1. Read an article that interests you from arkansas online (or hard copy) edition. Include the link so that your teacher can read the article too. If you do not have a local newspaper for your town, consider looking in the local section of a state or national newspaper.
2. Reread the lead for the article. What type of lead is it? How do you know?(a summary, quotation, direct-address, face or scene, contrast or narrative lead)
3. Once you have determined the lead type, re-state it using another lead type. For example: If the lead is a summary, rewrite it as a narrative. List the type you turned it into.
4. List the primary sources the writer used.
5. List the secondary sources the writer used.
6. List three other primary sources the writer could have used.
7. List three other secondary sources the writer could have used.
8. Answer the following questions:
a. What is the writer's story angle?
b. Does it appear that the writer followed the guidelines necessary in good journalism? Explain.
Article: "Arkansas Governor announces state of emergency as Delta variant drives COVID-19 hospitalizations" from Arkansas Online (https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/aug/03/hutchinson-covid-cases/?news-arkansas)
2. The lead for the article is a summary lead. I know this because it provides a concise overview of the main news event in a single sentence: "Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday declared a public health emergency as the COVID-19 pandemic worsened in Arkansas."
3. Rewritten as a contrast lead: Despite efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 in Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson declared a public health emergency due to the worsening situation in the state.
4. Primary sources used by the writer may include statements from Gov. Asa Hutchinson, health officials, and possibly frontline workers or hospital administrators.
5. Secondary sources used by the writer may include data from the Arkansas Department of Health, information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and expert analysis from public health professionals.
6. Other potential primary sources the writer could have used include local residents affected by the surge in COVID-19 cases, other state officials or politicians, and community leaders advocating for public health measures.
7. Other potential secondary sources the writer could have used include academic studies on the Delta variant, reports from other states experiencing similar COVID-19 spikes, and interviews with experts on infectious diseases.
8.
a. The writer's story angle is the announcement of a state of emergency in Arkansas due to the rise in COVID-19 cases driven by the Delta variant.
b. It appears that the writer followed the guidelines necessary in good journalism by presenting the news event clearly and objectively, providing context about the situation, including quotes from relevant sources, and citing official data and information to support the story.