NEWS WRITING

(Group 4)
TARGET LESSONS:
Sources & the flight of Campus News
Essentials of News
Elements of News
Principles of Journalism applicable to News
Inverted Pyramid Structure in News
The Lead
Sources & citations in News Writing
Writing the actual news article

News is a report, oral or written report of past, present, or future event.

-News is new information
-True information
-Important information.
Qualities of a News Story
Factual
Truthful
Accurate
Unbiased
Interesting
what is writing ?
​ Letters or characters that serve as visible signs of ideas, words or symbols or it is the
act or practice of creating literary pieces.
What is news writing?
Refers to the style of writing used to report factual information about events, activities, and
issues happening within a school or university community, following journalistic standards of
accuracy, objectivity, and clarity, typically written for a campus newspaper or online publication,
allowing students to practice reporting skills while informing their peers about relevant news on
campus.

Source and flight of campus news

These are the news sources which are prominent in today’s time.

●​ Radio – it is an audio medium used by many in today’s time

●​ Television – Telecast their news on television through which other newspaper takes there
source.
●​ Newspaper and Magazines – These two also act as a Good source of news. Newspaper on
both the level national and international provides the best information in details.
 ●​ Press Release – is a communication, announcing a story to the public which is
deliberately sent to journalists or media publishers in the hope they will publish the news
contained in them.
●​ Press Notes – a written communication sent to the media that provides information about
a news event or update. To share information about a product launch, new business
update, or special events to build brand awareness and gain recognition in customer
markets.
●​ Hand outs – a handout is a paper containing a summary of information or topic which
will be dealt with in a lecture or talk.

Flight (Spread) of Campus News

●​ Viral Social Media Posts – Quickest way news spreads, especially controversial or
exciting topics.
●​ Word of Mouth – Hallways, dorms, and student hangouts serve as informal news
networks.
●​ Email Newsletters – Official updates and student organization news sent directly to
inboxes.
●​ Live Events & Protests – News spreads rapidly when students gather for demonstrations
or celebrations.

ESSENTIALS OF NEWS

1. Timeliness

●​ News should be recent and relevant.

●​ The more current the information, the more impactful it is.

2. Proximity

●​ News is more relevant when it affects people close to the location or community.
●​ Local events matter more to local audiences.

3. Impact

●​ How many people are affected by the news?

●​ The greater the effect, the more important the news.

4. Prominence

●​ News involving well-known people, institutions, or organizations attracts more attention.

●​ Example: A celebrity getting married vs. an ordinary person’s wedding.

5. Conflict

●​ Disagreements, controversies, or struggles make news more engaging.

 ●​ Political disputes, social movements, and legal battles are common examples.

6. Novelty (Unusualness)

●​ The “odd” or “unexpected” attracts interest.

●​ Example: A dog saving a person from a fire.

7. Human Interest

●​ Emotional and personal stories capture audience attention.

●​ Example: A student overcoming hardships to graduate with honors.

8. Accuracy

●​ Facts must be verified, and information should be reliable.

●​ Misinformation damages credibility.

9. Objectivity

●​ News should be fair and unbiased.

●​ Presenting all sides of a story maintains journalistic integrity.

10. Clarity & Conciseness

●​ News should be easy to understand and straight to the point.

●​ Avoid unnecessary complexity or jargon.

ELEMENTS OF NEWS
1.Conflict – This may involve physical or mental conflict.
2.Immediacy or Timeliness- It emphasizes the newest angle of the story.
3.Proximity or Nearness-This may refer to geographical nearness as well as to nearness of
kinship or interest.
4.Prominence- Some people are prominent than others by reason of wealth, social position, or
achievements. Prominence may refer also to places or things.
5. Significance- whatever is significant to the life of an individual is interesting to him.
6. Names- Important names make important news.
7. Number- Sweepstakes numbers, election results, scores in games, casualties, fatalities, price of
goods,etc.

