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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_writing

http://www.economist.com/research/styleguide/

http://www.bbctraining.com/pdfs/newsstyleguide.pdf

http://www.usu.edu/journalism/faculty/sweeney/resources/ap.htm

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N! News Daily for Marth 24, 2008

Nova Coma Patient Wakes Up On N-Day!

Yesterday at 5:18pm EST a Nova who has been identified as Jason Grant, of Olivet Kansas, awoke from a ten year coma. Sources close to the recovered nova claim that Jason lapsed into a comatose state upon erupting on the original N-Day ten years ago. He has been a ward of Project: Utopia since that time.

Doctors at the Havilland Institute of Manhattan, the Triton facility where the young man currently resides, could not be reached for comment. Jason's only surviving relative, older brother David Grant said only that "We are glad and thankful that he (Jason) is on the way to a full recovery and look forward to having him come home."

<Click for full story>

N! News, March 27, 2008

T2M's Pandora finally out and about

By Daniel Lewis

Addis Ababa:

T2M's Regan 'Pandora' McLachlan has finally been seen in public after the horrific earthquake last December in Genkei, Japan, which left her severely injured due to impalement by a steel pylon. Dressed in a new uniform that proudly shows off her scarring (and the heavy black tattooing which covers it), she stood by Caestus Pax as the leader of Team Tomorrow gave this following statement:

"Due to the significant injuries that she sustained during the course of her duties, Pandora has been reassigned to Auxiliary status with T2M Central until the age of twenty-one. This is through no fault of her own or any oversight by Team Tomorrow in her training, but to be certain that her physical rehabilitation will be complete."

When questioned on the decision to bump her back to Auxiliary status after becoming one of the youngest T2M'ers ever, Pandora replied: "I'm glad to have some extra time to myself. I might get that PhD I've always wanted."

April 02, 2008

High School Disappearances Shake Up Kansas Town
Bryan Hall - AP
DOWNS, KANSAS -- The sleepy town of Downs, Kansas was the source of a new wave of anti-nova emotion when it was discovered that six of its local high school students had gone missing. The parents of the students have requested that the names be kept confidential but have expressed a deep sadness and regret that formerly upstanding members of society have gone and done such a heartless thing as taking their children.

An intersection traffic camera as well as a number of other security tapes show, quite plainly, XWF Black Circle Champion and Superstar Duke "Core" Baron driving up to the students in a quite impressive SUV as they were walking away from the local McDonald's. The conversation could not be heard but the tape showed an ecstatic reaction from the students and shortly thereafter the students climbing into the vehicle with the champion. This is the last time any witnesses saw the students.

XWF Chief Executive and professional wrestling legend Ric Flair went on record saying "This is absolutely freaking ridiculous. Whoever did this is a liar and a coward. Core's a real man, he doesn't have to prey on little kids. He's got plenty of fighters in The Combat Zone every Monday to go after. And you can bet your behind that there will be a 'special guest' match when this punk is found. WOOOoooo!!!"

Duke Baron could not be reached for comment. More to come as this drama unfolds.

April 9th, 2008

New York City - Yesterday, at a construction site in Downtown Manhattan, a man fell from a 40th story scaffold. While co-workers and witnesses watched, Mr. Dillon Sayer stepped backwards a bit too far, and fell off the scaffolding. Unlike many others who have fallen before him, Mr. Sayer survived the fall by becoming something else. He is presumed to have erupted upon impact with the ground. While we couldn't get a clear statement from Mr. Sayer, witnesses report him as getting up within seconds of impact, looking up, then passing out. When the police and ambulances arrived, Mr Sayer had already undergone a massive change. He no longer looks like a normal "baseline." He seemed to be covered in steel. He was taken, in an ambulance to Utopia's Manhattan Rashoud Facility, where he was processed and is currently undergoing evaluation. Utopia's spokesperson commented only briefly by stating, "While Mr. Sayer has become fodder for the press, please retain some modicum of civility when speaking with him. He almost died. Further comments will be made through his family."

