final grade each is worth.

JAN 24 - 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. READ: Chapter 5 on Leads and Chapter 15 on Interviewing Principles
JAN 26 - TOPIC: The Lead and the Nutgraph Review leads, Chapters 5 and 15, class blog; determine where and when we can go to a speech; determine which classmate you will interview on what subject and prepare questions.

JAN 31 TOPIC: 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.
FEB 2 TOPIC: Kinds of Stories Analyze interviewing videos, FIRST ASSIGNMENT DUE: 400-500 written piece with photo based on your interview of a classmate. (5 percent of final grade) NEXT: READ: Chapter 16 on speeches.

SCHEDULE UPDATES:
FEB 2 TOPIC: We'll continue to talk about different kinds of stories, such as the speech story, profile etc.

• Analyze interviewing videos 
• 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 16 on speeches. 
• NEXT: MOVED UP FROM NEXT WEEK Write a brief profile pitch to present in class Tuesday. 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.)

FEB 7 Continue to analyze interview videos. Discuss Speech chapter, speech paper requirements.  

• Present profile pitch 
• AND, NEXT, TO BRING IN on FEB 14 FOR PEER EDITING a 500 word “pre-first draft” profile with lead, nutgraph and quote(s). 
• NEXT: Read Chapters 2 & 3 (be able to answer questions about these chapters on the blog, under worksheets tab) 

FEB 9  Attend environmental reporting panel in Journalism lounge


FEB 14 TOPIC: Cliches, stereotypes, euphemisms, conscious and unconscious bias

• SPEECH PAPER DUE (10 percent of grade)
• PEER EDIT hard copies of profile  pre-first drafts.
• NEXT: read Chap. 7 on the Writer's Art and be able to answer questions on worksheets on blog.

BACK TO ORIGINAL SCHEDULE:

FEB 16 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 Chap. 8 on Features.

FEB 21- TOPIC: Attribution, quotations, summary FIRST DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) PEER EDIT. Discuss feature stories.
NEXT: Read and complete worksheets for Chapter 18 on Accidents and Disasters and Chapter 19 on Obituaries. Write Feature Pitch for next class.
FEB 23 FEATURE PITCH If time, work on blogs. NEXT: write 500-word feature PRE-first draft to peer edit next class. Read Chapter 21 on Courts

FEB 28 TOPIC: accidents, obituaries and courts Peer edit PRE-first draft Feature stories. Discuss chapters on accidents, obituaries and courts.
MARCH 2 In-class deadline assignment/(5 percent of total grade) Next: Read Chaps. 11 on layered reporting and 14 on sources.

MARCH 7 TOPIC: “Layered” reporting FINAL DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT, 10 percent of total grade)Discuss Chapters 11 and 14. In-class work on features.
MARCH 9 Discuss potential Issue paper topics & interviews with 2-3 "experts."

*****SPRING BREAK - NO CLASS MARCH 14 and 16*****

MARCH 21 Review for MID-TERM QUIZ. If time, work on features and blogs 
MARCH 23 NO CLASS: Take Home mid-term quiz

MARCH 28 TOPIC: Massachusetts Open Meeting Law FIRST DRAFT FEATURE DUE (1,000) words. Firm up issue story ideas. NEXT: Write issue pitch to present next class. Read and complete worksheets for Chap 20 on police, Chap 24 on Government and 25 on Reporters and the Law. Review Massachusetts Open Meeting Law.
MARCH 30 Issue pitch. Discuss chapters. WRITE: 500-word Issue PRE-First Draft to peer edit next class.

APRIL 4 Peer edit Issue pre-first drafts. Final FEATURE DUE (1,000 words, 15 percent of total grade)
APRIL 6 FIRST DRAFT ISSUE (1,000 words with 4 voices, 2 of whom are "experts") due. Discuss chapters, Massachusetts Open Meeting Law. NEXT: Read and complete worksheets on Chaps. 26 on Taste in Journalism and 27 on Morality.

APRIL 11 TOPIC: Ethical reporting Discuss Chapters 26 & 27; in-class work on issue paper, blogs
APRIL 13 FINAL ISSUE PAPER DUE. (1,000 words 20 percent of total grade) Review for FINAL QUIZ.

