Campus Journalism

Various

News

StructureSubmitted to: Mrs. Ann Marita C.

Salonen

Submitted by: Group III

Mara Abulan

Janette Aguilar

Gianellie Bantug

Rolina Banzon

Jaybe Marie dela Cruz

Mery Grace Mateo

Anjanette Magno

Keanne Sta. Cruz

Melody Vendivel

Leonette Valdez

Various News Structure

A. Straight News Story

Summary Lead

Example

Elaboration

of

W

(Who)

Elaboration

of

another

W

(When)

Elaboration

of

another

W

(How)

Further

Elaboration

B. News Feature Story

News features should not be confused with feature articles which are sometimes

called special features and this is printed in the feature sections of the newspapers or in

magazines. News feature Story is written daily by reporters as their regular assignments.

Example

Lead

Narrative

Surprise Climax

1. The single- feature story

A single-feature or one incident story such as an account of a speech, an

interview or an election, deals with an isolated event.

In writing a news-feature story with this kind of structure, include the one-

feature in the lead. Add in the body details which clarify and explained the lead.

LEAD

OF

ONE

ISOLATED

EVENT

ELABORATION OF THE LEAD

MORE

DETAILS

2. The several feature, Multiple-angle or Composite story

In a composite story, two or more divergent aspects of a news topic are drawn together

for the sake of space and coherence. In structure, the composite story may resemble that of a

follow-up story in that both of them aim to consolidate component parts. However, they differ in

the sense that a follow –up story ends in a tie-in with a past story; whereas, the composite story is

composed of units, each one of each is made up of fresh spot news frequently with reference to

the future.

In writing several-feature or composite story, include all of the features in a

comprehensive lead in the order of their importance.

The next step is to explain and elaborate in the body each of the features in the order in

which they are in the lead. In doing this, relegate less important details of each features to less

important positions. But remember that each chain of facts although covered separately should

be handled as a single, unified story.

LEAD ANGLE SUMMARY OF OTHER ANGLES

DETAIL OF LEAD

MORE DETAILS

MOREDETAIL

C .Fact Story

Lead Fact

Secondary Fact

Fact III

Fact IV

This is a plain exposition of a simple situation or of a series of closely related events

which conforms to the inverted pyramid design more closely than any other kind of news. The

component parts are the series of facts that may be likened to rectangles of diminishing length

arranged one after the other in order of their important.

The key to proper arrangement consist solely in judging the relative value of the data at

hand and in grouping them in their respective order.

D. Action Story

This a narrative involving not merely simple facts, but dramatic actions –incidents,

description of persons, perhaps testimonies of witnesses, as well as explanatory data.

In writing this kind of story:

First write a summarizing lead in any appropriate form.

Relate the most important details in narrative or chronological form

Tell the story again, giving more details. But careful not begin the chronological order

just after beginning.

Give sufficient attention to the elaboration of important information, background and

interpretation. Each unit must be closely interlocked.

LEAD INCIDENT TOLD

RETOLD MORE DETAILS

RETOLD MORE DETAILS

RETOLD

MORE DETAILS

Example

E. Speech report, quote, and interview stories

The arrangement of a speech report, a quote story and of an interview is to a great extent

similar.

The quote story may be charted as alternating large and small rectangles of diminishing

sizes: summary, quote, summary, quote, summary arrangement. The quotations may be direct,

indirect or a combination of

both.

In writing this kind of story, the following suggestions may be helpful:

1) Write a summarizing lead in any appropriate form.

2) Write a body of the story in a summary-quote-summary arrangement.

The lead may be a summarizing statement- the gist of the speech, statement, letter or

interview; or it may be the most important quotation in the story written as a direct quote.

Example

LEAD SUMMARY

QUOTE

SUMMARY

QUOTE

SUMMARY

Dos and Don’ts in Writing a News Story:

1. Write the story immediately.

2. Play up the dominant points.

3. Be accurate and truthful.

4. Avoid opinions called editorializing; and use adjectives sparingly.

5. Avoid libelous, seditious and rebellious matter; prejudice and bad taste.

6. Give the source (attribution) of the news.

7. Write names in full when these are mentioned for the first time.

8. Identify the names mentioned.

9. Watch out for errors in fact, grammar, structure, and style.

10. Observe the guidelines for clear and effective writing (unity, coherence, emphasis, brevity

and clarity, etc.)

11. Adopt a paper style sheet or stylebook for consistency and professionalism.

GUIDELINES IN WRITING A NEWS STORY

1. Give your lead sentence a “punch” to catch the interest of the readers.

2. Start with the most important event or idea.

3. Use the rule of proximity and explain how the news will affect the people in the locality or

the students in the school.

4. If your story has something unusual or novel to tell, bank on that for the lead. It’s hot copy.

5. Make your sentences concise and clear so that they could be easily understood. Long tedious

sentences will likely “kill” the readers’ interest. Besides, they usually “lose” the readers

along the way. News story are not “luxury” or “pleasure” reading. They have the basic

function to inform.

6. Use simple words. Using highfalutin words does not prove anything but pedantry and literary

pretentions. Even literary writers try as much as possible to use simple words. If literary write-

ups are loaded with the so called high words, it's because the writer cannot find word-substitutes

without sacrificing some "undertones" or literary effects. In journalism, there is no such thing as

undertones.

7. Never be afraid of breaking the rules if it will prove helpful in making a good copy. The

editors will understand it when they see there's no other way in salvaging that would otherwise

have been a bad copy.

Preparing the CopyIn preparing his copy, the young reporter may follow these suggestions:

1. Type copy on standard-sized copy paper, double or triple spaced to give room for the

copyreader's marks.

2. Begin typing the story at the 2/3 part of the sheet above the fold to give space for slugline and

printer's direction.