The beast refers to the consumers- and the orgainzations that wish to keep them fulfilled. Consumers are creating the demand. They want reletive news in a timely manner from sources they can trust. News organizations want to feed it to them.
Consumers are eternally hungry for more and more. News organizations must give them not only what they need, but what they want- constantly, or consumers will turn elsewhere. News organizations must supply that information accurately and without fraud or bias. They cannot do this without hoards of people, especially journalists, constantly researching and preparing the food for the next meal.
The on-demand news presentation style that 24-hour stations and the internet require does not allow journalists much time to double-check their work and sources. Reporters now face the risk of receiving inaccurate information and passing it through to the consumer, more than they did in the past when news presentation was more structured than constant.
Also, the time and space crunch required to produce news in a timely and daily basis often does not allow reporters to give the full story the first time. Usually they report the most pertinent information in the time and space alloted. They can report a follow up that gives more in-depth coverage at a later time. However, that does not always happen because the story loses relevance when it becomes yesterday's news.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Specialty Ledes
New York Times
"TERRY GARDNER, a legal secretary in California, returned home from work recently to find two police officers waiting. They said her brother had told them he thought she might be having a breakdown because she had shaved her head. "
This lede is interesting because it draws you in without being too far off from the point of the story- marketing on the body. I'm sure this lede can be improved a bit in that it it could me more closely tied to the story (i.e. a spiel about "Do I look like I have "" tattooed on my forehead?"). This lede is much more interesting than a summary. I think the narrative is the best fit to draw in the reader. It worked on me- I read the whole thing.
The New York Times
"They borrow leftover prescription drugs from friends, attempt to self-diagnose ailments online, stretch their diabetes and asthma medicines for as long as possible and set their own broken bones. When emergencies strike, they rarely can afford the bills that follow."
I think this is a good example of a staccato lede. It provides a very good inclination of what to expect in the story, and is appalling enough to want to continue reading. I think this is the best lede for this story. It is far more effective than a summary lede. I also think that this is the best specialty lede option because it demonstrates a repetitive problem worth learning more about.
"TERRY GARDNER, a legal secretary in California, returned home from work recently to find two police officers waiting. They said her brother had told them he thought she might be having a breakdown because she had shaved her head. "
This lede is interesting because it draws you in without being too far off from the point of the story- marketing on the body. I'm sure this lede can be improved a bit in that it it could me more closely tied to the story (i.e. a spiel about "Do I look like I have "" tattooed on my forehead?"). This lede is much more interesting than a summary. I think the narrative is the best fit to draw in the reader. It worked on me- I read the whole thing.
The New York Times
"They borrow leftover prescription drugs from friends, attempt to self-diagnose ailments online, stretch their diabetes and asthma medicines for as long as possible and set their own broken bones. When emergencies strike, they rarely can afford the bills that follow."
I think this is a good example of a staccato lede. It provides a very good inclination of what to expect in the story, and is appalling enough to want to continue reading. I think this is the best lede for this story. It is far more effective than a summary lede. I also think that this is the best specialty lede option because it demonstrates a repetitive problem worth learning more about.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Day 2 Norton lede
Maria L. Norton pleads for her daughter's safe return while police continue to search for clues, 24 hours after Angela Melissa Norton, 4, disappeared from her bed while in the care of her babysitter.
Murrow College takes control of Pullman-KWSU and Richland-KTNW TV stations
Raising questions and lowering costs, PBS-member stations KWSU/Pullman and KTNW/Richland merged operations under the Murrow College “as part of ongoing efforts to achieve maximum use of existing resources and increased operational efficiencies,” according to a Washington State University press release.
The merger, directed by WSU President Elson S. Floyd, went into effect February 1.
“I think he saw both academic and financial advantages to the move,” Erica Austin, Dean of the Murrow College of Communication, said in an e-mail regarding Floyd’s decision.
Austin, who will hold control over the stations’ operations, said the change will give programming more “WSU flavor.”
“It also means that the producers will have the collaborative power of faculty and students to help create and distribute more programming so they can increase and improve what they do; as if they had a larger staff,” Austin said.
“It’s going to align us closer to the college in helping [with the] training of students,” Warren Wright, Station Manager of KWSU/KTNW said. “The students will be able to help the station with production assistance.”
Wright said Floyd was looking for a way to better involve the students in the public television organization.
Austin said WSU students will have the opportunity to use state-of-the-art equipment to produce professional-quality programs.
“Our students often win national awards for their projects already,” Austin said. “It doesn’t seem to be much of a stretch for them to be able to meet high standards of professionalism.”
Wright said he thinks students are supportive of the change, which he called “win-win.” Austin said she thinks the move will generate few, if any, disadvantages. Tim Pavish, Vice President, University Relations, declined to comment.
“We have 12 students currently doing production with us and we hope there will be more,” Wright said.
