Print and Broadcast News Writing-I: Course Code:Mdst2024 Batch/Sem/Ay: 3 /2 /2014 E.C Delivered By: Wasihun T

Print and Broadcast News Writing-I
Course Code:MdSt2024
Batch/Sem/AY: 3rd /2nd /2014 E.C
Delivered by: Wasihun T.

Introduction
What is ‘News’?
 Defining News
• News is anything you can find out today that you didn’t
know before.
• It is also is anything that will make people talk.
• It is the first rough draft of history.
• To add one, it is anything that makes a reader say “Gee
whiz.”
o When a dog bites a man, that is not news. But when a
man bites a dog, that is news.
Introduction
 What makes Story interesting?
1) Impact: effect on their lives, bigger the consequences, the bigger
the story
2) Immediacy: Timeliness, has this just happened or is it about to
happen?
3) Proximity: How close is this story?
4) Prominence: Does involve well-known public figure or celebrity?
5) Novelty: Is something new, odd or surprising?
6) Conflict: clash of power, A political battle, A sports rivalry
7) Emotions: human-interest
Introduction
 Where Stories come from?
They usually originate:
• From events that are sudden and unpredictable;
• From scheduled events;
• From news releases alerting the media to noteworthy
events or topics;
• From ideas generated by readers, editors or reporters.
Print Media News Writing
Writing for Newspaper
 Parts of a page
• Flag: the name of the paper
• Teaser: (also called a promo or skybox): grab readers’ attention
• Centrepiece: (also called a lead story): the top story of the day
• Deck: A subhead line, written by copy editors, that supplements
information in the main headline.
• Text: The actual story.
 Parts of a page
• Cutline (also called a caption): Information about the photo
• Mug Shot: A close-up photo of someone’s face
• Infographic: informational graphics display key facts from the story
• Refer: alerts reader that there’s another story on the same topic in
another part
• Wire Story: A story written by a reporter working for another pub.
• Jump Line: When a long story is continued on another page
 Parts of a story
• Headline: The big type, written by copy editors, that summarizes the
story.
• Lead: (also spelled lede). The opening of a story.
• Dateline: Gives the location of a story
• By-Line: The reporter’s name,
• Quote: Someone’s exact words, spoken to the reporter during an
interview.
 Departments within Newsroom
1) Reporters and Editors: Reporters are assigned to beats. In big
newsrooms, beats are organized into teams.
2) Copy Editors and Page Designers: Copy editors check stories for
grammar, spelling and punctuation, add headlines
3) Editorial Board: produce the paper’s opinion pages
4) Photo and Graphics: photographers review their work and select
best images while graphic artists build charts, graphs, maps and
other graphic elements.
 The 5Ws and 1H
• At one time, most newspaper editors expected every lead to answer
all of these questions.
• But few newspaper editors still require this, and broadcasters never
follow the rule.
• Still, at least three or more of the questions must be answered in the
lead of the story for it to be news.
• By the end of the story, most—if not all—of the questions should be
answered.
• Facts usually fall into these main groups.
 The 5Ws and 1H
o The Who
• When you start assembling facts for even the hardest hard-news
story, always focus on the “who” elements:
• Who’s involved?
• Who’s affected?
• Who’s going to benefit?
• Who’s getting screwed?
• No matter how abstract the topic, it’s the “who” angle that keeps it
real.
 The 5Ws and 1H
o The What
• What’s “what”? It’s the stuff that news is about — events and ideas,
projects and problems, conflicts and disasters.
• The “what” gives news its substance, while the “who” gives news its
humanity and personality.
• Why does that matter? Because news stories become dry and dull
when they focus too much on, say, meetings and money (the “what”)
and forget to connect them to real people (the “who”).
 The 5Ws and 1H
o The When
• Timeliness is essential to every story. In this media-saturated, 24-
hour cable-network and- online-delivery culture we live in, your
audience wants news that’s fresh and immediate.
