Thursday, September 26, 2013
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Recipes for cooking a good news story
Writing a news story is like cooking a good meal: some have
less calories (250 words) and others are more nutritious (500 words).
Which one are you
going to cook?
A news story of 250 words.
A news story of 500 words.
A profile of a person or organization.
A recipe for an opinion piece.
A recipe for Arts and Entertainment.
Good and healthy story:
only 250 words
1 paragraph of straight news information
1 paragraph of important details about the news event
1 paragraph with a quote that clarifies the story
1 paragraph of what we have to pay attention in the
development of the story.
How to cook it:
1. Paragraph 1: 1 sentence lead paragraph in which you
directly state what the news is. No introduction to the news story, no
suspense. Tell us what happen in straightforward way: this is the protein of
our story. Keep it to 35 or less words!
2. Paragraph 2: 3-4 sentences with important details,
moments, names related to the event that you are writing about.
3. Paragraph 3: 2-3 sentences, one of them should be a quote
from somebody who is directly involved with the event: a participant,
authority, or observer.
4. Paragraph 4: 2 sentences about what we have to pay
attention to in the development of the story.
Spices that will make the story really good:
1. Find the perspective that will make it relevant to UNE
students
2. Include a quote from a student, faculty or staff who are
directly involved in the story.
3. Use fewer adjectives and more facts to stay objective
4. Write in active voice
5. Use good grammar
Good and nutritious
story: 500 words
1 paragraph of straight news information
2 paragraphs of important details about the news event
2 paragraph with 2-3 quotes that clarifies the story
1 paragraph of what we have to pay attention in the
development of the story.
How to cook it:
1. Paragraph 1: 1 sentence lead paragraph in which you
directly state what the news is. No introduction to the news story, no
suspense. Tell us what happen in straightforward way: this is the protein of
our story. Keep it to 35 or less words!
2. Paragraph 2: 3-4 sentences with important details,
moments, names, etc. related to the event that you are writing about.
3. Paragraph 3: 3-4 sentences, including a quote from
somebody who is directly involved with the event: a participant, authority, or
observer.
4. Paragraph 4: 2-3 sentences with additional details,
moments, names, etc. related to the event that you are writing about. These
will be less important facts, for example, you can look back and compare with
other similar events and the outcomes from them. Another quote.
4. Paragraph 5: 2-3 sentences about what we have to pay
attention to in the development of the story. Include one more quote if
possible.
Spices that will make the story really good:
1. Find the perspective that will make it relevant to UNE
students
2. Include a quote from a student, faculty or staff who are
directly involved in the story. Include a quote from somebody else. If first
quote is from staff, faculty, a player, or coach
3. Use fewer adjectives and more facts to stay objective
4. Write in active voice
5. Use good grammar
Recipe for a profile
story of a person or organization based on an interview (250 words)
|
250 words
|
500 words
|
|
1 paragraph that introduces the significance of the
person/organization (this shows the news-worthy aspect of it). Did they
receive an award, published a book, have significant impact on the UNE
growth, or it is new/revived organization? 2 sentences
|
1 paragraph that introduces the significance of the
person/organization (this shows the news-worthy aspect of it) Did they
receive an award, published a book, have significant impact on the UNE
growth, or it is new/revived organization? 2 sentences
|
|
1 paragraph that brings up facts about their past that are
relevant to your story. If it is a new organization, how it came to being?
2-3 sentences
|
1 paragraph about 2 important and facts from the past of
the individual or the organization or how the organization came to being. 4-5
sentences. A quote
|
|
1 paragraph that tells us what they currently do (this is
the reason for creating their profile). Include a quote from them. Make sure to connect it with paragraph 1!
|
1 paragraph about a curious situation that connects their
past and their present. Quote about the situation. If you write about
organization, use a quote from another person involved in it. 2-3 sentences
|
|
1 paragraph what the future plans, vision of the
organization’s growth, etc.
|
1 paragraph about the current situation. Focus on details
of the award, the recognition, the publication, etc. and the current ideas,
work, projects they work on (also relevant if you write about the
organization). 4-5 sentences max.
|
|
|
1 paragraph about future plans, vision for growth.
