Jennifer Moody is very personable, very knowledgeable and very well spoken. Did I also mention she is a reporter at the Albany Democrat Herald? She spoke with the Features Writing class at Linn-Benton earlier this week, imparting her own words of wisdom and answering questions.
"The rest of the story," or "And then what happened?" are how she defines what writing features is all about. It can also be hard hitting or light hearted. The main difference between writing news and writing features is the lack of immediacy in the latter.
Moody spoke of her 20 years in a newsroom, including a stint as an editor at the Stayton Mail. Mostly, however, she spoke of what makes a good feature and writing in general.
Her main points included that, like a news story, a feature must be fair and accurate. Another point she stressed was keeping yourself out of the story. "But the voice is yours."
Is a good nut graf important? According to Moody, yes it is. "What is the story and why does it matter?" She pointed students to Chip Scanlon of the Poynter Institute as a great example of a writer who creates good nut grafs.
She also spoke about when to quote and when not to quote. Her best advice was to let the person you are interviewing say it if they are saying something the rest of the story doesn't. She also said it was important not to use a quote to say something that has already been said.
Focusing your feature is another important aspect Moody talked about. "Don't write about the bakery, write about the piece of pie."
Other tips Moody imparted were to ask the right questions and that, especially in a small newspaper, it helps to be flexible.
Whatever the class took away from Moody's talk, one thing is certain. She is her own best example about the importance of being flexible. In the past week, she has covered school board happenings, an honor given to Harrisburg cheerleaders, the changes coming in Girl Scouts and a school bus wreck.
At a glance
2009 ONPA awards
Mother of two daughters
Works part time at Democrat Herald
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Goodbye Big Bird? Maybe
By Kay M Roth
Say goodbye to Big Bird, nature programs and Antique Roadshow. It’s possible. If the federal government goes through with their plans to cut funding to NPR and PBS, those are just some of the shows that might end up on the cutting room floor.
While the legislature is trying to come up with cuts to help create a balanced budget, the debate on funding for NPR and PBS rages on. Conservatives are leading the charge to cut the spending. Liberals are on the same side of the aisle as public broadcasting, wanting funding to remain in place. For both sides, the battle seems to have just begun.
If lawmakers in Washington, DC have their way, the tried and true programming that has entertained and informed the public for years might be a thing of the past. Maybe.
While the legislature is trying to come up with cuts to help create a balanced budget, the debate on funding for NPR and PBS rages on. Conservatives are leading the charge to cut the spending. Liberals are on the same side of the aisle as public broadcasting, wanting funding to remain in place. For both sides, the battle seems to have just begun.
If lawmakers in Washington, DC have their way, the tried and true programming that has entertained and informed the public for years might be a thing of the past. Maybe.
The federal government allocates funds to NPR and PBS each year. For NPR, their share equals about 5 percent of their overall budget. In Oregon, $2.5 million in federal dollars yearly goes to Oregon Public Broadcasting. That amount is roughly 10 percent of their entire budget.
Locally, several people responded to a non-scientific survey regarding their thoughts on NPR and PBS. All respondents said they either watched PBS or listened to NPR on a regular basis.
“I listen to NPR every morning and evening,” Kevin Kirk said. Kirk, who worked in local radio when he lived in the mid valley, said he likes the programming and would hate to see it not be available.
Melissa Mills has similar thoughts about PBS. The managing editor of Mom Magazine has three school-aged children at home. “We love PBS.” Her children watch the educational cartoons every afternoon. They are not the only PBS fans in the house. “I love some of their cooking and travel shows.” The possible defunding worries Mills. “I would be really sad to see the funding disappear.”
Jay Stevens-eck lives in Scio and grew up watching PBS and still takes time from her busy schedule to watch it. “My day isn’t complete without it.” Sadly, one of her favorite programs, the WonderWorks movie series, is no longer on the air. She does still have several other shows she watches regularly. "I really love the British comedies, the sewing and knitting ladies and Charlie Rose."
"PBS is an awesome station!" Stevens-eck said she thinks she's more well rounded as an adult because of the shows she watched on PBS as a child.
"PBS is an awesome station!" Stevens-eck said she thinks she's more well rounded as an adult because of the shows she watched on PBS as a child.
Pat Purdue of Albany is also a fan. “I watch and listen to them both and would hate to see them go.” He didn’t realize either received funding from the government.
Cecily Brown of Corvallis is another fan who, like Lunceford, donates to PBS. She trusted PBS to entertain and educate her children. Now, her grandchildren benefit from the educational programing of PBS.
