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TRANSCRIPT
Reporter’sHandbook
P 419-09
Name ______________________________ Club _______________________________
County _____________________________ Address ____________________________
Age ______ Years in 4-H ______________ Date project completed ________________
Year 20__ __
Revised in 2009 by Joyce Bower, Publications Specialist, WVU Extension Service.
Objectives
●Toexplainthebasicsofnewswritingto4-Hreporters.
● Tohelpclubreporterslearnhowtopreparestoriesfortheirlocalnewspapers.
●ReadingLevel:Seventhgrade
4-H Youth Development
Contents
Congratulations!.....................................................................................................................................................ii
TheCaseoftheUpside-DownPyramid................................................................................................................. 1
TheBigSixQuestions........................................................................................ .............................................1
KnowYourNewspaperandItsStyle................................................................................................................ 1
KnowYourAudiences........................................................................................... ..........................................2
TheABCsofNewsWriting.............................................................................................................................. 2
WhatIsNews?.................................................................................................................................................. 2
SomeJournalismRules.......................................................................................................................................... 2
KindsofStories.................................................................................................................. ....................................3
TheShapeofaNewspaperStory............................... .............................................................................................4
TheLead.......................................................................................................................................................... 4
AdvanceStoryLeads................................................................................................................................. 5
Follow-UpStoryLeads.............................................................................................................................. 5
TheBody.......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Photographs............................................................................................................................................................ 6
CorrectNewsStoryFormat................................................................................................................................... 6
Quiz........................................................................................................................................................................ 7
West Virginia University Extension Service
Congratulations!Youhavebeenchosentodoaveryimportantjob.Youaretheclubreporter.Youhaveabigjobaheadofyou.
Muchofwhatpeoplethinkabout4-Hinyourcommunitydependsonyouandhowwellyoudoyourjob.
Youwonderjustwhatyourjobis?Well,ithasthreeparts:
1.Keepingpeopleinterestedinwhatyourclubdoes.
2.Explaininghowyourclubhelpsyourcommunity.
3.Inspiringotheryouthswithhow4-Hcanhelp“MaketheBestBetter.”
Butfirst,youhavetolearnwhatgoodnewsis–andthenlearnhowtowritegoodnewsstories.
So–let’sgetgoing.
Goodluck,
Your 4-H Editor
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4-H Youth Development
The Case of the Upside-Down PyramidRandyisa4-H’erjustlikeyou.He’sjustbeenappointedclubreporter,averyimportantassignment.
He’spleasedwiththehonor,buthe’salsoalittlebitworriedabouthisduties.
“Howtobegin?CanIdoit?WhatdoIknowaboutfindingandwritingnews,preparingcopyandcontactingthepress?”
Randyknowsnewspaperpublicityisimportantinhiscommunity.
Buthowcouldhegethisclub’sideasandprogramsintothenewspaperandtothepeopleregularly?What’smore,howcouldhemakeitinterestingsotheywouldREADit?
The Big Six Questions
SoRandyworriedthatnightaboutWHATtowrite,WHEREtowriteit,WHENtowriteit,WHOtowriteabout,WHYtowrite,andHOWtowrite.
“It’shopeless,Ican’t...hemumbledintohispillow.”
Washedreamingthathewasn’talone?
“Areyougroaningorareyoucallingmyname?”boomedavoice.
“Who...Who’sthere?”Randystammered.
“Why,it’sme,‘ConcisenessSam.’Didn’tyoucall?”
“Call?Whyno!IguessIwasjustworryingaboutmyjobasa4-Hclubreporter.Iwanttodoit,butIknowIcan’t.”
“Can’t!Thatworddoesn’tbelongina4-Hmember’svocabulary.”
Thevisitorpaused.“ItjustsohappensI’monmywaytosolvethecaseoftheupside-downpyramid.Believeitornot,thebuilderismissing.”
“Whydon’tyoucomealong,”Samurged,“andseewhatyoucanlearnaboutcoveringandreportingastory.”
Quickerthanawink,RandyscrambledintohisclothesandflewoutthewindowwithConcisenessSamtheSleuthinhisnews-trackingCluecopter.
Know Your Newspaper and Its Style
ThefirststopwasatthenewspapertoseewheneditorFranticFredwantedthestoryofthesolvedmysteryforhispaper.
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West Virginia University Extension Service
“You’vegottosolvethemysteryandfindmetheupside-downpyramidbuilderbeforeMonday’sdeadline,”FranticFredpleaded.
