Media

Writing
An Introduction To


Ngim Mei Yee
meiyee.ngim@taylors.edu.my
Block C Level 9


Housekeeping
Attendance and other expectations
Module Introduction
Assessments
In-class Tutorials and Blended Learning
Tutorials
Textbook
Other matters
Assessments: 100% Coursework
(%)
ASSESSMENTS
1. Quiz 1 (Individual)
In-tutorial Quiz: Week 6
10
2. Assignment 1 (Individual):
Feature Package (FINAL PIECE)
Due date: Week 8
30


3. Quiz 2 (Individual)
Online TIMeS Quiz: Week 13
20

4. Assignment 2 (Group):
Media Writing for Organisation
Website
Due date: Week 14
(Note: Those going on the Student Mobility
Programme to UK would be doing this assignment
as part of the programme)
40

100
What does FINAL PIECE mean?
Your FINAL PIECE assignment is that piece
of individual assignment that you MUST
submit.
What happens if you dont?
You will then automatically FAIL the entire
module, with no opportunity to resit.
You would need to then re-take the entire
module in the following semester.
Important Information
You MUST have access to TIMeS at all times (hey,
a pun!)
You MUST check your TIMeS before each tutorial
class.
Tutorials sessions can include:
normal in-class tutorial activities (most often),
quiz day (Quiz 1, week 6)
self-directed blended learning activity (this means no
physical tutorial class for that week). Attendance?
consultations for assignments
You are ENCOURAGED to BYOD for each tutorial.
Many weeks of tutorial work involve online
research and postings.
Media Writing BMC 1154
Course Objective:

This course prepares students to write for various
media, each of which requires distinct styles
and approaches. It takes students through a
survey of different styles, understanding the
nuances, and appreciating the underpinning
theories that influence the crafting of written
communication. Ample practice is given to
developing writing skills for efficient and
effective writing for the media.

Media Writing as Mass
Communication
Writing for the mass media involves
Radio
TV
Newspapers
Magazines
Film
PR
Advertising
Blogs
The Internet
Purpose of Communication
3 Basic Functions of Mass Media (Harold
Lasswell, communication researcher)

Surveillance of the environment (report what
is happening around us)
Interpretation (explaining to various publics
what the news and information being
transmitted means to them)
Transmission of culture (from one generation
to the next)


Challenges in Communication

Perceptual Distortion - misinterpretation of
information

The tendency to introduce inaccuracies in perceiving
what the writer/announcer said.
Why?
Too many competing sources of information.
People read superficially or listen with one ear.



Challenges in Communication

Denotative & Connotative Meanings of Words &
Symbols same information, different meanings

People attach denotative labels(standard,
descriptive names) but also add in their connotative
meanings.
Why? Different experiences, attitudes, opinions &
beliefs
How differently can a smoker and non-smoker
interpret a NO SMOKING sign?

Challenges in Communication

Noise leading to communication interference
Physical noise
Things that distort the reception of the message.
Semantic noise
Confusion caused by using words or phrases
that the audience cannot understand or might
misinterpret.
Which is which?
STATIC, LOUD BACKGROUND MUSIC, SMALL FONT, POOR
COLOUR CHOICE, JARGON, TECHNICAL DETAILS, POOR
GRAMMAR, MISPELLINGS

Cardinal rule of newswriting:

what the communicator sends by way
of a message is less important than what
the audience receives and perceives.

Media Research & Theories
Media research (1) reveals audience
behaviour and (2) helps explain differences
and similarities in media habits.

Media writers can use these theories to better
understand how people receive and distort
media messages, which in turn helps them
better craft and target messages with clearer
intentions.
Media Research & Theories
Individual Differences
Social Categories
Stereotypes
Opinion Leaders
Acculturation
Individual Differences & Social
Categories
According to the Individual Differences theory:
People are unique in the way they approach
media messages.
Their demographics, psychographics and
experiences shape their perceptions of
communicators and their transmissions.
According to the Social Categories theory:
People who share similar demographic
characteristics will respond similarly to a given
message.
Continued...
Therefore: media writers need to note
audience background as well as credibility of
their sources and information when
transmitting their messages.

According to the above theories, do you think
women interpret a news report differently
from that of men?

If yes, how?
Continued...
Women tend to remember feature news
and pay attention to visual background
detail.



How should a media writer respond to
that?


Media theory: Stereotypes
A filtering process takes place as readers, listeners
and viewers interpret facts and events.

Stereotypes: mental images people use as simplified
representation of reality.
These mental pictures seem true to us and we
respond to them as though it were true.

Stereotypes can impede the flow of information
because they are not a true representation of the
actual reality or environment.

E.g. of stereotypes = race, gender, age, politics,
international relations.
Media theory: Opinion
Leaders
Also known as the two-step flow of
communication
Media messages travel to influential
community members = opinion leaders
Opinion leaders explain the significance
of the messages to those who look to
them for guidance.
Examples of opinion leaders = ??



Continued
Expanded theory = multi-step flow of
mediated communication, with multiple
opinion leaders at various levels of influence
QUESTION: Can individual audience bypass
opinion leaders altogether and create own
interpretation of events and ideas relayed by
the media?
QUESTION: So are opinion leaders still
important in the media today?
Media theory: Acculturation
Media writers can be influenced by what they
do.
These writers become socialised into adopting
the mindset of their environment often
without conscious knowledge.
E.g. news reporters adopt the attitudes and
behaviours of those they cover.
Political reporters may take on the views of the
people about whom they report
Media writers must be very cautious about this
effect. Why?
Roles within the Media
Gatekeeper
Decisions made on what an audience sees,
hears and reads as well as access to sources.
Who are the gatekeepers in the media industry?


Agenda Setting
What sells?
What is important?
All about perceived newsworthiness.
Influence audience on what to think about.
Continued
Framing
More often seen in coverage of political or social
issues.
Focuses on the presentation (frame) of the story via
the use of context, metaphor, myths, word choice
and spin.
Influence how the audience think about an issue.
Police incompetence, up and coming young
activist, lenient judges
Status Conferral
Confers status and legitimacy
Media writers need to choose sources to quote carefully
to ensure that source is legitimate and representative.

Theories of the Press
Libertarianism
Anyone with an opinion has the right to
publish it without government approval.
Primary responsibility of the press is to be a
watchdog for society

Social Responsibility
All voices could not be represented in
marketplace, the media must ensure all
viewpoints are expressed. The governments
role is to ensure the media fulfills that
responsibility.
So,
what
makes news
news?
Thats for next
week!


Announcements:

1. Tutorials for Week 2 = Self-directed e-learning activity
2. This means: No physical tutorials
3. Download Tutorial Brief from TIMeS and follow instructions
4. We meet up next for Lecture next week.
5. Email me: meiyee.ngim@taylors.edu.my if in doubt.
1. Determining What is News
2. Basic News Stories


BMC 1154
Media Writing




Ms Ngim Mei Yee
Block C Level 9
meiyee.ngim@taylors.edu.my
So,
what
makes news
news?
What makes news news?
Who determines what is news?
How do they know when a news story will be
worthwhile to their readers, viewers and
listeners?
How do media professionals select the most
significant and satisfying stories from the many
possible stories available on any given day?
Continued...
News is an outstanding deviation from the norm,
something that doesnt ordinarily happen.
News is a combination of what audiences need to
know and want to know.
News can be what the media feel responsible to
inform citizens of e.g. public events, public
policies etc.
News-making criteria


Events or item of information can be judged newsworthy
if they meet the (some or all) of the following criteria:
Timeliness/currency
Is it happening now?
News is about change. Something that has JUST occurred.
Few events of major significance can be defined as news if they
fail to meet the standard of timeliness.
When in doubt on which story to take the lead, go for
timeliness.
Proximity
Is it taking place near and dear to the audience?
Give a local angle and make it relevant
Explain how it touches their lives

Continued


Prominence
Is it about a famous person or place?
Names make news
Consequence
Does it have a strong impact on peoples lives?
The more people are affected, the greater is the news value.
Media writers need to know their audience thoroughly in order
to produce newsworthy articles for them.
Conflict & Suspense
Is it related to conflict and its resolution?
Conflict is a universal news value.
Team vs team; nation vs nation; man vs nature.
Suspense is a news peg related to conflict.
Continued

Human interest / Emotions
Does it appeal to human emotions?
Stories that emphasise human nature create emotional
responses happiness, sadness, anger, elation, hate, humour,
envy, love, the aww factor
Novelty
Does it concern the unusual or strange?
The firsts, the lasts, the onlys, the specials
An unusual or strange slant to a story lifts it out of the ordinary
and catches audience interest.
Progress
Does it give positive or negative information about people and
communities achieving or failing to achieve their goals?
Is it about some new developments of local business and
industry?
Can you think of news examples?


Timeliness/currency
Proximity
Prominence
Consequence
Conflict/Suspense
Human interest / Emotions
Novelty
Progress

Why does news value matter?
Media writers make judgment on:
What to write
How to write
What information to include
Where to include what information

Basic News Stories Hard news
What are news stories?
Stories suitable for print or online journalism in
newspapers.
Generally, traditionally Hard News
Hard news is coverage of an event while it is actually
occurring aka up to the minute
E.g. a press conference, a plane crash, a natural disaster.
Generally economics, politics, war and crime (domestic
and international) = hard news.
Serious. Urgent. Happening Now.
Hard news

Demands immediate reporting due to its importance and
short lifespan.
Appears as front page news on newspapers or news
stories that get first attention in broadcast news.
Loss of human life > human injury > property loss

Inclusion of information should be in the above order.
Question: Should hard news be writing long or short?

