際際滷

際際滷Share a Scribd company logo
lcome to the world of 
urnalism, where 
porters have been 
gging dirt, raking muck, 
king headlines and 
adlines for centuries 
w. Its a history full of 
bloid trash, of slimy 
nsationalists, of 
runkards, deadbeats and 
mmers (as a Harvard 
iversity president once 
scribed reporters). 
But its 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 
Caesars 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 
3 
analyze the rich history of 
journalism, some view it in 
terms of technological 
progressfor example, the 
dramatic impact of bigger, 
faster printing presses. 
Others see journalism as 
a specialized form literary 
expression, one thats 
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, well 
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 proceeding 
long-winded essays a 
secondhand gossip. B 
1900, a new breed of 
tor had emerged. Jour 
had become big busin 
Reporting was becom 
disciplined craft. And 
newspapers were bec 
more entertaining and 
essential than ever, w 
most 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 Reporting 
Tim Harrower 
Newswriting basics 
McGraw-Hill 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Newswriting basics 
Just the facts 
The five Ws 
The inverted pyramid 
Beyond the basic news lead 
Leads that succeed 
After the leadwhat next? 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 2 
 (continued) 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Newswriting basics 
(continued) 
Story structure  
Rewriting  
Editing  
Newswriting style  
Making deadline  
66 essential tips  
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 3 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
You must try to be objective. 
Truthful. Fair. 
 Good reporters 
respect integrity 
of facts. 
 Facts tell the 
story. 
 Readers draw 
their own 
conclusions. 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 4 
Just the facts 
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). 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Facts usually fall into 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 5 
The five Ws 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 6 
The five Ws 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 
The WHO 
 Readers love 
stories that focus 
on people. 
 WHO keeps it 
real. 
 Whos involved? 
 Whos affected? 
 Whos going to 
benefit? 
 Whos getting 
screwed? 
The WHAT 
 WHAT gives news 
its substance. 
 Stories become dry 
and dull if they focus 
too much on WHAT. 
 Need WHO.
The WHEN 
 Timeliness essential 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 7 
The five Ws 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 
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
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 8 
The five Ws 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 
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.
Newswriting format summarizes 
most important facts at storys start 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 9 
The inverted pyramid 
This is the lead, which summarizes the 
storys most important facts 
This paragraph adds more details or 
background 
This paragraph adds even 
more details 
This adds more 
details 
More 
details 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
The typical news story uses the 
inverted pyramid 
 Summarize first. 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 10 
The inverted pyramid 
So should you 
use this format 
for every story? 
 Gets repetitive. 
 Doesnt always 
organize story 
material 
logically. 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 
 Explain later. 
 Resolve everything in 
the beginning. 
 Allows editors to trim 
stories from bottom.
Why writing a good lead actually 
matters to readers 
 If a story takes too long 
to make sense 
 Readers flee like rats 
from a sinking ship. 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 11 
The inverted pyramid 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Writing basic news leads 
How to write an effective news lead 
 Collect all your 
facts. 
 Lead should 
summarize. 
 The more you 
know, the easier it 
is to summarize. 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 12 
 Sum it up. Boil it 
down. 
 List who, what, 
when, where, why 
of story. 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Writing basic news leads 
How to write an effective news lead 
 Prioritize the five 
Ws. 
 Lead contains the 
most important 
facts. 
 Which of the key 
facts deserves to 
start the first 
sentence? 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 13 
 Rethink. Revise. 
Rewrite. 
 Is it clear? 
 Is it active? 
 Is it wordy? 
 Is it compelling? 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Writing basic news leads 
How to write an effective news lead 
 Writing leads 
often a process of 
trial and error. 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 14 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 
 Try different 
approaches. 
 Create different 
leads using the 
 Who. 
 What. 
 When. 
 Where. 
 Why.
Writing basic news leads 
Not every story begins with a 
roundup of essential facts 
 Basic news leads 
can be too dull 
and dry. 
 All good reporters 
spend time 
searching for the 
perfect lead. 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 15 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Beyond the basic news lead 
Story checklist 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 16 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 
 Be accurate. 
 Remember what 
day it is. 
 Dont name 
names. 
 Use strong verbs. 
Ask Why should I 
care? 
Sell the story. 
Dont get hung up. 
Move attributions to 
the end of the 
sentences.
A roundup of commonly used options 
 Basic news leads 
 Anecdotal/ 
narrative leads 
 Scene-setter 
leads 
 Blind leads 
 Roundup leads 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 17 
Leads that succeed 
 Direct address leads 
 The startling 
statement 
 Wordplay leads 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
A roundup of commonly used options 
Basic news leads 
 Summary lead 
 Combines five Ws 
into one sentence. 
