Weekly response (Week 6)

1. Based on what you’ve watched in your newscasts this quarter, what sorts of stories comprise the start of a newscast? Identify three or four types of stories that do so. Why do you suppose this is?
1. Shootings
2. Any kind of killing/deadly situations
3. Anything that threatens people
4. Random stories that one way or another interest/have something to do with people.
Nothing odd about it - I think it's natural to make news of something that can affect or concern people because they're the reason news even exist. We don't necessarily need to like the news, we just want to be aware of what's going on. We also want to feel safe and to feel safe we need to know any possible catastrophe that could happen so we would be ready for it. If it has already happened, it's easier to learn something from the story.

2. The newsworthiness traits: Based on your analysis (go back and look them over again; don’t just go on a gut), which trait most often determines the newsworthiness of a story for your news source? Which one does so least? Why do you think this is? Give examples to support your answer. (100 words)
I think that the trait that most often determines the newsworthiness of a story for my news source is, as I said in the previous question, how significant it will be for people. For example, there have been 2 shootings in this month (seriously? no, seriously?!) and both of them were the one I thought was the most important among other news. The trait that determines the newsworthiness of the story in my opinion is probably promixity, even though it may seem like an important part, if the news are really good/interesting/important nobody will care where it happened. For example, does Connecticut really makes the shooting less or more important? Wouldn't you care just as much if it happened in Iowa or Wyoming? I think you still would.

3. What do you suppose it takes to be a nightly news anchor in this market? What traits make a person successful at it? Why do you say that? (75 words)
You should be very energetic. Because people watch night news usually lying on the couch and half-asleep, so you have to be engaging, have to make them so interested they would prefer watching news to sleeping. I say that based on my personal experience of watching TV late at night when you really don't want to do that but somehow still do. I never really looked for any special traits in night anchors but I think the energetic ones are so much more memorable.

4. Finally, what have you learned about local nightly news casts in general? (50 words)
Our local nightly news casts are all hard workers. They have to do a lot of work that usual news reporters don't have to: making people really want to watch the news and not just taking their wish for granted, working in extreme conditions (it's night after all). I will continue to watch them even when I don't have such assignments anymore.

Analysis of News Source, Week 6.1

5pm News 12/18/12, Kare11, Randy Shaver
Story 1: Students sickened, Renee Tessman
Story 2: Gun permit applications up, Lindsey Seavert
Story 3: CT school shooting victim burying, Randy Shaver

Newsworthiness
Students sickened

Timing: This week
Significance: Practically the whole school
Proximity: Paynesville, pretty close
Prominence: No one famous.
Human interest: People will be concerned, especially after the Connecticut shooting.
Oddity/uniqueness: Pretty odd because no one knows what in school makes students so sick.

Week 5 response, TWiP for week Nov. 22-29

Photo 1
Beginning: The wind during Hurricane Sandy was probably so strong that it was able to push a house that far from it's original place.
Middle: A house pushed into marshland by Superstorm Sandy is seen nearly a month later on Nov. 28. The house was in the Oakwood neighborhood of New York City's Staten Island.
End: This photo will probably become a place of nearby interest for a couple of weeks.

Photo 2
Beginning: This story probably doesn't have a beginning, just one man spontaneously did something spectacular and people gathered around.
Middle: A man breathes out fire. This fire-breathing act is part of a procession to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, on Nov. 27, the eve of the 543rd birthday of Sri Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion.
End:Nothing will happen. Just this photo will remind people of what happened once.

Photo 3
Beginning: Before this picture was taken nature worked for such contrast to happen for ages.
Middle: A man swims undisturbed by a red algae bloom in the waters of Sydney, Australia.
End: Maybe, someday later those two waters will somehow combine.

Photo 4
Beginning: The man wen through the war and Queen wanted to show her gratitude.
Middle: Queen Elizabeth II meets a camouflaged sniper from the Household Cavalry at Combermere Barracks in Windsor, England.
End: His life will go on and hers certainly will too - the difference is he will never forget it.

Photo 5
Beginning: Scientist probably worked hard for those suits to be made and then they had to test it.
Middle: Spacesuits wait for U.S. astronaut Thomas Marshburn, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield and Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko on Nov. 28 at the Russian training center in Star City. The men were donning the suits for a simulator test of the International Space Station.
End: Those cosmonauts will fly into the opened space in those suits.

Photo 6
Beginning: Guo Pei probably thought for a while how to impress her guests and she came to this glorious idea.
Middle: A model presents a creation by Chinese designer Guo Pei during Women's Fashion Week - Asian Couture in Singapore.
End:Fashions magazines will probably talk about it for a while.

