1. Inside Reporting Tim Harrower
lcome to the world of urnalism, where porters have been gging dirt, raking muck, king headlines and adlines for centuries w. It’s a history full of bloid trash, of slimy nsationalists, of runkards, deadbeats and mmers” (as a Harvard iversity president once scribed reporters).
But it’s a history full of roes, too: men and men risking their lives tell stories of war and agedy, risking prisonment to defend ee speech. And as you n see here, reports have come beloved characters p culture, too, turning up movies, comics and TV ows as if guided by an cult hand.
Every culture seeks effective ways to spread new information and gossip. In ancient times, news was written on clay tablets. In Caesar’s age, Romans read newsletters compiled by correspondents and handwritten by slaves. Wandering minstrels spread news (and the plague) in the Middle Ages. Them came ink on paper. Voices on airwaves. Newsreels, Web sites, And 24-hour cable news networks.
Thus when scholars analyze the rich history of journalism, some view it in terms of technological progress—for example, the dramatic impact of bigger, faster printing presses.
Others see journalism as a specialized form literary expression, one that’s
constantly evolving, reflecting and shaping its culture.
Others see it as an inspiring quest for free speech, an endless power struggle between Authority (trying to control information) and the People (trying to learn the truth). Which brings to mind the words of A.J. Liefling: “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to htose who own one.”
In the pages ahead, we’ll take a quick tour of 600 years of journalism history, from hieroglyphics to hypertext: the media, the message and the politics.
Technical advances and brilliant ideas forged a new style of journalism. It was a century of change, and newspapers changed
dramatically. The typi newspaper of 1800 wa undisciplined mishma legislative proceeding long-winded essays a secondhand gossip. B 1900, a new breed of tor had emerged. Jour had become big busin Reporting was becom disciplined craft. And newspapers were bec more entertaining and essential than ever, w most of the features w expect today: Snappy headlines, Ads, Comic Sports pages. And an “inverted pyramid” sty writing that made stori tighter and newsier.
Radio and television brought an end to newspapers’ media monopoly. Why? Well yourself: Which did yo
Inside Reporting Tim Harrower 3
Newswriting basics
McGraw-Hill
© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. Newswriting basics Just the facts The five W’s The inverted pyramid
Beyond the basic news lead
Leads that succeed
After the lead…what next?
(continued)

3. Newswriting basics Story structure  Rewriting  Editing 
(continued)
Story structure 
Rewriting 
Editing 
Newswriting style 
Making deadline 
66 essential tips 

4. Just the facts You must try to be objective. Truthful. Fair.
Good reporters respect integrity of facts.
Facts tell the story.
Readers draw their own conclusions.
Where do opinions belong in a newspaper?
Most newspaper stories can be placed on a continuum.
Ranges from rigidly objective (breaking news) to rabidly opinionated (movie reviews).

5. The five W’s
Facts usually fall into

6. The five W’s The WHO The WHAT
Readers love stories that focus on people.
WHO keeps it real.
Who’s involved?
Who’s affected?
Who’s going to benefit?
Who’s getting screwed?
WHAT gives news its substance.
Stories become dry and dull if they focus too much on WHAT.
Need WHO.

7. The five W’s The WHEN The WHERE Timeliness essential to every story.
When events happened or will happen.
How long they lasted or will last.
The closer the event, the more relevant it is for readers.
Many stories require supplements.
Map
Diagram
Photo

8. The five W’s The WHY The HOW Finding explanations difficult.
The WHY is what makes news meaningful.
Often requires detailed explanation.
Sometimes omitted to save space.
Readers love “how-to” stories.

9. The inverted pyramid
Newswriting format summarizes most important facts at story’s start
This is the lead, which summarizes the story’s most important facts
This paragraph adds more details or background
This paragraph adds even more details
This adds more details
More details

10. The inverted pyramid The typical news story uses the inverted pyramid
Summarize first.
Explain later.
Resolve everything in the beginning.
Allows editors to trim stories from bottom.
So should you use this format for every story?
Gets repetitive.
Doesn’t always organize story material logically.

11. The inverted pyramid
Why writing a good lead actually matters to readers
If a story takes too long to make sense…
Readers flee like rats from a sinking ship.

12. Writing basic news leads
How to write an effective news lead
Collect all your facts.
Lead should summarize.
The more you know, the easier it is to summarize.
Sum it up. Boil it down.
List who, what, when, where, why of story.

13. Writing basic news leads
How to write an effective news lead
Prioritize the five W’s.
Lead contains the most important facts.
Which of the key facts deserves to start the first sentence?
Rethink. Revise. Rewrite.
Is it clear?
Is it active?
Is it wordy?
Is it compelling?

14. Writing basic news leads
How to write an effective news lead
Writing leads often a process of trial and error.
Try different approaches.
Create different leads using the…
Who.
What.
When.
Where.
Why.

15. Writing basic news leads
Not every story begins with a roundup of essential facts
Basic news leads can be too dull and dry.
All good reporters spend time searching for the perfect lead.

