NEWS WRITING

CONNIE ROSE C. RAMOS ,

MSE- ENG
 NEWS WRITING

I. NEWS
II. SOFT AND HARD NEWS
III. HEADLINING
IV.STRUCTURE OF NEWS
TYPES OF LEAD
 POINTERS ON NEWS STYLE

5WS + 1H, OR WHO, WHAT,

WHEN, WHERE, WHY, AND HOW
INVERTED PYRAMID
ONE SENTENCE, ONE PARAGRAPH
HEADLINE WRITING
1. THE HEADLINE SHOULD GIVE THE GIST OF
THE STORY IN JUST FEW WORDS AS
POSSIBLE.
EXAMPLE:
MAYOR BAUTISTA AWARDS OUTSTANDING SSG
PRESIDENTS
2. USE THE PRESENT TENSE TO DESCRIBE PAST
EVENTS.
EXAMPLE:
5 STUDES WIN IN DIVISION PRESSCON
3. USE THE ACTIVE VOICE.
EXAMPLE:
NGO VISITS DJJMNHS
5. BE ACCURATE AND DIRECT TO THE POINT. DON’T EAT
AROUND THE BUSH .
EXAMPLE: PRICES MAY GO UP
OIL PRICE HIKE STARTS TODAY (BETTER)
6. THE HEAD SHOULD BE A SUMMARY OF THE NEWS, NOT
A MERE LABEL.
EXAMPLE : ROTARIAN NAMES PBHS SCHOLARS (BETTER)
ROTARIAN SCHOLARS
7. THE CONTENT OF A HEADLINE OVER A NEWS
STORY SHOULD BE TAKEN FROM THE LEAD OF THE
NEWS.
EXAMPLE : PRESIDENT AQUINO YESTERDAY
RENEWED HIS CALL TO THE MEDIA TO REPORT
RESPONSIBLY AND MAINTAIN THEIR INTEGRITY .
HEADLINE : PRESIDENT AQUINO RENEWS CALL FOR
8. HEADLINE SHOULD BE POSITIVE RATHER
THAN NEGATIVE
EXAMPLE : PTA MEETING WON’T BE HELD
PTA MEETING RESET ( BETTER)
9. USE INFINITIVE FOR FUTURE EVENTS.
EXAMPLE :
DJJMHS GRADUATES TO RECEIVE DIPLOMAS
10. WRITE NUMBERS IN ARABIC FORM
EXAMPLE : 2 DJJMNHS MENTORS RETIRE,
FACULTY WELCOMES NEW ONES
11. USE COMMA FOR CONJUNCTIONS
EXAMPLE. SENATORS, SOLONS GIVE
SUPPORT TO OUTS GUITIEREZ
12. USE THE SEMI-COLON TO INCLUDE TWO
RELATED THOUGHTS 8IN ONE DECK
EXAMPLE : 5 DIE ; 10 ESCAPE IN WAR
13. USE SINGLE QUOTATION MARKS
INSTEAD OF DOUBLE QUOTATION MARKS.
EXAMPLE : CBCP SAYS ‘NO’ TO RH BILL
14. DO NOT USE ARTICLES IN THE HEADLINE
EXAMPLE : THE PRESIDENT GOES TO NY
PRESIDENT GOES TO NY ( BETTER)
15. DO NOT USE NAMES UNLESS THE PERSON IS
EXTREMELY WELL-KNOWN.
EXAMPLE : SPEAKER BELMONTE TO INAUGURATE
DJJMNHS NEW BUILDING.
 CONSTRUCT A GOOD HEADLINE OUT OF THE GIVEN LEADS

1. THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION

(CHED) ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT SOME
256 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITITIONS (HEIS)
ARE TO INCREASE TUITION THIS COMING
SCHOOL YEAR AFTER THEIR APPLICATION TO
RAISE FEES HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
2. A VERDICT IN THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL
OF CHIEF JUSTICE RENATO CORONA WILL
LIKELY BE MADE IN JUNE BEFORE
CONGRESS GOES ON SINE DIE
ADJOURNMENT, THE IMPEACHMENT COURT
PRESIDING OFFICER SAID YESTERDAY.
3. MORE THAN 300 BUSINESS EXECUTIVES AND OFFICIALS
FROM THE GOVERNMENT, FOREIGN EMBASSIES AND
MULTILATERAL INSTITUTIONS , LED BY EDUCATION
SECRETARY ARMIN LUISTRO AND PUBLIC WORKS
SECRETARY , ATTENDED THE INVESTOR CONFERENCE ON
THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP CENTER OF THE
PHILIPPINES FOR SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT
(PSIP) RECENTLY AT MAKATI SHANRI-LA HOTEL HOSTED BY
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND SGV AND
4. INSPECTOR MARJORIE SAMSON
, VALEDICTORIAN OF THE
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE
ACADEMY (PNPA)’S BATCH 2012 IS
READY AND EXCITED TO SERVE HER
FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY
WITH INTEGRITY.
5. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
RECORDED A TOTAL OF 274 HUMAN
IMMUNE DEFICIENCY VIRUS CASE IN
FEBRUARY , THE HIGHEST EVER
RECORDED IN ONE MONTH IN THE
COUNTRY BASED ON THE PHILIPPINE HIV
AND ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY
THE LEAD

- THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE

STORY THAT MAKES THE REPORTER
‘SELL’ HIS STORY
 TYPES OF LEAD
I. SUMMARY LEAD
II. NOVELTY LEAD
III. GRAMMATICAL BEGINNING LEAD
 I. SUMMARY LEAD

- THIS SUMMARIZES THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTS OF THE STORY , THE

SO CALLED 5WS AND 1H.
WHO : GMA, HER DOCTORS
WHAT : SCHEDULED TO UNDERGO CERVICAL SPINE SURGERY
WHEN : THIS MORNING( JULY 29)
WHERE : ST. LUKE’S MEDICAL CENTER
WHY : TO REPAIR A DAMAGED CERVICAL SPINE
 FORMER PRESIDENT AND
NOW PAMPANGA REP.
GLORIA MACAPAGAL-
ARROYO IS SCHEDULED TO
UNDERGO SURGERY THIS
MORNING TO REPAIR A
DAMAGED SPINE, HER
DOCTORS AT ST. LUKE’S
 II. NOVELTY LEAD

1. PUNCH OR ASTONISHER LEAD – BEGINS WITH A

SHORT OR SNAPPY SENTENCE . IT DOES NOT GIVE A
SUMMARY OF THE STORY . IT DOES NOT GIVE A
SUMMARY OF THE STORY BUT PROVIDE AN
ATTRACTIVE INTRODUCTION.
EXAMPLE:

THE ONLY ‘SUPER STAR’ OF PHILIPPINE

MOVIES, NORA AUNOR IS BACK.
2. DESCRIPTIVE OR BACKGROUND LEAD –
CONSISTS OF A SENTENCE OR SENTENCES
DESCRIBING AN EVENT IN WHICH THE
BACKGROUND OVERSHADOWS THE
INDIVIDUALS THAT PARTICIPATE.
THE LOOKS IN THE EYES OF PARENTS, THE JOY AND
HAPPINESS AS GLEANED ON THEIR FACES AS THEY JOIN
3. EXCLAMATORY LEAD- CONSISTS OF A SHORT
EXCLAMATORY SENTENCE FREQUENTLY SET OFF IN
A PARAGRAPH BY ITSELF. IT IS USED FOR EXTREMELY
STRIKING INFORMATION, OFTEN A BIG NEWS.
EXAMPLE:
OMBUDSMAN CHAIRMAN MERCEDITAS GUITERREZ
RESIGNED!
4. DIRECT QUOTATION LEAD – CONSISTS OF A
SPEAKER’S DIRECT WORDS. OFTEN USED WHEN WHAT
WAS SAID IS MORE STRIKING OR IMPORTANT THAN THE
PERSON WHO SAID IT.
EXAMPLE:

“ I AM APT TO FIGHT CORRUPTION IN MY ADMINISTRATION,

THOSE WHO HAVE STOLEN…THAT BELONGS TO THE GOVERNMENT
SHOULD FACE THE BAR OF LAW,” PRESIDENT AQUINO SAID IN A
PRESS CONFERENCE IN MALACANANG YESTERDAY.
5. QUESTION LEAD – CONSISTS OF A STRIKING
QUESTION . IT IS USED ONLY WHEN THE
QUESTION IS THE MAIN POINT OF THE STORY .
EXAMPLE:

WHO WILL BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT IN 2016?

