Memo: Magazine/Multimedia Project

Memo

Date: April 26, 2008

To: Cynthia McCune, Instructor

From: J.J., student

RE: Magazine/Multimedia Project Proposal

• For the project's magazine segment I propose to write a short news feature about the American Indian Council of Higher Education's POW WOW event at San Jose City College on May 2. There will be dancing contests, drumming and native craftwork and available for spectators to enjoy. Since there are several activities occurring during the same day, I will choose the most interesting POW WOW exhibits to learn about and summarize into a 500 word magazine-style article. I will also include either a fast-facts box about a specific American Native item or activity or include a specific photo with text that further explains the purpose of the POW WOW. I plan to use a slide show presentation or a short video of an activity in progress with voice-over narration for the multimedia segment of the project.

Find That Feature Lead

Santa Clara County braces for possible surge in swine flu cases - but so far, no panic

by Ken McLaughlin

Mercury News Posted: 04/27/2009 07:15:29 PM PDT Updated: 04/28/2009 05:52:21 AM PDT

Quarantine rooms are ready. Special face shields, gowns and gloves are within reach.

But while calls to doctors and emergency room visits are rising over the swine flu scare, a survey of South Bay clinics and emergency rooms on Monday showed little panic and few crowds.

1) This lead is called a roundup lead, which is used "to impress the reader with a longer list" instead of just focusing on one person, place or thing.
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Facebook gives users more flexibility

By Scott Duke Harris

Mercury News

Posted: 04/27/2009 03:58:18 PM PDT

To opt in or opt out? Facebook users face the question yet again as the social-networking giant Monday enabled the stream of information central to the user experience to be displayed outside of Facebook.com — as a window or "pop-up" feed on other Web sites, on your computer desktop or mobile phones.

2) This "lazy lead" begins with a question. According to author Tim Harrower, this type of lead should be reconsidered before publishing.

Topical Blog Post #1

Are You Scared Yet?

Yes, I am.

And no, I’m not talking about the latest slasher movie or a mass murderer on the loose...

I’m talking about the economy.

Since I survived the Reagan-era recession, I thought this would just be another time-obstacle to overcome.

Wrong!

It’s taking WAY too long to recover this time.

My union has warned me that there probably won’t be any more work for us until next year.

My credit cards interest rates have doubled overnight without reason.

I have to supplement my elderly mother and her husband even more so now, because their rent went up when the economy went down.

My latest medical insurance won’t pay for my prescriptions but continue to extract premiums from my bank account every month.

I can't put off major purchases forever: my old car needs major work (costly repairs that exceed the value of the car) and I need three dental crowns ($1,200 a pop) among other expensive, needful things.

I'm not complaining: I have endured tough times before. I worked outdoors on a frozen island for two years. I had eight spine surgeries in five years. Several friends and most of my family have already passed on. Ah! But life goes on, and things always turn around, right?

Normally, I would say yes.

Yet...it’s almost May, 2009. Things aren’t turning around yet. The economy seems to be getting worse instead of better. Mass layoffs are still occurring. Banks aren’t lending while small, chain and conglomerate businesses are closing forever. The way it's going, I foresee my own union dissolving.

And now...now, I’m getting scared.

Blog Post: Magazine

www.wired.com

Of all the monthly publications I actually buy and read, I've found that "Wired Magazine" has the most diverse and intriguing subjects one can hope to find in a single magazine.

One of Conde Nast's Publications, this monthly rag has successfully survived recent industry cuts. According to Conde Nast's Media Kit, as of March 2009 "Wired Magazine" has more than 700,000 readers: almost 90 percent are subscribers. More than half of "Wired Magazine's" readers are: 18 to 34 years old, college educated, make more than $75,000 a year and own their own residences.

Created in 1993, "Wired Magazine's" premise is to "deliver a glimpse into the future of business, science, entertainment, education, culture and politics."

"Wired Magazine" contains off-beat, creative articles ranging from "box-form" iPhone shortcuts to researched commentaries about rising sea levels threatening the Netherlands today. Blend "Popular Science", "Laptop" and "Reason" magazines together with a a dash of dark humor and... Presto!...we have the exceptional "Wired Magazine."

Final Broadcast Assignment

WATCH "THE CLOTHESLINE PROJECT" NEWSCAST

-60 Seconds-

(ANCHOR ON CAM)

IT WAS A GLOOMY MORNING WHEN VOLUNTEERS AT DE ANZA COLLEGE HUNG 30 COLORED T-SHIRTS ON A CLOTHESLINE ACROSS THE CAMPUS CENTER PATIO.