April 12th, 2008

The N! Network - Today a tragedy turns to hope. Good evening, this is Violet Cameron with Nova Planet reporting. On today's show we have special guest Nathan Black star of his own show here on the N!network. But first we have some breaking news about last nights eruption of a teen in Texas. The police and hospital are still withholding his identity due to his age, but we at N! have learned some details of the tragic situation that we will share with you. Just to bring our viewers up to speed, incase they haven't been watching; it seems the young man and his date were enjoying an evening out and were attacked by three gang members intent on murder and rape. They would have succeeded too if the young man hadn't erupted after being hit in the head in the head by a baseball bat and then beaten. According to the statement the young lady gave the police, the men first cracked his skull open then took turns beating him with the baseball bat. Afterwards they turned their attention to the young woman and prepared to assault her. That's when the young man erupted and killed two of the attackers and scared the other away. Police are still looking for the third attacker. According to Police Chief Darrel Walters, they do have a gun with a clear set of fingerprints. He urges the attacker to turn himself in. When I spoke with the Chief, he said that it wasn't likely that the young man would be charged with any crime since it seems pretty clear from the evidence that it was a case of self-defense.

The young man was admitted to St. Elizabeth's emergency room in critical condition. His list of injuries included a cracked skull, five broken ribs, three gunshot wounds, a punctured lung, and internal bleeding. Last night despite his eruption doctors were only giving him a 5% chance of pulling through due to the extent of his injuries. Tragedy indeed.

Here's where the hope I mentioned earlier comes in. Just before the show aired, I personally spoke to the hospital and the young mans condition has been downgraded to stable. Despite the fact that he is still in intensive care doctors are now saying that with a little time they expect him to make a full recovery! Yet another miracle of the nova age.
N!network will continue to report as details come in and keep you updated on his condition. Now stay tuned, after the break we will be speaking to Nathan Black about his upcoming book, Life with Novas.

*the camera pans across the audience as they applaud and fades to commercial*

“Terrible news tonight out from Manhattan. Police and Utopian officials are looking into a bizarre murder that took place in Harlem within an old abandoned church.

Utopian officials claim a homeless man discovered the body of the enigmatic nova known as ‘The Revenant’ earlier this morning. While officials refuse to disclose any details of the crime scene reports to say that he was impaled, through the heart with a stake.

Sources have told us that Utopian novas identified the murder weapon as a stake of pure magnesium. Attached was a sign reading: “Do Not Remove, You’ve Been Warned”.

Scary stuff. We’ll have more for you as the story develops.”

Search called off for missing teen

by Ralph Johnson - May. 7, 2008 10:43 AM
The Arizona Republic

PHOENIX - Two weeks after a Phoenix youth ran away from home, the search has been called off for him. "At this point, we have no expectation to find James Guhde alive, or to find his body," Detective Gutierrez said in a prepared statement. "If he did follow through on his claims in the note he left behind and jumped into the Grand Canyon, then had he survived, we'd have found him by now. At this point, I expect that the Park Rangers and the Coconino County Police Department will turn this into a recovery mission, not a rescue mission."

Dozens of experienced hikers have been arriving at the Grand Canyon over the last two weeks to help in the search. Dozens more were turned away because the Grand Canyon Park Rangers were worried about inexperienced campers hurting themselves trying to find Guhde. "We have lost one young light," Reverand Jerad Conners, the Gudhe family's pastor and one of the experienced hikers looking for Guhde, "we don't want to lose anyone else."

Another person barred from the search was Gudhe's ex-girlfriend Jael Carver, who made news herself after her eruption earlier this year. The police have refused to comment, but it is widely believed that Carver is the woman referenced in Gudhe's final note, in which he stated that he didn't want to live in a world "where she can do what she wants, and I have to be ok with it." According to classmates, Carver and Gudhe ceased their relationship the Sunday before his disappearance, which was the last time they talked. The police have not named her as a suspect but have not allowed her to join the search. Carver has given no comment about this situation.

His parents say they are not giving up. "My son isn't dead," Mrs. Gudhe said in an emotional statment to the press. "I'd feel it if he were. He didn't do it and is hiding, or he erupted, and something's happened. But he's alive, and we'll find him."

Mr. Gudhe added, "I blame the NQA for his disappearance. They made him think he had a chance." Several online pamphlets and other materials from the NQA site were found on his home computer. The NQA, short for No Quantum Accident, advocates the safe, intentional eruption of latents. At this time, the organization urges all those interested in forcing their eruption to take as many safety precautions as they can.

