1. News Writing Concepts and Style
Reporting:
News Writing Concepts and Style

2. 7 Fundamentals Simplicity Synthesis Judgment
Significant/New/Interesting
Evidential rules
Accuracy
Completeness

3. 1. Simplicity
In journalism the task is to strip out pomposities and develop a plain style that is simple and direct
This is not the forum for academic language, nor the forum for the informal language of hanging out

4. Examples Doctors not “medical practitioners”
Social patterns not societal paradigms
Plain style improves the flow of writing and allows you to concentrate on what is being said, not how
George Orwell said: “let the meaning choose the words, and not the other way about.”

5. 2. Synthesis
This means understanding the whole of your subject and giving a unified image
Mastery means a consistent tone and the appropriate use of quotes

6. 3. Judgment
Journalists must make judgment on things they report on, not on what is right or their feelings, but on essential information
Only a small part of what happens in society becomes news
Journalistic judgment must be simple and natural, cutting through complexity to the journalist’s own convictions about what should be told

7. 4. Significant/Interesting/New
They must also be aware of the biases of their own medium (eg. Magazine vs. newspaper vs. TV)
Is this something you would pass on in dinner conversation?
What would you say in three or four sentences?
What would you focus on if your editor called you to “cut it down”?

8. Key Considerations 5 Ws Proximity Consequence/ impact Prominence
Visual impact

9. 5. Evidential Rules Is the statement verifiable?
Are any unfounded assumptions built into it?
Is it internally consistent?
Does the source have a vested interest?

10. 6. Accuracy Everyone wants to be accurate A system of double checks:
Check terminology
Take notes on things you think you will remember and noting full sources
It is vital to distinguish between your own notes and information taken from another source
Accuracy means never assuming

11. And Lastly: 7. Completeness
Ask questions like:
Is it all there?
Am I leaving questions unanswered?
Are there important viewpoints on this issue that I’ve overlooked?
Have I used the best sources, or only the usual ones?
Is this the fullest version of the situation I can reasonably obtain, or should I hold the story over for another day?