In one story inside of a quote, when we meant to say possess (as in, control and own), we said posses (such as, the plural of a posse, which is a group of people out to nab a criminal at-large).
In another story inside of a quote, when we meant to say from, we said form.
In yet another story inside a quote, we spelled to sloppy (as in, I will sloppy, or go toward sloppy) when we meant too sloppy (as in, very sloppy).
Yes, those are fatals. No, spell check wouldn't have caught them, because we misspelled words that created correctly-spelled but unintended words. Yes, we needed to check our work fact-by-fact, to make sure what we wrote was correct and what we intended to write. No, avoiding fatals has nothing to do with talent; it's just a question of vigilance.
In one more story inside a quote, we wrote something was "right from the gecko" when we meant the common expression of "right from the get-go." If a quote doesn't make sense, ask the person to repeat themselves or explain what they said.
As of today, 17 of 18 people in this class have passed the membership test for the Fatals Suck Club, and are members in good (?) standing. But that's to be expected; most everyone fatals in this class a couple of times.
What is far more disappointing -- and concerning -- is a quintet of fatals so late in the semester, in such a highly-weighed assignment.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Out-Of-Class #2: Do We Have Some Published Stories?
Yep. Like this one at uLoop.com.
And another one at uLoop.com.
Plus, more uLoop.com.
Congrats, folks!
And another one at uLoop.com.
Plus, more uLoop.com.
Congrats, folks!
Job Shadows: This Could Be You!
Out-Of-Class #2: A Good Example
November
12, 2013
Global
Warming and Public Transportation
Do you hope that the earth will
continue to be a livable planet in the future?
Are you supportive of possible
solutions to reduce human-induced climate change?
Would you be willing to set down
your keys and pick up a bus pass?
Did you hesitate after the previous
question?
Public transportation can
effectively reverse a portion of the unprecedented rate of increase in global
warming in recent years, given that emissions from automobiles are one main
human culprit.
Dr. Rachael Shwom, a specialist in
climate and society at Rutgers University, included transportation in the top
three contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, along with household energy use
and the food system.
She said that scientific consensus
on climate change has been growing, and while there have been some natural
variations in the global temperature across decades, “we certainly know that
the increases in global temperatures are tied to anthropogenic – or human –
sources of greenhouse gas emissions.”
Virginia Miller, the senior manager
of media relations at the American Public Transportation Association, quoted a
report on traffic congestion, which stated that if there hadn’t been public
transportation services in the 498 urban areas they studied in the U.S. in
2011, people would have consumed 450 million more gallons of fuel.
She also cited that “if an
individual has a 20-mile round trip commute and decides to take public transit
instead of driving a car, then his or her carbon emissions will decrease by
4,800 pounds per year.”
“So see? People can make a
difference,” she said. “Individual
decisions are important.”
However, many people do hesitate to
hang their keys on the hook and instead invest in a bus pass or another form of
public transportation.
Shwom said that studies conducted on
the public’s belief about climate change revealed that approximately 10 percent
of people embrace true denial of climate change and claim it is a myth, while a
much broader portion of the United States is simply uncertain or confused about
climate change.
At MSU, the vast majority of
students is aware of and believes the hype surrounding anthropogenic climate
change. Out of a random sample of five
students, all five said they believe in human-caused global warming, and all
five said that they feel public transportation could have a significant impact
in reducing carbon emissions.
However, only two students reported
that they frequently use the public transportation options on campus, while the
remaining three almost immediately said that they would not be willing to give
up their cars to rely solely on public transportation.
“Not in its current state,” said
grad student Emmalilly Hoxsie.
“Definitely if it was more reliable.”
Ryan Kneisel echoed Hoxsie’s
thoughts, saying that “public transportation does not go everywhere and is not
always reliable.”
For MSU student Kelsey Patten,
however, it is more so a question of convenience. “Having a car is just easier; if you have a
certain time to be somewhere you don’t have to wait. You can be on your own time,” she said.
