RMIT Classification: Trusted

COMM2495

Professional Writing

Week 4
News articles (1): Headlines
Infographics
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Part 1
News articles

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NEWS ARTICLES
A news article is a written or recorded piece, created by
journalists for a publication, that aims to inform the public of
current events and issues.

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Hard news vs soft news
ASPECT HARD NEWS SOFT NEWS
Topics Timely, important and 'serious' topics In-depth explorations of current
events or 'fluffy' topics, not
Examples: Politics, international necessarily timely
relations, business, finance, health,
law Examples: Human interest,
entertainment, lifestyle, travel,
features

Types of Daily newspapers, daily TV news Weekly newspapers, magazines,

publication bulletins weekend TV, documentaries

Language • Straight to the point (inverted • Descriptive language

pyramid) • More creativity & subjectivity
• Short sentences & paragraphs allowed (but must still maintain
• Full of fact and figures truth)
• A 'delayed lead'
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Hard news example

(BBC) Greece train crash: Rail workers strike as anger grows

Rail workers across Greece have begun a one-day strike after

Tuesday's train crash which killed at least 43 people.

"Pain has turned into anger for the dozens of dead and wounded
colleagues and fellow citizens," the workers' union said in a statement.

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Soft news example

(BBC) Kouri-Vini: The return of the US' lost language

It was born from the horrors of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and then
slowly disappeared. Now, its speakers are reclaiming it as part of
their identity.

At the Hideaway on Lee, a bar and music venue in Lafayette,

Louisiana, Cedric Watson belted out the lyrics to "Oh, Bye Bye" in
Louisiana French.

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Which one is hard news?

A B

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Part 2
Headlines

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HEADLINES
Most people only read the headline
The headline needs to be both informative and catchy (but beware
of click-baits). Think of the 7 news values.

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Which headline?
A. Students and staff at RMIT went to
Carnival Day 2023 and had a great time

B. RMIT hosts annual Carnival Day

C. Fun, food & friends: RMIT Carnival Day

2023 recap

D. See the best moments from RMIT Carnival

Day 2023
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Headline checklist (1)

Fewer than 15 words in length Russian man detained over daughter's pro-
Ukraine drawings

Starts with a noun then a verb, then Canada bans TikTok on government
provide a bit of context/ background devices over security risks

Active voice: Use present tense Japan's top ad agency indicted over
Passive voice: No "to be" needed Olympic's bid-rigging scandal

Future activity: Use "to", not "will" Marine reserves off England to get full
protection

(Especially hard news) No articles (a/ an/ Angry protests erupt over Greek rail
the) disaster

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Headline checklist (2)

Can use questions or a phrase at the Sea monsters? This bizarre whale feeding
start - but be careful of clickbait or technique might explain some ancient
lengthy phrases folklore

The trials of an Indian witness: How a

Muslim man was caught in a legal
nightmare

State the source, if possible 'Havana syndrome' not caused by foreign

adversary, US intelligence says

Put section of direct quotes in '…' Gavin Williamson said teaching unions
'just hate work' during Covid pandemic
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Other headline tips – especially soft news

1. Use opposites - or something relevant to the
reader, with a twist

(New Delhi: Where dreams shatter into nightmares)

(Royal glitter hides long history of overdose, affairs
Always
and murders)
consider
the news
(Inside a party with no talking, no drinks and no values
music)
(She lost her AirPods - then found them tangled in a
drug drama) 13
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Other headline tips – especially soft news

2. Challenge an assumption/ belief/ saying

(Not all vegetables are healthy, new study finds)

(The more isn't the merrier – why millennials prefer Always

cozy parties) consider
the news
values
3. Use a catchy quote
('She almost killed me in sleep': A strange tale of a
fortune teller visit)
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What makes these headlines good?

1. Mindy Kahling would rather talk about her body of work than her body
(Entertainment, Vanity Fair)

2. ‘Hell rice’ is a dish worthy of angels and devils alike (Life & Style,
Vietnamnews)

3. American annihilation: US families face murders from within (Society, USA

Today)

4. ‘Training my replacement’: Inside a call center worker’s battle with AI

(World, New York Times) 15
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Pun headlines - very funny, but beware of overusing them

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And please don't write obvious headlines...

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Part 3
Infographics

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[Link]
DEFINITION

Infographics are visual representations of

information, data, or knowledge intended
to present information quickly and
clearly.

An infographic is a collection of imagery,

charts, and minimal text that gives an
easy-to-understand overview of a topic.

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INFOGRAPHICS ELEMENTS

Visual Elements
• Color
• Graphics
• Reference icons
Content Elements
• Time Frames
• Statistics
• References
Knowledge Elements
• Facts 20
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TYPES OF
INFOGRAPHICS

1. Cause and effect

infographics
These graphs explain causal
relationships between various
physical or conceptual stages.
Source:
[Link]

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TYPES OF INFOGRAPHICS

2. Chronological Infographics
Chronological infographics explain
an event or process as it happened
in time - like a timeline.

Source:
[Link]
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TYPES OF
INFOGRAPHICS

2. Chronological
Infographics
Chronological infographics
explain an event or process as
it happened in time - like a
timeline.

Source: [Link]
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TYPES OF INFOGRAPHICS

3. Quantitative/Statistic
Infographics

Quantitative infographics convey

statistical data through charts, bar
graphs, tables and lists.

Quantitative infographics can also

flow charts of an organizational
structure.

Source: [Link]
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TYPES OF INFOGRAPHICS
Source: [Link]
3. Quantitative Infographics

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TYPES OF INFOGRAPHICS

4. Directional Infographics
Infographics can navigate readers
through information. Numbers,
symbols, icons, diagrams, graphs,
tables, arrows and bullets are used
to communicate information.

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TYPES OF INFOGRAPHICS

5. Product Infographics
Product infographics can be seen on
notice boards at factories and
corporate offices, conveying
information to all employees and
visitors.

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TYPES OF INFOGRAPHICS

5. Product Infographics

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How can I design infographics?

• Your good friend Canva

• Adobe Illustrator / Adobe Express
• Visme/ Piktochart/ Venngage/ Infogram...

[Link]

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