How to Write A News Story Easily ?

1. How to Write A News Story Easily?

2. And We Will See: • How to find a suitable topic? • How can I start with a story? • How to write different kinds of topics? • How to make my story attractive? • Example if possible…

3. How to Find A Suitable Topic?—— News Value • 时效性（timeliness）和时新性（freshness）(2 weeks, 3 months) • 重要性（importance, consequence, impact or significance） • 显著性（prominence）: ordinary person(s) + usual occurrence(s) ≠ news （平凡人+平凡事 ≠ 新闻） ordinary person(s) + unusual occurrence(s) ＝ news （平凡人+不平凡事 = 新闻） extraordinary person(s) + usual occurrence(s) =news （不平凡人+平凡事 = 新闻） extraordinary person(s) + unusual occurrence(s) =good/big news （不平凡人+不平凡事 =大/好新闻） • 接近性（nearness, proximity or locality） • 奇异性（unusualness, bizarreness, oddity or novelty） • 趣味性（interest）

4. What Do We Have? • CAS Events • International Cooperation News • Research Progress • Upcoming Conferences • Join Us

5. And We Choose These—— CAS Events • 科学院的科技政策、科技动向； • 重大专项、计划(mega-projects, milestone item, paper)启动、阶段新进展、完成等； • 重大科学进展、科研成果； • 有重要影响的国内外奖项； • 重大的机构变动信息(新建、合并、撤并所等) ； • 重要的人事动向(Nomination, Dismissal, Pass-away)； • 科学院的重大或者系列活动(如“走进科学院”、“公共科学日”等)； • 在院层面及以上有影响力的所内活动和事项； • 重要的院士活动、动向； • 转引国内外媒体对科学院的重要事件或科研进展的报道。

6. And We Choose These—— International Cooperation News • 中外合作共建实验室； • 与国外科研机构/组织的重要合作项目开展、进展、拓展、升级、完成等； • 具有重要影响或重大规模的国际会议； • 院领导的重大外事活动； • 国外知名研究机构或组织招录中国科学家； • 知名的国际科学界人士来访（如诺奖获得者、本科研领域巨擘等）。

7. And We Choose These—— Research Progress • 本所科研人员重要的科研进展、科研成果； • 本所科研人员（集体/个人）参与的国际科研项目的进展； • 转引国内外媒体对科学院的重要/重大科研进展的报道； • 传统研究的新进展； • 新兴研究的亮点； • 特色研究的新成果。

8. So We Start Our Story…

9. Write An Attractive Headline • 简洁( brief ) 准确( accurate ) 抢眼( eye-catching ) 12—16 words • 尽量有限的语句清楚表达新闻主要内容和意旨(over-abstractness) • Frequently Use: active voice/ ellipsis/ inverted syntactic structure/ present tense/ punctuation / acronym / idiom / figure of speech

10. Write An Attractive Headline About Tense… 标题中的时态要比新闻事件晚一个时态 　　事件时态标题时态 过去完成时 　　　　  　　　 一般现在时 一般过去时 　　　　  　 　　一般现在时 一般现在时　 　　 　　　 一般现在时 现在进行时　　　　 　　　 现在分词 一般将来时　　　　  　　 动词不定式

11. Write An Attractive Headline How to…? • 掌握文意：了解文章要表达的内容，概括大意； • 提炼重点/亮点：标题既可以是文章内容的概括，也可以是文中内容的重点或者是亮点，以点带面； • 成文：将提炼出来的内容概括成一句话； • 加工：按照标题的要求进行润色。

12. Write An Attractive Headline Any TIPs? • 尽量只保留实义词，使用形容词短语、分词（V-ing, V-ed）短语、动词不定式短语和介词短语等； • 省略冠词、系动词，甚至连接词/语； • 用冒号或逗号替代“说”“表示”等类别的动词； • 使用直接引语（会议报道、访问类稿件）； • 借用典故、押韵、比喻、对仗、双关等。 ( eg: No Wires, No Rules)

13. Write An Attractive Headline Let’s have a try: • At long last, scientists have laid to rest the vicious rumors that Earth is getting fatter. Since Darwin's time, scientists have speculated the planet might be expanding or contracting. Even with the acceptance of plate tectonics half a century ago, which explained the large-scale motions of Earth's outermost shell, the accusations persisted; some Earth and space scientists continued to speculate on Earth's possible expansion or contraction on various scientific grounds. Now, those speculations and rumors have been put to rest. ——Earth Isn't Expanding, Scientists Say • A giant new Russian space telescope on Saturday unfurled its dish-like antenna which will observe radio waves from galaxies and black holes billions of light years away. ——Russian Space Telescope Unfurls Giant Antenna

