few things to remember
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Few things to remember. Two Ws were missing. Two Ws were missing. Where and when? “Thomson, who spoke Tuesday at the Learning & Families journalism class, said reporting….”. After the lede . Ledes are so important because they force you to organize and prioritize your material. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Few things to remember
Two Ws were missing
Two Ws were missingWhere and when?
“Thomson, who spoke Tuesday at the Learning & Families journalism class, said reporting….”
After the lede...
Ledes are so important because they force you to organize and prioritize your material
Ledes are so important because they force you to organize and prioritize your material
But most of the time, the lede is just the beginning
Ledes are so important because they force you to organize and prioritize your material
But most of the time, the lede is just the beginning
Important to have some idea of how long your story will be: depends on your editor or teacher
Ledes are so important because they force you to organize and prioritize your material
But most of the time, the lede is just the beginning
Important to have some idea of how long your story will be: depends on your editor or teacher
Creation of universe covered in Genesis chapter 1... just seven graphs! Is Genesis 1:1 best lede ever?
Genesis 1:1 (ESV)In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Briefs A short inverted pyramid news story
Briefs A short inverted pyramid news story From one to maybe five graphs
Briefs A short inverted pyramid news story From one to maybe five graphs Still immensely popular in all media: local,
state, national, international, print, broadcast and internet
Brites
Brites A featurette: generally odd or amusing
nuggets
Brites A featurette: generally odd or amusing
nuggets Relief from the hard news of the day
Brites A featurette: generally odd or amusing
nuggets Relief from the hard news of the day Ledes are fun, designed to draw you in... not
inverted pyramid
The nut graph (or graf)
The nut graph (or graf) Keep in mind: basically two broad types of
stories: hard news with inverted pyramid lede that gets right to the point... and stories that don’t get there until the second graph or even later
The nut graph (or graf) Keep in mind: basically two broad types of
stories: hard news with inverted pyramid lede that gets right to the point... and stories that don’t get there until the second graph or even later
So when you have a soft lede or an anecdote lede, you need a nut graph to explain what the story’s all about: the first sentence doesn’t do that
The nut graph (or graf) Keep in mind: basically two broad types of
stories: hard news with inverted pyramid lede that gets right to the point... and stories that don’t get there until the second graph or even later
So when you have a soft lede or an anecdote lede, you need a nut graph to explain what the story’s all about: the first sentence doesn’t do that
Called the nut graph because it condenses everything in a nutshell
Which dog poop story did you like best?
Write a brite A Teamster was using a portable potty at a job
site in Richland, Washington (need dateline!) The job site was a nuclear reactor While he was inside, a forklift operator picked up
the toilet. The driver did not know anyone was inside
The forklift moved the chemical toilet a foot off the ground and across a gravel road
The forklift blocked the door so the Teamster could not get out
When he put the toilet down, the operator heard the Teamster and let him out
Story structure
Story structure Every story is different… but there is nothing
random about journalism
Story structure Every story is different… but there is nothing
random about journalism Plan your stories
Story structure Every story is different… but there is nothing
random about journalism Plan your stories Breaking and “hard” news?
Inverted pyramidMost important facts
Additional factsMore factsEtc. Etc.
Etc
Martini glass
Martini glass Use for big crimes, disasters and other
dramatic news stories needing a chronology
Martini glassLede (often not inverted pyramid)
Key facts in nut grafChronology of events
Kicker
The Kabob AKA, The Wall Street Journal formula
The Kabob AKA, The Wall Street Journal formula Opening anecdote… nut graf… details…
closing anecdote
Both martini and kebob have strong closing grafs… quotes, parallel anecdotes, emotion
Inverted pyramid generally goes until you run out of facts… designed to cut from the bottom up
Transitions Really important to keep your stories flowing
Transitions Really important to keep your stories flowing Short grafs… usually a single sentence. Why?
Transitions Really important to keep your stories flowing Short grafs… usually a single sentence. Why?
Transitions Really important to keep your stories flowing Short grafs… usually a single sentence. Why? Hit the return key every time you type a
period!
Transitions Really important to keep your stories flowing Short grafs… usually a single sentence. Why? Hit the return key every time you type a
period! Use transition words: but, instead, however,
in addition, finally, meanwhile, previously
Finally, rewrite One big key to excellent writing in all genres is
rewriting
Finally, rewrite One big key to excellent writing in all genres is
rewriting “nobody rewrites more than the true
professional” Especially true for ledes and nut grafs
Assignment 10/29 Pages 51-61