assignment 7

This assignment was about things i would want to do before i kick the bucket and go to heaven. yes, heaven. I am a good person.I think. I have not really thought about this but there are definitely things that i would like to archive in this life time of mine. So, here goes.

1.Travel the world following the book "1000 place to see before you die"
It has always been my dream to travel the world, see places that are so different from what I'm use to and what better way to do it then following the book that matches the title of the assignment perfectly.

2.To own a house that looks like it just pop out of a Harry Potter movie.
I had always has this thing about castles and ancient architecture. I like the solid Grey stone wall, the huge wooden door, the secret dungeon and everything related. I know many people will think that it's strange but I really like it. That is why I had always dream of staying in one when i grow up. so I guess it counts as 1 the things i would want to have before i die.

3. learn how to dive
I had always wonder what the underwater world would be like for real. I don't want to experience it through TV or some lousy underwater world aquarium. I want to experience the real deal.

4.fly a plane
This came to after i saw '2010' on astro. it seem like fun, to drive a plane. no roads to follow, no jam, no angry drivers honking at you. it should be fun.

5. own a luxury car
Well, who wouldn't want to try their hand on the latest ferrari, or cruise the street in the latest convertible with the hood off of course. What the point of having a convertible when people cant see the driver.

6. have a library that's as big as a house
I love book. That's why I'll go all crazy when I'm a book store. So my number 6 on the list will be to have a super duper huge library in my house where i can rot in.

7. Get married
As a girl, surely you would wan to get married. Wear a big puffy gown and be the star of the day. Well of course I am not that kind of girl that dream of my prefect wedding day since 5 years old but as I grow older, it is something that I look forward to in my life.

8. Have the prefect honey moon
This is the next important thing after the prefect wedding day, a special getaway to some place romantic and beautiful. The prefect trip, the prefect person and of course the prefect night. I definitely do not want to die a virgin. Period.

9. Climb Mt Everest
It would be such an achievement, to climb the highest Mt in the world, to beat the weather and cold and fatigue to get to the top.

10.Start my own business and earn tons of money.
It shows that i'm not just some simple person trying to live life. I want to be somebody big and successful and in my opinion, you can't be successful working under somebody.

11.Become a fashion designer
It will be good to step out of my comfort zone and throw myself into something new and challenging and succeed. You never know, designing clothes could be one of my hidden talent.

12.Build a shelter for unwanted and street animals
I always had a soft spot for animals. Stray dog and cats that linger the street finding for food. That is why i want to build a shelter where they can come and be sure that they will always be food for them and a roof to protect them from bad weather. If human need those why don't they?

13.Go to a naked beach naked
Some people see those people running naked on the beach and feel that they are wackos, but to me, it shows how confident they are of themselves. They have nothing to be shy about because they are proud of what they have. That is why one day, I want to be as confident as them and bare it all.

14.Get my eyes laser-ed
This is simple. After wearing glasses for 15 years and more, it get very annoying, especially when your exercising and it keep falling off or sliding down your nose.

15.Get a tattoo
Just for the sake of it.

16.Learn how to speak French
I just love their romantic way of speaking.

17.Learn how to cook like an Italian.
Italian food is the best. I would really like to be able to cook like them and impress my friends and family.

18.Learn how to dance like Shakira
I never had the dancing gene in me, my body does not seems to want to move the way I want it to move. Every attempt of me trying to do a sexy dance turn into some weird clown robot fusion. It would be good to be able to dance in a way that's beautiful.

19.Attend October fest in Germany and drink till I pass out.
If i only have one life, I might as well go for it.

20.Sky drive.
Extreme is they way to go!!

