Thank you
For being here.For your interest in improving your
writing skills.For helping us better present
Cooperative Extension information to our target audiences.
Goals for today
Learn news writing basicsDiscuss CSU guidelinesHow to work with your mediaPromotional writing tips
News writing basics
News writing is different from other kinds of writing.
Different types of news writing Hard news Community briefs Features
Hard news
5 WsInverted pyramidEditor decides what’s news
Impact Timeliness Proximity Prominence Human interest
Community briefs
Non commercialAnnouncements
Classes Programs Availability of information New leadership
Items of broad interest
Basics
AP style Spell out numbers from one to ten Check for abbreviations Time – 7 p.m. or 9:30 a.m. or noon Date – May 1, 2004 (not May 1st) Names Titles
News Release
Still most important way to get information to a reporter.
Follow a format, template
Goal is to have editor read and use our information- break through the clutter
New release format
Contact informationDate and when to releaseHeadlineDatelineBody of release1” margins all around, 12 pt. type, 1
½ line spacing
News writing
Short sentencesVery clear, avoid complex sentencesAccurate, double check all factsEnough detail to answer most
questionsObjective
Any opinion must be in a quote from a named source.
Writing and Editing
No one perfect way to express a thought
Usually is one way to spell and punctuate
Goal is to be clear, accurate and make it easy for the reader to understand our point of view
Tips
Don’t use !Don’t end a sentence with etc.Beware of sentence fragmentsMake sure you have noun and verb
agreementEdit to get rid of unnecessary wordsAvoid the passive voice
More tips
That and Which That is restrictive Which adds a fact
Double check your its and it’s; whose and who’s
to, tooMore than, over; less than, under
Colorado State University guidelines
We never use CSUWe are Colorado State University
Cooperative ExtensionUse Colorado State to refer to the
University on subsequent referencesAlways use Cooperative Extension –
not Extension Service or ExtensionGraphic standards manual is online
Working with the media
Know your target audience and the media they use
Know your target media – read, listen, watch, switch around
Know their deadlinesSend information to correct editor by
name and title
Media
We provide, they use or notWe don’t get to previewCan track articles online with some
publicationsTry to maintain a publicity notebook
for each event
Advertising copywriting
Different from news writingDesigned to grab attentionConsider ways your audience will
readMake sure you include all necessary
infoMake sure it’s short and sweet
Logo issues
Go online to find logosMake sure CSU CE logo is most
prominent for our eventsHave marketing staff review all
printed piecesAsk for help
Specialty products
We can order Plan at least two months in advance
to get best priceConsider ordering as a work team to
get bulk pricesCSU print shop may be able to
produce
Some of the year’s best headlines
Police begin campaign to run down jaywalkers
Safety experts say school bus passengers should be belted
Teachers’ strike idle kidsEnraged cow injures farmer with axTwo sisters reunited after 18 years in
checkout counter
More headlines
Deer kill 17,000Red tape hold up new bridgesNew study of obesity looks for larger
test groupKids make nutritious snacksChef throws his heart into helping
feed needy
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