Fahrenheit 451

REVISED: Magazine/Multimedia Project: Review And Graphic Extra

2009-05-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

One of the loudest events I ever went to wasn’t even a rock concert…it was a Pow Wow held inside a gym at San Jose Community College on May 2, 2009.

With constant drumming, chanting and dancing amplified by multiple BOSE speakers inside the college’s gym, there was very little talking at this event, as it should be. After all, this was a revered exhibition to be experienced, not discussed.

The general purpose of Pow Wows is to allow different Native American tribes to reconnect with each other, the Earth and the Great Spirit. Dancing, singing and ceremonies are still performed the same way as their ancestors did before them.

This year, the American Indian Council for Higher Education (AICHE) of the San Jose/Evergreen Community College District held its first college Pow Wow. Their own goal is to increase Native American student enrollment while still engaging in the traditions of their ancestors. Master of the Ceremonies, Richard Charging Eagle, offered his opinion about promoting higher education, “Casino work should not be young Native Americans’ only career choice.”

There was no fee to enter, but I bought a Pow Wow t-shirt for $15 at the gym entrance to support the AICHE. The proceeds from the t-shirt and food sales support scholarships for Native Americans attending local colleges.

Outside, a mere dollar could buy either a freshly cooked Indian-style taco, a soft drink, or a typical American hot dog. The cooks worked tirelessly all day but still had time to smile and say hello to their customers. Since food was not allowed in the gymnasium where the ceremonies were being performed, participants and spectators ate and socialized outside on the college’s grassy areas.

Inside, the feverish beat shook both the walls and the ground, making film shooting and simple transactions with vendors a little challenging but do-able. Using simple hand gestures to indicate dollar amounts, I bought a Native American rattle for $8 (a black tortoise hand-painted on a dried gourd with seeds inside): I thought it was a good price for a unique keepsake I’ll probably have forever.

In fact, all of the hand-crafted items were accessible to view and touch, and both cash and credit cards were accepted by the quiet vendors.

In one corner of the gym, three women silently beaded jewelry at a long table, rarely looking up. Close to the dancing arena, there were three tables pushed together where volunteer babysitters sat with plenty of crayons and coloring books to keep the little ones busy. All seemed oblivious to the constant, rave-like beat.

Though I went to my first “inside-style” Pow-Wow without great expectations, my ears were still ringing and my heart was still beating hard to the rhythm of the drums when I left with my shaky footage, Native American rattle and Pow Wow T-shirt. I was energized for hours.

SJECCD’s first Pow Wow was an experience to be seen, felt and heard and not overanalyzed. If you missed this May event, don’t worry: rain or shine, another
heart-pounding Pow Wow is planned for next summer.

Magazine/Multimedia Project: Video Broadcast And Script

2009-05-14T20:32:00.001-07:00

A COMMUNITY COLLEGE POW-WOW

-60 Seconds-

(ANCHOR/VO)

THE LOCAL AMERICAN INDIAN COUNCIL OF HIGHER EDUCATION HELD ITS FIRST EVER POW-WOW TODAY AT SAN JOSE CITY COLLEGE.

FOR ELEVEN HOURS, SPECTATORS WERE INVITED TO-

EAT FRESHLY-COOKED NATIVE AMERICAN FOOD...

OR PERHAPS BUY HAND-CRAFTED JEWELRY...

CLOTHES...

OR CEREMONIAL ITEMS...AND LISTEN TO RITUAL DRUMMING...

AND OF COURSE, TO WATCH THE EXCITING AND COLORFUL INTERTRIBAL DANCING!...

THE COUNCIL'S MASTER OF CEREMONIES SAYS THE PURPOSE OF HAVING A POW-WOW AT COLLEGES IS TO MAKE THE YOUNG ONES REMEMBER THEIR HERITAGE WHILE ENCOURAGING THEM TO ACHIEVE A HIGHER EDUCATION.

