South Africa’s favourite radio station, Mzansi FM, has recently appointed a new host for their popular

breakfast show. You have been tasked to write a background story on Jason Boezak, the brand new voice on ‘Mzansi Breakfast’. Use the reporter’s notes.

Remember to have a look at the section on the background story in your study guide (Notes Attatched) before you start to write.

 

Reporter’s Notes

 Studied B.Com Accounting at the University of the Free State.

 Took campus tour in 1st year.

 Saw small campus radio station.

 From Kimberly, Northern Cape.

 Hobbies: Cycling (completed the Cape Argus seven times); and collecting Chinese porcelain.

 Auditioned at campus radio.

 First real job – graveyard shift on Southern Cape FM.

 Started as a radio DJ in first year at University.

 28 years old.

 Completed his B.Com degree but is lost to the accounting world.

 Moved to Gauteng a year ago.

 

Pay attention to the assessment criteria:

Assessment Criteria Marks (15)

1 Format and structure: An appropriate head must be provided.

Paragraphs are important.

5

2 Content: Use the reporter’s notes. Do not simply copy and paste

these notes. You have to write in full sentences.

5

3 Language: Your language, punctuation and spelling should be

perfect.

5

TOTAL 15

LENGTH: Your background story may not be longer than one page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The background story

Articles in this category give a more extensive description or explanation of

subjects or events that are in the news. To illustrate: after a news report on

acts of terrorism that have been committed, an article with an in-depth story

on terrorists’ personality traits, tactics and goals may appear.

Study the example below. Two South Africans, together with 19 other

people, were held hostage for many months since April 2000 by rebels on an

island in the Philippines. The developments around the captivity of the

hostages appeared as leads for several days. In the article below the reporter

gives an exposition of the independence struggle in the Philippines as the

background against which this specific incident took place.