↑Handbook↑ Leads Contents Ordering ↑Revised Excerpt↑ That/which
Focus: Who Did What? 1st WHO? Focus on the key person, group or concept. The president, James Veritas, a student, students, the club, the FCC, True Value, the unemployment rate, an earthquake 2nd WHAT? Focus on the significant action and the impact. Ask: “Who did what? What happened? What may happen? Why is this important? Why should the reader care?” Veritas criticized ... Not: Veritas spoke … Don’t state the obvious. May censure or plans to censure is safer than will censure. Accuracy. Brevity. Clarity. Depth. Develop: Finish the idea 3rd WHEN? Normally used. Shows timeliness. 4th WHERE? If it’s not obvious. [If not in opening locator.] 5th WHY? The audience grabber. 6th HOW? If it’s not obvious. Keep it short and sweet here. The 5-W’s-&-an-H Summary Sentence Place most, but not necessarily all, of the 5-W’s-&-an-H in order in one summary theme sentence. 15-25-35 words. [Optional locator.] 1st. Who? 2nd. What? 3rd. When? 5th. Why? CITY – The Truth College student council may censure the school paper tomorrow for criticizing the student body president. Lead OR Delayed Opening [] Lead: Use the summary alone as the lead paragraph, as the set-up for an inverted-pyramid news story, which starts with the most important information. Continue with the 5-W’s-&-an-H outline. [] Delayed Opening: After a description or an anecdote, use a delayed summary sentence, sometimes called a nut graph. Place the summary sentence where readers and headline writers can easily find it. Continue with the 5-W’s-&-an-H outline or a chronological narrative. In a persuasive piece, the theme may be the conclusion. The 5-W’s-&-an-H Outline Expand the 5-W’s-&-an-H summary in the same order. ¶1 The summary sentence about the council planning a censure. I. ¶2 answers Who?: Discuss the council’s possible vote count II. ¶¶3-4-5 answers What?: Explain the effect of the censure. Be fair and balanced. Provide a quote from the newspaper editor. III. ¶6 mentions When? The day is in ¶1. The meeting time. IV. ¶6 continues with Where? Building, address[?], room. Time and place are vital for future events, not for past events. V. ¶¶7-8 answers Why?: Describe the complaint. Explain any history. Identify the president, if not yet identified. VI. Skip How?: Explain only if the voting is unusual or abnormal. More ¶s?: Use quotes from council members about the censure. ©azb |
Ordering information
J-Skills [newswriting & PR writing exercises]
NewsPlace.org [N.E.W.S., Sources, Tools,
WhiteHouse '08]