News Writing in Agricultural Communication Agriculture Communication and Leadership

News Writing in News Writing in Agricultural Agricultural

CommunicationCommunication

Agriculture Communication Agriculture Communication and Leadershipand Leadership

Unit ObjectivesUnit Objectives010802-0401 Students will summarize agriculture print media. 010802-0402 Students will identify career opportunities. 010802-0403 Students will outline news writing basics. 010802-0404 Students will identify, label and use proofreader’s marks. 010802-0405 Students will identify, label and use punctuation marks. 010802-0406 Students will summarize AP style. 010802-0407 Students will explain how the Stylebook is formatted and should be used. 010802-0408 Students will write a news story.

Ag Print MediaAg Print Media

First MagazinesFirst Magazines– Agricultural Museum-Agricultural Museum- established in established in

D.C., 1810D.C., 1810– American Agriculturist-American Agriculturist- established in established in

N.Y., 1842N.Y., 1842– Successful Farming-Successful Farming- established in Iowa, established in Iowa,

19021902


First Journals (early 1800’s)First Journals (early 1800’s)– American FarmerAmerican Farmer– Plough BoyPlough Boy– New England FarmerNew England Farmer


Today’s MagazinesToday’s Magazines– Western HorsemanWestern Horseman– FFA New HorizonsFFA New Horizons– Successful FarmingSuccessful Farming

Today’s JournalsToday’s Journals– Farm JournalFarm Journal– Small Farmer’s JournalSmall Farmer’s Journal


Agricultural Print MediaAgricultural Print Media– Farm publications continue to be the Farm publications continue to be the

main source of information for many main source of information for many agriculturistsagriculturists

– Now, not only in print, but on line; Now, not only in print, but on line; electronic versions on the Internetelectronic versions on the Internet

Issue: Control v. Paid?Issue: Control v. Paid?

Controlled SubscriptionsControlled Subscriptions– Magazines are “free”Magazines are “free”– How does the magazine know whom to How does the magazine know whom to

send to?send to?

Paid SubscriptionsPaid Subscriptions– Ownership and valued by reader (they Ownership and valued by reader (they

pay for it!)pay for it!)

Other Ag Print MediaOther Ag Print Media

State Agricultural MagazinesState Agricultural Magazines– Utah Farm Bureau NewsUtah Farm Bureau News

Livestock PublicationsLivestock Publications– Published by breed associationsPublished by breed associations– Feature articlesFeature articles– Target advertisementTarget advertisement– Political articlesPolitical articles

Career OpportunitiesCareer Opportunities

Most jobs require a college degree in Most jobs require a college degree in a liberal arts departmenta liberal arts department

Competition is less in lower-paying, Competition is less in lower-paying, entry-level jobs in smaller marketsentry-level jobs in smaller markets

Usually easily able to transfer into Usually easily able to transfer into related fieldsrelated fields

Writers and AuthorsWriters and Authors

Nonfiction writers gather information, Nonfiction writers gather information, select and organized the material and select and organized the material and use the written word to convey the use the written word to convey the messagemessage

Writers revise writingsWriters revise writings

Copy writers write advertising copy for Copy writers write advertising copy for publication or broadcast, or to promote publication or broadcast, or to promote the sale of goods and servicesthe sale of goods and services

Writers and AuthorsWriters and Authors

Newsletter writers prepare newslettersNewsletter writers prepare newsletters

Writers and authors often write speechesWriters and authors often write speeches

Often produce material for publication on Often produce material for publication on the internet; must have knowledge of the internet; must have knowledge of web sites, layout and design web sites, layout and design

Technical WritersTechnical Writers

Write scientific and technical information into Write scientific and technical information into layman’s terms; simplify the complicatedlayman’s terms; simplify the complicated

Prepare medical reports or equipment Prepare medical reports or equipment manualsmanuals

