Interview Questions

Herring

- What was the senior activity planning like?
- How did the school prepare itself to handle the senior activities?
- Were the senior activities left up to the seniors to be planned?
- Was their a Plam B made in case things did not go as planned?
- How organized was and or has senior activity planning been?

Mark

- What have you witnessed going on, concerning senior activities?
- Has there been thoroughness in the planning and preperation for senior activities?
- Was there a set of actions or a specific direction that the senior activities are suppose to follow?

Reyes

- What did you do to prepare for senior activities?
- How long was senior activities planned prior to the start of school?

Interview Questions #2

What does thanksgiving mean to you?
What are you thankful for ?
Do you think thanks are given to those people who most desurve it enough?
How do you show your appriciation and thanks?
What can you do to better show your thanks?
What has a person done to make you thankful for them?
When do you find it fit to show thanks and why?
Who would you say is thankful to have you in there life?
In anyones life who desurves the most thanks and why?
What background players that dont get recognition much do you think desurve the most thanks?

Interview Questions

-How did you expect your senior year to be?
-How would you explain your senior year?
-How many classes do you have that you don't need?
-What can you be doing other then attending classes you don't need?
-Why does administration pack schedules with classes you don't need instead of letting them do other things with time they can spear?
-Do you think students should have to stay in school and why?
-Why do you feel administration gives full days of class?
-What are exclusions that can get seniors out of classes earlier?
-Instead of classes you don't want or need what classes would you prefer to have ? 
-Why were classes given to students that don't even feel like they are ready for that class?

Story Questions 11/16/10

Story Questions #1- Peer pressure to drugs

Questions for Mr. Scott:

1. How have you seen students in this school being pressured to use drugs?
2. What do you believe is the reason students use drugs?
3. Some people say drugs are "pain-relievers." What do you think about this statement?
4. Do you think students are prone to try drugs?
5. Why might teenagers be an easy target for drugs?
6. How accessible do you think drugs are to teenagers?
7. Do you really think those "above the influence" commercials help teenagers truly stay above the influence?
8. If not, then what will help teenagers who constantly revert to drugs?
9. Do you think it is hard for students to admit they are "dependent on drugs?"
10. How can a teenager realize that they are dependent on drugs?

Story Questions #2- Burn outs

Questions for Mr. Scott

1. What are some reasons that students "burnout?"
2. Do you believe that students, under any circumstances, should burnout?
3. Can burnouts affect a student's performance in school? How?
4. What do you recommend to students who can well be on their way to being a burnout?
5. What social pressures affect students' education and lives?
6. How big of a role do school pressures play in students' lives?

Questions for students in the school (or who have graduated already) who experienced situations that made them "burnout" e.g., pregnancy, exhaustion

7. How did you deal with your adverse situation?
8. How did you feel when you underwent this experience?
9. If a graduate of LACJ, then how did you stay on track with school, even though you were under tough circumstances?
10. What was your motivation to keep yourself together, rather than falling apart?

My story quetions

Jesus Diaz


1. Do sport teams require certain equipment for the team?
2. Does the equipment affect the way the player performs?
3. If the team is sponsored does every player have to where that specific name brand?
4. What is the best choice of equipment name brand?
5. Does the name brand of the equipment vary depending on the sport and if so why?
6. Is there a specific sporting good store that coaches prefer?
7. Is good sport equipment at a reasonable price?
8. What is some of the basketball sneaker favorites amongst players and why?

9. What sport item has been known to be less reliable?

10. Why are metal bats preferred than wood bats in minor league?

11. Is it fair that the students have to buy their equipment or should the school help?

Questions For Story #1

Topic: Senior Vs. Adminstration

1. Why is the Administration so strict on the seniors this year? Is it because the seniors pf 2011' are placed on a higher pedestal that the previous graduating classes?
2. Although Seniors are supposed to be held at a high pedestal,shouldnt the seniors be allowed to make a few mistakes?
3.Why are the seniors being punished for every little mistake they make?
4. Is there any particular reason as to why the adminstration is taking away senior activities as a punishment for seniors who dont cooperate with them?
5. Seniors are being punished for the most obsurd things, such as going to get their jacket in the middle of a fire drill when it was 40 degress outside, why is that so? Isn't this unfair?
6. During the senior dinner, a senior, Nikko Davis, was denied entrance to the senior dinner due to the fact that he was not accompanied by his parents. Why did this occur when there were other students & seniors present at the dinner that are not even GRADUATING and there were seniors present at the dinner who were not accompained by their parents?
7. How does the administration expect the seniors to cooperate with them to have a successful year if the amdinstration themsleves are being unfair?
8.

Interview Questions

LaGuadia Vs MLK

LaGuadia kids
1.) How is, or how do you feel about the security in your school?
2.) Do you have Medal detectors? 
3.) Are you allowed to bring cell phones, and open bottles in your school?
5.) What are the procedures for the students in the morning time?
6.) Do you get scanned or patted down?

MLK students
7.) How do you feel about security in your school? 8.) How do you feel knowing that your schools security is so much stricter than that of Laguadia's?

Laguadia teacher or people in charge
9.) Who is in charge with the security in your school?
10.) Do all school in the area get the same set of rules for security?

Both school people!
11.) Why do you think security is so different between the two schools?


Computers in the computer lab not working!
1.) Who is in charge of the computers in the computer lab?
2.) Who is in charge of getting them fixed?
3.) Why don't they ever work?

Mr. Corillo
4.) Do you know anything about computers?
5.) Do you know what to do if a computer was to break down or catch a virus?
6.) Do you know anything about printers?
7.) How many computers work currently?

Students
8.) How often do you use the computers in the lab?
9.) What do you use them for?
10.) How often do the computer work?
11.) How often do the printer work?

Interview Questions

New Virtual Hall sweeps

1. Why are these hall sweeps being implemented now?

2. When hall sweeps were done before before did they work?

3. Who is going to be in charge of these hall sweeps?

4. When are these hall sweeps going to occur?

5. How will they set up for someone to actually do the hall sweeps?

6. Who came up with the idea?

7. What will be the punishment if students get caught doing something during these hall sweeps?

8. How many chances do students have before they are approached by the administration?

9. How will this help students stay on track?

10. What is the purpose of these hall sweeps?

Teacher depending on coffee

1. How old were you when you started drinking coffee (caffeine)

2. What happens when you don't have coffee in the morning?

3. Why are you so dependent on coffee?

4. What is you favorite type of coffee?

5. Do you consider it a bad habit? Why or why not?

6. How do you feel when you have had your coffee?

7. How do you feel in a class with a teacher who hasn't had their coffee?

8. How do you act when you know your teacher hasn't had their daily coffee?

9. How do you let your students know you haven't had your daily coffee?

10. Why coffee? Why not another type of drink (equivalent to coffee)?

Article Questions: 1 & 2

Article 1
Follow up questions from 1st draft of ESL students in LACJ

Ms. Moody

1. For how many years have you been working as an ESL teacher?
2. What is the most difficult part of your job?
3. Do ESL students behave differently than other students?

