lcome to the world of urnalism, where porters have been gging dirt, raking muck, king headlines and adlines for centuries w. It’s a history full of bloid trash, of slimy nsationalists, of runkards, deadbeats and mmers” (as a Harvard iversity president once scribed reporters). But it’s a history full of roes, too: men and men risking their lives tell stories of war and agedy, risking prisonment to defend ee speech. And as you n see here, reports have come beloved characters p culture, too, turning up movies, comics and TV ows as if guided by an cult hand. Every culture seeks effective ways to spread new information and gossip. In ancient times, news was written on clay tablets. In Caesar’s age, Romans read newsletters compiled by correspondents and handwritten by slaves. Wandering minstrels spread news (and the plague) in the Middle Ages. Them came ink on paper. Voices on airwaves. Newsreels, Web sites, And 24-hour cable news networks. Thus when scholars analyze the rich history of journalism, some view it in terms of technological progress—for example, the dramatic impact of bigger, faster printing presses. Others see journalism as a specialized form literary expression, one that’s constantly evolving, reflecting and shaping its culture. Others see it as an inspiring quest for free speech, an endless power struggle between Authority (trying to control information) and the People (trying to learn the truth). Which brings to mind the words of A.J. Liefling: “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to htose who own one.” In the pages ahead, we’ll take a quick tour of 600 years of journalism history, from hieroglyphics to hypertext: the media, the message and the politics. Technical advances and brilliant ideas forged a new style of journalism. It was a century of change, and newspapers changed dramatically. The typi newspaper of 1800 wa undisciplined mishma legislative proceeding long-winded essays a secondhand gossip. B 1900, a new breed of tor had emerged. Jour had become big busin Reporting was becom disciplined craft. And newspapers were bec more entertaining and essential than ever, w most of the features w expect today: Snappy headlines, Ads, Comic Sports pages. And an “inverted pyramid” sty writing that made stori tighter and newsier. Radio and television brought an end to newspapers’ media monopoly. Why? Well yourself: Which did yo Inside Reporting Tim Harrower Newswriting basics 3 McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

McGraw-Hill Slide 2 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Newswriting basics Just the facts Just the facts  The five W’s The five W’s  The inverted pyramid The inverted pyramid  Beyond the basic news lead Beyond the basic news lead  Leads that succeed Leads that succeed  After the lead…what next? After the lead…what next?   (continued)

McGraw-Hill Slide 3 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Newswriting basics (continued) Story structureStory structure  RewritingRewriting  EditingEditing  Newswriting styleNewswriting style  Making deadlineMaking deadline  66 essential tips66 essential tips 

McGraw-Hill Slide 4 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Just the facts  Good reporters respect integrity of facts.  Facts tell the story.  Readers draw their own conclusions. You must try to be objective. Truthful. Fair. Where do opinions belong in a newspaper? Most newspaper stories can be placed on a continuum. Ranges from rigidly objective (breaking news) to rabidly opinionated (movie reviews).

McGraw-Hill Slide 5 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The five W’s Facts usually fall into

McGraw-Hill Slide 6 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The five W’s The WHO  Readers love stories that focus on people.  WHO keeps it real. Who’s involved? Who’s affected? Who’s going to benefit? Who’s not going to benefit? The WHAT  WHAT gives news its substance. Stories become dry and dull if they focus too much on WHAT. Need WHO.

McGraw-Hill Slide 7 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The five W’s The WHEN  Timeliness essential to every story. When events happened or will happen. How long they lasted or will last. The WHERE  The closer the event, the more relevant it is for readers.  Many stories require supplements. Map Diagram Photo

McGraw-Hill Slide 8 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The five W’s The WHY  Finding explanations difficult.  The WHY is what makes news meaningful.  The HOW  Often requires detailed explanation.  Sometimes omitted to save space.  Readers love “how-to” stories.

