jou 220: freak outs

How do we identify sources that aren’t people (news stories, bills, etc.)?

Yep, I think I’ve got it. Thanks!

I have tried to look on Lexis Nexis for background on NKU Bookstore but having some trouble. Anyone got any ideas or some helpful suggestions ?

I know for instance that Oakley has used this type of inventory system for a long time. You might start off by using Google to find companies and businesses that do such things – scan the articles + then use those companies and keywords in Google News. From there you should be able to narrow your search.

I’m not quite sure I understand what goes in the Background, especially the attribution. Should we attribute other news stories we looked at for research?

Also, should we be speculating on what interview sources will tell us or should we be talking about what we plan to ask (as in, “I hope to learn if this national trend is taking place on the local level”)?

Thanks. That makes sense.
I’m not sure how to write the proposed hed, the proposed dek and the idea so that it doubles as the lede without speculating, though. Let me be more specific about what I’m doing. I want to write about how more people are using libraries now that the economy has gone to hell. I’ve found news stories saying that this is happening in other parts of the country and I want to see if it’s happening in Newport. I have government figures that say that the Campbell County unemployment rate is way up (proving, I think, that the recession is affecting locals) and I have investor relations information saying that Barnes & Noble is selling less stuff. I’ve also had the Newport library manager and the Newport Barnes & Noble manager agree to talk with me about circulation and sales, respectively. If the trend is reflected nationally, that will be one hed, dek and lede. If not, it’s another. I’m not sure how to make this work in my pitch.

What should I do if the person I tried to contact has not responded before the business pitch is due tomorrow?? I know one of the other sources is going to be some census data, but am figuring out the third tonight sometime.

Hello. I am FREAKING OUT. Everything is GREEN that you sent back to me. sigh. Is there a certain number of paragraphs that I need? I took off work today and spoke with each person I am interviewing. However, I am having my interview with them next week. I have all of their contact information and know that they will let me interview them. I am just worried that I don’t have enough information that you are looking for.

This thing really does work. I am feeling better just by venting.

Thank you so much! I will do that I have been working on it for ahwile now. I will send it in a bit!

Okay, you wrote, “See the Google doc for proper attribution” on my pitch, and I did. However, nothing on that Google doc applies to me. It gives how to attribute specific quotes. Everything I wrote is in my own words–I just got my information from an Associated Press article and the actual Antitrust Immunity bill. So, I don’t know what you’re talking about.

I dont know how to decide what to cut out of my background to get it down to 2 paragraphs

my brain feels like goo, but after much digging and stalking, I got a hold of some interesting sources and great material for my story (or my brain has deteriorated to the point i’m filled with optimistic delusions … either one)!! + + much positive freaking out + +

So my first major interview is done – that was the most painful and grueling experience I’ve had in a while. Besides that one time I had to do an in-class interview. I was completely blown away by the amount of information I got – I’d prepared my list of questions and I have no idea if I even stuck with any of them, as I kept just asking question after question that popped in my head as they came up. Amazingly enough, my interviewee was answering some of the questions I had even before I had asked them as we went along. I’d go back to make sure I was still going in the right direction with my interview and realize he just answered 4, 5, and 6 without me having to push him in that direction. I’m hoping that’s a good indication that I was on the right path with my questions. I was so worried I’d blow the interview or he wouldn’t be as knowledgeable as I’d hoped on the subject, but that was definitely not the case. He had some fantastic insights that will definitely help me get a better focus on what I’m doing with my story. A couple issues I had – I would blank out from time to time, as I was trying to scribble furiously and make sure my notes are coherent and beneficial, but I didn’t want to leave my interviewee hanging and feel uncomfortable in the ensuing silence after his answer. (Although at one point, the silence technique, though not planned, completely worked – he felt compelled to fill one silence in with a totally new insight that I hadn’t even though to focus on). I conducted my interview by phone, so I tried to record the conversation on my phone but discovered it beeps continuously throughout the conversation so I had to stop recording and rely purely on my note-taking skills. One of the hardest things to deal with is I’m so focused on my questions and trying to get everything down on my end that I begin to lose track of what they’re saying and end up feeling incredibly overwhelmed. I also stumbled through few questions – tried to ask three questions all at once, which confused my interviewee at one point. I’m hoping this gets easier as time goes on. Regardless, it was an amazing experience.

I have looked under numerals in the stylebook, and I am not able to find a definate answer. I know I am to use the same type of numbers in the same body graf, but what about the whole article? I have dollars in a previous graf but in the next graf I am adding in percentage. The statistics only come in percents because its on interest rates and it varies per account. Hope that all makes sense!

Thank you,
Emma