Copy Edit The World Set #2: 2/21-4/4

1) From the Feb. 22, 2009 print copy of the San Jose Mercury News above there is a typo in the article above: the author used the word onionskin instead of two words onion skin. The electronic copy is correct. (2 points)
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Two more errors from a Feb. 21, 2009 Mercury News website article below:

2)In paragraph three, the word should be Foothill Boulevard, not Foohill Boulevard. (2 points)

3) In paragraph seven, the word should be Strobridge Avenue, not Strobridge Avenuye. (2 points)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11756765?source=rss

I-580 freeway shooting injures driver, sheriff's deputy

By Sharon Noguchi

Mercury News

Posted: 02/21/2009 03:53:20 PM PST

By Sharon Noguchi

Mercury News

A driver who had been traveling on Interstate 580 near Castro Valley and an Alameda County sheriff's deputy who had been standing near an adjacent street underwent surgery early this morning after both were struck by bullets fired from another car driving on the freeway.

The driver was in serious condition and the deputy in fair condition at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley. The Alameda County Sheriff's Department did not release any identities in the bizarre incident, in which the deputy apparently was randomly shot. A passenger in the car suffered a minor gunshot wound. Deputies have made no arrests.

Sgt. J.D. Nelson gave this account:

Sometime before 1 a.m., a westbound car on Interstate 580 fired shots toward a dark blue Ford Explorer, also traveling westbound. The driver of the Explorer was struck in the head, and the car careened from the slow lane off the freeway, though a fence and across adjacent Foohill Boulevard. The car ended up in a business parking lot near 164th Avenue.

One of the bullets struck the sheriff's deputy, who coincidentally with another officer was standing on the sidewalk along Foothill Boulevard near 164th Avenue questioning a pedestrian. The deputy was struck in the leg or foot.

The car of the assailants did not stop, and no description of it or its occupants was available.

Officers from several jurisdictions, firefighters and paramedics converged

on the scene. Initially, "it was a little chaotic," said Nelson, as the deputies could not make sense of what was happening. They heard gunshots, then a car came crashing off the freeway toward them and one officer was hit by a bullet, he said.

One round of shots struck a house on the hill above Foothill. The occupants, who were not injured, heard the noise of the impact and called police.

In the ensuing investigation, the California Highway Patrol shut down all four lanes of westbound I-580, diverting traffic at Strobridge
Avenuye and rerouting it to 150th Avenue near San Leandro. The freeway reopened at 6:20 a.m. Investigators also blocked off Foothill Boulevard until early morning.

The driver, a passenger and the injured deputy were transported to Eden Hospital. The driver sustained serious head injuries, and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The deputy is in fair condition and expected to recover, Nelson said. A third passenger was uninjured.

Anyone with information about the incident may call the Alameda County Sheriff's Department at 510 667 7721.

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Two errors from the Spartan Daily website article below:

4) In paragraph 3, the word should be said, not daid. (2 points)

5) In paragraph 6, the word "from" should be inserted between words "his" and "mix". (2 points)


SPARTAN DAILY Home > News Award-winning poet discusses expressions of grief and love at reading

http://media.www.thespartandaily.com/media/storage/paper852/news/2009/02/26/News/AwardWinning.Poet.Discusses.Expressions.Of.Grief.And.Love.At.Reading-3647298.shtml

Stephanie Vallejo Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: News Page 1 of 2

Poetry expressing simple life experiences and a story of how a person grieved for a lover who died of AIDS, captured the attention of more than 150 people at the King Library Tuesday.

The Center for Literary Arts invited Mark Doty, a 2008 National Book Award winner, to SJSU to read some of his works to students, staff and visitors.

Erica Wilkerson, a sophomore biology major who daid she only attended the event for extra credit, ended up enjoying herself.

"I have this thing where I fall asleep while people are talking," she said. "But I didn't fall asleep the whole time."

Doty started the night with a poem titled, "The House of Beauty," about a time he saw a beauty shop being burned.

The nine poems he read were a mix [WORD MISSING] his published works, poems and prose...
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An error from the Journalism 61 - News Story 5: Runaway Truck assignment in the third paragraph should be from, not form:

6) 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. (4 points)

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An error from the Journalism 61 - Reporting with Numbers assignment in the second exercise should be median, not media:

7) *Calculate the media prison term for people of aggravated assault. (4 points)

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8) March 17, 2009: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/ Local news online headline: Woman Buys $5,000 Fake Cold Bar from Man She Can't ID

The word Cold should be Gold. The web news article was first published on March 17,2009 at 3:25 PM PDT. The typo was fixed and the article updated 50 minutes later. (2 points)


Copy Edit The World Set #2 Total: 2+2+2+2+2+4+4+2
=20 points

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Libelous or Not?

