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.