Creative Nonfiction:

Enhancing Creativity and Utilizing Reality

through Journalism
VAN RUSSEL ANAJAO ROBLES, Ph.D.
Be Updated

How do you keep

yourself updated
with the different
events happening
Journalism is the activity of gathering, assessing, creating, and
presenting news and information. It is also the product of these
activities.

Journalism can be distinguished from other activities and products by

certain identifiable characteristics and practices. These elements not
only separate journalism from other forms of communication, they are
what make it indispensable to democratic societies. History reveals that
the more democratic a society, the more news and information it tends
to have.
On Purpose of
Journalism

Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel’s

The Elements of Journalism

“The primary purpose

of journalism is to
provide citizens with
the information they
need to be free and
self-governing.”
Within that, journalism has five primary
responsibilities to the public elaborated below:

• To inform us of changing events, issues and characters.

• To bear witness.
• To serve as a watchdog over those in power.
• To convey a sense of wisdom or context to current events.
• To set the tone for public discourse.
2 Common •Journalistic Writing
Divisions of
Journalism •Literary Journalism
 • PRINT JOURNALISM
MAJOR TYPES
• BROADCAST JOURNALISM
OF JOURNALISM
• SOCIAL MEDIA
Journalistic
Writing
is the style of writing used
to report news stories in
newspapers, television
broadcasts, on radio and on
the Internet. Unlike other
styles of writing, which can
be flexible and casual, the
characteristics of
journalistic writing are pretty
easy to spot.
Journalistic writing and
“English class” writing
Similarities and differences
Keep these ideas in mind:

• Each has a different audience.

• With an English class essay, the writer usually has an audience of one — the
teacher.
• When writing for media, the writer has a much broader audience — the entire
school or community.

• Each has a different purpose.

• Usually the English essay writer is trying to impress the teacher…and get an A!
• The journalist needs to clearly and often quickly inform, entertain or persuade an
audience.
Not all journalistic writing is the same nor is all “English
class” writing the same, but consider these general
guidelines.
Here are some differences…
• Journalistic writing has • “English class” writing has longer,
short, concise more complex sentences.
sentences. • ECW uses more multi-syllable
• JW has simple, words.
understandable words. • ECW often has paragraphs of 100
• JW uses short words or more, including a topic
paragraphs, often one or sentence and its support.
two sentences.
 Organization varies…
• Newswriting is traditionally
arranged in an inverted pyramid.
• The first paragraph is the lead --
with 5Ws and H.
• A summary lead is usually one
sentence.
• Additional paragraphs are short
and contain less and less
important information.
• Essays traditionally are five
paragraphs.
• The first paragraph is the introduction
and thesis statement.
• Second, third and fourth paragraphs
develop the topic using
• Compare and contrast
• Definition
• Classification, etc.
• The final paragraph is the conclusion.
Organization
Inverted pyramid Five-Paragraph Essay

Intro/Thesis
statement
Lead - 5Ws & Body
H

Gets less important

Conclusion
And information-gathering varies,
too…
• Media writing uses lots • Essays often require
of primary sources. material from
Interviews with: • Reading a particular
• Experts work
• Spokespersons • Drawing on insight and
• Newsmakers information from
previous readings or
• ‘People on the street’ lectures
• Secondary sources • Applying personal
include: experience
• Official records
• Reference materials
• Other media
 But keep in mind
why that’s the case:

 Different audience
 Different purpose
 BEWARE OF PLAGIARISM!
All writing needs attribution…
• Media writing works attribution into • Essays use various citation forms:
the context: • MLA
• “The result is dangerous,” Mayor • APA
Fred Norton said.
• This could include:
• According to the Health
Commission’s survey, 27 percent of • Footnotes or endnotes
the participants lost weight. • Parenthetical citations
• This is also necessary when using • Bibliography
secondary sources the reporter didn’t
interview:
• “The result is dangerous,” Mayor
Fred Norton told the Greenville
Times.
FEATURES OF JOURNALISTIC WRITING
JOURNALISTIC WRITING

News

Editorial

Opinion/Column

Sports
Taal explodes; ashfall hits Metro Manila
Helen Flores (The Philippine Star) - January 13, 2020 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Thousands were evacuated, flights at the NAIA were

suspended and there are no classes today in Metro Manila, Cavite and parts of
Batangas and Laguna after Taal Volcano exploded yesterday, with ashfall
blanketing much of Southern Tagalog and reaching Metro Manila.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised the
alert status of Taal to 4 – meaning an eruption is imminent – after the volcano
spewed ash and rocks a kilometer high yesterday afternoon.
According to social media posts, ashfall hit the areas of Tagaytay and Silang,
Cavite; Talisay, Batangas; Cabuyao, Laguna; and also the cities of Parañaque,
Makati, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Taguig and other parts of Metro Manila.
Taal explodes; ashfall hits Metro Manila
Helen Flores (The Philippine Star) - January 13, 2020 - 12:00am

Phivolcs strongly recommended the Taal Volcano Island and high-risk

barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel in Batangas be evacuated due to the
possible hazards of pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami.
The agency reminded the public that the entire Volcano Island is a
permanent danger zone, and entry into the island as well as high-risk
barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel is prohibited, it said.
“In addition, communities around the Taal Lake shore are advised to take
precautionary measures and be vigilant of possible lakewater
disturbances related to the ongoing unrest,” Phivolcs said.
Slimming down
(The Philippine Star) - January 10, 2020 - 12:00am

