1. Financial-Wire Style Speed and accuracy. Translation to plain English. Computer-routing codes. Stock and index symbology. Thorough attribution. Always i.d. companies fully, and say what they do close to first reference.

2. Wire Headlines Usually 60-65 characters, one line. Sometimes two lines for big stories. What happened, why and key figures. Start with company name when you can. Subject-verb-direct object. Include attribution where necessary. Try to make the story unnecessary (though that’s impossible). Avoid arcane abbreviations—AP is readable by anyone. Write in newspaper “down” style.

3. Spot News Model What happened? Why did it happen? Key measures of what happened. Consequences? Context, importance? Supporting quote (when possible) Other details, quotes, explanation. What’s next—look to the future.

4. New Product Template Company introduced/began selling product that does something. (see next slide) Intended for what market. Fits into existing product line how. Developed internally/using external from someone else. Priced at whatever for different models. Available when through what channels. Will compete with what other products. Sales expected to reach some goal, have whatever impact on earnings. How much was spent on development.

5. Stages of Product Development Being developed. Being introduced. Being shipped. Commercially available.

6. New Business Line Template Company enters what market with a new line of business. Explanation of business line. How enabled? Intended for what customers. Fits into existing product line how. Developed internally/using external from someone else. Priced at something for various services. Available when through what channels. Competes with whom? Impact on sales, earnings. Cost of entering line.

7. Broker Ratings Template Broker (upgraded/downgraded/initiated coverage) on company to something from something else. Broker comment on why change was made.

8. Stock Split Template Company’s board approves whatever split. Why the split is being done. Split will involve: explain portions of split if more than common stock involved. Must split be approved by shareholders? Split applies to shares owned by a date; new shares distributed on date. Shares now outstanding. Company earned whatever in last quarter.

9. Dividend Increase/Decrease Company raised/lowered quarterly/semiannual/annual dividend by whatever percent to figure from figure. Why company took the action. Payable on date to owners of record on date.

10. Leaving Job Someone resigned/dismissed as something for company. Leaving for what reason? Replaced by whom? Or searching? How affect company direction, profitability? Include ages, track records of those leaving and those replacing.

11. Taking Job Company appointed someone as something. Why? How affect direction, profitability? Someone replaces someone else, or new position? Why did old person leave? Age, work history of new person. Can be hired, promoted, given additional responsibility in lead.

12. IPO Filing Company filed IPO with SEC to sell how much of what kind of security. Funds will be used to do what. Underwriters are who? Expected to happen at what date?

13. IPO Pricing Company’s IPO of how many shares was priced at what. Will trade on what exchange with what symbol. If known, day of start. Funds being used to do whatever in company’s business line. Underwriters are who.

14. IPO Withdrawal Company withdrew its number of shares IPO of what amount. Reason for filing with SEC to withdraw. Company’s previous plans for the money. Underwriters were. What company plans in future.

15. Lawsuits Company/group/someone sued company/group/someone for. Suit filed in what court, seeking what immediate action if any? Allegations of suit, alleged amount of damages. Reactions from defendants. What’s next in process.

16. FDA Actions FDA approved/rejected company’s drug for treating what. Reason for decision. Specifics on drug: what it’s for, how it works. Whom drug is intended for. When drug will be available. Amount spent on development. Effect on profits, revenue. Will compete with what other treatments?

17. Contracts, Deals Company 1 agreed with company 2 to whatever. What deal achieves in marketplace. Intended customers. Financial details—who pays whom what. Details of deal terms. Will be competing with whom for what. Expected impact on revenue, profits.

18. Secondary Issue Plan Company plans to offer/sold how many shares in secondary offering at what price. Where are shares coming from? New? Major shareholders? How much is deal worth? What will money be used for? Who is underwriting? Dilute earnings?

19. Credit Ratings Agency raised/lowered company’s credit rating from something to something else. Why agency took action it did. Any recent corporate-action background on why.