Writing for the Mass Media UCSD Extension Mike Lawson 760/753-5943 [email_address]

Writing in a Media Environment Be accurate Present information efficiently Be aware of deadlines Have integrity

Be accurate

Present information efficiently

Be aware of deadlines

Have integrity

Elements of News What do you think makes news?

What do you think makes news?

News Values Impact - events that change people’s lives Timeliness - how long ago when an event happened Prominence - celebrities, politicians, sports stars, authors, etc. Proximity - Events that occur close to home Conflict - when people disagree Bizarre or Unusual - rare event that occurs Currency - issues with current interest

Impact - events that change people’s lives

Timeliness - how long ago when an event happened

Prominence - celebrities, politicians, sports stars, authors, etc.

Proximity - Events that occur close to home

Conflict - when people disagree

Bizarre or Unusual - rare event that occurs

Currency - issues with current interest

5 Ws and H Who? - (Who’s important?) What? - (What’s the major event?) When? - (When did it occur?) Where? - (Where did it occur?) Why? - (Why did it occur?) How? - (How did it happen?)

Who? - (Who’s important?)

What? - (What’s the major event?)

When? - (When did it occur?)

Where? - (Where did it occur?)

Why? - (Why did it occur?)

How? - (How did it happen?)

3 Fundamental Sources of Information People Records (written or stored) Personal observation

People

Records (written or stored)

Personal observation

Attribution of Sources Attribution in a news story means telling the readers the source of the information so that the readers can judge the credibility of the info.

Attribution in a news story means telling the readers the source of the information so that the readers can judge the credibility of the info.

Interviewing News stories use two types of quoted material: Direct quotations Indirect quotations / paraphrase

News stories use two types of quoted material:

Direct quotations

Indirect quotations / paraphrase

Steps to a Successful Interview Deciding what information is needed Preparing for the conversation - research! Figure out what questions to ask beforehand (8-10 questions)

Deciding what information is needed

Preparing for the conversation - research!

Figure out what questions to ask beforehand (8-10 questions)

Types of Questions Closed-ended questions Open-ended questions Hypothetical questions Agree/Disagree questions Probes Personal questions

Closed-ended questions

Open-ended questions

Hypothetical questions

Agree/Disagree questions

Probes

Personal questions

Interviewing Tips Control the situation Set the tone of the interview early Take notes Make sure you understand what the source says Do not respond to attacks from source Use a tape recorder with permission Note the surroundings Always be courteous and professional

Control the situation

Set the tone of the interview early

Take notes

Make sure you understand what the source says

Do not respond to attacks from source

Use a tape recorder with permission

Note the surroundings

Always be courteous and professional

Following the Interview As soon as possible after the interview, review and rewrite your notes -- even if you tape recorded the interview. Always ask if you can call back for follow-up questions or clarification.

As soon as possible after the interview, review and rewrite your notes -- even if you tape recorded the interview.

Always ask if you can call back for follow-up questions or clarification.

Observation Good observation requires the writer to develop a sense of what is significant. Examples on p.94 Put yourself in situations where you see what you need to see

Good observation requires the writer to develop a sense of what is significant.

Examples on p.94

Put yourself in situations where you see what you need to see

Stored Sources of Info Government documents Company records Books Magazines Internet (Google, Bing, Yahoo!, etc.) Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) Interactive by asking credible users questions

Government documents

Company records

Books

Magazines

Internet (Google, Bing, Yahoo!, etc.)

Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.)

Interactive by asking credible users questions

Credibility of Sources Make sure your sources are credible! Sometimes have to double check sources for accuracy -- especially if they’re on the “fringe” Be aware of source’s hidden agendas “ Follow the money!”

Make sure your sources are credible!

Sometimes have to double check sources for accuracy -- especially if they’re on the “fringe”

Be aware of source’s hidden agendas

“ Follow the money!”

Accuracy Spell sources’ names correctly! Quote sources correctly Get info from more than one source Do the math Make sure numbers in story add up (example p.99)

Spell sources’ names correctly!

Quote sources correctly

Get info from more than one source

Do the math

Make sure numbers in story add up (example p.99)

Deadlines Chief enemy - sometimes a friend - of writers is time Deadlines enable an organization to function and be reliable When working with reporters, always ask when their deadline is and work with that timeline

Chief enemy - sometimes a friend - of writers is time

Deadlines enable an organization to function and be reliable

When working with reporters, always ask when their deadline is and work with that timeline

Ethical Behavior Tell the truth ! Dishonesty gets you fired, causing you to find another career Falsification Plagiarism Misrepresentation

Tell the truth !

Dishonesty gets you fired, causing you to find another career

Falsification

Plagiarism

Misrepresentation

Finally… Questions?

Questions?