NEWS WRITING

P R E PA R E D B Y R I C H S T E R J O H N C .
MACABALLUG
Let’s have an
activity
What I know What I want to know What I learned

K-W-L CHART
Understanding
News
Understanding News

News is difficult to define because it has many variables,

but one needs to determine what is newsworthy
when deciding what to write about for his or her story
assignments.
 Try to process this…

News must be factual, yet not all facts are

news. A news item is based on actual
occurrences, situations, thoughts and
ideas, yet not all facts are news.
 the logical nature of news
may be drawn, such that…

the taste of news depends on the interest of and impact to the

reader.
Definitions:
According to Soriano et al. (2012), a news is any oral or written report
of an event that happened, is happening, will happen in the North, East,
West and South (NEWS) that is of interest to the reader and which
should be reported.
Definitions:
Malinao (2008) also attempted to define news by pointing out that news
is basically about an event, idea or a reaction that is presented factually
and simply in written form to give the reader an idea of what is
currently happening around him or her, particularly on matters of
interest to the community.
This lengthy definition by Malinao (2008) gives the notion that news
may include or encompass any topic including a speech or a simple
feedback. Moreover, it stresses that news is generally written and is
based on facts
Definitions:
Estrada and Singh opined, "News is a timely factual report of events, ideas or
situations interesting or significant to people. Others define it as literature in a
hurry." Estrada and Singh's definition gives an added perspective on time elements.
Literature in a hurry therefore means that news should be publicized at its
freshness. It means that the life span of a news may be so short that it expires right
away and that it can be buried when new angles of the news or topic are broadcast.
Definitions:
Estrada and Singh opined, "News is a timely factual report of events, ideas or
situations interesting or significant to people. Others define it as literature in a
hurry." Estrada and Singh's definition gives an added perspective on time elements.
Literature in a hurry therefore means that news should be publicized at its
freshness. It means that the life span of a news may be so short that it expires right
away and that it can be buried when new angles of the news or topic are broadcast.
Definitions:
Soriano and Henson (1999), provides a seemingly technical definition of
news. They inscribed that news is a reportage of accurate facts, events and
ideas that interest a large number of readers. Anything that is refreshed or
regenerated is also news. Here, the definition looks into the newness of
idea that responds to the interest of the readers. The definition marries the
idea of immediacy and interest; ergo, the newer the angle of the story, the
more interesting it is to the readers.
Definitions:

Pangilinan (2012) provides another definition which goes, "news

is information that has a meaning for a set of readers." Hence,
the bases of all news are facts, interest and readers.
By all the provided
definitions…

news can be coined by stating

that it is a timely reportage of
events, regardless of time and
manner, which are grounded on
facts. It considers nearness,
importance, impact and interest
to the public
NEWS IN SCHOOL PAPERS

With the concept of news in mind, a student journalist should remember

that concerns the school, its students, the teachers, including the parents is
newsworthy. News in school may include worthwhile or extraordinary acts
of students like: opening of a new college, inauguration of the new
building, stories of success, conflicts or suspense, school convocations and
other programs, interviews of visiting personalities, merging of two
colleges, increasing tuition and other fees, new grading system and the like.
Characteristi
cs of a Good
News
Timeliness or Immediacy
This characteristic of a news item
underscores the newest angle of the
story. For instance, the changing of the
grading system which was announced
yesterday is more appealing to a student
other than the Christmas party last
December. It should be noted, too, that
the more recent the event, the more
appealing it is to the reader.
 The physical and mental struggles of persons are
also newsworthy. In campus context,
competitions like oratorical contests and quiz
Conflict bees are newsworthy due to the mental conflicts
present. Sports events during intramurals or
foundation days are newsworthy, too, as they
have physical conflicts.
Proximity or Nearness
Although proximity primarily refers to
geographical location, it likewise means the
nearness of interest and appeal. In the context of
writing news in the campus or school for students
in Batanes what is happening to Batanes State
College will be of more interest to them than
what is happening to Western Mindanao State
University. The imposition of "no cellphone
policy" in Batanes State College will interest the
Batanes' readers more than the zero tuition
scheme of Aklan State University, so to speak
Accuracy