 Delayed 
identification lead 
 Withholds the name 
of the person in 
question until the 
second paragraph 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 18 
Leads that succeed 
 Immediate 
identification lead 
 Uses a public figure or 
celebrity in the 
sentence. 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
A roundup of commonly used options 
 Anecdotal/ 
narrative leads 
 Have a beginning, 
middle and end. 
 Will be mini-story 
with symbolic 
resonance for 
bigger story. 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 19 
Leads that succeed 
 Scene-setter leads 
 Lack urgency of hard-news 
leads. 
 Borrowed from fiction. 
 Blind leads 
 Extreme delayed 
information lead. 
 Deliberately teases 
reader. 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
A roundup of commonly used options 
 Roundup leads 
 Rather than focus 
on one person, 
place or thing, 
impress reader 
with longer list. 
 Direct address 
leads 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 20 
Leads that succeed 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 
 Use second-person 
voice. 
 The startling 
statement 
 Also called a 
zinger or a 
Hey, Martha. 
 Wordplay leads 
 Encompass wide 
range of amusing 
leads.
and three lazy leads you should 
usually reconsider 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 21 
Leads that succeed 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 
 Topic leads 
 Convey no actual news. 
 Question leads 
 Are irritating stalls. 
 Quote leads 
 Dont fairly summarize 
the story.
After the leadwhat next? 
Add another paragraph 
 Know how long the 
story should be. 
Write the nut graf 
 Paragraph that 
condenses the story 
idea into nutshell. 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 22 
Briefs and 
brites: 
Brief  written 
using the inverted 
pyramid. 
Brite  written 
with more 
personality than a 
brief. 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Giving an overall shape to writing 
 No one-size-fits-all 
solution. 
 Every story 
unfolds in a 
different way. 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 23 
Story structure 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Organizing your story 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 24 
Story structure 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 
 The inverted 
pyramid 
 Use for: 
 News briefs. 
 Breaking news. 
Most important facts 
Additional facts 
More facts 
Etc., Etc. 
Etc.
Giving an overall shape to writing 
 The martini glass 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 25 
The lead 
Story structure 
Key facts in inverted-pyramid 
form 
Chronology of events 
Kicker 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 
 Use for: 
 Crimes. 
 Disasters. 
 Dramatic 
stories.
Giving an overall shape to writing 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 26 
Story structure 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 
 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
Keeping readers from getting bored 
 Modern journalists 
job basically boils 
down to 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 27 
Story structure 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 
 Teaching. 
 Storytelling. 
 Use narratives 
when you can. 
 Think like a 
teacher.
Writing tips as you move from 
paragraph to paragraph 
 Keep paragraphs 
short. 
 Write one idea per 
paragraph. 
 Add transitions. 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 28 
Story structure 
Alternatives to 
long, gray news 
stories 
Bullet items 
Sidebars 
Subheads 
Other storytelling 
alternatives 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 29 
Story structure 
The big finish 
 Good writers 
agonize over the 
kicker as much as 
the lead. 
Plan ahead. 
 Dont end with a 
summary. 
Avoid clich辿s. 
End with a bang. 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Good story. Now make it better. 
 Writing is rewriting. 
 Make things a little 
better. 
 Few stories arrive fully 
formed and perfectly 
phrased. 
 Most require rethinking, 
restructuring and 
rewording. 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 30 
Rewriting 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
5Reasons to hit the delete key 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 31 
Rewriting 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 
 Passive verbs 
 Start sentences 
with their 
subjects. 
 Replace to be with 
stronger verbs. 
 Redundancy 
 Avoid unnecessary 
modifiers. 
 Wordy sentences 
 Jargon & 
journalese 
 Filter out jargon 
and officialese. 
 Clich辿s 
 Lower the IQ of 
your writing.
The Fog Index  a readability gauge 
 Find typical 
example. 
 Average number 
of words per 
sentence. 
 Number of hard 
words with 3 or 
more syllables (no 
proper names). 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 32 
Rewriting 
 Add average 
number of words 
to number of 
hard words. 
 Multiply the sum 
by 0.4. 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Fog Index  a readability gauge 
 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. 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 33 
Rewriting 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
The role editors play in your stories 
 Before you write 
 Assigning story. 
 Planning angle. 
 Estimating scope. 
 Anticipating 
packaging. 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 34 
Editing 
 While you write 
 Adding details. 
 Monitoring speed. 
 Fine-tuning. 
 Layout changes. 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
The role editors play in your stories 
 After you write 
 Editing content. 
 Copy editing. 
 Cutting or padding. 
 Assigning follow-up 
stories. 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 35 
Editing 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
 Every news outlet 
customizes 
guidelines. 
 Copy desks job to 
standardize style. 
 Know AP and your 
news outlets 
style. 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 36 
Newswriting style 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 
Whos right?
