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lcome to the world of urnalism, where porters have been gging dirt, raking muck, king headlines and adlines for centuries w. It’s a history full of bloid trash, of slimy nsationalists, of runkards, deadbeats and mmers” (as a Harvard iversity president once scribed reporters). But it’s a history full of roes, too: men and men risking their lives tell stories of war and agedy, risking prisonment to defend ee speech. And as you n see here, reports have come beloved characters p culture, too, turning up movies, comics and TV ows as if guided by an cult hand.
Every culture seeks effective ways to spread new information and gossip. In ancient times, news was written on clay tablets. In Caesar’s age, Romans read newsletters compiled by correspondents and handwritten by slaves. Wandering minstrels spread news (and the plague) in the Middle Ages. Them came ink on paper. Voices on airwaves. Newsreels, Web sites, And 24-hour cable news networks. Thus when scholars analyze the rich history of journalism, some view it in terms of technological progress—for example, the dramatic impact of bigger, faster printing presses. Others see journalism as a specialized form literary expression, one that’s
constantly evolving, reflecting and shaping its culture. Others see it as an inspiring quest for free speech, an endless power struggle between Authority (trying to control information) and the People (trying to learn the truth). Which brings to mind the words of A.J. Liefling: “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to htose who own one.” In the pages ahead, we’ll take a quick tour of 600 years of journalism history, from hieroglyphics to hypertext: the media, the message and the politics. Technical advances and brilliant ideas forged a new style of journalism. It was a century of change, and newspapers changed
dramatically. The typi newspaper of 1800 wa undisciplined mishma legislative proceedinglong-winded essays a secondhand gossip. B1900, a new breed of tor had emerged. Jourhad become big busin Reporting was becom disciplined craft. And newspapers were becmore entertaining and essential than ever, wmost of the features w expect today: Snappy headlines, Ads, Comic Sports pages. And an “inverted pyramid” sty writing that made stori tighter and newsier. Radio and television brought an end to newspapers’ media monopoly. Why? Well yourself: Which did yo
Newswriting basics
Inside ReportingTim Harrower
3
Newswriting Basics
2
Just the factsThe five W’sThe inverted pyramidBeyond the basic news LeadLeads that succeedAfter the lead…what next?
(continued)
Newswriting basics
3
(continued) Story structureRewritingEditingNewswriting styleMaking Deadline
Just the Facts
4
Good reporters respect integrity of facts.
Facts tell the story.Readers draw their own
conclusions.
You must try to be objective. Truthful. Fair.
Where do opinions belong in a newspaper?
Most newspaper stories can be placed on a continuum.
Ranges from rigidly objective (breaking news) to rabidly opinionated (movie reviews).
The Five W’s
5
Facts usually fall into
The Five W’s
6
The WHO
Readers love stories that focus on people.WHO keeps it real.
Who’s involved?Who’s affected?Who’s going to benefit?Who’s getting screwed?
The WHAT
WHAT gives news its substance.
Stories become dry and dull if they focus too much on WHAT.Need WHO.
The Five W’s
7
The WHEN
Timeliness essential to every story.
When events happened or will happen.How long they lasted or will last.
The WHERE
The closer the event, the more relevant it is for readers.Many stories require supplements.
MapDiagramPhoto
The Five W’s
8
The WHY
Finding explanations difficult.The WHY is what makes news meaningful.
The HOW
Often requires detailed explanation.Sometimes omitted to save space.Readers love “how-to” stories.
The Inverted Pyramid
9
Newswriting format summarizes most important facts at story’s start
This is the lead, which summarizes the story’s most important facts
This paragraph adds more details or background
This paragraph adds even more details
This adds more details
More details
The Inverted Pyramid
10
Summarize first.Explain later.Resolve everything in the
beginning.Allows editors to trim stories
from bottom.
So should you use this format for every story?
Gets repetitive.Doesn’t always organize story material logically.
The typical news story uses the inverted pyramid
Writing Basic News Leads
11
Collect all your facts.Lead should summarize.The more you know, the easier
it is to summarize.
How to write an effective news lead
• Sum it up. Boil it down.• List who, what, when,
where, why of story.
Writing Basic News Leads
12
Writing leads often a process of trial and error.Try different approaches.
How to write an effective news lead
• Create different leads using the…• Who.• What.• When.• Where. • Why.
Writing Basic News Leads
13
Prioritize the five W’s.Lead contains the most
important facts.Which of the key facts deserves
to start the first sentence?
How to write an effective news lead
• Rethink. Revise. Rewrite.• Is it clear?• Is it active?• Is it wordy?• Is it compelling?
Writing Basic News Leads
14
Basic news leads can be too dull and dry.
All good reporters spend time searching for the perfect lead.
Not every story begins with a roundup of essential facts
Beyond the Basic News Lead
15
Be accurate. Remember what day it is. Don’t name names. Use strong verbs.
Story checklist
Ask “Why should I care?” Sell the story. Don’t get hung up. Move attributions to the end of
the sentences.
Leads That Succeed
16
Basic news leadsAnecdotal/ narrative leadsScene-setter leadsBlind leadsRoundup leads
A roundup of commonly used options
• Direct address leads• The startling statement• Wordplay leads
Leads That Succeed
17
Basic news leadsSummary lead
Combines five W’s into one sentence.
Delayed identification leadWithholds the name of the
person in question until the second paragraph
A roundup of commonly used options
• Immediate identification lead • Uses a public figure or
celebrity in the sentence.
Leads That Succeed
18
Anecdotal/ narrative leadsHave a beginning, middle and
end.Will be mini-story with
symbolic resonance for bigger story.
