Less than a month old E-Media Tidbits from Poynter, Ch. 4, and "Using a timeline to tell a story."

E-Media tidbits: 8/27/07. Poynter Institute Online: "Serendipity and Feed Syndication: Michigan's Echo"

You never know what is going to happen when you take a website and syndicate content with RSS feed. Michigan State University's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism published a digest called Michigan's Echo, by creating one-line summaries of the major environmental news throughout all of Michigan.

It then sends an RSS feed to everyone who subscribes: journalists, bikers, environmentalists, lawyers, and the like.

When a story about the purchase of a Boy Scout Camp by a developer was put on the feed, an unexpected event occurred: people who would normally not hear about the story became enraged, or compelled enough to write on the Michigan's Echo's website supporting or refuting the developer's claim.

As Dave Poulson wrote, "Journalism was happening."

People were enraged, and their actions took on a different course of events. Journalism allows the public to understand what is going on in their world, and gives them a platform to voice issues.

And the cool part was, the writers of the RSS feed never knew that their writing could spark such controversy over a simple story like a developer buying a Boy Scout Camp.

"Using a timeline...:"

Well, this particular post is simple. Use a timeline when telling a multimedia story that has a lot of history, or takes place over long periods of time.

In short, create a timeline that is at once visually pleasing and informative. Avoid clutter or links that don't reveal any pertinent information.

The blogger, teacher Mindy McAdams from an unknown university in Florida, uses a Spanish mulitmedia article on the terrorist attacks in London to demonstrate her point.

The Spanish website tracked the attacks of London, linked them to Al-Queda, and henceforth made a pretty, informative website on Al-Queda's attacks over the years.

Chapter 4: "In Their Own Words"

Use quotes that are succinct. But they can't be just succinct or just meaningful.

Only use direct quotes when you as a journalist couldn't write the statement any better.

Use quotes to make the story move forward.

Show, not tell.

Public officials are normally worth quoting. Their opinion has more weight than that of Jane Doe.

Be accurate when quoting... you don't want to find yourself in the midst of a libel suit. Your paper won't like it, and you won't like it, as you may be out of a job.

The Missouri Group wants you as a journalist to be mindful of vulgarity. I say: if the vulgarity helps to tell the story AND most importantly, is used in context, by all means leave it in.

Make sure you understand the quote before writing it in to a story. There is nothing worse than saying "but that's what he said." But you repeated it, and are also responsible for the quote.

Fix grammar in quotes. Unless you're writing a feature story, and want to add depth to a person's character. Otherwise, correct it. It's okay.

Attribute quotes in the middle of a long quotation. Or for short quotations, attribute at the end. Always use "said," or "says." There are few exceptions to that rule.

And there you have it, simple rules for quoting. To put it simpler: be accurate. be sensible.