News Writing STYLE Journalistic writing Highly disciplined Words

News Writing STYLE

Journalistic writing �Highly disciplined �Words used economically and efficiently �Correct spelling, grammar and punctuation

Style: two meanings Writing style � i. e. choice of words to convey feeling or meaning � e. g. SMS style vs academic essay House style � a set of rules journalists working for a media organisation abide by � e. g. BBQ/barbecue/barbeque; honorifics; % vs per cent

Using words Don’t � use two words when one will do - at this point in time = now; each and every one = all � use a long word when a short word will do – ameliorate = improve; canine = dog; vehicle = car � use vague words – “nice”, “a lot”, “got” – be specific If someone got a new dress – how? Did they buy it? Was it a gift? If there were a lot of people at Soundwave – how many? About 2, 000? � use old-fashioned words – use, not utilise; while, not whilst; on, not upon � qualify absolutes – e. g. unique. If something is unique, it can’t be “very unique” or “almost unique”. Things are either dead or alive – they can’t be “very dead” or “almost alive”

Using words cont. Avoid: � repetition – know how to use a thesaurus � errors with words that sound the same but are spelled differently – where/wear/we’re; there/their/they’re; to/too/two � contractions - it is, not it’s; she is, not she’s. Spell out couldn’t, wouldn’t, can’t, didn’t unless in direct quotes � euphemisms – Fred died in a public toilet, not Fred passed away in a rest room Be careful: � with collective nouns. The team (singular) goes on tour; members (plural) of the team go on tour

Journalistic conventions � Active voice, not passive � News is written in past tense; some features use present � Use attribution � No opinion � Avoid jargon, cliches � Use words, not symbols – per cent, not %; and, not &; at, not @ � Use honorifics and ensure people’s titles are correct � Spell names and places correctly! Brown or Browne? Stephen or Steven? � Acronyms should be spelled out unless they’re well known, e. g. ANZAC

Conventions cont. Numbers � Spell out numbers between one and nine � Use numerals for 10 and above Exceptions: percentages – 5 per cent money - $4 measurements – 5 ml � Don’t start a sentence with a numeral. Either rewrite the sentence, or spell out the number, e. g. “One hundred horsemen rode over the ridge …”

Conventions cont. A little word about apostrophes Know how and where to use them. They denote: � Word contractions – when two words are contracted to make one, e. g. he is becomes he’s; can not becomes can’t � Possession, e. g. the dog’s bone Be careful with plurals (the children’s toys; the boys’ desks) It’s and its often cause confusion – “it’s” means “it is”; “its” denotes possession (the dog took its bone to the yard). The possessive “it” never takes an apostrophe

Notes adapted from News As It Happens, An Introduction to Journalism, by Stephen Lamble