ESL students

1. What do you like the most about living in NYC?
2. How different is LACJ from your schools in your country?
3. How are the people different here and over there?
4. Have you visited your country after you came?
5. What subjects do you mostly have difficulties with?
6. Did you have an option when coming here? Do you rgret it?
7. Did NYC turn out to be how you expected it to be?

Article 2
Students can't use the microwaves in school

Students

1. Why do you bring food from outside?
2. Do you pay for school lunch? Is this why you bring food from outside?
3. What kind of food do you bring, frozen food, sandwiches, home cooked food?

Mr. Bonilla:

1. About how many students daily ask to use your microwave?
2. Do you have a problem with them using it?
3. How do you feel about students not being able to use microwaves in the 4th floor?

Ms. Nightengale

1. Why are you planning on stopping the students use of school microwaves?
2. Is it disrupting class time, allthough they use them during lunch?
3. What is another option for students who don't like school lunch and bring in food, if they can't use the microwaves?
4. Have there been complaints from administration or students about this?

Questions for Story # 1 & # 2

Topic: Santa Claus



1. when do you think kids should find out santa is not real? why?

2. Do you still believe in the idea of Santa Clause? why?

3. what is christmas like in your house?

4. when you were uounger how influential was Santa Clause in your christmas?

5. how did you find out santa clause was a lie?

6. why do you think parents continue the santa clause lie with their children?

7. How do you think christmas would be different if santa claus was not ever mentioned?

8. what was your best gift from santa claus?

9. Did finding about santa claus affect your belief in the toothfairy, easter bunny etc?

10. what steps do you think LACJ could take to bring the christmas spirit into the schools?



Topic: What Grade Has the most schools spirit?



1. what do you think school spirit is?

2. what grade do you think shows that? why?

3. why do you think the grades are so separated?

4. what can LACJ do to bring the grades together?

5. what is the best thing your grade has ever done together? why?

6. what teacher do you think has the most school spirit? why?

7. what do you think decreases the amount of school spirit? why?

8. what student from your grade do you think has the most school spirit? why?

9. How does school spirit affect the school as a whole?

10. if LACJ had more school spirit would you participate and enjoy school more? why?

Questions for Story #1

1. Should students be stress about bedbugs, like they were with H1N1?
2. Why are students taking all this issues and making it into a bigger issue?
3. Should students take into consideration this community issues?
4. Can students get affect it by this issues personally, mentally and academically, if they take it into the extremes?
5. Are bedbugs worth worrying about?
6. Are students overracting more than they should, about bedbugs and H1N1?
7. How H1N1 and bedbugs are similar in the way people react towards them?
8. How can we teach students to relax about community issues?
9. ?????????
10. ????????

IDEA #1

TOPIC: RAISING MONEY FOR EUROPE?

STORY IDEA: HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSE TO RAISE MONEY BEFORE 6 OCLOCK, IF MOST OF THE PEOPLE WITH MONEY COMES IN AFTER 6?

SOURCE: MS FRYER

VISUAL: PHOTOS ND GRAHIC SHOWING HOW THEY RAISE THEIR MONEY

SIDEBAR: HOW DOES EFFECT THEIR TRIP TO EUROPE?

IDEA #2

TOPIC: ESL KIDS VS. KIDS WHO ARE BORN IN THE US?

STORY IDEA: THE GRADES THE ESL KIDS ARE GETTING ARE REMARKABLE, BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING SO MUCH BETTER THAN AMERICAN KIDS.

SOURCES: TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND PRINCIPLE

VISUAL: GRAPH TO SHOW HOW THEY ARE DOING?

SIDEBAR: WHAT CAN THE STUDENTS DO TO HELP BOOST THEIR GRADE?

IDEA #3

TOPIC: CHRISTMAS TALENT SHOW

STORY IDEA: MLK LACJ NEEDS TO HAVE A TALENT SHOW JUST HAVE A LAUGH ONCE IN A WHILE AND NOT JUST BE ABOUT ALL WORK ND STUFF

SOURCES: PRINCIPAL, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, AND HEAD OF THE BUILDING MANAGER

VISUAL: PHOTOS TO SHOW THAT WE COULD HAVE A GOOD TIME

Story Ideas

#1 
Topic- the process of recycling bottles and cans!
Story idea- this story can be about the people you meet and the process and skill of recycling bottles and cans. This relates to the school because we collect bottles and we have to recycle them now!
Sources- the people who work at western beef, the people who recycle there, the students who are going to recycle the cans and bottles.
Visual- the bottles we collect or the students recycling.
Sidebar- a chart of how much money is being raised by collecting bottles and cans.

#2
Topic- seniors wanting more privileges.
Story idea- this story can be about how seniors feel they deserve more privileges as seniors. It can be about what privileges they feel they deserve and why, and how they are going to go about getting these things to happen. 
Sources- seniors, teachers, admin
Visual- seniors in the lunch room, or seniors at the senior meetings.
Sidebar- some planed senior activities, or a senior Q&A

#3
Topic- Greece trip
Idea- this story can be about the planned greece trip! It can talk about how much needs to be raised, how long the trip is and the planned activities of the trip. Who's going and why?
Sources- ms fryer, kids planning on going
Visual- kids and ms fryer at their Greece trip meetings
Sidebar- Q&A with the people who went on the last trip with ms fryer!

story ideas

Story idea#1
Topic: Bullying
Story idea: How do the people in our school feel about it? How far can it go? This would get students to open up about a topic that may not be common in our school and a chance to express their concerns.
Sources: Sudents, guidance counselor, nurse, health teacher
Sidebar: ask if they know what bullying is their own definition
Visuals:

Story idea#2
Topic: Gym class
Story idea: Why do many students choose not to participate during gym and dont change to play. Show what can happen if you dont play in gym like failing and even though it doesnt it affect our average you can still lose the credit.
Sources: Students and gym teachers
Sidebar: How many times a week do you choose to play in gym.
Visual: students playing gym and students sitting on the side

Story idea#3
Topic: Regents
Story idea: Since the paper comes out right before the january regents it should be interesting to read how students deal with the anxiety and pressure especially if they are taking them for the first time or taking the same one over. Review any study habits or tips.
Sources: Students, regents prep teachers
Sidebar: What do you do the night before a regents exam
Visual: Students at regents prep, students simulating a regents exam

Idea # !



Seniors having to spend almost a fortune from one day to another on senior activities and prom.

New ways of fund raise need to be found instead of having to do all these forms of fund raising the senior year.

