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Purpose:
Students will learn how to break down the facts, and identify the most important information to put into a lede.
Time:
4 periods, about 45 minutes each
Materials:
- Teacher’s script –Rock Concert – The Hard News Story
- Student Handout – Rock Concert
- Student Handout – Rock Concert Cast of Characters
- Pencils/paper
- Name tags
- Chart paper
- Props (optional) Police officer’s hat, lab coat, sunglasses, video camera, still camera, wigs.
Overview:
In the next 4 classes you are going to dramatize a news story. Students will follow the story as it unfolds from a simple, straightforward assignment to cover a concert to a breaking news story and the follow-up. In this assignment, students will have a better understanding of how a newsroom springs into action when a breaking story happens.
In part 1 of this lesson, students act out the role of news reporters covering a rock concert. A tragedy occurs and each one must file a story on deadline. On day 2 (part 3 of the lesson) a press conference is held to answer media inquiries and provide an update.
Drama Connection: Select a group of students to act out the roles of a senior police officer, concert promoter, four band members, a doctor or hospital spokesperson and a city official. Arrange the desks so that band members and officials face the audience of reporters. Each role has a script that must be read by the student, but answers to follow-up questions from reporters can be ad libbed.
To add some excitement, include props in the lesson. Costume suppliers and some party stores stock inexpensive hats and wigs. Be sure to have a few pairs of dark sunglasses on hand for your “rock stars” to don. Place name tags on the desks set up as the press conference table. Optional – Give each student in the class an identity. The news media can be represented by major dailies, while other interested journalists may include television and radio reporters, writers from music publications such as Rolling Stone, or fan magazines such as Teen Beat. The questions they ask at the press conference will often reflect the content theme of their publication.
The Lesson Part 1:
- Read aloud the Rock Concert – The Hard News Story script to set up the scenario.
- Distribute copies of Rock Concert information sheet to students.
- Ask students to write a news story based on what they have just been told. Remind students to separate facts from fiction.
- Assign the story for homework if it cannot be finished in class.
The Lesson Part 2:
- Ask students to take out their news story. You will have a copy of Rock Concert – What the Story Might Look Like to serve as a guide. In whole group identify the most important information. This is what should be in the lede of the story.
- In whole group have students identify facts in order of importance.
- In whole group have students identify interesting and colourful information that is used as background information.
- Check to see that students have all the 5 W’s in the story and that they have followed the inverted pyramid style of writing.
- Ask what challenges they faced on this assignment. One answer should be that not all or enough information was available when they wrote the story. This is common in news reporting. The focus of the story will change as new information becomes available.
- Share a version of the story that might appear in a newspaper. A copy of Rock Concert – What the Story Might Look Like is included.
The Lesson Part 3 – The Press Conference
Purpose:
Critical thinking skills come into play as students act out roles in a press conference scenario.
Before class begins, single out seven students to take on the roles of band members, concert promoter, police officer and hospital spokesperson. See the Rock Concert Cast of Characters list.
Before the press conference begins, remind students to listen and record the questions and answers of other media. Taking notes during conversation is a skill that takes time to develop. Many students will struggle trying to write down every word that is said. Tell them to listen for key information, focus on facts and use short forms for common words. It’s a good idea to model this on the board.
- Ask the seven students to step out into the hall with their character notes. Give the group time to read over the notes and get into character. Let them know they will also be asked questions from the “media” that will not be scripted.
- In the classroom move seven desks, or set up a table with seven seats, so that the desks face the audience. Depending upon time and space, you may also want to move the other desks to the side, setting up chairs in rows.
- The students in the classroom will become reporters at a news conference. The conference is being held to answer media inquiries about the injuries to spectators and the (lack of) crowd control at the concert.
- Give each student an identity, i.e. Susan from The Star; John from The Post; Steve from The Gazette, Jamil from TEEN Scene; Krish from Rolling Stone… Make name tags up and have the reporters wear them.
- Plant a few key questions with reporters. Quietly hand the questions to students who might have difficulty coming up with questions on their own. Let them know they should raise their hands and you will call on them when the time is right.
- While the seven students are in the hallway going over their character notes, give the class time to think of the information they need to get in order to write the follow-up story.
- All reporters should have a notebook and pen/pencil. Some reporters may want to bring a tape recorder. This will be turned on when the press conference begins. Typically, media place their tape recorders on the table closest to the speakers. But reporters never rely on tape recorders. It’s time consuming to listen to an entire interview on tape. Some journalists use the tape recorder only to get accurate quotes for publication. Notes are always taken as back-up.
- When the media have taken their seats, call the press conference to order. The teacher acts as a facilitator, choosing which member of the media gets to ask a question.
- Introduce the panel. Each of the seven participants should be sitting behind a name plate so that reporters know who is speaking (and how to spell their names) and the institution they represent.
- Allow the spokesperson for the band to make the opening statements (Jess “Mutt” Thomas). This should be followed by the police, the concert promoter and the hospital spokesperson.
- When all the statements have been read, open the press conference to questions. Choose one of your planted questions to kick off the inquiry.
