Alternative Story Format: Good or bad?

I've been involved in many heated conversations of the use of Alternative Story Formats in the past few days, so I figured I'd bring the argument to my blog's virtual table. If you wanted to get really specific, you could even argue that this blog is a form of ASF.


1. What is an ASF?

A story in alternative story format does not follow the inverted pyramid rule. Instead, it takes nuggets of information and organizes them in a fashion far far away from the typical story. ASFs can be infographics that are explanatory enough to stand alone. There are also question-and-answer formats (such as the structure of this very blog). Online news sites also utilize photo-story slideshows and interactive Flash documents to tell a story.

2. ASFs seem pretty awesome; why all the controversy?

Well, this is the clencher for me. In my Editing II class, we spent over an hour bickering about this. Half of the class argued that the new Orlando Sentinel format utilizes too many ASFs, and they argue that they are dumbing down content for readers. ASFs are often described as fast-food journalism, and everyone knows that too much fast food is really unhealthy.

Instead of forcing readers to sift through 20 column-inches of text, though, readers can spend 5 minutes looking at a chart or diagram or graphic that tells the story without paragraphs. It's great for today's fast-paced American. ASFs also add visual appeal to the paper, which is important for falling circulation. Similarly, ASFs may be a better choice for many online venues. Much of today's news is gathered through the cell phone, and some cell phones only offer 14 lines of text. In this case, an ASF may be easier to read.

3. Where can I find more examples of ASF stories?

These days, they are everywhere. There's a huge one on the Orlando Sentinel's front page today (this page requires Adobe PDF Reader). There is an accompanying article, but readers can decipher the meat of the story just by looking at that huge map of Florida. The information given by the ASF shows readers that the black early vote is really high (22 percent). Readers gather enough just from the picture. It does help to read the article, though. This is the best form of ASF for this transitory period: offer an ASF and an accompanying traditional article. That way, everyone gets the best of both worlds.

The Sentinel isn't the only paper boasting alternative story formats. One of my favorite ASF stories can be found on the New York Times site. The reporter wrote a story on creating a life list, a list some people are publishing online depicting specific things they must do before they die. The article has appeal because the author headlined the article "Ten things to do before this article is finished." He numbered the constituents to the structure of a news article and applied them to the list.

The Sun Sentinel did an overly simplistic ASF to depict the presidential candidates' views on the most popular topics including jobs, the bailout, gas and veterans benefits. Instead of simply reading an article that would presumably cover a little bit of everything, readers have the freedom to click on the issues that are most important to them.

Orlando death rate climbs to over 100

Orlando came one step closer to an all-time murder rate high on Sunday when a man at a private night club party was shot. Another man was shot in his home, bringing the rate to 101 murders this year -- just 12 murders short of the 2006 record-breaker.


The Orlando Sentinel reported that the dance club shooting occured at a club where there were plenty of armed security officers, but no one wanted to talk.


"'There were plenty of witnesses, but nobody stuck around,' police Lt. Darryl Braunskill said."


The home invasion, which is unrelated to the other shooting, occured when three men broke into a family home and killed a 32-year-old man, whose name was not released. Fortunately, the man's wife was home but was left uninjured.


Now, I would like to blame this all on the economy. I would like to claim that since the economy is struggling, so are people. But the crime rate has been climbing since well before the economy turned for the worst. The news has been headlining sporadically on Channel 13 for months now.


I think the worst thing about it all is that journalists are doing their part. They are being the watchdogs, looking after our police system and reporting that things aren't going the way they should. But what are the forces doing? Are they increasing street time? Are they hiring more policemen? The growing crime rate is hardly news anymore, and I'd like to see how reporting is influencing the police precincts.


It's obvious the Sentinel has kept up with the numbers:
Friday Slayings Boost 2008 to 2nd-deadliest year in history
Orlando area's deadly year: 99 and no end in sight
Frustrated residents: Crime out of control

The last article does describe some police action, but it was resident-fueled action. It appears that the police only stepped up when there was a community meeting, and residents are still dissatisfied.


