Pre-Writing Concerns in Campus Journalism

1. Sections of a Campus Paper

A campus paper is usually structured to provide comprehensive coverage
of events and topics that concern the student body and the school
community. The key sections typically include:

SECTIONS AND PARTS OF A CAMPUS PAPER

Front page
1. Local News- news that takes place within the country.
2. Foreign News- news that takes place outside the country.
3. Dateline News- an out of town news story. It is introduced by a
dateline which states the place from which the story was
reported, the date, and the source of the material if not written
by the local staff, as Tokyo, Japan, Jan. 25 (AP).
4. Weather News- usually a boxed forecast of the area, sometimes
includes the temperature, wind directions, and velocities.
Extremes on weather are reported as more detailed directions.
5. Index- a slug line indicating an important inside page story and
the page where it is found.

6. OTHER THINGS FOUND ON THE PAGE:

a. Nameplate- the engraved or printed name of the newspaper, as

the Manila Times or PNU Torch.
b. Ears- the little boxes on either side of the nameplate.
c. Banner- the principal headline bearing the boldest and biggest
type. It is the title of the most important news of the day
which is called banner news. Also called as steamer.
d. Running head- a headline made up of two or more lines.
e. Headline- the title of the news story. The headline is used
only for titles of news stories.
f. Deck- a subordinate headline placed immediately below its
mother headline, also known as bank or readout.
g. Lead- the beginning of a news story. It may be a word, a group
of words, a sentence, or even a paragraph.
h. News story- the whole story of an event composed of the lead
and the text which is the elaboration of the lead.
i. Columns- the horizontal division into parts of a newspaper.
j. Column rule- the vertical lines that divides the page into
columns.
k. Fold- the imaginary horizontal line that divides the newspaper
equally into two parts.
l. Byline- the signature of a reporter preceding a news feature,
as By Warren Cruz.
m. Box- News materials enclosed by line rules.
n. Cut- a metal plate bearing a newspaper’s illustration, also
known as Cliché.
 o. Cutline- the text accompanying photos and the other artwork,
better known as a Caption. If written above the photo just
like a slugline, it is called an overline.
p. Kicker- a tagline placed above but smaller than a headline,
also known as teaser. If it is bigger that the headline is
called a hammer.
q. Credit line- a line giving the sourse of the story or
illustration, as Reprinted from the “Manila Times” or Photo by
MPI.

Editorial page

1. Folio- consist of the number page, date of publication, and

name of the newspaper, usually written on top of the page.
This is also found in the other pages.
2. Masthead- the editorial box containing the logo, names of the
staff members and position in the staff, subscription rate,
the publisher, and other pertinent data about the newspaper.
3. Editorial proper- a commentary written by any of the editors
who comments or gives the opinion of the staff or of the whole
paper on various subjects. It is the stand of the paper.
4. Editorial column- a personal opinion written by the columnist
himself. Like the editorial proper, it may attack, teach,
entertain, or appeal depending upon its purpose.
5. Editorial cartoon- usually caricature emphasizing a simple
point. Usually humorous, it has the function of the editorial.
6. Editorial liner- a short statement or quoted saying placed at
the end of an editorial column or editorial to drive home a
message.
7. Letter to the editor- a letter sent in by the reader giving
his personal views on certain aspect

• News Section: This section reports factual and objective news

about the school and the community. News articles must adhere to the
principles of accuracy, fairness, and timeliness. Coverage may include
events such as student government elections, academic achievements,
and school policy changes (Stovall, 2015)

Key Elements: The news must be factual, timely, and objective. Avoid
bias, and ensure all sides of the issue are represented fairly.
Accuracy is essential, as credibility is built on truthful reporting.

The News
The abbreviation NEWS stands for “Notable Events, Weather and
Sports”. ... According to Oxford dictionary, “News is newly received
or noteworthy information, especially about recent events usually a
broadcast or published report not previously known to someone.”

