Chapter 3 - Basic News Story 2 (Print a copy of this page; then write the story).

Here are some reminders about writing a basic news story:

• Lead: Ask yourself what the story is about. Try stating the idea in one sentence of fewer than 25 words.
• Statement of the problem or conflict: What caused the action in the lead?
• Backup for the lead: Provide details about how and why.
• Impact: Was there any impact on the reader? What is the significance of the story?
• Background: What background was relevant to the current action?
• Attribution: Make sure you tell the reader where or from whom you got the information.
• Ending: A good quote, the final action or the next step.

Instructions: Write a basic news story based on this information from a story that appeared in The Des Moines Register. (Used with permission.)

Who: Iowa State University officials and leaders of the Heterosexual Society.

What: University officials won't permit the Heterosexual Society to be a registered campus group; officers of the group object.

When: Use yesterday for purposes of your story, but name the day of the week.

Where: At the university.

Why: University officials say the group discriminates against homosexuals who can't be full members.

How: Lisa Norbury Kilian, assistant dean of students, said the university turned the group down becuase it refuses to admit homosexuals as full members. No registered campus group can discriminate on the basis of color, handicap, nationality, race, religion, marital status or sexual orientation, she said.

Significance: Group officers say the decision violates their rights of free speech and freedom of association.

Attribution: Most of the comments come from Dee Backes, a member of the group and from Kilian.

Backup information: Put the following information in the order that you think makes sense.

Backes, a senior from Decorah, is a member of the Heterosexual Society. She said she suspects the group already has a gay member, but she said he is a plant from one of the two gay campus groups. She said homosexuals can join the group's two lower levels of memembership, but to be promoted to the top two levels, members must sign forms promising that they are straight.

Backes said the Heterosexual Society would bring in speakers, sponsor a heterosexual pride week and have other activities "to fight the misinformation on homosexuals and AIDS." She insisted that the university decision violates her rights of free speech and freedom of association. "We want to be a registered group because we have the right to be a registered group."

Kilian said that giving special membership privileges and rank to only particular members of a group because of sexual orientation is against the university's policies. Except for fraternities and sororities, which are allowed to discriminate by gender, no other group can exclude a particular group from its ranks.

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