Thursday, October 28, 2010

Tips for Interviewing

Do

--research your subject beforehand
--have an opening question prepared
--ask open-ended questions
--ask the 5 W's and H
--listen
--ask follow-up questions
--solicit quotes

Don't

--show up unprepared
--ask closed questions (yes or no)
--talk too much
--take so many notes that you forget to listen
--interrupt
--place obstacles between you and your subject
--be confrontational

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Interviewing Techniques

How should you prepare for an interview?

What do you think are some Interviewing Do's and Dont's

Do you know the difference between an open question and a closed question?

This link is from an online textbook from NY Times and discusses Interviewing Techniques:
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/specials/weblines/461.html

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Friday Morning Scavenger Hunt

NAME___________________________ Journalism 2010
Current Events Scavenger Hunt

Task: The object of this scavenger hunt is to increase your knowledge of current events and the places to find reliable information. Please answer the questions and write down where you found this information.


1. What is the top story in the news today?



2. What is the first advertisement you saw on a news website?



3. What time is Life as We Know it playing at the Sayville Theater today?



4. What day is Global Handwashing Day?



5. Who are Sharron Angle and Harry Reid?



6. Explain the controversy over the Ole Miss (a college) mascot.



7. Who wrote the new book The Warmth of Other Suns?



8. What are the topics of today’s New York Times’ editorials?



9. What Smithtown news made today’s local news?



10. What is the price of a barrel of crude oil?




11. What were yesterday‘s Win Four numbers for New York State?



12. Name one sports columnist for Newsday.



13. What was yesterday’s highest temperature in the US?



14. What was yesterday’s low temperature in Tokyo?



15. Who is the manager of the Texas Rangers?



16. Yesterday, President Obama made a proclamation that this month is _________ heritage month.



17. How much does a cemetery plot cost at the Mt. Hebron cemetery in Flushing?



18. How were 17 people killed on a Moscow train over a three-year period?



19. How much does an electric blue cat wig cost from the website kittywigs.com?



20. What problem is France currently facing?

More Front Pages!

Go to the link below to see front pages from around the world:

http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/default.asp

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Front Page Project

First, please read this article about how a front page is made:

http://www.observer.com/2009/media/how-times-home-page-gets-made


Then, go to the link below to see the front page of today's NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/indexes/2010/10/13/pageone/scan/index.html


Please leave it on your screen as we discuss the various elements of a front page.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Classwork for Tuesday, October 12th

ACTIVITY #1

You Make the Decision!
News Literacy Activity

You are the editor of a local newspaper. From the following list of available stories, you have to plan your next edition. You do not have unlimited space. You have room to run one large story, or “lead” story, on the front page along with three smaller stories.
Use the graph on the following page to rate each story on level of importance and level of interest to your audience. Then choose your “lead” story, your three secondary stories, and explain why you would give them more attention than the others.
You charge 50 cents a copy and there are three other competing newspapers in the area.

1. Female faculty members at a local university file a landmark sex discrimination suit against the university, alleging that women get paid less than their male counterparts. As evidence, they present the first comparative list of salaries, department by department.
2. The 6 year-old daughter of the local high school principal is reported missing from the campus day-care facility. Police fear a kidnapping and put out an alert for the public’s help. The principal is currently embroiled in a bitter custody battle with her husband.
3. Two-dozen homeless people are arrested after they are discovered behind the town power plant. Advocates say it points to the growing problem of the homeless this winter throughout the area.
4. A local high school senior, who works two jobs after school, wins $5 million dollars in the lottery and announces that he will treat his graduating class to the prom.
5. The current United States president has a new budge proposal that calls for a sharp increase in the interest rate for college loans. Some members of Congress have denounced the change and have urged students to lobby against the measure.
6. Six local students are arrested following a sit-in-by several hundred people at town-square protesting the increasing number of fast-food restaurants and the rise of obesity and diabetes in the town. They want to see more healthy options in restaurants for their town.
7. The local high school basketball team is undefeated and is going to the state championship for the first time.
8. Two students are killed by a drunk driver while walking along an unlit road in town. Residents have complained about this stretch of road for years.
9. Your reporter learns exclusively that The Jonas Brothers have chosen your town to be the kickoff site for their next tour and tickets will go on sale next week.
10. Elections for Mayor are coming up and both candidates will be speaking at the local high school to debate the rising cost of school taxes.




