Broadcast news story

Broadcast news story

San Francisco Elites Taint City with a Bad Name

60 seconds

Over 20 thousand women participated in the Nike Women’s Marathon last Sunday in San Francisco.

And 24-year-old Arien O'Connell, a fifth-grade teacher from New York City, ran the fastest time of any of the women, having the fastest time of the marathon, at 2:55:11.

But she didn't win.

Because she was not of the “Elite” class of women participants, that also stated 20 minutes before all the other women participants started.

the officials overlooked her finishing time which was even faster than the woman who won first place by six minutes.

Now, Nike realizes they had made a mistake and recognizes fastest marathon runner as "a" winner, not “The” winner and was awarded the same trophy as the “Elite” woman that won at the marathon.

-end-

Broadcast Style Exercise

Broadcast Style Exercise

NORTHWEST AIRLINES ANOUNCED TODAY THAT IT IS CUTTING IT’S DOMESTIC FARES BY UP TO 40% FOR HOLIDAY TRAVELERS.

"WE LIKE TO THINK OF IT AS A HOLIDAY GIFT TO OUR CUSTOMERS," SAID FRANK DEWITT, CEO OF NORTHWEST AIRLINES.

TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED BY FRIDAY FOR TRAVEL BETWEEN NOV. 12 AND JAN. 14 IN THE LOWER 48 STATES, ALASKA AND CANADA.

WITH THE DISCOUNTED, NON-REFUNDABLE FAIRES, A PASSENGER COULD TRAVEL ROUND-TRIP BETWEEN BOSTON AND SAN FRANCISCO FOR $500 ON CERTAIN DAYS.

DISCOUNTS VARY DEPENDING ON TRAVEL DATES AND ARE NOT AVAILABLE ON CERTAIN POPULAR DAYS, INCLUDING NOV. 23, NOV. 26, DEC. 23 AND DEC. 26.

-END-

A soft broadcast lead

AN UNEXPECTED BIRTHDAY PRESENT

30 Seconds

Mabel McCullough celebrated her 95^th birthday party, when the most unlikely of birthday presents came in, 24 of Tulsa’s own local firefighters.
Held by the First United Methodist Church women’s group, as McCullough blew out all 95 candles, it set off the smoke alarm. In turn, signaling the fire department.
Despite the uninvited guests McCullough did not seemed to be disturbed by the intrusion. She embraced it and turned it into an opportunity to have her photo taken with Tulsa’s finest. However the firefighters did not stick around to have some cake.

Reporting with numbers

EXERCISE #2: Reporting with Numbers
Please refer to the “Math for Journalists” section in Inside Reporting (Ch. 4, p. 84-85) for the information you will need to complete these exercises. You’ll need to review the segments on calculating percentages and figuring the mean and median (p. 84), as well as the “idea file” bullet points (p. 85) on how to present numbers.

1) A local college releases figures showing that its total budget is $120 million. Of that total, $80 million comes from the state, $6 million from student tuition, and the remaining $34 million from fees, grants and gifts.

* Figure the percentage of the college’s budget that comes from each source.
* Identify the significance of each funding source (the most vs. the least, etc.).
* Using plain words, instead of numbers, explain the proportion of funding that comes from different sources. Say it in the way you think would make it most easily understood.

65%- from the state

5%- from student tuition

30%- from fees, grants and gifts

• A local college releases figures showing that its total budget is $120 million. Of that total, 65 percent comes from the state, 30 percent come from fees, grants and gifts and six percent come from student tuition.

2) Your editor assigns you to do a story about prison sentences handed down in cases of aggravated assault. He gives you the following figures from an anti-crime group that is lobbying for tougher sentencing guidelines. The cases represent the people convicted for aggravated assault in San Jose in one month in 2006.

* Calculate the average prison term for people convicted of aggravated assault, taking care to convert some of the terms to figures that will compare properly (months vs. years).
* Calculate the media prison term for people convicted of aggravated assault.
* Explain why the average or median figure is the most accurate description of prison terms.

Name Sentence
Donald Lee 1 year prison, 2 years probation
Richard Smith 1 year prison, 1 year probation
Wesley Mitchell 14 months prison, 1 year probation
Mary Jones 1 year prison, 1 year probation
Juan Rodriguez 1 year prison, 2 years probation
Harold Rothstein 8 months prison, 1 year probation
Michael Reese 7 years prison, 5 years probation

• Cases represented for the people convicted for aggravated assault in San Jose in one month in 2006, show that on average, the convicted will serve 20 month in prison and 22 months probation.

3) The state legislature is considering exempting restaurant food sales from the sales tax in the same way grocery sales are exempt.

* First, find out the state sales tax.
* Then determine and explain how much fast-food patrons who pay $5 per meal would save in a year if they eat out once a week.
* Explain how much people would save if they spend $20 per meal once a week for a year.

