Instructions: 45 Broadcast Newswriting • Write your script using any word Assignment: Requirements: processing program • News story is based you choose. You are being given six different articles. upon the materials • Next, convert the provided. file to a PDF for Write a 90-second television news script that a news • The news story submission. anchor would read without video or as a voice-over while should run at 90 • Entries MUST be viewers would see the shots of the event in progress. seconds. Timing is uploaded between critical. Sept. 14 and Oct. Read through the articles and write a 90-second news 19, 2020, by 7 p.m. Eastern, 6 p.m. script. Read the script to yourself to time it. Type the script Central, 5 p.m. using any word processing program you choose and then Mountain, 4 p.m. save it as a PDF to submit it. Pacific, 3 p.m. Alaska and 1 p.m. Hawaii time. Guidelines: DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR • Select information from the articles. Do not add SCHOOL NAME information and do not make up additional facts or ON YOUR quotations. ENTRY. • Use at least three of the stories in your script; you do not need to use all of the provided stories. Prioritize stories What according to news value. judges • Accurately paraphrase any quotes you use, but quotes look for are not necessary.
• Broadcast news style • Judges will read the scripts aloud at a normal pace as • Well-written leads, they judge and time your script. original angle, focus • Use of news • Begin with an introduction, such as, “I’m Lauren Green, judgment and this is your morning news update.” Finish with some • Use of facts rather sort of closing, such as, “That’s a brief look at news. I’m than generalizations Lauren Green reporting.” (Contestants may use whatever • Use of colorful detail, quotations, sign off they feel best fits the piece). attribution, description • Appropriate order of stories, intros and closings; good transitions • Correct grammar and overall structure • Accuracy, completeness and elimination of extraneous material
JEA NATIONAL STUDENT MEDIA CONTESTS • NHSJC FALL 2020 Article #1 From Target to Twitter, U.S. companies urge workers to vote by Richard Naidu, Reuters Sept. 6, 2020
(Reuters) - From Georgia to said in an internal memo on Aug. Companies including Tiffany Wisconsin to Ohio earlier this 27. “No (employee) will have to & Co., Levi Strauss and Walmart year, voters in primary elections choose between working their shift have offered paid time off or were stuck for hours in lines from or voting on or before Election flexible hours to workers. sharply reduced polling locations. Day.” “If any employee needs extra And the surge in absentee ballots Rules securing time off for time to vote or work at the polls, due to concerns over COVID-19. workers to vote vary by state. In they can simply work with their Heeding the stark warning New York, workers can be paid for managers on creating a flexible ahead of Election Day on Nov. up to two hours to vote, but they schedule,” a spokesman for 3, U.S. companies are aiming to may be required to give advance packaged food company Conagra facilitate what is expected to be notice. In Alabama, workers get Brands said. a chaotic 2020 U.S. presidential one hour of unpaid time. Some companies, including election. Twitter and Apple are “Voting is always important, Kraft Heinz and Target, have giving workers paid time off to get but the degree of partisan also set up websites to guide to ballot boxes. Starbucks and The polarization this year seems to be employees on registering to vote Gap’s Old Navy are urging staff to extraordinarily high. This makes and learning about candidates in volunteer at local polling stations. the stakes of the election unusually partnership with the League of Nearly 800 companies high as well,” said Jonathan Entin, Women Voters and the National including Nike, drugmaker Abbot professor of political science at Association of Manufacturers. Laboratories and technology Case Western Reserve University. Several states have warned in company Qualcomm are Partisan battles over expanding recent months that they may not participating in a CEO-led mail-in voting amid the pandemic have enough poll workers, with bipartisan activist group called have threatened to snarl the Maryland at one point estimating Time to Vote, which encourages political process where more it was short 14,000 people. In companies to give employees at than a third of registered voters response, companies including least a few hours off to vote. are expected to do so by mail or Target and The Gap have offered Starbucks Chief Executive vote early in person, according paid time off to volunteer as poll Kevin Johnson said last month to a survey published in August workers. Poll sites are expected that people could work out with from Democracy Fund + UCLA to fall short of volunteers as older managers when they can head Nationscape project. people who are more at risk to to polls, adding that the move President Donald Trump COVID-19 infection have typically is partly motivated by concerns for months has railed against staffed sites and are expected to about Black voter suppression. voting by mail citing unfounded stay home. Starbucks is also urging its over fraud concerns and last week The two companies have joined 200,000 U.S. employees register encouraged supporters to vote 150 others including Amazon. to vote from its mobile app. twice, once by mail and again com and Etsy to help sign up “We know that barriers exist, in person, compounding the 350,000 new volunteers through a notably in Black and Brown confusion ahead of Election Day. corporate-led campaign called the communities throughout the Nearly half of voters fear Civic Alliance. The group says on nation, that lead to systemic difficulties with voting in the U.S. its website that its goal is to drive racism and require greater voter presidential elections, according to historic voter turnout in 2020. access and protections,” Johnson a voter survey by Pew Research.
