1. Weeks 3 & 4 News Writing

2. Week 4  http://stsmtinewswriting.weebly.co m http://stsmtinewswriting.weebly.co m  Week 3 news quizzes wrap-up  Rewriting leads  Week 4 news quizzes (Deadline: 10 mins.)  Chapter 3 with exercises

3. Week 2’s Assignments  http://www.newsu.org/courses/be- reporter-game http://www.newsu.org/courses/be- reporter-ga  https://highered.mcgraw- hill.com/sites/0073378917/student_v iew0/chapter2/exercise_2-1_2.html https://highered.mcgraw- hill.com/sites/0073378917/student_v iew0/chapter2/exercise_2-1_2.html  https://highered.mcgraw- hill.com/sites/0073378917/student_v iew0/chapter2/exercise_2-1_3.html https://highered.mcgraw- hill.com/sites/0073378917/student_v iew0/chapter2/exercise_2-1_3.html

4. Week 4: Rewriting Leads  Review: basic news leads on p. 60  5 minutes  Check leads for missing 6 W’s and/or their order  Who  What  Where  When  Maybe Why or How

5. Leads Exercises  Who: Lawmakers  What: rejected a 10 billion euro bailout package for Cyprus  Where: Europe  When: Tuesday  Why: not enough money  How: sending the president back to the drawing board to devise a plan that might enable the country to receive a financial lifeline while avoiding a default that could reignite the euro crisis

6. Leads Exercises  Lawmakers rejected a 10 billion euro bailout package for Cyprus on Tuesday, sending the president back to the drawing board to devise a plan that might enable the country to receive a financial lifeline while avoiding a default that could reignite the euro crisis.  Source: The New York Times

7. Leads Exercises  Who: U.S. federal authorities  What: examining Microsoft’s involvement with companies and individuals  Where: U.S.  When: Wednesday  Why: that are accused of paying bribes to overseas government officials in exchange for business, according to a person briefed on the inquiry  How: n/a

8. Leads Exercises  Federal authorities in the U.S. are examining Microsoft’s involvement with companies and individuals that are accused of paying bribes to overseas government officials in exchange for business, according to a person briefed on the inquiry.  Source: The New York Times

9. Leads Exercises  Who: David Beckham  What: to begin his new role as a special ambassador for Chinese football  Where: Beijing  When: Wednesday  Why: n/a  How: It will involve attending league matches in China and visiting clubs to help promote the game to children.

10. Leads Exercises  David Beckham is in Beijing to begin his new role as a special ambassador for Chinese football.  It will involve attending league matches in China and visiting clubs to help promote the game to children.  Source: BBC

11. Leads Exercises 4Who: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul 4What: that the nation's illegal immigrants should be able to become citizens eventually 4Where: Washington, D.C. 4When: Tuesday 4Why: amid a furor from conservative activists on the explosive issue he quickly sought to make clear that, while they would not be sent home, they couldn't get in line in front of anyone else 4How: n/a

12. Leads Exercises  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Tea party favorite Sen. Rand Paul said Tuesday that the nation's illegal immigrants should be able to become citizens eventually, but amid a furor from conservative activists on the explosive issue he quickly sought to make clear that, while they would not be sent home, they couldn't get in line in front of anyone else.

13. Leads Exercises 4Who: Xi Jinping 4What: calls for strong ties with the U.S. 4Where: Beijing 4When: Wednesday 4Why: the first high-level meeting between the two sides since he was confirmed as China's president 4How: His comments came in talks with Jack Lew, who is in Beijing on his first overseas trip as US Treasury Secretary.

14. Leads Exercises  Xi Jinping has called for strong ties with the US, in the first high-level meeting between the two sides since he was confirmed as China's president.  His comments came in talks with Jack Lew, who is in Beijing on his first overseas trip as US Treasury Secretary.  Source: BBC

15. 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 Newswriting basics 3 McGraw-Hill © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

16. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Newswriting basics Just the facts Just the facts  The five W’s The five W’s  The inverted pyramid The inverted pyramid  Beyond the basic news lead Beyond the basic news lead  Leads that succeed Leads that succeed  After the lead…what next? After the lead…what next?   (continued)

17. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Newswriting basics (continued) Story structureStory structure  RewritingRewriting  EditingEditing  Newswriting styleNewswriting style  Making deadlineMaking deadline  66 essential tips66 essential tips 

18. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Just the facts  Good reporters respect integrity of facts.  Facts tell the story.  Readers draw their own conclusions. You must try to be objective. Truthful. Fair. 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).

