1. A Media Study Unit News Writing

2. Understand the basic ethical principles and responsibilities of journalists • Experience the writing process from a journalist’s perspective • Plan, draft, and edit a variety of journalistic pieces Objectives

3. Viewing of the film The Paper • Completion of activities exploring the content and design of a newspaper • Writing 3 different pieces of journalistic writing • Contributing to the compilation of a class newspaper Process

4. Activity 1: The Content of Your Newspaper Activity 2: Pop Culture Potpourri Activity 3: The Power of Photographs Activity 4: The Look and Feel of Newspapers Activity 5: The Newspaper Editorial Pre-writing Activities

5. Advertising • Display Ads • Stores • Products • Services • Classified Ads • Employment • Real Estate • Personal Business Editorial • Hard News • International, national, local events • Soft News • Features • Travel • Entertainment • Most sports • Comics, puzzles, etc… Activity 1: The Content of the Newspaper

6. Examine the “living section” of the paper. In the JI, it is called “Living” – usually about in the middle of the paper. What does the content in this section tell us about what is important to the newspaper’s typical reader? Activity 2: Pop Culture Potpourri

7. A strong news photograph can often tell a story just as effectively as a written article. Examine and respond to some prominent photos in your issue of the paper. What is the impression they leave you with? What do you think the photographer and photo editor wanted you to feel? Activity 3: The Power of Photographs

8. Just like we did when we examined comics, newspapers use font styles, color, text and picture placement to make the content easier to read. Find some examples and write about how that characteristic increases the readability of the paper. Activity 4: The Look and Feel of Newspapers

9. Read through some editorial pieces in the paper and write a response to it. What was the point of the editorial? Was the writer of the editorial successful in getting his or her point across? Do you agree with the writer? Activity 5: The Newspaper Editorial

10. Hard News Story • Feature Article • Editorial or Opinion • Photo Essay – minimum of 5 photographs (include captions) News Writing Choices

11. Be objective – don’t use “I” Rely on sources and facts to tell the story Remember to “kiss off” Most important details to least important details Read a few news articles Things to keep in mind…