JEA NATIONAL STUDENT MEDIA CONTESTS • NHSJC FALL 2020 Article #2 Christopher Nolan’s ‘Tenet’ earns modest $20.2M in biggest moviegoing weekend of the pandemic by Jake Coyle, The Associated Press, Sept. 7, 2020
NEW YORK – In a litmus test lower than in the U.S., began Not in the film’s favor: for American moviegoing during showing “Tenet” a week earlier. Audiences didn’t love Nolan’s the pandemic, Christopher Nolan’s The film debuted stateside latest time-bender. Moviegoers “Tenet” brought in an estimated with nightly preview screenings gave the thriller, starring John $20.2 million through the holiday Monday through Wednesday David Washington, Robert weekend in U.S. and Canadian before the official opening on Pattinson and Elizabeth Debicki, theaters. Thursday. The studio included all a “B” on CinemaScore, the The result could be greeted of those showings in its estimated lowest grade for a Nolan release as either the rejuvenation of U.S. gross Sunday, along with expected since 2006’s “The Prestige.” cinemas – more Americans went returns for Monday’s Labor Day. Reviews (74% positive on Rotten to the movies this weekend than “Tenet” opened stronger in Tomatoes) have been good but far they have in nearly six months China. It debuted there with $30 from overwhelming. – or a reflection of drastically million in ticket sales from Friday “We are in unprecedented lowered standards for Hollywood’s to Monday. Internationally, “Tenet” territory, so any comparisons top blockbusters given the has exceeded expectations. In two to the pre-COVID world would circumstances. weeks of release, its overseas total be inequitable and baseless,” About 70% of U.S. movie is $126 million, with a global tally a statement from Warner Bros. theaters are open; those in thus far of $146.2 million. notes. the country’s top markets, Few onlookers felt it was Analyzing the film’s performance Los Angeles and New York, possible to gauge how “Tenet” was virtually impossible, says remain closed. Theaters that are would open. The film, which cost senior media analyst Paul operating are limiting audiences $200 million to make and at least Dergarabedian for data firm to a maximum of 50% capacity $100 million to market, will need to Comscore. He acknowledges to distance moviegoers from one get close to $500 million to break North America remains a more another. “Tenet” played in 2,810 even. challenged marketplace than North American locations, about In the film’s favor: It has the big Europe or Asia, but calls it a solid three-fourths of what most major screen almost entirely to itself. start in what will be lengthy run for releases typically launch in. Some multiplexes played “Tenet” “Tenet.” Warner Bros. declined to split as many as 100 times over the “It’s going to take a longer up U.S. and Canadian box office weekend. With little else on the time to assess this,” says receipts. Theaters in Canada, horizon, the studio is counting on Dergarabedian. “The win is just to where COVID-19 cases are much a long run for “Tenet.” have movies open.”