Finishing with a quote will be good.
|
Spices that will make the story really good:
1. Find the perspective that will make it relevant to UNE
students
2. Include a quote from a student, faculty or staff who are
directly involved in the story. Include a quote from somebody else. If first
quote is from staff, faculty, a player, or coach
3. Use fewer adjectives and more facts to stay objective
4. Write in active voice
5. Use good grammar
A recipe for an
opinion piece:
Paragraph 1: State what the big issue you are going to
discuss is (2 sentences max).
Paragraph 2-4: Give 1 major aspect of this issue in each new
paragraph and discuss good and bad sides of it (2-3 sentences each)
Paragraph 5: What should be done to resolve the issue? (2-3
sentences max).
Look above to see what spices you need to make it strong
opinion piece!
A recipe for Arts and
Entertainment (250 words):
Paragraph 1: Summary of the story without spoilers (1-2
sentences)
Paragraph 2: Strengths of the art product (2-3 sentences)
Paragraph 3: Weaknesses of the art product (2-3 sentences)
Paragraph 4: Conclusion what your evaluation is (maybe
include starts, 7 of 10 stars, for example)
Paragraph 2 and 3 should include names of major characters,
name of tracks, references to other authors, artists, writers, etc.
Paragraph 2 should include a quote from the author, the
audience, director, organizer, etc. anyone who organized it and/or participated
in it in one or another way.
Of course, you need the spices that we use in the previous
storiesJ
HAPPY COOKING!
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Exercises
1 A representative for the organization said they help anyone that is on welfare obtain some job training and raise their self-esteem.
2. As it rolled along the floor, her foot was run over the chair
3. Detailed and tricky, the class finished their exams.
4. The hockey team was given their five goals by their principal player, Annie Bearclaw.
5. He likes to to watch movies which make him cry and also gets him to feeling sentimental.
2. As it rolled along the floor, her foot was run over the chair
3. Detailed and tricky, the class finished their exams.
4. The hockey team was given their five goals by their principal player, Annie Bearclaw.
5. He likes to to watch movies which make him cry and also gets him to feeling sentimental.
The Body of a News Story
1. Inverted-pyramid style
USE transition words or sentences to connect the paragraphs.
- Information moves from the most important fact in the lead to the minor facts. You have to decide what is "more" and "less" important.
- The paragraphs are not based on chronological order but on importance of the information
- Paragraphs 2-4 give the details of the story. Any additional paragraph is less important.
- Be specific in paragraph 2 in order to establish good connection with the lead but to expand it.
- Your paragraph 2 is almost as important as your lead. Do not burden it with unimportant details.
- Stay focused and do not go into another topic in paragraph 3.
2. Hour-glass style
- Part I is inverted pyramid with the same format as above. Keep in mind that the lead does not reveal the "turn" point but reports only the event!
- Part II is a short paragraph that turns the topic around by bringing in an important detail in the story
- Part III is using traditional narrative form, with quotes, details, and anecdotes to enhance the story.
3. The Narrative style
- It uses a lead to introduce the story
- The rest of story is usually in chronological order, uses dialogue and other storytelling techniques.
- They can end with the most important, newsworthy information at the end (if they haven't started with a defined lead).
- The have beginning, middle and end.
Time
Addition
Causation
Comparison
Contrast
Others
Remember that your readers were not at the place of the event and may not know what you already know. EXPLAIN the unfamiliar. Best way: use definitions, comparisons (between something familiar and the unfamiliar), examples, and descriptions that readers will easily translate into their own everyday experiences.
USE humor when appropriate.
BE fair and bring different points of view into your story.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Leads
Homework for Tuesday, September 10th:
Write a lead paragraph to the "wallet" story that adheres to the following rules:
Your lead should answer the following 6 questions in 30 or less words:
Who?
How?
Where?
Why?
When?
What?
