Directions and notes on writing for the observed class interview.

2. Basics
Steps to take
1. Find out who are
interviewing
2. Fill out story proposal, a
PDF form (online)
3. Background research
4. Write 15 questions in
order
5. Prepare to conduct
interview & take notes
Always Ask
1. Name Spelling
2. Class Standing
3. Title /Position
4. Contact Information

3. Story 2
Deadlines
Interview Nov. 7
Rough
Draft
Nov. 12
Final Draft Nov. 18

4. Page
2
Setting Up
Document

5. Page
3
Story Proposal
• Fill out on line
• Save to your USB thumb
drive or Google Drive
• DO NOT save to
computer
• Don’t copy/paste
research, use your
words, terms
• Document your research
sources
Don’t loose!
You MUST turn this in, typed.

6. Page
4
• List your vetted* questions
in order
* Vetted — make a careful and
critical examination

7. Page
5
• Take notes during
interview here
• You may need additional
paper for notes.
• You can NEVER take
enough notes.
• Put quote marks around
exact words & terms used
by respondents.
• Notes turned in.

8. Page
6
Fill story idea diagram to help
organize your thoughts.
1. Lede (May be Attention
Getter)
2. Nut Graph — Why readers
should care. Transition lead
to story.
3. Quote — Relating to the nut
graph.
4. 2-3 facts — About the
subject. Just the facts, not
opinions.
5. Repeat Quote, Fact

9. Respondent • Fall 2014
Name School Title Topic
Karen
Phillips
SSC Principal National Career
Readiness Certificate
(NCRC)

10. National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC)
You need to
research
What NCRC is
How one would obtain it
Benefits of having it
Take notes to fill out form

11. Developing Questions
Activity
Gather background info.
Develop questions interview:
Developing Purpose &
Questions
–Work to refine questions
with table group
–Add follow up questions
Order questions 1-15
–Rewrite questions in order
on handout.
Targets
Develop
questions using
correct
questioning
technique.

12. John Sawatsky
John Sawatsky, a go-to guru in the art and science of
the interview.
His current laboratory is ESPN where he works with
reporters and producers to change the interview culture.
Sawatsky’s ESPN protégés have been overheard off-camera
repeating his mantra to themselves: “Open,
neutral, lean” before asking a question.

13. Sawatsky’s Questions

14. Homework
Conduct additional background research as
needed.
Finish developing questioning strategy.
Come to next class prepared to be professional.
Have writing utensils and paper/note pad ready to go.
Dress appropriately to interview.

16. Developing Questions
Activity
Interview subject
Take notes on what is said
Pay atten. to language used
Use quote marks around
direct quotes in notes
Make sure direct quotes are
exactly what respondent said
Ask clarifying questions
If time permits
Rewrite notes
Start writing story
Targets
Observer interview.
Take notes including direct
quotations of respondent.
Look & listen for
follow-up questions
clarifying question
Remember to double check
spelling of
Name
Figures
Facts

17. Respondent List • Fall 2014
Name School Title Topic
Karen
Phillips
SSC Principal National Career
Readiness Certificate
(NCRC)

18. Writing a News Story: Steps
1. Find the most important (key) thought (fact).
2.Number the order of thoughts from most important
to least.
3. Keep the lede less than 30 (35) words.
4. Include the what and who into the lead.
5. Include any significant amounts into lede.
Remember people want to know about money.
6. Place the most important facts first while writing.
7. Paragraphs less than 100 words.
8. Use lots of quotes with transitions between.

19. Lede (or Lead)
First paragraph
Less than 30 words long
Captures gist of story
Sums up the story’s most important facts.
Contains 5W's + H
What & Who most important
Leads should not contain quotations.

20. Newswriting: Inverted Pyramid Style
•The most important
information
is at the top (beginning of
article)
•The least important
information is at the bottom
(end of article).
•Has the ability to undergo
cutoff test (removing last
section(s) of story to quickly
shorten story).

21. Typing Story
Header
Name
Insert Page X of Y
Slug
Date
Period
Page 1
Start ⅓ to ½ way
down page
Page 2
Start at top
Write – 30 - at bottom
Slug (assignment name)
Date
Period
Start copy ⅓ of way down page to allow for comments to be
written in by editors and/or advisor.
Start assignment/story here. Use Minion Pro Medium size 14 font . Be sure to double
space story copy. Write paragraphs in block from putting an extra return between each
paragraph.
Remember to use short and concise sentiments. Use colorful quotes with proper
attributes. Don’t forget all attributions are in past tense. The very best attribution term to
use is the word said. Attributions should come after information. Every opinion must be
attributed. When you introduce a new source change to a new p aragraph.
Write clear transitions connecting quotes and adding to the story flow. Think as
transitions as road signs pointing the way for readers to follow .

22. Handing in Typed Assignments
Use Minion Pro Med. 14 pts.
font.
Must have header with
Name
Page number (Insert X of Y)
Slug (assignment name)
Date
Period & Computer
Must be double spaced
Must leave room at top of first
page for comments.
Name
Slug (assignment name)
Date
Period
Page 1 of 1
Start copy ⅓ of way down page to allow for comments to be
written in by editors and/or advisor.
Start assignment/story here. Use Minion Pro Medium size 14 font . Be sure to double
space story copy. Write paragraphs in block from putting an extra return between each
paragraph.
Remember to use short and concise sentiments. Use colorful quotes with proper
attributes. Don’t forget all attributions are in past tense. The very best attribution term to
use is the word said. Attributions should come after information. Every opinion must be
attributed. When you introduce a new source change to a new p aragraph.
Write clear transitions connecting quotes and adding to the story flow. Think as
transitions as road signs pointing the way for readers to follow .