Visual: Seniors collecting plastic bottles in order to fet money.

Sources: My own eyes.

Sidebar: New options for the becoming seniors.

Idea #2
The new Cross Country team's accomplishments. Mr. Goldsmith and his new team made it happen at the PSAL league.

Visual: Mr. Goldsmith and his team running in the school.

Source: Mr. Goldsmith.

Sidebar: Success in the new sports.

Idea #3

Fat boy's in the school not being accepted in teams due to their weight. Students with a big heart and a great enthusiam are put on hold till they loose weight.

Visual: Coach saying no to a fat student.

Source: (Student decided to be anonymous).

Sidebar: Students that want but can't.

Idea#1

Topic: How Does High School Change You?

Story Idea: No one is the same person as they were when they first entered high school. High school changes us all each in a different way. Through all the hardships, struggles, and broken friendships we learn valuable lessons. This article would serve the purpose of how the struggles of high school change us.

Sources: Students of MLK

Visual: Pictures of students in the hallway

Sidebar Possibility:

Idea#2

Topic: DRAMA!

Stroy Idea: Why is there is much drama going on in school? Whether it's drama about a fight that happened, who's going out with who, or even hear say, drama always occurs. Why do students get so caught up with all the drama?

Sources: Students of MLK

Visual: Students in the lunchroom talking

Sidebar Possibility:


Idea#3

Topic: Music

Story Idea: What kind of music do students listen to nowadays? How does music influence students? What role does music play?

Sources: Students of MLK

Visual: Picture of a student listening to their ipod

Sidebar Possibility:

Story Ideas 11/7

Jesus Diaz




Topic: Championships or Diploma?

Story ideas: This story will be about the good grade policy and should a star player be suspended from games or kicked of the team for mediocre grades Even he is doing what he needs to do on the team.

Sources: Jake, Joe Guidice, MLK players

Visual: A Players looking stressed with a report card on the bench.

Sidebar: A survey to see how much of our school is in favor of the policy.

Topic#2: The effects of Professional Players on the youth players.

Story idea: this story is about how the corruption and the illegal activities of the sports organizations and sports players affect the youth plying in PSAL.

Sources: Players of MLK and MLK coaches

Visual: N/A

Sidebar: A questionnaire asking coaches what illegal activity has had the most affect on the youth league.

Topic#3: A young Entrepreneur

Story Idea: This story is about a young man named Devin who has created his own clothing line including pants shirts and pins he also custom makes pieces. It will discuss what his inspiration is.

Sources: Devin Himself

Visual: A picture Of Devin
Sidebar: His face book Link and some example of his Clothes.

(PS I know this isn’t sports but I would really enjoy to cover this story and would make as a good feature.)

News Article Ideas 11/07

Idea #1
Topic: Staying in shape for the holidays
Story Idea: With thanksgiving, christmas and New Years on it's how will LACJ students and staff stay in shape? Does the holidays only mean lots of food and gifts?
Sources: LACJ students and administration
Visual:
Sidebar Possibility: graph of how much weight does the average American gain during the holidays.

Idea #2
Topic: Staff Spotlight on Ms. Fryer and Ms. Dindial
Story idea: What do they enjoy most about their job? Do they have any other side jobs? What is their biggest struggles as teachers? If the could pick any other careeer would they?
Sources: Ms. Dindial, Ms. Fryer, their students
Visual: Pictures of each teacher teaching during class or after school.

Idea #3
Topic: What are the qualities of a good teacher ?
Story Idea: According to LACJ students what are the qualities of a teacher that mostly attracts them? Who are their favorite teachers?
Sources: Principal Nightengale, sophomores, freshmen and juniors

Story Ideas 11.07.10

Idea # 1

Topic: Not having windows in school

Story Idea: How does not having windows in school affect teachers and students

Sources: Ms.Fryer, Ms.Richards, students from all grades

Visual: classroom with windows and our classrooms

Sidebar: How does having windows in classroom help students develop

Sidebar Visual: classroom with windows

Idea # 2

Topic: Teen Employment

Story Idea: Teens having jobs and why they deem it necessary to work

Sources: students with jobs (Sade Roberts, Jennifer Konan, Angel Herrera), Mr. Scott

Visuals: student at their job

Sidebar: How do students juggle working and being in school?

Sidebar Visual: no visual

Idea # 3

Topic: Cell phones v. Cancer

Story Idea: Cell phones emit radiation that can have cancerous affects on the human body.

Sources: students from all grades, School Nurse, Mr.Schnee,

Visual: students talking on the phone

Sidebar: what do students do on their cell phones?

Sidebar Visual: students using their phone to message or something interesting

Story Ideas 11/6/10

Idea #1

Topic: Depression

Story Idea: Experiences with depression. Why do students feel depressed? What do students do when they feel depressed and how this depression can lead to serious consequences (e.g. eating disorders)? Advice on depression.

Sources: Mr. Scott

Visual: Editorial cartoon on the "normal' student and the "depressed" student

Sidebar possibility: Statistics on the number of disorders caused by depression.

Idea #2

Topic: Smoking cigarettes

Story Idea: Smoking-negative. Why do students do it? Smoking cigarettes really damages a person's health. Do students feel pressured to smoke at times because because of peer influences. Why people should quit smoking, even if it's hard to quit.

Sources: School Nurse

Visual: Cartoon of the bad effects of smoking

Sidebar Possiblity: Statistics of lung cancer caused by smoking and other serious side effects of smoking.

Idea # 3

Topic: Illegal drugs

Story Idea: Why do people consume drugs? Although some drugs are less harmful than others, drugs, in my opinion, are useless. Some people "self-prescription" these drugs to escape their troubles, but are they really escaping anything? Or are they just postponing their duty to handle the situation?

Sources: Mr. Scott, and the school nurse.

Visual: ???

Sidebar possibility: Anonymous poll of students who have either consumed drugs, wanted to experiment, have not tried drugs, or have been pressured to consume drugs but has not. (not sure if this would work or would be valid but it's an idea)

story ideas

Story idea #1(features): how do students at our school spend their Christmas break/holidays

Brief summary: focused on what students do on their Christmas break including family time, homework assignments, and places they may go to. Important because the next paper will be out around these times and it should be interesting to hear how our school spends the holidays.

Possible sources: The whole student body from ninth grade to twelfth grade

Side bar: What kind of presents do you ask for Christmas?Your Christmas gift list?

Visuals: Students making their gift list or doing a Christmas break assignments

Story Idea #2(opinion):Whats your favorite class subject?

