Publications like the The National Post and The Globe and Mail have a large readership outside their regions and would include more national and international news as a result of it. The Financial Post concentrates exclusively on financial news as well as political and international news and how they affect the financial community.

 School smarts are taught teachers, books and lectures over the years. Initially, it is the knowledge pumped into our heads of the basic skills necessary to handle life’s requirements. Most of us resign from the classroom when we feel we have endured a sufficient amount.

 Street smarts courses, though not as formalized as those learned in school, have names like common sense, social interaction, peer pressure, and even survival. In fact, a street smart education goes handinhand with a classroom education since the school hierarchy is similar to neighborhood society with its masses, authority figures and rules of social conflict.

There is third kind of "smarts learning" that is more important in a modern world than before. Today it is vital that students also learn how to be news smart. How to read and listen to the news, how to interpret it, use it, and benefit from its information, are all necessary skills that must be learned at an early age, and maintained throughout life. Students need to be shown how events on the local, national and international level affect their lives. A high school student in the market for a new Toyota, for example, would benefit if he could interpret the news of a pending Yen revaluation. The result might mean the saving of hundreds of dollars if the car were purchased prior to a particular date.

 Learning effective newsabsorbing habits and skills are as important as obtaining good health and nutrition habits. A daily intake of the news is as necessary as food, water and rest in order to succeed in this constantly changing world of ours.

 The front page of the paper has its name in large bold print at the top. Beneath the name is the number of years in print or volume number along with the edition number for the current year. The price and weather forecast are also near the top of page one. Many newspapers print announcements of highlighted features for the edition and their page numbers at the very top of the page. The city or town of publication is also printed.

 The main feature story receives the boldest headline of the front page as well as the entire newspaper. Other featured stories begin on page one and are often continued elsewhere in the first section (approximately the first twenty pages). However, these articles can be continued in sections other than the first. Many newspapers across the country recently have made their front pages more inviting adding color photos and highlights as well as maps, charts, and graphs and diagrams.

 Perhaps the most useful tool on page one is the Index. Usually situated in the lower left or right hand corner of the paper, the Index lists the features and sections contained in the paper along with their corresponding page numbers. The Index contains both regular daily items and special features of the edition. Learning to use the Index properly makes finding information fast and accurate. 

 

1.	What is the name of the newspaper?
2.	Write the headline of the major news story in a different way.
3.	What is the online address URL of this paper?
4.	How many photos are there on the front page?... how many in colour?
5.	On what page is the detailed weather forecast? Write the weather expected for the day.
6.	How many years has this newspaper been printed?
7.	How many days this year has the paper been issued?
8.	How much does this issue of the paper cost?
9.	On what page is the featured story continued to?
10.	What is the full date of this issue?
11.	Indicate the number of print announcements of highlighted features in other sections.
12.	Are there any ads, graphs, charts or maps? Describe.
13.	How many different cities produced front page stories in this issue.
14.	Name the reporters given byline credit.
15.	How many of the photos have accompanying captions?

 

Using The Index
Answer the questions listed below.

 

1.	How many items are listed in the Index?
2.	In which section are the Obits?
3.	How many pages long is the Business/Financial section? the Classified Ad section? The whole issue?
4.	What other information is found in the Index area?
5.	On what page will you find your Zodiac sign?
5.	What cartoon is on the Editorial page?  Why do you think it is there and not on the comics page?
6.	How many pages of comics are there?
7.	Would a crossword puzzle enthusiast want to buy this paper?
8.	Where would you look for your “Letter To The Editor”?
9.	Where would you find an article about your father’s company moving South?
10.	Where would you find a bicycle and a puppy for sale?
11.	What else would you include in a newspaper and list in its index?
12.	Name four columnists listed in the Index and find the names of their columns.
13.	...columnist:
14.	...columnist:
15.	...columnist:

 

1.	How many International News stories are previewed on page two?
2.	Write the names of four people mentioned in these articles.
3.	Which International story do you think is the most important? Why?
4.	How many Local News items are previewed on page two?
5.	How many are in Section A? Section B? Which article is the most important?
6.	Name two of the country’s provinces that have news stories in this edition.
7.	What other sections have previewed stories on page two?
8.	Is there a correction printed in this edition? Who is it about?
9.	What companies have purchased ads on these "high traffic" pages?
10.	How many reporters have bylines on these pages?

