The Shortest short-course in the history of college journalism
- Factors like immediacy, uniqueness, location, and
relevance to readers are what make something newsworthy.
- Most American newspaper stories follow a basic structure
and aim for accuracy, concise paragraphs, and varying sentence length.
- A good newswriter understands the significance of attribution, fact-checking, and refraining
from editorializing in news writing while encouraging the use of precise and informative
language.
A one-day seminar done at Mid-America Nazarene University
Part 1: What makes news?
News is information about anything that is interesting or significant. News is also a highly
perishable commodity. Nothing is deader than yesterday's newspaper, last night's newscast, or
the previous online news cycle. That's why we throw old newspapers away or use them in the
bottom of birdcages or in the house-training of puppies.
If readers want to know something, that means it has become newsworthy.
If something has happened or is going to happen in which people would be interested, that
happening is news.
An alphabet soup of news stories:
- Action
- Beauty and romance
- Critters
- Death
- Exploits and adventures
- Fights and struggles
- Government and politics
- Humor and Novelty
- Immediacy (is it new?)
- Jailbreaks and other crimes
- Kids and babies
- Location
- Mystery and suspense
- Novelty
- Oddity
- Proximity or nearness
- Quakes, weather, and other natural phenomenon
- Real estate and belongings
- Size
- Timing
- Uniqueness
- Victory
- Woes and anguish
- Xenophobia
- You (relevancy to the reader)
- Zany
Part 2: Writing the story
Now that you have the idea, how do you write the story?
Once you have a story with the right elements, how do you go about writing
it?
Basic structure of American newspaper
stories: facts appear in descending order of importance |
|
Some A to Z basic rules
A is for Accuracy. Get complete information, complete identification, and
complete names. "Almost right" is not enough.
Z is for zeroing in immediately on the story you have to tell. Your article
must sustain interest from beginning to end. If it doesn't, cut it down and change it until it
does.
Four don'ts
- Don't write fancy prose.
- Don't pad your story to make it longer than necessary. Keep it short.
- Don't write unsupported opinions or claims. Stick to facts.
- Don't be surprised if an editor rewrites your story. Think of it as "improving" your story.
The five W's and H
A news story should answer:
- Who?
- What?
- Why?
- When?
- Where?
- How?
If any of these elements are missing, it usually means the reporter has not dug out the
complete story. In short, the reporter failed to get the complete picture.
Lead sentences
A long, overloaded lead sentence can be as objectionable as missing the main point
entirely. Do not try to answer all 5 W's and the H in the first sentence of your story. Determine
which of the W's and H is most important. Emphasize that one element in your lead
sentence.
Paragraphs
Make paragraphs terse, but not interdependent. Write so that whole paragraphs can be
removed without destroying the sense of the article.
Do not let paragraphs run on and on. Short paragraphs open up copy. That makes the story
easier to read.
Follow the inverted triangle principle and arrange paragraphs in the order of their
importance.
Avoid starting paragraphs with "the," "a," "it," or "there."
Sentences
Do not pack too many ideas into any one sentence. Be especially careful of the lead.
Do not start a sentence with the same word with which the preceding sentence ended.
Keep sentences short while also varying their length.
Words
Use precise words. Make wording compact. Select each word for maximum effect. Why use
a quarter word when a nickel one will do?
Use adjectives sparingly. Think three times before using an adjective. Strong nouns and
active verbs seldom need qualifiers. Adjectives are cheap.
Eliminate:
- Propaganda
- Editorial opinion
- Superfluous vocabulary
In news stories, avoid both "fine writing" and trite expressions.
Do not use an important or unusual word twice in the same sentence or too closely in the
same paragraph.
Keeping your ducks all lined up
- Attribution
- Give your source. Every story has a source.
- Check copy: accuracy, accuracy, accuracy.
- Names (double-check spelling)
- Numbers (cross-check your figures)
- Refrain from editorializing
- Keep "I" and "we" out of the story
- Avoid inadvertent comment
- Don't use loaded words
- Closing moral or exhortation--quote your source instead
- Put in details that readers need to know
- Don't assume your readers know something. Go ahead and tell them.
-- Howard Culbertson,
What is a college
newspaper?
I believe that a newspaper is supposed to tell the members of
its community what is happening in that community. For a college student newspaper, that means
more than just covering scheduled events like Homecoming and Fine Arts recitals. It means
getting beneath the surface and finding out what administrators and faculty are discussing and
what student leaders are planning.
I believe that when something is wrong, we must write about the problem. We must try to make
an issue of it so that students, faculty, and administrators will talk about it and perhaps something
will be done. We do some of that on the editorial page. We also do it in the news columns since
that is part of telling people what's happening.
I believe a newspaper's ultimate responsibility is to its readers, not to any amorphous and
undefined "student opinion" or anyone's plans to accomplish some goal. It's our job to tell our
readers what is going on.
-- editorial in SNU's student newspaper, The Echo |
Afterword
A good news story typically possesses several characteristics that make it engaging,
informative, and impactful. Here are some of the qualities often found in news stories:
- Relevance: A good news story is relevant to its
audience. It addresses topics that are important or interesting to the community it serves, whether
that be local, national, or global.
- Timeliness: Timeliness is crucial in news reporting.
A good news story provides information in a timely manner so that the audience can read about
recent events and developments.
- Accuracy: Accuracy is paramount in journalism. A
good news story is factually correct. It is supported by reliable sources and is free from errors or
misinformation.
- Objectivity: While it's impossible to be completely
objective, a good news story strives for fairness and impartiality. It presents different
perspectives and allows the audience to form their own opinions.
- Clarity: A good news story is clear and easy to
understand. It uses clear language, avoids jargon or unnecessary complexity, and it presents
information in a logical and organized manner.
- Impact: A good news story has an impact on its
audience. It may evoke emotions, inspire action, or prompt further discussion and exploration of
the topic.
- Human Interest: Human interest elements can add
depth and resonance to a news story. Personal anecdotes, interviews with relevant individuals, or
stories that connect on a human level make the news more relatable and engaging.
- Balance: A good news story provides balance by
representing various viewpoints. It avoids bias or sensationalism. It seeks to present a
comprehensive picture of the topic at hand.
- Local Angle: A strong local angle in a news story
can increase relevance and resonance with the audience. This might involve highlighting how a
national or global issue impacts the local community.
- Visual Appeal: In today's multimedia landscape,
visual elements such as photographs, infographics, or videos can enhance a news story's appeal
and help to convey information more effectively.
- Follow-up: Sometimes, a good news story isn't just a one-off report but part of
ongoing coverage. Following up on previous stories demonstrates a commitment to thorough
reporting and provides context for new developments.
In short, a good news story informs, engages, and enlightens its audience while upholding
journalistic standards of accuracy, fairness, and integrity.
Related Aticles