ConvictGuilty

Former Iowa, Neb. minister guilty in assault case
http://www.kgan.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.ia/3cdd3f22-www.kgan.com.shtml  

A minister who led churches in Iowa and Nebraska has been found guilty of three sexual assault charges ... He was convicted Friday by a Pottawattamie County jury.

Official defends felony school residency case
http://www.coshoctontribune.com/article/20110130/NEWS01/101300313  

Forty-year-old Akron resident Kelley Williams-Bolar, a single mother who worked as a high school teaching assistant and had no prior criminal record, was found guilty of felony records tampering and served nine days in jail. Prosecutors said she registered her two daughters for school from 2006 to 2008 using her father's address in the suburban Copley-Fairlawn district.

Three convicted in Tom Monfils case -- Michael Hiirn, Michael Johnson and Rey Moore -- await parole hearings
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20110130/GPG0101/101300681/3-convicted-in-Monfils-case-await-parole-hearings  

Three of six men convicted of killing millworker Tom Monfils in 1992 will have parole hearings in coming weeks to determine whether they should be released.

Ventura County man not guilty of shooting dog
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2011%2F01%2F29%2Fstate%2Fn113208S41.DTL  

A Ventura County man was found not guilty of using a shotgun to kill his girlfriend’s dog, but was convicted of driving under the influence and other charges.

Man pleads guilty to rape, holding woman captive
http://m.daytondailynews.com/dayton/db_101691/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=mE8YyR6d&detailindex=3&pn=0&ps=8  

A 44-year-old Hamilton man accused of holding a woman captive for 10 days and repeatedly raping her has pleaded guilty as charged.

Journal 3

Word of the week: conflagration. Webster's New World College Dictionary defines it as: a big, destructive fire.  Origin of conflagratio, of conflagrare, to burn. However, Merriam-Webster also gives an alternate definition of 'conflict, war.' Both dictionaries agree that the origin is Latin, 1600's.  However, in this article I feel the writer is using the second definition. There is not a literal fire burning across the Arab world, yet there is a conflict.

Catch of the week:
Again, it comes from one of my articles.  The original was cut due to space issues. The night editor was confused about a sentence. It ran as "...Alabama would be hard-pressed to find a find a tougher schedule." When the actual wording referenced Florida's recent schedule.  The linked article has been corrected and the sentence is found in its original form. "Butler said playing in the SEC, and against four of the five top-ranked conference opponents in succession, has produced one of the toughest schedules imaginable."

Headline of the week:
Israeli official outlines sustainability efforts of Israel
http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_d1c9adc6-2a93-11e0-831c-001cc4c002e0.html
Seriously, Alligator? This makes me ashamed to work there.
My headline: U.S. can learn from Israel's green efforts, official says
Most articles covering speeches are boring. The previous headline was atrocious. This one actually would draw attention to the article by relating it to America. Not many people care about Israel's sustainability efforts, unfortunately.

Passage of the week:
At the Orange Shop, established 75 years ago in Marion County, time has tried to stand still. Once there were dozens of similar mom-and-pop citrus shops and packinghouses standing like dominoes up and down the county's major road, U.S. 301.
This comes from Jeff Klinkenberg's recent feature on the Orange Shop that ran in the St. Pete Times. Having patronized the Orange Shop on my many trips down 301, this image stood out in my mind. I'm sure it was the same for Jeff.

Arrest

Florida's Jenkins arrested on marijuana charge
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/41237858/ns/sports-college_football/
-The AP's Mark Long is clearly versed in the correct usage of arrest. The word charge even made it into the headline. He uses the word multiple times, all are correct, but the first is "Jenkins was arrested on a marijuana charge..."

Ex-boyfriend of Tacoma women arrested in her death
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_tacoma_stabbing_death.html
-This article seems like it was rushed to get online. It's only a few inches at the time I'm linking it. And, while there isn't a distinct violation of the usage of arrest, there is no charge mentioned in the article and the word arrest is used.  It's assumed someone would be charged before arrested, but the writer does not make that distinction here so it's up to interpretation.

Orioles pitcher Troy Patton arrested and charged with DWI
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/24/orioles-pitcher-troy-patton-arrested-and-charged-with-dwi/
-NBC Sports gets it right again. The writer says Patton was arrested and charged with a DWI in the lede, making it clear from the beginning.

2 arrested in deaths of 31 animals in Granite Falls
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110124/NEWS01/701249849
-The writer indicates that two people have been arrested but makes no mention anywhere in the article about a charge.  In fact, the writer only says they've been arrested for investigation of animal cruelty. This is extremely vague and borders the line of acceptable. I would not have let it run this way.

