MMC 911 Introduction to News Writing

Spring 2012February 22, 2012

Dr. Alma Kadragic

Tonight’s program

Go over assignment from last weekSome tipsDiscussion of problems writing a paragraphLooking at a good piece of writingNews values

MMC911 Introduction to News Writing

Looking back at Tony Orsten story

Separate facts from writer’s style – “shark”Underline points you might useMake star next to possibly useful quotesAt the end of reading, underlining, and

making stars,what is the main idea you will express in the paragraph?

Writing the paragraphFollow instructions

Assignment was one paragraphDo not use quotes from writerUse quote(s) from Tony OrstenWrite paragraph which is beginning of a

longer piece on Tony Orsten and twofour54 Paragraph should introduce direction of rest

of the piece

Last week’s assignment

Here is the compilation of what everyone wrote:

What do you notice about each one?

Problems you may have

You can’t write if you are struggling with the topic

You have to decide where you want to go with the writing

Put down a few points before you start as reminders

Keep it simpleDo you know KISS? It’s a good thing to remember

A good piece of writingIn today’s National: A unique poetic voice falls

silent by Rym Ghazal

If you had to write about his life in 100 words, where would you start?

How does the writer get across the poet’s personality?

What are the key details used?What do you learn about the poet’s life?

Tonight’s assignmentDescribe our classroom in one

paragraph

Make a list of some facts about the roomWhat do you think about the classroom?What is your approach?

Factual? Imaginative?From small to big?Other?

Writing Exercise #1 again

Write Word documentEmail to me as text: AlmaKadragic@uowdubai.ac.ae

News Values

Adding two new internet readings for MMC911

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_values http://www.hss.bond.edu.au/ANZCA/papers/JMcGregorPaper.pdf

Common News Values

FrequencyNegativityUnexpectednessUnambiguityPersonalization or human interestReference to key nationsReference to high profile peopleConflict

More News Values

Composition – competing storiesCompetition - other news mediaCo-optation – related to major storyPrefabrication – already donePredictability – already scheduledTime constraintsLogistics – travel, satellites, conditions,

budgets

Updated version of news values

Especially valid for TV and other visual media

VisualnessEmotionConflictCelebrity journalists

Meet Grammar GirlHow a podcast turned into a media network!

http://www.niemanlab.org/2012/02/how-grammar-girl-turned-a-single-hobby-podcast-into-a-growing-media-network/?utm_source=

Daily+Lab+email+list&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cd7c0e8a9f-DAILY_EMAIL

How do you start?

Remember the 5 Ws and HowThe opening is the most importantPyramid style – what is it?Jot down key pointsPut them in orderWrite simple sentencesUse present tense mainlyOther styles for features, backgrounders

After you’ve writtenRead out loudChange bits that are hard to sayProofreadAsk another person if text is clearIf not, make changes Read againPut away and give yourself a breakRead againHand in

For Session 4 next week

Bring examples of news stories: good ones; bad ones!

We will catch up with Writing Exercise #2

We’ll discuss how to approach the On Campus News Story

MMC911 Introduction to News Writing

That’s it for tonight.

Use the weekend to catch up with MMC910 readings which are all available now

See you Monday in MMC910. Our speaker will be Magda Abu-Fadil