(-End-)

Topical Blog Post #3

2009-05-10T21:06:00.001-07:00

City of Alameda settles lawsuit filed by San Jose doctor's family

By Peter Hegarty

Bay Area News Group

San Jose Mercury News

Posted: 05/07/2009 02:25:09 PM PDT

Updated: 05/07/2009 02:25:10 PM PDT

The city of Alameda has agreed to pay $2.25 million to settle a lawsuit with the family of Dr. Zehra Attari, the San Jose pediatrician who died after she drove off a boat ramp into the Oakland-Alameda Estuary more than three years ago.

The family initially was seeking $11 million, arguing the city was negligent because it did not install adequate safety measures at the ramp, which is at the foot of Grand Street and slopes directly into the estuary.

"The settlement agreement is very specific in that both parties do not admit responsibility or negligence," City Attorney Teresa Highsmith said Wednesday.

The 55-year-old Attari vanished on a rainy evening in November 2005 as she was driving from her Oakland medical office to a conference on Bay Farm Island in Alameda.

Investigators found her submerged gray Honda Accord 43 days later, after they received a tip that someone matching her description was seen near the ramp.

At the time Attari disappeared, just a sign with the word "End" and a blinking red light warned motorists that the street was about to end.

The city later installed a temporary barricade.

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Is Justice Really Blind?

While there might have been a road marking deficiency at the Oakland-Alameda Estuary, that does not absolve a 55-year-old physician from driving off a boat ramp in the middle of the night.

Holes in the story:

The person was a middle-aged female physician (she was very educated and had extensive driving experience).
She was headed to a night conference at Bay Farm Island (an affluent neighborhood physically divided off from the rest of Alameda, not a professional site).
The ramp she drove off had the typical "End" sign of a dead-end street with a flashing red warning light (both of which she ignored).

Though the death of this doctor is horrible, it was completely preventable. The city of Alameda had correctly identified the road condition. The doctor was responsible for choosing to drive through a dead-end street with two warning signs "to stop."

Even those who own boats have to be very careful when backing their own boats and trailers down boat ramps. If they reverse too far and submerge their own vehicles, they are responsible, not the owner of the boat ramp.

Yet, the doctor's family sued the city of Alameda for negligence, and after three years settled for $2.25 million.

I seriously doubt that there would be have been any financial settlement had the driver been an average person with a substandard education and lacking the ability to obtain expensive legal counsel. In that situation, like most boat ramp accidents, the cause of the incident and subsequent injury or death would have been negligent driving, and thus, the driver's fault.

Justice might be blind, but like most sightless people, can still feel the difference between a $1 bill and

a $100 bill.

Revision: Focus Story Structure

2009-05-09T17:18:00.000-07:00

Sixteen-year-old Pete Stenhoff is permanently disabled from a football injury last year.

During a high school game, Stenhoff blocked the rival team's ball carrier with his head. That impact cracked the vertebrae in his spine, leaving him confined to a wheelchair and unable to graduate with his Chula Vista High School class.

"I knew the risks involved when I decided to play football," Stenhoff says, then adds, "I wish I would have known just how bad it could be."

Apparently, the risks are high: of the 20,000 high school football injuries every year, 2,400 result in permanent disabilities. More than one-third of those disabilities are caused by injuries to the head and neck.

Steinhoff is currently taking correspondence courses to complete his high school diploma.

Online News Writing Exercise

2009-05-08T20:19:00.001-07:00

Exercise 1: Go to a news web site and see if it measures up to these criteria for online writing:

