The secret's out
The unreachable target of 7 Formula One championships is now within sight.
Virginia Beach Called America’s Best Big City To Live In For 2017
- Dominic Castillo
Atlantic Park will be a
Lede
Open with an amazing fact or startling statement that arouses reader interest. Adelphi University students spend an average of seven hours per day surfing the Internet.
“Clones! Or am I seeing double? Hey,are you guys related?” Junior twins Andrew and Doug Overtonsay dealing with “lame” jokes is just one ofthe disadvantages of going through life asa twin. But they admit there are plenty ofadvantages, too.
Using a narrative style, begin by introducing the main characters, the conflict and perhaps the setting of the story.• Make readers feel the drama and want to know what’s going to happen next.• Identification of people can be postponed until a later paragraph to avoid disrupting the flow of the lede.
The man reached out a dirty hand,palm up. “All I’ve got is a few bucks,” MattO’Malley said, reaching into his pocket. The next thing O’Malley knew, he wason the ground with a boot on his chest.The Adelphi University junior was beingmugged.
Begin with a description of a scene surrounding an event.• Typically used for stories in which the setting is prominent, such as Homecoming, commencement, Freshman Orientation, plays, etc.
Cite one point of view or observation and then follow with the opposite view. Facebook rots the brain, according to new research by Adelphi University psychology professor Kendrick Jones. Anita Patel, an honors student at Adelphi University, says that just isn’t true.
Use few words (25 max.)• To the point and factual• Gives reader quick summary of story in as few words as possible.• Usually one sentence.• Summary ledes often focus on the who and what of the story and then follow closely with the when and where. The how and why may be explained or suggested further into the story.
Focus often focus on the who and what of the story and then follow closely with the when and where. The how and why may be explained or suggested further into the story.on the most important of the 5W’s and H.• Summarize the most newsworthy fact within the first 10 words.• Begin with the subject of the most newsworthy fact (usually the who or what)• Cite source of any opinions.• Consider a delayed identification or blind lede.
Blind: For saving the life of the victim of a hit-and-run accident, two Adelphi Universityjuniors were honored for bravery. In a ceremony held last week, DaveDavidson and Tiffany Ng received aplaque naming them heroes. Davidsonand Ng pulled communications professorMary Johnson from a car just before itexploded.
For example The purchase of new computers will strain next year’s budget, Adelphi University President Robert Scott announced at last week’s faculty meeting.(Under 25 words, focuses on who and what)
Virginia Beach is the best big city to live in, according to personal finance website WalletHub’s 2017 survey of cities across the country with populations over 300,000.
Nut:
Finish 6 w’s. More on vote.
Why reader should care, important causes/potential consequences of news, why story is topical.
criteria > losers >
Researchers at the site compared the 62 cities on five main criteria (Affordability, Economy, Education and Health, Quality of Life, and Safety) and 56 related metrics. Each metric was weighted accordingly. The metrics include rankings for important factors like job opportunities, income growth, graduation rate and job opportunities, as well as some less expected metrics like museums, performing arts centers, and coffee and tea shops per capita.
- Virginia Beach
- Austin, Texas
- Seattle, Washington
- San Diego, California
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- San Francisco, California
- New York, New York
- San Jose, California
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Portland, Oregon
Photo Courtesy McKenzie Brunson / CC BY 2.0
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There was a lot on the docket on Tuesday night, when city council met, and the when the night was over a 10-0 vote signaled the end of the saga of the fabled Dome site.
Built on the corner of 19th and Pacific Avenue in 1958, the Dome hosted Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones throughout the years, but was always plagued by its diminutive size and questionable acoustics.
It was demolished in 1994 and for twenty-five years has been a sand-strewn parking lot, belying its former glory.
The site’s location one block from the beach and just down the street from the the convention center has attracted numerous punters over the years promising attractions and shows, but failing to find funding and/or support from city council and locals.
That changed when Pharrell joined forces with Venture Realty Group and just … ago presented elaborate plans to turn the barren parking lot straddling 19th Street not into just another theater, but a staggeringly ambitious mix-use development where its wave park is just the highlight.
City Council has long prioritized year-round usefulness for the site to complement the beach’s strong summer appeal, and Pharrell and Venture answered with plans that include 425 residential units, restaurants and other retail, and Class A commercial office spaces. Structured parking garages will be integrated into the development.
In a nod to the former inhabitant of the site, there will also be a 3,500 seat music and entertainment venue. The acoustics will undoubtedly be better.
Atlantic Park will be a public/private partnership, and the next steps involve detailing financing and setting a date for groundbreaking.
We’ll keep you updated on developments, so stay tuned.
Start by figuring out the problem and its solution. Conflict resolution is a key element of any good story. That’s why you need to start by finding out what the obstacle was and how it was eventually overcome. From there, you can focus on how the people within your story got from point A to B.
Be curious about the WHY. Always ask why, as it helps you better understand motivations, adds important nuances and details to the story, and helps fill in holes. Ask why when the question naturally arises in your mind.
Ask emotion-based questions. When interviewing people, try to tease out the emotions around the situation to add a human element to what you’re writing, as it makes the story more relatable on a personal level. Instead of asking only surface-level questions, delve a bit deeper with questions like, “How did you feel about X? Was it frustrating/exciting/nerve-wracking?”
Make notes on the details. Details are what make your story compelling and interesting. Be observant while interviewing clients, doing research, or digging into case studies. Look for the details that others may be glossing over. As you come across interesting data points, quotes, or conclusions, make detailed notes.
Look for results and hard numbers. Black and white elements eliminate ambiguity make your story more powerful. Look for tangible outcomes like numbers, stats, etc. that validate and concrete the solution or conflict resolution you’re focused on.
If you can do these five things while researching and writing, you can make major improvements to the content you create. A few other journalistic habits to keep in mind:
Be prepared. Have questions ready beforehand if you’re interviewing someone. Be ready to take notes/record the conversation.
Take your time. The best writing happens when an idea has marinated in your mind for a while and you’ve had time to think deeply about the underlying story you’re trying to tell. Don’t rush it.
A good editor works wonders. Having a good editor that you can turn to for objective feedback can improve your writing 100-fold. If you’re too close to the story, a good editor can spot the weak areas and suggest ways it could be better/stronger.
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