“Hmmmm,”Randymused.“What’stheconnectionbetweenthemysteryandtheeditor,andwhoIStheupside-downpyramidbuilder?”Beforeheknewit,RandywasbeginningtothinklikeareporterandaskingtheBigSixQuestions–who,what,when,where,whyandhow–andlookingfortheanswersjustlikeConcisenessSamtheSleuth.“We’vegottoworkfast,”saidSam.Theyracedoutoverhomes,hillsandvalleys.
Know Your Audiences
“Look!”saidSam.“Herearetheaudiencesyour4-Hwritingmustreach.Someare4-H’ersandleaders.Othersareyoungpeopleyoumightpersuadetojoin4-H.Stillothersknownothingatallabout4-H.”
The ABCs of News Writing
“ItwillbeuptoyoutogivethemanAccurate,Brief,andClearpictureof4-Hwithyournewswriting,”Samcommented.
What Is News?
“StoriesaboutNEW,UNUSUALandIMPORTANThappenings,fairs,exhibits,tours,picnics,camps,communityprojects,programsandmanyotherthingscanbenews.Alltheseideas,events,situations,anddevelopmentscanbegoodnewsifyoucanmakethemINTERESTINGtonewspaperreaders,”heemphasized.
Remember,namesofpersonsandcommunitiesmakenews,butsecretary’sminutesdoNOT.
Remember,also,thatyoualwayshavetoconsidertheage,education,interestsandawarenessofyouraudiencewhenyouwrite.
Some Journalism Rules1.Avoidbigwords.Don’tsay“purchase”when“buy”issomuchshorter.
2.Keepyoursentencesbrief.Limitparagraphstothreetypewrittenlinesifpossible.
3.Goeasyonpunctuationandalwayscheckit.
4.Newsreportingmeansgivingonlythefacts.There’snoplaceforyouropinioninanewsstory.Ifyouuse opinion,besuretogivecredittosomeone.Alwayscheckwiththepersonyouarequoting.“Agoodtime washadbyall”ispureopinionanddoesn’tbelonginanewsstory.Herearesomeexpressionsthatwill helpyoucreditastatement:
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●Hesaid● Sheobserved●Accordingto● Shedeclared
●Heasserted●Hepointedout●Hesays● Shebelieves
● Shenotedthat● Sheagreed●Hestated●Hesuggested
●Headvised● Shecommented● Sheemphasized
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5.Neverwriterumors.
6.Usefullnames.
7.Usecolorfulandpunchyverbs.
8.Planthestoriesyouwanttocover.Keepacalendarofcomingevents.
9.Avoidsuchoverworkedphrasesas“enjoyableevening”and“deliciousrefreshments.”
Kinds of Stories“ButwhatkindsofstoriesshouldIwrite?”Randyasked.
“First,takeacluefromthecalendar.Articlesaboutholidaysandseasonsarealwaystimelyandpopular.How-to-do-itarticles(tellinghowtomakealamporpreparepicnicfoods,forexamples)areappreciatedbythereader.Successstoriesalwaysappeal.Andofcourse,therearetheADVANCESTORYandtheFOLLOW-UPSTORY.
“Theadvancestoryiswrittenbeforeaneventtakesplace,tellingwhyit’sgoingtohappen,whoistobethereandwhat’stobedone.Thefollow-upiswrittenafteraneventandtellswhathappened,whowasthereandwhatactionwastaken,”Samexplained.
Suddenly,theCluecopterswoopeddownandlandedonafieldcoveredwithhundredsofupside-downpyramids.Offinthedistance,Danny,thebuilder,wasworkingawayatanotherone.
Samgrabbedhim.
“Sir,”Samyelledpolitelytothebuilder.“You’vegottostopthisatonceandcomebackwithus.Weneedyou.”
“Iwon’tgoback,”insistedDanny.“You’reallmurderers.Icouldn’tstandtopickupanewspaperandseeallthoseburiedleadsthatkilledreaderinterest.SoIlefttodevotemylifetobuildingupside-downpyramids–thecorrectwaytowriteanewspaperstory.”
“Buriedleads?Killedreaderinterest?Upsidedownpyramids?What’sthisallabout?”Randyasked.
“Youmeanyoudon’tknow?”
“No!”
“Well,it’slikethis!”