• They want to know when events happened, when events will happen
and how long they’ll last. Being a reporter, then, means constantly
keeping your eyes on the clock, for two reasons:
1) so, you can include the “when” in every story, and
2) so, you can finish every story before deadline.
 The 5Ws and 1H
o The Where
• The “where” of every story is crucial: the closer the event, the more
relevant it will be to readers.
• But explaining the “where” of a story isn’t necessarily simple.
• The more complex a topic is, the more you may need to supplement
your reporting with visuals such as a map (Where will they build the
new airport?), or a photo (Where did police find the body?).
 The 5Ws and 1H
o The Why
• Good journalism reports the news; great journalism explains it.
• And explaining the news requires asking, over and over, the question
“why”:
• Why is this new law necessary? Why will it cost so much? And most
important of all: Why should we care?
• When news breaks suddenly, finding the explanations for events can
be difficult.
• But for most stories, remember, the “why” is what makes the news
meaningful.
 The 5Ws and 1H
o The How
• Good reporters are also good teachers.
• They know how to explain things in a clear, concise way.
• And explaining the “how” of a story often requires detailed
explanation:
• How will this plan work? How did that prisoner escape? For
short stories and news briefs, the “how” is often omitted to save
space.
• But readers love a good “how-to” story, especially in the feature
section.
 Interviewing/types
1) On-the-Record: The source agrees that anything said during the
interview can be printed, and the source’s name can be used.
2) Off-the-Record: The info. cannot be published in any form, before
printing, the reporter must confirm it from a separate source.
3) On-Background: The info. can be used in a story — and can even
run as a quote — but the source cannot be identified by name.
4) On-Deep Background: The info. can be used, but the source cannot
be revealed.
 Use of Quotes in the story
1) Direct Quote: state exactly, what someone said (or wrote).
2) Partial Quote: If a direct quote is too long or awkwardly phrased,
you may insert just a part of it — a clause, a phrase or even a
powerful word — into your own sentence.
3) Paraphrase (indirect quote or paraphrase): summarize what a
source told you without using the exact words or adding quotation
marks
4) Dialogue: To capture a conversation between, say, two speakers,
you can reprint their actual dialogue.
Writing for Magazine
 A Magazine
• Is a publication that is issued periodically
• Contains essays, stories, poems, articles, fiction, recipes, images etc
• Are directed at general and special audience, often published on a
weekly or monthly basis
• General public magazine uses non-technical language
• Usually cover a wide range of topics based on research, source
comments and generalizations
 Most common differences b/n Magazine & Newspapers
• Size and appearance: bigger in size + folded vs "book-type" size
• Content: clearly, briefly and objectively vs focuses on specialized to
pics and current issues of public interest.
• Style: objectively vs subjectivity (freedom to express things in a
creative)
• Design and layout: simple layout and design vs more visual
expression
 Most common differences b/n Magazine & Newspapers
• Target audience: general audience vs. specific types of audiences.
• Readability: fact style vs enjoyable content
• Visual strength: white background vs effective use of colour
• Shelf life: the paper and the content
 Magazine writing
• Demands versatility, innovative skill
• Being creative an everlasting impression on the reader's mind
• Effective magazine writing is accessible, interesting, lively, colourful,
grabbing and relevant.
• Though there are NOT many lengthy rules, there are guidelines a
magazine writer should follow to produce a stylish copy.
 How to structure
• Tell a story: create a logical path
• The beginning: find a way to grab them you can begin an article with
a quote or an anecdote from a person's life
• The middle: use a quote rather than the reported speech
• The ending: end with a bang
 How to write, Imagery
• It was late in the morning. There were two bullet sounds heard.
Immediately, the neighbors ran to the opened compound, but no one
was there. They dashed to the door and loudly knocked on it. It was
looked at from inside, and no one was answering. A couple of
youngsters saw each other and decided to open with their feet.
