1. Writing a good newspaper report
Randine Westgate

2. Learning Goal: To understand how to write a good newspaper report
To be able write an effective news report using the proper format

3. Minds on: What does a newspaper report look like?
What does a newspaper report tell you?
The Globe and Mail
Tips from the journalists

4. Action: A News Report Has a . . .
Headline that is eye catching and intriguing
Byline (reporters name and the date published)
Lede paragraph that tells the reader in 2-3 sentences the who, what, when, where, why and how of the story
Supporting details paragraph(s) (nut graphs)
Quotations from witnesses and / or people involved in the event
Concluding paragraph that sums up the story and leaves the reader with a thought provoking statement and / or tells what will happen next

5. The headline
Is to the point and tells the reader what the report is about
Peaks the reader’s interest so they want to read on
Is not a complete sentence
Is relevant to the story
Look at the headlines on the Globe and Mail home page. How effective are they at getting your interest?

6. The lede
After the headline, the lead is the most important part of a news report
It must include all the important details of the story in a concise yet interesting way in a maximum of 3 sentences.
The 5 Ws and how must all be answered because most readers of a newspaper skim (read the first 4 of 5 sentences) of a story.
If the lede doesn’t peak their curiosity, the reader moves on to the next story
Think of the lead as those 30 second advertisements for television news programs you see.

7. The supporting details
This is where you give a little more information about the 5Ws
The first supporting paragraph provides the background leading up to the event
The following support paragraphs provide details (facts) about the event and include short quotations from witnesses and / or people involved.
These are the paragraphs where you bring the event to life so get quotes from at least 2 people and include facts about the event (size of things, weather, amounts, locations, full names, ages, date, time, etc.)

8. The Conclusion Sums up in a sentence or two the event
Indicates what will happen next (ie: the driver faces chargers of DUI and assaulting and officer and will appear in court on Monday.)
Often ends with a provocative statement to make the reader think

9. A news report: Is not an essay or narrative
Is objective – just gives the facts not opinions
Does not include the reporter – no “I,” “we,” – it is written in the third person
Has paragraphs that are 3 sentences long at the most
MUST explain the 5Ws and the how of the event
Uses simple vocabulary
Is not wordy –often you only get space for 4 paragraphs in the paper AND the reader often only reads the headline and lede

10. With a partner: Look at the newspaper pages Read the headlines
Which ones catch your eye and interest first?
Why do they interest you?
Read the lede below that headline
What does tell you? Do you learn the 5Ws and how?
How is it written?
Do you want to read on? Why or why not?

11. With a partner: Read the rest of the story
How many people did they quote?
How important were those people to the event?
Did they chose their quotes well?
Does the headline makes sense for the story?
Does the concluding paragraph summarize the event well? Could you understand the event just from reading this?

12. With a partner: Is there a thought-provoking statement?
Does the reporter tell you what will happen next?
Is there bias? Do you get a sense of the reporters opinion?
How many sentences are in the longest paragraph?

13. Your task today
Go through your notes from yesterday’s review and your notebook
Choose an event from one of the readings
Complete the news report graphic organizer using your notes

14. Your task tomorrow
During the computer lab tomorrow, you will write a news report
It will be on an event of your choice from the reading of your choice covered in this course
Using your completed news report graphic organizer from yesterday, write a news report of 4 – 6 paragraphs of no more than 3 sentences each
Have a classmate, or myself, edit your first draft
Make the revisions
Using the evaluation sheet, evaluate your own report and hand it in with your news report
Print and hand in your final news report by the end of class

15. Time management is key
You only have 75 minutes to complete your news report
Stay on task and focused
This is your culminating for the course and worth10% of your mark
The time limit is to prepare you for the OSSLT during which you will have far less time to write a news report when you are only given a picture and a headline to work with.
You can do this and do it well!!