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Over
the course of the semester, you will be required to
write three articles for Armstrong Atlantic State University's
student newspaper, The
Inkwell. The school newspaper is student run,
and is the best opportunity you have to get hands-on
experience about writing news. The editor-in-chief,
Dashiell Coleman, will be your first contact. Contact
him by email at: chief.inkwell@gmail.com
during the first week of class.
You may give him a preference as to the section in
which you'd like to work, but the decision is ultimately
the editor's, and will be based on need. He will
then contact you with the name of your section editor.
After you find out what section you'll be working
in, it is your responsibility to contact the section
editor to find out when section meetings will be held,
and talk about your assignments. Together with the
section editor, you will come up with story ideas
and plan a strategy to get the work in on deadline.
Do not wait to get a story assigned to you (although
it may be). It is not enough just to write stories,
you must also learn to develop story ideas. Your grade
depends on getting three articles written at specific
times during the semester. Brainstorm ideas with classmates,
editors, and friends. Stories are all around you.
Dig them out and write them.
You will be expected to follow all professional, ethical,
and legal standards as set forth by this course and
the bylaws of The Inkwell.
Below is a quick list of ways to structure news stories
and suggestions for conducting interviews. You will
learn more about this in class, at Bootcamp, and working
for The Inkwell. Good luck, and have fun!
 Structuring
News and Feature Stories |
1.
Inverted Pyramid
a. The first
sentence of the story is the broadest, most general-most
important. Everything in the story is based on
the first sentence (lead, nutgraf and the main
point of the story are all in the same sentence).
b. Tell the story
backwards-whatever is most important to the readers
becomes the base of the pyramid.
c. Tell facts
in descending order of importance.
d. How to
end? Stop writing.
2. Feature Stories
a. A story
that grabs and holds the reader's attention.
b. Uses irony,
contrast, drama, suspense, and dialogue. Often
involves story telling.
i.
Hourglass structure - begin with a soft lead (anecdote,
for example), follow with nut graf, then followed
with a second reference to the anecdote in the
lead.
ii.
Multiple-element stories - A news story that covers
several related elements.
iii.
Most feature stories have a beginning, a middle
and an ending.
c. Sometimes
it's good to break the story into sidebars.
3. Let the story determine the structure.
4. Use good quotes.
5. ALWAYS CONSIDER DELETING THE LAST PARAGRAPH.
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Conducting
an Interview
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1.
A method of providing valuable information.
2. Know some background info before you
make the interview.
3. Be polite-smile and be pleasant.
4. Make appointments as far ahead of time
as possible.
5. Interview in person, if possible.
6. Dress appropriately (dress in a way
that will put the source at ease).
7. Use notes---not tape recorder.
8. Feel free to ask interviewee to slow
down, or repeat the answer.
9. Don't try to write everything the source
says-listen for the "important stuff.
10. Always ask if you can call back.
11. Ask source for other sources.
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