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Writefor media ucsd_ext_spring12_2
This document outlines essential principles for writing in the media environment, emphasizing accuracy, simplicity, clarity, and ethical behavior. It highlights the importance of properly sourcing information, interviewing techniques, and understanding the audience's needs. Additionally, it addresses the necessity of meeting deadlines and using appropriate hardware and software for effective reporting.
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Writefor media ucsd_ext_spring12_2
- 1. Writing for Media Session#2: Writing in the Media Environment UCSD Extension Spring 2012
- 2. News culture • Accuracy •Efficiency • Processes • Deadlines • Ethics
- 3. Accuracy • Spell namescorrectly (follow up!) • Quote sources correctly (follow up!) • Check it out (follow up!) • Do the math (follow up!)
- 4. Verification/Attribution • The mayorsaid... • According to the police report... • The grand jury’s report will be announced... • “Disneyland rocks,” said Mickey Mouse. • According to Pele, Brazil will win. • “Sony makes great TVs,” states JLo.
- 5. Info, Not Opinion •Facts — verifiable info • Opinion — someone’s beliefs • Can include — source’s opinion • Cannot include — your opinion (writer’s)
- 6. Simplicity • Simple words(don’t get fancy!) • Simple sentences (easier for the reader) • Paragraphs (3 sentences or 100 words)
- 7. Clarity, Coherence, Context • Simplicity • Logical — supports larger idea of story • Enough but not too much info
- 8. Audience • Who willbe reading this? • What do they need to know? • Why do they need to read this? • What can they use from the story?
- 9. Deadlines • Learn towrite quickly (timed exercises) • Newspapers (for set print time) • Broadcast (for set air time) • Web (for set posting time)
- 10. Reporting • Gather infoand write • How? • When? • Where? • Good info from good sources
- 11. Observation • See whathappens (events, disasters, etc.) • What is significant? • Be in position to see what you need to see • Generally, don’t participate in events
- 12. People • Most infocomes from people (interviews) • Credible sources have reliable info • Quotes bring credibility to stories • quote personality, not data or stats
- 13. Interviewing • Step 1:What info is needed? • Step 2: Prepping for the conversation • research • compose appropriate questions • Be sensitive with sources who aren’t willing to give info
- 14. Questions • Closed-ended questions(Yes or no) • Open-ended questions • Hypothetical questions (What if?) • Agree/Disagree questions • Probes (follow ups) • Personal questions (middle or end)
- 15. Records • Stored information(court records, police reports, accounting files, etc.) • confirm it • out of date • lacks proper context
- 16. Skepticism • Confirm infowith other sources • Is this information accurate?
- 17. Ethical behavior • Tellthe truth • Dishonesty, plagiarism, falsification (#1 sin) • Using words of others w/o attribution • Misrepresentation — ID yourself • Lose all credibility
- 18. Hardware/Software • Google —maps, news, images (source) • Digital camera/video (accompany stories) • Social — Twitter, Facebook,YouTube
- 19. Conclusion • Know traditionsand practices of editors • Gather acceptable info • Convey info clearly and concisely • Builds trust for you and your organization!
- 20.