The shark that allegedly killed two people was caught and killed by fishermen on July 3 according to Police Chief Martin Brody. Fishermen caught the shark one mile south of Amity Island.
The fishermen will receive their $3,000 reward, as promised.
Though Brody seemed relieved in his press release on July 4, he also said that Islanders should not be surprised to see shark spotter from the Coast Guard, the Marine Patrol, the Massachusetts State Police, the U.S. Navy, Homeland Security, the FBI, and numerous local and municipal county police agencies in the waters off the beaches.
"They are simply a safety precaution that we hope will put our visitors at ease," Brody said.
Monday, May 6, 2013
More on the Shahk Attax
In a crowded courtroom, Amity Island officials and local towns people argued over recent events on the beaches, where a young woman and little boy were killed at separate times yesterday.
Local authorities claim it could be due to a shark attack, and are thinking of ways to prevent further attacks.
In the courtroom, Police Deputy Martin Brody calmly discussed ways to protect Amitians from the sharks. Shark spotters on the beaches, lifeguards--extra precautions everywhere.
"Are you going to close the beaches?" one courtroom-goer asked. When the woman finished her question, the rest of the locals erupted in agreement, agitated.
Silence ensued as Brody waited to drop the anchor.
Brody finally answered. "Yes we are," he said.
The locals erupted again, this time in rants. Single words from anyone were indistinguishable.
Alone next to a chalk board, Ben Quint drew his fingernails down the surface of it. With the screech, he drew all eyes to himself and silence victored the room once again.
"You all know what I do for a living," Quint began.
Quint proposed that for $10,000, he would find the shark and kill it. By himself.
No one argued against Quint, and officials said they would take his offer into consideration.
There are no further updates at this time.
Local authorities claim it could be due to a shark attack, and are thinking of ways to prevent further attacks.
In the courtroom, Police Deputy Martin Brody calmly discussed ways to protect Amitians from the sharks. Shark spotters on the beaches, lifeguards--extra precautions everywhere.
"Are you going to close the beaches?" one courtroom-goer asked. When the woman finished her question, the rest of the locals erupted in agreement, agitated.
Silence ensued as Brody waited to drop the anchor.
Brody finally answered. "Yes we are," he said.
The locals erupted again, this time in rants. Single words from anyone were indistinguishable.
Alone next to a chalk board, Ben Quint drew his fingernails down the surface of it. With the screech, he drew all eyes to himself and silence victored the room once again.
"You all know what I do for a living," Quint began.
Quint proposed that for $10,000, he would find the shark and kill it. By himself.
No one argued against Quint, and officials said they would take his offer into consideration.
There are no further updates at this time.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
To outline? Ask questions.
So as I'm writing my article at 2:45 this morning because I procrastinated for a while, I would like to say that to organize my thoughts quickly and efficiently, I put into practice what I've already been taught.
I asked questions.
I'm working on a story for the Northern Pass Project. I still don't understand what hydro power is. I couldn't tell you a lot about the project. But I have to because I'm a reporter. So instead of my usual outline, I decided to listen to my teacher to format the story before I wrote it.
Here is my un-detailed outline, the one I started with:
1. What is it?
2. Why are people against it?
3. Why are people for it?
4. What do we have now? (In terms of power)
5. So do we need it?
6. How much will it cost?
7. The plan is rejected right now -- but only as it's proposed (both opposing sides agree).
8. End with a killer quote.
*This was my backbone outline. After this one, I number another column and put down names or ideas next to the numbers that correlate, just to get a better glue for all the information I've had floating around in my brain for 3 weeks.*
If you couldn't tell, I'm writing an issues story. These are important questions that I wanted to know as a reader. To outline, I became a reader again, not a reporter. And I have to say that even though I'm still awake writing this article, I feel fairly comfortable that the flow and direction of my article is logical and well-done.
Is it perfect? No way, Jose!
But it's a start. I feel more comfortable with that system than with some of my other ways of getting ready to write. And it kinda works out since it's basically a more in-depth look at the WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY HOW questions, so I can't forget it!
