Proseminar in Journalism: Writing and Reporting

Proseminar in Journalism:Writing and Reporting Instructor: Angelia Herrin July 14, 2009

Should You Take That Baseball Cap?

Revisions!

What Is Ahead? FOR THURSDAY, July 16 Read Ethics Package Listen to Connie Hale LIVE YOUR PROJECT MEMO IS DUE To Me and Your TA Sunday, July 19 YOUR FEATURE STORY IS DUE We are signing up for story conferences. If you are online, please send in times NOW before 6:30 when you might be available.

Give Me Three Great Paragraphs

Raised on Robbery

Hard News A baby and her mother were robbed in their Cambridge home Wednesday, when armed intruders fled with jewelry worth $5,000. The robbery took place at approximately 11:30 p.m. Two armed and masked men pushed in the door to Grace Ford, 20 and her 10-month-old baby. In the house was also Cynthia Phillips, 16, Ford´s sister and the family Rottweiler ,Elka, who started to bark as the men rushed in

Fun A diaper saved a 10-month-old from a gunshot during an armed robbery at a Cambridge home. The bullet pierced the crying baby’s extra thick diaper in the intruders’ attempt to shut a barking Rottweiler up. At approximately 11:30 p.m. Sunday, two armed men, described as 18 to 20 years old, burst into a North Pemberton Street

More Fun Extra-thick diapers may save your child’s life. Ten-month-old Brandi Ford was lying in her play pen late last night when two armed robbers entered her Cambridge home, demanding money and jewelry from her startled mother Grace Ford.

Even More Fun Grace Ford received more protection than she had budgeted for when she put her 10-month-old-baby, Brandi, in a pair of super absorbent diapers: it stopped a bullet.

Too Much Fun? Diapers are known for saving baby droppings from hitting the floor, not for saving a baby’s life. A bullet-proof diaper was the hero late last night when a burglar sent a gunshot towards an infant in her play pen. The extra padding on the diaper absorbed the bullet, preventing any harm to 10-month-old Brandi Ford.

Did We Know That? A community is shaken after two masked gunmen forced entry into a Pemberton Street home and nearly shot a 10 months old baby in the process. Grace Ford, 20, was watching television in her living room as her daughter, Brandi Ford, slept

The Feature Writer’s Toolkit • It’s about the other people – not me the writer • It’s about the theme and heart • It’s about the details: the time and heart you invest. • It’s about the structure and transitions “Beautiful writing is built one step at a time, just like a house.” Jack Hart

When You See the Difference A 61-year-old Middlefield woman was rescued Monday after her vehicle slid over an embankment and into the Connecticut River. Mary K. Kokoszka was driving onto Route 9 from Hartford Avenue when her vehicle, a Chevy Blazer, hit ice, police said. She was trapped inside the Blazer, which sunk in ten feet of water. A commuter who was driving on Harford Avenue saw the accident and stopped to help, police said.

So much more When Jim O’Brien left home Friday, he was a commuter. Along the way he became a hero. Waiting in a line of cars on Hartford Avenue about 7 a.m., he saw a woman pull her Chevy Blazer onto Route 9, hit an icy patch and go into a spin. The car slid off to the road and into the Connecticut River. “As soon as I realized she going over the bank, I realized somebody has to go in,”

Reporting Tools • Can you ever have too much detail? • You may not know exactly what details you will need when you write your story. So gather all the details you can – from how many steps to the door to how many times the phone rings. • Ask what were people thinking, saying, hearing, smelling, wearing and FEELING. • Don’t chicken out because you are on the phone!!!

Descriptive ladder • A dog • A Lab • A white Lab • A white Lab named AnnaLee • A white Lab named after AnnaLee, who is mentioned in the song “The Weight”, recorded by The Band • (Apologies to William Ruehlmann, Stalking the Feature Story)

Before You Write? Theme Can you find the concept that gives the story meaning? “The theme is why readers want to read this story, not just the nut graf your editor required. To write something universal… death,life,fear,joy… what every person can connect to is what I look for in every story.” David Maraniss

Now That You Are Writing Avoid Adjectives. Write about specific detail with strong and vivid nouns and verbs, but avoid modifiers. When you use adjectives you run the risk of inserting your opinions.

Analogy is Good – But It Better Be Great “Now 891 pounds and climbing. That’s more than twice as much as Sears’ best refrigerator-freezer – a 26-cubic-footer with automatic ice and water dispensers on side-by-side doors. That’s almost as much as a Steinway piano. He’s fat.”

Use Physical DescriptionBUT Use physical descriptions only when they are relevant to the content. Avoid descriptions tacked onto impersonal quotes. Avoid sexist and racist descriptions. OH SO PAINFUL EXAMPLE “The study shows college students are becoming more conservative,” the researcher said, blinking her blue eyes and clasping her carefully manicured hands.”

Let Us (Readers) In On the Action Don’t tell the reader, let her see the subject in detail, particularly in motion. “Don’t say the old lady screamed. Bring her on and let her scream.” Mark Twain

Let’s Talk About Structure Consider the Laws of Progressive Reader Involvement Stage one: Tease me, you devil (Give the reader a reason to continue) Stage two: Tell me what you’re up to. (OKAY, so)What is the story really about? Stage three: Oh yeah? Prove what you said. (include the evidence to support your theme) Stage four: Help me remember it. (Make it clear and forceful and give it a memorable ending) Credit to William Blundell, The Art and Craft of Feature Writing

Stage three: Oh yeah? Prove what you said. (include the evidence to support your theme) Stage four: Help me remember it. (Make it clear and forceful and give it a memorable ending) Credit to William Blundell, The Art and Craft of Feature Writing

Structure – Does It Matter • If you build it, will they come?

For Starters • Write as you report. As you gather information, start writing the story. • Consult with your editor. Don’t hold your cards too close to your vest. • Consider story elements. Use story elements such as character, plot, setting, theme, conflict and resolution to make your story more engaging, whatever structure you use

Plan your structure. Especially if you’re considering a structure you haven’t used before, write a plan or outline of your story. • Find the right structure and avoid formulas.

Some Structure to Consider • Inverted Pyramid • Wall Street Journal/Circle Back • Hour Glass/Chronology • Conflict Resolution Narrative • Chunking/Sections • Lists

It the End, Most Stories The first box is your lead and perhaps the following paragraph or two. This is where you draw people into the story with an image or detail that captures their attention. The second box is the nut graph, summarizing the story . The third box leads into the body of the story with a new image or detail. This may work almost as a second lead. The fourth box is the material that rounds out the story. The final box is your “kicker,” ending with a powerful quote or image.

Tightening • Squeeze A Fact on Every Line. • Focus Tightly • Use Impact Leads • Make the Story Move • Don’t over-attribute • Avid Weak Transitions • Use Quotes That Advance the Story

So Let’s Join The Ten Percent Club

Proseminar in Journalism: Writing and Reporting