Interpret data for general readershipInterpret data for general readership

May also assist in layout workMay also assist in layout work

EditorsEditors

Chose and edit material for publication Chose and edit material for publication or broadcastor broadcast

Revise a writer’s writings for publicationRevise a writer’s writings for publication

May do original writingMay do original writing

Oversee production of work Oversee production of work (publications)(publications)

EditorsEditors

Several types of editorsSeveral types of editors– Executive editor- oversees assistant editor, Executive editor- oversees assistant editor,

final say in what goes into the final publicationfinal say in what goes into the final publication– Assistant editor- responsible for specific portion Assistant editor- responsible for specific portion

of newspaper or magazine (e.g. weather, of newspaper or magazine (e.g. weather, editorials, sports)editorials, sports)

– Assignment editor- assign reporters to storiesAssignment editor- assign reporters to stories– Copy editor- review reporter’s work for Copy editor- review reporter’s work for

grammar, accuracy and contentgrammar, accuracy and content

Editors often have assistantsEditors often have assistants

FreelanceFreelance

A writer or photographer who A writer or photographer who sells work to magazines, sells work to magazines, newspapers, or Web sites newspapers, or Web sites without a long-term commitment without a long-term commitment to any of them.to any of them.

FreelanceFreelance

Four distinct types of freelance Four distinct types of freelance markets existmarkets exist– MagazineMagazine– NewspaperNewspaper– InternetInternet– Advertising marketsAdvertising markets

FreelanceFreelance Have rights to work, usually lease work to Have rights to work, usually lease work to

publications but sometimes sell outright. publications but sometimes sell outright. – First-time usage rights means the publisher get First-time usage rights means the publisher get

to use the work for the first time and for to use the work for the first time and for specific length of time.specific length of time.

– Unlimited usage means the publisher can use Unlimited usage means the publisher can use the work as many times as they would like the work as many times as they would like within a given amount of time.within a given amount of time.

– Exclusive rights means the publisher purchase Exclusive rights means the publisher purchase the work indefinitely and can use it however the work indefinitely and can use it however they would like tothey would like to

FreelanceFreelance

The job of selling articles and photos The job of selling articles and photos is very competitive as the agriculture is very competitive as the agriculture market is small and specific.market is small and specific.

Working ConditionsWorking Conditions

Work in private offices, cubicles, or Work in private offices, cubicles, or open officesopen offices

Some travel for research and Some travel for research and interviews, others use phone calls and interviews, others use phone calls and research in libraries and on the internetresearch in libraries and on the internet

35-40 hours a week, excluding 35-40 hours a week, excluding overtime for deadlinesovertime for deadlines

Working ConditionsWorking Conditions Freelance writers have a more flexible Freelance writers have a more flexible

schedule, but must be strict in their schedule, but must be strict in their scheduling and work to please the clientscheduling and work to please the client

Back pain, exhaustion and strained eyes Back pain, exhaustion and strained eyes are some physical discomfortsare some physical discomforts

Expanding job marketExpanding job market

Earn anywhere from $20,000-80,000 Earn anywhere from $20,000-80,000 depending on the positiondepending on the position

Working ConditionsWorking Conditions

Related jobs includeRelated jobs include– AnnouncersAnnouncers– Interpreters and translatorsInterpreters and translators– News analystsNews analysts– Reporters and correspondentsReporters and correspondents– Public relations specialistsPublic relations specialists

News Writing BasicsNews Writing Basics

SpellingSpelling– Correctly spelled words add to your workCorrectly spelled words add to your work– Misspelled words cause doubt and loss Misspelled words cause doubt and loss

of credibilityof credibility– Spell check can’t catch everything, so Spell check can’t catch everything, so

always proofread (e.g. to vs. too; two vs. always proofread (e.g. to vs. too; two vs. tow)tow)

News Writing BasicsNews Writing Basics

GrammarGrammar– Poor grammar can again cause doubt and Poor grammar can again cause doubt and

loss of credibilityloss of credibility– Follow the rules from your English teachersFollow the rules from your English teachers– Make sure you are using words correctly Make sure you are using words correctly

(e.g. affect vs. effect; their vs. there vs. (e.g. affect vs. effect; their vs. there vs. they’re)they’re)

““The difference between the right word and The difference between the right word and the nearly right word is the same as that the nearly right word is the same as that between lightning and the lightning bug.”between lightning and the lightning bug.”

