A Ruff Outline

Utah Mayor Used Alias to Counter Crime News

2011-11-14T05:39:41Z

Mayor Mike Winder of of West Valley City, Utah has just revealed that he has been writing positive stories to promote his community with an alias, reported CBS News.
Winder was writing under the name of Richard Burwash, which belongs to a real person he found on the internet, reports the New York Times.
He was unapologetic with his admission, although his use of an alias came under scrutiny from the editors of the papers he published articles with, reported CBS News.

Russia to Launch 3, including an American, to Man Space Station

2011-11-14T00:44:58Z

A Russian Soyuz rocket is scheduled to take off from Kazakhstan on Monday morning with two Russian cosmonauts and one American astronaut, reported the New York Times.
The trip will send the three astronauts to replace the current staff of the space station, which is set to return to Earth later this month, according to Reuters
Reuters also reports that the launch is following a series of failures in the Russian space project although the safety concerns do not seem to bother the crew.

Hunter Dies in St. Louis County

2011-11-07T04:47:29Z

A hunter died of a fall from his deer stand on Saturday, reported the Associated Press.
Arthur Joseph Knafla, 84, accidentally caught his clothing on fire while trying to light a propane heater, according to the Star Tribune.
The Associated Press also reported that this was the second fatality on Saturday.

Islamist Attacks in Nigeria Kill 150

2011-11-07T04:24:44Z

Sky News reported that at least 150 people were killed in coordinated attacks in Nigeria.
The group responsible for the attacks is Boko Haram, reported the Wall Street Journal.
The Wall Street Journal also reported that the group bombed churches and mosques as well as several government buildings.

Earthquakes Rattle Oklahoma

2011-11-07T04:01:59Z

On Saturday and Sunday earthquakes rattled the area northeast of Oklahoma City, reported the New York Times.
One of the weekend's earthquakes was the strongest in the state's history, according the LA Times.
The New York times reported that there were more than 23 earthquakes over the weekend.

Obituary Analysis

2011-11-07T03:39:38Z

In a New York Times obituary of Dr. John F. Burke, the author starts with a nontraditional lead. Rather than follow standard format, the author chooses to focus on the notable achievement of Dr. Burke. He then follows the non traditional lead with a traditional paragraph explaining the cause of death with an attribution and the rest of the obituary follows the traditional format.
The lead works in this case because it is emotionally compelling. By describing the number of lives that Dr. Burke impacted with his invention it makes the reader interested in the impact of this man's life right away.
The obituary differs from a resume because it allows for a more detailed view of the person's life in a few key areas. A resume tends to give a very disconnected overview of accomplishments without giving a reader a glimpse into the life and character of the subject.
This obituary uses sources that include the subjects wife, his colleague, and quotes from the subject.

Yemeni Air Base Under Fire

2011-10-31T03:03:37Z

Sana International Airport in Yemen was hit by shells on Sunday as fights in the area escalated, reported the New York Times.
Voice of America reports that there were no immediate reports of casualties.
The Times also reports that Yemeni officials say that there was no damage to any of the structures.

Packers Defeat Vikings

2011-10-24T04:19:47Z

The Minnesota Vikings gave the undefeated Green Bay Packers some unexpected competition before losing Sunday 33-27, reported CBSSports.com.
Christian Ponder of the Vikings had his first start Sunday, but was unable to upset the Packers, according to Channel3000.com.
CBS also reported that Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdowns and 335 passing yards in the victory.

Minneapolis City Attorney Suggests "Pole Tax"

2011-10-24T04:11:33Z

Minneapolis' city attorney calls for a tax on local strip clubs to fund the fight against juvenile sexual exploitation, according to the Star Tribune.
City Attorney Susan Segal's proposal would put extra taxes on venues that offer nude or partially nude entertainment as a way to fund the expensive efforts of police to curb juvenile sexual exploitation, reported KTTC.com.
The City Council is scheduled to discuss the issue next month, according to KTTC.com.

3 Injured in St. Paul Shooting

2011-10-24T03:29:25Z

Three people were injured Saturday afternoon during a shooting in St. Paul, reported KARE 11.
According the Star Tribune, the St. Paul police are searching for a suspect and no arrests have been made.
The shooting occurred on the 1300 block of Jessie Street, and none of the injuries are considered to be life-threatening, reports the Star Tribune.

Earthquake in Turkey Kills 89 People

2011-10-24T03:15:03Z

A powerful earthquake struck in eastern Turkey Sunday killing 89 people and injuring hundreds more, reported the New York Times.
As reported by the Associated Press, the 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck near Ercis, a city of about 75,000 people near the Iranian border.
The Times also reported that the death toll was expected to rise.

Herman Cain adds Tea Party anthem to his campaign

2011-10-17T04:46:58Z

The song, I am America, by Krista Branch has become part of Herman Cain's campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, as reported by the New York Times.
The song has become the official song of Cain's campaign, reported The Examiner.
The New York Times also reports that the song originated as part of the Tea Party movement.

Multimedia Analysis

2011-10-17T04:25:07Z

I decided to take a look at the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal when comparing the use of multimedia options in journalism. What I found was that the two outlets were very similar in their multimedia usage.
The two mainly use video and photo-slideshows. Both outlets use slideshows. The Times more often uses slideshows to stand on their own and be feature pieces related to travel and other frivolous activity. The Journal uses slideshows more in to accompany articles that could require some visual stimulation, such as reviews of products and cultural events.
Both organizations tend to be very traditional and use multimedia sparingly when presenting hard news. They more often present softer news with less serious writing along with the video and slideshow stories.The writing tends to be more anecdotal and is less focused on traditional conveyance of fact or inverted pyramid style.

Preservation Funding goes to Basilica of St. Mary's

2011-10-17T04:12:04Z

The basilica, after winner 19 percent of the vote in a Facebook poll, will receive its full grant request of $110,000, according to American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation and reported by the Pioneer Press.
The church beat out 24 other historic sites in the Facebook poll and restoration projects will begin in February, according to the Star Tribune.
Other projects in need will be awarded and additional $890,000 on Nov. 9, reported the Star Tribune.

Oil in North Dakota Likely to Pass California

2011-10-17T04:05:12Z

The recent increase in oil production in North Dakota will likely lead the state to pass California as the third biggest oil-producing state, said a government regulator and reported by the Associated Press.
The Star Tribune reports that the increase in oil production has lead to an economic boom that is turning into 16,435 job openings, according to the most recent numbers from the state.
The Star Tribune also reports a $1 billion budget surplus in North Dakota.