Throughout the course of the semester there have been many stories and blogs that I have written that have challenged me. Whether it be an advanced obituary or a story covering a local government meeting, these assignments have helped me broaden my writing style and improve my news writing ability.
On the first day of class I thought that I had a pretty good sense of news writing style, but I was definitely wrong. I did not know proper AP style when it came to leads, interviewing techniques, and simple writing style. I have learned so much about how to write proper leads, how to write different styles of stories, and also how to keep myself out of the news writing process.
There have been a couple of distinct habits that I was so accustomed to using in my writing style that I have had to change this semester. They have been simple changes, but they make a difference in the overall quality of my writing. Here is a list of 25 of those bad habits that I have learned to change, therefore improving my news writing skills.
1. Do not use the term "spoke" in the lead.
2. Do not use the term "met" in the lead.
3. Do not use the term "gathered" in the lead.
4. Web site, not website.
5. Never use a hyphen in place of a dash.
6. Do not use semicolons if possible.
7. Tri-State, not tri-state
8. Always use a strong verb in the lead.
9. Use a direct quote in every story.
10. Who= subject of sentence
11. Whom= object of sentence
12. Internet, not internet
13. e-mail, not email
14. Ph. D., not PH.D.
15. Only use the term "very" in direct quotes.
16. Do not use the term "several".
17. Keep the lead short and concise, about 25 words.
18. If a person has more than one title, make sure to use them both.
19. Do not say obvious things, only what is important and crucial.
20. Do not use "said that", just say "said".
21. Use the term Faculty instead of Staff.
22. People are "who", not "that".
23. You can only report from your 5 senses.
24. Only use the actual date if an act of God happens, like Jesus coming back.
25. Attribute every sentence.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
2009 H1N1 Virus Presentation Takes Place at Marshall University
Harry K. Tweel, Director of the Cabell-Huntington Health Department, said on Monday that the 2009 H1N1 virus, also known as "Swine Flu", is a true pandemic.
"A true pandemic is one that is worldwide, with little or no immunity, and this strain of the virus fits both of those descriptions." Every year, people everywhere rush to get the seasonal flu vaccine, but that vaccine will do nothing in helping fight the H1N1 virus.
"This strain of the virus is predictably unpredictable", Tweel said. Every year 200,000 people in the United States are hospitalized from the seasonal flu, with 36,000 of those hospitalizations resulting in death. Most of those that are affected from the seasonal flu are older, usually over 60 years of age. The difference with this strain of the H1N1 is that is mostly affects people between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old.
According to Tweel, "22.9% of the cases in Cabell County were with people between the ages of 0-4 years old and 26.7% were with people between 5-24 years of age." He stressed the importance of people under the age of 25 getting the vaccine, saying that its "safety profile is identical to the seasonal flu vaccine."
There are six main target groups for the vaccine, and the federal government has purchased all of the vaccines from the manufacturers to try and help contain and control the spread of the virus. Pregnant women, parents or caregivers of children younger than 6 months old, health care workers, all people between 6 months and 24 years of age, and people over 25 who have other health complications such as heart disease, diabetes, or asthma are all eligible to receive the vaccine.
There have been over 10,000 vaccines given in Cabell County this year, with more to come in the upcoming months. Tweel said that there are things everyone can do beyond the vaccine to help prevent the spread of H1N1 as well. "Simple things like washing hands, coughing into your sleeve, and using hand sanitizers are all important."
There has been a decline in the amount of cases in Cabell County in the past month, but Tweel said that this is just the "end of the beginning", and that all eligible people should get the vaccine if it is available to them.
The Cabell-Huntington Health Department will conduct H1N1 clinics for high-risk individuals who live or work in Cabell County or the City of Huntington Dec. 1-2 at Marshall University. The clinics will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 1-2, at Cam Henderson Center on Marshall’s Huntington campus.
"A true pandemic is one that is worldwide, with little or no immunity, and this strain of the virus fits both of those descriptions." Every year, people everywhere rush to get the seasonal flu vaccine, but that vaccine will do nothing in helping fight the H1N1 virus.
"This strain of the virus is predictably unpredictable", Tweel said. Every year 200,000 people in the United States are hospitalized from the seasonal flu, with 36,000 of those hospitalizations resulting in death. Most of those that are affected from the seasonal flu are older, usually over 60 years of age. The difference with this strain of the H1N1 is that is mostly affects people between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old.
According to Tweel, "22.9% of the cases in Cabell County were with people between the ages of 0-4 years old and 26.7% were with people between 5-24 years of age." He stressed the importance of people under the age of 25 getting the vaccine, saying that its "safety profile is identical to the seasonal flu vaccine."
There are six main target groups for the vaccine, and the federal government has purchased all of the vaccines from the manufacturers to try and help contain and control the spread of the virus. Pregnant women, parents or caregivers of children younger than 6 months old, health care workers, all people between 6 months and 24 years of age, and people over 25 who have other health complications such as heart disease, diabetes, or asthma are all eligible to receive the vaccine.
There have been over 10,000 vaccines given in Cabell County this year, with more to come in the upcoming months. Tweel said that there are things everyone can do beyond the vaccine to help prevent the spread of H1N1 as well. "Simple things like washing hands, coughing into your sleeve, and using hand sanitizers are all important."
There has been a decline in the amount of cases in Cabell County in the past month, but Tweel said that this is just the "end of the beginning", and that all eligible people should get the vaccine if it is available to them.
The Cabell-Huntington Health Department will conduct H1N1 clinics for high-risk individuals who live or work in Cabell County or the City of Huntington Dec. 1-2 at Marshall University. The clinics will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 1-2, at Cam Henderson Center on Marshall’s Huntington campus.
Thanksgiving: A Time for Family
This Thanksgiving was one that brought a new and exciting challenge for me that every man seems to dread. I was blessed with the opportunity of going to meet some of my girlfriend's extended family for the first time in Pennsylvania. It brought a nervous anticipation that I hadn't experienced in a long time and I was unsure of what was to come.