SF Gate, Home of the San Francisco Chronicle

Do the news items reflect immediacy? No, not on the home page: the stories there are dated. Right now, the current wildfires and major evacuations occurring just 400 miles away aren't even mentioned on the home page. One has to choose the Bay Area & State link in the index on the left to view the page where that current story is published.
Does the site try to help readers save time? Yes, there is a shaded box page-link index on the far left on the page, where a reader would intuitively look.
Is it quick and easy to get information? Yes, by clicking once on the aforementioned links, we can quickly locate the stories of the hour. Page load times are fast, so readers are likely to wait a few seconds to read the page.
Does it provide both visual and verbal information? Yes, almost every major article link had a graphic image that was relevant. Today on the web version of the Chronicle, there was the same financial chart used about bank equity needs as there was in its print version. The chart was almost necessary to correctly summarize the story for the public.
Do the stories contain lists and bullets to make them easier to scan? Lists, no. Bullets are used often in fast-facts boxes and article subheadings.
Are the stories broken into "chunks"? Yes, most of the articles are "chunked" for readability. Only very complex stories are written in longer forms, which is preferable for print.
Do stories provide hyperlinks to additional information? Most of the stories in the web version are final and do not contain additional links.h)
Are there opportunities for readers to "talk back"? Yes. There is an index link to the opinion page to enter comments as well as the opportunity to comment and discuss the stories at the bottom of every article.
Does the site use multimedia to enhance understanding and add appeal? Yes. Perhaps the e-edition has more, but the free San Francisco Chronicle website edition has live views of traffic, weather patterns, updated home sales, movie trailers and advertisers' images and video clips.

Topical Blog # 2

2009-05-03T19:38:00.001-07:00

Self-publishing has become increasingly more popular in the past decade.

However, most self-published books don't make the best seller list, and, because of marketing costs, don't even make it to the major distribution centers like Barnes and Noble or Amazon. Even hiring a publicist can't make a "fair" book a "great" one.

Not that vanity publishing is a terrible idea by any means. But, to be clear, large publishing houses are for-profit businesses and thus demand professional writing and editing. The guidelines for vanity publishing are not as rigid.

Recently, an acquaintance quickly published a book of her own poetry (which I believe to be a difficult genre to publish at any rate.) At first I believed she paid a large fee to be published, which is the most common scenario with vanity publishing, but I was wrong. There was no fee.

Since it seemed odd, I perused the publisher's legalese that's available on its website: I have only determined that the publisher forever retains all printing rights to any book it publishes.

The publisher doggedly claims it is not a vanity publisher. Since I have yet to see an actual contract it distributes to its clients, I am currently unaware of any "loopholes" that might be in the fine print there.

Still, I can't help but be suspicious that the publisher is exactly what it claims not to be: a vanity publisher, in disguise.

Please feel free to view the publisher's website: X

What do you think?

Focus Story Structure

2009-05-03T11:59:00.001-07:00

Sixteen-year-old Pete Stenhoff is permanently disabled from a football injury last year.

In an attempt to block the ball carrier with his head during a high school game, the vertebrae in Stenhoff's spine were cracked. The injury left him confined to a wheelchair and unable to graduate with his Chula Vista High School class.

"I knew the risks involved when I decided to play football," Stenhoff says, then adds, "I wish I would have known just how bad it could be."

Steinhoff is currently taking correspondence courses to complete his high school diploma.

Memo: Magazine/Multimedia Project

2009-04-30T12:19:00.001-07:00

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

2009-04-28T21:25:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-26T19:42:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-23T17:23:00.001-07:00

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

2009-04-19T16:18:00.001-07:00

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

2009-04-11T11:40:00.001-07:00

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.

-End-

Broadcast Style Exercise

2009-04-09T13:12:00.001-07:00

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

2009-04-04T16:35:00.001-07:00

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.
-30-

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

2009-03-27T12:52:00.001-07:00

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.

______________________________________________________________

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)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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?

2009-03-13T11:57:00.001-07:00

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

2009-03-12T15:29:00.001-07:00

(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

2009-03-12T11:37:00.001-07:00

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?

2009-03-10T13:47:00.001-07:00

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

2009-03-07T08:57:00.001-08:00

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

2009-03-06T14:49:00.001-08:00

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)

2009-03-06T00:39:00.001-08:00

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)

The Future Of News

2009-02-28T19:42:00.001-08:00

Newspapers have been drying up and blowing away. Both large and small magazines are folding, even newsmagazines are in trouble. The main cause is that advertisers won't pay for ad space any longer: inexpensive or free advertising can be obtained immediately on the internet today.

Newspapers can't compete with those rates. In order to stay in business and make a profit, there has to be a paying benefactor. Consumers cannot make up the difference even though most print readers are baby-boomers and make up a huge percent of the population.

