Multi-Media Writing Tips

Media convergence has hit the news business full force. So what does that mean for news writing in a multi-media environment?

It means that if we want to compete in a multi-media environment, we need to go beyond the standard news story to capture our readers’ attention.

News stories posted online find it easy to go that extra mile. They can provide the reader with nearly unlimited context and depth in the form of links, video, audio, photos and slide shows.

But no matter what the medium, good writing is the key. Here are some news writing tips from our text, Writing and Reporting News, and other sources. 

News writing for print:

• Decide on a focus for your story, what your story is about and/or how this news affects readers.  Put that into one sentence, preferably fewer than 30 words. A lead of 20 words is easier for readers to understand.

• Write a lead that will entice readers to continue. Make it fewer than 30 words. It can be a summary lead or a soft/feature lead. Remember: The first and last words in your lead sentence are most important; they receive the most emphasis.

• Plan your story.  Figure out what you need to include in your story and in what order you will place your information.

• Include backup for your lead: facts, quotes, statements that substantiate the information the lead contains.

• Write a nut graph, a sentence or paragraph that explains the point of your story. If you are using a summary lead, the nut graph could be your lead. If you are using a feature lead, the nut graph can be farther down in your story, perhaps paragraph two or three, to give the reader the point of your story.

• Use your lead quote, the quote that backs up your lead and is the strongest quote you have, within a paragraph or two after the lead.

• Make sure you include who, what, when, where, why and how somewhere in the story. The more important the piece of information, the closer it should be to the top of your story.

• Repeat key words to aid transition between paragraphs.

• Be sure to attribute information when necessary.

• Add background and context to the story to aid the reader’s understanding.

• Close your story with a summary quote, details about future action that is pending, something that ties your closing to your lead, or more elaboration.

News writing for broadcast:

• Use active verbs.

• Give the attribution first, facts second.

• For TV, include visuals that go with the words of your story; for radio, include  sounds.

• Read your story out loud. Edit as needed to get the right pace and rhythm.

News writing for the Web:

Headlines -

• Write a headline that is clear and short – no more than six to 10 words.
• Use strong verbs.
• Put the most important words first in your headline.
• Avoid articles.

Blurbs -

• Use the lead if it is a summary lead. If not, use the nut graph.

• Avoid writing a summary that repeats the headline.

Story -

• Start with the central point or focus.

• Place the nut graph early in the story.

• Think brief. Try to keep your story to one screen.

• Get to the point quickly, within the first 50 words.

 

 

• Use a conversational style. Pretend you are writing for a single individual. The “you” voice works well online.

• Use active voice.

• Keep paragraphs short and double space between them. 

•  Present news in small, digestible bits of information.

• Break up text by using headlines, bullets and frequent paragraph breaks.

• Use text, art, audio, video, links and interactive content to provide the reader with more depth.

• Use consistent tone, terminology, style and navigation.