- End the press conference when you sense all the questions have been asked and answered.
- Have the speakers exit the classroom, thank the media for attending and close the press conference.
- Instruct students to go over their notes while information is still fresh in their minds. At this point they should fill in any blanks.
- Assign the write-up of the news story for homework.
The Lesson – Part 4, Debriefing the Press Conference
Purpose:
Students will learn to critically assess information, and alter written material to reflect new information.
Students have now changed the original story to reflect current information. They must make a judgment call on what information to include and what will be left out.
- Ask students to take out their news story. Check to see if the assignment is finished, but don’t collect the work just yet. You want them to compare their story with the information given out at the press conference. This information will change according to the questions posed by each group of reporters.
- Ask what new information emerged from the press conference? On the board make two columns – title the first one facts and the second column miscellaneous information.
- In whole class ask students to fill in the facts column, i.e. where the news event took place (name of concert hall, city), number of concert goers taken to hospital (make sure hospital is named), number of concert goers injured and treated on site, the size of the crowd, the time when crowd surges forward, security and police reaction, time the concert ended, statement of remorse from the band.
- In the miscellaneous column write down information that provides detail in the story, but it is not essential. For example, the band’s tour schedule (how many cities are they scheduled to play), the title of the band’s latest single, previous problems encountered by the band while on tour.
- Ask students to compare their news story to the columns on the board. Give them time in class to add any missing information.
- Some students will have included quotes from the news conference. All students should have at least one quote form the band, one quote from police and one quote from a hospital spokesperson. This is a good point to stop writing and review Quotes in News Stories.
Overview:
Quotes are the lifeblood of a news story; they put a human face on events, adding colour and detail. But quotes also give reporters problems because capturing exact phrasing can be challenging. That’s where the tape recorder comes in. When an exact quote is not available from notes, it is best to paraphrase the information. For more information on how to write a quote see the handout on Quotes in News Stories.
- Ask students to re-read their story and insert three quotes. The quotes cannot be placed just anywhere in the story, they have to be connected to the previous paragraph or sentence.
- Give students time to polish their stories before handing them in for marking. A rubric is provided.
Teacher Notes
Read the following scenario to the class. Tell students they will be writing a five-paragraph hard news story using the information below.
Each reporter must decide on how much, and what type, of information to include in the story.
Follow the inverted pyramid style of writing and include the 5W’s – who, what, where, when and why.
Scenario: You’re working the night shift at the Tribune. It’s 6 p.m. and the city editor calls you over to his desk. A film festival is in town and the entertainment department is short handed. They want a news reporter to cover a concert tonight at the Air Canada Centre and file a story for tomorrow’s paper. The job falls to you.
At 7 p.m. you hitch a ride with the Tribune photographer to the Air Canada Centre. You show your press pass and are admitted backstage.
At 8 p.m. the opening act hits the stage, 30 minutes later, the Straw Dogs make their way onstage to thunderous applause. At the sight of Tommy Drake, the crowd, a mix of leather-jacket punks with nose rings, and long-haired metal heads, surges forward.
In their eagerness to get a close up view of their hero, fans are pushing and shoving. Security guards try to push the fans back. Police are called in and order is restored. When the crowd moves back you can see several bodies sprawled out on the floor. One girl kneels and weeps beside a friend who isn’t moving.
Paramedics are called to the scene. You count a total of 14 people who are taken to ambulances.
Call the city desk now and file the first few paragraphs of your story.
What to watch for:
For this assignment, students need to use the power of observation. Many will be tempted to embellish the injuries of the 14 people taken to ambulances. They should record what they see and hear, and not speculate about what may or may not be happening. The rule of thumb in journalism is when in doubt, leave it out. Some students will also get caught up in the troubled history of the band. Warn them about the possibility of red herrings.
Rock Concert
To help you with this assignment, the entertainment editor has provided the following information on the band.
Straw Dogs, 8 p.m., Air Canada Centre.
The band attracts a wild crowd. Lead singer Tommy Drake has a reputation for not showing up on time. The fans have been known to get restless and start throwing stuff at the stage.
The sold-out tour has just three more cities to play. So far, there’s been no trouble at the concerts. However, in Boston last week Drake and other band members trashed a hotel suite, causing thousands of dollars in damages. Drake somehow managed to sneak a motorcycle into the hotel and was riding up and down the halls. The hotel chain, The Royal Palms, has barred the band from all 50 hotels in the chain.
Attached to the note is a press release from the band’s record company. The press release lists the names of the band members. They are: Tommy Drake, lead singer; Jeff “Mutt” Thomas on lead guitar; Rob Stephens on bass; Owen Jackson on keyboard and Christie Morgan on drums.
Straw Dogs is taking their show, Bite Back, to 20 cities in North America. The tour was launched in New York City last May. The band’s latest CD, Bite Back, has a number one hit called, Roll Over.