You Make the Decision! News Literacy Activity

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

CHARACTERISTICS OF EDITORIAL WRITING

CHARACTERISTICS OF EDITORIAL WRITING

An editorial is an article that presents the newspaper's opinion on an issue. It reflects the majority vote of the editorial board, the governing body of the newspaper made up of editors and business managers. It is usually unsigned. Much in the same manner of a lawyer, editorial writers build on an argument and try to persuade readers to think the same way they do. Editorials are meant to influence public opinion, promote critical thinking, and sometimes cause people to take action on an issue. In essence, an editorial is an opinionated news story.

Editorials have:

1. Introduction, body and conclusion like other news stories
2. An objective explanation of the issue, especially complex issues
3. A timely news angle
4. Opinions from the opposing viewpoint that refute directly the same issues the writer addresses
5. The opinions of the writer delivered in a professional manner. Good editorials engage issues, not personalities and refrain from name-calling or other petty tactics of persuasion.
6. Alternative solutions to the problem or issue being criticized. Anyone can gripe about a problem, but a good editorial should take a pro-active approach to making the situation better by using constructive criticism and giving solutions.
7. A solid and concise conclusion that powerfully summarizes the writer's opinion. Give it some punch.

Four Types of Editorials Will:

1. Explain or interpret: Editors often use these editorials to explain the way the newspaper covered a sensitive or controversial subject. School newspapers may explain new school rules or a particular student-body effort like a food drive.
2. Criticize: These editorials constructively criticize actions, decisions or situations while providing solutions to the problem identified. Immediate purpose is to get readers to see the problem, not the solution.
3. Persuade: Editorials of persuasion aim to immediately see the solution, not the problem. From the first paragraph, readers will be encouraged to take a specific, positive action. Political endorsements are good examples of editorials of persuasion.
4. Praise: These editorials commend people and organizations for something done well. They are not as common as the other three.

Writing an Editorial

1. Pick a significant topic that has a current news angle and would interest readers.
2. Collect information and facts; include objective reporting; do research
3. State your opinion briefly in the fashion of a thesis statement
4. Explain the issue objectively as a reporter would and tell why this situation is important
5. Give opposing viewpoint first with its quotations and facts
6. Refute (reject) the other side and develop your case using facts, details, figures, quotations. Pick apart the other side's logic.
7. Concede a point of the opposition — they must have some good points you can acknowledge that would make you look rational.
8. Repeat key phrases to reinforce an idea into the reader's minds.
9. Give a realistic solution(s) to the problem that goes beyond common knowledge. Encourage critical thinking and pro-active reaction.
10. Wrap it up in a concluding punch that restates your opening remark (thesis statement).
11. Keep it to 500 words; make every work count; never use "I"

A Sample Structure

I. Lead with an Objective Explanation of the Issue/Controversy.

Include the five W's and the H. (Members of Congress, in effort to reduce the budget, are looking to cut funding from public television. Hearings were held …)

Pull in facts and quotations from the sources which are relevant.
Additional research may be necessary.

II. Present Your Opposition First.

As the writer you disagree with these viewpoints. Identify the people (specifically who oppose you. (Republicans feel that these cuts are necessary; other cable stations can pick them; only the rich watch public television.)

Use facts and quotations to state objectively their opinions.
Give a strong position of the opposition. You gain nothing in refuting a weak position.


III. Directly Refute The Opposition's Beliefs.

You can begin your article with transition. (Republicans believe public televison is a "sandbox for the rich." However, statistics show most people who watch public television make less than $40,000 per year.)

Pull in other facts and quotations from people who support your position.
Concede a valid point of the opposition which will make you appear rational, one who has considered all the options (fiscal times are tough, and we can cut some of the funding for the arts; however, …).

IV. Give Other, Original Reasons/Analogies

In defense of your position, give reasons from strong to strongest order. (Taking money away from public television is robbing children of their education …)

Use a literary or cultural allusion that lends to your credibility and perceived intelligence (We should render unto Caesar that which belongs to him …)

V. Conclude With Some Punch.

Give solutions to the problem or challenge the reader to be informed. (Congress should look to where real wastes exist — perhaps in defense and entitlements — to find ways to save money. Digging into public television's pocket hurts us all.)

A quotation can be effective, especially if from a respected source
A rhetorical question can be an effective concluder as well (If the government doesn't defend the interests of children, who will?)