Use specific words
Use active, strong verbs (this will be your WOW effect)
Stress the importance of the story
Stress the unusual
Add a local perspective
And once you wrote it, read the things to avoid...
EDIT it!
Write a lead paragraph to the "wallet" story that adheres to the following rules:
Your lead should answer the following 6 questions in 30 or less words:
Who?
How?
Where?
Why?
When?
What?
Use specific words
Use active, strong verbs (this will be your WOW effect)
Stress the importance of the story
Stress the unusual
Add a local perspective
And once you wrote it, read the things to avoid...
EDIT it!
Wallet size article
Task for today, September 5th:
Goal: To create a WOW story!
Tools and resources:
look at the list of your the things you found in your wallet/purse/backpack.
Pick one that brings the most memories in you.
Put the word that describes the object or the content of the object into a google search.
Start browsing the articles that come up in association with the object. Write down keywords based on the search results.Think of what association you make with those keywords. Think from the point of view of the big picture.
Example: a receipt from a grocery shopping in Miccuci in Portland ME. It is an Italian grocery store.
A few things come up in mind immediately: grocery stores with ethnic food in Portland ME, grocery stores vs. big supermarkets, popularity of Italian food in the US.
You continue searching until you find information on ONE specific topic and you focus on it. You organize it in a way to have an WOW effect when the rest of us read it.
Then you write a story of 200 -250 words.
Have fun!
Goal: To create a WOW story!
Tools and resources:
look at the list of your the things you found in your wallet/purse/backpack.
Pick one that brings the most memories in you.
Put the word that describes the object or the content of the object into a google search.
Start browsing the articles that come up in association with the object. Write down keywords based on the search results.Think of what association you make with those keywords. Think from the point of view of the big picture.
Example: a receipt from a grocery shopping in Miccuci in Portland ME. It is an Italian grocery store.
A few things come up in mind immediately: grocery stores with ethnic food in Portland ME, grocery stores vs. big supermarkets, popularity of Italian food in the US.
You continue searching until you find information on ONE specific topic and you focus on it. You organize it in a way to have an WOW effect when the rest of us read it.
Then you write a story of 200 -250 words.
Have fun!
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Syllabus
CMM 211 Intro to Journalism
Fall 2013 (TR 3:00-4:20pm), Decary 204
Instructor: Dr. Bistra Nikiforova
Office Hours: (Decary 317) M 2 – 3pm; TR: 12-1 and 1-2pm or
by apt.
Best way to get hold of me: bnikiforova@une.edu
Description:
This class will introduce and train you in good journalistic
writing. The focus will be on online media and will explore the hypertext
possibilities of online journalism.
Textbook:
Bender, J., Davenport, L, Drager, M
and Fred Fedler (2011). Reporting for the
Media. (Oxford University Press, 10th edition). You can get it
as e-book or on Amazon.
+ http://www.aldaily.com/ + any other possible information source
ranging from your grandmother to AP.
We will use another book as well but I will outline and put
on power point the most important elements of the few chapters from it. No need
to buy it but in case you want to:
Hillard, R. (2011). Writing
for Television, Radio, and New Media. (Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 10th
edition).
Course Objectives:
-
to improve your writing skills
-
to teach/improve your listening skills
-
to help you become more confident when giving
presentations
Student Learning
Outcomes:
-
improve your writing from grammar to style
-
learn to address anonymous audiences
-
overcome fears from public presence
-
strengthen your interpersonal communication
while on performing tasks
That means I will not
accept four role-playing assignments on the last day of classes or two quizzes,
etc.
Grading Scale:
100-95 A; 94-91 A-;
79-77 C+; 76-74 C; 73-70 C-
69-60 D; 0-59 F
Assignments overview:
Each assignment will be graded
on the scale:
Fails to meet criteria, meets criteria (average), exceeds
criteria
Just to make sure we
are on the same page: grades are not assigned or given. Grades are earned. You
will receive a grade according to the amount of efforts you put into the class
work. It is up to you to decide how much effort you will put into this class
but don’t get upset if you are not satisfied with the grade.