With all of the excitement that comes from a family gathering during the Thanksgiving holiday, it was hard to find time to relax and catch my breath. Many family members that I had never met before were asking questions about my life and the direction it was headed.
The meal was delicious and the dessert was perfect, and the barrage of family questions and introductions was over. It was a relief to know that I was accepted and that now I could take part in some of the family traditions, such as "black friday" shopping and thanksgiving day football.
With all of the excitement that comes from a family gathering during the Thanksgiving holiday, it was hard to find time to relax and catch my breath. Many family members that I had never met before were asking questions about my life and the direction it was headed.
The meal was delicious and the dessert was perfect, and the barrage of family questions and introductions was over. It was a relief to know that I was accepted and that now I could take part in some of the family traditions, such as "black friday" shopping and thanksgiving day football.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Arnold Gives Tips for Effective Interviewing to Journalism Students
George Arnold said Tueday in his presentation to a Marshall University News Writing class that confidence and a professional attitude are vital for effective interviewing.
Arnold, former professor at the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and widely-recognized author of the "Media Writer's Handbook", outlined many effective interviewing tips that the future journalists can use. Confidence was the main tip that he gave to the students.
"Act confident, regardless of whether you feel confident. If you seem scared or unsure of yourself, your source won't have much confidence in you and may withold information out of fear of being misquoted."
Arnold also said that being prepared is very important to conduct a professional interview. He focused on telling the students to be diligent researchers by finding out as much about the topic and source as possible. He said that, "Confidence comes from being prepared."
Another important tip that he talked about was that it is very important to keep yourself out of the interview. The story is about the source, not about you, so it is vital to ask the questions and keep them simple and brief.
Arnold told a story about when he was covering NASCAR and was asked to interview driver Junior Johnson. He said that all he could get from Johnson were short answers like yes, no, and um-hmm. So he was able to improvise by interviewing other drivers to get his story about Johnson.
He also said that observation, setting, and being courteous are all important for effective interviews.
Arnold, former professor at the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and widely-recognized author of the "Media Writer's Handbook", outlined many effective interviewing tips that the future journalists can use. Confidence was the main tip that he gave to the students.
"Act confident, regardless of whether you feel confident. If you seem scared or unsure of yourself, your source won't have much confidence in you and may withold information out of fear of being misquoted."
Arnold also said that being prepared is very important to conduct a professional interview. He focused on telling the students to be diligent researchers by finding out as much about the topic and source as possible. He said that, "Confidence comes from being prepared."
Another important tip that he talked about was that it is very important to keep yourself out of the interview. The story is about the source, not about you, so it is vital to ask the questions and keep them simple and brief.
Arnold told a story about when he was covering NASCAR and was asked to interview driver Junior Johnson. He said that all he could get from Johnson were short answers like yes, no, and um-hmm. So he was able to improvise by interviewing other drivers to get his story about Johnson.
He also said that observation, setting, and being courteous are all important for effective interviews.
Former Professor George Arnold to Return to Marshall as Guest Speaker
George Arnold, former professor and widely-known author, will return to Marshall University Tuesday to discuss grammar and interviewing with journalism students.
Arnold, who taught at the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism from 1968-2004, will be a guest speaker for the JMC 201 class at 12:30pm. He will discuss tips that can be used for effective interviewing and will also talk about some grammar rules.
Known for his popular book, "Media Writer's Handbook" published by McGraw-Hill, Arnold is a self-proclaimed "grammarholic" who is a specialist in proper grammar usage and effective writing techniques.
Arnold will also be meeting with the JMC 305 class in Communication Building room 135later in the day to disccuss editing.
Arnold, who taught at the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism from 1968-2004, will be a guest speaker for the JMC 201 class at 12:30pm. He will discuss tips that can be used for effective interviewing and will also talk about some grammar rules.
Known for his popular book, "Media Writer's Handbook" published by McGraw-Hill, Arnold is a self-proclaimed "grammarholic" who is a specialist in proper grammar usage and effective writing techniques.
Arnold will also be meeting with the JMC 305 class in Communication Building room 135later in the day to disccuss editing.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Environmental Issues are Important on an International Level
A Marshall University professor said that environmental issues such as ocean pollution, water scarcity, and climate change are all important on an international level in a lecture Tuesday.
Jess Morrissette, who received his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia and specializes in International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Politics of Water Rights, explained to his class that, “If there is a common resource with no regulation over that resource, generally that resource will be over-used and exploited.”
During his explanation of water scarcity around the world, Morrissette explained that 1/3 of the developing world, lacks access to clean water. This scarcity leads to difficulties in growing food, sustaining health, and preserving proper sanitation.
Morrissette also focused on some areas of climate change that are having a direct affect on international relations. Global warming is the biggest area of concern when it comes to climate change, and Morrissette explained that, “It has been directly linked to flooding, diseases from insects, and also has been a factor in the rise of irregular and extreme weather.”
He also offered a statistic from the U.N., which stated that, “300,000 people each year die from global climate change related issues.”
Morrissette also told the audience about some barriers to environmental cooperation that are keeping countries from working together to help fix these problems.
One such barrier is known as a collective action problem. According to Morrissette, self-interest of each individual country takes over and makes cooperation very difficult.
Also, competing priorities is a barrier to advancements in environmental cooperation. Morrissette said that, “Many countries usually have higher priorities than the environment, such as the economy, or education.”
Monday, November 9, 2009
Summary of George Arnold Handout
The handout the class recieved that was written by George Arnold was really entertaining. It was was humorous becasue it is unusual that someone would be so bothered by signs that are incorrect. I am not saying that Mr. Arnold is wrong, but I have never heard of someone having so much frustration from incorrect grammar. It is probably a frustration that more people should have because so many of us use incorrect grammar every day. I look forward to hearing more from Mr. Arnold about grammar and copy editing.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tri-State All About the Small Things
Patti Price, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tri-State, is all about the children.
"It does not take a lot of money or time, because it is the small things that can make an impact," Price said. "It is a wonderful thing to make an impact on a child's life."
