This document provides an overview of the JOU 1000 Introduction to Journalism course taught by Professor Michael Rizzo. It discusses various topics that will be covered in the class over the upcoming weeks, including the basics of writing news stories, applying AP style guidelines, and key elements of journalism. Students are assigned to read about AP style and complete a PDQ story assignment. The professor also announces an optional virtual meeting on Labor Day to allow for virtual face-to-face discussion, though attendance is not required.

1. JOU 1000
Introduction to
Journalism
Professor Michael Rizzo
Director, Journalism Program
Division of Mass Communication
College of Professional Studies
MORE for the week of August 31, 2020

2. JOU 1000
Introduction to
Journalism
Last class presentation – August 31
More Chapter 1
Good journalism
Basics of writing stories

3. JOU 1000
Introduction to
Journalism
Today
More on writing stories
AP Style

4. Recap
Stories need the 5Ws and most need
reaction (as quotes) too!
Story components: Lede, nut graf (if
needed), body/middle of story, ending
Attribution = transparency
Inverted pyramid style uses summary
lede (5Ws at beginning of story)
AP Style – don’t memorize but you need
to apply AP style in your writing

5. Elements of Journalism
1. Journalism’s first obligation is to the truth.
2. Its loyalty is to citizens.
3. Its essence is a discipline of verification.
4. Its practitioners must maintain independence
5. It must serve as a monitor of power.
6. It must provide a forum for public criticism.
7. It must make the significant interesting and
relevant.
8. It must keep the news comprehensive and
proportional.
9. Journalists must exercise their personal conscience.
10. Citizens also have rights and responsibilities to the
news.

6. See the new handout in BlackBoard
AP Style Makes a Difference in the
Way You Write Content
Read that before completing the
next assignment explained later in
this presentation.

7. Which answer is correct? Choose "A" or "B"
A) The crowd grew silent when Professor Joan Werner spoke.
B) The crowd grew silent when professor Joan Werner spoke.
A) The president will address the nation tonight.
B) The President will address the nation tonight.
A) He consulted attorney Robert Manuel for the case.
B) He consulted Attorney Robert Manuel for the case.
A) Bennett told assistant coach Todd Smith he was quitting.
B) Bennett told Assistant Coach Todd Smith he was quitting.

8. Which answer is correct? Choose "A" or "B"
A) The crowd grew silent when Professor Joan Werner spoke.
B) The crowd grew silent when professor Joan Werner spoke.
A) The president will address the nation tonight.
B) The President will address the nation tonight.
A) He consulted attorney Robert Manuel for the case.
B) He consulted Attorney Robert Manuel for the case.
A) Bennett told assistant coach Todd Smith he was quitting.
B) Bennett told Assistant Coach Todd Smith he was quitting.

9. How about these?
A) Thomson scored 40 percent of his shots during the game.
B) Thomson scored forty percent of his shots during the
game.
C) Thomson scored 40% of his shots during the game.
A) Each notebook costs $0.83 when bought in bulk.
B) Each notebook costs 83 cents when bought in bulk.
C) Each notebook cost eighty-three cents when bought
in bulk.

10. How about these?
A) Thomson scored 40 percent of his shots during the
game.
B) Thomson scored forty percent of his shots during the
game.
C) Thomson scored 40% of his shots during the game.
A) Each notebook costs $0.83 when bought in bulk.
B) Each notebook costs 83 cents when bought in bulk.
C) Each notebook cost eighty-three cents when bought
in bulk.

11. Finding your LEAD

12. Ask yourself over and over: “What is this story really about?”
Think fear, comfort, home, family, courage, loyalty, denial, or the hundred
other themes you could choose from in considering the event you just
covered. A topic, like exotic pets, is not a story. A story is when a woman
trains her pet chimpanzee to drive a car.
Write a lead sentence that turns on a “light” to the rest of the story.
John McPhee calls the lead the flashlight that shines down into the story.
Guide readers to see what’s coming: “The sport of shuffleboard, with a
rich history in St. Petersburg, is undergoing a revival thanks to a group not
usually associated with this haven for retirees: young people.”
IF NEEDED write a theme statement.
Jot down the theme as a bullet point to help you focus:
• Real cowboys don’t ride fake bulls.
• Culture, not race, produces great athletes.
• More women than men reach ninety.

13. Provide the key evidence in your story.
Decide [the] most important [facts to tell]. How? Think of the
focus of your story in two ways: the focus is a door that lets
all the best stuff in and/or the focus is a knife that prunes
your material down to the most important and most
interesting.
IF NEEDED:
List three things that your story is about. Which is most
important?
Ask yourself, “What feeling do I want to leave my reader?”
Is it to know more about the event, the person at the event,
knowledge about the topic or the ability to make proper
choices? Start your story with that end result in mind.

14. Other
LEADS

15. Mystery lead
Focus on being suspenseful. Tease the reader
with some facts but not many. Get the reader
wondering. Build drama that will be explained in
your story.
Many of them make more money than a
Cleveland school teacher and some of them even
make more than principals. They can open schools
and close them.
Yesterday, Cleveland’s custodial employees
showed the city how these workers could keep
children cold, in the dark or without water when
119 of them called in sick.

16. Quotes
Seek out people in these two
categories to talk to for stories:
EYEWITNESSES
EXPERTS
Both can be at the scene and
“eyewitness” doesn’t mean
necessarily they saw the story
Experts can be culled from other
other places too.

17. Quotes
Use a quote that conveys emotion
or adds context to the story.
Start a new paragraph with each
quote
Make sure to identify the person
you are quoting.
Keep the quote short(ish).

18. Assignment for the week of
September 7, 2020
See the PDQ story under the
Assignment tab in BlackBoard.
Complete the assignment as directed.

19. Classes are being held on Monday
September 7, 2020 - Labor Day
Our course remains asynchronous.
I will have a new presentation for
for next week on Monday.
But I would also like to hold a short
WebEx session at 12:15 p.m. Monday
Sept. 7 for a “virtual face-to-face.”
You are NOT required to join
this WebEx session.

20. Look for an email from me over the
weekend with more information on
the Sept. 7 WebEx session.

21. STAY WELL
AND
STAY SAFE