Week 12: Journalism 2001Week 12: Journalism 2001

November 26, 2007November 26, 2007

Community Journalism Community Journalism ReviewReview

Overall excellent stories!Overall excellent stories!– You’re all good writers now – we’ll work on being stronger You’re all good writers now – we’ll work on being stronger

reporters!reporters!– Remember the basics: 5Ws and HRemember the basics: 5Ws and H– You might know a topic – assume this is new to the readerYou might know a topic – assume this is new to the reader

Need attributionNeed attribution– Strongest after direct quoteStrongest after direct quote– ,” he said, she said.,” he said, she said.

Comma inside quote marksComma inside quote marks Stick to third person: Not we, us, I, youStick to third person: Not we, us, I, you Style errors:Style errors:

– DatesDates– MonthsMonths– NumeralsNumerals– Need first nameNeed first name

Red Lake Cartoon/Sarah Doty Red Lake Cartoon/Sarah Doty ReviewReview

Strong summariesStrong summaries Need to be careful with the detailsNeed to be careful with the details

– What was Jim Heffernan’s role?What was Jim Heffernan’s role?

Editorial columnist Jeff Heffernan speaks out about the process Editorial columnist Jeff Heffernan speaks out about the process that led to a highly controversial and offensive cartoon against that led to a highly controversial and offensive cartoon against American Indians and the Red Lake Reservation being American Indians and the Red Lake Reservation being published in the Duluth News Tribune.published in the Duluth News Tribune.

A controversial cartoon depicting the Red Lake Reservation A controversial cartoon depicting the Red Lake Reservation shooting ran in the Duluth News Tribune sending a tide of shooting ran in the Duluth News Tribune sending a tide of anger over the Native American community pushing a staff anger over the Native American community pushing a staff member to issue an apology.member to issue an apology.

A controversial cartoon in the Duluth News Tribune featuring A controversial cartoon in the Duluth News Tribune featuring the Red Lake Reservation sparks many disputes among the Red Lake Reservation sparks many disputes among readers.readers.

After running a culturally distasteful editorial cartoon on March After running a culturally distasteful editorial cartoon on March 30, which depicted the tragedies of the Red Lake shootings, 30, which depicted the tragedies of the Red Lake shootings, the Duluth News Tribune printed a formal apology of Jim the Duluth News Tribune printed a formal apology of Jim Heffernan, who was responsible for the printing of the cartoon.Heffernan, who was responsible for the printing of the cartoon.

In an unprecedented reaction to protests and a firestorm of In an unprecedented reaction to protests and a firestorm of letters to the editor regarding a recent editorial cartoon, a letters to the editor regarding a recent editorial cartoon, a local opinion columnist pulled his Sunday column to run an local opinion columnist pulled his Sunday column to run an explanation and an apology for the decision to use the explanation and an apology for the decision to use the cartoon.cartoon.

Sarah Doty, a student at UMD, spoke to Reporting Sarah Doty, a student at UMD, spoke to Reporting and Writing I students on Monday about her and Writing I students on Monday about her experiences as a student writer and as a hopeful experiences as a student writer and as a hopeful future journalist to inspire young scholars interested future journalist to inspire young scholars interested in the field.in the field.

UMD senior and Statesman managing editor Sarah UMD senior and Statesman managing editor Sarah Doty has applied her experience as a Duluth News Doty has applied her experience as a Duluth News Tribune intern to the Statesman in hopes that Tribune intern to the Statesman in hopes that readers will enjoy a revamped experience.readers will enjoy a revamped experience.

Writing started as a hobby, then turned into a Writing started as a hobby, then turned into a passion, and after four years of schooling at the passion, and after four years of schooling at the University of Minnesota Duluth, it turned into a University of Minnesota Duluth, it turned into a career.career.

Set to graduate this spring, University of Minnesota Set to graduate this spring, University of Minnesota Duluth senior, Sarah Doty is on track to do great Duluth senior, Sarah Doty is on track to do great things in journalism.things in journalism.

Upcoming storiesUpcoming stories

Feature Story AssignmentFeature Story Assignment– Final article due: December 10Final article due: December 10

Final eportfolio project: Due Final eportfolio project: Due December 17December 17

Don Imus UpdateDon Imus Update

http://http://www.wabcradio.comwww.wabcradio.com//

Chapter 12: By the NumbersChapter 12: By the Numbers

Journalists often dread using “math Journalists often dread using “math skills”skills”

Numbers can help illustrate a story, Numbers can help illustrate a story, make comparisonsmake comparisons

Basic math skillsBasic math skills

Percentages:Percentages:– 10 percent, 40 percent10 percent, 40 percent– Budget increase/decrease:Budget increase/decrease:

(Year 2 – Year 1)/Year 1(Year 2 – Year 1)/Year 1

– Percentage of a wholePercentage of a whole (subgroup/entire group)(subgroup/entire group)

