Category Archives: Unit 1: News Reporting

Week 3 (9/7-9/13): Styles of News

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This week, we’ll be focusing on 3 of the most common styles of news: facts, analysis, and opinion. Please click here for an overview of the entire unit.

NO ZOOM CLASS this week, because Monday is a holiday and CUNY is closed. Click here if you prefer to watch a video overview of the week instead of reading.

Due Dates:

Post your examples of news writing to the course site by the end of Wednesday (9/9).
Annotations on your own examples + examples of 2 classmates are due by the end of Friday (9/11)
Respond to my discussion prompt/reply to classmates by the end of Sunday (9/13)

For the first two items, doing this on time is important because you will be interacting with each other’s posts. If you post late, it holds up everyone else’s ability to respond to you.

Goals for This Week:

  • Analyze real-world examples of news writing to discover common features of this genre/these subgenres
  • Analyze how these genre features contribute to the genre’s intended purpose (discuss: what IS each genre’s intended purpose?)
  • Practice using Hypothes.is to collaboratively annotate
  • Use what you’ve learned/discovered to create a list of rules/guidelines for news writing (which you will use next week to write your own news pieces)

Overview of Tasks:

  1. Write your way into the week
  2. Read my “digital lecture” (blog post) about styles of news
  3. Search the internet for examples of news writing you want to share with the class
  4. Post these examples to the course site and write a short summary/blurb of what each one is and why you picked it
  5. Annotate using Hypothes.is your own examples and the examples of 2 classmates
  6. Read the annotations your classmates left on your own examples. Or, if no one annotated your examples, visit some other classmates’ examples and read the annotations on those.
  7. Write a response to my discussion prompt and reply to classmates.

Grading for this Week:

Posting Examples — 2 pts, completion and timeliness
Annotating Own + Classmate Examples — 2 pts, completion and timeliness
Replying to Discussion Prompt — 2 pts, completion

Detailed Instructions

Step 1: Writing Into the Week

Please take 5-15 minutes to write on the following questions. As always, you are welcome to share your response with me/the class if you want to, but you are not required to do so.

  1. What are the goals of a newspaper or magazine? The obvious goal is to share information, but what other goals shape the publication’s activities and choices?
  2. How do newspapers/magazines decide what to write about or publish? What shapes those decisions?
  3. Before you start any work for this unit, please write down any ideas you already have about the rules or norms for news writing.

Step 2: Read Digital Lecture

Here is the link to the digital lecture. Please feel free to leave comments on the post with your questions/thoughts/etc.

Step 3: Find Examples

Once you’ve read the digital lecture, please search the internet for some news stories! They can be about any topic you want, from the same website or from different ones. Rather than looking at the content, I want you to pay attention to the writing/structure/style of each one.

Please choose:

  1. (At least) one example of news/fact reporting that you think is particularly good, bad, or interesting
  2. (At least) one example of analysis that you think is good (just good examples for this one, please)
  3. (At least) one example of an opinion piece that you think is good, bad, or interesting

Step 4: Share Examples (Due by 11:59pm Wednesday 9/9)

Please write a post here on the course site with the links to your chosen examples and a 1-2 sentence summary of what each article is and why you chose it.

Step 5: Annotate Using Hypothes.is

Please annotate your own examples and the examples of 2 classmates.

When posting your annotations, make sure you have selected the ENG 201 course group. (See the end of my Hypothesis Sign-up video for how to do this). That will allow all of us to easily see each other’s notes– and only each other’s notes– all in the same place.

Use the following questions to guide your annotations:

  1. What do you notice about the headline? How long is it? How specific vs. general is it? What information is included in the headline, and what is not included?
  2. How does the author choose to begin the article? Look at just the first sentence. Then look at just the first paragraph. Remember, we’re thinking about style/structure/the kinds of content, not the actual content itself. For example, if I was annotating this post, I would say, “Starts with one-sentence summary of the content focus for the week. Then shares some logistics.” (Maybe this is common for the genre of “online class lesson plan”)
  3. Where does the author choose to focus their attention?
  4. What kinds of sources does the article refer to (other news articles, interviews, government documents, press releases, etc.)?
  5. To what extent does the article provide its own commentary on the information?
  6. How long are the paragraphs? Are the sentences long/complex, or short/simple?
  7. To what extent does the article use direct quotes vs paraphrases?
  8. What sentences or sections do you find particularly grabbing? What did the author do that makes it so appealing to you?

Also mark anything else you notice that you think might be a genre feature! (Genre features = things that every piece or most pieces of writing within that genre have in common)

Step 6: Read Annotations

Read the annotations that classmates have left on your examples, and the annotations that others have left on the same examples you chose to annotate. If no one annotated your examples, read the annotations on someone else’s examples. The goal is to see others’ observations/analysis of several different sets of articles.

