NEWS WRITING

Sir Leo Daep Dioneda

What is News?

• A timely, factual report of events; ideas or

situations interesting or significant to the
public. (Spencer)
• An oral or written report of past, present
and future events. (Cruz)
 News Writing

Inverted Pyramid
Most interesting or
 The Inverted
most important Pyramid of news
suggests that news
be told in order of
Least
interesting most interesting or
or least important to least
important
interesting or
important
Kinds of News

Straight news – consists of facts

reported without elaboration
News feature – based on facts; writer may
give his impressions, may describe and
narrate without resorting to biased opinion
Elements of Newsworthiness

Timeliness – ex. No assignment policy

Proximity or Nearness – Dengue case in school
Significance – School changes principal
Prominence – Mayor donates 1k uniform
Oddity or Unusualness – Student parent brings son in school
Conflict – Principal disqualifies pageant candidate
Humor – Teacher uses Hugot in exams
Human Interest – Teacher gets viral for helping street kid
Progress – Brgy exchanges rice for trash plastics/ New building/facility
Essential Qualities of News
Accuracy
Brevity (briefness)
Clarity
Objectivity
 School News
Classroom story – student survives lunch by asking for food
Enrolment story – ANHS enrollment dips amid Sinalhan IHS opening
Meeting story – PTA to organize Family Day fun run
Program/Party story – ANHS cancels Acquaintance party
Honor roll story – Son of Janitress tops graduating class
Awards story – ANHS bags Best Brigada Implementer
School Improvement story – Mayor inaugurates new SHS Building
Election story – Pub EIC takes seat as new SSG Pres
School Organization/Club story – SHS English Dept. launches new club
Out-of-School Activity – ANHS studes join Brgy Clean Up drive
Sources of News
offices, departments, library
Faculty
clinic
School calendar
Invitations and Memos
Different clubs and organizations
Sports teams
Students and teachers
Community (Barangay, City, Province)
 Write the answers to these questions about what you
are covering: (National o Local issue)

• Ano ang issue? Balita:

Pagtaas ng bilang ng
• Bakit kailangan malaman ito ng publiko Dengue sa Zavalla,
ngayon? pinangangambahan
• Sino at ano ang mga maapektuhan nito?
• Gaano kalalim, kalawak, karami, katagal
ang epekto?
• Bakit mahalaga ito sa pamayanan, sa
maraming tao, at sa darating na
panahon?
LEAD WRITING

I’LL TAKE THE

LEAD!
THE LEAD

The 1st paragraph: Most

important part of the
article, summarizes the
story
The Hook: Arouses the
readers interest
Answers right away the
most important questions:
5 W’s and 1 H
Two Kinds of Lead

• There are two kinds of

lead: the straight and
novelty leads.
• Depending on the nature of
the story and its driving
news elements, a straight
lead can focus on one or a
few of the six question
words.
The Straight Lead 5 W’s and 1 H Formula

Who?
What?
Where?
When?
Why?
How?
How to write LEAD? Just KISS!

•K–eep
•I –t
•S–hort and
•S-imple
1. Keep It Short

• A good lead provides all the information

the reader requires in just a few words.
Ideally, a lead should be between 25 and
40 words.
 2. Keep It Simple

• Don’t clutter up the lead with

unnecessary adjectives or adverbs. Also
make sure that your lead only discusses
one idea to avoid confusion.
 3. Write in Active Voice
• Avoid all forms of the verb “to be.”
• Passive voice is often the result of
incomplete reporting.
Example:
Wrong : Acquaintance party cancelled by the principal
Correct: Principal cancels Acquaintance Party
 4. Structure Your Lead Properly

• Put your most crucial information at the very

beginning of the sentence.
• Important secondary information can go in
subsequent sentences.
• Not following this practice is called “burying
the lead.”
• If you need attribution inyour lead, make sure
it goes toward the end of the sentence
because it is less important than the
information itself.
GENERAL GUIDELINES IN WRITING LEAD

Rarely use the ―when and where leads

Use less than 30 words
Avoid starting with articles:
• a, an, the
Do not mention names in the lead unless the
person is well-known
GENERAL GUIDELINES IN WRITING THE BODY

The details of the lead

Arranged from most important to the
least important
One sentence, one paragraph
Sentences are generally less than 25
words
Include quotations from at least two
different people
Format 1
LEAD: Who, What, So What?