But Miller said that once people simply
start taking public transportation – typically in response to high gas prices
initially – they realize that there are other benefits as well.
“When you’re not driving, you can
sit back and relax – you can listen to your music, you can text your friends,
you can work on your laptop, read a book, or even go to sleep. You can just relax,” she said.
Furthermore, Miller said, “One thing
we say to people is even if you’re not going to take public transit, you should
want your community to invest in it.
It’s going to help congestion, and it’s going to help the growth and
vitality of your community.”
And considering that “tens of
millions” of people currently use public transportation according to Miller,
the industry is having quite a significant impact on lessening the emissions
entering the atmosphere.
“One thing for sure is: public
transportation is leading the way when it comes to having environmentally
friendly vehicles,” said Miller. The
industry is also committed to reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign oils.
She mentioned several of their options, from diesel-electric hybrids to a
completely electric “zero emissions heavy duty bus,” which charges at a docking
station in the middle of its route in less than 10 minutes.
In 2012, there were 10.5 billion
boardings for trips on public transportation, Miller said – the highest number
since 1957. Shwom indicated that the one
real barrier to further increasing this number is that “only so many people
have access to decent, well-run, on-time public transportation.”
Shwom said that it is important to
keep encouraging participation in public transportation before the impacts of
emissions – such as increased storm intensity, changes in precipitation
patterns, droughts, and long-term sea level rise – become much more urgent and
begin to impact people’s quality of life.
“In this century, there’s been kind
of a renaissance of public transportation, and a realization that we need
livable, walkable, sustainable communities,” Miller said. “And a key part of serving a livable
community is having public transportation as a travel option.”
Word Count: 843
Sources
Virginia
Miller
American
Public Transportation Association, Senior Manager – Media Relations.
(202)
496-4816, vmiller@apta.com
Dr.
Rachael Shwom
Rutgers
University, Assistant professor in the Human Ecology department, Specialization
in climate and society.
848-932-9235, shwomrac@rci.rutgers.edu
Kelsey
Patten
MSU
student
pattenke@msu.edu
Emmalilly
Hoxsie
MSU
grad student
hoxsieem@msu.edu
Ashleigh
Lovette
MSU
student
lovette1@msu.edu
Ryan
Kneisel
MSU
student
kneiselr@msu.edu
Andrea
Raby
MSU
student
rabyand1@msu.edu
Out-Of-Class #2: Another Good Example
11/11/13
Movember/No Shave November
Every resident assistant at Michigan State University has a
theme for the name tags on their resident’s doors.
And the theme of the 3rd floor of Rather Hall
just so happens to be facial hair.
Take a stroll down the hall and one will feel as if they are
walking down some sort of “Facial Hair Hall of Fame,” with the likes of Rollie
Fingers, Ron Burgundy and Zach Galifianakis gracing the doors with their
presence.
And now that November is here, the theme of the floor seems
to fit perfectly.
Yes, it has arrived. The time of the year when hundreds of
thousands of men across the globe ditch their razors and shaving cream in the
hopes of sprouting hair from their face the likes of the men on the doors of
Rather 3A.
And with this month having descended upon us, it’s time to
distinguish between two activities that occur during this month, both involving
facial hair: One being the activity of No Shave November, and the other being
the works of a foundation known as Movember.
First, here’s what No Shave November is and why people do it:
“I do it because it’s a challenge,” junior MSU student Trent
Johnson said. “I do it with my friends to see who can grow the best and
grossest beard by the end of the month.”
Then Johnson, leaning in, joked about another part of No
Shave November that can sometimes be tough with the new, messy facial hair.
“And if you can pick up a girl during No Shave November,
that’s a plus-1,” he said with a laugh.
For others, No Shave November is a time to have fun.
Do you participate in No Shave November?
“Duh,” senior MSU student Bennett Prud’homme said in
response to this, as if it’s not even a question.
Why?
