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Discussion QuestionsExercises and AssignmentsOnline Media Writing ExamplesInstructor ResourcesWriting With Responsibility
 Writing Across the MediaCh1. Writing with Clarity and CoherenceCh2. Writing with ResponsibilityCh3. Writing for AudiencesCh4. Writing and Gathering InformationCh5. Writing the OpeningCh6. Writing Basic StoriesCh7. Writing with Visual and Audio ImagesCh8. Writing Complex Stories

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Exercises and Assignments

ASSIGNMENT 1

Your agency handles public relations for MedTech Corporation, which manufactures, among other products, silicone breast implants. In two days, MedTech's chief executive officer, Alfred Smith, is scheduled to appear on your city's all-talk radio station to discuss the company's responsibilities for health problems that some of the recipients of the implants contend were caused by the implants. Smith is understandably nervous about talk radio, where all manner of argumentative listeners may call in and berate him. He's come up with a strategy to get him through the program: He wants you, the MedTech account supervisor at the agency, to recruit at least five agency employees to call the station during the program and ask "canned" questions that he'll be prepared to answer. "The employees who call in should not say they're with the agency," Smith's memorandum to you states. "Just have them give their names. They should say, 'I'm Kate Jones from St. Louis and I'd like to ask Mr. Smith ...'"

1. You must respond to Smith's request with a memorandum of about 200 words. Do you agree to the request? If so, in the memo, tell Smith why and list at least five "canned" questions you'll be prepared to have your employees ask on the show. If not, explain to Smith why you won't have your employees call the radio show with "canned" questions and offer him another strategy for handling the show.

2. Write a short essay of about 200 words in which you justify your decision under the three ethical principles outlined in the chapter: telling the truth, doing no harm and promoting social justice.


ASSIGNMENT 2

A nationally prominent author, who lived in your city, is found dead in a motel room a couple of states away. Your newspaper's editor assigns you to the story. As you report it, you learn that the police have found a suicide note. It says, "I'm sorry for the pain I've caused my family. I apologize for any hurt I've inflicted." You also learn that the author, who made his literary reputation writing about children's issues, was being investigated by local police on allegations of child molestation. Your police sources tell you that the molestation complaint was filed by the author's estranged wife, from whom he was being divorced, and your sources tell you that it's not uncommon for a divorcing parent to report child abuse allegations against the other parent when a custody battle becomes ugly. But, your sources say, it's not clear that the author actually abused any child and a clear answer to that question won't be produced because the investigation is being canceled. The police don't investigate dead people.

1. You're working in the press room of the police station while your deadline approaches. Your editor, who's across town at the newspaper's offices, sends you an e-mail message asking for the story's opening so he can see what your focus will be. Write a 30- to 35-word opening for your story.

2. Your editor wants to know what you're going to include in the remainder of your story. Prepare an outline of the six paragraphs of your story that will follow the opening.

3. Write a short e-mail message to your editor, explaining how your decisions about what to include in the story serve competing loyalties and address any or all of these three ethical principles: telling the truth, doing no harm and promoting social justice.

 
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