Step 7: Reply to Discussion Prompt/Respond to Classmates

Please leave a comment on this post responding to the following questions:

  1. Based on your own analysis and the annotations you read from others, what do you think are the essential genre features for news writing? What is common across all 3 subgenres we studied this week, and what are the unique features for each one?
  2. Sketch out a template that could be used for writing a news article (choose one subgenre). This is similar to an outline, but is not content-specific. What should a writer do in each paragraph or section, from beginning to end?

Then, read the responses to your classmates.

  1. Find at least one classmate who wrote about something that you didn’t think of, but that you would like to include in your own list/template. Reply to them and explain why you think that thing is valuable.
  2. Find at least one classmate who included a genre feature that you either disagree with or feel unsure about. Reply to them explaining why (such as by including a counter example) and invite them to explain why they included it on their list.

I will collect all of your responses into a master-doc of What We Think About How to Do News Writing.

 

 

Unit 1 Reflection

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  1. In this unit I feel like I learned about the language journalists use when using political bias, I obviously knew about political biases but I feel like I know a lot more about them and now when I read articles I’m able to distinguish the biases better than before.
  2. As I said in number 1 I learned how to distinguish political biases better than before.
  3. I feel like this Unit covered everything about news writing, I don’t feel like there was something that could’ve been added.
  4. I think my final project really shows bias really well, I’m proud that I was able to execute it really well.
  5. If I were to revise my final project I would definitely add more sources, I have French Bulldogs so I did everything from my own experiences instead of looking for actual sources.
  6. I would give myself a solid 5/10, last week I really wasn’t too focused on this class but this week I would say that I am more engaged than I was before.
  7. Last semester I had you as my professor and when we first switched over to online learning I was able to just check the course site on Friday and get everything done, however I learned quickly that this semester I couldn’t do the same thing so instead I started checking the course site right when you posted it and then planned out what I would do first.
  8. For the next unit I’m gonna keep on top of this course website because for this unit I wasn’t checking as much as I should have.
  9. I feel like everything was perfect, I don’t feel like anything else could have been added.
  10. I feel like making the YouTube videos explaining what we were gonna do for the week really helped and made things easier to understand
  11. Definitely political biases, I know I keep saying that but I feel like it was the most important topic for my day to day life.

Unit 1 Project

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French Bulldogs: The Best Dog Breed on this Planet

French Bulldogs are hands down the cutest dogs that exist. Their scrunchy face will be sure to to brighten your day. But what makes them the greatest dog on this planet?

  1. They are extremely funny: Who would want a dog who doesn’t make them laugh from the stupid things they do? My own French Bulldog makes the funniest noises, she sounds like a gremlin half the time but I’m always entertained.
  2. They have no problems with small spaces: This is perfect for apartment living, they’re a small dog but they’re also very strong! A perfect combo if you ask me.
  3. French Bulldogs love people: You need a dog who is friendly with other people. How else would you have family and friends over? My French Bulldog gets so excited whenever she sees another person, even if they’re a stranger!
  4. They don’t need a lot of exercise: A lot of other dogs require so much exercise! Sometimes you just need a dog who will enjoy sitting on the couch with you and not need a walk every hour.
  5. They have a big personality: Sometimes they can be really full of energy and start running all over the house but in other moments they just want to sleep all day. They have a wide range of moods that will keep you on your toes!

Everything wrong with French Bulldogs

If you want a dog, don’t consider getting a French Bulldog. They are one of the worst breeds to have if you are a first time dog owner. French Bulldogs come with a lot of health issues due to their nose being squished as apposed to their noses being on a snout. Due to their flat faces they struggle to breathe, leading to many respiratory diseases experts say. Even the color of your French Bulldog can indicate how many health issues they can possibly come with (White and Blue are one of the worst ones you can own). Another reason French Bulldogs are not the ideal dog is because of their behavioral issues, if you have a 9-5 forget about owning a French Bulldog. French Bulldogs experience separation anxiety more than any other breed. Which can lead to them destroying the house and peeing/pooping all over the floors, or in the most extreme cases health issues can be developed from the separation anxiety. The last reason why French Bulldogs are one of the worst dog breeds you can own is their behavioral issues. French Bulldogs have to be one of the most stubborn dogs you could own. If you are walking your French Bulldog and decide that they don’t wanna walk anymore they will refuse to walk, and trust me trying to pull 25-30 pounds of deadweight is way heavier than you think it is. Not to mention how French Bulldogs destroy things on purpose for fun, they know it’s bad however they do it to get a reaction out of you.