In Tim Harrower's book "Inside Reporting", he states there are five criteria that constitute libel:

1) Statements must be false, based on facts that are wrong or unverifiable

2) Statements must be defamatory

3) Statements must be published

4) Plaintiffs must be identifiable

5) The defendant must be at fault through negligence or malice

Based on this list and some common sense, here are the statements and their libel statuses:

S1) A sophomore at Springfield University claims a chemistry professor has sexually harassed her.

Not libelous.

S2) Karen Hart, 123 Hill Hall, says the professor, George O.T. Jungle, has touched her during tutoring sessions in his office and has invited her to his apartment several times. She said she declined his invitations.

Could be considered libelous-criteria one needs to be verified. If the statements are true, there is no libel case. If the facts are proven to be false, there is. Unless one of the parties wanted be be identified, names should be omitted until the case is closed and home addresses should never be disclosed to the public.

S3) "I am having trouble in the class and I have to go see him to get help with my papers and projects," Hart said. "But I am scared to go in his office now."

Not libelous.

S4) Jungle denied having an improper contact with the student and threatened this newspaper with a libel suit if it published the story.

Like S2, it could be considered libelous-criteria one needs to be verified. If he is making a false claim, there is no case. If he is stating the truth, he has a libel case against the publication.

S5) Hart said she is thinking of filing a formal complaint with the university.

Not libelous.

S6) "I don't know how to do that," she said. "I don't know what to do."

Not libelous.

It would be important to note the age of Ms. Hart - if she is a minor, this is a more serious accusation. I would not run the story until a formal complaint was filed with the institution, the police notified and a formal report filed that would be accessible to the press. If the case progressed, witnesses might be found who knew of earlier events relevant to the case. This additional input could help verify the facts and motives of all parties involved. Otherwise, it's just a "he said/she said" drama that is not newsworthy at this point.

Ethical Decision-Making

(From the Poynter Online website: Bob Steele's article Talk About Ethics)
1. What do I know? What do I need to know?
2. What is my journalistic purpose?
3. What are my ethical concerns?
4. What organizational policies and professional guidelines should I consider?
5. How can I include other people, with different perspectives and diverse ideas, in the decision-making process?
6. Who are the stakeholders -- those affected by my decision? What are their motivations? Which are legitimate?
7. What if the roles were reversed? How would I feel if I were in the shoes of one of the stakeholders?
8. What are the possible consequences of my actions? Short term? Long term?
9. What are my alternatives to maximize my truth telling responsibility and minimize harm?
10. Can I clearly and fully justify my thinking and my decision? To my colleagues? To the stakeholders? To the public?

Questions:
Scenario 1 - Bribery Case

If I personally saw some documents and knew they were relevant, I would be suspicious as to why she left such sensitive documents in plain sight. I would later ask in the interview if she has any documentation about the case. If the official said yes, but was unwilling to show them to me, I would immediately notify my editor about the paperwork. The editor would most likely call the case prosecutor who would probably obtain a search warrant for the documentation. If the official said no, I would notify my editor, but she or he could "kill" the idea to obtain the documentation right then.

Scenario 2 - Nursing Home

If I had a notarized contract with my editor stating (1) it was the publication's idea (2) [it] would pay all future attorney fees and court costs if a legal battle resulted (3) my job would be protected regardless of the outcome, you bet I would! Remaining anonymous before and after the story was published would be ideal, but legally risky. A good journalist sometimes has to get dirty to get the "real dirt"!

Scenario 3 - Crediting Sources

We must always credit the original source who obtained quotes whether they are found on the internet or in print materials.

Calculate Your FOG Index

Sholin states that the future of the news is here and there will be no more whining about it (19/1). It's not Google or Craigslist's fault (6/2). Local papers need to run local features (7/3). Journalists have to be multi-taskers: they should be able to shoot AP quality photos, use software like In Design and edit their own work (24/4). They should incorporate major media delivery carriers like Twitter and RSS feeds as soon as they become available to the press (21/5). Online news delivery, archived articles and photos should always be free to view (13/6). Journalism school professors need to stay updated with the latest media technology and be teaching the same to their students (20/7). Those who protest new media methods face the other option: being cut from the force (15/8).

Total words: 125

19+6+7+24+21+13+20+15=125/8 = 15.625: there are approximately 16 words per sentence and 17 "hard" words in the writing sample.

FOG Index: 16+17(X).4 = 13.2, or a college freshman's education status.

Since experts are advising having a FOG Index of 7 or 8, my own FOG Index of 13 is too high for news writing.

It's obvious I need to write shorter sentences, remove unnecessary modifiers, stop repeating words and reduce the "journalese".

Got What It Takes To Be A Reporter?