Disclaimer: I did not start this article at 2:45 in the morning, don't worry! I started many an hour ago, but as I'm finishing up, I felt that a light-hearted blog post might be a refreshing break.
I asked questions.
I'm working on a story for the Northern Pass Project. I still don't understand what hydro power is. I couldn't tell you a lot about the project. But I have to because I'm a reporter. So instead of my usual outline, I decided to listen to my teacher to format the story before I wrote it.
Here is my un-detailed outline, the one I started with:
1. What is it?
2. Why are people against it?
3. Why are people for it?
4. What do we have now? (In terms of power)
5. So do we need it?
6. How much will it cost?
7. The plan is rejected right now -- but only as it's proposed (both opposing sides agree).
8. End with a killer quote.
*This was my backbone outline. After this one, I number another column and put down names or ideas next to the numbers that correlate, just to get a better glue for all the information I've had floating around in my brain for 3 weeks.*
If you couldn't tell, I'm writing an issues story. These are important questions that I wanted to know as a reader. To outline, I became a reader again, not a reporter. And I have to say that even though I'm still awake writing this article, I feel fairly comfortable that the flow and direction of my article is logical and well-done.
Is it perfect? No way, Jose!
But it's a start. I feel more comfortable with that system than with some of my other ways of getting ready to write. And it kinda works out since it's basically a more in-depth look at the WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY HOW questions, so I can't forget it!
Disclaimer: I did not start this article at 2:45 in the morning, don't worry! I started many an hour ago, but as I'm finishing up, I felt that a light-hearted blog post might be a refreshing break.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
A Tolkien Ending
The end of News Writing I feels like one of Tolkien's famous endings. Each time you think it's gunna end, it doesn't. And when it finally does end, it doesn't seem like it's really over.
I know we haven't dawned the final day of News Writing I yet. One last 2 hour-sesh is over yonder. But even the end of News Writing I isn't the end. I think in a lot of ways, the class changed my entire second-semester experience. I see the world differently. I see people differently.
I can see that every single person has a story inside them. I can see that by asking the right questions, you can get a lot out of a person, too. And I can also see that people are just waiting to share their experiences because pretty much everyone thinks they have something valuable to contribute to the world. And I haven't been let down since.
So what do I mean by a Tolkien ending in News Writing?
Well, it's pretty simple. We're at the end of a class that's shaped my viewpoints and my experiences. But a lot of us will advance to the next news writing class. Some of us will take even more journalism classes. Some of us will sit around a staff meeting at TNH one day. No matter what, though, we can't think of newswriting the same anymore.
So even though it feels like an ending, the doors are just being opened. I wish the doors were opening to Rivendell, but I guess I'll settle for the real world.
I know we haven't dawned the final day of News Writing I yet. One last 2 hour-sesh is over yonder. But even the end of News Writing I isn't the end. I think in a lot of ways, the class changed my entire second-semester experience. I see the world differently. I see people differently.
I can see that every single person has a story inside them. I can see that by asking the right questions, you can get a lot out of a person, too. And I can also see that people are just waiting to share their experiences because pretty much everyone thinks they have something valuable to contribute to the world. And I haven't been let down since.
So what do I mean by a Tolkien ending in News Writing?
Well, it's pretty simple. We're at the end of a class that's shaped my viewpoints and my experiences. But a lot of us will advance to the next news writing class. Some of us will take even more journalism classes. Some of us will sit around a staff meeting at TNH one day. No matter what, though, we can't think of newswriting the same anymore.
So even though it feels like an ending, the doors are just being opened. I wish the doors were opening to Rivendell, but I guess I'll settle for the real world.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Embarrassing Interview Moment
I had an interview with a Ph.D. this morning. His name is Tom Ballestero. He knows all sorts of things about fluid mechanics, water flow, storm water, etc. So in other words, he's smart. We scheduled a phone interview for sometime before 8 AM this morning.
I set my alarm for 7:15. I hit my alarm clock, zombied over to the bathroom, brushed my bed-head out of my face, and pretended I was happy about this interview.
