Inside reporting ch3
- 1. 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 3 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 McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 2. Newswriting basics Just the facts The five W’s The inverted pyramid Beyond the basic news lead Leads that succeed After the lead…what next? McGraw-Hill Slide 2 (continued) © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 3. Newswriting basics (continued) Story structure Rewriting Editing Newswriting style Making deadline 66 essential tips McGraw-Hill Slide 3 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 4. You must try to be objective. Truthful. Fair. Good reporters respect integrity of facts. Facts tell the story. Readers draw their own conclusions. McGraw-Hill Slide 4 Just the facts 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). © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 5. Facts usually fall into McGraw-Hill Slide 5 The five W’s © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 6. McGraw-Hill Slide 6 The five W’s © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 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.
- 7. The WHEN Timeliness essential McGraw-Hill Slide 7 The five W’s © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 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
- 8. McGraw-Hill Slide 8 The five W’s © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 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.
- 9. Newswriting format summarizes most important facts at story’s start McGraw-Hill Slide 9 The inverted pyramid 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 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 10. The typical news story uses the inverted pyramid Summarize first. McGraw-Hill Slide 10 The inverted pyramid So should you use this format for every story? • Gets repetitive. • Doesn’t always organize story material logically. © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. • Explain later. Resolve everything in the beginning. Allows editors to trim stories from bottom.
- 11. Why writing a good lead actually matters to readers If a story takes too long to make sense… Readers flee like rats from a sinking ship. McGraw-Hill Slide 11 The inverted pyramid © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 12. Writing basic news leads How to write an effective news lead Collect all your facts. • Lead should summarize. • The more you know, the easier it is to summarize. McGraw-Hill Slide 12 Sum it up. Boil it down. • List who, what, when, where, why of story. © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 13. Writing basic news leads How to write an effective news lead Prioritize the five W’s. • Lead contains the most important facts. • Which of the key facts deserves to start the first sentence? McGraw-Hill Slide 13 Rethink. Revise. Rewrite. • Is it clear? • Is it active? • Is it wordy? • Is it compelling? © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 14. Writing basic news leads How to write an effective news lead Writing leads often a process of trial and error. McGraw-Hill Slide 14 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. • Try different approaches. Create different leads using the… • Who. • What. • When. • Where. • Why.
- 15. Writing basic news leads Not every story begins with a roundup of essential facts Basic news leads can be too dull and dry. All good reporters spend time searching for the perfect lead. McGraw-Hill Slide 15 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 16. Beyond the basic news lead Story checklist McGraw-Hill Slide 16 © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Be accurate. Remember what day it is. Don’t name names. Use strong verbs. Ask “Why should I care?” Sell the story. Don’t get hung up. Move attributions to the end of the sentences.
- 17. A roundup of commonly used options Basic news leads Anecdotal/ narrative leads Scene-setter leads Blind leads Roundup leads McGraw-Hill Slide 17 Leads that succeed Direct address leads The startling statement Wordplay leads © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 18. A roundup of commonly used options 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 McGraw-Hill Slide 18 Leads that succeed • Immediate identification lead – Uses a public figure or celebrity in the sentence. © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 19. A roundup of commonly used options Anecdotal/ narrative leads • Have a beginning, middle and end. • Will be mini-story with symbolic resonance for bigger story. McGraw-Hill Slide 19 Leads that succeed Scene-setter leads • Lack urgency of hard-news leads. • Borrowed from fiction. Blind leads • Extreme delayed information lead. – Deliberately teases reader. © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 20. A roundup of commonly used options Roundup leads • Rather than focus on one person, place or thing, impress reader with longer list. Direct address leads McGraw-Hill Slide 20 Leads that succeed © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. • Use second-person voice. The startling statement • Also called a “zinger” or a “Hey, Martha.” Wordplay leads • Encompass wide range of amusing leads.
- 21. …and three lazy leads you should usually reconsider McGraw-Hill Slide 21 Leads that succeed © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Topic leads • Convey no actual news. Question leads • Are irritating stalls. Quote leads • Don’t fairly summarize the story.
