Second Class- Notes by Madison Moore

• Current Events Discussion
• Two toddlers were killed in MD during exorcism
• How would you cover a story like this?
• talk to officer in charge, make logical order in to a lead, try to interview people in area/ names of friends for future stories/leads
• potential for follow up stories- one day stories v. details trailing out
• example follow up for this story- mental illness/potential rise of mental illnesses
• be on lookout for fair reporting
• notice bias words

• Headlines v. Titles
• headline- captures point of story, has active verb

• Branding
• personal branding- presenting yourself how you want to be perceived
• digital footprints make impressions last
• ex: PR executive claimed she would not catch AIDS because she is white
•  immediate fallout
• ex: Seahawks player
• perceived s angry, cocky, etc in initial interview but works to rebrand himself in follow ups
• everyone must decide how they want to brand themselves
• each named three adjectives about ourselves describing how we want to be perceived

• State of the News Media
• media is in the middle of changes
• impact of cut backs in newsrooms
• checks and balances out of whack

• Grammar
• refer to grammar handout throughout the semester
• verb for attribution should always be said
• everything else has possible other implications that can be misinterpreted by the public
• Stephen King 'On Writing' handout

• Review of last week's readings:
• Chapter 1- exercises & good fundamental writing
• Chapter 2- Writing Process
• always start with leads- include the 5 W's and where/who the information is coming from
• Chapter 3- grammar
• Chapter 4- Style
• AP Style
• can refer to handout for most questions

• Review of Last weeks leads
• prioritizing the 5  W's in a lead
• the attribution is not the most important part, want something to capture the public's attention and give them a sense of the story  immediately
• Content in the lead v. the body of the story
• lead should have most important, basic facts first
• body should have other details but it is up to you to determine which details you should include
• must recognize possible implications (ex: including Gail Baker's age/ career when reporting about how her baby died)

• Homework for next week:
• Read Ch. 5-7, 9, Do: P.12, 1.13 (brevity), 1.14, 1-5; P.63, 4.1 (AP Style / do in workbooks)
• AP Style, Grammar and Current Events Quiz