Mark TwainMark Twain

Writing for an AudienceWriting for an Audience

Consider who you are writing forConsider who you are writing for

Most articles are written on a junior high Most articles are written on a junior high reading levelreading level

Writing at a lower level is easier and Writing at a lower level is easier and writing at a higher level takes practicewriting at a higher level takes practice

Use short sentences and short paragraphsUse short sentences and short paragraphs

ABC’s of JournalismABC’s of Journalism

A-AccuracyA-Accuracy

B-BrevityB-Brevity

C-ClarityC-Clarity


AccuracyAccuracy- 100% correct; always check, - 100% correct; always check, double check, and check again; if work double check, and check again; if work is not accurate, you lose credibilityis not accurate, you lose credibility

BrevityBrevity- direct and concise; get point - direct and concise; get point across as soon as possible for those across as soon as possible for those who are just glancing to find who are just glancing to find information; don’t waste the reader’s information; don’t waste the reader’s timetime


ClarityClarity- makes sense; can the reader - makes sense; can the reader understand the ideas you are understand the ideas you are attempting to communicate?attempting to communicate?– Stick to the facts. Unless writing an Stick to the facts. Unless writing an

opinion piece, keep your opinion to opinion piece, keep your opinion to yourself.yourself.

WW55 + H = The Basics + H = The Basics Who? is involved, the subject of the Who? is involved, the subject of the

story, those people important to the story, those people important to the storystory

What? happened to make this a storyWhat? happened to make this a story

Where? did the story take placeWhere? did the story take place

When? did the story take placeWhen? did the story take place

Why? did this happenWhy? did this happen

How? did this happenHow? did this happen

Inverted PyramidInverted Pyramid

Presents all vital information in the opening Presents all vital information in the opening so that readers can decide for themselves if so that readers can decide for themselves if they want to read the whole articlethey want to read the whole article

Following paragraphs present supporting in-Following paragraphs present supporting in-depth informationdepth information

Information flows wellInformation flows well

HandoutHandout

Using QuotesUsing Quotes

All punctuation for the quote should be All punctuation for the quote should be inside the quotation marksinside the quotation marks– e.g. “Put punctuation inside the quotation e.g. “Put punctuation inside the quotation

marks,” said the professormarks,” said the professor

Each quote from a new speaker gets a new Each quote from a new speaker gets a new paragraphparagraph– e.g. “Why do I have to add a new paragraph?” e.g. “Why do I have to add a new paragraph?”

asked James.asked James.– ““Because there is a new speaker,” answered Because there is a new speaker,” answered

MikeMike

Using QuotesUsing Quotes Don’t attribute a single quote more than Don’t attribute a single quote more than

onceonce– e.g. “A single quote should not be attributed e.g. “A single quote should not be attributed

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

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

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

subject, but still one quote.”subject, but still one quote.”

Parts of NewsParts of News

News DeterminantsNews Determinants – set of criteria – set of criteria used to decide if news is fit to write used to decide if news is fit to write and printand print

News ComponentsNews Components – what the subject – what the subject of the article is governed by of the article is governed by


News Determinants News Determinants – Timeliness – the freshness of a storyTimeliness – the freshness of a story– Proximity – term that describes where the Proximity – term that describes where the

story took place and who it affectsstory took place and who it affects– Importance – picking stories based on the Importance – picking stories based on the

importance to the listening or reading importance to the listening or reading audienceaudience

– Policy – focusing on pertinent subjects, Policy – focusing on pertinent subjects, rejecting stories that do not fit editorial rejecting stories that do not fit editorial goalsgoals