However, some stuff
that will definitely will help you in earning a good or excellent grade:
·
Don’t
miss more than 2 class meetings. If you miss any because of an athletic game,
make sure to both present a document and catch up with the work. Even when you
miss a class because you were sick, you are still responsible for completing
the work. For additional information on university attendance policies,
check the university website at http://www.une.edu/registrar/catalog/1213/undergrad/policy.cfm
#attendance
· Don’t text during class or leave the class to
take a phone call unless you have notified me in advance. Texting or leaving
the room to take a call will result in public shaming, which will be decided by
the class.
· Severe weather might impact our physical
meeting but there are always virtual places where we can have the class. For
that purpose, we will have a Facebook page, which will be our alternative
classroom and sometime it maybe utilized more than the physical classroom. If I
am running late, I will make sure to send you a message on the board so you
know that the class is NOT cancelled.
· Don’t be afraid to dream, imagine, fantasize,
and pour all of your creativity on paper or other forms of expression. However,
when you don’t use your own words and thoughts, make sure that you “didn’t
forget to cite them.”
Additional policies are included at the end of the syllabus
as The Appendix.
Grading Structure:
Week 1 – you start with 0 points for your grade (meaning F)
Week 15 – you may have maximum of 270 points (meaning B)
After grading your final papers, you can get 310 points (meaning
A)
Between week 1 and 15 you can earn up to 270 points by
performing well at the following tasks:
Small projects 220 points
Feature story 25 points
Radio Interview 25 points
Short Documentary 40 points
Final Grade: 310 points
Grading:
Student grades will be reputed based on a plus/minus grading system.
Your final project will be due the exam day and it will be 40
points maximum. This can bring your grade to an A. Each assignment will be
graded on the scale: Fails to meet criteria, meets criteria (average),
exceeds criteria
Grading Scale:
310-295 A; 291-282 A-;
279-273 B+; 270-260 B; 257-24879 B-
245-239 C+; 236-229 C; 226-217 C-
214-186 D; 0-183 F
News at 3:
Date
|
Topic
|
Reading
|
Assignment
|
Points
|
8/29
|
Meet and greet. The raising star in
journalism: YOU
|
-
|
Everybody
talks about you: in the newspaper, on the radio, and on television
|
0
|
9/3
|
Blogger
and all that stuff
|
Ch. 14
|
Chapter
exercises + writing your first blogs news; survey due
|
5
|
9/5
|
Writing the Lead;
Subject Campus Love
|
Ch. 8
|
Chapter
exercises… i.e. writing, writing, writing…
|
5
|
9/10
|
Grammar and Spelling
|
Ch. 2
|
Exercises
and more writing: college sports
|
10
|
9/12
|
More Leads
|
Ch. 9
|
Write
more: cafeteria incident
|
10
|
9/17
|
Style
|
Ch. 3
|
Exercises
and profile of a classmate
|
15
|
9/19
|
Body of news
|
Ch.10
|
Exercises
and my weekend in the news
|
15
|
9/23
|
The Language of News
|
Ch. 4
|
Review
|
|
9/25
|
Other kind of stories
|
Ch. 16
|
Pick
one a head of time and gather information
|
15
|
10/1
|
Speeches and Meetings
|
Ch. 15
|
Exercises,
and the story will be due a week from today, so you can visit an actual
meeting
|
20
|
10/3
|
Quotations and Attributions
|
Ch. 11
|
More
Exercises
|
|
10/8
|
Feature Stories
|
Ch. 17
|
Exercises
+ pick a topic, you have 1 week
|
25
|
10/10
|
Advanced Reporting
|
Ch. 19
|
More
serious writing
|
15
|
10/15
|
Radio
|
Hillard 34-45 (pdf)
|
Feature story due; Class lead by Chandler
and we all will assist
|
|
10/17
|
Radio Format and Style
|
H 56-66 (pdf)
|
My
voice: my power. Story about the value of radio today
|
15
|
10/22
|
News: Radio and TV formats
|
H 129 – 166
|
Sports
event: from Twitter to the college radio
|
20
|
10/24
|
Continue
|
|||
10/29
|
Interview
|
H. ch. 7 Interview
|
Interview
somebody significant in the university. Plan ahead so you can meet them
before Thursday’s class.
