BASIC STORIES

Meeting stories, speeches,

news conferences

PREPARATION:

Get an agenda Make sure you know the time and place of

the event Contact key figures Try to find out what the meeting is about Study and investigate issues before arriving

ADVANCE STORIES

State the purpose in an advance notice WEAK: The Student Senate will hold a

meeting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday in C-105 for the purpose of discussing the question of whether or not students should be allowed to park cars in faculty parking lots.

OTHER WEAK OPENINGS

There will be a meeting . . . The purpose of the meeting . . . At 7:30 a.m. . . . The first meeting of the year . . .

NEEDED INFORMATION

Name of organization, name and number of post or chapter, usual abbreviation

Time and place Program, entertainment (election or

initiation), special committee report, speaker, anniversary, names of musicians, names of selections, casts, orchestras, committee in charge

Give highlights of program in order of importance.

EMPHASIS ON PROGRAM

The American Legion Auxiliary’s 5th District will meet at 8 p.m. Saturday in the community club room to hear annual reports by district chairmen.

OR Annual reports by district chairmen will be

heard at 8 p.m. Saturday when the American Legion Auxiliary’s 5th District meets in the community club room.

EMPHASIS ON PROGRAM

Illinois law-enforcement officials gathered here Monday to discuss ways of living up to the new rule excluding illegally obtained evidence from criminal trials.

THINK VISUALLY

Other than words, how else can you illustrate your story. Photos Charts Info boxes Logos Sidebars

NEWS JUDGEMENT

Learn how to recognize a story Know what to do when you get to the

meeting Cover the entire event – content; time, place

and circumstances; possible consequences

CONTENT

Get the content correct Quote accurately and in context Become a proficient note taker. Report, don’t record

DESCRIBE PARTICIPANTS

Watch for facial expressions and gestures. Measure the speaker’s words against his/her

background. Note the tone of questions Note the size of the audience

MORE TIPS

Arrive early. Think about the best place to be located.

Know the participants and where they are seated.

Prepare your questions Listen to others’ questions Pursue what is newsworthy Don’t rush off afterward.

Follow-up stories

Lead emphasizes the result. WEAK: Keystone Lodge No. 14, LOOF, on

Friday voted to build a new million dollar lodge hall.

BETTER: A new lodge hall costing $1 million will be erected by Keystone Lodge No. 14, LOOF, as a result of Friday’s meeting.

OTHER WEAK OPENINGS

The Student Senate met last evening . . . At a meeting of . . . There was a meeting of . . . The purpose of the meeting . . . One of the most interesting . . . The outcome of the meeting . .

MORE WRITING TIPS

From Curtis MacDougall, Interpretive Reporting (231)

Expressions such as “members are urged to attend” and “the public is cordially invited” should be avoided. If the purpose of the meeting is stated correctly, the former expression is superfluous. The latter expression is poor because of the cordially. If an invitation is not cordial it should not be extended.

MORE MacDougall

Other expressions to avoid: . . . Was the most important happening . . . Was the main business transacted . . . Was the topic of discussion. . .. .featured the meeting. . . .was the principal transaction.

WRITING THE STORY

Avoid chronological coverage Give background where needed Provide reactions where time and space

allow Write clearly and accurately\ Be interesting

WRITING THE STORY

For each issue/topic discussed at a meeting, open with outcome, what the group ended up doing.

DO REPORT: The Springfield City Council approved . . . or The council also decided

DON”T REPORT: Springfield City Council member Wanda Epstein asked the council to consider …..

The council finally decided . . .

WRITING THE STORY

Use order of importance DO NOT use the order discussions occurred

in the meeting.