NEWS

WRITING
By Elaine Grace Bimbao
News Editor, The Radiance

WHAT IS NEWS?
Defined as any
information about an
incident, unusual event,
place, person, or
pronouncement that is
new to a certain group of
people.

WHAT IS NEWS?
Ordinary information, however,
does not comprise news. For an
information to be considered
news, it must be considered
news, it must be unexpected or
a break from the normal flow of
events. In other words, for any
information to be called news, it
must be unusual, unexpected,

WHAT IS NEWS?
Mitchell Charnley of the
University of Minnesota
defines
news
as
tomorrows
history
done up in todays
neat package.

IDEAL and USEFUL News Story

It
It
It
It

is
is
is
is

accurate.
balanced and fair.
truthful.
objective.

It is brief.
It is properly attributed.
It is well-written.

Attributes of a Good News Story

Timeliness

Refers to the immediacy of the news.

Occurrence of events must be reported
immediately.
Reporting the events as they unfold or occur
separates journalists
from a historian or a story
Proximity
or Nearness
teller.
An event that occurs near the readers is more
meaningful than the same event that unfolds in
distant places.

Prominence

Stories about famous people and celebrities easily

make news.
Minutes pronouncements and little things done by
these people or anything they do are subjects of
news.

Attributes of a Good News Story

Oddity
Strangeness of anything usually triggers the
mans consciousness.
News worthy is any unfolding of events,
especially so if such occurrence deviates from
the normal course of the event.

Significance
The importance of an event and
how it effects the people are
always considered newsworthy.

NEWS CATEGORIES
NOVELTY.

this refers to anything new or about the latest

inventions, discovery, trends, fashion, etc..

PERSONAL IMPACT.

news about PDAF Scams and allegations of

corruptions have shocked the country.

LOCAL NEWS.

a sex scandal involving the local mayor is more

significant to and more preferred by the people than
any national scandal.
MONEY.
news about who won the biggest sweepstakes
prize, purse prize of Manny Pacquiaos latest
fight and how much Janet Lim Napoles allegedly
pocketed in the PDAF scam are fascinating
news stories for the readers.

NEWS CATEGORIES

CRIME AND
the assassination of Senator Benigno
PUNISHMENT.

Ninoy Aquino and the implementation of

Death Penalty were celebrated news of the
country.
SEX.
love and stories about the latest flings of famous
actors and actresses are among the staples of
local news papers. News about sex videos of
famous people and celebrities occupy the minds
of people. The case of Vhong Navarro, Denise
Cornejo, and Cedric Lee is a recent example of
these category.
CONFLICTS.
some news stories are about wars and
revolutions. These may also refer to the gaps
between the rich and the poor. The recent events
in Thailand and Ukraine are examples of these
category.

NEWS CATEGORIES
RELIGION.

the election of new Pope, the centennial of the

founding of the Iglisia ni Cristo, the Ramadan of
the Muslims always always hold news stories.

DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES.

the typhoon Yolanda and its effects to people, the

Earthquake in Bohol, the Malaysian Airlines
mishaps gain prominence in the news pages.

HUMOR.

jokes, anecdotes, and cartoons enliven the

pages of newspapers.

THE UNDERDOG.

stories about the underprivileged and the

ordinary people of the street are worth subject of
news stories.

NEWS CATEGORIES
HUMAN INTEREST.
stories about the kindness of the likes of
Mother Teresa, Princess Diana, Michael
Jordan and other fascinate the
consciousness of mankind. When Pope
John II visited his jailed assassin, he
embraced him, forgave and blessed him.
The news about such humility and
kindness echoed to the entire world.
Success stories like that of boxing icon
Manny Pacquiao is an example of human
interest stories.

NEWS CATEGORIES
HEALTH.
stories about the latest virus that struck
the country, dengue fever , and the latest
drugs developed to lessen the effects of
illnesses are welcomed news stories.
SCIENCE.
this category includes news stories
about latest inventions, scientific
breakthroughs, and latest technological
advancements.

NEWS CATEGORIES

ENTERTAINMENT.
stories about best movies and how
they are made, the actors and actresses
involved in these films, even their
dialogues that become personal credo
to some---these are subjects of news
stories extensively written in
newspapers
and magazines.
FAMOUS
PEOPLE.
pronouncements, good and bad
deeds, fashion, achievements, etc. of
famous people are great source of
news stories.

