Stolen exams - write story from notes

Journalism 1 Homework No. 8: First Complete Story Homework

Pretend the following are your notes.  You are to write a complete news story of between 200 and 300 words using only the information on this sheet.  There are numerous style and spelling errors throughout, so please correct them. The first person you talk to is Dr. Rita Chase, Dean of Students at El Camino College.  You are the reporter.  Good luck!

Reporter:         We’ve had reports that students were approached this morning at bus stops near campus and in parking lots by individuals offering to sell copies of tests that will be given during the final exam period that starts tomorrow.  Have you heard of these reports?

Dean Chase:   Not about selling tests, but it’s possible.  The duplicating services office was burglarized last night.

Reporter:         Were any final exams stolen?

Dean Chase:   Regrettably, yes.

Reporter:         Could you please fill me in on what happened?

Dean Chase:   Yes. When Mrs. Betty Sturm, Director of duplicating services, arrived for work at 7:45 a.m. this morning, she found a window in the office had been broken.  Apparently, entry was gained that way.  Two locked steal cabinets containing duplicated exams and copies of exams to be duplicated had been pried open.

Reporter:         How many types of exams were involved?

Dean Chase:   Everything in the file cabinets has to be regarded as being compromised.  That means three English exams, two History, one Economics, two Chemistry and one Math.

Reporter:         Were all copies of each exam taken?

Dean Chase:   About ten copies of the History and the Chemistry exams were taken because we know how many had been run off. Just a few copies of some of the others were taken.  The English exams hadn’t been run off yet, but the professors original copies may have been copied.

Reporter:         Any clues as to who did this?

Dean Chase:   We have some leads that the campus police department is following up on, but I’ve been asked not to discuss that or give any specifics. All I can say is that an investigation is underway and we hope to catch the person or persons who did this.

Reporter:         What effect will this have on the classes involved?

Dean Chase:   Naturally, we’ve informed all of the professors who had left tests to be processed.  They are probably making substitute exams right now and we’ll do whatever we can to rush them out so that they’re ready for the scheduled exam periods.

Reporter:         Thank you, Dean Chase.

Following this interview, you talk to others.  Here are their quotes:

Dr. John Demerjian, History Professor:        My final exams are always madeup new each semester.  However, this Fall I spent alot of time preparing my tests.  I have a good mind to call a task force together to see if they can do something about the lack of security over there.

Jonas Fineman, English major: I am so glad this happened.  I know the Professor’s will have to rush out tests and they’ll be easier, I’ll bet.

Harry Mintey, Sargent for the campus police department:     I think we will be able to crack this case.  We have some good leads.

Refused to give name: A group of four students claimed they knew who stole the exam. One refused to give her name, but said she overheard a young woman and an older man talking to a third person about how easy the theft was.