• Now, if the source material or news

material or data sheet is a speech or
has lots of quotes, I suggest that you
follow the “Who, What, So What”
outline or sequence in a two-sentence
format.
 Format 1
For example:
• Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said in a televised
statement on Wednesday that pieces of debris found on
Reunion Island were those of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370
that vanished on March 8, 2014.
• "It is my hope that this confirmation, however tragic and
painful, will at least bring certainty to the families and loved
ones of the 239 people onboard MH370," PM Razak said.

• The first sentence has the Who and the What while the
second sentence has the So What using a direct quote with
proper attribution.
 Format 1
Body of the article
• Following the order of appearance of the lead information, you
then proceed to write the body of the news article starting with
the third paragraph.
• The body of the article will thus have three parts:
1) WHO – focus on what the Who had done recently or even in the
more distant past that has direct relevance to what has just
happened.
2) WHAT – focus on details of the new information just revealed
and the expected course of events that could likely happen in
the days or weeks ahead.
3) SO WHAT – focus on the impact of the news now, on the people
affected, and on what could happen soon.
 HIERARCHY OF FACTS
(For Basic Straight News Writing in aid of the Inverted Pyramid method) Format
2
Lead: 2nd para – Details of WHO
Who gains/is QUOTE 1 3rd para – Details of WHAT
affected?
What happened 4th para – Details of WHY
Why did it 5th para – Details of HOW
happen 6th para – Details of WHERE
How it happened 7th para – Details of WHEN
===========
Where it happened
8th para – Other details
When it happened from the Source
QUOTE 2
Source/attribution
WHO, WHAT, WHY, HOW
MAY BE INTERCHANGED
DEPENDING ON 10 PARAGRAPHS TOTAL
THEIR RANKING
IMPORTANCE 23
 Format
Body Construction and Organization 2

 The body of the story explains or clarifies features found in the

lead or add features not found in the lead.
 The body of the story provides details and background
 Keep paragraphs short. Those limited to 60 words or less or no
longer than 10 typeset lines are preferred.
 Paragraphs limited to one to three sentences are preferred.
 Each paragraph should contain only one idea.
 Remember short paragraphs encourage readers to continue
reading.
 Use simple words. Don’t let readers look for dictionary.
 Format
Body Construction and Organization 2

 Make sure information introduced or outlined in the lead

is covered in the same order in the body of the story.
(refer to hierarchy of facts Straight news format)
 Avoid introducing new information at the end of a story.
All aspects of a story should usually be introduced or
outlined in the first few paragraphs.
 Transitions are necessary to show the reader that the
writer has a sense of direction. A word, phrase, sentence
or paragraph can move the reader from one thought to
another.
 Format
Body Construction and Organization 2

• Add attributions of prominent persons

• Add faculty and students’ reactions
• Arrange your details in logical order
• Before using the acronym of the word or
phrase, elaborate it first on the previous
sentences
• In attribution, use the position of the person
(other titles may be omitted)
 Format
Body Construction and Organization 2

• Note:
• When you want to incorporate information
which is not directly connected to the main
story, but is related, use conjunctive words
or conjunctive phrase such as meanwhile,
in a related development, in this light, etc.
 Format
Transition/Quote Formula 3

and so on…until the story is complete For

News
Interview
 Direct Quotes
• Should be linked to the paragraph before them. The
quote should elaborate on the previous paragraph.
• Example:
•Because of an anonymous 50,000 donation, students who
use the library will have access to the Internet starting
October 1.
•“Giving free Wi-Fi to our students will enable them to do
research, read the news or even watch educational videos
each day,” Superintendent Ruby Reyes said.
Direct Quotes

• Should NOT repeat the transition/lead before them.

