Writing Roundups

• Roundups involve combining two or more stories: multiple elements.

• If more than two sources of stories, takes a roundup byline.

• Background files can be combined as well as live stories.

• Roundups are written by “rewrite” editors, usually under deadline pressure.

• A valued talent in the newsroom.

Two Kinds of Roundups

• Two or more stories about the same topic.

• Two or more stories about separate but related topics.

Same-Topic Rules• Choose the best version of the story as

the “frame” for your roundup.

• Move material from other stories into the frame. (Split-screen is handy for this.)

• Cut the story to length after all the moves.

• Remember story-structure needs: a good quote to back up the lead, a perspective graf if possible.

Related-Topic Rules• Decide what story parts to include.

• Usually means lead grafs of stories.

• Decide the order of the elements.

• Write a multiple-elements lead.

• Can be one or several grafs.

• Can be factual or thematic.

• Finish off lead section with a perspective graf if possible—may be able to lift.

Related-Topic Rules II• Try for common context before going to

gut.• Gut sections flesh out elements of lead.• Usually can transfer whole story sections.• Gut sections should be in same order as

lead.• Story can contain sections at bottom not

mentioned in lead.• Transitions often require slight rewrite.

Two Things to Watch

• Be sure that first-reference i.d.’s are present—just once!

• If a gut section is cut, make sure any reference to it in lead and perspective graf is also removed.

Same-Topic 1BAGHDAD, March 3 (Reuters) - The United Nations said

on Monday that six more of Iraq's al-Samoud 2 missiles had been scrapped and Iraq would submit a new report on VX nerve gas and anthrax stocks in a week in its bid to avert war.

"Iraq will be providing a report on the VX and anthrax in a week's time," Hiro Ueki, spokesman for U.N. weapons inspectors in Baghdad, told Reuters.

Ueki said six al-Samoud 2 missiles, 10 of which were destroyed at the weekend, were destroyed on Monday along with two empty warheads. He said the missile casting chambers were also being demolished.

He said they were destroyed at Taji base, some 40 km (25 miles) north of Baghdad. It was the first time warheads related to the missile were destroyed.

Same-Topic 2BAGHDAD (AP)--Iraq crushed six more Al Samoud 2

missiles with bulldozers Monday and planned to hand over a report about its unilateral destruction of anthrax and VX nerve agent, U.N. weapons inspectors said.

Inspectors' spokesman Hiro Ueki said the Iraqis also destroyed two empty warheads built for the Al Samoud 2 and continued cutting up two casting chambers used to make another missile, the Al Fatah.

The casting chambers were destroyed in the 1990s but Iraq rebuilt them. They were broken up over the weekend, and workers are now destroying the pieces to make sure they are beyond repair.

Odai al-Taie, an Information Ministry official, said earlier that Iraq planned to destroy between seven and nine Al Samoud 2 missiles on Monday. It was unclear why workers didn't meet that target.

The ComboBAGHDAD--Iraq crushed six more Al Samoud 2 missiles

with bulldozers Monday and said it planned to hand over a report about its unilateral destruction of anthrax and VX nerve agent, U.N. weapons inspectors said.

Inspectors' spokesman Hiro Ueki said the Iraqis also destroyed two empty warheads built for the Al Samoud 2 and continued cutting up two casting chambers used to make another missile, the Al Fatah.

Uieki said he expects Iraq to submit a detailed written report to containing a proposal for verifying its claims that it unilaterally destroyed anthrax stores and about 1.5 tons of VX, a deadly nerve agent.

"Iraq will be providing a report on the VX and anthrax in a week's time," Ueki said.

Iraq held talks with U.N. arms experts on Sunday to discuss its proposal for "quantitative verification" of VX and anthrax that Baghdad said it had unilaterally destroyed.

Related-Topics 1BAGHDAD (AP)--Iraq crushed six more Al Samoud

2 missiles with bulldozers Monday and planned to hand over a report about its unilateral destruction of anthrax and VX nerve agent, U.N. weapons inspectors said.

Inspectors' spokesman Hiro Ueki said the Iraqis also destroyed two empty warheads built for the Al Samoud 2 and continued cutting up two casting chambers used to make another missile, the Al Fatah.

The casting chambers were destroyed in the 1990s but Iraq rebuilt them. They were broken up over the weekend, and workers are now destroying the pieces to make sure they are beyond repair.

Related-Topics 2LONDON (AP) - U.S. Air Force B-52 bombers

began landing in Britain Monday, with 14 expected throughout the day as part of preparations for a possible war with Iraq, the government said.

Britain last week gave the United States permission to fly the bombers into the Royal Air Force's Fairford base in western England as part of Britain's contribution to possible military action in the Gulf, the Ministry of Defense said.

Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon told the House of Commons that 14 of the bombers plus support personnel were arriving.

The ComboIraq crushed six more Al Samoud 2 missiles with bulldozers

Monday and said it planned to hand over a report about its unilateral destruction of anthrax and VX nerve agent, U.N. weapons inspectors in Baghdad said.

Meanwhile, U.S. Air Force B-52 bombers began landing in Britain, with 14 expected to arrive Monday as part of preparations for a possible war with Iraq, the British government said.

U.N. inspectors' spokesman Hiro Ueki said in Baghdad that the Iraqis also destroyed two empty warheads built for the Al Samoud 2 and continued cutting up two casting chambers used to make another missile, the Al Fatah.

The casting chambers were destroyed in the 1990s but Iraq rebuilt them. They were broken up over the weekend, and workers are now destroying the pieces to make sure they are beyond repair.

The Combo 2(after end of missile-crushing section):

In London, word of the B-52 arrivals came from Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon, who told the House of Commons that the 14 bombers plus support personnel were arriving.

Britain last week gave the United States permission to fly the bombers into the Royal Air Force's Fairford base in western England as part of Britain's contribution to possible military action in the Gulf, the Ministry of Defense said.

The Combo 3(after B-52 section, section on visits—not

mentioned in lead):

The weapons inspectors in Iraq went Monday to a chemical and explosives plant and a rocket factory where they have been before, and to two import companies and a plastics factory, Iraq's Information Ministry said. The inspectors don't comment on their day's work until evening.

Iraq also said inspectors returned to al-Aziziya, an abandoned helicopter airfield 100 kilometers southeast of Baghdad, where Iraq says it destroyed R-400 bombs filled with biological weapons in 1991.

Another Way to Lead ComboIraq destroyed more missiles Monday as

U.S. B-52 bombers began arriving in Britain.

(perspective)

(missile destruction)

(B-52s)

(whatever else)