Chapter 7A Writing News Stories

Building on the Lead  What follows the lead is the next most important part of the story It has to be goodIt has to be good  Quotes add a personal touch to the writing You will want to have someone’s voice in the article immediatelyYou will want to have someone’s voice in the article immediately You may also transitionYou may also transition Look at the examples on p Look at the examples on p

Body of the Story  Elaboration takes place here  Expand upon the lead and second paragraph  Retelling the story in more detail occurs here  Be sure to continue to tie everything together  As you move along, the information should become less and less detailed as well as less and less important WHY? So the editor can simply lob off the endWHY? So the editor can simply lob off the end  Look at the example on p. 157

Other Organizational Patterns  Storytelling style – narrative style Great for non-print journalismGreat for non-print journalism Look at the example on p. 159Look at the example on p. 159  Combination style – combining inverted pyramid with storytelling Great for action storiesGreat for action stories  Sidebar – story related to another story on the page but told differently

Appropriate Newspaper Style  There are a number of rules you must follow – use the stylebook  We have copies of the Associated Press Stylebook as well as our own O’Gorman stylebook

Avoid Offensive Language  Use politically correct terminology  Anything that might seem to be in poor taste usually is  No slang term for religious beliefs  Watch out for bias Don’t show favoritism to the schoolDon’t show favoritism to the school We aren’t writing a newsletterWe aren’t writing a newsletter  No sexist language

Be succinct  Develop clear and concise ways of expressing yourself  Use clear, simple words Look at the list on p. 165Look at the list on p. 165

Jargon  Inside language of groups  Some jargon is okay, but don’t go to extremes

Straightforward Sentences  One idea, one sentence  Short paragraphs, short sentences Journalistic paragraphs should be 2-3 sentencesJournalistic paragraphs should be 2-3 sentences  Stay away from semicolons

A few things to avoid…  Redundancy “2 A.M. in the morning”“2 A.M. in the morning”  Clichés Avoid clichés like you avoid the plagueAvoid clichés like you avoid the plague  Don’t worry about repeating words  Passive Voice Write in the active voice as much as possibleWrite in the active voice as much as possible

Final Thoughts  Always remember “Be reasonable and prudent, not arbitrary or capricious”“Be reasonable and prudent, not arbitrary or capricious”