Photo 7
Beginning: The farmers were looking for a way that would make politicians to care about their problem and they found it.
Middle: Police are being sprayed with milk by European milk farmers during a demonstration outside the European Parliament in Brussels. The farmers demanded subsidies for weak milk prices.
End: I guess they got what they were fighting for.

Photo 8
Beginning: That man probably overslept and knew that the traffic was horrible and didn't have any other choice other than to ride a bike, trying to cover from snow with an umbrella.
Middle: A snowy day in Munich, Germany, on Nov. 29 doesn't stop this cyclist.
End:he will probably get to work on time and with lots of attention.

Photo 9
Beginning: They were ordered to do this thing because the Kumbh Mela Festival takes a lot of work.
Middle: Indian laborers pull a pontoon in the Ganges River in preparation for the Kumbh Mela festival in Allahabad on Nov. 21. Allahabad is where the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers meet and is a focal point for Hindu pilgrims during the Kumbh Mela, where millions gather to bathe in the three rivers.
End: Their lives will go on. I think it's something usual for them.

Photo 10
Beginning: A group of people decided to reenact Russian-French war. I think that they prepared for this for a long time because it looks impressive.
Middle: A mannequin takes flight while people dressed in historic uniforms of the Imperial Russian and French armies take part in a re-enactment of the 1812 Battle of Berezina near Bryli, Belarus.
End: They will continue that they do. It's not the first time and certainly not the last one.

Photo 11
Beginning: Going for his usual day at work, the policeman didn't think that he would be involved in anything unusual until he got called to clear out the airport.
Middle: A French riot policeman reacts after being doused with lime powder by protesters in Notre-Dame-des-Landes. Activists opposed to a new airport were being cleared out by police.
End:he will probably take medical help (if needed) and/or take a shower and go back to work.

Analysis of a News Source 5.1

6pm News 12/12/12, Kare11, Julie Nelson
Story 1: Sinking Homes, Jeffrey DeMars
Story 2: Missing Woman, Julie Nelson
Story 3: Debt Buyer Settlement, Julie Nelson

Newsworthiness
Sinking Homes

Timing: This week
Significance: The story is about one man but other people with the same problem mentiones
Proximity: Waseca, pretty close
Prominence: No one famous, average person
Human interest: People will be concerned but only those who live in the same are and might face the same problem
Oddity/uniqueness: Very odd. Personally, I haven't heard of something like this before.

Analysis of a News Source 5.1

4pm News 12/12/12, Kare11, Diana Pierce and Pat Evans

Story 1: Oregon Mall Shooting, Jay Grey
Story 2: Thin Ice Death, Diana Pierce
Story 3: Collapse Anniversary, Pat Evans

Newsworthiness
Oregon Mall Shooting

Timing: Yesterday
Significance: Killed 2, injured 1
Proximity: Oregon, far from us but still within US

Prominence: No one famous but another person furious about the whole world
Human interest: People will be concerned about it a little bit but since not many people are dead and it's, sadly, not the first accident, they'll forget about it soon
Oddity/uniqueness: Not very odd. Shootings have become disgustingly common in out society.

Weekly response (Week 4)

Camera shot breakdown of Marc Mohan's story
Story title: "Disappearing jobs: Video store closes shop"
Air date: 11/7/12
Total run time (of story, not anchor lead-in and out): 2:58
Shot-by-shot breakdown:

1. Close up of video store signboard
2. Wide shot of the video store
3. Medium Close Up of the Marc Mohan moving videos
4. CU of Marc Mohan telling the story of the store
5. WS of the store from outside
6. Cutaway of people going around the store, picking discs
7. CA of a woman picking a disc
8. Extreme Close Up of the posters in the shop
9. Extreme Close Up of the fluorescent signboard
10. Follow shot of a random woman reaching out to get a disc
11. CU of Marc Mohan that keeps telling the story
12. CU of the welcoming sign on the door in focus and people visible in the background
13. Medium Close Up of Marc using computer and moving discs
14. Cutaway of a man choosing a disc
15. Cutaway of the same man from the background
16. Extreme Close Up of the labels on some kind of a cash register
17. Close Up of Marc Mohan that keeps telling the story
18. Cutaway of a man picking a disc
19. Close Up of the same man from the left, with visible other man in the background
20. Cutaway of the cute dog
21. MCU of the random worker moving the videos, with table in focus
22. MCU of another woman searching for a disc
23. CU of a woman, Julie Keefe, telling how she appreciates the shop
24. CA of Julie from behind, she's picking a disc
25. MCU of Julie from the right as she pays for videos
26. CU of Julie, she keeps telling the story
27. MCU of Julie checking the disc
28. CA of Julie filmed from the bottom, shelves in focus
29. Weather shot of pouring rain from the inside of the shop, window in focus
30. CU of the poster with advertising
31. ECU of Marc's face
32. ECU of a random person moving discs
33. CU of Marc telling the story
34. CU of board
35. MCU of Mark moving the discs
36. CU of discs being moved
37. ECU of Marc's face
38. WS of Marc working with customers
39. CU of Marc telling the story
40. CA of the worker placing discs in cardboard box
41. CA of another worker reaching for the disc
42. CA from the bottom of a random man getting a receipt
43. CA of a worker placing discs in the right order
44. CA of two workers rearranging videos
45. CU of Marc telling the story
46. WS of the store from outside, then Marc turns off the lights