So what happens now? What's to become of cub reporters, "old hand" editors and the freelance bloggers of the world? Invisible Inkling website writer Ryan Sholin, graduate student of San Jose State University, reveals the harsh reality of the news business today with some general tips for all in his article 10 obvious things about the future of newspapers you need to get through your head.

Sholin states that the future of the news is here and there will be no more whining about it. It's not Google or Craigslist's fault. Local papers need to run local features. 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. They should incorporate major media delivery carriers like Twitter and RSS feeds as soon as they become available to the press. Online news delivery, archived article and photos should always be free to view. Journalism school professors need to stay updated with the latest media technology and be teaching the same to their students. Those who protest new media methods face the other option: being cut from the force.

Sholin is not alone in his theory: journalism instructor Mindy McAdams also suggests similar types of work strategies for journalists in her blog Teaching Online Journalism.

It's a "sink or swim" scenario, and only the strongest and fittest news publications will survive. According to Sholin, adding online content like the Washington Post and the San Jose Mercury News have done is necessary for making news available to both internet viewers and print readers. This business model has proven itself to be popular.

No, these general tips do not solve the issues of obtaining additional revenue for news publications or magazines. Nor do they win the bloggers' battle for equality in the journalism world.

Yet, it's a start. Since the news will always be a valuable commodity, it will eventually have its rightful place be it on paper, plastic or in cyberspace. There will always be news and a need for someone to report it.

JOUR 61A - AP Style Exercise (M-R)

2009-02-28T09:35:00.001-08:00

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

2) Lt. Cmdr. John Carpenter was a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the 7th Fleet. (4 pts)

3) Twenty-one winners were named two days after the third annual procrastination awards ceremony. (3)

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. (4)

5) Hundreds of people attended Sunday's race to watch 75 top bicyclists pedal across the finish line. (3)

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

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

2009-02-21T17:13:00.001-08:00

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

Sgt. J.D. Nelson gave this account:

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

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.

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

______________________________________________________________

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 [ ] his published works, poems and prose...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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)

Total To Date, Set #2: 2+2+2+2+2+4+4
=18 points

--------------------------------------------------------------------

News Story #4-The Carjacker

2009-02-21T15:39:00.001-08:00

San Mateo, CA - Local police reported a just-married couple was almost carjacked at a Taco Bell on East Fourth Avenue on the way to their honeymoon night at the Embassy Suites Hotel.

Still in his tuxedo, the 21-year-old groom left his bride, 22, in his running 2003 Nissan Altima to grab a quick snack before heading to the hotel. A young man, later identified as Alan Ticas-Soto, ran up to the idling car and hopped into the driver's seat.

As Ticas-Soto, 21, tried to put the vehicle in reverse, the bride screamed and attempted to escape. Hearing her cries, the groom returned to help her. Finally freed, she fell from the car. Ticas-Soto found first gear and smashed head-on into the Taco Bell sign facing him.

Clearly stuck, the would-be carjacker got out and ran off. Police officer Brendan Boyle spotted him headed south on South Delaware Street and Ninth Avenue. The young man was quickly arrested and admitted using amphetamines for the past three days. He is in being held in San Mateo County Jail on drug and carjacking charges.

News Story #3-Gas Line Break

2009-02-21T12:26:00.001-08:00

San Francisco - In the city's South of Market area a 2-inch underground gas line was ruptured by a private construction crew's backhoe just after noon yesterday. At least 100 local residents, business owners and customers were quickly evacuated from their premises in the surrounding four-block area.

On main thoroughfares Folsom and 11thstreets, traffic came to a halt. As PG&E worked to fix the gas break, the same corner's restaurant the Wa-Ha-Ka lost at least $500 of business that afternoon, said owner Samantha Feldman.

When asked about the situation, Crocker's Lockers manager Carlann Lauria stated that her customers were irate. Not to be outdone by an emergency, the self-storage employees located their customers within the waiting crowd and accepted check payments on the spot.

PG&E reported that the gas was turned on again at 5:09 p.m.

