weeks 3 & 4 news writing. week 4 m m week 3 news quizzes wrap-up rewriting

Weeks 3 & 4

News Writing

Week 4

http://stsmtinewswriting.weebly.com Week 3 news quizzes wrap-up Rewriting leads Week 4 news quizzes (Deadline: 10

mins.)Chapter 3 with exercises

http://stsmtinewswriting.weebly.com/

Week 2’s Assignments

http://www.newsu.org/courses/be-reporter-game

https://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073378917/student_view0/chapter2/exercise_2-1_2.html








Week 4: Rewriting Leads

Review: basic news leads on p. 60 5 minutes Check leads for missing 6 W’s and/or

their order Who What Where When Maybe Why or How

Leads Exercises Who: Lawmakers What: rejected a 10 billion euro bailout

package for Cyprus Where: Europe When: Tuesday Why: not enough money How: sending the president back to the

drawing board to devise a plan that might enable the country to receive a financial lifeline while avoiding a default that could reignite the euro crisis

Leads Exercises

Lawmakers rejected a 10 billion euro bailout package for Cyprus on Tuesday, sending the president back to the drawing board to devise a plan that might enable the country to receive a financial lifeline while avoiding a default that could reignite the euro crisis. Source: The New York Times

Leads Exercises

Who: U.S. federal authorities What: examining Microsoft’s involvement

with companies and individuals Where: U.S. When: Wednesday Why: that are accused of paying bribes to

overseas government officials in exchange for business, according to a person briefed on the inquiry

How: n/a

Leads Exercises

Federal authorities in the U.S. are examining Microsoft’s involvement with companies and individuals that are accused of paying bribes to overseas government officials in exchange for business, according to a person briefed on the inquiry. Source: The New York Times

Leads Exercises

Who: David Beckham What: to begin his new role as a special

ambassador for Chinese footballWhere: Beijing When: Wednesday Why: n/a How: It will involve attending league

matches in China and visiting clubs to help promote the game to children.

Leads Exercises

David Beckham is in Beijing to begin his new role as a special ambassador for Chinese football.

It will involve attending league matches in China and visiting clubs to help promote the game to children.

Source: BBC

Leads Exercises 4 Who: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul 4 What: that the nation's illegal immigrants

should be able to become citizens eventually

4 Where: Washington, D.C.4 When: Tuesday4 Why: amid a furor from conservative

activists on the explosive issue he quickly sought to make clear that, while they would not be sent home, they couldn't get in line in front of anyone else

4 How: n/a

Leads Exercises

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Tea party favorite Sen. Rand Paul said Tuesday that the nation's illegal immigrants should be able to become citizens eventually, but amid a furor from conservative activists on the explosive issue he quickly sought to make clear that, while they would not be sent home, they couldn't get in line in front of anyone else.

Leads Exercises

4 Who: Xi Jinping 4 What: calls for strong ties with the U.S. 4 Where: Beijing 4 When: Wednesday 4 Why: the first high-level meeting between

the two sides since he was confirmed as China's president

4 How: His comments came in talks with Jack Lew, who is in Beijing on his first overseas trip as US Treasury Secretary.

Leads Exercises

Xi Jinping has called for strong ties with the US, in the first high-level meeting between the two sides since he was confirmed as China's president.

His comments came in talks with Jack Lew, who is in Beijing on his first overseas trip as US Treasury Secretary. Source: BBC

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

Inside ReportingTim Harrower

Newswriting basics

3

McGraw-Hill © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

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© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Newswriting basics

Just the factsThe five W’sThe inverted pyramidBeyond the basic news leadLeads that succeedAfter the lead…what next?

(continued)

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Newswriting basics

(continued) Story structure Rewriting Editing Newswriting style Making deadline 66 essential tips

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Just the facts

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).

Test Yourself

p.64, Exercise 2

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The five W’s

Facts usually fall into

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The five W’s

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.

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The five W’s

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.

• Map• Diagram• Photo

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The five W’s

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.

Test Yourself p.64, Exercise 3

At midnight tonight, Abner Hoobler will become the first Nebraskan to reach the age of 115.

A dog named Victor plunged over Niagara Falls on Saturday - and emerged victorious.

A Dayton woman decided her husband spent too much time clowning around with his froends, so she glued a clown mask to his face while he was sleeping.

A local minister was bitten in the leg Sunday after leaping into the lions’ den at the Dayton Zoo.

Rev. Faith Christian, a minister at the Dayton Zealotic Church, said she was trying to convert the lion to Christianity by shouting “Jesus loves you.”

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The inverted pyramid

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

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So should you use this format for every story?•Gets repetitive.•Doesn’t always organize story material logically.


Summarize first.• Explain later.

Resolve everything in the beginning.

Allows editors to trim stories from bottom.

The typical news story uses the inverted pyramid

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If a story takes too long to make sense…

Readers flee like rats from a sinking ship.

Why writing a good lead actually matters to readers

Test Yourself

p.64, Exercise 1

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Writing basic news leads

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.

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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?

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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.

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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

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Beyond the basic news lead

Be accurate. Remember what

day it is. Don’t name names. Use strong verbs.

Story checklistAsk “Why should I

care?”

Sell the story.

