Pitch: McNeal

Your Name: Brittany McNeal

Your story format for this assignment:

        Live Tweet (follow up story)

_____ Text (2 photos and/or graphics)

_____Video

__X__ Audio slideshow

Your pitch (in one short paragraph):

Most of us take the ease of our lives for granted. We are able to get out of bed, get ready for class and go to school, all on our own. For Lincoln East Sophomore Alex Toalson, those tasks are a lot harder. Alex has Muscular Dystrophy, a degenerative muscle disease that stops Alex from being able to walk, feed himself or live the typical high school student life. His mother, Colleen Toalson, has been an advocate for Alex and a tremendous hero not just for Alex, but also for their whole family.

Explain why this story is best told using this format.

This story is best told by using an audio slideshow because seeing Alex’s normal day is far more impactful that just talking about it, and getting input from both Alex and his mother, as well as, his father and brother, will put forth a lot of emotion.

How will you tell this story visually? Please be specific.

I will use a lot of close-ups mixed with some medium and wide shots to tell the story of the typical day. By mixing those styles, I believe a stronger and more visually appealing story will emerge.

List the names and titles of the sources (both those you have talked with already and those you plan to talk to) and describe what role they will play in the story.

I’ve scheduled to talk with Colleen and Alex Toalson. I may also try to get insight from his father, Brent, and his brother, but only as supporting information so I do not confuse the audience. I think Alex and Colleen are strong characters that will help to really tell this story effectively.