Here is my final portfolio for my News Writing class, which means it is almost time to eat Christmas cookies and be free from class-induced stress! Hooray! See how I used that hyphen? The major writing tip I learned in this class was the use of the hyphen. I am now observant and careful to use it correctly. Now I only hope I used the word 'induced' properly...
Coverage
Blogs since my previous portfolio.
A maestro's hair- This blog is about an audio slide show found on the NY Times website.
Informative visuals- A blog reflecting on the garbage/recycling multimedia news story.
Water on the Moon, Links in a News Story- Discussing the usefulness of links within the body of a news article.
Not admitting there's no story-A blog about a tip for keeping an open mind about stories to avoid searching for a story that isn't there.
Cluttered- A blog about Harvard's news site.
Clear, but somewhat awkward- What I thought of the Cavalier news site.
The press needs freedom- Discussing the prospect of the press having 'too much freedom'.
Online resources for news article about theft on campus- Here is a blog about the online resources I would possibly include in my news article about theft on Seton Hill's campus.
Depth
A maestro's hair- This blog is about an audio slide show found on the NY Times website.
Informative visuals- A blog reflecting on the garbage/recycling multimedia news story.
Not admitting there's no story-A blog about a tip for keeping an open mind about stories to avoid searching for a story that isn't there.
Online resources for news article about theft on campus- Here is a blog about the online resources I would possibly include in my news article about theft on Seton Hill's campus.
Interaction
Clear, but somewhat awkward- I included a classmate's opinion of the site as well and agreed for the most part.
Discussion
A maestro's hair- This blog is about an audio slide show found on the NY Times website.
Informative visuals- A blog reflecting on the garbage/recycling multimedia news story.
Cluttered- A blog about Harvard's news site.
Timeliness
A maestro's hair- This blog is about an audio slide show found on the NY Times website.
Informative visuals- A blog reflecting on the garbage/recycling multimedia news story.
Water on the Moon, Links in a News Story- Discussing the usefulness of links within the body of a news article.
Xenoblogging
Jeanine O'Neal's blog- Commenting on objectivity
Josie Rush's blog- Commenting on the multimedia videos
Wildcard
A newsletter's news- My ramblings and questions about whether or not newsletter articles are news (taking into consideration that newsletters can often be opinionated). I am not sure!
Sorry, weird portfolio entry. Maybe I shouldn't stay up until 4:30 in the morning to finish my blogging. Click here to read my classmates' final portfolios as well.
Question: Are newsletters considered news?
I wonder this because I had a bad experience with an article in the newsletter. For one, it told one definite lie, and on top of that it exaggerated a detail. Also, it twisted the story so much that it made the people writing it seem like heroes. Which brings me back to the question, do newsletters contain news?
I am genuinely curious. Do they use the same triangle format as newspaper articles?
I assume that newsletter articles do not follow a similar "unbiased" stance on writing, especially if, as in this case, the newsletters are from a non-profit organization.
Moving along... maybe newsletters exist to let people know what is happening, but the news does this as well. I guess the word 'news' is in 'newsletter' and it would make sense that it would be news. But of course I must doubt this. Newsletters have opinion and loaded words baked into their very being! Well, not all, but some do; for instance, any newsletter about animal shelters and hospital patients that are children. While they get the word out about the good causes they support, they still use language with strong connotations to mess with the readers emotions. This use of language manipulation could prevent it from being news.
My verdict: It resembles news, but might be a more emotional and bias form of news.
Remaining question: Are newspaper articles and newsletter articles written in similar ways?
Final thought: I could be completely wrong. I just wrote down my train of thoughts and hoped that they would lead me somewhere. If I'm wrong, help me out here.
Course Page
I wonder this because I had a bad experience with an article in the newsletter. For one, it told one definite lie, and on top of that it exaggerated a detail. Also, it twisted the story so much that it made the people writing it seem like heroes. Which brings me back to the question, do newsletters contain news?
I am genuinely curious. Do they use the same triangle format as newspaper articles?
