Non-Linear Webpage

I plan to use the given template on the class site for my non-linear page. I'll change the colors and the format a bit to make it my own style and more fitting to my subject.

I don't have too many plans for it as of right now. I'll try to work it through over the weekend and we'll see what happens when I start editing on Dreamweaver.

Slideshow

For my slideshow, I am going to focus on my boyfriend as he prepares for his band's show at Sonar on Saturday night.

It should be easy to acquire pictures and audio for this story since I won't have to worry about setting up appointments. I'll be able to use real sound in the background of the slideshow (music from the concert).

I'll develop my story from beginning to end, along with the show. I'll hopefully get some clips of him talking about the process and different things that are required of him during shows.

Feature Story

My feature story was focused on local bands in Maryland how how they work to achieve a fan base and following. Some bands set out solely to become popular, some say they're just in it for the music, and some want a mixture of both.

Rosiere is a relatively band from Harford/Baltimore who has already shared the stage with nationally signed acts such as Damiera, Portugal. The Man, The Matches and The Reign of Kindo. They share that not only do you have to play good music to become a successful band, you have to know how to market yourselves and to serve your fans.

For the full story, click here.




Rosiere performing at Ottobar with Damiera, who is signed with Equal Vision Records. (Photo by your Sarah Alexander/ June 10, 2009)

Audio Story

I did my 2-minute audio story on local band, War of the Lions. They were in the recording studio last Sunday-Friday, recording for the 4-song EP that's set to come out on June 30th.

It was sort of hard recording them, since there was a lot of goofing off going on with the guys. They're all between the ages of 18 and 21, and it had been a really long day for them. I was there during hours 7-9 of their 9 hour recording session.

I focused my story on the fact that despite they are all so young, they put forth immense dedication and sincerely hard work in order to complete this project. Other kids their age would probably much rather spend their money on clothes, cars, or parties, but WOTL is spending thousands of dollars for their music.

Listen to the story here.



Karl Wingate and Toby Valmas stand beside their music producer and friend, Marc Nieto, during a 9 hour recording session for their new EP due out on June 30th.

Audio Story Idea

I think I want to go to a local band's practice and record some sound samples. I might focus it on the misconceptions other young people might have about local bands and the work they actually do.

I know a lot of bands personally that dedicate so much time, effort, and money into producing the best music and sounds that they can. I'm sure many adults write them off as kids being kids or just a group of boys who need to get this out of their system before growing up.

I can record conversations, music, and monologues from members.

Writing in Broadcast Style- 3 Leads

After months of insisting he would leave the details to Congress, President Obama has concluded that he must exert greater control over the health care debate and is preparing an intense push for legislation that will include speeches, town-hall-style meetings and much deeper engagement with lawmakers, senior White House officials say.

White House officials are saying that President Obama will be playing a bigger role in the national health care debate and is preparing an intense push for legislation that will include speeches and meetings with lawmakers.



One of New York State’s top economic development officials announced her resignation on Saturday, after less than a year in office, in yet another setback for the troubled agency she had been appointed to lead.

A New York economic development official has announced her resignation after less than a year in office, causing another setback for an already troubled agency.




The lawyer for a former Bay Area transit police officer accused of fatally shooting an unarmed man on a train platform says he intends to file for a change of venue for his client’s murder trial.

A former Bay Area transit police officer that is accused of fatally shooting an unarmed man has requested a change of venue for his murder trial.

Possible Feature Story Idea

For my feature story, I'd like to write about some local bands (maybe specific bands, maybe not) and their goals. I know that some bands are looking to hit it big and get signed, while other bands are just in it for the music and fun.

I could include the work they put into marketing their bands and their progress.

I'd actually probably have to use some specific bands since I'm going to need 3 sources.

The WSJ Formula

The article that I found follows the Wall Street Journal formula by starting out with a lead that I believed to be a combination of an anecdotal, narrative and descriptive lead. The lead describes the current life of an elderly woman and then follows the classic WSJ style by including a nut graph to relate that introductory story to the general point of the article.

The article ends by bringing it all together with a quote from another elderly woman.

Online, ‘a Reason to Keep on Going’

Feature v. Summary Leads

Feature leads offer much more creativity to writers than summary leads. While summary leads are very useful and generally simple to write (just include some W's), they often don't leave much room for adjectives and descriptive, inviting words.

Feature leads are written to hook the readers and lure them in. A reader might not know exactly what the rest of the story will contain, but they'll be interested enough to keep reading and find out.



Two examples of feature leads from the New York Times:

Strawberries Meet Their Match

Conan O'Brien Goes West, With a Dash