McGraw-Hill Slide 9 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The inverted pyramid Newswriting format summarizes most important facts at story’s start This is the lead, which summarizes the story’s most important facts This paragraph adds more details or background This paragraph adds even more details This adds more details More details

McGraw-Hill Slide 10 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. So should you use this format for every story? Gets repetitive. Doesn’t always organize story material logically. The inverted pyramid  Summarize first. Explain later.  Resolve everything in the beginning.  Allows editors to trim stories from bottom. The typical news story uses the inverted pyramid

McGraw-Hill Slide 11 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The inverted pyramid  If a story takes too long to make sense…  Readers flee like rats from a sinking ship. Why writing a good lead actually matters to readers

McGraw-Hill Slide 12 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Remember the PTA lead? The Parent-Teacher Association of Cornelis Banta School held its regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening in the school cafeteria, for the election of officers for the coming year, with Mrs. Noah ten Floed, president, in the chair. The nominating committee proposed Mrs. Douwe Taleran for president, Mrs. David Demarest for vice president, and Mrs. Laurens van Boschkerken for secretary-treasurer. It was moved and second that the nominations be closed. Mrs. Gianello Venutoleri arose and said that she wanted to nominate Mrs. Nuovo Cittadino, Mrs. Giuseppe Soffiate, and Mrs. Salvatore dal Vapore. Mrs. Ten Floed ruled Mrs. Venutoleri out of order. Mrs. Venutoleri appealed to the parliamentarian. Miss Sarah Kierstad, who sustained the chair. Mrs. Venutoleri took a small automatic pistol from her handbag and shot Mrs. Ten Floed between the eyes. Constable Abraham Brinkerhoff came and escorted Mrs. Venutoleri to the county jail. The body of Mrs. Ten Floed was removed to Van Emburgh’s Funeral Parlor. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned for refreshments, which were served by Mrs. Adrian Blauvelt’s committee. The next meeting will be held on Friday evening, Sept. 10, for the installation of officers. *The Mount Pleasant News also buried the lead in this December 1986 story.this

McGraw-Hill Slide 13 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Writing basic news leads  Collect all your facts. Lead should summarize. The more you know, the easier it is to summarize. How to write an effective news lead  Sum it up. Boil it down. List who, what, when, where, why of story.

McGraw-Hill Slide 14 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Writing basic news leads  Prioritize the five W’s. Lead contains the most important facts. Which of the key facts deserves to start the first sentence? How to write an effective news lead  Rethink. Revise. Rewrite. Is it clear? Is it active? Is it wordy? Is it compelling?

McGraw-Hill Slide 15 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Writing basic news leads  Writing leads often a process of trial and error. Try different approaches: – Write various types – Imitate professional writing styles How to write an effective news lead  Create different leads using the… Who. What. When. Where. Why.

McGraw-Hill Slide 16 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Writing basic news leads  Basic news leads can be too dull and dry.  All good reporters spend time searching for the perfect lead. Not every story begins with a roundup of essential facts

McGraw-Hill Slide 17 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Beyond the basic news lead Be accurate. Remember what day it is. Don’t name names. Use strong verbs. Story checklist Ask “Why should I care?” Sell the story. Don’t get hung up. Move attributions to the end of the sentences.

McGraw-Hill Slide 18 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Leads that succeed  Basic news leads  Anecdotal/ narrative leads  Scene-setter leads  Blind leads  Roundup leads A roundup of commonly used options  Direct address leads  The startling statement  Wordplay leads

McGraw-Hill Slide 19 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Leads that succeed  Basic news leads Summary lead – Combines five W’s into one sentence. Delayed identification lead – Withholds the name of the person in question until the second paragraph A roundup of commonly used options Immediate identification lead – Uses a public figure or celebrity in the sentence. Or, you can write a creative lead and follow it was a nut graf An example from The AtlanticAn example from The Atlantic

McGraw-Hill Slide 20 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Leads that succeed  Anecdotal/ narrative leads Have a beginning, middle and end. Will be mini-story with symbolic resonance for bigger story. A roundup of commonly used options  Scene-setter leads Lack urgency of hard- news leads. Borrowed from fiction.  Blind leads Extreme delayed information lead. – Deliberately teases reader.

