A 7.1 magnitude earthquake hits San Luis Obispo. Hundreds or thousands could be injured or dead. The power is out. The Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant is leaking. What’s a reporter to do?
Let the on the spot news writing begin.
Fortunately, there was no earthquake to actually hit San Luis Obispo and none of the possible consequences of an actual earthquake actually happened, but, reporters must be on their toes during actual breaking news events.
They might be running from person to person, like Mayor Emn’eem (pronounced M&M, like the candies or the rapper) of San Luis Obispo, or police chief Hands (pronounced “Hans”) SoLow. The reporter should go talk to the local hospitals, where they might run into Dr. K8 Middle-tonn (she’s British and just got married…) or find distraught mother Penneloppe Jhoness (pronounced Jones) at a Red Cross Center looking for her child Jil (no not Jill, pronounced Gil). (FYI these are all people in the on the spot news writing activity done at the CSPA workshop)
Despite all these crazy names, there is a journalistic premise behind the silliness: breaking news happens fast and it needs to be covered. On the spot news writing is fun and exciting. The adrenaline rushes through your veins as you move quickly from source to source trying to gather information for your story, knowing that your deadlines are approaching quickly and that your audience is depending on you.
But if you only take one lesson from the an on the spot writing exercise, make sure your stories, especially names, are accurate. Kate Middleton is not the same as K8 Middle-tonn.
You are so talented! Gr8 job!
What a great article! I’m sure you will handle real breaking news with ease and accuracy.