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 37 
AP Style Highlights 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 
 Numbers 
 Titles 
 Capitalization 
 Abbreviations 
 Addresses 
 The Internet 
 Parentheses 
 Possessives 
 Prefixes 
 And others
Live by the clock 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 38 
Making deadline 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 
 Deadlines are 
mandatory. 
 Pass the deadline 
checklist. 
 Accuracy. 
 Fairness and 
balance. 
Writing style.
 Writing leads 
 The rest of the 
story 
 Editing and style 
 Rules of grammar 
McGraw-Hill 
際際滷 39 
66 newswriting tips 
 Word choices 
 Nonsexist, 
nonageist, 
nondiscriminatory 
 Punctuation 
息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

More Related Content

Inside reporting ch3

  • 1. lcome to the world of urnalism, where porters have been gging dirt, raking muck, king headlines and adlines for centuries w. Its a history full of bloid trash, of slimy nsationalists, of runkards, deadbeats and mmers (as a Harvard iversity president once scribed reporters). But its 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 Caesars 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 3 analyze the rich history of journalism, some view it in terms of technological progressfor example, the dramatic impact of bigger, faster printing presses. Others see journalism as a specialized form literary expression, one thats 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, well 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 proceeding long-winded essays a secondhand gossip. B 1900, a new breed of tor had emerged. Jour had become big busin Reporting was becom disciplined craft. And newspapers were bec more entertaining and essential than ever, w most 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 Reporting Tim Harrower Newswriting basics McGraw-Hill 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 2. Newswriting basics Just the facts The five Ws The inverted pyramid Beyond the basic news lead Leads that succeed After the leadwhat next? McGraw-Hill 際際滷 2 (continued) 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 3. Newswriting basics (continued) Story structure Rewriting Editing Newswriting style Making deadline 66 essential tips McGraw-Hill 際際滷 3 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 4. You must try to be objective. Truthful. Fair. Good reporters respect integrity of facts. Facts tell the story. Readers draw their own conclusions. McGraw-Hill 際際滷 4 Just the facts 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). 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 5. Facts usually fall into McGraw-Hill 際際滷 5 The five Ws 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 6. McGraw-Hill 際際滷 6 The five Ws 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The WHO Readers love stories that focus on people. WHO keeps it real. Whos involved? Whos affected? Whos going to benefit? Whos getting screwed? The WHAT WHAT gives news its substance. Stories become dry and dull if they focus too much on WHAT. Need WHO.
  • 7. The WHEN Timeliness essential McGraw-Hill 際際滷 7 The five Ws 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 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
  • 8. McGraw-Hill 際際滷 8 The five Ws 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 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.
  • 9. Newswriting format summarizes most important facts at storys start McGraw-Hill 際際滷 9 The inverted pyramid This is the lead, which summarizes the storys most important facts This paragraph adds more details or background This paragraph adds even more details This adds more details More details 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 10. The typical news story uses the inverted pyramid Summarize first. McGraw-Hill 際際滷 10 The inverted pyramid So should you use this format for every story? Gets repetitive. Doesnt always organize story material logically. 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Explain later. Resolve everything in the beginning. Allows editors to trim stories from bottom.
  • 11. Why writing a good lead actually matters to readers If a story takes too long to make sense Readers flee like rats from a sinking ship. McGraw-Hill 際際滷 11 The inverted pyramid 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 12. Writing basic news leads How to write an effective news lead Collect all your facts. Lead should summarize. The more you know, the easier it is to summarize. McGraw-Hill 際際滷 12 Sum it up. Boil it down. List who, what, when, where, why of story. 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 13. Writing basic news leads How to write an effective news lead Prioritize the five Ws. Lead contains the most important facts. Which of the key facts deserves to start the first sentence? McGraw-Hill 際際滷 13 Rethink. Revise. Rewrite. Is it clear? Is it active? Is it wordy? Is it compelling? 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 14. Writing basic news leads How to write an effective news lead Writing leads often a process of trial and error. McGraw-Hill 際際滷 14 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Try different approaches. Create different leads using the Who. What. When. Where. Why.
  • 15. Writing basic news leads Not every story begins with a roundup of essential facts Basic news leads can be too dull and dry. All good reporters spend time searching for the perfect lead. McGraw-Hill 際際滷 15 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 16. Beyond the basic news lead Story checklist McGraw-Hill 際際滷 16 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Be accurate. Remember what day it is. Dont name names. Use strong verbs. Ask Why should I care? Sell the story. Dont get hung up. Move attributions to the end of the sentences.
