Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Quiz time
Here's a story we've talked about a bit. Payden, are you paying attention?
There will certainly be a WR Grace trial question. Here's the latest, but there may be something else in Thursday's paper.
And there will be a question about Obama's speech Tuesday.
And there's this interesting news on Iraq.
Sorry I've been a little cranky this week. I'll try to be on my best behavior Friday.
And remember, even though I may have shredded your first effort, that's my job. All of you have the talent and intellect to put me in my place by mastering the craft of hammering out a news story.
There will certainly be a WR Grace trial question. Here's the latest, but there may be something else in Thursday's paper.
And there will be a question about Obama's speech Tuesday.
And there's this interesting news on Iraq.
Sorry I've been a little cranky this week. I'll try to be on my best behavior Friday.
And remember, even though I may have shredded your first effort, that's my job. All of you have the talent and intellect to put me in my place by mastering the craft of hammering out a news story.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Saving Word files
A few notes on sending your first drafts, which are due by midnight Friday.
Send it to robbreeding@fvcc.edu. It bounces a copy to my Netscape address as well. I'm keeping an eye on my spam folder to make sure your stories don't get lost there.
Saving as a Word 2003 version is easy on a PC. When you save there will be a line at the bottom of the window for the file name. Just below that is a line says "save as type." You can just change the type to Word 2003 there.
If you can't save as a 2003 version, just send me a .docx. I figured out a way to convert the files on my laptop.
We'll talk about this in class on Monday.
Send it to robbreeding@fvcc.edu. It bounces a copy to my Netscape address as well. I'm keeping an eye on my spam folder to make sure your stories don't get lost there.
Saving as a Word 2003 version is easy on a PC. When you save there will be a line at the bottom of the window for the file name. Just below that is a line says "save as type." You can just change the type to Word 2003 there.
If you can't save as a 2003 version, just send me a .docx. I figured out a way to convert the files on my laptop.
We'll talk about this in class on Monday.
Monday, February 16, 2009
First story lineup
Here's what I've got so far for story assignments. Remember, first drafts are due at midnight, Friday Feb. 20 (yes, I've extended the deadline six hours). I need a Word attachment e-mailed to me by that deadline. If you haven't yet read the guidelines for the first draft, take a look the post below.
Payden — Enrollment increase
Jade — New play opening
Ashley — FVCC copes with snow daze
Julia — Program for returning students
Maggie — Institutional scholarship application deadline approaching
Joseph — ?
Chelsea — ?
Joseph and Chelsea, I still need to know what you're working on. If you don't have an idea yet, consider one of the following.
— $35 per semester bus pass for FVCC students
— Late starting Spring classes still available for students who need units
— Upcoming event: John Fraley talks about his book, "Wild River Pioneers" about the history of settlement along the Middle Fork Flathead River at FVCC on Feb. 25
— Upcoming event: FVCC Blood Drive on Feb. 26
Payden — Enrollment increase
Jade — New play opening
Ashley — FVCC copes with snow daze
Julia — Program for returning students
Maggie — Institutional scholarship application deadline approaching
Joseph — ?
Chelsea — ?
Joseph and Chelsea, I still need to know what you're working on. If you don't have an idea yet, consider one of the following.
— $35 per semester bus pass for FVCC students
— Late starting Spring classes still available for students who need units
— Upcoming event: John Fraley talks about his book, "Wild River Pioneers" about the history of settlement along the Middle Fork Flathead River at FVCC on Feb. 25
— Upcoming event: FVCC Blood Drive on Feb. 26
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Stylebooks are in the bookstore
I've heard from the folks in the bookstore that our AP stylebooks have arrived, and that some of you have already started picking them up.
Define 'rough' draft
I promised a little more explanation on the drafting method we will use for your stories. As mentioned, I'm expecting your first draft to be e-mailed to me (Word attachment please) by 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20. We may at times use the phrase 'rough draft' interchangeably with first draft, but I don't what you to get the idea that the draft you turn in will be nothing more than a bunch of hastily assembled notes. The first draft of a basic news story from a professional journalist will really need only minor tweaking in the editing process before it is ready for publication.
None of you are professional journalists, yet. So I suspect your first drafts will require significant rewriting in the drafting process. Try not to get too discouraged when that first draft comes back covered in chicken scratches from yours truly. That's how I teach and you learn. Someday maybe some of you will be editors or journalism profs and you'll get to inflect the same torture on others. It's a circle of life kind of thing.
Back to what I'm expecting next Friday. Your first draft should include all the components of the news story as I outlined earlier in the semester. Remember, they are:
Headline
Lede
Backup for lede (should contain lede quote)
Impact
Background
Elaboration
Ending
You should have your three sources. At least two quotes, preferably from different sources.
Even if you have all these things, I may ask you to revise, rewrite or even reinterview. That's the nature of this process, and that's the nature of being a cub reporter.
So the bad news is that I'm going to ask you to rework these stories multiple times. That can be a maddening process. But the good news is that with just seven of you in the class we'll have plenty of time to make sure each of you gets it, that all of you can succeed in learning the basics of writing a news story.
