August 29, 2007 Archives

Key Concept:

Hard News

Hard news describes stories that are newsworthy chiefly because they are about events that have a significant impact on the lives of many people. Examples might include an outbreak of an infectious disease, the bursting of a downtown water main, a hostage crisis at a local daycare, or an attempted assassination of a dignitary visiting the White House. Global events, such as wars and crises, are hard news.

The story about the lonely zebra in another state that escapes from the zoo and is recaptured when it takes an interest in a police officer's horse?  Definitely soft news, unless, for instance the chase for the zebra causes a traffic snarl that leads to a violent road rage incident. (See "If it bleeds, it leads.")

"Dog bites man" is snoozeworthy because it happens all the time, but "man bites dog" is less common, so it is more newsworthy.

Compare the August 28 local TV newscast on WTAE-4 and the August 28 edition of the Tribune-Review.

The Tribune-Review is usually available on a rack outside the cafeteria. There is also a copy in the library, and at most local stores.

Write a 2 page informal paper that describes the three most significant things you learned from the comparison.

Update:

In the future I will ask you to submit your homework via Turnitin.com, but for today just bring a printout to class.

Recent Comments

Jackie Johns on ABNW, Chapter 10: http://blogs.setonhill.edu/Jac
Mitchell Steele on ABNW, Chapter 10: Here is a link: http://blogs.s
Dennis G. Jerz on Final Exam: That's right, I forgot to chan
Jeremy Barrick on Final Exam: Our final exam is on Monday, i
Daniella Choynowski on ABNW, Chapter 10: http://blogs.setonhill.edu/Dan
Jeremy Barrick on ABNW, Chapter 10: http://blogs.setonhill.edu/Jer
Maddie Gillespie on ABNW, Chapter 10: Come on, you know you wanna re
Carrie Kraszewski on ABNW, Chapter 10: Read Me!
Carrie Kraszewski on ABNW, Chapter 10: Read Me!
Bethany Merryman on ABNW, Chapter 10: http://blogs.setonhill.edu/Bet
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