Question 1 and 2

Using the following fact sheet, write a straight news article and a broadcast article:

--House valued at $150,783, according to the Rutherford County property assessor’s office, burned completely this morning

--Address: 716 Ruppert Street, in Woodland Lake subdivision

--Owner: George Mason, vice president of the First Trust Bank. Wife Janice Mason is a Realtor at Cornerstone Realty.

--No one at home at the time of the fire

--Family members include George Mason: his wife, Janice Mason; and two children, 12-year-old Amy and ten-year-old Jonathan.

--The Masons temporarily are staying with family members as they consider their options. Source: Janice Mason

--Three engines fought the fire for more than an hour

--Don Kerlinger, photographer for Daily News Journal hurt by falling timbers as he tried to take pictures of the blaze; in satisfactory condition at Middle Tennessee Medical Center with minor burns and bruises. Source: Gus Riley, executive editor, Daily News Journal.

--Allison Johnson, fire inspector, Murfreesboro Fire Department: “We have not yet located the cause of the fire. Early indications are that it was something electrical, but it will take a thorough investigation to confirm that.”

--Janice Mason, wife of George Mason: “I am just glad the children were in school. George and I both were at work. I really appreciate that one of our neighbors called the fire department when she first saw the smoke. Unfortunately, she didn’t see it until the fire was pretty far along. I am grateful we have full insurance coverage.”

--Gus Riley, executive editor, Daily News Journal: “Don’s going to be fine. I just returned from the hospital, and Don just wanted to be sure we had some photos of the fire. He’s going to be out of the office for a few days, but he’s planning to write a first-person account as soon as the doctors let him use his laptop.”

Question 3

Use the following fact sheet to write a feature lead:

--Letter signed by Gen. Robert E. Lee found by local woman this morning

--Mattie Harrington, 718 Donald Avenue

--She was going through some papers in a trunk in her attic

--Says letter was written to her great-grandfather after the battle of Gettysburg

--Says Lee talked about the battle, saying he had made some mistakes during the battle but still expressed optimism about the outcome of the war

--Letter dated August 17, 1863

--Letter now in the custody of the MTSU History Department

--Dr. Robert Weir, a professor in the History Department, is checking its authenticity

--Mattie Harrington: “I’ve looked through that trunk a hundred times, and this is the first time I’ve taken the time to read through the letters."

--Robert Weir: “This letter will have value for researchers, if it is authentic. It’s monetary value probably will be limited, but that is never quite certain when avid collectors are involved.”