OE-Writing for Print media

Introduction to writing for print media

and magazines. Writing for newspaper is
Writing for Print media which includes newspapers
writing for magazines and periodicals. Similarly, writing different formats such as
ditterent tiom
Thus, different approaches and styles of
teature is ditlerent from writing articles or editorials.
required for developing content for different forms and genres of print media. In this,
writing are such as hard and soft news, features,
print media
we shall discuss different forms of writing for
articles, editorials and writing for magazines.

Writing for Newspapcr,

content for general as well as
Newspaper,as you know, is a daily publication covering variety of the needs and
varies as per
specialised audiences. The presentation of the content also
the same - to inform,
requirements of the format followed. However, the basic functions remain
hard news and soft
educate and entertain. Two types of stories are published in newspapers -
news.

Hard News
economic
Hard news pertains to current events and incidents that have greater political, social,
and cultural importance at the local, regional, national or international levels. Hard news present
the facts in a straight forward manner, focusing on the basic rules of newS writing - who, what,
where, when, why and how (5W&lH). Facts are very important for hard stories. 'Inverted
pyramid' style is one of the most common ways of writing hard news story. According to this
style,the most important information is given right at the beginning, followed by less important
information, emphasising the need to prioritise the content ofa story. One of the challenges in
writing a hardstory is to cite suitable quotes. A wellplaced verbatim quote contributes to the
success ofa hard news story. While conducting interviews, you should be careful in recording, as
unrecorded quotes can create problems at a later stage if the source refuses to accept the printed
quotes and declares them inaccurate.

Soft News
While hard news stories report current events or incidents, soft stories are related to events or
incidents and provide an angle to this so that people feel connected and get involved. To write a
soft story one need not follow the news writing format of hard news. While hard stories focus on
SW and 1H: soft news gives a wider perspectives on the facts and gives overall observations. It,
however, does not mean that soft stories lack in seriousness - they treat a subject with a different
approach and provide minute observations on it. There is a clear stylistic difference in writing
and reporting hard and soft news stories which requires specific skills and knowledge. In
addition, for doing such stories, one nccds to be a keen observer with excellent command of
language.
 of a prominent
You can cover the same incident as hard or soft news. For example, retirement
personal life it
player is a hard story but if you focus on his childhood and stories related to his
will become soft story with a human interest angle. Similarly, stories related to
environment,
health and gender issues can be both hard as well as soft stories depending upon the treatment
given to them. While writing a soft story you may keep the following points in mind.

Interesting headline and introduction: Soft stories generally do not start straight away - the
gist of the story comes in third or fourth paragraph. Headline and introduction should be inviting
enough to make the readers curious to know more and go through the entire story. The first few
sentences need to be very powerful. The story can begin with a quote or description of the
subject. Tomake readers stay with the story you have to sustain their interest till the end
in what is being said.

Angle to the story: There can be many angles to a soft story and you have to find the most
interesting angle to draw the attention of readers. For example: 39 beggary is a serious problem
in any city engaging children. If you find children involved in beggary and you simply report it
following the basic rules of writing a story then it becomes a hard story. However, if you bring
out their innocence by reporting their lifestyle in native places and the changes taken place since
then, it willbe a soft story. Thus you are not reducing the seriousness of the topic; instead adding
human interest angle to it.

Background research: To bring depth to your story you need to do considerable amount of
research which enables you to understand various angles which can be provided to the story.
After knowing variety of things about the subject or the event, you will be in position to use that
information to make the story indepth and interesting. Character:. Writing your story with a
character tends to improve the quality of your story. The readers feel connected to the characters
and even if you are covering a story of larger issue, introducing a character tends to make a
difference.

Use of quotes: Quotes are imnportant to take your story forward. Quotes which bring some
emotions to your story and leave some impression on the mind of your readers should be used.
However, use of excessive quotes may make the story lengthy and unimpressive. Thus, quotes
should be used with care.

Convey a message at the end: Soft stories generally end with some message which the writer
wants to convey. To take the same example of retirement announcement of a player; writer may
say that now the audience will not see him/her on field playing but whenever you will go to
watch a match you will miss his/her presence-to add a touch of nostalgia.
 Jargons
1) HANDOUT:
Publication material issued by any individual or organization.
2) INVERTED PYRAMID:
It is the style of news writing, in which the most important news written Ithe beginning.
3) I.S.P.R:
It is a military information department that works for the promotion of image of armed forces. It is the
mouthpiece of forces.
4) KILL:
When a news item is finally drop or excluded form going on air and news being publ1shed.

5) LEAD:
The main story of a newspaper, the most important story is called lead.