Another advantage of the drafting method is there really isn't a final deadline for your stories (well, there is the end of the semester). You will be able to revise and rewrite until the story is ready to be graded. If that takes a week, great. If it takes until May to get it right, that's what we will do.
So give me you best next Friday. Some of you, especially those who have zeroed in on a story and are already at work, should be in good shape. Those of you who are still unsure about a story idea, I'll stay after class Friday and make sure you have a topic before you leave. Even if you don't have time for interviews on Friday, you should at the very least make some phone calls and set up some interviews for early next week. Have a good Thursday and I'll see you Friday.
Oh yeah, I'm looking for stories 400 to 500 words in length.
None of you are professional journalists, yet. So I suspect your first drafts will require significant rewriting in the drafting process. Try not to get too discouraged when that first draft comes back covered in chicken scratches from yours truly. That's how I teach and you learn. Someday maybe some of you will be editors or journalism profs and you'll get to inflect the same torture on others. It's a circle of life kind of thing.
Back to what I'm expecting next Friday. Your first draft should include all the components of the news story as I outlined earlier in the semester. Remember, they are:
Headline
Lede
Backup for lede (should contain lede quote)
Impact
Background
Elaboration
Ending
You should have your three sources. At least two quotes, preferably from different sources.
Even if you have all these things, I may ask you to revise, rewrite or even reinterview. That's the nature of this process, and that's the nature of being a cub reporter.
So the bad news is that I'm going to ask you to rework these stories multiple times. That can be a maddening process. But the good news is that with just seven of you in the class we'll have plenty of time to make sure each of you gets it, that all of you can succeed in learning the basics of writing a news story.
Another advantage of the drafting method is there really isn't a final deadline for your stories (well, there is the end of the semester). You will be able to revise and rewrite until the story is ready to be graded. If that takes a week, great. If it takes until May to get it right, that's what we will do.
So give me you best next Friday. Some of you, especially those who have zeroed in on a story and are already at work, should be in good shape. Those of you who are still unsure about a story idea, I'll stay after class Friday and make sure you have a topic before you leave. Even if you don't have time for interviews on Friday, you should at the very least make some phone calls and set up some interviews for early next week. Have a good Thursday and I'll see you Friday.
Oh yeah, I'm looking for stories 400 to 500 words in length.
The future of newspapers
Here are a couple of stories on NY Times blogs about the state of the American newspaper.
One explores micropayments
The other features essays from some top journalism pros
These are just FYI for now. We'll be talking about these topics throughout the semester and will surely come back to them in one form or another.
One explores micropayments
The other features essays from some top journalism pros
These are just FYI for now. We'll be talking about these topics throughout the semester and will surely come back to them in one form or another.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
I'll be here after all
Hey folks, it looks I'll be in class Wednesday after all. The good news is that we'll get to spend quality time together. The bad news is that the deal for the freebie quiz is off, for now.
In the meantime, here are some stories you might want to take a look at for Friday.
This story has an FVCC angle
And this is probably the story of the week
Scott Crandell is back on for Feb. 20, so maybe we can cut a deal for the CE quiz next week.
The next chapter we'll be taking a look at is Chapter 3 — Interviewing, and then Chapter 4 — In Their Own Words.
In the meantime, here are some stories you might want to take a look at for Friday.
This story has an FVCC angle
And this is probably the story of the week
Scott Crandell is back on for Feb. 20, so maybe we can cut a deal for the CE quiz next week.
The next chapter we'll be taking a look at is Chapter 3 — Interviewing, and then Chapter 4 — In Their Own Words.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Who isn't named in this story, and why?
Daily Inter Lake
What guidance does the SPJ Code of Ethics provide?
We'll use this story as our first blog assignment. I'd like each of you to comment on the above story and the ethics behind leaving out the name of one of the news subjects. You need to make at least one blog post by noon on Friday. Multiple posts will improve your score on this assignment. You can continue to respond through the weekend, and we'll discuss in class on Monday.
Remember, these decisions are rarely black and white. Is there both rationale to leave the name out, as well as to include it?
I'll be out of town on Friday, Feb. 20, but Scott Crandell, the news editor of the Daily Inter Lake, has agreed to teach the class that day. So you'll have a chance to ask the person who made the call about his rationale for leaving out the identity of someone involved in this news story.
What guidance does the SPJ Code of Ethics provide?
We'll use this story as our first blog assignment. I'd like each of you to comment on the above story and the ethics behind leaving out the name of one of the news subjects. You need to make at least one blog post by noon on Friday. Multiple posts will improve your score on this assignment. You can continue to respond through the weekend, and we'll discuss in class on Monday.
Remember, these decisions are rarely black and white. Is there both rationale to leave the name out, as well as to include it?
I'll be out of town on Friday, Feb. 20, but Scott Crandell, the news editor of the Daily Inter Lake, has agreed to teach the class that day. So you'll have a chance to ask the person who made the call about his rationale for leaving out the identity of someone involved in this news story.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
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