WRITING A GOOD NEWSPAPER REPORT Randine Westgate LEARNING

WRITING A GOOD NEWSPAPER REPORT Randine Westgate

LEARNING GOAL : • To understand how to write a good newspaper report • To be able write an effective news report using the proper format http: //www. mexicolore. co. uk/images 2/286_00_2. jpg

MINDS ON: • What does a newspaper report look like? • What does a newspaper report tell you? • The Globe and Mail • Tips from the journalists

ACTION: A NEWS REPORT HAS A. . . • Headline that is eye catching and intriguing • Byline (reporters name and the date published) • Lede paragraph that tells the reader in 2 -3 sentences the who, what, when, where, why and how of the story • Supporting details paragraph(s) (nut graphs) • Quotations from witnesses and / or people involved in the event • Concluding paragraph that sums up the story and leaves the reader with a thought provoking statement and / or tells what will happen next

THE HEADLINE • Is to the point and tells the reader what the report is about • Peaks the reader’s interest so they want to read on • Is not a complete sentence • Is relevant to the story Look at the headlines on the Globe and Mail home page. How effective are they at getting your interest?

THE LEDE • After the headline, the lead is the most important part of a news report • It must include all the important details of the story in a concise yet interesting way in a maximum of 3 sentences. • The 5 Ws and how must all be answered because most readers of a newspaper skim (read the first 4 of 5 sentences) of a story. • If the lede doesn’t peak their curiosity, the reader moves on to the next story • Think of the lead as those 30 second advertisements for television news programs you see.

THE SUPPORTING DETAILS • This is where you give a little more information about the 5 Ws • The first supporting paragraph provides the background leading up to the event • The following support paragraphs provide details (facts) about the event and include short quotations from witnesses and / or people involved. • These are the paragraphs where you bring the event to life so get quotes from at least 2 people and include facts about the event (size of things, weather, amounts, locations, full names, ages, date, time, etc. )

THE CONCLUSION • Sums up in a sentence or two the event • Indicates what will happen next (ie: the driver faces chargers of DUI and assaulting and officer and will appear in court on Monday. ) • Often ends with a provocative statement to make the reader think

A NEWS REPORT: • Is not an essay or narrative • Is objective – just gives the facts not opinions • Does not include the reporter – no “I, ” “we, ” – it is written in the third person • Has paragraphs that are 3 sentences long at the most • MUST explain the 5 Ws and the how of the event • Uses simple vocabulary • Is not wordy –often you only get space for 4 paragraphs in the paper AND the reader often only reads the headline and lede

WITH A PARTNER: • Look at the newspaper pages • Read the headlines • Which ones catch your eye and interest first? • Why do they interest you? • Read the lede below that headline • What does tell you? Do you learn the 5 Ws and how? • How is it written? • Do you want to read on? Why or why not?

WITH A PARTNER: • Read the rest of the story • How many people did they quote? • How important were those people to the event? • Did they chose their quotes well? • Does the headline makes sense for the story? • Does the concluding paragraph summarize the event well? Could you understand the event just from reading this?

WITH A PARTNER: • Is there a thought-provoking statement? • Does the reporter tell you what will happen next? • Is there bias? Do you get a sense of the reporters opinion? • How many sentences are in the longest paragraph?

YOUR TASK TODAY • Go through your notes from yesterday’s review and your notebook • Choose an event from one of the readings • Complete the news report graphic organizer using your notes

YOUR TASK TOMORROW • During the computer lab tomorrow, you will write a news report • It will be on an event of your choice from the reading of your choice covered in this course • Using your completed news report graphic organizer from yesterday, write a news report of 4 – 6 paragraphs of no more than 3 sentences each • Have a classmate, or myself, edit your first draft • Make the revisions • Using the evaluation sheet, evaluate your own report and hand it in with your news report • Print and hand in your final news report by the end of class

TIME MANAGEMENT IS KEY • You only have 75 minutes to complete your news report • Stay on task and focused • This is your culminating for the course and worth 10% of your mark • The time limit is to prepare you for the OSSLT during which you will have far less time to write a news report when you are only given a picture and a headline to work with. • You can do this and do it well!!