RATHINAM COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE

COIMBATORE
I MJMC

Editorial Practice-Practicals(MODEL FOR RECORD)
Writing Exercises:
Ex:1 Reading of newspapers in the class and classification of news accordingly
local,national,International.(Class room Exercise).
Also write in your record about the no.of news(local, Regional, and
international) published approximately in a daily newspapers.
CLASSIFY WITH THESE NEWSPAPERS(TIMES OF INDIA,THE
HINDU,& INDIANEXPRESS)

Ex:2 Crime reporting:
Crime reporting teaches some of the essential techniques of journalism.
It shows how to dig for a story, how to follow leads, how to interview people to
extract information and how to write crisp, clear, interesting stories under pressure
of a deadline.
In small newspapers, radio and television stations, general reporters cover crime
stories, while in bigger organisations there may be a specialist crime reporter or
team of reporters who cover nothing else but crime.
These specialist reporters are occasionally called police reporters, although this
title gives a misleading idea of their task. It suggests that all they do is report on
what the police are doing when, in fact, crime reporting should cover all aspects of
law-breaking - the police, the criminals and the victims.
Writing Report on crime Related incidents:
Types of crime
There are many types of crimes, criminals and victims. There are serious crimes and
small offences. There are professional criminals and ordinary people who occasionally
break the law. There are crimes which have obvious victims and there are the so-called
victim-less crimes (although, as we shall see in a moment, all crimes have a victim
somewhere).
New - Crime reporting has to be as up-to-date as possible. This is partly because some
crimes depend for their news value on being current. For example, a story about a violent
killer on the loose will lose much of its impact (and its value in alerting your audience to
danger) once he is captured. Also, because in some societies crimes are a regular feature
of life, today's break-and-enter quickly replaces yesterday's break-and-enter in the
public's attention. Crime stories get stale quickly.
Unusual - Murders or armed robbery are not everyday events in most communities, and
so have news value. However, less serious crime can also have unusual elements.
Someone who sneaks on to a bus without paying or throws rubbish on the street may be
breaking the law, but it is not very newsworthy. However, if a person stows away on an
international airliner, that free flight becomes newsworthy. If the rubbish someone dumps
fills three garbage trucks, that too is newsworthy.
Interesting or significant - As we have said, most law-abiding citizens are interested in
people who break the law in big or unusual ways. Crimes which by themselves are
ordinary can become significant when placed in context. For example, the car theft can be
one of hundreds in a city, but it may become significant if it is the hundredth car to be
stolen this year.
About people - Crimes involve people, as criminals and victims. The so-called victim-
less crime does not really exist. The motorist parked in a No Parking zone at the very
least may inconvenience other people and at worst may cause an accident. People who
make false declarations to claim government benefits are taking money which could have
gone to other people.
Always try to tell a crime story in human terms. Do not concentrate all the time on the
police or the criminals. Look at what has happened to the victim .
Example: Woman kills self, kin blame husband
NEW DELHI: A 22-year-old woman allegedly committed suicide after her husband
stopped her from going to her parents' house on Dussehra.
The husband was arrested after the woman's family alleged that he used to torture and
harass the woman. Around 10am on Thursday, the woman, Kanika, was found hanging in
her RK Puram house. She had married Nitin in 2012.Kanika's parents lived in Shahdara,
east Delhi, and she wanted to visit them. However, her husband, Nitin, allegedly did not
allow her and the couple had arguments over it.
On Thursday too, the couple had an argument after which the woman shut herself in the
room and killed herself. However, Nitin's family members informed Kanika's parents that
she was very ill and asked them to come to the hospital, police said. When Kanika's
parents reached the hospital, they were informed that Kanika had died.
Kanika's postmortem was conducted at AIIMS in which hanging was found to be the
cause of death. After questioning both the families, an SDM inquiry has been initiated
and a case of dowry harassment has been registered. Nitin's family has denied all
allegations.

