Advanced Reporting and Writing Workshop

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Advanced Reporting and Writing Workshop

• Gene Mustain
• Director, Reporting and Writing Programme
• gene_at_hku.hk

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Beyond the News

• Quality reporting is essential in this class
  thats why I call it Advanced Reporting and
  Writing Workshop.
• Obviously, quality writing is essential too
  particularly in the stories we analyze as a
  class, and in the stories you report and write.

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Beyond the News

• We will examine many different story forms beyond
  the straightforward news stories we emphasized in
  the Advanced Reporting and Writing class.
• News features. News analyses. Features. Profiles.
  Commentaries. Personal-opinion columns. Critical
  reviews. Obituaries.

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Beyond the News

• At the outset, we will focus on these four.
  Stories often contain elements of each, but they
  often also can be categorized as one of these
• News Feature
• News Analysis
• Feature
• Profile

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Beyond the News

• Again, though they often overlap, here are ways
  to think about them
• News Feature A reporter-generated story that
  discusses and provides insights on events or
  issue recently in the news. It is timely.
• News Analysis Similar to a news feature, except
  that reporters are granted even more freedom to
  express insights and draw conclusions based on
  their reporting or demonstrated expertise.

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Beyond the News

• Feature A reporter-generated story that seeks to
  engage and educate readers about an interesting
  topic or idea. It is timeless.
• Profile Similar to a feature, but focused on an
  individual or place of interest. It can be timely
  or timeless.

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Beyond the News

• What is common to all four types?
• They are reporter-generated. The reporter
  exercises more control over the story. The
  reporter is more responsible for determining the
  content and shape of the story.

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Beyond the News

• What else is common to all four types?
• Their success depends on the quality of the
  reporters thinking and the reliability of
  his/her reporting.

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Beyond the News

• What is quality thinking and reliable reporting?
• Quality thinking is bringing order to issues and
  events by asking yourself and others questions
  and analyzing the answers.
• Reliable reporting is finding the best
  documentation that you can.

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Beyond the News

• What comes after the quality thinking and
  reliable reporting?
• Thats easyquality presentation!
• What is quality presentation? It is careful
  organizing of my material in a way that will
  interest and serve my readers.

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Beyond the News

• Some of you are already familiar with one way
  the five-step. Its on the website, but here it
  is again, in summary
• 1) Lead or introduction
• 2) Nut or core of the story
• 3) Context and/or background
• 4) Discussion of storys issues
• 5) Kicker a strong finish

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Beyond the News

• Some of you know this one too, the four-step
  its where two of the steps are blended into one.
  
• 1) Lead or introduction
• 2) Nut, context and/or background
• 4) Discussion of storys issues
• 5) Kicker a strong finish

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Beyond the News

• And here is another way, a way that has been used
  since people starting telling stories to one
  another
• 1) Beginning
• 2) Middle
• 3) End

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Beyond the News

• Whichever way, remember that in all writing,
  every sentence and every paragraph serves a
  purpose. As the academics, Strunk and White, say
• A basic design underlines every kind of
  writing.The first principle of composition is to
  foresee the shape of what is to come.

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Beyond the News

• Other tips from a writer and a journalist
• Henry James Without form, there is no substance.
• Ambrose Bierce Good writing is clear thinking
  made visible.

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Beyond the News

• One other thought from a writer who also is
  journalist
• Thomas Boswell The most important thing is
  finding the central ideaonce you find that
  idea.anecdotes, illustrations and quotes are
  pearls that hang on this thread.

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Beyond the News

• And how do we locate the central idea of a story.
• Just ask yourself a quality question What is the
  reason I am writing this story?