Assignment 6

The Star : 27 October 2010
Teaser : Today, A team of 10 men help get 300kg man to hospital. Bank officer held over theft for stealing 1.5million and double disaster in Indonesia.
Montage : 30seconds

Local
1. A superbug which is resistant to antibiotic has been detected in a 24 years-old women, the first known case in Malysia, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Liow Tiong Lai...... (1min45sec)

SOT in Datuk Seri Dr Liow : Fortunately, she is only a carrier and we were able to extract the bacteria from her body. SOT out (15seconds)

2.Next, 10 men was needed to carry a man weighing about 300kg after he slipped and fell in his flat. M.Balaji had woken up to answer nature's call when he slipped and injured his abdomen and thigh at his Bandar Baru Air Itam unit in Georgetown at about 6.50am yesterday......(1min10sec)

SOT IN M.Balaji's mother: He was born to be overweight. He already weighed 9kg when he was small.SOT Out.(10 sec)

3. Also in GeorgeTown, a cheif cashier and an administrative assistant have been arrested for allegedly stealing cash totaling RM1.5mil after a bank in Bishop Street reported the amount missing from the strong room.....(1min30sec)

SOT IN DCP Ayub : We are trying to trac the RM50,000 to see where he spent the money. We are trying to determine who is the mastermind. SOT OUT.(10sec)

4.Two women from Georgia have been arrested for Shabu worth millions hidden inside picture frames......(1min20sec)

SOT IN Sabah Narcotics Investigations cheif Supt Abdul Rahmat Dolmat : This is our largest seizure so far. SOT Out.(10sec)

Coming up next, Double blow for Indonesia. (30 sec)

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Commercial (5min30sec)
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Foreign
1.Indonesia's Most volatile volcano started eruptong in central Jawa yesterday barely hours after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami which killed more than a hundred people and devastated several villages west of Sumatra....(1min10sec)

SOT IN Hendri Dori Satoko : Our latest data from the crisis center showed that 108 people have been killed and 502 are still missing. SOT OUT.(15sec)

2.The worst flood to hit parts of Thailand in decades have left at least 56 people dead, but Bangkok has so far avoided heavy deluges, officials said.....(1min10sec)

SO IN PM Abhisit Vejjajiva : the situation in Bangkok still needs monitoring closely as we cannot be complacent, especially along the banks of the Chao Phraya river. SOT OUT (15sec)

3.Philippine police have arrested member of a powerful Muslim clan accused of orchestrating the country;s worst political massacre, but said that 119 other suspects remained at large.......(1min)

4. In Chile, the 33 miners saved from underground hell have been honored as heroes at the presidential palace but lost out at football against a team of rescuers captained by President Sebastian Pinera.......(1min)

Right after the break,Shaaban dares to dream big against the big boys in Classic.(10sec)

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Commercial 5min30sec
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Sports
1.Shaaban Hussin may be the only Malaysian in the fray but he dares to dream big in the company of a world-class field in the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia, beginning tomorrow at the Mines Resort and Golf Club......(1min20sec)

Sot In Shaaban :I had some problems with my swing and that affected my game, I met up with my coach and now I am feeling comfortable again in my swing. SOT OUT.(10sec)

2. Six national taekwando exponents went to Incheon for two weeks of high-level training in preparation for the Guangzhou Asian Games.....(45sec)

3. Shutter Mohd Hafiz Hashim was hailed as hero when he last played in a men's team event in Guangzhou eight years ago.....(45sec)

SOT IN Mohd Hafiz Hashim: I may meet Park or Tago in the second round. My aim is to try to win at least a bronze and it will be very tough indeed.(15sec)

4. Bowler Mohd Syafiq Ridwan is working with American ball specialist Rick Benoit to get the right ball to help carry Malaysia's challenge to win the Guangzhou Asiad team gold medal......(1min15sec)

5. Manchester United are to follow Wayne Rooney's new deal with a megabucks contract for Patrice Evra.......(1min30sec)

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Closing credits.

Assignment 5

A turning point in my life

I often hear of how people make some new discovery of their life and come out seeing things differently. I had always wondered how it would feel like to have something important in your life turn into something else. I didn’t understand the feeling because no such moment has ever happen to me until May 2009.