When the door opened, he had a gun to his head. The woman was
bleeding, and she was screaming in a very low voice. "I am sorry," he
said, and he shot the gun, and he fell down. Both couldn’t survive.
 How to write, Persuasive
• The death penalty is a good deterrent for criminals. Beyond that, it is
fair because the Bible supports “an eye for an eye.” We need to keep
the death penalty on the books.
 How to write, Descriptive
• “My best friend is my own cousin. Her name is Lily Adams and, she is
in the same age as me. She is a pretty, tall girl with long black hair. Her
deep green eyes like emeralds. Lily is a very talkative girl and she loves
to help poor people. She often carries extra food in her bag to give to
the poor people she meets on the road……”
 How to write, Narrative
• “….As I started to swim in the warm ocean, jumping over waves, I left
others behind. I was still wearing my long back skirt which was quite
heavy in the water, but my feet was touching the ocean floor, so I was
not worried. But at one instant, I felt my feet could not touch the
ocean floor anymore and I was plunged into the water, weighed
down by my clothing. Giant waves kept coming and I was getting
sucked into the depths every time they came. I tried to call out to my
friends, but no sound came out my mouth……”
Broadcast News Writing
Broadcast Vs. Print News Writing
 Some of their features/differences
 level of depth
 the power of dramatic
 emotional appeal
 intellectual effort
 Sensationalizing/full of dull
• Yes, differences exist. But the goal is the same, tell your story in a
clear, compelling way.
Radio News Writing
 Lead
• that only part of the 5W's and H will be heard.
• contains the fewest details that will clearly relate the most significant
element
• The why and how will be left for a later paragraph, or not included in
a short item.
• The umbrella lead demands too much of the broadcast listener
• A paraphrased quotation may begin a story
• " This morning/this evening" are more meaningful than "today."
 Story structure
• There is time only for a few of the most important details of a
report.
• Most newscast items are so short.
• Where more time is available, a choice can be made among
the inverted pyramid, the sequential telling or a combination
of the two.
• A news item should contain a limited number of the most
important facts.
 Some Common Radio Jargons
• Anchor: hosting the newscast • Intro: lead to a wrap, read by an
• Tease: A brief headline or promo anchor.
• Actuality (a cut, sound bite, bite) • Lead-in: the source in a cut
• Script: written version of a story • In/Out-cue:The first/final words of
a cut or wrap.
• Voicer: A news story by a reporter
• Tag:The closing line, name and
station of reporters.
• Natural sound, ambient sound
• Wrap: package
 Tips for writing Radio new stories
• Combine your narration with sound bites — and the more colourful and
emotional the cuts:
oFor breaking news, one colourful quote
oFor controversial topics, you should provide bites from all sides.
o5- to 10- second cuts for short and up to 30 seconds for long stories
• Make every word count.
• Focus on people
• Read your stories aloud, trip up your tongue
• Record natural sound, Paint word pictures/visualize your stories
Television News Writing
 Leads
• News stories accompanied by videotape do not lend
themselves easily to delayed leads.
• It is better to lead with the most significant facts than to

present a videotaped news story in narrative form.
• TV reporting differs from all other news media in two
distinctive ways:
1) You talk into a camera: reporters to do live stand-ups from
news scenes as often as possible.
2) You depend on video: Words are crucial, but images rule.
TV viewers want to view TV.
oThey want colour, action, drama — not talking heads
reciting lifeless facts.
 Story structure
• If the words and pictures do not support each another they compete
with each other for the viewer's attention.
• The sequential telling of a video story is uncommon because of the
difficulty of finding visual images to support a chronology.
• The narrative, chronological style is more common to special reports
and documentaries.
 The Six “C”s
Clear
• You must ensure your audience understands your copy the first time
they hear it.
• Your listener cannot go back and read it.
• Work at writing in a simple, understandable style; write to express an
idea, not to impress your audience.