THIS WILL BE KNOWN AFTER THE 91 MILLION
FILIPINOS HAVE CAST THEIR VOTES.
6. LITERARY ALLUSION LEAD- BEGINS WITH
FAMOUS LINES OF POETS , LITERARY OR
POLITICAL FIGURES THAT MAKE THE STORY
STRIKING TO READERS.
EXAMPLE :

“ TO DIE IS TO REST,” DR. JOSE P. RIZAL ENDED HIS

IMMORTAL POEM ,”MY LAST FAREWELL” WITH ACCEPTANCE OF
HIS FATE AFTER HIS STRUGGLES FOR FREEDOM.
 III. GRAMMATICAL BEGINNING LEADS

1. SUBORDINATE CLAUSE
a. CAUSAL – BECAUSE , SINCE, BECAUSE OF
BECAUSE FRIDAY WILL BE A PUBLIC HOLIDAY IN
QUEZON CITY TO CELEBRATE MANUEL L. QUEZON DAY ,
CLASSES WILL BE SUSPENDED WHERE MANY ACTIVITIES WILL
BE HELD BY STUDENTS ,EMPLOYEES AND ORGANIZATIONS.
a. SPECULATIVE – IF , UNLESS, PROVIDED
IF CLASSES WILL BE SUSPENDED TOMORROW DUE TO
2. CONCESSIVE- FOR SUBORDINATE CLAUSE THAT
EXPRESSES DIFFICULTIES BEING OVERCOME OR
CIRCUMSTANCE THAT MAKES AN IMPORTANT
RESULT ESPECIALLY UNUSUAL .
EXAMPLE:
THOUGH THE NEWSPAPER DRIVE LAUNCHED
BY THE SUPREME STUDENT COUNCIL ENDS TODAY ,
3. NOUN CLAUSE – LEAD THAT FEATURES
ANNOUNCEMENTS, DECISIONS, BELIEFS
EXAMPLE:
THAT ONLY TEN YEARS OF BASIC EDUCATION
IN THE PHILIPPINES DOES NOT QUALIFY OUR
GRADUATES ABROAD TO BE CONSIDERED
4. TEMPORAL CLAUSE – TO FEATURE TIME USE
WHEN, WHILE, BEFORE, SINCE AND AS SOON
AS
EXAMPLE:
WHEN QUEZON CITY DELEGATES JOIN
THE REGIONAL SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE
THIS YEAR , THEY WILL USE THE NEWLY-
5. INFINITIVE PHRASE – TO FEATURE PURPOSE ,
DRAMATIC ACTION OR MINOR NOTE OF
SUSPENSE . ( TO + BASE FORM OF THE VERB)
TO EMPHASIZE SAFETY DURING AND
AFTER EARTHQUAKE , SCHOOLS ARE DIRECTED
TO CONDUCT YEARLY EARTHQUAKE DRILLS TO
6. PARTICIPIAL PHRASE – TO FEATURE
ACTION, MANNER IN WHICH ACTION IS
ACCOMPLISHED
SPARKED BY FIVE GOALS AND AN
OUTSTANDING DEFENSE , AZKALS
WHIPPED AL-AZRAQ SUNDAY 5-0 AND
7. PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE – TO FEATURE
INTERESTING CIRCUMSTANCES OR METHOD BY
WHICH SOMETHING IS DONE. (WITH, BY, BESIDE,
UNDER, BETWEEN, ALONG, BEYOND,
AROUND,ALONG, DOWN, BEYOND, BEFORE,
DURING, AFTER , LIKE AND DIFFERENT FROM).
AFTER A SERIES OF WINS, MANNY “PACMAN”
PACQUIAO EARNED THE PRESTIGIOUS “FIGHTER OF
8. GERUND PHRASE “– TO FEATURE AN ACTION
OR AN INTERESTING DETAIL (-ING)
HEFTING 220-POUND SACKS , LIFTING
WEIGHTS AND RUNNING WERE SOME OF THE
WAYS REY “BOOM BOOM” BAUTISTA KEPT
HIMSELF IN SHAPE THIS SUMMER.