Study guide for readings
Jl MC 201
Carole Rich's
"Writing and Reporting News: A Coaching Method"
David W. Bulla's section
Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication
Iowa State University
Chapter 3: The Basic News Story
Headline: Use subject and verb (present tense) – that is, S + V; make sure it summarizes, teases or leads into the article
Deck head: A summarizing headline that supplements the main headline, usually in smaller type size
Lead: First paragraph or beginning of a news article
Backup for lead: Supporting information that elaborates on the lead and, for example, gives the specific WHO of a blind summary lead; this is usually the second and third paragraph
Nut graph: A sentence of paragraph that states the focus or main point of the story; it tells in a nutshell what the story is about; usually used with soft leads
Lead quote: This is the first quote that backs up or supports the lead, and editors will expect one early in the story to draw the reader in and humanize the article; make sure the verb of choice is "said."
Attribution: This reference to sources tells the reader where the reporter got the information from – report, interview, observation, abstract
Impact: The writer tells readers how the story affects him or her; is there a specific time and place for something to take effect? (for example, a school board meeting on a specific night at a specific time that will determine how many schools the district is closing)
Context/background: Provide the necessary background to put the story in perspective – how it fits into previous, and perhaps, upcoming events
Human interest: Let the reader know what human elements are involved in the story as early as the fifth paragraph – emotion, triumph, loss, courage, love, sacrifice, honor; the human condition
Sourcing: Avoid single-source stories; no specific number is required, but dig, dig, dig – all stories should be thorough, factual and accurate
Typical key news principles in basic news stories: Conflict, proximity, timeliness, prominence, human interest, impact, usefulness, unusual nature, currency
Chapter 5: Curiosity and Story Ideas
Approach to transmitting information to the public: Show, don’t tell
Use your six friends: Who, what, when, where, how, why
Role-playing: Put yourself in the place of the reader: What makes the story interesting? Important?
Observe, look around, talk to people (sources, citizens), keep a futures file (a folder in which you anticipate future events or follow-ups to stories you have already written)
Show-in-action technique: Put the subject into a specific place and time doing a specific action; descriptive à based on observation, as well as interviewing
Factual: Stick to the facts; avoid opinion, qualifiers
Conceiving: Brainstorming; discuss with other students, teachers, student newspaper reporters and editors; come up with a blueprint/outline or web out your story idea
Perspective: Always assume multiple points of view
Newspapers: Read daily; use archives; check clip files if your newspaper has a morgue.
Directories: Faculty-staff-student; yellow pages/white pages; www.whowhere.com, rolodex
Localize national and international news
Press releases: Must be re-written or use as background information
Budget: Story ideas for a given period
Internet: Should be used to aid your reporting; do not use it as a primary research tool; can be very useful for a specific goal – such as finding the value of a piece of property (Story County Assessor’s Web page)