Folks,

Enjoyed meeting Saturday, and looking forward to our time together. Will have your leads back to you with feedback in the next few days.

Here are the lecture notes on the elements of news and writing leads. Would be especially good for you to review the lead slides and analyze the examples at the end.

Here is the explanation of the four-step story structure, which you will focus on more this week.

NEW HABIT: Daily read and analyze the news and specific hard news stories for at least 30 minutes.

In your daily readings, pick at least three story leads and analyze the writing: Look at the word choices, analyze the grammar, and emulate in your work. Then look at the structure – how it follows the “inverted pyramid” or four-step story structure.

Do this every day for a month, and you will do this automatically for the rest of your writing life.

Questions? Let me know.

-Kevin

Hi all,

We will be meeting every Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Room RR101 in the Run Shaw Building (will move to Eliot Hall the third Saturday we meet, but will update you on that later.

For the first assignment, I’d like you to write a short biography about yourself – must tell me where you’re from, your interests and why you want to study journalism. Length is up to you, but try to keep it below 500 words.

This assignment is due 11:59 p.m. Tuesday September 4 (tomorrow). How will this be graded? It won’t be – unless you turn it in late, which will count against your total grade.

Please put it on a Word document entitled – (Your Name) Bio. Also include your name at top of the document.

Please also title the subject line of the email: (Your Name) Bio.  (We will be following this format all semester – document and email subject line includes your name and the assignment).

If you plan to use a different email account this semester, please send from your preferred email account.

Please check back at this site regularly for updates and class lecture notes.

Our class syllabus and schedule can be found here.

-Kevin