6) LEADER:
The first editorial oneditorial page is called leader.
7) MASS COMMUNICATION:
A mass communication is process in which message convey to the
people through communication tools at
mass level.

8) MASS HEAD:
Such place where the nane of newspaper and logo is written.

9) NEWS HOLE:
Available space or time for a news story is called news hole.
10) NOISE:
Something that interrupted the communication process.
11) OPINION LEADER
Those individuals who influence thinking on particular subject.
OFF THE RECORD:
12)
person who shares
Such information which can't be publishes or printed without the permission of that
the information.

13) ON THE RECORD:

Someone says anything with full authority.
JOURNALIST)
14) P.F.U.J: (PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF
and their rights.
It isa country wide associationworking for the journalists
15) I.F.J: ([NTERNATIONAL FEDERATION FOR JOURNALIST)
It is aworld wide association working for the journalists and their rights.

16) PRINT LINE:

page.
The namc of publisher and place where newspaper publishes it is in the bottom of the
17) LEADERSHIP SURVEY:
Detail analysis of a newspaper audience on specific issuec.
18) SCOOP:
 newspaper.
story that is not available on other
Extra ordinary exclusive
19) SLANT:
particular view point.
Tomake a story based on
SLUG: attention of cditor. Itcontains two or
20)
words about storv written by writer for the
A brief hint in one or two
three words.

21) BEAT:
Aspecific area or subject that is
looked after and covered by a reporter.
BLIND INTERVIEW:
22) kept confidential.
the interviewee
Itis such interview in which the identity of
23) BOX:
be the important story.
Any news item in a newspaper that is encircles. It may

24) BREAK:
continucd on
remaining news on next pagc. Story must be
When astory is divided into two parts and the
next page.

25) BULL DOG:

The early edition of a newspaper is called bull dog.
26) BULLETIN:
broad cast.
Bulletin is specificnews item that is finally selected and goingto be
27) BY LINE:
Name of the reporter that appears on the top of the story.

28) CLASSIFIED:
advertisements in small boxes.
Advertisement appears on thespecific page, usually small

29) CAPTION:
newspaper.
The brief description of a photograph written under the photo in

30) STRINGER:
newspaper or any organization. It is also
Anycorespondent who works on story bases, working of a
called free lancer.
YELLOW JOURNALISM:
31)
mind his integrity for pcrson game.
Such stories contain that to defame somconc or under
32) CURTAIN RAISER:
Information about up coming events.

33) FLAG:
page.
Thename of the newspaper on editorial
FOURTH STATE:
34) fourth pillar of state.
The press or media is considered the

35) DEADLINE:
news can't be publ1shing.
A specific timein newspaper after this
DATE LINE:
36)
Theplace or the location and the
city or from where a story
37) EAR:
originates.
Small box on the front or back on the
newspaper which carry advertisement.
38) INTRO:
Opening paragraph of a news story.
39) EMBARGO:
This wordused in media, politics and military, but the meaning is different.
A specific time restriction given by some one or a dead line becfore which a story can'tbe telecas.
40) BREAKING NEWS:
Special news of important event that is happening
41) CREED:
The telegraphic type writer by which offices receive message from newspapers.
42) SKY LINE:
A banner come above the name plate on page number.

43) SPLASH:
The main news story on the front page of a newS paper.

44) STEAMER:
A multi column head line on the top of a page.

45) CROSS LINE:

A single line heading placed on the top of the story.
46) BANNER:
The main heading or headline right across the top of the paper.
FEED BACK:
47)
Reaction of a receiver to a message from a sender.
GATE KEEPER:
48)
The individuals or groups of persons who govern (manage/control) the travels of news items in the
communication channel.