23. Targets 1 • Rough Draft
Write news style rough draft on computer
Lede less than 30 words, capture story gist
Inverted pyramid (important facts first)
Paragraphs less than 100 words
Use multiple styles of quotes
Use correct attribution style
“Quote,” Full Name, id, said.
Think about content
What was your purpose
Use rich & thoughtful quotes

24. Targets 2 • Editing
Edit stories looking for the following:
Lede less than 30 words, capture story gist
Inverted pyramid (important facts first)
Paragraphs less than 100 words
Quotes
Use multiple styles of quotes
Use correct attribution style: “Quote,” Full Name, id, said.
Written in past tense
Written in third person
Spelling & grammar errors
Story matches purpose
Use of rich & thoughtful quotes

25. Basic Copy Editing Marks
Use yellow
sheet of copy
editing
symbols.

26. Stylebook
Use stylebook to develop journalistic copy style.
Use copy editing sheets to assist in editing copy into journalistic style.
Use copy editing skills to edit worksheet.
Using the Stylebook
1. Look at the table of contents for type of error.
• Capitalization
• Abbreviations
• Identification of People
• Punctuation
• Numerals
• Miscellaneous
• Sports
2. Make corrections using proper copy editing
and proofing marks.
3. Remember to use past tense in attributions.
4. Be careful of
• D1, D4 (Titles & Identification)
• F2 (Numbers)
• G1 (opinion w/o attribution)
• G2 (Use of “that”)
• G# (not 3rd person)

27. Targets 2 • Editing
Edit stories looking for the following:
Lede less than 30 words, capture story gist
Inverted pyramid (important facts first)
Paragraphs less than 100 words
Quotes
Use multiple styles of quotes
Use correct attribution style: “Quote,” Full Name, id,
said.
Attribution written in past tense
Written in third person
Spelling & grammar errors
Story matches purpose
Use of rich & thoughtful quotes

28. In your group
Number off 1 through 5
Look for
1. Lede content who, what, <30 to 35 words
2. Quotes
A. Use multiple styles of quotes
B. Use correct attribution style: “Quote,” Full Name,
id, said.
C. Attribution written in past tense
6. Writing in third person
7. Story Content; Inverted pyramid; most import. info to
least
8. Story Content; smoot flow — transitions

29. In your group peer edit
Journalism students use green
pens.
1. Sit in circle and edit someone else’s story.
2. When done pass story to person on the right for
them to edit.
3. Repeat 1-3 until everyone has edited every story.
Time permitting, type changes to your story.

30. Targets 3 • Rewriting
Rewrite stories to include recommended edits. Remember the
following:
Lede less than 30 words, capture story gist
Inverted pyramid (important facts first)
Paragraphs less than 100 words
Quotes
Use multiple styles of quotes
Use correct attribution style: “Quote,” Full Name, id, said.
Written in past tense
Written in third person
Spelling & grammar errors
Story matches purpose
Use of rich & thoughtful quotes

31. Targets 4 • Rewriting
Rewrite stories to include recommended edits. Remember the
following:
Lede less than 30 words, capture story gist
Inverted pyramid (important facts first)
Paragraphs less than 100 words
Quotes
Use multiple styles of quotes
Use correct attribution style: “Quote,” Full Name, id, said.
Written in past tense
Written in third person
Spelling & grammar errors
Story matches purpose
Use of rich & thoughtful quotes

32. Group Interview Project
General Notes 1
9. Don’t reference interview, NEVER write something
like:
a.I am interviewing (insert name here)
b.I also asked (insert name here)...
c.I then asked…
d.My last question for (insert name here) was…
e.Is there anything you want to say to your …
f.When asked about…
g.When asked if…

33. Group Interview Project
General Notes 1
1. Don’t include all information; think about whether or not the information is relative to story
2. Always use said, NEVER says
3. Always write in past tense when referencing something which has happened by publication
4. Don’t use you or I, write in third person (G3)
5. Avoid the word “that” (G2)
6. Don’t include opinions without attribution (G1)
7. Use last name only on second reference (D4)
8. Don’t double identify (D1)

34. Group Interview Project
General Notes 3
10.Correct identity is dependent on story topic
a.General stories: class standing
b.Sports: position played
c.Club: officer title
d.Teacher: school & class taught

35. Group Interview Project
General Notes 4
11.Our direct quote style is
a.“Quote words go here,” Full Name, id, said.
b.“I hope journalism students use correct direct quote
attribution style,” Lorraine Stratton, SSC journalism,
said.
c.“I hope yearbook students use correct direct quote
attribution style,” Lorraine Stratton, CHS yearbook, said.
d.“Always do as Stratt says,” Natalie Folio, CHS student,
said.

36. Group Interview Project General
Notes 5
12.Varsity is not capitalized in a sentence
13.NEVER include a personal email in story
14.Always include a website link whenever possible
15.No comma before a conjunction (E10)
16.Use paragraphs and keep them below 100 words.
17.Ledes should be < 30 words (no more than 35)