Hello, everyone! I've had classes with some of you, but for those of you who don't know me, I'm Autumn Rose. I am 20 years old and a junior here at Towson University.
I love to travel, explore, take on new adventures and learn new things. I hope to one day have a job in journalism that allows me to travel the world, meet new people and experience different cultures.
When I'm on campus but not in class you will usually find me listening to my ipod (I would die without it), reading a book, reading a newspaper, doing puzzles, or eating.
I really enjoyed MCOM 257 last semester and I am looking forward to MCOM 258. I am excited about the multi-media aspect of this class. I love photography, and I am looking forward to learning more about audio and video. I hope that this class helps me become more comfortable with interviews and more confident in my abilities as a student journalist. Finally, I am the most excited about beat-blogging. I have no idea what my "beat" will be, but I'm looking forward to finding one!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
100 Word Assignment
A 3-year-old girl was trapped in a washing machine at a local laundromat yesterday afternoon, Rockland police chief said.
The girl, Jennifer Childs, climbed into the washer while playing with her sister.
Rockland resident Paul Hecker heard screams coming from the laundromat and ran inside to see what was going on. Hecker used a hammer to smash the glass door of the washing machine. Childs was trapped in the washer for more than five minutes before she was rescued, Police Chief Ralph Robinson said.
Childs was admitted to Rockland Hospital yesterday afternoon and was listed in good condition.
The girl, Jennifer Childs, climbed into the washer while playing with her sister.
Rockland resident Paul Hecker heard screams coming from the laundromat and ran inside to see what was going on. Hecker used a hammer to smash the glass door of the washing machine. Childs was trapped in the washer for more than five minutes before she was rescued, Police Chief Ralph Robinson said.
Childs was admitted to Rockland Hospital yesterday afternoon and was listed in good condition.
Tip Sheet
Covering Events
1. Obtain any available advance information and conduct research about the speaker and/or topic before the event. For broadcast and multi-media online reports get as much video and audio done before the event as you can.
2. Prepare questions in advance and ask additional clarifying questions that you may think of during the event.
3. Listen carefully and take good notes -- jot down anything that seems important.
4. Watch for sparks amongst the speaker(s) and the audience.
5. Check, double check, and triple check details. Be sure to have a contact at the event in case you need to verify details or ask follow-up questions.
Finding the story
6. Go through your notes and find the most important or interesting thing(s) that was said or happened, and focus on that.
7. Examine your notes to find the 5 W's and an H. (Who, what, when, where, why, how)
Writing the lede (summary lede)
8. Lede formula: Who did what when, source said.
9. Ledes should be a one sentenct paragraph, 30 words or less.
10. Use active voice: Subject Verb Object
Writing the story
11. Check all your facts (again, and again): names, dates, places, corporate names, titles, numbers, graphics.
12. Follow the inverted pyramid format: start with the most important details and work your way down to the least important details.
1. Obtain any available advance information and conduct research about the speaker and/or topic before the event. For broadcast and multi-media online reports get as much video and audio done before the event as you can.
2. Prepare questions in advance and ask additional clarifying questions that you may think of during the event.
3. Listen carefully and take good notes -- jot down anything that seems important.
4. Watch for sparks amongst the speaker(s) and the audience.
5. Check, double check, and triple check details. Be sure to have a contact at the event in case you need to verify details or ask follow-up questions.
Finding the story
6. Go through your notes and find the most important or interesting thing(s) that was said or happened, and focus on that.
7. Examine your notes to find the 5 W's and an H. (Who, what, when, where, why, how)
Writing the lede (summary lede)
8. Lede formula: Who did what when, source said.
9. Ledes should be a one sentenct paragraph, 30 words or less.
10. Use active voice: Subject Verb Object
Writing the story
11. Check all your facts (again, and again): names, dates, places, corporate names, titles, numbers, graphics.
12. Follow the inverted pyramid format: start with the most important details and work your way down to the least important details.
- Lede: Tell the story quickly.
- Body: Retell the story with more detail. Write the body chronologically or in order or importance.
