I used News Story #1 - Firefighters. I have a fog index of just over 12. This means that I require 12 years of schooling in order to read and comprehend my writing. An effective fog index for the general public should be 7 or 8. This means that I am just slightly above what is considered effective. Though I am nowhere near the example in the text that had a fog index of 30.
I agree with what the fog index represents. I think the lower the fog index, the easier it is to read. However, I don't necessarily think that this makes it better. I don't believe there is a calculation for that. The short sentences, with small words, make it easier to get your point across. I think that a full story of short sentences could end up being annoying and could possibly make it harder to read.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Got what it takes to be a reporter?
I scored a 20. This score is at the bottom of Journalism is a good fit for you mostly.
I mostly agree with this statement. I think that if I were ever to become a journalist that I would have to make some changes to the way that I do things. I would like to report more on things that I saw, such as a baseball game, rather than an interview or uncovering the facts. I don't mind research, but I am usually too shy to really try to ask questions and I don't really like to ruffle feathers. If I ever wanted to take journalism seriously as a career, I would have to change this aspect of my personality, at least on a professional level.
I mostly agree with this statement. I think that if I were ever to become a journalist that I would have to make some changes to the way that I do things. I would like to report more on things that I saw, such as a baseball game, rather than an interview or uncovering the facts. I don't mind research, but I am usually too shy to really try to ask questions and I don't really like to ruffle feathers. If I ever wanted to take journalism seriously as a career, I would have to change this aspect of my personality, at least on a professional level.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Ethical Decision Making
Scenario #1
In this scenario I would wait until the government official came back and then ask her about the documents. I do not believe it is ethical to take the documents or pull any information from the documents.
Scenario #2
I would not do it. This would be deceptive. It is not ethical to lie or deceive someone in order to obtain information.
Scenario #3
You should attribute all information and quotes. Taking any other information or quotes and taking credit for them as your own is plagiarism and is unethical and illegal.
In this scenario I would wait until the government official came back and then ask her about the documents. I do not believe it is ethical to take the documents or pull any information from the documents.
Scenario #2
I would not do it. This would be deceptive. It is not ethical to lie or deceive someone in order to obtain information.
Scenario #3
You should attribute all information and quotes. Taking any other information or quotes and taking credit for them as your own is plagiarism and is unethical and illegal.
Is this libelous?
A sophomore at Springfield University claims a chemistry professor has sexually harassed her.
Karen Hart, 123 Hill Hall, says the professor, George O.T. Jungle, has touched her during tutoring sessions in his office and has invited her to his apartment several times. She said she declined his invitations.
"I am having trouble in the class and I have to go see him to get help with my papers and projects," Hart said. "But I am scared to go in his office now."
Jungle denied having an improper contact with the student and threatened this newspaper with a libel suit if it published the story.
Hart said she is thinking of filing a formal complaint with the university.
"I don't know how to do that," she said. "I don't know what to do."
----I would avoid printing the professor's name and "chemistry" in this example. Because these are statements that should be based on facts, the professor could sue for libel if he is proved to be not guilty or if the charges are dropped. I would wait to run his name until a formal complaint has been filed and he has been charged. Until then, I would refer to him as just a professor at Springfield University. I would also think twice about running the girl's name. There is a chance that people would be able to figure out which professor I am referring to in the story. If Jungle is the only male professor that Hart has, then it could be quite obvious that he is the professor in question.
Karen Hart, 123 Hill Hall, says the professor, George O.T. Jungle, has touched her during tutoring sessions in his office and has invited her to his apartment several times. She said she declined his invitations.
"I am having trouble in the class and I have to go see him to get help with my papers and projects," Hart said. "But I am scared to go in his office now."
Jungle denied having an improper contact with the student and threatened this newspaper with a libel suit if it published the story.
Hart said she is thinking of filing a formal complaint with the university.
"I don't know how to do that," she said. "I don't know what to do."
----I would avoid printing the professor's name and "chemistry" in this example. Because these are statements that should be based on facts, the professor could sue for libel if he is proved to be not guilty or if the charges are dropped. I would wait to run his name until a formal complaint has been filed and he has been charged. Until then, I would refer to him as just a professor at Springfield University. I would also think twice about running the girl's name. There is a chance that people would be able to figure out which professor I am referring to in the story. If Jungle is the only male professor that Hart has, then it could be quite obvious that he is the professor in question.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Reporting With Numbers
1) A local college releases figures showing that its total budget is $120 million. Of that total, $80 million comes from the state, $6 million from student tuition, and the remaining $34 million from fees, grants and gifts.
* Figure the percentage of the college’s budget that comes from each source.
State: 66% Student Tuition: 5% Fees, grants, and gifts: 28%
* Identify the significance of each funding source (the most vs. the least, etc.).
The most significant source of funding comes from the state and the least significant comes from tuition.
* Using plain words, instead of numbers, explain the proportion of funding that comes from different sources. Say it in the way you think would make it most easily understood.
Two-thirds of the budget comes from the state, while about a quarter comes from fees, grants, and gifts, and the rest comes from tuition.
2) Your editor assigns you to do a story about prison sentences handed down in cases of aggravated assault. He gives you the following figures from an anti-crime group that is lobbying for tougher sentencing guidelines. The cases represent the people convicted for aggravated assault in San Jose in one month in 2006.