APRIL 18 NO CLASS (UMASS follows Monday schedule due to Patriots Day) 
APRIL 20 END OF SEMESTER QUIZ Discuss summary/analysis writing.

APRIL 25 In-class deadline assignment: Watch film and write SUMMARY/ANALYSIS (10 percent of final grade) on deadline, due at end of class.
APRIL 27 - Wrap-up

MAY 2- 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

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

SPRING 2017 syllabus

SPRING 2017 syllabus

JOURN 300: NEWSWRITING and REPORTING, SPRING 2017  Tues/Thurs 4-6 p.m. Integrative Learning Center S407

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: Melvin Mencher, News Reporting and Writing (latest edition) - McGraw Hill

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.

Spring 2017 calendar

Excellent article about challenges to serious reporting going forward

http://pressthink.org/2016/12/winter-coming-prospects-american-press-trump/

See you next year!

International Issue story example

This New York Times story (click link) is a good model of what reporters can do to help increase public understanding of the difficult and heart-breaking issue of immigration. It tells the story of one boy, without sensationalism, including facts and figures to help us understand the scope of the issue. The simple accompanying  video--  that anyone could take -- adds a lot to it. Click on this link to the NYTimes story to see the video: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/13/world/asia/a-deported-afghan-boy-returns-to-a-land-nothing-like-home.html

Excerpt from Sunday's New York Times letter to readers

In a letter to readers on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, New York Times editors reaffirmed the paper's mission. Here's an excerpt:
"As we reflect on the momentous result, and the months of reporting and polling that preceded it, we aim to rededicate ourselves to the fundamental mission of Times journalism. That is to report America and the world honestly, without fear or favor, striving always to understand and reflect all political perspectives and life experiences in the stories that we bring to you. It is also to hold power to account, impartially and unflinchingly. You can rely on The New York Times to bring the same fairness, the same level of scrutiny, the same independence to our coverage of the new president and his team."

Some election night 2016 pics

Schedule updates

NOV 8 Meet at Precinct 4 and 5 polling place in downtown Amherst in front of the Bangs Community Center at 4:30 p.m. Each blog group will email to mary.carey@state.ma.us AND to apigeon@Umass.edu BY 7 P.M. one of the following:

• A total of at least 4 photos for each blog group with "cutline" that explains to readers who is in the photo, what he/she/they are doing and a good quote.
• A combination of 4 photos with cutlines as above and/or very short videos of 30 seconds-1 minute each of voter(s) commenting on some aspect of the election. Short videos should also include the name(s) of the persons or people in the video
• A short written piece, similar to previous deadline assignments with a minimum of 4 photos and direct quotes

NOV 10  Final FEATURE DUE (1,000 words,  15 percent of total grade)NOTE SCHEDULE CHANGE: Instead of peer editing the Issue pre-first drafts -- First drafts are still due Nov. 15; we'll skip the pre-first draft, this time --  we'll meet in the the Communication Hub to see Giovanna Dell'Orto, a visiting speaker from the University of Minnesota, who will talk about news coverage of immigration in the United States and Europe as part of the SBS "Social Science Matters" speaker series. Read about it HERE. Students who need to make-up the Speech assignment will write 650-word speech papers with a photo, due Tuesday Nov. 15. . Blog groups will produce 1 photo per blog group with solid cutline.

NOV 15  FIRST DRAFT ISSUE (1,000 words with 4 voices, 2 of whom are "experts") due.  Peer edit. Discuss chapters, Massachusetts Open Meeting Law. NEXT: Read and complete worksheets on Chaps. 26 on Taste in Journalism and 27 on Morality.

NOV 17 -  TOPIC: Ethical reporting Discuss Chapters 26 & 27; in-class work on issue paper, blogs

NOV 22  NO CLASS

NOV 24- NO CLASS/Thanksgiving

NOV 27  FINAL ISSUE PAPER DUE. (1,000 words 20  percent of total grade)Review for FINAL QUIZ.

DEC 1  END OF SEMESTER QUIZ  Discuss summary/analysis writing.

DEC 6  - In-class deadline assignment: Watch film and write SUMMARY/ANALYSIS (10 percent of final grade) on deadline, due at end of class.