- End: End with the last detail. Do not write morals or summaries of the story at the end.
- Make sure the quote adds to the story
- Make sure the quoted words are the person's exact words
- Paraphrase when necessary
- Don't put words in a speaker's mouth
- Place attribution carefully
- Avoid inverted attribution: "....," said source. The correct attribution is: "....;" source said.
- Make sure it is clear who is speaking
- Choose verbs carefully: use "said"
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Ledes 4 and 5
4. The rate of identity theft in Towson is more than three times the national average, Justice Department officials said.
5. The Towson school district will receive $1.2 million to support its leading at-risk youth outreach program, the state Commission on Crime and Delinquency said.
5. The Towson school district will receive $1.2 million to support its leading at-risk youth outreach program, the state Commission on Crime and Delinquency said.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Lede Practice
1. Roger Datolli, Mayor Sabrina Datolli’s husband, was severely injured in a three-vehicle accident Thursday afternoon.
2. City council members raised the issue of creating a board to oversee changes to historic downtown at this month’s meeting.
3. A Senate plan to store nuclear waste in Nevada will provide a safe haven for over 77,000 tons of radioactive waste, Head of the Department of Energy said.
2. City council members raised the issue of creating a board to oversee changes to historic downtown at this month’s meeting.
3. A Senate plan to store nuclear waste in Nevada will provide a safe haven for over 77,000 tons of radioactive waste, Head of the Department of Energy said.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
5 Most Common Grammar Problems
1. Punctuation: commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes, dashes, and hyphens.
ex: She has lived in Lake City, Fla., all her life.
2. Subject and verb agreement: linking singular subjects with singular verbs; plural subjects, plural verbs.
ex: The Eagles, a classic rock band, is my favorite group.
3. Pronouns: little words that stand for proper nouns (he, she, you, they, I, it)
ex: Baltimore became a model city after it successfully restored the waterfront.
4. Sentence Structure: fragments, run-on sentences, faulty parallelism and modifier placement.
ex: We saw a kite swinging from an overhead wire.
5. Word use: use words correctly in a sentence.
ex: The president's body will lie in state until services are held at the chapel. (Lie, not lay)
ex: She has lived in Lake City, Fla., all her life.
2. Subject and verb agreement: linking singular subjects with singular verbs; plural subjects, plural verbs.
ex: The Eagles, a classic rock band, is my favorite group.
3. Pronouns: little words that stand for proper nouns (he, she, you, they, I, it)
ex: Baltimore became a model city after it successfully restored the waterfront.
4. Sentence Structure: fragments, run-on sentences, faulty parallelism and modifier placement.
ex: We saw a kite swinging from an overhead wire.
5. Word use: use words correctly in a sentence.
ex: The president's body will lie in state until services are held at the chapel. (Lie, not lay)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Chapter 4: Summary Ledes
A summary lede is the opening sentence or two of a news story designed to quickly answer the "5W's and the H" of a story. Summary ledes in print and online news are written in active voice, past tense, and include a time element.
Examples of Summary Ledes:
Examples of Summary Ledes:
-"A car bomb explosion critically wounded the head of the Arkansas panel that licenses and disciplines doctors, detonating in his driveway as he was leaving for work, authorities said." (The Baltimore Sun, 2/4/09)
This first example is short, concise, written in the past tense, and includes a time element. It answers the questions who, what, when where, and how.
-"Facing criticism from political foes and human rights advocates, the British government on Thursday defended a court’s decision not to release information about a British terrorism suspect who says he was tortured in American custody. The court said it reached its decision because of what it called a threat from the United States to reconsider sharing intelligence with the country." (New York Times, 2/5/09)
This summary lede does a great job of summarizing a complicated news story and introducing it in a way that engages and interests readers; however, it is too long (60 words), and it backs into the story. I think this lede would be stronger and more effective if the first clause was taken out.