Price has worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tri-State for 31 years and received her education at Marshall University. She graduated with a BA in Rehabilitation Education and also received her MA from Marshall in Counseling.
Big Brothers Big Sisters was established nationally in 1910 in Cincinnati by Irvin Westheimer. According to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tri-State's website, the local branch of the organization was established in 1974 by a small group of citizens who were concerned about the well-being of children growing up in single parent homes.
The mission of the organization is to provide guidance and companionship to youth through a one-to-one relationship with a caring volunteer to assist them in achieving their highest potential.
Big Brothers Big Sisters has two main programs that it uses to achieve its mission: community based mentoring and school based mentoring.
Community based mentoring is a program in which the "Big" or volunteer is screened and matched with a child who is in need of support and guidance. The Big can then pick up their little brother or sister and take them to different places around the community such as the park, movies or out to lunch, as long as their is parental permission. The main goal of this program is friendship.
School based mentoring is a program in which the volunteers spend 1 hour a week with their little brother or sister for the entire school year. It is a way to reach more children and also open up availability to more volunteers who might not have enough time to participate in the community based program. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tri-State reaches out to many schools in the area, including schools in Cabell, Wayne, Boyd, and Greenup Counties.
"One hour a week such as a lunch hour spent reading and helping a child with some homework can go a long way," Price said.
With programs such as these that require the work of volunteers, it is always a priority to recruit new people to volunteer their time and effort. A recruiting campaign that Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tri-State is participating in is called the Tell-a-Guy Campaign.
It is a campaign specifically targeting male volunteers to help with the programs. Their is a significant lack of male volunteers, and they are hoping this campaign will help fill some of the holes that a lack of male workers has left.
Like any non-profit organization, fundraising is a huge part of what goes on at Big Brothers Big Sisters.
"We receive money and grants from the United Way, but fundraising is a big part of what we do here," Price said.
One of the biggest fundraisers they run each year is the annual christmas tree sale. It begins November 28th and is very important to the budget of the organization. According to the Big Brothers Big Sisters website, the local christmas tree sale raised $32,000 last year.
There will be three locations where the trees will be sold: the BB&T bank located on 1st St. and Adams Ave., Eastern Heights Shopping Center, and the Ashland Tennis Center. They are also looking for recruits to volunteer their time and help with shifts of selling the trees.
Price also stressed the need for volunteer mentors. "We always need mentors. If someone is interested, they can call or e-mail us to begin the screening process and training."
The Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tri-State's website had some startling statistics. Researchers found that after going through a mentoring program, little brothers and little sisters were, "46 percent less likely to use illegal drugs, 27 percent less likely to start using alcohol, 53 percent less likely to skip school, and 37 percent less likely to skip a class."
After seeing statistics like those, it shows the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tri-State is part of a "big thing", doing the little things that make an impact in a child's life.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Local United Way Executives Visit Marshall Journalism Class
Two leaders from the United Way of the River Cities visited the JMC 201 class at Marshall University on Thursday to outline the organizations goals and projects in the community.
Executive Director Laura P. Gilliam and Director of Resource Development and Marketing Cassey Bowden shared a lot of information with the class about the United Way and what the main focus areas of the organization are in the local community. Gilliam told the class that the United Way is more than just fundraising and handing out money, and that it has many collaborative projects and campaigns that they are currently working on in the greater Huntington area.
The two main collaborative projects that the United Way is working on are improvements in early childhood education, and substance abuse prevention programs. Gilliam said that the United Way is focused on finding "supporting strategies that create solutions to those issues." There are also four main focus areas that the United Way is working on in this area. They are learning & earning, health & wellness, families & children, and basic needs & unforeseen hardships.
Gilliam also introduced the class to the new United Way Worldwide. The United Way went global in the past year, with each separate branch being its own independent affiliate of the organization. Each branch is run by its own separate board of directors, but the United Way Worldwide has outlined some goals for the next ten years that it wants all of the local branches to focus on. Those goals are to cut America's high school dropout rate in half, to help stabilize financially troubled families, and to increase by one-third the number of youth and adults who are healthy and avoiding risky behavior.
Bowden also made a presentation to the class about some of the marketing and fundraising projects that the United Way is currently working on.
The United Way uses mostly outdoor advertising and print media as its main forms of marketing and advertising. In the next few months, there will be some billboards and signs going up in the Huntington area to advertise the United Way's messages and events to the community.
One of those upcoming events is called Putt & Play for United Way. It is a putt-putt golf tournament sponsored by the United Way that will take place in the greater Huntington area. The tournament usually has a great turnout and is a great fundraiser for the organization.
The fundraising goal for the United Way of the River Cities is $1.4 million in 2009. There are many ways for people within the local community to support the United Way, whether it be by financial donation or volunteering their time or services for specific programs. It is important for the United Way to reach its goal so that its programs and the 32 local non-profit organizations that it supports can function at their fullest potential. Its programs are for the improvement of the community, and that is a goal we can all give towards.
For more information on how to help, visit the United Way of the River cities website at unitedwayrivercities.org
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Questions for United Way Directors
On Thursday two directors from the United Way of the River Cities will be coming to my JMC 201 class to discuss their organization and specifically speak about the programs and agencies that the United Way funds and promotes.
It is important to ask questions that help give a better understanding of the organization and go deeper than just surface information. Some questions that I plan on asking are:
1. How much money did the United Way of the River Cities bring in last year? Was it the amount needed to fit your budget?
2. What are some fund-raising ideas that the United Way has for the local area in the upcoming year?
3. Can I receive a copy of your tax returns for the previous three years?
4. What are some goals that the United Way has set for success in improving the Huntington community within the next couple years?
5. How could interested people in the community get involved in helping the United Way achieve its goals?
I am also focusing on the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Tri-State as my agency that the United Way funds in the local area. Some questions that I will ask the directors from the United Way in regards to my specific agency are:
1. How much money did you give to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Tri-State last year?
2. What are some of the programs that the Big Brothers/Big Sisters are doing that you are specifically interested in and would like to see improved or expanded?
