NEWS

WRITING
MARIE JASMINE ABAY-ABARA
School Paper Adviser, ‘Ang Bannawag’
Francisco A. Relacion National High School
Lantian, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur
GERG ANROL R. CAHILES
Correspondent, CNN Philippines
National Training of Trainers on Campus Journalism
Palo, Leyte

YVONNE T. CHUA | University of the Philippines

2021 NSPC Lecture

https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/writing-
resources/different-genres/news-writing-
fundamentals
Discussion Outline

• Pre-writing
• Elements of News
• Skills
• Getting the News
• Writing
• Angle
• Structure
• Parts
• Post-writing
Pre-Writing
What is news?

• North, East,
South,
West
• News is
information that
has a meaning
for a set of
readers
Elements of News
• Impact—How many people does the
event affect? How seriously does it
affect them?
• Proximity—An event will be more
important if is closer to the readers.
• Timeliness—Is the event fresh? Is it
new? The news must be timely to be of
use to readers.
• Prominence—Names make news, and big
names make big news. Ordinary people are
intrigued by the doings of the rich and
famous.
• Novelty—This is the new in news, the
unusual. The "firsts," "lasts" and "onlys" have
been the staples of the news business for
many years.
• Conflict— “If it bleeds, it leads.” Stories
with strife, whether it’s actual violence
or not, are more interesting.

• Audience—Who is the audience?

Is it enough that
you write
grammatically
sound news
stories?
 What is Libel?
Libel is defined as the published defamation of a person’s character
based on misleading or inaccurate facts. Newspaper reporters can often run
into issues of libel because it is their job to write truthful articles about people
that might not always be flattering.
Even though we live in a country with a free press, journalists cannot
write anything they want. Reporters do not have the right to state something
about a person that could damage their reputation and that is untruthful.
One of the easiest ways to protect oneself from libel is to make sure to
always do accurate reporting and to attribute all information in an article.
If you write something about someone that you’re unsure about, just ask
yourself if it’s true, and how you know it’s true. Rumors, gossip, and
information you received from an anonymous or unreliable source are all
dangerous to report, and they could run you the risk of a libel case.
Important to master
theseskills
• Nose for news
• Listening
• Comprehension
• Curiosity
Getting the
news
• Actual
coverage
• Interview
• Research
Writing
The
Angle
The main idea of a news story or lead is
called the “angle.” It is also referred to
as the “hook” because it is used to grab
or hook the reader’s attention.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/10/rodrigo-duterte-eyes-karaoke-crackdown-as-new-president-of-the-p/
After some deliberation, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has
approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the
Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to allow the voluntary wearing of
face masks outdoors amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Malacañang
announced.
According to Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, Executive Order (EO) No. 3
on the new face mask policy would take effect immediately.
EO No. 3 was signed by Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez on September 12.
Based on the EO, the voluntary wearing of face masks in open spaces and
non-crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation is now allowed, provided that
physical distancing will be observed at all times.
However, the following individuals are still “highly encouraged” to wear their
masks:
•Non-fully vaccinated individuals
•Senior citizens
•Immunocompromised individuals
MANILA, Philippines — Wearing face masks in “open spaces and non-crowded outdoor
areas with good ventilation” is now voluntary, Malacañang announced Monday.
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed 
Executive Order No. 3, allowing the voluntary wearing of face masks in outdoor settings
while reiterating the public’s continued adherence to minimum health standards.
“Naglabas tayo today ng EO No. 3 allowing the voluntary wearing of face masks in
outdoor settings and reiterating the continued implementation of minimum public health
standards during the state of public health emergency relating to the COVID-19 pandemic,”
she said in a Palace briefing.
(We issued today EO No. 3 allowing the voluntary wearing of face masks in outdoor settings
and maintaining the enforcement of minimum public health standards during the state of a
public health emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic. )
EO No. 3, however, stated that immunocompromised individuals, senior citizens, and
those who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are “strongly encouraged” to continue
wearing face masks even while outdoors.
The order, Cruz-Angeles said, will take effect immediately.
MANILA, Philippines- Pinayagan na ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Baguio City ang boluntaryong
pagsusuot ng face masks sa outdoor settings kasunod ng order na ipinalabas ng Malacañang. 
Ipinalabas ni Mayor Benjamin Magalong ang Executive Order 107-22 nitong Lunes,
alinsunod sa Executive Order 03-2022 ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., “allowing
the voluntary wearing of face masks in outdoor settings and reiterating the continued
implementation of minimum public health standards during the state of public health emergency
relative to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“I welcome these new developments and in fact had prepared instructions ahead of the IATF
(Inter-Agency Task Force) recommendations to the President. It is high time that we progress
forward with the revival of those activities and projects that were stalled during the worst days of
the pandemic, but we shall do so with caution,” pahayag ni Magalong.
“The public, especially our immunocompromised constituents, is strongly urged to continue
wearing their face masks even in outdoor areas.”
Boluntaryo na ang pagsusuot ng face masks sa open spaces at sa non-crowded outdoor areas na
may sapat na bentilasyon sa lungsod.
“However, senior citizens, immunocompromised individuals, and unvaccinated or partially
vaccinated persons are strongly urged to continue wearing face masks,” saad pa sa order.
Paiiralin pa rin ang mandatoryong pagsusuot ng face masks sa indoor public at private
establishments; crowded outdoor settings; at sa public transportation.
The Inverted Pyramid Structure
from the most important to the least important

