6: Telling News Stories
- Page ID
- 294864
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- 6.1: Focus
- This page highlights the significance of focus in news writing and guides on identifying it using Chip Scanlan's questions. An example of a veld fire story demonstrates how different focuses can yield various angles based on audience and context. Journalists are advised to maintain a focus throughout reporting, which can develop over time. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of organizing the story structure, outlining facts, and effectively incorporating key quotes.
- 6.2: Good News Writing
- This page emphasizes the importance of concise, clear, and accurate writing in journalism. Journalists should use short sentences, avoid jargon, and ensure meaningful language. Descriptive storytelling with quotes is encouraged, while maintaining sensitivity. Accuracy and a complete perspective on news events are crucial. Future sections will explore news story crafting, including introductions, structure, and conclusions.
- 6.3: Introductions
- This page explains the importance of the lead in a news story, highlighting two main types: hard leads, which summarize essential facts, and soft leads, which set the scene or introduce characters. Hard leads are preferred for immediate news, while soft leads work better for longer formats. It also notes that anecdotal leads, quotations, and questions can delay the main point, emphasizing that clarity and significance should be prioritized in news writing.
- 6.4: Story Structure
- This page covers the essential structures of storytelling, particularly in news articles, highlighting the inverted pyramid, T structure, and hourglass. It explains how these formats prioritize information and engage readers, contrasting them with narrative forms. The hourglass structure begins with key details before shifting to a narrative, avoiding traditional summaries in favor of impactful quotes or insights.
- 6.5: Feature Stories
- This page outlines the distinctions between news writing and feature writing, noting that feature stories are longer, utilize delayed leads often with anecdotes, and employ emotional language to engage readers. Unlike news articles, they incorporate direct quotes and rich descriptions to immerse the audience.
- 6.6: Sub-editing
- This page highlights the crucial role of sub-editors in newsrooms, focusing on their responsibilities in maintaining accuracy, clarity, and fairness in articles. They check for errors, enhance story flow, and ensure compliance with publication standards while offering feedback and making content changes. The significance of crafting effective headlines and captions for clarity and engagement is also emphasized.
- 6.7: Broadcasting- Telling Audio and Audio-Visual Stories
- This page outlines the essentials of broadcast journalism, focusing on its unique characteristics compared to print and online media. It covers story focus, engaging leads, and various story structures, emphasizing clarity and conciseness for auditory consumption. Key elements include maintaining a conversational style, correct spelling, and the use of present-tense language.
- 6.8: Graphics
- This page emphasizes the importance of graphics in journalism, stating they should enhance stories without complicating them. Graphics should clarify complex concepts, be easily understood, and uphold accuracy and credibility through proper sourcing. Journalists are encouraged to creatively and thoughtfully integrate graphics using tools like Canva or Infogram to effectively convey meaning.
- 6.9: Managing Social Media
- This page emphasizes that journalists must manage social media carefully, creating separate accounts for personal and professional use to maintain boundaries. While social media is essential for audience engagement, networking, and story promotion, it poses risks that require caution. Journalists should verify information before reporting to ensure accuracy amidst the accessibility and story ideas generated by their interactions online.
- 6.10: The News Day
- This page discusses the diverse skills journalists need for multi-platform storytelling in modern newsrooms, including managing news conferences and maintaining a news diary. It highlights the role of editors and producers in deciding story relevance and ensuring timely updates across various platforms. The chapter underscores the significance of ethical journalism and factual accuracy, indicating that these themes will be further explored in the next chapter.