The article on the first page is very informational and interesting, however it is not up to par for good journalism. First of all the title is very long, “MNDOT introduces the initial designs for the new I-35W bridge”, it should me more concise and to the point. A title needs to be catchy, but it does not need to be that long. Also the second sentence contains two questions, according Mr. Hatten’s lectures, this is not an acceptable way lede for a story. This picture from this article was not taken from a Zephyrus photographer; rather it was just taken from MNDOT online. It is good, however, that there is a caption underneath the picture, explaining what it is a picture of. It is good that there are at least three different quotes in this article. It deviates a bit, but for the most part it follows the inverted pyramid structure. There are a few journalistic errors in this article, but for the most part it is good journalism.
The article on page 4, “Pets in classrooms offer new approach to learning”, is a very well written article. Also, the picture is taken by the newspaper, and offers an explanatory caption. The lede is interesting and there are also four different people quoted. These different people all offer insight and add to the story. It is good that it uses human interest by talking about how Jeff Saude got hurt from the snake and then goes into talking about the Edina Health Services policy on animals in the classroom. This whole article is very informational, but it is written with the most important information at the beginning. This article is an example of excellent journalism.
The article on page 9, has a very catchy title, but is not a very good example of journalism. The title, “Rising high above the rest: the Westin”, is a clever title and this time the picture is even taken by a newspaper photographer. However, the first sentence is a question, which is a major journalism no-no. There are absolutely no quotes in this story. It may have been interesting to get a quote from a builder, the city council or a person affected by the construction. These quotes would have strengthened the story. There are some interesting statistics, but the lede is not good. This story has a strong idea but could use some minor improvements.
After looking at Zephyrus article by article, I have noticed some trends and drawn some conclusions about the newspaper in general. The newspaper puts the articles they have deemed more important in the front of the newspaper. For the most part, the articles are written with the inverted pyramid style. Some articles lack quotes, which could add a lot of support to the points being made. There are definitely some writers in Zephyrus that follow the rules of journalism a lot better then others. Zephyrus could definitely benefit from a few lectures from Mr. Hatten. They have great ideas, sometimes they just aren’t articulated all that well.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Story Ideas
Story Idea #1
1) Slug: Just Knock It Down
2) Section of newspaper story would appear (no Op-Ed):
FEATURES
3) What are the most dominant news elements in the story? Explain in-depth:
#1-Proximity, because it is happening in Edina, in our neighborhoods. It is a problem that is affecting the community. It doesn’t happen as often in other places, because Edina is a wealthy community with not a lot of land space for building new houses.
#2-Conflict, because it is making a lot of neighbors angry. It is something that is very controversial at this time and people should be aware of the topic.
#3-Other(emotion), because I know people who have grown up in a house all their life and when they go back to show their kids what it looked like, it is not even there, rather they find a castle where their childhood haven used to stand.
4) In a few sentences, describe what the story will be about: The story will be about how in Edina, people are purchasing regular sized houses and then knocking them down and building castles in their place. These houses do not fit in with the neighborhood. It will present the sides of the people living in the castle as well as the people living in the now “shoe-box” next to the castle.
5) Specifically, who will you interview or contact? Why those people?
Mary Torsch, her family built a large home in a smaller-homed neighborhood.
Molly Forbes or Jessica Bok, because they live in regular sized homes nearby this large home.
The City of Edina, to find out the rules on knocking down homes and rebuilding them.
6) What information do you need to gather before you begin interviews?
I need to find out more background information and regulations.
7) What questions do you definitely need answered in your interviews? Why?
I need to see why people knock houses down and build new ones. How the people around these new houses feel about it? Was it a major inconvenience when the house was being built? I need to find out what the city is going to do about the problem. Answering all these questions in a story, will give the reader a more complete view of the situation.
8) What photo opportunities are available to go alongside this story (give names, places, times, etc.)? I will take a picture of a large house that sticks out from the neighboring houses. An example is of Torsches house across from lake cornelia. I will do it during the day, so that it can be visible.
9) Who should a photographer contact to set up photographs?
The people whose home they will be taking pictures of.
10) What concerns or problems do you foresee in getting this story together?
It will be hard to interview the people, because I won’t want to seem rude like I am insulting their decision to knock a house down by writing a story about it.
Story Idea #2
1) Slug: Finally Open
2) Section of newspaper story would appear (no Op-Ed):
NEWS
3) What are the most dominant news elements in the story? Explain in-depth:
#1- Timeliness, because the bathrooms by our journalism room have just been opened.
#2- Proximity, because they are in our school and having them open will be much more convenient for a lot of the students.
#3- Conflict, because they were not opened until just recently.
4) In a few sentences, describe what the story will be about: This story will be about the good news that the bathrooms are finally opened. It will also investigate what took them so long to be open. It will then say what needs to be done, to keep them open.
5) Specifically, who will you interview or contact? Why those people?
- A student from the high school, because they will be able to explain what an inconvenience it has been since the bathrooms haven’t been open.
-A Janitor, because they will be able to explain what needs to be done to keep the bathrooms open.
-Dr. Lochlear, because he will be able to explain why these bathrooms have been closes for so long.
6) What information do you need to gather before you begin interviews?
I need to gather information on the budgeting of the school and investigate the other bathrooms that have been open all school year.
7) What questions do you definitely need answered in your interviews? Why?
Why haven’t the bathrooms been open? This is the question that students are dying to find out. And What can students do to make sure that the bathroom stays open? This question will help keep the bathrooms open.
