small mediumschools

Judging News Entries: 

Judging News Entries Small and Medium Schools April 25, 2007 Presenter: Barbara Benish

How can you improve?: 

How can you improve? Leads Quotes Missing information Endings Miscellaneous items

Rules for writing leads: 

Rules for writing leads Leads should not include the who, what, where, when, why and how. Those facts can go deeper in the story, keeping the news at the top. The shorter the better. In general, no more than 25 words in your lead. Be objective. Use attribution for opinions. Use strong, active verbs. Not is. Break the rules only when you have a good reason.

Your leads: 

Your leads Lead with the newest information Somewhere between the night of April 10 and the morning of April 11, seven school buses were vandalized. The Colby School District referendum failed to gain enough votes on Feb. 21 with a 53 percent to 47 percent defeat. The vote totaled 576 “No” to 510 “Yes.”

Work for interesting quotations: 

Work for interesting quotations To get interesting quotations, you need to ask interesting questions. What did you do next? What happened next? Mainly, don’t ask yes/no questions. Establish rapport with the subject. Get them relaxed before you bring out the tape recorder or your notebook.

Rules for selecting quotes: 

Rules for selecting quotes Quotes should be used when they have impact, or when what was said, and how it was said, gives insight into the person being interviewed. If a quote is boring, paraphrase. Avoid “orphan quotes” where one or two words in a sentence are quoted. Avoid bionic quotes: “These (quotes) need help to work (well.)” A weak quote is worse than none.

Select quotes for…: 

Select quotes for… Authenticity Insight Vividness Unexpectedness Emotion

Some of your quotes: 

Some of your quotes “Our Bridge Builders have been planning this since the start of the year,” social studies teacher and adviser Hayden Knight said. “(When she first found out) my mom said that she already knew. She was disappointed, but she is still supportive. (Now) she is looking forward to it.” — Story on teen mothers Senior Tessa Srock said, “I started doing the 30-hour famine in sixth grade. They showed a video of starving children in tiny shacks during my Sunday school class. I knew then that I wanted to do something about it.”

More of your quotes…: 

More of your quotes… Principal Robert Nickel also could not believe what happened. “I would never have suspected anything like that happening,” he said. “The part that bothers me most is that somebody working with our kids ended up being somebody we couldn’t really trust.” — School voyeurism case Spectator Matt Duginski commented that the game was “very comical and an enjoyable experience overall,” especially when comparing the size of grown men riding itty-bitty donkeys. —Donkeyball game

Missing information: 

Missing information A story shouldn’t leave the reader wanting more A story quoted a student saying there is a 50 percent drop-out rate among Hispanic students because they are not legal citizens. What was missing? Statistics to back that up. Tell why they got so involved that they decided to drive to Madison and meet with the governor’s office about illegal immigration.

Slide11: 

Another story hinted at controversy over the theme for a school dance. What was missing? Who decides on a theme? What’s the process for determining a theme?

Your endings: 

Your endings Avoid being “preachy” — and long Going without food for a good cause isn’t that difficult, just ask someone who has done it. They will tell you that hanging out with your friends helps you get through it, as does knowing how much good you are doing to help the less fortunate around the world. Just raising $60 takes care of one child for two months. That’s only a dollar a day. The next time you get home and take the change out of your pocket, think about what good it could do for someone else, and save it to donate to World Vision.

Slide13: 

Avoid editorializing As for Stephanie and Karin, they made decisions for what they thought was right in their lives at the time. Congratulations to each of you and good luck to you and your babies. Keep these tips handy and stay healthy! — Story on eating healthy.

Slide14: 

Not soooooo long! The September election results showed that the taxpayers were definitely in favor of the fine arts referendum. Support for the artificial turf football field was never strong enough to pass. The passing of the endowment fund shows the taxpayers support and will ensure that the field is properly maintained for many years to come. The taxpayers’ show of support for the fine arts program in Ripon will benefit many students over the coming years and will keep educational programs alive in Ripon High School.

Miscellaneous: 

Miscellaneous Use paragraphs more liberally — If it’s a new thought, it should be a new paragraph. Think of using sidebars for long, complicated stories. Don’t forget to identify who your sources are. Not everyone will know who a person is by their name.