JEA NATIONAL STUDENT MEDIA CONTESTS • NHSJC FALL 2020 Article #3 Wish Joins Amazon in Restricting Seed Sales Amid Global Seed Mystery Shift comes as agricultural authorities investigate the delivery of thousands of packets of seeds by Jon Emont and Jesse Newman, USA Today, Sept. 7, 2020 Amazon.com Inc. is barring foreign San Francisco-based Wish is a web species, weeds, pests or illnesses that sales of seeds into the U.S. after based market where customers can may hurt U.S. agriculture. thousands of suspicious packets, order discounted items, together with El-Lissy stated the USDA had many postmarked from China, arrived style, devices and kitchen objects, reports of over 9,000 seed packages at households around the world this from retailers in China. and that they contained primarily summer. The coverage change comes as a noxious weeds. The move by Amazon comes as number of businesses, together with The company has additionally the mystery seeds led U.S. officials the U.S. Agriculture Department, U.S. discovered illnesses recognized in to raise alarms about the ease with Department of Homeland Security’s China such as spindle tuber viroid, in which seed sales can occur on Customs and Border Protection, U.S. seeds, as well as a couple of pests of e-commerce sites, creating potential Postal Service and state departments significance: an immature wasp and a threats to U.S. agriculture. of agriculture, are investigating the larval seed beetle. Amazon knowledgeable mysterious seed shipments. As it collects the seed packages, international sellers said as of Sept. In current months, hundreds of the USDA has been sending them to 3, it will now not enable the import of individuals across the U.S. received botanists, who are analyzing them. plant or seed merchandise. seeds they didn’t order. Most had He said the findings up to now Amazon additionally said importing been postmarked from China, and the haven’t sparked vital concern, or seeds into the U.S., or the sale of shipments had been typically marked necessitated the enactment of a seeds throughout the U.S. by non- as jewelry, toys or different items. federal emergency-response plan. U.S. residents, is prohibited. U.S. agriculture officers have Still, he stated, there is always On Saturday, a service provider stated they’re working with officers in potential that the illegal seed based mostly in East Asia who sells China to find out who’s sending the packages might contain a risk to U.S. Chinese seeds to Amazon prospects seed packages and to cease future agriculture. in the U.S. stated that his product had shipments. Authorities say the goal of sending been eliminated by Amazon. China’s Foreign Ministry officials the unsolicited seed packages stays In its electronic mail to international requested that the U.S. to ship unclear however are most likely seed sellers informing them of its new packages for investigation. part of a “brushing scam.” In these coverage, Amazon stated the motion The USDA says it has worked with scams distributors promoting by was “part of our ongoing efforts to e-commerce firms for years to make on-line retailers like Amazon pay protect our customers and enhance sure they follow USDA laws and do “brushers” to put orders for his or her the customer experience.” not allow illegally shipped agricultural merchandise, delivery packages with A spokesperson stated in a press materials. low-value or no contents to strangers. release, “Moving forward, we are only Since the mysterious mailings, Brushers then submit fake buyer permitting the sale of seeds by sellers the USDA says it has ramped up its evaluations to spice up the seller’s who are based in the U.S.” efforts in this area. gross sales. E-commerce firm Wish will ban “E-commerce has presented us In addition to being helpful in the sale of seeds on its platform and with a unique challenge,” Osama brushing, seed sales are extremely take away all listings, a spokesperson El-Lissy, a deputy administrator for profitable as a real e-commerce advised The Wall Street Journal. the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health product. High margins make the seed “Wish has proactively taken down Inspection Service, stated in an enterprise enticing to international seed listings based on false claims interview on Wednesday. “These sellers, as a seed packet that prices and misleading information as this sellers must meet the U.S.’s regulatory $1.50 from Chinese suppliers can issue has risen to the forefront requirements.” retail for $10 on Amazon. Shipping over the last few months,” the Agriculture officers are concerned charges are low on the ultralight spokesperson stated. the seeds might introduce invasive packages.
