The Art Of Writing News

News writing is a key skill for journalists, but it helps with other types of writing as well. That’s because news writing is about telling a story quickly and concisely. Anyone can learn to do this, with a bit of help. Here’s how you can write the news and get your story across. The technique also works well for writing press releases.

News Writing Structure
News writing has its own structure. It’s called the inverted pyramid. This upside down triangle serves as a guide for how you include information in the story. Using the inverted pyramid means starting with the most important information, then putting the next most important info and so on. It can also serve as a guide for writing each paragraph in the story. Start with the most important point, then the next most important and so on.

The inverted pyramid has an interesting history. Before digital printing and desktop publishing, news was laid out manually. If a late breaking story came in and the editor needed to make room, then the editor would order another story to be cut. Having the most important information at the top meant that readers always got the essential parts of the story.

Writing The Facts
Another way to think of the inverted pyramid is that you start with the facts and then add the background. So, how do you know what background to add? It’s easy. You can use the 6Ws. Strictly speaking, there aren’t six, there are actually 5Ws and 1H, but the formula seems to work. That mnemonic reminds us to include the who, where, what, why, when and how of a story.

Why is this? Think about how you tell a story to your friends. You might say: ‘You’ll never believe WHO I just saw!’ Then you might go on to tell the story of where the person was, what they were doing, and why it’s scandalous. We all want to hear about people – and that’s what news is about? Look at any news story and you will see that all of this information is in the first two paragraphs. Anything after that is background to the story.

Let me give another example. If I were writing about a car crash, I would say who was involved, when and where it happened, why it happened and how it happened. Those would be the main points and my story might look something like this:

Two people sustained serious injuries in a car crash at Hill Road at 6am today. The collision happened when Mr. Smith swerved into the opposite lane to avoid a dog in the road. Ms Jones, who was in that lane, was unable to stop in time. Both Mr. Smith and Ms Jones have been taken to the local hospital.

This is not a perfect example, but you get the idea – and now you can write the news too.

Tips on Writing a Good Feature for Magazines

The process of writing a feature article for a magazine is not much different from writing an article for a newspaper or newsletter. One of the main differences however, is that a feature article is designed to be written in a way that the information is not time-based, but is timeless. The key to writing a good feature article is to select the proper venue for your article and then to write the article directed at that audience.

A feature article typically delves deeper into a story than a regular article. More than mere facts are presented and the creative writer finds other points of interest and information about the story. Feature articles sometimes even allow the writer to express personal thoughts and opinions on the topic.

Organization of the Story

A feature article takes a specific format and outline. There will always be a title, introduction, body of the story and a conclusion. This format is different from a general article. The title of the article should grab the reader’s attention quickly to keep them reading. It should highlight the general topic of the story.

The introduction of the story is contained in the first few paragraphs of the article. It should provide any background information relevant to the story and should create a relationship between the writer and the reader. The tone of the article will be set in the introduction.

The body of the feature should be broken into pieces with subheadings for easy organization. This section has most of the details of the story. It includes names, places, times and quotes from those interviewed. The opinions of the writer, those at the location of the story and from experts involved in the topic are presented in the body of the article. Any pictures that illustrate the story and diagrams or charts would also be included at this point.

The conclusion should leave a lasting impression on the reader and provoke some sort of reaction. The conclusion should prompt action on the part of the reader and encourage a change of opinion on the part of the reader or encourage the reader to make a decision.

Writing a Good Feature For Magazines

The leeway an author is given in the style of a feature article is much greater than in other types of writing.

• You have the ability to use colloquialisms, first person narrative and a conversational tone in your article.
• You are free to throw in a few rhetorical questions if it emphasizes your point.

Avail yourself of the added freedom to write a feature that you would want to read if you were on the other side of the print.

Remember to include all the facts and to comment on the location of the story. It is always preferable to bring in such facts to support your viewpoint. These extra facts will add force to your story. Sprinkle in relevant jargon to add authenticity to the information that you are sharing and to the opinions of those interviewed.

To enhance the relationship with your audience, make use of creative descriptions that will draw on the reader’s imagination.

• The imagery that you create in the telling of the story captivates the reader and keeps them with you until the end.
• The use of quotes from people involved makes your story more personal and generates emotion in the reader.

While these are not the only tips on writing a good feature for magazines, they will carry your writing a long way towards landing a feature article.

5 Simple Tips for Writing a Feature Article

Feature articles are a smart addition to your website and marketing strategy. This compelling content makes you an expert…makes your website more “sticky”…and makes your prospect want to take action.

With these 5 simple tips, writing a feature article couldn’t be easier. I use these steps every day for my clients and my own marketing as well, and I’ve found it makes the whole process absolutely painless.

1. Know your reader
Decide whom you’re targeting. Picture the reader in your mind, not just as a broad category but as a real, living, breathing person. What do you know about that person? Where does he work? Where does he live? What is he worried about? What information is he looking for?
Be as specific as you can, to the point where you can imagine that person is sitting down right in front of you.

2. Know your end goal
When the person has read your article, what do you want him to feel? Do you want him to feel confident? Insecure? Warm and fuzzy?

Even more than feeling, what action do you want him to take? Do you want him to go to a product page on your website? To forward the article to his boss? To call you?
Know what you want to happen as a result of your article.

3. Explain why the reader should care
This is the classic “benefits over features” marketing rule. Why should the reader bother with your article? What’s in it for him?

Don’t make the article all about you. Make it relevant to the reader, too. And tell him why.

4. Share your information
This is the nuts and bolts of what you want to say. What information is important for you to share? What is important for the reader to know?

Create a bulleted list of topic points.

5. Anticipate questions
Imagine you’re having a face-to-face conversation with your reader, where you’re sharing your information. What additional questions might come up?

Be proactive. Anticipate and answer those questions.

So here’s the great part. Once you’ve gone through these steps, you’ll find that the article is essentially written for you. Here’s how it works:

Numbers one and two set the tone and style you’ll use in the article. They tell you if you’ll be writing with a professional voice, or light and conversational, or even wry and humorous. Tone and style sets the stage for everything that follows.

Number three grabs your reader’s attention…which makes it a perfect introduction. Even better, it makes for a perfect way to wrap up the article, that is, a perfect conclusion as well. So now you’ve got your first and last paragraphs written. Moving right along!

Numbers four and five are your body, the bulk of your content. But now you know what you want to say, so it’s just a matter of organizing those bullet points and writing them out into complete sentences and paragraphs.

And voila! You’ve got great, compelling content that establishes you as an authority, holds your prospect’s attention, and helps to convert prospects into buyers.
In marketing, content counts. Now that you’ve got these 5 simple tips for writing a feature article, it’s never been easier.