Writing in the Media Environment: know how journalists work so they can help you gain exposure for you or your organization.

1. Writing for Media
Session #2: Writing in the Media Environment
UCSD Extension Spring 2012

2. News culture
• Accuracy
• Efficiency
• Processes
• Deadlines
• Ethics

3. Accuracy
• Spell names correctly (follow up!)
• Quote sources correctly (follow up!)
• Check it out (follow up!)
• Do the math (follow up!)

4. Verification/Attribution
• The mayor said...
• According to the police report...
• The grand jury’s report will be announced...
• “Disneyland rocks,” said Mickey Mouse.
• According to Pele, Brazil will win.
• “Sony makes great TVs,” states JLo.

5. Info, Not Opinion
• Facts — verifiable info
• Opinion — someone’s beliefs
• Can include — source’s opinion
• Cannot include — your opinion (writer’s)

6. Simplicity
• Simple words (don’t get fancy!)
• Simple sentences (easier for the reader)
• Paragraphs (3 sentences or 100 words)

7. Clarity, Coherence,
Context
• Simplicity
• Logical — supports larger idea of story
• Enough but not too much info

8. Audience
• Who will be reading this?
• What do they need to know?
• Why do they need to read this?
• What can they use from the story?

9. Deadlines
• Learn to write quickly (timed exercises)
• Newspapers (for set print time)
• Broadcast (for set air time)
• Web (for set posting time)

10. Reporting
• Gather info and write
• How?
• When?
• Where?
• Good info from good sources

11. Observation
• See what happens (events, disasters, etc.)
• What is significant?
• Be in position to see what you need to see
• Generally, don’t participate in events

12. People
• Most info comes from people (interviews)
• Credible sources have reliable info
• Quotes bring credibility to stories
• quote personality, not data or stats

13. Interviewing
• Step 1: What info is needed?
• Step 2: Prepping for the conversation
• research
• compose appropriate questions
• Be sensitive with sources who aren’t willing
to give info

14. Questions
• Closed-ended questions (Yes or no)
• Open-ended questions
• Hypothetical questions (What if?)
• Agree/Disagree questions
• Probes (follow ups)
• Personal questions (middle or end)

15. Records
• Stored information (court records, police
reports, accounting files, etc.)
• confirm it
• out of date
• lacks proper context

16. Skepticism
• Confirm info with other sources
• Is this information accurate?

17. Ethical behavior
• Tell the truth
• Dishonesty, plagiarism, falsification (#1 sin)
• Using words of others w/o attribution
• Misrepresentation — ID yourself
• Lose all credibility

18. Hardware/Software
• Google — maps, news, images (source)
• Digital camera/video (accompany stories)
• Social — Twitter, Facebook,YouTube

19. Conclusion
• Know traditions and practices of editors
• Gather acceptable info
• Convey info clearly and concisely
• Builds trust for you and your organization!

20. Questions...