Those interested in helping look for Guhde should contact Jerad Conners through the God's Light Assembly Church. Reverand Conners and his church will continue to look for Gudhe. "We don't intend to stop," he said, standing with the Guhde family. "We will look as long as it takes to bring Jimmy home."

Terat Ex-Lover Denies Slider's Murder
Associated Press, printed with permission, New York Times

In wake of the tragic and too-recent loss of international Team Tomorrow heroine Jennifer 'Slider' Landers and the suspicious and chilling events that followed at her subsequent wake, all eyes have turned outward, asking who could have been responsible for this horrible crime. Suspects are are anything but in short supply, many of whom claim allegiance to Divis Mal's terrorist group, the Teragen. One nova, specifically, was among those top suspects sought for questioning in not only the murder of Jennifer Landers, but the 2007 murder of Tibetan nova Tenzig 'Sutra' Norge, the former Team Tomorrow nova and ex-lover of Slider, Henry 'Cain' Jeager.

The infamous prodigal son of Project Utopia dated Landers four four years, between 2000 and 2004, followed by a private but reportedly tumultuous breakup. Henry then joined the Teragen shortly after the public announcement of their existence, in November of 2005. Since then, Jeager has been linked to a string of characters in the Teragen wanted for crimes ranging from robbery to murder to international terrorism.

While both Project Utopia and INTERPOL are keeping their list of suspects close to their chests, a representative from the latter agency, Director Raymond White, described Jeager as "low priority". This seemingly inexplicable exoneration came after a video tape provided to the agency by a source who remains anonymous was leaked on the OpNet, showing Henry Jeager at the Amp Room in Ibiza, Spain, for the duration of the evening's events. "We don't know everything Mr. Jeager is capable of", remarked White, "though considering what we do know, and taking into account the events that have transpired since this incident, Mr. Jeager is currently not a suspect in this crime, though make no mistake, he is still a fugitive from justice."

Shortly after this declaration, a letter addressed to the Staff Editor of the New York Times arrived at [their] offices in Manhattan, allegedly written by Jeager himself. The handwritten letter, reprinted below, reads:

"I wish to express my deepest and sincerest despair at hearing of Jennifer's murder. I cannot articulate, in mere words, the depth of sadness and anger this news provokes in me. Speaking as someone who knew her intimately, I can affirm for anyone who did not that she was every inch the person people believed she was, and then some. Her kindness, sincerity, warmth, and passion were unmatched in the world of baseline or nova, and the world is and shall be a darker place for her being taken from it.

Of course, one cannot mention Jennifer's death without addressing the cause. Many fingers have been pointed already, and by virtue of my relationship with Jennifer and my current political affiliations, I knew that some would be pointed at me. I am writing this letter chiefly to let you, the people who loved her, know that I had nothing to do with this despicable, revolting, wicked, and dishonorable deed. While Jennifer and I had a parting that left many raw emotions for quite a while, we never wished each other harm or had anything but caring and respect for each others' wishes. Ideology kept us apart, but we remained admirers unto the other. Furthermore, I also wish to state that to my present knowledge, no member of the Teragen was responsible for this act. While the Teragen and Project Utopia differ in their perspective, Jennifer was a credit to nova and baseline humanity alike. If it is revealed that any member of our organization was responsible for this heinous deed, I wish to emphasize that said individual does not speak for myself or the Teragen as a whole, and that any such person would be dealt with most harshly by his nova brethren.

It is my hope that the person or persons responsible for this action will be found and killed. Seeing as how most people figure I'm a terrorist and murderer already, I'm not going to sugarcoat it: I want the sons of bitches dead. Whoever did this has extinguished one of the brightest flames our humble history had ever sparked. Not being a church-goer, myself, I humbly submit that whatever waste of life did this suffer so slowly they'll think they're in Hell. If I find them first, I shall be their Devil.

