The document provides tips for writing news stories, including building on the lead paragraph with important details and quotes. The body of the story elaborates on the lead and second paragraphs, retelling the story in more detail and tying all the information together. Writers are advised to follow newspaper style guidelines and use politically correct, unbiased language while avoiding cliches, redundancies, and passive voice. Overall, the document offers guidance on organizing a news story and using an appropriate writing style.

1. Writing News StoriesWriting News Stories

2. Building on the LeadBuilding on the Lead
 What follows the lead is the nextWhat follows the lead is the next
most important part of the storymost important part of the story
• It has to be goodIt has to be good
 Quotes add a personal touch to theQuotes add a personal touch to the
writingwriting
• You will want to have someoneYou will want to have someone’’s voice ins voice in
the article immediatelythe article immediately
• You may also transitionYou may also transition

3. Body of the StoryBody of the Story
 Elaboration takes place hereElaboration takes place here
 Expand upon the lead and second paragraphExpand upon the lead and second paragraph
 Retelling the story in more detail occurs hereRetelling the story in more detail occurs here
 Be sure to continue to tie everything togetherBe sure to continue to tie everything together
 As you move along, the information shouldAs you move along, the information should
become less and less detailed as well as lessbecome less and less detailed as well as less
and less importantand less important
• WHY? So the editor can simply lob off the endWHY? So the editor can simply lob off the end
 Look at the example on p. 157Look at the example on p. 157

4. Other Organizational PatternsOther Organizational Patterns
 Storytelling style – narrative styleStorytelling style – narrative style
• Great for non-print journalismGreat for non-print journalism
• Look at the example on p. 159Look at the example on p. 159
 Combination style – combiningCombination style – combining
inverted pyramid with storytellinginverted pyramid with storytelling
• Great for action storiesGreat for action stories
 Sidebar – story related to anotherSidebar – story related to another
story on the page but told differentlystory on the page but told differently

5. Appropriate Newspaper StyleAppropriate Newspaper Style
 There are a number of rules youThere are a number of rules you
must follow – use the stylebookmust follow – use the stylebook
 We have copies of the AssociatedWe have copies of the Associated
Press Stylebook as well as our ownPress Stylebook as well as our own
OO’’Gorman stylebookGorman stylebook

6. Avoid Offensive LanguageAvoid Offensive Language
 Use politically correct terminologyUse politically correct terminology
 Anything that might seem to be inAnything that might seem to be in
poor taste usually ispoor taste usually is
 No slang term for religious beliefsNo slang term for religious beliefs
 Watch out for biasWatch out for bias
• DonDon’’t show favoritism to the schoolt show favoritism to the school
• We arenWe aren’’t writing a newslettert writing a newsletter
 No sexist languageNo sexist language

7. Be succinctBe succinct
 Develop clear and concise ways ofDevelop clear and concise ways of
expressing yourselfexpressing yourself
 Use clear, simple wordsUse clear, simple words

8. JargonJargon
 Inside language of groupsInside language of groups
 Some jargon is okay, but donSome jargon is okay, but don’’t go tot go to
extremesextremes

9. Straightforward SentencesStraightforward Sentences
 One idea, one sentenceOne idea, one sentence
 Short paragraphs, short sentencesShort paragraphs, short sentences
• Journalistic paragraphs should be 2-3Journalistic paragraphs should be 2-3
sentencessentences
 Stay away from semicolonsStay away from semicolons

10. A few things to avoid…A few things to avoid…
 RedundancyRedundancy
• ““2 a.m. in the morning2 a.m. in the morning””
 ClichésClichés
• Avoid clichés like you avoid the plagueAvoid clichés like you avoid the plague
 DonDon’’t worry about repeating wordst worry about repeating words
 Passive VoicePassive Voice
• Write in the active voice as much asWrite in the active voice as much as
possiblepossible

11. Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts
 Always rememberAlways remember
• ““Be reasonable and prudent, notBe reasonable and prudent, not
arbitrary or capriciousarbitrary or capricious””