ELEMENTS of the BASIC News Story HeadlineLead Lead Quote ImpactAttributionBackgroundElaborationEndingGraphics

HEADLINE Based on the main points of the story Based on the main points of the story Written by editor or copy editor, with SUGGESTIONS from the writer Written by editor or copy editor, with SUGGESTIONS from the writer Writing Tip: If you are having trouble identifying the main point of a story, think of a headline.

LEAD What the story is about What the story is about Attention-getter (The Hook!) Attention-getter (The Hook!) Can be: Can be: Hard, Soft, Summary Hard, Soft, Summary Hard: Boom – here it is Soft: Usually for features, non time-related Summary: The 5 W’s of the story

LEAD QUOTE First quote backing up the lead First quote backing up the lead Sometimes called the “augmenting quote” Sometimes called the “augmenting quote” This is not MANDATORY This is not MANDATORY A STRONG QUOTE early in the story, first or second paragraph, helps set tone for the story A STRONG QUOTE early in the story, first or second paragraph, helps set tone for the story

IMPACT When possible, explain how the news affects the reader When possible, explain how the news affects the reader What about this story is significant? What about this story is significant? Why should the reader care? Why should the reader care?

ATTRIBUTION Where did you get the information from? Where did you get the information from? Who told you the facts? Who told you the facts? Are you going to quote the person, or simply use the info? Are you going to quote the person, or simply use the info? What you did not witness must be attributed! What you did not witness must be attributed! Common knowledge or indisputable facts do not need attribution Common knowledge or indisputable facts do not need attribution

BACKGROUND Is history of the story important? Is history of the story important? Do we need to be reminded of what happened in the past? Do we need to be reminded of what happened in the past? Is this a follow-up story that needs an update? Is this a follow-up story that needs an update?

ELABORATION Supporting points related to the main issue: Supporting points related to the main issue: Statements Statements Quotes Quotes More detail More detail Seek other points of view, for balance and fairness Seek other points of view, for balance and fairness

ENDING Most stories end with one of the following elements: Most stories end with one of the following elements: Future action Future action If really important to story, play it higher If really important to story, play it higher A statement or quote of summary A statement or quote of summary Make sure it is not redundant Make sure it is not redundant More elaboration More elaboration

GRAPHICS A Photograph? A Photograph? Chart? Chart? Illustration? Illustration? Highlights box? Highlights box? WHATEVER YOU THINK MIGHT AID THE STORY VISUALLY WHATEVER YOU THINK MIGHT AID THE STORY VISUALLY

QUOTES AND ATTRIBUTION Is the quote memorable? Is the quote memorable? Do your quotes repeat your transitions? Do your quotes repeat your transitions? If you don’t attribute to a source, can your facts be substantiated? If you don’t attribute to a source, can your facts be substantiated? If you can better say it in your own words, paraphrase. If you can better say it in your own words, paraphrase. ARE YOU USING A QUOTE FOR THE BENEFIT OF YOUR SOURCE OR YOUR AUDIENCE? ARE YOU USING A QUOTE FOR THE BENEFIT OF YOUR SOURCE OR YOUR AUDIENCE?

GOOD QUOTE / BAD QUOTE Good quotes enhance Good quotes enhance Bad quotes take up space Bad quotes take up space Do Not be redundant and use your own voice (paraphrase) if it helps make the essence of the quote clearer and avoids DULL quotes Do Not be redundant and use your own voice (paraphrase) if it helps make the essence of the quote clearer and avoids DULL quotes

What are GOOD QUOTES? Vivid and Clear Vivid and Clear Reveals strong feelings or reactions of the speaker Reveals strong feelings or reactions of the speaker Something outrageous Something outrageous Important words from famous person or critical leader Important words from famous person or critical leader DOES IT ADD SPICE TO MY STORY? IS IT TOO LONG? DOES IT CONVEY DRAMATIC ACTION?

GUIDELINES for How to Use Quotes Commas, periods, question marks go inside quotation marks (if question mark does not refer to quoted material, it goes outside) Commas, periods, question marks go inside quotation marks (if question mark does not refer to quoted material, it goes outside) Each NEW speaker must be quoted in a separate paragraph Each NEW speaker must be quoted in a separate paragraph A single quote is attributed once A single quote is attributed once Place attribution after first sentence Place attribution after first sentence Don’t interrupt a thought with attribution Don’t interrupt a thought with attribution

PLAGIARISM Copying the words of other writers Copying the words of other writers Grounds for DISMISSAL! Grounds for DISMISSAL! Cite ALL sources of information, including other publications Cite ALL sources of information, including other publications From your own sources, tell reader where you got the information From your own sources, tell reader where you got the information Simple rule on using information: Simple rule on using information: BE CAUTIOUS AND BE OPEN BE CAUTIOUS AND BE OPEN

Each day we are bombarded by news items on television, the Internet, in magazines and the newspaper. So how do we distinguish between what is really news and what is merely bad taste? Each day we are bombarded by news items on television, the Internet, in magazines and the newspaper. So how do we distinguish between what is really news and what is merely bad taste? A bell should ring when an item is legitimate news. Seasoned journalists rely on those bells in their heads. But student journalists, who have not yet acquired that sixth sense that allows them to weigh the news value of an event, need a little help. That’s where the classic elements of news come in. A bell should ring when an item is legitimate news. Seasoned journalists rely on those bells in their heads. But student journalists, who have not yet acquired that sixth sense that allows them to weigh the news value of an event, need a little help. That’s where the classic elements of news come in.