After the interview with the directors from the United Way, I will be doing research and an interview with a director from my specific agency. It will be important that I ask the same types of questions that get important and relevant information. Some of the questions that I will ask for that interview are:
1. Can I see a copy of your tax return from the three previous years?
2. How did the United Way assist in helping your agency be successful in your programs?
3. What are some ways that you would like to see your agency expand and grow in order to help the local community?
4. What were some of your activities and programs that were especially successful last year?
5. How could local people get involved in helping this agency be more active and successful in helping the community improve?
These types of questions are what people want to know about non-profit organizations. It raises awareness of what is going on in the community and how others can get involved in making these organizations a success.
It is important to ask questions that help give a better understanding of the organization and go deeper than just surface information. Some questions that I plan on asking are:
1. How much money did the United Way of the River Cities bring in last year? Was it the amount needed to fit your budget?
2. What are some fund-raising ideas that the United Way has for the local area in the upcoming year?
3. Can I receive a copy of your tax returns for the previous three years?
4. What are some goals that the United Way has set for success in improving the Huntington community within the next couple years?
5. How could interested people in the community get involved in helping the United Way achieve its goals?
I am also focusing on the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Tri-State as my agency that the United Way funds in the local area. Some questions that I will ask the directors from the United Way in regards to my specific agency are:
1. How much money did you give to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Tri-State last year?
2. What are some of the programs that the Big Brothers/Big Sisters are doing that you are specifically interested in and would like to see improved or expanded?
After the interview with the directors from the United Way, I will be doing research and an interview with a director from my specific agency. It will be important that I ask the same types of questions that get important and relevant information. Some of the questions that I will ask for that interview are:
1. Can I see a copy of your tax return from the three previous years?
2. How did the United Way assist in helping your agency be successful in your programs?
3. What are some ways that you would like to see your agency expand and grow in order to help the local community?
4. What were some of your activities and programs that were especially successful last year?
5. How could local people get involved in helping this agency be more active and successful in helping the community improve?
These types of questions are what people want to know about non-profit organizations. It raises awareness of what is going on in the community and how others can get involved in making these organizations a success.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The United Way of the River Cities (Revised)
The United Way of the River Cities is a non-profit organization dedicated to bettering the condition of the community, as well as focusing on health, education, and family growth in the local area. It is a group supported primarily through fundraisers, grants, and partnerships, which all provide the necessary funds and supplies to achieve the United Way's goals. According to the United Way of the River Cities' website, the United Way works hard to create strategies that are aimed to fix the persistent problems of the community.
The United Way has some initiatives that it focuses on which in turn bring stability and improvement to struggling communities. One example is learning and earning. The United Way emphasizes that communities with high rates of employment are safe and strong, so in turn they attempt to educate individuals and promote learning skills that qualify those people for jobs in the community.
Also, the United Way has a goal of promoting health and wellness in local communities. It believes that healthy individuals result in healthy communities. Also, it has a goal of improving and sustaining the wellness of individuals throughout the community because they believe that enhances the quality of life.
The United Way of the River Cities recently launched the Common Good Forecaster, which is a Web-based tool that estimates the improvements within the community if the educational outcomes and programs were to improve. It was launched in June 2009, and forecasts unemployment level changes, as well as change in yearly wages due to educational improvement.
On Oct. 15, two directors of the United Way of the River Cities will be in my JMC 201 class to discuss the work and direction of the organization. Executive Director Laura P. Gilliam, and Director of Resource and Development & Marketing Funded Partners Cassey Bowden, will bring some information to the class about different projects that the organization is working on, and also some ideas of how we could possibly get involved. Gilliam received her bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina, while Bowden attended and graduated from Marshall University.
Another project we will be doing in class with the United Way is to follow an organization that is funded by the United Way. I chose to follow the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Huntington. It will be exciting to get involved and learn more about the work that they do there. I look forward to talking to some of the directors of that organization to find out some ways that we as a community could get involved with the work that they do there.
The United Way has some initiatives that it focuses on which in turn bring stability and improvement to struggling communities. One example is learning and earning. The United Way emphasizes that communities with high rates of employment are safe and strong, so in turn they attempt to educate individuals and promote learning skills that qualify those people for jobs in the community.
Also, the United Way has a goal of promoting health and wellness in local communities. It believes that healthy individuals result in healthy communities. Also, it has a goal of improving and sustaining the wellness of individuals throughout the community because they believe that enhances the quality of life.
The United Way of the River Cities recently launched the Common Good Forecaster, which is a Web-based tool that estimates the improvements within the community if the educational outcomes and programs were to improve. It was launched in June 2009, and forecasts unemployment level changes, as well as change in yearly wages due to educational improvement.
On Oct. 15, two directors of the United Way of the River Cities will be in my JMC 201 class to discuss the work and direction of the organization. Executive Director Laura P. Gilliam, and Director of Resource and Development & Marketing Funded Partners Cassey Bowden, will bring some information to the class about different projects that the organization is working on, and also some ideas of how we could possibly get involved. Gilliam received her bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina, while Bowden attended and graduated from Marshall University.
Another project we will be doing in class with the United Way is to follow an organization that is funded by the United Way. I chose to follow the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Huntington. It will be exciting to get involved and learn more about the work that they do there. I look forward to talking to some of the directors of that organization to find out some ways that we as a community could get involved with the work that they do there.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Coverage of Mingo County Murder
Both WSAZ and the Associated Press covered the story of the murder that happened in Mingo County earlier this week.
WSAZ had a very weak print story of the murder, and it was very easy to see that it was not a true print journalist that wrote the story for the website. They needed a better lead and also need to focus on sticking to the important facts rather than giving insignificant details.
The AP story was much more concise and stuck to the facts. The lead was short and to the point and the story focused on important details.
WSAZ had a very weak print story of the murder, and it was very easy to see that it was not a true print journalist that wrote the story for the website. They needed a better lead and also need to focus on sticking to the important facts rather than giving insignificant details.
The AP story was much more concise and stuck to the facts. The lead was short and to the point and the story focused on important details.
Different Approaches to the Same Story
A speech story about President Obama's speech at the United Nations was portrayed three different ways by three different news groups.
