Extra Credit Assignment 6

Due Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010 (Worth 6 points)

Next week, I am assigning the final feature story. Sooo, it's not too early to start thinking of ideas.

Part 1

Go to this Web site: http://www.newscollege.ca/p18.htm Pick three places where you can shop for stories.

1. List three specific places that can be used for a local angle.

2. Come up with one story idea for each specific place. What would your nut graf be?

3. List two primary sources you could use for each one: one person and one document

Part 2

1. If you could blog about anything in the world, what would it be? (What interests you, or what would you

like to know more about?)

2. List an idea for the first three stories you would write. What would your nut grafs be for each story.

3. List two primary sources for each one: one person and one document

**Hopefully these exercises will give you an idea of a story you could write for your final feature!

Extra Credit Assignment 5

Due Wednesday, Oct. 27 at 10 p.m. Worth 9 points.

Nut grafs

1. Without peeking at the back of the book, do exercise 5 on page 63. Record your nut graf here.

News feature

2. Let's say you're assigned to do a LOCAL story about the Nov. 2 elections. Here are a few links you can check out:

The sample ballot for those living in Champaign County:

http://champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/docs/2010/11_02_2010_Full_Specimen.pdf

More election information:

http://champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/2010_Election_Information.html

Even more:

http://www.uselections.com/il/il.htm

So, either going off these links, using a different angle from a local story or localizing a national story:

What kind of local news feature story could you do about the election? What's your news peg? What information would be your nut graf? (Be as specific as possible.)

Broadcast

3. Read pgs. 166 to 167. (Especially points 1, 2, 4, 5 , 6 and 10. These pages compare and contrast print and broadcast - this could be a big help for you to read for your own stories!) Then read the first two grafs of this NY Times story:

Cruises have long been popular with honeymooners looking for a romantic getaway after the wedding. Now, a growing number of brides and grooms are tying the knot on cruise ships and sailing off into the sunset with their entire wedding party in tow.

Cruise weddings have increased 60 percent in the last decade, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, which represents major North American cruise lines and associated travel agencies. Carnival Cruise Lines alone expects some 2,200 couples will marry aboard its ships this year paying anywhere from $1,195 for a basic civil ceremony to $1,795 for a deluxe romance package with a one-and-a-half-hour reception and a celebratory ice carving.

a. How would you rewrite these first two paragraphs for broadcast? Be creative. Write simply.
b. What B-roll would you begin with? (Make sure your writing and b-roll match.)

Extra Credit Assignment 4

Ethics Wrap up. (Worth 6 points) Due Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010

Last week we talked about diversity in journalism and SPJ's Code of Ethics. For the first part of this exercise, I want you to think critically about and discuss your own biases. For the second part, I want you to read and discuss a story about former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Part 1

1. What personal biases do you have that might make you reluctant to approach certain story topics? (Could be religious, political, etc.) What specific topics might be hard for you to cover objectively?
2. If you had to do a story involving an issue you didn't agree with or have a strong bias against (e.g. a story on abortion and you're pro-life) what would you do? (Would you cover it? Why or not? How would you cover it, if you chose to do it? If you had a choice and you chose not to, why wouldn't you cover it?) (Use your own specific biases to answer this one.)
3. Do you think the media are biased? Why or why not? What can be done by journalists or by you to remedy any bias you detect?

Part 2

Read this story about the speech former Gov. Rod Blagojevich gave in March. Kind of ironic, no?

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/03/blagojevics-ethics-lecture-full-of-laughs----for-audience.html

1. Do you think the Tribune covered this story fairly? Why or why not?
2. If you were doing the same story, what ethical considerations might you to take into account (according to the SPJ Code of Ethics in your book)? Which ethical tenets might conflict and how? Is there a potential for libel?
3. How would you have done this story? Would you have done it the same way that it ran or would you have written it differently and how? Why do you think the Tribune ran the story this way?