Brown also is an avid NPR listener. Among her favorites are "A Prairie Home Companion," "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me," and "Car Talk."
Brown also donates to support public broadcasting. "I pledge as part of the sustaining circle through NPR." She occasionally donates to support specific programing efforts. "I listen to NPR every morning."
NPR and PBS both receive funding from many sources, the federal government's is just a small piece of the pie. Funding comes from private donations, businesses and other partnerships. For the millions of people who listen to NPR or watch PBS, the federal dollars could mean the difference between their favorite shows remaining on the air or their local station going dark.
At a glance
The breakdown
NPR- who listens?
PBS- who watches?
Friday, February 4, 2011
Save the music!
Music, music, music. We hear it everywhere- in elevators, in doctors' offices, on our car radios. It links us to the past and to the present. Music plays a big part in setting the mood for movies, provides a way to move the story along in musical theater, and even helps young children learn their ABC's.
Children start learning music in preschool and those who are lucky enough to have a strong program in middle and high school, get opportunities to continue their music education. But, for how long?
Sadly, when budget cuts are considered, the arts are usually the first subjects on the chopping block. Considering how the arts influences much of who we are, losing classes in theater, art and music can mean the end of life as we know it.
Music is more than just for the soul, to soothe the savage beast or a way to relax. It is about history, math, science, reading, writing- well, you get the idea. In other words, it's about life and living.
He is the director of athletic bands at Oregon State University and Brad Townsend loves his music. It is more than his job, it is his passion. While he stays extremely busy providing music at sporting events at OSU, Townsend takes time to utilize his training and his passion at local community theaters such as Corvallis Community Theatre and Albany Civic Theater, most recently as Max in "The Producers."
"I love musical theater. It gives me the opportunity to sing and act, both of which I really enjoy." Townsend performs on stage and in the orchestra for many area musicals. He is also part of "Puttin' on the Bitz," a cabaret group he founded.
Dr. Brad Townsend at work following the return of the OSU Beavers baseball team from Omaha after winning back to back national titles in 2007.
Photo by Kay M Roth
Like Townsend, I have a passion for music. Also like Townsend, that passion was instilled in me when I was in middle and high school. I played trumpet and French horn in band and sang alto in choir and swing choir.
"My middle school music teacher inspired me to do more than just learn to play an instrument. She inspired me to teach." Townsend said he made his decision then to continue his music education.
What a shame it would be if the youth of today were unable to experience that same passion that, in my case and especially in Townsend's, has lasted a lifetime.
We are not alone. Take Cheryl Leckie for example. She taught music at Philomath High School for a number of years before turning to special education. She did not, however, leave her music behind. "I love music."
She plays tuba in the Willamette Valley Symphony, performs in the orchestra for many musicals at ACT and is the orchestra conductor for ACT's "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," currently showing at the downtown theater.
Music education can also be linked to higher test scores, better understanding of math and science and how to work as a team. For example, The College Board notes that students who studied music in high school score an average of 59 points more on the verbal and 44 points higher on math in the SATs than their non-musical counterparts.
Even preschoolers who are exposed to music tend to excel in other areas. Drs. Gordon Shaw and Frances Rauscher of the University of California have conducted a number of studies on the subject. The results of one concludes that preschoolers given eight months of keyboard lessons show a 46% rise in their spatial IQ (spatial abilities include being able to visualize how to create objects). The spatial IQ is critical for higher brain functions like complex mathematics.
Townsend notes the added importance of feeling the emotions of the music."It is obvious in the quality, the way the music flows, and the overall movement when a piece is played with emotion."
Sometime that emotion stems from a real life disaster such as the shooting at Columbine High School in 1999. Frank Ticheli wrote "An American Elegy" specifically to honor those whose lives were cut short and to those who survived. It is the passion and emotion musicians feel that makes it even more meaningful.
Dan Johnson teaches music at Philomath High School. “I use this piece very carefully and in guarded years, because it is very draining.” His students are asked to think about the music and what it means to them. “This piece has grown to mean more to my ensembles with each major man-created disaster.”
I have heard this particular piece of music played by large honors bands and small high school bands. Because of the emotions, the passions and the dedication, "An American Elegy" gives me goosebumps every time.
Music also proves how important team work, dedication, and practice can be. Musicians in any type of group whether it be an honors orchestra, a high school band or a garage band, must learn and use all of the above skills.
Youth of today might not get the chance to experience music as we have over the years. Instead of cutting, school boards must find a way to save this valuable subject from extinction. If not for the sake of simply learning to enjoy music, for the positive things it brings to young people that they carry with them to adulthood.