JOUR 61-AP Style #3 (I-L)

2009-02-19T13:12:00.001-08:00

The last time she played soccer, she suffered a serious injury to her knee. Sometimes it's hard to understand why she keeps playing. (2)
He was indicted on an assault charge, but his lawyer said the case against him is circumstantial and she is sure that the inquiry will exonerate him. (2)
He knows it isn't kosher, but green Jell-O is his favorite dessert. This admission has prompted his friends to question both his taste and his judgment. (3)
Now that he has DSL, he finds it much easier to go online to check his e-mail and download files. (3)

Feature Lead #1: An Alarming Event

2009-02-19T11:16:00.001-08:00

TULSA, OK – At 95 years old, Mabel McCullough still has strapping young men rushing to "save her".

Twenty-four of them, to be exact, to protect her from her own birthday cake.

When she blew out the 95 candles on a carrot cake made by the First United Methodist Church women's group, a sizable exhaust cloud was created that set off a nearby smoke alarm. Fire engines raced to the birthday party.

Partygoer Eddi Carlin stated, "By the time we had them all lit, it looked like a torch." With danger dowsed, the firefighters had their picture taken with Ms. McCullough before returning to their stations. Fire Chief Lonnie Lamb said this was first time he'd ever seen a birthday cake trigger a smoke alarm.

The troublesome cake was listed in good condition and ready to be eaten by the birthday revelers.

Top News Story of the Week #4

2009-02-17T16:52:00.001-08:00

Facebook users protest retention of information

Facebook, a social website, recently disclosed that [it] could forever retain any personal information, written work and visual media that anyone chooses to publish on their personal Facebook page.

There are tens, maybe hundreds of sites like Facebook that are probably doing the same…they just haven't admitted it yet. Internet dating sites are notorious for using past clients' pictures to attract new ones. Cookies have to be accepted to use some websites, and many use tracking software like "Beacon". A device temporarily employed by Facebook in 2007, "Beacon" was used to detect and then broadcast users' web activities.

It's long known that credit card companies, large retailers like Amazon and even grocery chains like Safeway track everything we buy. The results are used to determine our credit worthiness, the likelihood of future purchases and web activities. The "big brothers" of consumerism have been carefully watching and collecting our information, but now also want the rights to any media that is published on their public sites.

Be careful what you post on the web; you might be giving it away forever!

News Values:

Timeliness: Consumer rights advocates from Consumerist.com just shared this quietly updated policy with the world on Sunday.

Proximity: Affects all public website consumers: Facebook is used globally.

Impact: The legalities of all web published content will become a chief issue in private and public sectors alike. New court rulings can be expected to determine the types of media that different entities can legally take possession.

Prominence: Facebook is quoted as having 175 million users and thus is a well-known website.

Currency: Like digital journalism, social networking websites are major players of the internet: conflicts concerning electronic publishing is an immediate issue.

News Story #2-Cathederal Robbery

2009-02-14T13:38:00.001-08:00

An international couple touring San Francisco was robbed at gunpoint in St. Mary's Cathedral lower parking lot this morning, said San Francisco Police Sgt. Lawrence Price.

Temporarily separated from their tour group to take photos, victims WeiMing Chen, 28, and Li Lu, 30, were approached by man of about 18 wearing a black hat and jacket, stated Chen. The teen brandished a handgun and demanded their cash.

According to Chen, he offered the mugger about $100 in cash. The thief accepted but demanded more: he took Chen's Visa card, their passports, airline tickets and camera before running off.

Sgt. Price said the police are still searching for the assailant. He said it was unknown if Chen and Lu were able catch their 1:00 pm flight back to Taipei with the rest of their tour group.

All 30 visitors in the tour group were Taiwanese airline employees.

News Story #1-Firefighters

2009-02-13T17:30:00.001-08:00

A San Jose man was pulled from his burning home by local firefighters yesterday afternoon.

Robert Kent, 50, received second and third degree burns on 50 percent of his body. A nursing supervisor at Valley Medical Center stated that the retiree's condition was grave.

