Writing for Media Course BJMC 102 Ratan Mani Lal

Kinds of writing for Print Media  News Report  News Analysis  Feature  Interview  Backgrounder  Curtain-raiser  Review  Editorial

Common elements  Long retention value  All expressions made through phrases of language  Emotions, description, facts to be expressed through language  Impact to be such that influences public opinion

News Report

 What is News – Timely information that is in larger public interest  Key factors -- Facts, simplicity of writing, correctness of information  Focus on 5 Ws and 1 H  Inverted pyramid – Maximum information on top  Impersonal tome – Avoid comments

News Analysis

 A detailed description of any event, with historical perspective, analysis of its impact and future possibilities  Requires maturity, experience, subject knowledge and right quotes and references  Generally the responsibility of a senior journalist or expert

Feature

Feature  Detailed description  Topics -- Event, product, places and people  Lots of colour, adjective and references  Often contributors also invited for writing

Interview

Interview  Most popular, widely read and quoted kind of media writing  Always used on a related occasion  Ways of writing: Question/Answer form or running text form  Important to have some colour, different moods and references

Backgrounder

Backgrounder  A form of writing to give background information to a special event  Generally used along with a main item  May include chronology  Focus on facts and figures

Curtain raiser

 An item that is used before an important event  Contains the build-up of what is going to happen  Purpose is to inform  Focus on facts, date, time and related information

Review

Review  Provides comprehensive picture of a fine arts performance, show or book  Includes a summary and comments  Subject knowledge and technical details are pre-requisites  Credits and comparisons must be included

Editorial

Editorial  Most serious and important piece of media writing  Reflects the opinion of the people through the opinion of the editor  A combination of analysis, review and opinion  Straight, meaningful language with a clear stand

Other kinds of writing  Intro  Blurb  Pointer  Caption  Headline  Summary

Intro

Blurb

Pointer

Caption

Headline

Summary

Writing for TV

 Greater impact of pictures must be supported  Use clear-sounding words, with proper pauses, short sentences and correct pronunciation  Script for TV or radio should not be written like a print report  Use time instead of space for conveying information

Requirements  Proper research  Visualization  Voice & speech training  Creating imagery  Ad-libbing (speak without preparation)

Conclusion  Simple language, clear focus, good control of language are key requirements  Subject knowledge is always desirable  Some kinds of writing require expertise and subject knowledge  For TV, visualization is a key factor

Thank You