I assume that newsletter articles do not follow a similar "unbiased" stance on writing, especially if, as in this case, the newsletters are from a non-profit organization.
Moving along... maybe newsletters exist to let people know what is happening, but the news does this as well. I guess the word 'news' is in 'newsletter' and it would make sense that it would be news. But of course I must doubt this. Newsletters have opinion and loaded words baked into their very being! Well, not all, but some do; for instance, any newsletter about animal shelters and hospital patients that are children. While they get the word out about the good causes they support, they still use language with strong connotations to mess with the readers emotions. This use of language manipulation could prevent it from being news.
My verdict: It resembles news, but might be a more emotional and bias form of news.
Remaining question: Are newspaper articles and newsletter articles written in similar ways?
Final thought: I could be completely wrong. I just wrote down my train of thoughts and hoped that they would lead me somewhere. If I'm wrong, help me out here.
Course Page
I missed this blog entry somehow... better late than never, I guess. But if I were to do this sixty years from now, that might not be the case.
Here are a few websites I might include in my article about theft on Seton Hill's campus:
On-campus theft rises with recent incidences- This news article is from the University of Washington, but I thought the information was interesting because it is from a different school.
theft & operation engrave- This is a website for Colby-Sawyer College. There are interesting tips to prevent theft as well as what is most stolen and where. Again, it is from a different school, but it is helpful because this demonstrates how other schools are dealing with the issue of theft.
Theft is most common crime reported on college campuses- This is another news article, but from central Pennsylvania-- a closer source. It also covers how to prevent theft and that it is the most common crime on college campus.
I know this is late, but by doing research I have more ideas to include in my article (primarily for the sidebar).
Course Page
Here are a few websites I might include in my article about theft on Seton Hill's campus:
On-campus theft rises with recent incidences- This news article is from the University of Washington, but I thought the information was interesting because it is from a different school.
theft & operation engrave- This is a website for Colby-Sawyer College. There are interesting tips to prevent theft as well as what is most stolen and where. Again, it is from a different school, but it is helpful because this demonstrates how other schools are dealing with the issue of theft.
Theft is most common crime reported on college campuses- This is another news article, but from central Pennsylvania-- a closer source. It also covers how to prevent theft and that it is the most common crime on college campus.
I know this is late, but by doing research I have more ideas to include in my article (primarily for the sidebar).
Course Page
"In a 1999 survey sponsored by the First Amendment Center, 53% of Americans said they believed the press has too much freedom" (Haiman, Best Practices for Newspaper Journalists).
How can the press have 'too much freedom'? I think the press should always have freedom and it is difficult to say that it has too much. The good thing about journalism is that it spreads awareness and limiting that would be ridiculous. I heard one time that countries with a free press generally have less starvation (correct me if I'm wrong). If this is so, the freedom given to the press can help others and why would anyone want to limit that freedom? As Haiman states, "Doesn't the press have a duty to live up to its special role in our democracy?"
Course Page
How can the press have 'too much freedom'? I think the press should always have freedom and it is difficult to say that it has too much. The good thing about journalism is that it spreads awareness and limiting that would be ridiculous. I heard one time that countries with a free press generally have less starvation (correct me if I'm wrong). If this is so, the freedom given to the press can help others and why would anyone want to limit that freedom? As Haiman states, "Doesn't the press have a duty to live up to its special role in our democracy?"
Course Page
This news site is a lot better than the news site mentioned in my previous blog entry. The colors are better, the text is spaced better, there isn't too much of it, and the pictures are placed in eye grabbing areas while not being distracting. However, the text and articles at the bottom of the page are set up awkwardly. In April's blog, she mentions that the site is bland. I could understand this, it was bland. However, I think I would choose a bland site over a site that is cluttered with words and pictures (such as the Harvard Crimson).
Course Page
Course Page
I thought this website's layout was way too busy. There was too much text gathered together. There should be wider divisions between the text and less stories crammed into such a small area. More pictures would be helpful if placed appropriately. Considering the name of the news site, I thought it would be more clear with its presentation.
