Edited Video

ABC2 News created a video for Orioles Fanfest. A variety of shots are used with fades or dissolves inbetween the shots. There are fans' comments, and sounds from the crowd and bats. The clips tell the story because the reporter mentions hotdogs and the video shows fans eating them. He also says players signed autographs and the video shows that as well. There are a variety of shots and they are steady and overall appropriate pacing is used. It is 1 minute and 18 seconds long so its time is appropriate for a video clip.

Broadcast Style

Baltimore Sun

"Maryland Senate leaders this morning thwarted debate on whether to abolish capital punishment by endorsing as a "great compromise" a Baltimore County plan to restrict the death penalty rather than repeal it."

Broadcast Style: The death penalty is in question today as Maryland Senate leaders debate whether to restrict or repeal the capital punishment.


New York Times


"The Obama administration provided details on Wednesday for its program to help homeowners at risk of losing their houses obtain taxpayer-subsidized reductions in their mortgage payments, a program that becomes available immediately."

Broadcast Style: If you're at risk of losing your home, help is available thanks to the Obama administration's new program effective immediately.


Washington Post

"President Obama today launched a drive to curb wasteful spending on government contracts, introducing reforms that he said would save American taxpayers up to $40 billion a year and help usher in a new era of fiscal responsibility. "

Broadcast Style: American taxpayers will save up to $40 billion a year with President Obama's move toward less wasteful spending.

Wall Street Journal Formula

Parents, children looking ahead to summer camp
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_county/bal-md.camps23feb23,0,1132848.story

This article follows the Wall Street Journal formula as it begins with an anecdotal lead about Dori Zvili. The nutgraph comes either the third or fifth paragraph down and is the main point of the story. Why the Zvili family matters is answered in the nut graph. The article then builds the story with facts and quotes. At the end the story is circled back to the Zvili family members.

Summary Lead
Summary leads often include the 5 W's and an H. When introducing a feature story they focus on what is coming next. It can include details, but it's goal is to tempt the reader to read more. A summary lead might add description to try to set a scene for the reader. The summary lead is usually the first choice for feature writers.



Feature Lead
An alternative to the summary lead is the feature lead. It comes in a wide range of styles. For instance, the anecdotal lead starts with a specific example. The author needs to find the major point in the story to hightlight the article with an anechdote in the beginning. The narrative lead is similar to this but typically runs longer with dialogue or quotes to set up the scene. Descriptive leads include details that support the main point of the story. Question leads are used to pose a question of widespread interest or one that completely catches readers off guard.

Example of a Descriptive Lead
"Isla Fisher plays Rebecca Bloomwood, the title character in Confessions of a Shopaholic, as a woman whose hand-eye coordination works at top speed only when she's grabbing for a sale item. The funny idea behind her performance is that she's so distracted by hot dreams of buying stylish goods for bargain prices that she can't keep brain and body working together."

Example of an Anecdoctal Lead
"Fox has a new and improved dream girl for the Friday-night fantasies of teenage boys, and she arrives tonight wearing a hey-look-me-over, super-short dress - the perfect model of female allure and submission."

Fools & Horses

A Washington Times article highlights the local band, Fools & Horses, as they gain success. The band members call Maryland home, but they are often asked why they haven't moved to New York City.


"We have family here. It's so close to everything, and we've been fortunate enough to break reasonably well into the D.C. scene, too," lead vocalist Matt Hutchinson said.


The band formed in 2002 and had a big break opening up for Bon Jovi in 2006 at the Verizon Center. They recently recorded their third album.


Fools & Horses's next big step is traveling to Japan to perform for the troops. Before this, they could be seen regularly at the Iota Cafe in Arlington, the Recher Theatre in Towson and the Red House Tavern in Baltimore.


I first saw this band last year at Paws at TU. It's not often that in a set you like every song, but every song they performed sounded like a hit. My roommate and I came back and looked them up online right away. The band can be seen in a send off show on March 6th at the Recher. You won't want to miss it!


Andrew Leahey reported for the Washington Times. He mentioned the lead vocalist and guitarist, but left out the other two members of the band. The exact time of the band's trip to Japan wasn't included in the article, and there was no mention of the send off show. I would have asked the band for their inspirations and reported on how they came together. This is an article for them to hold on to so they can look back when they really make it big.

Undecided Beat

One of my tentative beat ideas is what a college student might want to catch on TV... when he or she isn't studying of course! Just call me Caitlin 'TV Guide' Fultz!

I will give my picks for shows to look out for and provide reviews of what you might have missed! Killing two birds with one stone perhaps? Watching TV becomes part of my homework!

Another tentative beat idea is following local bands and musicians on their way to success. I can chronical bands and give an overview of their shows and music. It would be an interesting story to tell of a band trying to make it!

MCOM 258

My name is Caitlin Fultz. I also go by Cait. I am a Junior at Towson University and I'm majoring in mass communication with a track in journalism and new media and minors in electronic media and film and women studies. I'm from Baltimore County and currently live in an apartment in Loch Raven. I hope to extend my knowledge of editing audio and video. I would like to improve upon my reporting skills and become more confident in my writing.

This summer I am going to Dublin, Ireland to intern through Towson's internship abroad program. I am excited and nervous at the same time. I am currently blogging for the Baltimore Examiner as the Baltimore Budget Fashion Examiner. Check out my blog :) http://tinyurl.com/6om94u