What is NEWS?

Information about current events printed in newspapers or broadcast by media (Microsoft Encarta,
2009)
gives the reader information that will have an impact on them in some way
usually flows from most important to least important.
What is NEWS?
Recent information
Current events
Somebody or something interesting
Something previously unknown
The Elements of News
Timeliness
Proximity
Impact
Prominence
Oddity
Conflict
Human Interest
Essential Qualities of News
Accuracy
Brevity
Clarity
Objectivity
Factual
Where to find News?
Daily newspapers
News magazines
Teen magazines
Education journals
Television
Internet
Open your eyes and ears
Qualities of a News Writer
Aware
Alert
Can do multitasking
Must have a nose for news
Must not be afraid of people
Must be able to finish the article on time
Kinds of News
Straight News-consists of facts reported without elaboration
News Feature
-based on facts
-writer may give his impressions, may describe and narrate without resorting to biased opinion
Structure of News
Inverted Pyramid
-suggests that news be told in order of most interesting or important to least interesting or important

The LEAD: Types

Straight Leadmost traditional lead
-uses the 5Ws and 1H Formula
-Straight to the point

Novelty Lead
Types of Novelty Lead:
Astonisher Lead Better attend your classes on November 5.
Contrast Lead Twenty years ago, he was the schools janitor. Now he came back to become
the college dean.
Epigram Lead verse, quotation eg. Like father, like son.
Picture Lead describe a mental picture of a subject eg. The new dean, although only his 30s,
is already haired.
Background Lead describes the setting eg. Decorated by colored lights, the quadrangle
became a grand setting for a barrio fiesta as LPU-C celebrates
Blind Lead
-if the person concerned is not well known in the community, his/her name is less important
than other salient facts that identify the person
The LEAD: Guidelines in Writing
Rarely use: Who, When and Where leads
Use often: How, Why, What leads
Use less than 30 words
Avoid using articles such as a, an, the
Dont put unfamiliar names in the lead unless of well-known.
Be accurate.
The BODY: Tips in Writing
Make sure your facts are accurate.
Keep your sentences short.
Be specific.
Avoid long and complex words.
Avoid passive verbs, jargons and clichs.
Use transitions.
Avoid redundancy and repetition.
Write in the third person.
Use adjectives sparingly.
Do not editorialize.
Numbers 1-9 spelled out, 10 and above figures
FACT vs. OPINION
FACTS
-verifiable
-attributable
-objective
WRITING SCHOOL NEWS
What are possible topics in the school?
Classroom story
Enrollment story
Meeting story
Program/ Party Story
Honor Roll
Awards story
School Improvement story
Election Story
School Organization/ Club story
Out-of-school activity
Sources of News
Offices, departments, library
School calendar
Invitation and Memos

OPINION
-fleeting
-moldable
-subjective
Different clubs and organizations
Sports teams
Student and teachers
Community
No-Nosfor News Stories
Writing a feature lead
Adding facts
Putting attribution before the quote
Missing the news peg
Missing important information and people
Stacking quotes
Forgetting to use student quotes
Pitfalls to Avoid
Editorializing
Using first and second person -Keep yourself
out of the story. Common error: our school
Messy handwriting, poor grammar and spelling
Paragraphs too long
Misspelling names in the story
Trying to use all of the informatio