Writing Broadcast News Stories The Beginning (lead) The Middle (body) The End (Pages in our textbook)

The Lead, the Body, the End There are thoughts that should go into each of these three parts of any story, no matter the subject and length There are thoughts that should go into each of these three parts of any story, no matter the subject and length You have a lot of choices with your lead– how you choose to start the story You have a lot of choices with your lead– how you choose to start the story Better broadcast leads are concise– 12 words of so, not much more Better broadcast leads are concise– 12 words of so, not much more

Leads You have a variety of types of leads from which to choose: You have a variety of types of leads from which to choose: Summary/hard news leads—stress key newsworthiness of the story Summary/hard news leads—stress key newsworthiness of the story “Soft” feature leads using irony, color, humor, anecdote, questions, quotes “Soft” feature leads using irony, color, humor, anecdote, questions, quotes

The Body of the Story After the lead, the story needs to continue in a natural, logical manner After the lead, the story needs to continue in a natural, logical manner Think of organizing the story as a series of main points and supporting evidence Think of organizing the story as a series of main points and supporting evidence Newspaper-style “inverted pyramid” can be employed: follow lead with facts in descending order of importance Newspaper-style “inverted pyramid” can be employed: follow lead with facts in descending order of importance No holes! Be sure to answer most obvious questions (often covered by the 5 Ws of journalism: who, what, when, where, and, if possible, why) No holes! Be sure to answer most obvious questions (often covered by the 5 Ws of journalism: who, what, when, where, and, if possible, why) Always try to include the most unique, unusual and surprising elements of a story Always try to include the most unique, unusual and surprising elements of a story

Endings are Important Too! Ending a story or report can be as difficult as starting one Ending a story or report can be as difficult as starting one Most of the time you simply finish with the last bit of supporting evidence for your final main point Most of the time you simply finish with the last bit of supporting evidence for your final main point You can also end by providing a piece of “background” information about someone or something in the story You can also end by providing a piece of “background” information about someone or something in the story Or end with what is next going to happen or is likely to happen next Or end with what is next going to happen or is likely to happen next Or end by telling viewers/listeners how to obtain more information Or end by telling viewers/listeners how to obtain more information Or use the “circle technique” to “tie the story up” by making a clear connection to something mentioned at the beginning of the story Or use the “circle technique” to “tie the story up” by making a clear connection to something mentioned at the beginning of the story###