February 1

Class today began with reminders of the American Forum (coming up next Tuesday evening) and the announcement of another event that would satisfy the note-taking assignment: Senator Hagel from Nebraska will be speaking in the Butler Board Room Monday evening. Everyone must attend one of the sessions (or some other event, if your schedule conflicts) and practice taking extensive notes during an event. Those notes will be translated into a story on Thursday, the 11th.

Additionally, the class completed the short AP style quiz today, using either the stylebook or the online guide.
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The topics of today's class discussion were proper ways of attribution and writing leads. Attribution (reporting who said what) is unnecessary when:
1. The information is common knowledge.
2. The information is on record and readily available.
3. The attribution is implied (if, say, it is clear from previous attributions that the information is coming from someone other than the writer).
4. The information is background previously established in continuing stories.
or,
5. The writer is writing from a position of authority (for example, if the writer is an expert on the topic).

In all other cases when attribution is necessary, remember these little tid-bits:

• In news writing, the attribution is generally placed after the quote.
• Try to keep direct quotes short and punchy. If you are compelled to use a two-sentence quote, place the attribution in the middle.
• If you're changing speakers, remember to place the second attribution up front, to avoid confusion.

And, remember, always use the word "said." Repetitiveness is a small price to pay for efficiency. Avoid writing that someone "claimed" something. The word has negative connotations that reveal the writer's bias.
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In terms of leads, we briefly discussed the different types of leads. All leads are brief, simple statements of the point of the story, generally capped at a maximum of 30 words.

A straight news lead is a simple one-sentence statement of the facts of the story.

A summary lead is basically a more complex news lead. More than one fact is presented, but the guideline of staying under 30 words still stands.

In stories based upon people who are not well-known, a blind lead, or a lead that purposefully does not name the subject in the opening, is advised.

To add some variety, the writer may create a lead that directly addresses the reader. This form, known as a direct address lead, should be used sparingly.

A question lead opens with a question to draw the reader's attention.

A direct quote lead opens with a quote for the same purpose.

The rest of the class time was used to practice lead-writing. A handout, giving four lists of news facts, was distributed and, during class time, the first two were molded into simple news leads.
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Homework: The interview is due on Thursday, as well as Lead Exercises 5.2 in the book, and the rest of the handout.