History of Journalism Presentations; 300 Word Article Draft

We'll complete our last few presentations today. Take notes.

• The invention of Radio & Radio News Broadcasting (Victoria)
• Adolph Ochs & the New York Times (Akhiyar)
• History of the Newsreel (Joshua)
• Tom Wolfe & New Journalism (Kemani)
• Hunter S. Thompson & Gonzo Journalism (Ja'Miah)
• Woodward & Bernstein & the Watergate Scandal (Turon)
• Helen Thomas, Judith Miller, Maureen Dowd: 3 Women print journalists (The elements Raeona)
• Rolling Stone & Jonathan Katz (Britney)

Then, let's return to the lab and work on the following assignments:

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE #1

Newspaper journalists usually write a column or are given "inches" to fill for each edition. For an explanation of this, please take a moment to read the short article at this link.

Golden journalist rule: One inch = about 30-35 words.

Today, write an article in the lab that will be about 8-10 "inches" (300-400 words).

300 Word Articles--the short and long of it!

There is a special kind of magazine/news article known as the 300-word article. Here is your next assignment and some "articles" about it and examples:

1. Use the link below to find a topic you would like to write about: [Choose ONLY one of the first 66 topics, please]

• http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/13/182-questions-to-write-or-talk-about/?_r=0

2. Once you have selected your topic, research and write a 300-400 word article. Make sure you attribute or cite your source(s).

3. Write your 300-400 word article by changing your paper to 2-columns (in other words, the writing should appear as two columns on the paper you hand in). Change your paper layout design to accommodate this.

4. Proofread and turn in when completed to complete this assignment.

Tips about writing a 300-word article by journalist Brian Nelson: 

"I am a professional writer and editor. This experience has led me to see that there are two types of three hundred word articles, those that are short and worthless, and those that are the shortest possible way to say something worthwhile.
Three hundred words sounds like a lot, but it only is to a child attempting to fulfill a quota on a boring topic.  To illustrate, I would like to point out that as you finish reading this particular sentence, you have just read 125 words. In other words, by finishing the introduction and half of the second paragraph you have read almost half of a 300 word article.
Thus, four or five paragraphs of three to five sentences each is all that a 300 word article would contain. Both writer and editor may benefit, then, from a template of sorts that ensures both readability and value in such limited writing space.
While many such templates are possible, one of the easiest to use and remember is to write an introduction of three sentences.  Then, a second paragraph which consists of a provocative first sentence.  A second sentence containing an example, and a third sentence summing up the first and second sentence in the form of a conclusion.
The third paragraph is three or four sentences applying the principals discussed in the second paragraph.  Depending upon the audience for the article, this is where the writer would discuss using the information in daily life, business, or for persuading others.  Also, any suggested paradigms.
Lastly, a concluding paragraph consisting of two sentences, one of which restates the introduction and the second of which claims the article supplies the proof or answer, depending upon the article being written.  Using this template, anyone can write useful 300 word articles in just minutes." (--by Brian Nelson)

So, if we take Mr. Nelson's advice, we have the following breakdown template:

• Introduction (1st paragraph) 3 sentences (your hook, your lead-in, and your thesis). 
• 2nd paragraph (3 sentences): a hook (topic sentence), an example, and a concluding statement summing up sentence 1 & 2. This should connect somehow to your introduction.
• 3rd paragraph (3-4 sentences): 3-4 sentences connected to the 2nd paragraph to further discussion of the topic/thesis of the article. This might be a good place to put your facts, details, etc.
• 4th paragraph (2 sentences): concluding statement & last, but not least, a restatement of your claim (thesis) and perhaps a reason we should care. 

Links for further help if you need it:

• www.drostdesigns.com/how-to-write-a-300-word-article-in-30-minutes-or-less/
• an example of a 300-word article: www.donna-warren.com/portfolio/seo.html

We will complete our articles next class.

If you finish early, please search the internet for a newspaper article (you may find a few). Print out the article, read it and summarize the article. If you do not complete this today in the lab, please complete as homework.

HOMEWORK: Find an article from the news. Print it. Read it. Summarize it. Hand in your summary Monday, May 7.