Don’t get hung up.

Move attributions to the end of the sentences.

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Leads that succeed

Basic news leads Anecdotal/

narrative leads Scene-setter

leads Blind leads Roundup leads

A roundup of commonly used options Direct address leads The startling

statement Wordplay leads

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Leads that succeed

Basic news leads• Summary lead– Combines five W’s

into one sentence.

• Delayed identification lead– Withholds 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.

Week 4: Group News Quiz Please write your group’s English names and

send it to me via email. Send it in the body of the email, rather than as an attachment.

Only write in the style of a basic news lead (the most important of the 6 W’s). Try your hand at one or more new leads we covered.

Must be from the past week (March 13-20). 1. International 2. Beat 3. China 4. Xi’an 5. XISU

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Leads that succeed

Anecdotal/ narrative leads• Have 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.

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Leads that succeed

Roundup leads• Rather than focus

on one person, place or thing, impress reader with longer list.

Direct address leads• Use 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.

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Leads that succeed

Topic leads• Convey no actual news.

Question leads• Are irritating stalls.

Quote leads• Don’t fairly summarize

the story.

…and three lazy leads you should usually reconsider

Test Yourself p.65, Exercise 4, #2 Student drinking may be to blame for

damage to campus windows, lights and doors last weekend, a school official said.

OR Damage to campus windows, lights and

doors last weekend may have been the result of student drinking, a school official said.

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After the lead…what next?

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.

Test Yourself p.65, Exercise 6 Some people would just take the money

and run. But when Laura Lynn Hardy found

$300,000 lying on the street, she bicycled 20 miles through a Christmas Eve snowstorm to return the cash to its rightful owner.

What would you do if you found $300.000? If you’re Laura Lynn Hardy, you’d give the money right back.

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Story structure

No one-size-fits-all solution.

Every story unfolds in a different way.

Giving an overall shape to writing

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Story structure

The inverted pyramid• Use for:–News briefs.–Breaking news.

Organizing your storyMost important facts

Additional facts

More facts

Etc., Etc.

Etc.

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The lead

Key facts in inverted- pyramid form

Chronology of events

Kicker

Story structure

The martini glass• Use for:–Crimes.–Disasters.–Dramatic stories.


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Story structure

The kabob• Also called Wall Street

Journal formula or the Circle.

• Use for:– Trends.– Events where you want

to show actual people.


Anecdote

Nut graf

Meat

Meat

Meat

Anecdote

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Story structure

Modern journalist’s job basically boils down to• Teaching.• Storytelling.

Keeping readers from getting bored

Use narratives when you can.

Think like a teacher.

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Story structure

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 items•Sidebars•Subheads•Other storytelling alternatives

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Story structure

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

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Rewriting

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.

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Rewriting

Passive verbs• Start sentences

with their subjects.• Replace to be with

stronger verbs. Redundancy

• Avoid unnecessary modifiers.

Reasons to hit the delete key5 Wordy sentences Jargon &

journalese• Filter out jargon and

officialese.

Clichés • Lowers the IQ of your

writing.

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Rewriting

Find typical example.

Average number of words per sentence.

Number of “hard” words with 3 or more syllables (no proper names).

The Fog Index – a readability gauge Add average

number of words to number of “hard” words.

Multiply the sumby 0.4.

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Rewriting

Most Americans read at or about 9th-grade level.• Aim for Fog Index of

7 to 8.• Bible, Mark Twain,

TV Guide have Fog Index around 6.

The Fog Index – a readability gauge

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Editing

Before you write• Assigning story.• Planning angle.• Estimating scope.• Anticipating

packaging.

The role editors play in your stories While you write• Adding details.• Monitoring speed.• Fine-tuning.• Layout changes.

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Editing

After you write• Editing content.• Copy editing.• Cutting or padding.• Assigning follow-up

stories.

The role editors play in your stories

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Newswriting style

Every news outlet customizes guidelines.

Copy desk’s job to standardize style.

Know AP and your news outlet’s style.

Who’s right?

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AP Style Highlights - p.56-7

Numbers Titles Capitalization Abbreviations Addresses

The Internet Parentheses Possessives Prefixes And others…

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Making deadline

Deadlines are mandatory.

Pass the deadline checklist.• Accuracy.• Fairness and

balance.• Writing style.

Live by the clock

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66 newswriting tips - p.60-1

Writing leads The rest of the

story Editing and style Rules of grammar

Word choices• Nonsexist, nonageist,

nondiscriminatory

Punctuation

Test Yourself

p.65, Exercise 7

Business

Please send all future assignments to [email protected]

Week 4 Assignments p. 66, Exercise 8 (choose 1 of the 4 brites to

write a lead for...make sure it’s written down or you have a viewable electrnic copy)

Review Chapter 3; make sure you’ve previewed p. 65, Exercise 7

preview eWorkbook Ch.3 exercises 3-1 (select 5 out of the 10 questions) 3-2.3; 2.7 3-3.2 3-4.1, 4.2, 4.3 (select 5 out of the 10 or 11

questions) 3-4.4, 4.5 (select 4 out of the 8 questions)

weeks 3 & 4 news writing. week 4 m m week 3 news quizzes wrap-up rewriting

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