News Writing

What is news?
 Definition
• A report of recent events
• Previously unknown information
• Something having a specified effect or
influence

(from Merriam-Webster dictionary)

 The Lead – 5 Ws and the H
• Who
• What
• When
• Where
• Why
• How
 Elements of news

• Timeliness/immediacy
– The news happened recently (since the last edition)
– It’s new,
– Almost every story has some timeliness aspect
– For example: typhoon Ondoy is expected to affect Metro Manila
• Currency
– No, not as in money
– It’s related to something else in the news.
– For example: Corruption left little money for aid to typhoon victims
• Conflict
– War, elections, sports
– Any time there is a struggle
– For example:
• Consequence
– The subject of a story has an impact on how people live their lives.
– For example: Squatters along river banks, clogged waterways
 Elements (2)
• Prominence
– Elected, wealthy, famous
– For example: the president, the Pope
• Proximity
– Closeness, either because of geographical proximity or because of relationship
– For example: News about the area (geographical) or news about things of
interest/concern to locals (relationship) – Ondoy vs. landslide
• Human Interest
– “ Warm and fuzzy” feeling
– For example: “Survivor Stories, heroism
• Oddity
– Weird stuff
– For example: bizarre things that just doesn’t fit anywhere else
Progress –
– Technological advance – weather forecasting tools
 Characteristics
• Factual and accurate – use only reliable
sources - NDCC, PNRC, PNP, etc.
• Objective – no personal opinions,
editorializing
• Fair – both sides are presented as much as
possible
 Construction

• Active vs. passive voice; short words, short

sentences, short paragraphs (no computer
grammar check); unadorned, simple, words
• (Filipino language makes no distinction
between sexes in pronouns)
• Use of jargon, abbreviation, acronyms
• Punctuation marks
 Inverted pyramid
(dailywritingtips.com
 The Pyramid
• The inverted pyramid principle says the most important
information should at the top of the article, followed by the
next most important, etc.
• Many historians say the inverted pyramid was invented by
19th century wartime reporters, who sent stories by
telegraph. They wanted the most crucial information to get
through first, just in case transmission was interrupted.
• But, while stories are now transmitted digitally, the readers
are still easily distracted. Impatience, confusion, even
boredom can keep them from reading the whole piece.
Some even just stop at the head or the title of the story.
• When space is limited, it is also practical. You can easily
shorten story just make sure names, etc. are intact.
 Purpose of publication

Who is your audience? Who will be reading your

publication?
What kind of information do you want to
provide?
 Language

• British English or American English -- different

idiomatic expressions, use of words, spelling
 Style
• Do you use Mr., Miss, Mrs.?
• How do you write the head – caps/lower case,
first letter capitalized?
• How do you write acronyms – all caps or
caps/lower case?
• Do you use first or last names?
 Target audience
• What is the literacy level of your audience,
• How well do they know the language you use
in your publication (comprehension level)?
 Use the dictionary
• Never too old or too good to use the
dictionary
• Computer check not enough – does not cover
grammar
• Proper use of words – familiar (heard before)
but wha it means or how it is supposed to be
used is not clear
• Avoid non-English foreign words