Lead

Supporting details

Minor
details
8
News Reporting Basics

• Contains 5Ws and 1 H

• Parts of news story
– Lead
– Body
The Lead
• Refers to the first few paragraphs
of the news article
• Presents the gist of the story
A story’s lede answers the “Five W’s” in a specific order: Who? What? When?
Where? Why?

For example:
The Atlanta Police Department will hold a memorial service Wednesday at
Holy Christ Church in Buckhead for fallen officer Lt. James Montgomery.
WHO: The Atlanta Police Department
WHAT: will hold a memorial service
WHEN: Wednesday
WHERE: Holy Christ Church in Buckhead
WHY: for fallen officer Lt. James Montgomery
Other Examples:
Gwinnett County Public Schools was awarded $250,000 early Wednesday
as a finalist for what’s considered the Nobel Prize of public education.

A man beat an Army reservist in front of a Morrow Cracker Barrel, yelling

racial slurs at her as he kicked her in the head, Morrow police said.
The Body

• Importance of News Reporting

– include a chronology of the
issue being reported
– provide background
information or historical
context of the issue
– cite sources of information
– primary sources for crucial data
– secondary sources for
background info
Attributing information

ALL information in a news article MUST be attributed to the source

where the reporter got his/her information. The reporter must
indicate in his/her article where material was obtained from – from
an interview, court documents, the Census, a Web site, etc. Direct
quotes and paraphrasing can be used to attribute information
obtained in an interview with a source.
For example:
According to a police report, the suspect threatened the
cashier with a gun before running away with the money.

In a 500-page government report, investigators reported

evidence that the army had committed crimes against
humanity.
Integrating quotes
The first time a source is introduced in an article, you should use that
source’s full name and title. After this initial reference, use the last name
only.

For example:
“The swine flu vaccine is an incredible advance in modern medicine,” said
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

When attributing a direct quote, always use the verb “said” and never any
other verbs such as “explained,” “whispered,” etc. It is also more common
to use the format “XXX said” instead of “said XXX.”
For example:
“The housing crisis is growing out of control,” Bernanke said.

Even when information from a source is not used in a direct quote and is
paraphrased instead, it still must be attributed to that source.

For example:
Bernanke said the recession is probably over.
The recession will most likely begin to recede in six to eight months,
Bernanke said.
Post-Writing
• Review
• Revise
• Rewrite
Tip
s• KISS.
• Use the active voice.
• Verify your data.
• Focus
• Revise and sharpen.
More tips…

• Understand the event first. Then write.

• Write when you know what you want to say.
• Keep your eye on the lead.
• Be coherent. Paragraphs must flow.
• Always assume that your reader is a first
time reader so provide definitions if there
are any needed.
• Avoid judgments and inferences. Let the
facts talk.
Practical tips…

• Avoid too many details in the lead paragraph.

• Numbers 1-9 ar espelled out, 10 and higher – write in
numerics.
• Grade school – PUPILS ; High School and College –
STUDENTS
• Avoid repeating the same word in the same
paragraph.
• Leads must be, at the maximum, 35 words long.
Paragraphs must only be one or two sentences long.
• When using a company/ institution/ department name
more than once in a story, use its acronym after the
first time you use the term in its fullness
More practical tips…
• Be especially careful to avoid phrases and sentences
that are redundant--- that unnecessarily repeat the
same idea. The following phrases contain only two or
three words, yet at least one--- the word in italics–
is unnecessary:
More practical tips…

Avoid long, unfamiliar words. Whenever possible

substitute simpler and shorter words that convey
the same meaning .
“Write like there is no tomorrow
so that others may read about
today.” ― Jen Selinsky
In one minute, write the most
important thing from today’s
session.
Questions before
the workshop?
Worksho
p
Instructions:
1. Write a Straight News about the event today
highlighting our session on News Writing.
2. 4-5 one-sentence paragraphs will do. Make sure to
add a quote
 
Worksho
p

Instructions:
1. Read the news account below
2. Applying everything we’ve covered, revamp the
piece. 4-5 one-sentence paragraphs will do. Make
sure to add a quote