Class Notes -- Sept. 22, 2008

Class 3 – Journalism 175
9/22/08

In-class work
1. News quiz
2. AP Stylebook Quiz 2
3. Review Lede 2
4. Write Lede 3

Chapter 2 – News Reporting and Writing
Components of the story
1. Accuracy-- check facts-- be precise-- observe firsthand-- secondhand accounts-- thirdhand accounts: police reporting witness’ account; source quoting primary source
2. Attribution-- Quotes-- Information from sources-- Delayed-- Catch-all: police, fire marshal-- Page 38-9: attribution at start of lede -- Attribution does not guarantee accuracy of information-- Get information on the record; source must say information is off the record before he/she says it. Up to reporter whether to agree to it.-- when source cites report, document, mtg., check it yourself.
3. Complete – answer all questions
4. Fairness-- Cannot omit facts-- Must provide all sides-- Cannot deceive or mislead-- Cannot contain bias
5. Balance-- All sides of story-- Get comment from person accused or criticized
6. Objectivity-- Reporter does NOT inject his/her opinion-- Contains facts-- Written by impartial observer-- Not good enough to just quote both sides; must try to verify information (Sarah Palin/Bridge to Nowhere).-- Be careful about getting too close to sources to maintain objectivity, fairness (beat reporting).
7. Brevity-- Only include relevant information-- Still must answer all questions and be fair.
8. Selectivity-- Knowing what to include, leave out
9. Human Interest-- Relevance, impact
10. Responsibility-- To readers and the profession to be accurate, complete, fair, balanced, clear

Assignments
1. News clip showing verification
2. Read AP Stylebook, Pages 180-275
3. Write complete story for “Lead 1”
4. Outline Centurion story – sources (two minimum, background)