The Inverted Pyramid
Editors can cut
unnecessary info from the
bottom up.
Continued
Using the inverted pyramid structure allows you to:
Exercise news judgment construct the story in an order
reflecting the newsworthiness of the material
What do readers most need/want to know? That information
goes first.
What do they secondarily need/want to know? That info goes
next. And so on.
If a reader scans through your first paragraph (also known
as Lead paragraph) and is able to understand the nature of
the news and grasp what they most need to know, then the
writer has passed a key test.
In other words, using the inverted pyramid structure allows
you to deliver all the necessary information in the quickest
and most efficient manner.
The lead paragraph
The 4 Ws & an 1 H
Who
What
When
Where
How
Leads are usually limited to about 35 words, although lengths
may vary according to different newspapers house styles.
A lead should be a single sentence. And this single sentence
should typically comprise the first paragraph of the news
article.
Written in a straightforward, direct manner. Tell it as it is.
The first words of the lead are the most important words in the entire story.
Someone important did something in the news = use the persons name
What happened is more important than who did something = begin with
what happen
Flow of the text
As your text flows down from the inverted pyramid in the lead,
as well as from the lead into the next paragraphs, transition
words become especially important for both the writer and the
reader.
Transition words represent the relationship between the ideas
in your story and helps the readers understand the flow of the
story.
Use the precise transition word to meaningfully link your
facts together.
Also, in addition, furthermore (links)
In the same way, likewise, similarly (compare)
Although, but, however, on the contrary (contrast)
Clearly, indeed, surely, certainly (emphasis)
Afterward, later, next, before, since (shows relationship in time)
Breaking up the text
New stories should be broken into separate paragraphs
when:
The topic changes slightly
The emphasis or meaning shifts

The use of frequent paragraph breaks:
creates more white space in the column
makes text less gray
and thus less formidable and more approachable to readers

Remember: Its all about catching and maintaining the readers
attention.

Continued
Use subheads (minor headlines between paragraph units
of the story)
Within the framework of the inverted pyramid, construct
information as chunks of text
Keep similar ideas together and write clear transitions
from one chunk to the next
Think of opportunities for graphic insertion to:
enhance your story through colour and line interest
take the place of long units of explanatory text
provide additional information or explains a complicated
subject
Dos and Donts
Chronological narrative?
Some writers believe a story written in straightforward chronology
is clearer and more satisfying to read.
In hard news stories, this is rarely used though it MAY be used at
times.
More often, it is soft news or feature writing that employs such a
chronological structure.
News written in this format is usually termed as being given the
feature treatment and is labeled a news feature or soft news.
You could still employ the narrative writing within a news article
AFTER the inverted pyramid lead (e.g. when recounting a chain of
events or how an accident happened etc.)
Use narrative in a news story only when it makes a reader grasp the
information more thoroughly, and not because it is easier to construct
the story.
What about Soft News?

When "hard" news breaks, the news and a reporter's agenda are
decided by the events. Deadlines are imperative when it comes
to hard news as the news needs to be covered immediately
upon occurrence.
Soft news may be considered of lesser highlight than the
other major hard news featured in the same newspaper.
Soft news usually cover background information or human
interest stories.
The deadline for a soft news to be covered by a reporter is
more flexible than hard news. Soft news is also generally the
type of news that impacts a minority group rather than society
at large (hard news).

'I love you': MH370 flight steward's last words to wife

China group arrives seeking answers

Volvo Cars CEO on sick leave after mild stroke

Two ships pick up objects but none confirmed to be related to
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 yet

19 hurt after bus lands on its side

One night only: Catch Swedish House Mafia on the big screen

Faulty traffic lights cause gridlock leading to Sunway area

Disney's 'Frozen' becomes top-grossing animated film ever
Continued
Soft news:
May not need to use factual 5W and 1H in the lead.
Need not use inverted pyramid format.
But still requires accurate factual reporting based on
sources.
Not opinion pieces.
Hard vs soft news
Hard news vs soft news is generally judged based on:
Topic/events (immediate or delayed)
News production (deadlines)
News focus (hard facts only or human interest slant)
News style (writing style 5W, 1H, lead style)
News reception (impacts who?)
Avoiding libel
Usage of the right words:
Allegedly (legal),
Reportedly (speculation)
Apparently (without
witness)
In connection with (a crime)

Make sure sources agree to
be quoted

Announcements
Tutorials next week: Download tutorial brief from TIMeS
and make sure you come to tutorial class prepared.
We meet for in-class tutorial activities next week.
Please ensure you have TIMeS access as your Quiz 1
(10%) would be on Week 6.


BASICS OF WRITING AND EDITING

BMC 1154
Media Writing

GOOD WRITING IS ALL ABOUT GOOD EDITING
Media writers are not novelists or poets who have
greater freedom in their writing style.

Media writers write without a conspicuous
personality and deliver professional writing
according to the following principles:
Principles of inclusive language
Principles of meaningful langue
Principles of simple language
Principles of standard usage

INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE
Language choice that applies to everyone in your
audience, without alienating or excluding anyone.

Its not merely about being politically correct use of
inclusive language actually makes writing more
effective.

If any in your audience feels excluded because of the
words used, the writer has failed to communicate
effective.

This is a barrier in communication.




INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE:
USE GENDER / RACIAL / MINORITY
INCLUSIVE WORDS
News often is defined in terms of an event that differs
from norms and expectations hence media writers
may find young, female surgeons or a minority Prime
Minister or a handicapped CEO of newsworthiness.
Good media writers present these details in the course of
their story/writing without drawing inordinate attention to
these factors.
How?
By not implying that gender, race, sexual orientation,
physical disability as the persons major defining
characteristic.

INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE:
USE PROPER PRONOUNS WITH FIXED GROUPS
He is not a generic pronoun that could refer to
both genders. Not anymore.
Options to avoid using the masculine pronouns
when referring to a mixed group:
1. Use plural (Artists should take care of their brushes.)
2. Use 1
st
or 2
nd
person (As an artist, you should take
care)
3. Use the passive voice (For artists, great care should be
taken with)
4. Use double pronouns (The professional artist should take
care of his or her brushes)
5. Use one (As a professional artist, one should take care
of ones brushes.)
INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE:
USE NEUTRAL TERMS
Foreman = ?
Supervisor
Housewife = ?
Homemaker
Statesman = ?
Diplomat
Spokesman = ?
Spokesperson
Fireman = ?
Firefighter
Newsman = ????
Newspaper person??
Journalist / Reporter

Members of xx
xx representatives
xx personnel


INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE:
AVOID GENDER STEREOTYPES
Avoid using pronouns solely linked with one gender
or another with certain words
Secretaries, nurses, ballerina need not be women.
Astronauts, surgeons, football players are not always men.

Avoid using feminine labels if you do not similarly
use masculine labels.
Female attorney (do you say male attorney??)
Woman doctor (do you say man doctor??)
OTHER CAUTIONS
Be careful when referring to race, religion and
ethnicity and even politics
People attach great emotional significance to such
affiliations
Mention race only if it is relevant
Do not confuse ethnicity with religion
Research religious terminologies and do not assume one
term is the same as another (e.g. priest vs minister)


CONTINUED
Be sensitive in describing age
It used to be routine in listing age in news as part of the basic
identification.
However increasingly this is no longer routine in an age of
growing personal privacy and security concerns.
Terminologies like students are more inclusive than
schoolchildren.
Fuzzy words like middle-age, senior citizen and young
adult need extra caution when used.
Describe physical characteristics with care
people with handicaps vs handicapped people
a man with AIDS vs AIDS victim
Avoid using offensive quotes
Exercise judgment even on words that may not come from you
USE MEANINGFUL LANGUAGE
Writers share meaning and communicate so that
readers accurately understand what the writers
wish to convey.

Shared meaning and accurate understanding
require that the writer and the reader apply the
same meanings to the words being used.
MEANINGFUL LANGUAGE & USING
THE RIGHT WORDS
Have a good command of your vocabulary

imply vs infer
disinterested vs uninterested
John drowned vs John was drowned
their vs there vs theyre
your vs youre

Know the difference above?
MEANINGFUL LANGUAGE & PRECISE
DESCRIPTIONS
Write concretely and specifically.
Choose the word or phrase that provides the most
accurate nuance for the situation.

The company lost a lot of money last year vs
The company lost $1.5million USD last year


As soon as possible vs In the next hour

decline vs failed to vs neglected to vs refused to




MEANINGFUL LANGUAGE & AVOIDING
JOURNALESE
Generalities, clichs, jargon and overwriting =
journalese
Journalese can become weary, stale and trite
E.g.
Temperatures soar
Costs skyrocket
Fires rage
Projects get a green light
Few and far between
Just a drop in the ocean
In a nutshell

MEANINGFUL LANGUAGE &
PRETENTIOUS LANGUAGE
Words are sometimes inflated to sound more
impressive than the facts warrant.
There may be no real harm but serious writers need to
approach this kind of language carefully.
Can obscure the real meaning
Readers can take a longer time to decipher the meaning
Readers can become cynical with your writing
E.g.
experienced vehicles, follically impaired, genuine
synthetic leather, vacation specialists
SIMPLE LANGUAGE
Good writing is simple writing.

Your readers read your writing not because they
have to but because they want to.

Readers will want to read only when they are able
to understand what you are writing.
SIMPLE LANGUAGE
1. Think before you write and then write logically.
2. Eliminate unnecessary words and phrases, and avoid
redundancies (more on this in the next segment).
3. Choose simple words. If technical words cannot be avoided,
use a simpler paraphrase to explain the concept.
4. Avoid contractions in most formal print media writing (however,
broadcast is more conversational in style).
5. Avoid creating new words or foreign constructions.
6. Avoid rhyme and alliteration (unless in feature and copywriting)
7. Use short sentences to encourage readability.
8. BUT. Vary sentence lengths and sentence structures this is one
of the standards of effective writing.
9. Choose the active voice whenever possible.


