2. NEWS
RELEASE
GRADES
BY
THE
NUMBERS
• 13
A
(93
and
above)
• 6
A-‐
(90-‐92)
• 4
B+
(87-‐89)
• 4
B
(83-‐86)
• 1
B-‐
(80-‐82)
• 1
C+
(77-‐79)
• 1
C
(73-‐76)
• C-‐
(70-‐72)
• D+
(67-‐69)
• D
(63-‐66)
• D-‐
(60-‐62)
• F
3. Follow
DirecPons
• We
had
a
specific
slide
addressing
the
memo.
• No
memo…you’re
at
D+
before
I
ever
read
a
word
of
your
copy.
• The
book
says
double
space
releases.
• I
don’t.
4. HOW
CAN
WE
GO
FROM
GOOD
TO
GREAT?
• Lead
Sentence
– What
is
the
most
important
element
of
the
story?
• The
Person
• The
Event
• The
Place
– You
need
to
really
think
about
this
answer.
– However
you
answer
the
quesPon,
I
would
make
that
the
subject
of
your
lead
sentence.
5. HOW
CAN
WE
GO
FROM
GOOD
TO
GREAT
• Many
of
you
focused
on
the
event.
• Few
of
you
focused
on
the
benefit
of
said
event.
• Which
is
more
important?
– If
the
event
is
different,
pickle
eaPng
contest,
who
really
cares?
– If
it’s
helping
keep
kidens
alive,
tweak
your
lead.
– Think
beyond
your
organizaPon
when
wriPng
the
lead
sentence.
6. HOW
CAN
WE
GO
FROM
GOOD
TO
GREAT?
• A
local
gas
staPon
has
a
new
way
to
help
people
dealing
with
rising
gas
prices.
• Rising
gas
prices
have
a
local
gas
staPon
coming
up
with
creaPve
ideas
to
help
people
at
the
pump.
• People
sick
of
high
gas
prices
have
a
new
way
to
save
a
few
bucks.
• Saving
money
at
the
gas
staPon?
Really.
7. HOW
CAN
WE
GO
FROM
GOOD
TO
GREAT?
• Watch
your
release
gefng
too
commercial.
– Reporters
like
to
talk
about
pricing,
not
prices.
– Reporters
think
about
industry
first,
business
second.
8. FACT
SHEET
THOUGHTS
• Organize
you
points
into
two
or
three
main
themes.
– The
person
– The
place
– The
event
• Take
all
of
those
great
points
you
have
and
put
them
into
those
secPons.
• It
gives
the
document
a
beder
look
and
organizaPonal
feel.
9. WRITING
IDEAS
• Watch
forcing
the
present
tense,
especially
in
the
lead.
– This
can
create
passive
voice.
– It’s
also
not
accurate.
– A
group
is
hosPng
an
event.
– A
group
will
host
an
event
10. WRITING
IDEAS
• I
like
the
use
of
links.
Add
the
hyperlinks.
– www.twider.com/danfarkas
– hdp://scrippsjschool.org/
• Vary
sentence
length.
– Short
sentences
can
pack
a
punch.
– Count
how
many
words
in
each
sentence.
– Avoid
cadence.
11. WAYS
TO
GO
FROM
GOOD
TO
GREAT
• Commitment
Statement
– One
sentence
that
explains
everything
happening
in
a
story.
– It
could
involve
emoPon.
• A
fundraiser
isn’t
a
good
commitment
statement.
• A
Southeast
Ohio
group
is
pulling
an
all
nighter
on
school
night
to
help
kids
learn
how
to
read.
This
can
have
some
emoPon.
12. Reading
Memo
• Memo
format.
Use
one.
– One
page
max.
– To,
from,
subject
and
date
• Every
memo
has
a
beginning,
middle
and
end.
Many
of
you
didn’t
have
space
for
an
end.
Create
that
space,
and
explain
what’s
next.
• Every
memo
should
outline
the
«
what
»
and
the
«
how
»
this
impacts
me.
14. What
is
due
Wednesday
at
5
• A
feature/bio.
• An
op-‐ed.
• Your
Third
reading
memo.
15. How
am
I
grading
the
feature?
• WriPng
• Is
it
news?
• How
is
it
news?
• I
need
to
see
you
did
some
digging
to
find
interesPng
content.
16. How
am
I
grading
the
op-‐ed?
• Did
you
follow
the
format
we
talked
about
in
class?
• Did
you
make
a
convincing
argument?
• How
well
did
you
write
it?
17. Wednesday
• Class
is
open.
• You
don’t
have
to
be
there.
• I
am
around
via
Skype
dan.farkas1.
• Your
Feature,
reading
memo
and
op-‐ed
are
due
in
ONE
word
file
by
5:00
• www.slideshare.net/danfarkas1975
for
slides.
