This session covers Writing for Print Journalism. Yes, print still exists and is thriving despite numerous ill-managed newspapers folding. Good stuff in this session that can be adapted to any marketing plan.

1. Writing for Media
Session #4
“Writing for Print Journalism”
UCSD Extension Spring 2012

2. Newspapers/Mags
Today
• Most still profitable
• Local/regional publications doing well
• Circulations down
• Laying off reporters

3. Long-Form News
Stories
• Inverted pyramid
• Attribution
• Short sentences and paragraphs
• Information
• Simplicity
• Adherence to style

4. Developing a Story
• What’s the most important info?
• Put it in the lead
• What do I want to know next?
• Supporting info
• Quotes
• Wrap it up in a bow -- a bow?

5. Transitions
• Connectors -- words that unify
• Hooks -- word, phrases that unify thru-out
• Pronouns -- using with people
• Associations -- diff. words, same meaning
• Chronology -- establish sequence
• Enumeration -- numbering items (bullets)

6. News Story Types
• Meetings (sports, political, industry, etc.)
• Speeches (political, industry, etc.)
• Obituaries (most already written)
• Weather (seasons, disasters, events, etc.)
• Crime and courtroom (lots of drama!)
• Anniversaries (holidays, history, events, etc.)

7. Editing and Rewriting
• Spelling, grammar, style mistakes
• Verbs (active and descriptive)
• Wordiness (cut down words to express)
• Answer all questions (be complete)
• Internal consistency (confusion for writer =
confusion for reader)

8. Feature Stories
• Anecdotal -- starts with relating story
• Suspended interest -- asks a question
• Profiles -- centers around a single person
• Question and Answer (Q&A) -- simple,
effective, and unfiltered style

9. Feature Writing
Characteristics
• Greater detail
• Descriptions:
• Actions, People, Places
• Reliance of nouns and verbs
• Use lots of quotes
• Remember 5 senses:
• See, Sound, Feel, Taste, Smell

10. Parts of a Feature Story
• Lead -- multiple sentences and paragraphs
• Engine paragraph -- the payoff
• Body -- answer all questions
• Conclusion -- need one to wrap up in a
bow

11. Books
• Easier than ever to get published
• Hard to put one together
• Think about your audience -- Who are
they? Who’s going to read it?
• A good idea and good reporting and
writing skills
• Don’t forget to finish it!

12. Writing Challenges
• Gathering info
• Learning appropriate structures
• Understanding graphics to accompany text
• Just doing it
• What are your challenges?

13. Challenges (cont.)
• Present info:
• Accurately
• Completely
• Precisely
• Efficiently

14. Challenges (cont.)
• Learning to do this takes:
• Reading
• Analysis
• Study
• Practice

15. Questions...