Editing for logic

1. Editing for logic Fixing faulty logic, filling story holes

2. Some basics • What’s the main point? Every story should have a main point. If YOU can’t figure out the main point, you can bet readers won’t be able to either. Talk to the reporter or assignment editor.

3. Some basics • What’s the main point? Every story should have a main point. If YOU can’t figure out the main point, you can bet readers won’t be able to either. Talk to the reporter or assignment editor. • Multiple points? If a story has several important points or events, break the story into multiple stories, or a story and a graphic, and package them together. People scan rather than read in-depth.

4. Some basics • What’s the main point? Every story should have a main point. If YOU can’t figure out the main point, you can bet readers won’t be able to either. Talk to the reporter or assignment editor. • Multiple points? If a story has several important points or events, break the story into multiple stories, or a story and a graphic, and package them together. People scan rather than read in-depth. • Don’t leave unanswered questions. Think like a reader. What questions will occur to readers as they read the piece?

5. Some basics • What’s the main point? Every story should have a main point. If YOU can’t figure out the main point, you can bet readers won’t be able to either. Talk to the reporter or assignment editor. • Multiple points? If a story has several important points or events, break the story into multiple stories, or a story and a graphic, and package them together. People scan rather than read in-depth. • Don’t leave unanswered questions. Think like a reader. What questions will occur to readers as they read the piece? • Is it logical? Does the story seem contradictory? Does the story make sense? Question statements that defy logic.

6. Faulty logic? Holes in story? The Pennsylvania State University College Republicans' and College Democrats' presence on campus has been highly visible, but the presence of third-party representation this election year has been missing. According to the Office of Student Activities, Penn State used to have an organization called the Campus Greens, but they are no longer in existence. Daniel Leathers said he would technically be the Campus Greens’ president this year, but is too busy to organize the group. Leathers said the difficulty in organizing people is the main reason he feels there are not many third-party clubs and organizations on campus. "I think a lot of people would go Green if they knew what we were all about," Leathers said. Meanwhile, another third party on campus, the College Libertarians, has been highly active, distributing flyers, holding regular meetings and aggressively recruiting across campus. While the Libertarian party's candidate, Michael Badnarik, is not thought to place Obama’s chances of winning in jeopardy, former Green Party candidate -- now an independent -- Ralph Nader, may be.

7. Faulty logic? Holes in story? Since the University of Minnesota launched a new online music service this fall, more than 500 people tried the program during the first week of service, Shih-Pau Yen, university deputy chief information officer said. RealNetwork's Rhapsody, a discounted digital music service, is designed as a legal alternative to people who seek digital music files but want to download legally. Out of approximately 40 students who were contacted during the weekend, no users of the program could be found. Many said they still prefer the free peer-to-peer file-sharing networks such as Kazaa or Morpheus. First-year electrical engineering student Eric Mueller said he has heard about the service but is not interested. "It's not like we don't have money, and the free music is really not much easier to download," Mueller said. Mueller said he uses free downloading services to find music he likes and then buys that music in stores. "The sound quality is so much better," he said.

8. Faulty logic? Holes in story? Rankin could have ordered an absentee ballot and voted in his home state, but he decided to change his residency and vote as an Alabamian. Now, as a volunteer at the Student Government Association voting registration booth, he finds that most other students do the same. “What’s easier and what’s more convenient is to change,” Rankin said. “No one wants to go home to vote.” According to electoral records, around 1,300 students switched residency to Alabama in the 2008 elections. This number represented more than half of the 4,500 out-of-state students at that time.

9. Faulty logic? Holes in story? Department of Transportation Director Roy Smithers changed his position Friday on the route of proposed state highway 126, advocating that it loop around Garnersville instead of through downtown. Other DOT officials expressed surprise at Smithers’ change of mind. “Roy has been pushing to lay this road through the middle of town for weeks now,” said Brice Lawson. “I don’t know why he backtracked on that.” In other business, officials voted to scrap a proposal that would have added an exit lane to Hwy 89 at Garnersville Road.

10. Faulty logic? Holes in story? Bostick says most people fail to realize that kicking a football is a skill that requires a precision that borders on perfection. Several things have to go perfectly. And the pressure intensifies everything. Fans feel the pressure. Coaches feel the pressure. Teammates feel the pressure. But kickers ignore it and are oblivious to the emotions that surround a play that can win or lose a game.