September 2009 Archives

Analysis: Coyotes would stay in Glendale

by Dallas Johnson

 

The ESPN and Sports Illustrated articles about the Phoenix Coyotes bidding war were very good when looking at attribution.

Both articles attributing their stories to many different sources, including the current owner of the Coyotes, the bankruptcy court judge, and attorneys for both Balsillie and the NHL.

The sources are scattered throughout the news story and most of it comes from people, although some of it does come from the court documents.

Typically, the reporter puts the attribution somehwere within a quote or summary.

This style is very effective and easy to read.  The reporter did a good job making sure that there was no confusion as to who said what, or where any particular piece of information was coming from.

Many times, the reporter simply quoted the source to give a slightly more vivid picture of the story.  This technique really shows that the information is genuine and important, and, therefore, gives the reporter and the story more credibility.

Credibility is one of the most important things for a story and reporter to earn.  A good attribution, that is not confusing and from a legitimate source, can really help the reader. 

These articles show how the proper use of an attribution can make a story even better.  More importantly, however, it makes the reporter more credible.

 

Coyotes would stay in Glendale

by Dallas Johnson

 

Billionaire Jim Balsillie said that he would keep the Phoneix Coyotes in Glendale, Ariz. for at least one year if he were to buy the franchise, ESPN reported.

Balsillie revised his earlier offers to buy the team in a last-ditch counter to the NHL's bid to buy the team.

The NHL offered $140 million to buy the struggling franchise.  Balsillie, however, offered more than $240 million.

He also said that he would keep the Coyotes in Glendale for next season, instead of moving the team to Hamiltion, Ont.

However, Balsillie also said that he does plan on moving the team to Hamilton after the upcoming season, according to Sports Illustrated.

The pitch was seen as a ploy to sell tickets by the Coyotes current owner Jerry Moyes.

"It's been impossible to sell tickets because nobody knows if it's going to be here," Moyes said.

If the team deserves to be here, Moyes said, then this is the opportunity to get fans to the game.

If fans do not show up, and a decision is not made between the NHL and Balsillie, then the franchise might not survive.

"They're having trouble selling tickets," said Alan Meda, an attorney for the NHL.  "This team will not live.  It cannot afford to delay a decision."

 

 

Four students charged in college prank

by Dallas Johnson

 

Four Newbury College students have been charged after homemade bombs exploded in a building on campus in Newbury, S.C. Wednesday, reported Fox Carolina.

The college students made the bombs by mixing household chemicals inside plastic bottles, police said.

The students were arrested and charged with one count of possessing and manufacturing a destructive device, The Newbury Observer reported.

The bombs went off inside Brokaw Hall, a dormitory on campus, three times between Tuesday and Wednesday. 

The prank caused students to be evacuated from the building and surrounding area while police investigated.

No one was injured in the explosions and only minor damage was found in the building.

 

Black bear in St. Paul killed by DNR officials

by Dallas Johnson

 

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources shot and killed a bear in North St. Paul Friday, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.

The bear was spotted climbing a tree in the 2500 blcok of 13th Avenue East Friday around 9 a.m.

DNR officials first tried scaring the bear down by firing beanbags at it, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The bear eventually climbed out of the tree and started running through yards in the neighborhood.

Unable to locate a tranquilizer, DNR officials shot and killed the bear.

State policy requires officials to kill an animal that poses a threat to public safety. 

The bear was shot because of the crowd that had gathered to see the bear and the fact that there was an elementary school nearby, 1st Lt. Jason Peterson of the DNR said.

 "It's a public-safety issue. It's an urban environment, a school nearby. All of those things we would take into account," Peterson said.

The DNR responded to skepticism of the use of a bullet instead of a tranquilizer.

Tranquilizers do not always work, said Steve Carroll, a DNR spokesman.  Had the bear been shot with a tranquilizer in the tree, it may not have survived the fall.  If the bear had survived, the drugs may not have been powerful enough to protect the public. 

