March 2nd, my JRN 521 class will be joining me at an event in Hartford, at the Mark Twain House & Museum. It's a premiere of a film about the struggling newspaper industry, followed by a panel discussion that I'm leading.
Here's a link to the press release of the event - with much of the information you'll need.
You're going to be covering this event as a member of the press. It starts at 7:30, and you should get there a little early. Let them know you're part of my class, and covering this for the press.
You'll need to bring your Marantz recorders, to record the panel discussion. The Twain House will provide a "mult-box" - it's a multiple output box that allows you to plug in your recorder and get the sound of what's happening on stage.
My advice: Take notes as you're listening, so that you know where some of the best soundbites are.
The story you're going to produce for me will have a few elements:
- A host lead, which has the "news" that you're covering.
- A two minute, produced story, that includes your own script, along with soundbites you've chosen.
- You should choose 3 soundbites from the panel discussion - length of each is anywhere between 10 and 30 seconds. Any longer is probably too long.
I've given you a sample script, so that you know how to structure your piece...what a script should look like. But, what style should it follow. Here are two examples of NPR stories...one that follows a more traditional "radio news" style, and one that's more "conversational."
I used to teach the more traditional style of reporting...but more and more, listeners want to hear someone really talking to them, and helping them understand the story. That's the "conversational" style I mean.
One key to this: It's better to focus on one part of the story you find interesting than to give me a "laundry list" of everything that happens. So, in covering this conversation about newspapers, I'd love for you to summarize the key points of the evening - but choose one topic or thought that's most important or interesting...and stick with it.
How to prepare? For next week, I'd like you to do some reading...find stories about the problems the newspaper industry is having. Get some background. Do some reading about the panelists. Then, I'd like you to write a series of questions for our guests. I may use some of them on stage...or you may have a chance to ask some.
I will need these questions emailed to me no later than next Monday.
As for the production of this story...no worries...you'll have a few weeks to do it, because Spring break is the following week!
