Chapter 5: Writing for Print

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Chapter 5 Writing for Print
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Characteristics of News Stories

• All pieces of writing should have a unifying
  theme or central idea (expressed via the lead).
• Transitions a way of tying information together
  and tipping the reader off as to what may come
  next.

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Types of Transitions

• Connectors Simple words that, in a structural
  way, help unify the writing.
• Examples But, Or, Thus, However, Therefore,
  Meanwhile, On The Other Hand, Likewise, etc.
• Hooks Words or phrases that are repeated
  throughout an article to give the reader a sense
  of unity
• Examples using the word robbery several times
  throughout a story (p.153).

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Types of Transitions

• Pronouns Used naturally to avoid repeating the
  names of people or things too often.
• Associations Ideas repeated within an article
  they are repeated using different words
• Chronology Using words/phrases that refer to a
  time
• Enumeration Numbering items within your writing
  as a means of tying your information together.

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Characteristics of News Stories

• Attribution telling readers where you got the
  information for your story.
• Attribution leads to credibility
• Information that is common knowledge does not
  have to be attributed
• The best of all attribution terms is said
• See page 117 for attribution verbs

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Characteristics of News Stories

• Short sentences, short paragraphs paragraph
  length should be kept to three sentences or less
  and to less than 100 words.
• Third Person news stories are usually written in
  the third person.
• An Attitude for Accuracy accuracy should be a
  state of mind for the news writer

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The Inverted Pyramid

• The Inverted Pyramid concentrates important
  information at the top of the story so readers
  get information they need, or want, and go to
  another story.
• The LEAD is the focal point of a basic news
  story.
• The Second Paragraph expands on some of the
  information presented in the lead.
• The Body adds detail.

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The Lead Paragraph

• The lead should give some of the information
  about a story, but can be used to raise a number
  of questions.
• The second paragraph should begin to answer those
  questions.
• The third paragraph should make the story more
  complete.

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Developing the Story

• Ask these questions as you write
• Who is the main character?
• What is the conflict/problem?
• Why did he do what he did?
• How did he do that?
• How is he coping?
• Where is he now?
• What does he look like?
• How does this affect my life?

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Using Quotations

• Most news stories use more indirect quotes than
  direct quotes.
• However, direct quotes help bring a story to
  life. They help readers see the person and
  enhance readability.
• Some quotes cannot be paraphrased. Some may be
  too vivid and colorful to leave out.

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Using Quotations

• Use direct quotes sparingly.
• Direct quotes should supplement and clarify
  information in your indirect quotes.
• The correct sequence for a direct quote and its
  attribution is Direct Quote, Speaker, Verb.
• Example I do not choose to run, the nominee
  said.

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Other Story Structures

• In addition to the Inverted Pyramid structure,
  you should be familiar with the following
  structures
• Narrative Uses traditional story-telling
  techniques, particularly a chronological
  approach this approach demands a strong,
  interesting lead to draw the readers into the
  story.

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Other Story Structures

• Bullet
• This structure may be used effectively when there
  is strong chronological significance to the
  event.
• You can point out each step in the progression of
  the story with bullets to show cause and effect.
• Also, priority events or facts can be enumerated
  with bullets, according to importance.

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Other Story Structures

• Eyewitness Account occurs when
• a) the reporter is present at the event or
• b) when the reporter collaborates with an
  eyewitness to an event to produce an on-the-scene
  story about the event
• Note If an eyewitness is collaborating on a
  story, it is appropriate that the witness be
  allowed to see a final draft before publication.

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Other Story Structures

• Micro-Macro A common method used by the Wall
  Street Journal, which begins by focusing on some
  person or situation that has been affected by the
  event.
• The micro beginning reflects or demonstrates
  the smaller issue or problem.
• The story then expands to the larger or macro
  problem.

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Types of News Stories

• Meetings Governmental and quasi-governmental
  bodies schedule meetings and give notice to media
  of these sessions, which may, or may not be
  important.
• News about meetings should emphasize the most
  important actions and how they will affect
  readers.
• Also, there may be interaction at the meeting
  between officials and the public.

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Types of News Stories

• Speeches Beginning a speech story with a
  statement that a speech was given is very weak.
• Catch the most important emphasis of the speech
  and make it your lead.
• U.S. Sen. Hack said today journalists need to
  keep advertising and marketing interests out of
  their newsrooms. Speaking to students at USA,
  Hack also suggested

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Types of News Stories

• Obituaries These are some of the most important
  stories you will ever write.
• These stories affect families who are grieving
  and very sensitive.
• Accuracy requirements here are at an all-time
  high.
• Even if the deceased was a bandit or a crooked
  politician whatever you write MUST be accurate
  Good or Bad.

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Types of News Stories

• Weather These are not as important in print
  journalism anymore.
• Most people get their real-time weather reports
  from broadcast or from the Web.
• Weather stories should be accurate and can be
  helpful if warning people of dangerously high
  temperatures or hurricanes.
• Reality is, however, printed weather is about 12
  hours behind the times.

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Types of News Stories

• Crime and Courts Media are criticized for too
  much emphasis on crime and courts.
• Crime reporting can be a matter of life and
  death, however. If crime threatens your readers
  they need to know.
• Our legal system must be open to the public.
  Besides protection, justice is of utmost
  importance to any community.

