ELEMENTS of the BASIC ELEMENTS of the BASIC News StoryNews Story

HeadlineHeadlineLeadLead

Lead QuoteLead QuoteImpactImpact

AttributionAttributionBackgroundBackgroundElaborationElaboration

EndingEndingGraphicsGraphics

HEADLINEHEADLINE

Based on the main points of the storyBased on the main points of the storyWritten by editor or copy editor, with Written by editor or copy editor, with

SUGGESTIONS from the writerSUGGESTIONS from the writer

Writing Tip:Writing Tip:If you are having trouble identifying the If you are having trouble identifying the main point of a story, think of a headline.main point of a story, think of a headline.

LEADLEAD

What the story is aboutWhat the story is aboutAttention-getter (The Hook!)Attention-getter (The Hook!)Can be:Can be:

Hard, Soft, SummaryHard, Soft, Summary

Hard: Boom – here it isHard: Boom – here it is

Soft: Usually for features, non time-relatedSoft: Usually for features, non time-related

Summary: The 5 W’s of the storySummary: The 5 W’s of the story

LEAD QUOTELEAD QUOTE

First quote backing up the leadFirst quote backing up the leadSometimes called the “augmenting quote”Sometimes called the “augmenting quote”

This is not MANDATORYThis is not MANDATORYA STRONG QUOTE early in the story, first A STRONG QUOTE early in the story, first

or second paragraph, helps set tone for or second paragraph, helps set tone for the storythe story

IMPACTIMPACT

When possible, explain how the news When possible, explain how the news affects the readeraffects the reader

What about this story is significant?What about this story is significant?Why should the reader care?Why should the reader care?

ATTRIBUTIONATTRIBUTION

Where did you get the information from?Where did you get the information from?Who told you the facts?Who told you the facts?Are you going to quote the person, or Are you going to quote the person, or

simply use the info?simply use the info?What you did not witness must be What you did not witness must be

attributed!attributed!Common knowledge or indisputable facts Common knowledge or indisputable facts

do not need attributiondo not need attribution

BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

Is history of the story important?Is history of the story important?Do we need to be reminded of what Do we need to be reminded of what

happened in the past?happened in the past? Is this a follow-up story that needs an Is this a follow-up story that needs an

update?update?

ELABORATIONELABORATION

Supporting points related to the main Supporting points related to the main issue:issue:StatementsStatementsQuotesQuotesMore detailMore detailSeek other points of view, for balance and Seek other points of view, for balance and

fairnessfairness

ENDINGENDING

Most stories end with one of the following Most stories end with one of the following elements:elements:Future actionFuture action

If really important to story, play it higherIf really important to story, play it higher

A statement or quote of summary A statement or quote of summary Make sure it is not redundantMake sure it is not redundant

More elaborationMore elaboration

GRAPHICSGRAPHICS

A Photograph?A Photograph?Chart?Chart? Illustration?Illustration?Highlights box?Highlights box?

WHATEVER YOU THINK MIGHT AID WHATEVER YOU THINK MIGHT AID THE STORY VISUALLYTHE STORY VISUALLY

QUOTES AND ATTRIBUTIONQUOTES AND ATTRIBUTION

Is the quote memorable?Is the quote memorable? Do your quotes repeat your transitions?Do your quotes repeat your transitions? If you don’t attribute to a source, can your facts If you don’t attribute to a source, can your facts

be substantiated?be substantiated? If you can better say it in your own words, If you can better say it in your own words,

paraphrase.paraphrase. ARE YOU USING A QUOTE FOR THE ARE YOU USING A QUOTE FOR THE

BENEFIT OF YOUR SOURCE OR YOUR BENEFIT OF YOUR SOURCE OR YOUR AUDIENCE?AUDIENCE?

GOOD QUOTE / BAD QUOTEGOOD QUOTE / BAD QUOTE

Good quotes enhanceGood quotes enhanceBad quotes take up spaceBad quotes take up space

Do Not be redundant and use your own Do Not be redundant and use your own voice (paraphrase) if it helps make the voice (paraphrase) if it helps make the essence of the quote clearer and avoids essence of the quote clearer and avoids DULL quotesDULL quotes

What are GOOD QUOTES?What are GOOD QUOTES? Vivid and ClearVivid and Clear Reveals strong feelings or reactions of the Reveals strong feelings or reactions of the

speakerspeaker Something outrageousSomething outrageous Important words from famous person or critical Important words from famous person or critical

leaderleader

DOES IT ADD SPICE TO MY STORY?DOES IT ADD SPICE TO MY STORY?IS IT TOO LONG?IS IT TOO LONG?DOES IT CONVEY DRAMATIC ACTION?DOES IT CONVEY DRAMATIC ACTION?

GUIDELINES GUIDELINES for How to Use Quotesfor How to Use Quotes

Commas, periods, question marks go inside Commas, periods, question marks go inside quotation marks (if question mark does not refer quotation marks (if question mark does not refer to quoted material, it goes outside)to quoted material, it goes outside)

Each NEW speaker must be quoted in a Each NEW speaker must be quoted in a separate paragraphseparate paragraph

A single quote is attributed onceA single quote is attributed once Place attribution after first sentencePlace attribution after first sentence Don’t interrupt a thought with attributionDon’t interrupt a thought with attribution

PLAGIARISMPLAGIARISM

Copying the words of other writersCopying the words of other writers Grounds for DISMISSAL!Grounds for DISMISSAL! Cite ALL sources of information, including other Cite ALL sources of information, including other

publicationspublications From your own sources, tell reader where you From your own sources, tell reader where you

got the informationgot the information

Simple rule on using information:Simple rule on using information: BE CAUTIOUS AND BE OPENBE CAUTIOUS AND BE OPEN

1. How do journalists determine what is 1. How do journalists determine what is newsworthy?newsworthy?

2. How do different types of media (print, 2. How do different types of media (print, broadcast, Internet) handle stories differently?broadcast, Internet) handle stories differently?

