What is News?

1.  Identify, define, and give an example of the 6 criteria of newsworthiness.

Criteria 1: Unusualness
Definition: News is out-of-the-ordinary, different, unusual.
Example: If an airplane lands on time, that isn't news. If it crashes, regrettably, it is news.

Criteria 2: Significance
Definition: Important events that affect many people are news.
Example: Taxes, elections, economy.

Criteria 3: Timeliness
Definition: Sharing the news while it's happening, not when it's old news.
Example: Hearing news about a flood while it's happening, not next month when it's all dried out.

Criteria 4: Proximity
Definition: News about nearby events.
Example: The new state tax law.

Criteria 5: Prominence
Definition: News about well known people, buildings, or places.
Example: If a movie star is arrested for stealing.

Criteria 6: Human Interest
Definition: Stories about ordinary people or animals, they have an emotional and personal appeal that draws our attention. They are often good news.
Example: A minister who runs a drop-in center for troubled teenagers.

2. On page 23 it discusses the differences between print journalism and broadcast journalism.  Please describe 3 ways they are different and explain. 
Print journalism includes newspapers and news magazines. Broadcast journalism includes radio news and television news. Print journalism provides a fuller coverage of more stories, while broadcast journalism is more timely and dramatic. Print journalism includes more human interest and entertainment features, but it isn't nearly as powerful as television news because the addition of video is more dramatic. 

3.  List all the criteria the story we watched at the beginning of class fits under and why.
Unusualness, because traffic is rarely ever stopped because of pigs grazing.
Significance, because many people drive on I-94 and need to know about traffic.
Timeliness: Was reported while it was happening.

4.  List all the criteria the 2nd story we watched fits under and why.
Unusualness, because not many dogs are blind or deaf, especially two brother dogs.
Timeliness, dogs are still looking for a new home, just reported.
Human Interest, because it emotionally appeals to us, making us feel sympathy.

5.  List all the criteria the 3rd story we watched fits under and why.
Timeliness, was a recap of what happened the night before, was good for those who missed it.
Prominence, MTV awards about celebrities.
 

Classmate Story

Focus Sentence: Sabrina has faced many challenges because of her move from Africa to America, but she has overcome these challenges to become the great person she is today.

Sabrina Epou is not your normal Eastview High School student. She has had many experiences that most of us may never face, but still fits in great with the Eastview community. Sabrina is involved with the school theater and played a sorority girl in the play, "Good News." She enjoys playing soccer in the summer and taking contemporary dance classes. She sounds like your typical active high school student, but what makes her so unique is what happened in her past.

Sabrina was born and raised in Africa. She lived in Lome, Togo with her family and her father worked with the government. When she was 7, her family had to leave Africa because the government was becoming corrupt. This meant she had to leave her Aunt, Grandma, and close friends behind. Leaving the ones she loved behind was tough, but now she had to focus on learning English to survive in America.

When Sabrina moved to Minnesota, she was placed in the 3rd grade. Along with public school, she also had to attend a school to learn English. While talking about this challenge with Sabrina, she stated "learning English took seven years to master." Now Sabrina is very fluent in the language and has no problem understanding others. Although, learning English wasn't the only challenge she had to overcome. Her Grandma's death was another tough time in her life, especially since she rarely got to see her after the move to America.

Sabrina may have had a difficult past, but that doesn't stop her from her ambitions. She says she "hopes to go to college in New York to study performing arts or journalism." I hope to see her make it big in New York as well; she works hard for everything and deserves it.

Interview of a classmate

Interview Questions- Sabrina Epou

1.       What was your childhood like?

She was born in Africa and moved to Minnesota when she was 7. It was hard to learn English and get used to food and culture. She had to leave her Aunt, Grandma, and close friends behind. She lived in the city, better than the village. Dad worked for government. It was getting corrupt so they had to leave.

2.       Describe an average day of your life.

School, after school nap and eat, start homework but distracted by New Girl, Smash, and comedies. She also is in theater, Good News was a sorority girl.

3.       Do you think there is something unique about you?

Being born in Africa.

4.       What are your plans for the future?

Move to New York, major in perfoming arts or journalist. She loves being in the big city.

5.       What event in your life has had the most impact on you?

Moving to America and when her grandma died.

6.       What are your hobbies and/or interests?

Writing short plays and comedic things, soccer in summer, and contemporary dance class.

7.       Describe a time in your life where you were unusually happy or sad.

When her Grandma died.

8.       Explain a time when you faced a challenge and overcame it.

Learning English, it took her 7 years to master. She struggled understanding a lot of things and had to go to regular school and another school after for English.

9.       What is one word that describes you?

Ecstatic.

10.   Who is the most important person in your life?

Sister, role model.