 

Answer the following questions using the information printed in the masthead

 

1.	What is the newspaper’s complete address?
2.	How many e-mail addresses are given?
3.	Who is the publisher?
4.	Who is the Editor-in-Chief?
5.	If your paper does not arrive what department should you call?
6.	What is the paper's online URL?
7.	What is the newspaper’s main telephone number for our area?
8.	What number should you call to place an ad to sell your car in the Classifieds?
9.	How would you obtain back issues?
10.	What number and extension would you call to make a complaint or report a printed mistake?

 

 

1.	Write ten weather facts with their abbreviations from the information provided.
2.	How many cities east of Winnipeg are on the weather map?
3.	How many cities north of our location are indicated on the map?
4.	When is the next Full Moon scheduled? The New Moon?
5.	What is the URL for the Weather Network?
6.	What are the temp extremes and precipitation data for the city closest to us?
7.	What is the prediction for this data three days from now?
8.	Which city in the world has the warmest temperatures today?
9.	Which city in the world has the coldest temperatures today?
10.	According to the map, how many cities in North America are in sunshine?

The very first section is reserved for the newspaper’s opinions on local, national and international issues. The editors publish their names with their opinions.

The political cartoonist expresses his/her opininon with humor and satire. Readers contribute their opinions and feelings on the Editorial page with their Letters to the Editor. These letters are written to express, inform and correct the newspaper’s readership about issues of concern.

Columnists also express their opinion and offer solutions to the major issues of the day both national and local. Often the columnists are nationally syndicated and have their column read all over the country. Local columnists may be employed by the particular newspaper to produce a daily, twice or thrice weekly, or weekly column.

 

1.	Who is the Publisher? The Editor?
2	What are the names editors and columnist who appear on these pages?
3.	What cities are they writing from?
4.	What are the issue’s main Editorials about?
5.	What sentence in large type serves as the editorial’s topic? Write it in other words.

 

1.	What headline appears with this letter?
2.	Does it express an opinion? If so, what is that opinion?
3.	Why did the writer submit this letter?
4.	Who is the intended audience?
5.	What does the writer want his letter to accomplish?
6.	What facts are presented in the letter?
7.	How persuasive do you feel that this letter is?
8.	Write a short letter to the Editor expressing your opinion about an issue that concerns you.
9.	Choose one of the letters and write your own, taking the opposite position.
10.	What headlines appear with the other letters?

 

 The only place in a newspaper for its opinions and a statement of position should be the editorial section. These pages provide a forum which enables the paper’s editor(s) to express their stand on the various social issues. Every other article, story and report should be completely objective. However, many people feel that our newspapers have become politically or ideologically biased.

The best way to use a newspaper and get as much accuracy out of it as possible is to vary your news sources. Read two or more different papers, news magazines, and utilize other media for the “total picture.” Keep in mind that a newspaper is a commercial business whose first reponsibility is to make a profit for its stockholders. For this reason they may take steps that appeal to their advertising clients, readership customers, and political benefactors, such as not stepping on too many toes.

 A changing society reflects itself in changing newspaper tastes. Many people no longer have the time to read long, detailed articles and editorials. They have come to rely on short news capsules, illustrations, charts and other graphics to provide news at a glance.

 The U.S.A. TODAY newspaper has been quick to capitalize on this “fast news” feed to people, the way fast food has changed our eating habits. With modern technology such as VCRs, newspapers are competing for people’s information intake times more than ever. They no longer have to be home for the six o’clock news, but can record and watch anytime—and zap the commercials. However, by forcing the news into brief columns, much detail is often left out. Newspapers today seem to be concentrating on entertaining as much (if not more) as informing. I am often left “hungry for more” after reading a news story or watching a TV account. Today, an informed person needs more than one source of news.

National Geographic
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/

Cyberschool Journalism
http://www.cyberschool.k12.or.us/~barr/journalism1/

Journalism Course Description
http://www.cyberschool.k12.or.us/~barr/journalism1/description/index.html

History of American Journalism: Articles
http://www.cyberschool.k12.or.us/~barr/journalism1/lessons/lesson2/scholasticgazette.html

Style Guide Manual
http://www.cyberschool.k12.or.us/~barr/journalism1/styleguide/index.html

NY Times Online Journalism Textbook
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/subjects/languagearts_index.html