“November is international masculinity month,” Prud’homme
said completely serious, although the amount of fact in his statement is a tad
bit questionable. “I participate in No Shave November to reattach myself with
my inner spiritual masculine manly man.
But besides being just a month where a bunch of goofy
college kids grow out their facial hair, there is a foundation known as
Movember that uses the month to raise awareness for men’s health.
And although similar it may seem to that of No Shave
November, the Movember foundation stresses both on its Website and in contact
with staff members that they are not affiliated with No Shave November and that
they are all about the mustache.
“Movember is NOT the same thing as No Shave November,”
Movember public relations person Abbie Rumery said in an email. “Movember is only about the moustache – No
beards No goatee.”
According to Movember’s Website, this is because, contrary
to a beard or goatee, a mustache sparks a lot of conversation.
“The first year that guys did this it was 30 guys in
Melbourne, Australia and they actually raised no funds,” Movember College/University
Engagement manager Doug Prusoff said.
“What they realized when they were growing their mustaches though, is that the growth of a mustache sparks a lot of conversation. Every time someone asks, it’s an opportunity to talk about Movember and men’s health.”
“What they realized when they were growing their mustaches though, is that the growth of a mustache sparks a lot of conversation. Every time someone asks, it’s an opportunity to talk about Movember and men’s health.”
In addition, with each mustache generating as many as 2,400
conversations about men’s health, according to the Movember Website, awareness
and education then prompts people to take action or go to the doctor, making
them more aware of men’s health issues.
And since that first year back in 2003, according to Prusoff,
the foundation has exploded over recent years, having gone from just 30 “Mo’s”
(being the people who grow out mustaches for the month to raise awareness), to
over 1.1 million Mo's and $147 million funds raised in 2012.
As for No Shave November, according to freshman MSU student
Jonathon Sollish, things are also being done to help raise awareness for men’s
health. Take Berkley High School in Berkley, Michigan for example, where
Sollish was a 2013 graduate. START NEW
GRAF HERE According to Sollish, at the high school, teachers and faculty
members grow out facial hair in the month of November and raise money by
students donating money to whoever they think has the best beard.
“It’s run through our student government class,” Berkley
High School principal Randy Gawel said. “This is the third year they’ve done it
and about ten teachers and administrators participate. I’ve won the last two
years in a row so I’m the champion. I’ve got a gross hobo looking beard but
it’s all about raising money for cancer research.”
Still, at the end of the day, whether people are growing out
facial hair to raise awareness for men’s health or simply just doing it to have
fun with some friends, or even a combination of the two, the whiskers growing
out the sides of men’s faces this month is all in good fun.
Words: 811
Sources:
Doug Prusoff Movember
College/University Engagement manager
310-836-8269
Abbie Rumery PR person for Movember
(310)
450-3331 abbie@movember.com
Jonathon
Sollish
248-709-7119 sollishj@msu.edu
Trent
Johnson
248-767-0125 John3299@msu.edu
Bennett
Prud’homme
248-767-4602
Randy Gawel Principal of Berkley High School, Berkley
Michigan
248-837-8101
MM #2: Let's Look At Some MM Packages!
Alex S.: study abroad video and preview and recap and tweets #samsu
Video contains nice use of graphics, photos as B-roll, and even a neutral expert! But in the recap post, we need to treat it as a separate (if related) article, and restart with first attribution rules, an independent lede, etc.
***
Jordan J.: music trends video and preview and recap and tweets #genytunenews
Actually, this is NOT music theft, since the story itself is specifically about the music, and the music is not excessively used. The legal definition in this case is "fair use." Blog posts smartly split between one on views of music experts, and another talking to everyday students.
***
Sophie S.: social media on campus video and preview and recap and tweets #msusocmed
Good b-roll here. Preview sets up issue; recap get answers to questions. Twitter a good mix of main ideas, quotes and data.
***
Andrea U.: singing guys video and preview and recap and tweets #singingdischords
In the video, note the reporter "fronting" the piece. Let's not forget a caption there, too.