14. Write An Attractive Headline Is Your Headline Attractive? • (New/Significant) Achievements in/on/about… Made by … • (New/Important) Progress in/on/about… Made by… • (New/Key) Advancements in/on/about… Made by… • *** Achieved Major Breakthrough in/on… • Signing Ceremony Held in… • Dr./Professor … Visit/Pay a Visit to … • *** Conference/Meeting Held Successfully in …

15. Use A Strong Lead • 位置：第一段或者第二段 • 作用：立片言以居要，乃一篇之警策（反映新闻要点或轮廓，引出主题；唤起读者兴趣） • 分类：直接式（direct lead）——时效性要求较高的新闻　　　延缓式（delayed lead）——特写等 Fresh Important Elements

16. Use A Strong Lead • One paragraph, most basic questions • 构成：WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY; HOW WHY &HOW is usually regarded as details • something started/ended/ took place/held routinely NOT interesting for readers

17. Use A Strong Lead REQUIREMENTS: • 25—75 words, normally 35—45, one sentence; • Active voice; • Usu. compound or complex sentence, or both; • Use prepositional phrases to offer background clue; • Use concrete nouns and colourful verbs.

18. Use A Strong Lead How to…? • Distill from mass of facts, figures and quotations, best express the meaning of the story • Write this statement in a way that will give it maximum impact on the reader

19. Use A Strong Lead Answer these question and compose a lead: • What was unique or important about the thing that happened? • Who was involved– who did it or who said it? • Is a direct or a delayed lead best? • Is there a colourful word or dramatic phrase I want to work into the lead? • What is the subject, and what verb will best move the reader into the story?

20. Use A Strong Lead TIPs? • 千万不要把显而易见的、程序性的东西当成新闻要素放在导语中(The obvious and routine procedures should never be stated as news elements in leads.) • Four Cs Correctness/Accuracy Clarity: clear, precise language, no ambiguity Conciseness: only necessary information Colour: form an image of language through description

21. Use A Strong Lead Let’s have a try? • Astronomers have discovered the largest and oldest mass of water ever detected in the universe — a gigantic, 12-billion-year-old cloud harboring 140 trillion times more water than all of Earth's oceans combined. • The Brazilian government is due this month in China to sign an agreement with the Chinese Academy of Sciences for construction of a nanotechnology centre in Campinas, in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, which will be set up in the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Technology Association (ABTLuS).

22. Use A Strong Lead What about your lead? Is it interesting? • The review on *** authored by the surface/interface research group at the State Key Laboratory of *** has been published in the latest issue of Journal of ***. It is highlighted by the journal and is one of the top ten most-read articles from the online version of the journal for May 2011. • Co-sponsored and organized by *** and ***, ***, the International Symposium on *** was held in Beijing from *** to ***, 2011. • On June 17th, the project “***” jointly completed by *** and *** was passed the project acceptance and result appraisal organized by ***.

23. Use A Strong Lead What we DO NOT accept… • Focus 在论文发表上面的科研进展稿件(we focus on RESEARCH, NOT PAPER) • 在***和***的支持/赞助下，***会议于*年*月*日在*地胜利/圆满召开。 • *年*月*日，*项目在*地接受*验收团验收（*年*月*日，*项目在*地通过了*验收团的验收），并得到了验收团一致好评。 • A delegation of ** people from the Bureau of ***, led by ***, visited ***, and carried out exchange and cooperation on *** on July 27. Members of the delegation included Mr. ***, Head of ***, Mr. ***, Chairman of ***, and other colleagues. • On July **, ** Institute celebrated ** years of "Working Hard, Striving Together, and Innovating Beyond." On the same day, the 2011 Annual Conference of ** was held. More than one thousand scholars, researchers, and students engaged in discussions on **, while taking part in the celebration of the founding of **. The attendees came from **, * University, * University, * University and the University of * in Germany, the University of * in Canada, the International * Union, the Association of American ** and other research institutions in the world.

24. Form An Inverted Body What is “inverted pyramid” structure? Most Important Information Next Most Important Information More Information Supportinginformation/background LessImportantInformation MinorDetails LeastImportantInfo

25. Adopt An Inverted Body Structure of a news story: (300—500 words, 2—3 sentences per para) • Lead: most basic questions (1 paragraph); • Off-lead: the rest, specific info, immediate follow-up (2-3 paras); • Nut: answer to so what (why the news is important) (1 para); • Necessary Background: bio-info, definitions, history (1 para); • Summary direct quote if there is; • More basic info, secondary or less important materials, statistics; • Explanations or comments: experts, affected sources.

