Preface
1. The Basics: Format, Copy Editing, and AP Style
Producing Copy
News Story Format
Copy-editing Symbols
The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law
Accuracy of Names and Facts
The Writing Coach--The Lucky 13 Ways to Become a Good Writer
Checklist for Copy Preparation
Suggested Readings
Useful Web Sites
Exercises
2. Grammar and Spelling
The Parts of Speech
Basic Sentence Structure
Active and Passive Voice
Agreement
Ambiguous Pronouns
Plurals and Possessives
"That" and "Which"
"Who" and "Whom"
Misplaced Modifiers
Dangling Modifiers
Personification
Parallel Form
"Because" and "Due To"
Spelling
Grammar and Checklist
The Writing Coach--Acronyms Lift Your Writing
Suggested Readings
Useful Web Sites
Exercises
3. Newswriting Style
Prewriting
Simplify Words, Sentences, and Paragraphs
Remain Objective
Checklist for Newswriting Style
The Writing Coach--Find the Clear Path to Writing Glory
Suggested Readings
Exercises
4. The Language of News
The Effectiveness of Words
Be Precise
Use Strong Verbs
Avoiding Problems in Your Writing
Words to Avoid
Other Problems to Avoid
Checklist for the Language of News
The Writing Coach--Become a Power Lifter When Picking Verbs
Suggested Readings
Exercises
5. Selecting and Reporting the News
The Characteristics of News
Two Views of 9/11
Types of News
Public/Civic Journalism
Applying the Principles of News Selection
The Concept of Objectivity
Details Newspapers Are Reluctant to Publish
The Importance of Accuracy
Suggested Readings
Exercises
6. Basic News Leads
The Summary News Lead
Sentence Structure in Leads
Guidelines for Writing Effective Leads
Avoiding Some Common Errors
Apply the Guidelines to other Kinds of Leads
Checklist for Writing Leads
The Writing Coach--Oh Where, Oh Where Does the Time Element Go?
Suggested Readings
Exercises
7. Alternative Leads
Criticisms
"Buried" or "Delayed" Leads
Multiparagraph Leads
Using Quotations
Using Questions
Suspenseful Leads
Descriptive Leads
Shockers-Leads With a Twist
Ironic Leads
Direct-Address Leads
Words Used in Unusual Ways
Other Unusual Leads
The Writing Coach--Too Many Words Can Muddle Writing
Exercises
8. The Body of a News Story
The Inverted-Pyramid Style
The Hourglass Style
The Focus Style
The Narrative Style
Using Transitions
Explain the Unfamiliar
The Importance of Examples
The Use of Description
The Use of Humor
The Need to Be Fair
The Final Step: Edit Your Story
Checklist for Writing News Stories
The Writing Coach--How to Find the Endings to Stories
Suggested Readings
Exercises
9. Quotations and Attribution
Quotations
Blending Quotations Narrative
Attribution
Guidelines for Capitalizing and Punctuating Quotations
Checklists for Quotations and Attribution
A Memo From the Editor--Descriptive Writing: Turning a Good Story Into a Great Story
Suggested Readings
Exercises
10. Interviews
Why Am I Interviewing?
Whom Should I Interview?
When Should I Conduct My Interviews?
Where Should I Conduct the Interview?
What Questions Should I Ask?
How Should I Conduct Interviews
Writing the Interview Story
The Writing Coach--Figure It: Poetry Can Be in Newspaper Stories
Suggested Readings
Useful Web Sites
Exercises
11. Writing Obituaries
Types of Death Reports
Jim Nicholson: No. 1 in Obituaries
Obituary Writing Considerations
Checklists for Reporting and Writing Obituaries
Suggested Readings
Useful Web Sites
Exercises
12. Speeches and Meetings
Advance Stories
Covering the Speech or Meeting
Follow Stories
Internet Brings Pornography to Children, Researcher Says
Remember Your Readers
Adding Color
Checklists for Reporting Speeches and Meetings
The Writing Coach--Go Beyond the Stick
Suggested Readings
Useful Web Sites
Exercises
13. Specialized Types of Stories
Brights
Follow-ups
Roundups
Sidebars
Checklists for Writing Specialized Stories
A Memo From the Editor--History, Traditions, and Culture: Old Glory and Noodle
Suggested Reading
Exercises
14. Feature Stories
Selecting a Topic and Gathering Information
Types of Feature Stories
Types of Feature Leads
The Body of Feature Story
The Ending of Feature Story
What does It Take to Be a Top-Notch Writer?
Suggested Readings
Useful Web Sites
Exercises
15. Public Affairs Reporting
Crime and Accidents
Covering the Search for a Serial Killer
Local Government
Courts
Checklists for Public Affairs Reporting
A Note About This Chapter's Exercises
The Writing Coach--The "Knows" Have It for Police and Court Reporters
Suggested Readings
Useful Web Sites
Exercises
16. Understanding and Using the Internet
A Brief History
Journalists and the Internet
E-Mail
Internet Addresses, Web Sites, or URLs (Universal Resource Locators)
Search Engines and Subject Directories
Mailing Lists and Newsgroups
Ethical Considerations
Suggested Readings
Useful Web Sites
Exercises
17. Advanced Reporting
Using Statistics
Conducting Informal Polls
Using Computers to Get Answers
Converging Media
Checklist for Using Statistics
Checklist for Conducting Informal Polls
A Memo From the Editor--Good Writing's Great, but It's Not Enough
Suggested Readings
Exercises
18. Writing for Broadcast
Writing for Your Listener
Writing for Your Announcer
Leads for Broadcast Services
The Body of a Broadcast News Story
Updating Broadcast News Stories
Guidelines for Copy Preparation
Editing Copy
Putting Together a Newscast
Sources for Broadcast News
The Newsroom Environment
Checklist for Broadcast News Writing
Suggested Readings
Useful Web Sites
Exercises
19. The News Media and PR Practitioners
What is Public Relations?
Becoming a Public Relations Practitioner
Working With News Media
Elements of a News Release
Types of News Releases
The Journalist's Perspective: Working with Press Releases
The No. 1 Problem: Lack of Newsworthiness
The No. 2 Problem: Lack of Objectivity
Other Problems with News Releases
Some Final Guidelines
Checklists for PR Practitioners
Checklist for Handling News Releases
Guest-Column-Transparency Is Paramount
Suggested Readings
Exercises
20. Communications Law
Libel
12 Steps for Avoiding Libel Suits
Privacy
Newsgathering
Bar-Press Guidelines
Checklists
Suggested Readings
Useful Web Sites
Exercises
21. Ethics
Media Credibility
Ethical Decision Making
Ethics Issues
Codes of Ethics
Checklist for improving Media Credibility
A Memo From the Editor--Some Thoughts on Plagiarism
Suggested Readings
Useful Web Sites
Exercises
22. Careers
A Journalist's Attributes
Be the Applicant Who Gets Hired
The Industry Needs More Women and Minorities
Freelance Writing
Checklist for Finding the Right Journalism Job
Suggested Readings
Useful Web Sites
Appendixes
A. City Directory
B. The Associated Press Stylebook
C. Rules for Forming Possessives
D. Answer Keys
E. Common Writing Errors
Credit Lines
Index
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