* Calculate the average prison term for people convicted of aggravated assault, taking care to convert some of the terms to figures that will compare properly (months vs. years).
The average prison term for aggravated assault is 22 months.
* Calculate the median prison term for people convicted of aggravated assault.
The median prison term is 12 months.
* Explain why the average or median figure is the most accurate description of prison terms.
The median is the better figure because averages can be distorted by numbers that don't occur very often. The median is the middle number so it doesn't factor in the highs values and low values.
Name Sentence
Donald Lee 1 year prison, 2 years probation
Richard Smith 1 year prison, 1 year probation
Wesley Mitchell 14 months prison, 1 year probation
Mary Jones 1 year prison, 1 year probation
Juan Rodriguez 1 year prison, 2 years probation
Harold Rothstein 8 months prison, 1 year probation
Michael Reese 7 years prison, 5 years probation
3) The state legislature is considering exempting restaurant food sales from the sales tax in the same way grocery sales are exempt.
* First, find out the state sales tax.
According to the California State Board of Equalization the standard sales and usage tax rate for California is 7.25%
* Then determine and explain how much fast-food patrons who pay $5 per meal would save in a year if they eat out once a week.
A person who eats a fast-food meal once a week would save 36 cents per meal. This is a savings of $18.72 a year.
(5 x .0725 = .3625 but you would not receive that quarter of a penny would be rounded off.)
* Explain how much people would save if they spend $20 per meal once a week for a year.
A person that eats a $20 meal once a week would save $75.40 in a year.
* Figure the percentage of the college’s budget that comes from each source.
State: 66% Student Tuition: 5% Fees, grants, and gifts: 28%
* Identify the significance of each funding source (the most vs. the least, etc.).
The most significant source of funding comes from the state and the least significant comes from tuition.
* Using plain words, instead of numbers, explain the proportion of funding that comes from different sources. Say it in the way you think would make it most easily understood.
Two-thirds of the budget comes from the state, while about a quarter comes from fees, grants, and gifts, and the rest comes from tuition.
2) Your editor assigns you to do a story about prison sentences handed down in cases of aggravated assault. He gives you the following figures from an anti-crime group that is lobbying for tougher sentencing guidelines. The cases represent the people convicted for aggravated assault in San Jose in one month in 2006.
* Calculate the average prison term for people convicted of aggravated assault, taking care to convert some of the terms to figures that will compare properly (months vs. years).
The average prison term for aggravated assault is 22 months.
* Calculate the median prison term for people convicted of aggravated assault.
The median prison term is 12 months.
* Explain why the average or median figure is the most accurate description of prison terms.
The median is the better figure because averages can be distorted by numbers that don't occur very often. The median is the middle number so it doesn't factor in the highs values and low values.
Name Sentence
Donald Lee 1 year prison, 2 years probation
Richard Smith 1 year prison, 1 year probation
Wesley Mitchell 14 months prison, 1 year probation
Mary Jones 1 year prison, 1 year probation
Juan Rodriguez 1 year prison, 2 years probation
Harold Rothstein 8 months prison, 1 year probation
Michael Reese 7 years prison, 5 years probation
3) The state legislature is considering exempting restaurant food sales from the sales tax in the same way grocery sales are exempt.
* First, find out the state sales tax.
According to the California State Board of Equalization the standard sales and usage tax rate for California is 7.25%
* Then determine and explain how much fast-food patrons who pay $5 per meal would save in a year if they eat out once a week.
A person who eats a fast-food meal once a week would save 36 cents per meal. This is a savings of $18.72 a year.
(5 x .0725 = .3625 but you would not receive that quarter of a penny would be rounded off.)
* Explain how much people would save if they spend $20 per meal once a week for a year.
A person that eats a $20 meal once a week would save $75.40 in a year.
JOUR 61 – AP Style Exercise (S-Z)
1) He thought of Smokey Bear every time he got near a smoldering fire or entered a smoky room. (3)
2) The forecast is for cooler temperatures, falling to the low 30s by tonight. If the rain continues as expected, there could be a travelers' advisory. (3)
3) To celebrate Veterans Day, the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I, troops of former soldiers will march down Main Street carrying U.S. flags. (3)
4) His weeklong ordeal will be finished when finals week is over. Until then, his well-being is in doubt. (2)
5) A 19-year-old man was arrested Monday for carrying a Saturday night special without a permit. After being released on bond, he disappeared. His whereabouts is unknown. (4)
6) She’d hoped to be able to trade in her car after getting a tuneup, but she totaled it last night. (3)
7) Could you photocopy that invoice for me? I need it for our year-end budget. (2)
2) The forecast is for cooler temperatures, falling to the low 30s by tonight. If the rain continues as expected, there could be a travelers' advisory. (3)
3) To celebrate Veterans Day, the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I, troops of former soldiers will march down Main Street carrying U.S. flags. (3)
4) His weeklong ordeal will be finished when finals week is over. Until then, his well-being is in doubt. (2)
5) A 19-year-old man was arrested Monday for carrying a Saturday night special without a permit. After being released on bond, he disappeared. His whereabouts is unknown. (4)
6) She’d hoped to be able to trade in her car after getting a tuneup, but she totaled it last night. (3)
7) Could you photocopy that invoice for me? I need it for our year-end budget. (2)
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