NEWS CATEGORIES

ENTERTAINMENT.

stories about best movies and how they are made, the
actors and actresses involved in these films, even their
dialogues that become personal credo to some---these
are subjects of news stories extensively written in
newspapersPEOPLE.
and magazines.
FAMOUS

pronouncements, good and bad deeds, fashion,

achievements, etc. of famous people are great
source of news stories.

WEATHER.

reports on weather, especially now that climate

change effects the world, are written extensively.

FOODS AND
tales about the wines consumed by the rich and
DRINKS.
famous, the latest cuisines and even the food
shortages in some calamity-stricken areas are
subjects of news stories.

TWO GENERAL KINDS OF

NEWS
STRAIGHT NEWS (Hard News).

presents data in straight

forward or direct fashion. It
usually uses the summary
lead.
NEWS FEATURE (Soft New).
presents the data
indirectly through the use
of novelty.

The 5 Ws and 1H + A or S
Who the event happened to?
With whom the event is acted
upon?
What happened? What will happen?
What did not happen? What will not
happen? What is the news all about?
Where the event happened?
Where the event will happen?

The 5 Ws and 1H + A or
S
When the event happened? When
will the event happen?
Why did the event happen? Why
will the event happen?
How the event happen? How will
the event happen?

General Tips in Writing the News

Use transition words such as however,
therefore, in addition, meanwhile, etc.
Avoid long paragraphs.
Always check names.
Keep the lead short, usually fewer than 25
words. opinion.
Attribute
Find out who, what, when, where, why,
how and so what(impact).
Report information basic to the story, even if it is
routine.
Avoid passive voice constructions (e.g. the
ball was hit by the boy).

General Tips in Writing the News

Use single, strong verbs instead of several weak

ones.
Keep to one idea per sentence.
Avoid having more than three numbers in any one
sentence.
Avoid having more than three prepositions in any senten
Keep to subject/verb/object sentences as much as
possible.
Cut unnecessary words and redundancy.
Avoid qualifiers(e.g. very) and choose the precise
word.
Avoid long words when short ones will do the job.

General Tips in Writing the News

Use specific nouns.
Use adjectives and adverbs sparingly.

Facts should be arranged according to

importance.

The most important data should be the lead of the ne

story.
Full names and titles of persons must be
spelled out when they are first mentioned in the
news. last names and other title can be used
then.
Do not ediTorialized.
Attribute sources and authorities.

News Story Structure

Inverted Pyramid
considered the most popular structure of a
news story.

Most Important
Information
Supporting Data
and
Examples
Least
Important
Data

News Story Structure

Narrative or Story Telling uses scenes,
anecdotes, and dialogues to build a climax. In
this structure, people are prominent, and they
are responsible for the actions in the story. The
story has a beginning, middle, and an end.
Quotations sound like real speech. The words
and actions of the characters reveal motives.
The Hourglass combines some of the best
elements of both the inverted pyramid and the
narrative. It consists of three parts: a top, which
tells the story quickly: the turn, a nimble
transition; and the narrative, a chronological
retelling events.

Parts of the News

Headline.
It is the title of the news

Body.
story.
It contains the lead, the lead
support, and the details. The body
explains the lead, gives background
narrations, definitions, quotes,
observations,
and other details.
End.
It summarizes the main
idea of a news story. The end is what
the readers most remember s about

The Lead
The lead is the writers
promise to the reader . It
captures the essence of the
story. It answers what the
story is all about. It
encourages the readers to
continue reading the news
story.

Varieties of Lead
Direct lead or summary lead
tells at once the reader or listener
the most important aspects of the
story.
Delayed or novelty lead
entices the reader or listener
into the story by hinting at it
contents.

Types of Leads
CONVENTIONAL LEAD.
It answers the 5Ws and 1H. It also gives
the readers the proper attributes or authorities.
The Who Lead
Ronnie Reyes has been chosen to represent
General Santos City in the Philippines Teen Idol 2014.
The What Lead
Political and economic-related violence in
Thailand capital Bangkok yesterday claimed three
lives of protesters as police and rioters made an
abrupt confrontation over the alleged irresponsible
statement of government authorities.
The Where lead
Sochi, Russia will gather the worlds best
athletes as it hosts the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Types of Leads
The When Lead
Appointed Wednesday by the chancellor is a
four-member grievance committee to conduct
investigation on the alleged physical assault
committed by one faculty of the College of Arts
and
The Sciences.
Why Lead
In order to duplicate last years top
performance in Nation Achievement test in Region
12, the Division of General Santos City intensified
monitoring of all schools and required rigid reviews
for
allHow
pupils
and students.
The
Lead
Repeatedly stabbed by the suspect, the
victim suffered multiple body wounds and was
rushed to the hospital where doctors declared him
out of dander.

