Final Exam Current Events -- Woohoo!!!!

To get to the Austin American-Statesman - click the link and then put in the user name and password.

http://nieonline.com/austin/studentconnect.cfm
The user name is MAC-J
The password is Knight1!

Current Events Assignment Final Exam -- May 25, 2016

To answer question number 1, please see "Dueling histories: 1899 house could defeat 1950s pharmacy" on the left side of page A1.

1. I did not expect to see a Ken Herman column on the front page, but this was an interesting story about a complicated issue in Old West Austin. Since the story is complicated, I'll try to make the question simple.

What is the conflict involving historical preservation between the Labay family and the Old West Austin Neighborhood Association. Who do you think has the stronger case? What compromise is being proposed? Do you think the compromise is a good solution to the conflict? Why or why not?

To answer question number 2, please see "UT, A&M join bid to operate weapons lab" on the top right of page A1.

2.  What is this? Longhorns and Aggies working in partnership? It's like cats and dogs living together. What proposed partnership did UT and A&M announce on Tuesday, and who else is in the partnership? What exactly would the proposed partnership do? What do you make of this proposal? Does it seem OK for universities to do this sort of thing? Why or why not?

To answer question number 3, please see "Cosby sexual assault trial can proceed, judge rules," at the bottom right of page A1.

3.  What is the latest news in the Bill Cosby saga? Do you agree with the judge's decision? What arguments did Cosby's lawyers make? Do you think those arguments have any merit? What do you think about this story landing on the front page? Given the news values at play with this story, do you think it merits front-page placement?

To answer question number 4, please see "Lee Elementary to be renamed for Russell instead of Robert E." in the middle left of page B1.

4.  What final resolution to the Lee Elementary renaming saga did the school board of trustees enact Monday night by an 8-1 vote? What can you tell me about the new namesake for the school? Why was that name chosen? What compromise was reached as well? Why was the final vote a bit awkward on Monday night? What do you think about the decision? Like it? Dislike it? Agree? Disagree?

To answer question number 5, please see, "Regents to air views on assault cases by June 3" at the bottom left of page C1.

5.  According to two news reports, what is one likely outcome of the football sexual assault scandal at Baylor University? What is the nature of the scandal? Based on the story (and your prior knowledge if you have any), what do you think should happen to make things right at Baylor? Kirk Bohls expressed his take on the matter

Subjects and documents to study for your final

I think this is the complete list of notes and articles to study for the final.

I will use this same list to write the questions that will be on the final.

FEATURE WRITING:

1. Bobby Hawthorne article on feature writing

    Here's the assignment:

    http://mac-j1.blogspot.com/2016/01/bobby-hawthorne-introduced-us-to.html

    If you want to check out a book to reread the chapter, let me know.

2. Mitch Albom article On Writing

    Here's the article: http://www.mitchalbom.com/on-writing/

    Or you can study your outline of it if you did a good one.

3.  Feature Writing  -- Types of Leads and Feature Structure

     Here's the PowerPoint:

     https://drive.google.com/a/austinisd.org/file/d/0B9jt1jHLEQlIclBhU1FPZTNtMmM/view

FEATURE PROFILE WRITING (sports but applies to any type of profile):

4.  Review this article or your notes on it.

     http://onsportz.blogspot.com/2007/10/writing-sports-profiles.html

OBITUARIES:

5.  Review the presentation:

     PPT: https://drive.google.com/a/austinisd.org/file/d/0B9jt1jHLEQlISFRLOGtjTnNpVlU/view

     PDF: https://drive.google.com/a/austinisd.org/file/d/0B9jt1jHLEQlIMm1Ld041dEZmM3c/view

SPORTSWRITING:

6. How to write a game story

    http://sportsjournalism.org/sports-media-news/mavericks-heat-nba-finals-provides-lessons-in-game-coverage-breaking-down-the-elements-to-create-a-compelling-recap/

DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND TERMS

7.  Design outline and terms list

     http://mac-j1.blogspot.com/2016/04/newspaper-design-outline-and-terms.html  

Extra Credit -- Attend this Friday's Career Speaker Series

So Ms. Bonet tells me that this Friday's Career Series speaker is Edmond Sackett, a McCallum parent who is also a photojournalist and multimedia professional with over 30 years experience in the field.

His list of journalistic credentials includes contributing work that led to four Pulitzer Prize nominations. Here are a few of the images that I found on his website:

Rescue personnel are lowered on a crane
with an electrocution victim from a high rise construction site
in Austin, TX. Photo by Edmond Sackett.

Laci Spencer tries to duck the affections
of her two-year-old brahma cow Baby
as they wait their turn in the show ring.
Photo by Edmond Sackett.

Mitch Goldblatt keeps his eyes on the ball as he returns a shot
during the annual doubles competition of pickleball
for the Senior Games in Kissimmee Florida.
Photo by Edmond Sackett.

To encourage you to attend Friday's session, I will offer all photojournalism and journalism students a triple-counted 100 minor grade just for attending the session, being a good listener, and filling out the Career Speakers from that Ms. Bonet will make available at the presentation.

I will further offer a second triple-counted 100 if you do the following to prepare for Friday's presentation.

Visit the website that contains an archive of Mr. Sackett's work:

http://dawsonmultimediapro.com/dawsonmultimediapro.com/Media.html

(1) Post the 10 best pictures that are on the site (in your opinion) and explain why each image is a great example of photojournalism (either in terms of photography or journalism or both).

(2) Post the link to one of the videos that you find most effective and explain why you thought it was an effective video (either the message or the way it conveys the message or both).

The post has to be made before lunchtime on Friday for it to count for the offered extra credit.