DEC 8 -  Wrap-up

DEC 13 - LAST DAY OF CLASS/ recap/ Final  blogs presentations

Profile example

Mariah Boisvert

Word Count: 1320

AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS – A long hike in New Zealand inspired an Irishman to tell Abby Bliss, two strangers at the tine, about how meditation helped him confront his depression.

Looking back almost 15 years later, Bliss said this encounter was the reason she began meditation, a big part of her life that she now brings with her to her job as a student advisor in the University of Massachusetts journalism department.

Abby Bliss in her office in the Integrative Learning Center at UMass Amherst on Oct. 20, 2016

Bliss has a soft smile and short, dark, wavy hair that frames her face. She has a thin physique and wears simple, tasteful clothing with a lot of natural, neutral colors.

She grew up playing soccer, playing on the Doherty High School Varsity team for four years. Bliss also has always enjoyed reading. “ I like words, ideas, expression,” Bliss said.

Bliss has always gotten along with her three sisters. Her mom had a career as a librarian at Worcester public library and her father was A journalist at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. She grew up with newspapers constantly around the house and spent a lot of time in a newsroom.

“I know all of this is pretty usual and nondescript, but that was my childhood,” Bliss said.

While Bliss had a happy childhood, she had a strong distaste for her hometown of Worcester. She said it was “a homogenous place, a really grey, industrial town. When you’re in high school and you have to wake up early to a grey place, it really affects you,” she said.  She said Worcester was “insular. And not open-minded.” Bliss also said, “there was diversity around but I didn’t experience it.” She only knew people in her own neighborhood. Within her high school, she did not know people outside of honors classes. “Nothing felt integrated,” Bliss said,  “But I suppose I could have done more to bridge those gaps.”

Bliss’ first inspiration to travel came about from a soccer camp in seventh grade in Scandinavia. She played a series of tournaments in Finland and Sweden, on a summer team that was created for people in Worcester and neighboring towns. She did not do any traveling after that until college.

When deciding on a college, Bliss looked for a school that was as different from Worcester as possible, leading her to the University of Arizona in Tuscan, Arizona. She enjoyed the change of scenery; it was far away, there were seasons, it was warm and most of all, it was bright. “I think there are less than 30 days of clouds in Tucson a year,” said Bliss. “I also really liked how independent the students seemed. I got into smaller, more competitive schools, but they felt claustrophobic. I wanted to be autonomous and anonymous,” said Bliss. She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology.

Though she loved the atmosphere of the University of Arizona, Bliss didn’t “click” with a lot of people. “They were west coast partiers and I was a crunchy, nerdy person from the east coast,” she said.

Bliss showed up to summer orientation in “khaki shorts and Birkenstocks, with a button down Abercrombie plaid shirt.” She said, “they didn’t know to give me the parent flier or student flier --  I could easily pass as a boring parent. I knew right away that I wouldn’t fit in there.”

Bliss’ ultimate goal upon graduating was to travel the world.

She got a job as a mail deliverer for about three months to make some traveling money. As hoped, she earned enough to move to New Zealand, which is where she met the Irishman while hiking. He convinced her to attend a( ten-day) 10-DAY meditation course, which she attended two weeks after the hike. The experience really resonated with her.

Bliss ran out of money in New Zealand. At the same time she discovered that the biggest meditation center outside of India, the Vipassana Meditation Center, was in Shelburne, Massachusetts. “This was the only reason I came back home,” Bliss said.

Upon her return, she volunteered at this center. To pay for expenses, she reverted back to delivering mail for one month. She took some time to travel to Puerto Rico, Italy, France and India. When she got back, she became a long-term volunteer at the meditation center and eventually became the head of registration there.

Meditation appealed to Bliss’ desire to discover a mental challenge, as she was already very invested in physical challenges – namely hiking, yoga and running. Furthermore, as she spent more time in nature, she realized distractions got fewer. “I needed to look to my mind,” Bliss said. More than that, though, being in the silence of nature made her realize “how loud” her mind was.

