It's tough to write about new things opening because, when it comes to news, the only thing really worth reporting is what it is, what they sell and when it will open. So, are stories like this really worth a full story? When we are generating story ideas (on any desk) this is something we need to take into consideration before committing ourselves to writing something.
Why?
Well, what is the impact of this Chuy's story? Is it informative? Sure. It has good quotes from students and even the marketing assistant (code word for business cheerleader). So, Mark Simpson did a good job. But, I think there is more that could have been considered here, and if that information wasn't available, I would have cut this story in half. In fact, I would have made this a brief.
Look at the 7 graph of this story (I'm using the online version). Once this graph begins, every other graph is a quote and almost every graph before the quote is a paraphrase of a conversation. This means you (the reporter) are being a mouthpiece. We have to let the sources give us the information for the story, but we must avoid letting them do all the talking. If we let the source do all the talking, we are nothing more than a glorified megaphone.
That's not what we are about.
Granted, at The Oklahoma Daily, we tell all of you to attribute everything. That's a good starting point. As you are learning to write, I would rather you tell me where you got everything. But, as we move forward, we can start becoming mini-experts on subjects and providing generally accepted facts without attributing them to websites or press releases. Sometimes we can even provide some sense to particular situations once we are comfortable in our role as mini-expert (read seasoned journalists' work, they have a tendency to explain issues while providing information from sources).
Our role as journalists in this post-gatekeeping world is to process and make sense of information we gather. Not necessarily to repeat it. A quote's job is to add emotion (see: human element) to a story. It isn't a vessel to bolster your word count. Using them effectively enhances the story, but too many will bog down a story.
OH. Don't run to city politicians for quotes unless it's absolutely necessary. Sure, interview them and see if they provide you with any information, but don't be prepared to use their quotes. Politicians at ANY level are going to lie to you. Plan and simple. They are rarely programmed for truth.
PRAISE!
The online desk has done a great job tweeting/Facebooking stories, coding infoboxes and being advocates for a stronger website. Great job Juan Sanchez and Katherine Borgerding.
Ana Lastra and her video crew (which I'm pretty sure is still one other guy) have done a great job producing content on an almost daily basis. The content is varied and well edited. I'm routinely impressed. Great job.
Janna Gentry and Zachary Carrel wrote a nice point/counterpoint on Joe Paterno's legacy. Both editorials navigated a complex issue with thoughtful debate. Is there a decision so wrong that it could eradicate everything we have ever worked for? There may be no "real truth" to that question, but this editorial combo positively contributes to the discussion.
The photo desk has done an awesome job at turning photos around last minutes, making an effort to plan ahead when possible and taking some good photos. It was a rocky start, but there has been a marked improvement. If all the desks can improve communication when planning stories, the photos are only going to get better. Special shout out to Astrud Reed for some AWESOME men's basketball photos. Great stuff.
Keep up the great work, everyone.
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