Jamerika Haynes, student reporter for “Taking on the Issues,” a Cable 8 production, plans to be a broadcast news reporter when she graduates.
Haynes is excited about the production move but worries if censorship will become an issue. She said students need to thoroughly research their rights and responsibilities with the type of programming that they want to cover, and make sure they are accurate.
“[Students] just need to be aware that the administration can now have control over what will be on the air,” Haynes said.
Censorship will likely not be an issue, Austin said, because “the station has not been producing news, and the producers will still be involved in decision making.”
Austin did not mention whether censorship would be a factor in program selection or non-news content.
Austin said the association between the stations and college is one of few programs around the country, and it will benefit students from all areas of the college, “including advertising, public relations, organizational communication and research specialties in addition to journalism and broadcasting.”
The administration believes the move “will help propel the College to another level of excellence,” and make a big difference for the students, community and state, Austin said.
The merger, directed by WSU President Elson S. Floyd, went into effect February 1.
“I think he saw both academic and financial advantages to the move,” Erica Austin, Dean of the Murrow College of Communication, said in an e-mail regarding Floyd’s decision.
Austin, who will hold control over the stations’ operations, said the change will give programming more “WSU flavor.”
“It also means that the producers will have the collaborative power of faculty and students to help create and distribute more programming so they can increase and improve what they do; as if they had a larger staff,” Austin said.
“It’s going to align us closer to the college in helping [with the] training of students,” Warren Wright, Station Manager of KWSU/KTNW said. “The students will be able to help the station with production assistance.”
Wright said Floyd was looking for a way to better involve the students in the public television organization.
Austin said WSU students will have the opportunity to use state-of-the-art equipment to produce professional-quality programs.
“Our students often win national awards for their projects already,” Austin said. “It doesn’t seem to be much of a stretch for them to be able to meet high standards of professionalism.”
Wright said he thinks students are supportive of the change, which he called “win-win.” Austin said she thinks the move will generate few, if any, disadvantages. Tim Pavish, Vice President, University Relations, declined to comment.
“We have 12 students currently doing production with us and we hope there will be more,” Wright said.
Jamerika Haynes, student reporter for “Taking on the Issues,” a Cable 8 production, plans to be a broadcast news reporter when she graduates.
Haynes is excited about the production move but worries if censorship will become an issue. She said students need to thoroughly research their rights and responsibilities with the type of programming that they want to cover, and make sure they are accurate.
“[Students] just need to be aware that the administration can now have control over what will be on the air,” Haynes said.
Censorship will likely not be an issue, Austin said, because “the station has not been producing news, and the producers will still be involved in decision making.”
Austin did not mention whether censorship would be a factor in program selection or non-news content.
Austin said the association between the stations and college is one of few programs around the country, and it will benefit students from all areas of the college, “including advertising, public relations, organizational communication and research specialties in addition to journalism and broadcasting.”
The administration believes the move “will help propel the College to another level of excellence,” and make a big difference for the students, community and state, Austin said.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Summary News Lead
Vatican Demands Holocaust Denier Publicly Recant - NYT
ROME — Responding to global outrage, especially in Pope Benedict XVI’s native Germany, the Vatican for the first time on Wednesday called on a recently rehabilitated bishop to take back his statements denying the Holocaust.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Increasing Budget Cuts
Talks of recent budget cuts affecting WSU continue to increase as time goes on. According to a press release, WSU President Floyd, Provost and Vice President Bayly notified university deans, vice presidents and chancellors to prepare for an additional 20 percent cut. What is in danger of the budget cuts? A private source said that everything is on the table, anything could get cut. I have not confirmed yet, but a source said that University of Washington is freezing new student admissions. What does this mean for student admissions at WSU? What about new graduate students? What will the new budget plan entail? How big of a hit will academics take in ratio to administration, university beautification projects, campus lighting, and other non-academic areas? What can the individual do to help?
Monday, January 26, 2009
Cancer and Alcohol Research Reveals Potential New Therapies
According to a WSU press release, in a study regarding malignant melanoma and alcohol consumption, “it was discovered that increased alcohol consumption resulted in decreased spread of the cancer into the lungs of mice,” but it did not extend their lives. Researcher Gary Meadows, director of Washington State University’s Chronic Illness Research Center was awarded a five-year, $1 million grant last fall from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) in part to try to explain the mechanism behind this paradoxical discovery. What is the explanation? Do they have it in part or in full yet?
The press release notes many of the known health aspects of increased alcohol consumption, and provides several others as well. Meadows and assistant professors in the College of Pharmacy say they will use the grant to answer several questions regarding the links between cancer and alcohol. What answers do they hope/think they will find?
The press release also mentions a vaccine treatment in development for melanoma and a few other tumors. What does this entail? What are the key components to this development? Is it strictly preventative or can it be used on patients who already have cancer?
What do these discoveries mean for WSU, for alcohol consumers, for Meadows?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