• Example:
• Principal Maribeth Ramos said that several teachers
have been reluctant to give assignments that require
Internet access.
• “Several of our teachers have been hesitant about
giving homework assignments that would require the
Internet,” Ramos said.
 Direct Quotes
• Can‘t be longer than one sentence.
• Should have attribution after the first sentence of the
quote.
• Do not place two people’s direct quotes next to each
other without a transition.
• Attribution should be: Noun then verb.
Example:
Correct – principal Mark Rodriguez said.
Incorrect - said principal Mark Rodriguez.
(unless you have an unusually long title)
Transitions

• VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. Hold the story together. Link the

paragraphs together.
• Can be fact, indirect quote or a partial quote.
• For example - FACT TRANSITION:
•(Lead) Mayor Arlene Arcillas will speak on Friday to grade 6
students about getting involved in community service work.
•(Direct Quote) “Grade 6 students will learn a lot about duty
and commitment when they hear Mayor Arcillas,” Principal
Maribeth Ramos said.
•(Fact Transition) Before becoming mayor,Arcillas worked as
a community organizer in Santa Rosa.
Transitions

• Can be fact, indirect quote or a partial quote.

• For example - INDIRECT QUOTE TRANSITION:
•(Lead) Mayor Arlene Arcillas will speak on Friday to grade 6
students about getting involved in community service work.
•(Direct Quote)“Grade 6 students will learn a lot about duty and
commitment when they hear Mayor Arcillas,” Principal Maribet
Ramos said.
• (PQ Transition) Mayor Arcillas said she believes community
service is “extremely valuable lesson” for every kids to have.
Transitions

• Use transitional words to help with the flow (as

needed): After all, Also, Finally, In addition, However,
Otherwise, Then
• Use parts of the direct quotes to create the transition.
And then use the rest of the quote as direct quote.
• For example:
•In addition to speaking about community service,
Obama plans to talk to students about the importance of
voting.
• NOTE: BE SURE YOU USE THE APPROPRITE
TIPS FOR WRITERS

Make sure your facts are accurate

Keep your sentences short.
Use the SVO formula
Be specific.
Avoid long and complex words.
Write in the third person.
Use adjectives sparingly.
Do not editorialize.
 News Articles

1. ANHS beefs up security measures hired new security personnel

2. Kap Fe Beato donates 1k uniform for grade 7 studes
3. 2 SHS teachers relocates to Sinalhan Integrated HS
4. ANHS enrolment dips record low amid opening of Sinalhan HS
5. ANHS suspends Acquaintance Party
6. Poll says: ANHS studes disapproves No Assignment Policy
7. ROTC not suitable for SHS – faculty
8. ANHS sets alarm on increasing cases of Dengue
9. Students, faculty complains over sub standard SHS building facilities
10. SHS launches new English Club
11. ANHS SSG President takes seat as City SSG VP
12. Brgy Aplaya installs CCTV to strengthen anticrime campaign
 News Articles
1. ANHS studes join first Sta Rosa Pride March
2. Teachers want pageant handlers banned
3. ANHS studes complain over sub standard arm chairs
4. DepEd Sta Rosa urges schools to stop organizing pageants
5. Mayor Arcillas pledges construction of ANHS’ entrance pathway
6. Aplaya Senior High prepares students to be job ready
7. Feature about students with Physical Disability (Ronnel, Zemory etc…
8. Grade 7 faculty sets alarm on non reader students
9. Beating Psoriasis – Karen Budukin
10. It’s never too late to learn – ALS graduate
11. Student Parents – ruth, dennis, cyrus
12. MAPEH Dept adds Laro ng Lahi
13. ANHS represents Sta Rosa in Regional Technolympics
Vol.1 Issue 1
Vol.1 Issue 1