***
Kyna G.: sleep deprivation video and preview and recap and tweets #msustudentssleep
***
Christine L.: safety preparations video and preview and recap and tweets #msushooting
Let's be mindful of audio in the video. Strong tweet stream well-organized like a written story.
***
Colleen O.: Bottle bill video and preview and recap and tweets #bottlebillupdates
The video was about a proposed bottle bill; so why not show bottles for B-roll? The blog posts are smartly divided, with a post on people for teh blill, and another for opponents. Twitter stream is strong, but missing a lede tweet.
***
Shanin T.: drinking age video and preview and recap and tweets #msudrinkingage
Good use of B-roll and captions to craft together a lede; and nice job of using captions to offer text content. But make sure that text is readable, and isn't obscured by the B-roll behind it. Plus, is the music legal? Also, treat a latter blog post as a independent (even if related) item, giving it its own lede independent of the previous post.
***
Kelsey P: Black Friday video and preview and recap and tweets #bf
We need to go out and get good B-roll, like shoppers at the mall, etc. Plus, we're missing hyperlinks in the blog posts. Hash tag is too general to be unique.
***
Spencer I.: radio show video and preview and recap and tweets #wkarcurrentsports
The vid lede goes too long before we get into the substance of the story. Like a print lede, don't let a vid lede ramble. Plus, we actually overused b-roll here; it's not that we used a lot of B-roll, but we NEVER showed the people who were doing the talking.
***
Juliana M.: international students video and preview and recap and tweets #globalfestival2013
***
Mara H.: college drinking video and preview and recap and tweets #bingedrinking
We need captions when the speakers are speaking, so we know who is talking as they talk. Credits at the end aren't enough. It's like attribution in a written story; let the audience know who is saying what. The tweets also need a defining lede tweet, like in a news story. "About to interview MSU students" doesn't tell the reader what the interviews are about. Please look at how other tweet streams are structured for good examples.
***
Ryan S.: No-shave November video and preview and recap and tweets #supergruffspartans
***
Kristin N.: drinking limit video and preview and recap and tweets
We need to have B-roll embedded in interview segments, and not just book-ending the segments. Please see other videos for examples.
***
Erik S.: living off-campus video and preview and recap and tweets #offcampusdutiesjrn200
The blog posts should have been written in more of a news style about what was discovered, rather than a first-person recap of what the reporter did. See other posts for examples.
***
Isabella C.: winter biking video and preview and recap and tweets #bikesafelyatmsu
***
Maya S.: dance marathon video and preview and recap and tweets #msudmmeeting
Video contains nice use of graphics, photos as B-roll, and even a neutral expert! But in the recap post, we need to treat it as a separate (if related) article, and restart with first attribution rules, an independent lede, etc.
***
Jordan J.: music trends video and preview and recap and tweets #genytunenews
Actually, this is NOT music theft, since the story itself is specifically about the music, and the music is not excessively used. The legal definition in this case is "fair use." Blog posts smartly split between one on views of music experts, and another talking to everyday students.
***
Sophie S.: social media on campus video and preview and recap and tweets #msusocmed
Good b-roll here. Preview sets up issue; recap get answers to questions. Twitter a good mix of main ideas, quotes and data.
***
Andrea U.: singing guys video and preview and recap and tweets #singingdischords
In the video, note the reporter "fronting" the piece. Let's not forget a caption there, too.
***
Kyna G.: sleep deprivation video and preview and recap and tweets #msustudentssleep
***
Christine L.: safety preparations video and preview and recap and tweets #msushooting
Let's be mindful of audio in the video. Strong tweet stream well-organized like a written story.
***
Colleen O.: Bottle bill video and preview and recap and tweets #bottlebillupdates
The video was about a proposed bottle bill; so why not show bottles for B-roll? The blog posts are smartly divided, with a post on people for teh blill, and another for opponents. Twitter stream is strong, but missing a lede tweet.