What The Story Might Look Like - Rock Concert
Your reporter has called in the story in the nick of time! With minutes to spare the front page editor gives her approval and the story makes it on to page one. Here’s what it might look like:
Rock Fans Trampled at Concert
Show is Over Before it Begins
Fourteen rock fans were injured at a Straw Dogs concert last night when the standing-room only crowd rushed the Air Canada Centre stage.
The extent of the injuries was not known at press time, but police and ambulances were called to the scene. All 14 people were taken to hospital.
Lead singer Tommy Drake had just launched into the opening lines of Roll Over, the band’s hit single, when fans standing near the back of the concert hall began pushing forward. Within seconds a wave of people were moving toward the stage. Security staff tried to hold the fans back, but they appeared to be overpowered. Police stepped in and got the crowd to move back. In their wake, 14 people were left injured, some lying on the floor, unable to get up.
At the first sign of trouble Drake stopped singing and the band was ushered off the stage, ending the concert before it had begun.
The Straw Dogs tour has been sold out in 20-cities. The tour launched in New York City last May. The band’s latest CD, Bite Back, is the current top selling album in North America. The band attracts a huge following of punk and heavy metal fans.
Student Handout: Rock Concert - The Hard News Story
To help you with this assignment, the entertainment editor has provided the following information on the band.
Straw Dogs, 8 p.m., Air Canada Centre.
The band attracts a wild crowd. Lead singer Tommy Drake has a reputation for not showing up on time. The fans have been known to get restless and start throwing stuff at the stage.
The sold-out tour has just three more cities to play. So far, there’s been no trouble at the concerts. However, in Boston last week Drake and other band members trashed a hotel suite, causing thousands of dollars in damages. Drake somehow managed to sneak a motorcycle into the hotel and was riding up and down the halls. The hotel chain, The Royal Palms, has barred the band from all 50 hotels in the chain.
Attached to the note is a press release from the band’s record company. The press release lists the names of the band members. They are: Tommy Drake, lead singer; Jeff “Mutt” Thomas on lead guitar; Rob Stephens on bass; Owen Jackson on keyboard and Christie Morgan on drums.
Straw Dogs is taking their show, Bite Back, to 20 cities in North America. The tour was launched in New York City last May. The band’s latest CD, Bite Back, has a number one hit called, Roll Over.
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Student Handout: Rock Concert - Cast of Characters
Give the following information to each student playing a part in the press conference. Students need time to get into character and write out a brief statement they will read to the “press.”
The concert promoter should be the first to speak. He or she will call the press conference to order, thank the media for attending and introduce the panel. The teacher may want to assume this role if questions have been planted with students.
Concert promoter – Organizes the press conference. Concerned about the reputation of the concert hall (venue) and security arrangements that were made for the show.
Jeff “Mutt” Thomas – Founder of the Straw Dogs. Very concerned about the reputation the band is developing while on tour. He regrets the injuries suffered by concert goers. He apologizes to the fans and promises ticket holders that the band will return to the city and finish their performance. He does not know when the concert will be held. The band is committed to finishing the tour (2 cities left) and has a date to go into the studio and record another album.
Hospital spokesperson - He or she will provide an update on the 14 fans treated at the hospital last night. Ten people suffered minor cuts and bruises. They were treated in hospital and released. Four people are in hospital with broken bones. A teenage girl broke her leg when she fell under the crush of the crowd. A security guard had his arm broken when he tried to prevent a male fan from climbing up on stage. One fan broke an ankle, another broke his arm. All four are in good condition. Doctors will decide today on who will be released from hospital.
Police officer – He or she will speak to the issue of crowd control and security at rock concerts. Police are concerned that too many fans were allowed to move close to the stage. The concert promoter had the correct number of security staff on duty that night. An investigation is underway as to the cause of the disturbance.
This ends the formal statements. It’s now time to open the press conference to questions.
Media members will want to her from Tommy Drake, lead singer and poster boy for the band. He has a huge fan base and colourful reputation.
Tommy Drake – He will follow Jeff’s lead and make apologies to the fans. He will make a point of telling the media he has visited the injured fans in the hospital (signing autographs for them and having his picture taken). Tommy will no doubt be asked about his wild behaviour in hotels (sneaking a motorcycle in and riding it in the hallway). He can’t deny it, but will likely tell the media the incident has been blown out of proportion.
Owen Jackson – Owen is not comfortable answering questions from the media. He usually lets Tommy and Jeff do all the talking. But this time he feels it’s time to speak out about the behaviour of fans who bully their way through the crowd, ignoring warnings to clear the aisles.
Rob Stephens – Rob is the co-founder of the Straw Dogs. He is also the author of their number one hit, Bite Back. There are rumours that Rob is going to leave the band and go solo. His fellow bandmates have not heard this. The information will come out at this press conference. Rob will only say he has, for some time, considered going in a different musical direction.
Chris Morgan – Chris (can be a boy or girl) reacts angrily to Rob’s news. He/she calls Rob a traitor to the band, leaving it just when their careers are taking off. This is the second time Chris has been part of a successful band that has split.
Careful, the media questions can now go in a different direction; it’s time to wrap up the press conference
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