Journalistic Writing versus

1
Journalistic Writing versus English Class
Writing

• Similarities and Differences

2
Ideas to Keep in Mind

• Each has a different audience.
• With an English class essay, the writer usually
  has an audience of one the teacher.
• When writing for media, the writer has a much
  broader audience the entire school or
  community.
• Each has a different purpose
• Usually the English essay writer is trying to
  impress the teacher and get a great mark.
• The journalist needs to clearly and often
  quickly inform, entertain or persuade an audience.

3
Here are some differences

• Not all journalistic writing is the same, just as
  not all English class writing is the same, but
  consider these general guidelines

4
Sentence Structure

• Journalistic Writing

• English Class Writing

• Has short, concise sentences
• Has simple, understandable words
• Uses short paragraphs, often one or two sentences

• Has longer, more complex sentences
• Uses more multi-syllable words
• Often has paragraphs of 100 words or more,
  including a topic sentence and its support

5
Organization

• In News Writing

• In English Class

• News writing is traditionally arranged in an
  inverted pyramid
• The first paragraph is the lead with 5Ws and H
• A summary lead is one sentence
• Additional paragraphs are short and contain less
  and less important information

• Essays traditionally are five paragraphs
• The first paragraph is the introduction and the
  thesis statement
• Second, third and fourth paragraphs develop
  using compare and contrast, definition,
  classification, etc.
• The final paragraph is the conclusion

6
Organizational Styles

• English Class Five Paragraph Essay

• Newspaper Inverted Pyramid

7
More Differences

• The use of quotes and information gathering
  varies too

8
Information Gathering

• Media writing uses lots of

• Essays often require material from

• Primary Sources
• experts
• Spokespersons
• Newsmakers
• People on the streets
• Secondary Sources
• Official records
• Reference materials other media

• Reading a particular work
• Drawing insight and information from previous
  readings or lectures
• Applying personal experience

9
Use of Quotes

• In News Writing

• In English Class

• The thoughts and ideas of your sources are most
  important.
• Use full quotes whenever possible
• Introduce news speakers in a complete sentence
  before the quote.

• The authors thoughts, ideas, and analysis are
  what is most important.
• Integrating partial quotes from a work is most
  effective.
• Quotes are used as support for the authors ideas.

10
A different audiencea different purpose

• Keep in mind that while that is the case

11
All Writing needs ATTRIBUTION

• Media writing works attribution into the context

• Essays use various forms

• The result is dangerous, Mr. MacLean said.
• According to Mrs. Teed, Trimbles spirit out
  ranks that of other schools.
• This is also necessary when using secondary
  sources the reporter didnt interview

• MLA
• APA
• This could include
• Footnotes or endnotes
• Parenthetical citations
• Bibliography, work cited or references

12
Its not quite that simple, but

• Not every assignment in English class is a
  five-paragraph essay. Not every story in the
  media is a traditional news story. Todays
  publications especially student media often
  use news features.
• These start with a softer lead
• Anecdote
• Description
• Suspended interest
• Organization varies, but generally has
• An interesting catching beginning
• An ending that makes it feels finished
• Plenty of short, interesting quotes
• Transitions to tie all the parts together

13
Remember, news and features dont contain
reporter opinion.

• While all readers would agree, its not a tragic
  fire.
• Without a survey or other way to show this, its
  not accurate to say, everyone owns an iPod.
  Who is the source? Who research this?
• Even if Harrison Trimble is better off because
  they won the award, the reporter shouldnt be
  the one to say it.

14
What IS same????

• The basic writing process
• Brainstorm for ideas
• Gather information
• Organize and select appropriate information
• Write the first draft
• Share with a coach
• Use coaching suggestions and insight for second
  draft
• Tweak as many times as necessary, polish and
  submit

15
Good writing is still good writing

• But when students become journalists, they have
  to remember that they have
• A different AUDIENCE
• A different PURPOSE
• That means leaving some of their English class
  writing behind.