Journalism: The Local News Article

A typical newspaper is divided into multiple sections. Here is a list of standard newspaper sections:

• Local/domestic/national news
• International news
• Business/finance/economy
• Politics
• Sports
• Weather
• Classified ads
• Interviews
• Letters from the readers
• Opinion/editorial
• Entertainment/comics/crossword puzzle/horoscopes
• Arts, culture, literature
• Events/movies
• Broadcast/cable television guide
• Society/people
• Tourism/travel tips
• Computers
• Automobiles
• Style/fashion
• Cooking/cuisine
• Health/medicine
• Home & decoration
• Family
• Kids/youth

TASK #1: Please select 3 of these categories and find and read 3 articles from the Democrat & Chronicle. Categories can be found above in the banner menus and under the quick links (since this is a website, not a physical newspaper). Once you have read these 3 articles, post a COMMENT on YOUR BLOG where you name the article, quickly summarize the article in 2-3 sentences and identify: who is most likely to read this article? What do you notice about how the article is written (include the headline)? Does it answer the 5 W's & H? Is the article written in an inverted pyramid style? What's your proof? What have you learned about journalistic writing as a style by reading these articles?

TASK #2: Working with 2-3 other students, search the internet and find the definitions for the following journalist terms. It will be important for you to find the definition of these words in relation to journalism (not just their typical definition). Compile your notes together on what you found and print out a vocabulary sheet for your team (and 1 for me for credit--put the name of your members on your work...):

• Headline
• Banner
• Byline
• Copy
• Correspondent
• Cutline
• Dateline
• Enterprise copy
• Exclusive
• Feature
• Flag
• Hard news
• Masthead
• Puff Piece or Puffery
• Wire services

TASK #3:

Choose a category of journalism (see list above) and find an event that is happening at SOTA to report on: Ex.

• Rent, the musical
• Charlotte's Web (middle school production)
• NYS Math & English Exams
• Academic Eligibility Team
• Speech & Debate
• Chess Team
• SOTA Stream
• HSA
• Games Club
• GSA
• Community Service
• SAT exams
• AP exams
• Dial-a-Teacher
• Friends of School of the Arts
• Track & Field
• Science Department News
• Math Department News
• Special Education Department News
• English Department News
• Social Studies Department News
• Foreign Language Department News
• Visual Arts
• Student Government Elections
• The Superintendent Nominations
• ISS news
• Library news
• Lunch room news
• Guidance Office news
• The City School District
• Local church/temple news
• Other...
• Find out who you might contact regarding information on the idea or topic you selected. Make a list of who you might interview or get information from. Some information about SOTA can be found here at this link, but you might need to dig deeper and talk to real live people. The district's information can be found here...; you might also find information for the district the RTA website.
• Come up with some questions. Write these down.
• Use a press pass and go find out information about your topic/news event. [Please note: some teachers are unavailable at this time...do not bother them!]
• Complete the 5 W's & H. See handout for help.
• Use your information to write an article. You will need to pick an angle, but we'll do this next class!

Here's a calendar to help you as well.

If you cannot complete Task #3 in class today, please work on your homework. See below.

HOMEWORK: Please read the 1st part on our Chapter Unit on NEWSPAPERS. Answer the 6 questions and turn in Monday.