French Bulldogs: Pros and Cons

French Bulldogs have their pros and cons much like every other dog breed. It’s up to the owner to figure out what they will or will not tolerate. It should be noted that not every dog breed exhibits each pro and con that people mention however it is very common for your selected breed to act that way.

Pros:

Low maintenance: French Bulldogs have a short coat, meaning bath time only needs to occur once a month and since their coat is so short the drying process doesn’t take more than 5 minutes. They rarely need to get their hair trimmed so that is also a positive.

They love to cuddle: Since French Bulldogs are so clingy it’s no secret that they love cuddling. If you want a pet to cuddle with you on the couch or at night in bed, French Bulldogs are perfect for that.

They’re Smart: You should have no issues teaching your French Bulldog a few tricks, they are really fast learners and will listen to you most of the time.

Good Around Kids: French Bulldogs are really gentle around kids, so if you have kids or are planning to have kids a French Bulldog will be perfect for them.

Cons:

They’re expensive: Due to the high demand, these dogs can be priced anywhere from $4000-$10,000 depending on their color. If you are on a budget you will not be able to afford a French Bulldog.

They’re Stubborn: Some days your French Bulldog will listen and other days they will completely  tune you out and not listen to your commands. If you want a dog who is really obedient French Bulldogs are not for you.

They Fart: Due to their highly sensitive digestive system they are prone to farting way more than any other dog breed. They really do stink, so if you would prefer that your dog doesn’t fart then a French Bulldog is not right for you.

Prone to Separation Anxiety: As stated before French Bulldogs are very clingy, this leads to them being prone to Separation Anxiety. If you aren’t gonna be home a lot then a French Bulldog might not be the right fit for you.

Questions #1 -> #8

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What do you notice about the headline? How long is it? How specific vs. general is it? What information is included in the headline, and what is not included

*Something I noticed about these articles was that people have their own opinion. We can never change the way people think. The article was 5 -> 7 paragraphs long. In the articles that I read was including why people think the way they think and how people testimonial experiences.

How does the author choose to begin the article? Look at just the first sentence. Then look at just the first paragraph. Remember, we’re thinking about style/structure/the kinds of content, not the actual content itself. For example, if I was annotating this post, I would say, “Starts with one-sentence summary of the content focus for the week. Then shares some logistics.” (Maybe this is common for the genre of “online class lesson plan”)
*The author begins the article with a question. The first paragraph starts with a brief summary.

Where does the author choose to focus their attention?

*The author focuses his attention on the second to last paragraph by adding people who are against what he’s saying and the people who are going pro on what he’s writing which is global warming.

What kinds of sources does the article refer to (other news articles, interviews, government documents, press releases, etc.)?
*The sources that the author uses are interviews of what’s on people’s opinion and also on facts.

To what extent does the article provide its own commentary on the information?
*The extent that the author provides his own comment was almost at the end of the paragraph. He stated his own opinion and explained why.

How long are the paragraphs? Are the sentences long/complex, or short/simple?
*The paragraphs are 6 or 8 sentences long.

To what extent does the article use direct quotes vs paraphrases?
*The extent the article the author uses quotes

What sentences or sections do you find particularly grabbing? What did the author do that makes it so appealing to you?
*The sentence that grabs my attention was when the author said “we always think about us and everyone being in our shoes but we never want to be in the person’s shoes”.

Reply to Step 7

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The essential genre features for news writing are bold headlines that attract attention, information that is widely appealed to an audience, and short sentences and paragraphs that are easy to read. The most common feature amongst all the subgenres we studied this week have to be the catchy and bold titles. The unique features of each of the subgenres are differences between what is considered commonly interesting to people, and what kind of information is being put out, if it’s easy to read or not.

For a news/fact reporting article, the author should provide correct information without their opinions getting in the way. The author should preface the story and give brief information in the beginning. In the following paragraphs, the author should string together the information and provide sources and/or interviews from where this information came from. And in the final paragraph, close with something that ties it all together, and reiterate the main points and parts of the story.

3 examples 9/13/20

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Article 1:  https://www.unicefusa.org/mission/protect/trafficking

This link is talking about how kids get horribly  used in child trafficking like sex trafficking and organ trafficking. I choose this article because one of my cousins was kidnapped in mexico by one of her ex boyfriends and now in days young ladies and young men have to be careful who they choose as there partner. this topic also touches me a lot because children cant defend themselves from dangerous people. I want to let children, women, men know Im here to try and help them.

Article 2: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/global-warming-overview/

This topic interests me because i didn’t believe in global warming, until I saw the news about the amazon forest, and now California is on fire. This topic is special for me because I know see we as humans have to take care of mother nature.  We as humans have to look for our wild life animals.

Article 3: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/flu-shots-pros-and-cons

I choose this topic because some parents think that not taking there kids to the hospital and giving them a flu shoot is making there kids stronger and better but kin reality their parents are making a bad decision. In my opinion i think that shoots should be giving to kids and adults.