At a glance:
What others say about music
National Association for Music Education
In her own words
Public school music featured at the Oscars
Get involved!
OSUMB
Troubadour Music Center
Gracewind Music
Corvallis Community Band
From 2005, some of the cast of "The Rocky Horror Show" on stage at Albany Civic Theater, doing the "Time Warp." Photo by Jay Thompson.
Children start learning music in preschool and those who are lucky enough to have a strong program in middle and high school, get opportunities to continue their music education. But, for how long?
Sadly, when budget cuts are considered, the arts are usually the first subjects on the chopping block. Considering how the arts influences much of who we are, losing classes in theater, art and music can mean the end of life as we know it.
Music is more than just for the soul, to soothe the savage beast or a way to relax. It is about history, math, science, reading, writing- well, you get the idea. In other words, it's about life and living.
He is the director of athletic bands at Oregon State University and Brad Townsend loves his music. It is more than his job, it is his passion. While he stays extremely busy providing music at sporting events at OSU, Townsend takes time to utilize his training and his passion at local community theaters such as Corvallis Community Theatre and Albany Civic Theater, most recently as Max in "The Producers."
"I love musical theater. It gives me the opportunity to sing and act, both of which I really enjoy." Townsend performs on stage and in the orchestra for many area musicals. He is also part of "Puttin' on the Bitz," a cabaret group he founded.
Dr. Brad Townsend at work following the return of the OSU Beavers baseball team from Omaha after winning back to back national titles in 2007.
Photo by Kay M Roth
Like Townsend, I have a passion for music. Also like Townsend, that passion was instilled in me when I was in middle and high school. I played trumpet and French horn in band and sang alto in choir and swing choir.
"My middle school music teacher inspired me to do more than just learn to play an instrument. She inspired me to teach." Townsend said he made his decision then to continue his music education.
What a shame it would be if the youth of today were unable to experience that same passion that, in my case and especially in Townsend's, has lasted a lifetime.
We are not alone. Take Cheryl Leckie for example. She taught music at Philomath High School for a number of years before turning to special education. She did not, however, leave her music behind. "I love music."
She plays tuba in the Willamette Valley Symphony, performs in the orchestra for many musicals at ACT and is the orchestra conductor for ACT's "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," currently showing at the downtown theater.
Music education can also be linked to higher test scores, better understanding of math and science and how to work as a team. For example, The College Board notes that students who studied music in high school score an average of 59 points more on the verbal and 44 points higher on math in the SATs than their non-musical counterparts.
Even preschoolers who are exposed to music tend to excel in other areas. Drs. Gordon Shaw and Frances Rauscher of the University of California have conducted a number of studies on the subject. The results of one concludes that preschoolers given eight months of keyboard lessons show a 46% rise in their spatial IQ (spatial abilities include being able to visualize how to create objects). The spatial IQ is critical for higher brain functions like complex mathematics.
Townsend notes the added importance of feeling the emotions of the music."It is obvious in the quality, the way the music flows, and the overall movement when a piece is played with emotion."
Sometime that emotion stems from a real life disaster such as the shooting at Columbine High School in 1999. Frank Ticheli wrote "An American Elegy" specifically to honor those whose lives were cut short and to those who survived. It is the passion and emotion musicians feel that makes it even more meaningful.
Dan Johnson teaches music at Philomath High School. “I use this piece very carefully and in guarded years, because it is very draining.” His students are asked to think about the music and what it means to them. “This piece has grown to mean more to my ensembles with each major man-created disaster.”
I have heard this particular piece of music played by large honors bands and small high school bands. Because of the emotions, the passions and the dedication, "An American Elegy" gives me goosebumps every time.
Music also proves how important team work, dedication, and practice can be. Musicians in any type of group whether it be an honors orchestra, a high school band or a garage band, must learn and use all of the above skills.
Youth of today might not get the chance to experience music as we have over the years. Instead of cutting, school boards must find a way to save this valuable subject from extinction. If not for the sake of simply learning to enjoy music, for the positive things it brings to young people that they carry with them to adulthood.
At a glance:
What others say about music
National Association for Music Education
In her own words
Public school music featured at the Oscars
Get involved!
OSUMB
Troubadour Music Center
Gracewind Music
Corvallis Community Band
From 2005, some of the cast of "The Rocky Horror Show" on stage at Albany Civic Theater, doing the "Time Warp." Photo by Jay Thompson.
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