1. news story structures

2. Time Out Here are some quick pointers about journalistic style… Begin all paragraphs with high interest words No articles, proper nouns, gerunds, prepositions… On July 5… Megan Ray will be the… Select strong, impactful words which will lead the reader through the story. Entertainment for July 5 includes… Majorette Megan Ray performs…

3. Here are some quick pointers about journalistic style… Use strong, ACTIVE verbs Active vs. Passive verbs Helping verbs = Passive The football team will be lead by captain Ryan Smith. Subject acting = Active Captain Ryan Smith leads the football team. Time Out Active vs. Passive Practice

4. news story structures

5. Inverted Pyramid

6. Pyramid Practice Read the reporter’s notes Determine the informational order of importance Jot down a list of potential sources Roughly outline the pyramid story

7. Wall Street Journal Formula

8. A Closer Look @ The ‘Wall Street Journal’ formula 1)Starts with a soft lead focusing on a person, scene or event to set the scene and illustrate the main point of the story. 2)Nut graf—answers the so what? Summarizes significant facts organizes the story structure 3)Main story-highlights problem, cause impact, resolution; includes facts, examples, explanations 4) Return to your lead anecdote for a strong conclusion quick read: sample story

9. Quick Read: Lead sample Pink. It was their signature color. Pink posters. Pink shirts. Pink costumes. Pink programs. The entire place looked like it had been hosed down with Pepto Bismol. Borrowed salon chairs and Technicolor perm rods were dragged in by the truckload to create Truvy's Beauty Shop for Steel Magnolias, Feb. 24-27.

10. Writing a News Story Read the reporter’s notes provided Determine which model works best Begin outlining the story Write a news story about the reporter’s notes Include your name/school and beg. news at the top of the paper/file.