Chapters 9, 10, 11, & 12

Chapter nine focuses on other ideas of ways to write a story besides the inverted pyramid. A journalist has an array of options when writing a story, rather than just using an inverted pyramid. Some examples that are used in the book are chronology, which just means that the reporter writes the story in chronological order if necessary, or focus structure, which tells a story of one individual which is supposed to represent an entire group. Both are alternatives to the inverted pyramid, and both are necessary to use at certain times.

Chapter ten introduced me to a way to write obituaries. Although, I have no desire to write obituaries, the fact of the matter is that oftentimes a journalist is called upon to write things they do not want to write. Therefore chapter nine taught me a lot about how to write life stories and obituaries in a respectful and clear manner. One of the main things I learned about writing obituaries is that often the cause of death is left out and it is actually not an essential part of the story. I was not aware of this before.

Chapter 11 was all about how to write a story when one receives a news release about the story, and also the different kid of news releases there are. Often reporters are emailed, mailed, or telephoned a story and that is where news releases come in. Reporters must be able to decipher what important facts they should put in the story from the new release, and they also need to figure out how to make it an interesting story. There are a variety of ways a news release can come in, but the most important thing is what a writer does with that news release when he or she receives it.

Chapter 12 also informed me about a lot of things. As a reporter there will be many times when I have to cover speeches, news conferences and the like. Thus chapter 11 was all about preparing me for that. It is extremely important to get the context correct when covering something like that and that is why it is often recommended that reporters have recorders so they can stay away from misquoting the person. It is also extremely important to make a note of the audience and little things like that, which I did not know was so important until this chapter.

Chapters 5, 6, 7, and 8

All of these chapters focus on different aspects of writing news articles. There is so much information and rules that need to be followed when one wants to become a professional journalist and write articles regularly. Chapters 5-8 go into detail about certain aspects of writing an article that writers need to be aware of. As I have written numerous articles throughout the semester I have begun to understand how important the things that are discussed in this chapter are.

Chapter five goes into great detail about how important it is to have multiple sources. I have definitely learned that this semester. If there is only one source in an article, it is most likely highly biased and unfair. Multiple sources illustrate that the journalist is showing both sides of the story and giving the reader all the facts.

Chapter six is much more detailed and it talks more about numbers and how to address percentages and numbers while writing an article. It is always important to give context when writing with numbers. The book gives an example of how if the budget for a small town went up $500,000 it would be a huge amount. However if it was for New York City it would be a very minute number, therefore it is extremely important to give the reader context when writing about money or percentages.

Chapters seven and eight had a huge impact on me as an aspiring journalist. Chapter seven talks about the inverted pyramid, which says that all the important information should go at the beginning of the story, while the much less essential facts should go at the end. In a society where people want the facts right away, writers much cater to there audience and make sure to give them what they want immediately. Oftentimes readers do not read the whole story, or the ending of a story is cut by the editor, thus the inverted pyramid is essential. Chapter eight also made me a better journalist. It talks about about ways in which to write to the reader. This means that the journalist much write in a way that leaves the reader wanting more, and make them want to finish the story.

All four chapters mad a big difference in my writing and my articles.

Chapter's 3/4

Chapter's three and four clearly focused on the importance of interviews in journalism and what it takes to gather information. The author also points out how important it is to have correct information and to always verify your source. Accuracy is key in the field because one incorrect story could destroy your credibility forever. As a journalist it is always necessary to collect all the facts (or at least as many as possible) before one sits down and writes the story.

Also, as an interviewer, it is important to consider the setting and even the clothes you wear, as all can play a hand in how the interview goes. One needs to only turn on the television to see bad/awkward interviews taking place. It happens all the time during the news, as often times the interviewer seems completely unprepared.

Furthermore, chapter four talked about the necessity and need for quotes while writing a story. Reading a newspaper it is clear to see how much more interesting and relevant quotes from informed people make a story. This is not too surprising. Quotes help to keep the flow of the piece and to focus on the topic even more.

Both chapter 3 and 4 are very helpful in knowing how to gather information and then be able to write a good, accurate story about it.

Summer 2009

Summer 2009 was an adventurous, fun, unbelievable summer. I had the opportunity to go to Rwanda on a LoveWorks trip. On the 20 hour plane ride to this unfathomable place I could hardly imagine the trials, the joys, and the changes it would bring to my life. Nor could I have comprehended the amazing people that I would meet along the way. No, as I made my journey, I was mostly thinking of what the food was going to be like, or if the people I was with were nice, or how scared I was of this completely foreign place and culture. As we touched down and began to embark on this journey, the fears and anxieties soon dissipated and we all began to dive into the work that we were called to do. I could go on and on and talk about story after story but I would rather just give one. My spiral into depression and out of it all started with a little boy named Joshua.

In the afternoons we worked at a church putting on a VBS type event for the neighborhood kids. That's where I met three year old Joshua, a little boy with big dimples and an even bigger heart. The first day I met him he was excruciatingly shy, but I desperately wanted him to come out of his shell. By the second day, we were playing tag and running around as if there was not a care in the world. When I think of my time in Rwanda, I cannot help but think first of Joshua. I fell in love with this child. This child who lives in poverty. This child who wore pretty much the same clothes for the whole two weeks I was with him. This child who will never be given the opportunities I have.

By the end of the two weeks, every time we cam to the church Joshua would be there waiting. As soon as I got out of the car he would fly into my arms and throw him in the air, as his giggles filled the air. Now, as I sit here, I can still hear the sound so clearly. I cannot possibly describe the joy this child gave me. Nor can I describe the heart-wrenching pain I felt when I was forced to leave him behind. The only thing I can say is that he changed me forever. I am not the same person I was. Joshua showed me the joy in life. He showed me that love is not about being able to speak the same language, or come from the same country, but rather it's about spreading a little joy wherever it is that life takes us. It is a lesson I try to learn a little more every day. It is a lesson from a three year old in Rwanda. It is the lesson that has altered my life forever.