NEWS WRITING

Mr. Antonio T. Delgado July 21, 2013 SJN Parish Formation Complex

What is News?
NEWS is information that has meaning for a set of readers, a timely and factual narration of past, present, and future events.

Elements of News
Immediacy or Timeliness Proximity or Nearness Prominence Conflict Significance Human interest

Elements of News
Change or Progress Numbers Romance Oddity

Characteristics of News
Accurate
Statements Names Figures

Objective
Fair, just Impartial

Characteristics of News
Balanced
Correct emphasis

Concise
Short

Timely
New Fresh

Characteristics of News
Factual
Actual persons Actual events Nothing is invented

Qualities of a News Writer

Aware Alert Can do multitasking

Qualities of a News Writer

Must have a nose for news Must not be afraid of people Must be able to finish articles in time Must be knowledgeable in style

Kinds of News
Straight news consists of facts reported without elaboration News feature based on facts; writer may give his impressions, may describe and narrate without resorting to biased opinion

Structure of Straight News

Inverted Pyramid of News

Parts of a News Story

Lead (Bridge) Body

The Lead
The 1st paragraph: Most important part of the article, summarizes the story The Hook: Arouses the readers interest Answers right away the most important questions: 5 Ws and 1 H

5 Ws and 1 H Formula
Many students in SJNPS are getting bald early The SJNPS board had a meeting. The meeting was held last night at SJNPS. They ate chicharon during the meeting. The wearing of caps might be of the causes of baldness. The board passed a resolution banning the wearing of caps in the school. The board voted 9 -1 in favor of the resolution.

One Story, Six Possible Leads

Who? The school board passed a resolution last night banning the wearing of caps in all school buildings. What? Cap wearing was banned in all school buildings last night after the school board passed a new resolution.

One Story, Six Possible Leads

How? By a 6-1 margin last night, the school board passed a resolution banning hat wearing in all school buildings. Why? Citing a pattern of early-onset baldness in SJNPS students, the school board last night passed a resolution that restricts cap wearing in all school buildings.

One Story, Six Possible Leads

Where? In Saint John Nepomucene Parochial School last night, the school board passed a resolution to ban the wearing of caps in all school buildings. When? Last night, the school board passed a resolution banning cap wearing in all school buildings.

The Bridge
It is the transition from the lead to story, explains the (blind) lead, uses key words to provide transition from the lead to the chronological details of the body.

Example of Blind Lead and Bridge

A Nueva Ecija delegate clinched the top place in newswriting at the Regional Schools Press Conference held July 12 in San Fernando, Pampanga. (Blind Lead) Jolas B. Zephyr, editor in chief of The BCISian, campus paper of the Blessed Children Integrated School bested some 75 division-level winners. (Bridge)

Example of Blind Lead and Bridge

A high school freshman was slightly injured Sunday near the school in what police described as a one-in-a-million freak accident. (Blind Lead) Stephen G. Cruz,12, was treated and discharged from the Cabiao General Hospital following the noon accident in which his bicycle was hit twice by the same tricycle. (Bridge)

The Body

WHAT A GREAT BODY!

Body
The details of the summary lead Arranged from most important to the least important One sentence, one paragraph structure

Body
Sentences are generally less than 25 words Use transitional devices Include quotations whenever possible (Alternate between direct and indirect quotes)

STIPS (Steps and Tips)

List down facts according to descending importance. Highlight the most important data as the LEAD. Be accurate in presenting facts. Names should be given in full when first mentioned. Thereafter, use Mr./ Miss / Mrs. (surname) or appropriate title.

STIPS (Steps and Tips)

Attribute authority or source of news. Identify names mentioned. Avoid editorializing. No opinions! Be objective. Present facts without bias. Make short paragraphs. One-idea, onesentence paragraph. Use simple words, short sentences but vary their length.

STIPS (Steps and Tips)

Dont use first person (I, my, our). Prefer active to passive voice. Number from 1-9 spelled out; 10-above in numerical figures. Dont start news with numerals, there is, there are and avoid, when possible, use of articles (a, an, the) as beginning word.

STIPS (Steps and Tips)

Dont use an important or unusual word twice in the same sentence.

THE GOOD NEWS

The lecture ends here!

THE BAD NEWS

The work shop starts now!

 From a policeman: The red car was speeding from Recto Avenue to Dagupan Street when a cargo truck from Dagupan Streer swerved left. The owner of the car obviously did not notice the oncoming truck. So, it did not slow down. It was the truck drivers fault but he said he lost his brake and could not do anything but went left to avoid hitting a pedestrian. The man in the car was severely injured but his companion, an old lady, died on the spot. Identified through his ID card, he was Randal Benitez, 25 years old, of Retiro, La Loma Quezon City and the old lady, Crisanta Benitez, 55 years old, was his mother.

 From a pedestrian: I just saw the red car coming from Recto and a big truck going to its direction. Suddenly I heard a loud bang and I saw blood on the side-mirror of the car. The man was brought to Cabiao General Hospital but the old woman died.

 From a street vendor: I have been here since nine oclock this morning. A few minutes later, I saw the red car hitting the big truck. The woman in front covered her face with her bag. When the policeman opened the car, she was already dead. But the man was still alive although the front side of the car was crumpled like a piece of paper.

 From another policeman: A cargo truck should not be around the busy streets from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The driver is now charged of violating the law on trucks carrying heavy cargoes. Negligence and reckless driving resulting to serious injury and death are also filed against him.

DIRECTION:
Above were the different versions of a story for a piece of news. On a separate sheet of paper, construct a 7 9 paragraph news story based on the interviews.