News Article

1
News Article

• Just the FACTS
• 5W-H Questions (who, what, when, where, why, how)
• Organize by importance
• Dont use first person pronoun I
• Be objective
• Dont be Bias

2
Format of News Article

• Headlineuse action verbs and important nouns and
  adjs.
• Bylineby your name
• Leadfirst sentence/ paragraphinclude 5W-H
  Qsput most important firstattract the readers
  attention
• Bodyexplanation, details, info., quotes, facts,
  etc.
• Background informationbrief info leading up to
  or supporting story (this info may be cut from
  article when printed)

3
News writing Values

• Impactwill it make a difference in readers
  lives?
• TimelinessIs it current? (Consider paper will be
  out 1 wk after deadline).
• ProximityIs it valuable? Is it interesting?
• Prominencestatus of people, event?
• Human Interesttouching, stirring, interesting,
  emotional, etc.

4
Newswriting Style

• Sentences and Paragraphsshort simple
• Clarity
• Accuracy
• Details
• Objectivitynone of your opinion
• Brevity
• Quotesmust have in all articles
• Attributionby your name
• Namesspelled correctly
• Titlesgive if person has one
• Abbreviationsuse only if clear

5
Finding the NEWS

• School
• Clubs
• Activities
• Curriculum
• Codes of Conduct
• Sports
• Student Council
• Awards, Scholarships
• Policy Changes
• Education Standards
• Counseling
• Improvement of facilities
• Noteworthy Individuals
• Community
• Laws/curfews affecting students
• Community concerns and large events
• Entertainment
• Local youth programs
• Job opportunities

6
Finding the NEWS

• Hard news
• Events, stories,
• Once-a-year activity
• Prom, homecoming, play, blood drive, etc.
• Human Interest
• Stories that appeal to softer side of human
  nature
• Emotional
• Participatory Journalism (P84)

7
AS A JOURNALIST, YOU

• INFORM, EDUCATE, AND PERSUADEBUT DO NOT ALIENATE

8
BEATS

• Your assigned area to cover
• Who is sponsor?
• List of members of club, sports, event, etc.
• Make contact once a week for NEWS

9
Sources for the News

• Make list of sources to contact
• Write interview questions for each source
• Interview all sources
• Take excellent notes
• Double check all info for accuracy
• Ask if you can quote the source
• Get correct spelling of source name

10
Procedures for news writing

1. Topic and Type of articlenews, feature, sports,
   editorialwrite on story board (must be approved
   by Editor-in-Chief and Mrs. Childers)
2. Write interview questions
3. Have questions approved by Editor-in-Chief
4. Conduct interview and research
5. Draft article immediately after interview
   research
6. Revise article
7. Have Editor-in-Chief to revise and approve of
   article
8. Edit article
9. E-mail article to club sponsor for revisions and
   approval
10. Edit article
11. E-mail article to Mrs. Childers for approval and
    publication (at this point article should be
    PERFECT and ready for publication in county
    newspaper)

11
Active vs. Passive Voice

• School Newspaper Advisers Survival Guide (P
  96-103 for info and exercises)