Zephyrus analysis

After reading the features section of Zephyrus, I realized that there were many errors that would not have been made if the writers had gone through this journalism class. The article Perfect taste never goes out of style had a few significant errors that were easy to catch. First, one of people she interviewed was her sister. That doesn't look like they went out of their way to interview different people, and it also doesn't look to creditable. Also it is started of with a question, and that is not a good idea. People could respond no to it and stop reading. i liked the idea of the story, the follow through was the part that needed work. there were facts that helped the reader gain information about the topic that helped to understand what the writer was talking about.
The article Say bye bye bye to boy bands was also on the features page. It had a good lead, no questions or quotes, and overall was fairly entertaining and interesting to read. what i would criticize about it is that there is a lot of unnecessary information towards the top of the story. it should have been in the inverted pyramid formation, but there were still key details in the last paragraphs. i also know that the people that were interviewed were the writers friends, so it wouldn't be too hard to ask them a question, or just make it up and put their name next to the quote. Also one of the quotes was from an anonymous source. this is not reliable or trustworthy, for all we know the writer just wanted to make a point and put that quote in.
i (Still) choose you was the other article on the features page. This one appeals to the reader right away. They remember what toys they had when they were younger and are interested in it. What this article is lacking is organization. the quotes are towards the end, and that normally is not how professional articles are written. quotes intrigue readers and they give the story a face which makes people continue to read. If the quote is at the end, they might just stop reading the article all together. One good part of organization in this article was that the bottom part could have been cut off if necessary.
Overall i did enjoy reading Zephyrus because it informs you of what is going on in your school. Sure it may not be the best journalistic articles, but they get the message across, and that is what the people want.

story ideas

News story idea form
1) Slug: hanmon
2) Section of newspaper story would appear (no Op-Ed):
NEWS FEATURES
3) What are the most dominant news elements in the story? Explain in-depth:_________________________ Why?
News element#1__timeliness______ Why? hannah montana just had a concert here
News element#2__proximity______ Why? many people in the community went to the concert and like her music
News element#3 human intrest Why? people are interested in things that they like. also i would find people that went to the concert or wished they went to put a face to the story
4) In a few sentences, describe what the story will be about:
the story will be about how hannah montana appeals to such a wide age group, when she herself is just 14 years old. How can some one 17 and 10 enjoy the same type of music. Thats what i want to figure out.
5) Specifically, who will you interview or contact? Why those people?
__Griffin Chin___ Why? she is in 8th grade and would give a younger view point. also she went to the recent concert
__maddie krasno_ Why? she is in 11th grade and also went to concert.
__tess jensen ___ Why? wanted to go to the concert and didnt. disapointed.
6) What information do you need to gather before you begin interviews?
i need to figure out when the concert was and what else h.m. does other than singing.
7) What questions do you definitely need answered in your interviews? Why?
do you like h.m.?
did you go to the concert?
what is it about h.m. that you enjoy so much?
was it wierd being at a concert with a bunch of younger girls? how would you describe it?

these questions would help answer my questions, which would help me write the story

8) What photo opportunities are available to go alongside this story (give names, places, times, etc.)?
take a picture of one of the girls in her h.m. t-shirt, or with her poster... something along those lines.
9) Who should a photographer contact to set up photographs?
contact me and i could set them up with the girls.
10) What concerns or problems do you foresee in getting this story together?
i wont be able to answer my questions, so then i wouldnt be able to write the story.
11) Other information?
no

News story idea form
1) Slug: hsst&ath
2) Section of newspaper story would appear (no Op-Ed):NEWS FEATURES/SPORTS
3) What are the most dominant news elements in the story? Explain in-depth:_________________________ Why?
News element#1_proximity_____ Why? many students are student athlets and would understant or be interested
News element#2_human intrest__ Why? i will interview people and give the story a face
News element#3 conflict? Why? i think this would be conflict because student athletes have trouble with time management and finishing hw
4) In a few sentences, describe what the story will be about:
this story will be about how student athletes manage thier time. How they fit everything in with all the practices and homework to worry about.
5) Specifically, who will you interview or contact? Why those people?
___callan faulkner____ Why? soccer player, 11th grade. seems like she could handle her time well
___i would find two more student athletes, one that doesnt handle time well, and another one of either side that would give good information_______ Why?so i can have more view points on the issue and get a bigger majority.
6) What information do you need to gather before you begin interviews?
i should look up facts about student athlete time management and on average how well do they do in school.
7) What questions do you definitely need answered in your interviews? Why?
what spoet are you in?
do you practice every day? for how long?
on average how much homework do you have a night?
do you always finish your homework?
how late are you up to when you finish?
8) What photo opportunities are available to go alongside this story (give names, places, times, etc.)?
a picture of one of the student athletes doing their homework, or playing their sport.
9) Who should a photographer contact to set up photographs?
the students
10) What concerns or problems do you foresee in getting this story together?
no one will have any problems with their time management
11) Other information?

to be a successful reporter

The most important aspect of being a reporter is to be courageous. A reporter has to be able to go up to people they dont know and start a conversation or interview them. That is the only way to get all the information a reporter would need for their story. Courage is also the main part of being a successful reporter. You need to have the guts to make a mistake or take a risk because those are the reporters that will end up on top. People are interested, and they will continue to read if there is a risky story. A reporter also needs courage to be the best at what they do. If a reporter doesnt believe that they are the best, who else will? A reporter needs that courage to take critisism for there stories, and to continue writing them. Jon Franklin, a reporter said, "..Courage to stand corrected. Courage to take criticism. Courage to grow with your experiences. Courage to accept what you don't understand. Most of all, courage to see what is there and not what you want to think is there." Courage is the most important trait for a reporter to have because it has to do with the other major traits that a reporter must be such as quick, curious, smart, pleasant, and honest. Without courage, a reporter cant have any of these traits, and without these traits, a reporter cannot be successful.

Edina stereotypes

When one thinks about Edina, i know that some stereotypes will come to their minds like rich cake eaters who get whatever they want. Yes, some people would fit that description, but many do not. If you would look around our school and get to know a few people, you would soon find out that not everyone fits the label given to them. They are simply given that label becasuse of where they go, not for the person they are. The stereotypes will not just go away overnight, but people should be aware that Edina students are more than they get credit for. They are friendly, smart, and studious people who are all under the same label.

first post

hello.