How to Write News

THE LANGUAGE OF PRINT

Source: Journalism in the Digital Age: Theory and Practice for Broadcast, Print and Online Media by John Herbert

Me? Camille Diola writer, layout artist, web consultant I took up Journalism at the University of the Philippines. My blog is All Amateur Advice.com

WRITING STYLE

ONE Keep it simple. Remember: This 4th grader is your reader.

TWO Keep it short. near not adjacent now not at this moment, or at the present time during not in course of before not prior to because not in consequence of from not as from watched not observed although not despite the fact that

THREE Keep it sweet. The boy told the truth. versus The truth was told by the boy. The Senate passed the bill. versus The bill was passed.

THREE Keep it sweet. Water scientists will test for parts per million to see if the lead content exceeds government standards. versus The water will be tested to see if it contains too much lead.

THE ALL-IMPORTANT LEAD

TYPES Hard or soft? A national icon is not just larger than life, but larger than 10 basketball courts. The massive mosaic of the late Corazon Aquino was unveiled by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III on Saturday in celebration of anniversary of his mother’s death.

TYPES Hard or soft? President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III on Saturday unveiled a massive photo mosaic of his mother, the late president Corazon Aquino, in a tribute just before the first anniversary of her death.

FOUR Invest in your nut graf WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY HOW

FOUR Invest in your nut graf After several cancelled flights due to labor disputes, the Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Tuesday announced that its operations are "back to normal."

INVERTE DPYR AMI D

INVERTE DPYR AMI D It’s not just an old trick.

It’s natural storytelling.

sample structures Lead/nut graf summary of story, latest details Second section source Third section background Fourth section return to source from intro

sample structures 1 lead with highlight of event 2 educated quote from guest speaker 3 background, dramatic content 4 description/analysis/comment/reaction

USING QUOTES

Quote what has worth.

direct “Our objective is for the management and the pilots to meet and find a resolution that is satisfactory to them both,” the transportation secretary said.

indirect Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Malacañang was not considering a takeover.

How to Write News

by Camille Diola on Sep 09, 2010

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How to Write News — Presentation Transcript