Brief Summary: The purpose of the story is for students to speak out about their favorite classes and for the writer as well

Possible Sources: students from all grades

side bar:

Visual: students sitting in their favorite class

Story Idea #3 9(features): How much of a problem is it going to a school in manhattan if you live in another borough

Brief summary: talk about the problems students face because they go to school in another borough. important because a large amount of the student body live in another borough and its consequences like lateness to school and getting home at late hours

Possible sources: students and first period teachers

side bar: what borough do you live in how long does it take you to get to school

visual: a comic cartoon of a student traveling to school from far

Story Ideas

Idea # 1

Topic: Summer Closing

Story idea: What students wants to wear in the summer? what other restrictions? Many students complaint about the rules that administration made for summer clothes.

Sources: Myself, Administration and Students.

Visual: picture of student in summer clothing (appropriate).

Sidebar possibility: What students would like to wear.

Idea # 2

Topic: School Lunch

Story idea: What is the school lunch made of? Who prepared the school lunch? A large percentage of students complaint about the formation of the school lunch.

Sources: Myself, Student, and Lunch lady

Visual: photo of the school lunch.

Sidebar possibility:What the school lunch should be and what is prefer.

Idea # 3

Topic: Religion in school

Story idea: Why can't teachers have religious characteristic in school? Is it better to have religion in school?

Sources: Myself

Visual: religious practices

Sidebar possibility: What are the major religion in our school.

Feature Story Ideas

1. Why Students Can't Get To School On Time?
This story is important to our school because 1st period is essential
to grades and the learning process and the only way I think is to find out
why they don't come is why is it so hard and what's stopping them.

Sources
- Mr. Bonilla
- Ms Leston & ms. Bradford
-Teachers w First Period Classes
- Students (All Grades)

Visuals
- A Picture Of An Empty Firat Period Class
- A Picture Of The Scanning Line At 8: 30 To Show How Many
LACJ Students Are Walking In

Sidebar
-Students Excuses To Why They Can't Make It To 1st Period On Time

2. Why Teachers Who Have More Participation & Group Discussions Get Better
Results From Students?
I Think This Is Important Because Some Teachers Are Boring & Need To Understand
The Significance Of Being More Lively In Classrooms

Sources
-Mr. Schnee
-Mr. Strong
-Students
-Mr. Freilich

Visuals
- A Picture Of A Lively Class (Doing A PJ, Hands Raised ETC)

Sidebar:
A Poll About Whether Students Enjoy Essays, Powerpoints Or Graphics

3. Why Teachers Are Always "Right" When They Argue With Students When Sometimes
They Are Not?
I Think This is Significant Because Teachers Soemtimes Take Advantage of Their Powers & use Them Wrong Against The Students

Sources:
-Administration -Ms. Conwell, Ms. Nightengale, Mr. Straut
-Students
-Mr. Strong
-Ms. Bradford & Ms. Leston

Visuals:
Teacher & Student Meeting

Sidebar:
10 Craziest Thing A Student Has Ever Gotten In Trouble For.

Story Ideas #2

Idea #1
Topic: Life as a foreign exchange student
Story Idea: What is the transition like for a person who is not from the United States, moving to New York City? What was life like in their native country? Is it hard trying to fit in?
Sources: Students who moved to New York City from another country, ESL teacher Mr.O'Donnell
Visual: Photo of an ESL student
Sidebar Possibility:

Idea # 2
Topic: What has more influence on kids media or parents?
Story Idea: Kids start watching t.v from a very young age, and always tend to imitate what they see. Society is highly influenced by the media, and often parents may feel that they can't contorl their children because they want to do what other people are doing on t.v.
Sources: Guidance counselors, students, teachers with kids.
Visual: Students watching t.v.
Sidebar Possibility: Graph showing how much time kids spend watching t.v.

Idea #3
Topic: Do teachers grade fairly?
Story Ideas: Students often say that teachers assign homework and seem to not really look at it, while other teachers often misplace homeworks, leaving the student with a missing assignment. Are teachers organized? Do they give us they don't even grade at the end?
Sources: Teachers, students opinions; Mr. Strong, Mr. O'Brien
Visual: Photo of teacher with a messy desk :)

My story Ideas Jesus Diaz

Jesus Diaz



Story Idea # 1

Topic: Players favorite Players

Story Idea: Interview sports players from our school teams and see who their role models from professional sports are. Why they like them and how do they see themselves in the role model.

Sources: Sports Players from MLK

Sidebar: A survey to see which professional sports player has gotten the most recognition.

Visual: A picture of the MLK sports Player followed by the role model.
Story Idea # 2
Topic: Sport players after plans after graduating

Story Idea: See if students that play for MLK are planning to take the sport career after the High School scene or just played the sport for a hobby and plan to do something else with their careers.

Sources: Sport Players of MLK and Jake

Visual: N/A

Sidebar: A statistic showing how many of MLK alumni followed up with their sports careers after high school.

Story Idea # 3

Topic: An Athletes ipod

Story Idea: This story will be about asking the sports players of MLK what’s in their ipod what music gets them in their zone. Music that sets the tone before and after the Game.
Sources: The sports players of MLK

Visual: A picture of the sports players’ favorite artist.

Sidebar: a list of favorite lyrics from the artist.

Joel Almanzar

Idea #1

Topic: Trains and the effect they have on students.
The way the new Trains Schedule board affects students in their attendance.
The board is not accurate and it's always giving false time of when the train is really arriving, People believe these new technological equipment and it has become a major issue for students as well.

Sources: MTA Employee.

Visual: People upset by looking at the board.

Side bar: MTA affecting peoples schedules.


Idea # 2
Topic: Teams which are not even looked at.

MLK being one of the very few High Schools without several sport teams such as football, tennis, lacrosse and swimming when they have students in the school who demand for it and are also affiliated in some way with the sports.

Sources: Students from the High School for Law at MLK Jr. CAmpus.

Visual: Soccer team being the only applauded.

Side bar: Teams being affected by budget cuts.


Idea # 3
Topic: Cellphones in School.

Cell phones privileges being turned down for the seniors of 2010 when last years seniors were allowed to bring their phones to school everyday and get them back at the end of the day.

Sources: Students complains at 450 office after school.

Visual: Picture of Ms. Muscolino saying no to a student while he asks for his phone.

Side bar: Unfairness is committed with 2010 seniors.

Idea #1

Topic: What should be impoved about the school?

Story Idea: Many students here at MLK seems to be vey unhappy and discontent with the way the school is being run. The school doesnt seem so fun. There's no enthuasium. This aticle would be about some things the students would like to see be improved in the school, such as more clubs or afterschool programs that would keep the studnets interested.

Sources: Students at MLK, Ms.Nightengale

Visual: Pictures of unhappy students in the hallway

Sidebar: Examples of possible ways to improve the school


Idea #2

Topic: Favoritism in the Classroom

Story Idea: Many students complain that certain teachers demonstrate favoritism towards certain students when grading. There are some students who complete all their work and some students who do some of the work but the bad part is that the student who does some of the work is the student who recieves the good grade. This seems unfair. How is this situation suppose to be handeled?

