Author: Linda Villarosa

What’s Due and What to read for 2/3

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  1. Put your grammar corrected news event story in this google doc by the end of the day Wednesday 1/28 for Shelby and me to review and edit. See below reminders about what we’re looking for.
  2. Fill out this form also by end of day Wednesday. I’ll nag you if I don’t receive it.
  3. Read pitch for my story “America’s Hidden HIV Epidemic” and the final version of the article to discuss in class on 2/3.
  4. Also, come prepared with three ideas for your first assignment — a feature story, based on news/trend of about 500 – 700 words. Be able to state how you came up each idea (why this story at this time?) You will choose one idea as your first assignment. It’s best to write down the pitches, but you don’t need to send them to me in advance.

Media Writing Reminders

Use spell check!

•Look carefully for repetition. 

•Read everything over. Even better, read it over out loud.

•Get rid of any passive voice. (It was written by zombies.)

•Replace “to be” with active or action verbs – especially “there is/there are.” (There are many grammar errors I don’t like.)

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Welcome!

Excited to meet each of you! To prepare for our first day of class on Tuesday 1/27, you’ll need to do two things:

  1. In about 300 words, choose a news event and describe how it affected your life. Offer the basics — what happened and when, how did you first find out about it, how it made you feel and why it mattered. Bring a copy to class either on paper or in digital form for self-editing.
  2. Please read this story, “The Alienation of Jaime Cachua” which ran in the NYT in December 2024. Come prepared to discuss it the first day of class.

This is a readable long-form feature that deals with relevant, urgent subject matter. In class, we will reflect on the story in terms of form, structure, reporting, writing style and visuals. 

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