News ComponentsNews Components– Conflict – struggles faced by peopleConflict – struggles faced by people– Unusualness – anything out of the Unusualness – anything out of the

ordinary ordinary – Progress – self explanatory, moving Progress – self explanatory, moving

forward in a pursuit forward in a pursuit – Human Interest – connect emotionally Human Interest – connect emotionally

with the reader or listenerwith the reader or listener

EditingEditing

Editing is a way to fix your work and Editing is a way to fix your work and make it better. make it better. – The goal is to make things The goal is to make things clearer and clearer and

more concisemore concise. . – Put away the piece you have written, Put away the piece you have written,

allowing yourself time to distance allowing yourself time to distance yourself from the work before looking at it yourself from the work before looking at it with fresh eyes. with fresh eyes.

– Editing is possibly the most important Editing is possibly the most important aspect in writingaspect in writing

EditingEditing

Redundant phrases – don’t repeat yourself Redundant phrases – don’t repeat yourself over and over again. Say it once and say it over and over again. Say it once and say it clearly.clearly.

Clichés – should be avoided; they are Clichés – should be avoided; they are overused. overused.

Colloquialisms – local jargon, written works Colloquialisms – local jargon, written works should be understood by readers should be understood by readers everywhere, not just locally. everywhere, not just locally.

EditingEditing

Unnecessary phrases – sentences that Unnecessary phrases – sentences that start with “there are” or “there is” are start with “there are” or “there is” are weak and should be revisedweak and should be revised

Passive sentences – use active verbs. Passive sentences – use active verbs.

Inaccurate facts – check, double check and Inaccurate facts – check, double check and check again. check again. – You may have initially gotten the facts correct You may have initially gotten the facts correct

in your research but written them incorrectlyin your research but written them incorrectly

EthicsEthics

“Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you.” -Harriet Ward Beecher

Derived from “ethos” meaning “the character of disposition of a community, group, person, etc.”

EthicsEthics

The science of human duty; The science of human duty; The body of rules of duty drawn from The body of rules of duty drawn from

this science;this science; A particular system of principles and A particular system of principles and

rules concerning duty, whether true rules concerning duty, whether true or false;or false;

Rules of practice in respect to ethicsRules of practice in respect to ethics

Ethical ConsiderationsEthical Considerations As a journalist, your job is to tell the facts;As a journalist, your job is to tell the facts;

– Don’t inject personal feeling into your workDon’t inject personal feeling into your work

Respect others’ opinions – Respect others’ opinions – – You may not always agree with a person you You may not always agree with a person you

are interviewing; are interviewing; – Cover all sides of the issue fairlyCover all sides of the issue fairly

Treat other people as you would like to be Treat other people as you would like to be treated – the golden ruletreated – the golden rule

Ethical ConsiderationsEthical Considerations

Always strive for truth and accuracy Always strive for truth and accuracy – – – With accuracy comes truth; With accuracy comes truth; – With truth comes integrityWith truth comes integrity

Maintain your integrity – Maintain your integrity – – Always do the right thingAlways do the right thing

Ethical Questions for a Ethical Questions for a JournalistJournalist

Why am I concerned about this story, Why am I concerned about this story, photo or graphic?photo or graphic?

What is the news? What good would What is the news? What good would publication do?publication do?

Is the information complete and accurate Is the information complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge?to the best of my knowledge?

Am I missing an important point of view?Am I missing an important point of view?

Ethical Questions for a Ethical Questions for a JournalistJournalist

What does my reader need to know?What does my reader need to know?

How would I feel if the story or photo were How would I feel if the story or photo were about me or a member of my family?about me or a member of my family?

What are the likely consequences of What are the likely consequences of publication? publication? – What advantages or disadvantages may result?What advantages or disadvantages may result?

What are my alternatives?What are my alternatives?

Will I be able to clearly and honestly explain Will I be able to clearly and honestly explain my decision to anyone who challenges it?my decision to anyone who challenges it?