Sources: Students of MLK, Ms. Nightengale

Visual: Teachers grading in their gradebook

Sidebar:



Idea #3

Topic: The issue of public display of affection in the hallways

Story Idea: There are many couples here at MLK. We seem them everyday hugged up in the hallways. This is their way of showing how much they really like each other. however, the school seems to have a problem with this. Why is public display of affection inappropiate in school? The couples arent doing anything bad.

Sources: Couples in MLK, The Dean, Ms.Nightengale, Teachers

Visual: Picture of a couple holding hands walking down the hallway

Sidebar:

Story Ideas

Idea #1

Topic- Greece and Senior bake sales

Story Idea- This story would be about the competition between the Greece and senior bake sales. How much money each have to make, and by when? how they plan to raise money besides the bake sales if any other ways.

Sources- Ms. Fryer, Mr. Herring, Seniors, Greece Participants

Visual- Bake sale pic

Side bar- Best fundraising ideas.

Idea #2

Topic- Staff spotlight

Story idea- Spotlight on Ms. Pak. talk about what she does besides teach. what are some fun things about her that we don't know.

Sources- Ms. Pak, Students she teach, Her teacher friends

Visual- Ms. Pak

Sidebar- Fun facts about teachers.

Idea # 3

Topic- School Lunch

Story idea- How nobody really likes school lunch, and how people bring there own food. But now the administration is complaining about the use of the microwave.

Sources- Students who bring their own lunch, admin who complain, teachers who know about this

Sidebar- what would you like to see on the lunch menu.

Story Ideas 10/30/10

Idea #1



Topic: the America Dream.

Story Idea:Is everything truly equal? Is the American Dream attainable to everyone? Is everything in America exactly how it's promise? Why is it harder for some people to obtain the American Dream? What can people do to go a step closer to equality?

Sources:

Visual: N/A

Sidebar Possibility: Statistics that show poverty rates in the U.S. Statistics of other groups of people who have a disadvantage when "applying" for the American Dream.

Idea #2

Topic: Double Standards

Story Idea: Opinion on double standards, and why its okay for a guy to do something but not okay for a girl to do the same thing. Opinion on how people can react to this double standard.

Sources: Ms. Nightengale-Has she ever seen instances where the double standard takes affect in the workplace?

Visual: Editorial cartoon on double standard. the man vs. the woman.

Sidebar possibility: Examples of double standards

Idea #3

Topic: Muslim community in the U.S.

Story Idea: bleak stereotypes of Muslims. How "A-rabs" are perceived by people. Opinion on why it is not right to stereotype of group of people, and how discrimination can lead to bigger problems. Opinion on current controversy with Muslims in America.

Sources: Ms. Fryer

Visual:

Sidebar possibility: Facts about acts of discrimination towards Muslims.

Story Ideas 10.31.10

Idea # 1

Topic: Change in AP Exams Policy

Story Idea: Collegeboard has announced they are eliminating the policy of the deduction of one-quarter of a point for wrong answers.

Sources: Ms.Fryer, juniors and seniors taking AP classes

Visual: No Visual

Sidebar: History of AP Exams and how they benefit students

Sidebar Visual: Fact box about AP Exams

Idea # 2

Topic: Loud music vs. Hearing loss in teens

Story Idea: How playing loud music with devices such as iPods and how that can cause future hearing loss in teens

Sources: Students who listen to loud music, School Nurse

Visuals: Student posing with headphones and pain in their ears

Sidebar: Why do so many teens listen to loud music?

Sidebar Visual: No Visual

Idea # 3

Topic: Spotlight on Students with Diabetes

Story Idea: How students deal with their day to day lives being diabetic

Sources: Tavar McKenzie, School Nurse

Visual: Picture of student using their diabetes devices

Sidebar: What is diabetes and how common it’s among teens

Sidebar Visual: Fact box on diabetes type 1 vs. type 2

News/Opinion idea - Grading teachers

There is lots of controversy right now about the Department of Education's plan to release grades for each of its teachers (4th-8th grades only) and rank them based on their effectiveness. This could be a news story - what do teachers think about this? What about students and administrators? Should teachers be graded?

This could easily be an opinion article too - what do you think, should teachers be given a letter grade, much like how you are in class? Why?

Here is some articles about this:
Barbara Martinez's article in the WSJ
More about this from Bloomburg News

Yet another article idea...

News/Features: Ms. Birchard and Ms. K created a community service club. Word is they have quite a few members from all grades and have already been participating in several events, including a breast cancer walk. See them for more info.

Sports story idea

Very interesting what's happening at this Queens high school....
Could be a good Sports story... what do coaches, student atheletes and even Ms. Nightengale think of this?

Story idea....

Here's a cool idea for someone to do a story one (maybe features or even news?): Names
You could interview people about their names and what they mean and how they were named. Perhaps a chart of common and unusual names?

Story Idea

#1

Topic: SAT Prep

Story Ideas: How are the SAT prep preparing the students that's taking it? Is it going to help? Are most students going to take advantage of this opportunity?

Sources: Ms. Fryer, Ms Nightengale, and Students that are taking the SAT

Visual: Photos, taking pictures of the amount of students who actually care about their education.

Sidebar: What do students feel about SAT prep?

#2

Topic: PTA

Story Ideas: how are the PTA staff helping our school? Do their ideas benefit our students and school?

Sources: PTA Staff, whoever is in charge of PTA

Visual: Graphic showing the ideas of what they have put together.

Sidebar: PTA Q&A

#3

Topic: School System on school fights

Story ideas: What are the policies with teachers getting into school fights? What if the fights involve a weapon should get involved now?

Sources: Security Guards, Building manager, Ms Nightenale

Visual: Graphic draw a chart on the effects of teachers getting involved in a fight to the effects of teachers not getting involved in a fight.

Sidebar: N/A

Story Ideas

Idea #1
Topic: Does every public school in NYC offer the same oppurtunities?
Story Idea: Students everywhere are often told that they have to take advantage of their education, but minority students don't always have the same oppurtunities as other students. Compared to students Laguardia how many extra curricular activities are students in LACJ offered?
Sources: Principals, Ms. Conwell, Ms. Nightengale, Laguardia Principal or Dean.
Visual: Graphics of the difference in grades of students in LACJ and students in Laguardia.
Sidebar possibility: Chart of different ethnicities in Laguarida and LACJ.

Idea #2
Topic: Does a parents involvement in a students life effect their grades?
Story Idea: Students who have parents involved in school activities seem to succeed more academically. Do students like their parents being involved with their school? How does a parent keeping track of their childs progress in school help the child?
Sources: Students in LACJ, parents of the students, school counselor Ms. Bradford.
Visual: Parents at parent teacher conference or at the parent comitee meetings.
Sidebar Possibility: Students Q & A of whether they like parents being involved in their school life.

