You Too Can Write the News
Download as PPS, PDF0 likes5,078 views
This document provides an overview of a workshop on short-form citizen journalism. It discusses objectives of finding stories, reporting effectively and writing stories using an inverted pyramid structure. It provides tips on what makes a good story, including focusing on interesting people or events. Guidelines are offered on reporting techniques like using multiple sources and active voice in writing. The document also demonstrates how to upload stories to the Observer citizen journalism system.
You Too Can Write the News
- 1. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Bob Rosenbaum, www.theMarketFarm.com May 2013 © 2013; Permission required for use You Too Can Write the News A workshop in short-form citizen journalism
- 2. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Objectives Find stories worth telling Report stories effectively and efficiently Write stories using a formula that makes the job easier Upload stories to the Observer system Do this without cold sweats and nightmares Bob Rosenbaum, www.theMarketFarm.com May 2013 © 2013; Permission required for use
- 3. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Finding the story Bob Rosenbaum, www.theMarketFarm.com May 2013 © 2013; Permission required for use
- 4. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted What makes a good story “Great stories happen to those who can tell them.” Ira Glass This American Life
- 5. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted What makes a good story Almost anything can be made interesting – Identifying a good subject – Asking enough questions – Drilling down on the right questions – Getting enough detail – Focusing the single topic – Writing crisply and without affectation
- 6. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted What makes a good story News – Important issues – Changing status quo – Interesting events • Marty Mace announces plans to run for mayor of Bay Village • Diamond Services survives by cleanup after the movies Personality profile/Feature – Interesting people doing interesting things
- 7. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted What makes a good story News stories just happen Feature stories must be created Process same for both – Evaluate everything you hear as a potential story – Keep a notebook with ideas
- 8. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted What makes a good story Look for: – People who tell good stories themselves • Interesting people make interesting stories • Boring people will make you work much harder – People with hobbies • Kids building battling robots in school • Mom training for her first marathon • Guy restoring old car in his garage – Idea nuggets • People who work from home
- 9. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted What makes a good story It’s all in the telling; i.e. YOU make it good
- 10. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Reporting the story Bob Rosenbaum, www.theMarketFarm.com May 2013 © 2013; Permission required for use
- 11. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Reporting the story News story – Job: Inform/explain – 5 W’s & H • Who, what, when, where, why, how – Find multiple sources – Look for the honest/reasonable disagreements – Most useful ( and underused) question: Why? • If you don’t understand it, you can’t report it
- 12. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Reporting the story Personality/feature story – Job: Enlighten/entertain – Focus on what’s interesting • But listen for important digressions – Spend less time with the subject / more time with 3rd parties – Most useful question: Can you give me a real-life example?
- 13. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Reporting the story “Joe didn’t seem to care about being a leader, but he was one. He led quietly by example and by caring about others,” said Faith Gill, the mother of one of Quandt’s closest childhood friends.
- 14. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Reporting the story “Joe didn’t seem to care about being a leader, but he was one. He led quietly by example and by caring about others,” said Faith Gill, the mother of one of Quandt’s closest childhood friends. “When there was a new kid in school or class, it was always Joe who would make that person feel welcome and at home. If you’re the new person, that’s something you just don’t forget. He made that kind of lasting impression on everybody he met.