Digital Lecture: Political News

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In the United States, we mostly think about politics in terms of Republicans vs. Democrats. Then there are a handful of smaller groups that most people have at least heard about once or twice– Independents, Libertarians, and Green Party, maybe.  Some news sites are generally agreed upon to lean toward one major party (Fox News and Republicans) or the other (MSNBC and Democrats).

However, there is so much more to politics, and to political news, than Republicans vs. Democrats! Within each party, there are competing factions who want different things. For the Democrats, you can see more moderate Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden, the “progressives” (like AOC), and then people who are even further leftwing who normally don’t like the Democrats, but got involved in Democratic party politics through the Bernie Sanders campaign. Then you have people who generally agree with one major party on some things but the other party on other things. And an article doesn’t have to directly support one party or politician to still take a political perspective.

“Politics” also doesn’t have to be explicitly about parties and politicians, though. It can be the approaches that news agencies implicitly take toward different social or economic issues, or the values they explicitly or implicitly promote. Or it can be about what they even agree to cover. Now, you’ll see news about LGBTQ+ issues in major news sources– and not just negative stuff. But it used to be a lot less common, and until the 21st century, you probably had to look for a gay-specific magazine unless you were trying to read about HIV/AIDS. That shift is political!

I looked at the front page of Fox News and marked the words that immediately struck me as indicative of a political perspective:

Front page of Fox News 9/13, with some words and images marked with a red box. The marked words include "claims," "ambush," and "brainwashing kids."

Often, news agencies will use the word “claims” when they want readers to remain at least a little bit skeptical about whether or not the claims are true. “Ambush-style” tells me that whatever happened wasn’t literally an ambush, but they chose that word instead of a more neutral one, like “surprise.” They want the reader to think that whatever happened was Bad. Given the context of the Lebron James headline, I don’t think he was literally crying, so that word choice tells us that Lebron said something in a very upset way. Again, they could have chosen a more neutral word like “complaining about” or “saying.” I kind of think that anytime someone uses a word other than “says” or “states” or “reported,” or something like that, the word they choose is probably revealing some kind of bias.

As for the headline about the cartoon, a controversial cartoon in school COULD be evidence of brainwashing, but brainwashing is also much bigger/more complicated than showing materials that have a particular perspective. (Personally, my guess is that they were doing a lesson about political cartoons, but I did not click on the article to find out.)

I also marked the entire headline about the NYPD lieutenant recovering from the coronavirus. Because there are several other headlines about police (and in more politically-charged contexts) on the front page, this caught my interest. I read it as them saying, “This person was ill for a long time with the virus, but also, look, we are a publication that cares about publishing positive things about cops during a time when people are saying a lot of negative things about cops.”

Now let’s look at MSNBC.

Here, we see a story about the same event in LA, but here they describe it as two officers “being shot,” rather than an “ambush-style” event. There’s a caption that says “Consummate Liar” above a story about Trump, suggesting that Trump is the liar. There’s a bullet point about “fact-checking Rudy Giuliani.” It doesn’t actually tell us whether Giuliani was lying or not, but the phrasing still suggests that maybe he did lie. MSNBC included a story about police brutality, as opposed to something like the story about the officer recovering from coronavirus or the one about the anti-cop cartoon. The other Giuliani headline raises the question that maybe Giuliani is interfering in the election. And anytime a news agency calls something “taxpayer-funded,” they are probably suggesting that taxpayers should be mad about this use of their money. I also marked Mike Pompeo’s face, as I marked the face of someone on the Fox News page. Both pictures show the person looking upset, rather than choosing a neutral or positive image– a choice which matches the implications of the headlines. I also noticed that MSNBC talks about the fires, while Fox News does not. The fires in California don’t seem to be particularly political — it’s a fact! California is on fire and it’s scary and bad! Yet whether or not to include it on the front page is still an editorial decision that was shaped by something.

Let’s practice looking for how word choice shapes the political perspective offered by an article by annotating a few different pieces together. Please mark any word/phrase that strikes you as subtly telling us what we ought to think about the topic, just like I did with the front pages above. What specifically does each journalist want us to think about different aspects of the topic, and how do you know? How could you rephrase the same sentence to convey the same information while offering a different perspective?

You’re not just looking for what the article thinks about the main idea, but what it wants us to think about different ideas, people, and decisions mentioned within the article.

I have chosen 3 articles about NYC public schools reopening for hybrid learning this fall.

  1. Article about NYC Teachers (Not) Going On Strike
  2. Article about Unions and Reopening
  3. Article about NYC Schools and PPE

Please mark them up in Hypothes.is, and feel free to respond to each other’s annotations!