The AP, New York Times, and NBC all reported on the speech by the President, and all three of them had distinctly different styles. The Associated Press was a more direct story that got down to the facts quickly. The New York Times added a lot more details and quotes, and was a more in-depth story.
NBC's broadcast report was down to the point but also focused on some of the other world leaders that made appearances at the United Nations. NBC also differed by being a little more detailed when describing the audience's reaction to the President's speech.
The AP, New York Times, and NBC all reported on the speech by the President, and all three of them had distinctly different styles. The Associated Press was a more direct story that got down to the facts quickly. The New York Times added a lot more details and quotes, and was a more in-depth story.
NBC's broadcast report was down to the point but also focused on some of the other world leaders that made appearances at the United Nations. NBC also differed by being a little more detailed when describing the audience's reaction to the President's speech.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Dr. Swindell Lecture
A broadcast journalism professor lectured to the JMC 201 class about broadcast news this morning.
Dr. Chris Swindell said that broadcast news is a skill that needs to be learned by all of the different journalism majors at Marshall. He also said that it is important to be well rounded in your skills. Many print journalism majors are now having to do work in broadcasting, and he told the class a couple different factors that define broadcast news.
Swindell said that broadcast news is, "Written for the ear, not for the eye, written in little bits rather than big facts, written how we talk and is conversational, and it is the dominant means by which we get news."
The professor also spoke to the students about retrieving good quotes and soundbites. He told the class that a good quote or soundbite can make your story great. He also encouraged the class to keep working to achieve their goals.
Dr. Chris Swindell said that broadcast news is a skill that needs to be learned by all of the different journalism majors at Marshall. He also said that it is important to be well rounded in your skills. Many print journalism majors are now having to do work in broadcasting, and he told the class a couple different factors that define broadcast news.
Swindell said that broadcast news is, "Written for the ear, not for the eye, written in little bits rather than big facts, written how we talk and is conversational, and it is the dominant means by which we get news."
The professor also spoke to the students about retrieving good quotes and soundbites. He told the class that a good quote or soundbite can make your story great. He also encouraged the class to keep working to achieve their goals.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Serena Williams Apologizes to Fans
Serena Williams apologized on her blog Tuesday in regards to her attention-grabbing outburst during her semi-final match at the U.S. Open on Saturday.
Williams blogged that she was sorry for letting her fans down. She said, "I make no excuses in regards to my word choice that night, but I am sincerely sorry." She said that she thanked all of her fans for their support after she displayed actions outside of her usual character.
She also went on in the blog to promote the release of her book, "On the Line." Although Williams made a mistake this week, these actions are outside of her usual behavior, and she should be able to recover without any harm to her career.
Williams blogged that she was sorry for letting her fans down. She said, "I make no excuses in regards to my word choice that night, but I am sincerely sorry." She said that she thanked all of her fans for their support after she displayed actions outside of her usual character.
She also went on in the blog to promote the release of her book, "On the Line." Although Williams made a mistake this week, these actions are outside of her usual behavior, and she should be able to recover without any harm to her career.
How to Report on a Speech
During this week, I have had the opportunity to write some news stories about speeches. The first one that I did was Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. It was actually more difficult than one would imagine. It is hard to keep from editorializing a story about a speech because it is really tempting to put your own emotion into the story. I realized that it is my job to report what happened, not interpret what happened.
It was also hard to get to the points using the inverted pyramid. Sometimes it is hard to only focus on certain key points when a speech has so many different points. The inverted pyramid is crucial to successful news-writing and that is something that I really tried to focus on this week when covering speeches.
It was also hard to get to the points using the inverted pyramid. Sometimes it is hard to only focus on certain key points when a speech has so many different points. The inverted pyramid is crucial to successful news-writing and that is something that I really tried to focus on this week when covering speeches.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Two Huntington Residents Appear on TV Show "Judge Judy"
When you think of a true court case, you think of a plaintiff with a legitimate accusation and a defendant with a legitimate defense. Apparently that is not how it always works.
The popular television show "Judge Judy" welcomed two Huntington residents on Wednesday and what followed was nothing short of humorous. Tigie Monroe, an entertainer from the Huntington area, claimed that the defendant, Dionne Lawrence, hit him in the eye with a bottle at a local nightclub. The hit to the eye caused significant damage, and the plaintiff had to go to the hospital to receive stitches and even a CT scan. The plaintiff claimed that the costs of the medical work he received came up to $3,000 that he had to pay out of his pocket.
With such a legitimate accusation against her, you would have expected Lawrence to have some sort of defense. Well, her definition of defense seems to be different than most people's. Lawrence claimed that she did throw the bottle, but it was an accident because she was not aiming for the plaintiff. Judge Judy actually asked her if she was being serious with that defense, and surprisingly she was. She had no evidence, no documentation, nothing to say, except that he stepped in the way of the person she was aiming for.
Another interesting twist to the story is that the defendant is actually the girlfriend of the plaintiff's uncle. The plaintiff also told the court that during the night of the accident, the defendant actually admitted to hitting him with the bottle and told him that she would pay for the medical bills. The uncle was actually in court and was aware that the defense was not going to hold up so he kept quiet. The defendant had no response to saying that she had once agreed to pay for the medical bills.
When both sides were done presenting their cases, it seemed obvious which way the ruling would go. Judge Judy ruled in favor of the plaintiff, ordering the defendant to pay him $3,000 in medical costs. Both the plaintiff and the defendant smiled, because everyone knew that is the way the ruling would go. It was a humorous day at Judge Judy Sheindlin's court, and surprisingly the "it was an accident" defense did not hold up.
The popular television show "Judge Judy" welcomed two Huntington residents on Wednesday and what followed was nothing short of humorous. Tigie Monroe, an entertainer from the Huntington area, claimed that the defendant, Dionne Lawrence, hit him in the eye with a bottle at a local nightclub. The hit to the eye caused significant damage, and the plaintiff had to go to the hospital to receive stitches and even a CT scan. The plaintiff claimed that the costs of the medical work he received came up to $3,000 that he had to pay out of his pocket.