- 22. After the lead…what next? Add another paragraph Know how long the story should be. Write the nut graf Paragraph that condenses the story idea into nutshell. McGraw-Hill Slide 22 Briefs and brites: •Brief – written using the inverted pyramid. •Brite – written with more personality than a brief. © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 23. Giving an overall shape to writing No one-size-fits-all solution. Every story unfolds in a different way. McGraw-Hill Slide 23 Story structure © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 24. Organizing your story McGraw-Hill Slide 24 Story structure © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The inverted pyramid • Use for: – News briefs. – Breaking news. Most important facts Additional facts More facts Etc., Etc. Etc.
- 25. Giving an overall shape to writing The martini glass McGraw-Hill Slide 25 The lead Story structure Key facts in inverted-pyramid form Chronology of events Kicker © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. • Use for: – Crimes. – Disasters. – Dramatic stories.
- 26. Giving an overall shape to writing McGraw-Hill Slide 26 Story structure © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The kabob • Also called Wall Street Journal formula or the Circle. • Use for: – Trends. – Events where you want to show actual people. Anecdote Nut graf Meat Meat Meat Anecdote
- 27. Keeping readers from getting bored Modern journalist’s job basically boils down to McGraw-Hill Slide 27 Story structure © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. • Teaching. • Storytelling. Use narratives when you can. Think like a teacher.
- 28. Writing tips as you move from paragraph to paragraph Keep paragraphs short. Write one idea per paragraph. Add transitions. McGraw-Hill Slide 28 Story structure Alternatives to long, gray news stories •Bullet items •Sidebars •Subheads •Other storytelling alternatives © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 29. McGraw-Hill Slide 29 Story structure The big finish 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. © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 30. Good story. Now make it better. Writing is rewriting. • Make things a little better. • Few stories arrive fully formed and perfectly phrased. • Most require rethinking, restructuring and rewording. McGraw-Hill Slide 30 Rewriting © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 31. 5Reasons to hit the delete key McGraw-Hill Slide 31 Rewriting © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Passive verbs • Start sentences with their subjects. • Replace to be with stronger verbs. Redundancy • Avoid unnecessary modifiers. Wordy sentences Jargon & journalese • Filter out jargon and officialese. Clichés • Lower the IQ of your writing.
- 32. The Fog Index – a readability gauge Find typical example. Average number of words per sentence. Number of “hard” words with 3 or more syllables (no proper names). McGraw-Hill Slide 32 Rewriting Add average number of words to number of “hard” words. Multiply the sum by 0.4. © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 33. The Fog Index – a readability gauge Most Americans read at or about 9th-grade level. • Aim for Fog Index of 7 to 8. • Bible, Mark Twain, TV Guide have Fog Index around 6. McGraw-Hill Slide 33 Rewriting © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 34. The role editors play in your stories Before you write • Assigning story. • Planning angle. • Estimating scope. • Anticipating packaging. McGraw-Hill Slide 34 Editing While you write • Adding details. • Monitoring speed. • Fine-tuning. • Layout changes. © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 35. The role editors play in your stories After you write • Editing content. • Copy editing. • Cutting or padding. • Assigning follow-up stories. McGraw-Hill Slide 35 Editing © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 36. Every news outlet customizes guidelines. Copy desk’s job to standardize style. Know AP and your news outlet’s style. McGraw-Hill Slide 36 Newswriting style © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Who’s right?
- 37. McGraw-Hill Slide 37 AP Style Highlights © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Numbers Titles Capitalization Abbreviations Addresses The Internet Parentheses Possessives Prefixes And others…
- 38. Live by the clock McGraw-Hill Slide 38 Making deadline © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Deadlines are mandatory. Pass the deadline checklist. • Accuracy. • Fairness and balance. •Writing style.
- 39. Writing leads The rest of the story Editing and style Rules of grammar McGraw-Hill Slide 39 66 newswriting tips Word choices • Nonsexist, nonageist, nondiscriminatory Punctuation © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.