What is a hung jury?
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's trial ended in a hung jury on most charges. The prosecutor plans to try him again. Is that double jeopardy?
What does CQ mean?
Questions in Text Reveal Your Thinking
I noticed a few times when editors removed a big chunk of text. For purposes of this class if you want to do that, I would instead like you to ask the question – and make a cogent argument as to why. This all goes to the issue of the editor-reporter dynamic, which can sometimes be very uncongenial because of arbitrary and unilateral editing without consultation with the reporter or the city desk.
For example, I note that the description of what she was wearing was removed. Again, ask the question to formulate your arguments about why when the angry reporter comes to ask.
Same with the line about DNA – you all have good instincts – I just want you to show me your thinking.
Be Concrete and Explicit
A man was acquitted Friday in the death of a University of Florida student.
Try to be explicit without being tasteless:
or
A man was acquitted Friday in the death of a University of Florida student.
Try to be explicit without being tasteless:
A man was acquitted Friday in the rape and killing of a University of Florida student.
A man was acquitted Friday in the death of a University of Florida student who was raped and killed during an apparent burglary.
Double Possessives (See AP)
Time Elements
Nelson Muntz, a friend of Jones,
or
Nelson Muntz, a friend of Jones',
DOUBLE POSSESSIVE: Two conditions must apply for a double possessive – a phrase such as a friend of John's – to occur: 1. The word after of must refer to an animate object, and 2. The word before of must involve only a portion of the animate object's possessions.
Otherwise, do not use the possessive form of the word after of: The friends of John Adams mourned his death. (All the friends were involved.) He is a friend of the college. (Not college's, because college is inanimate.)
As much as possible, keep time close to verb
A man was acquitted in the rape and killing of a University of Florida student Friday.
vs.
A man was acquitted Friday in the rape and killing of a University of Florida student last fall
Double Possessives
from a friend of Jones’
DOUBLE POSSESSIVE: Two conditions must apply for a double possessive – a phrase such as a friend of John's – to occur: 1. The word after of must refer to an animate object, and 2. The word before of must involve only a portion of the animate object's possessions.
Otherwise, do not use the possessive form of the word after of: The friends of John Adams mourned his death. (All the friends were involved.) He is a friend of the college. (Not college's, because college is inanimate.)
Memory Aid: This construction occurs most often, and quite naturally, with the possessive forms of personal pronouns: He is a friend of mine.
NEW IDEA, NEW GRAPHTree attended each day of the trial, which lasted five days this week, and sat next to Coleman’s family. Members of the UF Violence Against Women Task Force said they would hold a candlelight vigil next week in memory of Coleman.
The paragraph above should be broke into two graphs. The idea shifts to something new.
Word Usage
What is a coed? And do you see how it might be a derogatory and possibly sexist term?
AP Stylebook entry: plead, pleaded, pleading Do not use the colloquial past tense form, pled.
Which is correct?
He was released from the Alachua County Jail, where he had been held since his arrest Oct. 10.
He was released from the Alachua County Jail, where he was held since his arrest Oct. 10.
Concision
With the cooperation of Smythe = With Smythe's cooperation
Reiteration for Review: Colon and Quotes
If what follows said is a quote of more than one sentence, use a colon. For example:
She said: "Panic attacks come out of nowhere. I don’t sleep at night, and I am afraid of any man I don’t know."
Appositives and Punctuation
The victim, Teresa Smythe, came forward with allegations
Dr. Abdul Nazir, a local doctor accused of assaulting a female patient, will be deported back to Egypt after pleading guilty to aggravated assault.
Next of Kin
There was some confusion among some about this term. Click on it for an explanation.
Here is that Florida statue regarding proscriptions on publishing names of rape victims that I mentioned
There was some confusion among some about this term. Click on it for an explanation.
Here is that Florida statue regarding proscriptions on publishing names of rape victims that I mentioned
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