News Gathering

What is a News?

- A report of recent events

- A material reported in a newspaper or news periodical or on a newscast
- A matter that is news worthy

What is News Gathering?

The process of researching new items, especially those for broadcast or publication.

Methods of Gathering News

OBSERVATION

Observation consists of your actually seeing an event take place and then reporting what you have seen in the form
of a news story.

TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS

The telephone plays an important role in your daily work as a journalist. It saves you time, legwork and it often enables
you to reach people who are ordinarily too busy to see you in person.

Although a telephone is a very useful instrument, remember it is not the only, and not necessarily the best, method
of gathering news. It should supplement, but not replace, all other methods. Whenever it is proper and convenient, use
the telephone but do not be afraid to engage in a little legwork.

RESEARCH

Research is nothing more than digging out information from files and reference works. Research is used to verify or
amplify facts in news stories and to give depth to feature stories and magazine articles.

INTERVIEWS

About 90 percent of everything in a news story is based on some form of interviewing - either in person, by telephone,
or occasionally by correspondence.

Steps in News Writing

Part 1 of 2:

Planning Your Article

1. Research your topic

2. Compile all your facts
3. Create an article outline
4. Know your audience
5. Interview people

Part 2 of 2:

Writing Your News Article

1. Start with the lead

2. Give all the important details
3. Follow up main facts with additional information
4. Conclude your article
Basic News Writing Structure

The news structure is the overall design of the layout of news works. The main components are: the lead - the main
body- the end. A structure of a news story is based on the style a writer applies.

1. The Inverted Pyramid

In this structure, the information is written in descending order, with the most important points appearing at the top
of the article, and the lesser news written in a shorter, downward direction – ending at a fine point in the manner of a
pyramid that is turned upside down.

2. Narrative
A narrative is story telling. The narrative takes the form of story or book writing in that it provides a beginning, middle,
and end. A narrative helps the reader create a mental image of the story by describing the main character, or characters,
and incorporating dialogue and action.

3. Hourglass Format
The hourglass is not as commonly used an organizational style in journalism - reserved for writing longer stories, such
as feature articles for a Sunday edition.

A. Beginning: The hourglass begins by identifying the “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” and “why” of the story.
B. Turn: This is a transition from discussing what has happened to how it happened.
C. The Narrative: This portion of the format gives good details to the complexities of the story, and gives greater
context to what led to the events told in the beginning section.

4. Chronological Order Pattern

To put something in chronological order means to put it in order by the time the events occurred. It is common
when journalists are explaining the order in which something occurred, such as a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, or
other natural weather event – or, if the writer deems the most valuable way to relate the story is as it unfolded.