News Writing for the Media
A good headline is a joy to behold. Notice how this 1980’s classic serves up a play on words, memorable perp-walk image, and lurid subhead, very similar to the mobile-first formula we’ve been exploring with A15 Headliners. Continue reading D7: Share those Headliners
This may not sound like a big deal, but it is.
When eyes fight with the ear, the eyes win. Every time. It’s hard to hear information that conflicts with the impressions forged by what you’re watching.
When a TV news report leaves the reader confused, a miss-matched between images and words is usually the culprit. Continue reading D6: Eyes Always Win
The first challenge in news writing is recognizing the story within a set of facts. That’s a different way of reading agency reports and weighing at information. It’s all about putting what your readers want or need to know first. (Give this video time to load) The last few weeks we’ve been practicing how to sift the facts for news. YOU NEED TO RECOGNIZE WHAT READERS WII CARE ABOUT OR NEED TO KNOW. That’s first. Continue reading D5: Leads & Storytelling
Story ideas are the coin of the realm in journalism. What are you or your friends curious about? How about comparing UAF coach salaries with those of rival schools? Is tuition at this school still a good deal when you include student fees? What the rage among gamers on campus? This class is your license to get answers. Late this spring a former student accused of murdering a young woman in Bartlett Hall is due Continue reading D4: Let’s discuss story ideas
Is there a story worth telling in the A1 benchmark assignment?
That’s the first thing to consider reading the trooper’s account of Wanda Watson’s latest mishap. Is there anything readers need to know. If not, what will they find most interesting? That’s the news writer’s starting point. Continue reading D3 Watson’s meltdown: Benchmark Lessons
The writer faces many choices constructing any every sentence readers. How formal should language be? How are addresses presented. Should numerals or words be used describing ages? For clarity and swift comprehension, many publications settle such nettlesome everyday questions with stylebooks. AP Stylebook is the industry standard.
The best news organizations pull together like teams. For this week’s discussion: –What do you hope to get out of this course? –Have you ever been published? Worked on a school newspaper? Kept a journal? Or written fiction? Click on the Staff Meeting title to open the full post. Then share your goals for this course using the “Reply” button found below previous D1 comments.
You need at least attempt to collect answers to these foundation questions before you write. Who? What? Where? When? Why and How? Continue reading Week 3: 5Ws + H, aka The Big Six
Our first “Ask Me” session seemed useful. Here’s a link to the 30-minute video and a quick summary. Week 1 assignments included what amounts to two bios with one big difference. In the Discussion Hall, I had you introduce yourselves and describe what you hope to get out of this class. A2 called for short bios that will be published along with your stories. The difference is audience. Classmates may be interested, and I certainly Continue reading Ask Me # 1, Always write for the audience, Using AP Style, Discussion grading
A glimpse of what we aspire to accomplish this semester.