How does a story begin?

As a journalist, you have the opportunity to organize information for readers. That comes with a certain level of responsibility especially for something as difficult as the violence in Iraq.

In groups of three or four, read these four paragraphs and place them in order. Which should be first? Why?

What is the most effective way to begin a story?

Today's news

There is almost unanimous agreement about the top story in the U.S. today: The Supreme Court found it is unconstitutional to deny federal benefits to same-sex couples who are legally married. This has been a controversial issue in the U.S. for decades, and while the court's ruling won't end that debate, it does alter it substantially.

Take a look at the front page of the New York Times' website. Assess the coverage. How would this story be handled by media in your country? What is the proper way to handle a story like this? Look at a news outlet from your country to see how this story is displayed.

Yesterday, we talked about transparency among journalist. Last year, CNN host Anderson Cooper, one of America's most-influential broadcast journalist, wrote an email to blogger Andrew Sullivan:

"I’ve begun to consider whether the unintended outcomes of maintaining my privacy outweigh personal and professional principle. It's become clear to me that by remaining silent on certain aspects of my personal life for so long, I have given some the mistaken impression that I am trying to hide something—something that makes me uncomfortable, ashamed or even afraid. This is distressing because it is simply not true...The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud."

How does Cooper's acknowledgment alter how he is seen by viewers? He said that "personal and professional principle" trumped his desire to maintain privacy. What are those principles? Should all journalists be as transparent about their private lives?

Earlier this year, one of our 2012 SUSI students, wrote a post on his blog entitled, "I'm Queer." The BBC says Ala'a Jarban is one of Yemen's first openly gay men. But is he safe at home? That question has been raised by friends and supporters. Here is the link to AJ's blog. 

Essays

Last year, SUSI students wrote and recorded essays for Northwest Public Radio. Here is a link to some of those essays: http://nwpr.org/post/arab-impressions-america

NWPR editors chose the top seven essays. Though everyone in this class will have the opportunity to submit and read their essays, I want to be clear that not all essays will be published.

Let's take a few minutes today to discuss your plan for your essay.

The Power of the Personal Essay

It was a regular school day morning last year, when 20 buses carrying Christian university students left the northern Iraqi town of Kara Gush. The buses were traveling to the University of Mosul. I was on the fifth bus.

So begins last year's essay by Melad, a 24-year-old student from Iraq. Let's ask a few questions about this story.

1. This story could have been written as a news story. Melad writes it as a personal essay. Which is a better approach?

2. How does Melad expand on his personal experience to explain the broader issue?

3. Why did American media outlets publish this essay? What makes it connect with American readers?

4. In her essay, Shireen Far draws on her experiences in Pullman to contrast her life in Palestine. What is your reaction to Shireen's essay? How is different from Melad's essay?

5. What specific details do the writers provide in their essays?

6. The writer Jennifer Allen said that in an essay, "You have to pull something out of yourself and give away some important part of yourself ... It's a gift to the reader." What does she mean?

You Be The Editor

How do journalists choose a lead story?

Let's say you are the editor of an online news outlet. (Those are all the details I’m going to give you.) In small groups, read the stories and tell us why your assigned story is better than the other groups' stories. What makes your story newsworthy? What's wrong with the other stories? What are the characteristics of news?

You can view the stories here.

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To help you get started, think about the criteria that make something news. Then, think about your audience. As journalists, we have both academic and practical considerations when we decide whether to run a story. Given that, what's our definition of news?

Bias and Objectivity

Reporting

Let's start with a question. Well, let's start with two questions.

Let's say that during your career as a journalist/communicator, you can only ask two questions. As you travel from interview to interview, meeting various people both famous and forgotten, you can only ask people those two questions. Nothing more. Remember, this is a question you would put to a president, a shopkeeper, a mother, a soldier.

What are the two questions you would ask? Write them down for us.

Reporting cannot occur without intelligent questions and the will to ask them. Those questions lead us to information, which we package -and sell - as news.

Publishing your work

Welcome to the Murrow News Service. In this section of the program, you will practice working as a foreign correspondent in America, including reporting, producing, and pitching stories for publication.