***
Shanin T.: drinking age video and preview and recap and tweets #msudrinkingage
Good use of B-roll and captions to craft together a lede; and nice job of using captions to offer text content. But make sure that text is readable, and isn't obscured by the B-roll behind it. Plus, is the music legal? Also, treat a latter blog post as a independent (even if related) item, giving it its own lede independent of the previous post.
***
Kelsey P: Black Friday video and preview and recap and tweets #bf
We need to go out and get good B-roll, like shoppers at the mall, etc. Plus, we're missing hyperlinks in the blog posts. Hash tag is too general to be unique.
***
Spencer I.: radio show video and preview and recap and tweets #wkarcurrentsports
The vid lede goes too long before we get into the substance of the story. Like a print lede, don't let a vid lede ramble. Plus, we actually overused b-roll here; it's not that we used a lot of B-roll, but we NEVER showed the people who were doing the talking.
***
Juliana M.: international students video and preview and recap and tweets #globalfestival2013
***
Mara H.: college drinking video and preview and recap and tweets #bingedrinking
We need captions when the speakers are speaking, so we know who is talking as they talk. Credits at the end aren't enough. It's like attribution in a written story; let the audience know who is saying what. The tweets also need a defining lede tweet, like in a news story. "About to interview MSU students" doesn't tell the reader what the interviews are about. Please look at how other tweet streams are structured for good examples.
***
Ryan S.: No-shave November video and preview and recap and tweets #supergruffspartans
***
Kristin N.: drinking limit video and preview and recap and tweets
We need to have B-roll embedded in interview segments, and not just book-ending the segments. Please see other videos for examples.
***
Erik S.: living off-campus video and preview and recap and tweets #offcampusdutiesjrn200
The blog posts should have been written in more of a news style about what was discovered, rather than a first-person recap of what the reporter did. See other posts for examples.
***
Isabella C.: winter biking video and preview and recap and tweets #bikesafelyatmsu
***
Maya S.: dance marathon video and preview and recap and tweets #msudmmeeting
Out-Of-Class #3: We Bring It All Together
For the third
out-of-classer, we're gonna do something that's a bit different yet
still familiar, and at the same time brings together everything we've
been working on this summer.
That's because the third out-of-classer won't simply be a written story; instead, we will be filing versions for all mediums, on the same topic.
Due on the same topic will be:
... a written story, for which the topic must be pre-approved by me, via tip sheet; the story must be at least 700 words long; you need to note the word count at the end of the story; the story should include at least three sources who you have personally interviewed. Three is the bare minimum, but I expect to see many more than that; and you should try to incorporate at least one neutral expert, as noted in the syllabus.
Also, on a separate page, attach a source sheet where you list by name, title, phone number and email address each interview source you communicated with. I will be randomly spot-checking sources to check your accuracy and make sure you spoke to whom you claim to have spoken.
Plus, keep in mind you will have the opportunity to do an optional rewrite of your story, after the graded version is returned to you. To earn credit for a rewrite, you must do additional reporting and rewriting, as suggested by me. Then, your initial grade and rewrite grade are averaged, and that average becomes your final assignment grade;
... a 1-2 minute video, uploaded to YouTube, with B-roll and at least two source interviews on-tape; on either the entire comprehensive story or simply one aspect or angle of it.
... a 100-200-word preview, posted to blogger.com and done in a journalistic style, taking a look at the issue going into your reporting and/or one side or facet of the issue, with at least two relevant working hyperlinks embedded in the text;
... a 100-200-word recap, posted to blogger.com and done in a journalistic style, taking a look at what you discovered about the issue/how it ended and/or another side or facet of the issue, with at least two relevant working hyperlinks embedded in the text;
... and a tweet stream on Twitter with at least 12 tweets on the subject, and a unifying hash tag applied to each tweet.
For this exercise, you may re-interview sources from your written stories or interview new sources. You may also use what you gathered and your notes from your original stories in putting together your new media news products.
