NEWS WRITING IMPORTANT TIPS

Summary

This video tutorial offers essential tips for writing a news article, focusing on crafting compelling headlines, bylines, and leads. It emphasizes the importance of a concise lead that answers key questions in a single sentence and provides guidance on writing the body of the article with clear, simple language and one-sentence paragraphs. The tutorial advises against using contractions, editorializing, and starting leads with 'when' or 'here'. It also covers the use of direct and indirect quotes, proper terms, and the importance of specificity and present tense in English headlines, contrasting with past tense in Filipino. The tutorial concludes with advice on headline structure and the appropriate use of names.

Takeaways

• 📰 Headlines are crucial for giving readers a quick idea of the article's content.
• 🖋 The byline is the author's name, placed below the headline.
• 📝 The lead is a summary of the entire story, answering the basic questions (who, what, when, where, why, and how).
• 🚫 Keep the lead short, ideally within 35 words and limited to one sentence.
• 🙅‍♂️ Avoid starting the lead with 'when' or 'here', and refrain from using 'their' or 'this'.
• 🌐 The lead in national and school papers often starts with 'who'.
• 📚 The body of the article provides specific details and is supported by interviews, data, and research.
• 🔢 Limit words in the body to 60 and prefer one-sentence paragraphs for clarity.
• 📘 Each paragraph should contain a single, independent idea.
• 🔡 Use simple words to ensure readers don't need a dictionary, avoiding complex or high-falutin' language.
• 🔄 Use transitional devices like 'meanwhile', 'furthermore', or 'however' to connect paragraphs.
• 🚫 Avoid editorializing and inserting personal opinions in news writing.
• 🗣️ Use direct quotes from interviews and indirect quotes for transitions between paragraphs.
• 📜 Use proper terms like 'according to', 'police said', or 'DOH reiterated' for credibility.
• 🚫 Avoid using 'that' in indirect quotes and eliminate the passive voice where possible.
• 📢 Use the subject-verb-object (SVO) structure for headlines, being specific and direct.
• 🎯 Be specific rather than dramatic in headlines to maintain accuracy.
• 👤 Avoid using names in headlines if the subject is not prominent or well-known.
• 🕒 Use present tense in English headlines and past tense in Filipino ones.
• 📝 For English, if the subject is not prominent, consider not using their name in the headline.

Q & A

What is the most important part of a news article according to the video tutorial?

The most important part of a news article is the headline, as it gives readers an idea of what the article is about in just a few words.

What is the term used for the author's name in a news article?

The author's name in a news article is referred to as the byline, which is typically placed below the headline.

Why is the lead considered important in news writing?

The lead is important because it serves as a summary of the entire story, usually answering the questions of what, who, why, so what, when, and where.

What should be the ideal length for a lead in news writing?

The ideal length for a lead is 35 words or less, and it is usually limited to one sentence.

What is the recommended approach to writing the body of a news article?

The body of a news article should be written with each one-sentence paragraph containing one independent idea, using simple words and avoiding high-falutin language.

Why should the use of transitional devices be avoided after paragraphs in the body of a news article?

The use of transitional devices after paragraphs is recommended to improve the flow of the article and help readers transition smoothly between different points or ideas.

What is the significance of using direct quotes in news writing?

Direct quotes are significant in news writing as they provide authenticity and credibility to the article, usually coming from interviews or primary sources.

Why should personal opinions be avoided in news writing?

Personal opinions should be avoided in news writing to maintain objectivity and to ensure that the article presents facts without bias.

What is the recommended structure for headlines in news writing?

The recommended structure for headlines is the subject-verb-object (SVO) format, which makes the headline direct and to the point.

How should tense be used in headlines for English and Filipino news articles?

In English news articles, present tense should be used, while past tense is preferred for Filipino news articles.

What is the advice given for using names in headlines when the subject is not prominent?

If the subject or person is not prominent, it is advised not to use their name or surname in the headline. Instead, a more general term like 'police officer' can be used.

Outlines

00:00

📰 Essential News Writing Techniques

This paragraph introduces the fundamentals of news writing, emphasizing the importance of headlines as the first impression for readers. It explains the role of the byline and the lead, which serves as a summary answering the basic questions about the story. The paragraph also touches on the body of the article, which provides detailed information and is supported by interviews, data, and research. Additionally, it offers tips for writing an effective lead, such as keeping it short and avoiding traditional openings.