Course Page
Course Page
"In framing a story, reporters and their assigning editors must be sure they have not concluded too soon about the nature of the story or its likely outcome" (Best Practices for Newspaper Journalists Haiman 60).
When I first read the title to the section "Newspapers are unfair when: They can't admit that sometimes there's no story," I wondered why this would be unfair. Of course journalists have trouble admitting there is no story because they have to write stories for their job. If they are assigned to cover a story, they have to cover it. However, Haiman's advice that editors and reporters shouldn't make conclusions about the outcome of a story would be one way to make a story out of no story. Therefore, journalists can admit the story they were after isn't a story and can move on to a real one.
Course page and discussion here.
When I first read the title to the section "Newspapers are unfair when: They can't admit that sometimes there's no story," I wondered why this would be unfair. Of course journalists have trouble admitting there is no story because they have to write stories for their job. If they are assigned to cover a story, they have to cover it. However, Haiman's advice that editors and reporters shouldn't make conclusions about the outcome of a story would be one way to make a story out of no story. Therefore, journalists can admit the story they were after isn't a story and can move on to a real one.
Course page and discussion here.
Alright, so maybe I am fascinated by the fact that there has been evidence of water found on the moon. On wired.com, there happens to be a news story about the moon water (found here). Besides being about an interesting topic, this article is successful because of its many links throughout the story. The links work to back up the article's claims by providing other sources with information (see "Sources make for a more credible argument"); Also, the links provide information about other instances which the article brings up, such as possible water found on Mars. By providing information to back up its claims and to further explain other topics, links create a more in-depth and informative article.
Course page
Course page
This multimedia news feature is an interesting way to convey information about where garbage and recyclables go. The pictures and interesting facts are strong and informative. When I first went to the website, I thought it was going to be another news story which condemns people who throw things away and praises recycling. Surprisingly, it mostly stuck with the facts so people could know what happens to what they dispose of. It is a refreshing, informative article which avoids preaching to save the environment.
However, the videos popped up inconveniently right over the information I was reading. When this happened, I just clicked to the next page because I didn't feel like dealing with them.
Course page here.
However, the videos popped up inconveniently right over the information I was reading. When this happened, I just clicked to the next page because I didn't feel like dealing with them.
Course page here.
At the NY Times website, there was a headline for a story entitled "Hollywood Swoons Over That Hair, That Baton." When I clicked this interesting headline, there was an audio slide show about a talented maestro. The slide show was able to cover many points that a written article would not be able to. It included music directed by Gustavo Dudamel (the maestro), photos of him conducting and teaching and working with children. It was able to provide a profile of this new talent in a way that writing could not.
Another interesting (but unrelated) story found here is about the finding of water on the moon. Could you imagine a hundred years from now people might be looking back at us and saying "I couldn't imagine what life was like being stuck on Earth!" It's kind of like how we look back and wonder how people survived without the internet or toothbrushes.
Course website and continuing discussion here.
Another interesting (but unrelated) story found here is about the finding of water on the moon. Could you imagine a hundred years from now people might be looking back at us and saying "I couldn't imagine what life was like being stuck on Earth!" It's kind of like how we look back and wonder how people survived without the internet or toothbrushes.
Course website and continuing discussion here.
Recent Comments
Kaitlin Monier on Cluttered: Some people did seem to like t
Matt Henderson on Cluttered: I agree that the site was pret
Jennifer Prex on Cluttered: I agree. It almost seemed to t
Greta Carroll on Informative visuals: Yeah, I'm not really sure if i
Kaitlin Monier on Informative visuals: Good point Greta, it did seem
Greta Carroll on Informative visuals: You know Kaitlin, I think you
Derek T on Not admitting there's no story: I really like your quote becau
Angela Palumbo on A maestro's hair: Kaitlin, I agree with what eve
Andrew Wichrowski on A maestro's hair: My favorite part of the slide-