Idea #3
Topic: Budget cuts affecting students
Story Ideas: Schools lost a lot of money in New York City this year, how are students in public schools being affected by this? How do the schools receive money? What are principaals doing to make sure their students are not affcected by the budget cuts?
Sources: School pricipals Ms. Nightengale, Ms. Conwell, School Chancellor
Visual: Graphic of decline in money this year for public schools.
Sidebar Posibility: Chart comparing the money public schools received last year and this year.

Idea #1
Topic: Fighting in School

Story Idea: Opinion on why fights tend to happen. Can fights be prevented? What are the precautions taken before a problem can escalate into a fight? How do teachers play a role in fighting? Depending on the seriousness of a fight how long does a student get suspended for? What happens if a student is forced to defend themsleves, should they still be punished for fighting?

Sources: Guidance Counselors, Mr.Scott, Students who have been in fights,Ms.Nightengale

Visual: Photo of students arguing and fighting in the hallway
Sidebar Possibiltiy: Statistics on the percent of fights that occur during a regular school year



Idea #2
Topic: The issue of respect in the classroom between teachers and students

Story Idea: Why is it that teachers feel that students are obligated to respect them? Teachers nust give respect in order to get respect. It's a two way street. If teachers dont display respect towards their students then their students will not respect them. If there is no respect in the classrom then there will be confusion and chaos.

Sources: Students, Teachers, Ms. Conwell,

Visual: Photo of a student and teacher in the classroom speaking

Sidebar Possibility:



Idea #3
Topic: Sleep Deprevation with Students

Story Idea: How many hours of sleep does a student get? What is the effect of staying up late to do homework? How does it effect concentration at school the next day?

Soucres: Students who dont get enough sleep, Teachers who give a ot of homework,

Visual: Photo of a student sleeping in class

Sidebar Possibility: Statistics on amount of sleep an average student gets each night

Story Ideas 10/23/10

Idea #1

Topic: DREAM Act

Story Idea: About the DREAM Act. Opinion on why the DREAM Act was rejected. Why was it rejected? Benefits and requirements of the Act. How the DREAM Act affects some students. What students should do in response to the rejection of the DREAM Act.

Sources: Mr. O' Brien and students who the DREAM Act directly affects.

Visual: statistics on number of undocumented students in the U.S., number of undocumented students and families living under poverty line (as opposed to the number of U.S. born children from other countries), how much money is earned when someone does or does not have a college diploma.

Sidebar: How can the DREAM Act benefit U.S. economy, universities, or military recruiting

Idea #2

Topic: Stereotypes

Story Idea: How do stereotypes form (social psychology)? What are the effects? Opinion on how people can deal with stereotypes. Why do people engage in stereotypes?

Sources: Students in the school that come from diverse backgrounds and religions.

Visual: Photo of diverse students in our school.

Sidebar: Statistics on the diverse backgrounds and religions of NYC and the U.S. in general

Idea #3

Topic: What it is to be "cute"

Story Idea: What do some students classify as "cute" or "pretty" or "handsome?" What do students classify as "ugly?" How can people's perceptions of what is beautiful and what is ugly have a negative effect on the people who aren't "cute?" How can people avoid these negative effects? Why do people say beauty is on the inside but spend hours trying to look their best for someone/no one? Why is it so good to be pretty?

Sources: Students in the school who look like they take time in their appearence (e.g., girls who spend time doing their hair and makeup) vs. students who don't look like they don't add much to their natural appearance.

Visual: editorial cartoon on "pretty" students vs. "ugly" students

Sidebar: How people's perception of beauty changes over time and what that says about "true beauty."

Story Ideas 10.24.10

Idea # 1

Topic: Senior Stress

Story Idea: How are students handling stress of school? What is actually causing students stress? How do they deal with the stress? How do they think the stress will be for the rest of the year?

Sources: Ms. Pestronk, Mr. G, Mr. Strong, Mr.Schnee. Seniors who are really stressed: Jennifer Konan, Sade Roberts, Ivan Zhivkov…

Visual: Group of students stressed while doing some sort of school work.

Sidebar: Student profile and how they are handling their stress.

Sidebar Visual: Picture of that student, picture of the students stressed.

Idea # 2

Topic: Students getting the right amount of sleep

Story Idea: How many hours of sleep do students normally get? Why aren’t they getting enough sleep? How do they feel when they don’t get enough?

Sources: Ms.Fryer, Ms.Schur, Ms.Dindial. Students: at least two from each grade level.

Visuals: Graphic of how too little sleep affects students.

Sidebar: What happens to students who get too much sleep?

Sidebar Visual: Graphic of how too much sleep affects students.

Idea # 3

Topic: Spotlight on Quidditch

Story Idea: How did this idea come about? Where do they play? How do they play? What are the divisions, championships, teams in NYC?

Sources: Mr. Strong, librarian in training

Visual: picture of a game

Sidebar: History of Quidditch and relation to Harry Potter

Sidebar Visual: picture of Harry Potter playing Quidditch

Need help with story ideas?

View My High School Journalism's National Edition to see what schools across the country are writing about in their newspapers. To see past editions, view the Online Archives at the bottom of the page.

Council Sets Abortion Fight

By Michael Howard Saul
October 15, 2010
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703794104575546620908818644.html?mod=WSJ_NY_News_LEFTTopStories

New Bill Would Set Strict Disclosure Requirements for Crisis-Pregnancy Centers
This article is about the city council making a new legislation that emergency centers for abortion has to state what they provide and what they can offer instead of tricking the women. On less a medical provider is onsite then the information has to be disclosed immediately to the women. Because of this new bill, the centers are required to hang posters and signs informing their clients. Many abortion centers are saying that the law violates freedom of speech telling the clinics what not to say and basically having a control over them. Christine Quinn who supports the legislation says that it only want the truth in advertisement. Ms. Lapin from Manhattan stated that these women are scared and willing to listen to what ever they are being told and these folks in anti choice centers misleading the is not right. Mr. Slattory, someone who doesn’t agree with the bill is saying how many New York City businesses are told that they should hang signs up about what they offer. Under the bill, fines for violations range from $200 to $2,500. Centers with three or more violations within two years could be shuttered for a maximum of five days. The bill also wants the centers to keep their clients information quiet and not share it with others.
The lead of the story was actually pretty good allowing one to get captured by the article. The head line of the article was also written in proper mood. This is important because NYC has a lot of these centers around so it should be able to manage it self well and provide clients with the proper help. In addition, many students from our school gets pregnant, what if they were to end up in one of these places.