- 15. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Reporting the story Personality/feature story – Don’t overreach – set a tight focus – Stay in control and be proactive • Let sources guide you, not direct you – Expand on the minutia – Try to define angles early – Battling robots – 1 kid, 1 technical problem – Mom training for marathon – 1 rainy, busy day – Guy restoring old car in his garage – Wife’s reaction – Corporate refugees – Just a couple, or focus on 1 aspect: money, fulfillment, kids, wife
- 16. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Reporting the story Ask questions – A discipline that improves with practice – Few stories are fully reported in 1 sitting – Be prepared to go back with more questions Seek multiple sources – Few people know everything about a story Don’t assume your sources know best – Most people don’t think in terms of storytelling Identify multiple points of view – Few stories are one-dimensional
- 17. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Reporting the story Fairness – Give ample time to valid perspectives – Does not require “equal time” to every perspective – You are not required to honor “crazy”
- 18. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Reporting the story Seek the right mix Citizen complaints that potholes aren’t being fixed quickly enough – Mayor: We’re working as quickly as we can – Streets Commissioner: We need more people - tell the mayor to stop cutting shifts and laying off employees – City Engineer: Data shows we’re repairing at a faster rate than surrounding communities – Council candidate: There is gross incompetence and new energy is needed to fix this mess – Vocal activist I: We’re using the wrong materials – Vocal activist II: We need to ban commercial truck traffic from our streets
- 19. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Reporting the story What do you cover? Report all of it Report what makes sense Report what’s going to become the focus of discussion But how do you decide? What’s interesting What’s important Context – Length restriction – Lead time – Competition
- 20. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Reporting the story When are you done reporting? When you feel you have a grasp When you know how the story will begin When you run out of time After you’ve turned in the story (and the editor clears it) – There will always be holes as you write – Lazy reporters write around them – You will fill them
- 21. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Writing the story Bob Rosenbaum, www.theMarketFarm.com May 2013 © 2013; Permission required for use
- 22. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Writing the story Newswriting is a formula It’s supposed to be fast and repeatable 80% reporting/20% writing
- 23. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Story format Inverted pyramid – Lead with most important facts – Filter down to least important – No conclusion: just end it Lead Exposition/ Other facts
- 24. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted What goes in the pyramid 1.Who 2.What 3.Why 4.Where 5.When 6.How
- 25. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Inverted pyramid in action FBI agents at headquarters of Brown’s owner Jimmy Haslam’s family business in Tennessee
- 26. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Inverted pyramid in action FBI agents at headquarters of Brown’s owner Jimmy Haslam’s family business in Tennessee WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY WHO HOW
- 27. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Inverted pyramid in action FBI agents at headquarters of Brown’s owner Jimmy Haslam’s family business in Tennessee
- 28. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Organizing to write Review and organize notes – For short news stories re-read/review – Longer, complex stories require a process • Print out notes • Color code or number “sections” based on topics covered • Move topics around into a logical order of most important to least important
- 29. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Making it look easy The Lead: If you can figure out how to start, the rest of the story often takes care of itself
- 30. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Writing the Lead First paragraph of the story Summarizes most important point(s)/event(s) Lead should rise to the top from your organization process A Digression about paragraphs •1 paragraph = 1 or 2 sentences; 4-10 lines •Paragraphs are non-structural to story
- 31. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Types of leads News lead The facts and just the facts Jimmy Haslam suddenly has bigger issues than the Cleveland Browns. On Monday, federal agents descended on the Haslam family business in Knoxville in a raid the FBI described as part of an “ongoing investigation.”
- 32. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Types of leads Second-day lead Catches up with a story/writes next chapter of an ongoing story – When other media have already covered the news – Requires a different level of reporting • Consciously looking for something new to say • Explore unreported facts • Find a new angle • Uncover deeper meaning/fuller context
- 33. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Types of leads Second-day lead Catches up with a story/writes next chapter of an ongoing story The rebates that Jimmy Haslam says are at the heart of a federal criminal investigation into his company have made it impossible for smaller, independent truck stops to compete against Haslam's massive Pilot Flying J, a trucking industry official says. John Caniglia, Plain Dealer, April 17, 2013
- 34. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Now that you have your lead… Consider whether your story needs a “nut graf”
- 35. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Writing the ‘nut graf’ A perspective paragraph Provides clarity for reader 2nd paragraph of story Answers the question: “So what?” – Think, or actually write, “It’s important because...”
- 36. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Writing the ‘nut graf’ Not every story needs a nut graf Needed for: – Anecdotal leads – Features – Complex stories – Second-day leads/ongoing stories Acts like a drawstring to pull the story together – If your story just isn’t working – fix the nut graf
- 37. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Writing the ‘nut graf’ Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is calling trucking companies, offering to pay back owners of firms who say they lost money in the fuel rebate program of Haslam's company Pilot Flying J. But legal experts say Haslam's calls present a legal dilemma in his quest to clear his company's name as a federal investigation is under way. Haslam's calls can be seen as his attempt to correct a wrong committed by his company. Or, prosecutors might view it interfering with witnesses, according to interviews with several attorneys and law professors.