"'It's just out of control,' said Uribe, the mother of a 5-year-old girl. 'It's an embarrassment to have people over at night.'"

Tupperware keeps its lid tight despite recession

Even though $700 billion didn't appear to immediately save banks across the nation, Tupperware Brands is still going strong, according to an Orlando Sentinel article released Wednesday. The company is even stronger now than it was a year ago at this time. Perhaps the company just kept the crisis out with its air-tight lid.


Tupperware Brands is experiencing more purchases from outside the US, mainly in Europe and Asia, boosting it's third-quarter earnings to $27.5 million (47 cents per share). Last years' third-quarter earnings were $6.9 million (37 cents per share).


"'We are pleased to report another strong quarter of local currency sales growth,' Rick Goings, chairman and chief executive officer of Tupperware, said in a news release.

"Tupperware has been pushing into developing nations, where its direct-selling business model faces less competition from established retail outlets. The company said sales in emerging markets accounted for 56 percent of its third-quarter total."

Today, Tupperware Brands dropped 36 cents per share, but the shares are still running strong at $21.26 a share.

Guitar Hero launch risks playing a sour note

Today is the release of Guitar Hero: World Tour. The newest additon to the series struts not only the traditional guitar, but a drum set and microphone as well. But the game has one huge hurdle to overcome: the economy.


As is customary for most popular games, Gamestop held a midnight release for those who preordered the Activision Blizzard Inc. game; however, the sidewalk near the store was mostly empty. Four people could be seen pacing outside the store's locked doors at 11 p.m. By 11:30, less than 50 people calmly waited to receive their game.


It's completely understandable that people don't want to spend money on video games in the wakes of what looks like the second Great Depression, especially at the price of Guitar Hero.


Similar to the competing game, Rock band, Guitar Hero allows players to play any instrument of the standard band and doing that doesn't come cheap. If you want the whole Band Kit, you'll have to cough up $189.99.


"Does it look like I have $200 to spend on some video game?" Shameak Williams said at the midnight launch of the Game at the UCF Gamestop. He went to the launch to wait with his purchasing friend.


The makers of Guitar Hero aren't completely oblivious to the financial turmoil in America. The game is offered by itself for as low as $49.99. It is compatible with the older guitar from older versions of Guitar Hero. There is also a middle-level set that comes with just a guitar, which has many upgrades compared to the old controller.


The price is steep, but that could just make it the new 'it' toy of the holiday season. Guitar Hero can be surprising with its loyal group of followers.

Casey Anthony may be charged death penalty

The Casey Anthony case hasn't surfaced on the front page of the Orlando Sentinel for some time, but I was elated to see the case's revival Thursday. It was a good time to follow up on her situation; she may be facing the death penalty. I was a little disappointed, though, that the article before the jump didn't have much to do with Casey.


This excerpt appeared on the front page before the jump:


Prosecutors say Casey Anthony killed her child, but will they push to send her to death row?

First-degree murder is punishable by death, but the history of female killers executed in Florida during the past 150 years is brief.

The state has executed only two women in the modern era. The third, a slave who killed her master, was hanged in the mid-19th century.

Of the nearly 390 people on Florida's death row, only one is a woman.

Leonard Birdsong, an associate professor at Barry University School of Law in Orlando, said women are rarely sentenced to death. And he does not think Anthony, who was indicted Tuesday in the disappearance of her daughter, Caylee Marie, is a good candidate.

The young single mother has no prior criminal history, is not an obvious predator and has made no known confession, he said. He also suspects Anthony could have psychological issues.

If I were a prosecutor, this probably would not be the case I would seek the death penalty," Birdsong said.

The majority of the information included statistics on women and the death penalty when it should have dealt more with Casey herself. It has been a while since she's had some front-page real eastate.


I still appreciate the article overall. It does recap on the case pretty well so readers do get the necessary background information. The article is also well balanced. It offers views from those who believe she will be sentenced and those who do not. And in this highlighted and controversial case it's important to remain neutral.

What to do in this stock market crash

In another smart move, the Orlando Sentinel paraded around with another stock market news story that gives it some reality. Today, the Sentinel exchanged confusing numbers and philanthropic discussion for a general discussion on what stockholders should do in the wakes of the fall.


