News, Arts and Sports Writing (Fall 2018)

From “How did American newspapers, largely identified with political parties…” to “What is a Pulitzer Prize?”

This assignment asks you to review your contributions to the course so far, to evaluate your participation in several categories, and to write a synthesis paper that attempts to make something new and significant from the results of your analysis.

This synthesis paper is a personal reflection on your work, so I do expect you to refer to yourself and your accomplishments; however, I am also asking you to demonstrate your ability to back up your claims with evidence.

Your Discussion Portfolio

I am asking for an introduction that presents the main idea that your portfolio will support, a brief section that responds to each of the required categories, and a conclusion that connects what you have just written about to your progress meeting the course goals (check the syllabus).

Although I am going to read your introduction first, you should probably write it last — after you have completed the sections on the required categories of participation. Read More »

Read from “What’s happened to news on television?” to the end of “What’s happened to news on radio?” (pages 78-90 in my edition)

Read from “Why doesn’t public broadcasting…” to the end of “Who decides what is news today?” (90-100)

What matters when it comes to reporting the news is not generalities, transitions, a personal relationships between the writer and reader, or wordplay that shows off the writer’s technical skill. What matters is specific details. Details drive the news.