EX:3 Writing Reports on Civic problems incorporating information from Civil
organization based on interview:
Civic journalism is an effort to reach out to the public more aggressively in the
reporting process, to listen to how citizens frame their problems and what citizens
see as solutions to those problems.... and then to use that information to enrich
news stories.
Civic is also known as relating to, or belonging to a city, a citizen, or citizenship;
municipal or civil..
Civic engagement or civic participation has been defined as "Individual and
collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern."
Example: Noise levels on second day of Ganeshotsav increased in most of Mumbai
MUMBAI: Nearly half of the locations monitored for noise pollution in the city, on the
second day of the Ganesh festival this year, have witnessed an increase in noise pollution
levels compared to last year. Data made available by the Maharashtra Pollution Control
Board (MPCB) indicates that the maximum average decibel level on day two, which is
August 30, was recorded at Lalbaug Raja Sarvanjanik Ganeshotsav Mandal of 85dB,
followed by 84dB recorded at Mulund Sargam Mitra Mandal.
However noise levels shot up drastically in areas like Khar, Mulund and Parel. For
instance in Khar it increased from 70dB last year to 83dB this year.Of the 25 locations,
noise pollution increased over last year at 12 places while one had the same decibel level
as it did in 2013. The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 specifies
noise standards to be 55dB for residential and 65dB for commercial spaces. However, at
all the 25 locations, noise levels far exceeded the permissible limits.
Locations at which noise measured was higher compared to 2013 were Wadala,
Santacruz (East), Parel (West), Mumbai Central, Mulund, Khar, Kandivli, Juhu
Chowpatty, Dadar (East), Chinchpokli and Byculla (East). Meanwhile noise levels
monitored at Balmitra Kala Mandal in Vikrohli were same as last year.
"Prima facie it appears that the reason for increased noise at 12 locations in Mumbai
could be the abundant rains which the city witnessed on August 30 evening, as even the
sound of rain gets recorded while measuring noise. However, this could be only one of
the reasons for the increasing noise pollution at those locations as even traffic sounds are
known to get recorded. We can appropriately analyze the increase at these locations once
the five days' data is available," said S C Kollur, scientific officer, MPC Board.
Sumaira Abdulali of Awaz foundation said though only household idols are immersed on
day two of the Ganeshotsav, these are often taken out in a long procession one after
another, with cone-shaped loudspeakers fixed to the carts.
"These loudspeakers have no cut-off volume and are therefore enough to create noise to
disturb the entire locality. With even household idols going in a long stream one is
exposed to noise," says Abdulali.Areas which recorded lower noise pollution compared
to last year included Andheri-Azad Nagar, Bandra, Borivli and Grant Road.

Ex:4 Preparing Questions for Specific interviews:
Here are the 10 types of interviews journalists use most often, including some sample
scripts you could follow.
Newsgathering Interview
- To collect facts or history about a subject, either for a story or in preparation for another
interview.
Confirmation Interview
- To check the validity of a report or a rumor or to get a second source on an important
piece of information.
Reaction Interview
- To gather reaction or responses to breaking news.
Person-on-the-street Interview
- To seek input from diverse members of a community.
Experts Interview
- To add the expertise of a knowledgeable source to your story.
Balance Interview
- To show the many facets of a story by getting multiple viewpoints.
Q & A Interview
- To present the information in a question and answer format.
Advance Interview
- To gather information and write about an upcoming event, author or celebrity.
In-depth Interview
- To engage in a long form, conversation for a profile feature story or an enterprise story.
Gotcha Interview
- To confront a subject, often with incriminating or embarrassing information.
How to interview politicians?
You need to understand their motivation, realise they will have a script, not allow them to
complicate matters, refuse to be sidetracked, retain an open mind, know your subject, and
avoid a slanging match. You are there only to uncover information in order to inform the
public debate.
1: Interview for the benefit of the audience
2: Understand the politician's motivation
3: Keep it simple
4: Don't be sidetracked or derailed
5: Don't do deals
6: They will have a script
7: Keep an open mind
8: Don't let them dodge the question
9: Try to understand the politician's motivation
10: Ensure that the last word informs the public


Ex:5 Rewriting news stories from Newspaper converting them for magazine:
News story in a Magazine:
A News story which is in a news paper can be well given as a News Feature in a
magazine.

A newspaper is fundamentally different from a magazine in content and style,
because of the way in which it is produced and who it is produced for. Because
people who subscribe to magazines usually are on a break, or plan on spending
some time reading the magazine at their leisure, (therefore, having plenty of time
to browse) an article can be longer than it ordinarily would be in a newspaper.

Also, magazines as a general rule are more advertiser-driven than newspapers, so
content in larger magazines is often very carefully checked against guidelines
from those advertisers.


Newspapers are slightly different in this regard. Newspapers are driven more by
readership than by advertisers.
However, people who read a newspaper do not have the time allotment for reading
that magazine readers do, and newspapers are made to be very disposable, so
articles are shorter, have more punch, and get to the point quicker. They focus
more on catchy headlines than on baseline concept, in an effort to capture the
reader's interest and get him to read the entire story.

