MMC 911 Introduction to News Writing

Spring 2012February 29, 2012

Dr. Alma Kadragic

Tonight’s program

Invitation from Dr. Swapna KoshyReports from Day 1 of WAN-IFRA Conference6:30 pm Library for research workshopExamine real Exercise 1 from last weekSome tipsDiscuss Exercise 2Discuss Campus News Story

Invitation from Dr. Swapna KoshyThis is to invite students registered in the Media

and Communication course to speak to / interact with undergraduates enrolled for Business Communication.

The available slots are between 8.30am-10.30 am on 18th  and 25th  April  or  2nd  May. Students could give a short presentation ( in any format – with/without slides, an activity/game) on use of new media or any new communication technique. On April 25th there will also be a poster presentation for which their feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Reports from Day 1 of WAN-IFRA ConferenceShumaila on www.arabfreepressforum.org

Anastasia

Anni

Ethar

Writing the paragraphFollow instructions!

Assignment was one paragraph, not one sentence

Paragraph should introduce direction of rest of the piece

Spelling and punctuation are importantDo not use sms language or abbreviations

Real Exercise #1Describe our classroom in one

paragraph

Make a list of some facts about the roomWhat do you think about the classroom?What is your approach?

Factual? Imaginative?From small to big?Other?

Last week’s assignment

Here is the compilation of what everyone wrote:

Did you write a physical description?Did you write about the mood?Did you write about both?

Problems you may have

You can’t write if you are struggling with the topic

You have to decide where you are going before you start to write

List a few points as remindersKeep it simple - KISSUse SpellCheck; watch punctuationBe carefulProofread

Exercise 2 on Wednesday

Exercise 1 was writing an opening paragraph on a given topic

Exercise 2 will be writing the second paragraph

An opening paragraph will be on the screenYou will write the next paragraph, taking the

story in a direction you select

Planning the On Campus News Story - 1

What can you see?Who can you talk to?What’s special or interesting about our

campus, which means Knowledge VillageWhat is interesting on campus or in

Knowledge Village?What are some categories you could look at?

Planning the On Campus News Story - 2

How can you pick a topic?What is the news?What will you need to do the story?Who will you talk to?Is research required?

Planning the On Campus News Story - 3Plan the timing – story is due in 7 days

Activity TimingThinking ResearchInterview(s) OrganizingWritingProofreading

Planning the On Campus News Story - 4500 word story

Lead – first paragraphDevelop topics – one per paragraphParagraphs are short – 2 or 3 sentences

maximumWhere do quotes go?Is research useful? If so, explain source in story

How do you start?

Remember the 5 Ws and HowThe opening is the most importantPyramid style – what is it?Jot down key pointsPut them in orderWrite simple sentencesUse present tense mainly

After you’ve writtenRead out loudChange bits that are hard to sayProofreadAsk another person if text is clearIf not, make changes Read againPut away and give yourself a breakRead againHand in

Session 5 next week

We will catch up with Writing Exercise #2On Campus News Story is a Word documentEmail your On Campus News Story as an

attachmentbefore class on Wednesday, March 7

I will not accept stories emailed after 6 pm on March 7

MMC911 Introduction to News Writing

That’s it for tonight.

Use the weekend to continue with MMC910 readings which are all available now

See you Monday in MMC910. Our speaker will be Sultan Al Qassemi. How can you prepare for his visit?