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Jméno: Kathryn Hanson
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How to write a newspaper article
A newspaper article must contain an objective, factual account of an event, place, or person. Most people read text fluently, so the most important information should be placed at the very beginning, and then supplement the material with descriptive details, revealing the content. Study the topic and adhere to the correct structure of the text organization in order to create competent and informative articles.
Research and interviews
Contact sources. Try to get in touch with everyone as early as possible so sources can find time to interview. For an article, it is desirable to have 2–3 primary sources. It is advisable to communicate with people or refer to assignment helper us who have opposing views on the situation in order to fully cover the issue.
Sources should be experts in the topic you are considering (for example, experienced practitioners, university professors, or academics). You can use sources with extensive experience or long-term connections with the area of interest to you.
Eyewitnesses to the event will also be helpful, especially if you can get a first-hand account from them.
Conduct an interview. Try to conduct face-to-face conversations with sources in a comfortable and quiet environment, such as a coffee shop, office, or home. If it is not possible to meet in person, then you can talk by phone or via video link. Prepare your questions ahead of time and get permission to record the conversation so you can use quotes later.
Sometimes more than one interview is required with the main source. Also, if necessary, you can send additional questions to the person.
Transcribe the audio recording of the conversation in printed form to provide accurate quotes in the article. Having a transcript will simplify the task of verifying the facts and confirming the information received.
Research publicly available information on the topic at your local library or on the Internet. Always use only reliable information that is based on facts. Explore various monographs and articles in the library. Find verified information from trusted online sources (scientific databases or official government websites).
Correctly cite the information in the article, include the name of the person or organization that provided you with the information. Use reliable sources so that your article has weight.
Check statistics and other numbers before using them in an article. If your article relies on statistics, data, or quantitative information, then always check the information with reliable sources. Indicate such sources in the article so that readers are convinced of the reliability of the information.
If you have received an assignment from the editor, you may need to provide him with a list of all sources for the article. This will demonstrate that you have checked all the facts.
Article structure
Come up with a catchy, informative headline. The title should grab the reader's attention and hint at the content of the article. A competent headline contains answers to the questions “what” and “where”. It should be short and clear, contain 4–5 words.
In some cases, it is more convenient to come up with a title after the article is completed, when you already know what will be the focus of it and can briefly summarize it.
The first sentence should provide concise answers to the “who”, “what”, “when”, “where”, “why”, and “how” questions, as well as engage the reader so that he continues to explore the material.
Arrange information in chronological order, starting with the most relevant and important details. It should be enough for the reader to look through the first part of the article and ask college homework help to find out the necessary information on the topic. Indicate the most recent data in the first two paragraphs of the article. This approach is called the inverted pyramid principle.
Supplement the article with important details. It is here that you need to answer the questions “why” and “how” in more detail in order to inform the reader of all the details. Write a detailed background or briefly review past events that are directly related to the situation. Paragraphs should not include more than 2–3 sentences so that readers do not get confused.
Use at least 2–3 supporting quotes from sources. The first part of the article should contain one persuasive quotation, and the second part – one or two additional citations. With the help of quotations, any information that cannot be attributed to well-known information should be confirmed. Use short, informative and understandable quotes. Always cite the source to which the quote belongs.
Do not use long quotes or more than four quotes in an article so as not to confuse readers.
End the article with an informative quote or link to more information. At the end of the article, you can give a spectacular quote that will help the reader to better understand the situation. You can also leave a link to the website of the organization or even that is described in the article.
Tone and style
Use specific and clear words that will not allow you to get confused. Avoid vague phrases and general statements that do not benefit the reader. Use simple and understandable language, such as do the authors, when chemistry homework help that is accessible to a wide range of readers. Sentences should take no more than two or three lines. In other cases, divide the thought into several sentences.
Use active voice and write in the third person. The active voice instead of the passive gives the main role in the sentence to the subject, increases efficiency and informativeness. Most newspaper articles are written in the third person to maintain objectivity and not express a personal point of view.
For example, instead of saying, „City police will hold a press conference tomorrow about the missing girl case,“ it would be better to write: „The police will answer questions about the missing girl at a meeting with reporters tomorrow.“
Keep an objective and informative tone. A newspaper article should not contain a biased attitude or express a subjective opinion on the issue. It must be a factual account of the event or incident. Don't use hyperbole and never exaggerate details.
For example, in an article about two candidates who are running in an election, present both in the same light and don't pay more attention to one of them.
Finishing touches
Read the article aloud. When the draft version of the article is ready, read the text aloud. Try to find answers to the questions “who, what, when, where, why, how” and make sure the material is easy to understand. Check the quotes again. They should be unambiguous, short enough and not too confusing.
Reading aloud helps you spot spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
Get other people's opinions. Show the article to your friends, family, mentor or manager. Ask if the text is clear and easy to read. Find out if the person managed to compose a complete picture of events and how objectively the material was written.
For example, you can ask: “Does the information in the article help you understand what happened?”, “Was it easy for you to read the text?”, “Are the facts sufficiently supported by sources and citations?”
Check the tone, style, and length of the article. Get feedback on the text and make any necessary changes. Correct confusing sentences or paragraphs. Find better words. Make sure the article is informative and objective. The material should be clear and concise, contain no more than 5–10 paragraphs.
If you have to write a newspaper article for a class, please follow the word or character requirements.
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