The Dittmar Deliverer

The story "Interior Ignored Science When Limiting Water to the Grand Canyon" in the Washington Post, said that they used documents to determine that Interior Department officials ignored data that showed there would be environmental degradation if water flow was limited in the Grand Canyon.
The story then explains the documents and links with sites that were used for evidence to legitimize this statement.
For example, there is memo published online from the Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent that officials knowingly produced an incorrect environmental assessment that would slow water from Glen Canyon Dam at night to generate electric power.
The document also describes how this decision will directly affect the endangered humback chub and errode the canyon's beaches.
There was also a news release from the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, that outline high flow experiments in the river proving ecosystem deterioration if the rivers flow patterns changed.
This release also gives statements from political officials that say that though they are aware of the potenetial dangers, they must be considered in relation to the country's need for energy.
"Republican House members admonishing that future river management decisions must “balance any environmental benefits with the costs to power consumers in the West, particularly during a time of record-high energy prices.”
The reporter needed to use many computer skills in this article. Mostly research skills, and knowing where to find the appropriate information was essential in writing the story.

Posted by dittm027 at 5:02 PM | Permalink

The story "A Black Man Breaks Ground in Mecca" in the New York Times is about a black man becoming the first to lead prayers in Mecca, a duty usually reserved for pure blood Arabs.
This story is culturally diverse because it shows the situation of an individual, other than middle-eastern, becoming culturally and religiously accepted within a society that is thought of as segregated.
Americans especially believe that all of mid-eastern are Muslim with tan skin.
This story destroys that idea with details and quotes from the articles subject.
“The king is trying to tell everybody that he wants to rule this land as one nation, with no racism and no segregation,” said Sheik Adil.
The story also added interesting details and historic references such as some of Mohammed's closest prophets were black.
The story also discusses skills that demonstrates himself as a leader which made him a competitor for the position.
The writer showed the Adil's personality to make the story more than an article about racial differences.

Posted by dittm027 at 12:38 AM | Permalink

In the article "Minnesota's STD rates increase for the 13th year" printed in the Star Tribune, there is a lot of statistical information that could have easily confused readers.
The reporter used numbers to show how STD rates have been increasing throughout Minnesota and among different
The reporter did make this information too overwhelming as he was careful not to put in too much numerical data in the story that would cause confusion.
For example he summarizes the data more than he uses numbers.
He uses percentage increases and uses halves and thirds to describe increases.
He rounds off the values, conveys one idea at a time and focuses on the relevant information also.
The story uses data from the Minnesota Department of Health and the departments annual STD reports.
Though the sources are not listed separately, there are links posted that the reader can go to see the reports.

Posted by dittm027 at 12:27 AM | Permalink

The news obituary in the Star Tribune regarding a youth basketball coach in Wyzata does not follow the standard obituary format.
It builds a greater sentimental value by describing his passions as a coach and his accomplishments with students in the past.
The article does not contain a standard obituary lead as it leaves out when and where the person died. Though this is appropriate as the main focus of the article isn't his actual death, but the impact he had on his students and players.
The writer interviewed his sister, a previous player, and assistant coach that will take over his head coaching position.
He talked to family members as that knew enough about the deceased to give a personal record about his coaching strategies.
Like a resume the obituary is ment to highlight the personal aspects of the deceased's life. The obituary differs from a resume in the fact that there is a much more personal tone used and what would be considered the "references" are used directly in the piece.

Posted by dittm027 at 3:10 PM | Permalink

Find a news report that advances some event – an exhibit, a movie opening, a festival. What are the sources used in the story? What is the angle of the story? How has the reporter crafted something more than a listing?
The Star Tribune takes a story about a local math league, and crafts it into an interesting article that will be read by the public.
The writer does this by developing interest in starting with a narrow focus, such as some students that will be participating in the event, and then broaden as the story progresses.
For example he then discusses the school the students are from, other community schools, and eventually the history of the leauge itself.
He interviews future participants, former participants who are now teachers, and a college professor.
He gives the story a personal tone by using quotes and therefore also keeping a personal tone throughout the story.