Types of Leads

Grammatical Beginning Lead

This type of lead uses grammar to highlight
the most important aspects of the news story.
Prepositional Phrase Lead
With stinging jabs, speedy crosses, and
crushing hooks, ring icon Manny Pacquiao reduced
Miguel Cottos face into a pitiful pulp and wrestled
from the former the WBO super welter weight
crown.
Infinitive Phrase Lead
To fulfill his destiny as the countrys
leading journalist, young Maximo Solliven pursued
a writing career at Fordham University in New
York, USA.

Types of Leads
Participial Phrase Lead (present
and past participles)
1. Attacked by media people in one side
and pressured by religious groups in
other, Joseph Estrada was forced to
step down from presidency in 2001
2. Aiming to erase the stigma of his last
two defeats, Manny Pacquiao will vent
his rage and self against Brandon
Bambam Rios in Cotai Arena in
Macao on the 24th of November ,
2013.

Types of Leads
Gerund Phrase Lead
Putting pressures and confining the Persian
warriors in the narrow passage were the goals of
the 300 chosen Spartans lead by King Leonidas in
the battle of Thermopelae.

Clause Lead
Because of numerous American soldiers going
home invalid and wounded, US President Lyndon b.
Johnson was forced to stop sending men to
Vietnam, leading America to drop its claim of
superiority in Sout East Asia in the early 70s.

Types of Leads
Novelty Leads

Question lead. A thought-provoking

question that entices the readers.
Which would you prefer--- an
extravagant, rich person or a thrifty, poor
one?
Answers will be known soon as
RGT Radio posed the same question to its
listeners in line with its local program,
Palaguin Mo Ang Pera Mo.

Types of Leads
Novelty Leads

Descriptive Lead. It gives the readers

a description or mental picture of a person
or event in the news story.
Eyes questioning, bold, and staring wide;
a shoaled face with traces of blood; a
haggard body mind and soul--- this was
Shabart Gula as photographed by Stephen
Curry that earl morning in a remote village
of Afghanistan.
Shabart Gula, through that picture, would
become, in the three years to come, the
Monalisa of photography.

Types of Leads
One Word Lead. It consists of a word that
best describes the news story.
Vindicated.
This is what Romeo Canto felt when the
court ordered the imprisonment of the suspect of
the murder of his brother three years ago.

Quotation Lead. It uses well-known

quotations.
Today we love what tomorrow we hate;
today we seek what tomorrow we shun.
Former President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo
could have predicted thjis thought from Daniel
Defoe as she now contemplates her fate and

Wrap up on Preparing the Lead

1. Present a summary of the story
2. Identify persons and places
involved
3.
Stress the news peg
4. Stimulate the reader continue
reading the story.
5. Vary the lead.

Lets
Practice!!!

Write your own

lead based on
todays
Journalism
Seminar and

The body of the News

Story
The body of the news
story gives the readers
the detailed parts of the
news. It develops and
explains the facts and
data given in the lead.

The End
The ending is often what the readers remember
most about the story. The ending is so important that
news writers should know how to end their stories
before they start writing them.
Many writers save a good morsel for the end,
perhaps their second-best quote. (The best quote is
usually placed near the top of the story)
Roger Simon, a columnist for the Baltimore Sun,
switches his leads and endings to see which work
best in which spot.
The most common type of ending is the quote
ending. Writers look for a quote that best sums up
the
news story.
Another
favorite is the circle end. The writers
return to the idea/s expressed in the lead.

NEWS
WRITING
WORKSHOP

Make a 5-7 news article based on the

following information.
What: Early registration period
Who: For Senior High School students for
June 2016
When: From October 19 to November 13
Why: To give all incoming SHS students
ample time to decide on their choice of SHS
track, according to Education Secretary Bro.
Armin Luistro.
We want our students to be aware of the
importance of choosing a track that suits
their interest and matches job opportunities

Thank you
and God
bless!!!