Breaking News!!!…practice
So, journalism 200 lab today was a hoot. We practiced writing styles and rules and I came up with two very interesting articles. The first is a review of the rules we learned today. And the second is an article exercise about (no duh) Hillary Clinton’s speech at the Democratic Convention this past Tuesday. Enjoy!
FOUR “DON’TS” IN NEWS-WRITING
Journalism is a tough field. In a way, it’s like a game. You have to have skill (the more practice you have, the better). If your knowledge of it is terrible, you’re definitely going to lose (and every journalist is a player). And of course, there are rules.
University of Tennessee journalism professor John Shearer gives five basic “Don’ts” in journalism writing:
1. Only use “there” to describe a place. It’s vague, arbitrary, and since journalism is about being precise, you want to give details. Never say “there was” or “there were.”
2. Only use “it” as a pronoun. And avoid introductions like “It is easy to see.”
3. “Thing” should only refer to something specific. Remember, you’re an aspiring journalist. Don’t skimp on the facts. Instead of “The people believed the government should do something,” try “People wanted the government to take action.” And never say “stuff.”
4. Never end sentences with prepositions. (For example of, to, between, in, etc) Even with short articles, proper grammar still applies. We’re writing to the masses, but even 5th graders know better.
5. And finally, AP rules. Period. (As in, the Associated Press rules throughout the land. And it was good.) Because there are so many standards (and the first four don’t cover half of it), look to any AP guidebook for the rest.
HILLARY CLINTON’S SPEECH IN DENVER
U.S. Senator Hilary Clinton (D-NY) addressed her supporters and endorsed the current Democratic presidential bid Barack Obama in her speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado last Tuesday.
Clinton began her speech with a heartfelt thank you to her “supporters, my champions—my sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits…You never gave in. You never gave up. And together we made history.”
Because many of Clinton’s supporters are still disappointed by her failure to receive the presidential bid, Clinton’s speech was intended to assure her supporters, insisting that Barack Obama was the best candidate for president. She encouraged her party members to unite in this election under Obama in order “to take back the country we love.” Clinton insisted that no one can sit on “the sidelines” of the impending election.
Clinton believes as president, Obama will “revitalize [the] economy,…defend the working people of America,” resolve major environmental issues, and “will be a key factor in “repairing [the] alliances around the world.” In addition, Clinton praised Joe Biden’s nomination as Obama’s vice president stating Biden is “pragmatic, tough, and wise.” Clinton believes that this team will be very successful.
While Clinton praised the efforts of Senators Obama and Joe Biden, she expressed her doubts in Republican presidential candidate John McCain. “John McCain is my colleague and my friend. He has served our country with honor and courage. But we don’t need four more years of the last eight years.” Clinton believes that McCain’s appointment into office will only extend the blunders including “economic stagnation,” “less affordable health care,” “high gas prices,” “less alternative energy,” outsourcing, and war the last two presidential terms produced.
Clinton believes this presidential election is a crucial “fight for the future. And it’s a fight [the Democrats] must win.”
But on the social ladder, I am probably the at the very bottom rung, at least to UTK. And my kind’s concerns? Well, we’re probably below the rising cost of tution on UTK’s list of priorities…which is to say, the lowest of the low.