San Jose Fire Captain Rob Piper said the fire in Kent's home on Annapolis Way was reported at 3:00 pm. The fire spread from the kitchen to the attic and smoke had filled the house. A smoke detector had not been installed in the home.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Top News of the Week #3

2009-02-13T11:47:00.001-08:00

General News - U.S. judges admit to jailing children for money

The year 2009 will probably be remembered informally as the "Year of the Busts": even two US judges have been caught profiting from extensive juvenile imprisonments.

In Philadelphia, P.A. an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 adolescents, too young to be tried in adult court, have been sent to sister juvenile detention centers with harsh sentences for minor law infractions. Some crimes were as trivial as schoolyard fighting and as serious as shoplifting, yet they all were punished severely. Few if any of the minors consulted with attorneys beforehand because the probation department suggested their crimes were too insignificant to need legal representation.

Judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan were paid over 2.6 million dollars between 2003 and 2006 for sending troubled children to PA Childcare and Western PA Childcare. Both illegal incomes were hidden by falsified records and money laundering. Meanwhile, the PA juvenile detention centers profited by receiving additional government funds for each child detained at the facilities.

Both judges were removed from their positions and criminally charged. Marsha Levick, chief counsel for the Juvenile Law Center, stated the center is also seeking financial compensation for victims by suing both the judges and detention centers.

After the judges are sentenced lightly and financial retribution quietly paid to the families of the children, what of the juveniles who are now approaching adulthood? They have been victimized by the legal system; have extensive incarceration records and painful experiences that could prevent them from attending college or becoming gainfully employed. A bad start in life and distrust for authority will forever haunt them. It is very likely most will return to the only life they know: prison.

News Values:

Timeliness: Federal investigation into illegal and abusive activities by businesses is at all time high-now even the legal system has been caught abusing the taxpayer's dime.

Proximity: This case could have happened in any large US city where the law is allegedly respected and used fairly in all criminal and civil cases.

Prominence: Judges are selected by the public from a pool of qualified, fair and law-abiding attorneys: they are expected to be the more upstanding citizens in every community.

Impact: All citizens now know that they too could become victims of a dirty legal system that is not supposed to exist in America.

JOUR 61-AP Style #2 (E-H)

2009-02-12T17:54:00.001-08:00

1. His new book, on elections and the Electoral College, is titled "Does Your Vote Count?" (4)

2. Brianna looked so sad that he wanted to envelop her in his arms and give her a big hug, but he was afraid the attention might faze her. (2)

3. They were so impressed by her flair for decorating that they offered lavish praise and agreed to distribute her promotional flier. (3)

4. He suspected his neighbor was selling drugs, so he called the FBI. His neighbor, however, cried foul at the accusation. (2)

5. The boys' stories didn't jibe, so their father threw down the gauntlet and demanded the truth. (2)

6. My great-grandfather is a real gourmet, so I always let him pick the wine whenever we have dinner. (2)

JOUR 61-AP Style #1 (A-D), Revised

2009-02-12T10:08:00.001-08:00

1) Mayor Richard Wrigley expressed confidence that the gubernatorial debate, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will have a positive effect on his candidacy. He added, "Governor Red Davidson is a master of dirty politics, but I won't take any of his baloney." (4)

2) For her birthday, the 9-year-old girl invited five good friends over for ice cream and cake. The chocolate cake was so tasty that any one of the children could have eaten it all, yet they carefully divided it among themselves. (4)

3) Convinced of the bill's importance, members of the Democratic and Republican parties came together on Capitol Hill to support anti-terrorism legislation, despite their differences on other issues. (4)

4) ROME - All around the world, Roman Catholics today listened as the pope delivered his homily. (3)

Lead #3, Revised

2009-02-10T12:17:00.001-08:00

Today's website) Three northbound Conrail trains struck Amtrak train "The Colonial" after running a stop sign at a switch station near Chase, Md. at 1:30 p.m.

Amtrak spokesman Larry Chase stated that all four trains were traveling northbound at the time.

Tomorrow's paper) Amtrak train "The Colonial" was rammed by three other northbound Conrail trains yesterday at a switch station near Chase, Md.