-"At least 800 civilians caught in raging fighting escaped Sri Lanka's war zone on Thursday, the military said, and the government renewed a call for Tamil Tiger rebels to surrender unconditionally or face destruction." (NYT (Reuters) 2/5/09)
This summary lede adheres to all the guidelines given in our chapter four of our textbook. It is written in past tense and includes a time element. It is specific, concise, and written in active voice.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Chapter 14 Questions
1. Objectivity: being unbiased and neutral when reporting the news.
-Interview a variety and number of sources, not just official sources who may be agenda-setting
-Report balanced facts, but report those facts in context so as not to lose the truth of the story
-Don't let your personal beliefs or emotions affect the way you write a story
2. Thoroughness: examining every possible aspect of a story to give the audience a full understanding.
-Be patient and take the time to track down the best sources
-Find and cite primary documentary evidence
-Become an expert on your subject and develop an informed viewpoint
3. Accuracy: simply getting the facts straight.
-Always ask sources their name, age, profession and title. Read the answer back to verify that it is correct.
-Never assume anything when writing a story
-Double check the information given to the graphics or photography departments
4. Fairness: representing all sides of a story equally and accurately.
-Incorporate different viewpoints into your stories
-Do not frame stories by starting a story already knowing how you want it to turn out
-Be willing to listen to those who disagree with you
5. Transparency: being open about personal biases, the reporting process, and how/where they get their information.
-Admit to your mistakes if and when you make them
-Link to your source materials
-Let the audience see the basic behind the scene action of the journalistic process
-Interview a variety and number of sources, not just official sources who may be agenda-setting
-Report balanced facts, but report those facts in context so as not to lose the truth of the story
-Don't let your personal beliefs or emotions affect the way you write a story
2. Thoroughness: examining every possible aspect of a story to give the audience a full understanding.
-Be patient and take the time to track down the best sources
-Find and cite primary documentary evidence
-Become an expert on your subject and develop an informed viewpoint
3. Accuracy: simply getting the facts straight.
-Always ask sources their name, age, profession and title. Read the answer back to verify that it is correct.
-Never assume anything when writing a story
-Double check the information given to the graphics or photography departments
4. Fairness: representing all sides of a story equally and accurately.
-Incorporate different viewpoints into your stories
-Do not frame stories by starting a story already knowing how you want it to turn out
-Be willing to listen to those who disagree with you
5. Transparency: being open about personal biases, the reporting process, and how/where they get their information.
-Admit to your mistakes if and when you make them
-Link to your source materials
-Let the audience see the basic behind the scene action of the journalistic process
Friday, January 30, 2009
Free Falling
This picture was taken last summer while I was in a free fall, skydiving over Ocean City, Md. Everyone should go skydiving! I'll go with you if you're scared :).
I Am The Walrus
Hello, world. My name is Autumn like the season, Rose like the flower, and I am not actually a walrus (but I love the Beatles). I am a student at Towson University (hopefully) majoring in Journalism and New Media; I transferred to Towson last semester (Fall 2008) after starting my college career at NYU.
I was born and raised in the best town on earth, Mt. Airy, MD. I consider my Mom, Dad, and twin brother Wayne to be some of my best friends, along with my dog, Maggie, and my cat, Tiger.
I very much enjoy engaging in various spontaneous activities with my close friends, including, but not limited to: road trips, late night 7-11/Sheetz runs, dance parties, car ride sing-a-longs, Wii Fit competitions, movie marathons, and laughing about absolutely nothing. I would die without my iPod. I love reading, but cannot find the time to read. I love movies, but always seem to get into some kind of trouble at my hometown movie theater.
Stay tuned for more.
I was born and raised in the best town on earth, Mt. Airy, MD. I consider my Mom, Dad, and twin brother Wayne to be some of my best friends, along with my dog, Maggie, and my cat, Tiger.
I very much enjoy engaging in various spontaneous activities with my close friends, including, but not limited to: road trips, late night 7-11/Sheetz runs, dance parties, car ride sing-a-longs, Wii Fit competitions, movie marathons, and laughing about absolutely nothing. I would die without my iPod. I love reading, but cannot find the time to read. I love movies, but always seem to get into some kind of trouble at my hometown movie theater.
Stay tuned for more.
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