With such a legitimate accusation against her, you would have expected Lawrence to have some sort of defense. Well, her definition of defense seems to be different than most people's. Lawrence claimed that she did throw the bottle, but it was an accident because she was not aiming for the plaintiff. Judge Judy actually asked her if she was being serious with that defense, and surprisingly she was. She had no evidence, no documentation, nothing to say, except that he stepped in the way of the person she was aiming for.
Another interesting twist to the story is that the defendant is actually the girlfriend of the plaintiff's uncle. The plaintiff also told the court that during the night of the accident, the defendant actually admitted to hitting him with the bottle and told him that she would pay for the medical bills. The uncle was actually in court and was aware that the defense was not going to hold up so he kept quiet. The defendant had no response to saying that she had once agreed to pay for the medical bills.
When both sides were done presenting their cases, it seemed obvious which way the ruling would go. Judge Judy ruled in favor of the plaintiff, ordering the defendant to pay him $3,000 in medical costs. Both the plaintiff and the defendant smiled, because everyone knew that is the way the ruling would go. It was a humorous day at Judge Judy Sheindlin's court, and surprisingly the "it was an accident" defense did not hold up.
Mad Men
The show "Mad Men" is a television series about advertising executives. There was an article in the New York Times that recently talked about the direction the show was heading. The article was not well written and the style was hard to follow. I would have tried to be a little more focused on the facts of the show then actually what direction the show was heading.
Local Charleston Couple Appears on Popular TV Show "Judge Judy"
Judge Judy Sheindlin is not one to take it easy on the people who enter her courtroom. Whether it be a dispute about money, or the rights to ownership of a vehicle, Judge Judy is known for intimidating people that end up on her television show. Monday's show was no exception.
Two Charleston natives that had formerly been in a dating relationship were on her show Monday to resolve a dispute about money that had been loaned in order to pay back some traffic violation fines. Samantha Jones, the plaintiff, is a 23 year old from Charleston who was suing the defendant, Chris Casdorph, for $1,350 that was used to pay his fines for traffic violations. She was also asking for money to fix her vehicle that he dented in a civil dispute.
The plaintiff offered up some concrete evidence in the form of bank statements and photographs. Judge Judy seemed somewhat persuaded by the evidence, but seemed to always have her doubts about the plaintiffs story. The defendant confidently said that he was never told that he had to repay the plaintiff for the loan and he also had already given her some money back as a goodwill gesture.
When it came to the time to talk about the dented vehicle, things really started to get exciting. The story as told by the defendant is that the plaintiff first threw a hairbrush at his older child, then proceeded to take their younger child away from him. He was upset about the hairbrush incident and was now really upset that his girlfriend would try to take his child from him. During the scuffle there was a dent put into the car. Judge Judy wanted to know why the plaintiff would try to take the defendants child away and ruled in favor of the defendant on that occasion.
A funny story followed when the plaintiff also told of another time when the defendant was driving her car wildly and hit a stop sign. Apparently the plaintiff had told the defendant to stop driving the car so recklessly and he did not listen. So the plaintiff proceeded to throw the defendants jacket out of the window as an effort to get him to stop the car. Judge Judy found that ridiculous and seemed surprised that the plaintiff actually thought that would help her case.
When the case came to a close it seemed as if Judge Judy was really favoring the defendant. However when the decision came it was the plaintiff that had a smile on her face. She was awarded the $1,350 for the money she loaned the defendant for the traffic violations. As for money for the damaged vehicle, Judge Judy saw it for the defendant and no money was awarded to the plaintiff. It was exciting to see local people on the show because if one thing is for sure, there is never a dull moment in Judge Judy's courtroom.
Two Charleston natives that had formerly been in a dating relationship were on her show Monday to resolve a dispute about money that had been loaned in order to pay back some traffic violation fines. Samantha Jones, the plaintiff, is a 23 year old from Charleston who was suing the defendant, Chris Casdorph, for $1,350 that was used to pay his fines for traffic violations. She was also asking for money to fix her vehicle that he dented in a civil dispute.
The plaintiff offered up some concrete evidence in the form of bank statements and photographs. Judge Judy seemed somewhat persuaded by the evidence, but seemed to always have her doubts about the plaintiffs story. The defendant confidently said that he was never told that he had to repay the plaintiff for the loan and he also had already given her some money back as a goodwill gesture.
When it came to the time to talk about the dented vehicle, things really started to get exciting. The story as told by the defendant is that the plaintiff first threw a hairbrush at his older child, then proceeded to take their younger child away from him. He was upset about the hairbrush incident and was now really upset that his girlfriend would try to take his child from him. During the scuffle there was a dent put into the car. Judge Judy wanted to know why the plaintiff would try to take the defendants child away and ruled in favor of the defendant on that occasion.
A funny story followed when the plaintiff also told of another time when the defendant was driving her car wildly and hit a stop sign. Apparently the plaintiff had told the defendant to stop driving the car so recklessly and he did not listen. So the plaintiff proceeded to throw the defendants jacket out of the window as an effort to get him to stop the car. Judge Judy found that ridiculous and seemed surprised that the plaintiff actually thought that would help her case.
When the case came to a close it seemed as if Judge Judy was really favoring the defendant. However when the decision came it was the plaintiff that had a smile on her face. She was awarded the $1,350 for the money she loaned the defendant for the traffic violations. As for money for the damaged vehicle, Judge Judy saw it for the defendant and no money was awarded to the plaintiff. It was exciting to see local people on the show because if one thing is for sure, there is never a dull moment in Judge Judy's courtroom.
Monday, August 31, 2009
What is News?
I read an article by Debra Potter that talked about a couple of factors that affect directly what news is. Here is a link to the article for further reading:
http://www.america.gov/st/democracyhr-english/2008/April/20080416211618eaifas0.8870203.html
In the article, Potter talked about some of the qualities of news that make it exactly what the public wants and needs to hear. The first she talked about was timeliness, which is the one that I feel is the most important. People care about what is new and exciting. They want to know what is happening now, not two days ago. Two more of the qualities that were listed that I feel go hand-in-hand are conflict and prominence. Both of these qualities deal with things that attract the public. Potter was correct when she said that people love to take sides and also the public loves people that are famous or prominent. Both of these qualities tend to deal with emotion which is very important in news.
