Introduction
This handbook is designed as a quick reference guide for citizen journalists to the basic elements of news writing and reporting. In the chapters below, you will find lessons and suggestions for beginning a career in grassroots news writing and reporting. You will also find links to other sites that expand and further develop the ideas you’ll cover in these chapters. Suggestions and comments for improving the site are welcome.
Chapter 1 – What is News
The essential role of news in shaping America’s political, social and cultural ideals. A timely account of interesting and significant events. Why citizen journalism?
Chapter 2 – Nuts and Bolts
The basics (who, what, when, why, where, and how). Punctuation, grammar, spelling. Accuracy and verification. Shape and purpose of the story: “What’s the point?” Chunking (breaking the story into short, easy-to-read sentences and paragraphs). Striving for objectivity. Definitions: media, mass media, news media, broadcast media, journalism, online journalism.
Chapter 3 – Grammar and Usage
Associated Press Stylebook: abbreviations, spelling, numbers, names and titles, capitalization. Misused words, comma usage, colons and semi-colons, punctuation, active and passive voice.
Chapter 4 – The Story
Find the story. Determine goals and objectives. Develop sources. Research: questions, interviews, verification. Decide appropriate structure for the story. Outline, draft, proof, copyedit. Writing leads.
Chapter 5 – Features, Profiles, Editorials, Reviews
Feature and profile stories: define and identify, write factual, fair, balanced, and complete stories, structure and outline, stress the humanity. Editorials: goals, audience, outline, follow rules of logic, danger of overstatement, state case firmly. Profiles: include all significant vital statistics, comments from others, quotations, interviewing friends and acquaintances, action, complexity of subject. Reviews: be prepared, punctuality, audience reaction, chose theme, identification of main performers, use details to support opinions, accuracy.
Chapter 6 – Editing for Online News
The shape and tone of the online story. Page layout. Headline writing. Cutlines, photos, interactive and static media. Participation by online audience.
Chapter 7 – History and Legal Considerations
Early American pamphleteers. Yellow journalism. Rise of radio and television broadcasts, new media. First Amendment: free speech, libel, defamation, pornography, indecency, obscenity.
Chapter 8 – Journalistic Ethics
Code of Ethics. Conflicts of interest. On-the-record/off-the-record. Free press/fair trial. Do no harm.