PlagiarismPlagiarism

A piece of writing that is copied from A piece of writing that is copied from another source that is presented as another source that is presented as the writer’s ownthe writer’s own– IllegalIllegal– Can cost you your reputation Can cost you your reputation – Always cite and attribute informationAlways cite and attribute information

Proofreaders’ MarksProofreaders’ Marks

Handout

Punctuation MarksPunctuation Marks

Apostrophe – possessives ( ’ )Apostrophe – possessives ( ’ )

Brackets – cannot be transmitted Brackets – cannot be transmitted over news wire ( [] )over news wire ( [] )

Colon – introduce lists, tabulations, Colon – introduce lists, tabulations, texts, etc, can be used to express texts, etc, can be used to express emphasis ( : )emphasis ( : )


Comma – separate elements in a Comma – separate elements in a series ( , )series ( , )

Dash – abrupt change, series within a Dash – abrupt change, series within a phrase, attribution, datelines ( - )phrase, attribution, datelines ( - )


Ellipsis – used to indicate the deletion Ellipsis – used to indicate the deletion of one or more words, also indicates of one or more words, also indicates a hesitation or pause ( … )a hesitation or pause ( … )

Exclamation point – emphatic Exclamation point – emphatic expression, surprise, or other strong expression, surprise, or other strong emotion (do not over use) ( ! )emotion (do not over use) ( ! )


Hyphen – used as a joiner, used to avoid Hyphen – used as a joiner, used to avoid ambiguity or to form a single idea from ambiguity or to form a single idea from two or more words ( - )two or more words ( - )

Parentheses – jarring to the reader, Parentheses – jarring to the reader, sometimes do not appear in news print so sometimes do not appear in news print so there is danger that the reader may there is danger that the reader may misinterpret the information intended to misinterpret the information intended to be inside the parentheses, generally used be inside the parentheses, generally used around logos ( ( ) )around logos ( ( ) )


Periods – end of a declarative sentence, a Periods – end of a declarative sentence, a mildly imperative sentence, some rhetorical mildly imperative sentence, some rhetorical questions and of an indirect question (. )questions and of an indirect question (. )

Question mark – end of a direct question Question mark – end of a direct question ( ? )( ? )

Quotation marks – dialogue or conversation, Quotation marks – dialogue or conversation, direct quotations ( “ ” )direct quotations ( “ ” )


Semicolon – used to indicate a Semicolon – used to indicate a greater separation of thought and greater separation of thought and information than a comma can information than a comma can convey but less than the separation convey but less than the separation that a period implies; to link that a period implies; to link independent clauses ( ; )independent clauses ( ; )

What is AP Style?What is AP Style?

Used to write for a general audienceUsed to write for a general audience

Must know AP Style to get Must know AP Style to get ANYANY job in job in print journalismprint journalism

Prevents writers from making “errors Prevents writers from making “errors of fact, grammar and punctuation”of fact, grammar and punctuation”

What AP Style isWhat AP Style is

““Likes information presented so it is:Likes information presented so it is:– Totally accurateTotally accurate– Totally clear to anyone with a high school Totally clear to anyone with a high school

educationeducation– At tight as can be, given No. 1 and No. 2.At tight as can be, given No. 1 and No. 2.– Inoffensive, unless there is an overriding Inoffensive, unless there is an overriding

reason, central to a significant news reason, central to a significant news story, to include potentially offensive story, to include potentially offensive words or concepts.”words or concepts.”

Stylebook is Formatted…Stylebook is Formatted…

Stylebook keyStylebook key– At the beginning of the book, key to all At the beginning of the book, key to all

entriesentries

Arranged like a dictionary; Arranged like a dictionary; alphabetical by words, names and alphabetical by words, names and conceptsconcepts

The News StoryThe News Story

News Story Job Sheet

Documents

News Writing in Agricultural Communication Agriculture Communication and Leadership