Tips for Writing in a Newspaper
There are certain things which must be included in any news story. The four critical elements are:
- News - needs to be only relevant information, the “who, what, when, where, how, and why” of the story
- Impact - the meaning of a story and who may be affected by it
- Context - is both the background of the story and things that are related to it
- Emotion - Emotional elements need to be included to show the human side of the story and help the readers understand it
Leads
One of the most important
keys for newspaper writing is to develop a good lead. The job of the
lead is to summarize the story, incorporating as many of the: who, what,
when, where, how, and whys that are possible. In a soft news story, the
reader is drawn in first, and then presented the facts in the body of
the story.
When writing a lead, you need to ask yourself what is
the story and why is it important. A good lead has focus and involves
the reader by showing him why he should read the story. It will engage
the reader so he wants more, and will sound like a person talking to the
reader, giving it a human touch.
Some common problems in leads include:
- Containing more than one main idea.
- Not making it clear what the story is about.
- Lead is dull and has no tension or push to continue the story.
Leads
should not be lifeless, but should sound like someone talking. Leads
need to have an element of surprise that can clarify or make the reader
smile. They should not be predictable. Lastly, leads should not contain
jargon, as this can exclude some readers.
Since you have read the
preceding tips for writing in a newspaper, you may want to read the
following tips for clearer writing in general:
- Sentences:
These should be under 25 words and contain one idea. Don’t use many
commas and use the subject-verb-object structure.
- Voice: Use an active voice. This helps the writing be strong and easy to understand.
- Words: Don’t use complicated words. Reduce them to a simpler word. Also, use precise words so you will need fewer words.
- Numbers: Don’t include more than three numbers in a sentence.
- Phrases: Don’t put more than three prepositional phrases in one sentence.
What Makes Up Good Reporting?
Here is a quote that sums up the essence of good reporting:
“I
want stories to startle and engage me within the first few sentences,
and in their middle to widen or deepen or sharpen my knowledge of human
activity, and to end by giving me a sensation of completed statement." -
John Updike
Credibility
Reporters
have a big responsibility to be accurate with the facts. A lot of
people may read your article, and you don’t want to mislead them or
leave out something they need to know. A newspaper can be put out of
business if it is not credible.
Readability
It is
important to know your audience. This is not like writing a paper in
college, where big words are expected and you are showing how
intelligent you are.
Newspaper writing needs to be clear and not
have a lot of extra words or information that is not necessary. The
language needs to be simple, with short paragraphs and sentences.
Try and figure out if you have answered all the questions a reader might have about the situation you are reporting on.
Read more at http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/grammar-rules-and-tips/tips-for-writing-in-a-newspaper.html#e2tM2UXz1QAcyPXA.99
Newspaper Article Format
A typical newspaper article contains five (5) parts:
Headline: This is a short, attention-getting statement about the event.
Byline: This tells who wrote the story.
Lead Paragraph: This has ALL of the who, what, when, where, why and how in it. A writer must find the answers to these questions and write them into the opening sentence(s) of the article.
Explanation: After the lead paragraph has been written, the writer must decide
what other facts or details the reader might want to know. The writer must make sure that he/she has enough information to answer any important questions a reader might have after reading the headline and the lead paragraph. This section can also include direct quotes from witnesses or bystanders.
Additional Information: This information is the least important. Thus, if the news article is too long for the space it needs to fill, it can be shortened without rewriting any other part. This part can include information about a similar event.
