With both tennis teams crowded around the t.v. in their resort suite, they anxiously awaited the news that could determine their fate for the rest of the semester. Not only were they scheduled to play a match the following day, but they were to return to campus and resume classes directly after spring break ended. Once they received the email that Morningside would be switching to remote learning and extending spring break, the players were excited to have an extension for another memorable week in Florida. They never would have guessed that from that point on, life would never be the same. 

Link to story: https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/feature-story-balancing-act/

Analyzing: The lead works because it doesn’t jump right into the story. The story is covering a former professional-athlete returning to Ohio State to complete her degree – so the story does not have a time restraint or sense of urgency. Though it starts off simple with the phrase “Life is a balance”, it goes on to make a point that after finding a balance one can return to the complexities of life they put to the side earlier in life and still be fulfilled with life. I think the lead was short and sweet, not too descriptive but also not too vague.

Rewrite:

1. “Practice what you preach is a common statement often upheld for coaches of professional sports. Talking about the importance of an academic degree but leaving no time for studying or homework is contradicting and can cause resentment. Cheryl Stacy tried to keep this in mind when she was hired as the golfing coach at University of Michigan. After making considerations for her athletes’ academic successes, Stacy found her motivation to return to her degree she put on pause for 20 years.” (Standard)
2. “Peace. The sound of the tress rustled by wind is all that fills the air as she prepares her swing. Already at her last hole, Cheryl Stacy knows there is nothing that can distract her from taking the perfect swing and hitting a hole-in-one – not even her Calculus final tomorrow that she has yet to study for. Now is not the time, but maybe one day, Stacy thinks to herself.” (Rule-buster?)
3. “As a college athlete, you most likely understand the commitment that is necessary to maintain athletic success as well as academic proficiency. But let me ask you this – if you won 3 Big Ten and NCAA championships and had professional recruiters knocking down your door, would you take the opportunity or continue pursuing plan b, your degree?” (Casual)

Story used: “Biden plans to purchase 200M more doses of Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines” https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-announce-purchase-200m-doses-pfizer-moderna-covid/story?id=75497450&cid=clicksource_4380645_5_heads_hero_live_hero_hed

5 feature stories that can come from this news story :

1. Where the motivation for getting COVID vaccines to every American came from and how the elections may have had an impact on it.
2. Shortage of vaccines and what that means for hospitals
3. Biden’s hopes of what the world will look like after the vaccines are given out
4. Why children under the age of 16 have yet to be signed off on getting the vaccine
5. What “herd-immunity” means for a nation

As an audience member, I would most like to hear about Biden’s, and all those involved with the administering of the vaccine, hopes for what the world will look like after the vaccines are all said and done. Understanding their hopes will allow for a more humanized side of the reality of the situation, knowing they have long-term goals ahead. I would also be interested to know their thoughts on how those who do not receive the vaccine would be affecting the situation, or if they even know this information. I’m more interested in what they are thinking about everything and what is the cause of these thoughts!