News writing - Yeltham neighbourhood watch federation

Question One:

A survey shows that residents in Yeltham severally worried about the increasing crimes in the area, which prompted police to conduct further analysis of the findings.

The survey, conducted by Yeltham Neighbourhood Watch Federation (YNWF) and Yeltham Crime Prevention Panel (YCPP), discussed several issues such as burglary, vandalism and robbery that residents are concerned about, according to Rob Litter, Chairman of YNWF.

Mr Litter said: “Some of the findings are not a great surprise in view of the widespread perception that crimes is on the increase.”

Chief Inspector Antony Wardell, of Yeltham Police, said: “We shall be studying the results of the survey with considerable interest. We conduct our own analysis of reported crime as this allows us to target our resources where they are most needed.

“Fear of crime, as distinct from crime itself, is also an important issue because this can impact equally on people's lives. It is important to allay unnecessary fears.”

According to Mr Litter, under 68 per cent of respondents said they were worried about their cars being broken into, while 72 per cent said they were afraid of being burgled.

While Vandalism is of great concern, 57 per cent of the residents were worried about noisy youngsters hanging about on street after dark, residents over 70-year-old also said they were frightened to go out alone because of the fear of being attacked and robbed.

Jeffrey Steele, Chairman of YCPP, said the YNWF had their full support for this survey, “It highlighted the fears of some of our widely varying communities and has allowed us to identify one particular problem where we believe we can help.

“I hope very much that local businesses will back us with financial support.”

Regarding old pensioners' fear of answering the door to strangers, Gerald Parkins, Chairman of the Lupsham Estate Community Association, Yeltham, said two members of his committee are skilled in providing service to fit the door chains free of charge.

Questions Two:

A widower was burgled at her doorstep in Beck Road, Iiworth today at about 8:45am.

While two men kept telling the 84-year-old the apple tree need some work, the third man entered the kitchen and stole a wallet containing $55 in notes and change.

Two at the front door were in their 30s, fair-haired, rough appearance with local accents, One had a eagle tattoo on his left arm.

Anyone with information should contact Yeltham police on 412311.

(80 words)

Questions Three

A number of dead fish were found in the smallest of the three ponds at Yeltham Park. Findings suggest the death may be natural causes, pollution or a deliberate vandalism act.

Live fish will be kept in quarantine.

Anyone with information should call Yeltham Council's environmental health department on 375222.

(50 words)

Question Four:

Manager of a GPs' surgery

How does the service cuts affect your patient?
How many patients can roughly arrive on time now for appointment after the service cuts?
How many patients can roughly arrive on time for appointment before the service cuts?
Have you talked to your local GP association or local councillor about the issue? What suggestions did they provide?
Why doe the No 126's bus service cuts severally affect your patients?

Director of the bus company

Why do your company cut the service?
How much does your company save after cutting the service?
What did you think about the complaints from the GPs and the patients?
How are you going to resolve it?
Is there any other way the company can do instead of cutting service?

Patient:

How does the service affect you to go to your GP?
Does the bus service's cuts bring any impact on your life?
How long does it take you to your GP before the bus service's change?
Do you truly believe that the bus service's cuts have severally affect your life?
Are there any other routes you can choose to go to your GP (instead of using the current one)?
How long does it take you to your GP after the bus service's change?
Do you think the bus company should be responsible for the result of what they have been doing?

Online:

Write a comprehensive summary of the story, updated it when more information becomes available.
Embedded links guide reader to appropriate sources of information, such as the bus company's website, GP' s surgery website, or the patients' association website.
Cross refer to your newspaper which will carry a full story.
Invite reader to comment on the issue online, and see what can be done to resolve problem brought by the bus service cuts.
Create a slide show of pictures of bus No 126, show the different stops before the service cuts as well as after the service cuts, as well as show the crowds try to get on the bus.

Other digital interaction:

Using text messages to break the story and direct the recipients to your website or newspaper for more information.
Set up an e-mail alert to tell your reader subscribers about the story link of your website.
Invite a patient to write up a blog talking about the inconvenience of the bus service cuts which affect his attendance to his GP.
Set up a facebook or Twitter page and invite readers to discuss the issue.
Ask your editor to comment on the story in his print and online editorial.

Video

Video the key players of their interviews: manager of a Gps' surgery, director of the bus company, patient.
Video a local councillor or a local MP to comment on the issue.
Video the reporter standing in front of the camera talking about the story, like doing a piece of camera of him/her introduce the story.
Video the patient standing at the bus stop and waiting for the bus. (but need to be carefully of not identifying him/her)
Video residents giving sound-bite views of the issue.