The document provides guidance for writing concise news summaries in an engaging conversational style. It emphasizes using active verbs and avoiding passive constructions. Descriptive adjectives should be objective rather than subjective. Dependent clauses and "journalese" should be limited. Sentences should be 8-12 words and focus on one thought. Pronouns can help flow and shorten copy. The goal is to connect with viewers by writing like you would talk to them.

1. BREAKING NEWS– ACADEMIC
HONOR COUNCIL•Assignment: WRITE A 20 SECOND
(READER) ON ACADEMIC HONOR
COUNCIL PRESENTATION
• Remember to include the WHO (who was
speaking)
• WHAT (What was said)
• BOTTOM LINE (What do you take away
from the announcement(s) made)
• PRINT YOUR STORY IN ALL CAPS
• Name and CW ID Top Right-hand corner

2. PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS &
EVENTS
• 2 points of EXTRA CREDIT for showing up and signing the attendance sheet
for JCM 331 (MAXIMUM OF 2 Pro Meetings per semester)
• 2 points of EXTRA CREDIT for attending a speaker/lecture related to
electronic reporting or sports reporting/sports media (Maximum of 3
events per semester)
• POINTS posted on Blackboard Learn and are added to your FINAL GRADE at
end of semester
• YOU MUST SIGN THE OFFICIAL JCM 331 ROSTER; No POST-EVENT credit!!

3. 1. Ask yourself ‘Would I say it that way?’
2. Emphasize the viewer benefit of the story
and answer ‘What’s In It For Me?’
3. Use common, everyday language and
avoid cliches or ‘Journalese’
4. Limit each sentence to one thought.
5. Strive for 8-12 words per sentence.
6. Drop the ‘cop speak’
7. Use correct grammar.
The Basic Tenets of
Conversational
Writing

4. MAKE IT ACTIVE
The subject of the sentence should conduct
the action of the verb, rather than having
the action conducted upon it/them
WHY
1. Active verbs sound better to the ear than
passive verbs.
2. It’s stronger writing.
3. It will make you a better journalist (find
out WHO is conducting the action rather
than hiding behind a lack of knowledge)
VERBS

5. OBJECTIVE ADJECTIVES
Describe nouns in a way that no one can
dispute their accuracy.
SUBJECTIVE ADJECTIVES
Describe nouns in a way you may see them.
Although, it’s possible someone else may
see it a different way. AVOID THESE IN
YOUR NEWS WRITING!
ADJECTIVES

6. AVOID DEPENDENT CLAUSES
A Common way of describing a noun in
written communication
NOT FOR THE EAR.
1. They separate the subject from the verb
2. They’re not conversational
3. They present the potential for confusing
the viewer/listener
ADJECTIVES

7. VALUABLE TOOLS FOR CONVERSATIONAL
NEWS WRITING
1. We use them constantly in conversation.
2. They are short words, taking the place of
longer words or names or a short group of
words. They can SHORTEN our copy.
3. The story flows better with pronouns. It
sounds more informal and more like the
way we talk.
PRONOUNS

8. Author of your textbook
• Jeff Butera's career path (where
he started, where he's worked
and where he went to College)
• Jeff Butera's current TV Station
and his role in the station
• The Story behind the book
Write Like You Talk (Including
the original author and where
he worked)
• "You can Connect to the Viewer
When You Talk Like the Viewer”