News Writing: Introduction

Course Description:

This course is designed to give a comprehensive all round introduction to news writing.

All the essential aspects of news reporting are covered including how to find and shape ideas for news stories; what to ask when an editor is briefing you; how to make sure you get all the facts you need to write a fully-rounded news report with no gaps or unanswered questions; how to interview subjects, get the quotes you need and present them accurately - and how to write to deadlines.

This course includes the following modules:

What makes a news story?

• The fundamental requirements for any story to be classified as news
• Knowing your audience - what will be new and of interest to them?

Developing a nose for finding news

• Learning where news is to be found and how to get at it
• How to find an angle that makes a story worth reporting

Researching a story

• The internet, archives, published and unpublished sources
• Who to ask to find out what will make your story new and fresh

Structuring a news story

• The Inverted Triangle method
• Ensuring the six essential elements are present high up in your news story

Finding news in press releases, reports and meetings

• How to spot hidden angles and stories in press releases and reports
• How to develop press releases by gathering additional information and finding a better angle
• Spotting a story in a dull meeting that other reporters might miss

Law for journalists

• What journalists need to know about defamation, contempt and privacy

How to interview

• How to win your subjects confidence
• What questions to ask and the order in which to ask them
• How to encourage them to say more than they intended
• Getting the right quotes and using them effectively

How to keep to deadlines

• Working against the clock
• How to save time by drafting the bulk of a story before you know what the final outcome - or your angle - will be
• Tips and tricks to make news editors happy

Questions and answers