1. DISCUSS the reading
Fact vs. Opinion
2. Q. What’s fact and what’s opinion?
It’s important to be able to tell the difference between an opinion sentence and a factual sentence (whether or not the fact is accurate). Here’s a survey from the Pew research center:
And here’s the results:
The survey showed the results of whether people can identify “fact” statements versus “opinion” statements was correlated to their belief in the statement.
In writing news, you need to be able to write using “factual sentences.”
(AND they should be backed up by evidence.)
5 W’s
What are the 5 W’s?… and why are they important?
The Inverted Pyramid
Q. What is it and why is it common in news writing?
Good Journalism is Good Storytelling
That’s why it’s called a “news story” and not “news bullet points.”
It’s important to engage the readers, so each element of the story should aim to be interesting (from lede to kicker).
TERMS TO KNOW
HEADLINE:
DECK:
LEDE:
NUT GRAF:
KICKER
Is there a headline?
Is there a deck?
What is the lede?
What is the nut graf?
What is the kicker?
HEADLINES!
You may not have to write a headline (often your editor… or the copy desk… or the web desk will write both headline and deck.)
But! Thinking about what your headline could be is very important, and can help direct how you are writing the actual story.
Let’s practice headline writing!
Story…
Headline:
Story:
Headline:
Story:
Headline:
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BURY THE LEDE?
Read the section on Page 42.
How can we fix this story?
YOU CAN HAVE FUN WITH THE LEDE…
Most news ledes are straightforward… but there are other ways to write a lede…
The simple lede (or basic news lede) is a summary lede.
LeBron James surprised the students of his I Promise School with an unannounced visit on Sept 5th.
A variation of this is the delayed identification lede (and blind lede).
The students of the I Promise School were surprised with an unexpected visitor.
LeBron James made an unannounced visit on Thursday, causing the students to erupt in shouts and applause.
The other types of ledes:
The anecdotal lede (or narrative lede)
It’s been 2 years since John Smith began his studies at the I Promise School. But this day would be one he’d never forget.
The scene-setter lede
In a classroom, on a typical day, a young boy looked at his desk. Paper, pencil, a teacher speaking methodically. But rather quietly, hiding behind the door leading to the hallway, stood a 6’9” unexpected guest.
On Sept 5th, LeBron James surprised the students of the I Promise School which he founded.
Direct address lede
You’d be shocked too if your basketball idol surprised you at school.
This was the experience of the students at the I Promise School on Sept. 5th when LeBron James showed up.
Startling statement lede
Billions of doors were opened on Sept 5th.
But this high school classroom door, was the only one with LaBron James standing behind it.
Roundup lede
Shakira, Pitbull, Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey, and Madonna all started schools.
But it was LeBron James who visited the school he founded on Sept 5th….
Wordplay lede
The students of I Promise School might have been studying astronomy on Sept 5th… because a shooting star visited their classroom.
LeBron James made a surprise visit to the school he founded…
.
Try not to do these ledes:
.
TYPES OF LEDES to avoid…
Topic ledes. ZZZZZzzzzzz
“A baseball game happened.”
Question ledes.
“Are Question ledes lazy? Yes. Yes they are.”
Quote ledes.
“Not always a bad option… but often they’re looked down upon, because quote ledes are usually opinions,” said professor Basinger.
Take a look at a recent article from the journalist you are following.
What style of lede are they writing with?
Let’s look at your in class assignment from Monday:
Now that we’ve read this chapter on writing… What are some common elements that could be improved?
-Shorter paragraphs. Many paragraphs in news writing are only one sentence long.
-Make the lede more interesting.
-Attribute!
-Are you covering the 5 W’s?
-Review spelling and punctuation.
-Avoid cliches
-Read it out loud… does it sound good?
Open the quick in-class assignment (breaking news story) from last class…
This is your chance to rewrite your story with a new lede style.
And fix your story based on the notes I discussed above.
Write it in a word doc.
Ask colleagues around you for help (get second eyes on your work).
Submit in iLearn by end of class.
NO HOMEWORK!