STANDARD USAGE
Use standard English
Parallel structure
Word choices avoid wordiness, clichs and slang
Grammatically correct sentence structure
Other grammar rules

It is extremely important that writers are also their
own editors know how to spot your own grammar,
spelling, punctuation and word choice mistakes.
PARALLELISM/PARALLEL STRUCTURE
Two or more equal ideas should be expressed in
parallel form.

What does parallel mean?
Balanced
Similar
Matching

EXAMPLES
Non Parallel

1. The bowl is filled with
crisp apples, juicy
oranges and bananas
that are ripe.

2. Alice likes to read
mystery novels, do
puzzles and browsing
the internet.
Parallel

1. The bowl is filled with
crisp apples, juicy
oranges and ripe
bananas.

2. Alice likes to read
mystery novels, do
puzzles and browse
the internet.
EXAMPLES
Non Parallel

Would you prefer to
spend the morning
playing basketball,
watching TV or at the
mall?

The moviegoers talked
and were rattling
popcorn boxes during
the film.
Parallel

Would you prefer to
spend the morning
playing basketball,
watching TV or
shopping at the mall?

The moviegoers talked
and rattled popcorn
boxes during the film.

Paralleled sentences read
BETTER, SMOOTHER and MORE NATURALLY.

WHEN TO USE PARALLELISM
Parallel structure always applies to two or more
equal ideas usually within the same sentence.

Some examples where it is appropriate:

1. When presenting a series of items

E.g. Popular holiday activities include visiting
relatives, lazing around the pool and travelling to a
new country.
2. When offering choices

E.g. Students could either opt to write a 10-page
report or take the final exam.

3. When making a list

E.g. Job responsibilities
1. producing scripts
2. supervising a team of 5
3. generating reports
WHICH ONE IS NOT PARALLEL?
1. to gather information
2. to generate ideas
3. writing several drafts

1. couple argued
2. crying baby
3. neighbours eavesdropped

1. selfish
2. lacking kindness
3. impatient


WORD CHOICES
Not all writing problems involve grammar. A
sentence may be grammatically correct yet fail
to communicate effectively because of words
that the writer has chosen.

Wordiness, slang and clichs are three enemies
of effective communication.

BE CONCISE
Nobody wants to read a wordy news article with
lots of unnecessary words.

Making your writing direct and concise:
1. helps bring your point straight across
2. prevents ambiguity or confusion
3. decreases the chances of grammar or spelling
errors


WORDY
1. In this article, I am planning to describe the
hobby that I enjoy of collecting old comic books.

2. In Bens opinion, he thinks cable television will
change and alter our lives in the future.

3. At this point in time, we have not yet scheduled
the date of the inquiry.

Can you find a more direct way to write the
above sentences?
CLEAR & DIRECT
1. I enjoy collecting comic books due to many
reasons.

2. Ben thinks cable television will change our lives.

3. We have yet to schedule the inquiry.

Wordy Expressions

At this point in time
In the event that
Few in number
Made the decision to
Postponed until later
Small/big in size
Blue in colour
During the time that
Due to the fact that
Each and every day
Return back
Etc.

Shorter Versions

Now
If
Few
Decided
Postponed
Small/big
Blue
While
Because
Daily
Return
Etc.
AVOID SLANG
Slang expressions are part of our everyday
language. They may be lively and fun to use in a
casual conversation but does not generally belong
in formal writing.

Whats more, not everyone understands the
meaning of certain slang words as, by nature, slang
is frequently used by limited social groups and
changes with time.
E.G. OF SLANG PHRASES TO AVOID
1. losing his marbles
2. dude
3. far out
4. wicked
5. ripped off
6. lucked out
7. etc.



Can you think of any more?

AVOID CLICHS
Clichs are commonplace expressions that might
have sounded clever or even funny once.

But over time, too many people have used them
and it becomes boring to read.

Dont be lazy if you wish to write creatively, find
original ways to say what you mean, not use other
peoples worn-out sayings.
E.G. OF CLICHS TO AVOID
1. Avoid like the plague (so pass we dont have
plague anymore)

2. Busy as a bee (cutesy!)

3. Dog-tired (only dogs can be tired??)

4. It goes without saying (if so, then why are you
saying it?)

5. Pretty as a picture (have you seen some of the
abstract art out there?!)

Can you think of any more??

UNGRAMMATICAL
SENTENCES
KEY TERMS
Clause: a group of words with subject and verb

Subject = The do-er of the action in a sentence

Verb = The action word in a sentence

He / She / It / John / The monster / The mansion
(subject)

eats / thinks / throws up / manipulates/ chomps
(verb)
CONTINUED

Independent clause: a clause that expresses a
complete thought and is able to stand alone and be
a grammatical sentence on its own.

E.g.
1. The monster chomps on a sandwich.
2. The truck ran over a cherry blossom petal.



CONTINUED

Dependent clause: A clause that does not express a
complete thought and is not able to stand alone
(ungrammatical as a sentence of its own).

E.g.
1. X As the town burned down.
2. X Because he was uneducated.
Compare with:
1. Citizens of Doomsville continued to sleep soundly,
as the town burned down.
2. Because he was uneducated, Johns success was
the result of much toil.

CONTINUED
Fragment: a group of words without a subject or a
verb (e.g. phrase) or a dependent clause.

E.g.
1. For example, my mother, my father and my great-
grandmother.
2. Such as Jasmine.
3. When she left.
4. After the fact.



A. FUSED SENTENCES
A fused sentence is a sentence made up of two
independent clauses with no punctuation separating
them.

E.g. Exam anxiety is a very real condition some symptoms are
stomach cramps and headaches.

Solution:
1) Break it up into two standalone sentences
(independent clauses)
2) Add punctuation and/or linking words.
3) Add punctuation and change one part into a
dependent clause.
Fused sentence




Computer skills
are useful in
university they will
help you in the
job market as
well.


Corrected sentence

1. Computer skills are useful
in university. They will help
you in the job market as
well.

2. In addition to being useful
in university, computer
skills will help you in the
job market as well.

3. Computer skills are useful
in university, and they will
help you in the job market
as well.
B. COMMA SPLICES
When a comma separates two independent clauses,
the result is called a comma splice.

E.g. Kandy was always nervous about tests, her grades were usually
the highest.

Solution:
1.Use a full stop or a semi-colon, depending on
context
2.Place a joining word after the comma
3.Introduce a dependent clause by adding a
dependent word to one part of the sentence




Comma splice




My alarm clock
rang like a fire
bell, I slowly
rolled out of
bed.


Corrected sentence

1. My alarm clock rang
like a fire bell; I slowly
rolled out of bed.

2. I slowly rolled out of
bed when my alarm
clock rang like a fire
bell.

3. My alarm clock rang
like a fire bell, so I slowly
rolled out of bed.
C. FRAGMENTS
Fragments are a group of words that is LESS than a
sentence.

It either:
1. lacks a verb
2. lacks a subject ,or
3. does not express a complete thought
(dependent clause)
EXAMPLES OF FRAGMENTS
The manager always wears a tie to work. Then takes
it off by 10am.

I like to eat seafood. For example prawns, crabs
and oysters.

She refuses to lend me the money. Unless I told her
why I needed it.

I could not finish my assignment. For I was really ill
last night.

Almost everyone loves ice-cream. Especially vanilla.
CORRECTING FRAGMENTS
Add the fragment to the sentence before or after
it you may need to include a comma, dash or
other appropriate punctuation.

Add a subject to the fragment to create an
independent clause.
Fragment



Many university
students
experience a
great deal of
stress. For
instance, about
money, grades
and personal
relationships.


Corrected sentence

1. Many university students
experience a great deal
of stress for instance,
about money, grades
and personal
relationships.

2. Many university students
experience a great deal
of stress. For instance,
they worry about money,
grades and personal
relationships.
SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
He (subject) IS (verb)
They (subject) ARE (verb)
Neither the copyeditors nor the editor IS correct.
The parents and their child ARE in agreement.
The management IS pleased.
Ethics IS important.
The media IS allowed to attend.
Anybody, everyone, everybody, nobody IS.
Some of the book WAS destroyed.
Some of the workers WERE late for work.

MODIFIER PLACEMENT
1. The only editor of the magazine recently
complained about the photographer.
2. The editor of the only magazine recently
complained about the photographer.
3. The editor of the magazine only recently
complained about the photographer.
4. The editor of the magazine recently complained
only about the photographer.
5. The editor of the magazine recently complained
about the only photographer.


OTHER POSSIBLE ERRORS

1. Use verb forms correctly e.g. tenses past, present,
future.
2. Check spelling
3. Check capitalisation
4. Check use of correct punctuation
5. Check other careless errors (spacing between
letters and punctuation)

BMC 1154
MEDIA WRITING
Interviewing
Sources of Information
Reporting What Others Say
Interviewing & Sources of Information
What is an interview?
An extraction of information from a source
Anytime, anywhere not limited to formal face-to-
face interview
No standard form each interview differs depending
on the subject and the circumstances of the story
Print, broadcast and PR interviews may differ slightly
different objectives, different needs
Print need longer, more detailed quotations that are
useful in substantial stories
Broadcast prefer brief, emotionally rich sound bites
suitable for newscasts. For broadcasts, some interviews are
important only in that they show the viewers that they are
on the scene, keeping up with whats happening.
PR want positive, encouraging explanations appropriate
for company news releases etc.