– Percent or percentage pointsPercent or percentage points (1 percent difference/5 percent base = .20 (1 percent difference/5 percent base = .20

or a 20 percent increase)or a 20 percent increase)

Ask for helpAsk for help

Journalists often have big egos!Journalists often have big egos!– OK to ask for helpOK to ask for help

Where to turn online:Where to turn online:– Robert Niles’ Journalism Help:Robert Niles’ Journalism Help:

http://nilesonline.com/stats/http://nilesonline.com/stats/

– Math test for journalists:Math test for journalists: http://www.ire.org/education/math_test.htmlhttp://www.ire.org/education/math_test.html

– Looking for a calculator?Looking for a calculator? http://www.refdesk.comhttp://www.refdesk.com

SurveysSurveys

Conducting a surveyConducting a survey– Formulating the questionsFormulating the questions

– Usually closed-end question: yes or no, one of two Usually closed-end question: yes or no, one of two choiceschoices

– Open-ended questions: tough to tabulateOpen-ended questions: tough to tabulate

– Testing the questionsTesting the questions– Developing the sampleDeveloping the sample

Identifying respondentsIdentifying respondents Selecting a random sampleSelecting a random sample Determining the sampling errorDetermining the sampling error

Gathering dataGathering data– Face-to-face interviewsFace-to-face interviews– Mailed questionnairesMailed questionnaires– Telephone interviewsTelephone interviews

Analyzing the dataAnalyzing the data– Hand-tabulateHand-tabulate– Computer programsComputer programs

Writing the storyWriting the story– Don’t overstate results in the leadDon’t overstate results in the lead– Must explain survey methodologyMust explain survey methodology

When are surveys used?When are surveys used?

Election campaignsElection campaigns– Harris pollHarris poll– Media pollsMedia polls

http://www.startribune.comhttp://www.startribune.com

– Political party pollsPolitical party polls Local issues:Local issues:

– Price of gasoline, price of beerPrice of gasoline, price of beer Pew Research Center:Pew Research Center:

– http://www.people-press.orghttp://www.people-press.org

Survey rules and guidelinesSurvey rules and guidelines Analyze the data carefullyAnalyze the data carefully Carefully interpret statistics correctlyCarefully interpret statistics correctly Lead with survey’s most significant findingsLead with survey’s most significant findings Strive to humanize the statisticsStrive to humanize the statistics Organize the story to help readersOrganize the story to help readers

– Use bullets for key statisticsUse bullets for key statistics Make comparisons among subgroupsMake comparisons among subgroups

– Gender, sex, ageGender, sex, age Consider using charts for statisticsConsider using charts for statistics Don’t forget to explain survey methodologyDon’t forget to explain survey methodology

Avoiding distortionsAvoiding distortions

James Simon’s Top-10 FactorsJames Simon’s Top-10 Factors1.1. Reflection versus Prediction: Polls as Reflection versus Prediction: Polls as

snapshotssnapshots

2.2. Sponsors: Are they credible?Sponsors: Are they credible?

3.3. Samples: Who was polled?Samples: Who was polled?

4.4. Neutrality and Accuracy: How were the Neutrality and Accuracy: How were the questions phrased?questions phrased?

5.5. Context: In what order were the Context: In what order were the questions presented?questions presented?

6.6. Respondents’ answers: Giving the Respondents’ answers: Giving the “right” answer.“right” answer.

7.7. Attitudes and non-attitudes: Measuring Attitudes and non-attitudes: Measuring intensityintensity

8.8. Interpretations: Evaluating Pollsters’ Interpretations: Evaluating Pollsters’ conclusionsconclusions

9.9. Statistical Significance: Are the results Statistical Significance: Are the results meaningful?meaningful?

10.10.Consistency: Comparing results across Consistency: Comparing results across pollspolls

Assignment for December 3Assignment for December 3

Survey story: 300-350 wordsSurvey story: 300-350 words Due: Monday, December 3Due: Monday, December 3 Email to lkragnes@d.umn.eduEmail to lkragnes@d.umn.edu

Let’s revisit portfolioLet’s revisit portfolio

https://portfolio.umn.edu/portfolio/https://portfolio.umn.edu/portfolio/index.jspindex.jsp

Review of feature story Review of feature story draftsdrafts

While doing editing/rewrite of While doing editing/rewrite of community journalism storiescommunity journalism stories

PortfolioPortfolio

Store academic information on your Store academic information on your Electronic Portfolio. Each student has Electronic Portfolio. Each student has 100 mb of storage.100 mb of storage.

Access Electronic Portfolio at: Access Electronic Portfolio at: https://https://portfolio.umn.edu/portfolio/index.jspportfolio.umn.edu/portfolio/index.jsp