NEWS

WRITING
THERESE AMOR PANZO-LLAVORE
What is NEWS?

According to M. Lyle Spencer, NEWS is

"any event, idea, or opinion that is timely,
that interests and affects a large number of
persons in the community, and that is capable
of being understood by them."
ABC's of News Writing

A- Accuracy
B- Brevity
C- Clarity
Attributes of NEWS
[Link]
-another term for timeliness is immediacy. As news
is highly perishable, the journalist should report an event
immediately, if he wants his story to be appreciated.
2. Proximity
-the nearness of the event to the intended readers.
3. Prominence
-refers to both people and places. Usually those in
the government or big corporations.
Attributes of NEWS

4. Significance
- this attribute refers not only to the importance of
an event but also how this event will affect the
people.

5. Oddity
- anything that deviates from the normal course of
events.
Nose for News

this term refers to the instinct of a reporter to

identify or sort out news from an array of facts.
This is sometimes called the "newsman's sixth sense".

It is not learned in journalism schools but developed

through actual coverage.
INVERTED PYRAMID
 Jack and Jill went up
the hill to fetch a pail of
water.
vs.
Jack suffered a skull
fracture and Jill is in
serious condition after
the pair tumbled down a
hill during their ritual
water-carrying chores
yesterday.
 The ADMIRALS
basketball team played a
game yesterday
afternoon.
vs.
The ADMIRALS
basketball team beat
King’s College at home
yesterday in a thrilling
five-minute overtime
showdown between
neighboring rivals.
Transition/Quote Formula

linked

✓ Each box is a new

paragraph.

✓ Story should flow

linked
from the most
important to the
least important
information

linked
 Let’s start at
the beginning
with … LEADS.
 Lead:
Most important information. Focus on newest
information. Focus on the future.

Question to ask yourself:

What do my readers need to know most???
 Most journalists
think the news lead
is the most
important part of the
news story. It is an
art work of concise
information that
captures the gist of
a news story in one
or two sentences.
LEAD
✓ Lead is the first paragraph of the story. It
tells us the most important facts of the news
story. Sometimes it is called the slant/angle.
✓ This contains the five W's and one H.
✓ The most important thing to remember is:
this should attract the readers and sustain its
interest to read.
Structure of News: The LEAD

•The first paragraph

•Most important part of the
article, summarizes the story
•Arouses the interest of the
reader
•Answers 5 W’s and 1 H
The LEAD: Types
•Straight Lead
•Novelty Lead
•Blind Lead
The LEAD: Types
•Straight Lead

-most traditional lead

-uses the 5W’s and 1H Formula
-Straight to the point
The LEAD: Types
Let’s see these:

•Many students in LPU-C are getting bald early.

•The LPU-C Board had a meeting.
•The meeting was held last night.
•They ate chicharon during the meeting.
•One of the causes of baldness might be the wearing of caps.
•The board passed a resolution banning the wearing of hats in school
•The board voted 9-1 in favor of the resolution.
The LEAD: Types
There is one story but can have 6 POSSIBLE LEADS!

•Who? –The LPU-C school board passed a resolution last

night banning the wearing of caps in all school buildings.
•What? –Cap wearing was banned in all school buildings
last night after the school board passed a new resolution.
•Where? –In LPU-Cavite last night, the school board
passed a resolution to ban the wearing of cap in all school
buildings.
The LEAD: Types
There is one story but can have 6 POSSIBLE LEADS!

•When? –Last night, the school board passed a resolution

banning cap wearing in all school buildings.
•How? –By a 9-1 margin last night, the school board passed a
resolution banning cap wearing inside the school premises.
•Why? –Citing a pattern of early-onset baldness in LPU-C
students, the school board last night passed a resolution that
restricts cap wearing in all school buildings.
The LEAD: Types
Types of Novelty Lead:
•Astonisher Lead – Better attend your classes on November 5.
•Contrast Lead –“Twenty years ago, he was the school’s 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…
The LEAD: Types
Types of Novelty Lead:
•Parody Lead -a parody of a well-known song or poem etc. eg. Never say
never… This must be far away from the mind of a 45-year old man who
killed himself...
•Quotation Lead –eg. “Ignorance, not poverty, causes malnutrition.”
Thus revealed former Governor Vic Nakamura to…
•Punch Lead –short, forceful, explosive eg. God is dead!
•Question Lead –eg. Who will be the next Negros Occidental governor?
The answer will be known on…
The LEAD: Types

