Journalistic Writing

JOURNALISTIC WRITINGAgricultural Communications

COMMA RULES If a sentences is divided by a conjunction a comma should

be considered; when there is a subject and a verb on both sides of the conjunction then a comma is needed. 1 3 1 7 1 3 Example: Mary plays piccolo, and Jamie crochets.  1 3 8 4 1 7 1 Example: Mary is in honor band and FFA.

Lists: items in a list should be divided by a comma. I like apples, oranges, grapefruit and bananas.

Note: the comma between “grapefruit” and “and” is optional but is discouraged for conciseness in business writing.

 Objective: Use Associated Press (AP) Style to write a news

story.

COMMA RULES Prepositional phrases that begin a sentence

and contain four or more words should be separated by a comma. 8 2 4 1 1 3 3 1 For example – For a long time, I have felt sad. 8 4 1 3 2 1 Through this tunnel is a waterfall.

COMMA RULES Participle phrases are set off by commas.

Example – Running around track, she screamed wildly.

Adjective, adjective should be separated by a comma. 2 4 4 1 For example - the big, red house.

Note: Gerunds and infinitives acting as nouns are NEVER separated from the verb by a comma. Think: P,IG

HYPHENS Hyphens when two adjectives have to occur

together to properly describe something. 1 2 4 Hillary was red-faced.

Hillary is neither red, nor faced, but red-faced.

SEMI-COLON ; The “fat” comma, does the job of a

conjunction and a comma. Should only be used when there are two

distinct, but related ideas.

She was happy to hear the news, and her husband blogged about the achievement.

She was happy to hear the news; her husband blogged about the achievement.

OBJECTIVE: RESEARCH AND GATHER INFORMATION FOR A NEWS STORY USING APPROPRIATE METHODS.

Stories and information are determined by your audience.Consider who you are writing for

INFORMATION

NEWS COMPONENTS News Components are what connects

information to your audience.

Conflict – struggles faced by peopleUnusual – anything out of the ordinary Progress – self explanatory, moving

forward in a pursuit Human Interest – connect emotionally with

the reader or listener

SOURCE QUALITY – SEE VIDEO Not all information is the same!

Someone’s opinion should not be taken as fact.Cross reference facts.

But with a critical and careful approach the Internet can be a powerful tool.

THE INTERVIEW News stories should have 2+ interview sources.

When selecting interviewees,determine severalpossible choices.

Choose experts in the field and eyewitness when possible. Also people who are impacted make good interviewees.

Objective: Interview sources for a news story using appropriate methods.

INTERVIEW To find contacts you may need to be creative.“One story came to the newspaper where I was working.

The person said he had heard about this amazing bag pipe player and that this musician had received some unique invitations and awards. He thought the musicians name was Eric. Internet and Facebook searches were fruitless.

So, I called the local symphonic band. The director knew who I was looking for and gave me a cell phone number!” – Jacie Pressett, former reporter for Utah State Statesman

INTERVIEW - INTRODUCTIONS

Establish a rapport. Apprehension about being misrepresented and interviewing can be major roadblocks to a successful investigation.

Clearly establish who you are and your purpose!

Courtesy is a must! Work at the interviewee’s convenience but within your deadline.

THE INTERVIEW Your prepared questions

should serve as a guide to the interview, but active listening should garner more questions.

Take notes.

When the respondent says something powerful, write it in direct quotes. Clarify direct quotes.

WRITING You have completed your investigation!

Now it’s time to write.

Writers block can be combated! Put words on paper, take it step by step, even paragraph by paragraph if you need.

Objective: Use Associated Press (AP) style to write a news story.

WRITIN

G - ABC’S O

F JO

URN

ALISM

A Accuracy – Tell the truth! Your job is to inform, make sure you are fair to your readers by ensuring accuracy. Check and double check your facts.

B Brevity- direct and concise Get point across as soon as possible for

those who are just glancing to find information; don’t waste the reader’s time

C Clarity- makes senseCan the reader understand the ideas you are attempting to communicate?

WRITING Headline – Creative, catchy.

Headline from Sun Advocate April 2011

Chicken farming in ECC runs 'afowl' of ordinance

Only first word and proper nouns are capitalized.

5WS + H = THE BASICS

Who? is involved, the subject of the story, those people important to the story

What happened to make this a story? Where did the story take place? When did the story take place? Why did this happen? How did this happen?

WRITING – IN THE BEGINNING . . . First two paragraphs should contain 5 Ws + HUsing the paragraph below, identify the 5 Ws &

H.

They can provide fresh eggs, a source of food for families and help do the littlest things like eating bugs. Chickens have played an important role in the lives of some residents in East Carbon City. But now some folks may be scrambling to find a solution with the city now enforcing a zoning code that does not allow for chickens within the residential zoning area. – Source: Sun Advocate

INVERTED PYRAMID Presents all vital information in the

opening so that readers can decide for themselves if they want to read the whole article

Following paragraphs present supporting in-depth information

Information flows wellHandout

WRITING - WITH QUOTES All punctuation for the quote should be

inside the quotation markse.g. “Put punctuation inside the quotation

marks,” said the professor.

Each quote from a new speaker gets a new paragraphe.g. “Why do I have to add a new

paragraph?” asked James.“Because there is a new speaker,”

answered Mike.

WRITING -USING QUOTES Don’t attribute a single quote more than

oncee.g. “A single quote should not be attributed

more than once,” Lindsay Monahan said. “Attributing it twice would be incorrect.”

When continuing a quote from one speaker into another paragraph, don’t use closing quotation marks after the first paragraph.e.g. “Don’t close the quotations,” she said, “when

the quote continues into a new paragraph.“It is a new paragraph because it is a new

subject, but still one quote.”

Monahan said.