Jour Exam 1 Exam # 1 Study Guide Lectures: Lecture 1 (news)What are the qualities of news?a. TIMELINESS—what happened an hour ago? Now is what is importantb. PROXIMITY—close to you is more likely to be news more so than far from you c. CONFLICT—we obsess on conflict because it makes something news d. IMPACT—affects peoples lives, that makes stories e. UNUSUAL NATURE—people love the odd and unusual f. HELPFULNESS—ex) how to spend less on books g. CELEBRITIES—are news always, have always been h. ENTERTAINMENT—tv, music, etc. i. HUMAN INTEREST—ex) overcame the odds j. COMMUNITY ISSUES—crime, schools, traffic k. TRENDS—growing, two data points in journalism make a trend (such as fashion, music, technology) What is the improved list of these qualities? - Relevant - Useful - & Interesting But, What does all of this depend on?YOUR AUDIENCE!A bit about writing…l. News stories typically written in past tenses while headlines often in present tensem. The “inverted pyramid”: traditional straight news form, but many others, *most important information in the beginningn. This form often uses a summary lede and provides info in descending order of importance. “Nut graph” lede may save this summary until later graph, between 2nd and 4th usually, *the nut graph refers to the sentence that summarizes the essence of the storyo. Two kinds of ledes when naming individuals: i. Immediate identification—person’s name is the lede, usually because of their prominence ii. Delayed identification—individual is not prominent, described through hometown, age, occupation (ex. 19 year old Athens boy arrested”) p. Don’t always write in active voice, note the active voice aspect to immediate action, we prefer active voice in writing but delayed ID is more common in stories. In a more feature approach, we name people to hook the reader II. Attribution of info is vital in news writing, particularly in handling quotes but also with paraphrasing.Give attribution to: a. Something said that is controversial b. Something said in a unique way c. Details about victims or suspects Lecture 2 (Interviewing) Interviewinga. There is a difference of what journalists can legally do vs. ethically doi. Ex. Naming a rape victimb. Face to face interviewing, always let them know you are recording if this is one on one, where as if it is a public interview no need to state that c. Should assume it is being recorded if held in publicd. Silence your ego e. *Approach the person you’re interviewing as if you belong there f. Obligated to say who you are and why you are here, only be apologetic in rare times (ex. Death) g. Get them to speak about others—it usually gets them talking h. Issue of confidentiality? You may get them to agree to use their name or quote but then they go back on it…negotiate how you can identify them, you want to be as specific as possible and they don’t i. Try to not use off the record j. Every story is made up of hundreds of ethical decisionsk. Try to avoid not using names (credibility purposes)l. Have them re-enact the scene—what was she doing?m. Telephone: getting people to describe stuff you weren’t there to see, can make an emotional connection n. Liars: when faced with them, don’t interrupt and let them spin their selected version of the story o. the best obtainable version of the truth on deadline is JOURNALISM p. Always get contact information of where they’re going to be later q. Be personable and interested when interviewing, make eye contact r. Everything they say is fair game and on the record, but journalist makes judgment call if someone says something then takes it back Lecture 3 (Mastering a Beat) Beats organize the world  *A beat is a specific topic a journalist covers  Journalists tend to see the world as tied to big, gray buildings (city halls, courthouse, etc.) This is both a strength and weakness of the beat system Strength—you can become specialized in your aspect/become expert in what you’re covering Outside the beat system are the GA reporters (general assignment or enterprise) who develop their own ideas or are ready to be tossed into any emerging story. These are often plum jobs.  Journalists build the beat system so nothing falls through the cracks  So we have the beat reporters and then the general assignment reporters  There is a hierarchy of beats (ex. The White House beat)Plan your beat  Identify any possible conflicts such as family working for organization you may cover *The perception of a conflict is as much a problem as conflict itself  What are the priorities? How much will be daily news, how much will be enterprise recording?Learn the territory Debrief your predecessor  Ask lots of dumb questions  Confess your ignorance  Learn the geography  Learn the jargon  Learn the law Be curious  Read everything Check the clips  Search the web Develop your own files Get to work Get to work right when you walk into the beat. You should… Find stories to work on NOW  Use each story as a chance to learn  Write for your READERS, not the one being written about  But don’t forget your SOURCES Check agendas, public records What is parachute journalism?When you drop into a story, gives you certain freedom, you can burn your sources, beat reporters don’t have that luxury*Thrusting journalist into an area that he/she has no knowledge about or experience with A little bit more on beats… Connect with sources Prospect regularly Work the public Diversify your sources If you make a mistake, correct it Find outside sources, experts  Identify the gatekeepers (who hold access) Get contact info In the magazine world, beats are a different beast. Magazines have fewer staff and often use freelance material  In magazine, a “beat” might be a staffer in charge of certain topics, or selections of “the book” as it issometimes calledLecture 4 (two videos)Video in class  The first video Don’t just build from the anecdotes  “Reverse hour glass” or “Wall Street journalism” is when you start with a person then get to the big picture and then back to the person Let people vent/talk first  The second video About finding the third place  Jittery Joes, dining hall, Tate plaza, Internet  Find out THE WHY Every situation is different  Ex. You can do the quick questions with politicians, they are