- 38. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Writing the ‘nut graf’ BAY VILLAGE - A fourth person has announced plans to run for mayor this year. Recently retired Bay Village firefighter Marty Mace announced plans Friday afternoon to seek election. His announcement came hours after his retirement took effect. He joins incumbent Mayor Deborah Sutherland and fellow challengers Claire Banasiak and David Volle. Providing three or more candidates file petitions with the required number of valid signatures, it would force a September primary prior to the November general election. Only two names would appear on the November ballot. Bruce Geiselman, Cleveland.com, 5/3/2012
- 39. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted The rest of the story After the nut graf: The rest of the facts, in descending order of importance, combined with a logical flow Nut graf Exposition Lead
- 40. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Feature story Scale story appropriately – How much time do you have – How much space do you have – How committed are you Choose 1 major theme – Eliminate everything else Lead: Use your most telling, interesting, compelling anecdote Don’t tell me; show me
- 41. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Feature lead By Gene Weingarten Sunday, January 22, 2006 The Washington Post The Great Zucchini arrived early, as he is apt to do, and began to make demands, as is his custom. He was too warm, so he wanted the thermostat adjusted. It was. He declared the basement family room adequate for his needs, but there was a problem with the room next door. Something had to be done about it. The room next door was emblematic of the extraordinary life and times of the Great Zucchini, Washington's No. 1 preschool entertainer. The homeowners, Allison and Donald Cox Jr., are in their late thirties, with two young children – Lauren, who is 5, and Donald III, who goes by Trey, and whose third birthday was being celebrated that day.
- 42. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Other important stuff Tighten tighten tighten – Your first draft will be 50% too long • Tangents • Stuff you’ve fallen in love with – Your next draft will be 20% too long • Still more stuff you love even though it doesn’t belong – Your next draft will be 10% too long • Wordiness, imprecise phrasing
- 43. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Other important stuff Attribution: Hang it on someone else – Objectives: Honesty, limiting liability What to attribute – Direct quotes – Paraphrased quotes – Statements of opinion – Others’ observations – Facts that you haven’t otherwise confirmed – Anything about an individual How to attribute – It’s as simple as adding a comma and writing, “he/she said.” – One attribution per paragraph
- 44. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Other important stuff Quotes: Only use good ones – “When you come to a fork in the road, take it,” said Yankee’s Manager Yogi Berra. – “The city needs a new ladder truck for $900,000. We only have one building tall enough to require a ladder truck. Isn’t there a smarter way to solve this problem?” asked Councilman Kevin Patrick Murphy. Not: – “He came to play, and he left it all out there on the field.” – “No I didn’t.” – “If this prevents one other person from going through what I went through, then it will be worth everything.”
- 45. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Other important stuff Write for the reader and to tell the story – Not for yourself or your source(s) Use active voice – Not: He had gone – But: He went No exclamation points!!! No cliches
- 46. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Other important stuff Sweat the details: check your facts – Never assume the editor will catch it Package your story – Take photos – Write a good headline – Collect relevant links for work appearing online Hunt down and delete every extra word – Whether or not = whether
- 47. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted 05/08/13 © 2013 www.themarketfarm.com Permission required for use 47 Uploading to the Observer
- 48. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Uploading to the Observer 05/08/13 © 2013 www.themarketfarm.com Permission required for use 48 CLICK ON MEMBER CENTER
- 49. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Uploading to the Observer 05/08/13 © 2013 www.themarketfarm.com Permission required for use 49 CLICK ON “Submit new story”
- 50. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Uploading to the Observer 05/08/13 © 2013 www.themarketfarm.com Permission required for use 50 •Populate Title, Category. •Paste article into “Article section”
- 51. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Uploading to the Observer 05/08/13 © 2013 www.themarketfarm.com Permission required for use 51 •Write Bio •Attach photos
- 52. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Uploading to the Observer 05/08/13 © 2013 www.themarketfarm.com Permission required for use 52 Look for upload counter
- 53. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Uploading to the Observer 05/08/13 © 2013 www.themarketfarm.com Permission required for use 53
- 54. All photos by Bob Rosenbaum except where noted Kick back and relax 05/08/13 © 2013 www.themarketfarm.com Permission required for use 54