writing 101

Journalistic Writing 101

News, Features, Interviews, Qualities, Factors

News Vs. Features

Listen to the news story and the feature story– What do they have in common?

– How are they different?

Classic (Telegraph) News Form

Most Important

Least

Important

Summary Lead

(5ws and H, starting with most interesting item)

Quotes

Transitions

End on a good quote

The Feature

Tell a true story

Use plot, characters, dialogue, literary devices etc.

Should have at least one nut graph (summary paragraph tied to recent events)

Draw your reader in

The Interview

Interview Definition– Any time you gather information, and solicit

information from a source.

Sources– Primary- A person who has information that is

essential to the story– Secondary- People or documents that add

information and perspective to a story, but are not essential

Interview Keys

Prepare! (RESEARCH)– Learn as much as you can about the person you

will interview– Write questions before the interview– Be prepared to add or change questions

Schedule interview Greet and identify yourself and the purpose

of the interview

Interview Keys- Poor Example

Reporter- I’m supposed to ask you about your plans for student council.

Smiley- Okay. Reporter-What can you tell me about your plans? Smiley- Well, big things will be happening. Reporter-How do you plan to implement those

things? Smiley- The student council will work very hard

to make the changes.

Interview Keys- Prepared!!!

Reporter- Joan, how do you plan to fight against suspensions and expulsions, as you promised in your campaign?

Smiley- Actually that will be tough at first. More important is my promise to have more student input in school board policies. With that input, we can work towards stopping suspensions

Interview Keys- Prepared!!!

Reporter- I believe the council tried two years ago to get more student input in board decisions, and failed. How do you propose to become more involved now?

Smiley- Well, I’ve already met the superintendent and the school board president to create a student liason position on the policies committee.

Interview Keys- Questions

INFORMEDOPEN ENDEDPROBINGFOLLOW UP

Interview Keys- Questions

5 Ws and an H– Who? What? When?

Where? Why? How?

GOOD STARTING POINT

Interview Keys- Questions

OPEN ENDED– Ask for an opinion or an interpretation.

– DO NOT LET THEM ANSWER YES OR NO!

Interview Keys- Questions

Change these to OPEN ENDED

Did you sign the petition? Do you floss regularly? Does your computer do calculus? Is the football team going to be good

this year?

Interview Keys- Questions

FOLLOW UP (Probe)– LISTEN to your source’s answers

• Identify when they are being unclear, or vague and make them clarify.

• Make them expand on new information you didn’t know about before the interview

• LOOK FOR THE “ANGLE” AND FOLLOW IT

Three Factors are essential to News1. FACT

News Must be Factual– News is based on

actual occurrences, situations, thoughts, and ideas.

– Not all facts are news.

Three Factors are essential to News2. INTEREST

News Must be Interesting– Not all facts are

interesting

– The degree and breadth of interest will vary.

• High interest for a few

• Some interest for many

• Great interest for many

Three Factors are essential to News3. People/ Audience

It is the job of the reporter to make facts interesting to people.– What does your

audience want?

News Qualities #1

News must be Accurate– Every statement, name and date, age, address,

and quotation is a verifiable fact.– The general impression must be correct as

well as the specific details.

News Qualities #2

News must be Balanced– Every fact must have the proper emphasis

– Get all of the sides to a story, and report all of the important details.

News Qualities #3

News must be Objective– News is a non-biased, factual report of an event (as

much as possible)

– Rely on knowledgeable sources for all information.

– Some background and interpretation is often needed. Such stories are written under a byline.

News Qualities #4

News must be Concise and Clear– Hard news follows the inverted pyramid form

(Most important facts first)

– “Effective reporting is painstakingly precise in word choice, yet full of life and vigor; colorful yet without subjective tinting. . .”

• -Mitchell V. Charnley

News Qualities #5

News must be Timely– Other factors being equal, this quality will always

determine what gets published.

– All events don’t have to be current. They all just have to be appropriate for the time. (current)

Features are different Based on people, not necessarily events Don’t have to be as timely While you don’t want to waste words, you don’t

have to be as concise

Features are the same Everything must be accurate Writing should be objective event though it is a

personal story Based on great interviews