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  • Alternative Storytelling As newspapers grow tighter and competition for eyeballs increases, reporters may be called on to help editors grab readers’ attention. A device called “alternative storytelling” allows newspapers to get away from “straight”news reporting and into briefer, more visual formats.
  • Writing for Readers One of the most pressing challenges facing newspapers today is reaching young readers. You need to address this challenge by presenting a dynamic web site for those participants who prefer that medium and by presenting a more dynamic newspaper that will hold the interest of those reading the print edition.
  • Writing must-read columns The best columns are one of a newspaper’s most important connections to readers, a regular dose of personal insight with broad appeal. Columnists need to learn the discipline of rewriting, to find the right words that nail a column and rein in the self-indulgent tangents that can spoil a column.
  • Put some POP! into your profiles Michael Schwartz , Manager of Editorial Training, COXnet and Cox Newspapers, looks at ideas for writing better profiles.
  • Watchdog Journalism Ways to produce stories that get readers’ attention. Dayton Daily News Assistant Managing Editor John Erickson offers a list of watchdog stories that can be done in any community, big or small.
  • The Elements and Structure of Narrative Narrative writing is not just a writing style. As much as narrative demands creativity, it also demands discipline. Much of that discipline falls into the three categories examined here. Steve Buttry, API's Director of Tailored Programs, compiled the handout.
  • Sweat the Details Narrative writing grows from narrative reporting. The foundation of any narrative is the writer’s authoritative knowledge of what happened. Narrative reporting falls basically in two categories: observation of events you witness and reconstruction of events you were unable to witness, says Steve Buttry, API's Director of Tailored Programs.
  • Writing as You Report Thorough reporting and accurate writing are essential parts of narrative journalism. Each skill works better when you treat them not as separate processes, but as one integrated storytelling process. Try to view storytelling as a single process, in which you reshape the story idea, writing and rewriting as you gather information, says Steve Buttry, API's Director of Tailored Programs.
  • Choose the Right Story Structure Think about structure early and often as you work on a story. As soon as you get the idea or assignment, start considering the best way to tell the story. Consider alternatives. Try a couple approaches if you’re not sure, says Steve Buttry, API's Director of Tailored Programs.
  • Writing Clearly on Deadline Our online presence gives us the opportunity and responsibility to provide immediacy and depth. When you cover breaking news, your deadline is as soon as you can verify the information and file a bulletin. Even veteran journalists need to update their deadline writing skills, says Steve Buttry, API's Director of Tailored Programs.
  • Style matters: euphemisms Some euphemisms are popping up in copy again. Use precise and neutral words that neither taint nor varnish with loaded meanings, says Rusty Lang, senior editor of the Tulsa World.
  • Obits - Don't bury your news values Some journalists see obits as something outside the realm of day-to-day reporting. It's not. Obits are news too. Gregg McLachlan, associate managing editor of the Simcoe Reformer, Ontario, Canada, offers some really simple, common sense, practical tips worth remembering.
  • Write stuff: Avoid using dialect, phonetic spelling Rusty Lang, senior editor of the Tulsa World, answers style questions that come up frequently during discussions among editors and reporters.
  • Organizing your stories Ten tips from Don Gibb, a former reporter and editor at The London Free Press, on organizing your thoughts when writing your stories. Gibb teaches reporting at Ryerson University’s School of Journalism.
  • "The Lucky 13" … ways to become a good writer Joe Hight, Managing Editor of The Oklahoman, offers 13 tips to become a good writer.
  • Make Your Story Sing Writers should not assume that space restrictions preclude quality narrative writing. Listen to some of your favorite ballads. Study the storytelling of the songwriters. Use those techniques in your stories, says Steve Buttry.
  • The But of all leads Open any daily newspaper on any given day and the odds are great you'll find journalism's all-time favourite formula lead. Gregg McLachlan, associate managing editor of the Simcoe Reformer, Ontario, Canada, calls this the all-too-common 'May & But' lead. He offers advice on how to relegate 'May & But' to your list of leads of last resort.
  • Find the clear path For any story to succeed -- for you to succeed -- clarity becomes vital. The path to clarity is riddled with obstacles, but we can overcome them through simplicity, understanding, polishing and caring. Each element is related and plays a role in clear writing, says Joe Hight, Managing Editor, The Oklahoman.
  • Think Short Newspaper writers face increasing demands to squeeze more information into less space. Often, this means going back and cutting your story or, worse, having someone else cut it for you. Given this reality, it makes sense to write shorter stories so that others can't find flab in your work. You must invest more effort, but you're more likely to produce a lively, tightly written story, says Kevin McGrath of The Wichita Eagle.
  • Writing Tight Each time we use more words than we need, or a long word when a shorter one will do, or an adjective or adverb that means the same as the word it modifies (leisurely saunter), we drive readers crazy. And then we drive them away. Bill Luening of The Kansas City Star offers 20 tips for tighter writing.
  • 10 tips for better cutlines Don't churn out your cutlines like they're part of an assembly line. Put some thought into them, says Gregg McLaclan, Associate Managing Editor, The Simcoe Reformer, Ontario, Canada. He offers 10 tips to help you write better cutlines.
  • Anecdotes: Perfect ways to lead? An anecdote can be the perfect way to lead readers to the rest of your story. Or the perfect way to lead them away from it. Think of an anecdotal lead as if you're a tourist guide choosing between two pathways for readers, says Joe Hight, Managing Editor of The Oklahoman. Here are some tips on when to use or not use an anecdotal lead.
  • What makes a good caption? Good captions are more than just the subject's name and what's going on in the photo. They are essential to the credibility of the newspaper and its standing in the community. John D. Simmons, Staff Photographer, The Charlotte Observer, offers advice on good captions.