Why interview?
For facts and information directly from the source
For details and background
For quotes and sound bites
For information we do not have
For information we already have but cannot say it
ourselves
For verification / confirmation that information we already
have is correct
For being up-to-the-moment in terms of news-gathering
Kinds of interviews and subjects
Factual interviews
Relatively neutral atmosphere
Interviewer primarily seeks impartial information
Interviews that only seek factual information could often been done on
the phone or via emails, text messages or social networking sites.
Positive interviews
Interviewer tries to establish a warm, comfortable atmosphere
Why? So that subject could talk candidly and expansively about
feelings, experiences, beliefs etc.
Often done in person (face-to-face)
Negative interviews
Interviewer must struggle in an adversarial way
To obtain admissions, confirmations from unwilling/hostile subject
Often done in person or in an ambush situation
Preparing for an interview
A great interview rarely just happens without preparation, and
an interview does not begin only upon the asking of questions.

Much forethought, homework and legwork are needed before the
actual task.

1. Choosing sources and subjects
2. Persuading reluctant interview subjects
3. Requesting the interview & choosing the method
4. Background research on subject and subject matter
5. Formulating the interview questions
6. Asking the questions
7. Writing up the story

Choosing sources and subjects
Who are you interviewing?
How many people do you need to interview to find out all
you need to know?
What do you want to find out from each of your subject?
How many interviews would you need altogether?

Not all subjects are equal:
Higher name recognition
Greater credibility
Highly knowledgeable about specialised topics
Effusive in sharing that may lead you to other people you should
interview next
Witty, blunt, elusive, reticent



Are your subjects familiar with being interviewed?
There is a difference between interviewing people used to
facing the media and those who are not.
Think celebrities vs. your neighbour
Interviewing people unfamiliar with media:
May choose time and place to put subject at ease
Focus on relaxing subject to get answers to questions
being interviewed by journalist can be intimidating
May spend more time on preliminary chat before asking
questions

Continued
Identify valuable subjects by asking:
Who is the person or people I most need to talk to in order to tell
this story in an accurate, balanced and comprehensive way?

Story: Rabbit just won Best Rodent at a local pet event.
Who should you interview??
1. Rabbit owner
2. Rabbit owners family
3. Sponsor of the show
4. Judge who selected the winner
5. Breeder of the rabbit species


Continued
Story: Investigative story on rising crime rate in the city

Who should you interview??
Persuading reluctant interview subjects
In most neutral reporting situations, obtaining information is relatively
straightforward. Typically, most public officials, employees,
spokespeople etc. are willing to oblige.
Less willing interviewees - need to establish some kind of trust level
between you and the subject. May need to visit multiple times or
employ certain techniques:
1. Request for only a few minutes of their time interviewee is usually
agreeable to extending the interview from then.
2. Foster rapport with the gatekeeper the secretary / receptionist
that stands between you and the subject.
3. Catch your potential subject in a more conducive environment
away from work or during lunch hour.
4. Convince the subject that telling his side of the story will benefit
him.
5. Convince the subject that you are the best person to tell his story.
Handling hostile/uncommunicative sources
Do not prosecute (sound adversarial or accusatory)
Be sympathetic
Reason with the source
Try to understand sources position
Opportunity to respond
Avoid no comment
Keep asking questions
Ease up on tough questions temporarily
Interviewing PR people
Do let them:
Give you background
information
Arrange access for
interview
Let you know where the
source can be found for
comment
Provide one perspective
on the news
Dont let them:
Dictate the terms and
conditions of an
interview
Spin the angles in your
news story
Deny you legitimate
access to an interviewee
Interview methods
Face-to-face
Telephone
Tele-conferencing
Email
Social networking
Skype, Whatsapp etc.



Face-to-face, Phone or Email?



Face-to-face
Best for information gathering, but also most time-consuming
Often requires forward planning
Generally used where no other way of getting information (e.g. at scene of
disaster), or when personal element is required (e.g. profile story)
Generally preferred by reporters chance to establish greater rapport with
subject
Phone
Most widely used
Quick, easy, often doesnt need prior organisation
Dont have to leave office but lose benefit of body language etc
Email
Generally a last resort, or if no other means of contact available little
spontaneity or direct contact
Can be useful for factual information, but not so much for opinion as people tend
to be much more guarded in writing
Where?
Put subject at ease and choose a comfortable
environment (their home, their office, your office,
neutral place)
Good place to take notes
Good place for photos if needed
Comfortable seating
Not too much background noise
Privacy

Preparation
Do sufficient background research do not ask subjects
things that you can already find out on your own
Organise a place and time to suit you or interview subject
Proposed direction think about what you are trying to
achieve / objective of your interview
Prepare questions think about what you want to ask

Prepare your equipment recorder, notepad, pen,
camera/cameraman
Why research?
Feel confident about the interview

Know what questions to ask

Sound well-informed

Find out what has been asked and published before
Find out the type of person you would be interviewing and
tailor your interview accordingly
Obtain meaningful answers
Have an idea of the story angle although this may change
Know the jargon of the topic involved

Research on topic
What is the background of the issue?
How has the issue arisen?
Who are the key players?
What are the key aspects of issue?
How has it developed over time?
What has happened most recently?
Research on the subject/interviewee
What is their background?
Date & place of birth
Career path
Personal information
What have others said about them?
Career/personal highlights/lowlights
Sources of background information
News archives
Pictorial archives
Government reports
Media releases
Specialist reference books
The internet
Company annual reports
Other people friends, competitors,
associates, family, ex-bosses
Reference books (eg Whos Who)

Key points for interviews
Be prepared
Arrive early or at least on time
Leave enough time to get lost/held up at traffic lights/deal
with any last minute preparation
Identify yourself
Dress and act appropriately
Be polite and show respect
Concentrate and listen
Maintain eye contact

Note-taking
Audio recorder or hand written notes short hand?
Which is more intrusive? Note-taking needs to
unobstrusive
Which requires more time post-interview?
Which allows for more accurate record of the interview?
Not every word needs to be taken down
Not unprofessional to ask interviewee to hold on a
second, I want to be sure Ive gotten what you said down
accurately
Ok to read back some wording for verification
Ok to restate in your own words to clarify the information if
you dont understand what the interviewer said
Interview & questioning styles
Types of interview
Funnel
Inverted funnel
Questions
Closed-ended
Open-ended
Loaded
Follow-up
Questions for different
forms of media
Broadcast questions
Print questions
PR questions
Electronic questions
Funnel interview style
Background questions first
Followed by open-ended questions
Followed by closed questions/adversarial ones
Ask the toughest and most threatening
questions towards the end why??
Time factor is less important in this case
Suitable for people unfamiliar with media
interviews

Inverted funnel interview style
Tough questions first
Then fill in details later if time allows
Time crucial quick answers


Close-ended questions
Invite yes/no response
Good for confirmation/denial
Can also be used to answer with one word or phrase
Good for pinning down a subject for a specific
confirmation
Drawback - Could produce incomplete/superficial
answers
Drawback - Could let the subject get away with
monosyllabic responses


Open-ended questions
Invite subjects to expand on his or her responses
To be answered in more than one word
Allows subjects to explore something the reporter
may not have anticipated
Crucial principle is to avoid using a close-ended
question when you want to obtain an open-ended
answer.
Drawback subject may go off tangent or choose to
say only what they wish to dwell on and not what
you (the reporter) wishes to find out.

Loaded & follow up questions
Loaded questions
Sometimes called biased or leading questions
Imply that the questioner has already made up
his/her mind about what the right answer is
Usually avoided unless used for certain kinds of
investigative interviews


Follow-up questions
In respond to a previous answer given by subject
Allows exploration of a tangential topic

Examples
Do you agree to the statement made by the PM today?

What was the most embarrassing moment in your theatre
career?

Describe your strategy for the winning the marathon.

What did you do with the money you took from the charitys
fund?

How old are you?

You believe the president liked the intern, dont you?


Questioning for broadcast
Broadcast interviews typically brief news or spot interviews
inserted into a radio story or newscast
Sound bites quotable quotes for TV
Hence broad cast interviews not only for information
gathering but presenting as well
Simpler, more straightforward and more conversational
Often times, could be leading
Usually use an open-ended approach

You must read a lot of good things about yourself in the papers. Whats
that like?

How did you react to learning that you were the No. 1 ranked squash
player in the world?

