News WritingThe Basics to Writing a Professional News Story

You just finished your research and interviews...

Just being there is not enough!

Writing and reporting requires research!

Interviews, multiple sources, fact checking

Now What?

Learn the parts.

learn the process...

What are the three main elements of a

news story?

The Lead

The Body

The Inverted Pyramids

Understanding the partsThe Lead: All The Facts Up Front

What is the lead?

The lead is the opening of any journalism story.

In a news story, the lead is the first full paragraph that provides all the essential information.

News leads are also called a summary lead, and AP lead,or direct lead.

You have 3 seconds to hook the reader.

You need a strong headline and an even stronger lead!

What are the parts of the lead?

The 5Ws and the H (at least those that really matter).

The most important of the 5Ws first.

1-3 sentences maximum!

25 to 30 words maximum!

All the essential information with a set up to transition to a quote or the next paragraph with a lesser important W or H.

Model: Key Game

Who:

What:

Why:

When:

Where:

How:

Oak Hills versus Serrano Football teams

Will play their 2nd Game and First at SHS.

For bragging rights and the lead in the MRL

Friday, October 28th, at 7 pm.

at Serrano High School

The Bulldogs look to avenge last year’s heartbreaking fourth quarter loss to their rivals when they travel to Phelan this Friday night for the second meeting with the Diamondbacks at Serrano High School.

Both teams are undefeated in MRL, but Serrano has struggles at times this year, while Oak Hills has dominated their opponents with a powerful running game lead by Marshawn Coprich.

“It’s the biggest game....

What are the three main elements of a

news story?

The Lead

The Body

The Inverted Pyramids

What is the body?The body follows the lead and should focus on expanding and explaining the most important of the Ws/H, usually the WHY, WHAT or HOW.

In a news story, the body uses specific details, research, background information and quotes from several sources to expand on the lead.

The body should mix paragraphs of specific details/information and quotes from sources connected and divided by short transition paragraphs.

Remember that each paragraph should be written like it’s the last!

Body ParagraphsBody paragraphs should be1-3 sentences long.

They should be self-contained pieces of information with a specific purpose.

They should contain background info/current info, details or quotes, description, transitions between details and quotes, and possible sidebars (graphs, stats, briefs, pictures with extended captions, story within a story, etc).

Examples of Paragraph Purposes:

• Lead paragraph: Summary of the story in 25-30 words. (Who, What, When, Where, How & Why)

• Transition: Set up most important item from the lead, often a quote from the who in your lead.

• Quote or Paraphrase: Details about most important item from the lead paragraph

• Transitions: Set up next important item from the lead, often a quote from the who in your lead.

• Quote or Paraphrase: “where next most important item is quoted or paraphrased."

• Transitions: Set up a other information about the story.

• Quote or Paraphrase: “Where other information is quoted or paraphrased,” said junior Jane Doe.

• Transitions: This transition will set up less important information to be quoted or paraphrased.

• Quote: “You can start small and continue to grow over time,” Sally said of the modular option.

• Transitions: Set up at the least important quote or piece of information about the story

ADELANTO • On the premise that school uniforms may promote more productive learning, the Adelanto School District Governing Board plans to seek parent input on implementing uniforms district-wide.

Board Member Christine Turner proposed a discussion on school uniforms at a recent board meeting, and the board decided not to take action on the issue until getting feedback from a parent survey in coming weeks, Board President Lisa Marie Garcia said.

“There are districts that have school uniforms, especially in urban districts, and they’ve seen a positive impact on disciplinary issues. It focuses kids on coming to school and learn and study and not feeling this competition in terms of clothing,” Garcia said. “But ... I think we’re going to really delve into the issue to see if there is enough parent support.”

Public schools nationwide have increasingly turned to school uniforms in hopes of reducing school violence, boosting attendance and improving student learning.

Some 18 percent of public schools had uniforms in 2007-08, the most recent data available, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. That’s up from 12 percent of schools with uniforms in 1999-2000.

But research on school uniforms is mixed, and critics worry about the effects of sacrificing individual expression through clothing. Some prefer stricter dress codes as opposed to official uniforms.

When Brentwood Elementary School in Victorville turned its focus to business and leadership this fall, they turned to uniforms as part of an effort to cultivate a more professional atmosphere.

And students dress in law-enforcement-like-gear at Summit Leadership Academy charter school in Hesperia, which offers classes in criminal justice, fire technology and military arts.

Only one Adelanto school — George Visual and Performing Arts Magnet and Middle School — currently has school uniforms, according to Superintendent Darin Brawley. Students there must wear khaki, navy blue or black pants and navy blue or white collared shirts.

ASD officials intend to conduct the parent survey either by telephone or online, Brawley said. District staff members will then present the survey’s findings to the board for further action.

If the district finds parents overwhelmingly favor uniforms and the district moves quickly, Brawley said, uniforms could be implemented as early as the 2011-12 school year.

Quote from primary source

Transition using background research

Specific Details

Transition using background research

Examples of other local sources

Examples of other local sources

Examples of other local sources

Transition using background info from source

Less important details that could be cut

Expanding lead with specific details and indirect quotes

Who, What, When, Where, Why, How

Let’s Practice Together: Walkathon

Who:

What:

Why:

When:

Where:

How:

Staff and students at OHHS

Holding a Walkathon

to raise money to fight breast cancer

Oct 27th

The track/stadium Oak Hills High School

Write a Lead: 5Ws and H in 25-30 words with the most important elements first.

QuestionsThis is a very different style of writing than you have been taught. It’s

going to be awkward or even difficult, so let’s compile a list of questions or points of confusion to address further or in different ways and we will discuss. I’ll get us started with a few common questions.

Why do journalist write this way?

Do we have to write all of our stories this way?

Why are the paragraphs so short?

…now it’s you’re turn to add questions or points of confusion.

Your Next Step:First: Review the Handling Quotes guide to proper quote usage .

Second: Review this presentation again if necessary.

Third: Take the News Writing and Quoting Test.

Certification! Once you complete the News Writing and Quoting Test with a 90% or higher, you will be eligible to take on a Web News Story from the pending assignments board.

Why 90%? We are journalists and accuracy is key to our credibility. Don’t worry. You can take it multiple times!