Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- About the authors
- Preface to the second edition
- Acknowledgements
- Acknowledgements for the second edition
- Introduction Journalism unplugged
- Part 1 DISCOVERING JOURNALISM
- Part 2 FINDING AND UNDERSTANDING NEWS
- Part 3 NEWS-WRITING ACROSS THE GENRES
- 5 Writing news for readers
- 6 Writing broadcast news
- 7 Multimedia journalism and writing news for the web
- 8 Writing news beyond the inverted pyramid
- 9 Sub-editing
- Part 4 Legal and ethical issues
- References
- Index
8 - Writing news beyond the inverted pyramid
from Part 3 - NEWS-WRITING ACROSS THE GENRES
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- About the authors
- Preface to the second edition
- Acknowledgements
- Acknowledgements for the second edition
- Introduction Journalism unplugged
- Part 1 DISCOVERING JOURNALISM
- Part 2 FINDING AND UNDERSTANDING NEWS
- Part 3 NEWS-WRITING ACROSS THE GENRES
- 5 Writing news for readers
- 6 Writing broadcast news
- 7 Multimedia journalism and writing news for the web
- 8 Writing news beyond the inverted pyramid
- 9 Sub-editing
- Part 4 Legal and ethical issues
- References
- Index
Summary
Chapter objectives
In this chapter you will discover the following:
How to write for the discerning reader
When and why to abandon the ‘inverted pyramid’
Some elements of successful ‘long-form’ writing
How to stretch your writing wings
News organisations want more from their reporters than just an ability to write news stories. They want people who can also write well– to satisfy those who want more from their news outlet than just the news. This chapter is about introducing some style and flair into your writing. This is not a licence to go ‘crazy’ and come over all ‘experimental’, but it is a form of permission to flex your writing muscle and exercise your imagination.
Writing well is not just writing
Good writing is all but invisible. You know it’s there only because what you are reading or hearing has a flow, a rhythm and a beat that make you want more. It holds your attention, but without drawing attention to itself. It is an artform. According to research findings presented a few years ago at an annual Journalism Education Association conference, both print and electronic media recruiters said they prized journalism graduates who could write well over those with a command of technology (Nankervis, 2005 ). Other research into the journalism job market also suggests that editors want reporters who can write for several media platforms and also for the time-rich reader – this is in line with international studies too.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- So You Want To Be A Journalist?Unplugged, pp. 174 - 197Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2012