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Cluecopter
West Virginia University Extension Service
The Shape of a Newspaper StoryTheupside-downpyramidstyleisthebasicnewspaperstoryform.Itmeansthatthemostimportantfactscomefirst,followedbyminorfactsanddetails.Thepurposeofthisstyleistogiveasummaryofthenewsquicklyandtohelptheeditor.Ifastoryistoolong,theeditorcanedititbytakingoffthebottomofthestorywithoutdisturbingtheimportantfacts.
The Lead
Thefirstsentenceinanewsstoryisthelead.Itgivesthemostimportantandmostinterestingfactsandrevealstheangleandsubjectofthestory.Theleadisthemostimportantsentencebecauseitattractsattention,sellsthestorytothereader,andsummarizesandemphasizesthemainpointofthestory.Theleadmayansweroneormoreofjournalism’sBigSixQuestions:Who,What,When,Where,WhyandHow.
Examples of leads answering the Big Six Questions:
WHO lead–JimJonesofTylerCountybrokeallrecordsattheState4-HDaywhenhewon10blueribbonsforhislivestock.
WHAT lead–Regulartractorcareisa“must.”ThatwasthemessagepointedoutinafarmsafetydemonstrationattheDec.3meetingoftheMountaineer4-HClub.
WHERE lead–AttheState4-HDay,4004-Hmemberswillparticipateincontestsandactivities.
WHEN lead–August30isthedeadlineforapplicantsintheInternational4-HYouthExchangeprogram.
WHY lead–Topromotecitizenship,theX-L-All4-HClubissponsoringanessaycontestcalled“WhatItMeanstoBeanAmerican.”
HOW lead–BysewingaDior-designeddress,CarolHall,17-year-old4-Hmember,wontheNationalMakeItWithWoolcontestandatriptoNewYork.
The lead can also be a:
Question:Didyoueverbakecookiesintherefrigerator?
Quote:“Astitchintimesavesnine.”
Summary Statement:WestVirginia4-H’ershavecollectedmorehonorsthisyearthaneverbefore.Sosaid...
Striking statement:Morethan300peoplewilldieonthehighwaysthisweekend.”
You Approach:You,too,canlearntowirealampinoneeasylesson.
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4-H Youth Development
Becausethefollowingphrasesdon’tsayanythingimportantorinteresting,goodreportersdon’tbegintheirnewsstorieswiththem:
Atnineo’clock...
Thelastmeetingoftheyear...
Thepurposeofthemeeting...
TheBeacon4-HClub...
Atameeting...
AccordingtoJohnJones...
Atarecentmeeting...
Advance story leads
Poor:InconjunctionwiththeInstituteofAmericanPoultryIndustries’FactFindingConferenceforBusiness,Feb.8-11,theNinthJuniorPoultryandEggConferencewillbeheldinKansasCity,Mo.,etc.Kills reader interest.
Better:SeekingthelatesteggandpoultryproductioninformationFeb.8-11willbe4-H’erThomasKingofLewisCounty.ThomaswillbeWestVirginia’srepresentativeattheNinthJuniorPoultryandEggFactFindingConferenceinKansasCity,Mo.,etc.
Follow-up story leads
Poor:TheboysoftheHappyHills4-HClubmetattheFishandGameClubonFriday,Jan.15.Themeetingwascalledtoorderat8:15byPresidentTomHall.Intheabsenceofthesecretary,DickGrant,Vice-presidentHarryMillerwrotetheminutesofthemeeting.Therewereeightmembersandthreevisitorspresent.Theclubwelcomedonenewmember,KennethBrown,etc.Thesearesecretary’sminutes,notnews.
Better:“WelcometoHappyHills”signswillbeerectedonHighway309,Route2andHardingRoad,asaresultoftheJan.15HappyHills4-HClubmeeting,etc.
The Body
Thebody,ortheremainderofthestory,supportstheleadandgoesontoexplainit.Writeyourstorystartingwiththemoreimportantfacts,thenputtheleastimportantfactsanddetailsattheend.
The Right Newspaper Story Form
LEAD:Mostarresting,attractive,tantalizing,captivating,unusualfactorfacts.Theleadrevealstheslantorangle
oftheentirenewsstory
BODY:Discussesleadfacts
Moredetailsandadditionalfacts
Minordetails
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PhotographsSometimesyou’llwanttosubmitaphotographtoyournewspaper.Eachpictureshouldtellastory.Catchpeopleinaction,notjustlookingstraightatthecamera.Standclosetoyoursubject.Don’tfeelyoumustshootpeoplefromheadtotoe.Focusonwhat’simportant.
