Headline Writing | Role of Youth Journalist | Elements of a Story
| Media | Common Tasks | Where do You Find Info?

Quick tips for writing stories:

General Points:

1) Don't assume the reader knows what you're talking about. If the story is not an ongoing hard news story, even simple terms and technical jargon must be explained. Background must be give in order to put the story into context.

2) Don't mix fact and opinion.

3) The main point/theme and the reason the story is being written should be in the first paragraph.

4) Short sentences, short paragraphs. Easier to understand, keeps readers attention.

5) Use the Active tense of the verb: When something does something, the subject of the sentence is doing something. eg/ you will be given vs. we will give you

6) Avoid adjectives--show the reader don't tell them. They should figure it out for themselves, it is insulting to always tell them what they should think. eg. He said, not he admitted. Let the reader decide for themselves.

Also, use said when attributing a quote to a source. Anything else, and it is really just another way of injecting personal bias into a story.

7) Avoid puns, cliches, and overused phrases. Again, if they are not incredibly witty or new they may bore and/or insult the reader.

ROLE OF THE YOUTH JOURNALIST

–consider yourself a content–provider

–your objective is to provide new information and facts

–the way it is presented and packaged depends on the medium used and on your target audience (your readers)

MEDIA

Print: newspapers, magazines, newsletters, zines

Broadcast: radio, television

Internet: home pages, on–line journals, e–zines

Multimedia: CD–Roms

Corporate Communications: news releases, media interviews, speeches, news conferences

COMMON TASKS

–Information gathering (background research, interviews, etc.)

–Information selection (most important, interesting, relevant)

–Writing

–Editing

–Presentation Layout

Elements of a Story:

*Lead: a lead should...

-grab the readers attention

-inform the reader and direct them on how to read the rest of the story

-be short

-contain news

-never mislead (represent accurately the tone and content in your story)

*Angle (slant) of a story: is really just the focus. It would be impossible to report on every possible angle of an issue. Remember the train wreck example.

Angle may be determined by your readers and target audience. Knowing your target audience is important as it will also influence your writing style. *Example: A religious newsletter versus a music magazine.

HEADLINE WRITING

Capture the essence of the article.

It should be short and snappy. (no more than seven words)

Use a verb!! (active ones, please)

Don't use articles (the, a).

Use a comma instead of "and".

Avoid proper names unless it is a well-known person or place.

Eg. (bad, bad, bad) National Youth conference

Eg. (good, good, good) Young people across Canada discuss Asia

 

Where do you find ideas?

Everywhere!!! A good journalist should always be asking questions, even when they're not writing a story. (history, other news, seasonal events, press releases...)

Where do you find sources and information?

-internet

-phone book/yellow pages

-Sources book

-blue pages (in phone book)

*Sources must have legitimacy for what they are saying. Also, try to avoid using friends, coworkers. This is too easy and unprofessional and it doesn't teach you how to go after a story.