I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e

Air Combat Command Public Affairs

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Presented by:

MSgt Mark Haviland

Manager, Operations

Basic News WritingPart 1

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Overview

Open discussion Defining News Elements of news Inverted pyramid Anatomy of a news article Writing a lede Writing a bridge Body Conclusion Summary

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Elements of News

What is news?

“News is the first rough draft of history.”

— Philip Graham, Washington Post publisher

“News is anything thatmakes a reader say“Gee whiz.”

— William Randolph HearstAmerican newspaper tycoon

“News is anything thatwill make people talk.”

— Charles DanaNew York Sun editor

“News is anything youcan find out today thatyou didn’t know before.”

— Turner CatledgeNew York Times editor

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Elements of News

What is news?1 ordinary man + 1 ordinary life1 ordinary man + 1 extraordinary adventure1 ordinary husband + 1 ordinary wife1 husband + 3 wives1 bank cashier + 1 wife + 7 children1 bank cashier — $100,0001 chorus girl + 1 bank president — $100,0001 man + 1 auto + 1 gun + 1 six-pack1 man + 1 wife + 1 fight + 1 lawsuit1 ordinary man + 1 ordinary life of 79 years1 ordinary man + 1 ordinary life of 100 years

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Elements of News

ImpactDoes the story matter

to readers? Will it have

an effect on their lives,

careers or bank

account? Don't

overlook the "me

factor" your audience

craves.

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Elements of News

TimelinessHas this story just

happened? Is it about

to happen? Timeliness

is crucial. News stories

should generally be no

more than a week old.

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Elements of News

ProminenceNews stories about

prominent people

generate more interest

than those about

ordinary people.

Readers are especially

interested in what

leaders have to say

about important issues

and events.

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Elements of News

ProximityThis element can be

physical – stories

here at Langley – or

psychological. On

one hand, the Air Force

community is local and

on the other hand, it's

global.

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Elements of News

NoveltyDeviations from the

normal – unexpected or

unusual events, drama

or change – are more

newsworthy than the

commonplace.

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Elements of News

ConflictConflict is another

common thread in

news stories:

Overcoming hardships,

Balancing career and

family. War.

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Elements of News

EmotionDoes this story make

us sad? Happy?

Angry? Readers

respond emotionally

to human-interest

stories that are

poignant, comical or

inspiring.

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Inverted Pyramid

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Anatomy of a news article

1st Paragraph Combined with the headline, the lead/lede is designed to capture

readers by presenting the Who, What, Where and When elements of the story first

2nd Paragraph Known as the "bridge," this graph provides the How and or Why of

the story. Sometimes, writers use direct attribution (a quote) from one of the article's important characters here.

Middle paragraphs Are used to introduce and explain important (but secondary)

details of the story. Other sources of attribution (experts, people directy affected, witnesses) are introduced here directly or indirectly.

Closing paragraphs Are used to provide general background and historical information.

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Anatomy of a news article

Attribution Direct: “Home schooling is a Petri dish for the blossoming

antisocial personality,” said Master Sgt. Mark Haviland. Indirect: Home schooling children can lead to antisocial adults,

according to Master Sgt. Mark Haviland. Use direct attribution for impact, not the mundane …

Full ID Full ID includes a person's rank, first name, last name, unit of

assignment and specialty or duty title. First reference

The first time a person, unit, office, or other object is mentioned, it must be identified fully and without abbreviations

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Critical element – “the hook” Focus on most important

element Who What Where When

20-30 words max

Writing a lede

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Summary Immediate identification Delayed identification Multiple element Feature or freak leads

Writing a lede

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Summary Immediate identification Delayed identification Multiple element Feature or freak leads

Writing a lede

Usually, no prominent actors, or the action is taken by a body of people. For example, “Air Force officials,” “Members of the Air Force Uniform Board,” etc.

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Summary Immediate identification Delayed identification Multiple element Feature or freak leads

Writing a lede

Used when the person’s name is known to a majority of the audience.

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Summary Immediate identification Delayed identification Multiple element Feature or freak leads

Writing a lede

Used when the primary actor has little or no prominence with the audience and when inclusion of a title would make the lede bulky.

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Summary Immediate identification Delayed identification Multiple element Feature or freak leads

Writing a lede

Used when story has two or more elements of equal importance. Accidents, major infrastructure changes, etc.

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Summary Immediate identification Delayed identification Multiple element Feature or freak leads

Writing a lede

More on these when we cover features …

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Examples of a ledes

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho (AFPN) – An NCO withthe 366th Security Forces Squadron here was awarded a Bronze Starwith Valor and the Army Commendation Medal here July 19 for hisactions Aug. 8, 2006, in Qalat Province, Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfelddefended himself and took no personal responsibility Wednesday forthe military's bungled response to Army Ranger Pat Tillman's friendlyfire death in Afghanistan.

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Langley Airmen - active duty,Reserve and Guard - can now obtain a bachelor's degree through AirUniversity's Associate-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative program.

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Exercise

From the following facts, write a lede:

Who: a nuclear weapon with a yield equivalent to 150,000 tons ofTNT

What: detonated

Where: 40 miles south of Langley Air Force Base

When: Today

Why: it was accidentally released from an Air Force B-52 on a training Mission

Other information: Members of the 1st Fighter Wing disaster control group are responding to the scene

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Writing a bridge

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho (AFPN) – An NCO withthe 366th Security Forces Squadron here was awarded a Bronze Starwith Valor and the Army Commendation Medal here July 19 for hisactions Aug. 8, 2006, in Qalat Province, Afghanistan.

So, you’ve written your lede. What comes next?

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One sentence 25-35 words element Usually why and or how Used to introduce actor(s)

Direct or indirect attribution Transitions to body

Writing a bridge

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Writing a bridge

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho (AFPN) – An NCO withthe 366th Security Forces Squadron here was awarded a Bronze Starwith Valor and the Army Commendation Medal here July 19 for hisactions Aug. 8, 2006, in Qalat Province, Afghanistan.

Nearly a year ago, Staff Sgt. Jason Kimberling was part of a threeperson security forces convoy team called upon to assist about 15members of the Afghan national police and 20 members of the Afghan national army when they came under attack from Taliban forces on a highway checkpoint in Afghanistan's Qalat Province.

Effective? Let’s edit …

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Writing a bridge

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho (AFPN) – An NCO withthe 366th Security Forces Squadron here was awarded a Bronze Starwith Valor and the Army Commendation Medal here July 19 for hisactions Aug. 8, 2006, in Qalat Province, Afghanistan.

Nearly a year ago, Staff Sgt. Jason Kimberling was part of a threeperson security forces convoy team called upon to assist about 15members of the Afghan national police and 20 members of the Afghan national army when they came under attack from Taliban forces on a highway checkpoint in Afghanistan's Qalat Province.

How would you write it?

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Questions so far?

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