Allanah F.

Calatraba
Home from a nightmare: 16 Filipinos from Israel, Gaza arrive
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1848059/home-from-a-nightmare-16-filipinos-from-israel-gaza-
arrive?utm_source=(direct)&utm_medium=gallery

News Article Evaluation

19 October 2023

News Writing Essentials Strong Point Weak Point

1. Truth. Journalism is nothing
without a solid bedrock of truth.
Your writing must be accurate.
But accuracy is not enough: Your
stories must be true. If you
accurately report an untrue or
misleading statement, you are
doing a disservice to your
audience.
2. Clarity. Make sure your
audience understands clearly
what you are saying. The words
you use should convey the
meaning you intend. Be specific.
Use active voice. Put numbers
into context – particularly large
numbers. Avoid long, disjointed
sentences shackled with
confusing dependent clauses.
3. Completeness. Make sure you
have included all of the most
important and relevant details.
Make sure you place the main
facts of the story into context.
Don't just report on "what's
new" – mention "what's next" or
"why." Don't include irrelevant
and unimportant details. But
make sure you have not misled
your audience through
omission.
4. Compelling storytelling. You
are competing for your
audience's attention in a
cluttered information world.
Readers are easily distracted,
especially when they are
consuming your story on a
The news article has promptly
identified multiple sources
including some of the OFWs
themselves and the executive
departments of the
Philippines to support their
claims such as the confirmed
safety of some 30,500 OFWs.
The news article is concise in
the usage of words and the
construction of sentences in a
way that specific sub topics
were discussed separately.
The news article has included
a great amount of important
and relevant details of the
current facts and updates on
the FIlipinos in Israel.
The article started the story of
an OFW, a caregiver in Gaza
who shared her drastic
experience which I think was
a good hook to the article
since it attacks the emotional
The sources were directly
specified therefore, there is
no weak point.
Some parts of the news article
include alternating names of
the sources making it
confusing for the audience to
read.
I believe the amount of
information on the main
source's experience as an
OFW that was included at the
beginning might have been
reduced because it was
somewhat unrelated to the
article's main point.
As the article progresses, the
sentences were getting a bit
confusing as loads of
information were being laid
down making it hard for the
reader to keep up.
mobile device. To keep their side of the reader, at the
attention, your story must be same time, it tackles the facts
better than good. There is no immediately.
substitute for compelling
storytelling. Hook the reader
from the first sentence.
Demonstrate quickly why the
story is interesting and
important. Make sure that fresh
information and strong details
are at the top of the story. All of
your quotations should add
value. The story should move
briskly. Every sentence should
enrich the reader's experience.
5. Tight writing. "Omit needless The words used in the article The first paragraph was not
words." Be concise. Keep your are brief and did not omit short and exceeded the
sentences short. Keep your first excessive flowery words just intended number of words
paragraph short (usually under to keep the sentences long. which could have been
35 words). Avoid superfluous
trimmed.
adverbs and adjectives. When in
doubt, leave it out. But
remember this: Tight writing
does not mean leaving out
important details or analytical
points. It means trimming the
merely ordinary to leave more
room for the extraordinary.
6. Precision. Use the right word The usage of vague verbs in There was no identified weak
to convey the right meaning. the article were avoided and point.
Avoid vague verbs such as "to the right words were used to
have," "to be," "to do" or "to describe and discuss the facts.
get" when you can be more
specific. Avoid over-general
words such as "some" or "many"
or "a lot." If you have trouble
with precise word choice, you
need to expand your English
vocabulary.
7. Timeliness. You always want a The news story is extremely There was no identified weak
time peg for your news story. On timely since it is about the point.
breaking news, that's easy: Israel-Hamas conflict and it
News is happening now and I am tackled about the OFWs who
writing about it. But news
were flown back to the
features and enterprise projects
Philippines making it relevant
should be timely now. You might
"peg" your story to an and of interest to the readers.
anniversary date, an upcoming
event or the release of a book or
movie. Always be able to answer
this question: "Why is this story
of interest to my audience right
now?"
8. Fairness, balance and The multiple point of views of There was no identified weak
responsibility. Ethics are a core the article highlighting the point.
value of journalism. Your stories, statements of the different
even opinion pieces, should be sources were fairly presented
fair. You should provide context
and the context surrounding
for breaking news. Multiple
it was provided.
points of view should be
considered, although you have
no obligation to give equal space
to everyone. The "target" of a
critical story should be given an
opportunity to respond before
publication. Fairness sometimes
includes truth-telling and fact-
checking. It is your responsibility
to report the truth, not to repeat
the assertions of powerful
people.
9. Transparency and honesty. Since the article is full of There was no identified weak
You must be straight with sources whether it be the point.
your audience if you expect OFWs or the executive
them to trust you. Don't steal departments of the
material from others. Philippines, it is safe to say the
Properly attribute all material honesty and transparency
(facts and quotations) that were upheld in terms of
you found on other platforms. presenting the facts.
Avoid conflicts of interest.
Never take money or gifts in
exchange for writing a story
(or not writing a story).
10. Real reporting. You owe it The sources of the statements It was not stated where the
to your readers to gather were credible. statements of the source
facts yourself. Don't just were from, in a sense that it
repeat what you saw in a was not mentioned whether
report or a press release. they got it from a direct
Don't "curate" the best work interview through face-to-
of other journalists. face or online.