QUOTES QUIZ and review
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NUMBER STORIES
Reasons for focusing on numbers:
—Backbone of a good story
—Source of story ideas
— Different data can provide more than one story angle: Ex. comic store
(brick and morter retail numbers/overall sales numbers)
Learning how to drill down into numbers:
Search public records:
OxfordMs.net
MS Critterz report
Animal Control Report
How many of you, in your written pitch, included an actual number? How many of you are certain that number is available? ADD IT NOW!
Some good “numbers story” examples:
Average Life Expectancy in the US – USA Today
Hotel inspections lead to closings – Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Majority of American teens have experienced cyberbullying, study shows
Survey says majority of American teens have experienced cyberbullying
Examples of where stories you wrote could be strengthened by numbers:
Little shop of hobbies
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NUMBER STORY due next Thursday —
500 word minimum, at least two data sources, three direct sources
Make sure that you’re using the best available data source!
Ex: Unemployment story pitch
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Reading assignments for next week: (You get a BYE on WHAT WORKS)
By Tuesday:
Chap 3: Basic News Story: p. 35-49 (54-68)
Chap 5: Curiosity and Story Ideas: p. 71-81 (90 –
By Thursday: Sources. P 87-105
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Favorite headline of the week:
Oxford entrepreneur hopes to change lives with CBD
Favorite lead:
In October 2018 Kent Eddy and Drew Glasgow took a leap. Two men of two generations with two different reasons opened a comic book shop.
Favorite quotes:
….an eyewitness to the rush [of students] could only muster one description: “Running of the bulls.”
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Journalism 271: News Reporting 