HowtoWriteLikeaJournalist

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Old-styleforms

Who,what,where,when,

whyandhow?Wow,that’salot!

Invertedpyramid–classicjournalism

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Establishedforms

Long-formnarrative:Magazine-style

Nutgraf:Putsthestoryincontextandtellsreaderswhythestorymatters.Ittellsthereaderswhytheyshouldcontinuereadingthestory.

Chunkytext,breakoutboxesandsidebars:http://www.northtexasumc.org/2016/10/take-social-media-leader-tips-may-alien/

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How to Write Like a Journalist - December 8, 2016

Trendyforms

Blogs:http://www.northtexasumc.org/2015/12/i-have-a-muslim-problem-the-perspective-of-rev-omar-rikabi-of-first-heath/

Aggregation:Compilationofbreakingnewsfromavarietyofsources,eachbeingcredited.

Listicles:http://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/2016/12/02/16-mind-blowing-facts-that-will-make-you-the-most-interesting-person-at-your-holiday-party/

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Thebeststories

• Makeyoucare.

• Presentaproblemtobesolved.

• Ifpurelynews,reportdevelopmentsthatmovethestoryalong.

• Elicit“wow”details.Thisiswhereyouliftthestoryabovethemundane.

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YOURENGLISHTEACHER

SAYS

• Followtheoutline• Varytheattributions

• Use$50words• Obsessoversplitinfinitivesandnotendingsentenceswithprepositions.

YOUREDITOR

SAYS

•What’sthepointofyourstory?Where’sthenutgraf?

• Justsay“said.”• Don’tsendreaderstothedictionary.Ninth-gradereadinglevel.

• Actionverbs!• Stopthebuzzwords!

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How to Write Like a Journalist - December 8, 2016

RookiemistakesGoingbychronologicalorder

Buryingthelead

Havenotensionorproblemtosolve(rainbows,unicornsandboring)

Passivevoice

Bendingoverbackwardonquotes

Explained,added,claimed,joked,continued,postulated

Watchthetenses!Saysvs.said.

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Interviewing

• Outlineyourquestionsbeforetheinterview.• AskevenJohnSmithhowhespellshisnameandwhathistitleis.

•Warmuptheconversation–bowlingtrophies?

• Ask“Whatsurprisedyou?”

• Attheend,alwaysask:“IstheresomethingIdidn’taskthatyouwanttoadd?”

• Letthepersonknowyoumaybecallingbackforclarifications.Findoutthebestwayforcontact–phone,email,text,Facebook

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Don’tforgettheart(photos,graphics)

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How to Write Like a Journalist - December 8, 2016

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Headlinesandtitles

Actionverbs–rhythm;sayitoutloudinyourhead

Stayontheshortside–singleideaoftenworksbetter

Howandwhyheads

Piqueinterest:hidden,reveal,secret

Youwon’tbelievewhathappensnext:Clickbait!

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How to Write Like a Journalist - December 8, 2016

Phrasesthatneedmercykillings

• Choosesto• Continuesto• Goingforward• Reachout–usecontact• DNA• Ecosystem

• Community(thinkofsomethingelse–neighborhood,orjustsayamongspeechtherapistsratherthanspeechtherapistcommunity)

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Rethinkingastory

http://www.northtexasumc.org/2016/11/bethlehem-center-honors-police-officer-and-devoted-tech-volunteer/

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How to Write Like a Journalist - December 8, 2016