.H Jeager"

Response to the letter has been varied. A USA Today online poll found that while only 36% of readers believe Jeager had nothing to do with the murder, a staggering 69% agree with the assertion that whoever committed the crime should face capital charges. Prior to the Slider Funeral, a full 18% of readers charged Jeager with the murder itself, but after those events, Corbin and Project Utopia have taken up the lion's share of the suspicion, leaving the Teragen with a humble 22%, and Jeager himself virtually out of the running.

What did you have to say about this? Here's what some of our readers thought, sounding off on our web log, soundoff@ap.op:

Model87: It's dumb to think that Henry would be in...

<...>

One of the 200 disappears from rehabilitation.

In a strange turn of events, Peter Nord, a British nova who has just recently finished a 10 year jail term for murder, has disappeared from a "halfway house" facility used for the psychological evaluation and rehabilitation of serious criminals.

Mr Nord made headlines in late 1998 after the public killing of Dean Leadbetter, a career criminal responsible for the murder of Nord's wife. One of the more notable facets of his case was that, after turning himself in to the police, he is believed to have not spoken a word since.

"We believe Mr Nord to be no threat to the public or himself, or he would not have been released." The British Home Secretary was quick to announce in an impromptu press conference. "Throughout his stay in Parkhurst Prison, he exhibited no criminal tendencies, no aggressive behaviour, and was in fact a model prisoner. The department of Her Majesty's Prisons is merely concerned for his state of mind and that he is able to make a successful re-entry into society."

Meanwhile, public opinion is firmly on the side of Mr Nord.
"The poor man has suffered enough." Glenda Leadbetter, 53 and mother of the deceased Dean Leadbetter, said earlier today. "My son was no angel, and did a terrible thing to a good man. My heart goes out to Mr Nord and I hope he finds a way to be whole again."

N! - THE ONLY TRUE SOURCE FOR ALL YOUR FAVORITE NOVA NEWS!

DeVries Rookie Makes His Mark

Namibia, 29 July, 2008

There's a new quantum sheriff in town, Nova-watchers!
Yesterday, the sleepy Namibian town of Ombulantu today played host to a battle of the titans as an unnamed nova, believed to be working as part of a large-scale poaching ring, went head to head with DeVries newest blue-eyed boy, Einherjar.

Witnesses watched from a safe distance as the two novas duked it out in the sweltering town square, the conflict causing a relatively low $2350 dollars of property damage before being subdued by the DeVries Elite. Namibian Game Commissioner Kutu Bowansi had this to say:

"We have had many problems with poachers coming into our national parks from across the Angolan border, but this is the first time they have had a nova with them. The Namibian government extends it's thanks to Einherjar for his prompt assistance in the arrest of these criminals."

The conflict started shortly before noon when Namibian game wardens, in cooperation with police, traced a shipment of tusks and hides to a refrigerated warehouse near the center of Ombulantu. Sources claim that the presence of a nova amongst the poachers was not suspected until a firefight broke out.

"It was terrible." An eyewitness told N! today. "The nova was firing beams of light from his hands and blowing up the police trucks right down the street from my shop! I was going to run when I saw a flying man swoop out of the sky and tackle the bad nova. I knew it was Einherjar right away because he has been seen patrolling the parks. They were hitting and kicking each other, like a XWF fight, and the bad nova tried to shoot Einherjar with his beams of light but was not able to. Then Einherjar kicked him very hard in the stomach, and the other nova flew across the square and didn't move anymore. Yes, I am glad Einherjar was here: these bad men come to Namibia and kill our animals and steal their bones. They make the parks dangerous so tourists will not come. I hope that other bad types learn that it is not a good move to poach in Namibia, even if they are a nova!"

This was the newly-minted Elite's first engagement, and it certainly bodes well for his future career. A DeVries spokesman had this to say:

"We have long had a worthwhile partnership with the government of Namibia, helping them to protect and preserve the natural beauty of their country. This is the first time it has led to a nova-level engagement, but DeVries training prepares those chosen to become Elites for any occurence, any challenge. Einherjar might be a 'rookie' as far as ratings go, but anyone selected as worthy to be a DeVries rookie is worth any 2 normal novas even before we train them. We have high hopes for him."

