Writing to Be Read

Adapted by Dr. Mike Downing from News Reporting and Writing, Eighth Edition

Good Writing Begins with Good Reporting

Without proper ingredients, the best chef in the world cannot prepare a delicious soup.

So it is with reporting: If you do not have the proper ingredients, your story will suffer.

Good Writing Begins with Good Reporting (continued)

What to include: participant accounts, first-person observations, expert opinion, documented evidence (court papers and police filings), previous related instances.

As we have discussed, spend a lot of time writing your lead. You will be judged by the leads you write.

Elements of Good Writing

Be preciseAvoid biased languageAvoid careless word choiceAvoid flowery language (too many--or

inappropriate--adjectives and adverbs)

Elements of Good Writing (continued)

Be clear: Keep is simple. Keep sentences simple.

Use correct grammar and punctuationBe coherent

Elements of Good Writing (continued)

Use transitional words and phrases (Meanwhile, In contrast, Before, Until that time, etc.)

Use concrete examples: “Mr. Jones is a convicted criminal.” Sounds despicable, right?

Instead: “Mr. Jones has twice been convicted for failure to pay parking tickets.” Not so bad, right?

Elements of Good Writing (continued)

Story telling ability is critical. This does not mean that you invent or overemphasize aspects to achieve a certain effect.

It does mean that you deliver the facts so that they tell a story that draws the reader into your work. In other words, create logical story structures.

Questions?