"WHAT TO DO?"- neophyte journalist

transcript

“WHAT TO DO?”--NEOPHYTE JOURNALIST

BY: CHELDY SYGACO ELUMBA-PABLEO,MPA;LlB

EXAMINE AND IDENTIFY THE BASIC PARTS AND STYLE OF THE NEWS ARTICLE SAMPLECHELDY SYGACO ELUMBA-PABLEO,MPA;LlB

HARD NEWS

CHELDY SYGACO ELUMBA-PABLEO,MPA;LlB

HEADLINE

BYLINE

CAPTION

PICTURE

HOW TO DO IT CHELDY SYGACO ELUMBA-PABLEO,MPA;LlB

Come up with a good story idea. This can be as simple as covering a local event, or as complex as an in-depth investigation of a political scandal.CHELDY SYGACO ELUMBA-PABLEO,MPA;LlB

Gather a notebook, pen, and a voice recorder if possible. Venture to the location where you will be gathering your facts or conducting your interview.CHELDY SYGACO ELUMBA-PABLEO,MPA;LlB

Begin your research for the story. Write down possible questions. Then attend the event, or schedule and perform your interview.CHELDY SYGACO ELUMBA-PABLEO,MPA;LlB

Come up with a good introduction of one or two sentences that will interest the reader and give them an idea of what the article will be about.CHELDY SYGACO ELUMBA-PABLEO,MPA;LlB

Begin writing the meat of your story. Be sure to cover the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the subject. Most news articles are between 200 and 500 words.

Edit your article and come up with a suggested headline. Send these to the editor for review.CHELDY SYGACO ELUMBA-PABLEO,MPA;LlB

FEATURE STORY

Come up with a catchy short headline. It should communicate the essence of your story and build the curiosity of targeted readers

Developing the Feature Story

Catchy headlines???!

Use numbersUse interesting adjectivesUse unique rationale

Use what, why, how, or whenMake an audacious promiseCHELDY SYGACO ELUMBA-PABLEO,MPA;LlB

NUMBER OR TRIGGER WORD +

ADJECTIVE + KEYWORD + PROMISE

Try this formula:

Write an impressive introduction. It can be contain a thought-provoking question or an idea. Use an exclamation point or quotation marks wherever needed.

Give a human touch to the feature story as deemed fit to make it more interesting. The plot should build up tension and not be boring.

Insert facts or apparent facts depending on whether your feature story is based on real-life events or is fictitious.

Use striking illustrations and anecdotes relevant to the topic.

Conclude with a powerful message. Good wrap-up is a crucial aspect of any powerful feature story. Otherwise, it will fail to make the desired impact

Evaluate it as neutral reader as it can help improve the overall presentation of the feature story. Get a second opinion from your friends or colleagues and encourage constructive criticism of your write-up.

EDITORIALCHELDY SYGACO ELUMBA-PABLEO,MPA;LlB

PREPARING TO WRITE YOUR EDITORIAL

Compose a simple, strong statement of the point you intend to make.

EXAMPLE:

“If the SSG does not change its dysfunctional communication style, students will suffer."

Beginning Your Editorial

The rest of your introductory paragraph should be straight news reporting, as if you were writing an article lead: Tell the reader who, what, when, where and why.

Start with your summary sentence, stated as if it were objective fact.

Skewering Your Opponents

You can't just call them short-sighted or ignorant and expect to change anyone's mind. Present their point of view and then demolish it with facts

Make sure you fully understand the point of view of people who disagree with your argument.

Making Your Point

State a strong point and back it up with objective evidence. Continue with an even stronger point and do the same, saving your strongest argument for last

Let solid research, revealing anecdotes and sound logic speak directly to the reader. Keep your tone authoritative and reasonable; avoid sounding arrogant or shrill.

Wrapping It Up

Conclude your editorial by restating your main premise, using an especially powerful quote or anecdote that supports your point of view.

Tell the reader how your suggestion solves the problem, and urge her to take or support action that will make it happen.

COLUMNCHELDY SYGACO ELUMBA-PABLEO,MPA;LlB

Begin with a bang. The best way to draw a reader in when you write a newspaper column is to wow them from the start. You will want to put your most powerful sentence in front.

HOW TO WRITEB A NEWS COLUMN

Summarize up front. The inverted pyramid is used in newspapers because the reader tends to stop reading before the article is done. Put the most important information in the beginning, and then leave the lesser information for the end.

Be opinionated. Write a newspaper column for the editorial section. The Op-Ed pages are full of editorials and cultural critiques that bring your voice and opinion out. Keep them short, between 250 and 400 words, and give some facts to bolster your view.

Become a part of your community and it can help you find stories in the nooks that will give you news subjects to write a newspaper column on.

Learn legalities. Research the rights to your work as a writer

THANK YOU FOR READING!

CHELDHAYE

"WHAT TO DO?"- neophyte journalist

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