Basic principles in news writing

BY:

CHELDY SYGACO ELUMBA-PABLEO,MPA;LlB

BASIC PRINCIPLES IN NEWS WRITING

A LEAD is the first paragraph of the news article or a feature story.

It composes of one or two sentences or at least 35 words. (5 W’s and 1 h)

WHAT IS A LEAD?

CHELDY S. ELUMBA-PABLEO,MPA;LlB

put all the important information into the first paragraph, known as the lead. This usually includes the who, what, where, when and why of the story.

Example: One person was killed and three injured when a

car and truck collided yesterday on an icy section of Street Road in Bensalem, police said.

WHO: one dead, three hurt WHAT: car-truck crash WHERE: street road in Bensalem WHEN: yesterday WHY: apparently due to ice

HARD LEAD


also called delayed leadsdon't have to get all the important points

into the first graph. Feature articles can take several graphs, usually no more than three or four, to lead the reader into the story, through the use of description, anecdote or by setting a scene.

Then, once that description or anecdote has been established, the reporter writes what's called the nut graph.

In the nut graph you explain what the story is about. In other words, the nut graph is the lead of your feature article.

FEATURE LEADS


After several days in solitary confinement, Mohamed Rifaey finally found relief in pain. He would wrap his head in a towel and whack it against the cinder-block wall. Over and over.

EXAMPLE:


Hard news leads are generally used for breaking news, deadline-oriented stories. Feature leads can be used for more feature-type articles that don't deal with a breaking news event.

For instance, it probably wouldn't be appropriate to put a feature lead on a breaking news story about five people being killed in a row house fire. On the other hand, if you were doing a follow-up story about the problems row house tenants have had in getting their landlord to remove fire hazards, a feature lead would probably work well.

HARD NEWS VS FEATURE


Writers of news stories generally utilize a special style and format in crafting their opening lines. This is known as the lead (or LEDE). Even as the pre-eminence of newspapers declines in the face of competition from newer technologies, the methods for writing an effective lead are still widely taught and used. They also provide valuable insights for any writer.

HOW TO WRITE A LEAD


Know a "LEAD" from a "LEDE." In fact, they are the exact same thing. The use of "lede" dates back to when newspaper publishers needed to differentiate between the term used for the beginning of a news story and the molten lead (the metal) used in the printing process

UNDERSTANDING A LEAD


Anecdotes - storiesDescription - setting the scene, describing the

personAction - showing people doing thingsQuotes - the more colourful and interesting, the

betterBackground information- the five Ws and the H - all

the info you need to fill in the blanksContext, perspective - giving the bigger picture

when necessaryPoint of view - sometimes in feature writing, you

can let the reader know what you think Angle – (the most important)what is the story

about? what is its point? why should people want to read your story?

ELEMENTS OF FEATURE STORY


A news story lead is based on the premise that you need to save the best for first. It has to catch the reader's eye and succinctly provide the most important information about the article.

The phrase "burying the lead" (or "LEDE") refers to delaying or withholding the most vital information. For example, if a teenager tells his mother he cleared out some more space in the garage like she asked but fails to mention he did so by totalling the car, that's burying the lead.

LEAD WITH YOUR BEST STUFF


Unlike essays or books or most other forms of writing, news articles are written on the assumption that the reader may not finish the piece.

Newspaper readers often skim only the beginnings of stories, and editors often trim off the ends of stories before they ever go to press, so the focus is on the lead, not on building up to a fantastic conclusion.

News stories usually use what is called an inverted pyramid structure, where the weightiest, most substantial information is on the top, and the least substantial elements are at the bottom

Worry about the lead, not the conclusion


A traditional lead attempts to answer most or all of the key questions -- Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How?

Example: "A faulty space heater caused a raging fire in the 400-block of Grant Street last night around 2 am, leaving two fire fighters hurt and three families homeless."

Provide the 5 "W's" and "H."


While the exact numbers vary, journalism students are often taught to write first sentences of between 25 and 35 words, and not more than 40. This is considered just long enough to provide, in most cases, the vital details in a succinct manner.

KEEP IT SHORT


Readers are drawn in by active sentences that highlight the stakes, the conflict, or the impact of the event covered, propelling them forward into the story.

A form of sentence editing called the Paramedic Method involves identifying and eliminating redundancies and use of the passive voice in favour of sentences using simple verbs with the "doer" as the subject.

Example of the Paramedic Method, compare "The highest office in the nation was granted once again to John Doe by the voters last night" with "Voters granted John Doe another turn in the nation's highest office last night."

FOCUS ON ACTION


A writer is more artist than scientist, so however hard and fast the rules may seem for leads, high-quality exceptions to the standard abound. Some variations include:

Asking a question -- "Who could have guessed a single phone call two years ago would bring down the city's most famous banking family?"

Using an anecdote -- "From Amy Smith's raucous nosebleed seat high above Ajax Field, the kick looked perfect; yet the barely-visible referee's arms refused to rise in agreement."

The delayed lead, which can use questions, anecdotes, or other methods to draw readers in without immediately revealing details. This, however, tends to work better in longer features than "hard news" stories.

Break the rules when inspiration strikes


THANK YOU FOR READING!

CHELDHAYE

Education

Basic principles in news writing