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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?- What info 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. • 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. • Allows you to ask questions about specific issues for your audience. • 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. • Identify that theme. That’s your lead. • 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: Yvonne Latty delivered the keynote speech for Black History Month at CMU’s Plachta Auditorium Thursday night.
Your story lead • Instead, focus on a specific topic or theme. Be specific, not vague.Children should be restricted to little or no television before starting school, an educational expert told a group of CMU students in Moore Hall Thursday.
Other leads • If there are several major topics, select the most important and summarize it in the lead and next several paragraphs. • Provide a brief transition. • Then give summaries of the other points by using bullets or dashes for 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.