26. HK Experts Identify Gene That Promotes Liver Cancer Growth A recently-discovered gene may be responsible for the proliferation of liver cancer cells, a study in Hong Kong has found, and researchers hope this finding may offer new ideas for therapy. In a paper published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the researchers said the gene needed to be switched on by the male sex hormone androgen - which explains why many more men than women are afflicted by this disease. Through analyzing liver cancer tissues of patients, researchers at the Chinese University in Hong Kong found that most of them shared an extraordinarily active gene, called Cell Cycle-Related Kinase (CCRK). "This gene is normally asleep, but we found that androgen receptors come by and nudge it awake. Once awake, the CCRK gene induces growth of liver cells," Alfred Cheng, research associate professor at the university's Institute of Digestive Disease, told Reuters late on Tuesday. "Apart from triggering a growth in liver cells, it can also transform normal liver cells into tumor cells.” "CCRK was only recently discovered. We have few details about this gene and we are one of the first groups to study it.” Cheng and colleagues introduced the gene into liver cancer cells and saw how they proliferated wildly on laboratory dishes, while liver cancer cells without the gene grew only modestly. They replicated the experiment in animals, injecting liver cancer cells containing the CCRK gene into the right side of the bodies of mice, while liver cancer cells without the gene were injected into the left. Tumors later developed only on the right side of the rodents. Cheng said more studies were needed to confirm the function of this gene and figure out ways to disable it. "This CCRK gene can be an important target for liver cancer control if we can find a way to lower its expression, or block it and not allow it to perform at all. Then we can reduce the development of liver cancer," he said. Liver cancer is the third leading cancer killer in the world, accounting for 700,000 deaths in 2008. It is especially prevalent in East Asia, particularly China. A direct causal agent for liver cancer is the hepatitis B virus, carried by 10 percent of the population in China. In some places in China and Japan, men are three to seven times more likely to develop liver cancer than women.

27. Adopt An Inverted Body How to report a meeting? • Does it have: VIPs? Significant Achievements? Interesting Details? Attractive remarks? • Use the above-mentioned elements to organize your story. • DO NOT pile up a series of big and small about the meeting!!!

28. Adopt An Inverted Body Suggested Style: • Lead: 会议或会见采取的主要行动或关键人物的重要发言、言论 • Body: 会议的目的；　　　　对会议主题或主旨的细述，包括谈论会议主题的直接引语；　　　　会议背景；　　　　与会议相关的行动 • Ending: 相关信息

29. LU Yongxiang: Economic Crisis Harbors Significant Scientific Innovation "The world is facing an era of science and technology innovation and revolution currently,“ said LU Yongxiang, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, recently during a conference.   The conclusion comes out based on three factors according to LU. First, global economic crises often give birth to significant science and technology innovation and revolution in modern history. Second, acute conflict between the rapid economic growth and the limited natural resources calls the breakthrough and revolution of science and technology. Thirdly, science has subsided for more than 60 years while the cycles of technology revolution have been shortened greatly. Signs for science and technology revolution are abundant and highly visible, he said.  The development pattern of China is still highly problematic. Economic growth depends seriously on investment, export and manufacture that consumes large amount of natural resources and unskilled workers, said Lu. Science and technology innovation must address national need of sustainable development.   Financial crisis may bring favourable turn for Chinese science and technology growth, according to Lu. He said that CAS is considering carrying out the Third Phase of the Innovation Project to face possible challenge of the coming science and technology revolution.   The Innovation Project of CAS was first put forward against the setting of Asian financial crisis in 1997.

30. Adopt An Inverted Body How to report a visit? • Does it have: VIPs? (famous prize-winners, national delegation, masters) New Achievements? Agreements on Research? Co-op projects(equipments, labs, sites, constructions, etc…)? …… • Use the above-mentioned elements to organize your story. • DO NOT pile up schedules, speeches, ceremonies, etc…!!!

31. China, DPRK to Boost Renewable Energy Co-op China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have agreed to share their experience and beef up cooperation in exploring and utilizing renewable energy. The agreement was made during a meeting on Wednesday between senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Zhou Yongkang and a delegation from the Korean Workers Party (KWP), led by Thae Jong Su, an alternate member of the KWP's Political Bureau and member of the Secretariat. Thae told Zhou that the main purpose of his current China trip is to learn from China's experience in developing geothermal resources, as specified by the DPRK's top leader, Kim Jong-il. The DPRK hopes to use geothermal energy in its efforts to develop its economy and build a strong and prosperous country, Thae said. Zhou, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, told Thae that China would like to enhance its exchanges with the DPRK in the field in order to jointly improve their capability to develop and utilize renewable energy. "I once worked in China's oil industry for a long time, so I fully understood the importance of energy to a country," said Zhou, who is also secretary of the Political Science and Law Committee of the CPC Central Committee.