Questioning for print
In print, readers seldom see and never hear the questions that
originally produced what is quoted in the story
Hence, vocabulary level of the interview questions are targeted at the
level of the subject and not the reader
A common language with the subject also puts him/her more at
ease, create a semblance of similarity that suggests the reporter
has a sympathetic ear
Print stories more in-depth, longer stories (c.f. broadcast)
Hence, more open-ended questions because print journalists are
searching for full-sentence, quotable responses.
Print journalists could afford to listen to subject ramble as this could
lead to other lines of inquiry that can make interesting spin-offs or
links (online newspaper) to their stories.
Questioning for PR use
PR practitioner doing the interviewing may not be able to
afford offending the subject a client, a boss, a supplier.
Difficult questions may be rebuffed.
Nevertheless, questions could not just be all positive-spin
and full.
Still require substance and newsworthiness especially
if one wishes the media to use and print the resulting
news releases quoting the interview materials.
PR news releases are still serious media writing.
Questioning for electronic media
If a subject is reticent and prefers to think over their responses
carefully before answering, an email or other form of
asynchronous interview may work better.
However, not all sources have time to write full responses even
if it is an electronic interview
Plus there is a lack of opportunity for immediate follow up
questions
Body language and environmental details are also key aspects
thatre missing
Advantage: electronic responses to questions are permanently
in writing no need to worry about note-taking, indicates exact
date and time of questioning and can service as evidence of
when and how a given question is answered.
Working with interview subjects
Dress appropriately to complement your demeanour
Begin with small talk / warm up
Start with straightforward questions
Know where you want to start be in control of the interview
Be precise in what you are asking / keep questions simple to
understand
Ask one thing at a time
Dont be afraid to ask tough questions
Be cordial - you can be firm but not abrasive when subject
digresses
Know what youre asking do not umm, ahh or fumble with
your questions

Continued
Be prepared to back off if subject becomes
emotional or argumentative
Respond / Use vocal cues yeah, yes, uh huh, hmm
Be a good listener / Dont interrupt
Use silence effectively do not rush your subject or
hasten to fill in a pause
If you dont get an answer the first time ask again
Your views arent important
Observe surroundings, body language, facial
expression, tone of voice

Checklist
Correct spelling and title
Age, address
Anything you are not sure of
Exchange telephone numbers for further
contact or clarification
What can go wrong?
Interviewee / subject
Intentional falsehood
Faulty memory
Lack of information
Misunderstanding the question
Interviewer / writer
Questions that confuse
Personal bias that misinterprets answers
Failure to be persistent in questioning
Closing the interview before its finished

Finding the angle to your story
Concentrating and listening
Whats different or new about the information?
What details distinguish this story from others of its
kind?
What will grab the attention of readers, listeners or
viewers?
On and off the record
On the record reporter allowed to use anything the
source says and to quote the speaker, identifying him or
her by name.
Off the record information cannot be quoted and
cannot be used in any other way.
Information for background but not for attribution can
be published but the source must not be identified.

Checklist for interviewing
Do background research
Timing of interview
Write down questions or topics
Record/note interview inconspicuously
Ask for clarification
Observe
Be tough but fair
Relax
INTERVIEWING
Reporting what others say
Weaving interviews into news stories
1. Make decisions about the worth and usefulness of
statements people make:
Are they valid?
Valuable?
Necessary to include in your story?

2. Any information obtained from a personal interview or
document must be attributed, or identified as coming
from someone or something.
3. Always identify the source of information when the
information is not common knowledge.
Why use quotes?
There are three main reasons why you should use quotes
in print journalism:
1. If you repeat the exact words which people themselves
used, you will reduce the risk of misreporting what they
said.
2. When we give a person's exact words, our readers can see
both the persons ideas and the way they were presented
(by the person).
3. It gives readers the flavor of someone elses speech and
lets them listen to more colourful language than the
reporters (remember: reporter has no leeway to write
colourfully especially in hard news reporting).
Types of quotations
Direct quotes
American women still work longer hours than men and are paid less
for doing so, the president of a leading womens rights group said
today.

Indirect quotes paraphrasing
What the police said:
Police: Themanhe was beaten up. And then they the
robbers they let him die on the floor.
What the writer paraphrased into:
Police said the victim had been assaulted and left for dead.

Partial quotes
Jones described the proposal as mind-boggling.
Why and why not quotes
A story without the use of direct or indirect quotes lacks
immediacy, credibility, colour and emotion.

A story with too many quotes resembles a transcription,
with the writer only functioning as a human recorder.

A story with ONLY indirect or partial quotes may appear to
the reader as being written by someone who was not at
the scene or is rewriting from another source of
information.

Use of partial quotes is useful when the speaker of the
quotes use words/phrases that are clearer, catchier or
more expressive than what the reporter could hope to
achieve in a paraphrase.
More on quotes
Direct quotes must be accurate. Do not omit or edit words
without explicitly indication (e.g. use of elipsis ).

But. Brackets and ellipses use sparingly.

Dont make your story only a list of direct quotes.

Use quotes that add something to the story.

Introduce a new speaker before you quote him/her.

Retain present tense in direct quotes, change to past
when paraphrasing.

Attribution
Attribution tells an audience who gave information to a reporter.

Adds authenticity and authority to story; makes it clear its not
the reporter expressing opinion.

Attribution not required when relating a fact something that
has happened or is obviously true.

Attribution is required when a reporter is repeating the
opinion/ideas/thoughts of a source.

Particularly important when opinion is potentially controversial,
revelatory, speculative.

Attributing potentially defamatory information does not absolve
the reporter of responsibility.
Stories that use plenty of quotations
Speech stories (e.g. covering a press conference or an
event)

Interview Stories (personal profile, one-on-one interviews)

Question-and-Answer stories (e.g. interview stories
presented in a Q&A, chronological manner)

Survey stories (e.g. a news stories covering statistics or
other facts revealed)
END

BMC 1154 Media Writing
Feature Writing Part 1
What are Feature Articles
Generating Feature Ideas
Structuring Feature Articles


HOUSEKEEPING
Assignment #1
Will be introduced to you in tutorial this week
Please download assignment brief from TIMeS
This is a compulsory-submission assignment
Due date Week 8 (Friday 16 May 2014,
12PM)

Definitions of a feature story
A feature story is somewhat like the taste of an
apple or the sound of a breeze rustling through the
trees. It is rather easy to recognise but hard to define
precisely in words (Izard, 1971)

It is one which presents human emotions through the
use of a characteristically relaxed style of writing.
Features often
Profile people who make the news
Explain events that move or shape the news
Analyse what is happening in the world, nation or
community
Teach an audience how to do something
Suggest better ways to live
Examine trends
Entertain

What exactly is Feature Writing?
Think of the feature story as a news story written like a
piece of short fiction.

You must combine the rigors of factual reporting with
the creative freedom of short-story writing.

The feature storys form must be more fluid than that
of a news story
the inverted pyramid style wont work here
because the story needs a definite beginning, middle
and end.

The readers wont be able to scan a few paragraphs
they will have to read the whole story to understand
it.

A feature story is usually not always related to a
current event, but it could be.

Feature stories place a greater emphasis on facts that
have human interest.

Features put people in the story
they make the reader think and care.

You can write a feature story about anyone if you find
an unusual angle that captures the interest of your
readers.


Features Stories
Appeal to the emotional
side of the readers.
Do not need to be timely
or concise. Story unfolds
as it is written.
Can be written less
formally than a hard news
story.
Might include an
interesting, odd or heart-
warming story.
Are presented in a variety
of journalistic styles.
Flowery language.
News Stories
Current affairs that affect
the readers.
Are timely and concise.
Include all key
information (5Ws & 1H)
in the first paragraph.
Present the most
important information
first and the less
important details towards
the end.
Headlines or first few
pages of the publication.




Two kinds of Features
Generally feature stories are of two kinds:
News features, which are usually written as a
follow-up or as a sidebar story that is linked to a
breaking news event.
Timeless story, which does not have to be used
immediately. The information in this story will be
just as relevant if saved for a future issue.

Continued
In either type of feature story, good reporting is
essential.
You collect as many (accurate, attributed and credible)
details as possible.
You describe people, settings and feelings, the
elements of storytelling.
When all the details are added together, the reader is
placed in the scene you are describing.

Sidebars & News Pegs
A sidebar is:
An article that accompanies and appears beside the main
news story. E.g. additional information related to the
main article (main bar) lay out in a side box next to the
main article (or sometimes it can even appear elsewhere
in the publication).
A news peg is:
the slant what makes your feature timely or newsworthy
to your readers. E.g. your feature is a timeless piece on
fashion mistakes made by Hollywood stars but the news
peg of this article is the Yays and Nays of the fashion
choices by stars who attended a recent awards ceremony.

Generating feature ideas
Naturally, interesting material results
from many factors, most of which can
be lumped under two main
characteristics: human interest and
incongruity.

Continued
Human interest is any event or idea that appeals to
people more or less naturally and not necessarily
because it has significance to their everyday
activities.

Sex, children and animals command peoples
interest.

And then there are: Self-interest, sympathy,
corruption, progress, conflict, disaster, hero-worship,
adventure, spirituality and success. And more.

Continued
Incongruity or the unexpected or novelty is another
element common in a feature story.

Incongruity involves a set of circumstances in a
story in which the result our experience would lead
us to expect does not occur. (Izard)


Continued
There are no restrictions on your choice of subject
matter when it comes to features. You are limited
only by your imagination.

Often a feature story is a simple story about a
common person in an uncommon circumstance.

The features job is to find a fresh angleto find the
story behind the person.

Generating Feature Ideas

Ideas generated from observation
Ideas generated from reading
Ideas generated from experience

Observing the environment
Observing people and their behaviour
Ideas generated from observation
Observing the environment
What is meant by the term environment?
What are some of the interesting things about your
environment?
What effects do such environments have on you or
your readers?
Look around you and observe:
What your friends wear to college = article about
current fashion trends among Generation Y
Trees and flowers = article about how a non-descript
Malaysian town can exude European charm with the
right landscaping
Questions aroused by curiosity can often be developed
into article ideas.


Observing people & their behaviour
Ideas for articles can emerge from our observations of
people and their behaviour.
E.g. at home, you may choose to observe how
members of your family interact with one another.
Perhaps you observed how loving your mother was
to your younger sibling and how impatient she was
with you.
What kind of article can arise from this observation?
Could you come up with some questions which
could then be developed into ideas for feature
articles?
Continued
You observe on campus that certain types of students like
to congregate in certain types of places.
What questions could you pose about this behaviour?

You observe the traffic to and from Uni is very bad at
certain times.
What story ideas could you produce after observing the
situation?