Slide16: 

Lead-ins shouldn’t repeat what the quote says. Right now, the administration is working on ways to deal with the budget issues. Programs are being prioritized to see what should be cut first. “We’re trying to prioritize things, and obviously the most important thing is the education of our kids,” said Dr. Schaid.

Slide17: 

Make sure you give all sides of each story. Proofread more carefully. The small town of Dundee was literally shut down for the reveal of the Koepke family’s new 4,500 square foot home provided by the ABC program “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

What you did right?: 

What you did right? Leads Quotations Miscellaneous Endings

Leads that work: 

Leads that work Summary leads Leading up to casting their ballots for the Nov. 7 elections, first-time voters at Xavier came to an unsettling realization: there is no such thing as the perfect candidate. Standing up for a belief can take courage. On Feb. 15, two Berlin students did just that. (Story on students who met with governor’s office to voice their opinion on illegal immigration.) Some may recognize Mrs. Herrild as the diminutive, happy-go-lucky business teacher at East DePere High. But behind her bright smile and positive attitude, Mrs. Herrild is constantly fighting an incurable battle with Multiple Sclerosis.

Slide20: 

Sodas, popcorn, chicken and other fried foods will no longer be served in the cafeteria next year if the school board’s proposed “School Wellness, Nutrition and Physical Activity” policy passes.

Slide21: 

Question leads In this day and age most people can’t fathom going more than a few hours without having something to eat. So how do you suppose people in third world countries go for weeks at a time, eating and drinking nothing but weeds and filthy water? (Story on students who raised awareness of world hunger at by going without food for 30 hours.)

Slide22: 

Descriptive leads Many of your may have played “h-o-r-s-e” on the basketball court, but the name of the game was “Donkeyball.” These four-legged friends and their riders took to the court to hoop it up at the Donkeyball game…

Quotes that work: 

Quotes that work “Both congressional candidates are being incredibly stupid and immature with their campaigns.” — Story on election, and in particular the Kagen / Gard race. “I don’t want people to feel sorry for me. I just want them to learn something about MS. With that, I will feel something good came out of this.” “It really is more of a cat-and-mouse game,” he said. “Students usually overhear a situation or are asked to join in.” (Story on Quick 50, where students earn $50 for turning in alcohol, drug or weapon tips.)

Other things you did right…: 

Other things you did right… You defined and explained terms The school’s budget is divided between fixed and unfixed costs. Fixed costs make up about 90% of the budget and include things such as salaries, electrical bills and other necessary costs. The other 10% consists of the instructional budget and goes toward buying things such as textbooks and other classroom supplies. Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that attacks the central nervous system of the body, which includes the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord. Scar tissue on the brain forms, which distorts nerve pulses to and from the brain, causing symptoms that can include paralysis.

Slide25: 

Nice job summarizing background material Tony Overton, 21, has been formally charged with the possession of child pornography, invasion of privacy with the use of a security device, capturing an image of nudity, reproducing a representation of nudity and invasion of privacy in a public place with a person present.

Endings that work: 

Endings that work Quotations that sum up story “I don’t want people to feel sorry for me. I just want them to learn something about MS. With that, I will feel something good came out of this.” “It’s like saying ‘McDonald’s should be more healthy because it’s making people fat.’ McDonalds isn’t making people fat. It’s the people’s choices where they go and eat the food that’s making them fat,” senior Annah Peterson said.

Slide27: 

More quotation endings… “There are some things you can’t prevent from happening,” Smejkal said. “You use your best judgment when you hire people, and you hope that is all goes the way it should.” — School voyeurism case.

Slide28: 

End with the last bit of information To catch the family’s reaction watch the show when it airs at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 on ABC. (Extreme Makeover in Dundee.) The public is invited to attend an informational meeting 7 p.m. June 8 in Volm Theatre. (Story on school consolidation program.)

Coming up with story ideas: 

Coming up with story ideas Referendums, school consolidation/building proposals, budget cuts, etc. People who have overcome diseases, odds “News of the day” — Extreme Makeover, missing students, police news (vandalism, underage drinking, etc.) Elections Issues that affect teens — teen pregnancies, health and obesity, etc. Remember events of the past — Sept. 11, etc.

If you ever have questions: 

If you ever have questions Contact me at benish@uwosh.edu