Posted by dittm027 at 5:34 AM | Permalink

Find a news report about a public meeting or a press conference by a governmental organization. If it was a meeting, get the agenda. If it was a press conference, get the press release. Compare the news report with either the agenda or the press release. What choices did the reporter make in crafting that news story?
EPA:
I analyzed the press conference in which Barak Obama announced he would be giving federal aid to the Environmental Protection Agency. In the Washington Post, the reporter choose to take a more objective angle in stating the exact facts of where the money is coming from and what projects will be completed. The story also included other scientific agencies that would be granted aid, them as the "winners" of Obama's favor.
"The agency is among the big winners, slated to receive $10.5 billion under the proposed budget, a 34-percent increase."
The EPA press release announces the federal aid as well, though uses it to promote activities within the agency. "With these proposed resources, and the president’s strong environmental agenda, it should be overwhelmingly clear that EPA is back on the job.” The press release also goes into greater detail as to where the money will be placed. It uses jargon and other information the general public might skim over if in a newspaper.

Posted by dittm027 at 5:34 PM | Permalink

Look at a news event that has a first-day story and then a follow story the next day. How do the leads in the two stories differ? How is the main news summarized? How does the second story advance the news? Is the second-day story a response to a report from a competing news organization? How has that shaped the follow?

The two stories in USA Today "California law makers send Schwarzenegger bills" and "Schwarzenegger signs bills to close California deficit" are two examples of first-day then follow up stories.
The two leads were very different. The first day story lead was longer and contained more of the five W's including how they didn't know when Schwarzenegger would sign the bills. The second day story lead is one sentence stating that he signed.
The only new information in the second story is the lead and then the nut graff which states that the California Governor signed the bills on Friday.
The first day story gives the reader all of the background information and important news about the bills. The second day story advances it with the new information and then summarizes the main points of the first story in three more sentences; its very short and to the point.
The Washington Post, a competitor of USA Today, did not have an advance on the story.

Posted by dittm027 at 4:24 AM | Permalink

In the story, 'Idiotic': Sheriff disappointed in Lake Erie fishermen' in USA Today there were seven different sources used.
The article successfully covered all of the different possible angles.
There were three victims of the incident interviewed as well as a resident that lived near the scene. The wheather and ice conditions were given from a meteorologist, though he was not directly quoted.
From an official perspective, a representative from the Ohio Division of wildlife as well as the Sheriff were directly quoted regarding the fishermen's actions and appropriate precautionary procedures.
All of these sources were spread throughout the story to keep interest.
There was often an introduction that would lead into an interesting quote.
For example, here the writer indirectly stated the fisherman's thoughts, then followed with a direct quote.

Hasty, 65, admitted the possibility of melting ice was in the back of his mind when he set out Saturday morning.
"I thought we could get away with it for today," he said. "When you're crazy for fishin' I guess, and the fish are biting, I just couldn't resist it."

This was quite effective as it builds up anticipation and helps the flow of the story.

Posted by dittm027 at 2:32 AM | Permalink

"A 20-year-old southwestern Colorado man has been indicted on charges of threatening to kill President Obama and blow up the Mall of America in Bloomington."
Colorado man charged in threat on Obama, mall - Star Tribune
This is an example of a direct news lead that addresses the most important facts immediately in the story, usually including several of the five W's. For example, this article places "the Who" "the What" and "the Where" because the author thought they were the most significant and most effective to grab the readers attention.
The Who would be the 20-year-old Colorado man. Though he is important in the story his name is not given immediately because he is an unknown citizen. His age also helps to give the reader a clearer picture of the prosecutor.
The What is the charge of the threatening to kill the President. This is a hot topic because he was inaugurated into the White House only recently.
The Where is important because the Star Tribune is a Minneapolis paper and the location of the threat is local, at the Mall of America.
The author was very concise in this lead and did not include an abundance of information that would bore and lose reader attention. I thought it was very effective to not include all of the five W's because it serves the purpose of a lead through pulling me into the next paragraph. I am left unsatisfied and still want to know the Why and more details of the story.

Posted by dittm027 at 4:11 AM | Permalink