JEA NATIONAL STUDENT MEDIA CONTESTS • NHSJC FALL 2020 Article #4 Northeastern University dismisses 11 students for violating the school’s public health protocols by Amir Vera, CNN, Sept. 7, 2020 (CNN) Northeastern University has required to undergo COVID-19 testing told several times last week they need dismissed 11 students after they were at Northeastern. to practice social distancing, avoid found violating the school's public The students will not receive crowds and wear masks when around health protocols, the school said in a refunds on any payments made for other people. statement. the fall semester, according to the Estabrook also released a letter in The students were part of the university. They have the right to August saying students who do not N.U. in Program, a study abroad contest their dismissal at an expedited follow university COVID-19 rules “can experience for first-year students, hearing, the school said. expect removal from the community, the university said. The program was “Northeastern and its community including the immediate loss of modified because of the coronavirus of students, faculty and staff take university housing.” pandemic, and over 800 students violations of health and safety The Northeastern student are staying in two-person rooms at a protocols very seriously,” said dismissals come as colleges and Westin Hotel less than one mile from Madeleine Estabrook, senior vice universities across the country the school’s main campus in Boston. chancellor for student affairs at attempt to cope with the coronavirus, The 11 students were found Northeastern. “Cooperation and with many schools switching to online together in a room at the Westin on compliance with public health learning from in-person instruction Wednesday night, the school said. guidelines is absolutely essential. after hundreds of students have The students and their parents were Testing negative for COVID-19 is not tested positive for COVID-19. told Friday they must vacate the hotel enough.” within 24 hours and that they are Northeastern said students were
Article #5 Zoom profit skyrockets 3,300% on remote work trend by Laura He, CNN, Sept. 1, 2020 Hong Kong (CNN Business)— and embracing new approaches to Middle East and Africa, soared more Zoom’s revenue surged more than support a future of working anywhere, than 600% to account for one third of 350% in the second quarter, and learning anywhere, and connecting the total. Revenue from the Americas profits rocketed by nearly 10 times as anywhere,” Zoom CEO Eric Yuan said increased by nearly 300%. much, as companies signed up for the Monday in an earnings call. “We will continue to invest in video conferencing app to connect On the back of the strong results, international expansion to capitalize staff working from home during the Zoom raised its outlook for full-year on our brand awareness and the pandemic. revenues to between $2.37 billion and increased global opportunity,” Yuan The California-based video $2.39 billion. Previously, it expected said. communication service provider between $1.775 billion and $1.8 The videoconferencing company reported net profit of $185.7 million for billion. announced in July that it will triple the quarter through July 31, up nearly By the end of July, Zoom had about its existing workforce in India's 3,300% compared with a year earlier. 370,000 corporate customers with financial capital, Mumbai, while Revenues in the quarter were $663.5 more than 10 employees, up nearly also establishing new data centers million, up 355%. 460% from a year ago. Its biggest in the tech hubs of Bangalore and Its shares hit a record high on paying customers — those that pay Hyderabad. Monday ahead of the earnings more than $100,000 a year for the But the exploding popularity has statement, and then shot up by as service — more than doubled to 988 also caused some strains for the much 28% in after-hours trading once compared with the same quarter a platform. Last month, it experienced the numbers were out. year ago. outages in some parts of the world. “As remote work trends have On the earnings call, Yuan said It also drew questions over the accelerated during the pandemic, that ExxonMobil had become a Zoom shutdown of a U.S. human rights organizations have moved beyond customer in the quarter. group’s account in China after an addressing immediate business By geography, combined revenues event on the platform in remembrance continuity needs to actively redefining from Asia Pacific and Europe, the of the Tiananmen Square massacre.
JEA NATIONAL STUDENT MEDIA CONTESTS • NHSJC FALL 2020 Article #6 Health officials worry nation not ready for COVID-19 vaccine by Liz Szabo, CNN, Sept. 6, 2020 Public health departments, which $10 billion to develop new coronavirus do what they need to be prepared,” have struggled for months to test and vaccines but hasn’t allocated money said Moore of the Immunization Action trace everyone exposed to the novel specifically for distributing and Coalition, a national vaccine education coronavirus, are now being told to prepare administering vaccines. and advocacy organization based in St. to distribute COVID-19 vaccines as early And while states, territories and 154 Paul, Minnesota. “We can’t assume they as Nov. 1. large cities and counties received billions can take existing funding and attempt the The federal Centers for Disease Control in congressional emergency funding, largest vaccination campaign in history.” and Prevention told health departments that money can be used for a variety of Then there’s the basic question of across the country to draft vaccination purposes, like testing and overtime pay. scale. The federally funded Vaccines for plans by Oct. 1 “to coincide with the An ongoing investigation by KHN and Children program immunizes 40 million earliest possible release of a vaccine.” the AP has detailed how state and local children each year. In 2009 and 2010, the The CDC’s director, Dr. Robert Redfield, public health departments across the U.S. CDC scaled up to