32. China, DPRK to Boost Renewable Energy Co-op Zhou served as vice minister of the Ministry of the Petroleum Industry from 1985 to 1988 and went on to work as deputy general manager of the China National Petroleum and Natural Gas Corporation from 1988 to 1996. He said China has been actively promoting reforms in its energy sector during the country's 12th Five-year Plan period (2011-2015). Hailing the sound momentum of China-DPRK relations, Zhou recalled Kim's successful visit to China earlier this year, during which Kim exchanged views with President Hu Jintao on major issues of common concern. Kim also sent a congratulatory letter to Hu regarding the 90th anniversary of the CPC's founding, Zhou said. "We are glad to see that the two sides have engaged in high-level exchanges and substantial cooperation in various areas and made concerted efforts for common development and regional peace and stability," he said. Thae also conveyed greetings from Kim to Hu during the meeting. The DPRK delegation is visiting China from July 5 to 9 at the invitation of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee. Senior CPC official Liu Qi also met with the delegation later Wednesday afternoon.

33. Adopt An Inverted Body How to report international cooperation projects? • Distill the following info from your materials: What project by who and who starting from when? What does the project planning to do? What will both sides provide to support/carry out the project? Are there one or two sentences of quote from concerned VIPs? Against what background? First time, or the second/…th stage? Maybe the signing ceremony, the impact or other minor details… • Use the above-mentioned elements to organize your story. • DO NOT pile up attendees, speeches, ceremonies, etc…!!!

34. Max Planck Society Steps up Cooperation with India The new Max Planck Center will broaden the scale of cooperation with India in the field of computer sciences. "The goal is to create a center of excellence which not only engages in top-level research but also opens up career opportunities for young scientists in India," says Peter Gruss, President of the Max Planck Society. At the same time the project aims to help outstanding foreign guest scientists at Max Planck Institutes to establish themselves scientifically in their home country and maintain a long-term connection with the institutes of the Max Planck Society. German Federal President Horst Köhler will join with India's Minister for Science & Technology Prithviraj Chavan in inaugurating the Max Planck Center at the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi on February 3rd. The Center comprises six Indo-German research groups; four more are due to be added after a period of twelve months. In the coming five years these groups will receive around 1.1 million euros in funding from the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) and an additional two million euros from India's Department of Science and Technology (DST).

35. Max Planck Society Steps up Cooperation with India Overview of the new research groups: •Algorithm Group at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Delhi Partner: Max Planck Institute for Computer Science •Graphics and Vision Group at the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi Partner: Max Planck Institute for Computer Science •Data Management Group at the Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai Partner: Max Planck Institute for Computer Science •Network Group at the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras Partner: Max Planck Institute for Computer Science •Algorithms and Complexity Group at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur Partner: Max Planck Institute for Computer Science •Algorithm Group at the TATA Institute for Fundamental Research in Mumbai Partner: Max Planck Institute for Computer Science

36. Max Planck Society Steps up Cooperation with India The joint scientific program is intended to encourage the exchange of post-docs and promote shared workshops and training activities, for example in the context of the International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS). There are also plans to integrate scientists from other institutions as associate partners and provide mutual access to research institutes and equipment. "India represents a special area of emphasis for the Max Planck Society and its international relations activities," explains Felix Kahle, who represents the Max Planck Society in Delhi. For example, there are an increasing number of outstanding Indian institutes working in scientific fields in which Max Planck Institutes are seeking partners on a worldwide basis. In 2008 some 557 junior and visiting scientists came from India, representing an increase of more than 80 percent over the past five years. More than 1/10 of the foreign doctoral students at Max Planck Institutes now hail from the sub-continent. Many of them are engaged in research at International Max Planck Research Schools. The 120 Indian students participating in this program constitute the largest group from any one foreign country. Outstanding scientists also continue to receive support after their return to their home country through the medium of Partner Groups. Currently, there are 14 of such groups in India, more than in any other country. "It is a matter of particular concern to the Max Planck Society that we should support foreign guest scientists at our institutes in establishing themselves scientifically in their home countries in order to preserve long-term ties between them and the Max Planck Institutes. This is of benefit to both sides," explains Kurt Mehlhorn, Director at the Max Planck Institute in Saarbrücken. Prof. Mehlhorn will head the Center together with Naveen Garg of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Delhi.

