News Writing

NEWS WRITING

WHAT IS NEWS?NEWS?N orth E ast W est S outh NEWS DEFINEDNEWS DEFINEDA record of the most interesting, important and accurate information obtained about the things man thinks and says, sees and describes, plans and does.NEWS DEFINEDAll news is intended to interest, inform or entertain somebody somewhere large sections of the public, of possible no news attracts the attention of everybody everywhere. Carl Warren (former Radio News Editor of the New York Times)NEWS DEFINEDNews is anything published in a newspaper which interests a large number of people. 6NEWS DEFINEDAs any event, idea, or opinion that is timely, that interests or affects a large number of persons in a community, and that is capable of being understood by them. Dean M. Lyle Spencer (former dean of the School of Journalism of Syracuse University)NEWS DEFINEDNews exists in the minds of men. It is not an event; it is something perceived after the event. It is not identical with the event; it is an attempt to reconstruct the essential framework of the event essential being defined against a frame of reference which is calculated to make the event meaningful to the reader. It is an aspect of communication, and has the familiar characteristics of that process.NEWS DEFINEDHard objective fact to be presented without bias though naturally with an eye to the interests of a newspapers particular reader.NEWS DEFINEDA break from the normal flow of events, an interruption in the expected. Melvin Mencher (News Reporting and Writing)NEWS DEFINEDA reflection of reality. View of many social scientistsNEWS DEFINEDNews presents to society a mirror of its concerns and interest. Gay Tuchman (Making News)NEWS DEFINEDTomorrows history done up in todays neat package. Mitchell Charnley of the University of MinnesotaNEWS DEFINEDNews is the inexact measure of the ebb and flow of the tides of human aspirations, the ignominy of mankind, the glory of the human race . . . The best record we have of the incredible meanness and the magnificent courage of man. Stanley Walker (former city editor of New York Herald Tribune)NEWS DEFINEDNews is in the larger sense that material which is most likely to be looked to and accepted as the image of reality. Raymond and Alice Bauer (America, Mass Society and Mass Media)Which is which?

Man bites a dog

Dog bites a manPROCESS OF GATHERING FACTS TO DISSEMINATING OF THE NEWS TO THE PUBLICGathering of the facts about an event by the reporter from eyewitnesses and participants;The encoding of information for transmission by the reporter in writing his story., and by editors in processing the story for publication.The entrusting of the news to ink or sound waves or light waves for transmission to a potential audience; andThe reception of the news by the members of the public.17FOUR SUBGENRES OF NEWSHARD NEWSWhat most people probably think of as news.It is written with objectivity should be something that has been researched and organizedFOUR SUBGENRES OF NEWSINVESTIGATIVE REPORTSIn-depth explorations of some aspects of reality.It shares the same standards of objectivity, accuracy, and fairness or balance with hard news.It takes longer time to complete a report.It involves trails such as documents, people and electronic media.FOUR SUBGENRES OF NEWSEDITORIALSA subgenre of news that concentrates on an individuals or organizations point of view.FOUR SUBGENRES OF NEWSSOFT NEWSAlso called human interest storyThe kind of news story that news workers feel may not have the critical importance of hard news but nevertheless would appeal to a substantial number of people in the audience.

NEWS VALUES AND ELEMENTSNEWS VALUESImpactTimelinessProminenceConflictHuman Interest

NEWS VALUESCurrencySuspenseEmotionProximity

NEWS VALUESIMPACT How important?significance, importance, or consequence of an event or trendthe greater the consequence, and the larger the number of people for whom an event is important the greater the newsworthiness

NEWS VALUESPROMINENCE Is your information or news about something that is highly topical today? Is it about something / someone that people believe to be of great significance or importance?occurrences featuring well-know individuals or institutions are newsworthy

NEWS VALUESCONFLICTIs what youre describing helping a customer to address a real challenge that significantly impacts their lives or businesses?Controversy and open clashes are newsworthy, inviting attention on their own, almost regardless of what the conflict is overreveals underlying causes of disagreement between individuals and institutions in a society.