Bliss considered applying to graduate schools and “settling down.” But she was asked to be a formal teacher at the Vipassana Meditation Center. She decided to combine her passion for traveling with her newfound love for meditation and began leading meditation courses in Chile and Bolivia. She helped start a center in Argentina for Spanish-speaking students.

The students in Argentina had a lower quality of life than those in Massachusetts, but she noticed that they “worked harder and complained less,” which provided her with an example to try to emulate when she went back home. Bliss believes that “you have to be the student at some point,” she said.

Additionally, although there are differences between these students and those in the United States,“it was equally as challenging for the people to sit for hours without allowing their thoughts distract them,” Bliss said, which says a lot about human nature.

Meditation is “for all ages, all occupations, all people,” Bliss said. She believes that our challenges are not unique. “No matter what part of the world you live, what our family situation is or how much money you make, we are all human and share the same issues,” Bliss said.

Bliss officially came back to Massachusetts in 2013 and looked towards a steady career. Prior to this time, she “cynical about society’s expectations of a normal 9-5 job,” she said. She thought a desk job was boring and constraining. In high school and college, “things felt prescribed,” she said. Now that she “got traveling out of the system,” she said she is “very comfortable at a 9-5 job.”

In regards to her travels, Bliss said, “I didn’t know I had something to get out of my system. But I think I did.” As she got older, she spent less time traveling at a time.

Advising was appealing because she said it was a “meaningful way to apply my guiding and counseling skills.” She said, “I could have wound up in any department. It was the advising that really appealed to me, but I just got lucky that I also ended up in a department that I love.”

She has a strong interest in journalism because “when it is working right, it should help connect the world,” Bliss said. “It teaches us about other places. Journalism consists of discovery, listening, and expression. I love each of these.”

Bliss opted to attend Karen List’s “Introduction to Journalism” seminar because she felt that in order to best advise students, she needed to experience class from their perspective.

Though not all students know about Bliss’ meditation, her ‘zen’ demeanor is apparent.

In the 2016 spring semester, Chelsea White, a journalism major, sat at the same table as Bliss every Monday afternoon during the seminar. Still, she had no idea about Bliss’ background in meditation. But White did notice “a calmness about Abby. She always spoke softly and eloquently,” White said.

Bliss didn’t just observe List’s class. There was a lot of talk about counseling and help available for students, which Bliss was more than willing to share information and insight about.

List said that Bliss was an “enthusiastic participant.” One time List jokingly told Bliss that “she had to do the assignments—and she did,” List said.

Helping others to gain clarity has always been important to Bliss, whether that be through advising or leading meditations. It is only a coincidence that her last name is Bliss, but it certainly fits.

Feature, Issue examples and tips

For a sample issue piece about creepy clowns, click HERE
For a sample feature about young people's thoughts on this year's election, click HERE

Lead

• Rewrite this lead to make it more engaging and dramatic.

Quotes

• Which of these quotes are "quote worthy"? Which should be paraphrased? 
• Quotes should be introduced, and the lead-in should not sound just like the quote. How could this lead-in be tweaked so that it doesn't?

What's coming up

Tuesday, Oct. 25: We should have time for you to work on the blogs for a bit. We'll also watch the first part of a video titled "Reporter" about how important it is to write about serious issues in a way that people can relate to, so they will care about them. We'll also talk a little bit about the profiles, which I'll hand back to you.

News quiz: Samantha, Articles/AP tip: Ryan, Elizabeth

Thursday, Oct. 27 Midterm quiz. If time, work on blogs. Quiz: Alicia, Articles/AP tip: Mariah, Elissa

Tuesday, Nov. 1: Blog groups will present  and explain the features of their blogs to the class on the big screen.  Finish watching "Reporter."  Quiz: Danielle, Articles/AP tip: Mack, Kathryn

Thursday, Nov. 3: First draft of feature due. Include word count and photos. Peer edit. Issue paper pitch (moved up from Nov. 8) Quiz: John, Articles/AP tip: Mack Kathryn

Tuesday, Nov. 8: Meet, 4:30 p.m. at downtown polling place, Bangs Community Center, to interview voters.

