Writing for Writing for MediaMedia

Course BJMC 102Course BJMC 102

Ratan Mani LalRatan Mani Lal

Kinds of writing for Print MediaKinds of writing for Print Media

News ReportNews Report News AnalysisNews Analysis FeatureFeature InterviewInterview BackgrounderBackgrounder Curtain-raiserCurtain-raiser ReviewReview EditorialEditorial

Common elementsCommon elements

Long retention valueLong retention value All expressions made through All expressions made through

phrases of languagephrases of language Emotions, description, facts to be Emotions, description, facts to be

expressed through languageexpressed through language Impact to be such that influences Impact to be such that influences

public opinionpublic opinion

News News ReportReport

News ReportNews Report

What is News – Timely information What is News – Timely information that is in larger public interestthat is in larger public interest

Key factors -- Facts, simplicity of Key factors -- Facts, simplicity of writing, correctness of informationwriting, correctness of information

Focus on 5 Ws and 1 HFocus on 5 Ws and 1 H Inverted pyramid – Maximum Inverted pyramid – Maximum

information on topinformation on top Impersonal tome – Avoid commentsImpersonal tome – Avoid comments

News News AnalysisAnalysis

News AnalysisNews Analysis

A detailed description of any event, A detailed description of any event, with historical perspective, analysis with historical perspective, analysis of its impact and future possibilitiesof its impact and future possibilities

Requires maturity, experience, Requires maturity, experience, subject knowledge and right quotes subject knowledge and right quotes and referencesand references

Generally the responsibility of a Generally the responsibility of a senior journalist or expertsenior journalist or expert

FeatureFeature

FeatureFeature

Detailed descriptionDetailed description Topics -- Event, product, places and Topics -- Event, product, places and

peoplepeople Lots of colour, adjective and Lots of colour, adjective and

referencesreferences Often contributors also invited for Often contributors also invited for

writingwriting

InterviewInterview

InterviewInterview

Most popular, widely read and Most popular, widely read and quoted kind of media writingquoted kind of media writing

Always used on a related occasionAlways used on a related occasion Ways of writing: Question/Answer Ways of writing: Question/Answer

form or running text formform or running text form Important to have some colour, Important to have some colour,

different moods and referencesdifferent moods and references

BackgrounderBackgrounder

BackgrounderBackgrounder

A form of writing to give background A form of writing to give background information to a special eventinformation to a special event

Generally used along with a main Generally used along with a main itemitem

May include chronologyMay include chronology Focus on facts and figuresFocus on facts and figures

Curtain raiserCurtain raiser

Curtain raiserCurtain raiser

An item that is used before an An item that is used before an important eventimportant event

Contains the build-up of what is Contains the build-up of what is going to happengoing to happen

Purpose is to informPurpose is to inform Focus on facts, date, time and Focus on facts, date, time and

related informationrelated information

ReviewReview

ReviewReview

Provides comprehensive picture of a Provides comprehensive picture of a fine arts performance, show or bookfine arts performance, show or book

Includes a summary and commentsIncludes a summary and comments Subject knowledge and technical Subject knowledge and technical

details are pre-requisitesdetails are pre-requisites Credits and comparisons must be Credits and comparisons must be

includedincluded

EditorialEditorial

EditorialEditorial

Most serious and important piece of Most serious and important piece of media writingmedia writing

Reflects the opinion of the people Reflects the opinion of the people through the opinion of the editorthrough the opinion of the editor

A combination of analysis, review A combination of analysis, review and opinionand opinion

Straight, meaningful language with a Straight, meaningful language with a clear standclear stand

Other kinds of writingOther kinds of writing

IntroIntro BlurbBlurb PointerPointer CaptionCaption HeadlineHeadline SummarySummary

IntroIntro

BlurbBlurb

PointerPointer

CaptionCaption

HeadlineHeadline

SummarySummary

Writing Writing forforTVTV

Writing for TVWriting for TV

Greater impact of pictures must be Greater impact of pictures must be supportedsupported

Use clear-sounding words, with proper Use clear-sounding words, with proper pauses, short sentences and correct pauses, short sentences and correct pronunciationpronunciation

Script for TV or radio should not be Script for TV or radio should not be written like a print reportwritten like a print report

Use time instead of space for Use time instead of space for conveying informationconveying information

RequirementsRequirements

Proper researchProper research VisualizationVisualization Voice & speech trainingVoice & speech training Creating imageryCreating imagery Ad-libbing (speak without Ad-libbing (speak without

preparation)preparation)

ConclusionConclusion

Simple language, clear focus, good Simple language, clear focus, good control of language are key control of language are key requirementsrequirements

Subject knowledge is always Subject knowledge is always desirabledesirable

Some kinds of writing require Some kinds of writing require expertise and subject knowledgeexpertise and subject knowledge

For TV, visualization is a key factorFor TV, visualization is a key factor

Thank Thank

YouYou