• The state legislature is considering exempting restaurant food sales from the 7.25 percent sales tax in the same way grocery sales tax are exempt. The person who goes out to eat for every meal, on average, spends about $5 dollars per meal. That’s roughly $100 dollars a week. If they were to only eat out once a week, spending about five to twenty dollars, they would be saving about $5000 dollars a year.

JOUR 61 – AP Style Exercise (S-Z)

JOUR 61 – AP Style Exercise (S-Z), v. 2
15 errors / 15 points / 1 bonus point
Please identify and correct the AP style and other errors in the following sentences.

1) When he heard the building scheme for the new high school had been rejected, Bill pulled out his stationary to write a letter of protest. (2)

• When we heard the building plan for the new high school had been rejected, Bill pulled out his stationery to write a letter of protest.

2) Ben really knows his scriptures, but he knows little about the Talmoud or the shariah. (3)

• Ben reall knows his scriptures, but he knows little about the Talmud or the Shariah.

3) Her home in Upstate New York is surprisingly ultra-modern and rather unique for its middle class neighborhood. (4)

• Upstate New York is surprisingly ultramodern and unique for its middle-class neighboehood.

4) To celebrate Veteran’s Day, the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I, troupes of former soldiers will march down Main Street carrying US flags. (3)

• To celebrate Veterans Day, the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I, troops of former soldiers will march down Main Street carrying U.S. flags.

5) Word of mouth has it that Ellen will windup with the only “A” in the class. (2)

• Word-of-mouth has it that Ellen will wind up with the only “A” in the class.

6) When Sara spotted the Louis L’Amour paperback, she asked who’s book it was. She couldn’t believe it was John's; after all, nobody reads westerns anymore. She had no idea he was such a wierdo. (3)

• When Sara spotted the Louis L’Amour paperback, she asked whose book it was. She couldn’t believe it was John’s; after all, nobody reads Westerns anymore. She had no idea he was such a weirdo.

BONUS:
• The man was arrested for brandishing a twelve-gauge shotgun outside his home. (1)

• The man was arrested for brandishing a 12-gauge shot-gun outside his home.
  
  
  

Top News #6

Top News #6

Independent Voters Move Toward Obama

New Poll Indicates That Democrat Ticket Is Benefiting From Financial Crisis

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122332442918808789.html

In the article, New Poll Indicates That Democrat Ticket Is Benefiting From Financial Crisis, found on the Wall Street Journal Web site. The article shows the two presidential candidates standings so far, after the results of the first debate and the dramatics of the bailout.

The article focuses on where the votes of the Independent parties are leading towards with the presidential candidates, because they could go either way. Apparently after the results of the debate and the bailout, the dead heat that Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain were in, is starting to show a sign that Sen. McCain is starting to stare at the back of Sen. Obamas head. Instead

From the weekend in a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, Sen. Obama is in the lead with votes.

However, they are not counting out Sen. McCain.

“McCain has new opportunities to make a stronger impression -- and Sen. Obama has a fresh chance to make a mistake.”

Especially when the race between the two candidates is far from over, it is fairly certain that they each may have tricks up their sleeves.

· In the wake of this current election, the two presidential candidates are under absolute scrutiny (creating conflict). Where they are constantly poked and probed about their views on the economy, the war and everything in between.

Especially with the economy the way it is now, the next president of the United States has a very heavy burden to bear. And with the press that both candidates are receiving, especially everything dealing with the bailout and the economy, the voters of America are in the dark about who to vote for.

After all the polls have been taken, especially after the first presidential debate, shows how the next would be president would handle the crises at hand (proximity). With the votes of the independent parties at stake (prominence), it is critical for both candidates to keep the mistakes and such at a minimum, because America wants a president that is very headstrong and steadfast with making as few mistakes as humanly possible.

With the elections not very far away the presidential candidates still have time to make an impact on the American people, especially where the polls will sway.

I found it bizarre that even though the pools were taken, there were still some discrepancies with the accurateness of the polls.

“McCain has new opportunities to make a stronger impression -- and Sen. Obama has a fresh chance to make a mistake.”

Especially when the race between the two candidates is far from over, it is fairly certain that they each may have tricks up their sleeves.

AP Style Exercise (M-R)

AP STYLE EXERCISE (M-R)
Please identify and correct the AP style errors in the following sentences. Post the corrected sentences on your blog.

1) He hopes to make one billion dollars by the time he’s forty. Already he figures his net worth is between $2 and $3 million, depending on current stock prices. (3)

• He hopes to make a billion dollars by the time he’s 40. already he figures his net worth is between $2 million and $3 million, depending on current stock prices.

2) Lt. Colonel John Carpenter was a cadet at the U.S. Naval academy and served in the Seventh Fleet. (4)

• Lt. Col. John Carpenter was a cadet at the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the 7^th Fleet.

