As a journalist, you need to write stories that are clear and concise, without sacrificing accuracy or relevance. But how do you identify the most important elements of a story and present them in a way that engages your readers and conveys your message? Here are some tips to help you craft effective stories that get to the point.
Before you start writing, think about who your readers are and what they want to know. What is their level of interest, knowledge, and background on the topic? What are their needs, questions, and concerns? How will your story affect them or inform them? Knowing your audience will help you tailor your language, tone, and angle to suit their expectations and preferences.
What people need to know is more important than what they want to know. Story must supply the capacity to alternate thinking that eventually evolves their interests, and the capacity to raise questions.
What part sticks to you the most, hours after reading it? It mustn't be perfect, mustn't be grammatically correct, mustn't even be correct, but that's your mine. Identify the part of the story that sticks with you, and work towards developing it [to perfection].
Understanding your audience is crucial for effective communication. By considering their interests, knowledge, and needs, you can tailor your writing to resonate with them, ensuring your story informs, engages, and leaves a lasting impact.
Answering this as someone writing news stories about a country for an international audience. - How many people in the country are impacted as a result of, say, a new government policy? This could explain a story’s significance in terms of numbers. - How will the news affect the neighboring countries and the broader region? - Are there any unique trends observed in that country? Is the story part of a bigger trend? - This one’s my favorite, but are there any human interest elements that “inspire” us more about humanity?
As a business journalist, I have some leeway in not having to explain business-related terms; I expect my audience to understand what EBITDA means. Similarly, whether you're reporting on sports or Hollywood, having a barometer reading on the level of understanding within your audience of the subject matter will allow you to write concise stories, without running the risk of either sounding too pedantic or treating your audience like a child. At the same time, not explaining certain terms might also run the risk of alienating your audience. It does take a little trial and error, and with constructive feedback from your audience, you can strike the right balance.
The inverted pyramid is a classic structure for writing news stories that prioritizes the most important information. It starts with a summary of the main facts and details, followed by supporting and background information, and ends with the least essential or interesting information. This way, you can capture your readers' attention from the beginning, and they can decide how much they want to read further. It also makes it easier for editors to cut or rearrange your story if needed.
One thing we ask in our shop, "who cares?" In other words, how will this affect or interest the people who are listening to our broadcasts? Since we're radio, we consider that we are writing for the ear and not in the style of a print publication. Get to the bottom line. Don't be too wordy. Avoid jargon. Use everyday words.
People read most of their news from headlines and the first couple of lines, so making sure that you give as much of the detail as possible without writing miles long headlines is critical for pulling masses. Structuring and packaging a story is as critical as writing the whole thing - without consistency in your style, it becomes rather tedious for people to read. If you're new to news writing, you can start off by stating what the news is about in one sentence, follow that up with a quote or additional information on the matter, add quotes/sources as you go, and introduce some background and context to the story towards the end. Subheadings are also important to allow readers breaks in between and managing the overall flow of the story.
Uma história pode ser contada de muitos angulos:de trás para frente ou seguindo qualquer outra sequência sem ser a cronológica. 1. Escolha a melhor parte da história e agarre o leitor na primeira frase. 2. Invista tudo no primeiro parágrafo e mantenha a fasquia elevada nos parágrafos seguintes. 3. No último parágrafo, fa?a o leitor querer continuar a ler e completamente frustrado por a história ter acabado.
The five Ws and one H are the basic questions that every story should answer: who, what, when, where, why, and how. These questions help you cover the essential aspects of the story and provide context and clarity for your readers. You should try to answer them as early as possible in your story, preferably in the first paragraph or the lead. However, you don't have to answer them all at once or in the same order. You can also use them as a guide to structure your story and avoid irrelevant or redundant information.