You observe certain behaviours among your friends that
made you curious to find out more.
Could you imagine some ideas that might lead to feature
articles?
Reading newspapers
Reading other printed materials

Ideas generated from reading
Whats in a newspaper?
News: International & Local
Letters to the Editor
Cartoons/Comic Strips
Editorials
Sports
Family/Lifestyle
Arts/Culture
Economic/Business
Columns
Classified
Advertisements
Movie Schedules
Education
Horoscope
Health
Obituaries
Youth
TV Schedule
Religion
Information Technology
Weather Report / Tide
Schedule
Muslim Prayer Schedule
Crossword Puzzles
Developing ideas from within the
newspaper
Feature writers can develop story ideas from various
parts of the newspaper.

E.g. whilst reading a hard news story, a writer could
develop an idea and propose to write a story from a
human interest angle based on the news article.

Lets look at a hard news story and see what type of
feature ideas we can develop.

What can we make of this?
Sex predator gets 40 years jail, 24
strokes
17 Jan 2007
A. Hafiz Yatim and Teresa Yong

KUALA LUMPUR: Ismail Shah
Abdul Wahab is a sex predator who
asked his victims for directions
before abducting and raping them.

He would drive around in his car
pretending to ask for directions to
the nearest mosque or a religious
school.

His victims were young women
and schoolgirls. He would persuade
his victims to enter the car to show
him the way before taking them to
his apartment and raping them.

Yesterday, the Sessions Court made
sure the 23-year-old paid for his
crimes when he was sentenced to
40 years and 10 months jail.

Judge Nursinah Adzmi also ordered
that he be whipped 24 times in the
proceedings which lasted more
than two hours at the Sessions
Court yesterday.

Nursinah, in passing sentence, said
Ismails actions were disgusting
and shameful.

"He took advantage of young
women and schoolgirls. Despite
being married, he used his victims
to fulfil his lust and desire.

"The victims and their families are
now faced with long-term trauma
as a result of the ordeal," she said.

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Wednesday/National/20070117085659/Article/local1_html
Ideas from other print materials
- Books
- Vehicle Number Plates
- Journals
- Notices
- Magazines
- Bills
- Comics
- Instructions on do-it-
yourself
- Billboards
- Road Signs
- Labels on products &
consumer items
- Banners
- Names of
shops/businesses
- Various brochures
- T-shirt messages
Ideas generated from experiences
Your own experience
Other peoples experiences

Your own experiences
Your own personal experiences are like a bottomless
vessel from which you can draw and develop feature
story ideas.

Some of these experiences include:
- Happy moments - Exciting escapades
- Sad experiences - Amazing incidents
- Humorous episodes - Unbelievable
- Frightening times coincidences
Other peoples experiences
You can also develop feature ideas from listening to
other peoples experiences.


These can be sad or happy, humorous or serious,
exciting or boring and unusual or mundane.


E.g. you are listening to your friend telling you about
how she suffers from acne. What type of feature
article ideas could you generate from this
information?
Continued
E.g. You overhear someone on the LRT narrate their
frustrating experience at the local passport renewal
office. What type of ideas does this revelation
provide you with?

Peoples experiences on how they survived
calamities or disasters could also generate ideas for
feature articles. These would be my most
unforgettable experience type of article or narrative.
Key characteristics of feature writing
Feature writing is often marked out by:
Colour: small details adding life to writing
Observation: description of people/events
Context: scene setting
Opinion/slant: writer or publications worldview
Quotes: most features draw on original material/sources
Narrative/motion: storytelling/keeping the piece moving
forward
Debate: discussion/argument
Activity: showing people doing things (action)
Talk: let the subjects speak at length (direct
quotes/dialogue)
Planning a feature

Organising interviews: Features benefit greatly from
original, interesting quotes from related
sources/people of interest.

Accessing background material: press cuttings, other
interviews, listening to music, watching films /
programmes, other kinds of research etc.

Deciding on the tone/angle of piece: what aspect pf
the topic are you going to go for? Positive, negative,
unusual, cause, effect, impact, humorous, tragic,
sarcastic. Sometimes, this can be dictated by the
publication.

Continued
Before you begin writing:
focus on the main idea you want to get across
organize your information
eliminate that which does not go along with your
focus
Focusing is narrowing your topic reducing a large
amount of information to a usable amount.

Continued
5 questions which might help get a feature started:

1. What is the most interesting fact?
2. What is the best anecdote?
3. What is the most sensational quote?
4. What is the most surprising event?
5. What is the did you know that factor?

Organising a feature article

The lead
The body
The conclusion

The lead

The lead is the introduction in a feature story & the
beginning of the story.

Must intrigue the reader, set the tone of the story and
move the reader to the body of the story in a logical
manner.

Need not be in an inverted pyramid format, unlike
news stories.

Continued
The beginning of the story must pull the reader in.
The first sentence must make the reader want to read
the second sentence.
The lead should contain a hook, a detail that draws
in the readers attention.

Types of feature leads
There are many types of leads that can be used to begin a
feature. The following are examples of the more commonly
used ones:

1. Chronological Lead relates the beginning of the
action

2. Delayed Lead does not reveal the identity of the
person, group, place or event that is central to the story
until a few paragraphs into the story

Continued
3. Descriptive Lead paints a word portrait of a person,
group, place or event
A descriptive lead is also sometimes called a
situation lead if a scene is set or an atmosphere is
created.


4. Quotation Lead the choice of quote is usually tied to
some sort of description of the person speaking or the
setting in which the quotation occurs.
Continued
Whatever style of lead you choose for your article,
remember:

An effective lead makes a promise to the reader,
that the writer has something important and
interesting to tell them.

A good lead beckons, invites, informs, attracts and
entices

The best kind of leads are anecdotal (based on
personal account) in nature.


The body
The body of the feature should exhibit the following
principles:

i. Unity/Cohesiveness means that the main theme
is threaded through the article and anything not
relevant to the theme is removed.

ii. Coherence means that what is written flows
naturally from one idea to the next, from one
paragraph to the next. Transitions which link the
different segments of the feature, make its
arrangement logical and orderly.


Continued
The main body of the feature article should consist of
several blocks, each representing a different aspect of
the main story. (William E. Blundell)

It's always a good idea to pepper your blocks with
quotes and examples to make it more interesting
and credible.

The conclusion
The ending should make you feel that the writer has
achieved his or her purpose, whatever that was.

Sums up or reinforces the central message of the
article.

In other words, your article should be able to provide
answers to questions and solutions to problems.
Continued
Various types of endings / conclusions used in a
feature:
- Summary ending: sums up the major theme of the
article.

- Quotation ending: ends with a choice quote.

- Climatic ending: ends on a high note (e.g. of an
event)

- Circle technique or cut-back ending: a
restatement of the lead phrased in somewhat
different language but serving to emphasise the
important statements made at the beginning and to
round up the whole article
The Blundell Technique
Outline of the Blundell Technique:

1. The Lead (Intro up to 3 paragraphs)
2. Nut Graph (Angle thesis statement )
3. Main Body (Blocks structured in)
4. Conclusion (Ending reinforcement of message)
What is the Nut Graph
The Nut Graph is a paragraph that explains your
entire article in a nutshell. (Nutshell paragraph)

Many writers find the Nut Graph to be the hardest
aspect of feature writing.

Once theyve figured out their Nut Graph, everything
else falls into place easily.


(Three paragraph intro)
For five days, Alice's husband, high on drugs, threatened to kill her.
He hit her and abused her.

Terrified, Alice fled the house when she finally got the chance and ran
to a local business to call the police.

He would kill me. He's very scary, Alice said. He would walk
through walls if he had to.

(Nut Graph)
The police advised her to contact the Domestic Violence Resource
Center in Hillsboro, and Alice found her way there, turning around her
life.

The anecdotal lead above uses one specific example to
illustrate a larger topic. In this case, Alice's story is a
gateway to a larger story on the Domestic Violence
Resource Center.


The nut graph
The relationship between the lead and the Nut Graph
can be thought of in this way:

The intro highlights an individual case. The Nut
Graph, meanwhile, illustrates how that individual
case is actually representative of a bigger trend or
how it fits into a bigger overall picture.

Central to this approach is the Nut Graph. Without it,
you really dont have a story.

Blundell calls it the main theme statement, the
single most important bit of writing I do on any
story.
Continued
Nut Graph is a paragraph that says what this whole
story is about and why you should read it. It's a flag to
the reader, high up in the story: You can decide to
proceed or not, but if you read no farther, you know what
that story's about.

Remember, in the Blundell Technique, up to three
paragraphs can be used for the introduction (but never
more than three).
Another e.g. of the Blundell Technique used in a story in the
Financial Times:
(Three paragraph intro)
Physicists are just like the rest of us in at least one respect. When they go
online to search for information, they expect the earth.
Bebo White, who runs the website for the Stanford Linear Accelerator
Center, a high-energy physics laboratory in California, knows this all
too well. "They get very frustrated if we don't return good results, and
quickly, says Mr White.

(Nut Graph)
Call it the Google Effect. Expectations of search engines have
skyrocketed. Whether it involves complex specialist knowledge or the
completely trivial, there is a general belief that everything should be
available instantly, at the click of a mouse.
How to write the nut graph
To identify the Nut Graph, ask yourself the following
question:

What is this story really about? in one word/phrase.

Greed, politics, sacrifice, loss, redemption, family, hope,
freedom? It could be any of these things. But once you know
what your story is about, you will have focus.

A good story should leave a single, dominant impression.
This is called your angle.

Now all you have to do is to express your angle in two or
three sentences.

That is your Nut Graph.


Main Blocks (The body)
Another aspect of the Blundell technique is called the
Blocks which is used to organise materials for
feature stories.