  • Spot the Gaffe - Test your error-catching skills There are occasions when gaffes do make it into the paper. Humans are not perfect. No newspaper is perfect. Have some fun with this quiz, based on real examples of gaffes which have appeared in copy, but let it serve as a reminder about the importance of double-checking copy. Gregg McLaclan, Associate Managing Editor, Simcoe Reformer, Ontario, Canada, compiled the quiz.
  • Tell Your Story in Layers More people will read and remember your story if your newspaper presents it in an eye-catching package. Telling the story in "layers" presents the main points of your story to the hurried reader. It also gives you multiple chances to lure the scanning reader. Steve Buttry, Writing Coach, Omaha World-Herald, looks at all the ways you can present information, in addition to your story.
  • Achieve Pertinence Well-placed and relevant details can enliven your story and make your readers see, smell, hear and even touch your story. The key to finding pertinent details is to find the best ones -- ones that are pertinent to your story's focus. Consider these five questions and answers from Joe Hight, Managing Editor of The Oklahoman, to help you find pertinent details.
  • 40 Words to Watch (pdf file) There are some simple ways to tell if the story you’re working on needs a visual or layered text. In fact, there are times when the story you’re working on IS a visual. The best way to figure it out is to ask yourself some key questions. Here is a quick list of some key words. If they’re up high in your story, chances are good that you’ll need to look at some non-traditional ways to tell your story, says Josh Awtry, Managing Editor for Presentation at The Independent in Grand Island, NE.
  • Grammar Matters Even professional writers have difficulty with some grammar points. Here are a few tricks to help with some of the most common grammar challenges. Compiled by Steve Buttry, Writing Coach at the Omaha World-Herald. Click here for Steve's accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
  • How a reporter covered the breaking story of a drowning Simcoe Reformer reporter Tiffany Mayer uses a narrative style to tell the story of a drowning. She reconstructs the tragic events to put readers at the scene. All the elements of storytelling are here: setting, characters, plot, conflict, climax, dialogue and resolution.
  • Stock Language Overworked words and phrases have a way of making the news sound like olds. They take the edge off the stories. Some of this stock language is so embedded that many of us don’t even see it. As writers and as editors, we need to become conscious of it. We should learn to look critically at writing and listen critically as we sound it in our heads. John Rains, writing coach at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer, gives advice on clear, clean, transparent writing.
  • The Active Voice John Rains, Writing Coach at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer, developed this PowerPoint presentation on using the active voice.
  • 10 leads that shout 'ugh'! Reporters who write cliché leads haven't invested the time to answer key questions. The more key questions you ask of yourself and your story, the better prepared you'll be to become original with your lead, says Gregg McLachlan of The Simcoe Reformer, Ontario, Canada.
  • Lose 10 bad habits in 1 week Reading your work aloud is another routine step that helps produce better copy. Make it a habit today,says Gregg McLachlan, Associate Managing Editor, The Simcoe Reformer, Ontario, Canada.
  • Want to write narrative? Think in movie mode We've been so programmed to write and think like journalists that often we're reluctant to remove our 'Press' hats and occasionally try a new approach. Adapt the amazing storytelling techniques of the movies to your narrative writing, says Gregg McLachlan, Associate Managing Editor, The Simcoe Reformer, Ontario, Canada.
  • Let's Drink from the Writer's C-U-P Ask these questions before hitting the "send" button. Tim Kolodziej, managing editor, New Castle News, New Castle, Pa. compiled this checklist.
  • Loaded Language and A Bestiary of Journalese John Rains, Writing Coach at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer, developed these two PowerPoint slide shows.
  • Deconstructing a story: Gruley shares his secrets When the Wall Street Journal's Bryan Gruley was asked by the folks at the Poynter Institute to deconstruct one of his stories, he chose a piece that, on the surface, appeared to be nothing more than a he-said, she-said fight between two telecommunications companies.
  • Tips for writing on deadline Atlanta Journal-Constitution Braves reporter David O'Brien, Business writer Kathy Brister and Cox Newspapers' Caribbean correspondent Mike Williams recently presented a Cox Academy session at the AJC on writing on deadline. Here is a sampler of some of their tips.
  • Conquering deadline writing Laurie Hertzel, Writing Coach/Team Leader at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis. compiled these tips from some of their best writers/reporters on things you do while reporting to help organize your thoughts and material, and things you can do to the story before you hit "send" to make it as strong and eloquent as possible.
  • Writing tighter while writing well How do we pack the same amount of news into less space? Laurie Hertzel, Writing Coach/Team Leader at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, gives advice on getting your story to behave exactly as you would like - coming in docile, on time, logically organized and at the right length.
  • Working Fast Planning a brownbagger on "writing fast, writing well?'' Here's a guide to getting the job done when you don't have time to think. Deborah Potter of NewsLab has used this handout in workshops.
  • Last-minute strategies for improving your copy Running through a simple checklist of last-minute self-editing checks can make all the difference in your story. And it can spare your editors a lot of grief. Jack Hart, Managing Editor of the Oregonian, compiled this list of "quick-and-dirty editing steps".
  • Writing is rewriting For many of us, a single rewrite would be a giant leap forward, making our newspapers measurably better, says Kevin McGrath of The Wichita Eagle.
  • Revise and Conquer: Self-Editing Tips Deborah Potter of NewsLab designed this handout on "self-editing" for TV reporters but it could be useful to newspaper reporters as well.
  • Strong from the start You need a crisp lede and a strong focus to keep the reader going. These techniques, compiled by Steve Buttry, Writing Coach, Omaha World-Herald, can help strengthen your story, especially the critical top few paragraphs.
Page last updated:
 March 12, 2008