N! Newsflash

Somali Pirates Issue Warning to Europeans

By N!'s Akombe Resandi

Nairobi

31 August 2008



Somali pirates, who have been relentlessly attacking ships this year off the coast of Somalia, say they will kill any European they capture if France fails to release six pirates seized by French commandos earlier this month. N! Correspondent Akombe Resandi has this exclusive report from our East Africa Bureau in Nairobi.

In a telephone interview with N!, a man identified as the spokesman of the pirate group based in the northern Puntland town of Eyl says the group wants the European Union to pressure France to release the six pirates immediately.

The spokesman, who calls himself Barra and claims to be a nova, says if other European Union nations refuse to negotiate the release of his compatriots, his group will begin targeting all Europeans. He says every European hostage would be beheaded.

It is not clear whether the pirate group is in contact with European Union officials about the matter. The captured Somali pirates were transferred to Paris after French commandos mounted a raid last week to free a French couple kidnapped by pirates off the coast of Somalia on September 2.

The French military also seized another group of pirates during an operation in April. But Barra, the pirate spokesman in Eyl, made no mention of them, suggesting that the pirates taken to Paris in April may have belonged to another group.

Last week, EU foreign ministers decided to set up a special unit to coordinate warship patrols off the coast of Somalia to protect ships from piracy.

In support of that mission, Spain deployed military aircraft to the Horn on Saturday to collect information on the movements of pirates. EU foreign ministers have not decided whether to create a special naval mission to pursue the pirates and capture them.

This year, well-armed pirates, using powerful speedboats, have attacked more than 55 ships and private vessels sailing through the Gulf of Aden and along Somalia's east coast. Piracy is threatening to disrupt global commerce and driving up costs because of soaring insurance premiums.

The group in Eyl, Puntland is believed to be the largest of the various pirate groups operating in Somalia. Pirates in Eyl and the factional leaders and businessmen who control them are said to have earned about $30 million this year in ransom payments. The group is currently holding about a dozen ships and their crew hostage.

Barra insists the money ship owners are paying to free to their vessels and crew is not ransom, but fines and taxes being collected on behalf of the Somali people.

Barra says the ships are being fined and taxed because they are trespassing on Somali territorial waters. He says in the absence of a functioning central government in Somalia, his group is working hard to collect enough money to form a navy strong enough to protect the Somali coast from foreign exploitation.

Eyewitness reports from Eyl suggest that pirates are using their share of the money to build palatial homes and to buy expensive cars. They are also believed to be purchasing increasingly sophisticated weapons and boats.

Somalia descended into factional chaos after the government of dictator Mohammed Siad Barre fell in 1991. The country is one of the poorest in the world, with more than 40 percent of its population in critical need of food aid.

N! Newsflash

Somali Pirates Dealt a DeVries Deathblow!

By N!'s Akombe Resandi

Nairobi

3rd September 2008

Four days ago, this correspondent reported on the hostage situation in Somalia, with the crews of over a dozen cargo ships being held by Somali pirates under the leadership of a nova named Barra. Operating from the town of Eyl, these lawless men thumbed their noses at the world and threatened to behead every European hostage unless the pirates taken prisoner in a raid by French special forces were returned. Eyl was know to be a bustling modern-day Tortuga, a place where the pirate's life granted wealth and priviledge to all, especially their leaders.

That was three nights ago. This was Eyl two nights ago.



In a shocking and some say unwarranted move, nameless individuals supposedly acting on behalf of the European Union and various shipping companies contracted the DeVries Agency to recover the ninety hostages and deliver a chilling message to the pirates. The death toll at this time is unconfirmed, but aid workers state that at least two hundred bodies have been recovered so far. When contacted, DeVries had this to say:

"We were contracted to perform a job, and perform we did. It will be a long time, if ever, before Somali pirate activity threatens shipping in the region again. Naturally, we are not at liberty to disclose who our principles are in this matter, but we can reveal that the Elite hand-picked to spearhead this effort was none other than Einherjar, who personally defeated Barra, a dangerous rogue nova, in hand-to-hand combat."

As yet, we are unable to talk with Einherjar, one of DeVries newest signings, as he is purportedly enjoying some 'well deserved R&R' and was not to be disturbed. But DeVries have assured us on Einherjar's behalf that he will grant N! an interview soon. So watch this space, nova-fans!