3) 21 winners were named 2 days after the 3rd annual procrastination awards ceremony. (3)

• Twenty one winners were named two days after the third annual procrastination awards.

4) It was a one sided game, and he was a poor loser. After losing the play off when his ball went out-of-bounds, he made an offcolor remark that could be heard in the stands. (4)

• It was a one-sided game, and he was a poor loser. After losing the playoff when his ball went out of bounds, he made an off-color remark that could be heard in the stands.

5) Hundreds of persons attended Sundays race to watch 75 top bicyclists peddle across the finish line. (3)

• Hundreds of people attended Sundays race to watch 75 top bicyclists pedal across the finish line.

6) Every winter, the Jones’ and the Kinneys pour over travel brochures, planning their summer trip together. This year they’re hoping to go to Panama City. (3)

• Every winter, the Jones’ and the Kinney’s pore over travel brochures, planning their summer trip together. This year they’re hoping to go to Panama City, Fla.

News Story #5

Runaway Truck

Power was knocked out in El Cerrito and some neighboring cities, including Berkeley and Richmond yesterday. When a 10-wheel asphalt hauler truck overturned and smashed against a resident’s home. In the wake of the trucks destruction, there were five badly damaged vehicles and a snapped power pole.

A Honda sedan hit by the truck was so crumpled that the driver was trapped inside. Rescue workers sliced into it, peeling back the roof to free the trapped driver. A electrician’s truck that had been parked on Moeser was knocked over to the next street, Richmond. A sport utility vehicle that apparently had a man and boy inside ended up stuck in some shrubbery beside the burning house.

A witness, Ruben Sharma, lives across the street from the single-story home that was destroyed in the fire. He was just about to head back to work around 1:30 when the crash occurred. He said, “First, I thought it was a major earthquake. This is unbelievable.” His front yard is littered with bricks, broken glass, car parts, splintered wood and palm fronds.

El Cerrito police Detective Sgt. Shawn Maples, who was among the first to appear to the scene, heard cries coming from the burning truck and house, and started digging through the debris. He spotted the driver lodged between the wheels of the truck, which had flipped on its side. Maples said the driver’s legs were mangled and he couldn’t move. Maples was able to grab his hand and, with some help form Police Chief Scott Kirkland and Detective Ken Zinc, he was able to pull the driver to safety. Maples said, “We dragged him out in a heartbeat while the truck went up in flames. I just wanted to get him out of there.”

The driver of the disastrous event, a San Jose man whose name was not released, broke both of his legs in the crash. He’s listed in serious but stable condition at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.

Top News #5

Top News #5

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122289387980195519.html

McCain, Obama Return to Senate to Cast Rare Vote

Republican Misses 65% of Roll Calls, the Democrat 47%

In the Article McCain, Obama Return to Senate to Cast Rare Vote, found in the Wall Street Journal website, the article is about the House deciding to not pass the $700 billion dollar bailout. Since then lawyers had revamped the bill and is attempting a pass through the Senate.

Both presidential candidates Sen. Barak Obama and Sen. John McCain were called to appear in Washington to take a pause from their presidential race and take place in their duties as part of the Senate and vote for the revamped bailout plan.

In the article they state that both senators take the first and third spots in missing votes in the Senate. With a senator who suffered a hemorrhage at second.

Both candidates are taking this vote very seriously, and make it also an effort to plug themselves as the better will be president. Before the first presidential debate the standings on the senators was pretty deadlocked. However, after the debate, the standings with the voters were supporting Obama a bit more.

The $700 billion dollar bailout issue will affect every single person in America (impact), and the fact that the bill was not passed did arise issues with the American people (conflict), looking for someone or something to rely on or maybe even someone to blame. Hopefully with the revamped Bill and both presidential candidates to vote in the House (timeliness) there may be some changes, since both candidates have missed a significant amount of votes since the start of their presidential races. Also having them missing massive amounts of votes and being compared to another senator that missed a significant amount of votes after suffering from a brain hemorrhage, makes it even more significant for them to be on their toes and think about the country they can potentially be running. Especially with one of the most significant financial crisis in American history since The Great Depression (currency).

Redefining News

After reviewing some of the sites on the list that JMC grad student and blogger Ryan Sholin had on his blog about basic media convergence and what news and internet is doing to the masses.

I thought the EveryBlock site had much promise to redefine the news mostly because of the way it has the search feature. It gives an overall broad vision of the news, however, it can also be divvied up and brought down to a more specific city or place.

The way the site was made, prepared people to be aware that there is news available in specific areas. However, I would have liked the site to have national or worldwide news on the homepage, which would make the site very well rounded as well as specific.

If this site was to get more national, even more, worldwide, the site would absolutely redefine the news and officially bring the news into the internet, the 21^st century, and beyond and most importantly in one package.