At that time, I felt like I was at a place where almost everything is perfect. I was enjoying my new course in UCSI, my family was doing okay, I had tons of friends to hang around with and I just starting dating this awesome guy. It was all perfect until this one day. It was a day that I will remember for the rest of my life.

I was finalizing my assignment with one of my friends when I got a phone call by my friend, Justin*. He asked me to stay at home and that he was coming to my house now. He told me that something has happen to a girl named Cameron* and ask me to imagine the worst and the worst thing I could imagine at that time was that Joey*, which was one of my guy friend has done something to her because I knew they were supposed to go somewhere and we all knew that he had this crazy crush on her that she didn’t return but didn’t fully reject him because she was afraid to hurt him.

Justin* finally arrived at my place together with Cameron* and the moment they came in she starting crying. I sat them down to ask them what had happen and my worst fear was confirmed.

Joey* had tried to force himself on her.

I couldn’t believe I was hearing this because I had known him since Form 2, and he does not come as a guy that would do such a thing. I didn’t know what to make out of the whole thing. After calming her down and hearing her side of the story, we went over to Joey’s* place to talk to him. He story was totally different from Cameron’s. I didn’t know who to believe but common sense tells me that a girl would not lie about something so serious. So we talk to Joey’s parents and told him the whole incident. He cried, she cried, we cried but that was just the beginning of the drama. As more and more people starts hearing about the incident, more question came flooding in, some of us were divided because some believe him and some believe her. Nasty words were shot from both side and I was caught in the middle and as time pass, some of us just stop talking to each other. We never learned what really happened.

Through this, I learned that things could really turn sour if not handled properly, and that people that you think you know from the inside out may turn out to be just wearing a mask. Now, whenever I get to know somebody new or even talk to people, there is always a little feeling deep inside me that doubts the persons. I guess the whole thing thought me that the world isn’t as simple as I thought.

*Names has been change for privacy purposes.

Assignment 4

Descriptive Lead - It's a Grey, blowy afternoon on the Orkney Islands in Scotland and in a drowsy pub, KT Tunstall is talking about Shakira's groin. The Star, 18 October.

-I think that it is an effective lead because it gives us a lot of details about the setting of the story. Giving us a picture to see.

Anecdotal lead- Last Friday, I paid a visit to a nearby KFC, ravenous after an emceeing gig. The Star, 13th October.

-Not effective. Because it doesn't attract me to continue reading the rest of it.

Narrative lead - " With egg or without egg?" the Char Koay Teow Man asked me, as he wiped his hand on his apron. The Star, 13th October.

-Effective. Because it puts me in the situation. Its like i'm there ordering Chay Koay Teow.

Feature leads that i like-
1) Actress Sharifah Amani attended film school, yet she did not attend film school. This little conundrum is meant to surprise, yes, as much as Sharifah's directorial debut short film is meant to surprise, too. The Star, 14th October.

-The technique use here in this lead is the teaser lead. The writer writes it in a way that you get what she's saying but at the same time do not get it. Making me wanting to read on to know what she really meant.

2)Newlyweds C.Y.Soo and Jayne Chong stuck out like a sore thumb during the mass wedding ceremony held at the Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple in Brickfields recently. 13th October.

-It is also a teaser lead. It makes us wonder why they stuck out like a sore thumb and continue to read.

3)Want to learn more about what you can do for Mother Earth? The Star, 13th October.

-This is a question lead. I like it because it's straight forward but at the same time doesn't give away what the news is all about.

Feature leads that i dislike-
1)Speech is such an important thing. We communicate using it and find ourselves often judged by its clarity. The Star, 13 October.

-I feel that it doesn't give me a reason to continue reading. It has made its point making me feel that there is nothing left for me in the news.

2)As we know, life doesn't always work out the way we plan it. Compromises, sacrifices and surprises are part and parcel of life. The Star, 17 October.

-I feel that this lead is not strong enough. It doesn't feel like it will developed into an interesting story. It feels like it is just a sentence and there is nothing after it.

