THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

BY CONTAJAZZ

SEPTEMBER 12, 2009

Mutale Chileshe (Student)

The University of Zambia
School of Humanities and Social Science
Deparment of Mass Communication

All rights reserved. However, the following can be use by anyone at no

cost and without restrictions whatsoever.
Preface

Everytime I wish to write my mind becomes blocked. I can’t the right

word, and if I have it I’m not sure of how to say it. How is it that others
find it easy to speak and write?
I am aware of the power of effective communication. Those who
can speak effectively can spread share their idea and influence for
good, or bad. Those who can write well become immortal; Aristotle
(Greece); Shakespeare (UK); Francis Kasoma (Zambia); Benjamin
Franklin (United States)just to mention a few.
I am mass communication student and as a requirement of my
programme and future career, I have to learn the ropes of public
speaking and journalism. I have difficulties in speaking publicly not
because I’m shy but because I fear I not say the right things or say
enough things.
As a student of journalism I am required to write stories.
Gathering and structuring a story is a painstaking activity for me.
However, I did not lose hope or feel hopeless. I began to review
how people in the industry do it. I reviewed newspapers and magazine
articles, listened to radio and television news. It has been ten months
now and the following is what I have managed to gather.
However, I have not provided any example of situations where
they use. That would have taken so much time to type and space to
cover. I hope you scatter around and find some examples of you own.
This publication is meant to make life easy and not to make you lazy.
This is an on-going project which will benefit me and others who
might be in my situation. If you feel you have something to contribute
feel free to contact me. Every man can relate to another man’s
problem.

Stay contagious “pass on happiness and courage to others”

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 Chileshe Mutale aka conta-jazz
Con10jazz@gmail.com
The following are good speech and paragraph openers:
According to…
Although most people…
As an…it is important that you/for you…
As society has changed since…
As the use of X has become more…
As the world become complex…
As x said…
As you…
Despite their similarities…
Even tough…
Everyone in the world…
Here are…
Imagine…
In a recent survey…
In an ideal world…
In many ways…
It has been (#) years since…
Let’s say…
Many people believe…
Most people tend…
Not long ago,…
Nothing is more important to…than…
On month day, year…
One of the best (suggestion, advice)…
One of the biggest reasons…
One of the major concerns…
It is increasingly becoming
One of the ways…
Recently
Currently
Sometimes you/we/people/audiences…
The average..
The best way/technique/method of…
The first step toward…
There are…
There are a number of…
There is a tendency…
Throughout history…
Today, more than ever,…
We have all heard that…
When it comes to…

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X is (marvelous, incredible, fundamental, vital, essential, wonderful, awful,
useful, useless, important…etc)
X once said…

By Chileshe, Mutale
Student of life and Humanitarian

The following make a strong emotional appeal if used appropriated:

Ambition…fulfilled ambitions
Aspirations…our aspirations
Bond…strong bond
Change…there need for change Provocative Virtues:
Cost…cost our life.
Determination Honesty
Dreams…our dreams Justice
Effort Responsibilities
Energy
Respect for others and
Experience
dignity
Expectations…realistic expectations
Faith…we have faith and trust Integrity
Freedom Truthfulness
Courage
Future…a better tomorrow a better futures
Goal…our goal Understanding
Honour Generosity
Hopes…our hopes Acceptance
Justice/remedy Patience
Life Serenity
Opportunity Compassion
Peace humour
Pride
Problems…there is problem
Promises…we promise
Prosperity
Time
Trust…we have faith and trust
Unity
Visions…my vision
……………….
Accomplished
Achieved
Addressed
Betrayed
Dashed
Destroyed
Diminished
Elevated
Fulfilled
In vain
Met

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Raised
Reduced
Restored
………………………………………………………………………………………………
By Chileshe, Mutale
Student of life and Humanitarian

Common verbs in newswriting:

Says…says {THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND NEUTRAL VERB IN

JOURNALISM}

First, use ‘says’ or ‘said’, and if it doesn’t make sense (though rarely), you
can use any of the following verbs. However, most of them should be avoided
unless situation demands it appropriate and necessary to use them.
Questions that elicit news:
Announced
Appealed…has appealed What’s your comment? (Always
Arrested…has arrested (policed) best)
Awarded…has awarded What’s your response? (Very okay)
Bemoan…has bemoaned What’s your reaction? (To be
Called on…has called on avoided)
Calls for What is it that you doing to..?
Challenged….has challenged What measures have put in place to
Charged deal with…?
Clarified What steps have been taken?
What policies have been adopted,
Commended…has commended
proposed or put in place?
Disbursed
How much…?
Disclosed
How many..?
Dismissed
Donated
What: Measures
Expressed (gratitude, worry, concern, happiness) Activities
Fear Policies
Fined Plans
Given Steps Strategies
Is expected…today/tomorrow/ on day expected Programs
Noted…noted that ---------
Observed…has observed To deal with prepared
Pleaded guilty/innocent To address have
Predicted…has predicted To ensure adopted
Rated…has been rated To avoid Taken
Recorded…records/has recorded Aligned
Rejected Set out
Risk…risk Put in place
Sentenced…has sentenced/has been sentenced (in court cases)/
Stated
Supported Remember:
To host People say things.
Told Figures show things.
Urged…has urged Committee report and say
things.
Investigations reveal things.
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Warned…has warned

By Chileshe, Mutale
Student of Life and Humanitarian

The following are some of the important life skills I have to acquire:

1. Learning to learn
2. Decision making
3. Problem solving
4. Critical thinking
5. Goal setting
6. Planning and organizing
7. Wise use of resources
8. Communication
9. Social skills
10.Leadership
11.And self-motivation

Realize, become Aware and Recognize (RAR) keys to self actualization

and knowledge.

Life is learnt by living. Many people think the way life is that the way it
always be. Largely that’s wishful or negative thinking. You may never
know when life would change or hand over to you. You situation is
never permanent. You must not lose will to live and blame others. No
one owes someone a life. We are all here, to learn, adapt or adopt,
apply and develop. You should never just exits, learn some or win
some. Don’t be a victim or a loser. Life cannot wait. Don’t hesitate. It is
your DESTINY!!

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By Chileshe, Mutale
Humanitarian and student of life

Miscellaneous

Things to think about as movie director

C.L.A.W.P.C.S

1. Cameras
2. Lighting
3. Actors
4. Weather
5. Property
6. Costumes
7. Sound

Things to think about as a designer:

C.L.O.S.A.C

1. Colours
2. Layout
3. Organisation
4. Size
5. Audience
6. Content

Thing to think about a project manager

1. Concept
2. Design phases
3. Planning
4. Testing
5. Launching

Two things about leaning:

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 First, when you are at school, PACKAGE yourself with
knowledge, Understanding and Skills.

Second, the industry doesn’t care or know you and owes you
nothing, so learn to MARKET yourself (S.K.U.P.A in Skills, Knowledge,
, Understanding, Practice or professionalism and Application). Make
them believe they can’t do without you.

Miscellaneous
Headline phrases:
The impact of
The power of

Leadership duties:
Tasks need
Procedural needs
Maintenance needs

Aspects of a topic:
Kinds of
Functions of
Things to avoid
Things to consider

Demanding or challenges and rewarded

Spread Ideas and influence: contajazz

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