YOU’LL NEVER GUESS WHAT but ‘Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?’ should be covered in the first line.
The basic unit of a news story can be demonstrated by a pyramid structure, where if any bottom sections were lost the pyramid would still be understood:
- Intro: short and sharp – the latest, most interesting information ideally within the constraints of a 20-25 word limit
- Two: an elaboration of other important information to quotes to add ‘colour’ to the story
- Three: chronology adding more detail
- Four: more detail added, tying up any loose ends
People. People. People.
Paras = one line
News Writing Essentials
Do not be passive – have an angle, news must affect people so think about your audience
Never start a news report with a question; the reader wants answers not to be quizzed
Be objective – don’t describe news as good, bad, shocking or horrendous. Recall the story and let the reader make judgment – always aim at neutrality
When writing sentences, there should be one idea per sentence and all sentences (paras) should be between 20-25 words
Avoid a drop intro – this being a delayed intro a house style used by broadsheets particularly
Avoid colloquialisms
Avoid adverbs and use adjectives sparingly, quotes should always start or end with ‘said’ only
Cut out unnecessary words, news should be concise – FRESH FISH SOLD HERE
Journalists are the filter for readers so if you don’t understand it they certainly won’t
In particular avoid clichés, jargon and tautology
News Writing = NO OPINION
*use ‘but’*
*use ‘declined to comment’ not ‘refused’*
Story distinctions
Major story – 600 words
Good story – 400 words
Moderate story – 200-300 words
For the record – 80-100 words
Quotes should be the crucial one-liner avoiding repetition and perhaps giving scope for opinion protected against libel law
megrosefisher 