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Writing the news story. Or forget everything that you ever knew about writing . 5 Ws and H. Creed that news writers live by Who What Where When Why How. Who?. Sometimes most important aspect of story Be sure to spell name correctly. What?. What happened Be specific
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Writing the news story Or forget everything that you ever knew about writing
5 Ws and H Creed that news writers live by Who What Where When Why How
Who? • Sometimes most important aspect of story • Be sure to spell name correctly
What? • What happened • Be specific • USE Action verbs to tell details
Where? • Sometimes critical to the story; • Other times extra information
When? Seldom important Do not begin story with when unless critical to the information Be specific Ex: At 7:15 yesterday the Washington police found a body
Why? • Seldom the first part of the lead • What the newspapers can offer more of than television and radio
How? • Seldom first part of the story
News LeadsDo’s and Don’t’s • Do’s • Maintainverbtense • Write in third person • Ex: Your Student Government is considering several new projects.
Keep modifiers as close as possible to word modified. • Ex: Alumni of the University of Pittsburgh in New York will meet for their annual dinner. • .
Be objective • Use factual information only. Avoid words like finally, at long last, ; • Avoid words of attribution like claimed, purported, insisted
KISS---Use clear words • Not Identical –Use same • Not Edifice—Use building • Not Inebriated—Use drunk • Avoid Jargon (language specific to a particular group) • Avoid Slang
Be concise • Use as few words as possibleeClear and simple • Not: The Student Council of Woodland Hills High School. • Instead: The WHHS Student Council • Not: He is a teacher of Biology • Instead: He teaches biology
Be Objective • Choose words that are not loaded with emotion, • Choose words that do not judge • Choose words that do not predict • Armed, ideological settlers are unlikely to engage in organized armed conflict with the Israeli military, as some fear, because their beliefs make them hesitant to turn against their own.
Use action verbs • Not “He is a football player” • Instead: He plays football. • Not: “Josephine is in the Chamber Choir’ • Instead: Josephine sings in Chamber choir. • Not: She has a lot of books. • Instead: She carries many books.
Use active voice • Active voice is when the subject performs the action • Ex: Yezovichthrew the touchdown pass to subject verb Smith. Passive: The touchdown pass was thrown to Smith.
Use Active voice Active • The soccer ball hit Christian in the eye, giving him a black eye. Passive Christian was hit in the eye by the soccer ball, giving him a black eye.
Use interesting words • Not big—extensive, massive • Not nice—interesting, classic, etc. • No linking verbs: tell the reader what the person or group is DOING • Example: She plays softball not She is a softball player