37. Adopt An Inverted Body How to report a ceremony? • Opening ceremony, foundation-laying, closing ceremony, check and acceptance… • If opening ceremony, laying foundation (…) then it starts; • If closing ceremony, check & acceptance (…), then it completes; • DO NOT pile up attendees, schedules, speeches, etc…!!!

38. China, France Strengthen Cooperation on Prevention against Emerging Infectious Diseases The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) starts a Sino-France bio-safety laboratory “Zhengdian Laboratory” in Wuhan on June 30, marking a new phase of collaboration between China and France on prevention against emerging infectious diseases. The laboratory will serve as a new workbench for China and France to carry our joint research projects, advance cooperation on prevention against emerging infectious diseases. The Zhengdian Laboratory is jointly built and managed by CAS and Health Ministry of China. The establishment of the lab will not only enhance the research capacity of Wuhan Institute of Virology, but provide S&T support for infectious disease prevention and control as well as the construction of biological safety research system in China and the globe. The cornerstone-laying ceremony of the lab was presided by LI Jiayang, Vice President of the CAS and attracted over 200 attendees from China and France, including China's Health Minister CHEN Zhu, CAS President BAI Chunli, and Sylvie-Agnès BERMANN, French ambassador to China. China and France have carried out a series of cooperation in research projects, personnel training, and regulation formulation under the cooperation agreement on prevention against emerging infectious diseases signed in 2004 between the two countries.

39. Adopt An Inverted Body How to report research progress? • Structure: Tell it like a real news story with lead, off-lead, research process details, conclusions, etc. (NOT Science Report); • Complete News Elements: Five Ws and One H; • Simple but not CRUDE; • Use the abstract properly, rewrite it; • Contact of researchers if possible.

40. Digital versus Analog Control over Cortical Inhibition In the cerebral cortex, the balance between excitation (pyramidal neurons) and inhibition (interneurons) is thought to be mediated by the primary mode of neuronal communication: "all-or-none" action potentials, or spikes. However, Dr. SHU Yousheng's research group at the Institute of Neuroscience of Chinese Academy of Sciences has discovered a new strategy by which the cortex can maintain this balance, by showing that the amount of inhibition depends on the membrane potentials (Vm) in pyramidal cells, which represents an "analog" strategy. Their results will be published next week in the online, open access journal PLoS Biology. The cortex consists of recurrent networks, where pyramidal cells send action potentials down their axons to excite interneurons, which in turn inhibit the pyramidal cells through disynaptic inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs). This back-and-forth process serves to keep a stable excitation/inhibition ratio critical for proper cortical function. In the classic view, these action potentials are delivered if and only if the Vm crosses a certain threshold and are invariable in their shape, which is the all-or-none fashion of rapid neuron-to-neuron communication. But is there an analog component? Using paired recording from two pyramidal cells within a recurrent circuit, Dr. SHU and colleagues discovered that a slight positive shift (depolarization) in Vm of the first pyramidal cell could increase the disynaptic IPSPs received by the second one. In other words, this study provides the first evidence demonstrating that an analog change of excitation can regulate feedback inhibition, with the information carriers no longer stereotyped.

41. Digital versus Analog Control over Cortical Inhibition "This type of regulation could be a key mechanism for the cortex to maintain a dynamic balance of excitation and inhibition, and generate appropriate cortical rhythms under different behavioral states," said Dr. SHU, "It may also play an important role in preventing abnormal cortical activities including epileptiform activity during seizures." Therefore, future studies may focus on whether the Vm-dependent modulation of inhibition has an impact on information processing under both normal and pathological conditions, and whether the analog signaling influences the operation of other cortical circuits. Nevertheless, to what extent these findings may influence the conceptual framework of a "digital brain" is still open to further computational and theoretical investigation. This work was supported by the 973 Program (2011CBA00400 and 2006CB806600), the National Natural Science Foundation of China Project (31025012), the Shanghai Pujiang Program 07PJ14108, the Hundreds of Talents Program and the Knowledge Innovation Project from Chinese Academy of Sciences (KSCX2-YW-R-102). CONTACT: Dr. SHU Yousheng Principal Investigator Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences Tel: 86-21-54921759 Email: shu@ion.ac.cn

42. Ending, if necessary… Usually merge with the conclusion of a news story, stating the consequence, impact or influence of the news facts.

43. ATTENTION!!! • No first person(s) • Numbers: zero—nine  spell out • Spell the name like this: BAI Chunli • Order of TITLE: name, age, position, work unit • Mark out the caption and source of the pictures • Waste words in news story: etc; so on; to some extent; on one hand, on the other hand; seem; any adverb; adjective you don’t support with facts

44. CONTACT ☏: 010-68597144 : chenna@cashq.ac.cn

45. THANK ^U^ Have A Nice Day