Amtrak representative Larry Chase stated that the Conrail trains failed to yield at a stop sign, causing the four train collision.

Lead Exercise 5

2009-02-07T17:42:00.001-08:00

Immediate Lead 1#: Pipefitter Duane La Chance was badly burned by an electrified power source while installing new pipelines at the Springfield Municipal Power Plant today.

Delayed Lead 1#: A 55-year-old pipefitter was badly injured after being accidently shocked at the Springfield Municipal Power Plant yesterday afternoon. Project manager Henry Rosen reported the incident.

Immediate Lead 2#: A head-on collision between two local drivers on U.S. 63 in Springfield resulted in at least one hospitalization. The second driver's condition is still unknown.

Delayed Lead 2#: Local residents James W. Cunning, 20, and Wayne Clay, 19, collided head-on on U.S. 63 in Springfield just before noon. While Cunning is listed as stable at Springfield Hospital, Clay's condition has not been released.

Lead Exercises 3 and 4

2009-02-06T21:05:00.001-08:00

Lead #3) Amtrak train "The Colonial" crashed into three more northbound trains at a switch station near Chase, Neb. at 1:30 this afternoon. Amtrak spokesman Larry Chase stated that all three diesel fueled Conrail trains ran a stop sign, causing the four train collision.

Lead #4A) All 40 passengers from Northwest Airlines Flight 428 were evacuated after arriving at the Municipal Airport in Lacrosse, Wis.

Upon landing, an air traffic controller noted smoke near the wheels of the plane from Minneapolis, Minn. The airliner was quickly cleared of all personnel.

Lead #4B) After three years, a missing boy from Brick Township, N.J. was recognized and reported as seen by a neighbor watching a television show about kidnapped children.

The 7-year-old's photo was posted after the movie "Adam: The Song Continues" aired Thursday night. Police located the child with his non-custodial mother Ellen Lynn Conner, 27, who now faces kidnapping and custody interference charges.

JOUR 61-AP Style #1 (A-D)

2009-02-06T11:21:00.001-08:00

1) Mayor Richard Wrigley expressed confidence that the gubernatorial debate, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will have a positive effect on his candidacy. He added, "Governor Red Davidson is a master of dirty politics, but I won't take any of his baloney." (4)

2) For her birthday, the 9-year-old girl invited five good friends over for ice cream and cake. The chocolate cake was so tasty that any one of the children could have eaten it all, yet they carefully divided it amongst themselves. (4)

3) Convinced of the bill's importance, members of the Democratic and Republican Parties came together on Capitol Hill to support anti-terrorism legislation, despite their differences on other issues. (4)

4) ROME, Italy - All around the world, Roman Catholics listened as the Pope delivered his homily today. (3)

Top News of the Week #2

2009-02-06T00:58:00.001-08:00

San Jose State University plans to increase tuition 10 percent, reduce enrollment next fall

For California Bay Area students, state university enrollment is becoming even more difficult to obtain.

San Jose State University declared that tuition costs are expected to rise 10 percent or more this fall. Salaries for both faculty and staff will likely be frozen and fewer part-time instructors hired.

SJSU will be reducing its student body by 3,000 by only accepting freshman who applied before Nov. 20, 2008. Of the applicants who missed the first deadline, only county residents who applied before Nov. 30 will be accepted. All remaining applicants must either "wait" for acceptance or apply to another university. Not even graduate students can escape the state budget crunch; almost 25 percent fewer applicants will be accepted this fall.

Seniors who have been attending more than five years due to work and other responsibilities will be encouraged to finish their coursework, even though the SJSU 2008-2010 catalog states that every undergraduate has 10 years to complete his or her degree and every graduate student has seven (463). And though each CSU campus has different graduation requirements; all SJSU students have to complete an additional 12 units of SJSU studies in order to graduate. This additional semester compounds the amount of time every student needs to be enrolled.

In response to these serious issues, President Jon Whitmore suggested in his public address today that faculty and staff layoffs will be avoided and possibly some degree requirements be waived for seniors.

Is it fair? Yes, because students who are actually both ready and residents are still being enrolled into the CSU system.