PRINCIPLES OF JOURNALISM APPLICABLE TO NEWS

1. TRUTH AND ACCURACY
• News writing must prioritize factual reporting. Verify all information, names, dates, and figures
to ensure accuracy and prevent misinformation.
2. OBJECTIVITY
• News stories should be free from bias or personal opinion. Present facts impartially and allow
the audience to form their own conclusions.
3. FAIRNESS AND BALANCE
• Provide all sides of a story, especially in controversial issues. Include multiple perspectives
and avoid favoritism.
4. RELEVANCE
• News stories should focus on topics that are timely and significant to the audience.
Prioritize stories that matter to the community or reflect broader societal issues.
5. TIMELINESS
• Ensure news is reported promptly, as relevance diminishes with time. Breaking news must
be written and shared as quickly as possible without compromising accuracy.
6. CLARITY AND SIMPLICITY
• Use clear and straightforward language. Avoid jargon or overly complex sentences,
ensuring the news is accessible to all readers.
7. INVERTED PYRAMID STRUCTURE
• Start with the most critical information (who, what, when, where, why, and how) in the
lead paragraph. Follow with supporting details and background information in descending order
of importance.
8. ACCOUNTABILITY
• Writers should own up to errors and issue corrections when necessary. Accountability
builds trust with the audience.
9. ETHICAL REPORTING
• Respect privacy, avoid sensationalism, and ensure that reporting does not cause harm. For
sensitive topics, use appropriate language and context.
10. ATTRIBUTION
• Always credit sources for quotes, statistics, or information. This enhances credibility and
avoids plagiarism.
11. ENGAGEMENT
• Write compelling leads and maintain the reader's interest throughout the article by focusing
on what matters most to the audience.

THE INVERTED PYRAMID STRUCTURE IN NEWS

News stories are organized using the inverted pyramid style, in which information is
presented in descending order of importance. This allows the audience to read the most crucial
details quickly so they can decide whether to continue or stop reading the story. From an editing
perspective, using the inverted pyramid style makes it easier to cut a story from the bottom, if
necessary. Invented more than a century ago, the inverted pyramid style remains the basic
formula for news writing (Scanlan, 2003).
Advantages of the Inverted Pyramid Structure
1. It facilitates reading. By just reading the lead, one can already get the news he wants to
know.
2. It facilitates newspaper's makeup. In cases of lack of space, the lay out editor can strike
out or delete the least important paragraphs at the bottom, because the most important facts on
top.
3. It facilitates headline writing. Copy editor can already prepare the headline of the story
from the lead.

THE LEAD

EVERY NEWS STORY BEGINS with an introduction called the lead.

The lead is the first paragraph of the news story. In straight news, it tells the most important facts
of the story. In feature article or news feature, it could be a word, a phrase, a sentence or a
paragraph that attracts and sustain the reader's interest.

Lead in a news story, particularly in straight news, need not be too long. As a popular adage
about it says. "A lead should be like a miniskirt, short enough to be attractive, but long enough to
cover the essentials."

Classification of Lead

1. Summary lead. It answers the five Ws and one H

(What, Who, Where, When, Why and How). The story is presented using the inverted pyramid
form where the most important data are in the first and second paragraph. This is used in the
straight news.

2. Novelty lead. It attracts the reader's attention,

arouse his curiosity and sustain his interest. It is used in writing a news feature or a feature
article.

Kinds of Summary Lead

1. What lead - used if the most important angle of the news is the event.

Example:
The 2016 Division Schools Press Conference (DSPC) is presently conducted at
Koronadal Central Elementary School II participated in by 145 campus journalists and advisers
of Koronadal City Division.
2. Who lead - used if the most important angle of the news is the person involved and is more
significant than the event.

Example:
One hundred forty-five campus journalists and advisers participated the 2016 Division
Schools Press Conference (DSPC) held at Koronadal Central Elementary School II on November
4-5.
3. Where lead - used if the location where the event took place is more significant than the other
aspects of the news.

Example:
Koronadal Central Elementary School II (KCES II) hosted the annual Division Schools
Press Conference (DSPC) attended by 145 campus journalists and advisers of Koronadal City
Division, November 4-5.
4. When lead - seldom used lead because this is only used if the time element is more important
than the other angles of the story.

Example:
November 4-5, 2016 is the conduct of the annual Division Schools Press Conference
participated by campus journalists and advisers at Koronadal Central Elementary School II.
5. Why lead - used if the cause of the event is the most effective angle of the story.

