THE SOUL OF THE NEWSPAPER

NEWS Writing
MOUNTAIN PROVINCE STATE POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE
OVERVIEW

1. What is News?
2. Elements of a News
3. Essential Qualities of a
News
4. Structure of News
5. Guidelines in Writing
 OBJECTIVES

01 The participants shall produce

a concise news story
01 02 03 04
The participants shall create
02 compelling headlines for news
stories
 WHAT IS NEWS?

“news is when a man bites a dog”

-Charles Dana & Charles Stanton

News focuses on the present, not on

the past or the future, once
it is broadcasted – it becomes history.
-Park, R., (1940)
WHAT IS NEWS?

“news iswhat people need and want to know”

-Mayeux, P., (1986)

“news” is from the Latin word “nova” which

means “new things”
- Niblock, S., (2005:73)
Gives the reader information that will
have an impact on them in some way

Usually flows from most important

to least important

Something interesting
ELEMENTS OF A NEWS

Timeliness
Proximity
Impact
Prominence
Oddity
Conflict
Human Interest
ESSENTIAL QUAILITIES
OF A NEWS

Accuracy
Brevity
Clarity
Objectivity
 NEWS
STRUCTURE
Most important
facts LEAD

More important SUPPORTING

details DETAILS

Less important OTHERS

details
THE HEADLINE
THE HEADLINE

Brief summary of what

the article is about

Must contain nothing

that is not found in the story
THE HEADLINE
Positive heads are preferable
than negative ones

Use the strongest word

in the first line as possible

Active verb is better

than the passive verb
THE HEADLINE
Omit articles like a, an, and
the and all forms of verb
to be (is, are, be), unless
needed to make the meaning
clear
Use present tense for past
stories and infinitive form
for future stories
THE LEAD

01
THE LEAD
Answers the 5 Ws and 1 H questions

Arouses the interest of the reader

The 1st paragraph: Most important part

of the article and summarizes
the story

01
THE BODY

Details of the lead

Arranged from most important

to the least important
One sentence, one paragraph

Sentences are generally

less than 25 words
THE BODY

Includes quotations whenever possible

(direct or indirect)

When using Direct Qoutations, do not

place two people’s direct quotes next to
each other without a transition.
Note: Transitions are very important in News Writing
to establish a connection between
the paragraphs/sentences.
GUIDELINES
IN WRITING
Make sure your facts are accurate

Keep your sentences short; Be specific

Always write as third person

(Don’t use I and We)

Do not editorialize
WRITING THE LEAD..
Choose the type of Lead you will use

Use less than 30 words

Do not mention names unless

the person is well-known

Use active voice instead of passive

WRITING THE BODY..
List down facts according to descending
importance

Names should be given in full when first

mentioned. Thereafter, use Mr., Ms.,
or Mrs. Or appropriate title.

Don’t start news with numerals, there is. . .,

there are. . ., and avoid. . .;when possible,
use articles( a, an, the) as beginning word.)
Keep your sentences short; Be specific

Avoid passive verbs, jargons and cliches

Avoid redundancy and repetition

Do not editorialize

Attribute authority or source of news

Shukran!