05:01

📝 Advanced News Writing Strategies

The second paragraph delves into advanced strategies for writing the body of a news article. It advises limiting the word count to 60 per paragraph and preferring one-sentence paragraphs for clarity. The paragraph stresses the importance of simplicity in language to ensure readers do not need a dictionary. It also cautions against editorializing and suggests using direct quotes and proper terms for credibility. The paragraph concludes with additional tips on avoiding certain words and contractions, and emphasizes the use of subject-verb-object structure in headlines for clarity and impact.

Keywords

💡Headlines

Headlines are the attention-grabbing titles of news articles that summarize the main points in just a few words. In the video, it is emphasized that headlines are one of the most important parts of a news article because they give readers an immediate idea of what the article is about. An example from the script is 'Bon Bon Marcos announces bid to join presidential race in 2022', which encapsulates the news story in a concise manner.

💡Byline

A byline is the line of text that identifies the author of an article, typically placed below the headline. It is a key concept in the script as it signifies the ownership and credibility of the news content. The script mentions the byline in the context of identifying the writer of the news article.

💡Lead

The lead is the introductory section of a news article that provides a summary of the story, answering the basic questions of who, what, when, where, why, and how. It is crucial in news writing as it sets the stage for the rest of the article. The script advises to keep the lead short, ideally within one sentence, and to avoid starting with 'when' or 'here'.

💡Body

The body of a news article expands on the information introduced in the lead, providing specific details, interviews, data, and research. The script highlights the importance of the body in conveying the full story and offers tips on writing it, such as limiting words to 60 per paragraph and using one-sentence paragraphs for clarity.

💡Paragraphs

Paragraphs are blocks of text that organize the content of a news article into manageable sections. The script suggests using one-sentence paragraphs for conciseness and clarity, and each paragraph should contain one independent idea.

💡Transitional Devices

Transitional devices are words or phrases that connect one paragraph to another, providing a smooth flow in the narrative. The script mentions examples like 'meanwhile', 'furthermore', and 'however' as ways to transition between different parts of the news article.

💡Direct Quotes

Direct quotes are the exact words taken from interviews or statements and used to support the points in a news article. The script advises using direct quotes to add authenticity and credibility to the news story, such as 'she said the man jumped'.

💡Indirect Quotes

Indirect quotes are a way of attributing information to a source without using their exact words. They are used to transition between paragraphs and to convey the essence of what a source has said. The script mentions indirect quotes as a tool for smooth transitions in news writing.

💡SVO (Subject-Verb-Object)

SVO stands for Subject-Verb-Object, which is a common sentence structure in English where the subject comes first, followed by the verb, and then the object. The script uses SVO as an example of how to structure headlines for clarity and directness, such as 'Bon Bon Marcos announces bid to join presidential race in 2022'.

💡Tense Usage

Tense usage refers to the choice between present and past tense in writing. The script explains that English news headlines typically use the present tense, while Filipino headlines use the past tense, reflecting the time frame of the events being reported.

💡Prominence in Headlines

Prominence in headlines refers to the decision of whether to include a person's name based on their importance to the story. The script advises that if the subject is not prominent, it's better to avoid using their name in the headline, focusing instead on the action or event.

Highlights

Headlines are crucial as they give readers an idea of what the article is about in just a few words.

The byline is the author's name that appears below the headline.

The lead is a summary of the entire story, answering key questions like what, who, why, when, and where.

The body provides specific details and is compiled from interviews, data, and research.

Keep the lead short, preferably 35 words or less and limited to one sentence.

Avoid starting the lead with 'when' unless necessary.

Most leads start with 'who' or 'what', not 'their' or 'this'.

In Filipino, start leads with 'pandiwa' instead of using questions or codes.

Examples of 'who' leads are provided, such as President Rodrigo Duterte's announcement.

Examples of 'what' leads are given, like the announcement of restrictions on visiting Tagaytay.

Limit words in the body to 60 and prefer one-sentence paragraphs.

Each paragraph should contain one independent idea.

Use simple words to avoid making readers refer to a dictionary.

Use transitional devices like 'meanwhile', 'furthermore' after paragraphs.

Avoid editorializing and do not include personal opinions in news writing.

Use direct quotes from interviews and indirect quotes as transitions.

Use proper terms like 'according to', 'police said', 'doh reiterated'.

Avoid using 'that' in indirect quotes and eliminate the passive voice.

