news writing

13 August 2011San Carlos Seminary, EDSA, Makati City

JESSELYNN GARCIA DE LA CRUZ

“Truly, there is no area of human experience, especially given the vast phenomenon of globalization, in which the media have not become an integral part of interpersonal relations and of social, economic, political and religious development.”

"The Media: At the Crossroads between Self-Promotion and Service. Searching for the Truth in order to Share it with Others.“

Message for 40th World Communications Day 2008

* MUST HAVE

because it is

IMPORTANT

* SHOULD HAVE

because it is

EDUCATIONAL

* LIKE TO HAVE

because it is

ENTERTAINING& FUN

Inform

– things he ought to know

Inform

– things he ought to know Educate

– things he ought to know

Inform

– things he ought to know Educate

– things he ought to know Inspire

– things you ought to give

Inform

– things he ought to know Educate

– things he ought to know Inspire

– things you ought to give Entertain

– things that attract / hold interest

IMPACT

PROMINENCE

UNUSUAL/EXCEPTIONAL

TIMELINESS

PROXIMITY

CONFLICT

SEX

PROGRESS

HUMAN INTEREST

BABIES, BEAUTIES, BEASTS

TimelinessProminenceImpact/ Consequence Proximity Oddity

Conflict Sex Progress Human Interest Babies, Beauties,

Beasts

WHO

– the person in the news

WHAT

– the event / happening

WHEN

– the time

WHERE

– the place / venue

WHY

– the reason / cause

HOW

– the circumstances

(What you need to look out for)

WHO makes news

WHAT makes news

WHY is this news

(What you need to do)

HOW do I makes this

news (story)

WHEN is this news story

needed

DEADLINE

Find Your Focus

What is this story about?

News is often aboutPEOPLE

and WHAT HAPPENS

to people.

Focus on the

PERSONWho said/did what

PERSON NAME if prominent IDENTIFYING LABEL

Focus on the

EVENTWhat happened

STORYSTRUCTURE

THE HARD NEWS FORMULA

WHAT is the story?

 HOW did it happen?

AMPLIFICATION. Tell the story again, add points.

TIE up any loose ends.

WHAT is the story?

 HOW did it happen?

AMPLIFICATION. Tell the story again, add points.

TIE up any loose ends.

WHAT is the story? HOW did it happen?

AMPLIFICATION. Tell story again,

add points.TIE up any

loose ends.

LEADWHO : St. John Bosco Youth OrganizationWHAT : Youth Rally / Motorcade / VigilWHEN : July 31, 2011 (Feast of St. John Bosco)WHERE: Rally – church courtyard; Motorcade – church then

around parish passing through various streets; Vigil – Don Bosco Makati covered court

WHY : Celebration of the Feast of the St. John Bosco; Send-off for parish youth delegates to World Youth Day in Spain; Rally for Life / Awareness Raising on RH Bill Issue

HOW : Program schedule

SUMMARY LEADSimple 5W-H

The St. John Bosco Parish Youth Organization held a Youth Rally Motorcade-Vigil last July 31 to celebrate the Feast of St. John Bosco, as a send-off ceremony for the parish youth delegates to the World Day of Youth in Spain and for awareness of the RH bill and pro-life issues.

The St. John Bosco Parish Youth Organization celebrated the feast of St. John Bosco with a Youth Rally-Motorcade-Vigil last July 31.

QUESTION LEAD

QUOTATION LEAD

ATMOSPHERE LEAD

CONTRAST LEAD

SHOCK LEAD

WHAT is the story? HOW did it happen?

AMPLIFICATION. Tell story again,

add points.TIE up any

loose ends.

Today, communication seems increasingly to claim not simply to represent reality, but to determine it, owing to the power and the force of suggestion that it possesses. It is clear, for example, that in certain situations the media are used not for the proper purpose of disseminating information, but to “create” events.

To be responsible – to be the protagonist of truth and promoter of the peace that ensues.

"The Media: A Network for Communication, Communion and Cooperation" Message for 40th World Communications Day 2006

To inform the consciences of individuals and help shape their thinking is never a neutral task. Authentic communication demands principled courage and resolve. It requires a determination of those working in the media not to wilt under the weight of so much information nor even to be content with partial or provisional truths.

Instead it necessitates both seeking and transmitting what is the ultimate foundation and meaning of human, personal and social existence (cf. Fides et Ratio, 5). In this way the media can contribute constructively to the propagation of all that is good and true.

Search for the NEW in the old.

Search for the LASTING in the fleeting.

Search for SIGNIFICANCEin the trivial.Search for RELEVANCE in the regular.

Search for TRUTH.

“Contribute to making known the truth about humanity, and defending it against those who tend to deny or destroy it… seeking and presenting the truth about humanity constitutes the highest vocation of social communication.”

-- Pope Benedict XVI

Accurate reporting of events, full explanation of matters of public concern, and fair representation of diverse points of view must, then, always be fostered. The need to uphold and support marriage and family life is of particular importance, precisely because it pertains to the foundation of every culture and society (cf. Apostolicam Actuositatem, 11).

"The Media: A Network for Communication, Communion and Cooperation" Message for 40th World Communications Day 2006

POPE BENEDICT XVI

Thank You!