THE MARCH TWENTY-FIRST "CLOTHESLINE PROJECT" WAS ONE OF MANY OCCURRING YEAR-ROUND THROUGH-OUT THE USA. ITS MISSION IS TO EDUCATE AND STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN, BUT MALE VICTIMS ARE EQUALLY ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE.

(ANCHOR/VO)

THE T-SHIRTS VIVIDLY DESCRIBED PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT RANGED FROM THE DISTURBING…TO THE NIGHTMAR-ISH.

HEALTH DIRECTOR MARY-JO LO-MAX SAID THE CONCEPT OF THE T-SHIRTS IS TO ALLOW VICTIMS TO UN-BURDEN THEMSELVES OF THEIR HIDDEN ABUSE AND ENCOURAGE OTHER VICTIMS TO DO THE SAME.

WHITE T-SHIRTS, COLORED MARKERS AND PRIVATE TABLES WERE OFFERED TO ALL VICTIMS TO ANON-UH-MUS-LEE DECORATE AND ADD TO THE EXHIBIT: THEY WERE ASKED ONLY NOT TO USE FULL NAMES ON THE SHIRTS.

-End-

Broadcast News Story

GOVERNOR SCHWORZ-EN-NEGGER ADOPTS BEAR

45 Seconds

STARTING TODAY, A GIANT BRONZE BEAR STANDS GUARD OUTSIDE GOVERNOR SCHWORZ-EN-NEGGER'S OFFICE.

SPOKESMAN AIR-RUN MC-LEER SAID THE GOVERNOR SAW THE STATUE AND QUICKLY BOUGHT IT FROM AN ASPEN ART GALLERY DURING A RECENT FUNDRAISER IN COLORADO. GOV. SCHWORZ-EN-NEGGER BELIEVES SCHOOL CHILDREN VISITING THE CALIFORNIA CAPITOL WILL ENJOY HAVING THEIR PHOTO TAKEN WITH THE BEAR.

THE GOLDEN BROWN STATUE GREATLY RESEMBLES THE STATE ANIMAL OF CALIFORNIA-THE GRIZZLY BEAR-WHICH ALSO ADORNS EVERY STATE FLAG OF CALIFORNIA.

THE LIFE-SIZE BEAR WAS CREATED BY ARTIST STEVEN BENNETT.

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Broadcast Style Exercise

HOLIDAY TRAVELER DISCOUNTS
60 Seconds


NORTHWEST AIRLINES ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT IT'S CUTTING ITS DOMESTIC FARES UP TO 40-PERCENT FOR HOLIDAY TRAVELERS.

NORTHWEST C-E-O FRANK DUH-WIT SAID THEY LIKE TO THINK OF IT AS A HOLIDAY GIFT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.

WITH THE DISCOUNTED PRICES, A ROUND TRIP BETWEEN BOSTON AND SAN FRANCISCO WILL ONLY COST 400-DOLLARS.

THE NON REFUNDABLE TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 12 AND JANUARY 14 IN THE LOWER-48 STATES, ALASKA AND CANADA.

DEPENDING ON TRAVEL DATES, DISCOUNTS WILL VARY. POPULAR HOLIDAY TRAVEL DATES EXCLUDED FROM THE OFFER ARE NOVEMBER 23, NOVEMBER 26, DECEMBER 23 AND DECEMBER 26.


-End-

Soft Broadcast Lead

WHERE THERE'S SMOKE...THERE'S CAKE!
45 seconds

EARLIER TODAY, 24 TULSA FIREMEN CRASHED A 95-YEAR OLD WOMAN'S BIRTHDAY PARTY...THE LIGHTING OF 95 CANDLES ON A BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR MABEL MCCULLOUGH (MUH-CUL-uh) SET OFF A SMOKE DETECTOR, SENDING THE LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS RACING TO THE SCENE OF A BIRTHDAY PARTY. FIRE CHIEF LONNIE LAMB SAID IT WAS THE FIRST TIME HE'D EVER SEEN A BIRTHDAY CAKE TRIGGER A SMOKE ALARM...WITH DANGER DOWSED, THE FIREMEN SKIPPED HAVING CAKE WITH THE REVELERS BUT STAYED LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE THEIR PHOTO TAKEN WITH THE BIRTHDAY GIRL.
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