3)To know how to truly appreciate something, there first needs to be a personal experience, an intimate encounter. It's especially true with gourmet food or fine wines and liquors, or in this case, fine cognacs from Martell. Each cognac in the Martell family is unique, and to fully appreciate each one's nuanced flavours and depth of character, there's nothing quite like savouring them with fine cuisine. The Edge, 11 October.

-I think that this lead is too long. too many information stuff into the paragraph.

Assignment 3

Unusual baby murderer

Seremban: A 4 day old was killed Thursday at Taman Happy Garden by a macaque. The baby was sleeping in the hall when the macaque came and took it up to the roof and bite it several times before throwing the baby off the roof.(The Star, 7 October.)

Expert are still speculating on why were baby was attack by the macaque. Wildlife reproductive physiologist Dr Mohamad Ngah said that it might have been cause by other monkeys trying to overthrow the alpha male by killing its offspring and might have accidentally mistaken the baby as the alpha's off spring.(NST Online, 8 October) This was also mention by the State Wildlife and National Parks officer Zafifi Ramli saying that the macaque might be threaten by the "future alpha" thus killing it.(The Star, 8 October)

However the Negri Sembilan Wildlife and National Parks director Ishak Muhamad suspects that the macaque could have mistaken the baby as food. (The Star, 7 October)

The macaque was shoot dead at 4pm the same day but the parents insisted that the monkey shoot dead was not the want that murdered their baby. they said that the murderer is larger in size and is always in a pack unlike the dead macaque that was alone at the time caught and smaller in size.(The Star, 8 October)

The parents are now being offered a flat by MCA and both parents are seriously considering moving out of the house due to safety purposes. (NST Online, 8 October)

Expert says that the aggressive macaque might be a long-tailed macaque or a pid-tailed macaque. Both species are known for being aggressive. (The Star, 7 October)

Assignment 2

Name : Arman Ahmad
Email:armanahmad@nstp.com.my
Agency: New Straits Times


Being a reporter is not a very glamorous job. people do not look up to you if you mention that your a reporter. So what makes a person choose to become a reporter and how do they become successful? This were the questions that constantly goes through my mind.

This week, I had a chance to interview one of the reporter from the New Straits Times name Arman Ahmad who had been a journalist for 6 years. I browse through the New Straits Times online to search for a writer that interest me and I found him. he writes for the New Straits Times in the blog section, and his post are mostly related to bikes.

I was always curious of what motivates somebody to become a journalist, or a reporter. When I ask him this question, he answered me that it was the "adventure, romance, and idealism" that motives him to become a journalist.As far as I know, writing a story need a lot of information and detail, so where do they get such information? "Interviews, archives, cross-referenced materials from the internet." were his way of getting the materials needed.

Lastly, I had to ask him how does he spot a good story? and his answer was instinct. He said that the best clue is to see weather the story attract yourself or not. If you like it, people might like it too.

After the interview, I had a new way of looking at reporter or journalist. It is not as easy as people think and writing to get people's attention needs a lot skill and effort.

ASSIGNMENT 1

Write a basic story (hard-news style OR soft lead with nutgraph)

United States: The Day America Told the Truthis a book that consists of surveys of the people of America and their lies. The book will be release this week.

One of the surveys says that 90% of the Americans lie regularly and 36% admit that they tell important lies. Other than those results, the author also found out others lies that are common among American such as lying to parents, friends, siblings and spouses.

According to the books surveys, feelings are also the one thing that Americans lie most about, followed by income and sex.

James Patterson, the Co-author of the book classifies lies as "dark lies" and "trivial lies" which symbolizes lies that hurts others and lies that are insincere including lies on dinner and clothes.

However the book does not all surrounds around lies. Some surveys found out that 51% of Americans tells the truth about not seeing any reason in getting married.

"Americans are willing to lie at the drop of a hat. Lying is part of their lives. People say what others want to hear." Says Co-Author, James Patterson.