By 7:30 (I don't know where the 15 minutes went, I really don't) I was downstairs in the main lounge of my building. Pajamas on, bed head fairly tamed. Morning breath. Mhmmmmm.
I was on the couch. I had my laptop pulled up, my voice recorder ready. Tom's number was dialing on the my cellphone, which was on speaker. Tears were welling up in my eyes with another yawn. I pretended I wasn't tired.
A nice, calm voice answered the phone. It was pleasant sounding. Rested. I was envious.
I couldn't remember if I should call him Tom, Dr. Ballestero, or Mr. Ballestero. Or even just sir, would have worked, I suppose. I rattled my brain for the best one. I couldn't find it.
Thus, in my morning-clumsy, I dawned stupidity.
"Hi, um, oh, I'm sorry. Is this Catie Hall?" I said.
My heart skipped. Did I really just...? I realized my mistake as soon as I said it. You know, I just want to make a good impression with these brilliant minds I have to talk to. And instead, I has the dumb.
He laughed heartily. "No, you're Catie Hall!"
Thank God the man has a sense of humor.
I set my alarm for 7:15. I hit my alarm clock, zombied over to the bathroom, brushed my bed-head out of my face, and pretended I was happy about this interview.
By 7:30 (I don't know where the 15 minutes went, I really don't) I was downstairs in the main lounge of my building. Pajamas on, bed head fairly tamed. Morning breath. Mhmmmmm.
I was on the couch. I had my laptop pulled up, my voice recorder ready. Tom's number was dialing on the my cellphone, which was on speaker. Tears were welling up in my eyes with another yawn. I pretended I wasn't tired.
A nice, calm voice answered the phone. It was pleasant sounding. Rested. I was envious.
I couldn't remember if I should call him Tom, Dr. Ballestero, or Mr. Ballestero. Or even just sir, would have worked, I suppose. I rattled my brain for the best one. I couldn't find it.
Thus, in my morning-clumsy, I dawned stupidity.
"Hi, um, oh, I'm sorry. Is this Catie Hall?" I said.
My heart skipped. Did I really just...? I realized my mistake as soon as I said it. You know, I just want to make a good impression with these brilliant minds I have to talk to. And instead, I has the dumb.
He laughed heartily. "No, you're Catie Hall!"
Thank God the man has a sense of humor.
Struggles with deadlines and TNH
So I picked up a story yesterday that was due last night. Yes, I had less than 8 hours to collect information and interviews. I had a few hours to write down the important stuff. Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines.
For the first time since beginning News Writing I, I really felt the pressure of deadlines. I mean, okay, I've struggled to finish before. But this was different. I had to treat this as if it was breaking news, which it wasn't.
(You can read my story here.)
I felt pretty good about my story last night. I figured I had done a pretty good job under all the time constraints and talking to band managers, researching online, outlining an article, interviewing a band member, emailing NV Concepts founder, and reading a press release, and emailing back and forth with the Whittemore Center.
And I guess the reason for this post is because editors + deadlines + stress + tiredness = not a great story no matter how great I think it might be.
Scrolling through the online version of my article today, it didn't look the same as the one I typed up. The lead is different, some paragraphs are moved around, the ending quote is moved further up leaving a different one at the bottom. I liked some of the TNH editors'...edits. But there were some that I just didn't think were that appropriate.
Now mind you, I love the editors. I think they do a great job. I'm happy to have the feedback. But to submit one thing and see something very different the next day -- it's almost like a slap in the face.
I guess all I would appreciate is maybe an email saying, hey, good job, we know you were under time constraints. We changed a bit more than usual out of the best interest for the paper. That woulda worked for me.
There were some things I think the TNH editors did way better for that article than what I could have done. Obviously. And I didn't have time to edit that much. But I still think that some things weren't necessary changes, and some words that they changed were stylistic changes that matched their writing more than my own.
For example, someone changed my sentence from a press release. The statement said that DJ Kap Slap had close connections with Lexington, Mass. I didn't have time to research where he was from, so I kept that general idea and then quoted him underneath. TNH changed it to: He hails from Lexington, Mass. I wouldn't say that, nor do I know if that's true.
