3-2-09 Peer Editing

For independent reading time, go to: http://poynter.org/

We will also discuss two topics:
1. What news about The Rocky Mountain News happened recently?
2. What news about Paul Harvey happened recently?

You will get into groups of three and do peer editing of your Voice of Hope stories. Answer the following questions:

1. LEAD AND BACKUP: Does the story begin with one long sentence that answers most of the 5Ws and H without going into detail? What questions are left unanswered? Are they answered in the second paragraph? Are more details provided (names, more specific places, times)? What questions do you still have after the first two paragraphs or what do you most want to know? How could this section be improved?

2. LEAD QUOTE: Does the author present a good quote by the fourth paragraph? Does it help answer one of the questions you have as a reader or does it address one of the major concerns many readers might have Are full quotes used and are they introduced, punctuated, and attributed correctly? How might this section be improved?

3. ORGANIZATION: Does the story answer questions as they occur to the reader? Are all of the important questions answered in the first 250 words (or five paragraphs)? As a reader, what do you most want to know next (after 250)? Answer first as a student in the school and next as a parent. What material would you suggest be moved higher in the story?

4. BACKGROUND/IMPACT: Is background and/or impact provided somewhere in the story? Where might this be added or improved upon?

5. ATTRIBUTION & ACCURACY: Is all of the information, that is not common knowledge or observed by the reporter, properly attributed? Is it correct and are the names spelled correctly? Where should attribution be added or corrections be made? Are there any instances where the writer's opinion is present?

Once you have finished this process and posted your comment, please peer review another writers group member's hard news story. Do a good job on this. Completing two peer reviews fully is worth 10 points.