News writing the link campus journalism training-workshop 2011

NEWS WRITINGMr. Antonio T. Delgado

The Link Campus Journalism Training-Workshop

September 10, 2011GJC Audio-Visual Room

September 2011 Vol.1 Issue 1

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“THE PEN IS MIGHTIER

THAN THE SWORD”


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POWER OF THE PRESS selection of which news stories will be

covered amount of space or time given to stories way the story is presented images and language used to cover the

story importance given to the story by its

placement way the audience is guided to interpret the story glory of the byline


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WHAT IS NEWS?NEWS is information

about current events printed in newspapers or broadcast by the media.

--Microsoft Encarta, 2009.


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IN OTHER WORDS… Recent information Current events Somebody or something interesting Something previously unknown


The LinkELEMENTS OF

NEWSWORTHINESS Timeliness Proximity or Nearness Significance Prominence Oddity or Unusualness Conflict


The LinkELEMENTS OF

NEWSWORTHINESS Human Interest Drama Romance Progress Number


The LinkESSENTIAL QUALITIES OF

NEWS Accuracy Brevity (briefness) Clarity Style Objectivity


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SCHOOL NEWS Classroom story Enrolment story Meeting story Program/Party Story Experiments/Surveys Honor roll/Dean’s list story


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SCHOOL NEWS Awards story School Improvement story Election story School Organization/Club story Out-of-School Activity Special Occasion story


The LinkQUALITIES OF A NEWS

WRITER Must have a nose for news Must not be afraid of people Must be knowledgeable in style Must be able to finish articles on time


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SOURCES OF NEWS Beats – offices, departments, library School calendar Invitations and Memos Different clubs and organizations Sports teams Students and teachers Community


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KINDS OF NEWS Straight news –

consists of facts reported without elaboration

News feature – based on facts; writer may give his impressions, may describe and narrate without resorting to biased opinion


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STRUCTURE OF NEWSMost interesting or

most important

Least interesting

or least important

The Inverted Pyramid of news suggests that news be told in order of most interesting or important to least interesting or important


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Inverted Pyramid of News


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THE LEADI’LL TAKE

THE LEAD!


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THE LEAD The 1st paragraph: Most important part

of the article, summarizes the story The Hook: Arouses the readers interest Answers right away the most important

questions: 5 W’s and 1 H


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5 W’S AND 1 H FORMULA Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?


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WRITING THE LEADDepending on the

nature of the story and its driving news elements, a lead can focus on one or a few of the six question words.


The LinkONE STORY, SIX POSSIBLE

LEADSWho? — The school board passed a

resolution last night banning the wearing of caps in all school buildings.

What? — Cap wearing was banned in all school buildings last night after the school board passed a new resolution.



LEADSWhere? — In General de Jesus College last

night, the school board passed a resolution to ban the wearing of caps in all school buildings.

When? — Last night, the school board passed a resolution banning cap wearing in all school buildings.



LEADSHow? — By a 6-1 margin last night, the

school board passed a resolution banning hat wearing in all school buildings.

Why? — Citing a pattern of early-onset baldness in GJC’s teenagers, the board of education last night passed a resolution that restricts cap wearing in all school buildings.


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NOVELTY LEADSAstonisher Lead

Better attend your classes on November 5!

Contrast LeadTwenty years ago, he was the

school’s janitor. Now, he came back to become the college dean.

Epigram Lead – verse, quotationLike father, like son…


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NOVELTY LEADSPicture Lead – describes to create a

mental picture of the subject.The new dean, although only in his

30s, is already silver-haired.Background Lead – describes the

settingDecorated with buntings and

multi-colored lights, the quadrangle became a grand setting for a barrio fiesta as GJC celebrated its…..


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NOVELTY LEADSParody Lead – a parody of a well-known

song or poem Tell me not in mournful numbers,

Life is but an empty dream.. This must be the desperate

conclusion of a 45-year old man who killed himself..

Punch Lead - short, forceful, explosiveGod is dead!


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NOVELTY LEADSQuotation Lead

“Ignorance, not poverty, causes malnutrition.”

Thus revealed former Isabela governor Grace Padaca to …

Question LeadWho will be the next Ms.

Intramurals? The answer will be known on…


The LinkGUIDELINES IN LEAD

WRITING Start with the most important or

unusual idea of the news event. Pack the most important info in

one sentence Go direct to the point


The LinkGUIDELINES IN LEAD

WRITING Rarely use the “when” and

“where” leads Use less than 30 words Don’t start with articles: a, an,

the


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Who wants to read an article that begins:“The General de Jesus College

Board met Tuesday night at General de Jesus College to discuss the new dress code.”

Instead try:“A proposal to change uniforms

received a lukewarm reception at last Tuesday night’s school board meeting.”


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Who wants to read an article that begins:“A basketball team from the IT

department won the semi-finals in basketball.”

Instead try: “With seconds left on the time

clock, BSIT’s own Andres Dimagiba scored the winning shot that lead the team into the Intramurals’ Basketball Semi Finals.”


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THE BODY

WHAT A GREAT BODY!


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THE BODY The details of the summary

lead Arranged from most

important to the least important

One sentence, one paragraph structure

Sentences are generally less than 24 words


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THE BODY Use transitional devices Include quotations from at

least two different people Do not editorialize


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SVO<24 FORMULASubject-verb-object sentences of

generally less than 24 words One idea per sentence Don’t delay meaning, don’t use a lot of

commas Use strong verbs and an active voice Simplify terms


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THE WRITING PROCESS Gather the details Process the details

What is the news value?What details should be included?Who are my target readers?Are there important details

missing? Rewrite Edit for mechanics and structure


THE GOOD NEWS IS…

LECTUREENDS NOW!

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THE BAD NEWS IS…

WORKSHOPSTARTS NOW!

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WRITE A SHORT NEWS STORYON OUR ACTIVITY THIS MORNING

POINTERS: 5 W’s and 1 H Quotations Details One paragraph, one sentence

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GAARA LEE BRITANNIAPrepared by:

“Live to express, not to impress.”

GJCians study news writing


Students write their own articles after learning the dynamics of news writing.

The Link staff discusses topic

One of the most important elements of news writing is the opening paragraph or the introduction. Journalists refer to this as the "lead.” Because newspapers are read rapidly, the opening of the story requires the most attention from both the reader and the writer. The reader samples the story and then makes the choice of reading on or jumping to another article. (Continued)

Anything that concerns important events around the world is considered newsworthy. The importance of news cannot be overestimated because the success of a newspaper depends on its coverage and the quality of its writing. Although news writing involves getting the facts and sending them out to the reader, it undergoes a three part process before reaching the reader: Coverage, Interpretation, and Play. All these elements are necessary to ensure a well-written news article that likewise conforms to all journalistic standards and requirements.

LEAD takes center stage

BODY found... in articleFrom the lead and his notes, the reporter

writes the body of the news story. If the LEAD has “told the story in a NUTSHELL,” the BODY only has to retell the story in detail by explaining the features in the lead and adding minor features not summarized in the lead.

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News & Politics

News writing the link campus journalism training-workshop 2011