Finding Stories
These are the five qualities of newsworthiness.
What are timeliness, proximity, prominence, human interest and impact?
These are the two broadcast writing principles stressed heavily in this course.
What are write in active voice and limit each sentence to one idea only?
This copy comes first in a package story.
What is the anchor lead?
This should be your first question in an interview.
What is "Can you please say and spell your name"?
The Society of Professional Journalists call these the four pillars of journalism ethics.
What are Seek the Truth, Be Accountable, Minimize Harm, and Act Independently?
If you display these qualities, you'll likely have an easier time finding stories as an enterprising journalist.
What are being observant and curious?
This writing style involves putting the subject of the sentence first, followed by the verb, then the object.
What is active voice?
An anchor lead to a package story must do these two things.
What are introduce the story generally and the reporter?
This should be the last question in an interview.
What is "Is there anything else you would like to add"?
This is something newsrooms and news stories need in order for our stories to be accurate and reflect the society in which we live.
What is diversity?
These are the types of sources you should have in your stories.
Who are people impacted by the topic you are covering, as well as officials and experts with knowledge of the topic/situation?
"Only time will tell" is an example of this, something that should be avoided in broadcast writing.
What is a cliche?
This is the type of report where a reporter delivers a story from a scene as it's happening, speaking directly into the camera.
What is a "live report" or "live shot"?
This is something you must learn to be comfortable with during an interview.
This is the ethical dilemma you'll find yourself in if you date the governor's son while reporting on state politics.
What is a conflict of interest?
This is the first thing you should write after determining that you have a story idea and doing initial story research.
What is a focus statement?
This is the best word to use in a lead-in sentence to an actuality. Better than explains...
What is "says"?
This is how long an edited shot in a video story should be.
What is 3 to 5 seconds?
You need to give these types of cues that you are listening during a recorded interview.
What are silent cues? (eye contact, head nod)
Journalists must leave these statements out of their stories.
What are opinion statements?
This is something you may want to do before you decide to record an interview with someone for your story.
What is "pre-interview" them?
This type of sentence construction should be avoided in broadcast writing.
What is putting dependent clauses at the beginning of sentences.
This is the type of video news story that's delivered entirely by an anchor and includes a sound bite.
What is a VOSOT?
You want to ask these kinds of questions in your interviews.
This is the type of source you want to use when collecting information for a story.
What is a primary source? (public records, first-hand interviews with people connected to story)