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Types of News Stories

• Periodicals and Anniversaries Although many of
  these events are pandered to by advertorial
  material, many are legitimate news events in
  their own right.
• Holidays and significant anniversaries of
  businesses, towns and other attractions, are
  legitimate news.
• Many of these stories, from hundreds of years
  ago, help us understand what society was like.

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Editing and Rewriting

• ALL WRITERS NEED AN EDITOR!
• The first editing responsibility belongs to the
  writer.
• Copy editing involves various techniques and
  operations that change and improve copy, without
  altering basic structure and approach.
• Rewriting means rewording large portions of the
  copy and reexamining its structure.

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Spelling, Grammar and Style Mistakes

• Embarrassing Spelling and grammar mistakes are
  the most embarrassing mistakes in print.
• Nothing slams your credibility harder than these.
  Readers immediately get the impression you are
  either sloppy, or you dont care.
• Style When style and consistency are not
  maintained, readers believe you are just plain
  ignorant.

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Verb Usage

• Verbs should be active and descriptive. Verbs
  are the action and you will lose your readers
  quickly if nothings going on.
• Action is one of the most important aspects of
  your writing.
• Wordiness We will look at wordiness when we learn
  to use the Lard Factor calculation method.
• Wordiness wastes time something you can not
  replace.

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• Answer the Questions Continually read your story
  to yourself as you write.
• Remember, if you have a question, your reader
  will have it, too.
• Dont leave HOLES in your story.
• Internal Consistency Figures should add up.
  Sequence of events must be in order.
• Read critically. Your credibility depends upon
  your willingness to EDIT as you write.

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Writing Feature Stories

• Feature stories are still NEWS stories.
• Feature writing invites the reader beyond just
  the facts, maam.
• This style tries to capture the most interesting
  or important side of a story and usually contain
  more description and detail.
• These stories are an excellent way of humanizing
  the news a way to show me the people and show
  me the town. Dont just tell me, Show Me.

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Characteristics of Feature Writing

• Three major kinds of descriptions should be
  contained in a feature story
• Description of actions
• Description of people
• Description of places
• Feature stories contain more quotations and even
  dialogue than news stories.

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Features

• Profile people who make the news
• Explain events that move or shape the news
• Analyze what is happening in the world, nation or
  community
• Teach an audience how to do something
• Suggest better ways to live
• Examine trends
• Entertain

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Types of Features

• Personality Profileswritten to bring an audience
  closer to a person in or out of the news
• Human Interest Stories Anecdotalwritten to show
  a subjects oddity or its practical, emotional, or
  entertainment value
• Suspended InterestGive clues, like a mystery,
  challenging the reader to guess what Im
  writing about.
• Trend Storiesexamines people, things or
  organizations that are having an impact on
  society
• In-depth storiesstories that require extensive
  research and interviews
• Backgroundersadds meaning to current issues in
  the news by explaining them further explain how
  countries, organizations, people etc. got to
  where they are now.

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Parts of a Feature Story

• Leadmay be several sentences or paragraphs
  longhowever, it must capture the readers
  attention and give the reader some information of
  substance the lead helps set the theme of the
  story
• Nut Graphprovided in third or fourth paragraph,
  it explains the reason the story is being
  written a.k.a the so-what graph, it is a vital
  paragraph to the feature. (Called Engine
  Paragraph by Stovall)
• Bodyexpands and details the subjects and should
  fulfill reader expectations
• Endingshould be used to put the story in some
  perspective, to answer any lingering questions,
  or make a final pointend with a quote, if
  possible.

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The Body of the Feature Should Include

• Vital background Information
• A threadconnect the beginning, body and
  conclusion of the story a thread may be a single
  person, event or thing
• Transitions
• Dialogue when possible
• A voiceyour features should show your
  personality as a writer

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Graphics

• Writers for the mass media must think in terms of
  pictures as well as words.
• There are generally four types of graphic forms
  used in the mass media today
• Text-based Graphics
• Chart-based Graphics
• Illustration-based Graphics
• Maps, graphics that represent geographic or
  physical locations

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Possibilities for Graphics

• The following are possibilities for graphics that
  can be used to support a story
• Numbersbar line, pie charts, tables
• Locationmap
• History and Contextfact or profile box
• Processtext mixed with pictures
• Procedureprocedural char that can show how an
  event occurred
• Profilethought of as information-plusoutlining
  an organization, company, person, or any story
  element in a variety of ways

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Challenge of Writing

• Writing for print encapsulates most of the
  challenges a media writer will face gathering
  information, learning structure and style and
  understanding graphic devices that may enhance
  writing.
• Convergence in media make this an ideal place to
  start. Writing for print will train you to
  present information accurately, completely,
  precisely and efficiently.
• Learning to do this takes reading, analysis,
  study and practice.

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For Consideration

• Has the inverted pyramid outlived its usefulness?
• How does what you learned in Chapter 3 fit in
  with journalistic style and convention?
• What do you think of the advice Dont go out of
  your way to find a substitute for said?
• When should a quote not be the speakers exact
  words?
• Are there any types of stories we left out?