Media Kit

Open publication - Free publishing - More texas

Kathy H. Leads

1.    Descriptive       
       It’s a warm day at the lake. Maybe you’re snoozing on a beach towel or lounging in a chair. Relaxation is the number one priority on your list. All of a sudden a strange buzzing sound fills the air and the smell of gasoline wafts past you. A group of rambunctious people zoom past on their jet skis, disturbing the water and the peace. As this form of personal watercraft is becoming more popular, the issue of environmental and noise pollution is becoming more prevalent.

2.     Startling Statement
        Jet Skis are involved in 35 percent of all accidents with water vessels, and the number of accidents and fatalities due to Jet Ski use has been increasing each year since 1987.

3.    Compare and Contrast       
       Since 1987, the number of people using Jet Skis has grown from about 93,000 people to over 1 million today, and consequently, the number of personal watercraft accidents has multiplied over five times the original amount.

3 Leads

Twist

    In the history of Major League Baseball, only 20 pitchers have thrown a perfect game, a game in which no players of the opposing team are allowed on base. On a warm June night, 29 year old pitcher Armando Gallaraga was one out away from pitching his way into the history books as one of the few who had achieved perfection. However, the final play of the game would come to be remembered as one of the most controversial moments in baseball history.After hitting a slow ground ball towards first baseman Miguel Cabrera, the final batter hustled down the baseline as Gallaraga rushed to cover the bag and make the final out. The play happened in a split second. To the viewer watching on TV, as well as the people watching the instant replay later, it was clearly the last out of an extraordinary game. His face revealing no emotion, first base umpire Jim Joyce had a different opinion. With a swift horizontal motion of both his arms, he called the runner safe, and changed everything.

Anecdote

    Whenever I make a call, it’s always met with a chorus of boos and cheers. That’s part of the game. I’m an umpire, and the league that I work for on my spare Saturdays and Sundays is full of protective parents and rowdy fans. I’ve had to call the police, kick people out of games, and argue with men who I would normally show only respect. Whenever I watch a professional baseball game I always watch the umpires, constantly trying to pick up tips. However, professional baseball umpiring is in danger of submitting to the increasing demands for instant replay during games. I’m here to tell you why that’s the worst mistake Major League Baseball could possibly make.

Direct Address

    Watch a Major League Baseball game, and you might notice just how many close calls there are. Oftentimes, plays occur within a split second, the runner’s foot and the smack of the ball being caught in the glove sounding  simultaneously. Being the umpire, you're faced with an immediate decision. You barely have any time to think before making the motion of your arms that signals out or safe. An entire game can rest on one call. And what happens when umpires make the wrong one? Some argue for instant replay systems. I say no.

Jamie

3 leads

 1.)Startling Statement- Tailgating with access to a restroom, something many people want. In the Super Bowl at cowboys stadium, you could have it, for an extra $440. Parking for the game at a tenth of a mile away from the stadium with tailgating was $550. When both of these numbers are added together, it comes out to almost $1000, just to park at a football game. At one point in time, it was possible to purchase a ticket for only $600, meaning some people payed more for parking then to actually be in the stadium.

             2.)Compare and Contrast- In the very first Super Bowl, a fan could enjoy the game for the low price of $10. In the most recent super bowl, it was possible to pay over 190 thousand dollars for a suite that would fit about 20 people. Even back in 1967, $10 was a very affordable price, and all of the tickets were decent, because there weren't as many seats to chose from. Ticket prices have risen to a ridiculous amount, particularly for the Dallas Cowboys, whose tickets are super expensive even in the regular season. The American sport is becoming harder and harder to attend, even for Americans.

              

             3.)Narrative- Imagine a husband coming home from work excited to tell his wife some news. “Guess what? Were going to the Super bowl!” The wife becomes very excited and can’t wait to tell everyone. She then says “How did you manage to win tickets?” “I didn’t win them, I bought an entire suite, so we can even take some of out friends and family!” “Well that’s great! How much did it cost you?” “That’s the best part! I got them for only four times more money then we make in a year!” he says as his wife suddenly becomes much less excited. 

Matthew