Punch list for writers in (Newspaper&magazine):
Newspapers: Extremely correct grammar and punctuation
Magazines: more relaxed grammar and punctuation
Newspaper: Style: anything goes
Magazines: Style: If they say read sample issues, they mean it. Even if they don't,
they mean it, too.
Newspapers: Anything that is news
Magazines: Anything that makes you feel good, informed
Newspapers: Pieces of all sizes, but especially under 900 words
Magazines: 500-3500 words .
Newspapers: Punchy, short informative,
Magazines: gratifying, longer
Tips to be followed to write in a magazine:
Formulate an idea
Give your idea an angle.
Identify your market.
Research your article.
Create an outline.
Grab the reader's attention with a dynamite opening paragraph.
Proceed with writing the body of the text, with or without the lead.
Compose the conclusion.
Put your article away for several days or a week. You're too close to the
writing at this point and the next step requires an objective eye.
Revise your article until it's ready for submission.
Submit your magazine article to the designated person, typically the editor
or features editor.

Ex:6 &7 Filing report on the basis of mock press conference & Filing report after
attending one press conference)
What are press and media conferences?
Press conferences (also known as news conferences) are occasions when someone
with something to say which they believe is newsworthy calls reporters together so
that they can tell them all at once. The person calling the press conference usually
makes an announcement or statement first then allows reporters to ask questions.
The terms, media conferences or media calls, are also used occasionally, though
usually about an event to which a company publicist invites the media - not
necessarily just journalists - in order to promote a product, performance or a
celebrity, e.g. a visiting singer or actor. In this chapter we will concentrate on
press conferences for journalists.
All sorts of people organise press conferences for all sorts of reasons. A politician
may call one to announce a new policy or to deny an allegation. A scientist may
call one to reveal a discovery. A police chief may call reporters together to give
details of a crime or to ask for public help in solving a case.
Advantages
The main advantage of a press conference to the person calling it is that they do not have
to repeat themselves to several different reporters at separate interviews. It also means
that their announcement will have maximum impact by being in all the media at the same
time (assuming that all the reporters think it is newsworthy).
The main advantage to the journalist is that it reduces the chance of individual
newspapers or broadcast stations missing the story. It also allows them to share the
workload of questioning the interviewee. If one reporter forgets or overlooks something,
another reporter will probably think of it.
Disadvantages
There are disadvantages to the media in press conference, the major of which is that it is
more difficult to get an exclusive story from press conferences. When every reporter
hears the same words from the interviewee, they cannot keep secrets from each other.
There are ways of getting round this problem which we will discuss later.
Press conferences can also give false importance to the topic being promoted. Promoters
try to convince journalists that by getting them all in the same place at the same time the
topic is of great importance, when often it is nothing more than free publicity or
advertising.

Example:Cheyyur Power Plant will Contaminate Water Resources, Spread Cancer
Agents Research (Report given in Press conference)
Recent studies by Community Environmental Monitoring (CEM), a program by The
Other Media, found that the Cheyyur Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) would
exponentially contaminate local water bodies, irrigation systems and adversely affect the
agriculture of the region.
Cheyyur is located around 100 kilometres from Chennai and about 50 kilometres from
Puducherry, in Tamil Nadu. Hence, experts believe that this could also go on to adversely
affect the water supply in the urban areas.
Thermal power plants are water abusers. Krishnapatnam, in Nellore district, which was
as water rich as Cheyyur is now starving for water, said Shripad Dharmadhikari, a
researcher on water and energy at Manthan Adhyayan Kendra. Unfortunately, with coal-
fired plants, Tamil Nadu will have to make a choice between water and electricity.

Ex:8 Write any news feature,convert it into the newsstory with its news writing
style:
A news story is about an event that is happening or has recently happened that is
of interest or importance to a reader. A good example of a news story is the story
of an earthquake striking the center of a city or the sudden death of a countrys
President. News stories are framed around the 5 Ws and H (Who, What, Where,
When, Why, and How).
Feature stories are meant to inform and entertain the readers. Feature stories can
also be said to be the story behind the news story. An example of a feature story is
the story of an immigrant winning the lottery. In writing a feature story, writers let
their imaginations to flow around the facts because feature stories are more
creative in structure.
What are the differences between a news story and a feature?
1. Time factor this is one of the major differences between a news story and a
feature. A news story is time-dependent. There is always the need for new stories
to be written as quickly as possible after an event occurs. Feature stories, however
are not as time-dependent as news stories. Let us take a look at an example. For
instance, if the sitting President of a country suddenly suffers from a heart attack
and is flown to a hospital, the news should be reported instantly maybe within
minutes or seconds. So you see that news stories are heavily time-dependent.
Features on the other hand are not as time-dependent as news stories. For example,
a story talking about the life of the oldest man in the world is not time sensitive
and since it contains no urgent content it can be written within several weeks or
months.
2. Writing style the writing styles between a news story and a feature differ a little
bit. News stories go straight to the point. News stories use simple and very
effective words to deliver the facts quickly. But feature stories have a creative
structure. They are colorful and flowery.
3. The length - a news story is shorter than a feature story. A news story can vary
from just a couple of sentences to about 600 words, but a feature story can be
longer than 2000 words especially in magazines.
4. The lead the lead of a feature does not give the news instead it gets the reader
interested in reading the rest of the story. News story leads sell the story. They tell
what the news is about and tell all the most important details about the news.
5. The ending a news story can end anywhere after the most important things have
been mentioned, but a feature story has to be ended in specific manner. Features
have to end in such a way that the reader feels satisfied for having kept on reading.
The feature ending is more like a reward to the reader.
Practically write and convert the news feature into the news story with the above
mentioned details.