The body of the story should comprise a series of
information blocks.

However, these blocks are not about time (i.e. not in
a chronological order) theyre organised by topic.

E.g. In a story about egg production, one block might be
about foreign competition. Another might be about the
environmental effects of an egg farm. Another might be
about daily work on the farm.
Continued
The blocks are arranged in the way that seems to best
support the focus of the story.

The block structure pares down a big, overwhelming
writing job into manageable chunks for writer and
reader alike.

Each block should make its point with three facts,
examples, proofs or quotes. (Two are too few; four
are overkill).
Blundell has six key blocks that he would use in his
feature articles:

History: Whats the background to this situation?
Scope: What is the extent of the problem?
Cause: Why is this happening?
Impact: Who and what is affected by this?
Action of contrary forces: Who is doing what about
this?
The future: How is it going to be in the coming days,
weeks, months and years?

Not all these blocks need to be included in your final
story. Nor must they appear in the order presented
above. But if you have the material to answer all six
questions above, you've got the ingredients for a very
good feature.
Structure
-After you have written the lead, you need a structure
in which to place the information.

- A structure is an organisational pattern the writer
uses to synthesise (or establish relationships
between) relevant pieces of information.

Finding the right voice
You have many voices. E.g. you speak to your friends
differently when compared to your parents or your
teachers. If you have a job, you have a voice for your
boss.
When you write a story, you take on a persona, or
character. Choose a voice that best imparts the
information in that story serious, professional,
sarcastic, humorous, maternal etc.
The choice you make becomes the tone or mood of the
story, and it should always match the content or the
slant. Common sense: you would not use humor to
write about a tragic auto accident.

Checking your article
Flow
Fairness how those involved are portrayed
Facts making sure these are accurate

End
Media Writing
Feature Writing Part 2
Descriptives
Profiles
Narratives
How-to-do-its
Reviews
Analyses
Recap
A feature story is an article in a newspaper, a
magazine, or a news website that is not meant to
report breaking news, but to take an in-depth look at
issues behind a news story, often concentrating on
background events, persons or circumstances.

While there are no clear guidelines on what exactly
consists a feature story, they often add a more
human touch to reporting, while the time elapsed
between an event and breaking the story is less
critical than in traditional news reports.
Recap
The features themselves are written in a less urgent
fashion than news stories, sometimes taking several
paragraphs to arrive at the main story while trying to
engage the reader and keep them reading by
employing narrative hooks*.

Feature stories often delve deeper into their
subjects, expanding on the details rather than trying
to concentrate on a few important key points.

The writing style of the articles can be more
colourful and employ a more complex narrative
structure*, sometimes resembling the style of a
nonfiction book more than a news report.



Recap
As the print media faces ever stiffer competition
from other sources of news, feature stories are
becoming more common because they can be more
engaging to read.

At many newspapers, news stories are sometimes
written in feature style, adopting some of the
conventions of feature writing while still covering
breaking events.

Wire services such as the Associated Press which
previously made a point of distributing only news,
now also include feature stories.
*Narrative Hook
A narrative hook (or hook) is a literary technique in
the opening of a story that "hooks the reader's
attention so that he will read on. The "opening" may
consist of several paragraphs for a short story, or
several pages for a novel, but ideally, it is the
opening sentence.

One of the most common forms is dramatic action,
which engages the reader into wondering what the
consequences of the action will be.

But action is not, in itself, a hook, without the
reader's wondering what will happen next, or what
caused the actions to occur.
*Narrative Structure
Narrative structure is generally described as
the structural framework that underlies the order and
manner in which a narrative is presented to a reader,
listener, or viewer.

Theorists describing a text's narrative structure might
refer to structural elements such as an introduction, in
which the story's founding characters and
circumstances are described; a chorus, which uses the
voice of an onlooker to describe events or indicate the
proper emotional response to what has just happened;
or a coda, which falls at the end of a narrative and
makes concluding remarks.
Descriptive Feature Articles
(Descriptives)
Descriptives are features which depict a picture of a
scene in the readers mind: a scene which he might
never be able to visit in his lifetime. Or it made him
want to go there.

Descriptives can also be used to present a seamy
(squalid, unpleasant) picture which functions as an
effective way of exposing a wrong, such as a
degrading slum or the threatened destruction of a
wilderness.
Elements of Descriptives
1) A focus on distinctive characteristics
A place may have certain features that are not shared by
others.

E.g. The famous gym of Taylors University is set in a
Balinese environment.

E.g. A model may have chiseled cheekbones whilst an
elderly individual may have a wrinkled face and a child
may have a toothless grin.

Always focus on the uniqueness of the subject (positive
and negative).

Continued
2) Careful phrasing
One element of the descriptive is the way words are put
together to evoke the picture in the readers mind.

Through the phrasing of words the writer paints colour
and adds flavour to the picture.

Unlike a photographer, a writer can only depend on his
skill at stringing evocative words together.

E.g. Although her big blue eyes were filled with sorrow
and her frail hands trembled, she spoke with so much
conviction that I immediately realised that this was a
woman whose spirit could not be broken.
Continued
3) A reading and viewing experience

Its all about evoking human emotions and satisfaction.

When the reader completes his reading of a descriptive,
he/she should come away with the feeling that (he/she)
has been through a valuable reading experience.

The vivid descriptions used by the writer gives the reader
a viewing experience as well.


E.g.
Gloria Stevens is lying on her back, sedated but alert,
staring at an image of her own beating heart. Metaphorically,
Gloria's heart is the very core of her emotional selfnot to be
worn on the sleeve, much less displayed on an overhead
monitor. More literally, it is a blood-filled pump about the size
of a clenched fist whose rhythmic contractions have kept
Gloria alive for 62 years, and with a little tinkering will keep
her going for an indeterminate number more.

At this moment, her doctor is threading a thin catheter up
through her femoral artery from an incision in her groin, on
into the aorta, and from there into one of the arteries
encircling Gloria's heart. At the tip of the catheter is a small
balloon. The doctor gently navigates the tip to a spot where
plaque has narrowed the artery's channel by 90 percent. With
a quick, practised movement he inflates the balloon to push
back the artery wall, deflates the balloon, then inserts an
expandable stentit looks like a tiny tube of chicken wire
that will keep the passage open. As Gloria watches on the
monitor, the crimp in her artery disappears, and a wide
laminar flow gushes through the vessel, like a river in flood.

http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0702/feature1
Profile Feature Articles
Profiles are features which focus on interesting
characters, their hopes, their problems, foibles and
adversities, and how they finally go around
problems or over hurdles in their paths.

Profiles are about people interesting, tragic,
famous people; people undergoing unique
procedures, experiencing unusual circumstances;
people under the spotlight, under scrutiny, under
suspicion.
Elements of Profiles
There are different elements which should be present
in any profile article:

1) What the subject says
2) What the subject does
3) Description of the subject
4) History of the subject
5) What others think and say about the subject

Continued
What the subject says:
Quote or paraphrase comments made by the
subject.
Choose the comments that illuminate your focus
of the subject.

What the subject does:
Describe the subjects actions and anecdotes, that
which throw additional light on his character.

Continued
Description of the subject: This means details of the
subjects physical make-up
Weight
Height
Facial appearance
The way the subject moves
The way the subject speaks/gestures
The way the subject dresses
The way the subject wears his/her hair


The more details you can provide in your article, the
more vivid the picture you paint for your readers.


Continued
History of the subject:
The subjects historical background could help
show how he or she has evolved and developed as
a person.
It could provide an insight into the subjects way
of thinking and acting.

What others think and say about the subject:
Evaluations, comments and anecdotes
(stories/accounts) from friends and foes could
shed light on the subjects character.

E.g.
"I don't think of myself as a businesswoman," said Oprah
Winfrey in 2002. Well, Forbes magazine certainly does.
She's made their rich list every year since 1995. An
abuse survivor born to a teenage mum and raised in
poverty, the woman now known simply by her first name is
today the head of a billion dollar media empire.

Oprah Gail Winfrey was born at home in Kosciusko,
Mississippi, on January 29, 1954, her existence the result of
what she called "a one-day fling under an oak tree". Her
mum, a part-time maid, was 18; her father, 20.

After spending her first years on her grandmother's
Mississippi farm, the bright six-year-old went to live with
her single mother, who struggled on welfare in a poor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, neighbourhood. She was just nine
years old when her life was changed forever when she was
raped by a teenage cousin. Over the next five years, she
was molested by three other men, all friends of the family

http://www.hellomagazine.com/profiles/oprahwinfrey/
Narrative Features (Narratives)
Narratives are stories. It is an account of (a
sequence of) events or happenings, written in an
evocative, descriptive manner.
It contains accurate, well-researched information,
and is also interesting to read.
It looks at intriguing people, human emotions and
real situations.
It provides the private story behind the public story.
It reaches past the ordinary by blending the
reportage of facts with the writing style of fiction.
Elements of a narrative
Narrative features can also be defined as writing
that contains the following elements:
1.Set scenes
2.Characters
3.Action that unfolds over time
4.Voice that has personality
5.A relationship with the audience
6.Destination a theme, a purpose and a reason
(for the story)
Continued
In Narrative Features, the 5Ws and 1H are extended
significantly:
Who becomes a character
What becomes an action
Where becomes a setting
When becomes a chronology (timeline)
Why / How becomes a process
E.g.
Relaxed maternity nurses lean against the
counter chatting. Babies cry in homey birthing rooms.
The scent of flowers, recently delivered to new
mothers, floats in the air.
But down a long hall, over the blue and pink
squares of the maternity ward's buffed linoleum,
through two locked doors, past scrub sinks and a
security camera, pulses a different world.
Life-support monitors, their screens a palette of
blues, greens and reds, glow in dim light. Motorized
Plexiglass covers glide down tracks and seal artificial
wombs that look like compartments for science fiction
travellers. Respirators hiss, staving off the collapse of
tiny lungs."
How-to-do-it Features
How-to-do-its are features which contain
information on how to accomplish certain tasks such
as:
building a house
decorating a home
changing your tires
keeping in shape
cooking for a party etc.



