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Speeches, news conferences, events. In advance. A story or preview of the event, speech – most times, story a week or so before Same structure as other stories: - What is the event - Who is the speaker - When, where, etc. - Why are they coming to speak? - Background on speaker or event.
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In advance • A story or preview of the event, speech – most times, story a week or so before • Same structure as other stories:- What is the event- Who is the speaker- When, where, etc.- Why are they coming to speak?- Background on speaker or event
Research • Advance preparation on the speaker- Who is the speaker- What is the speaker’s area of expertise- Can you talk to the speaker in advance of the event?- Advance copy of the speech available?- For news conferences, what information is important to find out for your audience? Think of questions.
Before the event • Sometimes a press conference is held before a speech. • If it’s a presentation, see if you can get a copy of any written materials, Powerpoints, etc. PR people – make sure you have these to present to the news media, a small step to ensure accuracy.
At the event • Find a seat where you can hear and see as much as possible. • Take note of the crowd. Who is there? How many people are there? What do you see and hear? • If it’s a controversial issue, take note of opposition groups, so you can speak to them after.
If possible • Sometimes you can speak individually to the person giving the speech or conducting the news conference. If you can, do so. Allows you to ask questions about specific information that is important to your audience. Also may generate news you dig up that no other media outlet does.
Writing the story • Most speeches or news conferences have a central point or theme. If that’s the case, identify that theme. • Unfortunately, speech stories don’t start with “the theme of the talk I’m giving tonight is …” So pay close attention. • Sometimes a lot of different topics are covered.
Your story lead • Don’t lead with something we could have known before we went.NO: Environmental activist Robert Kennedy Jr. spoke at CMU’s Plachta Auditorium Thursday night.
Your story lead • Instead, focus on a specific topic or theme. Be specific, not vague.Alternative energy is key to not only solving global warming, but also to America’s economic recovery, environmental activist Robert Kennedy Jr. told an audience at CMU’s PlachtaAuditorium Thursday.
Other leads • If there are several major topics, select the most important and summarize it in the lead. Provide a brief transition, and then give summaries of the other points by using bullets or dashes to introduce each item.
Other leads, also • If there is one major topic, and several interesting minor topics, lead and write about the major topic, then introduce summaries on the minor topics at the end of the story. Use bullets or dashes again to make those points.
Rest of the story • Never in chronological order. • Attribution – alternate the speaker’s name with the pronoun he or she. • Quotes – important to use direct and indirect. • The scene – describe the scene. Devote more to this if it is unusual, as that helps readers/viewers picture the scene.
Rest of the story, cont. • Interview average people who attend the speech or news conference. What was their reaction or impression? • If there are attacks on people or groups in the presentation, get the response from those being attacked.