|
25
|
10/31
|
Continue
|
|||
11/5
|
TV news format
|
Ch.13
|
Warming
up, reading the news, conversing with the other anchor
|
20
|
11/7
|
H. 54-56;
163-166
|
|||
11/12
|
TV interview
|
Radio vs. TV
|
Needs
preparation ahead of time: interview with a classmate
|
20
|
11/14
|
||||
11/19
|
Documentaries
|
H ch. 6
|
Intro
to your final project
|
|
11/21
|
||||
11/26
|
Podcast
|
TBD
|
15
|
|
11/28
|
Thanksgiving
|
-------------
|
||
12/3
|
Talk Show
|
Needs
preparation ahead of time to find a guest (classmate) who will be the right
one for your kind of subject
|
20
|
|
12/5
|
||||
Final project due
|
Short documentary
|
Presentations
|
40
|
The Appendix:
Midterm Academic Progress Reports
The University of New England is committed
to the academic success of its students. At the midterm
of each semester, instructors will report the performance of each student
as SATISFACTORY (S) or UNSATISFACTORY (U). Instructors will announce
when these midterm
academic progress reports
will be available for viewing
via Uonline. This
early alert system gives all students important information about progress in their
courses. Students who receive
an
UNSATISFACTORY midterm report should take immediate
action by speaking· with their instructor to
discuss suggestions for improvement
such as
utilizing the services of academic
advising, the Student
Academic Success Center, Counseling Services, and Residential Education.
Access Statement
The University of New England
will make reasonable accommodations for students
with documented disabilities. Any student
eligible for and needing academic adjustments or accommodations because of
a disability are requested
to speak with the professor at the beginning
of the semester. Registration with Disability Services,located in Stella Maris
128 (ext. 2815) on the Biddeford Campus and
the Lower Level of
Ginn Hall (ext. 4418) on the Portland
Campus, is required before
accommodation requests can be granted.
Academic Integriy
Academic
dishonesty is taken very seriously and
dealt with according to
UNE policy.
Academic dishonesty
will result in a zero on the associated assignment and can include
up to expulsion from school. As specified the Student Handbook (page 33), academic dishonesty is:
"1) Cheating,copying,
or the offering or receiving
of unauthorized assistance or information including but not limited
to:
a) use of any unauthorized assistance in
taking quizzes,tests,or examinations;
b) dependence
upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the faculty
in writing papers,preparing reports,
solving problems,or carrying out other assignments, including
but not limited to calculators,handheld computers, or other electronic devices; or
c) the acquisition, without permission,of tests or other academic materials belonging to a member
of the University faculty or staff.
2) Fabrication or falsification of data, results,
or sources for papers or reports.
3) Action that destroys or alters the work of another student.
4) Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course
without permission of each instructor.
5)
Plagiarism,the appropriation of records, research materials, ideas,or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own including but not limited
to:
a) the use, by paraphrase
or direct quotation,of the published
or unpublished work of another
person without full and clear acknowledgment; or
b) the unacknowledged use of materials
prepared by another
person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials."
The College of Arts and Sciences policy on reviewing alleged
acts of academic dishonesty can be
found at: http://www.une.edu/cas/academicprocedures.cfm
Use of the SASC
Tutoring, writing
support and learning strategies consultations are available, free of charge, in the Student Academic
Success Center. Students are encouraged to use these services early
and often to promote academic success. More information about the SASC is
available at http://bit.ly/UNESASC or by calling the Center at 207-602-2443.
Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities (including invisible disabilities
such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, and head injuries) are
encouraged to notify their instructor of their condition within the first two
weeks of the semester. The college
and your instructor will make reasonable accommodations for persons with
documented disabilities.
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