Journalism is anchored on facts. News

writing is a journalistic skill. Therefore,
the contents should be accurately
reported. Accuracy primarily refers to
the factualness of news as purveyor of
truth.
Significance
If something is important to the reader, surely
he/she will read the news. Hence, a writer should
survey whatever is significant to the life of the
target readers and write about it. When news is
important to him/her, the news bears a high
degree of significance, thus, newsworthy and
worth reading. In the campus setting, topics that
are highly significant include new rules imposed
by the administration or the student government,
amendments to policies, upcoming big events,
results of scholarship screening and the like.
 "The world is unfair," so the adage goes. In
this light, there are persons more popular
than others. Popular names can effectuate
situations and their acts may be more
interesting to others. Hence, news about
these persons can yield a high degree of
Prominence newsworthiness, thus becoming more
and Names readable than other news. For campus
papers, prominent personalities include the
president of the student body, the principal,
the student who won in a national
competition and the like.
Drama
Since news is also anchored on public interest,
writers should bank on any story that can lead the
writers to crying or to laughing. Such story is packed
with color; thus, subjects are moving. In this way, the
news becomes appealing to the readers. For instance,
you write a story of the student leader who manages
to graduate as magna cum laude despite his five-year
term as the College Student Government President.
Oddity or Unusualness
Sociology can explain why oddity is a good
element of news. A theory explains that when
persons are curious about a phenomenon deviating
from a natural course, they will be interested in
such a topic or issue; hence, that topic becomes
newsworthy. Looking into the campus situation,
one may write about a forty-year-old student who
has just graduated; he has just finished his fifth
bachelor's degree in your college. This unusual
situation may be so intriguing as regards the
student's purpose, therefore, becoming more
newsworthy to the readers.
Romance and Adventure

"Love makes the world go round," so

a song says. Hence, stories about
love, 9. Romance and Adventure
including adventure, may ignite the
taste of the reading public. This is
also the reason why showbiz news
continuously booms. Attaining
breakthroughs and achieving
scientific discoveries are given much.
Progress
Attaining breakthrough and achieving
scientific discoveries are given much
attention by the readers. This attribute of
the news gives a high degree of shock and a
sense of development in the society where
the persons live. Looking into ma be in the
form a newly constructed building and a
school situation, progress may be in the
form of newly constructed building and
newly donated laboratory, equipment from
alumni abroad.
Numbers
For persuasion, statistics or figures have the power to
shake the conviction of the audience. This is why
numbers yield a very strong impact on the readers.
However, the figures that one should write should be
worth appreciating. For instance, the Alumni
Association donated one computer set last January,
while the Parent Teachers Association donated 57
computer sets to the school. The latter yields a higher
degree of newsworthiness than the former. It is not
safe to say, however, that the higher the figure, the
higher is its newsworthiness. Say, your school has
performed in the National Achievement Test 50%
lower than last year's data. This is a figure lower than
the usual and yet bears a high degree of interest.
TYPES OF NEWS
STORIES
 According to
Chronology or Sequence
SPOT NEWS

As the term suggests, this is a news story that gathers information as it is broadcast
at the same time. Hence, it is unscheduled and demands immediate publication. In
many instances, the reporter becomes the first-hand witness to the activity or
subject taking place. For instance, a student journalist happens to be standing at the
gate when a jeepney bumps an education student. He writes the story and publishes
it in the weekly newsletter of the college.
COVERAGE NEWS

Many interchange spot news and coverage news. Though both of them are good
avenues for first-hand information, the difference between the two is that coverage
news is written based on the given assignment to the reporter or news writer. The
assignment is sometimes called beat. It means that the writer knows what to write
about. For example, the chief editor wants to publish what transpires in the academic
meeting, so he assigns, Jessica, a writer to cover the meeting. Jessica knows what she
shall write about and shall be concentrated only on the meeting, thus, her beat.
According to Range
and Reach
LOCAL NEWS
This is a news item. The subject of which happens in one's own
community where the paper originates. For instance, The Builders, the
official student organ of Batanes State College, covers the installation
of the underground electrification system in the province; the news is
said to be a local news since it is about the province itself.
NATIONAL NEWS
Countrywide news is called national news. It is determined
when the news impacts the people of a certain country. Most
national news is published in the dailies.
FOREIGN NEWS
All news items which trace their origin from outside the boarders of the
country are called foreign news. Some foreign news articles also create
impact to typical locals due to their domino effect like the oil price hike
in the world market.
DATELINE NEWS
An out-of-town news story. This news is introduced by a
dateline which states the place from which the story was
reported, the date, and the source of the material if not written
by the local staff.
According to
Construction
STRAIGHT NEWS

