AP Style Exercise A-D

1. Mayor Richard Wrigley expressed confidence that the gubernatorial debate, which begins at 7:30 p.m. this evening, will have a positive effect on his candidacy. He added, “Gov. Red Davidson is a master of dirty politics, but I won’t take any of his bologna.”
2. For her birthday, the 9-year-old girl invited five good friends over for cake and ice cream. The chocolate cake was so tasty that any one of the children could have eaten it all, but they carefully divided it between themselves.
3. The new head of the Journalism Department, Dr. Deborah Dunwoody, Ph.D., recently bought a house at 6 Riverside Dr. in San Mateo, a city in the San Francisco Bay Area.
   
4. ROME, Italy – All around the world, Roman Catholics listened as the pope delivered his homily.

Top News 2

Kidnapping victim Jaycee Dugard recently shared entries from her personal diary with the press. In order to obtain a protective order against her captors, Dugard quoted passages of the diary she had kept throughout her 18 years in captivity. Dugard was allegedly kidnapped 18 years ago when she was just 11 years old by Phillip and Nancy Garrido. Her diary pages reveal mixed emotions about her captors, showing tenderness and affection toward them at times, yet always expressing the need to be free. Dugard secretly longed for her liberation from the Garrido's encampment, but claimed she did not want to hurt "Phil and Nancy."

This story, found on ABC7news.com, allows the public more insight into the fragile mind of Dugard during her 18-year-long ordeal. Ever since her return to her family in 2009, Dugard has sparsely interacted with the media, leaving the public to make various speculations and assumptions. With the appearance of Dugard's diary, the public's questions may finally be answered.

This story is made newsworthy by many news values including proximity, timeliness, prominence (due to Dugard's story), bizarreness and currency. Dugard's story captured many American's attention and empathy, yet left them with many questions. These questions and more are being answered by these diary entries that Dugard has chosen to show.

Leads Exercise 4

a. Forty passengers were evacuated from a Northwest Airlines jet yesterday after an airport employee noticed smoke near the plane's wheels. The plane was just returning to Wisconsin from Minneapolis when the incident occurred.

b. A young boy was reunited with his family on Thursday night after being missing for nearly three years. The 7-year-old was spotted by a neighbor after his photo was broadcast on TV the night before. The boy's mother will be facing multiple charges for keeping the boy away from his family.

Leads Exercise 3

Last week's golf course drowning has been ruled an accidental death by San Mateo County coroner, Robert Foster. According to Foster, 34-year-old Laura Jessica Smythe's autopsy consisted with that of an accidental drowning. Smythe's body was found last week in a Pacifica golf course by a local hiker.

Leads Exercise 2

Over 100 people lie dead this morning after their Pittsburgh-bound plane crashed yesterday en route from Chicago. Reports say the record-breaking catastrophe occurred as the plane prepared its landing.

Top News 1

According to ABC7 News, police have identified the suspect in the shooting of ice cream vendor Amarjit Kaur as being 15-year-old Peter Montenegro. Kaur was shot once in the chest for not cooperating when Montenegro demanded her money; police speculate Kaur did not understand what Montenegro was asking for, as she is very new to the US. Montenegro is a known member of the Norteno gang, police say. Kaur is now in stable condition after surgery for her wounds.

This story illuminates the serious danger American youth face. Montenegro is only fifteen years old, yet he is already capable of killing another human being in cold blood. This trend is too familiar in American society, with the school shootings of years past and rising crime rates of young adults.

The main news value that makes this story newsworthy is it's proximity. This crime happened just outside a middle school in Vallejo, CA. For many people, this hits home, being that this kind of crime can happen anywhere.

REVISED Leads Excercise 1

Lead #1

An earthquake of magnitude 2.2 occurred at 8:33 am this morning in Santa Clara County, CA. The US Geological Survey claims that no damage or injuries have been reported.

Lead #2

Gusty winds and heavy rain caused several trees to collapse onto Highway 9 last night, which caused the California Highway Patrol to close the highway for nearly nine hours.