1. The mayor's husband sustained several broken bones Thursday after his car was broadsided by a pick-up truck on Broadway Ave.
2. City council members proposed Tuesday the creation of a board to control changes to the historic district.
3. The head of the Department of Energy said Monday that the Senate's approval of a nuclear waste storage plan will provide a safe haven for more than 77,000 tons of waste.
4. A state legislator is sponsoring a bill to stiffen penalties for perpetrators of identity theft and assist victims of credit card fraud.
5. The state is providing $1.2 million to Towson's school district in support of a program that helps at-risk youth.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Grammar Guru
Punctuation: symbols used to organize and separate written words so their meaning is better understood.
Example: Talent is often inherited; genius, never.
Subject/verb agreement: singular subjects should be accompanied by singular verbs; plural subjects, plural verbs.
Example: Economics is a difficult subject.
Pronouns: part of speech that replaces a noun.
Example: The committee gave its report.
Sentence structure: proper order and arrangement of words.
Example: On the way to our hotel, we saw a herd of sheep. NOT: We saw a herd of sheep on the way to our hotel.
Word usage: choosing the correct word or phrase to convey your meaning.
Example: A principal is your headmaster; you can remember it because he or she is your "pal." A principle is a belief that informs conduct, or the first in a series.
Example: Talent is often inherited; genius, never.
Subject/verb agreement: singular subjects should be accompanied by singular verbs; plural subjects, plural verbs.
Example: Economics is a difficult subject.
Pronouns: part of speech that replaces a noun.
Example: The committee gave its report.
Sentence structure: proper order and arrangement of words.
Example: On the way to our hotel, we saw a herd of sheep. NOT: We saw a herd of sheep on the way to our hotel.
Word usage: choosing the correct word or phrase to convey your meaning.
Example: A principal is your headmaster; you can remember it because he or she is your "pal." A principle is a belief that informs conduct, or the first in a series.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Chapter 4
A summary lede condenses the most important information in a story into one interesting, opening sentence.
Good summary ledes should:
- be as specific as possible about who or what is making news;
- avoid "backing in" by using introductory clauses;
- be concise (30 words or less);
- use active voice to interest the reader.
Examples:
1. In his first interview since a photo surfaced showing him smoking from a marijuana pipe, Michael Phelps said yesterday that the intense public scrutiny has him contemplating whether he will swim in the 2012 Olympics. (Sun)
- brings up the most important point: Phelps mentioned quitting in the interview;
- Phelps looks cute in this photo.
2. WASHINGTON — Anxious over the ballooning size of the proposed economic stimulus package, now at more than $900 billion, lawmakers in both parties were working Thursday on a last-minute plan to strip tens of billions of dollars from the bill. (NYT)
- strong word choices like anxious, ballooning, last-minute and strip draw the reader in by bringing a sense of urgency to the lede.
3. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg underwent surgery at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York on Thursday for what was apparently early-stage pancreatic cancer, according to a statement released by the Supreme Court. (NYT)
- ended with the attribution instead of backing in;
- good specifics like the exact center (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center) and type of cancer (early-stage pancreatic cancer) make the lede interesting and informative.
Good summary ledes should:
- be as specific as possible about who or what is making news;
- avoid "backing in" by using introductory clauses;
- be concise (30 words or less);
- use active voice to interest the reader.
Examples:
1. In his first interview since a photo surfaced showing him smoking from a marijuana pipe, Michael Phelps said yesterday that the intense public scrutiny has him contemplating whether he will swim in the 2012 Olympics. (Sun)
- brings up the most important point: Phelps mentioned quitting in the interview;
- Phelps looks cute in this photo.
2. WASHINGTON — Anxious over the ballooning size of the proposed economic stimulus package, now at more than $900 billion, lawmakers in both parties were working Thursday on a last-minute plan to strip tens of billions of dollars from the bill. (NYT)
- strong word choices like anxious, ballooning, last-minute and strip draw the reader in by bringing a sense of urgency to the lede.
3. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg underwent surgery at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York on Thursday for what was apparently early-stage pancreatic cancer, according to a statement released by the Supreme Court. (NYT)
- ended with the attribution instead of backing in;
- good specifics like the exact center (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center) and type of cancer (early-stage pancreatic cancer) make the lede interesting and informative.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Chapter 14
Objectivity: sticking to observable facts and avoiding the injection of personal opinions into news reports.
Thoroughness: looking into every aspect of a story.
-doing research before interviewing sources so you can ask more relevant and probing questions, taking the time to track down and talk with the best sources, and becoming familiar with primary documents.
Accuracy: getting the facts straight.
-double-checking your math (in my case, triple-checking), asking interviewees to spell their names, and visiting referenced Web sites to make sure links are active.
Fairness: listening to different viewpoints and getting all the facts.
-consciously fighting the tendency to "frame" a story before you have gathered all the info, being open to re-evaluating your presuppositions about an issue, and checking out tips thoroughly -- not succumbing to the temptation to publish something merely because it supports your opinion.
Transparency: being as open as possible about: your presuppositions, where and how you're getting your information and how you're choosing what to report.
-when appropriate, posting links to primary sources with your articles, allowing the audience to post comments as feedback to your articles, and offering the public your opinions on certain issues so they can better understand your editorial decisions.
Thoroughness: looking into every aspect of a story.
-doing research before interviewing sources so you can ask more relevant and probing questions, taking the time to track down and talk with the best sources, and becoming familiar with primary documents.
Accuracy: getting the facts straight.
-double-checking your math (in my case, triple-checking), asking interviewees to spell their names, and visiting referenced Web sites to make sure links are active.
Fairness: listening to different viewpoints and getting all the facts.
-consciously fighting the tendency to "frame" a story before you have gathered all the info, being open to re-evaluating your presuppositions about an issue, and checking out tips thoroughly -- not succumbing to the temptation to publish something merely because it supports your opinion.
Transparency: being as open as possible about: your presuppositions, where and how you're getting your information and how you're choosing what to report.
-when appropriate, posting links to primary sources with your articles, allowing the audience to post comments as feedback to your articles, and offering the public your opinions on certain issues so they can better understand your editorial decisions.
Hi, My Name Is: KAREN
I work for the undergraduate marketing department where I oversee tours, help put on events and generally try to convince high school students that Towson is the school for them. Some kids are easier to convince than others.
I write for the Towerlight, and sort of help with editing and layout. Sometimes.
I’m doing an independent study with Algren and I just remembered that I have to wake up really early tomorrow for it.
I lead a middle school Bible study in Pen Lucy.
I am peripherally involved with Campus Crusade for Christ, but kind of resent the name of the group. I’m fine with the campus and Christ parts -- I just don’t think the crusades are something Christians should be bringing up all the time.
I write for the Towerlight, and sort of help with editing and layout. Sometimes.
I’m doing an independent study with Algren and I just remembered that I have to wake up really early tomorrow for it.
I lead a middle school Bible study in Pen Lucy.
I am peripherally involved with Campus Crusade for Christ, but kind of resent the name of the group. I’m fine with the campus and Christ parts -- I just don’t think the crusades are something Christians should be bringing up all the time.
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