First, you will acquaint yourselves with the six First, you will acquaint yourselves with the six elements of news.elements of news.

Next, you will become consumers of news, Next, you will become consumers of news, gaining exposure to various types of media to gaining exposure to various types of media to see how professional journalists use the news see how professional journalists use the news elements to report different stories. elements to report different stories.

Finally, you will be reporters, analyzing the Finally, you will be reporters, analyzing the information you gather and reporting to the rest information you gather and reporting to the rest of the class.of the class.

Part IPart I

Take notes on the elements of news (on the Take notes on the elements of news (on the handout provided). You will need to have them handout provided). You will need to have them with you when you write your Big Story. Click on with you when you write your Big Story. Click on the element to get the definition.the element to get the definition.

1. Timeliness1. Timeliness 2. Proximity2. Proximity 3. Prominence3. Prominence 4. Consequence4. Consequence 5. Human Interest5. Human Interest 6. Conflict6. Conflict

TimelinessTimelinessالوقتيةالوقتية

something that just happened tends to be more newsworthy something that just happened tends to be more newsworthy than something that happened some time ago. In today's than something that happened some time ago. In today's fast-paced communications environment, you want to give fast-paced communications environment, you want to give the reader a sense that this is news NOW. In fact, when you the reader a sense that this is news NOW. In fact, when you write a news story you want to make sure it has a write a news story you want to make sure it has a news pegnews peg. . Think of a peg on the wall that you might hang a hat on. Think of a peg on the wall that you might hang a hat on. The news peg is the element that you hang your story on. It The news peg is the element that you hang your story on. It is the element that makes the story news NOW, as opposed is the element that makes the story news NOW, as opposed to last week or next week. Timeliness is often the news to last week or next week. Timeliness is often the news peg.peg.

ProximityProximity القربالقرب

proximity refers to the nearness of a given event to proximity refers to the nearness of a given event to your place of publication. Even if you have a major your place of publication. Even if you have a major story break half way around the world look for a local story break half way around the world look for a local angle. For instance, if a plane crashes and kills 200 angle. For instance, if a plane crashes and kills 200 people, it certainly is news. But if one of the people, it certainly is news. But if one of the passengers was local, or used to be local, or has local passengers was local, or used to be local, or has local relatives, you have a new story angle. Even if you relatives, you have a new story angle. Even if you don't have that kind of connection to the story, you don't have that kind of connection to the story, you can ask, "How safe are planes that fly out of the local can ask, "How safe are planes that fly out of the local airport? Could what happened there happen here?" airport? Could what happened there happen here?"

ProminenceProminence األهميهاألهميه

prominence refers to the “newsworthiness” of an individual or prominence refers to the “newsworthiness” of an individual or organization. When spousal abuse leads to one partner injuring organization. When spousal abuse leads to one partner injuring or killing the other, it is sad. When one of those partners is or killing the other, it is sad. When one of those partners is O.J. Simpson, you have an international news story. When a O.J. Simpson, you have an international news story. When a married man has an extra-marital sexual relationship with a married man has an extra-marital sexual relationship with a woman half his age, it is bad for a marriage. But if the man is woman half his age, it is bad for a marriage. But if the man is Bill Clinton, president of the United States, it can affect the Bill Clinton, president of the United States, it can affect the world's economy. If the who of a story is someone well world's economy. If the who of a story is someone well known, you might have a story in the most common place of known, you might have a story in the most common place of events.events.

ConsequenceConsequence النتيجةالنتيجة

the element of consequence refers simply to the the element of consequence refers simply to the importance of an event. For instance, the star importance of an event. For instance, the star quarterback’s failure of an exam is more important to quarterback’s failure of an exam is more important to more people than is your failure on the exam because more people than is your failure on the exam because of the consequences. The team may lose the big of the consequences. The team may lose the big game!game!

Human InterestHuman Interestاالنسانى االنسانى االهتمام االهتمام

something that is out of the ordinary is news. A something that is out of the ordinary is news. A pumpkin is not news, unless it is as big as a small car. pumpkin is not news, unless it is as big as a small car. We are obsessed with records, too, that indicate the We are obsessed with records, too, that indicate the biggest, longest, shortest, smallest, tallest, shortest, biggest, longest, shortest, smallest, tallest, shortest, etc. something. There are thousands of news stories in etc. something. There are thousands of news stories in the Guinness Book of World Records because of our the Guinness Book of World Records because of our obsession. A major league baseball player hitting a obsession. A major league baseball player hitting a lot of homeruns is interesting, but is international lot of homeruns is interesting, but is international news when a Mark McGwire closes in on and news when a Mark McGwire closes in on and surpasses a 37-year-old record for the most homeruns surpasses a 37-year-old record for the most homeruns in a season.in a season.

ConflictConflict

why do so many people attend sports events? why do so many people attend sports events? Conflict. Why are so many people interested in Conflict. Why are so many people interested in elections? Conflict. Why are wars, to take the most elections? Conflict. Why are wars, to take the most extreme case, news? Conflict.extreme case, news? Conflict.

Conflict involves tension, surprise, and suspense. Conflict involves tension, surprise, and suspense.