journalism: writing and style
Post on 09-Feb-2015
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Spring 2010Good Writing, Style
Questions from Ch. 1 and Ch. 3
How news is gathered
Associated Press, Reuters and other wire copy like PR Newswire
Reporters gather news
Week Three Readings
The Oatmeal Media College Grammar Girl
More on Good WritingAvoid long, complex sentences Put the best information first Sentence organization Write in active voice Avoid technical terms and jargon Avoid unnecessary words Get a thesaurus/dictionary
More on Good Writing (cont.)Avoid clichés If using slang, remember Can the sentence be written another
way? Some slang words/terms are not well
known Avoid generalizations and if List titles of sources first
Capitalization – titles Capitalize title of authority before a
namePresident Barack Obama or President Hosni
Mubarak
Use lowercase when standing alone or following a nameThe president met with the attorney general.
Capitalization – directions Capitalize names of specific regions and
areasMiddle East, East Allegheny
Use lowercase when referring to a compass directionThey headed east.
Capitalization Capitalize the if is part of organization
The American University in Cairo
Capitalize titles of poems, films, books, songs, TV shows, artwork, etc.
Use quotation marks around titles“The Grapes of Wrath”
Capitalization Capitalize and spell out first through
ninth in street names129 Fourth St.
Use numerals for 10th and above1549 21st Ave.
AbbreviationsAbbreviate months when used w/specific
datesOct. 2, 2007
In most cases, do not abbreviate the months of March, April, May, June or July
Proper names are always capitalizedSpanish book or French department
AbbreviationsSpell out first mentions of most
organizationsSubsequent references may use an
acronymThe American University in Cairo AUC
Abbreviations of well known organizations should not be spelled outYMCA, FBI, IBM
AbbreviationsAbbreviate doctor in all referencesAbbreviate most professional and
government titlesDr. Lisa Anderson
Do not abbreviate president or vice president or titles of cabinet officers
Names and TitlesUse a sources complete name on the
first referenceUse only the last name on subsequent
referencesDo not use Miss, Mr., etc. unless it is a
part of an accepted pseudonymMister Rogers
NumbersSpell out numbers from zero to nine
He gave me three dollars.
Use numerals for 10 and aboveThere were 16 apples in the basket.
Numbers at the start of a sentence are spelled outTen days later …
NumbersUse numerals w/distance, weight, ages,
etc.He is 5 feet 8 inches and weights 197 pounds.The store offered a 15 percent off coupon.oAnd spell out symbols like percent, point, etc.
When specifying time, use numerals, a.m. or p.m. and day or date4:15 p.m. Tuesday
Numbers / MoneyMoney in millions or more, round numbers
take the dollar sign; million and billion are spelled outThe lottery is only $1.35 million this week.
Numerals are used in amounts less than a millionThe company earned $125, 000 on that project.
Spell cents in amounts less than $1My brother found 15 cents.
CommaDrop the comma before the and when
you list items in a seriesHer dress was bright yellow, pink and red.
Tight Writing Exercise #1See handout
"Remember, the easiest thing for the reader to do is to quit reading.“
~Barney Kilgore, Wall Street Journal
Project #2: Audio Essay
Blogging Assignment
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