16. Beyond the basic news lead
Story checklist
Be accurate.
Remember what day it is.
Don’t name names.
Use strong verbs.
Ask “Why should I care?”
Sell the story.
Don’t get hung up.
Move attributions to the end of the sentences.

17. Leads that succeed A roundup of commonly used options Basic news leads
Anecdotal/ narrative leads
Scene-setter leads
Blind leads
Roundup leads
Direct address leads
The startling statement
Wordplay leads

18. Leads that succeed A roundup of commonly used options Basic news leads
Summary lead
Combines five W’s into one sentence.
Delayed identification lead
Withholds the name of the person in question until the second paragraph
Immediate identification lead
Uses a public figure or celebrity in the sentence.

19. Leads that succeed A roundup of commonly used options
Anecdotal/ narrative leads
Have a beginning, middle and end.
Will be mini-story with symbolic resonance for bigger story.
Scene-setter leads
Lack urgency of hard-news leads.
Borrowed from fiction.
Blind leads
Extreme delayed information lead.
Deliberately teases reader.

20. Leads that succeed A roundup of commonly used options Roundup leads
Rather than focus on one person, place or thing, impress reader with longer list.
Direct address leads
Use second-person voice.
The startling statement
Also called a “zinger” or a “Hey, Martha.”
Wordplay leads
Encompass wide range of amusing leads.

21. Leads that succeed …and three lazy leads you should usually reconsider
Topic leads
Convey no actual news.
Question leads
Are irritating stalls.
Quote leads
Don’t fairly summarize the story.

22. After the lead…what next?
Add another paragraph
Know how long the story should be.
Briefs and brites:
Brief – written using the inverted pyramid.
Brite – written with more personality than a brief.
Write the nut graf
Paragraph that condenses the story idea into nutshell.

23. Story structure Giving an overall shape to writing
No one-size-fits-all solution.
Every story unfolds in a different way.

24. Story structure Organizing your story The inverted pyramid Use for:
News briefs.
Breaking news.
Most important facts
Additional facts
More facts
Etc., Etc.
Etc.

25. Key facts in inverted- pyramid form
Story structure
Giving an overall shape to writing
The martini glass
Use for:
Crimes.
Disasters.
Dramatic stories.
The lead
Key facts in inverted- pyramid form
Chronology of events
Kicker

26. Story structure Giving an overall shape to writing The kabob
Also called Wall Street Journal formula or the Circle.
Use for:
Trends.
Events where you want to show actual people.
Anecdote
Nut graf
Meat

27. Story structure Keeping readers from getting bored
Modern journalist’s job basically boils down to
Teaching.
Storytelling.
Use narratives when you can.
Think like a teacher.

28. Story structure Writing tips as you move from paragraph to paragraph
Keep paragraphs short.
Write one idea per paragraph.
Add transitions.
Alternatives to long, gray news stories
Bullet items
Sidebars
Subheads
Other storytelling alternatives

29. Story structure The big finish
Good writers agonize over the kicker as much as the lead.
Plan ahead.
Don’t end with a summary.
Avoid clichés.
End with a bang.

30. Rewriting Good story. Now make it better. Writing is rewriting.
Make things a little better.
Few stories arrive fully formed and perfectly phrased.
Most require rethinking, restructuring and rewording.

31. 5 Rewriting Reasons to hit the delete key Passive verbs Redundancy
Start sentences with their subjects.
Replace to be with stronger verbs.
Redundancy
Avoid unnecessary modifiers.
Wordy sentences
Jargon & journalese
Filter out jargon and officialese.
Clichés
Lower the IQ of your writing.

32. Rewriting The Fog Index – a readability gauge Find typical example.
Average number of words per sentence.
Number of “hard” words with 3 or more syllables (no proper names).
Add average number of words to number of “hard” words.
Multiply the sum by 0.4.

33. Rewriting The Fog Index – a readability gauge
Most Americans read at or about 9th-grade level.
Aim for Fog Index of 7 to 8.
Bible, Mark Twain, TV Guide have Fog Index around 6.

34. Editing The role editors play in your stories Before you write
Assigning story.
Planning angle.
Estimating scope.
Anticipating packaging.
While you write
Adding details.
Monitoring speed.
Fine-tuning.
Layout changes.

35. Editing The role editors play in your stories After you write
Editing content.
Copy editing.
Cutting or padding.
Assigning follow-up stories.

36. Newswriting style Who’s right?
Every news outlet customizes guidelines.
Copy desk’s job to standardize style.
Know AP and your news outlet’s style.

37. AP Style Highlights Numbers Titles Capitalization Abbreviations
Addresses
The Internet
Parentheses
Possessives
Prefixes
And others…

38. Making deadline Live by the clock Deadlines are mandatory.
Pass the deadline checklist.
Accuracy.
Fairness and balance.
Writing style.

39. 66 newswriting tips Writing leads The rest of the story
Editing and style
Rules of grammar
Word choices
Nonsexist, nonageist, nondiscriminatory
Punctuation