Tuesday

Well, you survived your first article!! Bravo! Some struggled, others breezed and a few are still staring at the computer.

You have officially joined the ranks of new journalists. Now, we must pick up the pace. As we conducted our interviews and wrote our rough drafts, I noticed that many of you had some problems; however, I noticed a few people solving those dilemmas by going out and conducting new interviews or altering your topics.

Remember, you are a reporter and you must search for facts and information. Rarely does information just fall at your feet. There are so many interesting topics, and I challenge you to be different, interesting and informative. Write about topics that will create inspiration...You can do it, I know you can!

I'd like to hear suggestions from the classes concerning our next steps. I'd like to know what you could personally do to improve your next assignment.

Interviewing is a difficult task. Yes, it is hard to talk to a total stranger and then keep the conversation going. It is a task that takes us away from our comfort zones. However, it is a task that we must grasp (not only in journalism, but in life!) Over the next few days, I'd like you to meet another student in our school. Talk to a student that you do not know. Meet them by introducing yourself and finding something in common. This is the basis for all good interviews. Next, learn something interesting about this person. It could even be the person sitting across from you in this class.

Now let's talk about leads. Most of the leads that I read to date are looking very strong. I found a few good leads when I was reading The New York Times today. Please check them out:

-With fears mounting that high energy costs will crimp economic growth, President Bush called on Americans yesterday to conserve gasoline by driving less. He also issued a directive for all federal agencies to cut their own energy use and to encourage employees to use public transportation.

-HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 26 - Intelligent design is not science, has no support from any major American scientific organization and does not belong in a public school science classroom, a prominent biologist testified on the opening day of the nation's first legal battle over whether it is permissible to teach the fledgling "design" theory as an alternative to evolution.

-The Brothers Grimm Despite a few early sparks of promise, Terry GilliamÂ’s big-screen adventure about the brother folklorists (played by Matt Damon and Heath Ledger) sputters and coughs along like an unoiled machine, grinding gears and nerves in equal measure

-BEAUMONT, Texas - While much of Texas and Louisiana dodged the worst of Hurricane Rita, the damage to some small, rural towns was virtually complete - and the storm was being blamed for new deaths long after it moved away.

This next one is a neat example of a lead and a second paragraph.

-Ask people what comes to mind when they think of a NEPA Fall season and the answers will include the beautiful foliage, dozens of craft fairs, endless haunted attractions, numerous pumpkin patches and exciting weekend football games.

But for many citizens of NEPA nothing epitomizes the fall more than the Bloomsburg Fair.