In this weeks debrief it was bought to
our attention how poorly written news stories were and how often content is posted on the website throughout the week compared to last semester. The issues with the stories began
with the structure & so we needed to refer back to basic news writing methods.
How to write a news story:Who? What? Where? When? Why?
The news pyramid:
- Headline: Subject, verb, object formation.
- Intro: short and sharp - latest most important information (who?, what?, where?, when?).
- Two: elaboration of other important information or quotes – 'the move follows'
- Three: chronology, more detail (why?).
- Four: more detail, loose ends.
Once this is established the fine
tuning of an article can begin:
- it's okay to lift quotes but they must be attributed. For example, 'tweeted so and so' or 'in a statement'
- Use verbs of attribution. 'Said last week.' 'Says....'
- if you wish to use sections of quotes dont use ellipsis, in
stead use “he said, adding 'blah, blah'”
- Through out, subject and verb must must agree on plural,
tense & case.
- Must always use an active voice - The cat sat on the mat
(SVO). The cat can sit on the mat, so subject and verb agree on
case. (Passive - the mat was sat on by the cat).
Facts are independently verifiable, true statements. Facts must be in your voice. Comment in theirs (everything else). Facts must be checked.
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