vaccinate 81 million also wrote to governors last week have been starved for decades, leaving people against pandemic H1N1 influenza. about the urgent need to have vaccine them underfunded and without adequate And last winter, the country distributed distribution sites up and running by Nov. resources to confront the coronavirus 175 million vaccines for seasonal influenza 1. Redfield asked governors to expedite pandemic. The investigation further found vaccine, according to the CDC. the process for setting up these facilities. that federal coronavirus funds have been But for the U.S. to reach herd immunity But health departments that have slow to reach public health departments, against the coronavirus, most experts say, been underfunded for decades say they forcing some communities to cancel the nation would likely need to vaccinate currently lack the staff, money and tools to non-coronavirus vaccine clinics and other roughly 70% of Americans, which educate people about vaccines and then essential services. translates to 200 million people and — to distribute, administer and track doses States are allowed to use some of the because the first vaccines will require two to some 330 million people. Nor do they federal money they’ve already received doses to be effective — 400 million shots. know when, or if, they’ll get federal aid to to prepare for immunizations. But AP and Although the CDC has overseen do that. KHN found that many health departments immunization campaigns in the past, “There is a tremendous amount of are so overwhelmed with the current costs the Trump administration created a new work to be done to be prepared for of the pandemic — such as for testing program, called Operation Warp Speed, this vaccination program and it will not and contact tracing — that they can’t to facilitate vaccine development and be complete by Nov. 1,” said Dr. Kelly reserve money for the vaccine work to distribution. In August, the administration Moore, associate director of immunization come. Health departments will need to announced that McKesson Corp., which education at the Immunization Action hire people to administer the vaccines distributed H1N1 vaccines during that Coalition, a national vaccine education and systems to track them, and pay pandemic, will also distribute COVID-19 and advocacy organization based in St. for supplies such as protective medical vaccines to doctors’ offices and clinics. Paul, Minnesota. “States will need more masks, gowns and gloves, as well as “With few exceptions, our commercial financial resources than they have now.” warehouses and refrigerator space. distribution partners will be responsible for Dozens of doctors, nurses and CareSouth Carolina is collaborating handling all the vaccines,” Operation Warp health officials interviewed by Kaiser with the state health department on Speed’s Paul Mango said in an email. Health News and The Associated Press testing and the pandemic response. “We’re not going to have 300 million expressed concern about the country’s It used federal funding to purchase doses all at once,” said Mango, deputy readiness to conduct mass vaccinations. $140,000 retrofitted vans for mobile chief of staff for policy at the Health and The gaps include figuring out how testing, which it plans to continue to use Human Services Department, despite officials will keep track of who has gotten to keep vaccines cold and deliver them to earlier government pledges to have which doses and how they’ll keep the residents, said Lewis. many doses ready by the new year. “We workers who give the shots safe. But most vaccine costs will be new. believe we are maximizing our probability With only about half of Americans Pima County, Arizona, for example, of success of having tens of millions of saying they would get vaccinated, is already at least $30 million short of doses of vaccines by January 2021, which according to an AP poll, it also will be what health officials need to fight the is our goal.” crucial to educate people about the pandemic, let alone plan for vaccines, And, many public health departments benefits of vaccination, said Molly Howell, said Dr. Francisco Garcia, deputy county will struggle to adequately track who has of the North Dakota Department of administrator and chief medical officer. been vaccinated and when, because a Health’s immunization program. Some federal funds will expire soon. lack of funding in recent decades has left The unprecedented pace of vaccine The $150 billion that states and local them in the technological dark ages, said development has left many Americans governments received from the CARES Dr. Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer skeptical about the safety of COVID-19 Act, for example, covers only expenses at the Association of State and Territorial immunizations; others simply don’t trust made through the end of the year. That’s Health Officials. the federal government. a problem, given vaccine distribution may Given that vaccines are far more “We’re in a very deep-red state,” said not have even begun. complex than personal protective Ann Lewis, CEO of CareSouth Carolina, Although public health officials say equipment and other medical supplies — a group of community health centers they need more money, Congress left one vaccine candidate must be stored at that serve mostly low-income people Washington for its summer recess without minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit — Plescia in five rural counties in South Carolina. passing a new pandemic relief bill that said people should be prepared for “The message that is coming out is not would include additional funding for shortages, delays and mix-ups. a message of trust and confidence in vaccine distribution. “It’s probably going to be even worse medical or scientific evidence.” “States are anxious to receive those than the problems with testing and PPE,” The U.S. has committed more than funds as soon as possible, so they can Plescia said. JEA NATIONAL STUDENT MEDIA CONTESTS • NHSJC FALL 2020