This document provides an overview of key aspects of journalistic writing, including: 1. The differences between news and features - news prioritizes the most important facts while features tell true stories using narrative techniques. 2. Guidelines for writing news stories, including using the inverted pyramid structure and focusing on accuracy, balance, objectivity, conciseness and timeliness. 3. Best practices for conducting interviews, such as preparing open-ended questions, listening carefully and following up to get more details and clarity.

1. Journalistic Writing 101 News, Features, Interviews, Qualities, Factors

2. News Vs. Features Listen to the news story and the feature story What do they have in common? How are they different?

3. Classic (Telegraph) News Form Most Important Least Important Summary Lead (5ws and H, starting with most interesting item) Quotes Transitions End on a good quote

4. The Feature Tell a true story Use plot, characters, dialogue, literary devices etc. Should have at least one nut graph (summary paragraph tied to recent events) Draw your reader in

5. The Interview Interview Definition Any time you gather information, and solicit information from a source. Sources Primary- A person who has information that is essential to the story Secondary- People or documents that add information and perspective to a story, but are not essential

6. Interview Keys Prepare! (RESEARCH) Learn as much as you can about the person you will interview Write questions before the interview Be prepared to add or change questions Schedule interview Greet and identify yourself and the purpose of the interview

7. Interview Keys- Poor Example Reporter- I’m supposed to ask you about your plans for student council. Smiley- Okay. Reporter-What can you tell me about your plans? Smiley- Well, big things will be happening. Reporter-How do you plan to implement those things? Smiley- The student council will work very hard to make the changes.

8. Interview Keys- Prepared!!! Reporter- Joan, how do you plan to fight against suspensions and expulsions, as you promised in your campaign? Smiley- Actually that will be tough at first. More important is my promise to have more student input in school board policies. With that input, we can work towards stopping suspensions

9. Interview Keys- Prepared!!! Reporter- I believe the council tried two years ago to get more student input in board decisions, and failed. How do you propose to become more involved now? Smiley- Well, I’ve already met the superintendent and the school board president to create a student liason position on the policies committee.

10. Interview Keys- Questions INFORMED OPEN ENDED PROBING FOLLOW UP

11. Interview Keys- Questions 5 Ws and an H Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? GOOD STARTING POINT

12. Interview Keys- Questions OPEN ENDED Ask for an opinion or an interpretation. DO NOT LET THEM ANSWER YES OR NO!

13. Interview Keys- Questions Change these to OPEN ENDED Did you sign the petition? Do you floss regularly? Does your computer do calculus? Is the football team going to be good this year?

14. Interview Keys- Questions FOLLOW UP (Probe) LISTEN to your source’s answers Identify when they are being unclear, or vague and make them clarify. Make them expand on new information you didn’t know about before the interview LOOK FOR THE “ANGLE” AND FOLLOW IT

15. Three Factors are essential to News 1. FACT News Must be Factual News is based on actual occurrences, situations, thoughts, and ideas. Not all facts are news. Interest People Fact

16. Three Factors are essential to News 2. INTEREST News Must be Interesting Not all facts are interesting The degree and breadth of interest will vary. High interest for a few Some interest for many Great interest for many Interest People Fact

17. Three Factors are essential to News 3. People/ Audience It is the job of the reporter to make facts interesting to people. What does your audience want? Interest People Fact

18. News Qualities #1 News must be Accurate Every statement, name and date, age, address, and quotation is a verifiable fact. The general impression must be correct as well as the specific details.

19. News Qualities #2 News must be Balanced Every fact must have the proper emphasis Get all of the sides to a story, and report all of the important details.

20. News Qualities #3 News must be Objective News is a non-biased, factual report of an event (as much as possible) Rely on knowledgeable sources for all information. Some background and interpretation is often needed. Such stories are written under a byline.

21. News Qualities #4 News must be Concise and Clear Hard news follows the inverted pyramid form (Most important facts first) “ Effective reporting is painstakingly precise in word choice, yet full of life and vigor; colorful yet without subjective tinting. . .” -Mitchell V. Charnley

22. News Qualities #5 News must be Timely Other factors being equal, this quality will always determine what gets published. All events don’t have to be current. They all just have to be appropriate for the time. (current)

23. Features are different Based on people, not necessarily events Don’t have to be as timely While you don’t want to waste words, you don’t have to be as concise Features are the same Everything must be accurate Writing should be objective event though it is a personal story Based on great interviews