These pieces may be included in a podcast version for wnpr.org. We've discussed this already, but here's what we're looking for:
Find a story about how the economic downturn is forcing people to make changes in their lives. Maybe it's second jobs, or workforce training...maybe it's small businessmen finding new ways to attract customers...maybe there's an unintended positive consequence of this downturn. A few examples:
- Harriet Jones on city children working on growing their own food
- Diane Orson on burials at sea...yes, it's cheaper!
- Harriet on a big rise in activity at career centers
The story should include these elements:
1. 4:30 minutes long
2. At least 3 voices (or sources) in the story, to provide different viewpoints
3. At least one scene - where action, or an interview is happening in a place that helps to tell the story.
What are some things we're looking for?
- Well, one thing is...tension. Are there two (or more) sides to this story...and are they at odds? What are the main issues causing the tension?
- Another way to tell a news story is to find a trend. Is something happening in your life, town, community or world, that's part of a larger trend? How is this trend really affecting people?
- And, of course you want to find compelling characters. Boring people make boring soundbites. Boring soundbites make boring stories. A very compelling character can result in an excellent profile piece.
1. The voice of a "real person" - meant to illustrate a trend or idea. We've already found these people through man on the street interviews, workers at businesses, etc.
2. The voice of a "stakeholder" - an official person whose work affects us all. Here, I'm talking about the mayor, the buisness owner, the legislator, the union leader. The one making the decisions that have the biggest impact.
3. The voice of an "expert" - meant to uncover truths, point to trends, debunk myths. University professors are (usually) considered experts, but so are analysts, well-informed newspaper columnists, and others who are able to take an objective view of the situation.
Not all stories will have all of these characters - but a rich mix of the three gives us different insights into the story. Here's a recent story by WNPR's Diane Orson that has a lot of tension...it's about Yale's battle for ancient artifacts with the government of Peru.
Before you start writing a story like this, take a look at a few of these ideas about how to get started, and construct a good story:
- One is from reporter Melanie Peeples. She talks about "story visioning."
- Another is taken from a manifesto by reporter Nancy Updike. She has some unusual methods, but they might help you break through to get a good idea.
- This post gives you some different ideas about construction of the story.
- As you're listening to stories in this lesson, make an effort to use some of these listening guidelines. They'll help you write, I promise.
Write a paragraph-long "statement of purpose" - better known as a "story pitch." Basically, you're trying to "sell" me on the idea you're proposing. Tell me how you'll address the ideas above: What type of story is it? Who are the characters? Where will your "scene" take place?