8) What photo opportunities are available to go alongside this story (give names, places, times, etc.)? Taking a picture of the new bathrooms and how nice they are. This would best be done at the beginning of the day and also a picture of the old bathrooms for comparison.
9) Who should a photographer contact to set up photographs?
The school or the janitorial staff
10) What concerns or problems do you foresee in getting this story together?
Setting up interviews with the people will be a concern, because they all have very busy schedules.
1) Slug: Just Knock It Down
2) Section of newspaper story would appear (no Op-Ed):
FEATURES
3) What are the most dominant news elements in the story? Explain in-depth:
#1-Proximity, because it is happening in Edina, in our neighborhoods. It is a problem that is affecting the community. It doesn’t happen as often in other places, because Edina is a wealthy community with not a lot of land space for building new houses.
#2-Conflict, because it is making a lot of neighbors angry. It is something that is very controversial at this time and people should be aware of the topic.
#3-Other(emotion), because I know people who have grown up in a house all their life and when they go back to show their kids what it looked like, it is not even there, rather they find a castle where their childhood haven used to stand.
4) In a few sentences, describe what the story will be about: The story will be about how in Edina, people are purchasing regular sized houses and then knocking them down and building castles in their place. These houses do not fit in with the neighborhood. It will present the sides of the people living in the castle as well as the people living in the now “shoe-box” next to the castle.
5) Specifically, who will you interview or contact? Why those people?
Mary Torsch, her family built a large home in a smaller-homed neighborhood.
Molly Forbes or Jessica Bok, because they live in regular sized homes nearby this large home.
The City of Edina, to find out the rules on knocking down homes and rebuilding them.
6) What information do you need to gather before you begin interviews?
I need to find out more background information and regulations.
7) What questions do you definitely need answered in your interviews? Why?
I need to see why people knock houses down and build new ones. How the people around these new houses feel about it? Was it a major inconvenience when the house was being built? I need to find out what the city is going to do about the problem. Answering all these questions in a story, will give the reader a more complete view of the situation.
8) What photo opportunities are available to go alongside this story (give names, places, times, etc.)? I will take a picture of a large house that sticks out from the neighboring houses. An example is of Torsches house across from lake cornelia. I will do it during the day, so that it can be visible.
9) Who should a photographer contact to set up photographs?
The people whose home they will be taking pictures of.
10) What concerns or problems do you foresee in getting this story together?
It will be hard to interview the people, because I won’t want to seem rude like I am insulting their decision to knock a house down by writing a story about it.
Story Idea #2
1) Slug: Finally Open
2) Section of newspaper story would appear (no Op-Ed):
NEWS
3) What are the most dominant news elements in the story? Explain in-depth:
#1- Timeliness, because the bathrooms by our journalism room have just been opened.
#2- Proximity, because they are in our school and having them open will be much more convenient for a lot of the students.
#3- Conflict, because they were not opened until just recently.
4) In a few sentences, describe what the story will be about: This story will be about the good news that the bathrooms are finally opened. It will also investigate what took them so long to be open. It will then say what needs to be done, to keep them open.
5) Specifically, who will you interview or contact? Why those people?
- A student from the high school, because they will be able to explain what an inconvenience it has been since the bathrooms haven’t been open.
-A Janitor, because they will be able to explain what needs to be done to keep the bathrooms open.
-Dr. Lochlear, because he will be able to explain why these bathrooms have been closes for so long.
6) What information do you need to gather before you begin interviews?
I need to gather information on the budgeting of the school and investigate the other bathrooms that have been open all school year.
7) What questions do you definitely need answered in your interviews? Why?
Why haven’t the bathrooms been open? This is the question that students are dying to find out. And What can students do to make sure that the bathroom stays open? This question will help keep the bathrooms open.
8) What photo opportunities are available to go alongside this story (give names, places, times, etc.)? Taking a picture of the new bathrooms and how nice they are. This would best be done at the beginning of the day and also a picture of the old bathrooms for comparison.
9) Who should a photographer contact to set up photographs?
The school or the janitorial staff
10) What concerns or problems do you foresee in getting this story together?
Setting up interviews with the people will be a concern, because they all have very busy schedules.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Pleasent
The most important aspect of being a good journalist is being a pleasent reporter. This is very important, because if the reporter is not pleasesnt when talking to their sources they will not get good information, and in return they will not be a credible journalist. It is also important that a journalist gets both sides to a story, and so this means they most be tolerant of other peoples ideas. They can't let their own personal views be seen in their writing or reporting. Once again, these are the most important elements of a credible journalists career. Journalists have to be thankful for the information that their sources give them, because in return their sources may offer them more information that will make their stories even bette. If a journalist wasn't pleasent, they might let their own beliefs and opinions slip into their reports, and they would in turn lose credibility. Bottom line, a journalist cannot be credible without being pleasent.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Assignment #1- Parkway or Highway?
A once quiet, residential street in Edina, has turned into a heavily traveled road. The residents around this are angered by the constant stampede of cars swooshing through their neighborhood. The cops are cracking down on the lead foots. The Cornelia school is concerned for the safety of its students. These are just some of the many concerns the community is having about 70th street, however some still want to make this into a highway. This seems obsurd to the people living nearby this busy road and protests are arising to face this highly controversial issue. The most desirable solution seems to be a two-lane parkway that would require traffic to use the highways or an alternate route. However, this could effect the business the stores near France Ave recieve. This is where the controversy arises, the City of Edina is in a bit of a pickle. There is no win-win situation, the people and the business will never both be happy. What is more important though? or rather yet, what SHOULD be more important? Nevertheless, it is indisputable that a change is going to be made; the current situation is not working out.
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