What I noticed overall:

In the video I watched, «Disappearing jobs: Video Shop Closes» I noticed that the person who edited the video tried not to show us one shot for very long, probably thinking that it's going to be a bit boring. Along with the main character, Marc Mohan, and story that he's telling, there're a lot of cutaways of random people, workers, close ups of different signs, boards, discs. There was a woman who showed us what the video shop meant for her, a view from the different perspective. The video was also filmed from different angles that made it more interesting to watch.

Analysis of a News Source 4.2

10pm News 12/5/12, Kare11, Julie Nelson and Randy Shaver

Story 1: Honoring officer Decker, Jay Olstad
Story 2: 2-year-old accidently shot by brother, Randy Shaver
Story 3: Bodies of two young cousins from Iowa found, Julie Nelson

Newsworthiness
2-year-old accidently shot by brother

Timing: Early Wednesday afternoon, yesterday
Significance: One little boy killed
Proximity: Minneapolis, very close to us.
Prominence: No famous people mentiones but still very important.
Human interest: People will certainly care about this problem because they'll probbaly feel sorry for the family and they'll think more about gun safety.
Oddity/uniqueness: Something like this doesn't happen everyday so pretty unique.

Analysis of a News Source 4.1

6pm News 12/3/12, Kare11, Julie Nelson and Randy Shaver

Story 1: Officer killed investigation, Dave Berggren
Story 2: Suspect charged for sexual assault, anchor
Story 3: MN tax reforms, John Croman

Newsworthiness
MN tax reforms

Timing: Recent new but it has been discussed for a long time already
Significance:Very significant as it affects the economic situation in Minnesota
Proximity: The state of Minnesota, important for it's citizens
Prominence: No people mentioned but the topic is very important
Human interest:Minnesotans and, maybe, even other American citizens will be involved because tax reforms may affect them directly.
Oddity/uniqueness: Economy problems are never odd so it's not very unique but people always want to know what's going on.

Analysis of a News Source 3.2

10pm News, 11/27/12, Kare11, Julie Nelson and Randy Shaver
Story 1: Suburban Poverty, Jay Olstad
Story 2: Joint Funeral for Teens Killed, Randy Shaver
Story 3: Pay Cuts for Wild Stuff, Julie Nelson

Newsworthiness
Suburban Poverty

Timing: It has been a long-time issue but skyrocketed in the last 3 years
Significance: Very significant not only to the people but also economy
Proximity:Twin Cities, pretty close
Prominence: No one specific, the certain class of people mentioned
Human interest: People will be sympathetic to this problem because almost everyone had problems with money at some point in their life.
Oddity/uniqueness: For the world is not unique, but for Minessota where the majority is beyond successful, a little bit odd.

Weekly response, week 3 (book)

A lot of things amaze me in this book. First is the way Bob Dotson understand the use of surprising. I used to think that it's much more complicated but the truth is: a catchy phrase, an unusual description people don't expect can make the story.
The recommendation to write in three was also a complete surprise to me. I've always done it unconsiously but never knew that it's an actual rule. This is one of my favorite tricks in writing.
I've always struggled with whether I should write more or less in conversational style. Mr. Dotron strongly recommends it due to the necessarity to establish some kind of contact with each reader and conversational style makes it easier.

Analysis of a News Source 3.1

10pm News, 11/25/12, Kare11, Rena Sarigianoulos and Blake McCoy
Story 1: Two teenagers shot after supposedly breaking into the house - Lindsey Seavert
Story 2: Hit-and-Run arrest - anchor
Story 3: Congress return this week, Fiscal Cliff - anchor

Newsworthiness
Hit-and-Run arrest
Timing: Yesterday, very current, more information expected.
Significance: One woman who commited the crime.
Proximity: Minneapolis, close to where we are.
Prominence: Just a random woman, nobody famous.
Human interest: There are a lot of drivers and they will follow this accident closely because people want to be safe on the roads.
Oddity/uniqueness: Not uniaue, happens not a lot, but sometimes.

