Ten Newswriting Guidelines
With a bit of help from Ms. Debrah Potter of RTNDF, the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation, here are ten guidelines for writing news:
1. While making sure you bring the most interesting and surprising elements to the forefront of your story, don't give away everything right at the beginning.
Maintain interest by spreading these "nuggets" throughout the story. And try not to let the lead-in to the story steal the thunder from what follows.
2. Use the active voice: subject, verb, and object.
3. Remember that nouns and verbs are stronger than adjectives and adverbs. Don't tell viewers what they should be feeling by using adjectives, especially shopworn adjectives, such as "tragic," "amazing," and "stunning." If the story's facts don't make such things obvious, you might want to examine your approach.
4. Avoid jargon; use well-known terms. For example, your audience probably won't know what ENG and B-roll mean.
5. Include defining details, such as the make of the car and the type of trees being cut down.
6. Write (tell!) the story as if you were trying to catch the interest of a friend. Try mentally to follow up on the phrases, "Guess what...," or "This may be hard to believe, but...."
7. After you write something, set it aside for at least ten minutes and concentrate on something else. Then go back and review the story with a fresh perspective.
At that point it may be easier to catch and eliminate unnecessary words and phrases.
8. Read the story aloud (not under your breath).
source from : http://www.cybercollege.com
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