And every person deserves the chance to attend a university in his or her home state.

News Values:

Impact: Affects all potential California college students: both local and international.

Timeliness: College administrative plans stated today in a public forum.

Prominence: College education today is an enormous business and has a huge affect on the economy: both state and nationwide.

Proximity: Local paper discusses the local state university's plans to overcome the state budget crunch.

Conflict: College budget: there is great difficulty in deciding who can be enrolled, what the costs will be, how many faculty members will be full-time, part-time, and much more.

Top News of the Week #1

2009-01-31T17:58:00.001-08:00

Postmaster General: Mail days may need to be cut - San Jose Mercury News

The Postmaster General requested that U.S. mail delivery be cut back from six to five days a week. Items mailed through the U.S. Postal Service have decreased by nine billion pieces in the past year alone. Two separate studies show that there would a 1.9 to 3.5 billion savings by cutting out one day's delivery service per week.

E-mail, online bill-paying and a reduction in advertising budgets have dramatically reduced the amount of first-class envelopes mailed. Even with postage price increases, Postal Service profits are lacking. Construction cuts and workforce reductions aren't enough anymore. The funds are lacking for future retirees.

With popular package-delivery competitors like UPS Inc. and FedEx, it's only a matter of time until the Postal Service is terminated unless there are drastic measures taken to restructure its business model. In a nationwide recession, Americans should be able to accept five days of free mail delivery instead of six. It's a small inconvenience to save our government's postal service.

News Values:

Timeliness: This lift of the required six-day mail delivery is being considered in Congress now.

Proximity: Affects all US mail deliveries.

Impact: A unexpected change for anyone who expects daily delivery of mail six days a week.

Novelty: A historical challenge of a law created in 1983.

Lead Exercises 1 and 2

2009-01-31T14:30:00.001-08:00

Lead #1: Yesterday the Butte County Court ordered $150,000 to a local couple injured in a March traffic accident.

Lead #2: Snowfall is expected to hit the Sierras again today with more storms approaching in the next week.

Lead #3: Three firefighters were injured in a major blaze at 204 Union Avenue earlier today. Local police reported 41 families were evacuated from the six-story burning building.

Air Crash Lead: Upon approaching Pittsburgh Airport a US Air plane from Chicago fell short of the runway and ran aground, killing all 131 people aboard yesterday. This plane crash has been reported as the worst US air disaster in 3 years.

Copy Edit the World-Set #1: 1/21 - 2/21

2009-01-24T12:39:00.000-08:00

Here are some media typos/grammar mistakes I've found and their corrections.

On page 7 of Section S/Viet Mercury of the Jan. 24, 2009 edition of the San Jose Mercury News is a small text and photo ad for a future presentation "The Climate Project": the word "carbonfootprint" should be "carbon footprint".
On the top of page 3 of the January 2009 edition of the Cypress Older Adult Sevice Center Newsletter the word "there" should be "their".
Below: on Jan. 27, the Yahoo News Web site ran this article under the U.S. news category. The journalist used the word "ex-wire" instead of "ex-wife" in the 25th paragraph. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090127/ap_on_re_us/bodies_found
Below: on Feb. 4 an AP story was published on the Comcast Music Web site about a bait and switch tactic used to sell Bruce Springsteen tickets. In the first paragraph the word "them" actually identifies the tickets, not the ticket buyers. Though the writing could be tighter, simply removing the word "them" would save space and correct the grammar. Springsteen fans cry foul after Ticketmaster snub

I’m Finally Here!

2009-01-24T10:14:00.001-08:00

Since I first learned to read, I wanted to become a writer of books and magazines. Though I'm still a major bibliophile, that path was pushed aside for more immediate responsibilities, career experiences and other misadventures!

Though I'm older now I am still deeply drawn to the world of writing, editing and publishing. I have also developed a new taste for electronic media. Besides the course objectives, I hope we'll learn how to choose profitable journalistic endeavors and create different types of digital presentations similar to the New Media in Journalism coursework. (After waiting so long to get here, I'm actually pretty excited about this class!)