Analysis of a News Source 2.1

6pm News, 11/19/12, Kare11, Julie Nelson and Randy Shaver

Story 1: Airport noise vote - Scott Seroka

Story 2: College student attacked: sexual assault - Randy Shaver

Story 3: Nicholas "The Voice" David makes it to the Top Ten - Jana Shortal

Newsworthiness

College student attacked

Timing: Couple of days ago, fresh news.

Significance: There was only one woman.

Proximity: Near St. Catherine's University, pretty close.

Prominence: Just a random woman, nobody famous.

Human interest: People will care about this problem even though it's no one famous: it will be important for parents and close people of young women who can potentially be attacked.

Oddity/uniqueness: Sadly, accidents like this are not unique or even rare. 

Bob Dotson, Make it Memorable

1. What do you notice about the way he writes? Use specific examples, please. (75 words)

I think that the way he writes is really educating and neat. He doesn’t use complicated words and tries to explain things in a simple way that will be understandable for everyone. I like how he divides each chapter into little paragraphs with titles, for example, in section one there are straightforward titles like “Write the Middle of Your Story First”, “How to Quickly Write a Good Opening Line”, “Don’t Throw Away Thoughts”.

2.  What did you learn from reading pages 9 to 27? (75 words)

Pages one to twenty seven are partly explaining how to use three basic techniques in journalism: the rule of threes, filling the silence and non-question/question. Mr. Dotson tries to make his readers understand how he likes to work himself and what professional tricks are in his arsenal.  I have also wanted to find out how you can write your story if you can’t decided what is the first line is going to be yet and he explained that it is okay to write the middle of the story first because it is the easiest part. That is what I found the most useful thing. 

3.  With the scripts: What do suppose is described in each column? Why would it be split like that? What else is interesting about the scripts? (50 words)

The script describes how the making of story for news going with lots of details (camera work, photos’ use, people’ action). I think Mr. Dotson split it like that to make us see how many things we would have to notice and use if we ever decide to make news. 

Analysis of a News Source 1.2

6 pm, 11/13/2012, Kare 11, Julie Nelson and Randy Shaver

Story 1: New Vikings stadium and personal seat licensing - Scott Seroka
Story 2: Local company having troubles - Karla Hult
Story 3: Guilty verdict - crime - no anchor mentioned

Newsworthiness

Timing: It is football season and the Vikings have been trying to get a new stadium for a long time.

Significance: The Vikings have a large fan base, it affects them in the first place. Very significant.

Proximity: Local. The Vikings are also Minnesota's football team.

Prominence: Yes, it's prominent. The team is from Minnesota, so Minnesotans will pay close attention to those news.

Human Interest: Many people are interested in football, specifically in this team.

Oddity/uniqueness: Not much oddity about that.

In what ways does Alton Brown's introduction (to his own book on baking) relate to writing or to journalism or to broadcasting?

The style Mr. Brown writes in is very interesting – I wouldn’t say that he wanted to write an ordinary cook book with recipes, and ingredients, and instructions people don’t like to follow. It contains a little bit of everything: stories from his past that reveal parts of his personality in general, communication with the reader which is very important if you want people to come back to your book again and again, a little bit of humor as well.  He doesn’t force anything and encourage his readers to not simply follow directions but to invent something new: he does everything that not a good cook – a good writer would do and that’s compelling.

I also noticed the little notes he left on the sides. 

I also think it’s a good trick to keep the readers entertained because sometimes we want to turn our attention to something else besides the huge blob of text. Except, of course, if the text is interesting and for that occasion Mr. Brown didn’t make those notes too obtrusive.

I can’t say that I would read the whole book but I would consider looking at something like his weekly section in newspaper if he had one.

Analysis of a News Source, Week 1.1

5pm, 11/11/2012, KARE11, Rena Sarigianopoulos and Blake McCoy

1.      A storm destroys woman’s human, weather

A Minnesotan women was sitting in her living room, thinking about going to bed, when the storm struck and a huge tree landed right on her house, mostly bedroom. Her house is partly destroyed but she is okay. “If I had gone to bed a little earlier, I wouldn’t be here today” – she says.

2.      16 people displaced because of house fire, accident

A fire probably started because of the fireplace. Nobody’s hurt but they’re going to sleep somewhere else today.

3.      1) Timing – happened overnight

              2) Significance – it didn’t affect a lot of people, just one woman.

              3) Proximity – an accident happened in Minneapolis, close to us, so it’s pretty newsworthy.

              4) Prominence - the lady wasn't very famous, but she’s an old lady

              5) Human interest - as I already said, that woman is old, probably living alone, so people will be interested in it.

              6) Oddity - I wouldn't say the story is very unique but still, that doesn't happen every day.