NEWS VALUESTIMELINESS How recent the news is?More recent, More newsworthy

NEWS VALUESCURRENCYA time or period during which something is widely accepted and circulated.The latest aspect of an issue.-An update on a news event. -More value is attributed to stories pertaining to issues or topics that are in the spotlight of public concern rather than to issues or topics about which people care less.

NEWS VALUESHUMAN INTEREST Are they interested? Those stories that have more of an entertainment factor Stories that arouse an emotion in the reader, that affect the readers emotions and sensibilities in some way.

NEWS VALUESSUSPENSE A state or feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen.NEWS VALUESEMOTIONS People love reading stories that play on emotion. Awwwwww factor Readers enjoy stories that appeal to their emotions.

NEWS VALUESPROXIMITYHow near to you a story is.People are generally more interested in stories that are geographically close to them.

NEWS ELEMENTSNews is basically composed of 6 elements, the proverbial 5 WS and H with their corresponding qualities:NEWS ELEMENTSWHAT The content should be significant.WHERE The proximity of the news to its readers in terms of physical and social distance.WHEN Refers to timeless of the recent past.WHY The reason of publication, it must reveal certain insights of human interest in the story.WHO the exposition of prominent men and women concerning their particular line of work, or the common man in the street who may have contributed something valuable to the country.HOW The occurrence of things/events and their causation which can instill/excite human interest.

SOURCES OF NEWSSOURCES OF NEWSBEAT REPORTERS the main body of reporters and special writers under the city editor. collects(in news form) material on all events within the city which might be of interest to a large number of persons. routine coverage

SOURCES OF NEWSASSIGNMENT REPORTERS OR GENERAL REPORTERSattend meetings, conventions, exhibitions, cover special events and other festivitiesgather their stories by interviewing their sources of information get expert views of learned authorities on special subject mattersrewrite news stories submitted by government press relations officers or from the private sector

NEWS GATHERING TECHNIQUESNEWS GATHERING TECHNIQUESINTERVIEWA meeting or conversation in which a writer or reporter asks questions of one or more persons from who material is sought for a newspaper story, television broadcast, etc.INTERVIEW (PREPARATION)Prepare carefully, familiarize yourself with as much background as possible by conducting a research.Research provides material for three purposes:They give the reporter leads to tentative themes and to specific questions.They provide the reporter with a feel for the subject.They provide useful background.Establish a relationship with the source conducive to obtaining information.Ask questions that are relevant to the source and that induce the source to talk.Listen and watch attentively.

THE INTERVIEWER'S GROUND RULES

Identify himself or herself at the outset of the interview.State the purpose of the interview.Make clear to those unaccustomed to being interviewed that the material will be used.Tell the source how much time the interview will take.Keep the interview as short as possible.

THE INTERVIEWER'S GROUND RULES

Ask specific questions that the source is competent to answer.Give the source ample time to reply.Ask the source to clarify complex or vague answers.Read back answers if requested or when in doubt about the phrasing of crucial material.Insist on answers if the public has a right to know them.

THE INTERVIEWER'S GROUND RULES

Avoid lecturing the source, arguing or debating.Abide by requests for non-attribution, background only or offthe-record should the source make this a condition of the interview or of a statement.

NEWS GATHERING TECHNIQUESDOCUMENTS AND RESEARCHInternetGeneral Search EnginesWeb articlesMagazinesBooks on web

NEWS GATHERING TECHNIQUESDOCUMENTS AND RESEARCHElectronic libraryGeneral booksJournalsBibliographiesGovernment documentsWeb sitesElectronic databasesNEWS GATHERING TECHNIQUESDOCUMENTS AND RESEARCHInspecting government documentsReading papersWatching videos and television programsSurvey with questionnaires