Newspaper I, Newspaper HN Writers Project)
Step one:
Step 1: Defend your job
You have been a reporter for The River Packet, a 25,000-circulation daily in North
Carolina, for two years. The family that owns the well-liked community newspaper has
appointed a distant cousin as the new publisher. She holds an MBA from the UGA, but
she has no journalism background. She has announced that she plans to cut costs
immediately, and she has asked all newsroom employees (three copy editors, one
reporter/copy editor, 10 reporters, two editors, one designer) to write 250 words in
defense of their jobs. Write a clear and convincing argument that you are indispensable."
Due: Friday, Dec. 17
Step two: Get the facts:
Use the telephone book, almanac, the Internet and/or other resources to find the
information listed below. Jot down the answers on this sheet; be sure to list your source.
a. The population of Gastonia
b. The names, birthplaces and ages of the U.S. representatives from North Carolina
c. The seating capacity of the National Football League stadium nearest Raleigh, NC
d. The name and location of an Ethiopian restaurant nearest Winston-Salem
e. The location of the nearest post office that accepts passport applications
f. The correct spelling of the corporate name: dupont DuPont Dupont dupont
g. South Dakota's state nickname
h. The year Alaska was granted statehood
i. The number of congressional representatives from the state of California
j. Percentage of Final Four appearances that the Tennessee Vols have turned into NCAA
championships
Due: Friday, Dec. 3
Step 3: Write a level-5 cutline for the photo above. Due: Dec. 10
Step 4: Editing: Do the attached Speed-Bump editing exercise. Due: Jan. 3
Step 5: Read and review a book on editing or a journalism book that touches on reporting
or photojournalism in some way (Read it over Christmas Break: Here are your choices:
Journalism after September 11 Barbie Zelizer
A Reporter’s Life Walter Cronkite
All Over But the Shoutin’ Rick Bragg
Restless Spirit: The Life and Work of Dorothea Lange Elizabeth Partridge
Supermedia: Saving journalism so it can save the World Charlie Beckett
Or you can suggest a title to me.
Writing a book review
Your book review will be a 2-3 page, double-spaced paper both describing and evaluating
a book dealing with the subject of journalism or journalists in some way. I must approve
the book before you review it. The review should cover the reason for the book, its
effectiveness and its utility of the book for a working journalist.
Think about the following
Why did the author write the book?
Does the author write formally or casually? Is the style effective?
Are descriptions and explanations clear? Does the book leave you with major questions?
Is the book accurate?
Is the book’s layout both attractive and effective? Are any illustrations or graphics useful?
What specific examples can you give of places where the book is or is not effective?
Consult additional sources
Try to find out more about the author. Is he or she qualified to write on this topic? Use
the Internet, but also use periodicals and other books as necessary. Do not use web sites
as your only sources.
Writing the paper itself
Bibliographic citation. This includes full title, edition, author, place, publisher, date of
publication, number of pages, price and ISBN.
An introduction. State your main point for the review.
Elaborate on this main point. Use description, quotation and evaluation to illustrate your
main points. Use page numbers to cite any quotations. Remember that it is ok to have an
opinion here, although overusing “I” would be a mistake.
Final judgment. In a conclusion, state whether you recommend the book for a) journalism
students, b) working professionals.
Bibliography. Give a consistently formatted list of outside sources, including web sites.
Keep in mind
Neatness counts. Your paper must be word processed and printed darkly in black ink.
Keep in mind that if you have to futz with things too much to achieve the desired length,
your paper probably has bigger problems than length. Spelling, grammar, style,
mechanics, etc. are all important.
Due: You will bring in a draft to be edited by one of your peers. You will revise
and clean up during the exam. Must be completed by the end of your exam period