1. I enjoy reading. I consume a lot of books and magazines. Mostly True: 2 points
   
2. For me, writing is rewarding. And I am confident that people genuinely enjoy the stuff I write. Mostly True: 3 points
   
3. I don't pay much attention to spelling. My punctuation and grammar probably ain't great either. Not True: 2 points
   
4. I'm generally adept at computer technology: sending e-mail, downloading files, shooting digital photos, etc. Mostly True: 1 points
   
5. I can organize my ideas and write quickly when I need to. Mostly True: 3 points
   
6. I'd make a good game show contestant because I 'm pretty good at remembering facts and trivia. Mostly True: 2 points
   
7. I'm efficient and self-sufficient when it comes to doing extensive library or internet research. Mostly True: 2 points
   
8. I'm generally more curious than most people I know. Mostly True: 3 points
   
9. In public situations, I'm pretty shy: I avoid asking questions in class, for instance. Not True: 2 points
   
10. I think it's unpatriotic to question or criticize the government. Not True: 1 point
    
11. When I choose a career, I'll require a stable, 9-5 job where my workday is routine and I make big money. Mostly True: 0 points
    
12. If I really want something, I'm tenacious until I get it. Mostly True: 3 points
    
13. When I'm under pressure, I can keep my cool and stay focused without losing my temper. Mostly True: 1 point
    
14. When stranger and teachers criticize what I write, it really bugs me. I mean, who do they think they are? Not True: 2 points
    

27 points: You're a solid contender for a successful journalism career. You've got the personality and ability a good reporter needs.

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This is not news. I've been doing my own investigative journalism and research projects before computers were standard communicating devices. I wasn't getting paid but I was hooked.


I found that there is usually a back story to every story, and with enough digging the truth can be found and properly exposed. I write at least 25 letters and even more emails a year to government officials questioning the validity of "personally driven" bills, pork projects, discriminatory policies and corrupt activities within the ranks.


Not surprisingly, I am also very concerned about the average consumers being "ripped off". I could easily see myself working and writing for Consumer Reports, for instance. Fraud of every type is a pet peeve of mine.


On the lighter side, researching the historic, strange and exotic is irresistible: I can also see myself being a travel writer and perhaps writing niche books in those genres.


It's no secret: I've already had more than a couple of careers in my lifetime and possess a mortgage. Therefore, I suspect I'll freelance part time until I am compensated well enough to finally write full time.

News Story #5 - Runaway Truck

A runaway 10-wheel truck plummeted into an El Cerrito home yesterday causing both vehicle and house to burst into flames.

The San Jose driver was ejected on impact and found with broken legs underneath the burning vehicle, said police Detective Sgt. Shawn Maples, who was one of the first to arrive at the scene on Moeser Lane. Hearing cries inside the blaze, Maples was able to locate and pull the injured man to safety with the combined help of police Chief Scott Kirkland and Detective Ken Zinc.

"I just wanted to get him out of there," said Maples.

Before careening into the single-story home, the asphalt truck smashed into a Honda car badly enough that it had to be cut open to free the driver of the car. Also left in the truck's path of destruction was a snapped power line, an electrician's vehicle knocked clear into an adjacent street and an occupied SUV that was pushed into nearby shrubbery.

Across the street from the accident, neighbor Ruben Sharma was shocked by the wake of destruction in front of him, "First, I thought it was a major earthquake."

The accident caused a power outage in El Cerrito, neighboring towns and both cities Berkeley and Richmond.

Only the driver of the asphalt truck suffered serious injuries and is listed in stable condition at John Muir Medical Center in nearby Walnut Creek. His name has not been released to the public.

Reporting with Numbers

1)
A) Percentages: 67% from the state, 28% from fees, grants and gifts and 5% from student tuition.

B) The most significant source is $80 million from state funding. The second most significant source is $34 million from fees, grants and gifts. The third and least significant funding would be $6 million from student tuition.

C) A local college released numbers that its total budget is $120 million. Two-thirds of the college's budget is from the state, more than a quarter is from fees, grants and gifts while only five percent comes from student tuition.


2)
A) The average prison term for the seven people convicted of aggravated assault is 22 months.

B) The median prison term for the seven people convicted of aggravated assault is 12 months.

C) The median prison term is more accurate because there is less fluctuation in the numbers given to determine the average and median results. Had there been extreme differences in the seven numbers, the average prison term would have been more accurate in this case.


3)
A) The general state sales tax for California is currently 7.25%.

B) In one year without sales tax, a person would save $18.80 if he or she typically spent $5 a week or $260 a year eating out once a week.

C) In one year without sales tax, a person would save $75.40 if he or she typically spent $20 a week or $1040 a year eating out once a week.

Jour 61A - AP Style Exercise #4 (S-Z)

1) He thought of Smokey Bear every time he got near a smoldering fire or entered a smoky room. (3)

2) The forecast is for lower temperatures, falling to the low 30s by tonight. If the rain continues, as expected, there could be a travel advisory. (3)

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. (3)

4) His weeklong ordeal will be finished when finals week is over. Until then, his well-being is in doubt. (2)

5) A 19-year-old man was arrested Monday for carrying a Saturday night special without a permit. After being released on bond, he disappeared. His whereabouts is unknown. (4)

6) She'd hoped to be able to trade in her car after getting a tuneup, but she totaled it last night. (3)

7) Could you copy that invoice for me? I need it for our year-end budget. (2)