Monday's plan

Agenda for March 1:

— Review magazine, news story editing assignments & AP Style quiz 2

— Talk about headline assignment (due March 3)

— Discuss News Sense News U course

Year One critique

Thoughts on first piece ...

• Missing elements:

— price points for Dovetail Design and Golden Leopard

— more details on personalities & schedules

— more on financing

• Art ideas?

— day in the life of the entrepreneurs

— map of businesses

• Blog/multimedia?

— blog with upcoming events, etc.

Future stories ...

— work/life balance

Ask an editor ...

From Maria Reeve, Politics Team Leader, St. Paul Pioneer Press.
 
What are some of the challenges facing you as an editor? Given the economic 
climate and the state of journalism, etc. The main challenge I fact every day is 
how to cover those topics i really think need examination with the resouces/staff 
I have. It is a constant source of frustration to know there are seven stories I'd 
like to get to, but I can only truly do maybe three. So we pick the best one. 
We focus our attention on those stories that will appeal to the broadest audience, 
is important, will go further in explaining some issue and frankly, those that AP 
isn't covering.
We're also challenged to figure out what do our readers most need to know 
and what is the best way to get that info to them. Is it i the blog? Online only? 
Alternative story form/graphics?
 
At the same time, what are some of the exciting things on your radar?
 
What's exciting is that I have really smart and really experienced reporters and they are a 
total blast to work with. We are excited about covering a session that 
should come down to how do you close the budget gap, in what direction do we want 
the state to go as we look at who wil be the next governor. It's also exciting to see 
whether our governor will make a run for president. Learning new platforms through 
which to communicate: blogs, twitter, facebook, online, etc.
 
What makes a good editor, great?

Everyone's had good and bad editors. The best ones had these things in common: 
They listened. They allowed mistakes to be made and to be teaching moments. 
They were supportive and direct. Great editors are also risk takers. Great editors 
don't play favorites. Great editors don't know everything. Great editors give feedback. 
Great editors have a sense of humor. Great editors can deliver bad news without 
crushing the soul. Great editors are not vindictive. Great editors know that protecting 
the enterprise, the reputation, the public trust is of utmost importance.
 
 
 

50th & Bryant fire

Plan of attack ...

1. Stories

— basics of cause, insurance

— what's next for businesses

— graphic of how fire spread

— response of fire department

— a look at safety regulations

— reactions of business owners

— profiles on each business (when opened, etc.)

— thoughts from residents on impact on neighborhood

— what is happening to workers on the block?

2. Photos/multimedia

— before and after slideshow

— video on the scene

3. Social media

4. Follow-up

— tracking what's next for the corner

— talking to artists at Shoppe Local

— a history of area fires to give context

— looking back at other fires

Monday, Feb. 22 agenda

— News editing assignment due before class starts

— Review readings posted on the blog: Poynter piece on motivation & video clip on entrepreneurial journalism

— Review editing quiz #2

— more work on headlines! fun. :)

Elements of strong headlines

Elements of strong headlines:

— to the point, tells the story

— catches readers' attention

— Accurate

— Clever, but not cheesy

— Strong verbs, active voice

Wednesday, Feb. 17 agenda

— Magazine feature editing assignment due (please e-mail me your edited story)

— Review editing quiz 2

— MN Daily critique (we will be critiquing headlines)

— Discussion of chapter 7: Writing Headlines

— Discussion of news story editing assignment (due Monday, Feb. 22)

Agenda for Monday, Feb. 15

1. Discussion of "Wanted: Required Web journalism skills" article

2. Review of editing quiz #1

3. Editing quiz #2 (based on chapter 6 "Word Watching")

For Wednesday, Feb. 10

Agenda for Feb. 10

— We will continue looking at news innovators. Please check out these sites and be prepared for a discussion about what makes these sites innovative. Click here for the link to the sites.

— We will review editing quiz #1.

— We will discuss chapter 6 and go over the magazine feature editing assignment.

— Extra credit opportunity — Check out this Minnesota SPJ event, write up 400 words on it and discuss it in class for 5 extra credit points.

For Monday, Feb. 8

Here's the agenda:

— News quiz :)

— Discussion about innovators, creative visionaries in journalism [be prepared to talk about a new online or print publication]

— First editing quiz (a macro edit — I will be asking you to give the writer instructions on ways to make the structure/reporting better) *** see p. 76 "approaching the story"

— Guest speaker suggestions?

Daily critique: news leads

Strong leads:

— taste of end results

— anecdotal leads work, but need to have strong nut graph up high

— get the basics right away (w's)