Portsmouth School Board Meeting

School Board member Tim Steele motioned to approve a new rule requiring students with behavioral issues to serve Saturday morning detentions.

Leads

      A good lead is a very significant element, if not the most significant element, to writing any news article.  It is the lead that will capture the reader's attention and when written appropriately, push the reader to keep reading.
      As I consider myself more of a creative writer, I find it easier to write a delayed lead.  A lead in which the author writes to peak the readers' interest.  The author wants to relate to his/her readers using a creative writing style.  This type of lead is more evident in "feel good" stories (human interest stories). 
      When writing a summary lead, I am cautious of the information I give away in the first few sentences of the article.  Letting the reader know exactly what has happened, who it happend to, where it happened, when it happened, and maybe even how it happened, is important when writing a summary lead.  Get there readers' attention by highlighting the key information first and foremost.
      Leads can be complicated and can make or break an author.  Knowing when it is appropriate to use a summary lead versus a delayed lead is an essential part of journalism and it is a skill I am proud to have.

Little Red Riding Hood

Katie Halpin

Writing and Reporting the News 621.02

 

A noble huntsman saved the lives of Red Riding Hood and her grandmother after a malicious wolf swallowed them whole.  Early yesterday morning the wolf followed Elisabeth to her sick grandmother’s house deep in the forest.

Elisabeth’s mother had sent her with a bread basket to bring to her ill grandmother.  Elisabeth says she felt confident and capable enough to endure the half hour journey through the woods on her own.  Nearly fifteen minutes down the road the devious wolf of the woods persuaded Little Red to stray from her familiar path.

Meanwhile, the wolf made his way to Elisabeth’s grandmother’s house.  He knocked on the door and opened the latch as Red’s grandmother was too weak to leave her bed.  It was there that he swallowed her whole and proceeded to dress himself in one of her nightgowns.

When Red finally made it to her destination she was nervous to enter the cottage as the door was left ajar.  Nonetheless, she tip toed into her grandmother’s bedroom.  Elisabeth says “I could feel it! I just knew something was not right!”  After a quick exchange of words the wolf had eaten Little Red too.

A huntsman passing by entered the cottage after what he thought to be Red’s grandmother snoring a bit louder than usual.  He saw the wolf’s bulging belly and thought maybe he had a chance of sparing the life of Red’s grandmother.  He was right!  He cut through the notorious wolf’s stomach without harming Little Red Riding Hood, or her grandmother.  He skinned the wolf’s head as a trophy.

What is news?

On the first day of Writing and Reporting the News the class organized into small groups to discuss the question: What does news mean to us?  We concluded that news is a way to gain fairly accurate and current information world wide.  The news covers stories that people want to hear.  There are many ways people get their news.  Personally, I prefer to watch the news rather than read about it online.  I would much rather see live footage on CNN than stare at a computer screen.  I do read the newspaper; especially when I am home from school as my parents get the Eagle Tribune.  I also follow local news through WMUR and The Pelham Windham News.  Katie G, however, gathers her news via websites, such as MSNBC  and twitter.  Emily uses news applications on her smart phone.  One of her favorites is Pulse.  She finds herself using the NY Times and Boston Globe apps as well.  Ken watches the Daily Show.  He finds it easier to pay attention when the program is entertaining.  Sam follows news regarding sports through ESPN's SportsCenter.  Whatever the means, it seems we are all looking to be "in the know" on the current events surrounding us.

About Me

Hello,
     My name is Katie Halpin and I'm a junior at the great University of New Hampshire.  I will graduate with a degree in Sports Studies and a minor in Writing.  I've been officiating intramural sports for the past two years and I absolutely love it.  Upon my graduation I hope to become a patched official with the ability to officiate high school games.  I love basketball, softball, tennis, and skiing.  I have a very large extended family.  My father was one of eight and my mother one of six.  I have just one younger brother and he is adopted from Guatemala.  When I was six years old my family and I traveled to Guatemala City to bring him home as a five month old baby.  He is a very big part of my life and and has changed me for the better.
          All for now,
                     Katie Halpin