Wizards Look to a Rookie for Poise

By Howard Beck

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/sports/basketball/18wizards.html?_r=1&ref=basketball

I think this headline goes well with the base of the story. It basically describes how young rookie john wall is becoming the go to guy instead of the one face of the Wizards Gilbert Arenas. Wall is now who is depended upon and is looked at to get the team out of a jam. The lead was writen as a who lead. It was written basically telling how Gilbert is bocoming just a speaker on the Washington Wizards. not really anything more then just a face attached to the franchise. Sources that were used were the coaches of both the wizards and the knicks. Both coaches gave wall praise on what a great job he's doing and how he compliments the league. Another source that I feel can have been used is Walls opinion on the actions of he teammate  and what he feels the older leader should do in order to benifite the team so they all can prosper. Something else that could have been added was Arenas's feelings on the young players praise. This is news worthy because it expresses feelings about once great players in the NBA and new rising ones.

The reason that I chose this article is because I also feel the wall is an extrodinary player. I think that he is getting the recognition that he desurves but i also feel that Arenas made the wizards name what it has grown to be known as. He played a big role in getting the team to where it has been and for the team and media to try to push him to the side isnt correct. I think they should take heed and think about the situation as a whole and pay homage to Gilbert and give him thanks even though he has done a little wrong.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/17/nyregion/17routine.html?ref=nyregion

No Rest for a Long-Distance Runner by ROBIN FINN

I think that the headline is good because it doesn’t exactly tell the reader what the story is truly about. it give us clues on what we are prepared to read. the headline works well with the overall message because the story is about a lady name Marry Wittenberg who used to run marathons but cant anymore because of her knees, but she resists to take a rest from running so she just runs along with other marathon runners. the lead was written nice simple and short, it got to the point where readers already knew what the story was going to be about.the sources in the article were Ms. Wittenberg, 48, lives on the Upper East Side with her husband, Derek, a banker, and their two sons, Alex, 9, and Cary, 8. the story could have contained other sources such as other runner she ran with, and maybe a coach who might have trained her, because maybe they might wanted to say something that could have benefited her story. this story could have used more background history on her and more information on her kids to see if they would like to pursue in their mother foot steps in becoming a marathon runner . this story is newsworthy because not every female who has two kids will keep running as a hobby after their most valuable prize which their knee has given up on them. some women would have took up a hobby that involves sitting.

i selected this article because i use to run and i realized how far people have gotten with running. people do it for reason good ones at that such as the breast cancer walk, aids walk and domestic violence walk.

Hate Crimes on Gays!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/09/nyregion/09bias.html?pagewanted=2&ref=todayspaper


This article is about recent attacks that have been placed on a 30-Year old man because of his sexuality. The 30-Year old man was attacked by Latin King gang memebers. The headline of this story is very mysterious and eye catching. It caught my attention because the headline makes the story seems very interesting. The headline works with the story because it gives the readers a taste and sneak peak of what they are about to read. It tells what the story is going to be about without actually giving away the juicy details. This lead was a WHAT lead. It stated what happened the night of the crime scene. I love this lead alot because it wasn't like most leads that i've read before. It was very suspenseful and unoridinary. It made me curious about the rest of the story. It was very effective in the way that it described what exactly took place and what the main idea of the story was going to be about. The sources in the article were the Police Officers, Christine C. Quinn (the Council Speaker), Raymond W. Kelly(Police Commissioner), and the Neighbors. Some otherr sources that should have been included in the article are the actuals victims of the hae crime. I think it is very important that the victims have a say in what happened, and how this terrible experience changed their lives. The readers dont hear from the victims who suffered from this near death experience. All they hear about is what happpened and thats it. Something else that needs to be in this article might be how the family members of the victims felt about the events that took place. Also how does the community feel since this all happened in the Bronx, right here in New York City. If some of these things were included in the story it would make the story seem more humble than blunt. However, i believe that this article is ver news worthy. This is because it keeps the readers up to date with whats happening in the community. Also it's letting the public aware of the terrible things gays are being faced with just because they are different.


I chose to write about this article because hate crimes on gays are occurring more and more in the community and nothing is done to stop it or prevent it from happening. I think it so sad that Gays are being punished. Honestly, their sexuality had nothing to do with everyone else. They are just trying to live a happy life yet society always judges them and treats them as outcasts

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/16/us/16pot.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=us

U.S Will Enforce Marijuana Laws, State Vote Aside

This article is about California's Propostition 19 which is basically
the law they will pass if majority of population votes yes. According to the article
even if the law is passed, the federal government plans on continuing to enforce
the law.

I believe the lead is good for the story. Not only does it sum up
the entire story in two sentences but it makes readers want to
read. The meer mention of marijuana and the legalization is
enough human interest to make people want to read about it.

In the article the governor of California Arnold S., the attorney general,
The Los Angeles County Sheriff, and some political consultants. I think
these sources were necessities while writing this story. They are main parts
of the laws and the police officers who deal with those who are arrested
because of marijuana. I think they could add some of the people of California.
By doing this, I think it makes it more human interest and less politics.
People who read the story need to know how they would be effected and by adding
people opinions they are able to relate.

I think in the article they should talk about how if California how it will cause
conflict in other states being that some people from other states may also want
the law to be passed.

Human Interest, Proximity and Prominence were used in the story. The conflict between
whether marijuana should be passed or not shows emotion between the people
who believe it should and those who do not. Proximity because people want to hear about it right now. Prominence because marijuana is a popular drug that people hear about.

I chose to read and write about this article because I feel like in my generation
marijuana has become widely popular. The teens can not understand how something
like cigarettes cause lung cancer and are sold but the government is anti-marijuana.
I am interested in how the government plans on justifying why and what is this the difference.

News Friday 10/17/10

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/11/education/11scores.html?ref=education

“On New York School Tests, Warning Signs Ignored” by Jennifer Medina. New York Times.

I think that the headline is good because it doesn’t exactly tell the reader what the story is truly about, but it gives the reader enough facts to keep the reader interested on the content of the story. The headline works well with the overall message of the story because the story is about the flaws with the New York State exams given in the fourth and eighth grades. The ‘warnings’ the headline refers to are the flaws that were made in the construction of the exams. For example, the New York State exams are very predictable. Each year, many of the questions on the exams are basically the same and repetitive. Maybe a number or two is changed on the math exam, but the question is essentially the same. Also, each year, almost immediately after the exams are taken, the exams are publicized. Because of this, the exams are predictable, and teachers know exactly what to teach their students. The problem that arises with predictable tests is that it is hard to tell if the students are really learning, or if they are just being taught only what is on the test. The headline underscores the issue of flaws in the NY state exams. Then the article talks about the state’s decision to make the tests harder because these flaws, or ‘warning signs,’ were ignored.