I also learned a lot about the different types of news stories and what categories they are put under. Personally, I want to be involved in sports news which can either be hard news if it is reporting on current games, or soft news if it is a story about a particular athlete or coach. Also, the soft news stories about athletes are also considered features, which are more entertainment than actual breaking news. Another topic that I found particularly important was the section on objectivity and fairness. It can be very difficult to write without personal feelings or bias, but I feel like it is very important to communicate the news in a way that shows both sides evenly and fairly to make sure that you reach the entire audience. Overall I found it to be a very detailed article that was very informative.
http://www.america.gov/st/democracyhr-english/2008/April/20080416211618eaifas0.8870203.html
In the article, Potter talked about some of the qualities of news that make it exactly what the public wants and needs to hear. The first she talked about was timeliness, which is the one that I feel is the most important. People care about what is new and exciting. They want to know what is happening now, not two days ago. Two more of the qualities that were listed that I feel go hand-in-hand are conflict and prominence. Both of these qualities deal with things that attract the public. Potter was correct when she said that people love to take sides and also the public loves people that are famous or prominent. Both of these qualities tend to deal with emotion which is very important in news.
I also learned a lot about the different types of news stories and what categories they are put under. Personally, I want to be involved in sports news which can either be hard news if it is reporting on current games, or soft news if it is a story about a particular athlete or coach. Also, the soft news stories about athletes are also considered features, which are more entertainment than actual breaking news. Another topic that I found particularly important was the section on objectivity and fairness. It can be very difficult to write without personal feelings or bias, but I feel like it is very important to communicate the news in a way that shows both sides evenly and fairly to make sure that you reach the entire audience. Overall I found it to be a very detailed article that was very informative.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
What I know about news on the second day of JMC 201 at Marshall University
News writing is an art form that the average person may think they have an idea about, but in all actuality they are probably pretty far off. A reporter, or news writer, is a person who examines the world around them and communicates the timely, worthy, and accurate facts that people need or want to know. There are different types of news writing, whether it be politics, economics, art, or sports, all are relevant topics that people care about and also want to know more about.
Personally, I want to be involved in the sports section of news writing. I love sports and I have a passion for knowing as much about my favorite sports as possible. The term "news" can be considered as broad if one does not cut it down to be a little more specific. News is the timely, accurate, worthy, and important facts about various subjects that are necessary for the public to be aware of. As I said earlier, whether it be world news, political news, economic news, or sports news, each one of those topics is important to different groups, which makes them all relevant.
My personal definition of the news probably relates more to me than the definition of news I have received in school. My definition of news is the information and facts that I want to learn more about and read about. Although that is not an accurate definition, it is the one I apply to myself. If you ask different people their definitions of news you would get a variety of answers. That is why I think that it is not the definition of news that is changing, it is the public's idea of what news actually is that is changing. There is always something new that needs to be reported. As the world progresses in science, technology, medicine, and sports, the news itself must also progress right along with them. That means the definition of what news is will always be changing.
I cannot remember all of the qualities of news that I have been told before, but I can say that a couple of them are timeliness, accurate, worthiness (newsworthy), and truthful. I don't have the foggiest idea about the rest of them, but I will have the answer by the end of the semester. If I could throw one quality into that list that I know is not on there it would be balanced. Many times certain news writers fall into the trap of not being objective and it comes out in their reports.
When it comes to the actual news reporter, their is a list of qualities that they must posses in their reports in order to be successful in their jobs. Their writing style needs to be quality work, with a list of attributes to follow. The list is accuracy, attribution, completeness, balance and fairness, objectivity, brevity and focus, and well-written. If a reporter follows those rules, they will have a much better chance at being successful and achieving their goals in the journalism field. This is what I know starting out. Stay tuned for the rest of the story...
Personally, I want to be involved in the sports section of news writing. I love sports and I have a passion for knowing as much about my favorite sports as possible. The term "news" can be considered as broad if one does not cut it down to be a little more specific. News is the timely, accurate, worthy, and important facts about various subjects that are necessary for the public to be aware of. As I said earlier, whether it be world news, political news, economic news, or sports news, each one of those topics is important to different groups, which makes them all relevant.
My personal definition of the news probably relates more to me than the definition of news I have received in school. My definition of news is the information and facts that I want to learn more about and read about. Although that is not an accurate definition, it is the one I apply to myself. If you ask different people their definitions of news you would get a variety of answers. That is why I think that it is not the definition of news that is changing, it is the public's idea of what news actually is that is changing. There is always something new that needs to be reported. As the world progresses in science, technology, medicine, and sports, the news itself must also progress right along with them. That means the definition of what news is will always be changing.
I cannot remember all of the qualities of news that I have been told before, but I can say that a couple of them are timeliness, accurate, worthiness (newsworthy), and truthful. I don't have the foggiest idea about the rest of them, but I will have the answer by the end of the semester. If I could throw one quality into that list that I know is not on there it would be balanced. Many times certain news writers fall into the trap of not being objective and it comes out in their reports.
When it comes to the actual news reporter, their is a list of qualities that they must posses in their reports in order to be successful in their jobs. Their writing style needs to be quality work, with a list of attributes to follow. The list is accuracy, attribution, completeness, balance and fairness, objectivity, brevity and focus, and well-written. If a reporter follows those rules, they will have a much better chance at being successful and achieving their goals in the journalism field. This is what I know starting out. Stay tuned for the rest of the story...