McGraw-Hill Slide 21 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Leads that succeed  Roundup leads Rather than focus on one person, place or thing, impress reader with longer list.  Direct address leads Use second- person voice. A roundup of commonly used options  The startling statement Also called a “zinger” or a “Hey, Martha.”  Wordplay leads Encompass wide range of amusing leads.

McGraw-Hill Slide 22 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Leads that succeed  Topic leads Convey no actual news.  Question leads Are irritating stalls.  Quote leads Don’t fairly summarize the story. …and three lazy leads you should usually reconsider

McGraw-Hill Slide 23 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. After the lead…what next?  Know how long the story should be. Add another paragraph Write the nut graf  Paragraph that condenses the story idea into nutshell. Briefs and brites: Brief – written using the inverted pyramid. Brite – written with more personality than a brief.

McGraw-Hill Slide 24 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Story structure  No one-size-fits-all solution.  Every story unfolds in a different way. Giving an overall shape to writing

McGraw-Hill Slide 25 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Story structure  The inverted pyramid Use for: – News briefs. – Breaking news. Organizing your story Most important facts Additional facts More facts Etc., Etc. Etc.

McGraw-Hill Slide 26 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Story structure  The kabob Also called Wall Street Journal formula or the Circle. Use for: – Trends. – Events where you want to show actual people. Giving an overall shape to writing Anecdote Nut graf Meat Anecdote

McGraw-Hill Slide 27 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Story structure  Modern journalist’s job basically boils down to Teaching. Storytelling. Keeping readers from getting bored  Use narratives when you can.  Think like a teacher.

McGraw-Hill Slide 28 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Story structure  Keep paragraphs short.  Write one idea per paragraph.  Add transitions. Writing tips as you move from paragraph to paragraph Alternatives to long, gray news stories Bullet items Sidebars Subheads Other storytelling alternatives

McGraw-Hill Slide 29 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Story structure  Good writers agonize over the kicker as much as the lead. Plan ahead. Don’t end with a summary. Avoid clichés. End with a bang. The big finish

McGraw-Hill Slide 30 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Rewriting  Writing is rewriting. Make things a little better. Few stories arrive fully formed and perfectly phrased. Most require rethinking, restructuring and rewording. Good story. Now make it better.

McGraw-Hill Slide 31 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Rewriting  Passive verbs Start sentences with their subjects. Replace to be with stronger verbs.  Redundancy Avoid unnecessary modifiers. Reasons to hit the delete key 5  Wordy sentences  Jargon & journalese Filter out jargon and officialese.  Clichés Lower the IQ of your writing.

McGraw-Hill Slide 32 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Rewriting  Find typical example.  Average number of words per sentence.  Number of “hard” words with 3 or more syllables (no proper names). The Fog Index – a readability gauge  Add average number of words to number of “hard” words.  Multiply the sum by 0.4.

McGraw-Hill Slide 33 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Rewriting  Most Americans read at or about 9 th -grade level. Aim for Fog Index of 7 to 8. Bible, Mark Twain, TV Guide have Fog Index around 6. The Fog Index – a readability gauge

McGraw-Hill Slide 34 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Editing  Before you write Assigning story. Planning angle. Estimating scope. Anticipating packaging. The role editors play in your stories  While you write Adding details. Monitoring speed. Fine-tuning. Layout changes.

McGraw-Hill Slide 35 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Editing  After you write Editing content. Copy editing. Cutting or padding. Assigning follow-up stories. The role editors play in your stories

McGraw-Hill Slide 36 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Newswriting style  Every news outlet customizes guidelines.  Copy desk’s job to standardize style.  Know AP and your news outlet’s style. Who’s right?

McGraw-Hill Slide 37 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. AP Style Highlights  Numbers  Titles  Capitalization  Abbreviations  Addresses  The Internet  Parentheses  Possessives  Prefixes  And others…

McGraw-Hill Slide 38 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Making deadline  Deadlines are mandatory.  Pass the deadline checklist. Accuracy. Fairness and balance. Writing style. Live by the clock

McGraw-Hill Slide 39 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 66 newswriting tips  Writing leads  The rest of the story  Editing and style  Rules of grammar  Word choices Nonsexist, nonageist, nondiscriminatory  Punctuation