Example:
To develop and enhance the writing competence of pupils and advisers in campus journalism,
Koronadal City Division conducted a two-day Division Schools Press Conference hosted by
Koronadal Central Elementary School on November 4-5.
6. How Lead - used if the process or the manner of how the event happened is more important
than the other angles of the news.

Example:
 By lectures and contests the annual Division Schools Press Conference (DSPC) participated
by 145 campus journalists and advisers is presently conducted at Koronadal Central Elementary
School II, November 4-5.

Source is a person, publication, or knowledge of other record or document that gives timely
information. Outside journalism, sources are sometimes known as "news sources". Examples of
sources include official records, publications or broadcasts, officials in government or business,
organizations or corporations, witnesses of crime, accidents or other events, and people involved
with or affected by a news event or issue.
In news writing, sources and citations are critical for credibility, accuracy, and ethical
reporting.
1. Types of Sources
Primary Sources: Firsthand accounts or direct evidence (e.g., interviews, official documents,
government reports, eyewitness accounts).
Secondary Sources: Interpretations or analyses of primary sources (e.g., books, research papers,
news reports).
Expert Sources: Individuals with specialized knowledge on a topic.
Anonymous Sources: Used sparingly, often in investigative journalism, when sources cannot be
identified for safety or confidentiality reasons.
2. Rules for Using Sources
Accuracy: Always verify the information provided by the source.
Attribution: Clearly state where the information came from (e.g., "According to the police
report...").
Transparency: Indicate why a source is credible or relevant.
Balance: Use multiple sources to provide different perspectives and avoid bias.
3. Citing Sources
Direct Quotes: Use quotation marks and attribute the speaker. Example:
"We are investigating the incident," Police Chief John Smith said.
Paraphrasing: Rewrite information in your own words but still credit the source. Example:
Police Chief John Smith confirmed an ongoing investigation into the incident.
Data and Reports: Mention the organization or author. Example:
According to a report by the World Health Organization, global health crises are rising.
4. Anonymous Sources
Use only when necessary and ensure proper vetting. Explain why anonymity is granted (e.g.,
whistleblower protection).
Example:
"The policy changes were influenced by internal disagreements," said a senior official who
requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
5. Ethical Considerations
Fact-Checking: Double-check facts, even from credible sources.
Avoid Plagiarism: Always attribute properly and avoid copying without credit.
Source Integrity: Avoid misrepresenting a source’s statement or taking quotes out of context.

To cite an article from a newspaper, you need an in-text citation and a reference listing the
author, the publication date, the article's title, the name of the newspaper, and a URL if it
was accessed online.
Common Phrases for Citation
"According to..."
"Said..."
"Reported by..."
"As stated in..."
"Confirmed by..."
"Revealed in..."
What is a news article?
A news article is the finished product or piece of writing that results from newswriting. Unlike
other types of writing, such as technical or creative writing, which focus on detailed explanations
or artistic expression, news articles prioritize delivering verified facts in a succinct, structured
format.
Types of news articles
Newswriting takes many forms. Each type is tailored to a specific purpose:
Breaking news covers immediate, fast-developing events.
Feature stories offer a deeper look at a topic or issue.
Editorials express opinions or commentary.
Investigative reports uncover hidden truths or complexities.
Step-by-step guide to writing a news article
Step 1: Research and gather information
The first step is thorough research. Use reliable primary sources and secondary sources—think
official reports, expert opinions, and industry publications—to ensure your facts are accurate and
trustworthy.
Step 2: Write a strong lead (lede)
The lead is all about writing a great summary to hook the reader and deliver the most crucial
information. It should answer the “who, what, when, where, why, and how” in a way that grabs
attention and sets up the rest of the story.
Step 3: Draft the article body and conclusion
Use the inverted pyramid structure: start with the most important information and move to less
critical details. Use subheadings or short paragraphs to stay organized.
Adding transitions—such as “in addition,” “therefore,” and “meanwhile”—will help you to
maintain a logical flow and allow the reader to follow along.
Step 4: Include quotes and attribution Quotes add credibility and depth to your story. Select
quotes that provide new insights, emotions, or perspectives and help reinforce your main points.
Step 5: Revise and edit
Finally, polish your article for clarity, conciseness, and objectivity. Here’s how you can revise
your rough draft so it’s ready for publishing.