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Charactistics of News Stories
• All good pieces of writing have one thing in common: a unifying theme.
• A central idea will usually be expressed in the first paragraph of the story - called the lead.
• A strong lead will unify the writing for the reader.
Transitions
• Tying info together
• Tips the reader as to what comes next
Types of Transitions
• Connectors - conjuctions (and, but, etc.)• Hooks - repeated words to unify story• Pronouns - use to avoid repeating things• Associations - using different words for the
same idea (ex. p115)• Chronology - word or phrase refers to time• Enumeration - numbering items sequentially
Attribution
• Tells the reader where the information in the story came from.
• Establishes news report’s credibility– Verbs of attribution: (p.117)
• Said • Declare• Explain • Add• Relate • Reveal• Point out • Exclaim• State • Assert
Short Sentences,Short Paragraphs
• Get information to the reader as quickly as possible
• Long paragraphs are difficult and daunting to read
Third Person
• News stories are usually written in the third person– Unless writer is a participant in an event
• News stories rarely address the reader by using second person - you
• Editorializing - writer speaks in first person
Accuracy
• Accuracy is the core of the writing process.– Enhances credibility– Enhances reliability– Enhances trust
What good is a news story if it’s false?
Inverted Pyramid
• Most common form of writing news stories (example: p.119)– Most important items at top of story
• Lead (focal point of story)• Second paragraph expands/supports on lead• Body adds details to information
Cut story from bottom if necessary to fit layout
The Lead
• Lead types:– Straight news lead (just the facts!)– Summary lead (more than one major fact)– Blind lead (people in story not named)– Direct address lead (writer speaks directly
to reader)– Question lead (writer ask question)– Direct quote lead (uses direct quote)
Using Quotes
• Let’s the subject tell the story– Direct quotes– Indirect quotes/paraphrasing
• Use speaker’s exact words• Use direct quotes sparingly• Use direct quotes to supplement and clarify
info presented in indirect quotes• Quote sequence
– Direct quote - speaker - verb
Other Story Structures
• Narrative– chronological approach
• Bullet– several things happen at an event (bullet items)
• Eyewitness Accounts– reporter at an event– reporter collaborates with eyewitness at event
• Micro-Macro– issue to larger problem (person to big issue)
News Story Types
• Meetings
• Speeches
• Obituary
• Weather
• Crime and courts
• Periodicals and anniversaries
Editing and Rewriting
• All writers need an editor– First drafts are rarely satisfactory
• Two types of editing– Copy-editing– Rewriting
Spelling, Grammar, Style
• Nothing more embarrassing to a writer than spelling and grammar mistakes
• Watch out for style mistakes, too, for particular mediums
Verbs
• Quickest way to improve writing skills
• Use active and descriptive verbs
• Calls for a more powerful and interesting sentence
Writing Feature Stories
• Anecdotal– uses facts to support the point of the story
• Suspended interest – produces some special effect
• Profiles– centers around a particular person
• Question and answer– Q&A
Parts of a Feature Story
• 4 parts– Lead: builds interest– Engine paragraph: sets stage for story– Body: expands on details– Ending: tie it up in a bow (but have a point)
Finally…
Questions?