19. Test Yourself  p.64, Exercise 2

20. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The five W’s Facts usually fall into

21. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The five W’s The WHO  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? The WHAT  WHAT gives news its substance. Stories become dry and dull if they focus too much on WHAT. Need WHO.

22. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The five W’s The WHEN  Timeliness essential to every story. When events happened or will happen. How long they lasted or will last. The WHERE  The closer the event, the more relevant it is for readers.  Many stories require supplements. Map Diagram Photo

23. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The five W’s The WHY  Finding explanations difficult.  The WHY is what makes news meaningful.  The HOW  Often requires detailed explanation.  Sometimes omitted to save space.  Readers love “how-to” stories.

24. Test Yourself  p.64, Exercise 3  At midnight tonight, Abner Hoobler will become the first Nebraskan to reach the age of 115.  A dog named Victor plunged over Niagara Falls on Saturday - and emerged victorious.  A Dayton woman decided her husband spent too much time clowning around with his froends, so she glued a clown mask to his face while he was sleeping.  A local minister was bitten in the leg Sunday after leaping into the lions’ den at the Dayton Zoo.  Rev. Faith Christian, a minister at the Dayton Zealotic Church, said she was trying to convert the lion to Christianity by shouting “Jesus loves you.”

25. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 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

26. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. So should you use this format for every story? Gets repetitive. Doesn’t always organize story material logically. The inverted pyramid  Summarize first. Explain later.  Resolve everything in the beginning.  Allows editors to trim stories from bottom. The typical news story uses the inverted pyramid

27. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The inverted pyramid  If a story takes too long to make sense…  Readers flee like rats from a sinking ship. Why writing a good lead actually matters to readers

28. Test Yourself  p.64, Exercise 1

29. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Writing basic news leads  Collect all your facts. Lead should summarize. The more you know, the easier it is to summarize. How to write an effective news lead  Sum it up. Boil it down. List who, what, when, where, why of story.

30. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Writing basic news leads  Prioritize the five W’s. Lead contains the most important facts. Which of the key facts deserves to start the first sentence? How to write an effective news lead  Rethink. Revise. Rewrite. Is it clear? Is it active? Is it wordy? Is it compelling?

31. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Writing basic news leads  Writing leads often a process of trial and error. Try different approaches. How to write an effective news lead  Create different leads using the… Who. What. When. Where. Why.

32. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Writing basic news leads  Basic news leads can be too dull and dry.  All good reporters spend time searching for the perfect lead. Not every story begins with a roundup of essential facts

33. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Beyond the basic news lead Be accurate. Remember what day it is. Don’t name names. Use strong verbs. Story checklist Ask “Why should I care?” Sell the story. Don’t get hung up. Move attributions to the end of the sentences.

34. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Leads that succeed  Basic news leads  Anecdotal/ narrative leads  Scene-setter leads  Blind leads  Roundup leads A roundup of commonly used options  Direct address leads  The startling statement  Wordplay leads

35. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Leads that succeed  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 A roundup of commonly used options Immediate identification lead – Uses a public figure or celebrity in the sentence.

36. Week 4: Group News Quiz  Please write your group’s English names and send it to me via email. Send it in the body of the email, rather than as an attachment.  Only write in the style of a basic news lead (the most important of the 6 W’s). Try your hand at one or more new leads we covered.  Must be from the past week (March 13-20).  1. International  2. Beat  3. China  4. Xi’an  5. XISU

37. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Leads that succeed  Anecdotal/ narrative leads Have a beginning, middle and end. Will be mini-story with symbolic resonance for bigger story. A roundup of commonly used options  Scene-setter leads Lack urgency of hard- news leads. Borrowed from fiction.  Blind leads Extreme delayed information lead. – Deliberately teases reader.

38. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Leads that succeed  Roundup leads Rather than focus on one person, place or thing, impress reader with longer list.  Direct address leads Use second- person voice. A roundup of commonly used options  The startling statement Also called a “zinger” or a “Hey, Martha.”  Wordplay leads Encompass wide range of amusing leads.

39. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Leads that succeed  Topic leads Convey no actual news.  Question leads Are irritating stalls.  Quote leads Don’t fairly summarize the story. …and three lazy leads you should usually reconsider

40. Test Yourself  p.65, Exercise 4, #2  Student drinking may be to blame for damage to campus windows, lights and doors last weekend, a school official said.  OR  Damage to campus windows, lights and doors last weekend may have been the result of student drinking, a school official said.

41. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. After the lead…what next?  Know how long the story should be. Add another paragraph Write the nut graf  Paragraph that condenses the story idea into nutshell. Briefs and brites: Brief – written using the inverted pyramid. Brite – written with more personality than a brief.

42. Test Yourself  p.65, Exercise 6  Some people would just take the money and run.  But when Laura Lynn Hardy found $300,000 lying on the street, she bicycled 20 miles through a Christmas Eve snowstorm to return the cash to its rightful owner.  What would you do if you found $300.000? If you’re Laura Lynn Hardy, you’d give the money right back.

43. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Story structure  No one-size-fits-all solution.  Every story unfolds in a different way. Giving an overall shape to writing

44. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Story structure  The inverted pyramid Use for: – News briefs. – Breaking news. Organizing your story Most important facts Additional facts More facts Etc., Etc. Etc.

45. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The lead Key facts in inverted- pyramid form Chronology of events Kicker Story structure  The martini glass Use for: – Crimes. – Disasters. – Dramatic stories. Giving an overall shape to writing

46. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Story structure  The kabob Also called Wall Street Journal formula or the Circle. Use for: – Trends. – Events where you want to show actual people. Giving an overall shape to writing Anecdote Nut graf Meat Anecdote

47. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Story structure  Modern journalist’s job basically boils down to Teaching. Storytelling. Keeping readers from getting bored  Use narratives when you can.  Think like a teacher.

48. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Story structure  Keep paragraphs short.  Write one idea per paragraph.  Add transitions. Writing tips as you move from paragraph to paragraph Alternatives to long, gray news stories Bullet items Sidebars Subheads Other storytelling alternatives

49. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Story structure  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. The big finish

50. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Rewriting  Writing is rewriting. Make things a little better. Few stories arrive fully formed and perfectly phrased. Most require rethinking, restructuring and rewording. Good story. Now make it better.

51. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Rewriting  Passive verbs Start sentences with their subjects. Replace to be with stronger verbs.  Redundancy Avoid unnecessary modifiers. Reasons to hit the delete key 5  Wordy sentences  Jargon & journalese Filter out jargon and officialese.  Clichés Lowers the IQ of your writing.

52. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Rewriting  Find typical example.  Average number of words per sentence.  Number of “hard” words with 3 or more syllables (no proper names). The Fog Index – a readability gauge  Add average number of words to number of “hard” words.  Multiply the sum by 0.4.

53. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Rewriting  Most Americans read at or about 9 th -grade level. Aim for Fog Index of 7 to 8. Bible, Mark Twain, TV Guide have Fog Index around 6. The Fog Index – a readability gauge

54. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Editing  Before you write Assigning story. Planning angle. Estimating scope. Anticipating packaging. The role editors play in your stories  While you write Adding details. Monitoring speed. Fine-tuning. Layout changes.

55. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Editing  After you write Editing content. Copy editing. Cutting or padding. Assigning follow-up stories. The role editors play in your stories

56. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Newswriting style  Every news outlet customizes guidelines.  Copy desk’s job to standardize style.  Know AP and your news outlet’s style. Who’s right?

57. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. AP Style Highlights - p.56-7  Numbers  Titles  Capitalization  Abbreviations  Addresses  The Internet  Parentheses  Possessives  Prefixes  And others…

58. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Making deadline  Deadlines are mandatory.  Pass the deadline checklist. Accuracy. Fairness and balance. Writing style. Live by the clock

59. McGraw-Hill Slide © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 66 newswriting tips - p.60-1  Writing leads  The rest of the story  Editing and style  Rules of grammar  Word choices Nonsexist, nonageist, nondiscriminatory  Punctuation

60. Test Yourself  p.65, Exercise 7

61. Business  Please send all future assignments to marissakluger@yahoo.com marissakluger@yahoo.com

62. Week 4 Assignments  p. 66, Exercise 8 (choose 1 of the 4 brites to write a lead for...make sure it’s written down or you have a viewable electrnic copy)  Review Chapter 3; make sure you’ve previewed p. 65, Exercise 7  preview eWorkbook Ch.3 exercises  3-1 (select 5 out of the 10 questions)  3-2.3; 2.7  3-3.2  3-4.1, 4.2, 4.3 (select 5 out of the 10 or 11 questions)  3-4.4, 4.5 (select 4 out of the 8 questions)