Don’twriteoneithersideofthepicturebuttapeorpasteidentificationoracaptiononthebackorwriteitonaseparatepieceofpaper.Donotfold.Donotexpectthephotographtobereturned.
“Speakingofreturning,”remindedSam,“we’dbetterbegettingbacktotown.We’vegotadeadlinetomeet,andFranticFredisdesperateforDanny’stalentsasanupside-downpyramidbuilder.”
BackintheCluecopter,theydiscussedtheacceptedformfornewsarticles.
Correct News Story FormatUse8½-by-11-inchtypingpaper(notonionskin).
Leaveabout1½-inchmarginsonleftandrightsides.
Putimportantinformationaboutyouintheupperleft-handcorner.Intheright-handcorner,givethereleasedate.Wheneverpossible,thestoryshouldgototheeditorthreeorfourdaysbeforethereleasedate.
Ifpossible,typeanddoublespacethecopyforeasyreadingandcorrections.(Editorsmuchprefereasy-to-readtypedstoriesandfrownonhandwrittenones.)Beginyourstoryhalfwaydownthefirstpage.Indentparagraphsfivespaces.Ifthestoryismorethanonepage,type“more”atthebottomofthefirstpage;beginthenextpagewithanidentifyinghead(example:Smithtown4-HClubElections)intheupperleft-handcorner.Onelinebelowthat,write“AddOne”andonthenextpagewrite“AddTwo”andsoon.Attheendofstorywrite“End”or“30”–anewspapersymbolfor“finish.”
AfterSam,RandyandDannyfinisheddiscussingtheaccceptednewsstoryform,theCluecopterlandedinfrontofFranticFred.
“Isthatreallyyou,Danny?Thankgoodnessyou’vereturned.Blessyou,SamandRandy,forbringingbacktheupside-downpyramidbuilder.Nomorekilledreaderinterest.Nomoreleadburials.Getinthereandgetgoing,”Fredsaid.
“Thanksforgivingmethisopportunity,Fred,”Randyrepliedhappily.
“Andthankyou,ConcisenessSam,forshowingmehowtofindthenews,”saidRandy.“Thankyou,Danny,theupside-downpyramidbuilder,forshowingmehowtowritenews.Thankyou,Fred,theeditor,forhelpingmegetthenewspublished.”
Name ReleaseDateAddressPhone
IdentifyingHead
Lead_______________________________________________________________________________
Body________________________________________________________________________________
More
IdentifyingHeadAddOne
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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4-H Youth Development
“Nonsense,Randy.Itwasallinaday’s‘makingyourbestbetter,’”thethreechantedinunison.“Nowyou’rereadytobeatopnotch4-Hreporter.”
AndsoareYOU!
Happynewswriting!
QuizAndnow–here’sasurprisequizonyournewswritingcourse!It’sacinch,though;theanswersareonthebackcover.
1.Nametwokindsofstoriesyoucanwriteaboutmeetings.
2.What’sthefirststepinwritinganewsstory?
3.WhataretheABCsofnewswriting?
4.What’sthefirstthingyoutellaboutinanewsstory?
5.Tellagoodwaytobeginanadvancestory.
6.Whatdoyouplayupwhenwritingafollow-upstory?
7.Givetheruleforbuildinganewsstory.
8.Listsomestylerulesinwritingnews.
9.Doyougiveanopinioninanewsstory?
10.Accuracyisimportant.Tellsomepointsyoushouldcheckcarefully.
11.Howcanyouhelptheeditor?
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Answers 1.Advancestoriestoannouncemeetings;andfollow-upstories,whichtellwhathappened.
2.Getalltheinformation–theBigSix:Who,What,When,Where,HowandWhy.
3.Beaccurate,briefandclear.
4.Themostimportantandinterestingfactyoulearned.
5.Startwiththepurposeofthemeeting.
6.Themostimportanthappeningatthemeeting.
7.Buildwithimportantdetailsnearthetopandleavetheleastimportantpointsforlast.
8.Usesimplelanguage.Avoidbigwords.Beclear.
9.Onlywhenit’screditedtosomeone.
10.People’snamesandinitials.Mentionwhostrangersare.Giveplaces,datesandtimes.Usethedictionary.
11. Bytypingorwritingclearlyononlyonesideofeachsheet.Bywritingshortsentencesandshortparagraphs. Byusingtheupside-downpyramidstyle.
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