When the newspaper gives any form of advice it risks making the story editorial. But this article did a wonderful dance around that subject by relying on credible sources with varying opinions.


Greg McBride, a senior financial analyst for BankRate.com recalled the Dot.com crisis eight years ago. He suggested investors keep their stocks in the market and brace themselves because the rebound would pay off. Financial Planner Charlie Fitzgerald, though, opted to pull some of his clients out of the market when stock market symptoms suggested something ill; he, too based his decision on the internet-related crash of 2000.


The article utilizes eight sources, some of which are financial planners, company owners, clients, etc. Every angle was covered without injecting the writer's opinion. And it was in English, not that Wall Street jargon.

How the economy impacts real people

The past few weeks of front-page articles encompassed numbers and banks, but it was still unclear how the everyday person was reflected in this grand scheme -- until Saturday, when an article revealed the fall of many philanthropic organizations reflected by the downturn of Wall Street.


Organizations such as Heart to Heart in Casselberry are drowning in this sea of monetary confusion. Ellen Parcell, founder of the organization, applied for over $400,000 worth of grants, but she hasn't successfully gotten anything.


The stock market crash is not just hurting those in need -- Parcell gave up her salary to save her operation. Even those who help need help these days.


Even worse, the Winter Park Health Foundation lost nearly 25 percent of their assets.


Those companies that aren't losing out as much, though, are still lending their hands to those who need it. The Darden Restaraunts Foundation is supported by private donations; they also use portions of their profits to help. Last year they funded $6 million in grants and gave 6.5 million pounds of food!


For a few weeks now I have been asking myself how the fall of the economy is really impacting me. Let's face it -- even gas is cheap right now. It's productive to detail situations such as this philanthropic fall to provide reality to this far-out stock market crash.

Bailout plan fails; Dow drastically drops

After Congress finally approved the $700 billion bailout plan, the Dow plummeted 508 points on Tuesday, creating the lowest closeout in five years.


"'The Fed is just plugging holes in the dam, and the water keeps rushing over,' said Michael Darda, chief economist at the research firm MKM Partners" told the New York Times.


The black cloud of recession is getting closer.


In order to fix the problem, officials announced they would buy parts of the market to make some credit available, but the recent behavior of the market leaves an unsure tension. President Bush seemed determined to help with the fears, telling audiences that the $700 billion program will work, but it will take time.


I bet it will take longer than the rest of his occupation as president.


Even Bank of America, a company that was doing well despite the fact it is surrounded by the shambles of other fallouts, felt the stabbing pain of loss Monday.


The bailout plan isn't working fast enough, and this issue is going global.
So my question is: Now what?

NASA coverage blasts off after 50 years of service

The Orlando Sentinel issued a Special Edition newspaper to commemorate NASA's 50-year birthday Sunday Sept. 28; they covered it so well that I feel like a NASA expert by reading the related articles.


The coverage of the subject is amazing. It covered the future of NASA in the face of the upcoming elections and the future of NASA and its line of spacecraft. The collection even includes personal accounts from John Glenn, the first American to orbit the planet, Jack King, the "voice of Apollo," and Manny R. Virata, NASA's retired director of media projects. There was a center-fold timeline that covered NASA from start to finish.


The only consituent that left me a little uneasy was the front page of this collection. The entire page -- above and below the fold -- is a photo of Buzz Aldrin walking on the moon taken by Neil Armstrong. It's an intriguing photo that was well cropped, but the Sentinel's nameplate is blocked by Aldrin's head. There was ample blank space in this issue, so I'm confused. Also, the copy on the front page doesn't say anything inspiring regarding NASA's 50-year birthday. The copy is just a collection of random, yet famous, quotes about NASA and its accomplishments (and failures). The quotes don't leave the lingering effect reporters hoped for, at least not for me.


Online coverage encompasses even more articles based on NASA's recent events. I was excited to see way more content online so that I could learn even more about this historic and enterprising organization.