Man arrested for assault at Brighton high school
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_17186255
-The headline has it wrong. While he was charged with assault, you shouldn't use just arrested in the headline. "Arrested and charged with assault..." would have been much better.

Journal 2

1) Word of the week: poignant. While I've obviously experienced the word before, I thought it was used perfectly by Lane DeGregory. In her piece about letters sent to God and Santa, DeGregory used poignant to describe the central letter to her story. She could have used it earlier, but she waited, knowing the distinct weight the word carries. Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines it as: a) sharply painful to the feelings, piercing, or b) evoking pity, compassion, etc.; emotionally touching or moving. And says its origin is from the Middle English poinaunt, from Old French poignant, present participle of poindre, to prick, from Latin pungere. Merriam-Webster says it comes from Middle English poynaunt, from Anglo-French poinant, poignant, present participle of poindre to prick, sting, from Latin pungere, with a first known use in the 14th century


2) Catch of the week:
"Built in 1964, Domodedovo is located 26 miles (42 kilometers) southeast of the center of Moscow and is the largest of the three major airports that serve the Russian capital, serving over 22 million people last year." 
The preferred usage of "over" in AP Style is for spatial relationships, such as: The plane flew over the city with a population of more than 22 million people. In the sentence, the writer should have used "more than" instead of "over." The fact that this egregious error made it into an AP story is very surprising. 


3) Headline of the week: 
Steelers, Packers provide plan for others to find success

I actually laughed when I read this. I'm not sure who writes the headlines for NFL.com, but if I were the editor, then he or she would be looking for a different job. I'd change the headline to: Steelers, Packers have more in common than Super Bowl berth.  It's enticing and is more appropriate for the entire article. 

4) Passage of the week: 

Ali stands at the window of his suite on the 24th floor of the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. His once booming voice comes out a whisper.

"Look at this place," he says. "This big hotel, this town. It's dust, all dust. Don't none of it mean nothin'. It's all only dust."

A fighter jet lands at an Air Force base out on the desert. Ali watches it through the glass, the lights on the strip so bright it seems like they'll burn forever.

"Go up in an airplane," he says. "Go high enough, and it's like we don't even exist."

The passage comes from Wright Thompson's story entitled "Shadow Boxing." It's a detailed account of a search for Jimmy Robinson, and the elusive last autograph sought by a man who is collecting the signatures of every fighter to step in the ring with Muhammad Ali. I thought the passage summed up the story succinctly because after years and years of searching Robinson was no where to be found. And, it was extremely well written. Thompson has the power to move you with his words while not being overbearing or showing off. 

Murder

Arrest made in stabbing
By Mike Brownlee

http://www.southwestiowanews.com/articles/2011/01/16/council_bluffs/doc4d32706eddcff604374184.txt

"A weapon was found in the blood trail, Dawson said, though it’s unclear if it was used by the murderer or by Rocha in self-defense." 

The writer of this article makes a fundamental error regarding the usage of the word "murderer." The victim was found on the street and there is no indication or statement from authorities to make the reader believe the slaying was premeditated, which is the requirement to use the murder designation. Also, while there has been someone charged with first-degree murder in the case, the case has not gone to trial and no one has been convicted of murder. Therefore, Brownlee's sentence saying that the weapon may have been used by the murderer does not follow AP style and is wrong.

Journal 1

1) Word of the week: myriad. The writer used the word as a noun to describe the vast array of things you can buy for $15. Myriad can also be used an as adjective. Merriam-Webster describes myriad, the noun, as "a great number" and also as the number 10,000. Webster's defines the adjective as "consisting of a very great, but indefinite, number; as, myriad stars." It has bases in classical Greek but in modern English the word refers to an unspecified large quantity. The reason I found the word interesting is because of the two different usages. I've seen it used frequently in various media platforms over the past six months. Merriam-Webster has an interesting take: "Recent criticism of the use of myriad as a noun, both in the plural form myriads and in the phrase a myriad of, seems to reflect a mistaken belief that the word was originally and is still properly only an adjective. As the entries here show, however, the noun is in fact the older form, dating to the 16th century. The noun myriad has appeared in the works of such writers as Milton (plural myriads) and Thoreau (a myriad of), and it continues to occur frequently in reputable English. There is no reason to avoid it."

2) Catch of the week: The catch for this entry came in an article I wrote following the Florida women's basketball team's victory over Arkansas. The editor that night decided to cut a graf from the middle of the copy that introduced a player named Lanita Bartley. The kicker quote is from Bartley, but since she had not been mentioned prior, the editor had to use her full name in the attribution. Instead of Bartley the copy was printed with "Lanita Hartley." The day of the week is also wrong in the editor's rewritten sentence, so there is essentially two fact errors within four words of each other. Talk about a nightmare. While cutting the graf that originally contained her name was not a mistake, the editor should have corrected the last name to be "Bartley" and used Sunday instead of Monday for the day of the week.

