Subtlety and the Subject

Once you’ve narrowed your topic to the story you want to tell about your subject, you will want to shape the details you’ve gathered to create a subtle portrait of the person you’re writing about. Read McKenzie Funk’s Outside feature about a unique obsession and the obsessed: http://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/south-america/bolivia/Because-It–146-s-There—Sort-of–.html. In a 150-word minimum blog comment, please describe Greg Michaels to me in your own words, explain what interests and motivates his life and work, and tell me what descriptive details most shaped your image of him.

 

Adding Detail and Characterization

When writing about a person, the subject should be just that: human. Good profiles do not glorify their subjects without conflict or omit what was challenging or colorful in their lives. It is small, telling details that can complete the picture of a person. Read the profile of the actor Robert Redford found in this month’s issue of Esquire Magazine online: http://www.esquire.com/features/robert-redford-interview-0413?click=try&link=robert-redford-interview-0413 (you’ll have to click through the handful of pages of text that are available on the site) and tell me in a focused, 150-word comment, how you would describe this individual based upon how he is he is portrayed in the article (I am assuming you may not be aware of much of his work) and a few of the techniques the writer used to add color and detail to bring the subject to life.

Magazine Feature Structure and Content Editing

Read “Content Editing for Features” by Hertzel found in your Feature Writing/Online Magazine folder in Angel. In a minimum of 150 words, single out either the Q & A format feature, the list format feature, or the breaking-a-single- story-into-elements style feature and tell me and tell me why that format appeals to you the most as a reader and the challenges it poses to you as a writer. Also, if anything surprised you in this reading (either as a reader or a writer) you may include that within your explanation as well.

Blog Comments for the Independent Blog Assignment

Beside your name below, there are two additional classmate names listed. As part of your grade for the Independent Blog assignment, you will comment on each of these two different student blogs that are assigned to you.  To receive full credit for these comments, you must apply detailed, focused comments (150 words minimum) in two paragraphs (on each of these two independent blogs; the Home page of each should have an entry that invites response, though if your comment appears on another page, that’s fine) using good grammar and style, and using at least a few of the elements we discussed in class regarding your own entries for our class blog (focus, evidence). All comments must be posted by Friday, March 29, to receive credit for your work. Here is the list (when all URLs have been submitted they will appear on the Student Blog Addresses page):

Student:                                                         Blogs to Comment On:

Elizabeth                                                        Michelle, Nicholas

Tyler                                                               Bill, Jessica

Jessica                                                            Lauren, Samantha

Alexandra                                                      Chris Kim, Erika

Jakobi                                                             Tyler, Erik Lanzner

Michelle                                                          Alyssa, Kara

Alyssa                                                             Elizabeth, Erik Lewis

Erika                                                               Chris Meagher, Jessica

Nicholas                                                         Bill, Sarah

Kara                                                                Elizabeth, Erika

Chris Kim                                                       Erik Lanzner, Michelle

Erik Lanzner                                                  Erik Lewis, Alyssa

Erik Lewis                                                      Lauren, Alexandra

Samantha                                                       Jakobi, Sarah

Lauren                                                            Chris Meagher, Tyler

Chris Meagher                                               Alexandra, Jakobi

Sarah                                                              Kara, Chris Kim

Bill                                                                   Nicholas, Samantha

Blog Assignment #4: Moving From Story to Conversation

Read The Poynter Institute’s blog entry titled “How Journalists Can Turn Their Stories Into Conversations”: http://www.poynter.org/how-tos/digital-strategies/189313/how-journalists-can-turn-their-stories-into-conversations/. Next, in a minimum of 150 words and using effective writing practices (solid grammar, AP style, good punctuation) please answer the following questions: Tell me how a blog we looked at in class or a blog that you enjoy invites conversation? And as a follow-up, in what way is your blog’s home page inviting conversation?

Media Law

During the next few classes we’ll be discussing ethics in journalism and principles of media law. One of the issues that arises in your readings is legal protection for members of the press. In a minimum of 150 words, please answer this question posed by members of The Missouri Group in the workbook for News Writing and Reporting: Why would members of the press need protection?

Thoughts About Citizen Journalism

As part of our discussion of citizen journalism, consider and respond to two questions posed by The Workbook for News Reporting and Writing, 10th ed: “Some observers expect citizen journalism to fill the news gap created as traditional organizations reduce their staffs and their coverage. Is that a realistic expectation? Why or why not?” In a minimum of 150 words, create a comment here expressing your view.