week05.lectur doyle1

7/28/2019 Week05.Lectur Doyle1

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Every story should have a clear organizingprinciple that pulls the reader through the story:

Chronological order

Logical progression

A narrative voice


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Instead oftelling the reader something was difficult,dangerous, disgusting or deranged, give them ananecdote, detail or quote that shows it to them.

The room was filthy.

Tattered curtains, yellow with cigarette smoke,

dangling from bent metal rods. Cardboard and oldcomforters stuffed into broken, grimy windows.


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Put the most compelling info/quotes near the top ofthe story.

But sometimes you might want to save something forthe kicker (the end of the report think hourglass).

A good kicker can be used to give the readersomething more to think about.


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Journalism is in fact history on

the run.

--U.S. Federal Appeals Court Judge Thomas Beall Griffith


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History on the run implies that journalism cansometimes be sloppy and inaccurate. No doubt, it

sometimes is. But how can we help guard against it?

By making our stories as accurate as we can.

By making our stories as clear as possible.


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Lets deal with accuracy first. On a fast-breaking story, it can be hard to be sure of ourfacts, but some conventions are available:

Double-checkwhat facts you collect the who, what,when, where and why. And sometimes, the how.

Attribute information, particularly information that

might be in dispute or that is controversial, to peoplewith access to that information or whose officialpositions give them the authority to speak.


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On a more practical level:When you interview someone, double-check the

spelling of their name; get their phone number. After youre done with your questions, ask if there is

anything theyd like to add.

On your way to cover a story, prepare questions inadvance.


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Readers and viewers sense a story is accurate when itseemswell-reported when it seems the reporter has

done a good job collecting the information.

So, while on a story, keep an ear out for the dramaticquotation the judge, for instance, who says a

defendant has no remorse.


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Similarly, while on a story, look for the telling details,the ones that will make your story powerful stillaccurate, but clearly well-researched.

The telling details are ones that in a few words saysomething significant the defendant, for instance,

who has had 21 convictions since he was 13 years old.


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Where can you get accurate information whileresearching a topic? Three broad categories:

Human Physical

Online


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Now, lets turn to clarity:

If language is not correct, then what is

said is not what is meant; if what is saidis not what is meant, then what ought

to be done remains undone.-- Confucius


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To reach a large and diverse audience,

writers must present information in a clearand simple, yet interesting, way.

Every word matters


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Good media writing is more than the use of clearlanguage. It is:

Using the correct words.

Composing sentences carefully. Finding a tone that matches the material a

dignified tone, for instance, for the story of afuneral; a tone of drama for a daring rescue; a toneof joy for someone who achieves something great.


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Eight Tips for Writing:1) Vary the length of your sentences.

Short, medium, long, short, medium -- variety yieldsrhythm, and keeps people moving through thestory.

Remember: A short sentence, properly placed, packs

power. It is dramatic.


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2) Use simple, not complex, sentences. Simple: Tsang, now in his second term, cannot seek re-

election.

Complex: Tsang, now in his second term, cannot seeka third term, and so some political observers say that isthe reason he has not shown much regard for muchpublic opinion in several recent controversies,

including his governments refusal to reveal thesalaries it was paying new political appointees, forcingthem instead to reveal them.


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3) Use words most people know.

Do not send people to the dictionary. Dont give

them reasons to put your story down.


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4) Dont use unnecessary words, as thisparagraph does.

A metal-working factory in Yuen Long where apowerful blast yesterday afternoon killed three

workers and injured four other laborers has been

found to have had failed several types of safetyinspections last year, according to the RegionalFactory Regulatory Agency. (35 words)


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This version is only 23 words:A factory in Yuen long where a powerful blast

killed three workers and injured four othersyesterday failed several safety inspections last year,officials said.


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5) When possible, use active voice; usestrong verbs.

Active: A leaking gas cylinder triggered theexplosion.

Passive: The explosion was caused by a leaking gascylinder.


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6) Write the way most people talk direct and plain, NOT like this:

The manager of a money-lending firm, who pleadedguilty to dishonestly appropriating $2.4 millionfrom his employer, was described by twoDemocratic Party legislators as a honest man with

many good qualities.


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How about this?

A loan-company manager who pleaded guilty to

stealing $2.4 million from his boss was describedby two Democratic Party legislators as a honestman.


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Avoid using jargonthe language that only specialistsin a given field might use..

Q: What does The perpetrator fled the scene on footafter suffering contusions and lacerations mean?


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A: The suspect ran after away he had been cut andbruised. Its that simple


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7) Use words that help readers see,rather than go to sleep, as these do:

The first and only International Anti-CorruptionNewsletter is being published on the Internet bythe Independent Commission Against Corruption

(ICAC) to help overseas agencies fighting crimeand corruption.


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How about this?

Hong Kongs corruption watchdog is publishing

the first Internet newsletter for helping policearound the world catch criminals.


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Best tip for last:

8)After youre done, read it to yourself. Thenrewrite it. And then rewrite it again. And thenagain.


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Reading: Noonan` and Mustain, English-LanguageNews Writing, Fudan Press. Pages 35-37; and 91-100

week05.lectur doyle1

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