The first paragraph answers the most important W (what, where, when,
why, who) depending on which of the Ws is the most prominent among
them. Its body paragraphs consist of the elaboration on the Ws and the
H. It is written using the inverted triangle structure.
Example
NEWS FEATURE
This special type of news should not be confused with the feature articles
(features). News feature is sometimes called special features and printed in the
features sections of the newspapers or in the magazines. Human interest and news-
feature stories are classified as news since both are gathered and written daily by
reporters as their regular assignments. Furthermore, both emphasize the elements
of timeliness or immediacy which distinguish news from other types of reading,
although they differ in important respects from the straight news story.
Example:
a. Single-Feature or One-Incident Story
It may be an account of a speech, an interview, an election, that deals
with an isolated event. In writing a news-feature story with this kind of
structure, include the one-feature in the lead. Add in the body details
which clarify and explain the lead. See that the story breaks logically at
every paragraph and that the story may be cut if lengthened as space
dictates
b. The Several-Feature, Multiple-Angle or Composite Story

In a composite story, two or more divergent aspects of a news topic are drawn together
for the sake of space and coherence. In structure, the composite story may resemble that
of a follow-up story in that both of them aim to consolidate component parts. However,
they differ in the sense that the follow-up story ends in a tie-in with a past story;
whereas, the composite story is composed of units, each one made up of fresh spot news
frequently with reference to the future.
 b. The Several-Feature, Multiple-Angle or Composite Story
In writing, the several-feature or composite story,
include all of the features in a comprehensive lead in
the order of their importance. The next step is Lead
to explain and elaborate in the body each of the
features in the order which they are in the lead. In
doing this, delegate less important details of each
feature to less important positions. But remember
that each chain of facts although covered separately
should be handled as a single, unified story.
Fact Story
This is plain exposition of a simple situation of a series of closely related
events which conform to the inverted triangle design more closely than
any other kinds of news. The component parts are the series of facts that
may be likened to rectangles of diminishing length arranged one after the
other in order of their importance. The key to proper arrangement consists
solely in judging the relative value of the data at hand and in grouping
them in their respective order.
 Action Story
This is a narrative involving not merely simple facts but dramatic actions —
incidents, description of persons, perhaps testimonies of witness, as well as
explanatory data. In reading this kind of story, first write a summarizing lead in any
appropriate form. Relate the most important details in narrative or chronological
form. Tell the story again by More Details giving more details. But be careful not to
begin the chronological order just after beginning. Give sufficient attention to the
elaboration of important information, background and interpretation. Each unit
must be closely interlocked.
Speech, Report, Quote, and Interview Stories
The arrangements of a speech report, a quote story and of an interview are to great
extent similar. The quote story may be charted as alternating large and small
rectangles of diminishing size: summary, quote, summary, quote, summary
arrangement. The quotations may be direct, indirect, or a combination of both. In
writing this kind of story, the following suggestions may be helpful:
1. Write a summarizing lead in any appropriate form.
2. Write the body of the story in a summary-quote-summary arrangement.
3. The lead may be a summarizing statement — the gist of the speech, statement,
letter, or interview; or it may be the most important quotation in the story
written as direct quote.
Quote Story
Speech Report Story
Minor News Forms
a. News Brief. This is a short item of news interest, written like a brief, telegraphic
message. It gives mainly the result with few details.
b. News Bulletin. It is similar to the lead of a straight news story. Its aim is just to
give the gist of the news.
c. News Featurette. This is a short news feature usually used a fillers, say, quirks
in the news.
d. Sidebar. It is a news item or a feature placed side by side its mother story to
which it is related but under a headline of its own.
e. Flash. This is a message giving first brief news of an event. It is usually boxed.