News writing for bloggers Inverted pyramids -write the most important things first -lead/lede -explanatory paragraph (nut graf) -details

Inverted pyramids

-write the most important things first

-lead/lede

-explanatory paragraph (nut graf)

-details

Lead or Lede Any way you spell it, it’s really important

…unless you write a great lead. Direct lead: Loeu Ban, 35, was arrested for beating up monk abbot Chhin Phon, 23, in Ma'kak pagoda in Ma'kak village, Ma'kak commune, Serey Sophorn district, Banteay Meanchey province on Sunday. Man beats up monk for night chats (Sept. 20, 2008, The Phnom Phen Post ) Indirect lead: THEY are most easily found in nightclubs that cater to foreigners. After hours, they loiter in the shadows of Wat Botom and Wat Phnom, or idle away the evening in clusters along the river waiting for clients. Cambodian gigolo: male prostitution rises (Sept. 20, 2008, The Phnom Phen Post )

Direct lead:

Loeu Ban, 35, was arrested for beating up monk abbot Chhin Phon, 23, in Ma'kak pagoda in Ma'kak village, Ma'kak commune, Serey Sophorn district, Banteay Meanchey province on Sunday.

Man beats up monk for night chats (Sept. 20, 2008, The Phnom Phen Post )

Indirect lead:

THEY are most easily found in nightclubs that cater to foreigners. After hours, they loiter in the shadows of Wat Botom and Wat Phnom, or idle away the evening in clusters along the river waiting for clients.

Cambodian gigolo: male prostitution rises (Sept. 20, 2008, The Phnom Phen Post )

Direct or Indirect? Marcella Hazan’s husband, Victor, who has written every word of English in her cookbooks, has created the ultimate translation: her memoir, written by him in her voice. For Better, for Worse, for Richer, for Pasta (Sept. 10, 2008, The New York Times )

Marcella Hazan’s husband, Victor, who has written every word of English in her cookbooks, has created the ultimate translation: her memoir, written by him in her voice.

For Better, for Worse, for Richer, for Pasta (Sept. 10, 2008, The New York Times )

Writing is rewriting Read out loud Cut extra info One thought, one sentence Look for missing information Check your facts, your links and your quotes Write with verbs and use the active voice

Read out loud

Cut extra info

One thought, one sentence

Look for missing information

Check your facts, your links and your quotes

Write with verbs and use the active voice

Some writing resources NewsU Poynter (Chip on Your Shoulder) No Train, No Gain Angilee Shah [email_address] www.angileeshah.com

NewsU

Poynter (Chip on Your Shoulder)

No Train, No Gain

Angilee Shah

[email_address]

www.angileeshah.com