The DNR stated that even if they had moved the bear away safely, they would not have been able to prevent it from re-entering the area.

 

Obama shares Iran nuclear intelligence with Russia and China

by Dallas Johnson

 

President Obama shared information about Iran's newly unveiled nuclear facility with Russia and China Friday, reported CNN.

Obama presented the two countries with the information in hopes that they would join the United States in sanctions against Iran, a U.S. official said.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is considering the sanctions as a reward for decreased U.S. missile presence in Eastern Europe, according to MSNBC.

The removal of the missiles "deserves a positive response," said Medvedev.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he wanted to create a better relationship with the U.S. and other U.N. nations during the U.N. meetings in New York.

Ahmadinejad has not, however, said that his country wants to relinquish its nuclear program.

"Iran is breaking rules that all nations must follow," said Obama.

""We believe we need to help Iran to take a right decision," said Medvedev.

Obama said that he wants Iran to make "concrete steps" towards proving that their nuclear program is for civilian use and not a weapons operation.

Mother, two children die in crash

by Dallas Johnson

 

A Pine Point mother and her two sons died Friday after a head-on collision near White Earth, police reported.

The mother, 28, her 8-year-old son and 3-month-old son died after their vehicle collided with a pickup truck pulling construction equipment around 11 a.m. on County Highway 34.

Both vehicles slid off the road, fell 80 feet and stopped in Net Lake, reported the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

The driver of the pickup truck, a 40-year-old Ogema man, was treated for minor injuries.

Becker County officials say that the deaths were not due to drowning, but rather to "catstrophic injuries," according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Police are investigating.  Alcohol does not appear to be involved.

 

 

Analysis: Leads in the story about the Baltimore mother
by Dallas Johnson

The leads in the stories about the Baltimore woman facing assault charges were formulated very well.

CNN's lead is especially helpful.  It provides the basic information needed for the reader to determine what the story will enclose.  It provided the "what" aspect that all good leads should have.  In this case, the mother being charged with assault.

The CNN lead also held the "where" and "when."

One off the most important parts of the lead that was included was the fact that it was stated by the police.  This provides the reader with a credible source for the information provided.

While the lead was simply the most basic information in the story, it was extremely effective.  If the reader were to only read the first sentence, they would have had a very good base knowledge on the subject. 

The Baltimore Sun's lead was also very effective.  It provided an extra piece of information that made sense in the context of being a local story.  That is, the fact that the five teenagers were football players at a local high school. 

This information provides vital background for local readers.

These two news stories show how a lead can be very important to the effectiveness of informing the reader.  By providing the most basic information in the first sentence, the reader has the base knowledge to formulate an opinion as they read the story.

If the reader chooses to only read the first sentence then they will at least know the most important information.  News leads, when done correctly, can provide the public with the most pertinent information in the least amount of time.

University of North Dakota to keep Fighting Sioux nickname
by Dallas Johnson

The University of North Dakota won the right to use the Fighting Sioux nickname in a resolution Friday issued by the Spirit Lake Tribal Council.

The council voted to give the university the "perpetual' use of the nickname after an earlier vote left many unclear on the council's stance on the issue, reported the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

The April vote showed that 67 percent voted for the use of the nickname by the university, however, it never stated that it supported the use.

According to the Grand Forks Herald, the university needed the support of the two Sioux tribes under the NCAA rules. 

In the new vote, the council left no questions about their stance after this vote.The resolution states:
        "The Tribal Council hereby amends tribal resolution No. A05-09-186 and affirmatively approves and supports UND's use of the current nickname and related imagery, and hereby confirms Spirit Lake Tribe's full permission for UND to continue using the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo and the duration of this authorization shall be perpetual commencing Oct. 1, 2009."

The council also asked for the university's assistance in graduating more people from Spirit Lake and Native Americans. 

Although the resolution says perpetual, some nickname opponents are still hopeful that future resolutions will overturn the decision.
    