• Basically, limit sentences to one main thought.
• Don’t make your listener work to understand your copy.
Concise
• Broadcast copy is short.
• You must learn to express many thoughts in few words.
• Thomas Jefferson once said, “The most valuable of all talent is that
of never using two words when one will do.”
• Get to the main point. Use only essential words. Eliminate wordiness.
Make your point and move on.
Conversational
• We basically “converse” using simple, common language.
• Why not write “for the ear” in the same style?
• Write a story much the same way you’d tell it to a friend.
Complete
• Your copy must answer the five Ws (who, what, when, where, and
why), except, perhaps, “why.”
• That may be unknown at airtime.
• But don’t raise new questions or leave old questions unanswered.
Current
• Current copy is timely copy – both in content and the way it sounds.
• Last week’s events, accidents, and incidents are not today’s news.
• One way you can make your copy sound much timelier is by using (but
not forcing) one of the present verb tenses whenever it’s possible
(and correct).
Correct
• You must ensure your copy is correct.
• One mistake could potentially ruin a career.
• That’s one reason why this is the most important “C.”
• Simply stated, your copy must be free of factual errors.
• Double check for correct names, dates, times, etc.
• And don’t forget that correct copy also means correct use of spelling
and grammar. Learn the basic grammar rules, and use a dictionary.
 Tips for beginners TV News reporters
Collaborate
• TV news relies on teamwork between you and your photographer.
• So, start thinking visually.
• Share ideas for story angles and camera angles.
• Remember, the stronger your visuals, the better play your story will
get.
• Learn to respect and collaborate with images.
Write to the video
• Lead with your strongest shot (the car chase, the burning house, the
coach’s tantrum).
• Grab viewers’ attention with an arresting image, then structure your
story from there — like you’re storyboarding a movie or sequencing
frames.
• Weave your narration around the images, adding the details and
transitions that keep things moving.
Don’t overload with facts
• Keep in mind that viewers must process the images and narration
simultaneously.
• Too much detail will overtax their concentration.
• You don’t need to explain what’s obvious in the video. Instead,
provide narration that enhances the images — or use video to
enhance your narration.
• Tell us facts the images can’t provide.
Engage viewers’ emotions
• Take a wildfire, for example.
• Don’t just tell them how many homes burned; let them hear the
crackle of flames.
• Don’t just tell them how many people had to be evacuated; let them
hear from a family scrambling to gather their loved ones and most
precious belongings.
• Television can capture emotion like no other medium.
Look professional
• That usually means a jacket and tie for men, a dress or suit for
women.
• Wear solid colours; avoid stripes.
 Some Common TV Jargons
• Sound bite: A recorded comment recorded separately.
from a news source, usually audio • Stand-up: A shot of a reporter at a
AND video. news scene talking into the
• Track: The audio recording of a camera; if it’s live (not pre-
reporter narrating a story. recorded), it’s called a live shot.
• B-roll (or cover): Video images shot• Package: A story that’s prepared by
at a news scene that are later used a reporter, usually taped, featuring
to illustrate (or cover) a sound bite the reporter’s track, one or more
or reporter’s track that was sound bites and often a stand-up.
 Some Common TV Jargons
• Anchor intro (or lead-in): The lead, • SOT, sound-on-tape: A recorded
read by an anchor, that introduces a sound bite (usually audio AND video)
reporter’s package. played during a story.
• Bridge: A stand-up that moves the • Rundown: The order in which stories
story from one angle to another. will appear during a newscast.
• On cam (or o/c): On-camera; the • Prompter: A device that projects a
image that’s being telecast. news script in front of the camera
• VO, voice-over: When the anchor lens for an anchor to read.
speaks over video, or when a (TelePrompTer is a well-known brand
reporter narrates over video cover. name.)
The Online Method
Online news writing and reporting
 Introduction
• To do online or multimedia journalism well, reporters must have the
right ‘multimedia mindset’.