Elements of News
1. Timeliness- It is happening and important right now. What's news
today isn't always news tomorrow. Old news is boring. You
wouldn't want to have a story about the first day of school in a
paper that comes out in October.
2. Proximity- Closeness. News is important to people because it is
close to them, either physically or emotionally. What's news here
at East may not necessarily be news at Philippines.
3. Impact- what is happening effects a lot of people
4. Prominence- importance or fame. People who are important or well
known draw more interest than people who are not. If I hit a
hole-in-one golfing, it probably won't even make the local
newspaper. If the president hits a hole-in-one, it will be on
front pages around the nation. That's because the president is
prominent, and I'm not.
5. Oddity- things that are unusual, weird or strange are also
interesting. Or if something happens for the first time, last
time or only time, it is odd and therefore newsworthy.
6. Conflict- s a fight or disagreement. It can be violent or non-
violent. War, shootings, or political disagreements are all
examples.
7. Sex- sells. People are interested in who is having sex with whom.
This can also include sex crimes or scandals.

Type of news stories

Straight news/Hard news

- Stories that report only the most essential information in a

concise and impartial manner are referred to as straight or hard
news stories.
- This type of story typically follows the inverted pyramid style,
which organizes information by descending order of importance or
places the most newsworthy information at the beginning of the
article.
 - This style will be discussed in more detail below. Examples of
hard news stories include those about political topics and crime.

Features

- The primary difference between a feature story and a straight

news story is the style.
- A feature article is more in-depth than a traditional hard news
article and uses the types of storytelling devices and details
that you might find in novels.
- Feature stories are considered soft news and do not focus merely
on the basic facts.
- Writers typically have more flexibility to use a wider range of
formats, provide rich descriptions, and include scene-setting
anecdotes.
- Features often are given more space on the page and are
accompanied by pictures, illustrations, graphics, maps, and other
visual components.
- A profile of an athlete or a political figure is an example of a
feature article. The characteristics of feature writing will be
explained further in the next chapter
Editorial
- Although journalistic ethical standards call for general news
writing to be objective in content and tone, news writers also
have the opportunity to communicate personal points of view about
current events and topics.
- The editorial is a type of news story used to develop an argument
about an issue and even sway readers’ opinions.
- The essay also represents the official view of an editorial board
that determines what views to share after some kind of
deliberative process.

Editorial Section: Editorials express the collective opinion of the

editorial board on various school or societal issues. Columns in this
section provide a platform for individual perspectives. Writers must
use logical arguments, supported by facts, while avoiding ad hominem
attacks (Stewart, 2017). Strong argumentation, backed by facts and
logical reasoning, is crucial. Writers should avoid personal attacks
and present constructive criticism or praise. Editorials should
stimulate discussion among readers.

Feature Section: Feature writing allows for creative storytelling and

offers in-depth coverage of human-interest stories. It often
highlights personal stories, trends, and profiles of students or staff
(The Associated Press, 2022). Feature writing allows for a more
creative and engaging style. Writers should focus on storytelling
techniques, such as building a narrative arc, using vivid
descriptions, and highlighting emotional elements to keep the readers
invested.

Sports Section: The sports section covers athletic events,

competitions, and profiles of athletes. The writing must be clear and
accurate, with an emphasis on statistics, results, and interviews with
players or coaches (Itule & Anderson, 2014). Clarity and precision in
reporting scores and facts are vital. Enthusiasm should come through
in the writing, but avoid exaggeration or undue bias towards one team
or player.

Literary Section: Often a space for poems, essays, and short stories
submitted by students, the literary section provides a creative
outlet. Editors must ensure that the submissions align with the tone
and values of the publication (White, 2020). Literary contributions
should be selected based on quality and relevance to the campus
community. Editors must ensure that all submissions align with the
values and tone of the paper.

Science and Technology Section: This section addresses advancements

and trends in science, technology, and the environment. Articles
should translate complex subjects into accessible language while
maintaining accuracy (The Associated Press, 2022). Articles here
should strike a balance between being informative and accessible.
Avoid overly technical jargon that could alienate the general
readership, but maintain the article's integrity by ensuring factual
accuracy.

Entertainment Section: This section covers cultural events, music,

movie reviews, and other entertainment. Writers are encouraged to
provide balanced opinions, explaining both the strengths and
weaknesses of the subject (Stovall, 2015). Reviews should be balanced,
offering both strengths and weaknesses of the subject matter. Writers
should give insight into why certain creative works resonate or fail
with their audience.