•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 BRIDGE
• The transition from the lead to the story,
explains the blind lead, uses key words to provide
transition from the lead to the chronological
details of the body.
The LEAD and BRIDGE
The LEAD and BRIDGE
Depending on the
nature of the story
and its driving
news elements, a
lead can focus on
one or a few of the
six question
words:
 Types of News Leads:
Rarely use these...
“Who lead” - begins with a person. The person
is usually not the most important fact of the story.
“When lead” - begins with time. Rarely is the
time the most imporant factor.
“Where lead” - begins with the place. Hardly
ever is where the most important factor.
 Types of News Leads:
Use these often...
“How lead” - begins with the how of the story.
Used often.
“Why lead” - begins with the cause the story.
Used often.
“What lead” - begins with the fact of the story.
Used often.
The LEAD: Guidelines in Writing
•Rarely use: Who, When and Where leads
•Use often: How, Why, What leads
•Use less than 30 words
•Don’t put unfamiliar names in the lead
unless it is well-known.
•Be accurate. Be specific.
The LEAD: Guidelines in Writing
• "One sentence, one paragraph."
• Use the active voice. Passive voice can sound
dull.
• Ask, “Why should I care?”; “What do my readers
need to know most?”
• Sell the story.
• Put attributions first.
Evaluating Good and Bad Leads
EXERCISE 1
Evaluate the following leads. Determine if it's a FACT or OPINION.

1. A minister was convinced of drunken driving Tuesday and

sentenced to 30 days in jail after a jury saw a police
video of his failed sobriety test.

2. The week of Homecoming will be filled with numerous

activities and freebies for students.
Evaluating Good and Bad Leads
[Link] a press conference in her office at 8 a.m today,
Mayor Sabrina Dadilas spoke about the city's need for
more markets.

4. Loans become popular way for students to conquer

costs of college.

5. With no debate, the City Council passed an ordinance to

help fight crime by installing more street lights in three
neighborhoods, Thursday.
Structure of News: The BODY
•Contains the details of the lead
•Arranged from the most important to the least
important
•One sentence, one paragraph
•Sentences are generally less than 25 words
•Include quotations whenever possible (direct and
indirect)
Structure of News: DIRECT QUOTES
• Should be linked to the paragraph before them. The quote should
elaborate on the previous paragraph.
For example:
Because of an anonymous $25,000 donation, students who ride a school
bus to and from school will have access to the Internet during their
commute starting March 1.
“Giving free Wi-Fi to our students will enable them to do research, read
the news or even watch educational videos each day,” Superintendent Kelli
Putman said. “This change will have a positive impact on academic
productivity.”
Structure of News: DIRECT QUOTES
Next Transition, Direct Quote
Superintendent Putman first proposed this plan in November, but the
district did not have the funding to go forward. The city newspaper
published an article about the proposal, and the anonymous donation
followed.
“With the tight budget and tough economic times, I thought my Wi-Fi
proposal was a pipe dream,” she said. “I want to thank the donor for being
so generous.”
and so on…
Structure of News: DIRECT QUOTES
• Can be longer than one sentence.
• Should have attribution after the first sentence of the quote.
• Attribution should be: Noun then verb.

For example:
Correct -senior Bob Rodriguez said.
Incorrect -said senior Bob Rodriguez. (unless you have an unusually long title)
Structure of News: DIRECT QUOTES
• Should not repeat the transition/lead before them.
For example:
Principal Jeanette Rother said that several teachers have
been reluctant to give assignments that require Internet
access.
“Several of our teachers have been hesitant about giving
homework assignments that would require the Internet,”
Rother said..
Structure of News: DIRECT QUOTES
• Do not place two people’s direct quotes next to each other
without a transition.

Structure of News: TRANSITION

• Very, very important
• Holds the story together
• Can be fact, indirect quote or a partial quote.
Structure of News: TRANSITION
• FACT TRANSITION:
(Lead) President Barack Obama will speak on Friday to seniors
about getting involved in community service work.
(Direct Quote)“Seniors will learn a lot about duty and
commitment when they hear President Obama,” Principal Ike
Sumter said. “We are so excited that he agreed to come.”
(Fact Transition) Before becoming president, Obama worked as a
community organizer in Chicago.
Structure of News: TRANSITION
•INDIRECT QUOTE TRANSITION:

(Lead) President Barack Obama will speak on Friday to seniors

about getting involved in community service work.
(Direct Quote)“Seniors will learn a lot about duty and
commitment when they hear President Obama,” Principal Ike
Sumter said. “We are so excited that he agreed to come.”
(IQ Transition) President Obama said he believes community
service is more important than college in building character.
Structure of News: TRANSITION
• PARTIAL QUOTE TRANSITION:

(Lead) President Barack Obama will speak on Friday to seniors

about getting involved in community service work.
(Direct Quote)“Seniors will learn a lot about duty and
commitment when they hear President Obama,” Principal Ike
Sumter said. “We are so excited that he agreed to come.”
(PQ Transition) President Obama said he believes community
service is “extremely valuable lesson” for every teen to have.
Structure of News: TRANSITION
• Use transitional words to help with the flow (as needed): After all, Also,
Finally, In addition, However, Otherwise, Then

For example:
In addition to speaking about community service, Obama plans to talk to
students about the importance of voting.