Thursday, Nov. 10: Pre-first draft Issue paper due (500 words). Peer edit. Final Feature paper due (1,000 words, photos). Quiz: Caroline, Articles/AP tip: Nicanor, Tyler

Halloween story example (with annotations)

Halloween on a Budget

AMHERST, MA –  Noa Kantorovich, a UMass freshman, decided on being a “biker chick” FOR HALLOWEEN THIS YEAR after discovering her mother’s old Harley Davidson biker jacket in the garage.

“I would never wear it normally, but it fit so well that I had to find an occasion to wear it," SHE SAID. When I realized that Halloween was around the corner, I felt like this was the perfect opportunity.”( Kantorovich said.I THINK IT WORKS BETTER TO THIS QUOTE UP BY PUTTING THE "SHE SAID" IN BETWEEN THE TWO SENTENCES. IN YOUR INTRO YOU WANT TO KEEP MOVING ALONG QUICKLY AND NOT THE FLOW WITH A DENSE QUOTE.

As committed as University of Massachusetts students are to finding the perfect Halloween costume, Halloween SEEMS TO HAVE (has) become an art of improvisation more than anything. STUDENTS INTERVIEWED ON CAMPUS ON A RECENT SUNNY FALL AFTERNOON SAID THEY LIKE BEING ORIGINAL AND CREATIVE -- AND NOT SPEND A LOT OF MONEY.

Kantorovich plans on using the jacket as the main part of her costume and is complimenting it with black jeans that she ripped herself and combat boots her friend is lending her. Though Kantorovich was pleased with her idea, she said she would have “made something out of nothing anyway” regardless.  Kantorovich said it was pointless to spend money when there are “so many things laying around to use.”

There is no lack of creativity from students, (despite not wantingDESPITE DOESN'T WORK HERE. YOU"RE TRYING TO SAY THEY ARE CREATIVE BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BUY A PRE-MADE COSTUME) WHO DON'T WANT to purchase pre-made costumes at a Halloween store. Students have a wide variety of ideas – from animals to aliens to action figures.

Kantorovich’s friend, Kristina Landry, plans on being a zoo animal “to make fun of ‘the zoo’ stereotype that holds at UMass Amherst,” in regards to the “party animal” reputation of the students. She will paint spots all over her body and find animal pattern fabrics from old Halloween costumes to make the costume. 

“I want to make a point that this is a costume for a reason,” Landry said. “People think we’re always party animals, but it’s really only once a year.” INTERESTING. DO PEOPLE SPEND A LOT OF TIME "DECONSTRUCTING" THEIR COSTUMES AT PARTIES?

Julia Meredith, a freshman friend of Kantorovich and Landry, was focused on a costume that was different from everyone else’s. 

“I thought an alien was really creative until all of my friends suggested we be aliens together. Then I decided to change my mind.” INTERESTING. WHY DID SHE REJECT THE IDEA OF DOING GROUP COSTUMES WHICH SEEM TO BE POPULAR?

Maddy Billingsley, another freshman at UMass, is using Halloween as a chance to express her creativity, but not exactly originality, as she plans on recreating the same costume she used last year.

“Everyone seemed to like it, so why not do it again,” Billingsley said.

Billingsley plans on revamping some props to make it better the second time around. She will be a deer again by wrapping floral tape around pipe cleaners to imitate antlers. She also will tap into her love for costume makeup by painting her own face. She has always loved makeup, but is especially excited that she finally gets to put what she has learned in makeup tutorials to use. While she is glad she can save money, she is even more excited that she can use this holiday as a fun project.

While most students do not have a definitive plan for their costumes, even though Halloween is next weekend, they are confident that they can piece their costumes together in time from items they can borrow from a friend or discover on their closet floor.

