Unit 19: Writing for the creative media

Reach magazine
Working towards our contributions

Creating a

working document
production

A step by step guide to creating your article Working from idea to

Your responsibility to make sure all of the

elements are in place

Tools for the

A

job

creative approach
A

Professional

approach

Communication with your team

Step One
Get a memory stick for storage and submission
Create a step by step production log (Word document with numerical list of what youve done) Create a PDF as your working document

Step Two
Create a working title/headline for your feature Headlines are created to attract the reader Sub headings could help structure your article (not essential) Make headlines key to the topic Make them short and punchy

Step Three
Begin a list of contents E.G: Page 1: Feature topic Page 2-4: Research Page 4: Introduction Page 5: Main body Page 6: Conclusion Page 7: Extras (E.G: Pictures; audio files; interviews; animation; sub-headings)

Step Four
Write a summary of your feature topic
Narrow your topic down to meet your agenda. Too much information will weigh your article down If your topic has been thoroughly researched it should be easier to summarize

Step Four
Example Summary
Fizz to biz is an article concerned with the widespread use of mass marketed energy drinks by young people today. This feature will focus on some of the most recognizable brands and is written to investigate their growing popularity and the associated effects on the people who buy them. Fizz to biz aims to educate, raise awareness and debate by delivering first hand accounts of suggested health and dependency issues. In doing so well call to account the responsibilities of the drinks companies and the consumers alike in asking questions such as: Are energy drinks simply replacing the demand for coffee and other energy sources for a new generation? Or are they being irresponsibly marketed for a consumer base convinced they need the fizz to function fully with an ever demanding lifestyle?

Step Five
Research Compile a working list of the research sources that youve gathered to inform your topic

EG: Primary, Secondary, Websites, Newspapers, books, mags, surveys, questionnaires

How To Structure A Magazine Article

structure (strkchr)n.1. Something made up of a number of parts that are held or put together in a particular way: hierarchical social structure. 2. The way in which parts are arranged or put together to form a whole; makeup: triangular in structure. 3. The interrelation or arrangement of parts in a complex entity: political structure; plot structure. 4. Something constructed, such as a building.

Parts = Points
List the different points youll make about your topic

Will you build towards an important point?

or
Will you scatter important points throughout the article?

Tell your reader a story

Youll need a beginning, a middle

and an end.
It also means you need to think about where youre taking your reader and create a logical path to that end point.

Beginning Your Magazine Article

Its about Getting people to read your article Finding a way to grab their attention
Will you use Quotes? Anecdotes? Sub-headings? Introductory paragraphs?... Find examples

Introduction
GRAB the attention of your reader Write clearly the basic aim of the article and the conclusion you want to reach Use just a few sentences to sum up what the article will be about

The Middle
Provide facts and ideas that develop and explain your opening section

Provide sub-headings such as key words, phrases or questions to break your points up

The Middle
Avoid long drawn out chunks of writing. Instead concentrate on keeping it tight and punchy with key info Use quotations from witnesses, victims, experts, opinions etc

Ending Your Magazine Article

End with a bang. This could be an important point, a revelation, or another anecdote or quote.

Be suggestive/thoughtful about possibilities/reactions to the point that youve made

Top tips
Write a first draft to include everything you think you might need, then edit out irrelevant info. Write your article in clear, understandable and plain language. (Using a pompous language, using obscure words and making long sentences are not the features of a good article.)

Top Tips
Try making the first sentence of each paragraph the main ideas of that paragraph.

Try to avoid excessive mistakes with spelling, punctuation and grammar, even though well edit mistakes before upload.

Key steps to a successful feature

Submit Proofread Write Edit Write Plan Research

By Wednesday 26th February

(Week after half term)

COMPLETE a first draft of your feature, taking into account what weve discussed to date.
Collect a file of potential images to accompany your feature

Be prepared to edit one anothers work