Writing for the Media Creating Newspaper Articles

Writing for the MediaWriting for the MediaCreating Newspaper Articles

THE HEADLINETHE HEADLINE

Short, snappy phrasesPuns or play on wordsHumorAn element of intrigue

Look for these in examplesLook for these in examples

What technique writer uses to grab your attention

What the article is about (subject)

Example #1 Tsunami Heir LiftExample #1 Tsunami Heir Lift

Subject?What technique used?

Subject: Prince William and Harry helping with aid to Asia after Tsunami

Technique: Pun heir/air

Example #2: We Wept for Wave Example #2: We Wept for Wave OrphansOrphans

Subject:Technique:

Subject: Royal family expresses their distress over devastation of tsunami

Technique: alliteration of “w”

Example #3: Downloads Go Up Example #3: Downloads Go Up LoadsLoads

Subject:Technique:

Subject: Music sales from internet downloads rising past CD sales

Technique: Up/Down creates humor

Inverted Pyramid StyleInverted Pyramid Style

Headline: Winning Lottery Ticket Sold at Supermarket

Lead: A local grocery store sold the winning $56,000 ticket for the Wisconsin Lottery’s Badger 5 game Wednesday.

The Festival Foods at 2348 Lineville Road sold the ticket that matched all five winning numbers—2,13,20,23,and 27—and the ticket-holder has 180 days to claim the prize money by visiting the Lottery’s Madison or Milwaukee offices or mailing in the ticket and claim form.

Badger 5 is a $1 daily lottery game with jackpots that start at $10,000 and grow at least $1,000 per day until they are won

For more information visit the Wisconsin Lottery website at www.wilottery.com.

News Article OrganizationNews Article Organization

Lead◦1-2 sentences◦Opening paragraph◦Not to exceed 35 words◦Most important of the 5W’s and H◦Usually NOT all◦Begins with fact that will attract more readers in that particular circulation area

Lead Example: Straight News Lead Example: Straight News StoryStory

“A second-half adjustment on defense and precision shooting proved to be successful for Wausaukee Thursday. “

Beginning detail? What question does it answer?What other questions does the lead

answer?Why begin with this? See second

paragraph…

The Lady Rangers (11-2, 9-1 Conference)had their best shooting night of the seasonen route to a 61-35 home thrashing over

Crivitz.

Now decide why they began the lead with “A second-half adjustment and a precision shooting…”

Other types of leads: FeatureOther types of leads: Feature

Impact Lead-What effect this news event will have on the reader

Quote Lead-A compelling quote that sums up its main point

Question Lead-Begins with a question the feature story will answer. Rare.

Soft/indirect lead-more like a story article , draws reader into the story—sets the scene,

Inverted Pyramid Style Inverted Pyramid Style

Lead-most important detailsLess important detailsLeast important details

Purpose: ◦Hurried readers◦Specific model for beginners◦Helps headline writers◦Helps Page layout editor

Activity #1 Dissecting a Straight Activity #1 Dissecting a Straight News StoryNews Story

Find a straight news story of at least 6 paragraphs

Separate the title and explain what techniques are used in the title. Discuss the effectiveness of the techniques.

Separate the lead. Label Who?What?Where?When?Why? How? Explain why the writer chose the detail to begin the story

Separate each paragraph and label each detail with a who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

Draw an inverted pyramid around every piece of the article except the title