MMC 911 Introduction to News Writing

Spring 2012Session 9

Dr. Alma Kadragic

Tonight’s programReminder about Academic Writing &

Research course – Tuesdays in Block 15-111 or Block 5-121

Discuss Field Trip Story #2 – feature as change from Field Trip Story #1 – hard news

Discuss writing online storiesDiscuss international stories/local versionsFinalize Teams for Team Reports next weekWriting Exercise #4No Class April 25

Academic Writing & Research

Free to you, only this timeIn future, students will have to pay for this

subjectHow you can use the subjectShow Karen your 910 Report due April 16 a

week earlierShe can provide some tipsKaren will look at your final paper – follow

her timingExtension of time on final paper in 910 – June

15 is absolute deadline

Format for all stories

12 pt Calibri or Arial fontSingle space; double space between

paragraphsNo indenting for paragraphsNo bold lettersTitle same size as textFull name at top of paperMake sure computer set left to right, not

right to left – Ethar and Jaidaa

Field Trip Story #2Requirements:

400 words maximumFeature storyStory that couldn’t be done from home/officeIncludes interviewsSources of information provided are

identifiedWill be marked and returned by Saturday

evening, April 7

Field Trip Story #2 Feature Story

What’s the difference between Story 1 and Story 2?

Stories should be related but Story 2 can take off in other direction

Remember that Field Trip Story 3 will be online version of Story 1

Field Trip Story 4 will be online version of Story 2

It’s important to understand how material can be cut, expanded, improved for other formats

Writing Online Storieswww.useit.com/alertbox/9710a.html

Go over several sections and especiallyHow Users read on the webF-shaped pattern for reading

www.useit.com/alertbox #104 on Writing Style for print vs web

Team Reports #1We have 8 students in MMC 911

We need 3 teams which means 3 stories

Team 1Team 2Team 3

Team Reports #1 – cont.Template for team report – 15 minutes total

Begin with statement of international story – be specific

Continue with explanation of local versionDescribe interviewsDescribe researchExplain what you would do to

continue/expand the story if you had more time

Team Reports #1 – cont. 2Prepare slides with careTime presentationsMake sure you have done them several times

before coming to classPresentations must be complete by the time

you arrive to classFirst round of presentations in 910 was

practiceNow you can do the real thing

Upcoming EventsApril 10-16 Gulf Film Festival

http://www.gulffilmfest.com/index.php/en

May 6 Sky New Arabia launches; located at twofour54, Abu Dhabi

May 8-9 Arab Media Forum; register at

http://www.arabmediaforum.ae/en/registration.aspx

Writing Exercise #4Describe one international story that can be

extended into a local story. It doesn’t have to be the one your team is working on. Begin to explain local angle of the story.

Assignment is one paragraphParagraph is 3-5 sentences maximumWrite in 3rd person only – no I, we, youWriting has to be lively; short sentences; no

passiveconstructions

How do you start?

Don’t start writing too fast – THINK!Decide what direction you will take Many possibilitiesYour paragraph has to be constructed like a

paragraph: topic sentence and supporting sentences

The paragraph should have 3-5 sentences

Session 10 next week – no launch

Field Trip Story 2 will be returned by end of Saturday, April 7

Field Trip Story 3 – online version of Field Trip Story 1 is due by 6 pm, before class on April 11

Make sure that links in Field Trip Story 3 work

Work on Team Reports 1 We will meet in Block 14-202

MMC911 Introduction to News Writing

That’s it for tonight