• This means understanding the best way to tell a story online using all
the tools you have available (audio, video, text, hypertext links and a
variety of ways of presenting still images).
• How do we best tell this story? Should it be a text story accompanied
by a picture and a video interview from the protest? Should these
pictures of the yacht racing be used in a slideshow? Should it have
narration?...
The Online Method
 Introduction
• As an online reporter, you will be expected to have fundamental skills
across the different media.
• Where possible, shoot some video on your phone or camera.
• At a minimum, take a few pictures and remember to jot down
information for a caption.
• These core building blocks of the online news world – text, still
images, sound and moving pictures – are, of course, actually from
environments we know as newspapers, radio and television.
The Online Method
 Introduction
• The fundamentals don’t change – the internet is not something so
different you can forget the others.
• There are guidelines being developed for online news reporting but it
is still an emerging field of practice and study.
• You do need to get a basic grasp of online reporting, even if it is
constantly changing.
The Online Method
 The basic apply
• Just because there may be a feeling of unruliness out there, discipline
in your news-writing and your reporting will be as important here as
in any newspaper, or radio or TV station.
• Media law certainly applies to you, including the law of defamation.
• Watch your accuracy.
The Online Method
 Know your audience
• Readers on the net are peculiar in their habits, and we must write
with them in mind.
• They are more proactive and hunt for stories, rather than wondering
what has been provided for their edification today.
• To get one of them to stop long enough to read our work takes a
special approach.
The Online Method
 Distinguish the reporting and comment clearly
• Be clear in your own mind about which is comment and which is
reportage.
• If you are in doubt, ask yourself whether what you have written is an
indisputable fact or an opinion.
• We need to distinguish ourselves consistently from the rant sphere.
• However, if you are in reporter mode, make sure you keep your opinion
out of the story.
• The online world needs better, detached journalism against which
opinions can be judged.
The Online Method
 Write your stories for Net
• It is important to find your own style and voice in any writing you do,
but remember that whatever the platform.
• Online news-writing must follow the conventions of journalism to
some degree.
• If you have time you can enhance your story for an online audience in
any number of ways – using video, audio, pictures, graphics, links,
social media alerts and so on – but if all you have the chance to do is
edit the text and reduce the file size of your photograph, then this can
still be done with respect for your online readers.
The Online Method
 Some ways to make story more effective online
The following are a few ways in which you can make your story more
effective online.
• You may need a new headline
• Use a summary intro and pyramid structure
• Present tense
• Time references need to be addressed.
• Link effectively and journalistically: do not waste their time by hypertext
link land them up somewhere where someone is advertising something at
them.
The Online Method
 Some ways to make story more effective online
• Use formatting: use of lists and bullet points
• The three traditional methods for gathering information
o
Interviews of different kinds
o
Observation and
o Document searches
The Online Method
 Writing tips for Online Journalism
1) The shorter, the better: Simple, direct language communicates, do
not waste their time.
2) Use active voice
3) Enlist strong verbs.
4) Attribute sources. Attribution brings you credibility
o
hyperlink to further reading or information
o
show an image if possible
The Online Method
5) Contextual hyperlinking: allow readers to ‘branch off’ and click
through to other
o
more detailed supporting content, depending upon the reader’s
level of interest.
6) Use formatting: Break up that boring mass of grey type by using:
o
lists
o bold headers
o
block quotes and other handy HTML formatting tricks.
The Online Method
7) Restrict yourself to one topic per URL:
o
help the program select the most appropriate ads for your page
by limiting each URL to a single topic.
8) Ensure your story is easy to read: No block of text should be more
than five lines on the screen.
9) Spell check: Use both an automatic checker and a manual reread

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Print and Broadcast News Writing-I

Batch/Sem/AY: 3rd /2nd /2014 E.C

Delivered by: Wasihun T.

• It is better to lead with the most significant facts than to

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