Hunting One Language, Stumbling Upon the Another

Writing Effective News Leads

The style of writing found in newspapers makes it easy for the viewer to read and understand leads but difficult for reporters to write them. Good leads contain interesting details and are so specific that readers can visualize the events they describe. A single word, a descriptive verb, can transform a routine lead into a dramatic one. Strong verbs capture the drama and emotion of a news event and help the reader understand the impact of the story.

If a story is important, reporters emphasize its magnitude in the lead. Leads that are considered exceptional emphasize the impact stories have on people. Leads also emphasize the unusual. News pertains to deviations from the social norm.

Reporters localize and update their leads whenever possible by emphasizing their communities' involvement in stories. Readers are most interested in stories affecting their own lives and the lives of people they are most familiar with. Reporters also try to localize stories from other parts of the world. However, in doing this, reporters are expected to be objective; while gathering and conveying information to their readers when they insert their opinions in stories.

Assignment #1 (Identifying a Feature Article)

The audio that I have attached within this post is an interview that I have conducted with the Eastern Michigan's Men and Women's Basketball sports announcer, Brian Nemerovski. This audio can be recognized as an explainatory feature story; because it touches on how a sports-broadcaster such as himself can stay enthusiastic for a collegiate team with a history of losing seasons.

Final Report

State Of The Union Address Review

Although it has been 4 days since President Obama delivered the annual State of the Union address, my feelings toward this matter are still as they were when he first presented the 71 minute speech; Ecstatic. Especially when you take the time to consider how much flack President Obama was receiving by not only the nation, but his fellow Democrats as well; on issues such as health care reform and various methods for improving the economy. Rest assured, he would silence all doubters as he touched on solutions such as the Recovery Act (stimulus bill for businesses), Exporting goods and my personal favorite, The "Debt Forgiveness" for student loans.
To make college more affordable, this bill will finally end the unwarranted taxpayer subsidies that go to banks for student loans. Instead, Presdient Obama plans to take that money and give families a $10,000 tax credit for four years of college and increase Pell Grants. But thats not even the best part, when students graduate from college will be required to pay only 10 percent of their income on student loans, and all their debt will be forgiven in 20 years. And forgiven after 10 years if they choose a career in public service.
If this comes to past then President Obama will keep millions of people out of debt, lets keep our fingers cross shall we.