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Marshall Football Update
Ryan Tillman Thriving at New Position
Here is a link to the article for further reading:
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x1562580884/Tillman-moves-to-guard
Sometimes moving positions on the football field can be difficult, if not close to impossible. Football is a game in which skills and movements are learned over a long period of time and take a while to perfect. Ryan Tillman is a sophomore Left Guard for the Thundering Herd this year. The strange thing is that Ryan Tillman was a freshman Left Tackle for the Herd last year. Tillman started 12 games and performed very well, especially for a freshman. This year he is helping out the team by switching positions. He feels like it will be difficult, but he is looking forward to it. He has added about 15 pounds of muscle during the off-season workouts and is feeling great about the upcoming season. We all share his excitement for the upcoming season and are looking forward to seeing the Herd compete for a Conference USA title.
Press Taylor Accepting Role as Backup
Here is a link to the story for further reading:
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x265519806/Transfer-QB-suits-Herd-as-backup
Press Taylor is a junior-college transfer who is going to serve as the backup quarterback for the Marshall University football team this season. He will be the backup to Brian Anderson, who catapulted himself into the starters role with a great performance in the last game of the season last year. Anderson has continued his great play throughout training camp and practice, and Taylor and the rest of the Thundering Herd are supportive of their starting quarterback. Taylor has looked great working with the second team and he is ready to come in and help the team win if called upon.
Here is a link to the article for further reading:
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x1562580884/Tillman-moves-to-guard
Sometimes moving positions on the football field can be difficult, if not close to impossible. Football is a game in which skills and movements are learned over a long period of time and take a while to perfect. Ryan Tillman is a sophomore Left Guard for the Thundering Herd this year. The strange thing is that Ryan Tillman was a freshman Left Tackle for the Herd last year. Tillman started 12 games and performed very well, especially for a freshman. This year he is helping out the team by switching positions. He feels like it will be difficult, but he is looking forward to it. He has added about 15 pounds of muscle during the off-season workouts and is feeling great about the upcoming season. We all share his excitement for the upcoming season and are looking forward to seeing the Herd compete for a Conference USA title.
Press Taylor Accepting Role as Backup
Here is a link to the story for further reading:
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x265519806/Transfer-QB-suits-Herd-as-backup
Press Taylor is a junior-college transfer who is going to serve as the backup quarterback for the Marshall University football team this season. He will be the backup to Brian Anderson, who catapulted himself into the starters role with a great performance in the last game of the season last year. Anderson has continued his great play throughout training camp and practice, and Taylor and the rest of the Thundering Herd are supportive of their starting quarterback. Taylor has looked great working with the second team and he is ready to come in and help the team win if called upon.
World News Update
President Obama Has a Decision to Make
Here is a link for the article for additional reading and information regarding this topic:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/25/AR2009082501312.html
President Obama is being put between a rock and a hard place. The War on Terror has been going on in Afghanistan for many, many years and many Americans would like to see the troops pulled out of that country. There are currently 62,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan with a request for more probably coming soon. The problem is that President Obama based some of his campaign on the promise of removing troops from the Middle East. With many high-ranking generals requesting additional troops and Democratic members of Congress calling for the removal of troops it is creating a sticky situation.
Should President Obama try to finish the work that is being done in removing terrorists and radicals from Afghanistan like his generals are asking, or should he stick to what he said in his campaign and start the removal of the troops? Personally I would like to see whatever is best for Afghanistan. I know that our troops are over there fighting a war that may not seem like ours, but for decades the United States has been the country that has taken the responsibility of making the world a safer place. Although it may seem like a contradiction to make the world a safer place by the use of force and violence, sometimes that is the only way to achieve the necessary outcome that is best for everyone. It is better to do the job right and see it finished to the end then have all the men and women who lost their lives doing that work have their lives be lost in vain.
Cash Being Used to Help Heal in Afghanistan
Here is a link to the story for further reading:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/28/AR2009082802352.html
With all of the destruction and distress that a war causes there are always going to be civilians that get the raw end of the deal. The U.S. Military and Congress have come up with a strategy to make it a little better for those civilians who have lost some of their material things or even family members. Its a program that has been in existence for a while, but it is new in a couple sections of Afghanistan where there had not been very much fighting in the past.
A surprising fact is that only $2,500 is the compensation for a slain civilian. Their family receives that money, but does that seem fair? That seems very ridiculous to me. That is almost the same amount that is given for a slain cow, and the reasoning is that cows are so hard to raise in that area of the world. Seems slightly ridiculous that a family receives close to the same amount for a dead family member as a dead cow.
Here is a link for the article for additional reading and information regarding this topic:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/25/AR2009082501312.html
President Obama is being put between a rock and a hard place. The War on Terror has been going on in Afghanistan for many, many years and many Americans would like to see the troops pulled out of that country. There are currently 62,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan with a request for more probably coming soon. The problem is that President Obama based some of his campaign on the promise of removing troops from the Middle East. With many high-ranking generals requesting additional troops and Democratic members of Congress calling for the removal of troops it is creating a sticky situation.
Should President Obama try to finish the work that is being done in removing terrorists and radicals from Afghanistan like his generals are asking, or should he stick to what he said in his campaign and start the removal of the troops? Personally I would like to see whatever is best for Afghanistan. I know that our troops are over there fighting a war that may not seem like ours, but for decades the United States has been the country that has taken the responsibility of making the world a safer place. Although it may seem like a contradiction to make the world a safer place by the use of force and violence, sometimes that is the only way to achieve the necessary outcome that is best for everyone. It is better to do the job right and see it finished to the end then have all the men and women who lost their lives doing that work have their lives be lost in vain.
Cash Being Used to Help Heal in Afghanistan
Here is a link to the story for further reading:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/28/AR2009082802352.html
With all of the destruction and distress that a war causes there are always going to be civilians that get the raw end of the deal. The U.S. Military and Congress have come up with a strategy to make it a little better for those civilians who have lost some of their material things or even family members. Its a program that has been in existence for a while, but it is new in a couple sections of Afghanistan where there had not been very much fighting in the past.
A surprising fact is that only $2,500 is the compensation for a slain civilian. Their family receives that money, but does that seem fair? That seems very ridiculous to me. That is almost the same amount that is given for a slain cow, and the reasoning is that cows are so hard to raise in that area of the world. Seems slightly ridiculous that a family receives close to the same amount for a dead family member as a dead cow.
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