Do I have a right to be mad at TNH? Of course not. They asked for a story, and I gave them one. But I do think a heads up that the article would look different the next day would be courteous.
For the first time since beginning News Writing I, I really felt the pressure of deadlines. I mean, okay, I've struggled to finish before. But this was different. I had to treat this as if it was breaking news, which it wasn't.
(You can read my story here.)
I felt pretty good about my story last night. I figured I had done a pretty good job under all the time constraints and talking to band managers, researching online, outlining an article, interviewing a band member, emailing NV Concepts founder, and reading a press release, and emailing back and forth with the Whittemore Center.
And I guess the reason for this post is because editors + deadlines + stress + tiredness = not a great story no matter how great I think it might be.
Scrolling through the online version of my article today, it didn't look the same as the one I typed up. The lead is different, some paragraphs are moved around, the ending quote is moved further up leaving a different one at the bottom. I liked some of the TNH editors'...edits. But there were some that I just didn't think were that appropriate.
Now mind you, I love the editors. I think they do a great job. I'm happy to have the feedback. But to submit one thing and see something very different the next day -- it's almost like a slap in the face.
I guess all I would appreciate is maybe an email saying, hey, good job, we know you were under time constraints. We changed a bit more than usual out of the best interest for the paper. That woulda worked for me.
There were some things I think the TNH editors did way better for that article than what I could have done. Obviously. And I didn't have time to edit that much. But I still think that some things weren't necessary changes, and some words that they changed were stylistic changes that matched their writing more than my own.
For example, someone changed my sentence from a press release. The statement said that DJ Kap Slap had close connections with Lexington, Mass. I didn't have time to research where he was from, so I kept that general idea and then quoted him underneath. TNH changed it to: He hails from Lexington, Mass. I wouldn't say that, nor do I know if that's true.
Do I have a right to be mad at TNH? Of course not. They asked for a story, and I gave them one. But I do think a heads up that the article would look different the next day would be courteous.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Jaws 2
Alex Kintner, 10, died one hour ago while playing with friends in the water off Village Beach. Floating on a yellow raft in the ocean, he was killed during a vicious and unprovoked shark attack.
No other deaths occurred in that hour.
Around 2 P.M., the attack occurred while other children and adults were playing in the water as well. Kintner was the only one a raft. After the attack, beach-viewers stood up and started to point where Kintner's raft was. Children close to the floating blood in the water started to scream.
Police Deputy Jay Hendricks ran to the shoreline as parents and adults pulled children out of the water. While everyone stood ashore, Kintner's mother, Marion Kintner, called out for him. His yellow raft washed up with his blood.
According to witnesses and the chief of police, Kintner's damaged raft appeared to have a large bite taken out of it. It was no longer a floating device when it washed up on shore, but a ruined piece of flexible plastic.
Currently, Marion Kintner is being being treated for shock at Amity General Hospital, where she is in fair condition.
Police Chief Martin Brody said in a press release that the two deaths this morning could be linked.
"We now believe that it may be possible that the Watson death could also maybe have possibly been linked to possible shark activities in the vicinity of Amity," Brody said. "That investigation is ongoing."
No other deaths occurred in that hour.
Around 2 P.M., the attack occurred while other children and adults were playing in the water as well. Kintner was the only one a raft. After the attack, beach-viewers stood up and started to point where Kintner's raft was. Children close to the floating blood in the water started to scream.
Police Deputy Jay Hendricks ran to the shoreline as parents and adults pulled children out of the water. While everyone stood ashore, Kintner's mother, Marion Kintner, called out for him. His yellow raft washed up with his blood.
According to witnesses and the chief of police, Kintner's damaged raft appeared to have a large bite taken out of it. It was no longer a floating device when it washed up on shore, but a ruined piece of flexible plastic.
Currently, Marion Kintner is being being treated for shock at Amity General Hospital, where she is in fair condition.
Police Chief Martin Brody said in a press release that the two deaths this morning could be linked.
"We now believe that it may be possible that the Watson death could also maybe have possibly been linked to possible shark activities in the vicinity of Amity," Brody said. "That investigation is ongoing."
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