Avoid contractions and use the subject-verb-object (SVO) format for headlines.

Be specific and direct in headlines, avoiding dramatic language.

Use commas instead of 'and' in headlines for better clarity.

Use present tense in English headlines and past tense in Filipino.

Do not use names or surnames in headlines if the subject is not prominent.

Transcripts

[Music]

for today's video tutorial we will

discuss some tips on how to write a news

article especially in writing the lead

the body and other important elements of

news writing let us start with the

structures of news beginning with the

headlines

headlines are typically called as title

for beginners but this is actually one

of the most important part of a news as

it gives already the readers an idea of

what an article is all about in just few

words

what is byline

if you are the one who wrote the article

then your name below the headline is

your byline

lead is very important in news this is

like a summary of entire story which

usually answers the questions what

who

why

so what when and where

you have to be knowledgeable in writing

a lead

indeed

the body is very important as well if

you want to know the specific details

then you should read the entire details

or the body

don't worry

and paragraphs

usually collected interviews data and

researches

now let's begin on how to write a good

lead

as i've said since

especially the technicalities

i will give you some important tips on

how to write it first

keep the lead short

those with 35 words or less are

preferred leads are usually limited in

one sentence and so with the body soma

second

avoid starting lead with when or when

hindi naka say

unless

next

most leads start with who or what sino

or ano

national newspapers in even in the

school papers especially the who lead

also avoid beginning lead with their or

this jan or dito

then try not using code or question

leads because as these are so

traditional so conventional

in filipino you start your lead with

pandiwa

so here is an example of who lead

president rodrigo duterte announced on

saturday that he will retire from

politics shelving aside his plans to run

for vice president in the 2022 national

election

another one

the government has eased restrictions

for inbound arrivals and pave the way

for a shorter facility based quarantine

for fully vaccinated travelers coming

from other countries malacanang

announced on friday another one sa

tagalog or filipino

[Music]

next is the what lead

these are some examples

in english

visiting tagaytay is now put on hold as

more virus cases were recorded in the

past few days local government bureau

announced on friday

sa tagalog

the next tip that i will be sharing with

you is on how to write the body or the

content

these are some of the tips that i

prepared for you number one please limit

your words to 60 only as much as

possible number two in contest one

sentence paragraph is preferred in

printed it's okay to use one to two

sentence paragraph number three

each one sentence paragraph should only

contain one idea of course independent

idea say some sentence or paragraph

number four

use simple words

don't let readers use dictionary

news writing direct words or a very

simple

do not use high falludin words

another one

use transitional devices after

paragraphs for example meanwhile

furthermore however aside from that

[Music]

never editorialize never write your

personal opinion

opinion in news writing then as much as

possible use direct codes these are

usually coming from the interview if you

conducted an interview

then you may also use the indirect code

as transitions to the paragraphs use

proper terms for example according to

ayansa

police said doh reiterated

now these are some other important tips

that you have to always

remember please avoid using that in

paragraphs especially in indirect codes

for example

she said that the man jumped

you may omit the word that

predinamon she said the man jump another

one eliminate b form for example the

police officer will be resigning in his

post effective you may write it in this

way the police officer will resign

effective next avoid contractions like

want which should be will not paid they

had

he'd or he had

use subject verb object or svo for

headlines for example

bon bon marcos announces bid to join

presidential race in 2022

the word announces is the verb which is

always placed in the middle just like in

filipino aguila

headline

be specific not dramatic

make it direct to the point that is what

i'm trying to say

for example

courageous pacman files for presidency

after retiring from boxing that he most

loved

because there are writers

just to make it you know even impressive

now

but actually you may omit this words

[Music]

like courageous uh the most hila because

the title or the headline pacman files

for presidency after retiring from

boxing is enough next

use comma instead of end

in headlines

for example jorme and bbm file for

presidency

that's not the correct form

then comma bbm file for presidency

use present tense for english

and past tense for filipino

for example

bon bon marcos announced bid to join

presidential race in 2022

so hindi it

encouraged nothing the meeting although

sometimes or in other cases a nagagamita

depending on how you wrote your

headline

the correct form is

marcos announces bid to join

presidential race in 2022.

another tip if the subject or person is

not prominent or killer do not use the

name or surname in headlines

for example

spo4 kalagot admits foul play in karla

case

so do not use or do not mention the name

you can just write police officer admits

foul play in tarlac case that ends our

tutorial for today thank you so much for

listening

bye