There are a few rules that stand over time better than that of the 5 W-Questions (Who, What, When, Where, Why.) Being able to offer that info from the offset and pound on those ideas, one per paragraph, is a simple yet effective strategy to tell you story in an engaging and conducive manner. I'd add to those another set of 'journo's letters': the 3C's for Clear, Concise, Coherent writing. With attention spans shortening more and more, getting to the point as soon as possible and using non equivoque language is a tried and tested way to tell your story and achieve your desired outcome.
The five Ws and one H serve as a valuable framework for storytelling. By addressing these questions strategically throughout your narrative, you can provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the subject, maintain their interest, and ensure a well-structured and engaging story.
Quotes can add life, personality, and credibility to your story, but only if they are relevant, clear, and meaningful. Choose quotes that express opinions, emotions, insights, or perspectives that you can't paraphrase or summarize. Avoid quotes that are vague, confusing, or repetitive. Also, make sure you introduce your sources properly and attribute your quotes accurately. Use direct quotes sparingly and selectively, and use indirect quotes or paraphrasing when you need to clarify or simplify.
I remember once interviewing someone who'd lost fame and status to addiction issues. I went in knowing they were clean and looking for a job. What stuck with me was how they described their motivation to move on: "I've already fallen into the hole, I've seen how deep it is. So, if I go there again, it's because I'm a son of a b*tch." I never forgot that and decided to begin the story with that quote. Actively listening is a key part of journalism, particularly when picking quotes. When you allow yourself to dive not only into the words, but into the emotions they convey, that's when you will find that point of view that no one else could have had in a given situation and that will help build the connection between subject and audience.
One of the easiest ways to make your writing clear and concise is to write short sentences and paragraphs. Short sentences are easier to read, understand, and remember than long sentences. They also reduce the risk of grammatical errors, ambiguity, or confusion. Short paragraphs help you organize your thoughts, create white space, and guide your readers through your story. As a general rule, try to limit your sentences to 20 words or less, and your paragraphs to three sentences or less.
Ever wonder how to make your writing hit harder? It's simple. Short sentences cut through the noise—they're easy to digest and remember. They're like precision tools, carving out your message with clarity. Now let's talk paragraphs. Short ones aren't just about brevity. They're about impact. Each paragraph is a stepping stone, guiding your readers through your narrative without overwhelming them. Think of it as a journey—you don't want your readers lost in a forest of words. Powerful writing isn't about using complex language or lengthy explanations. It's about being clear, direct, and to the point. That's how you turn a good story into a great one. Keep it short, keep it sharp. Your readers will thank you.
The final step to writing clear and concise stories is to edit and proofread your work. Editing involves checking your content, structure, and style for clarity, coherence, and consistency. Proofreading involves checking your spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting for accuracy and correctness. You can use tools like spell checkers, grammar checkers, or readability tests to help you, but don't rely on them entirely. You should also read your story aloud, ask someone else to read it, or take a break and come back to it later with fresh eyes.
I'm also a huge fan of the writer's voice, which is in my book, is influenced by their personality, perspective and attitude. Your perspective is the lens and our attitude is the compass.
In my experience the best advice I received from my mentor starting my carrier at the age of 18, in a national prestigious newspaper was to tell the story from a different angle than everybody else. That challenged me to think outside of the box. And during a historic moment for the country of Ecuador, covering the presidential elections where the constitution would be changed, I noticed in one rally of the former president Rafael Correa, there were children on the stage with half-naked dancers, dancing in an inappropriate way, and no one took responsibility of it. The photographer took the photos, and the next day my story made the front page and all the other media outlets echoed the news.
A news story must be written from a common man's perspective,hence, emphasis should be given on the target audience. Who is going to come across your story, as a news writer one should know. Moreover, while writing, you should focus on balance and objectivity of the news.
Is it accurate? Are you telling the truth? Are the given facts true? Is it unbiased? (It must be) Should people know about this? Will this story do more good that harm? Ask these questions and if you get your answers right, there you have it, a story worth publishing.
If you were to tell this story to a friend, how would you start? The elements that you most remember and the elements that most impact other elements are of greater importance.