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Over
the course of the semester, you will be required to
write 6 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,
Kristen Alonso, will be your first contact. Contact her
by email at: chief.inkwell@gmail.com
during the first week of class.
You may give her/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. She/he will then contact
you with the name of your section editor to which you will be assigned.
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 eight articles written by assigned deadlines 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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