The lead is a how lead because it tells the reader how the problems and flaws of the state exams caused the state exams to be made harder. In a way, I think the lead is good, but is a bit confusing since it doesn’t directly tell the reader what the story is about. I was able to understand how the lead connected to the main theme of the story only after I read the entire article. The article includes many sources related to New York education. For instance, some sources are teachers, and another source is the chief spokesman of the NY Board of Education in the 1900s and 2000. The author could have used principals of NY schools as a source because, now that the exams will be used to see which teachers and principals will get bonuses, the scores of New York students will have a more direct impact on principals.

Something that I think could be in the article is examples of which teachers/students/principals have already experienced the effects of the new decisions. Proximity and consequence are the news determinants in the article, especially for students in New York and people involved with New York education. I chose this article because this is something happening in the state that I live in (proximity). I also chose this article because it will influence students in New York taking the state exams (consequence).

No More Legal Marijuana

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/16/us/16pot.html?ref=us

U.S. Will Enforce Marijuana Laws, State Vote Aside

By ADAM NAGOURNEY

This article was about the Marijuana laws in California. The US government is trying to enforce laws that will deem marijuana illegal in the state of California, despite the arguments made by the people. This is a change that will affect a lot of people medically and socially. This change will also change history because marijuana has been legal in California ever since 1996 and it has been celebrated since the 1960's.

I think the headline in this story is great. I think this headline will catch the attention of a lot of readers. Marijuana is a very popular subject to many different audiences so I am sure a lot of people will be drawn to this article because of that reason. This article uses a what lead because it starts off with what the government plans to do with the marijuana laws in the state of California. This article used a lot of political sources. It also included a quote from a sheriff, but I think this article is missing the most important sources. I think it should have included the people of California that will be affected the most by this new marijuana law. Those sources would have made the article much more interesting to read and easy for the readers to relate. I think this article uses the prominence determinant. I think it used this because Marijuana is a very popular subject. This article also used human interest because a lot of people, believe it or not, are interested in this subject.

I chose to write about this article because it caught my attention. I found it strange that California, which is pretty much known for its legalized marijuana, is about to lose that privilege. I also found it strange that it took so long for the government to make this decision in the first place. Lastly I chose this article because I believe this article would be of interest to a lot of people, like it was of interest to me.

Being Gay is Now a Problem

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/16/nyregion/16gays.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=gay%20bronx&st=cse

Openly Gay in the Bronx, but Constantly on Guard

The New York Times

Sam Dolnick

I think the headline is very straight forward and sums up the story in a couple of words. It works very well with the story because the whole story is about the recent attacks on three men in the Bronx for being gay and gay people having to be cautious of being openly gay on the Bronx. The lead was very well written because it posts up a scenario that the reader could follow but still leaves the reader on a hanger to make up their own conclusions but explains it in the rest of the story.

The sources in the story were Keith Mitchell who lives in the Bronx and is openly gay, Charles Rice Gonzalez a writer and gay activists, State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., and Eliza Byard an executive director of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network. This story also contained many different quotes from people who live in the neighborhood where the three men were tortured for being gay. The story contained a lot of statistics which was very helpful because it gave the reader a better understanding of the situation with LGBT communities in NYC. The story could have used more quotes from other openly gay men who live in the same neighborhood as Keith Mitchell and someone from the police department to shed some light on how the case of the three tortured men could affect other openly gay men in the city.

The story could have used more quotes from different sources like other openly gay men or people who sympathize with other gay men. The story was very long but it was very informative but I think it could have been shorter because it seemed like there was too much packed into one story.

The story uses the news determinants timeliness, proximity and human interest. Everyone is interested in what’s going on in the Bronx with the men who were arrested for torturing three openly gay men which makes it a story people want updates on. This new controversy with openly gay men is going on in the Bronx and a lot of readers either live in the Bronx or close to it. This story serves to shed some light on issues going on in different communities which trigger different emotions.

I chose this article because I am very passionate about LGBT issues because I feel that everyone has a right to be who they are and not have to look over their shoulders wondering if something is going to happen. I thought it was also interesting that something so horrible is going on so close to my home, if it can happen in the Bronx it can happen anywhere. This article showed me how serious the situation is with openly gay people and society not wanting them to embrace them.

My News friday

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/30/business/30currency.html?_r=1&ref=business

Jesus Diaz


Eye on China, House Votes for Greater Tariff

Powers
By David E Sanger

This past week the house of representatives has past a tariff on Chinese goods in retaliation to Beijing not lowering there value in currency In order for it can be cheaper for America to export the items. The bills vote went as recorded 348 to 79 most of favor of it and though the votes were clearly in favor of it the likely hood of it becoming a law is very slim seeing that the senate is not in favor of it. Also the treasury stated that the avoiding of a trade off war will not be a smart idea seeing that this could lead in china fully blocking there goods from America
I think the headline is great I feel it gets straight to the point and lays the subject flat out for the reader with House votes for greater tariffs it doesn’t leave the reader in the mist. The lead is who/what lead because though it states that the house of representatives are the ones responsible for the tariffs it also includes the fact of what their approving which is the tariffs. It also has a drawn in effect on the reader because it not only describes what is happing but also who is doing it. The story had many sources from president Obama who was in favor of the rule along with house speaker Nancy Pelosi. They also had Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao who met with Obama to discuss the issue. Though the sources were reliable and were strong I still think it needed a store owner’s opinion to see how this would affect the sales of his products. And to accommodate to the source a graphical chart that shows how the deficit will add on to the recession we are facing now.

Court Weighs Limits on Speech

By: Jess Barvin
Wall Street Journal
October 7, 2010http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703735804575536100092251276.html?KEYWORDS=Court+Weighs+Limits+on+Speech


This article is speaking about how the father of a Marine can sue the Westboro Bapstist Church for violation of privacy. The father claims that the religious group had a vulgar funeral for his son and for crude online attack. Mr. Snyder won five million dollar and a federal court threw out the ruling saying that the Church's speech was protected by the first amendment. Justice Ruth Bader stated the church's behavior was unjutifiable because their was other ways of sending their message across. Margie Phelps who is a lawyer and daughter of the leader of the Westboro Church says that Mr. Snyder invited a public dialogue with the church by commenting about a post about his son. Sean Simmon who is representing Mr. Snyder says that there should be a line drawn against public figures and private individuals who make insults.

The headline of the story did catch my attention because there have always been a problem with the law about when the first amendment rights should be limited. The Westboro Church should have not insulted the Mr. Snyder's son especially if it was about about his funeral. The story was news worthy because this can be anyone saying their opinion and then all of a sudden it is a law suit. The sources in the articluded the father, the church, the daugther of the leader of the church. Most importanty it included the justices from the supreme court and Mr. Snyder's lawyer. The article might have needed to include a little more about Mr. Snyder's son. I wanted to know more about him. I selected this article because it was appealing and it was about a law. Usually issues affect certain types of people but a law affect everyone.