A roundup of commonly used options
• Scene-setter leads• Lack urgency of hard-news
leads.• Borrowed from fiction.
• Blind leads• Extreme delayed information
lead.• Deliberately teases reader.
Leads That Succeed
19
Roundup leadsRather than focus on one
person, place or thing, impress reader with longer list.
Direct address leadsUse second-person voice.
A roundup of commonly used options
• The startling statement • Also called a “zinger” or a
“Hey, Martha”• Wordplay leads
• Encompass wide range of amusing leads.
• Watch out. These can be corny.
Leads That Succeed
20
Topic leadsConvey no actual news.
Question leadsAre irritating stalls.
Quote leadsDon’t fairly summarize the story.
…and three lazy leads you should usually reconsider
After the Lead…What Next?
21
Know how long the story should be.
Add another paragraph
Write the nut graf
• Paragraph that condenses the story idea into nutshell.
Briefs and brites:Brief – written using the
inverted pyramid.Brite – written with
more personality than a brief.
Story Structure
22
No one-size-fits-all solution.Every story unfolds in a
different way.
Giving an overall shape to writing
Story Structure
23
The inverted pyramidUse for:
News briefs.Breaking news.
Organizing your story
Most important facts
Additional facts
More facts
Etc., Etc.
Etc.
Story Structure
24
The martini glassUse for:
Crimes.Disasters.Dramatic stories.
The lead
Key facts in inverted- pyramid
form
Chronology of events
Kicker
Giving an overall shape to writing
Story Structure
25
The kabobAlso called Wall Street Journal formula, the
focus lead or the Circle.Use for:
Trends.Events where you want to show
actual people.
Giving an overall shape to writing
Anecdote
Nut graf
Meat
Meat
Meat
Anecdote
Story structure
26
Modern journalist’s job basically boils down toTeaching.Storytelling.
Keeping readers from getting bored
• Use narratives when you can.• Think like a teacher.
Story structure
27
Keep paragraphs short.Write one idea per
paragraph.Add transitions.
Writing tips as you move from paragraph to paragraph
Alternatives to long, gray news stories
Bullet itemsSidebarsSubheadsOther storytelling
alternatives
Story structure
28
Good writers agonize over the kicker as much as the lead.Plan ahead.Don’t end with a summary.Avoid clichés.End with a bang.
The big finish
Rewriting
29
Writing is rewriting.Make things a little better.Few stories arrive fully formed and
perfectly phrased.Most require rethinking, restructuring
and rewording.
Good story. Now make it better.
Rewriting
30
Passive verbsStart sentences with their
subjects.Replace to be with stronger
verbs.Redundancy
Avoid unnecessary modifiers.
Reasons to hit the delete key5Wordy sentencesJargon & journalese
Filter out jargon and officialese.
Clichés Lower the IQ of your writing.
Editing
31
Before you writeAssigning story.Planning angle.Estimating scope.Anticipating packaging.
The role editors play in your stories
While you writeAdding details.Monitoring speed.Fine-tuning.Layout changes.
Editing
32
After you writeEditing content.Copy editing.Cutting or padding.Assigning follow-up stories.
The role editors play in your stories
Newswriting style
33
Every news outlet customizes guidelines.
Copy desk’s job to standardize style.
Know AP and your news outlet’s style.
Who’s right?
AP Style Highlights
34
NumbersTitlesCapitalizationAbbreviationsAddresses
The InternetParenthesesPossessivesPrefixesAnd others…
Making deadline
35
Deadlines are mandatory.Pass the deadline checklist.
Accuracy.Fairness and balance.Writing style.
Live by the clock
lcome to the world of urnalism, where porters have been gging dirt, raking muck, king headlines and adlines for centuries w. It’s a history full of bloid trash, of slimy nsationalists, of runkards, deadbeats and mmers” (as a Harvard iversity president once scribed reporters). But it’s a history full of roes, too: men and men risking their lives tell stories of war and agedy, risking prisonment to defend ee speech. And as you n see here, reports have come beloved characters p culture, too, turning up movies, comics and TV ows as if guided by an cult hand.
Every culture seeks effective ways to spread new information and gossip. In ancient times, news was written on clay tablets. In Caesar’s age, Romans read newsletters compiled by correspondents and handwritten by slaves. Wandering minstrels spread news (and the plague) in the Middle Ages. Them came ink on paper. Voices on airwaves. Newsreels, Web sites, And 24-hour cable news networks. Thus when scholars analyze the rich history of journalism, some view it in terms of technological progress—for example, the dramatic impact of bigger, faster printing presses. Others see journalism as a specialized form literary expression, one that’s
constantly evolving, reflecting and shaping its culture. Others see it as an inspiring quest for free speech, an endless power struggle between Authority (trying to control information) and the People (trying to learn the truth). Which brings to mind the words of A.J. Liefling: “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to htose who own one.” In the pages ahead, we’ll take a quick tour of 600 years of journalism history, from hieroglyphics to hypertext: the media, the message and the politics. Technical advances and brilliant ideas forged a new style of journalism. It was a century of change, and newspapers changed
dramatically. The typi newspaper of 1800 wa undisciplined mishma legislative proceedinglong-winded essays a secondhand gossip. B1900, a new breed of tor had emerged. Jourhad become big busin Reporting was becom disciplined craft. And newspapers were becmore entertaining and essential than ever, wmost of the features w expect today: Snappy headlines, Ads, Comic Sports pages. And an “inverted pyramid” sty writing that made stori tighter and newsier. Radio and television brought an end to newspapers’ media monopoly. Why? Well yourself: Which did yo
Newswriting basics
Inside ReportingTim Harrower
3