Writing Tips

1
Writing Tips

• News Writing and Reporting
• Journalism and Media Studies Centre
• The University of Hong Kong
• 
  Gene Mustain

2
Writing Tips

• A sentence should contain no unnecessary words,
  for the same reason that a drawing should have no
  unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary
  parts. This requires not only that the writer
  make all his sentences short, or that he avoid
  all detail and treat his subject only in outline,
  but that every word tell.
• The Elements of Style

3
Overview

• But first, some ideas about good writing worth
  recalling whether we are writing features,
  news-features, profiles or reviews.

4
Writing Tips

• The news media serve a large, diverse audience
  to reach the most people, newswriters must
  present information in a clear and interesting
  way. Every word tells.

5
Writing Tips

• Good newswriting is more than the use of simple
  words. It is
• Using the correct words.
• Composing sentences carefully.
• Finding a pace and tone that matches the
  material.

6
Writing Tips

• Clear treatment of big idea, courtesy of
  Meanings of Modern Art.
• When art is made new, we are made new with it.
  We have a sense of solidarity with our own time,
  and of psychic energies shared and redoubled,
  which is just about the most satisfying thing
  that life has to offer.

7
Writing Tips

• On average keep sentences short. But vary their
  length. An average of 20 or below is good.
  Variety in sentence length keeps readers engaged.
  
• Short sentences pack power. They are dramatic.

8
Writing Tips

• Paragraphs combine related ideas.
• The fire raged out of control through the night,
  destroying several homes on Old Peak Road.
  Stunned residents, many wearing nightclothes,
  watched as firemen battled the blaze. Some cried
  as their possessions went up in smoke.

9
Writing Tips

• Use familiar words and expressions. Use words
  people use. Dont use the language of governments
  and bureaucrats.

10
Writing Tips

• Dont use unnecessary words. Dont say, A fire
  totally destroyed the house. Say, A fire
  destroyed the house.

11
Writing Tips

• Write with strong, active voice.
• Weak The fire was caused by an explosion.
• Strong An explosion ignited the fire.