Also, when I say you can do the entire comprehensive story or just an aspect of it, this is what I mean: let's say you did a story on the pros and cons of living off-campus vs. on-campus. The video and tweet stream may just look at one aspect, such as student opinions on the issue. The preview online story might look at the experiences of on-campus residents; with the recap looking at off-campus viewpoints. None of the mediums necessarily have to look at the issue as broadly as you did in a traditional text story (though you may do so if you so choose).
There will be separate deadlines for the print and multimedia versions of your stories. The deadline for the written version of the story will be no later than 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22 via email to omars@msu.edu under the subject line of OOC3. (You will have the graded assignment back to you by the end of the day Tuesday, Nov. 26.)
The deadline for all multimedia components of the story will be no later than 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 via email to omars@msu.edu. Please include links to all the multimedia products in a single email under the subject line MM3.
The deadline for the third out-of-class story rewrite, the optional fourth out-of-class story, your job shadow report and all extra credit work will also be no later than 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 via email to omars@msu.edu.
That will be the last day of class, and no work will be accepted after that date and time.
That's because the third out-of-classer won't simply be a written story; instead, we will be filing versions for all mediums, on the same topic.
Due on the same topic will be:
... a written story, for which the topic must be pre-approved by me, via tip sheet; the story must be at least 700 words long; you need to note the word count at the end of the story; the story should include at least three sources who you have personally interviewed. Three is the bare minimum, but I expect to see many more than that; and you should try to incorporate at least one neutral expert, as noted in the syllabus.
Also, on a separate page, attach a source sheet where you list by name, title, phone number and email address each interview source you communicated with. I will be randomly spot-checking sources to check your accuracy and make sure you spoke to whom you claim to have spoken.
Plus, keep in mind you will have the opportunity to do an optional rewrite of your story, after the graded version is returned to you. To earn credit for a rewrite, you must do additional reporting and rewriting, as suggested by me. Then, your initial grade and rewrite grade are averaged, and that average becomes your final assignment grade;
... a 1-2 minute video, uploaded to YouTube, with B-roll and at least two source interviews on-tape; on either the entire comprehensive story or simply one aspect or angle of it.
... a 100-200-word preview, posted to blogger.com and done in a journalistic style, taking a look at the issue going into your reporting and/or one side or facet of the issue, with at least two relevant working hyperlinks embedded in the text;
... a 100-200-word recap, posted to blogger.com and done in a journalistic style, taking a look at what you discovered about the issue/how it ended and/or another side or facet of the issue, with at least two relevant working hyperlinks embedded in the text;
... and a tweet stream on Twitter with at least 12 tweets on the subject, and a unifying hash tag applied to each tweet.
For this exercise, you may re-interview sources from your written stories or interview new sources. You may also use what you gathered and your notes from your original stories in putting together your new media news products.
Also, when I say you can do the entire comprehensive story or just an aspect of it, this is what I mean: let's say you did a story on the pros and cons of living off-campus vs. on-campus. The video and tweet stream may just look at one aspect, such as student opinions on the issue. The preview online story might look at the experiences of on-campus residents; with the recap looking at off-campus viewpoints. None of the mediums necessarily have to look at the issue as broadly as you did in a traditional text story (though you may do so if you so choose).
There will be separate deadlines for the print and multimedia versions of your stories. The deadline for the written version of the story will be no later than 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22 via email to omars@msu.edu under the subject line of OOC3. (You will have the graded assignment back to you by the end of the day Tuesday, Nov. 26.)
The deadline for all multimedia components of the story will be no later than 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 via email to omars@msu.edu. Please include links to all the multimedia products in a single email under the subject line MM3.
The deadline for the third out-of-class story rewrite, the optional fourth out-of-class story, your job shadow report and all extra credit work will also be no later than 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 via email to omars@msu.edu.
That will be the last day of class, and no work will be accepted after that date and time.
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