News Releases and Journalistic Newswriting AGED 3141 (Lab)

News release format Usually copied on letterhead Usually copied on letterhead Name of organization, address, phone numberName of organization, address, phone number Headings at top (single space) Headings at top (single space) Top Left:Top Left: Contact: Name (and title if appropriate) and phone number/ Contact: Name (and title if appropriate) and phone number/ Byline--Story by (author’s name if appropriate) Byline--Story by (author’s name if appropriate) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE or FOR RELEASE ON (embargo date) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE or FOR RELEASE ON (embargo date)

Format, cont’d Headline Headline Dateline (City, State--) Dateline (City, State--) Really a “place line”Really a “place line” Followed by an em dashFollowed by an em dash Body copy--usually double-spaced Body copy--usually double-spaced -more- (bottom center) to indicate additional pages -more- (bottom center) to indicate additional pages

Format, cont’d Slugline and page number at top-left of additional pages Slugline and page number at top-left of additional pages Use one of three “end marks” to indicate the end of the news story (bottom center after last line) Use one of three “end marks” to indicate the end of the news story (bottom center after last line) -30- # # # -0- Boilerplate (a statement used at the bottom of most of the organization’s releases that provides background info about the organization) Boilerplate (a statement used at the bottom of most of the organization’s releases that provides background info about the organization)

News Release Content Lead (capture attention and get to the point) Lead (capture attention and get to the point) Body (supporting facts and quotations; mention all important details) Body (supporting facts and quotations; mention all important details) Ending (keep it simple; many news releases have no real conclusion) Ending (keep it simple; many news releases have no real conclusion)

Newsworthiness Lots of definitions of “news” exist Lots of definitions of “news” exist News is only news if it interests the audience members enough for them to read about it News is only news if it interests the audience members enough for them to read about it Most agree that news is Most agree that news is Timely informationTimely information An account of an event, happening, or ideaAn account of an event, happening, or idea Important to an audienceImportant to an audience

Other possible traits of news Prominence Prominence When ordinary things happen to prominent people, it might be newsworthyWhen ordinary things happen to prominent people, it might be newsworthy Proximity Proximity local news is most newsworthylocal news is most newsworthy Uniqueness Uniqueness Five-legged cows are newsworthyFive-legged cows are newsworthy

Writing a lead A lead is the first paragraph of a news story A lead is the first paragraph of a news story If readers read only the lead, they should receive a capsule account of the entire story If readers read only the lead, they should receive a capsule account of the entire story WASHINGTON, D.C.—The President was shot in a theater tonight, and perhaps mortally wounded.WASHINGTON, D.C.—The President was shot in a theater tonight, and perhaps mortally wounded. TOKYO—Japan went to war against the United States and Great Britain today with air and sea attacks against Hawaii followed by a formal declaration of hostilities.TOKYO—Japan went to war against the United States and Great Britain today with air and sea attacks against Hawaii followed by a formal declaration of hostilities.

Leads, cont’d Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? These questions need to be answered in the lead if they are of central importance to the story These questions need to be answered in the lead if they are of central importance to the story Andrew A. Kernan, 18, a student at Central High School and the son of Mr. And Mrs. Harry Kernan of 1432 Hillmore Lane, died at about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday when his car overturned near a sharp curve on Sate Road 12.Andrew A. Kernan, 18, a student at Central High School and the son of Mr. And Mrs. Harry Kernan of 1432 Hillmore Lane, died at about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday when his car overturned near a sharp curve on Sate Road 12. An 18-year-old student was killed Tuesday when his car overturned while he was driving home from high school.An 18-year-old student was killed Tuesday when his car overturned while he was driving home from high school. (Most editors prefer the shorter lead)(Most editors prefer the shorter lead)

Leads, cont’d Most leads consist of only one sentence; however, a second sentence may be necessary Most leads consist of only one sentence; however, a second sentence may be necessary To clarify a complex topicTo clarify a complex topic To summarize an unusual or secondary highlightTo summarize an unusual or secondary highlight Fifty-one construction workers plunged to their deaths Thursday when a scaffold inside a power company cooling tower collapsed and crashed 168 feet to the ground. Nine of the victims were members of one family.

The rest of the story The facts in the body of the story should be presented in descending order of importance and specificity (inverted pyramid) The facts in the body of the story should be presented in descending order of importance and specificity (inverted pyramid) The facts should be presented objectively, without opinion The facts should be presented objectively, without opinion Others’ opinions should be demonstrated only through attributed quotations (direct, partial or indirect) Others’ opinions should be demonstrated only through attributed quotations (direct, partial or indirect) Quotations add credibility and detail to news stories and news releases Quotations add credibility and detail to news stories and news releases

Using quotations Direct quotation Direct quotation “Agriculture students need communications skills as much as, if not more than, students in other disciplines,” said Brenda Ambrose, director of the University Writing Center.“Agriculture students need communications skills as much as, if not more than, students in other disciplines,” said Brenda Ambrose, director of the University Writing Center. Partial quotation Partial quotation Students in the Bumpers College “need communication skills as much, if not more than, students in other disciplines,” said Brenda Ambrose, director of the University Writing Center.Students in the Bumpers College “need communication skills as much, if not more than, students in other disciplines,” said Brenda Ambrose, director of the University Writing Center.

Using quotations Indirect quotation Indirect quotation Brenda Ambrose, director of the writing center, said communication skills are as important for agriculture students as they are for students in other disciplines.Brenda Ambrose, director of the writing center, said communication skills are as important for agriculture students as they are for students in other disciplines.

Grammar and punctuation tips Avoid “that” and “which” as often as you can Avoid “that” and “which” as often as you can Avoid stating what people think or feel-- use “… said she thought” or “… said she felt” Avoid stating what people think or feel-- use “… said she thought” or “… said she felt” Avoid using first person “I” or “we” Avoid using first person “I” or “we” Use “more than” rather than “over” Use “more than” rather than “over” Use an em dash (--) rather than a hyphen Use an em dash (--) rather than a hyphen