hard news story
It starts with a summary lead.
What happened? Where? When? by who? Why?
Keep the writing clean and uncluttered.
Soft news that isn't time-sensitive.
profiles of people, programs or organizations.
feature right in the middle not AS time sensitive.
don't always need to use pyramid.
editorial opinion piecehard news story structure start with lead full summary of what is to come should be first
soft news story ease into it not just throwing it all there.
body includes opinion of people you interviewed facts and your writing
DON'T STATE YOUR OWN OPINION.
put the person there with you
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Interviewing Notes
3 interviewees
schedule interviews 24 hours in advance
give a heads up
conduct background research
write interview questions 10-15
Why prepare questions?
its your job
qst impressions
nervous; unexpected circumstances
higher quality questions
preparation is a guide, not a limitation
Holy Trinity of Interviewing
Anecdote-brief story told by interviewee, paraphrased by writer, entertaining
Revealing Quote-said by interviewee, insight to personality, unique
Portrait-description created by writer, based on observations of interviewee, relevant
Types of Questions
Opener-beginning question/remark; establish a rapport
FIrst Step-ask about the topic
Qualifier-find out if source is qualified
Routine factual-5 W's and H
Numerical-statistical information
GOSSEY-goals, obstacles, solutions, start, evaluation, why
Responder-clarification
Soliciting a quote-a specific question, read it back to them
Soliciting an anecdote-prompts a short story
Imaginative-strays from the routine
Grenade-difficult questions
Recover from Grenade-a neutral question
Concluding the Interview
Thank the person
Sign documentation sheet
Further questions
Not everyone is a great interviewee
Plane ahead... unforseen circumstances
schedule interviews 24 hours in advance
give a heads up
conduct background research
write interview questions 10-15
Why prepare questions?
its your job
qst impressions
nervous; unexpected circumstances
higher quality questions
preparation is a guide, not a limitation
Holy Trinity of Interviewing
Anecdote-brief story told by interviewee, paraphrased by writer, entertaining
Revealing Quote-said by interviewee, insight to personality, unique
Portrait-description created by writer, based on observations of interviewee, relevant
Types of Questions
Opener-beginning question/remark; establish a rapport
FIrst Step-ask about the topic
Qualifier-find out if source is qualified
Routine factual-5 W's and H
Numerical-statistical information
GOSSEY-goals, obstacles, solutions, start, evaluation, why
Responder-clarification
Soliciting a quote-a specific question, read it back to them
Soliciting an anecdote-prompts a short story
Imaginative-strays from the routine
Grenade-difficult questions
Recover from Grenade-a neutral question
Concluding the Interview
Thank the person
Sign documentation sheet
Further questions
Not everyone is a great interviewee
Plane ahead... unforseen circumstances
Friday, May 8, 2009
Scavenger Hunt
1. Who will be the new superintendent of district 196?
Jane
2. How many teachers are absent from school today? Who are they?
12 or so
3. Who is the president of our school board? How many are on the board?
4. What date is graduation this year?
Friday June 12th
5. Who are the newest faculty members?
Mr Fedje
6. Who is the tallest person at our school?
Nick Dolsky-student Mr Tollefson
7. What does DECA stand for?
Distributive Education Club of America
8. How many home football games were played this season?
6
9. Who are the student council officers?
Kelly Van Beck
10. Where do you find accurate spelling of a student’s name? Grade level?
Campus
11. How many students have enrolled at EVHS this year?
2217
12. Who is the head custodian?
Brian Fisher
13. Who advises the Yearbook?
14. Where is the district office located? (city & street name)
15. Who are the administrators (in addition to Dr. Peterson) and what are their duties?
Franchino, Hanson,
16. Who advises the chess club?
Mr Detmer
17. Name the captain(s) of the girls’ soccer team?
North, Price, and Mare
18. Who manages the cafeteria?
Jean Martin
19. Who are the librarians?
Ms Coziy, Ms Lindgren
20. How many students are taking AP tests this year?
500
Sources: Julie Geiselhart, Kyle Peterson, Mr Franchino
Jane
2. How many teachers are absent from school today? Who are they?
12 or so
3. Who is the president of our school board? How many are on the board?
4. What date is graduation this year?
Friday June 12th
5. Who are the newest faculty members?
Mr Fedje
6. Who is the tallest person at our school?
Nick Dolsky-student Mr Tollefson
7. What does DECA stand for?
Distributive Education Club of America
8. How many home football games were played this season?
6
9. Who are the student council officers?
Kelly Van Beck
10. Where do you find accurate spelling of a student’s name? Grade level?
Campus
11. How many students have enrolled at EVHS this year?
2217
12. Who is the head custodian?
Brian Fisher
13. Who advises the Yearbook?
14. Where is the district office located? (city & street name)
15. Who are the administrators (in addition to Dr. Peterson) and what are their duties?
Franchino, Hanson,
16. Who advises the chess club?
Mr Detmer
17. Name the captain(s) of the girls’ soccer team?
North, Price, and Mare
18. Who manages the cafeteria?
Jean Martin
19. Who are the librarians?
Ms Coziy, Ms Lindgren
20. How many students are taking AP tests this year?
500
Sources: Julie Geiselhart, Kyle Peterson, Mr Franchino
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Eastview news
What is newsworthy at Eastview?