Elements of how-to-do-its
1) Information and Advice
The objective of how-to-do-its is to offer advice, give
instructions, extend suggestions, give tutorials etc.

2) Clarity
Write in a straightforward and clear-cut manner. Makes
sure that instructions are easily followed and leave out
technical words or jargon.

The writer has to keep to the subject matter, and not
go off on tangents.
E.g.
HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE
Whether youre rich or wanting to marry someone rich there are
online dating services which target the wealthy and provide a personal
service to their clients. So, are they for real, or just a con to make you get
your credit card out?
Herere some of the top online dating websites that may well open
the (virtual) door to your future happiness.
Berkeley-Sweetingham.com
This is truly exclusive dating with a service and price tag to match.
If youre not in that category, its worth a visit to the site just to find out
how the other half lives. Would you fly to Nice (in the south of France) for
a date for the day well, you get the idea!
Marry-an-ugly-millionaire-online-dating-agency.com
If you need a good laugh and want to enjoy a very amusing,
completely spoof online dating site youll want to check this out.
Someone with a good sense of humour set this site up and its clearly
popular and rightly so. If youre fed up with the online dating scene this
is the ONLY site for you to visit.
And finally...
There are plenty of genuine sites out there that offer free trials for
men and women simply looking for love. Take advantage of these to find out
which sites and forums you enjoy and best of luck!
How-to-do-its continued
Not all how-to-do-it articles are as shallow or
simplistically written like this.
Good how-to-do-its should incorporate solid
research and genuine facts and information, clear
instructions etc. that readers may otherwise not be
able to find all in one place (within one article).
How-to-do-its should also be based on topics
genuinely relevant and of meaning to your target
readers.
To maintain reader interest, how-to-do-its need to
be written in a lively, attention-getting manner as
well, complete with graphics and pictures if
necessary.
Analyses Articles
Analyses are background articles aimed at answering the
question whats it all about?
E.g. when a new war, social explosion, a political upheaval
or any other momentous events make the headlines.

Analyses are also sometimes called backgrounders.

These stories add meaning to current issues in the news
by explaining them further.

These articles bring an audience up-to-date, explaining
how this country, this organisation, this person happens
to be where it is now.
Elements of Analyses
Following are the elements that should be present in
an analysis story:

Dissection of the topic/subject matter
Anticipation of arguments and questions
Prioritisation of clarity and unity
Continued
1. Dissection
The analysis seeks to examine an important matter.
I.e. Shining a fierce light on an important matter
and dissecting it with words that reveal its
components and values.

2. Anticipation of arguments and questions
The writer attempts to give a balanced account of
the important matter that he or she is examining.
In the process, writer must keep in mind the
arguments and questions that may/will come from
the readers.
Writer needs to demonstrate expertise in the topic
from all angles/points of view.



Continued
3) Prioritisation of clarity and unity
The writer must present his/her analysis in a clear
manner.
The writers ideas must flow in a smooth and
coherent way, complete with well-researched,
credible support to his/her points.
The writer must be careful not to distract or
confuse the reader by going off on a tangent.
In summary: Stick to the argument and present
information in a clear, logical manner.

E.g. of analyses story ideas
What are some examples of analyses feature stories that
could be brainstormed from news stories?

Ask questions that arouse interest when you read news
stories. If you are curious, your readers would be curious
too.

Then develop an analysis story from the questions that
arose.
Did a culture of hierarchy cause the South Korea ferry
tragedy?
Whos really making the money out of the toll increases?
Malaysia: multicultural heaven or racism capital?
Selangors water woes: what went wrong?
The MH370 incident: lessons for Malaysia and the world
Review Articles
A review is an evaluation of a publication, such as a
movie, video game, musical composition, book, or a
piece of hardware like a car, appliance, or computer.

Reviews could incorporate:
an overview of features,
a tried and tested account,
a critical statement, and
a rating (for instance, one to five stars) to indicate
its relative merit
Film reviews
Film critics working for newspapers, magazines,
broadcast media, and online publications, mainly
review new releases.

Normally they only see any given film once and
have only a day or two to formulate opinions.

Despite this, critics have an important impact on
films, especially those of certain genres.

The popularity of mass-marketed action, horror, and
comedy films tend not to be greatly affected by a
critic's overall judgment of a film.
Film reviews: continued
The plot summary and description of a film that
makes up the majority of any film review can have
an important impact on whether people decide to
see a film.

For prestige films with a limited release, such as
independent dramas, the influence of reviews is
extremely important.

Poor reviews will often doom a film to obscurity and
financial loss.

Elements of a Review
The elements of a review are:
Dissection
Anticipation of arguments and questions
Prioritisation of clarity and unity

The additional element that a review has is:
The opinion of the writer


Continued
1) Dissection
Examine the movie/restaurant/gadget and dissect its
features, advantages and disadvantages to your readers.

2) Anticipation of arguments and questions
Support your arguments with credible facts, examples,
illustrations and other information.
Write a balanced review but bringing in counter
arguments and rebutting them with evidence.

3) Clarity and Unity
Present your views in a logical, well-argued manner.
Make sure that your reader is able to discern clearly
your final opinion (yes, no, maybe) it is a review
afterall.




How to write a review
1) Get familiar
2) Formulate an opinion
3) Create a good lead
4) Recap
5) Support opinion
6) Be interesting
7) Be honest
E.g. of planning a movie review
1) GET FAMILIAR this means research
After you have selected your movie, get familiar with its context.
Before you even see the movie, get to know a little about it.
What have the actors and director worked on before? Maybe
check out some of their past work. Are they Oscar winners? Are
they known for a certain style?
Is the movie based on a book or an historical event? Is it a
remake or a sequel?
All of this information will help you understand the movie better.
You'll pick up on details, allusions, trademarks of the actor or
director, and probably have more insight into important story
elements.
You'll be able to tell readers how it lived up to the original, say, or
the book. These are the things that help a critic offer a solid
opinion that is of interest to the fan
Adapted from http://www.howtodothings.com/hobbies/a2206-how-to-write-a-movie-review.html
Continued
2) FORMULATE AN OPINION this is the gist of your
review
After you see the movie, formulate a specific opinion in
one sentence.
Your job is to give an opinion of the movie.
Ultimately, this may come down to a "thumbs up" or
"three stars out of five."
You want to have a specific thesis with credible support
to drive your critique.
For example, "I didn't like this comedy" becomes "The story
had funny moments but it went on too long."
"This horror movie is good" becomes "This horror movie
works because it builds suspense right up until the end."
So, try to find that very specific opinion that will be the
foundation of your review.
Adapted from http://www.howtodothings.com/hobbies/a2206-how-to-write-a-movie-review.html
Continued
3) CREATE A GOOD LEAD attract attention from the start
You want your reader to be interested in what you have
to say.
Grab the reader in that first or "lead" paragraph in one of
several ways:
Start with a great quote from the movie, and explain
how it reflects the movie
Refer to the reputation of the actor or director and
compare it to how he or she did in this movie; compare
this movie to another well-known film in a few sentences
or two
Explain what your expectation was, and then if it was
fulfilled or not. Then end that first paragraph with your
opinion statement.
Adapted from http://www.howtodothings.com/hobbies/a2206-how-to-write-a-movie-review.html
Continued
4) RECAP
Recap briefly, but don't give away anything big.

If you've read professional reviews, you know they
always include a little bit of recap.

Some readers like to know what they're getting into
before they lay down their money for a ticket.

You can tell people the basic premise of the movie. In
fact, you should give them the basic premise, and tell
them how the story builds, but don't give away key
moments, especially not the ending!

Keep it brief. Then get to reviewing.
Adapted from http://www.howtodothings.com/hobbies/a2206-how-to-write-a-movie-review.html
Continued
5) SUPPORT OPINION
Back up your main opinion with specifics.

The readers now know you think "This comedy had funny
moments but went on too long." It's time for you to prove it.

Talk about how the teen actors had good timing like they did
in that other movie.

Talk about how the writers did a great parody of that famous
film. But then add that there were too many scenes involving
the family or the boyfriend.

Talk about the fact that there were multiple endings and all of
them were long.

Use specifics to make your readers understand your opinion.
Adapted from http://www.howtodothings.com/hobbies/a2206-how-to-write-a-movie-review.html
Continued
6) BE INTERESTING
Just because this is a review doesn't mean it's got to be
dull.

From lead to ending paragraph, make the review
engaging, using metaphors, analogy, specific adjectives
and adverbs to create the images you're looking for.

But also be concise. A review isn't a place for long
diatribes or flowery prose.
Adapted from http://www.howtodothings.com/hobbies/a2206-how-to-write-a-movie-review.html
Continued
7) BE OBJECTIVE
Your reader and the work you're critiquing both
deserve an objective opinion.

So even if you HATE that actor or LOVE that actress, be
sure to look at the actual quality of the film.

Have some standards in mind. A comedy should be
funny, a horror movie should be scary, etc.; judge the
movie against those standards, not against any pre-
existing opinions you may have.

It will make the review more valuable to the reader
and objective writing is always best.
Adapted from http://www.howtodothings.com/hobbies/a2206-how-to-write-a-movie-review.html
END