Here's a quick roundup of some key points to learn from the "controversial" assignment:
1. Watch your facts! We had some fatals. Be sure to double-check names, titles and any word spellings where a misspelling can change the meaning of a sentence.
It's always the so-called simple stuff, so don't skimp on proofreading after you finish writing and before you send in your story. Do check against what's in the book to make sure what you write was what you intended to write and that it's actually correct.
In journalism, there is no such thing as a small mistake. The audience is right to ask themselves, if you can't get the small things right, why would they trust you with the big things?
2. Write in many small paragraphs. In journalism, we generally try to write in very short paragraphs. What we try to do is limit a paragraph to one main idea OR one supporting idea OR one fact to support an idea. Not all of the above.
In general, that means many paragraphs will be just one or two sentences; the exact opposite of English comp writing styles that encourage massive paragraphs.
3. Forget the satisfying ending. In traditional English comp we write what is called a satisfying ending; that is, a closing statement that wraps everything up. Happily ever after, and so on.
But in journalistic writing we start with the ending in the lede -- end result and ultimate outcome, right? -- and then backtrack to let people know how we got to that ending and what facts support it.
That means in many journalistic stories, the ending will seem kind of abrupt. But that's okay. Just let the story end where it ends. Don't essentially repeat the lede by adding a satisfying ending.
4. Add attribution, and use it liberally. Let the reader know how you know what you know. Every paragraph after the lede should have attribution to whoever said whatever you're citing.
5. Just use "said" for attribution. It's not so-and-so explained. It's so-and-so said.
It's not so-and-so commented. It's so-and-so said.
It's not so-and-so continued. It's so-and-so said.
It's not so-and-so described or told or stated or exclaimed.
It's so-and-so said. No need to find another word saying the same thing.
You cannot say said enough. It cannot be overused. I know in English comp you're taught to mix it up; someone said, then exclaimed, then stated, and whatever.
In journalistic writing, we strive for simplicity. And attributing statements are simple tags, so we try to keep the language simple and direct and consistent. So, if someone said something, just say said.
I know it's gonna look weird to you, having graf after graf that says so-and-so saidthis, and said that, and said some more. But again, we're striving for simplicity and consistency, not creativity in a word that's nothing more than a simple label.
1. Watch your facts! We had some fatals. Be sure to double-check names, titles and any word spellings where a misspelling can change the meaning of a sentence.
It's always the so-called simple stuff, so don't skimp on proofreading after you finish writing and before you send in your story. Do check against what's in the book to make sure what you write was what you intended to write and that it's actually correct.
In journalism, there is no such thing as a small mistake. The audience is right to ask themselves, if you can't get the small things right, why would they trust you with the big things?
2. Write in many small paragraphs. In journalism, we generally try to write in very short paragraphs. What we try to do is limit a paragraph to one main idea OR one supporting idea OR one fact to support an idea. Not all of the above.
In general, that means many paragraphs will be just one or two sentences; the exact opposite of English comp writing styles that encourage massive paragraphs.
3. Forget the satisfying ending. In traditional English comp we write what is called a satisfying ending; that is, a closing statement that wraps everything up. Happily ever after, and so on.
But in journalistic writing we start with the ending in the lede -- end result and ultimate outcome, right? -- and then backtrack to let people know how we got to that ending and what facts support it.
That means in many journalistic stories, the ending will seem kind of abrupt. But that's okay. Just let the story end where it ends. Don't essentially repeat the lede by adding a satisfying ending.
4. Add attribution, and use it liberally. Let the reader know how you know what you know. Every paragraph after the lede should have attribution to whoever said whatever you're citing.
5. Just use "said" for attribution. It's not so-and-so explained. It's so-and-so said.
It's not so-and-so commented. It's so-and-so said.
It's not so-and-so continued. It's so-and-so said.
It's not so-and-so described or told or stated or exclaimed.
It's so-and-so said. No need to find another word saying the same thing.
You cannot say said enough. It cannot be overused. I know in English comp you're taught to mix it up; someone said, then exclaimed, then stated, and whatever.
In journalistic writing, we strive for simplicity. And attributing statements are simple tags, so we try to keep the language simple and direct and consistent. So, if someone said something, just say said.
I know it's gonna look weird to you, having graf after graf that says so-and-so saidthis, and said that, and said some more. But again, we're striving for simplicity and consistency, not creativity in a word that's nothing more than a simple label.
6. Don't forget your articles. Not written articles. I'm talking about grammatical articles, like a, and, the.
Read your work out loud. If it sounds choppy and robotic-like and not like a complete sentence, then it's probably missing an article.
Read your work out loud. If it sounds choppy and robotic-like and not like a complete sentence, then it's probably missing an article.
7. Don't forget AP Style! Be sure you're following the rules by looking up AP style usage for your work and making needed changes. And be sure that you're picking up AP style points as you go along, and use those lessons going forward.
Some basics from this assignment include:
Some basics from this assignment include:
- Use first and last names on all references when you have more than one person with the same last name in the same story.
- When there are no last name conflicts, the regular rule is we use first and last names on all first references, and the last name only on all subsequent references.
- Punctuation goes inside of quote marks, like this: "Hi," Omar said. Then he said, "bye."
- Titles are only capitalized when directly in front of a title holder's name: King Omar Sofradzija; the king is Omar Sofradzija; Omar Sofradzija is the king.
- The general AP style number rule is this: spell out numbers one through nine; use numerals for 10 and above. There are many exceptions, though, so please review the AP style section for numerals and numbers.
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