Ex:9 Headlines writing Exercise based on newspaper published stories;

What is a headline?
A headline is an abstract sentence

Usually it is only five to ten words

It is a complete thought

It has a subject and a verb, and often an object
The goal is to grab the reader
Ask yourself this question as you compose a headline:
If people see my five to ten words, will they know what the article is
about?
It's not hard to find examples of headlines that answer that question
in the negative. Sure, they may have a couple of words that point to
a subject, but they don't answer what's it about?
Most important rule
The words in a headline must represent accurately what is in the
story. Accuracy counts above all else.
What to do?
Understand the story completely before writing its headline.

Base the headline on the story's main idea, which should be in the
lead or introduction.

Don't use in the headline facts that are not in the story.

Don't repeat the exact wording of the story in the headline.

If a story qualifies a statement, the headline should also.

Avoid ambiguity, insinuations and double meanings.
Word choices
Be specific, accurate, clear and concise.

Don't repeat key words in the same headline.

Avoid unclear or little known names, phrases and abbreviations.

Don't use pronouns alone and unidentified.

Alliteration should be intentional and not change the general tone of
the story.

Avoid headline speak such as hit, flay, rap, hike, nix, nab, slate. Be
more precise.
Verbs
No headline may start with a verb.

Headlines are complete sentences or imply complete sentences.

A linking verb can be implied rather than spelled out.

If a story is about past or present events, write present tense verbs.

If a story is about future events, use the infinitive verb (to leave, to
work).

To be verbs, such as is, are, was and were should be omitted.
Punctuation
Use punctuation sparingly.

Don't eat up space with the conjunction and. Instead, use a comma.
Principal and parents meet on school rules for next year
Principal, parents agree on new school rules
Grammar
Don't use the articles a, an and the. They waste space unnecessarily.
A new fire engine helps make the houses safer
New fire engine helps make houses safer
Example:1 Education no longer limited to university setup
Example:2 Did Thiruvalluvar really have pointy ribs?

Ex:10 writing a caption /changing caption of the selected cartoons and photos.
Writing a cartoon caption or even a catchy introduction requires thinking that is truly
outside the box. The following information is designed to get the creative process
flowing.
Things should be followed while writing a caption:
The more practice, the better.
Find a humor partner.
Write captions that arent funny..
Write down several captions.
Be patient.
Its about connections.
What is the most obvious thing happening? Is it funny just by itself? What
makes it funny?
Can you now twist that a bit. Take the opposite viewpoint. Is it funny? Can it be
tweaked somewhat?
What is NOT obvious? Sometimes an implied thought is evident because of the
action. Is that funny? Can it be reversed?
Are there any obvious questions? What if this happened? What if that happened?
What is missing from the cartoon? Again, color outside the lines. Approach the
events from a different angle.
What could have happened or might happen next? Look for humor in follow-
up events. Can something go wrong? Can something go right?
What could happen in an insignificant detail? Is there a secondary happening in
the cartoon? Is the background funny?
For Example:



Ex:11 Assigning the qualities of a good editor(class room exercise & Writing Two
editorials:
Characteristics of editorial writing:

An editorial is an article that presents the newspaper's opinion on an issue. It reflects the
majority vote of the editorial board, the governing body of the newspaper made up of
editors and business managers. It is usually unsigned. Much in the same manner of a
lawyer, editorial writers build on an argument and try to persuade readers to think the
same way they do. Editorials are meant to influence public opinion, promote critical
thinking, and sometimes cause people to take action on an issue. In essence, an editorial
is an opinionated news story.
Four things an editor should note:

1. Explain or interpret: Editors often use these editorials to explain the way the
newspaper covered a sensitive or controversial subject. School newspapers may explain
new school rules or a particular student-body effort like a food drive.
2. Criticize: These editorials constructively criticize actions, decisions or situations while
providing solutions to the problem identified. Immediate purpose is to get readers to see
the problem, not the solution.
3. Persuade: Editorials of persuasion aim to immediately see the solution, not the
problem. From the first paragraph, readers will be encouraged to take a specific, positive
action. Political endorsements are good examples of editorials of persuasion.
4. Praise: These editorials commend people and organizations for something done well.
They are not as common as the other three.