3) Headline challenge: Creativity in the Arts and Sciences Event Sunday. Not only is this headline confusing, but it's lacking appeal. I would've used: Free event to feature 3-D art, dance and music. I feel it's a more alluring headline and would create reader interest in the story. Unfortunately, there is minimal reporting done and the article is not very informative.

4) Favorite passage of the week: This passage appears in Malcolm Gladwell's feature in the New Yorker entitled "Offensive Play." In it, he compares life in the NFL with dogfighting, and provides this stark account from an actual dogfight.
"Snow goes straight for the throat and grabs hold with her razor-sharp teeth. Almost immediately, blood flows from Black’s throat. Despite a serious injury to the throat, Black manages to continue fighting back. They are relentless, each battling the other and neither willing to accept defeat."

Who Are You?

Name: Matthew Watts, junior
E-Mail: mkivmatt@ufl.edu

Where are you from? 
Jacksonville, Fla. 


Why did you come to the University of Florida? 
The corny answer is because it's always been a dream of mine.  But, UF is the most prestigious university in Florida, and the education one receives here is priceless. 


Major?
Journalism.


Why are you taking this course (besides the fact it is required)?
I hope to achieve a more complete understanding of grammar rules in order to be a successful self-editor.  In today's competitive career atmosphere it is imperative to produce clean copy.


Outside interests, hobbies, avocations, things you love to do?
I'm a golf junkie. I also enjoy traveling. My brother and I went to Europe over the summer. I also have a passion for automobiles. Photography and design are also interests.


Tell me one interesting thing about you – something that makes you unique.
I'm older than most students in your class. I'm 25 years old. It's a long story, but my parents passed away in 2005 and my education was unfortunately put on hold because of a lengthy legal battle.  But I'm here now and couldn't be more excited for the opportunity I have and what the future may hold. 


Are you the first person in your family to attend a university?
No.


On a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being top-notch, how would you rate your knowledge of grammar, punctuation and AP style?
Before the assessment on the first day, I would have said a 7 or 8.  However, I'm learning that it's probably closer to a 5 or 6.  I have work to do, certainly.


On the same scale, how would you rate your skills with working with InDesign and PhotoShop and with online media in general?
I have used PhotoShop since version 5.5 and can design a website from scratch. I ran a meager design business when I was 14-16 years old and also worked for a couple of websites as a webmaster/designer during that time. My experience with InDesign began last semester, however I picked it up quickly.  For PhotoShop, I would say 8 or 9, and for InDesign, a 6 or 7. 


What online skills do you feel you are proficient at?
I can use content management systems, design layouts and art to accompany articles, photograph and edit photographs for the web, produce SoundSlides, and I have experience editing and recording video.  There isn't much about online work that intimidates me. 


Where do you get most of your news?
I read NYTimes.com frequently, as well as tampabay.com, the website for the St. Pete Times. But I get a large majority of my news from Twitter. 


What books are you reading and have read in the last three months?
I'm reading "The Best American Sports Writing of 2010" right now.  Books I have read recently include: "Pygmy," by Chuck Palahniuk, "A Gift to My Children," by Jim Rogers and "The Power of Now," by Eckhart Tolle. 


Career Goals? Be specific as possible. Elaborate a bit.
My first ambition is to cover the NFL for a reputable outlet.  I know that's not entirely specific, but in this job climate I am not going to be picky about potential employers.  Eventually, I would like to be an editor.  I feel like I am capable of managing a section and getting the most out of a staff of writers.  I also have an interest in design and would like to have input in that regard.


What magazines, newspapers and news Web sites do you read regularly?
I read ESPN the Magazine, SportsIllustrated.com, tampabay.com and nytimes.com, but I also enjoy DiGG.com, deadspin.com, jalopnik.com and gizmodo.com.


What is your favorite Web site?
http://lss.at.ufl.edu


Do you blog?
I am applying for a position with bloguin.com to cover the Jacksonville Jaguars.


Do you have any media/communication experience? If so, what?
I currently work at the Alligator. I have been a copy editor and writer.  I cover the women's basketball team.  Also, I've worked as a production assistant for an ESPN telecast of the St. Pete Grand Prix and I worked the annual ESPNU Campus Connections project in 2010. 


Are you pursuing a media related internship or job at this time?
Just the position with bloguin. I will be looking for an internship in the fall. 


Do you have an updated resume in your files?
Yes.