The print edition also gave a small summary on China and its headway involving space exploration. In a unique triumph, a Chinese astronaut waved his country's flag during a mission in space. Conveniently located next to this article was a headline that reads: "FDA: Avoid coffees, candy made in China." Smart placement. I just read a small summary on astronauts in China; I was hooked on the adjacent article before I finished reading the first one.

Rosen president allows students to check into college

The front-page package today brought readers back to the local scene with a story on the students of Tangelo Park, a community where students' financial woes no longer inhibited them from attending college.


Hotelier Harris Rosen, president of Rosen Hotels and Resorts, invented the Tangelo Park Program and has since then accrued more than $7.3 million to its cause. The money gives underprivileged children of the area the opportunity to attend college wthout having to worry about the hefty price tag.


The article flows well; each proposed reader question is immediately answered in preceeding paragraphs. However, I would have been more compelled to hear more of a student-propelled response. The article opens with a uniue angle: Terrence Carson, a recipient of the scholarship, ironically ended up filling the charity's founder's presription at a local Walgreens. It is nice to see quotation on how thankful he is, but I would have liked to see more student-based accounts of the funding.


Carson's account, though, is not one to be discredited. The writer was smart to approach this article from such a unique nd ironic perspective. And the reporter did a great job interiewing her supjects to find out this sort of information.


In fact, the interviewing skills of this reporter shine through the article.


"'This guy didn't know our community from a can of paint,' said Carson, who still works for Walgreens and lives outside Atlanta. But he changed a place 'that didn't have a ray of hope.'"


There are two factors related to this quote that lend to great interviewing skills.
1. It's important to note that the subject used for the opening of the article does not live in Tangelo Park, or Florida for that matter. He lives in Atlanta, so I am confident that the reporter took not only all of the steps to cover the subject, but went that extra mile to reinforce the success of this operation.
2. This quote also reveals that the reporter's subject must have been comfortable with the reporter. It can be hard to render metaphor out of a subject. That ease of conversation comes either with the eloquence of a great interviewee or via extensive interview.


It's great to see a human-interest piece find its home on the front page of the paper, on a Sunday nonetheless! I am elated that humanity bought out the myriad of pieces that claim the front page regarding the upcoming elections.

Ethics in the production of audio in journalism

There are set rules for the constituents of journalism that have been around for a long time: writers have the SPJ Code of Ethics and photographers have the NPPA Code of Ethics . But with the creation of online journalism came unexplored territory -- audio.


Online journalism opened windows for the industry. Now, print journalists can dabble in the art of video, similar to a broadcast journalist. Photo stories can be placed in a slideshow fashion and be put to sound or music, enticing readers.


Using a program such as Audacity a journalist will take their acquired audio, ranging from interviews to background noise, and create layers of audio to make the final product. What listeners hear did not happen in real life , or at least the journalist didn't hear it that way.


Ethically speaking, though, audio hasn't come as far. There is no code of ethics to give it structure. The SPJ Code of Ethics says, "Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it." The NPPA Code of Ethics contains similar guidelines, so I want to know why it's okay for journalists to create sound that never happened the way it's portrayed.


Al Tompkins from the Poynter Institute wrote about the broadcast coverage of a Las Vegas casino shooting in his blog. The station released the security video of the event; security videos are usually shot with no audio. In order to compensate for the silence, the station added in the sounds of gun shots and slot machines. Although the situation was re-enacted based on the police investigation, it was still not the real situation. The station later publicly retracted their fictitious addition.


There needs to be an outline of the ethical procedure of capturing audio. Since writing and photographing practices each have a foundation, so should the practice of editing audio. If the ethical code proclaimed the current practices are ethical, that's great; I just want to make sure there is a universal understanding of the subject for the benefit of the readers.


Tompkins constructed his own set of ethics:
1. Do not add. Don't add sounds that did not exist.
2. Be judicious in your use of music and special sound effects.
3. Use special editing sparingly and carefully.
4. Exercise extreme care when altering an image.
5. Use File Tape Sparingly.


If a set of rules such as this was universally accepted, journalists could maintain their credibility and readers could expect a more truthful depiction of the news.