  • 17. A roundup of commonly used options Basic news leads Anecdotal/ narrative leads Scene-setter leads Blind leads Roundup leads McGraw-Hill 際際滷 17 Leads that succeed Direct address leads The startling statement Wordplay leads 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 18. A roundup of commonly used options Basic news leads Summary lead Combines five Ws into one sentence. Delayed identification lead Withholds the name of the person in question until the second paragraph McGraw-Hill 際際滷 18 Leads that succeed Immediate identification lead Uses a public figure or celebrity in the sentence. 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 19. A roundup of commonly used options Anecdotal/ narrative leads Have a beginning, middle and end. Will be mini-story with symbolic resonance for bigger story. McGraw-Hill 際際滷 19 Leads that succeed Scene-setter leads Lack urgency of hard-news leads. Borrowed from fiction. Blind leads Extreme delayed information lead. Deliberately teases reader. 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 20. A roundup of commonly used options Roundup leads Rather than focus on one person, place or thing, impress reader with longer list. Direct address leads McGraw-Hill 際際滷 20 Leads that succeed 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Use second-person voice. The startling statement Also called a zinger or a Hey, Martha. Wordplay leads Encompass wide range of amusing leads.
  • 21. and three lazy leads you should usually reconsider McGraw-Hill 際際滷 21 Leads that succeed 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Topic leads Convey no actual news. Question leads Are irritating stalls. Quote leads Dont fairly summarize the story.
  • 22. After the leadwhat next? Add another paragraph Know how long the story should be. Write the nut graf Paragraph that condenses the story idea into nutshell. McGraw-Hill 際際滷 22 Briefs and brites: Brief written using the inverted pyramid. Brite written with more personality than a brief. 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 23. Giving an overall shape to writing No one-size-fits-all solution. Every story unfolds in a different way. McGraw-Hill 際際滷 23 Story structure 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 24. Organizing your story McGraw-Hill 際際滷 24 Story structure 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The inverted pyramid Use for: News briefs. Breaking news. Most important facts Additional facts More facts Etc., Etc. Etc.
  • 25. Giving an overall shape to writing The martini glass McGraw-Hill 際際滷 25 The lead Story structure Key facts in inverted-pyramid form Chronology of events Kicker 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Use for: Crimes. Disasters. Dramatic stories.
  • 26. Giving an overall shape to writing McGraw-Hill 際際滷 26 Story structure 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 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
  • 27. Keeping readers from getting bored Modern journalists job basically boils down to McGraw-Hill 際際滷 27 Story structure 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Teaching. Storytelling. Use narratives when you can. Think like a teacher.
  • 28. Writing tips as you move from paragraph to paragraph Keep paragraphs short. Write one idea per paragraph. Add transitions. McGraw-Hill 際際滷 28 Story structure Alternatives to long, gray news stories Bullet items Sidebars Subheads Other storytelling alternatives 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 29. McGraw-Hill 際際滷 29 Story structure The big finish Good writers agonize over the kicker as much as the lead. Plan ahead. Dont end with a summary. Avoid clich辿s. End with a bang. 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 30. Good story. Now make it better. Writing is rewriting. Make things a little better. Few stories arrive fully formed and perfectly phrased. Most require rethinking, restructuring and rewording. McGraw-Hill 際際滷 30 Rewriting 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 31. 5Reasons to hit the delete key McGraw-Hill 際際滷 31 Rewriting 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Passive verbs Start sentences with their subjects. Replace to be with stronger verbs. Redundancy Avoid unnecessary modifiers. Wordy sentences Jargon & journalese Filter out jargon and officialese. Clich辿s Lower the IQ of your writing.
  • 32. The Fog Index a readability gauge Find typical example. Average number of words per sentence. Number of hard words with 3 or more syllables (no proper names). McGraw-Hill 際際滷 32 Rewriting Add average number of words to number of hard words. Multiply the sum by 0.4. 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 33. The Fog Index a readability gauge 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. McGraw-Hill 際際滷 33 Rewriting 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 34. The role editors play in your stories Before you write Assigning story. Planning angle. Estimating scope. Anticipating packaging. McGraw-Hill 際際滷 34 Editing While you write Adding details. Monitoring speed. Fine-tuning. Layout changes. 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 35. The role editors play in your stories After you write Editing content. Copy editing. Cutting or padding. Assigning follow-up stories. McGraw-Hill 際際滷 35 Editing 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • 36. Every news outlet customizes guidelines. Copy desks job to standardize style. Know AP and your news outlets style. McGraw-Hill 際際滷 36 Newswriting style 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Whos right?
  • 37. McGraw-Hill 際際滷 37 AP Style Highlights 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Numbers Titles Capitalization Abbreviations Addresses The Internet Parentheses Possessives Prefixes And others
  • 38. Live by the clock McGraw-Hill 際際滷 38 Making deadline 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Deadlines are mandatory. Pass the deadline checklist. Accuracy. Fairness and balance. Writing style.
  • 39. Writing leads The rest of the story Editing and style Rules of grammar McGraw-Hill 際際滷 39 66 newswriting tips Word choices Nonsexist, nonageist, nondiscriminatory Punctuation 息 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.