1. How do journalists determine what is newsworthy? 2. How do different types of media (print, broadcast, Internet) handle stories differently?

First, you will acquaint yourselves with the six elements of news. First, you will acquaint yourselves with the six elements of news. Next, you will become consumers of news, gaining exposure to various types of media to see how professional journalists use the news elements to report different stories. Next, you will become consumers of news, gaining exposure to various types of media to see how professional journalists use the news elements to report different stories. Finally, you will be reporters, analyzing the information you gather and reporting to the rest of the class. Finally, you will be reporters, analyzing the information you gather and reporting to the rest of the class.

Part I Take notes on the elements of news (on the handout provided). You will need to have them with you when you write your Big Story. Click on the element to get the definition. Take notes on the elements of news (on the handout provided). You will need to have them with you when you write your Big Story. Click on the element to get the definition. 1. Timeliness 1. Timeliness 2. Proximity 2. Proximity 3. Prominence 3. Prominence 4. Consequence 4. Consequence 5. Human Interest 5. Human Interest 6. Conflict 6. Conflict

Timeliness الوقتية something that just happened tends to be more newsworthy than something that happened some time ago. In today's fast-paced communications environment, you want to give the reader a sense that this is news NOW. In fact, when you write a news story you want to make sure it has a news peg. Think of a peg on the wall that you might hang a hat on. The news peg is the element that you hang your story on. It is the element that makes the story news NOW, as opposed to last week or next week. Timeliness is often the news peg. something that just happened tends to be more newsworthy than something that happened some time ago. In today's fast-paced communications environment, you want to give the reader a sense that this is news NOW. In fact, when you write a news story you want to make sure it has a news peg. Think of a peg on the wall that you might hang a hat on. The news peg is the element that you hang your story on. It is the element that makes the story news NOW, as opposed to last week or next week. Timeliness is often the news peg.

Proximity القرب proximity refers to the nearness of a given event to your place of publication. Even if you have a major story break half way around the world look for a local angle. For instance, if a plane crashes and kills 200 people, it certainly is news. But if one of the passengers was local, or used to be local, or has local relatives, you have a new story angle. Even if you don't have that kind of connection to the story, you can ask, "How safe are planes that fly out of the local airport? Could what happened there happen here?" proximity refers to the nearness of a given event to your place of publication. Even if you have a major story break half way around the world look for a local angle. For instance, if a plane crashes and kills 200 people, it certainly is news. But if one of the passengers was local, or used to be local, or has local relatives, you have a new story angle. Even if you don't have that kind of connection to the story, you can ask, "How safe are planes that fly out of the local airport? Could what happened there happen here?"

Prominence الأهميه prominence refers to the “newsworthiness” of an individual or organization. When spousal abuse leads to one partner injuring or killing the other, it is sad. When one of those partners is O.J. Simpson, you have an international news story. When a married man has an extra-marital sexual relationship with a woman half his age, it is bad for a marriage. But if the man is Bill Clinton, president of the United States, it can affect the world's economy. If the who of a story is someone well known, you might have a story in the most common place of events. prominence refers to the “newsworthiness” of an individual or organization. When spousal abuse leads to one partner injuring or killing the other, it is sad. When one of those partners is O.J. Simpson, you have an international news story. When a married man has an extra-marital sexual relationship with a woman half his age, it is bad for a marriage. But if the man is Bill Clinton, president of the United States, it can affect the world's economy. If the who of a story is someone well known, you might have a story in the most common place of events.

Consequence النتيجة the element of consequence refers simply to the importance of an event. For instance, the star quarterback’s failure of an exam is more important to more people than is your failure on the exam because of the consequences. The team may lose the big game! the element of consequence refers simply to the importance of an event. For instance, the star quarterback’s failure of an exam is more important to more people than is your failure on the exam because of the consequences. The team may lose the big game!

Human Interest الاهتمام الانسانى something that is out of the ordinary is news. A pumpkin is not news, unless it is as big as a small car. We are obsessed with records, too, that indicate the biggest, longest, shortest, smallest, tallest, shortest, etc. something. There are thousands of news stories in the Guinness Book of World Records because of our obsession. A major league baseball player hitting a lot of homeruns is interesting, but is international news when a Mark McGwire closes in on and surpasses a 37-year-old record for the most homeruns in a season. something that is out of the ordinary is news. A pumpkin is not news, unless it is as big as a small car. We are obsessed with records, too, that indicate the biggest, longest, shortest, smallest, tallest, shortest, etc. something. There are thousands of news stories in the Guinness Book of World Records because of our obsession. A major league baseball player hitting a lot of homeruns is interesting, but is international news when a Mark McGwire closes in on and surpasses a 37-year-old record for the most homeruns in a season.

Conflict why do so many people attend sports events? Conflict. Why are so many people interested in elections? Conflict. Why are wars, to take the most extreme case, news? Conflict. why do so many people attend sports events? Conflict. Why are so many people interested in elections? Conflict. Why are wars, to take the most extreme case, news? Conflict. Conflict involves tension, surprise, and suspense. Conflict involves tension, surprise, and suspense.