Kristina Landry, Noa Kantorovich, Amelia Gallagher, Julia Meredith and Maddy Billingsley laugh as they sort through Halloween costume ideas on the grass outside of the Campus Center at UMass on Tuesday October 18, 2016

There were also many students who were inspired by friends. “My friend was workout Barbie last year and it was just too good of a costume not to repeat,” said Amelia Gallagher. “I’m all about being resourceful this year, after years of planning so far ahead. I’m not trying to buy anything and I’m not trying to think about it too far in advance,” Gallagher said. “My most unique ideas come to me when I’m not thinking of them. It’ll probably be an hour before I go out that I officially decide my costume,” SHE said. ( Gallagher.) GOOD

Anastasia Kordova, a senior microbiology major from Boston says although she only spent $35 on a costume last year, GOOD DETAIL, AS I HAVE NO IDEordering (once) ONE in advance means that she has to decide what she wants to be right away which is “too much decision making.” Her plan is to be something as simple as possible, such as a cat or a witch. “You can’t go wrong with simple. Plus, everyone is trying to go with the most ‘out there’ costume and we’re forgetting about all the great basics,” she said.FUN QUOTE

Nate Green, a senior accounting major from UMass, is applying his money management skills to be especially frugal this year. Green says he “works eight hours a week at Baby Berk, a minimum wage job on campus.” He said he “barely makes any money. “

“Why would I blow my whole paycheck on a one night thing?” Last year Green spent $79 on a Top Gun inspired costume and “wanted to cry looking at my bank statement the next day.” This year he plans on going for a comedic effect by dressing as America’s favorite ballgame treat  -- a hotdog.

Green got his inspiration from scrolling through his cousin’s Instagram and stumbling upon a picture of him wearing the ensemble. “I immediately texted him and demanded he let me borrow it,” Green said. “And here we are now.”  

Plus Green said, “you never get another day where you can be completely ridiculous. And it’s a bonus when you don’t have to break the bank over it.”

Students brainstorming Halloween costumes with friends outside

the Integrative Learning Center on Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Blogger Larry Kelley and his drone visit UMass

By Mack Cooper

Larry Kelley demonstrating his drone to UMass journalism students

Local journalist Larry Kelley and his drone have become famous in Amherst over the 10 years that his blog, Only in The Republic of Amherst, has been alive. Or maybe the better word is infamous.

Kelley, a fifth-generation Amherst resident and UMass graduate, has posted around 6,500 stories on his blog over the past 10 years and his blog averages 120,000 hits per month, making it more popular than the local paper, the Daily Hampshire Gazette, according to Kelley.

Kelley covers everything from traffic accidents and structure fires, to Amherst Select Board meetings and UMass party houses, and he isn’t afraid to expose people's names and faces, a tactic that hasn’t made him super popular with some people who wind up with their picture on his blog. 

He doesn’t care that some people disagree with his strategies saying that he is tough on everyone and everything he covers. When Kelley was asked what he thinks of people who contact him demanding their picture be taken off his sight, he responded by saying, “Sometimes you have a wart. Learn to live with it.”

Kelley is known to cover DUI arrests and often goes into the courtroom to take pictures of the accused. This has made him very unpopular with defendants and parents of defendants who aren't pleased with their legal troubles being made public. But all the complaints Kelley gets doesn’t deter him from posting, as he said he believes that people will be less likely to drink and drive if they know they will end up with their face plastered on his blog.

Kelley doesn’t run his blog in order to make a living but rather to keep the people of Amherst informed about local events and to keep local officials honest. Kelley said he has even helped out the fire department while covering a structure fire with his drone. While he was shooting an aerial shot of a building on fire, the Amherst Fire Chief used the images from Kelley’s drone to determine that the roof of the building was gonna collapse. He then used that information to order all of the fire fighters in the building to evacuate and sure enough, the roof collapsed a few moments later.

The drone, which Kelley calls Birdie 2, has become a staple of Only in The Republic of Amherst and allows Kelly to get great aerial photos and videos. He has images on his blog of car accidents, UMass parties, structure fires and many others. He uses the drone to capture shots he wouldn’t normally be able to capture and the drone allows him to get closer, while staying farther away, from dangerous stories or events unfolding.

Kelley, being known as a character, was asked if he followed all the proper FAA rules when flying his drone. “So far I haven’t broken them,” said Kelley, “so far,” before he proceed to fly his drone over students' heads, a violation of FAA regulations. (Note -- Kelley disputes the drone was directly above students' heads.)

Kelley said he sees himself as an essential part of the Amherst community, and a voice for the full time Amherst residents that aren’t associated with any of the university's. When asked if he knows about any other towns that have a freelance journalist like him, he said “Every town should.”

Drone reporter Larry Kelley visit