1. Journalistic writing and “English class” writing
Similarities and differences

2. Writing is… Central to all media industries
The mark of a well educated person
Powerful
The ability to control and articulate ideas and information gives you power over what other people know and think about.

3. Media Writing Not Your Average English Class Emphasize information.
Mass media presents information.
Purpose of English essay v. journalistic piece
clearly and often quickly inform, entertain or persuade an audience
Writing in a professional environment
Writing for a mass audience.
Understanding that audience is a big part of learning to write for the mass media.
Writing with modesty.
Writing for accuracy, completeness, efficiency, precision.

4. Media Writing v. English
Longer, more complex sentences.
Multi-syllable words, enhance vocabulary.
Paragraphs of 100 words or more, including a topic sentence and its support.
Media writing
Short, concise sentences
Simple, understandable words.
Paragraphs, often one or two sentences.

5. Organization varies… Essay Media writing Inverted pyramid
The first paragraph is the lead -- with 5Ws and H, usually one sentence
Additional paragraphs are short and contain less and less important information
Characteristics: accuracy, completeness, efficiency, precision
Essay
Traditionally five paragraphs
The first paragraph is introduction and thesis
Second, third and fourth paragraphs develop the topic using
Compare and contrast
Definition
Classification, etc.
The final paragraph is the conclusion

6. Intro/Thesis statement
Organization
Five-Paragraph Essay
Inverted pyramid
Intro/Thesis statement
Lead - 5Ws & H
Body
Gets less important
Conclusion

7. And information-gathering varies, too…
Media writing
Primary sources. Interviews with:
Experts
Spokespersons
Newsmakers
‘People on the street’
Secondary sources include:
Official records
Reference materials
Other media
Essays
Require material from
Reading a particular work
Drawing on insight and information from previous readings or lectures
Applying personal experience

8. But keep in mind why that’s the case:
 Different audience
Different purpose

9. BEWARE OF PLAGIARISM! All writing needs attribution…
Media Writing
Attribution into the context:
“The result is dangerous,” Mayor Fred Norton said.
According to the Health Commission’s survey, 27 percent of the participants lost weight.
Secondary sources the reporter didn’t interview:
“The result is dangerous,” Mayor Fred Norton told the Greenville Times.
Essays
Essays use various citation forms:
MLA
APA
This could include:
Footnotes or endnotes
Parenthetical citations
Bibliography

10. It’s not quite that simple, but…
Not every assignment in English class is a five-paragraph essay. Not every story in the media is a traditional news story.
Today’s publications — especially student media — often use news features.
These start with a “softer” lead
Anecdote
Description
Organization varies but generally has
An interest-catching beginning
An ending that makes it feel “finished”
Plenty of short, interesting quotes
Transition to tie all the parts together

11. NO OPINION! Remove opinion for news stories and features
It’s not a “tragic fire.”
Without a survey or other way to show this, it’s not accurate to say “everyone owns an iPod.” What is the source? Who researched this?
And even if “Greenville High School is better off because she won the award,” the reporter shouldn’t be the one to say it.
Save opinions for
Op-ed
Advertisements
Blogs

12. What IS the same? The basic writing process Brainstorm for ideas
Gather information
Organize and select appropriate information
Write the first draft
Share with a peer, advisor, editor
Use suggestions and insight for second draft
Tweak as many times as necessary, polish and submit

13. Good writing is still good writing…
But when students become journalists, they have to remember they have
A different audience
A different purpose
And that means leaving some of their English class writing behind.