MODULE IN JOURNALISM 8

Lesson 6: Writing News

OBJECTIVES:

1. Identify the parts or structure of news

2. Gather substantial data as basis for writing news
3. Write a news article

How to Write a Newspaper Article?

Writing a newspaper article is different from writing other articles or informational
pieces, because news articles present information in a specific way. It’s important to be
able to communicate all of the important information in a limited work count.
An article is a piece of writing that is published in a newspaper or magazine.

Create a List of Facts

Before you write a news article, create a list of all the important information that
needs to be included in the article. First, start with 5W’s (who, what, where, when, and
why). Then create a list of interesting facts outside of the 5W’s that are important to the
article.
Parts or Structure of News
1. Headline
 A catching phrase to inform reader what your article is about.
 a heading at the top of an article or page in a newspaper or magazine.
 headline is the title of a newspaper story, printed in large letters at the top
of the story, especially on the front page.
2. Byline
 The name of the article’ author
3. Lead paragraph
 The lead paragraph is the article’s essential information.
 This paragraph includes the 5W’s and How.
 The paragraph should begin with a lead sentence to grab reader’s
attention. This paragraph sets the tone for the news article.
 It is the opening paragraph; the most important part of a news story.
4. Explanation Paragraph
 This paragraph further describes the events of the article.
 It is the largest paragraph in your newspaper article.
  The explanation paragraph should include the other facts or details that
the reader should know.
 The explanation paragraph must also include direct quote from witnesses
or bystanders.
5. Additional information Paragraph
 This paragraph includes information that expands on the previously
mentioned information.
 This paragraph could include information about similar event.
 Direct quotes from witnesses or bystanders could also be added to this
paragraph.

Senior class president Carly Roly fully endorses the idea, “Having access
to an officer who can answer our questions and just maintain a presence in
the school will be a really great step toward keeping things friendly
between us and the cops. They won’t just be these stiff, mean people who
are out to get us. It won’t be a us vs. them’ thing anymore.

6. Concluding Sentence
 Make sure your news article is complete and finished by giving it a good
concluding sentence. This is often a restatement of the leading statement
or a statement indicating potential future developments relating to the
article topic.
TIPS
1. Remain unbiased.
a. A news article is meant to report direct facts, not the opinions of its writer.
b. Do not express emotions in your writing.
c. Avoid any language that is overly positive or negative.
d. No “I” statements.
e. Remain objective: not influenced by personal feelings or opinions.
2. A newspaper tone is matter of fact. Be creative with your sentence structure and
ideas. But do not write your article as through it is a story.
3. A newspaper article should accurately inform readers about single event. Be sure
to check your work for spelling and grammar errors.
 Lesson 7: What is a News?

What is News?
newly received or noteworthy information, especially about recent or important
events.
1. News should be something new
2. News should be interesting
3. News should be relevant
4. News should have dramatic element
5. News should be important
Structure of News

PRIMARY LEAD

SECONDARY LEAD

OTHER IMPT. DETAILS

LESS IMPT. DETAILS
Tips in News Writing
1. The lead packs the most important information in one sentence. It is one
idea, one-sentence, one paragraph principle.

Sample:

Isabela Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) Edna A. Pasamonte, Ph. D.,

called for the yearly publication of campu papers when she addressed school
heads in the 2013 ManCom at DepEd Conference Hall, City of Ilagan, October
25.
2. Do not start your lead with words or phrases like a, an, the, last week,
according to, there is, there was, etc. Go direct to the point.

3. Opt for the active rather than the passive voice

Sample:

Passive: Passive voice means that a subject is a recipient of a verb's action.

All private and public schools nationwide were urged by the Department of
Education (DepEd) to adopt policies that will end any forms of abuses and
violence.

Active: means that a sentence has a subject that acts upon its verb.

Department of Education (DepEd) urged all private and public schools

nationwide to adopt policies that will end any forms of abuses and
violence.

4. Prefer concrete over abstract concepts, and specific over general terms

Vague : Officers removed a gun from his clothing.

Precise : Police took a .32 caliber automatic from his hip pocket.

5. Use adjectives and adverbs sparingly

Sample:

KYOTO, Japan, May 25 – A blue-white flash of modern magic today

wafted the First Lady of the Philippines away from Tokyo’s withering clangor to
the serenity of this ancient imperial realm.

6. Avoid long and high sounding words

Sample:

1. category – class
2. contribute – give
3. facilitate – help
4. inaugurate – start
5. incarcerate – jail
6. indisposed – ill
7. inundate – flood
 8. majority – most
9. monumental – big
10. prevaricate – lie

7. Cite sources of news

Sample:

Regional Science High School (RSHS) principal Inocencio T. Balag

confirmed that all mechanisms and strategies are now set to end bullying among
children in school.

8. Write simply and briefly

Sample News
Isabela gov’t vows to back DepEd programs

Provincial Administrator Atty. Noel Emmanuel R. Lopez said the provincial government of Isabela is

committed in supporting all DepEd programs when he spoke before the officialdom of DepEd-Isabela and

participants of the two-day Education Summit at DepEd Conference Hall, Alibagu, City of Ilagan on October1-2.

Atty. Lopez affirmed that the Province of Isabela through Gov. Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III sets education as

the top priority of the provincial government proving his claim by citing the 4000 scholarship grantees of the

province.

“The Dy administration shall continue to subsidize the Provincial School Board (PSB) teachers to help

DepEd in addressing lack of teachers in the field,” he said.

He also guaranteed DepEd officials and all stakeholders that the provincial government will pour out

support to the Senior High School (SHS) program and assured that 24 classrooms will be built yearly to meet the

program’s physical target outlay.