Just days after Joseph Estrada assumed the presidency in 1998, he had ordered all
members of the Philippine National Police to lose their potbellies and slim down.
Keeping physically fit was in line with the program to instill police discipline. Estrada’s
PNP chief Panfilo Lacson and Manila police chief Avelino Razon told cops to exercise,
do pushups and even take up dancing.
Together with a crackdown on kotong or mulcting cops who victimized traffic offenders,
Lacson launched a campaign against beer bellies in the PNP.
In June 2012, then PNP chief Nicanor Bartolome, an avid runner, reiterated the directive
for cops to slim down. Earlier this week, PNP officer-in-charge Archie Gamboa revived
the order, saying overweight cops would not be allowed to undergo training for purposes
of new assignments and promotion. He said an overweight PNP general is now on a
yogurt diet to comply with the order. It’s unclear if it was a complete joke.
 Slimming down
(The Philippine Star) - January 10, 2020 - 12:00am

Slimming down may be seen as mere cosmetic reform in an organization with numerous
problems. Also, weight is not an accurate measure of a cop’s performance. Physical
appearance, however, reflects the level of discipline in the PNP. As in the military, the police
service is expected to put a premium on discipline within the ranks.
Everyone also performs better in good health, and keeping physically fit is a component of
any health regimen. Maintaining the proper weight helps in optimum performance of tasks.
Overweight cops have been favorite subjects of caricatures denigrating the PNP. Losing
weight may be a cosmetic change, but physically fit police officers enhance the image of
the PNP. Ranking officers in particular must lead the way in showing that they have enough
self-discipline to maintain a healthy weight, to go hand-in-hand with other reforms in the
police service. Fat cops have nothing to lose – except excess weight.
 2020 a critical year: Where are we heading?
Ambassador B. Romualdez (The Philippine Star) - January 12, 2020 - 12:00am

At the recent Executive Council on Diplomacy luncheon lecture here in Washington,

the Financial Times columnist Edward Luce presented his perspectives on issues
and anticipated developments in 2020. I first met Ed in Manila during his early days
as correspondent for FT during FVR’s time.
A well-respected columnist, Ed’s views particularly on US politics, economic,
international relations and the geopolitical scene are highly regarded by policy
makers and diplomats.
I asked Ed Luce if we are really “in the foothills of a cold war” as warned by former
US State Secretary Henry Kissinger, and he said that we are. But unlike the first
Cold War with Russia, the situation today could be far more serious given the huge
challenge that China poses from an economic and military standpoint.
 Pampanga's Levi Hernandez explodes in home
game vs Nueva Ecija

Hyped up by their raucous crowd here at AUF Gym, ex-pro Levi

Hernandez put together his best performance in the 2019-20
Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Season on Thursday night.
Hernandez dropped an MPBL career-high 29 points on 10-of-18
shooting clip, including four 3-pointers, alongside four rebounds and
two steals.
Most importantly, his performance helped Pampanga gut out an 81-
75 conquest of the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards.
 Pampanga's Levi Hernandez explodes in home
game vs Nueva Ecija

The victory improved the Giant Lanterns record to 16-9, tied for fifth
spot with Bataan, and just half-a-game below fourth-place Bulacan.
"Sobrang ginanahan talaga ako kasi home court namin ito eh,
nanonood ang mga taga Pampanga kaya ginawa ko lang ang best
ko para makuha yung panalo," the former Arellano standout said.
 Literary Journalism
Literary Journalism
Literary journalism is a form of journalism that
combines reporting with storytelling of a
nonfiction event.
Literary journalism is a form of nonfiction that
combines factual reporting with some of the
narrative techniques and stylistic strategies
traditionally associated with fiction. Also called
narrative journalism.
 Effective literary journalism
enables readers to gain an
enlightened perspective that
reveals the extraordinary in
Why Literary
everyday life and offers a
Journalism?
richer understanding of the
facts surrounding an
individual, institution, or
event.
Form and Length

Literary journalism can

take many forms and
lengths. At times,
pieces of literary
journalism end up in a
magazine or as a long
essay online or in an
anthology.
Ethical Guidelines

Creative presentation
Everything should be Use of information of facts, not
verifiable not imagination “creation” of facts,
scenes, or events
Traditional vs. Literary Journalism

Traditional journalism’s unit of construction is the FACT

Literary journalism’s unit of construction is the SCENE

(witnessed or recreated/anecdotal)
 Differences between literary and journalistic writing
Literary writing Journalistic writing

To entertain and inform leisurely Must inform quickly

May or may not be entirely factual Entirely factual

To appeal primarily to emotions primarily to give information

Based on facts gathered by reporters Limited to only writer's imagination

To interest a comparatively small group or Interest a large group with varying education
selected people backgrounds

Refers to author's technique of expression Refers mostly to preparation of copy, use of cap
, punctuation, spelling, may refer to author;
individual technique or expression

Subjective usually objective and simple direct

Any length Usually short, concise and correct

Any type Avoid using important or unusual word twice in

same paragraph or closely together in same
paragraph
LITERARY
JOURNALISM

• Features
• Character Sketch
• Travelogue
• Human Interest
• DIY
• Informative
• Historical

• Science and Technology

• Science
• Health
• Technology
 PARTS OF
NEWSPAPER
• For this activity, you will respond to one or more of the following short essay questions.
Since these are short essay questions, your responses should be concise and clear.
However, make sure that you thoroughly cover all components of the question. Also,
be sure to include supporting evidence to reinforce your main points.
• Questions
• How has journalism changed over the past century?
• Why is objectivity important in journalism?
• Explain the importance of relevance in journalism.
• Why do journalists use quotes in their writing?