1. Some key differences from English composition writing

2.  Accuracy  Clarity  Efficiency  Precision

3.  Accuracy – the most important  Clarity – clear and easy to use  Efficiency – use the fewest words possible to present the info accurately and clearly  Precision – choose the best, most accurate, words. Know precisely what they mean.

4.  Unlike English composition writing, mass media writing is done for an audience.  Writing is to inform or persuade the audience.  Always keep the audience in mind when writing. Choose the most effective way to deliver the message to your audience.

5.  In media writing, we move smoothly and naturally from one fact to the next.  The reader should have an easy time with your writing. No work involved.  In its most general form, media writing starts with the most important and newsworthy piece of information.  Then moves on to second-most important, third-most important, and so on.

6.  Use short words instead of long ones. - Simple words rather than complex.  Use familiar words over unfamiliar ones. - Words we see every day rather than technical terms or jargon.  Use strong verbs.  Use active voice instead of passive voice when you have a choice.

7.  Watch the use of qualifying words and phrases. Check out adjectives, adverbs and prepositional phrases. Are they necessary? If not, drop them.  Nouns and verbs are better to use than adjectives and adverbs.

8.  Use short sentences. No more than 20 words per sentence.  Vary sentence length. Balance long sentences with shorter ones.  Be straightforward. Long sentences with lots of commas and clauses are not easy to use. Stick to the subject-verb-object construction when possible.  Too many commas? Make a new sentence.

9.  Use shorter paragraphs – no more than two sentences. Often, one sentence per paragraph is appropriate.  Vary the length of your paragraphs. Too many paragraphs that are the same length lull the reader to sleep visually.

10.  Clear, simple writing sticks to the facts. Just tell the reader the information.  The writer’s opinion is not included in mainstream basic news stories.  We write to present information to our audience.

11.  Media writers present information in a way that does not reveal their own opinion.  We present the information to readers and viewers and let them make up their minds about what they think.  We let readers and viewers know the sources of our information, so they can decide if they are valid sources.

12.  Writing for media is a deadline-driven process. Sometimes that deadline might mean we don’t get to talk to everyone we’d like to before submitting a story.  Media writing can take place in noisy, busy places. Get accustomed to blocking out distractions.

13.  The best way to learn to write? By writing. We’ll do that here.  Other tips for improving writing:  Read lots of different types of writing. Traditional news, magazines, online, longer essays, even fiction.

14.  Analyze the writing you read. What are some of the sentences you find interesting? Look for examples of clear writing, efficiency, good use of transitions, etc.  Emulate the good writing you find. Use it as a guide to write with some of the same qualities.

15.  Every story answers these questions: Who, what, where, when, why, how  One of these six is typically more important than the others. Which one is it?

16.  The most basic structure is called the inverted pyramid.  In this structure, we place the most important, newsworthy item at the top of the story.  We then put the second-most important thing next, followed by the third most- important, etc.

17.  There’s a car crash on Mission Street.  Two people are injured and taken to the hospital.  A 27-year-old Clare woman is treated and released. A 28-year-old Farwell man dies.  What is the most important, newsworthy item of the information listed above?

18.  In news writing, the introductory paragraph is called a lead.  Inverted pyramid lead example given the info in our scenario: A 28-year-old Farwell man died in a car crash on Mission Street in Mt. Pleasant Tuesday.

19.  jrn202spring2010.wordpress.com