Writing an editorial:
1. Pick a significant topic that has a current news angle and would interest readers.
2. Collect information and facts; include objective reporting; do research
3. State your opinion briefly in the fashion of a thesis statement
4. Explain the issue objectively as a reporter would and tell why this situation is
important
5. Give opposing viewpoint first with its quotations and facts
6. Refute (reject) the other side and develop your case using facts, details, figures,
quotations. Pick apart the other side's logic.
7. Concede a point of the opposition they must have some good points you can
acknowledge that would make you look rational.
8. Repeat key phrases to reinforce an idea into the reader's minds.
9. Give a realistic solution(s) to the problem that goes beyond common knowledge.
Encourage critical thinking and pro-active reaction.
10. Wrap it up in a concluding punch that restates your opening remark (thesis
statement).
11. Keep it to 500 words; make every work count; never use "I"

A Sample Structure of editorial:

I. Lead with an Objective Explanation of the Issue/Controversy.

Include the five W's and the H. (Members of Congress, in effort to reduce the budget, are
looking to cut funding from public television. Hearings were held )
Pull in facts and quotations from the sources which are relevant.
Additional research may be necessary.
II. Present Your Opposition First.

As the writer you disagree with these viewpoints. Identify the people (specifically who
oppose you. (Republicans feel that these cuts are necessary; other cable stations can pick
them; only the rich watch public television.)
Use facts and quotations to state objectively their opinions.
Give a strong position of the opposition. You gain nothing in refuting a weak
position.
III. Directly Refute The Opposition's Beliefs.
You can begin your article with transition. (Republicans believe public televison is a
"sandbox for the rich." However, statistics show most people who watch public television
make less than $40,000 per year.)
Pull in other facts and quotations from people who support your position.
Concede a valid point of the opposition which will make you appear rational, one
who has considered all the options (fiscal times are tough, and we can cut some of
the funding for the arts; however, ).
IV. Give Other, Original Reasons/Analogies
In defense of your position, give reasons from strong to strongest order. (Taking money
away from public television is robbing children of their education )
Use a literary or cultural allusion that lends to your credibility and perceived
intelligence (We should render unto Caesar that which belongs to him )
V. Conclude With Some Punch.
Give solutions to the problem or challenge the reader to be informed. (Congress should
look to where real wastes exist perhaps in defense and entitlements to find ways to
save money. Digging into public television's pocket hurts us all.)
A quotation can be effective, especially if from a respected source
A rhetorical question can be an effective concluder as well (If the government
doesn't defend the interests of children, who will?)



Example for editorial/Opinion page:
Man treated for Internet addiction
Scientists have treated a man they believe to be the first patient with Internet addiction disorder
brought on by overuse of Google Glass.
The man had been using the technology for around 18 hours a day removing it only to sleep
and wash and complained of feeling irritable and argumentative without the device. In the two
months since he bought the device, he had also begun experiencing his dreams as if viewed
through the devices small grey window.
The existence of Internet addiction disorder linked to conventional devices such as phones and
PCs is hotly debated among psychiatrists. It was not included as a clinical diagnosis in the 2013
update to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , the official reference
guide to the field, and many researchers maintain that its effects are merely symptoms of other
psychological problems.
But Dr Andrew Doan, head of addictions and resilience research at the U.S. Navys Substance
Abuse and Recovery Programme (SARP) and co-author of the paper on the patient, published in
the journal Addictive Behaviours , says people are clearly suffering from problems related to
Internet addiction, and it is only a matter of time before the research and treatments catch up.
People used to believe alcoholism wasnt a problem they blamed the person or the people
around them, Dr. Doan said. Its just going to take a while for us to realise that this is real.

Ex:13 Finding out facts/Opinion/Hearsay in atleast 5 stories published in a
newspaper:
Read any Regional Language Newspapers
Concentrate with the newsstories published in it.
Find out the facts behind the newsstory and the heared opinion about the news
story.
Do this practice for any 5 news stories which have different newsvalues.