49) ABC:
Audit BureauCirculation
50) ADVERTISING
Persuasive messages used to sellproducts or ideas. Also used to inform consumers about new products.
Advertising is the commercial basis of most media.
 of writing for media
Rules
not
Organization (the Inverted
Pyramid)
chronologically. News writing style is an
have atendency to tellstories on its head. Picture
People pyramid turns storytelling newsworthy information,
chronological. The inverted
base represents the most
upside-down triangle: the broad pyramid. It puts the
newsworthy--that's the inverted
and the narroWtip the least top of the story; the
the
rest of
juiciest information at the
most important or descending importance. (In addition to presenting
information is given in order of newspaper composing rooms the
information at the top, in
the most important purpose of allowing stories that ran long
served the
inverted pyramid traditionally
losing essential information.)
tobe cut from the bottom without
Lead
If it's a
of a news story should present the most compelling information.
The start main point,
for the keynote speaker's
report about ameeting, for instance, look SOme other newsworthy
decisions taken, record-breaking attendance,
annual meeting on X date at X
information. To start by saying X society held its is
written months before the meeting. What
isn't news: that lead could have been
material goes something like this: <something significant that happened> at
lead
meeting of X society <when and where>. (And speaking of the when and
the necessary
after a meeting, it's not
where. when a newsletter is coming out months
the season is adequate.)
togive the date; just the month or even
Attribution
Fact (Not Opinion) and
unless it's attributed to a source.
Newswriting traditionally doesn't express opinion
scrupulous about saying Northwestern is great,
Of course, we don't have to be so
that people might contest should be attributed. Facts (and anything
but opinions they're not
that someone would ask Says who?" about) should also be attributed if
generally known andaccepted.
Identification
name or both initials should be used on first reference not
Aperson's full first
shouldn't be assumed that every reader knows who the
just a single initial. It
should be identificd in a way that's relevant to the article. In
person is; he or she already been used in the
to usc a middle initial if it's
captions, it's not necessary
text.
Nhort Patgraphs
I ews wtiling
paragraphs arec kept shurt for rautchitess and
Peron appata.
News wriing, is penerally in the third retu 1f
Tist oreond peron, don't jar thete is ungellng tez
readers, by abrupt switches of per
Headine%
Wcadline% should be short and orefetably supoy, They should come ou
inlormaton in the body of the text and not nresst ngw inforTnation. Headlines a10
ay O1 npasttense, a headline about a past event is generally in preseit teTse:
Onc about a future event yenerally includes to (to mest. to decide, etc.) w iti 2
publication section, hcadlincs, should be consistent: those that are mnere labes
shouldn't be mizcd with those that have verbs. Articles (a, an, the) are usually rot
uscd in hcadlines.

Ethics

The cthics of journalism is one of the most well-defined branches of media ethics.
News manípulation. News can manipulate and be manipulated. Govenments and
corporations may attempt to manípulate news media; governments, for example.
by censorship, and corporations by share ownership. The methods of manipulation
are subtle and many. Manipulation may be voluntary or involuntary. Those being
manipulated may not be aware of this. See: news propaganda.

Truth: Truth may conflict with many other values.

Public interest: Revelation of military secrets and other sensitive government
information may be contrary to the public interest, even if it is true.
However, public interest is not a term which is easy to define.

Privacy: Salacious details of the lives of public figures is acentralcontent element

in many media. Publication is not necessarily justified simply because the
information is true. Privacy is also a right, and one which conflicts with free
spccch. Sce: paparazZA.
Fantasy: Fantasy is an element of entertainment, which is a legitimate goal of
media content. Journalism may mix fantasy and truth, with resulting ethical
dilemmas. Sce: National Enquirer, Jayson Blair scandal. Adnan Hajj photographs
controversy.
Taste: Photo journalists whocover war and disasters confront situations which ma
shock the sensitivities of their audiences. For cxample. human remains are rarely
 sCreened: The ethical issue is how far should one risk shocking an audience's
sensitivities in order to correctly and fully report the truth. See photojournalism.
Conflict with the law: Journalistic ethics may conflict with the law over issues such
as the protection of confidential news sources. There is also the question of the
extent to which it is ethically acceptable to break the law in order to obtain news.
For example, undercover reporters may be engaging in deception, trespass and
similar torts and crimes. See undercover journalism, investigative journalism.

In relation to news coverage it includes issues such as impartiality, objectivity,

balance, bias, privacy, and the public interest. More generally, it also includes
stereotyping, taste and decency, obscenity, freedom of speech, advertising
practiceS such as product placement, and legal issues such as defamation.

Impartiality
Impartiality is a principle of justice holding that decisions should be based on
objective criteria, rather than on the basis of bias, prejudice, Fairness.
Objectivity
Objectivity can refer to: Objectivity and subjectivity, either the property of being
independent from or dependent upon perception.
Balance
Balance refers to a journalist's impartiality and fairness when presenting a story.
Specifically, it refers tothe ideathat journalists shouldpresent all sides of an issue
that they are reporting on without any supporting bias.

Unbiased
To maintain objectivity in journalism, journalists should present the facts whether
or not they like or agree with those facts. Objective reporting is meant to portray
issues and events in aneutral and unbiased manner, regardless of the writer's
opnion or personal beliefs.

Privacy
The right to privacy is a central issue of many mass media ethics cases. Invasion of
privacy may be physical, sticking a microphone into someone's face
The tern public interest' means matters concerning welfare of the people. Putblic
Interest is anything that affects the rights, health. or finance of the public at large.