• Use parts of the direct quotes to create the transition. And then use the rest of
the quote as direct quote.
RULES on Effective NEWS Writing
[Link] FIRST, THEN WRITE
Clear writing is the result of clear thinking.

2. GET TO THE POINT

Start punching right off. Come to the point quickly. Get
the reader into the main idea.

3. USE FAMILIAR WORDS

Use simple and common words. Remember you are
writing for your people.
RULES on Effective NEWS Writing
3. USE FAMILIAR WORDS
COMPLEX COMMON
indisposed ill
terminate end
majority most
reside live
prevaricate lie
facilitate help
inundate flood
 RULES on Effective NEWS Writing
4. OMIT VERBAL DEADWOOD
for the reason that - because
at the present time -now
tendered his resignation -resigned
affixed his signature -signed
told his listeners -said
united in holy matrimony -married
held a conference -met
Examples of Redundancies
advance prediction
fatal killing
other alternatives
free gift
past history
final conclusion
RULES on Effective NEWS Writing
5. KEEP YOUR SENTENCES SHORT
-The average is less than 20 words.

6. SHORTEN YOUR PARAGRAPH.

7. USE SPECIFIC, CONCRETE LANGUAGE

-always prefer the specific to the general, the definite to the vague and
the concrete to the abstract
RULES on Effective NEWS Writing
8. USE THE ACTIVE VOICE
subject - verb- object
This gives a snap and punch to your writing.
9. WRITE AS YOU TALK
Write the way it happened.
10. USE ADJECTIVES SPARINGLY
11. REVISE AND SHARPEN
Revising is part of writing. A good test to any kind of writing
is to read it aloud. This will help you spot the words and sentences
that seem very unclear at the time.
Fantastic News and Where to
Find Them!
News must be factual,
but not all facts are news.
“Newsworthiness”
Characteristics of Good News

● Timeliness or Immediacy ● Drama

● Conflict ● Oddity or Unusualness
● Proximity or Nearness ● Romance and Adventure
● Accuracy ● Progress
● Significance ● Numbers
● Prominence and Names

Given the characteristics, give

examples of probable news you
can write for this school year.
Where do you look for news?
Sources of News

● Beat (stable assignment of the reporter)

● Written and Printed Documents
● Observation
● Tips from Co-writers, Teachers, and Students
● Calendar of Activities
● Interviewing Key Informants
● Citizen Journalism
News Gathering

● See for yourself.

● Find the person who knows the info.
● Compare all versions.
● Be tactful and courteous.
● Make and keep connections.
● Publish it! (Unpublished news is wasted.)
 Checklist for News Stories
•Are the most important and recent facts first?
•Is the story accurate? Are the sources identified fully?
•Are the paragraphs short?
•Is the sentence structure varied in the story?
•Is the story neat and double-spaced so that it is easy
to read?
•Does your story flow? Did you use the
transition/quote formula?
•Did you use active voice?
 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 information
REFERENCES
Delgado, A. (2013). News Writing Handout. SJN
Parish Formation Complex
Delgado, A. (2012). Campus Journalism Workshop
Training Handout. General De Jesus College, Nueva
Ecija
Harrower, T. (2011). Introduction to Journalism.
LindenwoodUniversity, USA
Malinao, A. Journalism for Filipinos
EXERCISE
Write a news story from the following details.

• Kenneth Arnaiz, 24 years old, was fished out from the river of Purok
Paglaum, Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod.
• Chief Insp. Charles Gever of Police Station 6 said the floating body was seen
by a minor named Cyrus dela Peña, 13.
• Chief of police Gever: the victim was supposed to answer a call of nature.
• He had a severe attack of epilepsy that caused him to drown.
• He added that there is no foul play in the result of investigation.
• It happened Monday, afternoon.
• The sun is shining bright and there are many people.
• He was found floating in the river of the Purok Paglaum, at 12:30PM in the
afternoon.
(Write a headline)
 Man drowns in Taculing river
A 24-year old man was found floating in a river at Purok Pagla-um,
Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City, Monday afternoon.
Police identified the fatality as Kenneth Arnaiz of the said barangay, whose
body was fished out at around 12:30 P.M.
“He was supposed to answer a call of nature but eventually fall in the river
because of epilepsy, ”Chief Insp. Charles Gever, chief of Police Station 6,
Gever added that the body of the victim was discovered by a minor.
Police probe showed that the severe epileptic attack caused his drowning
and added that there's no foul play on the victim's death, citing the result of
their investigation.
“It is not really about the “news,”
but rather about the “truth”
behind the news.”