What Back Issues Can Tell Us:
1. What stories are covered every year?
homecoming, sports, graduation
• What time of year did these stories run?
homecoming week, during state sport tourneys, end of the year
• Are any of the same people involved year after year?
2. What was the biggest story of each year?
sports success
3. How many personality sketches of students were run each year?
4 each issue (canned spam)
• What types of students were interviewed? (athletes, student leaders, etc.)
one of each grade, big sports names
• Was any one student constantly featured in one year? Why?
tyler cropsy several times
• Do you think this was fair?
yes if the person truly makes a difference
4. How many personality sketches of faculty were run each year?
not many
• Which teachers were featured?
teachers that did something outside of school
• Why those particular people?
favorite teachers of students/writers
5. What full page features (or center spreads) did the publication carry?
vending machine/candy restrictions
• Are any of those topics still relevant?
not as serious but still relevant
6. What was a great year(s) for sports teams? Activities?
2004, girls teams in spring did great
• Did the school have any state champions?
nothing mentioned
• Olympic performers?
nope
• Other honors?
too many to list
7. Find a story that uses background information from previous years.
8. What topics did the paper editorialize about each year?
rules about cell phones
• What stand did the paper take?
opinions from students and faculty differ
• Has the problem been solved or is it still an issue?
still an issue
9. What major news did the paper carry about classes?
graduation requirements a little different every year
• Any curriculum changes?
next years freshman need more classes to meet standards
• Any major new programs?
no
10. Any new equipment?
computers here and there, programs on the computer
• Any building programs?
no
11. Any scandals involving students, administrators, or teachers?
pranks here and there
• What happened?
someone got pranked etc
12. What changes in fashion among students can be found?
low hanging jeans, shorter skirts
13. What signs of changing times can you find as mirrored in the concerns of students?
the economy is a common topic
• What concerns never seem to change and would continue to make good stories year after year?
predjudice
14. Did the school have any championship academic teams?
debate, math olympiad
• Art show winners?
• Band or choir awards?
• Science winners?
• National honors?
15. Which clubs were most active?
student council, debate, speech
16. What campus events made the most news?
football games
17. What movies and music groups has the paper reviewed?
student groups, local sports teams
18. What issues did cartoonists choose?
19. How has the publication’s format changed?
not too much over the past few years
20. Did the demographics of your student population change? Why?
nothing noticable
21. What are the school’s traditions and how did they develop?
color day
• Who are the school’s traditional rivals? (Could vary between activites.)
apple valley, burnsville, Eden prarie, farmington
• How did the rivalry begin?
no clue
22. What are five things most interesting about EVHS?
students, staff, opportunities, curriculum, sports teams
What Back Issues Can Tell Us:
1. What stories are covered every year?
homecoming, sports, graduation
• What time of year did these stories run?
homecoming week, during state sport tourneys, end of the year
• Are any of the same people involved year after year?
2. What was the biggest story of each year?
sports success
3. How many personality sketches of students were run each year?
4 each issue (canned spam)
• What types of students were interviewed? (athletes, student leaders, etc.)
one of each grade, big sports names
• Was any one student constantly featured in one year? Why?
tyler cropsy several times
• Do you think this was fair?
yes if the person truly makes a difference
4. How many personality sketches of faculty were run each year?
not many
• Which teachers were featured?
teachers that did something outside of school
• Why those particular people?
favorite teachers of students/writers
5. What full page features (or center spreads) did the publication carry?
vending machine/candy restrictions
• Are any of those topics still relevant?
not as serious but still relevant
6. What was a great year(s) for sports teams? Activities?
2004, girls teams in spring did great
• Did the school have any state champions?
nothing mentioned
• Olympic performers?
nope
• Other honors?
too many to list
7. Find a story that uses background information from previous years.
8. What topics did the paper editorialize about each year?
rules about cell phones
• What stand did the paper take?
opinions from students and faculty differ
• Has the problem been solved or is it still an issue?
still an issue
9. What major news did the paper carry about classes?
graduation requirements a little different every year
• Any curriculum changes?
next years freshman need more classes to meet standards
• Any major new programs?
no
10. Any new equipment?
computers here and there, programs on the computer
• Any building programs?
no
11. Any scandals involving students, administrators, or teachers?
pranks here and there
• What happened?
someone got pranked etc
12. What changes in fashion among students can be found?
low hanging jeans, shorter skirts
13. What signs of changing times can you find as mirrored in the concerns of students?
the economy is a common topic
• What concerns never seem to change and would continue to make good stories year after year?
predjudice
14. Did the school have any championship academic teams?
debate, math olympiad
• Art show winners?
• Band or choir awards?
• Science winners?
• National honors?
15. Which clubs were most active?
student council, debate, speech
16. What campus events made the most news?
football games
17. What movies and music groups has the paper reviewed?
student groups, local sports teams
18. What issues did cartoonists choose?
19. How has the publication’s format changed?
not too much over the past few years
20. Did the demographics of your student population change? Why?
nothing noticable
21. What are the school’s traditions and how did they develop?
color day
• Who are the school’s traditional rivals? (Could vary between activites.)
apple valley, burnsville, Eden prarie, farmington
• How did the rivalry begin?
no clue
22. What are five things most interesting about EVHS?
students, staff, opportunities, curriculum, sports teams
Monday, April 27, 2009
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