Suspects in Mumbai attacks will be charged
by Dallas Johnson

Seven suspects will be charged in their next court appearance in connection with last year's Mumbai, India attacks, a Pakistani official said.

That court appearance will be September 26 said Interior Minister Rehman Malik. 

The November 2008 attacks killed 166 people and the Pakistani government is serious about helping India bring justice to the attackers, Fox News reported. 

According to CNN, India blamed the attacks on Pakistani group Lashkar-e-Tayyiba.  The group has been banned in Pakistan.

Malik said that Pakistan would need "authentic evidence" to charge the group, adding that he wanted "to tell India that we want to be your friend."

The Pakistani government is working closely with the Indian government to put a case together against Zaki-ur-Rehman, the alleged mastermind, and the other six attackers.

India and Pakistan have exchanged dossiers with information pertaining to the Mumbai attacks.  Pakistan is, however, asking for more assistance from India, especially in the forensic evidence department.

Both governments would like to resolve this issue peacefully as the two countries are nuclear-armed and already share a bloody history.

Man charged in attack on girlfriend
by Dallas Johnson

A St.Paul man was charged with second-degree attempted murder Friday after binding and strangling his girlfriend, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.

Diallo Desean Coleman, 30, was found strangling his girlfriend by police Thursday after they were called to the residence just before 2a.m.  Police arrested Coleman and identified the victim as J.M.P.

Police reported that J.M.P. was bound at the ankles and wrists with duct tape.  Police were forced to kick Coleman off J.M.P. when they arrived.

Police told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that J.M.P told them that 'he was going to kill me.  You saved my life."

Coleman now faces charges of second-degree attempted murder, false imprisonment and domestic assault by strangulation.

Hennepin County records show that Coleman was convicted of domestic assault and interfering with a 911 call previously.

Baltimore mother, five others, face assault charges
by Dallas Johnson

A Baltimore mother and five others face assault charges after the beating and stabbing of a 14-year-old boy Friday, CNN reported. 

Kimberley Lyn Cudanin allegedly told her 16-year-old son and his four friends to attack Malaki Malloy, 14,  for revenge.  Cudanin accused Malloy of beating up her younger son earlier that week, police said. 

Cudanin reportedly drove the boys to where Malloy was, where they beat and stabbed him and three friends repeadetly around 11 p.m. Saturday, The Baltimore Sun reported.

The five teens, all identified as football players at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Baltimore, were arrested Wednesday and charged with attempted first-degree murder and first and second-degree assault.

Cudanin also faces assault charges.  Although police do not believe she was directly involved in the assault they are sure she will be charged.

"She organized this group to attack Malloy," said Baltimore County police spokesman Bill Toohey.

Under Marlyland law, Cudanin's role in the attack warrants assault charges.

 

Residents complain about new stadium's noise
by Dallas Johnson

Residents of St. Anthony Park complained Sunday after noise from the new TCF Bank Stadium could be heard Saturday night, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.

Many St. Anthony Park residents said they could clearly hear the play-by-play coming from the new on-campus stadium during the University of Minnesota's inaugural game against Air Force Saturday evening.

St. Anthony residents are used to noise.  Their homes lie just a few blocks from the State Fairgrounds and the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus.  However, some residents felt that this new noise intrusion was too much.

Sherman Eagles, a resident of St. Anthony, in an interview with the Minneapolis Star Tribune  said "it was obnoxiously loud, like a car parked in front of your house with the stereo blaring for four hours."

Not all residents were adverse to the noise.  Emma Quinlan Connolly liked the fact that she could hear the game from her backyard. 

In talking about the complaints, Connolly said, "get over yourself.  We live in the city; just deal with it."

The University has said that they will look into the noise issue in the following weeks and try to find a solution.  Athletic Director Joel Maturi said that the University thought they had the nearly 800 speakers directed the right way.

The University is looking into repositioning the speakers to lessen the noise on surrounding neighborhoods.