D R. J E N N I F E R C OX

REPORTING PRIMER

DATA STORIES

• Check your CMAT club participation!

LEDES

• Be clear

• Be concise

• Get people interested

• Introduce the news values

NUT GRAFS

• Mainly necessary if you use a feature lede• If you use a summary lede, make sure you explain the “why should I

care” up high in the story

• Should accomplish two things:• Tell me what this story is about• Tell me why I should care

• What is the impact?• Numbers often equal impact• The storm damage cost residents $40,000.

• Use specific information

• Marry the rest of the story to the nut graf for better organization

NUT GRAFS

BASIC WRITING HINTS

• Don’t begin sentences with days/dates• Use one or the other!

• Maintain balance – represent both sides in the lede/nut graf & beyond

• Inverted pyramid – most to least important

• Numbers = impact

• Conflict? Oddity? • Work in your news values up high!

• Remove the words “however” and “very” from your writing

• Story organization: statement-evidence-quote

STORY FORMAT

Statement:

Evidence:

Quote:

Board member Jill Thomas introduced the proposal to ban weapons on college campuses.

Thomas argued weapons have no place on campus. She pointed to recent shootings as patterns of violence increasing at universities causing students to feel unsafe.

“We need to do better for our students,” Thomas said. “We need to make sure they feel they can learn in a safe, secure environment.”

STORY FORMAT

Statement:

Evidence:

Quote:

Some staff members feel diversity on campus has improved, but there is still much work to be done.

Physics Professor Mary Smith is the only African American in her department. Smith said she would like to see more professors of color in the hard sciences.

“Students need a diversity of viewpoints, even in concrete areas like science,” Thomas said. “Because of my cultural background, I bring a different perspective to the table.”

IN CLOSING…

• DO NOT end with a “moral of the story”

• DO NOT end with your opinion on the subject

• DO NOT end with an essay conclusion

• DO end with a quote that summarizes the main points of the story

• DO end with where people can go to find more information

IN-CLASS EDITING WORKSHOP

• Get at least two people to look over your paper

• I want to see:• Lede• Nut graf• Lede quote

• Get rubrics filled out from each partner

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Grades will be up-to-date after tomorrow afternoon• Data story and last participation quarter

• Check your club participation, and let me know if I missed anyone

• Final presentations Wednesday, 4 p.m., TE 219 – • No PowerPoints• Bring snacks to share, if you want• Quick presentations, then class wrap-up discussion