Here are some things that could be improved in this news story: - The lead uses "our school" which is not objective third person writing. - The quote from Andy Opel is not attributed properly and uses first person "I". Quotes should be attributed as "Andy Opel said". - The paragraph about the TCRT program is wordy and could be more concise. - The quote from Mr. Brown is not attributed properly and uses first person "our". It should be "Mr. Brown said". - The final quote from Andy Opel repeats information and is redundant. It also uses first person "That's". Overall, the story needs to be rewritten in objective

1. NEWS
WRITING

2. What is News?
 Information about current events printed in newspapers or broadcast by
media (Microsoft Encarta, 2009)
 Gives the reader information that will have an impact on them in some
way
 Usually flows from most important to least important
 Recent information
 Current events
 Somebody or something interesting
 Something previously unknown

3. Elements of a News
 Timeliness
 Proximity
 Impact
 Prominence
 Oddity
 Conflict
 Human Interest

4. Essential Qualities of a News
 Accuracy
 Brevity
 Clarity
 Objectivity

5. STRUCTURE OF
NEWS

6. Most Important Facts
Details or Background
More Details
More Details
More
Details
INVERTED PYRAMID IN NEWS WRITING

7. Headline
 Text indicating the nature of the article or news story below it
 Brief summary of what the article is about
 Make your headline answer as many W’s as possible
 Must contain nothing that is not found in the story
 Use present tense for past stories and infinitive form for future stories
 Positive heads are preferable than negative ones
 Omit articles like a, an, and the and all forms of verb to be (is, are, be), unless needed
to make the meaning clear
 Use the strongest word in the first line as possible
 Active verb is better than the passive verb

8. The Lead
 The 1st paragraph: Most
important part of the article
and summarizes the story
 Answers right away the
most important questions:
5 W’s and 1 H
 Arouses the interest of the
reader

9. The Body
 Details of the lead
 Arranged from most important to the least important
 One sentence, one paragraph
 Sentences are generally less than 25 words
 Includes quotations whenever possible (direct or indirect)
 The rest of the story is called the body. A story should proceed in a natural and
chronological order. Sticking to a logical order will make it easier to write the story, as
well as to allow you to keep track of your ideas and materials.

10.  Should be linked to the paragraph before them. The quote should elaborate on the
previous paragraph.
Direct Quotations
Example:
Because of an anonymous $25,000 donation, students who ride a school bus to
and from school will have access to the Internet during their commute starting March 1.
“Giving free Wi-Fi to our students will enable them to do research, read the news
or even watch educational videos each day,” Superintendent Kelli Putman said. “This
change will have a positive impact on academic productivity.”

11. Example:
 Should not repeat the transition/ lead before them.
Principal Eliseo Pangan said that several teachers have been reluctant to give
assignments that require Internet access.
“Several of our teachers have been hesitant about giving homework
assignments that would require the Internet,” Rother said.

12.  Can be longer than one sentence
 Should have attribution after the first sentence of the quote
 Attribution should be Noun then verb.
Example:
Senior Bob Rodriguez said.
 Do not place two people’s direct quotes next to each other without a transition
Said senior Bob Rodriquez

13. Transition
 Very important because it holds the story together
 Use parts of the direct quote to create the transition. And then use the rest of the quote
as direct quote.
 After all, Also, Finally, In addition, However, Otherwise and then.
 Example:
Four-time MVP Peyton Manning tested himself against his own
defense, the tempo was quick and the intensity increased.(Transition)To
first-year coach Jim Caldwell, this is how you use a bye week to get ready
not rusty for the playoffs(Transition).

14. GUIDELINES IN
WRITING:

15. Writing the News:
 Make sure your facts are accurate
 Keep your sentences short
 Avoid long and complex words
 Be specific
 Always write as third person (Don’t use I and We)
 Do not editorialize

16. Writing the Lead
 Pack the most important info in one sentence
 Start with the most important or unusual idea of the news event
 Go direct to the point
 Rarely use the “when” and “where” leads
 Use less than 30 words
 Do not mention names unless the person is well-known
 Avoid starting with articles: a, an, the
 Use active voice instead of passive

17. Writing the Body
 List down facts according to descending importance
 Names should be given in full when first mentioned. Thereafter, use Mr., Ms., or Mrs.
Or appropriate title.
 Attribute authority or source of news
 Don’t start news with numerals, there is. . ., there are. . ., and avoid. . .;when possible,
use articles( a, an, the) as beginning word.)
 Highlight the most important data as the lead
 Make sure your facts are accurate
 Keep your sentences short
 Be specific
 Avoid long and complex words

18.  Avoid passive verbs, jargons and cliches
 Do not editorialize
 Avoid redundancy and repetition
 Write in the third person
 Highlight the most important data as the lead
 Numbers 1-9 spelled out, 10 and above in figures

19. LET’S PRACTICE!

20. What went wrong?
During the 2010-11 school year, our school has reported
22 fights so far. Last year, the school had 18 total fights.
“One of my friends got in a fight, but he didn’t start it. He
was defending himself,” said freshman Andy Opel.
In response to the escalating fights, the school district
hired the Teen Conflict Resolution Team to help students
solve disagreements through non-violent solutions.
After March 23, any student caught fighting on campus
must complete a TCRT non-violence workshop, in addition
to normal disciplinary actions.
“Students have to learn how to solve life’s problems
without violence, and this program will teach our students
just that,” said Mr. Brown.
“Now students will get suspended and be forced to attend
this program,” Opal said. “That’s just too much.”