NEWS WRITING

Mr. Antonio T. Delgado

July 21, 2013
SJN Parish Formation
Complex
 What is News?
• NEWS is information that has meaning
for a set of readers, a timely and factual
narration of past, present, and future
events.
 Elements of News
• Immediacy or Timeliness
• Proximity or Nearness
• Prominence
• Conflict
• Significance
• Human interest
 Elements of News
• Change or Progress
• Numbers
• Romance
• Oddity
 Characteristics of News
• Accurate
– Statements
– Names
– Figures
• Objective
– Fair, just
– Impartial
 Characteristics of News
• Balanced
– Correct emphasis
• Concise
– Short
• Timely
– New
– Fresh
 Characteristics of News
• Factual
– Actual persons
– Actual events
– Nothing is invented
 Qualities of a News Writer
• Aware
• Alert
• Can do multitasking
 Qualities of a News Writer
• Must have a ―nose‖ for news
• Must not be afraid of people
• Must be able to finish articles in time
• Must be knowledgeable in style
 Kinds of News
• Straight news – consists of facts
reported without elaboration
• News feature – based on facts; writer
may give his impressions, may describe
and narrate without resorting to biased
opinion
Structure of Straight News

Inverted Pyramid of News

 Parts of a News Story
• Lead
• (Bridge)
• Body
 The Lead
• The 1st paragraph: Most important part
of the article, summarizes the story
• The Hook: Arouses the readers
interest
• Answers right away the most important
questions: 5 W’s and 1 H
 5 W’s and 1 H Formula
• Many students in SJNPS are getting bald early
• The SJNPS board had a meeting.
• The meeting was held last night at SJNPS.
• They ate chicharon during the meeting.
• The wearing of caps might be of the causes of
baldness.
• The board passed a resolution banning the wearing
of caps in the school.
• The board voted 9 -1 in favor of the resolution.
One Story, Six Possible Leads
• Who? — The school board passed a
resolution last night banning the wearing
of caps in all school buildings.
• What? — Cap wearing was banned in
all school buildings last night after the
school board passed a new resolution.
One Story, Six Possible Leads
• How? — By a 6-1 margin last night, the
school board passed a resolution
banning hat wearing in all school
buildings.
• Why? — Citing a pattern of early-onset
baldness in SJNPS students, the school
board last night passed a resolution
that restricts cap wearing in all school
buildings.
One Story, Six Possible Leads
• Where? — In Saint John Nepomucene
Parochial School last night, the
school board passed a resolution to
ban the wearing of caps in all school
buildings.
• When? — Last night, the school board
passed a resolution banning cap
wearing in all school buildings.
 The Bridge
• It is the transition from the lead to story,
explains the (blind) lead, uses key
words to provide transition from the lead
to the chronological details of the body.
 Example of Blind Lead
and Bridge
A Nueva Ecija delegate clinched the top
place in newswriting at the Regional Schools
Press Conference held July 12 in San
Fernando, Pampanga. (Blind Lead)
Jolas B. Zephyr, editor in chief of The
BCISian, campus paper of the Blessed Children
Integrated School bested some 75 division-
level winners. (Bridge)
 Example of Blind Lead
and Bridge
A high school freshman was slightly
injured Sunday near the school in what police
described as a one-in-a-million freak accident.
(Blind Lead)
Stephen G. Cruz,12, was treated and
discharged from the Cabiao General Hospital
following the noon accident in which his bicycle
was hit twice by the same tricycle. (Bridge)
 The Body

WHAT A
GREAT BODY!
 Body
• The details of the
summary lead
• Arranged from most
important to the least
important
• One sentence, one
paragraph structure
 Body
• Sentences are generally
less than 25 words
• Use transitional devices
• Include quotations
whenever possible
(Alternate
between direct
and indirect
quotes)
 “STIPS” (Steps and Tips)
• List down facts according to descending
importance.
• Highlight the most important data as the
LEAD.
• Be accurate in presenting facts.
• Names should be given in full when first
mentioned. Thereafter, use Mr./ Miss /
Mrs. (surname) or appropriate title.
 “STIPS” (Steps and Tips)
• Attribute authority or source of news.
• Identify names mentioned.
• Avoid editorializing. No opinions!
• Be objective. Present facts without bias.
• Make short paragraphs. One-idea, one-
sentence paragraph.
• Use simple words, short sentences but
vary their length.
 “STIPS” (Steps and Tips)
• Don’t use first person (I, my, our).
• Prefer active to passive voice.
• Number from 1-9 spelled out; 10-above
in numerical figures.
• Don’t start news with numerals, there
is…, there are… and avoid, when
possible, use of articles (a, an, the) as
beginning word.
 “STIPS” (Steps and Tips)
• Don’t use an important or unusual word
twice in the same sentence.
 THE GOOD NEWS
• The lecture ends here!
 THE BAD NEWS
• The work shop starts now!
• From a policeman:
―The red car was speeding from Recto Avenue
to Dagupan Street when a cargo truck from Dagupan
Streer swerved left. The owner of the car obviously did
not notice the oncoming truck. So, it did not slow down.
It was the truck driver’s fault but he said he lost his
brake and could not do anything but went left to avoid
hitting a pedestrian. The man in the car was severely
injured but his companion, an old lady, died on the spot.
Identified through his ID card, he was Randal Benitez,
25 years old, of Retiro, La Loma Quezon City and the
old lady, Crisanta Benitez, 55 years old, was his
mother.‖
• From a pedestrian:
―I just saw the red car coming from Recto and
a big truck going to its direction. Suddenly I heard
a loud bang and I saw blood on the side-mirror of
the car. The man was brought to Cabiao General
Hospital but the old woman died.‖
• From a street vendor:
―I have been here since nine o’clock this
morning. A few minutes later, I saw the red car hitting
the big truck. The woman in front covered her face
with her bag. When the policeman opened the car,
she was already dead. But the man was still alive
although the front side of the car was crumpled like a
piece of paper.‖
• From another policeman:
―A cargo truck should not be around the busy
streets from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The driver is now
charged of violating the law on trucks carrying heavy
cargoes. Negligence and reckless driving resulting to
serious injury and death are also filed against him.‖
DIRECTION:
Above were the different versions of a story
for a piece of news. On a separate sheet of
paper, construct a 7 – 9 paragraph news
story based on the interviews.