Crash Course Week Intro to Newswriting!

Today we will cover... How to write a news article How to write a feature article Tips for sports articles How to write review and opinion pieces We have A LOT of ground to cover, so let’s get started :)

News Stories- The Basic Format Start with a lead- this is the first sentence or two, and tells the who, what, when, where, and why of the story. Move on to additional details in order of importance

First, a word about leads... Your lead needs to draw in the reader, so it has to be short, to-the-point and engaging! Never write these kinds of leads! Just don’t do it! Quote lead- overdone Question lead- OVERDONE Generalization leads- For centuries, people have wondered about the origin of God. The everyone-gets-it lead- Winter’s here, and it’s cold outside. Use the list of ideas in your notes! It will help you create an appropriate tone AND interest readers.

News Stories- More Detailed Format Lead Nut Graph- a paragraph that supplies any vital info missing from the lead Direct Quote: supports the nut graph/transition Transition- moves onto new info, in order of importance Quote- supports the info ahead of it Keep going with transition/quote until you reach the end! :)

In response to escalating fights at Made Up High School, the school district hired the Teen Conflict Resolution Team to help students solve disagreements through non-violent solutions. So far in the 2010-11 school year, the school has reported 22 fights. Last year, the school had 18 total fights. “The fighting has gotten out of control. Students have to learn how to solve life’s problems without violence, and this program will teach our students just that,” Principal Joe Brown said. After March 23, any student caught fighting on campus must complete a TCRT non-violence workshop, in addition to normal disciplinary actions. “I think the non-violence workshop will make a huge difference,” sophomore Jane Doe said. “Instead of just getting a suspension and moving on, kids might learn from their mistakes and make changes.” A poll of students in all grade levels at MSHS showed that 78% of the student body supports the new program. “School just hasn’t felt safe lately. I’m glad the administration is taking these steps,” senior John Smith said.

Feature Stories Don’t stick to the inverted pyramid. Tell the story in a way that highlights the most interesting information. Use an anecdotal lead- a lead that focuses on the story of a specific person.

Feature Stories Include a nut graph that transitions from the anecdote to the general discussion on the topic. From there, continue with another transition and supporting quote, and so on. At the END of the story, come back to the person the lead was about, and close with another anecdote.

Sports Story Tips • Follow the Lead, Transition, Quote format • Don’t wait until the end to give away the results! Those go right up front. • Try using an anecdotal lead, similar to a feature story. You don’t have to close with one though • Use language that any reader could understand- not just a sports fan. • Stick to the facts. Still, more descriptive language can pass here. o Example: Tom Brady was uncannily accurate as usual, throwing for 335 yards and three touchdowns…

Editorial Writing Time to share your opinion! Remember, this is a no-go in all other types of articles! Basic Format -Intro (Lead) -Support (Sub-claims with supporting evidence) -Counterargument/Rebuttal -Conclusion

Editorial Lead Present the issue and your stance/opinion on it. Draw your reader in, just like any other lead! Years ago, I sat in coach Bo Schembechler’s office as he finished a phone call with a recruit. His voice was unnaturally high and soft, and a smile seemed pasted on his face. When he hung up, he banged the handset into the base and declared, “God, I hate this recruiting (stuff)!” I can’t imagine Bo in the era of private jets, video messaging and Twitter. I don’t want to. Recruiting was bad back then. It is beyond description now.

Editorial Body Paragraphs (your support) Provide a sub-claim or reason to support your stance. Back up your ideas with EVIDENCE(facts, statistics, studies, etc.)! Big football schools can regularly spend nearly a million dollars each year — some more than that — to sign a couple dozen recruits. It doesn’t always make them victorious. From 2010-14, the University of Tennessee averaged nearly $232,000 spent on recruiting for every win it produced, according to USA TODAY. That’s pretty bad return on investment.

Editorial Counterargument and Rebuttal Bring up one argument the other side uses to support their claim. Then, explain why it is invalid, weak, etc. with evidence. As the athletic director of Tennessee told the SportsBusiness Journal a few years ago, when defending his recruiting costs against a $200-million athletic department debt, “We’ve got to get football healthy. ... That’s our economic engine.” And all this time, you thought it was education. How naive.

Editorial Conclusion Restate your claim and leave your reader with something to think about! Still, somebody should show these kids — and their coaches — the statistics on how many top recruits ever go on to successful NFL careers. Of the top 20 prep recruits of 2007, half never even got drafted. I think back to Bo complaining about having to be nice on a phone call. Hey, at least he never had to sleep in the family guest room, or wait for a future defensive back to fall out of the sky.

Reviews! Basic Format: • First paragraph: Introduce the content and give background information (i.e. the author, artist, etc.) • Second paragraph: Summarize without spoiling the content. • Third paragraph: Talk about what the content did right. • Fourth paragraph: Talk about what you didn’t like. • Fifth paragraph: Sum up your feelings on the content overall. Rate the content out of five.

One More Thing If you are writing a news or feature story, DO NOT editorialize! Get quotes from ALL angles and represent all sides fairly. If you are writing an opinion piece, be sure to provide support and a counterargument/rebuttal