Analysis of a News Source 1.2

Basics: 6PM on Thursday, Jan 31, KARE 11, with anchors Julie Nelson and Randy Shaver

Story 1: Expect frigid temperatures tonight; weather; Jerrid Sebesta

Story 2: Icy sidewalks causing injuries; weather/local; Boua Xiong

Story 3: Proposed bill would prevent criminals from having guns; local; John Croman

Newsworthiness

Story focus statement: Icy sidewalks causing injuries

1.Timing:  The sidewalks have been causing people to slip and get hurt in the past couple days, so timing is important.

2. Proximity:  This is happening in the metro area, so proximity is a main factor in the newsworthiness.

3. Significance:  A few people getting minor injuries isn’t a huge deal, but the slippery ice is impacting everybody in the area.

4. Oddity/Uniqueness:  It’s been unusually icy lately, but ice on sidewalks in a Minnesota winter isn’t really that special.

5. Human Interest:  This story doesn’t really appeal to emotions and so human interest isn’t a big factor.

6. Prominence:  Nobody famous has been hurt – just ordinary people.  This isn’t a relevant factor.

Weekly Response 1

Like a good journalist, Alton Brown begins with the most important information in his introduction to his cookbook.  He lists off the "engine parts" of baking, such as basic ingredients, time, and temperature in the second paragraph, while he discusses the way he abbreviated the measurements for this cookbook towards the end. 

He also illustrates his points with little anecdotes that give him more validity as an author and make the introduction more interesting to read.  For example, when explaining that baking must be done precisely, he talks about his grandmother's biscuits and how he couldn't replicate them until he realized he should pat the dough rather than knead it.  

The way he heads each section of the introduction is similar to the caption statement that reporters use as well.  In a short phrase or sentence, he sums up the basic idea of the section.  Headings like “Details: Don’t turn your back on them” and “Classifying the Results” quickly give the reader a basic idea of what information will be provided in the section.  Like a reporter’s statement, these headings are short and sweet, allowing the reader to quickly search for information they want to refer back to later on.

Analysis of a News Source 1.1

Basics: 10p on Sunday, Jan. 27, KARE 11, with anchors Rena Sarigianopoulos and Blake McCoy

Story 1: Icy storm slows commute; weather/traffic; anchors, plus Jerrid Sebesta

Story 2: Freezing rain hassles travelers; weather/local; Lindsey Seavert

Story 3: Man finds way to amass arsenal; local/crime; Jana Shortal

Newsworthiness

Story focus statement: Man finds way to amass arsenal

1. Proximity: This story concerns a man from the greater metro area (Carver County), so it is a local story and therefore the proximity is important.

2. Significance: Hard to really say, because this man didn’t kill anyone after he compiled all these new weapons. But the potential for a mass shooting was there, theoretically, and so it could impact those in the metro area, a pretty big number.

3. Timing: While this man (Christian Oberender) murdered his mother in 1995, this story is timely because of the Connecticut mass shootings and the revived interest in gun control, specifically the wider implementation of background checks.

4. Oddity/Uniqueness: This is certainly an odd case, though not a happy one. Not many people collect so many firearms, especially someone who was convicted of murder in the past.

5. Human interest: This is not particularly appealing to emotions such as joy or sadness, but it is appealing to fear (if that can be called an emotion).

6. Prominence: He’s not a celebrity, nor was his mother. This isn’t a major factor.